CA1243211A - Tree trimming apparatus - Google Patents
Tree trimming apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1243211A CA1243211A CA000482498A CA482498A CA1243211A CA 1243211 A CA1243211 A CA 1243211A CA 000482498 A CA000482498 A CA 000482498A CA 482498 A CA482498 A CA 482498A CA 1243211 A CA1243211 A CA 1243211A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- cutter bar
- bar assembly
- operator
- trimming apparatus
- assembly
- 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
Links
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
- A01G3/00—Cutting implements specially adapted for horticultural purposes; Delimbing standing trees
- A01G3/04—Apparatus for trimming hedges, e.g. hedge shears
- A01G3/0417—Guiding frames for trimming hedges
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
- Ecology (AREA)
- Forests & Forestry (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Harvester Elements (AREA)
Abstract
TREE TRIMMING APPARATUS
Abstract A cutter bar assembly is suspended from an overhead arm carried by an operator mounted back pack structure. A flex-ible coupling carries the cutter bar assembly in a manner causing the assembly to assume a position inclined from the vertical for the trimming of Christmas trees. An engine and transmission are mounted on the cutter bar assembly with motion being imparted to the cutter blades by angular connector plates. A handlebar is attached to the cutter bar assembly in a manner offsetting the latter to one side of the operator for minimal operator contact with the vegeta-tion being trimmed.
Abstract A cutter bar assembly is suspended from an overhead arm carried by an operator mounted back pack structure. A flex-ible coupling carries the cutter bar assembly in a manner causing the assembly to assume a position inclined from the vertical for the trimming of Christmas trees. An engine and transmission are mounted on the cutter bar assembly with motion being imparted to the cutter blades by angular connector plates. A handlebar is attached to the cutter bar assembly in a manner offsetting the latter to one side of the operator for minimal operator contact with the vegeta-tion being trimmed.
Description
~24321~
The present invention concerns powered equipment for the trimming of trees, shrubs and other vegetation.
Commercial growers of Christmas trees must periodically trim same to justify a premium selling price. Currently the shaping of Christmas trees is done with a hand held knife which requires a degree of skill on the users part. The trim-ming of trees with a knife is objectionable additionally from a standpoint of the time required to properly shape each tree.
The wielding of a sizable knife over a period of several hours during a working day ofttimes results in careless trimming particularly when affected by fatigue. An additional draw-back, of course, is the risk of injury to a person involved in such work.
The present invention is embodied within a tree trimming apparatus suspended in an inclined manner so as to trim the tree in a desired shape.
The present apparatus includes an elongate cutter bar assembly powered by a lightweight engine in place on a sta-tionary component of the cutter bar assembly. The cutter bar assembly is suspended in an upright, inclined manner to preclude tiresome positioning of same by the operator. A handlebar component on the cutter bar assembly permits the operator to stabilize the cutter bar during a tree trimming operation.
An overhead support may be part of a back pack structure worn by the operator. The cutter bar assembly is preferably located in an offset manner to permit the operator to avoid contact with the vegetation.
The present invention is embodied in a tree trimming ap-paratus comprising in combination, an elevated support assembly including a back pack type structure for attachment to the torso of an operator, a cutter bar assembly, a power source and transmission driving said cutter bar assembly, elongate flex-ible means coupling said cutter bar assembly to said support assembly in a suspended manner, said cutter bar assembly ad-ditionally including attachment means located so as to receive one end of said flexible means at a point to cause the cutter bar assembly to be inclined from the verticle for tree trim-ming along an inclined course, and stabilizing means on said cutter bar assembly for grasping by the operator.
In the drawing:
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the present tree trimming apparatus in use;
Figure 2 is an elevational view thereof taken from the right side of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of F~gure 1 with blade members broken away from the cutter bar; and Figure 4 is an exploded view of the cutter bar and blades removed from the transmission housing.
With continuing attention to the drawing, reference numerals indicate features hereinafter similarly identified, the reference numeral 1 indicates generally a back pack type structure of an elevated support assembly.
The support assembly additionally includes an elevated arm 2 projecting forwardly above the operator's head. A down-wardly extending segment 3 is suitably secured at 4 to a base ; 5. The back pack type structure includes a padded component 6 held in place against the operator's back by shoulder straps as at 7. A belt 8 extends from the back pack base 5 about the operator's lower torso and is equipped with a buckle.
