CA1084277A - Method and apparatus for stripping cones from confier trees - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for stripping cones from confier treesInfo
- Publication number
- CA1084277A CA1084277A CA327,759A CA327759A CA1084277A CA 1084277 A CA1084277 A CA 1084277A CA 327759 A CA327759 A CA 327759A CA 1084277 A CA1084277 A CA 1084277A
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- wall
- cones
- receptacle
- enclosure
- wall enclosure
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G23/00—Forestry
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- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
- Ecology (AREA)
- Forests & Forestry (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
Abstract
A B S T R A C T
A wall enclosure having a central passageway is lowered over a conifer tree to a level below a substantial number of the cones attached to the branches thereof, such that the tree trunk passes through the passageway. The wall enclosure is then raised upwardly through the branches of the tree stripping cones therefrom.
Stripped cones are collected in a cone-receptacle defined by the lower portion of the wall enclosure and a receptacle wall seated around the lower periphery of the wall enclosure, and extending upwardly therefrom. The wall enclosure is then transported to a cone storage container where the cones are deposited by pivoting away from the lower periphery of the wall enclosure, the outer receptacle wall of the cone receptacle.
A wall enclosure having a central passageway is lowered over a conifer tree to a level below a substantial number of the cones attached to the branches thereof, such that the tree trunk passes through the passageway. The wall enclosure is then raised upwardly through the branches of the tree stripping cones therefrom.
Stripped cones are collected in a cone-receptacle defined by the lower portion of the wall enclosure and a receptacle wall seated around the lower periphery of the wall enclosure, and extending upwardly therefrom. The wall enclosure is then transported to a cone storage container where the cones are deposited by pivoting away from the lower periphery of the wall enclosure, the outer receptacle wall of the cone receptacle.
Description
~34~7 The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detaching and collecting cones from conifer trees and depositing the collected cones in a cone storage container.
A wide variety of methods and apparatus are known for harvesting fruit from trees, ranging from the relatively simple, to the very complex. .
Such methods and apparatus generally depend upon the existence of well ordered, relatively small trees in a localized area and road accessibility and conditions which allow ground vehicles access ; to those trees. The tall height of many conifer trees, together with the remote forest conditions existing where such trees are generally found, requires different methods and apparatus for the harvesting of their cones than are used in the fruit industry.
One method and apparatus for stripping cones from conifer trees is disclosed in U.S.S.R.
20 Patent Number 556,745, granted on June 26, 1977, to E. M. Vredenskii et al, which involves fixing guide ropes between a beam affixed to the ground below a conifer tree, and a second beam affixed to the top end of the tree trunk. A combing bar is raised up the guide ropes by means of a hand-operated pulley, thereby detaching cones from the branches of the tree. Obviously, the latter method requires considerable time and effort, both to install the apparatus and to detach the cones
A wide variety of methods and apparatus are known for harvesting fruit from trees, ranging from the relatively simple, to the very complex. .
Such methods and apparatus generally depend upon the existence of well ordered, relatively small trees in a localized area and road accessibility and conditions which allow ground vehicles access ; to those trees. The tall height of many conifer trees, together with the remote forest conditions existing where such trees are generally found, requires different methods and apparatus for the harvesting of their cones than are used in the fruit industry.
One method and apparatus for stripping cones from conifer trees is disclosed in U.S.S.R.
20 Patent Number 556,745, granted on June 26, 1977, to E. M. Vredenskii et al, which involves fixing guide ropes between a beam affixed to the ground below a conifer tree, and a second beam affixed to the top end of the tree trunk. A combing bar is raised up the guide ropes by means of a hand-operated pulley, thereby detaching cones from the branches of the tree. Obviously, the latter method requires considerable time and effort, both to install the apparatus and to detach the cones
- 2 -. ................................................................. .
., ~,.
-:
: . .
2~7 by raising the comb~ -It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus and method for harvesting cones from conifer trees that is adapted for use in remote locati.ons and over rough terrain.
It is a urther object of the invention, to provide a method and apparatus for harvesting cones which is more efficient than hitherto known methods.
These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by surrounding a conifer tree at a level below at least a portion of the cones attached to the branches of the tree with means for stripping the cones from the tree, and .
;~ then raising the cone stripping means upwardly through the branches of the tree to strip cones . .
therefrom.
