GB2313806A

GB2313806A - Powered branch lopper

Info

Publication number: GB2313806A
Application number: GB9611893A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Clive Butcher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-06-07
Filing date: 1996-06-07
Publication date: 1997-12-10
Also published as: GB9611893D0

Abstract

A powered lopper comprises a motor 1 mounted on the end of a hollow pole 2 with a shaft inside leading to a circular saw mounted at an angle to the pole, and driven through level gears. The saw blade rotates inside a housing 3 which is designed so as to leave a hook shaped opening in one side, revealing part of the blade. The angle of the saw and the hook shaped opening permit the user to pull the branches towards him or her thereby providing a force which draws the branch into the blade.

Description

POWERED BRANCH LOPPER This invention relates to a powered branch lopper.

This device is designed to lop branches from tall shrubs and trees which are otherwise difficult to access with conventional seccoteurs.

Currently the only readily available lopping device is a manual one which has certain drawbacks when in use, notably the need to use both hands to achieve a successful cut.

Also the lever manoever, when trying to re-set the lopper is extremely difficult and, as is often the case, when standing on a ladder to use the tool, there is no free hand with which to hold onto the ladder. The frequent need to reach out and up with the manual lopper and the obligatory use of both hands leads to significant strain on the back and precarious balancing problems. Those powered versions of the lopper which have been patented have not solved the fundamental problem of providing a satisfactory way to hold branches so that the cutting device has a force to act against.

The powered lopper invention shown here comprises a motor mounted on the end of a hollow pole with a shaft inside leading to a circular saw mounted at an angle to the pole. The saw blade rotates inside a housing which is designed so as to leave a hook shaped opening in one side, revealing part of the blade.

The hook shaped opening allows the user to pull the branches towards them thereby effecting a force which draws the branch into the blade. The blade, which is rotating so the teeth are moving into the deepest part of the hook, facilitates the trapping of the branch resulting in a swift, clean cut.

The pole is held either with one hand or two. There is a shoulder strap provided to support the weight and to allow for greater freedom of movement. The motor mounted at the base of the pole provides useful counterbalance against the weight of the saw at the higher end making manoevering easier than the manual lopper.

FIGURE 1 shows the lopper, comprising the three principal elements notably the motor (1), which can be used either with a direct mains electricity connection or via a rechargeable battery, or a petrol-driven source of power. The motor is mounted on a hollow pole ( 2) on the other end of which is mounted a circular saw inside a housing (3).

The saw blade is driven round by the motor via a length of rod running along the centre of the pole. The change of angle is produced by conical cog drives mounted inside the housing. There is also an adjustable shoulder strap which permits freer movement of the hands and supports the weight of the lopper.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the head of the lopper from three different angles.

2/5 shows the normal view from the user's position. The hook shape can be seen on the left of the cutting head (5a) and the teeth of the saw can be seen pointing in towards the deepest part of the hook (5b).

2/6 shows the side view of the cutting head.

2/7 shows the reverse side of the blade housing.

FIGURE 3 shows a side view of the cutting head with the angle drive wheels mounted inside the housing (8) with the saw blade at the left-hand side (9) and the drive shaft which is connected to the motor (10).

FIGURE 4 illustrates the manner in which branches are cut. The branch (11) is held in the hook part of the housing (12) whilst the saw blade (13) cuts the branch.

The operation is facilitated by the lopper being pulled towards the user (14).

Claims

1. A powered lopper comprising a motor attached to a hollow pole with a drive shaft along the centre and joined via a set of angle drives to a circular saw cutting head, contained in a specially designed housing.

2. A powered lopper as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the cutting head housing is shaped like a hook this provides an opening for the saw blade to cut the branches and also helps to catch and pull branches onto the rotating saw blade thereby providing a force against which to effect a successful cut.

3. A powered lopper as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the motor at the base of the pole could be either electric powered or a petrol driven device providing the source of power.

4. A powered lopper as claimed in Claim 1 wherein there is attached to the pole an adjustable shoulder strap for the purpose of further supporting the weight of the device.