Multiple tree harvester of the flexible arm type

Abstract

A mobile harvester which is capable of severing trees at their base, one at a time, and gathering trees, one at a time, while the previously accumulated trees are rigidly held together. The harvester has tree gathering means located vertically above a shear blade mechanism and this gathering means includes two pairs of power operated arms which are pivotally mounted so that each pair of arms can be individually and selectively swung between an open, tree receiving position and a closed, tree holding position. One of the pairs of arms holds the accumulated trees while the other pairs of arms gathers subsequently severed trees, one at a time, and brings them into the bundle of previously accumulated trees. Each of the arms of one of the pairs of arms is formed as an inner part pivotally mounted on a support frame and an outer part pivotally mounted intermediate its length to the inner part so that when the pair of arms is shifted to its open position after functioning to hold accumulated trees, the outer parts of the arms can pivot on their inner parts and be withdrawn in generally opposite lateral directions and out from between the accumulated trees and a subsequently severed tree which is held thereagainst by the other pair of arms. In a modified form of the invention, both pairs of arms are formed as two parts pivoted together, as above mentioned, so that each pair can be used to either gather a newly cut tree or hold the accumulated trees.

I claim: 
     
       1. A multiple tree harvester for cutting and accumulating trees, one at a time, said harvester having a support frame, a first pair of arms and a second pair of arms movably mounted on said support frame for cooperating to gather a plurality of trees, one at a time, said pairs of arms being vertically spaced apart on said support; said pairs of arms being movable between an open, tree receiving position and a closed, tree holding position; power means attached to each of said pairs of arms and for selectively moving each of said pairs of arms between their open tree receiving position and their closed, tree holding position; each of the arms of at least one of said pair of arms having an inner part movably mounted on said support frame and having a free end, and an outer part pivotally mounted generally intermediate its length to said inner part adjacent a free end thereof, whereby when said one of said pairs of arms is moved to its said open position, said outer parts can pivot on their said inner parts and thereby be withdrawn in generally opposite lateral directions and out from between an accumulated tree and a succeeding tree clampingly engaged thereagainst by the other pair of arms; and power operated tree severing means located generally below said arms for severing said trees which are to be accumulated. 
     
     
       2. The harvester of claim 1 further characterized in that adjacent ends of said arm outer portions are tapered to facilitate their said withdrawal. 
     
     
       3. The harvester set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said power means includes a hydraulically operated cylinder unit for each of said pairs of arms, and control means for individually and selectively operating each of said hydraulically operated cylinder units. 
     
     
       4. The harvester set forth in claim 2 further characterized in that said power means includes a hydraulically operated cylinder unit for each of said pairs of arms, and control means for individually and selectively operating each of said hydraulically operated cylinder units. 
     
     
       5. The harvester set forth in claim 1 including a mobile, self-propelled chassis, a power operated boom pivotally mounted on said chassis and having a free end for vertical and horizontal swinging relative to said chassis, said support frame being pivotally mounted on said free end. 
     
     
       6. The harvester set forth in claim 3 including a mobile, self-propelled chassis, a power operated boom pivotally mounted on said chassis and having a free end for vertical and horizontal swinging relative to said chassis, said support frame being pivotally mounted on said free end. 
     
     
       7. The harvester set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that both pairs of arms have said inner and outer parts pivotally secured together. 
     
     
       8. The harvester set forth in claim 1 wherein the power means for said one of said pairs of arms having inner and outer parts is operative to hold its arms in said closed position to thereby hold a first tree, said power means for said other set of arms then being operative to open its arms to said tree receiving position and shift its arms to embrace and clamp a second tree against said one of said pairs of arms, and then said power means for said one of said pair of arms is operative to shift its arms and said outer parts move in generally lateral direction away from one another and from between said first and second trees and to its said open position, whereby said power means for said other pair of arms can cause the latter to clampingly engage both of said trees. 
     
     
       9. A mobile and self-propelled multiple tree harvester for cutting and accumulating trees, one at a time, said harvester having a chassis and a power operated boom shiftably mounted on said chassis and having a free end, a support frame pivotally mounted on said free end, a first pair of arms and a second pair of arms movably mounted on said support frame for cooperating to gather a plurality of trees, one at a time, said pairs of arms being vertically spaced apart on said support; said pairs of arms being movable between an open, tree receiving position and a closed, tree holding position; a hydraulically operated cylinder unit attached to each of said pairs of arms and for selectively moving each of said pairs of arms between their open tree receiving position and their closed, tree holding position; fluid flow control means communicating with said cylinder units for individually operating each of said cylinder units; each of the arms of at least one of said pair of arms having an inner part pivotally mounted on said support frame and having a free end, and an outer part pivotally mounted generally intermediate its length to said inner part free end, whereby when said one of said pairs of arms is moved to its said open position, said outer parts can pivot on their said inner parts and thereby be withdrawn in generally opposite lateral directions and out from between an accumulated tree and a succeeding tree clampingly engaged thereagainst by the other pair of arms, the adjacent ends of said arm outer portions are tapered to facilitate their said withdrawal; and power operated tree severing means located generally below said arms for severing trees. 
     