Advantageously, the cone stripping means is a wall enclosure which defines a passageway for permitting passage therethrough of the trunk of the tree and at least some of its branches with the upper portion of the wall enclosure being upwardly and inwardly inclined towards an entrance aperture of the passageway.
In a further aspect of the invention, the cones may be collected by a cone receptacle . formed by a lower portion of the outside of said wall enclosure and a receptacle wall fastened to and extending upwardly from a lower periphery of :
7~
said wall enclosure. Collected cones are tran-sported to a cone storage container where they are deposited by removing an outer receptacle wall of the cone receptacle from at least a portion of the ~
lower periphery of the wall enclosure. ~ ;
; Although the method may utilize a crane ~ affixed to a moving ground vehicle to suspend the - wall enclosure and cone receptacle, it is more efficient to employ a helicopter for this purpose.
Use of the helicopter, as well as considerably accelerating collection time, allows access to remote forested areas over rough terrain that is inaccessible to ground vehicles.
The apparatus for stripping cones from a conifer tree according to the invention, comprises a wall enclosure defining a passageway adapted to permit the passage therethrough of the trunk and ' at least some of the branches of the tree. At , !
- least a portion of the upper surface of the wall enclosure is upwardly and inwardly inclined toward the entrance aperture of the passageway~ Means are provided on the wall enclosure for connecting the latter to upwardly extending support cables.
Cones detached by the wall enclosure are ~`
conveniently held in a cone receptacle formed ; around the lower periphery of the wall enclosure.
A further aspect of the invention is the provision for a plurality of elongated teeth, spaced apart and affixed at the upper end of the wall enclosure around the entrance aperture. The .~ :
latter teeth project upwardly from the ~ntrance aperture so as to assist in stripping cones from the tree branches by virtue of their combing effect on the branches when the wall enclosure is raised, upwardly through the branches.
The wall enclosure may be formed in a variety oE ways, for example, by solid sheet material or by a plurallty of interconnected members. The wall enclosure may also be designed to provide a variety of different overall shapes, having different shaped entrance apertures.
Moreover, the upper portion of the wall enclosure may be made expandable to permit easier emplace-ment over a conifer tree.
Preferably, the cone receptacle is formed by the lower portion of the outside of the wall enclosure together with a receptacle wall seated around the lower periphery of the latter, i and extending upwardly therefrom. However, it is , 20 clear that such a receptacle might also be ~ormed ., , ~
` as a separate structure apart from the wall enclosure, ; but supported from the bottom thereof.
Advantageously, cones collected in the cone receptacle, are removed by pivoting away the receptacle wall from the lower periphery of the wall enclosure. Obviously, any me~thod of removing the receptacle wall from the lower periphery of ,. . . . .
the wall enclosure would work as would an arrange~
: . :
ment of opening the bottom of the cone receptacle - 30 while leaving the receptacle wall in place.
~ 5 ~
FIGURE 1 is an elevation view showing a truncated substantially conical aevice for stripping and collecting cones suspended over a conifer tree by a helicopter hovering over the tree, and being raised up through the branches of the tree.
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the truncated, substantially conical device seen in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a rectangular-shaped second embodiment of the inven-tion for stripping and collecting cones.
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention for stripping and collecting cones.
FIGURE 5A is a detailed drawing showing . .
the method of mounting each of the spokes seen in FIGURE 4.
FIGURE 5B is an alternative view showing ~ ;
the mounting rim seen in FIGURE 5A in cross- ~
.' !
section.
FIGURE 6 is a fourth embodiment of the invention for stripping and collecting cones.
Referring to FIGURE 1, the device for stripping and collecting cones 10 r is shown sus-pended over a conifer tree 26 from a plurality of cables 24, the lower ends of which are connected to corresponding brackets 22 affixed to the outside ; surface of a truncated substantially conical wall : . .
enclosure 12. The upper ends of cables 24 are supported Erom a helicopter 28 hovering over the tree. The device is initially lowered over the tree 26 to a level below a substantial num~er of the attached cones, with the opening 15 permitting the passage therethrough of the trunk 34 of the tree 26. As the wall enclosure 12 is raised, branches 30 slide through the plurality of upwardly projecting and outwardly curved teeth 18, affixed to the interior surfa~e of the wall enclosure 12 ..
at a point spaced apart from the upper end 14 thereof. The teeth when affixed in this way may be bent inwardly tow~rds the central passageway against the restorin~ force of the material out of which the teeth are formed. The combing effect of : the teeth 18 assists in stripping cones 32 from ~ .
: the branches 30, which then fall down along the sloping sides of the wall enclosure 12 into a cone receptacle formed by the lower portion of the wall enclo~ure 12, and an upwardly directed receptacle wall 20. The receptacle wall 20 is seated on an ::
outwardly extending flange 16 formed around the ; `
lower periphery of the wall enclosure 12 as seen .~ in FIGURE 2.
Following ~he raising of the device 10 :~
upwardly through a tree, the helicopter 28 trans-ports the device to a cone storage container whereat the receptacle wall 20, affixed to the flange 16 of ~he wall enclosure 12 by a hinge 36, is pivoted away from the lower periphery 16 ~ 7 ~
:
27~
permitting collected cones 32 to fall away fxom the device 10 into a cone storage container (not shown). Upon removal of the collected cvnes 32, the receptacle wall 20 is pivoted back onto flange 1~, and may either be ~a~tened in place or held in place by the receptacle wall's own weight.
FIGURE 3 illustrates a rectangular~
. shaped alternative device for stripping and collecting cones, having a wall enclosure formed by two .~ 10 generally parallel spaced vertical walls 36 and 38, together with two opposed spaced inwardly and upwardly inclined walls 54, each extending from one vertical wall 36 to the other 38. The upper .
.:. ends 62 of tha inclined walls, define a substantially ;I rectangular entrance aperture to a central passage-way 55. Inclined walls 54 are pivotally attached by means of hinges 56 to the upper periphery of a base 52, which forms a lower portion of the wall enclosure. This pivotal attachment permits inclined ., :
. 20 walls 54 to rotate from a closed position, at which the entrance aperture 55 is a minimum outwardly to anopen position, at which the entrance aperture is a maximum. Arcuate slots 40, formed in the two . vertical walls, in combination with pins .42 passing through the slots and affixed to the edges of the inclined walls 54, limit the angular range of pivotal motion of the latter walls. A plurality of teeth project above the upper edges of the inclined walls 54, and are curved away from the central passageway 55. The teeth are affixed to , ~134Z~77 the interior surface of the inclined plates at a point spaced apart from khe upper edge thereof to permi.t inward flexing of the teeth against the restoring force of the teeth material. A re-ceptacle wall 58 is seated around the lower periphery 46 of the base 52, and is pivotally attached by means of a hinge 48 to one end thereof. The ~ vertical walls are stabilized by a plurality of :~ struts 44, extending from the base 52 to the exterior sides of the vertical walls 36 and 38.
The inclined plates 54 are each reinforced by a horizontal rib 64, inteEmediate of the height of the plates 54..
A third embodiment of the device is illustrated in FIGURE 4, in which a plurality of spokes 68 each run from an outer rim 94 upwardly and inwardly to an entrance aperture 80 of a -central passageway. Upper ends of the rods 68 are : ~
wound around the tubular rim 94 and spring mounted ~.:
. 20 in position, about an upper and lower retaining ~ : :
ring 74 and 76, respectively. The upper and lower :
:~' retaining rings 74 and 76 are, in turn, positioned .`
by a plurality of radially outwardly projecting arms 70. As seen in FIGURES 5A and SB, each spoke 68 is spaced apart on tubular rim 94 from adjacent spokes by ribs 72. The base 86 extending outwardly from rim 94 is formed by a plurality of radially ~ outwardly and downwardly directed frame members . :~
.: 92, affixed at one end to arms 70, and at the ~ 30 other end to a circular lip 32. Reinforoing '.~ . ' :
~8~Z~
stru~s 71 extend from the outer extremity of arm 70 down to the outer extremities of frame members 92. The floor of the base structure is formed by a circular expanded metal strip, supported by frame members 92. At the outer extremity of the base there is a circular lip 82, on which is seated a lower ring 84 to the latter of which is attached a plurality of spaced upwardly extending ~ :
ver~ical members 88. The upper ends of vertical ~
members 88, in turn, are affixed to a corresponding ~.
upper ring 90. Netting or expanded metal stretched around vertical members B8, between lower clrcular ring 84 and upper circular ring 90 act to retain ,: ~
` cones collected on the base 86. Lower ring 84 is pivotally attached to lip 82 by means of a hinge ~ 96. Rotation of the receptacle wall about hinge ; 9~ causes collectad cones 87 to fall away from the base into a cone storage container (not shown).