~2~3~
Accordingly, elevated support arm 2 is conveniently held in place with the forwardly extending portion thereof located forward and canted towards users left side. Flexible coupl-ing means at 10 extends downwardly from arm 2 and terminates in attachment to an angulated rod 11 which in turn terminates in fastener attachment at 12 with attachment means shown as a plate 13 of a cutter bar assembly at 16. Plate 13 prefer-ably defines multiple openings 13A-13B offset different distances from cutter bar assembly 16 to cause the assembly to be suspended at a selected inclination as typically shown in Figure 2. The apertures 13A-13B in plate 13 permit selec-tive attachment of the end of rod 11 thereto to provide for suspending the cutter bar assembly in more than one inclined relationship to the vertical to enable adapting the apparatus to cutting trees in different conical shapes. For trimming trees having a base diameter equal to 60 percent of tree height the cutter bar assembly will be about 17 degrees off the vertical.
The cutter bar assembly indicated generally at 16 includes a stationary cutter bar 17. Plate 13 is secured to the cutter bar by a bracket 18. Cutter bar 17 is additionally equipped with a second bracket 19 (Figures 3 and 4) being a right angle and extends rearwardly from the cutter bar with an extension l9A terminating upwardly within a transmission unit 20 where-at the bracket extension is in bolted securement at 21 to threaded bores in the transmission housing. The upper end of the transmission housing receives a bracket 22 which is secured by fasteners 23 to plate 13. Accordingly, the trans-mission housing, and the engine indicated generally at E, are secured in place to the cutter bar. One suitable engine and 3~2~321 transmission unit is that sold under the trademark ECH0, model HC-210E.
The cutter bar assembly includes slidably mounted reci-procating blades 24-25 with each blade having a series of elongate slots through which pass fastener assemblies 26 car-ried by the fixed cutter bar. Angle shaped guides at 27 ad-ditionally support the blades at each fastener assembly.
The pair of cutter blades are coextensive with cutter bar 17 and include coacting teeth 24A-25A. Reciprocating motion is imparted to the cutter blades 24-25 by angular connector plates at 30 and 31 which as shown in Figures 3 and 4 termi-nate within conventional transmission 20.
Transmission 20 includes a pair of connecting rods 32-33 each carried by an eccentric as at 34 on a driven shaft 35. The connecting rods 32-33 have bosses 32A-33A at their distal ends in which are received posts 34-35 on the blade attached connector plates 30-31. Internal transmission struc-ture confines the connector plates to reciprocal motion. Ac-cordinyly blades 24 and 25 are oppositely reciprocated along cutter bar 17.
A handlebar at 37 is provided with a pair of handgrips 38. A bracket 40 secured in place toward one end (preferably the left side) of the handlebar to enable the operator to substantially avoid contact with the foilage being trimmed.
Preferably the bracket 40 is assymetrically mounted on a curved segment at one end of the handlebar so as to position the cutter bar 17 so as to be rotated outwardly about its major axis at about a thirty degree included angle to a vertical medial plane P of the operator to provide an opti-mum cutting angle with the branch being cut. To enable ~2~32~
handlebar height to be varied to suit the operator7 bracket40 is attachable to a mounting plate 41 having a series of apertures with the plate secured to cutter bar 17 by a pair of the fastener assemblies 26.
For the operator's convenience, a throttle control and an ignition grounding switch are provided on handlebar 37. Transmission 20 has a five-to-one reduction drive.
The cutter bar assembly preferably has a length of about six or seven feet.
The present invention concerns powered equipment for the trimming of trees, shrubs and other vegetation.
Commercial growers of Christmas trees must periodically trim same to justify a premium selling price. Currently the shaping of Christmas trees is done with a hand held knife which requires a degree of skill on the users part. The trim-ming of trees with a knife is objectionable additionally from a standpoint of the time required to properly shape each tree.
The wielding of a sizable knife over a period of several hours during a working day ofttimes results in careless trimming particularly when affected by fatigue. An additional draw-back, of course, is the risk of injury to a person involved in such work.
The present invention is embodied within a tree trimming apparatus suspended in an inclined manner so as to trim the tree in a desired shape.
