System for hedge pruning and method for making and using the same

Abstract

System for hedge pruning and method for making and using the same. An exemplary system for hedge pruning includes a mounting assembly for connecting to a mobile platform, the mounting assembly defining a pivot point region thereon, a cutting arm rotatably coupled to the mounting assembly at the pivot point region. And a blade assembly connected to an end region of the cutting arm such that the blade assembly prunes a hedge along an arc defined based upon rotation of the cutting arm about the pivot point region. Advantageously, the system provides an ability to discriminate selected plants in a hedge to improve grove health and exploit alternate bearing nature of certain groves, resulting in a more consistent production each year. Differentiated treatment can be provided within a row of the plants while pruning the hedges in an automated manner that is more efficient than manual pruning.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for hedge pruning, comprising:
 a mounting assembly for connecting to a mobile platform, the mounting assembly defining a pivot point region thereon;   a cutting arm rotatably coupled to the mounting assembly at the pivot point region; and   a blade assembly connected to an end region of the cutting arm such that the blade assembly is configured to prune a hedge along an arc based upon a rotation of the cutting arm about the pivot point region, a rotation speed of the cutting arm being regulated based upon a resistance against the blade assembly during pruning.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a power pack unit including:
 at least one arm motor for driving the rotation of the cutting arm;   at least one blade motor for driving the blade assembly; and   a speed regulator for regulating a rotation speed of the arm motor based upon the resistance against the blade assembly and associated with the blade motor.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said power pack unit operates at least partially based upon hydraulic power, the arm motor and the blade motor are hydraulic, and the speed regulator includes a valve in communication with one or more fluid lines supplying respective fluids to the arm motor and the blade motor. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the valve senses a fluid pressure within a selected fluid line supplying the fluid to the blade motor; and   the valve releases, upon sensing that the fluid pressure is higher than a preset threshold level, an amount of the fluid from a selected fluid line supplying the fluid to the arm motor such that the rotation speed of the arm motor is reduced.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the valve includes a counterbalance valve configured with a spring force such that the rotation speed of the arm motor has a correlation relationship with the pressure associated with the fluid line supplying the fluid to the blade motor.