Patent ID: 7997311
Filing Date: 2011-08-16
Classification: A01G

Abstract:
1. A self-propelled climbing apparatus for climbing a trunk of a tree and performing a maintenance operation on said tree, said climbing apparatus comprising: a climbing section having a main support frame and one or more climbing mechanisms attached to said main support frame, said main support frame defining an interior space and having two or more support sections comprising at least a first support section and a second support section, said first support section and second support section configured to separate so as to receive said trunk in said interior space, each of said one or more climbing mechanisms comprising a drive mechanism operatively connected to an upper drive assembly and a lower drive assembly, each of said upper drive assembly and said lower drive assembly having one or more wheels configured to rotatably engage said trunk to move said climbing apparatus up or down said trunk; and a maintenance section detachably mounted to said climbing section, said maintenance section configured to perform said maintenance operation on said tree, said maintenance section having a head support frame, means for rotatably and detachably mounting said head support frame to said climbing section and means for rotating said head support frame relative to said climbing section, said mounting means comprising one or more head clamping mechanisms having a clamp and a clamping roller and said rotating means comprising a rotating motor, one or more drive rollers and one or more upper rail rollers.