WO2020035281A1

WO2020035281A1 - Pruning device comprising at least one gripping handle, a clipping/cutting-back tool and motorised aerodynamic levitation means

Info

Publication number: WO2020035281A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/070073
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philippe CROCHAT; Paul CROCHAT
Original assignee: Crochat Philippe
Priority date: 2018-08-17
Filing date: 2019-07-25
Publication date: 2020-02-20
Also published as: FR3084990A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a pruning device (1) for clipping/cutting-back vegetation, in particular branches of trees or shrubs located high up, comprising at least one gripping handle (10) extending in a longitudinal direction and carrying, on a distal end (13), a clipping/cutting-back tool (20), such as a movable hedge trimmer blade, shearer jaws or a chainsaw chain, characterised in that the gripping handle (10) is provided with motorised aerodynamic levitation means (30).

Description

Pruning device comprising at least one gripping handle, a pruning / brush cutting tool and motorized aerodynamic levitation means

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pruning device for pruning / clearing vegetation, in particular branches of trees or shrubs located high up.

STATE OF THE ART

At the present time, the pruning devices of known type for pruning / clearing vegetation (shrubs, trees) essentially consist of a pruning / clearing tool, for example a chain saw, a hedge trimmer with blades. or a jaw pruner, held manually by a user. These devices are a priori entirely satisfactory for operations standing "at breast height", the user resting on the ground, close to the vegetation to be pruned.

However, when it is necessary to trim hedges of shrubs or trees at a significant height, for example beyond 2 m, these devices are not suitable. There are then generally three solutions to this problem.

The first is to climb trees with the pruning / clearing tool. However, pruners practicing this technique take a huge risk of injury from falling, falling cut branches or falling from the tool in operation. This high-risk work is also very costly in terms of insurance and time.

The second solution, which is extremely simple but limited, consists in using a means so that the user himself is placed higher. For this, he can use a stool, a stepladder, a ladder, or even a motorized device of the nacelle or specialized deforestation truck type.

However, these solutions are either potentially dangerous for the first, with a risk that the user will be more or less seriously injured by falling with the tool, or expensive and / or complex to implement for the second (accessibility problem from the basket or truck, impossibility for the basket or the truck to move easily if the terrain is rough, for example).

A third known solution then consists in placing the pruning / brushcutting tool at the end of a rod to move it away from the user and

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) reach higher branches and / or more difficult places to access (thick and dense vegetation for example).

We know, for example, the solutions described in patents FR2455427, FR2610167, FR2621779, FR2671689, FR270841 1, FR2826234 and FR2953683 concerning a manual or electric shears, in patents EP3058807, US5884403, US2005086813, US2006005673, US2006048757 and US4607757 and patents EP3213627, and US5787590 concerning hedge trimmers.

These devices for transferring the tool to the end of an arm allow the user to take a stable position on the ground. But in return, the user must redouble their efforts to prune the shrubs or trees. Pruning is done at a distance from the area where the user holds the stem, ie between his pelvis and his shoulders, and more probably at the level of his abdomen. However, the further the pruning area is from the user, especially when it comes to pruning in height, the greater the overhang of the tool, the more the efforts to be made can be difficult to bear .

Thus, all of these solutions generally have the same drawbacks, namely a particularly high weight which makes pruning tiring or even dangerous for the user because of the large overhang, pruning potentially ineffective (lack of precision) due to the difficulty handling the load constituted by the tool placed at the end of the rod, and accessibility of the branches to be pruned reduced to a relatively low height for the reasons mentioned above.

Consequently, the solutions of the prior art are therefore not optimized, their use is therefore restricted and they potentially lack efficiency.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to respond at least in part to the limitations of the prior art mentioned above.

To this end, the invention relates to a pruning device for pruning / clearing vegetation, in particular branches of trees or shrubs located in height, comprising at least one grip handle extending in a direction longitudinal and supporting, at one end distal, a pruning / brushcutting tool such as a mobile hedge trimmer blade, shear jaws or a chainsaw chain, characterized in that the gripping handle is provided with motorized aerodynamic levitation means.

