Abstract:
An implement for clearing brush and trees which includes a self-propelled vehicle and at least one boom mounted upon the vehicle. The boom is constructed for articulated motion of a distal end thereof. A cutting disk is operatively mounted for rotation to the distal end of said boom to cut brush and trees when rotated. A secondary power source is supported on the self-propelled vehicle and used to primarily power the cutting disk. The implement is configured to allow field replacement of a cutting wheel support cartridge.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The technical field of this invention is implements for clearing vegetative growth, and particularly, implements for clearing dense vegetative growth such as brush and trees in forests to build and maintain around dwellings and roadways, and within utility and other various right-of-ways or easements.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The public continues to expand the boundaries in which to live by moving into remote areas of the country with dense vegetation such as forest or woodlands. The demand to make such remote areas inhabitable requires clearing the vegetation to allow access for heavy equipment, and to build new dwellings, roadways, and right-of-ways. Moreover, existing roadways and right-of-ways have shoulders, banks and drainage ditches which need periodic grooming.  
           [0003]    Implements for clearing and grooming such vegetation have been developed utilizing a self-propelled vehicle, such as an excavator backhoe having a boom apparatus. The boom is pivotally attached to the excavator turret. The boom apparatus has a distal end with a cutting apparatus attached thereto for cutting and clearing vegetation. The excavator is advantageously track driven to facilitate transport of the cutting apparatus to remote locations. The pivoting turret and boom apparatus provide the cutting apparatus at selective cutting elevations relative to the ground.  
           [0004]    To effectively clear such vegetation, an exemplary implement for clearing and grooming must be capable of providing enough power to the cutting apparatus to sever varying diameters of trees and brush. Such power produces detrimental forces to components of the cutting apparatus. These require routine maintenance, repairs and sometimes major overhauls. However, exemplary implements for clearing and grooming are not designed for repairs or overhauls in the field, and are therefore, transported to a repair shop. If the implement for clearing and grooming is working at an operation site several miles from an access road, then considerable time is wasted transporting the excavator across rough terrain. Additionally, the transport truck must also travel to the shop after the excavator.  
           [0005]    In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide an implement for clearing and grooming configured to provide continued operation and capable of maintenance by operators in the field. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view illustrating an implement for clearing and grooming according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a fragmented side elevational view of a distal end of a boom and cutting head according to such embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a front elevational view as viewed from the front in FIG. 2.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view as viewed from the rear in FIG. 2.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is the cutting head of FIG. 2 with the cutting head swivelled.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is the cutting head of FIG. 2 with the cutting head swivelled opposite to FIG. 5.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 is a partial front view of the cutting head of FIG. 2 shown partially in cross-section taken substantially along line  7 - 7  in FIG. 2.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 is an exploded view of portions of the FIG. 7 cutting head with components of the cutting head shown removed.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 9 is a partial side view of FIG. 1 more particularly pointing out and illustrating an auxiliary engine according to a preferred form of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of a front cover for the auxiliary engine in isolation.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 11 is a top view of an upper cover for the auxiliary engine in isolation. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    •Vehicle Generally• 
         [0019]    A preferred embodiment according to the present invention is generally shown by the reference numeral  10  in the accompanying drawings. Referring to FIG. 1, implement  10  is adapted for clearing and grooming vegetation, such as brush and trees. It includes a self-propelled vehicle  20  and a boom apparatus  70  pivotally mounted to the self-propelled vehicle  20 . The boom apparatus has a distal end  90  and a cutting head  100  secured to the distal end  90  of boom apparatus  70 . An exemplary self-propelled vehicle  20  may be a 40 ton excavator. It should be understood that an exemplary self-propelled vehicle  20  could include a variety of vehicles adapted for crossing rough terrain found in remote areas. Furthermore, the exemplary self-propelled vehicle  20  is preferably capable of traversing terrain having slopes of 50 to 60% relative to horizontal ground  23 .  
         [0020]    •Vehicle Carriage• 
         [0021]    The vehicle  20  of FIG. 1 includes endless belt or track type ground contact drives having treads  22  for carrying vehicle  20  over all types of terrain. A turntable or turret swivel mechanism  24  is mounted on the excavator carriage in swivelling relation relative to the treads  22  and other parts of the carriage. A turret  25  is mounted on the carriage using swivel mechanism  24  such that the turret  25  is capable of swivelling relative to the treads  22  about a swivel axis generally perpendicular to the terrain  23 .  