The present apparatus includes an elongate cutter bar assembly powered by a lightweight engine in place on a sta-tionary component of the cutter bar assembly. The cutter bar assembly is suspended in an upright, inclined manner to preclude tiresome positioning of same by the operator. A handlebar component on the cutter bar assembly permits the operator to stabilize the cutter bar during a tree trimming operation.
An overhead support may be part of a back pack structure worn by the operator. The cutter bar assembly is preferably located in an offset manner to permit the operator to avoid contact with the vegetation.
The present invention is embodied in a tree trimming ap-paratus comprising in combination, an elevated support assembly including a back pack type structure for attachment to the torso of an operator, a cutter bar assembly, a power source and transmission driving said cutter bar assembly, elongate flex-ible means coupling said cutter bar assembly to said support assembly in a suspended manner, said cutter bar assembly ad-ditionally including attachment means located so as to receive one end of said flexible means at a point to cause the cutter bar assembly to be inclined from the verticle for tree trim-ming along an inclined course, and stabilizing means on said cutter bar assembly for grasping by the operator.
In the drawing:
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the present tree trimming apparatus in use;
Figure 2 is an elevational view thereof taken from the right side of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of F~gure 1 with blade members broken away from the cutter bar; and Figure 4 is an exploded view of the cutter bar and blades removed from the transmission housing.
With continuing attention to the drawing, reference numerals indicate features hereinafter similarly identified, the reference numeral 1 indicates generally a back pack type structure of an elevated support assembly.
The support assembly additionally includes an elevated arm 2 projecting forwardly above the operator's head. A down-wardly extending segment 3 is suitably secured at 4 to a base ; 5. The back pack type structure includes a padded component 6 held in place against the operator's back by shoulder straps as at 7. A belt 8 extends from the back pack base 5 about the operator's lower torso and is equipped with a buckle.
~2~3~
Accordingly, elevated support arm 2 is conveniently held in place with the forwardly extending portion thereof located forward and canted towards users left side. Flexible coupl-ing means at 10 extends downwardly from arm 2 and terminates in attachment to an angulated rod 11 which in turn terminates in fastener attachment at 12 with attachment means shown as a plate 13 of a cutter bar assembly at 16. Plate 13 prefer-ably defines multiple openings 13A-13B offset different distances from cutter bar assembly 16 to cause the assembly to be suspended at a selected inclination as typically shown in Figure 2. The apertures 13A-13B in plate 13 permit selec-tive attachment of the end of rod 11 thereto to provide for suspending the cutter bar assembly in more than one inclined relationship to the vertical to enable adapting the apparatus to cutting trees in different conical shapes. For trimming trees having a base diameter equal to 60 percent of tree height the cutter bar assembly will be about 17 degrees off the vertical.
The cutter bar assembly indicated generally at 16 includes a stationary cutter bar 17. Plate 13 is secured to the cutter bar by a bracket 18. Cutter bar 17 is additionally equipped with a second bracket 19 (Figures 3 and 4) being a right angle and extends rearwardly from the cutter bar with an extension l9A terminating upwardly within a transmission unit 20 where-at the bracket extension is in bolted securement at 21 to threaded bores in the transmission housing. The upper end of the transmission housing receives a bracket 22 which is secured by fasteners 23 to plate 13. Accordingly, the trans-mission housing, and the engine indicated generally at E, are secured in place to the cutter bar. One suitable engine and 3~2~321 transmission unit is that sold under the trademark ECH0, model HC-210E.
The cutter bar assembly includes slidably mounted reci-procating blades 24-25 with each blade having a series of elongate slots through which pass fastener assemblies 26 car-ried by the fixed cutter bar. Angle shaped guides at 27 ad-ditionally support the blades at each fastener assembly.
The pair of cutter blades are coextensive with cutter bar 17 and include coacting teeth 24A-25A. Reciprocating motion is imparted to the cutter blades 24-25 by angular connector plates at 30 and 31 which as shown in Figures 3 and 4 termi-nate within conventional transmission 20.
