Patent ID: 6551051
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: A01G,B66C

Abstract:
A grapple skidder comprising a vehicle, a boom mounted to a rearward end portion of said vehicle, said boom including a main boom and a boom stick articulated to said main boom, a grapple articulately suspended from a distal end of said boom stick for grasping an elongated load, a boom actuator connected on a top side of said main boom, and a heel mounted to a proximal end portion of said main boom on an undersurface thereof opposite said boom actuator, said heel including a stem portion extending from said undersurface of said main boom in a direction transversal to a longitudinal axis of said main boom and an arresting surface at a distal end portion of said stem, said boom being pivotable to a first position to locate said grapple beyond said vehicle for embracing the elongated load at a location comprised between a leading end and the center of gravity thereof, and to a second position for lifting the leading end of the elongated load above a ground surface against said arresting surface to retain the elongated load against pivotal movement due to gravitational forces, whereby further pivotal movement of said boom from said second position thereof in a direction away from said first position results in the elongated load being completely lifted above the ground surface.