Abstract:
A mechanism designed to remove difficult to reach overhead tree branches. All power is derived from a standard 120 volt AC outlet. It is pneumatically controlled in 2- axes thru a main column containing one or a plurality of concentric cylinders and a separate air cylinder for height and elevation control. An electric powered saw is mounted at the end of the highest telescoping section. A pressure/vacuum pump provides the required force. 
     Mobility is facilitated by three wheels, one of which is used to steer and position the saw into place for cutting. A control panel contains two pairs of pneumatic directional and pressure regulating valves for position control of a motorized saw blade by way of control over a main column and air cylinder.

Description:
[0001]    Power requirements are derived from common household AC power. The extension of the main column and position of the saw blade is achieved through the use of compressed air. Accurate positioning is achieved thru the use of pressure regulators to the main column and air cylinder. Retraction of the main column is accelerated through the use of a vacuum pump. After use, the air cylinder can be pinned in a stow position against the main column. The saw blade and guide assembly can be re-indexed to one of four separate orientations for optimal cutting position. Also the saw guide is reserved for smaller flexible tree branches. It works in concert with the blade teeth to facilitate the quick removal of branches so as to prevent their deflection when the spinning blade comes into contact. 
       REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
       [0000]    
       
           1  Main View 
           2  Column Lock 
           3  Front and Rear Base Support 
           4  Control Panel 
           5  Circular Saw 
           6  Chain Saw 
       
     
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  depicts a View of all the subassemblies that comprise the tree trimmer. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  depicts the design for additional columns, and their interlocking keyways. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  depicts the Front and Rear Base Support. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  depicts the Control Enclosure/Panel. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  depicts the Circular Saw attachment used for small branches. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  depicts the Chain Saw attachment used for large branches. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Referring to the drawings, in general there is shown the preferred embodiment for the Tree Trimmer. The Tree Trimmer  60  consists of four subassemblies: main column  25 , front base  10 , rear base  66  and saw assembly  89 . 
         [0015]    The Tree Trimmer  60  of this invention is a pneumatically operated extendable column operable from household 120 Volt AC power. The Tree Trimmer  60  can be readily disassembled and deployed in locations not normally accessible by most conventional tree trimmers. In the preferred embodiment the main column  25  which consists of a control panel  37  and control panel assembly  30  that contains the components used to elevate the saw support column  45 , namely an air compressor/vacuum pump  56 , air filter  57 , air tank  58  and required air valves and regulation as described below. A separate drain valve  130  is used to remove water from the air filter  57 . The control panel  37  has two separate sets of controls for the air cylinder  51  and the main column  25 . Power to the saw is controlled through a power switch  32 , while power to the compressor/vacuum pump is controlled thru power switch  31 . Both of these power switches are located on the control panel  37 . All components within the control panel assembly  30  are protected from the elements by a control panel cover  38 . The control panel cover  38  and the components within the control panel assembly  30  are secured to the control panel base plate  39 . The extension and retraction of the saw support column  45  is controlled thru the use of a main column directional control valve  36 , and a main column pressure regulator  35 . Pressure and vacuum to the main column  25  are supplied via the main column air supply line  64  and in turn verified by a pressure gauge  126 . While the angle of the main column  25  relative to the bottom plane reference, formed by the three wheels  11 ,  12  and  62  is controlled thru the use of the air cylinder directional control valve  34 . The force to air cylinder  51  is controlled thru the air cylinder pressure regulator  33 . Pressure and vacuum to the air cylinder  51  are supplied via the air cylinder supply line  63 . 
         [0016]    The reach pivot bracket  49  is secured to the reach support bracket  26 , which in turn is welded to the main column  25 . The reach pivot bracket  49  is used for the attachment of the air cylinder  51 , via air cylinder clevis bracket  50 , when used in the reach mode or to extend the saw blade  47  to tree branches in the horizontal direction. 
         [0017]    The height pivot bracket  53  is secured to the height support bracket  27  which is welded to the main column  25 . The height pivot bracket  53  is secured to the height support bracket  27 , which in turn is welded to the main column  25 . The height pivot bracket  53  is used for attachment of the air cylinder  51  via the air cylinder clevis bracket  50  when used in the height mode or to extend the saw blade  47  to tree branches in the vertical direction. The rod end of the air cylinder  51  has a clevis bracket  52  that is attached to the front pivot bracket  14 . 
         [0018]    The saw support column  45  is made of solid round stock and welded to the saw column sleeve  124 . Compressed air is used to extend the saw column  45  and a seal is maintained between the second column extension sleeve  41  and main column  25  by a second column O-ring  42  on the second column sleeve  41 . 
         [0019]    An extension guide plate  44  resists the rotation of the saw support column  45  thru use of a saw support column guide key  67 , which is secured to the saw support column  45 . An external main column retention plate  43  is welded to the main column and is used for the attachment of the extension guide plate  44 . 
       Second Column 
       [0020]    The second column  121  is a round aluminum tube and welded to the saw column sleeve  124 . Compressed air is used to extend the second column  121  while a seal is maintained between the saw column sleeve  124  and main column  25  by a saw column O-ring  125  on the saw column sleeve  124 . 
         [0021]    A saw column retention plate  122  is welded to the second column  121 , while saw column guide plate  123  works in concert with the saw support column guide key  67 , of the saw column  45  to prevent roll movement of the circular saw blade  47 . The saw column retention plate  122  is secured to the saw column guide plate  22  by four bolts  133 , nuts  134  and washers  135 . 
         [0022]    A main column guide plate  44  resists the rotation of the second column  121  thru use of a second column guide key  68 , which is secured to the second column  121 . An external main column retention plate  43  is welded to the main column and is used for the attachment of the extension guide plate  44 . 
         [0023]    The main column clevis bracket  69  is secured to the rear main column support bracket  28 , which is welded to the main column  25 . This is the main column pivot point. A rear cap  29  is welded to the bottom of the main column  25 . At the bottom of the main column is provided a water drain plug  54  to allow the discharge of water that may build-up within the main column  25 . 
         [0024]    In the preferred embodiment power to the Tree Trimmer  60  is provided thru the main power cord  55 , while power to the saw motor is sent via a power cord  59 . An electrical compression fitting  131  is installed at the base of the control panel assembly  30  to provide strain relief to the main power cord  55 . Electrical power to the electric motor  48  used to rotate the saw blade  47  is provided for by a weather proof power receptacle  40  located at the end of the control panel assembly  30 , while a weather proof cover  132  minimizes intrusion of the elements. This allows for quick detachment of various saw bracket combinations. A circular saw assembly  89  consisting primarily of a saw base  72  is retained to the saw support column  45  through the use of a retention pin  65 . Two holes within the saw support column  45  permits the saw base  72  to reposition the saw blade  47  in four distinct orientations for an optimal cutting angle. 
         [0025]    The front base subassembly  10  consists of three supporting elements the left front support base  2 , the right front support base  1  and the main front support base  5 . Two pivot plates, a top pivot plate  3  and a bottom pivot plate  4  secured to the main front support base  5  function as clevis brackets for the left front support base  2  and the right support base  1 . These two elements are each separately secured with a left front clevis pin  7  and a right front clevis pin  6  respectively. The Front Base subassembly  10  is designed for quick stowage by removing both the left front retention pin  9  and the right front retention pin  8 . 
         [0026]    Both the left front support base  2  and the right front support base leach have a separate left front wheel  11  and a right front wheel  12 . These tires are pneumatic and are attached to two welded plates—left front wheel mounting plate  61  and right front wheel mounting plate  70 . 
         [0027]    Stability and lateral support is assured by the fixed position of the left front wheel  11  and right front wheel  12 . The subtended angle formed between the elements supporting the left front wheel  11  and the right front wheel  12  is determined by the location of the left front retention pin  9  and the right front retention pin  8 . 
         [0028]    The rear base subassembly  66  consist of a rear base  13  that is a square tubular frame element that engages with a smaller front support  5  tubular member and retained in place with a quick release retention pin  16 . 