A fourth embodiment of the device is o seen in FIGURE 6 which illustrates a wall.enclosure formed by a base 124, and two opposed portions of respective generally downwardly and outwardly i extending surfaces 100 and 112. The two opposed portions 100 and 112 are horizontally telescoped into one another, and snugly overlap aiong their sides 114 with each portion pi~otally affixed at its lower periphery to diametrically oppose portions ~ :
of the upper periphery of the base 124 by mPans of .
`~ hinges 116 and 126, respectively. Thus, the two ~ 30 rotatable portions 100 and 112 may rotate from a . , , -- 1 0 -- ~
:
: . `
, ' . ' . . ",." ~, i ,"," ~,, " ~" ., ." ~
~L~84Z77 normally closed position, as .illustrated i.n FIGURE
6 outwardly to an expanded position whereat the entrance aperture 101 is made wider. Such expansion of the entrance aperture 101 is made against spring bias provided by a spring 102, thxeaded through a plurality of eyelets 104, circumferentially spaced around the wall enclosure at a level intermediate the height thereof. An outwardly extending flange 128 formed around the lower periphery of the base 124 provides vertical support to a rotatable receptacle wall 118, pivotally attached thereto by a hinge 120.
; In operation, the embodiments illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 6 having expandable entrance ; apertures 55 and 101, respectively, when lowered over a tree more readily pass through the branches :~ thereof by virtue of the facility of having the entrance aperture capable of expansion. Upon . raising of the device, however, the forces on the opposed rotatable wall portions thereof~ is such .: as to maintain them in their normally closed ~ position at which the entrance aperture is a : minimum. Otherwise, the operation of each of the embodiments disclosed above is basically similar.
Other obvious variations, modifications and departures from the specific method and embodi-ments described above which~ do not depart from the ~;
spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims, will readily occur to those skilled in the art.
' ~' . , .
- ~:
., ~,.
-:
: . .
2~7 by raising the comb~ -It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus and method for harvesting cones from conifer trees that is adapted for use in remote locati.ons and over rough terrain.
It is a urther object of the invention, to provide a method and apparatus for harvesting cones which is more efficient than hitherto known methods.
These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by surrounding a conifer tree at a level below at least a portion of the cones attached to the branches of the tree with means for stripping the cones from the tree, and .
;~ then raising the cone stripping means upwardly through the branches of the tree to strip cones . .
therefrom.
Advantageously, the cone stripping means is a wall enclosure which defines a passageway for permitting passage therethrough of the trunk of the tree and at least some of its branches with the upper portion of the wall enclosure being upwardly and inwardly inclined towards an entrance aperture of the passageway.
In a further aspect of the invention, the cones may be collected by a cone receptacle . formed by a lower portion of the outside of said wall enclosure and a receptacle wall fastened to and extending upwardly from a lower periphery of :
7~
said wall enclosure. Collected cones are tran-sported to a cone storage container where they are deposited by removing an outer receptacle wall of the cone receptacle from at least a portion of the ~
lower periphery of the wall enclosure. ~ ;
; Although the method may utilize a crane ~ affixed to a moving ground vehicle to suspend the - wall enclosure and cone receptacle, it is more efficient to employ a helicopter for this purpose.
Use of the helicopter, as well as considerably accelerating collection time, allows access to remote forested areas over rough terrain that is inaccessible to ground vehicles.
The apparatus for stripping cones from a conifer tree according to the invention, comprises a wall enclosure defining a passageway adapted to permit the passage therethrough of the trunk and ' at least some of the branches of the tree. At , !
- least a portion of the upper surface of the wall enclosure is upwardly and inwardly inclined toward the entrance aperture of the passageway~ Means are provided on the wall enclosure for connecting the latter to upwardly extending support cables.
Cones detached by the wall enclosure are ~`
conveniently held in a cone receptacle formed ; around the lower periphery of the wall enclosure.
A further aspect of the invention is the provision for a plurality of elongated teeth, spaced apart and affixed at the upper end of the wall enclosure around the entrance aperture. The .~ :
latter teeth project upwardly from the ~ntrance aperture so as to assist in stripping cones from the tree branches by virtue of their combing effect on the branches when the wall enclosure is raised, upwardly through the branches.
The wall enclosure may be formed in a variety oE ways, for example, by solid sheet material or by a plurallty of interconnected members. The wall enclosure may also be designed to provide a variety of different overall shapes, having different shaped entrance apertures.
