Apparatus for general tree trimming or precision tree trimming
First Claim
1. A tree trimming apparatus comprising:
- a transport vehicle;
an aerial boom having a boom axis and attached to the transport vehicle at a near end of the aerial boom;
a cutter head assembly comprising one or more 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 a first axial rotator for turning the cutter head assembly relative to the boom axis, the first axial rotator comprising a rotating swivel for carrying hydraulic fluid; and
a plurality of hydraulically powered tree maintenance accessories interchangeably connected to the cutter head assembly and connected to at least one of the one or more hydraulic couplings, wherein the plurality of hydraulically powered tree maintenance accessories are controlled by the hydraulic fluid via an associated one of the one or more hydraulic couplings;
wherein the plurality of hydraulically powered tree maintenance accessories interchangeably connected to the cutter head assembly are separately detachable and attachable to the cutter head assembly; and
wherein the plurality of hydraulically powered tree maintenance accessories comprise at least one clamp and at least one cutter.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
64 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A tree trimming apparatus comprising:
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a transport vehicle; an aerial boom having a boom axis and attached to the transport vehicle at a near end of the aerial boom; a cutter head assembly comprising one or more 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 a first axial rotator for turning the cutter head assembly relative to the boom axis, the first axial rotator comprising a rotating swivel for carrying hydraulic fluid; and a plurality of hydraulically powered tree maintenance accessories interchangeably connected to the cutter head assembly and connected to at least one of the one or more hydraulic couplings, wherein the plurality of hydraulically powered tree maintenance accessories are controlled by the hydraulic fluid via an associated one of the one or more hydraulic couplings; wherein the plurality of hydraulically powered tree maintenance accessories interchangeably connected to the cutter head assembly are separately detachable and attachable to the cutter head assembly; and wherein the plurality of hydraulically powered tree maintenance accessories comprise at least one clamp and at least one cutter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A tree trimming apparatus comprising:
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a transport vehicle; an aerial boom having a boom axis and attached to the transport vehicle at a near end of the aerial boom; a cutter head assembly comprising one or more 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 interchangeably connected to the cutter head assembly and to one of the one or more hydraulic couplings, wherein each of the hydraulically powered limb clamp and the hydraulically powered limb shear are separately detachable and attachable to the cutter head assembly. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A tree trimming apparatus comprising:
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a transport vehicle; an aerial boom attached to the transport vehicle at a near end of the aerial boom; a cutter head assembly connected to a far end of the aerial boom, the cutter head assembly comprising one or more hydraulic couplings; a plurality of hydraulically powered tree maintenance accessories interchangeably connected to the cutter head assembly and to at least one of the one or more hydraulic couplings, wherein the plurality of hydraulically powered tree maintenance accessories are separately attachable to and detachable from the cutter head assembly; a liquid chemical supply tank attached to the aerial boom; at least one sprayer for dispensing a liquid chemical from the liquid chemical supply tank, the liquid chemical dispensed proximate to at least one of the plurality of hydraulically powered tree maintenance accessories. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification