Tree destroyer

Abstract

Tree destroying apparatus for reducing felled trees directly to chips comprising a log chipper for cutting the trunks and branches into chips, and apparatus for feeding the trees forwardly, trunk-first, toward the chipper, entrance opening including a tree supporting feed bed with a power driven conveyor, a generally laterally extending endlessly driven member above the feed bed cooperating with the conveyor to form a tree feeding drive nip, and upstanding laterally spaced limb and branch folding members positioned on opposite sides of the conveyor for folding the tree branches laterally toward the tree trunk.

I claim: 
     
       1. .Iadd.(Disclaimed as of March 24, 1976) .Iaddend.Tree destroying apparatus for reducing a felled tree, having attached limbs and branches, to chips comprising: a longitudinally extending frame having front and rear ends;   chipping means thereon for chipping said tree into chips at a chipping station having a generally rearward facing entrance opening for passing trees thereto trunk-first;   means on said frame for feeding said tree in a longitudinal path of travel toward said chipping means including;   a generally horizontal, tree supporting feed bed including power driven, longitudinally extending conveyor means;   a generally laterally extending, endlessly driven member having tree engaging surfaces supported above said feed bed and cooperating with said conveyor means to form a tree feeding drive nip rearwardly of said entrance opening for securely gripping vertically opposite sides of a tree positioned on the feed bed to crush branches vertically toward the tree trunk and to move the tree forwardly toward said chipping means;   means on said frame supporting said member for endless travel;   upstanding, laterally spaced limb and branch folding members positioned on opposite sides of said conveying means for engaging the branches on opposite sides of a tree supported on said feed bed and folding the tree branches laterally toward the tree trunk, said upstanding branch folding members having tree engaging surfaces positioned laterally inwardly of the lateral sides of said member to insure that laterally extending branches are folded inwardly toward the tree trunk and can enter said entrance opening; and   drive means on said frame for driving said member and conveying means at coordinated tree feeding speeds.   
     
     
       2. .Iadd.(Disclaimed as of March 24, 1976) .Iaddend.The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said laterally extending, endlessly driven member comprises at least one roll having endlessly driven, tree-engaging surfaces. 
     
     
       3. .Iadd.(Disclaimed as of March 24, 1976) .Iaddend.The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which directing means is provided on one of said conveyor means or member for moving a tree toward centered position on said feed bed. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said laterally extending member comprises a roll and directing means for moving a tree toward centered position on said feed bed is provided thereon. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which said directing means comprises first and second oppositely pitched flights on opposite ends of said roll. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said roll includes a midsection between said first and second flights having a plurality of circumferentially spaced rows of comb-like teeth. 
     
     
       7. .Iadd.(Disclaimed as of March 24, 1976) .Iaddend.The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feed bed includes tree support surfaces inclined upwardly and outwardly from opposite lateral sides of said conveyor means directly below said member. 
     
     
       8. .Iadd.(Disclaimed as of March 24, 1976) .Iaddend.The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which generally laterally extending, endlessly driven rear members are mounted rearwardly of said endlessly driven member on opposite sides of said feed bed; and means is provided for driving said rear members. 
     
     
       9. .Iadd.(Disclaimed as of March 24, 1976) .Iaddend.The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which said rear members comprise laterally extending rolls having circumferentially spaced branch engaging, comb-like teeth thereon. 
     
     
       10. .Iadd.(Disclaimed as of March 24, 1976) .Iaddend.The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conveyor means comprises an endless drag chain comprising side links connected by longitudinally spaced cross members. 
     
     
       11. .Iadd.(Disclaimed as of March 24, 1976) .Iaddend.The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 in which said member comprises a roll extending laterally beyond the lateral sides of said chain and above upwardly and laterally outwardly inclined side support surfaces extending laterally outwardly relative to said chain. 
     
     
       12. .Iadd.(Disclaimed as of March 24, 1976) .Iaddend.The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which comb-like teeth are provided on said roll directly above said chain. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 in which tree directing members of opposite hand, to direct branches laterally inwardly, are provided on the roll above said inclined surfaces. 
     
     
       14. .Iadd.(Disclaimed as of March 24, 1976) .Iaddend.The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which means mounts said member for vertical travel. 
     
     
       15. .Iadd.(Disclaimed as of March 24, 1976) .Iaddend.The apparatus as set forth in claim 14 in which said means mounting the member for vertical travel mounts it for upward and downward swinging movement about a generally horizontal axis disposed a spaced distance forwardly of said member. 
     
     
       16. .Iadd.(Disclaimed as of March 24, 1976) .Iaddend.The apparatus as set forth in claim 15 in which means is provided for yieldably urging said member toward said feed bed. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15 in which downwardly and forwardly inclined deflector plate means is mounted for upward and downward travel with said member. 
     
     
       18. .Iadd.(Disclaimed as of March 24, 1976) .Iaddend.The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said chipping means includes a rotatable chipping disc having chipping teeth thereon, and a housing for said disc having a longitudinally extending chute, forming said entrance opening and having its bottom in general alignment with said conveyor means. 
     
     
       19. .Iadd.(Disclaimed as of March 24, 1976) .Iaddend.The apparatus as set forth in claim 18 in which said disc is angularly disposed to the longitudinal extent of said conveyor means and path of travel of the tree. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said laterally spaced limb and branch folding members comprise generally vertically disposed power driven rolls; and means for driving said rolls at a coordinated tree feeding speed with said member and conveying means. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus as set forth in claim 20 in which comb-like teeth are provided on said generally vertically disposed rolls. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus as set forth in claim 21 in which said teeth are provided in circumferentially spaced, generally linear rows. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus as set forth in claim 20 in which at least one of said generally vertically disposed rolls is inclined upwardly and laterally inwardly. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus as set forth in claim 20 in which said generally vertically disposed rolls are spaced longitudinally forwardly of the front portion of said member adjacent to and generally laterally framing said entrance opening. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus as set forth in claim 24 in which laterally inwardly and forwardly convergent guide plates are fixed on said frame laterally outboard of said member, and extend from points opposite the ends of said member forwardly toward said generally vertically disposed rollers. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus set forth in claim 20 in which reversible drive means is provided for selectively driving said conveyor means, member and generally vertically disposed rolls. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus set forth in claim 20 in which said reversible drive means comprises individual hydraulic rotary motors for said member and generally vertically disposed rolls. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus set forth in claim 20 in which said feed bed includes tree support surfaces inclined upwardly and laterally outwardly from opposite lateral sides of said conveyor means; and said generally vertically disposed rolls extend upwardly from said support surfaces to a level above said member. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said member comprises a top roll having a diameter considerably greater than the diameter of said generally vertically extending rolls. 
     
     
       30. Tree destroying apparatus for reducing a felled tree, having attached limbs and branches, to chips comprising: a longitudinally extending frame having front and rear ends;   chipping means thereon for chipping said tree into chips at a chipping station having a generally rearward facing entrance opening for passing trees thereto trunk-first;   means on said frame for feeding said tree in a longitudinal path of travel toward said chipping means including:   a generally horizontal, tree supporting feed bed including power driven, longitudinally extending conveyor means;   a generally laterally extending power driven roll having tree-engaging surfaces supported above said feed bed and cooperating with said conveyor means to form a tree feeding drive nip rearwardly of said entrance opening for securely gripping vertically opposite sides of a tree positioned on the feed bed to crush branches vertically toward the tree trunk and to move the tree forwardly toward said chipping means;   means on said frame supporting said roll for rotation;   upstanding, laterally spaced, power driven rollers spaced longitudinally from said roll and positioned on opposite sides of said conveyor means for engaging the branches on opposite sides of a tree supported on said feed bed and folding the tree branches laterally toward the tree trunk, said upstanding rollers having tree engaging surfaces positioned laterally inwardly of the ends of said drive roll to insure that certain compositely vertically and laterally extending branches are also folded inwardly toward the tree trunk; and   drive means for driving said conveyor means, roll, and rollers at coordinated tree feeding speeds. .[.   
     