Moreover, the upper portion of the wall enclosure may be made expandable to permit easier emplace-ment over a conifer tree.
Preferably, the cone receptacle is formed by the lower portion of the outside of the wall enclosure together with a receptacle wall seated around the lower periphery of the latter, i and extending upwardly therefrom. However, it is , 20 clear that such a receptacle might also be ~ormed ., , ~
` as a separate structure apart from the wall enclosure, ; but supported from the bottom thereof.
Advantageously, cones collected in the cone receptacle, are removed by pivoting away the receptacle wall from the lower periphery of the wall enclosure. Obviously, any me~thod of removing the receptacle wall from the lower periphery of ,. . . . .
the wall enclosure would work as would an arrange~
: . :
ment of opening the bottom of the cone receptacle - 30 while leaving the receptacle wall in place.
~ 5 ~
FIGURE 1 is an elevation view showing a truncated substantially conical aevice for stripping and collecting cones suspended over a conifer tree by a helicopter hovering over the tree, and being raised up through the branches of the tree.
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the truncated, substantially conical device seen in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a rectangular-shaped second embodiment of the inven-tion for stripping and collecting cones.
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention for stripping and collecting cones.
FIGURE 5A is a detailed drawing showing . .
the method of mounting each of the spokes seen in FIGURE 4.
FIGURE 5B is an alternative view showing ~ ;
the mounting rim seen in FIGURE 5A in cross- ~
.' !
section.
FIGURE 6 is a fourth embodiment of the invention for stripping and collecting cones.
Referring to FIGURE 1, the device for stripping and collecting cones 10 r is shown sus-pended over a conifer tree 26 from a plurality of cables 24, the lower ends of which are connected to corresponding brackets 22 affixed to the outside ; surface of a truncated substantially conical wall : . .
enclosure 12. The upper ends of cables 24 are supported Erom a helicopter 28 hovering over the tree. The device is initially lowered over the tree 26 to a level below a substantial num~er of the attached cones, with the opening 15 permitting the passage therethrough of the trunk 34 of the tree 26. As the wall enclosure 12 is raised, branches 30 slide through the plurality of upwardly projecting and outwardly curved teeth 18, affixed to the interior surfa~e of the wall enclosure 12 ..
at a point spaced apart from the upper end 14 thereof. The teeth when affixed in this way may be bent inwardly tow~rds the central passageway against the restorin~ force of the material out of which the teeth are formed. The combing effect of : the teeth 18 assists in stripping cones 32 from ~ .
: the branches 30, which then fall down along the sloping sides of the wall enclosure 12 into a cone receptacle formed by the lower portion of the wall enclo~ure 12, and an upwardly directed receptacle wall 20. The receptacle wall 20 is seated on an ::
outwardly extending flange 16 formed around the ; `
lower periphery of the wall enclosure 12 as seen .~ in FIGURE 2.
Following ~he raising of the device 10 :~
upwardly through a tree, the helicopter 28 trans-ports the device to a cone storage container whereat the receptacle wall 20, affixed to the flange 16 of ~he wall enclosure 12 by a hinge 36, is pivoted away from the lower periphery 16 ~ 7 ~
:
27~
permitting collected cones 32 to fall away fxom the device 10 into a cone storage container (not shown). Upon removal of the collected cvnes 32, the receptacle wall 20 is pivoted back onto flange 1~, and may either be ~a~tened in place or held in place by the receptacle wall's own weight.
FIGURE 3 illustrates a rectangular~
. shaped alternative device for stripping and collecting cones, having a wall enclosure formed by two .~ 10 generally parallel spaced vertical walls 36 and 38, together with two opposed spaced inwardly and upwardly inclined walls 54, each extending from one vertical wall 36 to the other 38. The upper .
.:. ends 62 of tha inclined walls, define a substantially ;I rectangular entrance aperture to a central passage-way 55. Inclined walls 54 are pivotally attached by means of hinges 56 to the upper periphery of a base 52, which forms a lower portion of the wall enclosure. This pivotal attachment permits inclined ., :
. 20 walls 54 to rotate from a closed position, at which the entrance aperture 55 is a minimum outwardly to anopen position, at which the entrance aperture is a maximum. Arcuate slots 40, formed in the two . vertical walls, in combination with pins .42 passing through the slots and affixed to the edges of the inclined walls 54, limit the angular range of pivotal motion of the latter walls. A plurality of teeth project above the upper edges of the inclined walls 54, and are curved away from the central passageway 55. The teeth are affixed to , ~134Z~77 the interior surface of the inclined plates at a point spaced apart from khe upper edge thereof to permi.t inward flexing of the teeth against the restoring force of the teeth material. A re-ceptacle wall 58 is seated around the lower periphery 46 of the base 52, and is pivotally attached by means of a hinge 48 to one end thereof. The ~ vertical walls are stabilized by a plurality of :~ struts 44, extending from the base 52 to the exterior sides of the vertical walls 36 and 38.