     
       10. A tree gathering and accumulating mechanism for a multiple tree harvester for accumulating trees, one at a time, said mechanism comprising, a vertically disposed support frame, a first pair of arms, and a second pair of arms movably mounted on said support frame for cooperating to gather a plurality of trees, one at a time, said pairs of arms being vertically spaced apart on said support; said pairs of arms being movable between an open, tree receiving position and a closed, tree holding position; power means attached to each of said pairs of arms and for selectively moving each of said pairs of arms between their open tree receiving position and their closed, tree holding position; each of the arms of at least one of said pair of arms having an inner part pivotally mounted on said support frame and having a free end, and an outer part pivotally mounted generally intermediate its length to said inner part free end, whereby when said one of said pairs of arms is moved to its said open position, said outer parts can pivot on their said inner parts and thereby be withdrawn in generally opposite lateral directions and out from between an accumulated tree and a succeeding tree clampingly engaged thereagainst by the other pair of arms. 
     
     
       11. The mechanism of claim 10 including power operated tree severing means located generally below said arms for severing said trees which are to be accumulated. 
     
     
       12. The harvester set forth in claim 10 wherein the power means for said one of said pairs of arms having inner and outer parts is operative to hold its arms in said closed position to thereby hold a first tree, said power means for said other set of arms then being operative to open its arms to said tree receiving position and shift its arms to embrace and clamp a second tree against said one of said pairs of arms, and then said power means for said one of said pair of arms is operative to shift its arms and said outer parts move in generally lateral direction away from one another and from between said first and second trees and to its said open position, whereby said power means for said other pair of arms can cause the latter to clampingly engage both of said trees. 
     
     
       13. A mobile self-propelled multiple tree harvester for cutting and accumulating trees, one at a time, said harvester having a chassis, a power operated boom pivotally mounted on said chassis and having a free end for vertical and horizontal swinging relative to said chassis, a support frame pivotally mounted on said free end, a primary pair of arms and a secondary pair of arms movably mounted on said support frame for cooperating to gather a plurality of trees, one at a time, said pairs of arms being vertically spaced on said support and from one another; said pairs of arms being movable between an open, tree receiving position and a closed, tree holding position; power means attached to each of said pairs of arms and for selectively moving each of said pairs of arms between their open tree receiving position and their closed, tree holding position, each of the arms of at least one of said pair of arms having an inner part movably mounted on said support frame and having a free end, and an outer part pivotally mounted generally intermediate its length to said inner part adjacent a free end thereof, whereby when said one of said pairs of arms is moved to its said open position, said outer parts can pivot on their said inner parts and thereby be withdrawn in generally opposite lateral directions and out from between an accumulated tree and a succeeding tree clampingly engaged thereagainst by the other pair of arms; and power operated tree severing means located on and adjacent the lower end of said support frame for severing trees. 
     
     
       14. The harvester set forth in claim 13 further characterized in that both pairs of arms have said inner and outer parts pivotally secured together. .Iadd. 15. A tree gathering and accumulating mechanism for accumulating trees, one at a time, said mechanism comprising, a support frame, a first pair of arms and a second pair of arms movably mounted on said support frame for cooperating to gather a plurality of trees, one at a time, said pairs of arms being spaced apart on said support; said pairs of arms being movable between an open, tree receiving position and a closed, tree holding position; power means attached to each of said pairs of arms and for selectively moving each of said pairs of arms between their open tree receiving position and their closed, tree holding position; each of the arms of at least one of said pair of arms having an inner part pivotally mounted on said support frame and having a free end, and an outer part pivotally mounted generally intermediate its length to said inner part free end, whereby when said one of said pairs of arms is moved to its said open position, said outer parts can pivot on their said inner parts and thereby be withdrawn in generally opposite lateral directions and out from between an accumulated tree and a succeeding tree clampingly engaged thereagainst by the other pair of arms. .Iaddend.