SWATH CUTTING AND GRIPPING TREE DELIMBER

摘要

Apparatus (10) for removing limbs of standing trees to maintain a power line right-of-way free of tree limb interference comprising a self-propelled vehicle (12) having power operated ground stabilizing support leg assemblies (38), a telescoping boom (14) mounted on said vehicle for horizontal swinging movement about an upright axis (59) and for vertical pivoting movement and a limb cutting assembly (16) on the opposite free end of the boom. The limb cutting assembly includes a mounting structure (94) mounted on the boom for movements about a longitudinal axis with respect to the boom, a power operated cutter (130) having a convex cutting periphery mounted on the mounting structure for movement between a retracted inoperable position and an extended operative position wherein convex cutting periphery extends longitudinally outwardly from the mounting structure and is exposed both longitudinally outwardly and transversely outwardly so as to enable the same to be moved with a transverse swath cutting action by virtue of the movements of the boom, and limb gripping arms (150) carried by the mounting structure for movement from an inoperative position disposed longitudinally inwardly of the cutter so as to permit the swath cutting action thereof and an operative position disposed longitudinally outwardly of the cutter when the latter is in its retracted position so as to grippingly engage a limb or a group of limbs and hold the same in a position to be cut in response to the movement of the cutter from its retracted position into its extended position.