The inclined plates 54 are each reinforced by a horizontal rib 64, inteEmediate of the height of the plates 54..
A third embodiment of the device is illustrated in FIGURE 4, in which a plurality of spokes 68 each run from an outer rim 94 upwardly and inwardly to an entrance aperture 80 of a -central passageway. Upper ends of the rods 68 are : ~
wound around the tubular rim 94 and spring mounted ~.:
. 20 in position, about an upper and lower retaining ~ : :
ring 74 and 76, respectively. The upper and lower :
:~' retaining rings 74 and 76 are, in turn, positioned .`
by a plurality of radially outwardly projecting arms 70. As seen in FIGURES 5A and SB, each spoke 68 is spaced apart on tubular rim 94 from adjacent spokes by ribs 72. The base 86 extending outwardly from rim 94 is formed by a plurality of radially ~ outwardly and downwardly directed frame members . :~
.: 92, affixed at one end to arms 70, and at the ~ 30 other end to a circular lip 32. Reinforoing '.~ . ' :
~8~Z~
stru~s 71 extend from the outer extremity of arm 70 down to the outer extremities of frame members 92. The floor of the base structure is formed by a circular expanded metal strip, supported by frame members 92. At the outer extremity of the base there is a circular lip 82, on which is seated a lower ring 84 to the latter of which is attached a plurality of spaced upwardly extending ~ :
ver~ical members 88. The upper ends of vertical ~
members 88, in turn, are affixed to a corresponding ~.
upper ring 90. Netting or expanded metal stretched around vertical members B8, between lower clrcular ring 84 and upper circular ring 90 act to retain ,: ~
` cones collected on the base 86. Lower ring 84 is pivotally attached to lip 82 by means of a hinge ~ 96. Rotation of the receptacle wall about hinge ; 9~ causes collectad cones 87 to fall away from the base into a cone storage container (not shown).
A fourth embodiment of the device is o seen in FIGURE 6 which illustrates a wall.enclosure formed by a base 124, and two opposed portions of respective generally downwardly and outwardly i extending surfaces 100 and 112. The two opposed portions 100 and 112 are horizontally telescoped into one another, and snugly overlap aiong their sides 114 with each portion pi~otally affixed at its lower periphery to diametrically oppose portions ~ :
of the upper periphery of the base 124 by mPans of .
`~ hinges 116 and 126, respectively. Thus, the two ~ 30 rotatable portions 100 and 112 may rotate from a . , , -- 1 0 -- ~
:
: . `
, ' . ' . . ",." ~, i ,"," ~,, " ~" ., ." ~
~L~84Z77 normally closed position, as .illustrated i.n FIGURE
6 outwardly to an expanded position whereat the entrance aperture 101 is made wider. Such expansion of the entrance aperture 101 is made against spring bias provided by a spring 102, thxeaded through a plurality of eyelets 104, circumferentially spaced around the wall enclosure at a level intermediate the height thereof. An outwardly extending flange 128 formed around the lower periphery of the base 124 provides vertical support to a rotatable receptacle wall 118, pivotally attached thereto by a hinge 120.
; In operation, the embodiments illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 6 having expandable entrance ; apertures 55 and 101, respectively, when lowered over a tree more readily pass through the branches :~ thereof by virtue of the facility of having the entrance aperture capable of expansion. Upon . raising of the device, however, the forces on the opposed rotatable wall portions thereof~ is such .: as to maintain them in their normally closed ~ position at which the entrance aperture is a : minimum. Otherwise, the operation of each of the embodiments disclosed above is basically similar.
Other obvious variations, modifications and departures from the specific method and embodi-ments described above which~ do not depart from the ~;
spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims, will readily occur to those skilled in the art.
' ~' . , .
