GB564073A - Improved apparatus for trimming hedges - Google Patents

Abstract

564,073. Hedge cutters. McDOWALL, A. April 7,1943, No. 5568. [Class 6 (ii)] Hedge-trimming apparatus comprises a rotary cutter 11 mounted on the shaft of an electric motor 13 suspended from a beam adjustably supported on a vehicle, or a base carried on a vehicle. For effecting vertical reciprocation the flexible suspension means 14 is connected to a motor 30 through gearing 33 for converting rotary into reciprocating motion, toothed wheels 28, 27 and a crank-pin on a disc 24 coaxial with the wheel 27. Also from the gearing 33 is driven a pinion 32 meshing with a quadrant on the standard 16, whereby horizontal reciprocations are imparted to the motor 13. Hydraulically operated mechanism may replace the motor 30.. In a modification, Fig. 2, the supporting beam 39 is slidably mounted in the top of the frame 40. A motor 46 imparts movement to a chain 47 and thence to a pair of flexible supports 44, 45. Tilting of the motor 13 and cutter 11, particularly during the upper part of its vertical movement to round off the top edge of the hedge, is caused by connecting the cord 45 to the longer arm 50 of a bell-crank. The shorter arm 51 has a bifurcated end working between stops 54 on the chain 47. Horizontal reciprocating movement of the beam 39 is produced by a drum 59 on the motor shaft, on which drum is wound the end of a cord 60 connected at the further end to a tension spring 64 which returns the beam to the initial position. Automatic periodic reversal of the motor is effected by a reversing switch 75 operated by stops 76 fixed to the chain 47. Alternatively, a unidirectional motor may be used, working through mechanical reversing gear. A handle 36 may be carried and serves both to steady the motor movements or to make slight positional adjustments thereof.