Apparatus for General Tree Trimming or Precision Tree Trimming

• US 20120279614A1
• Filed: 04/06/2012
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steven J. Terrell & Associates, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Terra Tech Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Terrell, Steven J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,307,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 144/343
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/087 Shearing apparatus or the like specially adapted for felling trees A01G23/081, A01G23/083, A01G23/093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/091 Sawing apparatus specially adapted for felling trees A01G23/081, A01G23/083, A01G23/093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/095 Delimbers A01G23/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 3/088 Circular saws circular saws in general B27B5/00

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an apparatus preferably coupled to a boom on a truck, the apparatus capable of a plurality of configurations for a variety of uses. In one configuration, the apparatus can perform rapid semi-precise cutting of vegetation. In another configuration, the apparatus can perform more precise trimming of one or more areas (e.g., limbs) and optionally use a limb clamp to prevent cut limbs/vegetation from arbitrarily falling on objects below the cutting area. In yet another configuration, the apparatus can have a grapple or similar device attached to the end of the boom for use in relocating debris or for loading debris into a removal facility such as dump or garbage truck. In each configuration, the apparatus comprises one or more rotatable or pivoting couplings to allow for rotation about one or more axis and therefore allow precise manipulation from an operator in the vehicle or on the ground.

Claims

1. A tree trimming apparatus comprising:

a transport vehicle;

an aerial boom having a boom axis and attached to the transport vehicle;

a cutter head assembly comprising hydraulic couplings;

an actuator assembly connected to the cutter head assembly and connected to a far end of the aerial boom, the actuator assembly comprising an axial rotator for turning the cutter head assembly relative to the boom axis, the axial rotator comprising a rotating swivel for carrying hydraulic fluid; and

one or more hydraulically powered tree maintenance accessories connected to the cutter head assembly and to the hydraulic couplings, wherein the hydraulically powered tree maintenance accessories are controlled by the hydraulic fluid via the hydraulic couplings.

2. The tree trimming apparatus of claim 1, wherein there are two hydraulically powered tree maintenance accessories comprising a limb clamp and a limb shear.

3. The tree trimming apparatus of claim 2, wherein the limb clamp comprises serrated teeth.

4. The tree trimming apparatus of claim 3, wherein the serrated teeth increase in size from the throat of the limb clamp to the tips of the limb clamp.

5. The tree trimming apparatus of claim 2, wherein the limb clamp comprises a proportional pressure clamping mechanism.

6. The tree trimming apparatus of claim 1, wherein there are two hydraulically powered tree maintenance accessories comprising a trunk clamp and a chainsaw arm.

7. The tree trimming apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the hydraulically powered tree maintenance accessories comprises a saw bar arm, the saw bar arm comprising one or more rotational cutting blades and capable of being rotated about a saw blade axis.

8. The tree trimming apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the hydraulically powered tree maintenance comprises a chainsaw blade, the chainsaw blade capable of being rotated about a chain saw axis.

9. The tree trimming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transport vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a work-boat, a rail car, a truck, a truck with hi-rails, an off-road rubber tire carrier, a track carrier, a crawler, a trailer and a towable platform.

10. The tree trimming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aerial boom comprises a telescoping boom.

11. The tree trimming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aerial boom comprises an over center knuckle boom.

12. The transport vehicle of claim 1, wherein the aerial boom comprises a non-over center knuckle boom.

13. The tree trimming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aerial boom comprises a combination of a knuckle boom and a telescoping boom.

14. The tree trimming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aerial boom comprises one or more insulation couplings, the insulation couplings designed to prevent electrical connectivity from the far end of the aerial boom to a near end of the aerial boom proximate to where the aerial boom attaches to the transport vehicle.

15. The tree trimming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the axial rotator can turn the cutter head assembly through 360 degrees in either direction continuously.

16. The tree trimming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator assembly further comprises an actuator arm to pivot the cutter head assembly relative to the boom axis.

17. The tree trimming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator assembly connects to the aerial boom using a bonding sleeve.

18. The tree trimming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of hydraulic hoses internal to the aerial boom'"'"'s structure, each of the plurality of hydraulic hoses in fluid connection with a corresponding single hydraulic hose on an opposite side of the rotating swivel.

19. A tree trimming apparatus comprising:

a transport vehicle;

an aerial boom having a boom axis and attached to the transport vehicle;

a cutter head assembly comprising hydraulic couplings;

an actuator assembly connected to the cutter head assembly and connected to a far end of the aerial boom;

a hydraulically powered limb clamp and hydraulically powered limb shear, each connected to the cutter head assembly and to one or more of the hydraulic couplings.

20. The tree trimming apparatus of claim 19 wherein the hydraulic couplings comprise quick connect style hydraulic couplings.

21. A method of cutting a tree limb, the method comprising:

extending an aerial boom from a vehicle;

articulating a cutting head assembly connected to the aerial boom via an actuator assembly, wherein articulating comprises rotating the cutting head assembly relative to an axis of the aerial boom;

activating a limb clamp on the cutting head assembly to secure a tree limb;

activating a limb cutting mechanism to sever the tree limb secured by the limb clamp; and

moving the aerial boom while the severed tree limb is secured in the limb clamp.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the method is performed by remote control.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the limb cutting mechanism comprises a limb shear.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the limb cutting mechanism comprises one or more circular saw blades.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the limb cutting mechanism comprises a chainsaw blade.

26. A method of cutting a tree trunk, the method comprising:

extending an aerial boom from a vehicle;

articulating a cutting head assembly connected to the aerial boom via an actuator assembly, wherein articulating comprises rotating the cutting head assembly relative to an axis of the boom;

activating a trunk clamp on the cutting head assembly to secure a portion of the tree trunk;

activating a trunk cutting mechanism to sever an upper portion of the tree trunk; and

moving the aerial boom while the severed upper portion of the trunk is secured in the trunk clamp.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the trunk cutting mechanism comprises a chainsaw blade.