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Claims (30)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A method for stripping cones from a conifer tree comprising:
(a) surrounding said tree at a level below at least a portion of the cones attached to branches of said tree with means for stripping cones from said tree;
(b) raising said cone stripping means upwardly through said branches to strip cones therefrom.
(a) surrounding said tree at a level below at least a portion of the cones attached to branches of said tree with means for stripping cones from said tree;
(b) raising said cone stripping means upwardly through said branches to strip cones therefrom.
2. A method for stripping cones from a conifer tree comprising:
(a) surrounding said tree at a level below at least a portion of the cones attached to branches of said tree with a cone stripper comprising a wall enclosure which defines a passageway for permitting the passage therethrough of the trunk of the tree and at least some of the branches of said tree, the upper portion of said wall enclosure being upwardly and inwardly inclined toward an entrance aperture of said passageway;
(b) raising said wall enclosure upwardly through said branches to strip cones therefrom.
(a) surrounding said tree at a level below at least a portion of the cones attached to branches of said tree with a cone stripper comprising a wall enclosure which defines a passageway for permitting the passage therethrough of the trunk of the tree and at least some of the branches of said tree, the upper portion of said wall enclosure being upwardly and inwardly inclined toward an entrance aperture of said passageway;
(b) raising said wall enclosure upwardly through said branches to strip cones therefrom.
3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein said wall enclosure includes cone receptacle means affixed to the outside of said wall enclosure for collecting cones stripped by the raising of said wall enclosure upwardly through said branches.
4. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein said wall enclosure includes a cone receptacle formed by a lower portion of the outside of said wall enclosure and a receptacle wall fastened to and extending upwardly from a lower periphery of said wall enclosure, said cone receptacle for collecting cones stripped by the raising of said wall enclosure upwardly through said branches.
5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein collected cones are released from said cone receptacle by removing the outer receptacle wall of said cone receptacle from at least a portion of the lower periphery of said wall enclosure.
6. A method for stripping cones from a conifer tree comprising:
(a) suspending from a helicopter hovering over said tree a wall enclosure defining a passageway which permits the passage therethrough of the trunk of the tree and at least some of the branches of said tree, the upper portion of said wall enclosure being upwardly and inwardly inclined toward the entrance aperture of said passageway;
(b) lowering said wall enclosure so that the trunk of said tree passes through said passageway to a level below at least a portion of the cones attached to the branches of said tree; and (c) raising said wall enclosure through the branches to strip cones there-from.
(a) suspending from a helicopter hovering over said tree a wall enclosure defining a passageway which permits the passage therethrough of the trunk of the tree and at least some of the branches of said tree, the upper portion of said wall enclosure being upwardly and inwardly inclined toward the entrance aperture of said passageway;
(b) lowering said wall enclosure so that the trunk of said tree passes through said passageway to a level below at least a portion of the cones attached to the branches of said tree; and (c) raising said wall enclosure through the branches to strip cones there-from.
7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein a cone receptacle is affixed to a bottom portion of said wall enclosure for collecting cones stripped by the raising of the wall enclosure.
8. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein a cone receptacle is formed by a lower portion of the outside of said wall enclosure and an outer receptacle wall fastened to and extending upwardly from a lower periphery of said wall enclosure, said cone receptacle for collecting cones stripped by the raising of said wall enclosure upwardly through said branches.
9. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein said collected cones are released from said cone receptacle by removing the outer receptacle wall of said cone receptacle from at least a portion of the lower periphery of said wall enclosure.
10. Apparatus for stripping cones from a conifer tree comprising:
(a) a wall enclosure defining a passage-way for permitting the passage therethrough of the trunk and at least some of the branches of said tree as said enclosure is raised at least a portion of the upper surface of said enclosure being upwardly and inwardly inclined toward an entrance aperture at the upper end of said passageway; and (b) means for connecting said enclosure to upwardly extending support cables.
(a) a wall enclosure defining a passage-way for permitting the passage therethrough of the trunk and at least some of the branches of said tree as said enclosure is raised at least a portion of the upper surface of said enclosure being upwardly and inwardly inclined toward an entrance aperture at the upper end of said passageway; and (b) means for connecting said enclosure to upwardly extending support cables.
11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising means affixed to said wall enclosure for collecting and holding stripped cones.
12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, further comprising a plurality of elongated teeth spaced apart and affixed at the upper end of said wall enclosure around said entrance aperture, said teeth projecting upwardly from the entrance aperture so as to assist in stripping cones from the branches as said wall enclosure is raised upwardly through the branches.
