Woodworking – Special-work machine – Tree delimbing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-23
2001-07-24
Tolan, Ed (Department: 3725)
Woodworking
Special-work machine
Tree delimbing
C144S004100, C144S034100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263932
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an aerial tree harvesting apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 2,707,008 which issued in 1955 to Bannister discloses a method and apparatus for harvesting trees using a helicopter. All of the logging operations are controlled from the helicopter, eliminating the need for a ground based logging crew. The Bannister apparatus performed a series of steps sequentially, during which time the helicopter hovered over the tree being harvested. The length of time required to prepare the tree for transport, undermined the financial feasibility of aerial tree harvesting. A form of aerial tree harvesting apparatus using a different concept was developed in Russia and is illustrated in Russian Patent 2,044,458 which issued in 1995.
While helicopters are commonly used in logging operations today, helicopters are merely used as means for transporting logs felled by ground based logging crews. Aerial tree harvesting without the use of ground based felling crews, as envisaged by Bannister, will not become a commercial reality until better aerial tree harvesting apparatus are developed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is an improved aerial tree harvesting apparatus.
According to the present invention there is provided an aerial tree harvesting apparatus which includes a first body and a second body having co-axial bores defining a tree receiving opening. The first body has at least one attachment for suspending the first body from a hovering aerial craft. The second body is suspended by cables from the first body. Delimbing members are mounted to the second body about the tree receiving opening. The delimbing members sever limbs from the tree positioned in the tree receiving opening when the second body is lowered. A severing saw is secured to the second body and pivotally movable from a rest position adjacent the tree receiving opening transversely across the tree receiving opening, thereby severing the trunk of the tree positioned in the tree receiving opening. Arms are pivotally secured to at least one of the first body and the second body for movement between a first position spaced apart at a periphery of the tree receiving opening and a second position encroaching upon the tree receiving opening thereby clamping upon a trunk of a tree positioned within the tree receiving opening.
The aerial tree harvesting apparatus, as described above, can rapidly perform all operations necessary to delimb, fell and transport a tree. The apparatus is lowered from a hovering aerial craft, such as a helicopter, until a trunk of a tree is positioned within the tree receiving opening of the second body. As the second body is lowered the delimbing members in the form of either fixed or rotating blades sever limbs from the tree. When the second body has been lowered to just above ground level, the trunk of the tree is severed by passing the severing saw transversely across the tree receiving opening. The arms are activated, preferably by hydraulics, to move them to the second position where they firmly grip the trunk of the tree. The tree does not fall upon being severed, as it is held by the arms and supported from the air by the helicopter. The helicopter then lifts the tree into the air and transports it to a drop off site. The tree is released by returning the arms to the first position spaced apart at the periphery of the tree receiving opening.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the aerial tree harvesting apparatus, as described above, rather than lowering the helicopter, it is easier to lower the second body relative to the first body. Even more beneficial results may, therefore, be obtained when a cable feed mechanism is provided to decrease or increase the length of the cables to raise or lower the second body relative to the first body.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2707008 (1955-04-01), Bannister
patent: 3394744 (1968-07-01), Vit et al.
patent: 3529642 (1970-09-01), Kamner et al.
patent: 3532141 (1970-10-01), Kamner et al.
patent: 3536113 (1970-10-01), Sutherland
patent: 3576203 (1971-04-01), Cote
patent: 3651845 (1972-03-01), Propst
patent: 3997135 (1976-12-01), Peterson
patent: 4121777 (1978-10-01), Kolstad et al.
patent: 4441750 (1984-04-01), Reber
patent: 4662414 (1987-05-01), Fandrich
patent: 4815263 (1989-03-01), Hartung et al.
patent: 4984757 (1991-01-01), Hartung et al.
patent: 5042727 (1991-08-01), Plante
patent: 5305072 (1994-04-01), Sawada et al.
patent: 5305972 (1994-04-01), Hancocks
patent: 5445197 (1995-08-01), Larsson
patent: 2044458 (1995-09-01), None
patent: 584823 (1977-12-01), None
patent: 99/53748 (1999-10-01), None
Christensen O'Connor Johnson & Kindness PLLC
Tolan Ed
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