         [0022]    •Primary Engine• 
         [0023]    A main, or primary engine  26  provides power to at least treads  22  to move vehicle  20  across terrain  23 . Moreover, an exemplary primary engine  26  provides power to swivel mechanism  24  to swivel turret  25 . Primary engine  26  is mounted, for example, on a rear portion of turret  25 . A cab  27  is mounted on a front portion of the turret  25 , for example, in front of primary engine  26  to one side of the turret  25 . The cab  27  is designed to house an operator and includes controls and instrumentation for operating clearing implement  10 .  
         [0024]    •Secondary Engine• 
         [0025]    A secondary power source, for example an auxiliary engine  28  (described more thoroughly below), is mounted to the turret  25  at the front portion on a side opposite cab  27 . Further mounted to the front portion of turret  25  between cab  27  and auxiliary engine  28  is boom apparatus  70 . It should be understood that cab  27 , primary engine  26  and auxiliary engine  28  could be positioned on turret  25  in other configurations with the previously described orientation only presented as a preferred configuration.  
         [0026]    •Boom Apparatus• 
         [0027]    The boom apparatus  70  includes at least one boom, with the embodiment shown including a first boom  71  and a second boom  80 . It should be understood that three or more booms could make up boom apparatus  70  and would be configured as subsequently described for first and second booms  71  and  80 . The first boom  71  has a known bent configuration that ensures that the second boom  80  clears the vehicle  20  when the first boom  71  is in a vertical position. First boom  71  has a proximal end (not shown) that is pivotally attached to the turret  25  of vehicle  20  as is understood in the industry, and a distal end  77 .  
         [0028]    •Boom and Boom Operation• 
         [0029]    A system for pivoting the boom apparatus  70  includes a hydraulic system which is not shown, but is conventional in the industry. The hydraulic system operates boom apparatus  70  preferably using primary engine  26 . The boom apparatus  70  pivots between a position in which it extends generally vertical upward from the turret  25 , and in a position in which it extends generally horizontally outwardly from the turret  25 . A pair of hydraulic cylinders  72  (only one shown-with the other generally aligned with the one shown on the opposite side of first boom  71  as understood in the industry) are pivotally attached to the turret  25  and the first boom  71  to pivot the first boom  71  between its vertical and horizontal positions. Each cylinder  72  has a piston  73  that slidingly extends therefrom and is pivotally attached to the first boom  71  at attachment point, or pivot point  74  located near the bend in the first boom  71 . Additional references to pivot points are made subsequently, and include configurations as is understood in the industry, and therefore, are not more thoroughly described.  
         [0030]    Distal end  77  of first boom  71  is pivotally attached to second boom  80  at a pivot point  78  which is spaced from a proximal end  81  of second boom  80 . A hydraulic cylinder  76  is pivotally secured to an upper surface of the first boom  71 , outwardly of pivot point  74 , at a pivot point  75 . The hydraulic cylinder  76  has a piston  79  which slidingly extends therefrom and is pivotally attached to pivot point  82  located at the proximal end  81  of second boom  80 . Cylinder  76  is operatively connected to the hydraulic hose system of clearing implement  10  to pivot the second boom  80  relative to the first boom  71  about pivot point  78 .  
         [0031]    Second boom  80  includes a distal end  90  opposite proximal end  81  and a hydraulic cylinder  86  pivotally mounted to an upper surface of second boom  80  at a pivot point  85 . A piston  87  slidingly extends outwardly from cylinder  86  and pivotally engages a linear link pair  88  (only one link of the pair shown with the other link pivotally connected on the opposite side of second boom  80 ) at a pivot point  103 . Ends of linear link pair  88  opposite pivot point  103  are pivotally connected to second boom  80  at a pivot point  102  located a spaced distance from distal end  90  of second boom  80 . A link plate  91  is pivotally connected at pivot point  103  to linear link pair  88  and piston  87 . It should be understood that link plate  91  could have a one piece link configuration or designed as two links similar to linear link pair  88 . An end of link plate  91  opposite pivot point  103  is pivotally connected to an actuator mounting plate  105  at a pivot point  101  spaced a distance from the distal end  90  of second boom  80 .  