         [0029]    The front support  5  has a front pivot bracket  14  which accepts the telescoping end of the air cylinder  51 . It is retained in position by a quick release retention pin  17 . The front support also has a rear pivot bracket  15  that accepts the main column clevis bracket  69 . The main column clevis bracket  69  is retained in position by a quick release retention pin  18 . 
         [0030]    A rear pivot wheel  62  is adjoined to a swivel plate which is secured to the underside of the rear base  13 . The rear wheel in conjunction with a rear handle  20  permits the steering and positioning of the tree trimmer  60 . 
         [0031]    The rear pivot wheel  62  is secured with an axle pin  19  and is pivoted by a rear handle  20 . The rear wheel axle pin  19  is secured in place with a nut  22 , two washers  23  and a cotter pin  24 . 
       Circular Saw Attachment 
       [0032]    A circular saw assembly  89  is designed for removal of small branches and attaches to the end of the saw support column  45  thru the circular saw attachment guide  46  with a quick release retention pin  65 . A circular saw base  72  is integral with the circular saw attachment guide  46  and supports a circular saw electric motor  48 . The electric motor  48  is secured to a circular saw base  72  with four bolts  82 , nuts  83  and washers  84  and supports a motor spur gear  73  which drives a driveshaft spur gear  74  that is attached to the main drive shaft  77 . The main drive shaft  77  is supported by an upper pillow block bearing  75  and lower pillow block bearing  76 . These in turn are secured by two bolts  86 , nuts  87  and washers  88 . The main drive shaft  77  translates motion to a cross shaft  90 , which supports a circular saw blade  47 . Power transfer is done thru a drive miter gear  78  and rotates a cross shaft miter gear  79  that is attached to the cross shaft  90 . Two sets of keyways, miter gear keyways  71  for the two miter gears  78  and  79  and two spur gear keyways  94  for the spur gears  73  and  74  are used to prevent rotation of the respective gears. 
         [0033]    The cross shaft  90  is supported by a left cross shaft bearing  80  and a right cross shaft bearing  81 . 
         [0034]    A branch guide  85  is part of the circular saw assembly  89  and provides a means to guide smaller branches into the rotating circular saw blade  47 . It is secured in place by four bolts  91 , nuts  92 , and washers  93 . 
       Chain Saw Attachment 
       [0035]    A chain saw assembly  120  is designed for removing large branches and can be quickly attached to the end of the saw support column  45  with a quick release retention pin  65 . A chain saw electric motor  99  is secured to a base plate  96  by four bolts  117 , nuts  118  and washers  119 , The base plate  96  is supported by a swivel bracket  97  and swivel bracket gussett  108 . The swivel bracket  97  pivots on a support column  98 , which is attached to the support column  45 . 
         [0036]    By removing a quick release retention pin  107  the chain saw assembly  120  can rotate about a swivel pin  111  to one of a plurality of positions for an optimal cutting angle. Also the chain saw assembly  120  can rotate about the saw support column  45  to one of two angular positions. The quick release pin  107  is guide by a washer  109  and guide bushing  110  within the swivel bracket  97 . 
         [0037]    The chain saw swivel pin  111  is guided and supported by a motor support left bushing  112 , box support left bushing  113 , box support right bushing  114  and a motor support right bushing  115 . The swivel pin  111  is positioned in place with a cotter pin  116 . 
         [0038]    To preclude loosening of the saw bar  101 , a chain bar bracket  103  and bracket lock plate  106  are secured with two bolts  104 , nuts  105 , and washers  95 . A tighten screw  127  can be adjusted to remove saw chain looseness. This is used with a tighten nut  129  to assure anti-rotation of the tighten screw  127 . A washer  128  is also used with both the tighten screw  127  and nut  129 . 
         [0039]    The chain saw assembly  120  consists of a saw bar  101 , and a saw chain  100  which is driven by a chain saw sprocket  102  and is secured to the shaft of the electric motor  99 .