     
       31.  The tree destroying apparatus of claim 30 wherein said laterally extending roll includes first and second oppositely pitched flights on opposite ends thereof for moving said branches on laterally opposite sides of said tree trunk inwardly toward said trunk..]. .[.32. The tree destroying apparatus set forth in claim 31 wherein said roll includes a midsection between said first and second oppositely pitched flights including a plurality of circumferentially spaced rows of teeth to maintain the branches centered between said oppositely pitched flights and to propel the tree forwardly toward said chipping means..]. .[.33. The tree destroying apparatus set forth in claim 30 wherein said feed bed includes tree support surfaces inclined downwardly inwardly from opposite lateral sides thereof toward said conveyor means; and further including additional feed rolls at the rear of said horizontal feed bed for gathering the branches toward the trunk as the tree is moved forwardly 
     
     
        along said tree support surfaces toward said chipping means..]. 34. .Iadd.(Disclaimed as of March 24, 1976) .Iaddend.Tree destroying apparatus for reducing a felled tree, having attached limbs and branches, to chips comprising: a longitudinally extending frame having front and rear ends;   chipping means thereon for chipping said tree into chips at a chipping station having a generally rearward facing entrance opening for passing trees thereto trunk-first;   means on said frame for feeding said tree in a longitudinal path of travel toward said chipping means including;   a generally horizontal, tree supporting feed bed including power driven, longitudinally extending conveyor means;   a generally laterally extending endlessly driven member having tree engaging surface supported above said feed bed and cooperating with said conveyor means to form a tree feeding drive nip rearwardly of said entrance opening for securely gripping vertically opposite sides of a tree positioned on the feed bed to crush branches vertically toward the tree trunk and to move the tree forwardly toward said chipping means;   means on said frame supporting said member for endless travel;   upstanding, laterally spaced, limb and branch folding members positioned on opposite sides of said conveying means for engaging the branches on opposite sides of a tree supported on said feed bed and folding the tree branches laterally toward the tree trunk;   directing means on one of said conveyor means and member for moving a tree toward centered position on said feed bed; and   drive means on said frame for driving said member and conveying means at   
     
     
        coordinated tree feeding speeds. 35. .Iadd.(Disclaimed as of March 24, 1976) .Iaddend.The apparatus as set forth in claim 34 in which said laterally extending member comprises a roll and said directing means is 
     
     
        provided thereon. 36. The apparatus as set forth in claim 35 in which said directing means comprises first and second oppositely pitched flights on 
     
     
        opposite ends of said roll. 37. The apparatus as set forth in claim 36 in which said roll includes a midsection between said first and second flights having a plurality of circumferentially spaced comb-like teeth. 
     
     
            .Iadd.(Disclaimed as of March 24, 1976) .Iaddend.The apparatus as set forth in claim 35 wherein said feed bed includes tree support surfaces inclined upwardly and outwardly from opposite lateral sides of said 
     
     
        conveyor means directly below the flights on said member. 39. .Iadd.(Disclaimed as of March 24, 1976) .Iaddend.Tree destroying apparatus for reducing a felled tree, having attached limbs and branches, to chips comprising: a longitudinally extending frame having front and rear ends;   chipping means thereon for chipping said tree into chips at a chipping station having a generally rearward facing entrance opening for passing trees thereto trunk-first;   means on said frame for feeding said tree in a longitudinal path of travel toward said chipping means including;   a generally horizontal, tree supporting feed bed including power driven, longitudinally extending conveyor means;   a generally laterally extending endlessly driven member having tree engaging surfaces supported above said feed bed and cooperating with said conveyor means to form a tree feeding drive nip rearwardly of said entrance opening for securely gripping vertically opposite sides of a tree positioned on the feed bed to crush branches vertically toward the tree trunk and to move the tree forwardly toward said chipping means;   means on said frame supporting said member for endless travel;   upstanding laterally spaced limb and branch folding members positioned on opposite sides of said conveying means for engaging the branches on opposite sides of a tree supported on said feed bed and folding the tree branches laterally toward the tree trunk; and   generally laterally extending power driven endless sections mounted on said frame rearward of said member on opposite lateral sides of said conveyor means; and   drive means on said frame for driving said member, said sections, and   
     
     
        conveying means at coordinated tree feeding speeds. 40. Tree destroying apparatus for reducing a felled tree, having attached limbs and branches, to chips comprising: a longitudinally extending frame having front and rear ends;   chipping disc means thereon for chipping said tree into chips at a chipping station having a generally rearward facing entrance opening for passing trees thereto trunk-first;   means on said frame for feeding said tree in a longitudinal path of travel toward said chipping means including;   a generally horizontal, tree supporting feed bed including power driven, longitudinally extending conveyor means;   a generally laterally extending endlessly driven roll member having tree engaging surfaces supported above said feed bed and cooperating with said conveyor means to form a tree feeding drive nip spaced rearwardly of said entrance opening for securely gripping vertically opposite sides of a tree position on the feed bed to crush branches vertically toward the tree trunk and to move the tree forwardly toward said chipping means;   means on said frame supporting said roll member for endless travel;   upstanding, laterally spaced, power driven limb and branch folding roll members positioned on opposite sides of said conveying means for engaging the branches on opposite sides of a tree supported on said feed bed and folding the tree branches laterally toward the tree trunk, said upstanding roll members having circumferentially spaced comb-like teeth thereon for engaging the tree branches upstream from said laterally extending roll member to insure that laterally extending branches are folded inwardly toward the tree trunk and can enter said entrance opening; and   drive means on said frame for driving said laterally extending roll member, said upstanding roll members, and conveying means at coordinated tree   
     
     
        feeding speeds. 41. Tree destroying apparatus for reducing a felled tree, having attached limbs and branches, to chips comprising: a longitudinally extending frame having front and rear ends;   chipping means comprising a rotatably mounted disc with chipping cutters thereon for chipping said tree into chips at a chipping station having a generally rearward facing entrance opening for passing trees thereto trunk-first, the disc and cutter being operative to draw the tree inwardly through said opening as the disc rotates;   drive means on said frame for rotating said chipping disc at a speed to draw the tree inwardly at a predetermined speed;   means on said frame for feeding said tree in a longitudinal path of travel toward said chipping means including:   a generally horizontal, tree supporting feed bed including power driven, longitudinally extending conveyor means;   a generally laterally extending, endlessly driven roll member having tree engaging surfaces supported above said feed bed and cooperating with said conveyor means to form a tree feeding drive nip rearwardly of said entrance opening for securely gripping vertically opposite sides of a tree positioned on the feed bed to crush branches vertically toward the tree trunk and to move the tree forwardly toward said chipping means;   means on said frame supporting said roll member for endless travel;   upstanding, laterally spaced, power driven limb and branch folding roll members positioned on opposite sides of said conveying means for engaging the branches on opposite sides of a tree supported on said feed bed and folding the tree branches laterally toward the tree trunk to insure that they can enter said entrance opening; and   reversible drive means on said frame for driving said laterally extending roll member, said upstanding roll members, and conveying means at coordinated tree feeding speeds which propel the tree faster than the   
     
     
        speed at which the disc and cutters draw the tree inwardly. 42. The tree destroying apparatus set forth in claim 41 wherein said laterally extending roll is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis disposed a spaced distance forwardly of said roll to clear the area rearward of the roll and minimize the possibility of the branches becoming 
     
     
        entangled with the roll support. 43. The tree destroying apparatus set forth in claim 40 including reversible drive means for selectively driving said longitudinally extending conveyor means, said power driven drive roll, and said upstanding rollers in opposite directions to selectively 
     