Transmission 20 includes a pair of connecting rods 32-33 each carried by an eccentric as at 34 on a driven shaft 35. The connecting rods 32-33 have bosses 32A-33A at their distal ends in which are received posts 34-35 on the blade attached connector plates 30-31. Internal transmission struc-ture confines the connector plates to reciprocal motion. Ac-cordinyly blades 24 and 25 are oppositely reciprocated along cutter bar 17.
A handlebar at 37 is provided with a pair of handgrips 38. A bracket 40 secured in place toward one end (preferably the left side) of the handlebar to enable the operator to substantially avoid contact with the foilage being trimmed.
Preferably the bracket 40 is assymetrically mounted on a curved segment at one end of the handlebar so as to position the cutter bar 17 so as to be rotated outwardly about its major axis at about a thirty degree included angle to a vertical medial plane P of the operator to provide an opti-mum cutting angle with the branch being cut. To enable ~2~32~
handlebar height to be varied to suit the operator7 bracket40 is attachable to a mounting plate 41 having a series of apertures with the plate secured to cutter bar 17 by a pair of the fastener assemblies 26.
For the operator's convenience, a throttle control and an ignition grounding switch are provided on handlebar 37. Transmission 20 has a five-to-one reduction drive.
The cutter bar assembly preferably has a length of about six or seven feet.
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
A tree trimming apparatus comprising in combination, an elevated support assembly including a support arm, an elongate cutter bar assembly including a cutter bar disposed in upright fashion below said support arm, multiple cutter blades slidably mounted on said cutter bar, a con-nector plate on each of said blades, a power source and transmission for driving said cutter bar assembly, said transmission imparting reciprocal motion to the blades by means of the connector plate on each of said blades, elongate means coupling said cutter bar assembly to said support arm in a suspended manner, said cutter bar assembly additionally including attach-ment means located so as to receive one end of said elongate means at a point laterally offset from the cutter assembly center of gravity to cause said cutter bar assembly to be suspended inclined somewhat off the vertical for tree trim-ming along an inclined course and stablizing means on said cutter bar assembly.
The trimming apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said power source and said transmission are mounted on said cutter bar assembly.
The trimming apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said stabilizing means is a handlebar having a pair of handgrips, said handlebar asymmetrically mounted on said cutter bar assembly to permit an operator to avoid heavy contact with the tree being trimmed, a mounting plate on said cutter bar assembly supporting said handlebar in an axially adjustable manner.
The trimming apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said attachment means is a plate carried by said cutter bar, said plate having at least one aperture therein offset from center of gravity of the cutter bar assembly, said elongate means terminating in attachment to said plate at the aperture therein to cause the cutter bar assembly to be supported in an uprightly inclined manner by said elongate means.
The trimming apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said elevated support assembly includes a back pack structure for wear by an operator, said support arm extending upwardly and thence extending forwardly from said back pack structure and terminating forwardly of the operator and thereat receiving one end of said elongate means.
A tree trimming apparatus comprising, an elevated support assembly including a back pack type structure for wear by an operator, a support arm carried by said back pack structure and extending upwardly therefrom and thence forwardly to project over and forwardly of the operator, elongate means suspended from said arm, a cutter bar assembly carried in upright fashion by said elongate means, attachment means receiving one end of said elongate means at a point laterally offset from the cutter bar assembly so as to cause the cutter bar assembly to be suspended slightly off the vertical for trimming along an inclined course, said cutter bar assembly including a cutter bar, multiple blades slidably carried by said cutter bar, a power source and transmission in driving engagement with said cutter bar assembly, brackets mounting said power source and transmission on said cutter bar, connector plates one each on said blades and driven by said transmission to impart reciprocal motion to said blade, said connector plates being of angular configuration, and stablizing means for stabilizing the cutter bar assembly against displacement during a tree trimming operation.
The trimming apparatus claimed in claim 6 wherein the forwardly projecting position of said arm is canted to extend over one side of the operator's torso.
The trimming apparatus claimed in claim 6 wherein said attachment means is a plate defining multiple apertures for attachment of said elongated means, said apertures offset different distances from the cutter bar assembly center of gravity whereby the cutter bar assembly may be positioned at selected upright positions.
The tree trimming apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said elevated support assembly includes a back pack having a frame, said support arm carried by and extending upwardly from the frame and thence terminating forwardly of said back pack when worn by an operator, said elongate means terminating at one end in attachment to said support arm.