In this way, the weight of the tool is partly supported by the levitation means, typically at least 50%, without the user letting go of the grip handle. The overhang is also significantly reduced or even completely canceled, which greatly facilitates the pruning work. The user can therefore not only be more precise in these gestures, because he has less load to lift, but he can also prune for a longer period because of this relief from a large part of the load usually lifted. Finally, the user can use much longer (and potentially heavier) gripping handles and / or more massive tools, and therefore prune at much greater distances than in the prior art and / or larger branches and more difficult to cut.

According to preferred embodiments of the present invention:

- the motorized levitation means are arranged near the cutting / brushcutting tool;

- The motorized levitation means comprise at least one propeller rotating about an axis erected from the grip handle;

- the axis of rotation of each propeller is perpendicular to the handle;

- The device comprises at least two propellers;

- Each propeller is mounted at the end of an intermediate arm intended to offset said propeller laterally with respect to the grip handle, the arm being able to rotate around a pivot perpendicular to the handle, preferably over at least 90 °;

- Each propeller is further provided with a first protective fairing surrounding it over its entire circumference;

- The propeller closest to the pruning / brushcutting tool is also provided with a second fairing locally surrounding the first fairing; - The second fairing is in the form of a portion of openwork ring such as a mesh;

- The gripping handle comprises, in the vicinity of its proximal end, means for controlling at least one parameter of rotation of each propeller among its speed, its acceleration and its inclination relative to the ground;

- the control means of each propeller are provided with electronic assistance at start-up, take-off and landing;

- the control means of each propeller are independent of control means of the cutting / brushcutting tool;

- The grip handle is provided, in the vicinity of the proximal end, with a transverse steering bar which stands laterally with respect to said grip handle;

- the pruning / brushcutting tool is articulated relative to the grip handle according to at least one axis of rotation perpendicular to said handle and / or in the extension of the latter;

- the pruning / brushcutting tool as well as at least one levitation motor with which each propeller is provided are powered by an electrical energy source;

- the source of electrical energy is in the form of battery (s) housed in a backpack independent of the grip handle, which serves as a guide for a cable connecting said source of electrical energy to said pruning / brushcutting tool ;

- the grip handle is telescopic;

- The grip handle is made of carbon fibers and / or glass fibers, in one section or several interlocking and removable sections;

- the grip handle measures between 2m and 20m;

- the device is equipped with a shock absorber arranged near, or on, the pruning / brushcutting tool; and

- the device is provided with a camera placed close to the pruning / brushcutting tool and incidentally with a control screen disposed in the vicinity of the proximal end of the grip handle.

PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURES

Other particular advantages, aims and characteristics of the present invention will emerge from the following non-limiting description of at least one particular embodiment of said object of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a pruning device according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of FIG. 1, and

- Figure 5 is a detailed perspective view of a second embodiment of Figure 1.

Figures 1 to 4 show a pruning device 1 for pruning / clearing vegetation, in particular branches of trees or shrubs distant from a pruner 5, located for example in height relative to the latter.

By “distant” or “located in height” is meant the fact that the user 5 does not have direct access to the vegetation which he must prune but that he must use, as will be described below, a means enabling it to trim / clear vegetation located at a distance from it, for example branches located in height more than 2 m above the ground, up to several tens of meters, or far from the user due to '' dense and thick vegetation.

This pruning device 1 typically comprises a gripping handle 10 extending in a longitudinal direction and having a proximal end 1 1 provided on the one hand with a gripping zone 12 for a user 5 and on the other hand with a distal end 13 supporting a pruning / clearing tool 20 such as a mobile hedge trimmer blade, shear jaws or a chainsaw chain. The gripping handle 10 also comprises, close to the pruning / brushcutting tool 20, motorized aeronautical levitation means 30 which are the subject of the present invention.

These levitation means 30 typically take the form of at least one propeller 31, and preferably at least two propellers 31 a and 31 b, mounted respectively in rotation on axes 32a and 32b which stand perpendicular to said grip handle 10 ( see figure 4 for example). The axes of 32a and 32b of the propellers 31a and 32b are rotated using respective motors 35a and 35b.

As is also visible in FIGS. 1 to 4, the propellers 31 a and 31 b are respectively provided with first proximity fairings 33 a and 33 b each surrounding them around their entire circumference and making it possible to improve their lift.

The propeller 31a disposed closest to the pruning / brushcutting tool 20 also includes a second protective fairing 34a intended to prevent the propeller 31a from getting caught in the branches to be pruned / pruned or in the leaves. This second fairing 34a locally surrounds the first fairing 33a and takes the form of an annular portion describing for example a quarter of a circle and comprising an openwork structure of the mesh type.

The grip handle 10 comprises, in the vicinity of its proximal end 11, means 50 for controlling at least one parameter of rotation of each propeller 31 a and 31 b among its speed, its acceleration and its inclination. These control means 50 can take the form of a button, lever, rotary “gas” handle or the like.

The control means 50 of each propeller 31 a and 31 b are advantageously provided with electronic assistance at start-up, take-off and landing to facilitate piloting of the pruning device 1.

The gripping handle 10 also comprises, near its proximal end 11, control means 60 of the pruning / brushcutting tool 10. These control means 60 are independent of the control means 50 of the propellers 31 a and 31 b and can again take different forms: lever, button, rotary handle, etc. The grip handle 10 is provided, in the vicinity of the proximal end 1 1, a transverse steering bar 70 which stands laterally with respect to said handle. This transverse bar 70, measuring for example a few tens of centimeters, allows the user 5 on the one hand to improve the grip of the pruning device 1 by distributing the lifted load as well as possible, to guarantee better stabilization of the handle of gripping 10 and to facilitate the control of the pruning device 1 as will be described later.

As a variant, as illustrated, the control means 60 can be carried by the transverse bar 70.

Advantageously, the pruning / clearing tool 20 is articulated relative to the gripping handle 10 along at least one axis of rotation perpendicular to said gripping handle 10 and / or in the extension of the latter. These joints can be obtained using motorized rotation pivots extending perpendicular to the grip handle 10, or a ball joint. They allow the inclination of the pruning / brushcutting tool 20 to be adjusted remotely to adapt to the positions, orientations and respective shapes of the branches to be cut.

The pruning / brushcutting tool 20 as well as the levitation motors with which the propellers 31 a and 31 b are provided are powered by an electric power source (not shown). These could typically be high capacity batteries (Li-lon) carried by the user 5, for example in a backpack (not shown), and detachably connected to the propeller motors 31 a and 31 b and to the pruning / clearing tool 20 via cables (not shown) guided by the gripping handle 10.

In order to be able to have access to branches which are significantly distant from the user 5, the gripping handle 10 is telescopic and comprises, for example, one or more sections which can be fitted together and which can be dismantled. Advantageously, for questions of weight / resistance ratio, the grip handle 10 will mainly consist of carbon fiber and / or glass (for the electrically insulating side in the event of contact with electric cables). It will measure between 2m (a section) and several tens of meters, for example 20 meters (10 sections). The sections of the gripping handle 10 can be of square section in order to avoid the problem of rotation of the sections relative to each other.

The pruning device 1 is equipped with a shock absorber 80 located near the pruning / brushcutting tool 20, for example under the second fairing 34a, or directly attached to the pruning / brushcutting tool 20. This avoids damaging the pruning / brushcutting tool 20 when the propeller motors 31 a and 31 b are stopped.

As the user 5 is often placed relatively far from the pruning / clearing tool 20, or it is almost impossible for him to see it because of the density of the vegetation, provision is made to provide the pruning device 1 of a camera 90 placed close to the pruning / clearing tool 20, and incidentally of a control screen 100 placed in the vicinity of the proximal end 11 of the grip handle 10, for example on the crossbar 70 .

According to an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the motors 35a and 35b of the axes of rotation 32a and 32b of the propellers 31a and 31b are mounted respectively at the end of arms 41a and 41b rotating around pivots 42a and 42b linked . Advantageously, the arms 41 a and 42 b pivot through 90 ° so as to move the propellers 31 a and 31 b laterally from the grip handle 10, the two arms 41 a and 42 b then preferably being oriented at the same angle (in the direction of the needles one for one and counterclockwise for the other) so as not to hinder the lateral stabilization of the grip handle 10.

The operation of the pruning device 1 in accordance with the presentation is as follows:

Once positioned in the area to be pruned, with the charged batteries housed in the backpack and connected to the power cable of the propeller levitation motors and of the pruning / clearing tool 20, the user 5 then grasps the gripping handle 10 at the gripping zone 12 and starts the propellers 31 a and 31 b for the take-off of the pruning device 1. It can then relieve the weight of the pruning device 1, in particular the 'pruning / brushcutting tool 20 located at its distal end 13 thanks to the aerodynamic levitation provided by the propellers 31 a and 31 b. By manipulating the control means 50 of the motors of the propellers 31 a and 31 b, the user 5 can raise the handle 10 more or less high and tilt it in the air above him, or the maintain altitude, still holding it manually at the level of the gripping zone 12, so as to reach the more or less distant branches. Depending on the speed of the propellers 31 a and 31 b, the inclination may vary from 0 ° to around 70 ° relative to the plane of the ground on which the user is located 5, 70 ° being the maximum position beyond which pruning can become dangerous because it is a safety limit imposed.

The user 5 can thus vary the acceleration, the speed or the orientation of the propellers 31 a and 31 b in order to place the cutting / clearing tool 20 at the height he wishes. Once the altitude is reached, the user 5 then starts the pruning / brushcutting tool 20 using the piloting means 60 provided for this purpose, and begins pruning. Note that the second fairing 34a will prevent branches or leaves from getting stuck in the propellers 31 a and 31 b (mainly the propeller 31 to the one closest to the pruning / brushcutting tool 20).

When the user 5 wishes to go to the left, and if he holds the transverse bar 70 with his left hand (a priori for a right-handed person), he pivots said bar 70 slightly downward, keeping substantially the same inclination of the gripping handle 10 relative to the horizontal, which has the effect of orienting the respective axes of rotation 32a and 32b of the propellers 31 a and 31 b to the left, which causes the pruning device 1 to move towards left. If he wants to go to the right, he performs the reverse maneuver and slightly raises the crossbar 70.

The camera 90 allows the user 5 to view areas far from him and to best adapt the levitation force of the propellers 31 a and 31 b to bring the pruning / brushcutting tool 20 as close as possible to the branches to be cut. . User 5 can check his approach in real time using the control screen 100 attached to the steering crossbar 70.

Electronic assistance is provided to facilitate take-off and landing of the gripping handle 10. It can for example be provided that pressing a button causes the progressive start of the propellers 31 a and 31 b (simultaneously or one after the other) and stabilization of the grip handle 10.

Of course, security means will be provided to prevent the user 5 from letting go of the grip handle 10. He will, for example, have to permanently press on one or more organ (s) (buttons, handles), as on many tools of this type (mower, hedge trimmer) so that any loosening of the organs described above will immediately stop the pruning / brush cutting tool 20 and the propeller motors 31 a and 31 b (preferably gradually for avoid too sudden a shock when the grip handle 10 falls to the ground).

To this end, the shock absorber 80 will make it possible to avoid damaging or destroying the pruning / brushcutting tool 20.

It should be understood that the detailed description of the object of the invention, given only by way of illustration, does not in any way constitute a limitation, the technical equivalents also being included in the field of the present invention

Thus, the number of propellers 31 can vary and be greater than 1 or 2, as can the lateral distance arms.

The second fairing 34a can take other forms than that illustrated, it can for example be simply straight or formed from several inclined faces (a straight face facing the tool and two inclined side faces).

