TREE CUTTING AND PILING APPARATUS

• US 3,664,391 A
• Filed: 03/16/1970
• Issued: 05/23/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Horace D. Coffey
• Original Assignee: Horace D. Coffey
• Inventors: Coffey, Horace D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schran, Donald R.
• Application Number:
  US05/019,696
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 143/32,32N,32D,43N 144/3D,34
• US Class Current: 83/151
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/081 Feller-bunchers, i.e. with bunching by felling head A01G23/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/2077 By kerf entering guide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/2183 Product mover including gripper means

Abstract

Apparatus having a mast the upper end of which is secured to a boom and the lower end of which supports a saw. Gripping devices on the mast grasp and hold a tree as the tree is engaged by the saw. The saw includes a support plate which is entered into the kerf as the cut progresses and, at the completion of the cut, the support plate can be used to form a seat for the butt end of the tree. The gripping devices are independently operable to obtain a grip on a second tree while a first tree is still clamped to the mast. The connection between the boom and mast is such that the mast is rotatable to a horizontal position wherein the tree is suspended below the mast which is movable by the boom both vertically and horizontally to deposit the tree at an adjacent unloading site.

Claims

1. Apparatus for cutting and piling trees comprising a vertically and horizontally movable boom, a mast supported by the boom and adapted to be positioned extending longitudinally of a tree, power operated grapple means on the mast for clamping the tree to said mast, tree cutting means near the lower end of the mast and including an endwise movable support plate disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said mast, first power means for moving the support plate towards and away from the tree, said support plate being enterable beneath the butt end of the tree as a cut progresses eventually to form a stop against downward movement of the cut tree clamped to the mast by the grapple means, said grapple means comprising a plurality of grapples longitudinally spaced apart on the mast and having tree embracing arms projecting outwardly therefrom, one of said grapples having arms including front portions and hinged extensions adapted to fold towards the mast, spring means biasing each hinged extension into a normally aligned position with its front portion, said grapples being independently operable to clamp a second tree to the mast after a first tree is clamped thereto.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and including a V-notched plate near each end of the mast, said V-notched plates co-operating with the grapple means to hold a cut tree against movement laterally of the mast.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and including mounting means securing an upper end of the mast to an outer end of the boom, said mounting means supporting the mast for rotational movement about two axes of rotation disposed at right angles to one another;

and second power means for rotating the mast about each axis of rotation whereby said mast is movable between a substantially vertical, forwardly facing, cutting position and a substantially horizontal, downwardly facing, piling position.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which said second power means comprises a sprocket non-rotatably mounted on a spindle included in the mounting means, an idler sprocket journalled in the mast near the lower end thereof, a drive chain trained over the sprockets, and a fluid cylinder and piston rod therefor mounted in the mast and being operatively connected to the drive chain to move said drive chain in either direction.

5. Apparatus for cutting and piling trees comprising a vertically and horizontally movable boom, a mast supported by the boom and adapted to be positioned extending longitudinally of a tree, power operated grapple means on the mast fOr clamping the tree to said mast, tree cutting means near the lower end of the mast and including side members carried by said mast and adapted to straddle the tree during a cutting operation, a support plate extending between the side members and being slidably supported thereby, an endless saw chain slidably mounted in a peripheral groove formed in the support plate, means for rotating the saw chain about the support plate, and power means for moving the support plate endwise towards and away from the tree, said support plate being enterable beneath the butt end of the tree as a cut progresses while remaining supported by the side members whereby eventually to form a stop against downward movement of the cut tree clamped to the mast by the grapple means.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which said support plate has a tapered front end which wedges open the kerf cut by the saw chain.