         [0032]    Rearward of pivot point  101 , a rear portion of actuator mounting plate  105  is pivotally connected to the distal end  90  of second boom  80  at a pivot point  104  such that actuator mounting plate  105  extends outwardly from pivot point  104 . Linear link pair  88  and plate link  91  are configured with pivot points  101 ,  102 ,  103  and  104  such that actuation of piston  87  by hydraulic cylinder  86  drives actuator mounting plate  105  to selectively pivot same relative second boom  80  about pivot point  104 . Hydraulic cylinder  86  is operatively connected to primary engine  26  via the hydraulic hose system.  
         [0033]    •Cutting Head• 
         [0034]    Referring to FIGS.  2 - 8 , a cutting head  100  is more thoroughly described. Referring to FIG. 2, cutting head  100  includes a cylindrical cutting head swivel, or hydraulic rotary actuator  107  oriented generally longitudinally parallel and beneath actuator mounting plate  105 . A pair of clamps  106  secure hydraulic rotary actuator  107  to actuator mounting plate  105 . Hydraulic rotary actuator  107  is rotationally connected to a cutting head frame  110  between a rearward end  108  and a forward end  109  of cutting head frame  110 . Actuation of hydraulic rotary actuator  107  produces a selective swivel action of cutting head frame  110  about a swivel axis oriented along the longitudinal axis of hydraulic rotary actuator  107  and generally traversing the pivot axis of pivot point  104 . Referring to FIG. 3, swivel action is generally indicated by arrow  144 , and alternatively, arrow  145 , both shown in phantom. FIG. 5 illustrates cutting head  100  swivelled according to arrow  144  and FIG. 6 illustrates cutting head  100  swivelled according to arrow  145 .  
         [0035]    Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, rearward end  108  extends generally downwardly from hydraulic rotary actuator  107  and terminates into a lower end  111 . A jaw  113  is pivotally connected to lower end  111  of rearward end  108  at a pivot point  112 . Jaw  113  includes an extension plate  114  extending outwardly of pivot point  112  and terminates to form a serrated plate  115  oriented generally perpendicularly to extension plate  114 . Serrated plate  115  extends forward of extension plate  114  and terminates to form a first set of teeth  115   a , and extends rearward of extension plate  114  and terminates to form a second set of teeth  115   b . The second set of teeth  115   b  act as a rake when pivoting actuator mounting plate  105  about pivot point  104  wherein the second set of teeth  115   b  pivot with cutting head frame  110  to provide a selective rake action across terrain  23 . Extension plate  114  further defines a pivot point  126  spaced generally forward and below pivot point  112  and which provides a pivotal connection to a piston  125 . Piston  125  slidingly extends from a hydraulic cylinder  123  pivotally connected to a bottom section  118  of cutting head frame  110 .  
         [0036]    A shroud  117  is mounted to the bottom section  118  of cutting head frame  110  and extends downwardly therefrom generally in front and below hydraulic cylinder  123 . Shroud  117  defines a back section  120  extending toward serrated plate  115  wherein back section  120  terminates to form a third set of teeth  116  configured to engage in complementary fashion the second set of teeth  115   b . Such engagement defines a first closed position of jaw  113 . Particularly referring to FIG. 2, activation of hydraulic cylinder  123  selectively extends and retracts piston  125  to pivot jaw  113  about pivot point  112  between the first closed position (shown in solid lines), and alternatively, a second open position  122 , shown in phantom. Accordingly, jaw  113  and third set of teeth  116  cooperate relative one another to provide a grasping action for debris and severed vegetation.  
         [0037]    Referring to FIG. 2, a front section  127  of shroud  117  defines an open section to house a portion of a cutting disk  140 . Cutting disk  140  is rotatably mounted to cutting head frame  110  below bottom section  118  at a forward end  109 . A hydraulic motor  128  is secured to cutting head frame  110  above forward end  109  to drive cutting disk  140  rotationally. Hydraulic motor  128  is operatively connected to auxiliary engine  28  for power. It is preferred to devote all or substantially all of the power to the cutting wheel to provide substantially enhanced performance. It should be understood that in less preferred configurations the hydraulic rotary actuator  107  and hydraulic cylinder  123  could be powered by auxiliary engine  28 , or primary engine  26 , or combinations thereof.  
