Tree harvesting apparatus

• US 6,640,850 B1
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weiler Forestry Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Hicks, Keith B.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRAY, WAYMOND D
• Application Number:
  US10/195,003
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 144/4.1, 144/34.1, 144/34.5, 144/336, 838/53, 838/55, 839/28
• US Class Current: 144/4.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/091 Sawing apparatus specially adapted for felling trees A01G23/081, A01G23/083, A01G23/093 take precedence

Abstract

A tree harvesting apparatus is provided. The harvesting apparatus comprises a frame member, a cutting device mounted to the frame member, and at least one cutting member attached to the cutting device. A base member partially overlays the cutting device. A tree accumulation member is positioned adjacent the base member and is co-planar therewith and extends over at least a portion of the cutting member.

Claims

1. A harvesting apparatus for harvesting trees, comprising:

a frame member;

a cutting device mounted to said frame member;

at least one cutting member attached to said cutting device;

a base member partially overlaying said cutting device;

a tree accumulation member adjacent to said base member and co-planar therewith; and

said tree accumulation member extending over at least a portion of said cutting member.

2. The harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a tree securing device coupled to said frame member.

3. The harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said tree securing device comprises at least one arm.

4. The harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said tree securing device comprises at least two arms;

said frame member includes a first side and a second side; and

at least two arms are coupled to said frame member on one of said first side or said second side.

5. The harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said tree securing device comprises at least two arms;

said frame member includes a first side and a second side; and

at least one said of arm is coupled to said frame member on said first side, and at least one said arm is coupled to said frame member on said second side.

6. The harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cutting device comprises a circular saw.

7. The harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base member and said tree accumulation member comprise a unitary structure.

8. A harvesting apparatus for harvesting trees, comprising:

a frame member;

a cutting device, mounted to said frame member, having a central portion and an outer rim portion;

a support plate partially overlaying said cutting device; and

said cutting device being separated from said support plate by a separation distance wherein said separation distance increases from a location adjacent said central portion to said outer rim portion.

9. The harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein:

said support plate comprises a tree accumulation member and a base member; and

a top surface of said tree accumulation member is substantially co-planar with a top surface of said base member.

10. The harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 8 further comprising at least one cutting member attached to said cutting device.

11. The tree harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said support plate extends over at least a portion of said cutting member.

12. The harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a tree securing device coupled to said frame member.

13. The harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said tree securing device comprises at least one arm.

14. The harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein:

said tree securing device comprises at least two arms;

said frame member includes a first side and a second side; and

at least two said arms are coupled to said frame member on one of said first side or said second side.

15. The harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

said tree securing device comprises at least two arms;

said frame member includes a first side and a second side; and

at least one of said arm is coupled to said frame member on said first side, and at least one of said arms is coupled to said frame member on said second side.

16. A cutting device for felling trees and for use with a cutting member attachable to the cutting device, the cutting member defining an upper cutting plane, comprising:

a central portion;

an outer rim portion adapted to receive the cutting member;

a web portion, having a web portion upper surface, located between said central portion and said outer rim portion;

said web portion upper surface separated from said upper cutting plane adjacent said central portion by a first distance;

said web portion upper surface separated from said upper cutting plane adjacent said outer rim portion by a second distance; and

said second distance being greater than said first distance.

17. The cutting device as set forth in claim 16 wherein said web portion has a thickness decreasing from said central portion to said outer rim portion.

18. The cutting device as set forth in claim 16 wherein said web portion upper surface is substantially concave.

19. The cutting device as set forth in claim 16 wherein said web portion upper surface is substantially convex.