Shear type tree cutting device

Abstract

An elongated frame including tree clamping jaw means at one end and a shear-type cutting blade supported from the frame for movement therealong between an inactive position remote from the jaw means and an active position cooperable with the jaw means to shear a tree member clampingly engaged by the jaw means, the frame being pivotally supported from the forward end of a mobile platform for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the frame and the mobile platform and vertically adjustable relative to the latter.

What is claimed is:  . .1. A tree cutting device comprising a frame including opposite horizontally speed apart ends, said frame including first means at one end defining an endwise outwardly opening recess in which a tree trunk may be received upon advancement of said one end of said frame toward said trunk and abutment means shiftabe between inoperative and operative positions allowing free passage of a tree trunk into and out of said recess through the outer portion thereof and closing the outer portion of said recess, respectively, and a cutter blade longitudinally reciprocally supported from said frame including a horizontal cutting edge facing said one end of said frame and shiftable between an operative position which said cutting edge advanced into said recess and an inoperative position with said cutting edge retracted from within said recess toward the other end of said frame, a mobile platform movable in at least one direction, means carried by the leading end of said platform when the latter is advanced in said one direction pivotally supporting said frame from said platform for oscillation of the frame about a horizontal axis extending transversely of said frame and platform for swinging said frame within the horizontal position thereof with said one end facing in said one direction and a vertical position with said one end of said frame lowermost..!. . .2. The combination of claim 1 wherein 
     
        said axis is spaced forwardly of said platform..!. 3. A tree cutting device comprising a frame, said frame including jaw means adapted to clampingly engage a cylindrical object specifically oriented adjacent said jaw means, and means carried by said frame adapting the latter to be supported for oscillation about a horizontal axis being operable to locate said axis spaced from but ajacent said jaws whereby the radius of the arc of swinging movement of said jaw means during oscillation of said frame will not be excessively great so as to limit freedom of oscillatory movement of said frame in heavily wooded areas, said frame being elongated and said jaw means being disposed adjacent at one end thereof, said frame including a shear-type cutting blade mounted thereon for reciprocal movement therealong between an inactive position remote from said jaw means and an active position cooperable with said jaw means to shear a tree member clampingly engaged by said jaw means, a mobile platform movable endwise in at least one direction, means carried by the leading end of said platform when the latter is advanced in said direction pivotally supporting said frame from said platform for rotation of the frame about a horizontal axis extending transversely of said frame and a platform and comprising the first-mentioned axis, said frame being swingable between generally horizontal and vertically disposed positions, said platform including a pusher member elevated above said jaw means when said frame is in a horizontal position and shiftable relative to said platform longitudinally thereof.  . .4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means carried by the leading end of said platform includes generally horizontal arm means pivotally secured at one end to said platform for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis extending transversely of said arm means and with the other end of said arm means projecting outwardly of said platform, said frame being pivotally supported from the other end of said arm means for oscillation about the first mentioned horizontal axis, the latter extending transversely of said arm means..!. . .5. The combination of claim 4 including means connected between said platform and said arm means operative to raise and lower said other end of said arm means..!. . .6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said arm means and said frame include means operative to releasably lock said frame against angular displacement relative to said arm means..!. . .7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said arm means comprises a pair of generally parallel arm members between whose free swinging end portions 
     
     
        said frame is pivotally supported..!. 8. A tree cutting device comprising a frame, said frame including a jaw means adapted to clampingly engage a cylindrical object specifically oriented adjacent said jaw means, and means carried by said frame adapting the latter to be supported for oscillation about a horizontal axis through an arc of at least generally ninety degrees whereby said frame may be swung from a position in which said jaw means may grip an upright tree to a position in which said jaw means may grip a horizontally disposed tree portion, said means adapting said frame to be supported for oscillation about a horizontal axis being operable to locate said axis spaced from but adjacent said jaws whereby the radius of the arc of swinging movement of said jaw means during oscillation of said frame will not be excessively great so as to limit freedom of oscillatory movement of said frame in heavily wooded areas, said frame being elongated and said jaw means being disposed at one end thereof, said frame including a shear-type cutting blade mounted thereon for reciprocal movment therealong between an inactive position remote from said jaw means and an active position cooperable with said jaw means to shear a tree member clampingly engaged by said jaw means, said means carried by the leading end of said platform including generally horizontal arm means pivotally secured at one end to said platform for movement about a horizontal axis extending transversely of said arm means and with the other end of said arm means projecting outwardly of said platform, said frame being pivotally supported from the other end of said arm means for rotation about a horizontal axis extending transversely of said arm means, said means connected between said arm means and said platform including an elongated tension member supported at one end from said platform and 
     
     
        secured to said frame at its other end. 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said other end of said tension member is secured to the side of the axis of rotation of said frame relative to said arm means remote from 
     
     
        said clamp means. 10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said arm means and said platform include coating means limiting downward swinging movement of the free end of said arm means.  . .11. A tree cutting device comprising a frame including opposite horizontally spaced apart ends, said frame including first means at one end defining an endwise outwardly opening recess in which a tree trunk may be received upon advancement of said one end of said frame toward said trunk and abutment means shiftable between inoperative and operative positions allowing free passage of a tree trunk into and out of said recess through the outer portion thereof and closing the outer portion of said recess, respectively, and a cutter blade longitudinally reciprocally supported from said frame including a horizontal cutting edge facing said one end of said frame and shiftabe between an operative position with said cutting edge advanced into said recess and an inoperative position with said cutting edge retracted from within said recess toward the other end of said frame, said abutment means, when in said operative position, defining a slot extending transversely of said frame and opening outwardly along its longitudinal dimension toward the other end of said frame, said cutting edge of said cutter blade being received in said slot when said blade is in said operative position and the surfaces of said abutment means facing said other end of said frame being free of shear-type cutting edges..!. . .12. The combination of claim 2 wherein said platform includes means for raising and lowering said axis relative to said platform..!. . .13. A tree cutting device comprising a frame including opposite horizontally spaced apart ends, said frame including first means at one end defining an endwise opening recess in which a tree trunk may be received upon advancement of said one end of said frame toward said trunk and abutment means shiftable between inoperative and operative positions allowing free passage of a tree trunk into and out of said recess through the outer portion thereof and closing the outer portion of said recess, respectively, and a cutter blade longitudinally reciprocally supported from said frame including a horizontal cutting edge facing said one end of said frame and shiftable between an operative position with said cutting edge advanced into said recess and an inoperative position with said cutting edge retracted from within said recess toward the other end of said frame, said abutment means comprising a pair of arcuate jaw members pivotally supported at corresponding ends to said one end of said frame for oscillation about axes disposed generally normal to the plane in which said cutting edge is movable between open and closed positions with the free end portions of said jaw members swung away from each other and toward each other..!.