Harvesters – Motorized harvester – Having motor on ground-supported carrier
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-19
2001-02-27
Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3671)
Harvesters
Motorized harvester
Having motor on ground-supported carrier
C056S012100, C056S014700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192665
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to brush cutters. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a self-powered brush cutter provided with a cutter head mounted to the end of an articulated boom.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Brush cutters are well known in the art and may usually be divided into two different classes: manually handled brush cutters and self-powered brush cutters.
Manually handled brush cutters, whether they are powered by the user, by an electric motor or by an internal combustion engine are conventionally used for brush cutting small areas.
On the other hand, self-powered brush cutters are usually larger and used in large areas.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,522 issued to Serge Munger on Feb. 13, 1990 and entitled “Hydraulic powered arm of balance cutter device”, illustrates a cutter device mounted to the articulated boom of a conventional earth moving machine to thereby yield a self-powered brush cutter.
Munger's self-powered brush cutter has many drawbacks, such as, for example:
the earth moving machine is relatively large and heavy, thereby restricting the use of the brush cutter to large and open spaces;
the use of longs endless tracks makes it difficult to keep an even distance between the brush cutter head and the ground when the earth moving machine moves on uneven ground;
the use of a conventional articulated boom decreases the user's field of view in the vicinity of the cutter head;
the relatively large opening in the blade guards allow cut brush wood to become wrapped around the shaft of the motor, thereby requiring regular cleaning of the cutter head, which reduces efficiency;
the front blade guard is fixedly mounted to the cutter head, preventing cutting action of the front of the blade during forward movement; and
the underside of the blade guards are convex, thereby presenting a larger front area which requires more power to move forward.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved self-powered brush cutter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a self-powered brush cutter comprising:
a carrier including:
a first frame assembly having first and second opposite sides, a front end and a rear end;
a second frame assembly provided with a front end and a ground engaging assembly;
a joint element connecting the front end of the second frame assembly to the rear end of the first frame assembly;
first and second tandem arms so respectively mounted to the first and second opposite sides of the first frame assembly as to pivot about a common pivot axis; each first and second tandem arms including two ground engaging elements;
a power unit mounted to one of the first and second frame assembly; the power unit powering the ground engaging elements;
an articulated boom assembly having a proximate end and a distal end; the proximate end being mounted to the front end of the first frame assembly;
a cutter head pivotally mounted to the distal end of the boom.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an articulated boom assembly for a brush cutter comprising a frame; the articulated boom assembly including:
a base element so mounted to the frame as to pivot about a first pivot axis; the base element including a first pivot pin defining a second pivot axis generally perpendicular to the first pivot axis;
a first actuator mounted between the frame and the base element to selectively pivot the base element about the first pivot axis;
a primary arm having a proximate end so mounted to the first pivot pin of the base element as to pivot about the second pivot axis; the primary arm also having a distal end provided with a second pivot pin defining a third pivot axis generally parallel to the second pivot axis; the primary arm being generally tubular;
a second actuator mounted between the base element and the primary arm to selectively pivot the primary arm about the second pivot axis;
a secondary arm having a proximate end so mounted to second pivot pin of the distal end of the primary arm as to pivot about the third pivot axis; the secondary arm also having a distal end; the second arm being generally tubular;
a third actuator mounted between the primary arm and the secondary arm to selectively pivot the secondary arm about the third pivot axis;
a brush cutter head mounting element so mounted to the distal end of the secondary arm as to pivot about a fourth pivot axis;
an angular adjustment mechanism mounted between the base element and the brush cutter head mounting element both to adjust the pivot angle of the brush cutter head mounting element and to maintain this pivot angle; the angular adjustment mechanism including:
a first gear mounted to the first pivot pin;
a second gear mounted to the second pivot pin;
a first chain loop cooperatively mounted to the first and second gears and enclosed in the primary arm;
a third gear mounted to the second pivot pin;
a fourth gear mounted to the brush cutter head mounting element;
a second chain loop cooperatively mounted to the third and fourth gears and enclosed in the secondary arm;
fourth actuator mounted between the base element and the first pivot pin to adjust the angular position of the first pivot pin about the second pivot axis;
whereby a) the angular position of the brush cutter head mounting element may be adjusted via the adjustment of the first pivot pin via the fourth actuator; b) the angular position of the brush cutter head mounting element is maintained generally constant during the movement of the primary and secondary arms about respective second and third pivot axis.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a brush cutter head attachment comprising:
a longitudinal frame;
a rotary actuator having a body mounted to the longitudinal frame and a transversal driving shaft;
a relatively thin brush cutter blade mounted to the driving shaft; the relatively cutter blade having a generally circular central portion and at least four peripheral teeth integral with the central portion;
at least two generally flat lateral blade guards so mounted to the longitudinal frame as to exceed the cutter blade; each the at least two blade guards having a brush cutter blade opening including:
a relatively narrow central portion configured and sized to allow the central portion of the cutter blade therethrough;
two relatively wide opposite end portions configured and sized to allow the peripheral teeth of the cutter blade therethrough;
whereby, the relatively wide opposite end portions of the brush cutter blade opening safely allow the peripheral teeth therethrough even when accidental deformation of one of the at least four teeth occurs.
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Asselin Jean-Guy
Fortier Raymond
Goudreau Gage Dubuc
Petravick Meredith C.
Sylfor Inc.
Will Thomas B.
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