GB2472136A

GB2472136A - Foliage cutting apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2472136A
Application number: GB1011963A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert E Collins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-07-17
Filing date: 2010-07-16
Publication date: 2011-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 2030-07-16
Also published as: GB201011963D0; GB0912405D0; GB2472136B

Abstract

Foliage cutting apparatus incorporates at least first6and second5separately operable foliage cutter units that are so interconnected as to be selectively settable in line, or to be selectively set at an angle relative to each other for the purposes of cutting foliage, the cutter units each comprising an elongate toothed cutter blade mounted for reciprocation relative to an elongate cutter blade guide support. The second cutter unit is pivotally mounted to the first unit. The second cutter unit5may be carried by a support which includes a main column and a linkage system11pivotally mounting the second cutter to the main column10and a hydraulic jack16arrangement acting on the linkage so that the second cutter can be set angularly relative to the first cutter. The apparatus may be used for cutting hedges and may be mounted to a tractor.

Description

FOLiAGE CUTflNG APPARATUS This invention relates to the cutting/trimming/shaping of growing foliage.

In particular the present invention is concerned with methods of and apparatus for the cutting/trimming/shaping of growing foliage such as may be associated with hedgerows, lines of bushes and trees.

In further particular the present invention is concerned with the management of trees as may be found in orchards. In the case of such orchards it is considered to be desirable to be able to control the overall growth of the individual trees.

It is an object of the invention to facilitate the management of the growth of trees/bushes as may be group ways planted in orchards for facilitating crop retrieval purposes.

Broardly according to a first aspect of the invention there is provided foliage cutting apparatus incorporating at least first and second separately operable foliage cutter units that are so interconnected as to be selectively settable in line, or to be selectively settable at an angle relative to each other for the purposes of cutting foliage.

Preferably the cutter units each comprises an elongate toothed cutter blade mounted for reciprocation relative to an elongate cutter blade guide support.

Conveniently the apparatus includes means for enabling the apparatus to be operationally installed upon a vehicle in such manner that the cutter units can be selectively tilted, raised and lowered relative to the terrain over which the vehicle moves.

Also conveniently a first cutter unit is mounted to a support arrangement that allows the first cutter unit to be selectively settable relative to the vehicle according to the nature and location of the foliage to be cut.

In a preferred arrangement second cutter unit is so mounted to a support arrangement that allows the cutter to be positioned in a cutting direction separate from that of the first unit.

* Conveniently the second cutter unit is selectively settable to a cutting position such that its cutting action is effectively a continuation of that of the first cutter unit.

In particular, the second cutter unit pivotally mounted from an elevated support. So that it is displaceable between a stowed setting and a user setting and connected with a linkage framework which enables selective displacement of the cutter unit to a required cutting direction.

Preferably the relative positional settings of the cutter units is effected by a hydraulic control of the setting of the linkage system.

Preferably, the second cutter carried be a support including a main column and a linkage system pivotally mounting the second cutter unit to the main column and a hydraulic jack arrangement acting upon the linkage in such manner as to enable the second elongate cutter to be angularly set relative to the column.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how to carry the same into effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 schematically illustrates an embodiment of foliage cutting apparatus involving in tine cutter units incorporating the concepts of the invention, the apparatus being illustrated when mounted to the front end of a tractor likewise very schematicafly illustrated, and when the cutter units are arranged to each other for the purposes of a cutting operation; and Figure 2 is a very schematic view similar to that of Figure 1 but with the cutter units of the apparatus set to a so-called stowed position relative to each other.

Referring now to the drawings the foliage cutting apparatus 1 illustrated therein includes a main support assembly 2 adapted for mounting to the front end of a conventional tractor 3 and serving to mount to the tractor a cutter unit assembly 4 including upper and lower elongate cutter units 5 and 6 respectively.

Each such cutter unit 5,6 incorporates an elongate cutter blade reciprocatable relative to a series of fixed tooth like blade members 7 provided along one edge region of an elongate housing for the reciprocatabie cutter blades (not separately shown). The drive for the cutter blade reciprocation is conveniently derived from a hydraulic drive such as appropriate hydraulic motor (not shown) receiving drive from the hydraulic system provided upon the tractor.

The main support assembly 2 incorporates a base unit 8 mounted upon the tractor 3, for example to one side thereof, a foliage cutting apparatus 5. In practice, in view of the weight of the assembly 2 located to the side of the tractor needs to be counterbalanced the counterbalancing being located by the block' 9 located at the opposite side of the tractor.

The lower cutter unit 6 is supported from the base unit 8 by a support arrangement 9 which is such that the cutter unit 6 can be arranged in the upright position as is shown in the Figures whereby when the cutter unit 6 is in use the cutter blade thereof is facing forward so that as the tractor is advanced the cutter blade is advanced towards foliage material to be cut along the line of advance of the tractor. The support arrangement 9 is such that the lower cutter unit 6 can be inclined to the vertical through a range of angles as required. One such angle is 15 degrees to the vertical.

The upper elongate cutter unit 5 is pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof at the upper end of a main support post 10 upstanding from the base unit 8.

The upper elongate cutter unit 5 is of a similar construction and operation to that of the above described lower cutter unit 6 and is similarly operated. * -4-

In practice the two cutter units 5 and 6 are independently operable.

The upper elongate cutter unit 5 is pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof at the upper end of a main support post 10 upstanding from the base unit 8 by way of a support linkage system 11. This linkage system incorporates a main element 12 firmly connected as indicated in the Figures to the upper unit 5 and pivotally connected to the upper end of the support post 10.

The linkage system also includes a first element 13 firmly connected as indicated in the Figures to the upper cutter unit 5 and to the pivotally connected by one end thereof to the main support post 10 and a second element 14 pivotally connected by one end thereof to the main element 12 intermediate of the ends of the latter.

The other ends of the first and second elements 13 and 14 are pivotally connected to.the ram arm 15 of a hydraulic ram unit 16.

The lengths of the elements, 12,13 and 14 and their relative pivotal axes are such that by operation of the hydraulic ram 16 the upper cutter unit 5 can be moved from a rest position shown in Figure 2 to a foliage cutting setting as shown in Figure 1 Thus the elongate upper cutter unit 5 is tiltable between a rest position in which it can be regarded as overlying the base unit 8 and tractor 3 (as is shown in Figure 2) and thus the front end of the tractor 3, and an in use position (as shown in Figure 1) in which it is effectively positioned in line with the lower cutter unit 6. As mentioned the elongate upper cutter unit 5 is displaced relative to the lower cutter unit 6 by the hydraulically actuated ram 16 and the associated linkage system 11.

In practice, the linkage system makes it possible to position the two cutter units and 6 so that the upper cutter unit 5 can if required be outwardly inclined relative to the lower cutter unit 6 within over a range of angles relative to the in line setting, for example, up to some 20 degrees to the cutter units in line setting.

When the foliage cutting apparatus 1 is in use for the purposes of cutting/trimming,for example, lower level foliage of, for example, apple trees of a size conventionally involved with cider production, i.e., foliage of a height within the range/reach of the length of the lower cutter unit 6 the upper cutter unit 5 will be set to its rest position and thus out of use.

In cases where the foliage is higher than the cutting range of the lower cutter unit 6 the upper cutter unit 5 is displaced by the hydraulic ram 16 and link system 11 to the in line setting of the cutter units 5 and 6 so that foliage can be cut over the length of the two cutter units.

In situations, where it is required to slope the upper part of, for example, a line of bushes, a hedge or the like foliage growth relative to the lower regions thereof the upper cutter unit 5 would be appropriately tilted outwards away from the tractor 3 at an angle considered appropriate to achieve the required sloping of the upper part of the foliage.

Particular applications for the apparatus of the present invention is to the pruning/tipping stem growth of fruit trees, such as apple trees, with a view tp facilitating a greater penetration of light into the trees which has been found inter alia to the stimulate growth and development of fruiting bud growth.

In situations where it may be desired to top cut bushes or trees the upper cutter Unit 8 can be so mounted as to be capable of being turned to a cutting position in which it is able to cut as to render the tops of hedges horizontal as is often the case with boundary hedges or the like.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Foliage cutting apparatus incorporating at east first and second separately operable foliage cutter units that are so interconnected as to be selectively settable in line, or to be selectively set at an angle relative to each other for the purposes of cutting foliage.
2. Foliage cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutter units each comprises an elongate toothed cutter blade mounted for reciprocation relative to an elongate cutter blade guide support.
3. Foliage cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2,, wherein the second cutter unit is mounted to a support arrangement that allows the cutter to be positioned in a cutting direction separate from that of the first unit.
4. Foliage cutting apparatus as claim in claim 1,2 or 3,, wherein the second cutter unit is selectively settable to a cutting position such that its cutting action is effectively a continuation of thatof the first cutter unit.
5. Foliage cutting apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus includes means for enabling the apparatus to be operationally installed upon a vehicle in such manner that the cutter units can be selectively tilted, raised and lowered relative to the terrain over which the vehicle moves.
6. Foliage cutting apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first cutter unit is mounted to a support arrangement that allows the first cutter unit to be set such that the cutters thereof a selectively settable relative to the vehicle according to the nature and location of the foliage to be cut.
7. Foliage cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second cutter unit is so mounted to a support arrangement that allows the cutter to be positioned in a cutting direction separate from that of the first unit.
8. Foliage cutting apparatus as claim in claim 7, wherein the second cutter unit is selectively settable to a cutting position such that its cutting action is effectively a continuation of that of the first cutter unit.
9. Foliage cutting apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second cutter unit is displaceable between a stowed setting and a user setting and is connected with a linkage framework which enables selective displacement of the cutter unit into a required cutting direction.
10. Foliage cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the relative positional settings of the cutter units is effected by a hydraulic control of the setting of a linkage system.
11. Foliage cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 8, and wherein, the second 1 5 cutter unit is carried by a support including a main column and a linkage system pivotally mounting the second cutter unit to the main column and a hydraulic jack arrangement acting upon the linkage in such manner as to enable the second elongate cutter unit to be angularly set relative to the column.
12. Foliage cutting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.