13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said wall enclosure has a substantially truncated conical structure.
14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said cone receptacle is formed by the lower portion of said enclosure and a receptacle wall seated around the lower periphery of said enclosure and extending upwardly therefrom.
15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said receptacle wall is pivotally attached to the lower periphery of said enclosure for pivotal movement permitting release of collected cones.
16. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, 14 or 15, wherein said teeth are affixed to said wall enclosure so that each tooth is spring biased towards a normal upwardly projecting position from which it is inwardly bendable towards the center of said passageway, each said tooth being curved outwardly away from said passageway.
17. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said walled enclosure is formed by a base and two opposed portions of respective generally downwardly and outwardly extending surfaces, enclosed about a vertical axis, said portions horizontally telescoped into one another, and snugly overlapping along their sides, each portion pivotally affixed at its lower periphery to said base, whereby the two rotatable portions may rotate from a normally closed position, outwardly to provide an expandable entrance aperture for said passageway.
18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17, further comprising means for biasing said opposed portions towards said normally closed position.
19. Apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said cone receptacle is formed by said base and a receptacle wall seated around the lower periphery of said base and extending upwardly therefrom.
20. Apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said receptacle wall is pivotally attached to the lower periphery of said base for pivotal movement permitting release of collected cones.
21. Apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein said biasing means comprises a spring circumferentially affixed around the outside surfaces of said opposed portions.
22. Apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein said teeth are affixed to said wall enclosure so that each tooth is spring biased towards a normal upwardly projecting position from which it is inwardly bendable towards the center of said passageway, each said tooth being curved outwardly away from said passageway.
23. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the upper portion of said wall enclosure is defined by the two generally parallel, spaced vertical walls in combination with two opposed spaced inwardly and upwardly inclined walls, each extending from one vertical wall to the other, the upper ends of said inclined walls defining said entrance aperture to said passageway.
24. Apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein the upper portion of said wall enclosure is affixed around its lower periphery to a base having side walls extending generally downwardly and outwardly, and terminating in an outer periphery, around which is seated an upwardly extending receptacle wall, said base and said receptacle wall together forming said cone receptacle.
25. Apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein said inclined walls are rotatable from a lower inclined position at which the size of said entrance aperture is a minimum to an upper inclined position at which the size of said entrance aperture is a maximum.
26. Apparatus as defined in claim 24 or 25, wherein said teeth are affixed to said wall enclosure so that each tooth is spring biased towards a normal upwardly projecting position from which it is inwardly bendable towards the center of said passageway, each said tooth being curved outwardly away from said passageway.
27. Apparatus as defined in 24 or 25, wherein said receptacle wall is rotatable away from the lower periphery of said base thereby permitting collected cones to fall into a cone storage container.
28. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the upper portion of said wall enclosure is formed by a plurality of spokes, each running from an outer rim upwardly and inwardly to an entrance aperture of said passageway.
29. Apparatus as defined in claim 28, wherein said cone receptacle is formed by a base extending outwardly from said rim in combination with a receptacle wall seated around the outer periphery of said base and extending upwardly therefrom.
30. Apparatus as defined in claim 29, wherein said receptacle wall is rotatable away from the lower periphery of said base thereby permitting collected cones to fall into a cone storage container.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA327,759A CA1084277A (en) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-05-16 | Method and apparatus for stripping cones from confier trees |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA327,759A CA1084277A (en) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-05-16 | Method and apparatus for stripping cones from confier trees |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1084277A true CA1084277A (en) | 1980-08-26 |
Family
ID=4114216
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA327,759A Expired CA1084277A (en) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-05-16 | Method and apparatus for stripping cones from confier trees |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1084277A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4488396A (en) * | 1982-07-14 | 1984-12-18 | Fandrich Helmut E | Rotary cone harvester |
| US4713929A (en) * | 1987-03-09 | 1987-12-22 | Colony Services Inc. | Harvesting of aquatic vegetation by helicopters |
-
1979
- 1979-05-16 CA CA327,759A patent/CA1084277A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4488396A (en) * | 1982-07-14 | 1984-12-18 | Fandrich Helmut E | Rotary cone harvester |
| US4713929A (en) * | 1987-03-09 | 1987-12-22 | Colony Services Inc. | Harvesting of aquatic vegetation by helicopters |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry |