Tree cutting and wood manipulating grapple
First Claim
1. A gripping apparatus for rotatable mounting on a vehicle, comprising a segmented articulated boom and a gripping head rotatably mounted thereto, wherein said boom is provided with multiple articulations and said head comprises:
- a rotary coupling for rotation thereof relative to the boom;
a pivot for pivotal movement of said head relative to said boom; and
opposing jaw members, said jaw members each comprising teeth, said teeth each having a base, said teeth each being pivotally mounted at its base to said head and linked to drive means adapted to apply an even force to all of said jaw members to cause said jaw members to evenly grip an object, said rotary coupling comprising an axle rotatably housed within an axle housing mounted to said boom and said head, respectively, for the continuous rotation of said head relative to said boom.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gripping apparatus is provided that may be rotatably mounted on a vehicle, comprising an articulated boom with a gripping head rotatably and pivotally mounted thereto. The head is provided with opposable jaws comprising jaw members that apply an even pressure to an object being gripped. A saw may be pivotally mounted to the head. A drive coupling may be provided to provide a continuous rotary link between hydraulic lines on the boom with lines the head. The coupling comprises a coupling body rotatably housed within a sheath with a groove between the coupling body and the sheath. The groove permits fluid to be transmitted from the body to the sheath while they are rotated relative to each other. The boom may be provided with a link joining two of the segments, provided with dual articulated cylinder mounts on opposing sides and capable of permitting approximately 360 degrees of rotation between the segments.
41 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A gripping apparatus for rotatable mounting on a vehicle, comprising a segmented articulated boom and a gripping head rotatably mounted thereto, wherein said boom is provided with multiple articulations and said head comprises:
- a rotary coupling for rotation thereof relative to the boom;
a pivot for pivotal movement of said head relative to said boom; and
opposing jaw members, said jaw members each comprising teeth, said teeth each having a base, said teeth each being pivotally mounted at its base to said head and linked to drive means adapted to apply an even force to all of said jaw members to cause said jaw members to evenly grip an object, said rotary coupling comprising an axle rotatably housed within an axle housing mounted to said boom and said head, respectively, for the continuous rotation of said head relative to said boom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- a rotary coupling for rotation thereof relative to the boom;
- 12. A boom comprised of segments pivotally engaged to each other, and having between at least two of said segments adjacent to each other a linkage pivotally connecting said two adjacent segments, said linkage comprising a linkage body pivotally engaged to both of said segments, said segments having upper and lower faces, said linkage comprising a linkage body having upper and lower portions, said linkage body being pivotally engaged to both of said segments and having first and second articulated mount arms each having first and second ends, said first arm being pivotally engaged at a first end thereof to said upper portion of said linkage body and said second arm being pivotally engaged at a first end thereof to said lower portion of said linkage body, both of said arms being pivotally elongated at said second end to a corresponding boom segment, said boom further including longitudinally extensible expansion means extending from said upper and lower faces, respectively, of said boom segments.
- 16. A gripping head for mounting on a boom for tree cutting, said head having opposing jaw members comprised of teeth, each of said teeth having a base, said teeth each being pivotally mounted at its base to said head and linked to drive means adapted to apply an even force to all of said jaw members to cause said jaw members to evenly grip an object.
- 18. A vehicle having a tree cutting apparatus mounted to a bed thereof, said apparatus comprising a segmented articulated boom rotatably mounted to the truck and a cutting head pivotally mounted to said boom, said cutting head having a rotary coupling for the continuous rotation thereof relative to the boom and pivotal jaw members linked to drive means adapted to apply an even actuating force to all jaw members to cause said jaw members to evenly grip an object.
Specification