Patent · US Expired

Hydraulic control system for a tree felling unit

US4039009A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
1References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 20, 1976
Grant dateAug 2, 1977
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 20, 1996

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T137/2496
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

At the end of a crane arm on a base vehicle is fixed a frame, the inclination of which is controlled by double-acting hydraulic cylinders, and which supports hydraulically operated grip arms and a cutting unit. The frame is moved with an estimated inclination against a tree, and the grip arms urge the frame into conformance with the actual inclination of the tree, thereby inducing strains in the tree as well as the firmly based crane arm. A valve connecting the inlet and outlet of each hydraulic cylinder is momentarily opened from its hitherto closed position, so that the fluid in the cylinder is forced to equalize under the strains from the biased tree which consequently will be relieved from tension before cutting, otherwise resulting in cracks in the root end of the tree.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.