Woodworking – Special-work machine – Tree delimbing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-25
2001-07-24
Tolan, Ed (Department: 3725)
Woodworking
Special-work machine
Tree delimbing
C144S208100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263931
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a trimming member arrangement for a tree trimming device and more particularly to a trimming member arrangement having a knife portion angled relative to a tree trunk surface and a tree engaging device, spaced a distance from the knife edge, for adjusting the transverse position of the trimming member relative to the tree trunk.
BACKGROUND ART
Typically, tree trimming devices are provided with a harvester head of the type used with tree harvesting machines. Such trimming devices are used to delimb and debark trees. Some tree trimming devices may include one or more trimming members which are pivotally connected to the harvesting head frame and are operable to pivot laterally in relation to the tree trunk. The tree trimming members are pivotally movable into position about the trunk of the tree being trimmed. At this position it is assumed that trimming members are adequately pressed against the circumference of the tree trunk and in position to trim the tree. The tree trimming device also typically includes a driving device which is operable to longitudinally translate the tree relative to the harvesting head frame. Upon the aforementioned translation, knife portions provided on the trimming members sever the tree limbs, remove the bark, or both.
Tree trimming devices of the aforementioned variety are typically “one-size-fits-all”. In other words, they provide very little in regards to on-site modifications to most efficiently match the tree trimming device with the characteristics of the forest being harvested. Applicant is aware of prior art attempts to alleviate the above prior art shortcomings. For example, Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,168 teaches a actuator operated first control device having a tree engaging portion moveably connected to the first trimming member which is operable to selectively establish the relative transverse position of the first trimming member relative to the tree trunk. Though such an arrangement performs adequately, it is desirable to both simplify the design and to provide the tree trimming device with further tree variety-matching capabilities in order to most efficiently perform trimming operations regardless of the variety of tree to be harvested
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, a trimming apparatus for a tree harvesting head having a frame and a driving device connected to the frame and moveable so as to translate a tree trunk longitudinally relative to the frame is provided. The term trimming, in the context of this invention includes tree trunk stripping functions such as delimbing and debarking. The trimming apparatus has a first trimming member having a tree trunk facing side. A first tree engaging device is attached to the first trimming member and is adapted for maintaining the first trimming member at a position relative to the tree trunk during longitudinal translation of the tree trunk.
In another aspect of the present invention, A tree harvesting head is provided. The harvesting head includes a frame and at least one trimming member connected to and movable relative to the frame. Also provided is a driving device connected to the frame and movable to translate a tree trunk longitudinally relative to the frame, and a tree engaging device attachable with at least one trimming and adapted for maintaining the trimming member at a transverse position relative to the tree trunk. Also, each trimming member includes a knife portion having an knife edge portion structured and arranged to form an angle relative to a surface of the tree trunk when situated adjacent the tree trunk, and the tree engaging device is attachable with said trimming member at a distance remote from the knife edge portion. In addition, each trimming member has a substantially concave tree trunk facing side portion substantially between the knife edge portion and the tree engaging device.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a tree engaging device for use with a tree harvesting head having at least one trimming member is provided. The tree engaging device has a tree engaging portion adapted to engage a surface of the tree trunk, and an attachment portion attached to the tree engaging portion and structured and arranged for coupling said tree engaging portion to said trimming member.
In even yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of trimming a variety of tree types having tree trunks with a harvesting head having a frame, a driving device connected to the frame, and a first trimming member pivotally connected to the frame, and where the first trimming member having a tree engaging device and a knife portion attached therewith, comprises the steps of selecting a knife portion, having an angles edge portion, for the type of tree to be harvested, attaching the knife portion to the first trimming member, adjusting the tree engaging device so as to adjust a transverse position relative to the tree trunk of the first trimming member, positioning the frame of the harvesting head adjacent the tree trunk, moving the first trimming member relative to the frame to a position at which the tree engaging device is engaged with the tree trunk, and moving a one of the tree and harvesting head relative to an other of the tree and harvesting head and trimming the tree with the trimming member.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4194542 (1980-03-01), Eriksson
patent: 4369824 (1983-01-01), Dressler et al.
patent: 4515192 (1985-05-01), Eriksson
patent: 4769909 (1988-09-01), Ducret
patent: 4922976 (1990-05-01), Hacker
patent: 4974648 (1990-12-01), Propst
patent: 5219010 (1993-06-01), Eriksson
patent: 5975168 (1999-11-01), Ericksson
patent: 6070627 (2000-06-01), Hamby, Jr.
patent: 791537 (1980-12-01), None
patent: 1253793 (1986-02-01), None
Caterpillar S.A.R.L.
Smith James R.
Tolan Ed
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