     
        feed trees toward or away from said chipping means. 44. The tree destroying apparatus set forth in claim 43 wherein said drive means includes individual motor means for individually driving each of said conveyor means, said drive roll, and said upstanding rollers. .Iadd. 45. Tree destroying apparatus for reducing difficult to process felled trees, having attached limbs and branches such as trees having crooked trunks, and trees and brush having leafy type foliage, to chips comprising: a longitudinally extending frame having front and rear ends;   a chipper mounted on said frame adjacent the front end thereof including a chipper housing having a rearwardly facing fixed external entrance opening leading into the housing and chipper means mounted in said housing operable to reduce to chips trees, limbs and branches fed into said housing through said entrance opening;   means on said frame for feeding a tree in a longitudinal path of travel to said entrance opening of said chipper including:   a generally horizontal tree supporting feed bed on said frame extending rearwardly from the bottom of said entrance opening, power driven longitudinally extending conveying means on said feed bed for feeding a tree on said bed longitudinally of said frame along a feed path extending forwardly downstream to said entrance opening;   a pair of power rotated side feed rolls mounted on said frame on opposite sides of said conveying means for rotation about fixed generally vertical axes, and projecting upwardly from said feed bed at opposite sides of said opening, said feed rolls being located in adjacent upstream relationship to said entrance opening and being spaced from each other by a distance corresponding substantially to the width of said opening to power fold attached limbs in toward the tree trunk;   a power rotated top feed roll having tree engaging surfaces mounted upon said frame for rotation about a horizontal axis substantially normal to said feed path, said top roll being located in adjacent rearwardly spaced relationship to said side rolls and having an axially intermediate portion of said tree engaging surfaces overlying said conveying means, said top roll extending axially beyond the opposed sides of said entrance opening into overlapping relationship with both of said side rolls;   fluid pressure operated power means for raising and lowering said top roll relative to said frame to define with said conveying means a tree feeding nip of a variable height up to a maximum height approximately equal to that of the top of said side rolls above said feed bed;   and fluid drive means for driving said conveying means, top roll and side rolls at a coordinated feeding speed to advance a felled tree having attached limbs and branches butt-first along said feed path into said entrance opening while said conveying means, feed bed, top and side rolls cooperatively compress and crush projecting limbs and branches inwardly toward the trunk of the tree to facilitate their passage into said   
     
     
        entrance opening. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 46.  Apparatus as defined in claim 45 including the further improvement wherein said rearwardly facing opening comprises a rearwardly projecting spout and said side rolls and top rolls each include tree feeding fins projecting radially from the surfaces of said rolls and extending axially of said rolls in directions normal to said feed path. .Iaddend..Iadd. 47. Apparatus as defined in claim 46 including the further improvement wherein the feeding fins on said top roll each comprises an axially centrally located saw-toothed fin portion of an axial length approximately equal to the width of said opening, said saw-toothed fin portions resisting movement of that portion of a tree engaged thereby, transversely of said feed path and outer feeding fin portions extending outwardly from the ends of said saw-toothed fin portions to the opposite ends of said roll, said outer fin portions having a smooth outer edge accommodating sliding movement of a portion of a tree engaged thereby transversely of said feed path. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 48. Apparatus as defined in claim 45 including the further improvement wherein said chipper is a disc type chipper and said chipper means is a rotatable chipper disc operable during a chipping operation to draw a tree engaged by said chipper disc inwardly through said entrance opening in a self-feeding action at a draw speed dependent upon the rotary speed of said disc, chipper drive means operable to drive said disc at a predetermined rotary speed to establish a predetermined draw speed, and said first drive means is operable to drive said conveying means, top roll and side rolls at a coordinated feeding speed which exceeds said predetermined draw speed. .Iaddend..Iadd. 49. Apparatus as defined in claim 45 wherein said intermediate portion of said tree engaging surfaces of said top feed roll comprises tree engaging teeth projecting radially outwardly from said top roll, and radially projecting fins on said top roll extending axially outwardly from opposite sides of said intermediate portion toward the opposite ends of said top roll to provide tree propelling purchase while at the same time providing minimum resistance to sidewise movement of engaged portions of a tree toward said teeth under the influence of the folding action of said side rolls. .Iaddend.