Abstract:
A circular saw head for use as a boom mounted head attachment is disclosed for agricultural trimming. The blades can cut as much as four inches of material. An adjustable head piece is provided that is also reversible allowing for exposure of more or less of the blades. Safety aprons are provided to deflect cut material away from the operator.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Applicant&#39;s invention relates to a circular saw head for cutting tree limbs which can be used as a boom mounted head attachment. 
     2. Background Information 
     Agricultural trimming devices which attach to tractors are useful in groves and orchards, particularly when high trimming of trees is desired. The present invention is an agricultural trimming device, more particularly a circular saw head, that can be utilized as a boom head attachment for tractors used for right of way maintenance. The circular saw head itself has an outer blade that is exposed to reach limbs better. The blades are preferably {fraction (3/16)} inch thick and 26 inches in diameter. The blades can cut as much as four inches of material. The head can also be reversible. Aprons are provided at a 45 degree angle to help deflect cut material down toward the ground and away from the operator. The blades are offset with overlap by the blades. This results in a clean cut with a manicured chainsaw look and fairly rapid production rate. This also provides a much safer blade system because the residue from the cutting process is relatively small. Applicant knows of no other circular saw head that incorporates the benefits of Applicant&#39;s invention. U.S. Pat. No. 3,138,911 issued to Pounds discloses a hedge trimmer for attachment to a tractor. However, Applicant&#39;s invention is an improvement over this previous invention because it incorporates protective shielding aprons. U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,263 issued to Hartung et al discloses an airborne tree trimmer apparatus and U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,257 issued to Hickman discloses a tree trimming apparatus. While these inventions have the same intent as the present invention, they are not related to the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel circular saw head that produces a clean cut. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel circular saw head that has a fairly rapid production rate. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel circular saw head that is safer. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel circular saw head that produces relatively small thrown objects. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novel circular saw head that incorporates a shielding means to deflect cut materials away from the operator when the circular saw is engaged into vegetation. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel circular saw head that can cut as much as four inches of vegetation. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel circular saw head that incorporates a bumper means to keep the blades off the ground when the head is in certain positions. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novel circular saw head that is reversible. 
     In satisfaction of these and related objectives, Applicant&#39;s present invention provides a circular saw head for cutting tree limbs which can be used as a boom mounted head attachment. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment as it would be used. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of the preferred embodiment as it would be used is shown. A tractor with an outer boom arm  101  is shown attached to a boom head  111  containing circular saw blades  107 . 
     In FIG. 2, a perspective view of the preferred embodiment is shown. The boom head  111  is attached to a hitch post  102 . The hitch post  102  is pivotally connected to the outer boom arm  101 . An outer view of the boom head  111  shows a blade saw body  106  which houses at least one, preferably four, circular saw blades  107 . The outer blade  109  is exposed so that it can reach a limb or other similar material on the outside end  111   a  of the boom head  111 . In addition, the blades  107  are offset to allow for overlap which creates a constant cutting surface. It is preferred that the blades  107  be {fraction (3/16)} inch thick and have a 26 inch diameter, but obvious modifications can be made to accommodate the specific use of the circular saw head. Any type of blade which imparts only a small amount or no recoil upon engaging a big load can be used. Chainsaw type blades or titanium carbide tipped blades can be used. 
     The back  106   d  of the blade saw body  106  acts as an anchor for a first attachment point  102   a  of the hitch post  102  and a top  103   a  of a tube  103  acts as a second attachment point  102   b  for the hitch post  102 . The second attachment point  102   b  at the tube  103  can be pitched forward slightly. With additional holes, the tube  103  can be pitched at any desired angle. 
     There is a guard  105  at the side  106   a  of the blade saw body  106 . Attached at the outer edge  105   a  of the guard  105  is a first apron  108 . The guard  105  and first apron  108  can act as bumpers to keep the blades  107  out of the ground when the boom head  111  is in a certain position. A second apron  110  positioned at the rear  106   b  of the blade saw body  106  helps to deflect cut materials down rather than towards their original location. The angle of the second apron  110  is preferably 45 degrees downwards from the base of the rear  106   b  of the blade saw body  106 ; however any angle that helps to deflect the cut material can be used. 
     A hydraulic motor  104  is anchored above the blade saw body  106  on a motor mount plate  115 , preferably centrally anchored, in the middle of a two piece belt cover  106   c  and serves as the power source to turn the blades  107 . The belt cover  106   c  is held in place by quick release retainers with studs  117  and quick release receivers  118  (See FIG.  3 ). 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment. Under the belt cover  106   c,  there is a belt  133  system that drives each individual spindle assembly  125 . The blades  107  (See FIG. 2) are mounted to the spindle assembly  125 . 
     More specifically, the blades  107  (See FIG. 2) are secured to the spindle assembly  125  with an end cap  112 . A blade spacer  113  is inserted on the spindle assemblies  125  of alternating blades  107  (See FIG.  2 ). For example, in a mower head with four blades, the spacers would be placed on the spindle assemblies of blades  1  and  3 . This allows for the blades  107  (See FIG. 2) to overlap to provide for a better cut when operating. At the uppermost portion of the spindle assembly  125  is a hub assembly  116 . 
     There are slots (not shown) in a main channel  122  of the blade saw body  106  through which studs  124  on the spindle assembly  125  fit. A plate  123  attaches to the main channel  122  and has holes  131  which fit over the studs  124 . Tension adjustment brackets  129  are placed on the plate  123 . A tensioning bolt  132  on the side of the tension adjustment brackets  129  is used when the belt  133  system is in place to pull the belt  133 , preferably a poly-v-belt, tight. The poly-v-belt is preferred in the present invention because it has a very small v-groove in the belt itself. 
     The hydraulic motor  104  more specifically the shaft  104   a,  is directly coupled to a pulley  114  through a flexible coupling  127  and bushing  119 . Rubber grommets  128  contribute to the coupling&#39;s  127  flexibility. 
     While the preferred embodiments have discussed the present invention as it would be attached to different booms, the present invention could be used in other types of heads such as rotaries, flails, or needs associate with sickle bar mowers. 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.