The pruning / brushcutting tool 20 can be powered by a thermal source. In this case, a removable fuel tank will be provided and carried by the user to lighten the pruning device 1 and the fuel will be supplied to the pruning / clearing tool 20 via a hose guided by the handle. grip 10.

The gripping handle can also be hooked, at its proximal end 11, to a harness (not shown) worn by the user 5.

Finally, the propellers can operate using an electric turbine or a small jet engine (model making type).

Claims

1 - Pruning device (1) for pruning / clearing vegetation, in particular branches of trees or shrubs located in height, comprising at least one grip handle (10) extending in a longitudinal direction and supporting , at a distal end (13), a pruning / clearing tool (20) such as a movable hedge trimmer blade, shear jaws or a chainsaw chain, characterized in that the gripping handle (10) is provided with motorized aerodynamic levitation means (30) comprising at least one propeller (31) rotating around an axis (32a; 32b) erected directly from the grip handle, perpendicular to the latter.

2 Pruning device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the motorized levitation means (30) are arranged near the pruning / brushcutting tool (20).

3 - Pruning device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least two propellers (31 a, 31 b). 4 - Pruning device according to claim 2, characterized in that the axis of rotation (32a, 32b) of each propeller (31a, 31b) is mounted at the end of an intermediate arm (41a, 41b ) intended to offset said propeller laterally (31 a, 31 b) relative to the grip handle (10), the arm (41 a, 41 b) being able to rotate around a pivot (42a, 42b) perpendicular to the grip handle (10), preferably over at least 90 °.

5 - Pruning device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each propeller (31 a; 31 b) is further provided with a first protective fairing (33a; 33b) l surrounding around its entire circumference. 6 Pruning device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the propeller (31a) closest to the pruning / brushcutting tool (20) is also provided with a second fairing (34a) surrounding locally the first fairing (33a).

7 - Pruning device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the second fairing (34a) is in the form of a portion of openwork ring such as a mesh.

8 - Pruning device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the gripping handle (10) comprises, in the vicinity of its proximal end (1 1), means (50) of control of at least one parameter of rotation of each propeller (31 a; 31 b) among its speed, its acceleration and its inclination relative to the ground.

9 Pruning device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the control means (50) of each propeller (31 a; 31 b) are provided with electronic assistance at start-up, take-off and landing.

10 Pruning device (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 9, characterized in that the control means (50) of each propeller (31 a; 31 b) are independent of control means (60) of the pruning / clearing tool (20).

11 - Pruning device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grip handle (10) is provided, in the vicinity of the proximal end (1 1), with a transverse bar of direction (70) which stands laterally with respect to said grip handle (10).

12 Pruning device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pruning / brush cutting tool (20) is articulated relative to the grip handle (10) along at least one axis of rotation perpendicular to said gripping handle (10) and / or in the extension of the latter.

13 Pruning device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pruning / clearing tool (20) and at least one levitation motor (35a; 35b) with which each propeller is provided (31 a; 31 b) are powered by a source of electrical energy.

14 Pruning device (1) according to claim 13, characterized and that the source of electrical energy is in the form of battery (s) housed in a backpack independent of the grip handle (10), which serves as a guide for a cable connecting said source of electrical energy to said cutting / clearing tool (20).

15 Pruning device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gripping handle (10) is telescopic.

16 Pruning device (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that the gripping handle (10) is made of carbon fibers and / or glass fibers, in a section or several interlocking and removable sections.

17 Pruning device (1) according to any one of claims 15 to 16, characterized in that the gripping handle (10) measures between 2m and 20m.

18 Pruning device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is equipped with a shock absorber (80) disposed close to, or on, the pruning / brushcutting tool ( 20). 19 Pruning device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is further provided with a camera (90) disposed close to the pruning / brushcutting tool (20) and incidentally d 'a control screen (100) disposed in the vicinity of the proximal end (1 1) of the gripping handle (10).