The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 22, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 08, 1999
Robert H Holmes, Bonifay, FL (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for felling and bunching trees is disclosed. The apparatus includes a frame and a yoke pivotably connected to the frame. The apparatus further includes a tool support pivotably connected to the yoke at a pivot axis and a cutting tool supported by the tool support. The cutting tool has a leading edge LE which is advanced toward the trees during a felling operation. The cutting tool further has a trailing edge TE which lags behind the leading edge LE when the leading edge LE is advanced toward the trees during the felling operation. The apparatus yet further includes a tilt cylinder positioned between the frame and the tool support. The tilt cylinder is movable between an extended tilt position and a retracted tilt position. The leading edge LE is moved closer to the ground when the tilt cylinder is moved from the retracted tilt position to the extended tilt position. The leading edge LE is moved away from the ground when the tilt cylinder is moved from the extended tilt position to the retracted tilt position. A first distance D1 is defined between the leading edge LE and the trailing edge TE. The pivot axis defines a vertical plane that intersects the cutting tool at a line V1. A second distance D2 is defined between the line V1 and the leading edge LE. And the ratio of the second distance to the firs distance is less than or equal to 0.50.