AU735836B3 - Vegetation control unit - Google Patents

Description

1 P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A PETTY PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: LYLE WILLIAMS AHEARN FOX Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, GPO Box 1149 Brisbane, Queensland, 4001 Invention Title: VEGETATION CONTROL UNIT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: -1 -CJ VEGETATION CONTROL UNIT Technical Field This invention relates to a vegetation control unit and in particular to a vegetation control unit incorporating a mulching or mowing head which may be mounted on a boom supported on a prime mover for mulching or mowing vegetation at a position spaced from the prime mover.

Background Art Many different types of mowing and mulching apparatus are available and used for example by local authorities which have the responsibility for mowing and/or mulching of vegetation in open public space areas such as roadside verges, or parks.

Where roadside verges are to be mown, particularly where the verges are angled steeply to a road or in other areas which are difficult to access, the mowing or mulching apparatus used may include a boom which carries a mowing head which can mow vegetation at a position spaced from the prime mover carrying the mowing head. Larger flat areas can be mown with tractor drawn slashers. A particular problem however is encountered with waterway areas as environmental concerns require that grass or other vegetation cut around a waterway does not enter the waterway. Conventional slashers thus cannot be used in such circumstances. Further the currently available boom mounted mowers have also proved not to be effective in preventing cut grass, vegetation or other trash entering a waterway. Another disadvantage of boom mounted mowing apparatus is that they have limited range and cannot often clear some vegetation. Usually also the boom is independent of the cab of the vehicle and thus is sometimes difficult to manipulate.

The present invention thus aims to provide mowing or mulching apparatus which overcomes or at least alleviates one or more of the above disadvantages. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

In one aspect the present invention resides broadly in mowing or mulching apparatus adapted to be mounted to the boom /cwi105101. upd assembly of a prime mover, said apparatus including a support arm, means for mounting the upper end of said support arm to said boom assembly whereby said support arm extends downwardly from said arm, and a mowing or mulching head pivotally mounted to the lower end of said support arm for movement about an axis extending transversely of said support arm and means for selectively pivoting said mowing or mulching head about said pivot axis.

Preferably, said mowing or mulching head includes a bracket assembly and said mowing and mulching head is mounted to said support arm for pivoting movement about said transverse axis by said bracket assembly.

Preferably, selectively operable actuating means are provided for pivoting said mowing and mulching head about said transverse axis via said bracket assembly. It is also preferred that said actuating means include a hydraulic ram having one end secured to said support arm and the other end secured to said bracket assembly.

Preferably, said mowing or mulching head is operatively connected to said bracket assembly for pivoting movement about a normal axis extending substantially normal to the plane of operation of said mowing or mulching head. In a preferred form, said bracket assembly includes a turntable assembly which enables the said mowing or mulching head to be pivoted through about about said normal axis. In such form, said turntable assembly includes a first part mounted to the lower end of said support arm for movement about said transverse axis and a second part secured to said mowing or mulching head, said second part being connected to said first part for pivoting movement relative thereto about said normal axis, and locking means for locking said second part in a selected desired position relative to said first part.

Preferably, said mowing and mulching head includes catcher means for catching vegetation cut by said mowing or mulching rotor.

/cwil05101. wpd -3- Preferably, said mowing or mulching head includes an elongate housing extending transversely of said support arm and a mowing or mulching rotor in said housing, and a hydraulic motor operatively mounted on said housing and drivingly connected to said mowing or mulching rotor. In such form of the invention, it is preferred that said catcher includes an open mouthed bin mounted to said elongate housing, the open mouth of the bin being located adjacent said mowing or mulching rotor and being positioned to receive vegetation cut by said mowing and mulching rotor, said bin being mounted to said housing for pivoting movement about an axis extending longitudinally of said housing, between a closed position in which vegetation is retained in said bin and an open position in which vegetation is allowed to fall from said bin, and opening and closing means for moving said bin from said open position to said closed position and vice versa.

It is also preferred that said longitudinally extending axis be disposed along an upper edge of said bin adjacent said open mouth, and that said opening and closing means includes a hydraulic ram connected at one end to said bin and at the other end to said housing. The mowing or mulching rotor may include any suitable number and arrangement of blades or flails depending on the type of operation to be performed, for example, simple mowing, brush cutting, mulching, digging etc.