The tree trimming apparatus claimed in claim 9 wherein said stabilizing means is a handlebar having end mounted handgrips for grasping by the operator to resist loads en-countered during a trimming operation, said handlebar mounted intermediate its ends in an asymmetrical manner to said cutter bar assembly.
The tree trimming apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein each connector plate is of angular configuration.
A tree trimming apparatus comprising in combination, an elevated support assembly including a support arm, an elongate cutter bar assembly including a cutter bar disposed in upright fashion below said support arm, multiple cutter blades slidably mounted on said cutter bar, a con-nector plate on each of said blades, a power source and transmission for driving said cutter bar assembly, said transmission imparting reciprocal motion to the blades by means of the connector plate on each of said blades, elongate means coupling said cutter bar assembly to said support arm in a suspended manner, said cutter bar assembly additionally including attach-ment means located so as to receive one end of said elongate means at a point laterally offset from the cutter assembly center of gravity to cause said cutter bar assembly to be suspended inclined somewhat off the vertical for tree trim-ming along an inclined course and stablizing means on said cutter bar assembly.
The trimming apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said power source and said transmission are mounted on said cutter bar assembly.
The trimming apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said stabilizing means is a handlebar having a pair of handgrips, said handlebar asymmetrically mounted on said cutter bar assembly to permit an operator to avoid heavy contact with the tree being trimmed, a mounting plate on said cutter bar assembly supporting said handlebar in an axially adjustable manner.
The trimming apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said attachment means is a plate carried by said cutter bar, said plate having at least one aperture therein offset from center of gravity of the cutter bar assembly, said elongate means terminating in attachment to said plate at the aperture therein to cause the cutter bar assembly to be supported in an uprightly inclined manner by said elongate means.
The trimming apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said elevated support assembly includes a back pack structure for wear by an operator, said support arm extending upwardly and thence extending forwardly from said back pack structure and terminating forwardly of the operator and thereat receiving one end of said elongate means.
A tree trimming apparatus comprising, an elevated support assembly including a back pack type structure for wear by an operator, a support arm carried by said back pack structure and extending upwardly therefrom and thence forwardly to project over and forwardly of the operator, elongate means suspended from said arm, a cutter bar assembly carried in upright fashion by said elongate means, attachment means receiving one end of said elongate means at a point laterally offset from the cutter bar assembly so as to cause the cutter bar assembly to be suspended slightly off the vertical for trimming along an inclined course, said cutter bar assembly including a cutter bar, multiple blades slidably carried by said cutter bar, a power source and transmission in driving engagement with said cutter bar assembly, brackets mounting said power source and transmission on said cutter bar, connector plates one each on said blades and driven by said transmission to impart reciprocal motion to said blade, said connector plates being of angular configuration, and stablizing means for stabilizing the cutter bar assembly against displacement during a tree trimming operation.
The trimming apparatus claimed in claim 6 wherein the forwardly projecting position of said arm is canted to extend over one side of the operator's torso.
The trimming apparatus claimed in claim 6 wherein said attachment means is a plate defining multiple apertures for attachment of said elongated means, said apertures offset different distances from the cutter bar assembly center of gravity whereby the cutter bar assembly may be positioned at selected upright positions.
The tree trimming apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said elevated support assembly includes a back pack having a frame, said support arm carried by and extending upwardly from the frame and thence terminating forwardly of said back pack when worn by an operator, said elongate means terminating at one end in attachment to said support arm.
The tree trimming apparatus claimed in claim 9 wherein said stabilizing means is a handlebar having end mounted handgrips for grasping by the operator to resist loads en-countered during a trimming operation, said handlebar mounted intermediate its ends in an asymmetrical manner to said cutter bar assembly.
The tree trimming apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein each connector plate is of angular configuration.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US70933085A | 1985-03-07 | 1985-03-07 | |
| US709,330 | 1985-03-07 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1243211A true CA1243211A (en) | 1988-10-18 |
Family
ID=24849400
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000482498A Expired CA1243211A (en) | 1985-03-07 | 1985-05-27 | Tree trimming apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1243211A (en) |
-
1985
- 1985-05-27 CA CA000482498A patent/CA1243211A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |