APPARATUS FOR TRIMMING AND CHEMICALLY TREATING TREES

• US 20050072042A1
• Filed: 10/06/2003
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steven J. Terrell & Associates, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steven J. Terrell & Associates, Inc.
• Inventors: Terrell, Steven J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,990,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 47/1.500
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 3/08 Other tools for pruning, branching or delimbing standing trees
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 21/043 by chemicals

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an apparatus preferably coupled to a boom on a truck which can simultaneously trim and chemically treat trees or other vegetation with a herbicide. The apparatus, in addition to have a standard saw blade assembly with limb clamping jaws, includes a sprayer assembly. The sprayer assembly includes nozzles which administer herbicides or other chemical treatments adjacent to the saw blades, allowing herbicide to be precisely administered to the tree limbs as they are cut.

Claims

1. An apparatus for trimming and chemically treating vegetation, comprising:

at least one saw blade in a plane for trimming the vegetation affixed to a saw arm; and

a plurality of nozzles affixed in or to the saw arm for spraying a chemical treatment on the vegetation in the proximity of the at least one saw blade, wherein the plurality of nozzles direct the chemical treatment generally parallel with the plane of the at least one saw blade.

2. (canceled)

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the saw blade spans above and below the saw arm, and wherein the nozzles spray the chemical treatment above and below the saw arm.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of nozzles are formed on a top and bottom of the saw arm.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising at least one further nozzle formed perpendicularly to the plurality of nozzles.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is attachable to a boom along a first axis, and wherein the saw arm is rotatable around a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is attachable to a boom along a first axis, and wherein the apparatus is rotatable around the first axis.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is attachable to a boom along a first axis, and wherein the apparatus is bendable at an angle with respect to the first axis.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is attachable to a boom along a first axis, and wherein

the saw arm is rotatable around a second axis perpendicular to the first axis,

the apparatus is rotatable around the first axis, and

the apparatus is bendable at an angle with respect to the first axis.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one jaw for grabbing the vegetation to be trimmed.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the jaws are serrated.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzles spray the chemical treatment at a location where the at least one saw blade trims the vegetation.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of saw blades.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chemical treatment comprises a herbicide.

15-16. -16. (canceled)

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sprayer sprays chemical treatment on the at least one saw blade.

18. An apparatus for trimming and chemically treating vegetation, comprising:

an elongated arm having a top, bottom, sides, and ends;

at least one saw blade in a plane, wherein the at least one saw blade is coupled to a side of the elongated arm for trimming vegetation; and

a sprayer assembly having a plurality of nozzles on the top or bottom of the elongated arm for spraying a chemical treatment on the vegetation, wherein the plurality of nozzles direct the chemical treatment generally parallel with the plane of the at least one saw blade.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the saw blade spans above and below the top and bottom of the elongated arm.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the nozzles are formed on the top and bottom of the elongated arm.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the nozzles are flush with the top and bottom of the elongated arm.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the sprayer assembly further comprises at least one second nozzle formed on a side of the elongated arm.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the sprayer assembly further comprises two second nozzles formed on a side and proximate the ends of the elongated arm.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one saw blade appears on the same side of the elongated arm as do the second nozzles.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the second nozzles pop up beyond the side of the elongated arm when activated.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of saw blades.

27. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the plurality of saw blades are located on one side of the elongated arm.

28. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising at least one channel formed within the elongated arm to pass the chemical treatment to the sprayer assembly.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the elongated arm comprises two pieces with the channel formed or milled therein.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the elongated arm comprises a single piece of material and wherein the channel is milled thereinto.

31. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the sprayer sprays the chemical treatment at a location where the at least one saw blade trims the vegetation.

32. A vehicle for trimming and chemically treating vegetation, comprising:

a boom attached to the vehicle;

a tank attached to the vehicle for holding a chemical treatment; and

an apparatus attached to an end of the boom, the apparatus comprising;

at least one saw blade in a plane for trimming the vegetation affixed to a saw arm; and

a plurality of nozzles affixed in or to the saw arm, wherein the nozzles are coupled to the tank by a hose for spraying the chemical treatment on the vegetation, and wherein the plurality of nozzles direct the chemical treatment generally parallel with the plane of the at least one saw blade.

33. (canceled)

34. The vehicle of claim 33, wherein the saw blade spans above and below the saw arm, and wherein the nozzles spray the chemical treatment above and below the saw arm.

35. The vehicle of claim 34, wherein the nozzles are formed on a top and bottom of the saw arm.

36. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the apparatus is attached to the boom along a first axis, and wherein the saw arm is rotatable around a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.

37. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the apparatus is attached to the boom along a first axis, and wherein the apparatus is rotatable around the first axis.

38. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the apparatus is attached to the boom along a first axis, and wherein the apparatus is bendable at an angle with respect to the first axis.

39. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the apparatus is attached to the boom along a first axis, and wherein

the saw arm is rotatable around a second axis perpendicular to the first axis,

the apparatus is rotatable around the first axis, and

the apparatus is bendable at an angle with respect to the first axis.

40. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one jaw for grabbing the vegetation to be trimmed.

41. The vehicle of claim 40, wherein the jaws are serrated.

42. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the nozzles spray the chemical treatment at a location where the at least one saw blade trims the vegetation.

43. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of saw blades.

44. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the chemical treatment comprises a herbicide.

45. (canceled)

46. The vehicle of claim 45, further comprising at least one additional nozzle perpendicular to the plurality of nozzles.

47. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the sprayer sprays chemical treatment on the at least one saw blade.

48-54. -54. (canceled)

55. A method for trimming and chemically treating vegetation using an apparatus, comprising:

trimming the vegetation with at least one saw blade, wherein the at least one saw blade resides in a plane; and

simultaneously spraying with a sprayer a chemical treatment on the vegetation being trimmed in the proximity of the at least one saw blade, wherein the spaying occurs through a plurality of nozzles that direct the chemical treatment generally parallel with the plane of the at least one saw blade.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the saw blade and nozzles are formed on the apparatus.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein the at least one saw blade is affixed to a saw arm, and wherein the nozzles are affixed in or to the saw arm.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the saw blade spans above and below the saw arm, and wherein the sprayer sprays the chemical treatment above and below the saw arm.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the nozzles are formed on a top and bottom of the saw arm.

60. The method of claim 57, wherein the apparatus is attached to a boom along a first axis, and wherein the saw arm is rotatable around a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.

61. The method of claim 56, wherein the apparatus is attached to a boom along a first axis, and wherein the apparatus is rotatable around the first axis.

62. The method of claim 56, wherein the apparatus is attached to a boom along a first axis, and wherein the apparatus is bendable at an angle with respect to the first axis.

63. The method of claim 57, wherein the apparatus is attached to a boom along a first axis, and wherein

the saw arm is rotatable around a second axis perpendicular to the first axis,

the apparatus is rotatable around the first axis, and

the apparatus is bendable at an angle with respect to the first axis.

64. The method of claim 55, further comprising clamping the vegetation to be trimmed with at least one jaw.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the jaw is serrated.

66. The method of claim 55, wherein spraying the chemical treatment comprises spraying at a location where the at least one saw blade trims the vegetation.

67. The method of claim 56, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of saw blades.

68. The method of claim 55, wherein the chemical treatment comprises a herbicide.

69. The method of claim 55, wherein the herbicide comprises Krenite.

70-71. -71. (canceled)

72. The method of claim 56, wherein the apparatus is affixed to a boom on a vehicle, and wherein the method further comprises driving to the location of the vegetation to be trimmed.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein the vehicle comprises a tank affixed to the apparatus by a hose for storing the chemical treatment.

74-82. -82. (previously canceled)