In another aspect the invention resides broadly in a vegetation control unit including: a prime mover; a boom assembly mounted to said prime mover; a support arm mounted to an outer end of said boom assembly and extending downwardly therefrom; a mowing or mulching head mounted to the lower end of said support arm for movement about an axis extending transversely of said support arm, said mowing or mulching head including a bracket assembly and being mounted to said support arm by said bracket assembly for pivoting movement about said transverse axis, said mowing or mulching head including an elongate housing extending transversely of said support arm and having a mowing /cwil05101. wpd -4or mulching rotor mounted therein and a hydraulic motor operatively mounted to said elongate housing and drivingly connected to said mowing or mulching rotor; actuating means operatively connected to said mowing or mulching head and said support arm for selectively pivoting said mowing or mulching head about said transverse axis, said actuating means including a hydraulic ram having one end secured to said support arm and the other end secured to said bracket assembly; catcher means for catching vegetation cut by said mowing or mulching rotor, said catcher means including an open mouthed bin mounted to said elongate housing for pivoting movement about an axis extending longitudinally of said housing with the open mouth of the bin being located adjacent said mowing and mulching rotor and being positioned to receive vegetation cut thereby, said bin being adapted for movement about said longitudinally extending axis between a closed position in which vegetation may be retained in said bin and an open position in which vegetation may be allowed to fall from said bin, said longitudinally extending axis being disposed along an upper edge of said bin adjacent said open mouth, and opening and closing means for moving said bin from said open position to said closed position and vice versa, said opening and closing means including a hydraulic ram connected at one end to said bin and at the other end to said housing. In such form of the invention, it is preferred that said mowing or mulching head be operatively connected to said bracket assembly for pivoting movement about a normal axis extending substantially normal to the plane of operation of said mowing or mulching head. It is also preferred that said bracket assembly includes a turntable assembly which enables said mowing or mulching head to be pivoted through 90 degrees about normal axis, said turntable assembly including a first part mounted to the lower end of said support arm for movement about said transverse axis and a second part secured to said mowing or mulching head, said second part being connected to said first part for pivoting movement relative /cwil05101.upd Amended 15 May 2001 thereto about said normal axis, and locking means for locking said second part in a selected desired position relative to said first part.

Preferably said boom assembly is mounted to said prime mover for movement about a transverse axis adjacent the prime mover whereby the attitude of the boom may be varied by raising or lowering of the boom. Preferably also the boom assembly is mounted for pivoting movement about a substantially vertical axis for slewing the boom assembly in a substantially horizontal plane in opposite directions, that is, to the left or to the right.

It is also preferred that said boom assembly include a telescopic boom and that said support arm be secured to the free end of said telescopic boom. In a preferred form said prime mover includes a cab mounted for slewing movement with said boom assembly about the substantially vertical axis and said cab and boom assembly are tiltable both lengthwise and sideways.

Preferably the prime mover is an articulated vehicle having a front section which carries said boom assembly and cab if provided, and a rearward section which carries the engine. Drive to the drive wheels or tracks of the prime mover is preferably by way of hydrostatic transmission. Control of the hydrostatic transmission may be effected by way of foot pedals within the cab which control operation of valves for supplying hydraulic fluid to drive motors associated with the tracks or drive wheels.

Control of the swinging action of the cab and boom assembly, the extension and retraction of the boom assembly, the steering of the prime mover and the elevation of the boom assembly may be by way of joysticks within the cab. In a preferred form, the valves advantageously are arranged to allow forward and reverse ground movement of the prime mover coincidentally with movement of the boom to allow the mowing or mulching head to traverse the ground in any desired pattern while the prime mover is moving.

,-9A In another aspect the invention resides broadly in a mowing nd mulching head for a vegetation control unit, the mowing or ulching head including: an elongate housing having a mowing or mulching rotor mounted therein and a hydraulic motor operatively mounted to said elongate housing and drivingly connected to said mowing or mulching rotor; catcher means for catching vegetation cut by said mowing or mulching rotor, said catcher means including an open mouthed bin mounted to said elongate housing for pivoting movement about an axis extending longitudinally of said housing with the open mouth of the bin being located adjacent said mowing and mulching rotor and being positioned to receive vegetation cut thereby, said bin being adapted for movement about said longitudinally extending axis between a closed position in which vegetation may be retained in said bin and an open position in which vegetation may be allowed to fall from said bin when said mowing or mulching head is raised, said longitudinally extending axis being disposed along an upper edge of said bin adjacent said open mouth, and opening and closing means for moving said bin from said open position to said closed position and vice versa, said opening and closing means including a hydraulic ram connected at one end to said bin and at the other end to said housing.

Preferably said mowing or mulching head includes a bracket assembly adapted to be pivotally mounted to an arm of a prime mover, by which the mowing or mulching head may be raised or lowered or in some cases tilted as required, for example, the crowd arm of an excavator.

Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the -6accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein Fig. 1 illustrates in perspective view of the mowing or mulching apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the mowing or mulching head and support structure therefor; Fig. 3 illustrates in side view, the support structure for the mowing or mulching head; and Fig. 4 illustrates the mowing or mulching head from the rear with the catcher in the open position.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawings and firstly to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a vegetation control unit 10 according to the present invention including an articulated prime mover 11 which supports a telescopic boom assembly 12 which carries via a support structure 13, a mowing or mulching head 14. The prime mover 11 and telescopic boom assembly 12 are of the type used in a logging machine with the prime mover 11 including a cab and boom carrying front section 15 pivotally connected to a rear engine carrying drive section 16. The cab 17 of the prime mover 11 is mounted so as to be capable of tilting lengthwise, that is back and forward about a transverse axis and to opposite sides about a longitudinal axis and hydraulic rams between the front and rear sections 15 and 16 are used for steering the prime mover 11 under the control of an operator in the cab 16. The boom assembly 12 can be raised and lowered by a hydraulic ram 12' from the operator cab 17 and further can swing with the cab 17 in opposite directions, that is to the left or right, and tilt with the cab 17. A counterweight 18 is used to balance the telescopic boom assembly 12 and the support structure 13 and mulching head 14 carried thereby. The telescopic boom assembly 12 includes a boom 19 which is telescopically extendable and retractable under the control of an internal hydraulic ram or rams within the boom assembly.

/cwil05101. upd -7- The support structure 13, as also shown also in Figs. 2 and 3, includes a generally upright arm 20 which is connected to the boom 19 via interconnected faceplates 21 so as to extend at approximately 1350 to the boom 19. A mulcher head mounting bracket 23 is pivotally connected to the lower end of the arm for movement about a transverse axis 22. A hydraulic ram 24 is pivotally connected at one end 25 to the arm 20 at an upper portion thereof and at its lower end via a linkage assembly 26 to the mounting bracket 23. The linkage assembly 26 includes a first link 27 pivotally connected to the bracket 23 for movement about a transverse axis 28 parallel to the axis 22 and a second pair of links 29 which are pivotally connected at opposite ends to the link 27 for movement about a transverse axis 30 and to the arm 20 for movement about a transverse axis 31, the respective axes 22, 28, 30 and 31 being substantially parallel. The lower or rod end of the ram 24 is connected to the linkage assembly 26 at the pivot axis 30. It will be apparent that extension and retraction of the ram 24 will cause through the linkage assembly 26 pivotal movement of the bracket 23 in opposite directions about the pivot axis 22 to alter the attitude of the mowing or mulching head 14 connected to the bracket 23.

The mowing or mulching head 14 includes a mulcher housing 32 which supports therein a rotatable mulcher 33 which has an axis of rotation extending longitudinally of the housing 32 and transverse to the arm 20 and which includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced knives or flails 34 (see Fig. 4).

Knives of different shapes may be used depending upon the nature of the material to be mowed or mulched. The mulcher 33 is rotatably driven by means of a hydraulic motor 35 on the housing 32 which drives the mulcher 33 through a transmission 36 on the side of the housing 32. The housing 32 carries a circular or annular facing plate 37 adapted to be mated with the mounting bracket 23 and forming therewith a turntable-like mounting which allows the position of the mulching head 14 to be rotatably adjusted through 3600 about a central axis of the mounting bracket 23 and facing plate 37. The bracket 23 and facing plate /cwi05101.ui.pd -8- 37 may be bolted together in a desired rotational attitude relative to each other. The housing 32 includes on opposite sides, ground engaging slides 38 which set the cutting height of the mulcher 33 and which can be adjusted to vary the cutting height.

The mulching head 14 additionally includes a catcher 39 which comprises a hollow open-mouthed bin 40 which extends rearwardly from the housing 32 to receive materials mulched or cut by the mulcher 33. The bin is pivotally or hingedly mounted at 41 at its upper side adjacent one edge of the bin mouth to the housing 32. A hydraulic ram 42 is pivotally mounted at 43 at one end to the catcher bin 40 and at its opposite end at 44 to the mulcher housing 32. Retraction of the ram 42 causes upward pivotal movement of the catcher bin 40 to the position shown in Fig. 4 such that materials collected in the bin 40 can be dumped at any desired location through the open mouth 44 of the bin The pivotal mountings 41 of the catcher bin 40 may be releasable for example by means of a split pin connection to enable the catcher 39 to be removed from the mulcher housing 32 when not required.

Control of the unit 10 is from the operator cab 17. For this purpose, the hand operated joystick for forward and reverse travel of the prime mover and associated hydraulic pump as used in logging machines, which do not allow movement of the prime mover when a tree harvesting head is used, are removed. The hydraulic pump is replaced by a servo controlled hydraulic pump and foot pedals which control valves connected with the pump and hydraulic motors of the drive wheels of the prime mover are provided in the cab 17 to effect forward and reverse movement of the prime mover 11. The control computer within the cab is changed further to suit the mulching head operation rather than the logging operation. For moving the catcher 39 between a catching position and a dump position, the normal valve for controlling gripping of a tree by the harvesting head of the logging machine is replaced by a solenoid control valve which controls supply of hydraulic fluid or exhaust of hydraulic fluid /cwil0510J.wpd -9from the ram 42. The control valve may be located externally of and mounted on the cab 17. Extension and retraction of the boom 19 and swinging of the boom assembly 12 and cab 17 to either side may be controlled by a joystick within the cab 17. Steering of the prime mover and raising or lowering of the boom assembly 12 may be controlled by a second joystick also within the cab 17.

