Implements or apparatus for applying pushing or pulling force – Apparatus for hauling or hoisting load – including driven... – Device includes rotatably driven – cable contacting drum
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-12
2001-05-15
Marcelo, Emmanuel M. (Department: 3653)
Implements or apparatus for applying pushing or pulling force
Apparatus for hauling or hoisting load, including driven...
Device includes rotatably driven, cable contacting drum
C254S325000, C254S334000, C414S460000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231030
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to log skidders utilized in the removal of logs by first hoisting one end of a group of logs and then dragging the load, more particularly to trailed single axis wheeled log skidders, and most specifically to trailed single axis wheeled log skidders utilizing an electric winch with the power supply on board in cooperation with a fixed, rigid, substantially vertical hoist support frame.
GENERAL BACKGROUND
Log skidders are first considered in two fundamental groups: (a) self powered; and (b) trailed. Conventional self powered type log skidders are generally comprised of a comparatively massive and powerful vehicle typically utilizing a pivoted hoist or boom operated by a hydraulic cylinder. Conventional trailed type log skidders also typically possess a pivoted hoist or boom operated by a hydraulic cylinder. Both self powered and trailed conventional type log skidders further typically use a pivoting rigid grapple to grasp one end of a group of logs and simply drag this load by the grapple after retraction of the boom effecting elevation of the load. And both types of conventional log skidders are further generally characterized by either comprising, or being suited for operation in conjunction with, an off road tractor possessing large driven wheels fitted with tires possessing a protruding tread intended to provide considerable traction in loose soil by digging into and displacing the same which action is considered detrimental to vegetation both directly by uprooting the same and indirectly through the loss of topsoil eroded due to the displacement of the topsoil by the protruding tread of the off road tractor drive wheels which is further exacerbated by the loss of vegetation. It is generally recognized that the degradation of the environment due to the disturbing and loss of topsoil and vegetation during a skidding operation is largely the consequence of utilizing comparatively massive vehicles for economic removal of trees from a harvest site and that the use of protruding tread tires specifically is destructive of the ecosystem dependent upon stationary topsoil.
The loss of topsoil may be of concern to a commercial logging operation but the use of relatively massive vehicles for skidding a dozen trees at a time and requiring tires with protruding tread is considered necessary for economic operation. For a private owner of wooded property, who isn't concerned with the economic benefit of harvesting timber as much as with avoiding disturbance of that property, a much smaller and less intrusive means of skidding just one large tree or several smaller trees at once is considered attractive. The difference between a commercial log skidder and a skidder suited for personal use and the characteristics appropriate to each are thus outlined as prelude to a review of the prior art considered pertinent to the present invention.
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
A self powered log skidder of basically conventional type but further possessing a fixed hoist lower than the pivoted hoist with grapple is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,841,507 issued Oct. 15, 1974 to Barwise for a ‘Load Handling Apparatus’. A trailed log skidder of basically conventional type with pivoted hydraulic cylinder operated hoist but further possessing a “superstructure cable bearing such as a roller arrangement or fairlead” utilized in combination with a skidding cable operated by a winch is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,135 issued Jan. 3, 1989 to Scott for a ‘Power Driven Trailed Skidder Vehicle’. This latter reference further provides “for power driven operation in coordination with a tractor” which is considered typical of conventional trailed log skidders.
Perhaps the most common or well known use of a trailer mounted hoist is for hauling boats. U.S. Pat. No. 2,571,361 issued to Harmanson discloses a boat trailer and a modified A frame pivoted drum operated hoist with two wheels positioned immediately ahead of the medially located hoist pivot. U.S. Pat. No. 3,625,267 issued to Welborn Dec. 7, 1971 for a ‘Stump Removal Machine’ discloses a triangular horizontal frame and two rear located wheels which uses a hydraulically positioned chain driven toothed rotor to grind stumps. Neither of these references disclose a skidder but each is in a field peripherally related to the characteristics anticipated of a skidder for personal use as opposed to commercial skidders, both by two wheeled trailer A frame construction and the first utilizing a modified A frame hoist, the second also being concerned broadly with tree removal.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,850,304 issued to Howell discloses a ‘Radio Controlled Skyline Skidder’ which windrows logs with a yarding operation vehicle riding a cable using a radio controlled winch to pull logs into line with the cable on which the yarding vehicle returns to the yard. U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,019 issued to Morrissey Mar. 2, 1999 discloses a ‘Winching Apparatus For All-Terrain Vehicle’ intended for assisting in the removal of game from the woods which is fixed to a frame on the ATV, has a manually cranked hoist supported by a pivoted A frame which is secured with a forward guy line when used to hoist the game up. This last reference is not a log skidder but it possesses aspects anticipated in a personal log skidder as discussed above including a hoist and attachment to an ATV which is recognized as an appropriately small four wheel drive vehicle suited to log removal on private property and opposed to commercial logging.
The prior art considered most pertinent to the present invention discloses, in reverse order of the discussion above:
(a) a pivoted manually cranked hoist attached to an ATV for hoisting game;
(b) radio control of a winch on a log skidder riding a cable;
(c) a stump removal machine possessing a substantially triangular frame and two wheels;
(d) a boat trailer possessing two wheels and a pivoted support hoist;
(e) a trailed log, skidder with conventional hoist and a “superstructure cable bearing” used in conjunction with a winch operated skidder cable;
(f) a self powered log skidder with conventional hoist and a secondary fixed support for a winch operated cable.
While many of the above noted elements possessed of the prior art are considered desirable in a light weight log skidder intended to minimize topsoil disruption the prior art fails to disclose any vehicle truly adapted to removal of a log or three without tearing up the topsoil.
The height and pivoted construction prevents the ATV hoist from being capable of skidding a single log. While remote operation of an electric winch is considered a desirable feature, a yarding vehicle adapted to ride a cable during windrowing is wholly inappropriate to removing a tree or three while minimizing property damage. The triangular frame of the stump removal machine is considered a useful aspect to construction of a suitably small log skidder but the machine is incapable of skidding a single log. A hoist and the use of two wheels on a small trailed log skidder is considered desirable but a boat trailer with a pivoted hoist support adapted to haul a boat onto the trailer is otherwise unsuited to log skidding.
Both the trailed and self powered skidders with conventional pivoted hoist supports operated with a hydraulic cylinder discussed possess additional features which are considered to bear a resemblance to features desired in a small trailed log skidder minimizing topsoil disturbance but the conventional aspects are wholly unsatisfactory and neither machine is capable of being used in conjunction with an ATV or other small four wheel drive vehicle as necessary to avoid significant topsoil damage or prohibitive expense to the average property owner.
Statement of Need
Because there is no known small, lightweight, trailed log skidder adapted for use with an ATV or other small four wheeled drive land vehicle which is efficient in facilitating the removal of a log while minimizing topsoil disturbance a need for the same is therefore considered to exist
Gibson Peter
Marcelo Emmanuel M.
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