Forestry machine swing-house leveling mechanism

Abstract

A swing-to-tree feller buncher has its boom swing-house assembly adjustably supported from its track carriage frame by a leveling mechanism which includes a front link, a rear link, and a pair of laterally spaced apart hydraulic cylinders. Both links are fixed to the frame toward the front of the carriage and the front link is shorter than the rear link. The upper ends of the hydraulic cylinders connect to the turntable support of the swing-house assembly at a position forward of the rear link and extend rearwardly to connect at their lower ends to the frame of the carriage at a position which is rearward of the rear link. The turntable support is also pivotable from side to side relative to the carriage about a minor axis. Simultaneous extensions and retractions of the cylinders cause the turntable support to move and tilt longitudinally, about a lateral axis relative to the carriage, and differential extensions of the cylinders cause the turntable support to tilt sideways about a minor, generally longitudinal, axis of the turntable support. The swing-house assembly can also be tilted rearward so as to reduce the overall height of the machine and enable leveling on a downhill slope.