Patent ID: 6192665
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
A self-powered brush cutter comprising:a carrier including:a first frame assembly having first and second opposite sides, a front end and a rear end;a second frame assembly provided with a front end and a ground engaging assembly;a joint element connecting said front end of said second frame assembly to said rear end of said first frame assembly;first and second tandem arms so respectively mounted to said first and second opposite sides of said first frame assembly as to pivot about a common pivot axis; each said first and second tandem arms including two ground engaging elements;a power unit mounted to one of said first and second frame assembly; said power unit powering said ground engaging elements;an articulated boom assembly having a proximate end and a distal end; said proximate end being mounted to said front end of said first frame assembly; said articulated boom comprising:a base element so mounted to said front end of said first frame assembly as to pivot about a first pivot axis; said base element including a first pivot pin defining a second pivot axis generally perpendicular to said first pivot axis;a first actuator mounted between said first frame assembly and said base element to selectively pivot said base element about said first pivot axis;a primary arm having a proximate end so mounted to said first pivot pin of said base element as to pivot about said second pivot axis; said primary arm also having a distal end provided with a second pivot pin defining a third pivot axis generally parallel to said second pivot axis; said primary arm being generally tubular;a second actuator mounted between said base element and said primary arm to selectively pivot said primary arm about said second pivot axis;a secondary arm having a proximate end so mounted to said second pivot pin of said distal end of said primary arm as to pivot about said third pivot axis; said secondary arm also having a distal end; said second arm being generally tubular;a third actuator mounted between said primary arm and said secondary arm to selectively pivot said secondary arm about said third pivot axis;a brush cutter head mounting element so mounted to said distal end of said secondary arm as to pivot about a fourth pivot axis;an angular adjustment mechanism mounted between said base element and said brush cutter head mounting element used to both to adjust the pivot angle of the brush cutter head mounting element and to maintain this pivot angle; said angular adjustment mechanism including:a first gear mounted to said first pivot pin;a second gear mounted to said second pivot pin;a first chain loop cooperatively mounted to said first and second gears and enclosed in said primary arm;a third gear mounted to said second pivot pin;a fourth gear mounted to said brush cutter head mounting element;a second chain loop cooperatively mounted to said third and fourth gears and enclosed in said secondary arm;fourth actuator mounted between said base element and said first pivot pin to adjust the angular position of said first pivot pin about said second pivot axis;a cutter head pivotally mounted to said distal end of said boomwhereby a) said angular position of said brush cutter head mounting element may be adjusted via the adjustment of said first pivot pin via said fourth actuator; b) said angular position of said brush cutter head mounting element is maintained generally constant during the movement of the primary and secondary arms about respective second and third pivot axis.