         [0038]    The hydraulic system powering the cutter preferably is provided with an oil cooler for cooling the hydraulic drive. This can be a fan and radiator combination  337  (See FIG. 10). The hydraulic oil cooler is preferably in side-by-side relationship to the auxiliary engine coolant radiator  338 . This configuration allows the hydraulic oil to be better cooled in view of the high power of the cutter drive.  
         [0039]    Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, cutting disk  140  defines an upper face  141  which includes a plurality of removably secured cutting and grinding devices  143  extending therefrom. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, cutting disk  140  defines a lower face  142  which includes a plurality of removably secured cutting teeth and/or grinding or comminuting devices or features  143  extending therefrom. Furthermore, some of such cutting and grinding devices  143  extend outwardly of a periphery  148  of cutting disk  140  to define a periphereal cutting area.  
         [0040]    •Cutter Drive• 
         [0041]    Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, cutting disk  140  and components that drive same are described more thoroughly. Beginning at the bottom of FIG. 7, a fragmented view of cutting disk  140  is illustrated with cutting and grinding devices  143  removed. Cutting disk  140  is secured to a hub  178  by threaded members  180  extending through cutting disk  140  and a laterally extending flange region  179  of hub  178 . Hub  178  is rotatably secured to forward end  109  of cutting head frame  110  by a bearing mechanism, or main bearing (detailed components not illustrated) housed inside the forward end  109  of cutting head frame  110 . Actual components of main bearing are not shown nor described as such is understood and conventional in the art. However, a main bearing housing, or cartridge  177  for enclosing the main bearing is illustrated.  
         [0042]    •Cutter Drive Cartridge• 
         [0043]    Cartridge  177  includes a first portion  176  which extends through an opening  175  in cutting head frame langes  181  extend laterally outwardly from first portion  176  and are positioned adjacent to cutting head frame  110  such that threaded members  182  extend through flanges  181  into cutting head frame  110  to secure cartridge  177  to cutting head frame  110 . A second portion  183  of cartridge  177  extends upwardly from the first portion  176  and defines a smaller cross-sectional dimension than the first portion  176  and is completely housed in the forward end  109  of cutting head frame  110 .  
         [0044]    An upper end of second portion  183  abuts against a mating plate  184  and is secured thereto by threaded members  189  extending through mating plate  184  into aligned bores  188  formed in second portion  183 . The cross-sectional dimension of mating plate  184  is larger than the cross-sectional dimension of second portion  183  to extend outwardly of opposite sides of second portion  183  and rest on shoulders  185  extending inwardly from an inner wall  186  of cutting head frame  110 . Threaded members  187  secure mating plate  184  to shoulders  185 .  
         [0045]    A drive shaft, or first shaft  190  includes a first portion  191  that is  5  secured to hub  178 . As shown, shaft  191  has a boss or flange  391  at the distal end which mates with a stepped receptacle  392  formed in part  179  and extends from cartridge  177  through mating plate  184 . A second portion  192  of first shaft  190  extends upwardly from first portion  191  and into a first sprocket  193 . First sprocket  193  defines sprocket teeth  194  extending radially outwardly to receive a portion of a drive chain  195 . Spaced above and aligned with first sprocket  193  is a second sprocket  196  defining sprocket teeth  196   a  extending radially outwardly to receive another portion of drive chain  195  wherein first sprocket  193  is coupled to second sprocket  196 . Sprocket teeth  196   a  of second sprocket  196  are formed on a terminal end of a hydraulic motor shaft  197  wherein hydraulic motor shaft  197  is driven rotationally by hydraulic motor  128  as is understood in the industry, and therefore, is not described.  
         [0046]    •Cutter Drive Connections  
         [0047]    It should be understood that second portion  192  of first shaft  190  is keyed into first sprocket  193  as understood in the art, and FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary key opening  198 , such as a longitudinal slot, in second portion  192  of first shaft  190  to receive a key extension, or nodule (not shown) formed on an inside wall of first sprocket  193 . Such key configuration will allow first shaft  190  to be released downward from first sprocket  193  without removing drive chain  195  to uncouple first and second sprockets  193  and  196 .  