In the drawings, the hydraulic lines which run from the hydraulic pump within the prime mover 11 to the rams 24 and 42 and hydraulic motor 35 are not shown for clarity but extend along the hollow beam 45 which extends parallel to the boom 19 and moves therewith.

The unit 10 by use of the boom configuration and support of the mowing or mulching head 14 described and illustrated in this embodiment has an extension range of approximately 10 metres, much greater than other apparatus of this type. Further the configuration of the mulching head 14 and the supporting structure 13 allows the unit to clear and cut vegetation that no other machine can reach whilst the catcher 39 allows the cut vegetation to be collected at the same time. In the latter respect, the apparatus is particularly suited for cutting and collecting vegetation along waterways such as canals or channels without cut vegetation fouling the waterway. Vegetation collected in the catcher 39 can be dumped at any suitable location.

The pivotal mounting of the arm 20 to the mulching head 14 allows the mulching head 14 to be pivoted approximately 400 from center in opposite directions by the hydraulic ram 24 so that the mulching head 14 can follow the contours of the land. The mulching and cutting blades typically operate at between 2300rpm and 2500rpm. The components of the mulching head including the catcher are suitably constructed of steel however they may be constructed of other materials.

The apparatus of the invention may be used for the control of many forms of vegetation and the mulching rotor may be changed in form to suit the nature of the vegetation to be cut. The attitude of the mounting of the mulching or mowing head 14 /cwil05101.uwpd relative to the support 20 may be adjusted by the turntable arrangement and/or the ram 20 to suit the terrain in which the mulching or mowing head is to be used. The apparatus may be operated with the catcher 39 or alternatively, the catcher 39 may be removed if desired. Whilst particular joystick and foot pedal arrangements for controlling of the unit 10 have been described, the unit 10 may be controlled by any suitable control systems.

Various modifications of the invention are contemplated which will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, and which can be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

/cwil05101.wpd

Claims (3)

1. A vegetation control unit including: a prime mover; a boom assembly mounted to said prime mover; a support arm mounted to an outer end of said boom assembly and extending downwardly therefrom; a mowing or mulching head mounted to the lower end of said support arm for movement about an axis extending transversely of said support arm, said mowing or mulching head including a bracket assembly and being mounted to said support arm by said bracket assembly for pivoting movement about said transverse axis, said mowing or mulching head including an elongate housing extending transversely of said support arm and having a mowing or mulching rotor mounted therein and a hydraulic motor operatively mounted to said elongate housing and drivingly connected to said mowing or mulching rotor; actuating means operatively connected to said mowing oiL mulching head and said support arm for selectively pivoting said mowing or mulching head about said transverse axis, said actuating means including a hydraulic ram having one end secured to said support arm and the other end secured to said bracket assembly; catcher means for catching vegetation cut by said mowing or mulching rotor, said catcher means including an open mouthed bin mounted to said elongate housing for pivoting movement about an axis extending longitudinally of said housing with the open mouth of the bin being located adjacent said mowing and mulching rotor and being positioned to receive vegetation cut thereby, said bin being adapted for movement about said longitudinally extending axis between a closed position in which vegetation may be retained in said bin and an open position in which vegetation may be allowed to fall from said bin, said longitudinally extending axis being disposed along an upper edge of said bin adjacent said open mouth, and opening and closing means for moving said bin from said open position to said closed position and vice versa, said opening and /cwil05101. wpd -12- Amended 15 lMay 2001 closing means including a hydraulic ram connected at one end to said bin and at the other end to said housing.

2. A vegetation control unit according to Claim i, wherein said mowing or mulching head is operatively connected to said bracket assembly for pivoting movement about a normal axis extending substantially normal to the plane of operation of said mowing or mulching head.

3. A vegetation control unit according to Claim 2, wherein said bracket assembly includes a turntable assembly which enables said mowing or mulching head to be pivoted through 90 degrees about said normal axis, said turntable assembly including a first part mounted to the lower end of said support arm for movement about said transverse axis and a second part secured to said mowing or mulching head, said second part being connected to said first part for pivoting movement relative thereto about said normal axis, and locking means for locking said second part in a selected desired position relative to said first part. 2) Dated this 1 5 th day of May, 2001 LYLE WILLIAMS By his patent attorneys AHEARN FOX