         [0048]    A portion of forward end  109  defines an opening  172  for access to drive chain  195  and threaded members  189 . A door or cover  173  is secured to forward end  109  of cutting head frame  110  by threaded members  174  to protect the inside of forward end  109  from the outside environment.  
         [0049]    •Cartridge Changing• 
         [0050]    Referring to FIG. 8, an exemplary method of removing cartridge  177 , first shaft  190  and hub  178  as a unit is illustrated. It should be understood that cutting disk  140  has already been removed from hub  178  by removing threaded members  180  (see FIG. 8). It should further be understood cutting disk  140  can be removed at any stage of the exemplary sequence of steps described subsequently. Alternatively, cutting disk  140  could remain secured to hub  178  and be removed with the unit. First, threaded members  174  are removed so door  173  can be separated from cutting head frame  110  to provide access to opening  172 .  
         [0051]    One exemplary method includes removing threaded members  189  from threaded bores  188  to release second portion  183  of cartridge  177  from mating plate  184 . Next, in one exemplary method, threaded members  182  can be removed from flanges  181  of first portion  176  and cutting head frame  110  to release first portion  176  from cutting head frame  110  allowing cartridge  177 , first shaft  190  and hub  178  to be unleashed as a unit from forward end  109  of cutting head frame  110 . It should be understood that this is only one exemplary method of removing the unit and that any combination of these steps could be performed in any order.  
         [0052]    Alternatively, first portion  176  of cartridge  177  could be released from the cutting head frame  110  before removing door  173 .  
         [0053]    Furthermore, second portion  192  of first shaft  190  could define another key configuration such that first shaft  190  cannot be released from first sprocket  193  by simply applying a downward force on the unit, and therefore, drive chain  195  may need to be removed to unleash first sprocket  193  with the unit. If so, it should be understood that drive chain  195  is released from first and second sprockets  193  and  196  by removing a master link  199  as is understood in the art. Moreover, drive chain  195  could be removed before or after threaded members  189  are released from second portion  183  and mating plate  184 . It should be understood that any combination of these steps could be performed in any suitable order to effect the indicated disconnection.  
         [0054]    •Auxiliary Engine• 
         [0055]    Referring to FIG. 9, a larger fragmented view of FIG. 1 is shown to facilitate a more thorough description of auxiliary engine  28 . A steel frame  240  surrounds auxiliary engine  28  and is partially broken away to more thoroughly show components of engine  28 . An upper cover, or top steel cover  241  protects an upper portion of auxiliary engine  28 . Upper cover  241  defines an upper surface  242  which has alternating angled and generally horizontal portions relative to terrain  23  to establish steps which increase in elevation as upper cover  241  extends from the rear of turret  25  toward the front. It should be understood that the upper surface  242  of upper cover  241  may comprise configurations other than the stepped configuration shown, such as, a generally horizontal upper surface relative terrain  23 .  
         [0056]    An exemplary upper cover  241  includes a front portion  243  pivotally connected to frame  240  (not shown) to allow upper cover  241  to be pivoted upward when access to upper portion of auxiliary engine  28  is warranted. Referring to FIG. 11, the upper surface.  242  of top cover  241  is more thoroughly shown defining a plurality of square openings  244  with each covered by a screen  245  to allow dissipation of heat from auxiliary engine  240  and viewing therein. Also shown is a circular opening  246  which may be used, for access to the radiator cap (not shown).  
         [0057]    Referring to FIG. 9, a front cover, or louver  220  is generally indicated at a front portion of auxiliary engine  28 , and referring to FIG. 10, louver  220  is shown in detail. Louver  220  is attached to frame  240  by a plurality of hinges  223 . Louver  220  comprises a steel frame  221  with fins  224  extending generally horizontally between portions of frame  221 . Fins  224  are slanted downward to provide ventilation, and to exclude rain and other debris from reaching auxiliary engine  28  from the front.  
         [0058]    In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language necessarily limited in its ability to properly convey the conceptual nature of the invention. Because of this inherent limitation of language, it must be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the specific features described, since the means herein disclosed comprise merely preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.