Abstract:
A standing tree branch compression ring is adapted to be vertically raised about the trunk of the tree by lifting means. As the ring is lifted it forceably moves the tree branches inward. A plastic ring liner is removably affixed to the outer surface of the ring to reduce its coefficient of friction to mitigate tree branch damage. The ring is polygonal and includes a fully releasable segment to accept the tree trunk from the side. The segment is then reaffixed by a mating tongue and slot joint at one end a latch at the other end before it is raised.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This patent application is a divisional of co-pending patent application Ser. No. 13/658,888 entitled “Standing Tree Baler” filed Oct. 24, 2013 which is a divisional of Ser. No. 12/730,816 entitled “Standing Tree Baler” filed Mar. 24, 2010 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,347,784 issued Jan. 8, 2013, priority from which is hereby claimed. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device used for compressing the branches of a standing tree in preparation for tying the branches in an upwardly folded condition. More specifically, the invention relates to a compression ring used in conjunction with a standing tree baler. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Tree baling is well known in the field of handling commercial nursery stock. In many cases, it is advantageous to bale the trees while they are standing prior to their felling or transplanting. Well known devices for baling trees include the use of a vertically extensible compression ring initially positioned around the lowest tree branches and moved upwardly against the undersides of the branches pressing them inwardly. As they are held compressed, baling rope is applied to the outside of the branches in a circling spiral fashion to hold the branches in the compressed condition. Trees which are tied up or baled in this way are easier to handle and transport with less damage to the tree. Baling trees in this way also provides greater working space around the tree for digging. 
     Various prior art patents disclose tree baling equipment of the above-mentioned type. They include U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,193 entitled “Standing Tree Baler” issued to Crew; U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,989 entitled “Tree Limb Folding and Tying Apparatus” issued to Zacharias; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,945,163 entitled “Standing Tree Baler” issued to Squires. While the currently available tree balers including those disclosed in the above-mentioned patents have been used for this purpose, they are large, complicated and consequently expensive pieces of equipment which are difficult to use and often damage the tree branches. 
     Tree balers are most commonly used in a tree nursery environment where the trees are planted relatively close together in rows. Therefore, obtaining close access to the tree is always a problem especially when large bulky equipment is used. Furthermore, heavier equipment often bogs down in muddy or wet soil conditions. Because large trees require the powerful force necessary to compress the tree limbs, the current thinking is that this type of heavy and complicated equipment is required. It is also difficult for large equipment to position the compression ring close to the ground. Maintaining the proper alignment of the ring about the tree as it is moved upwardly is rarely achieved by high-reach equipment. All of these deficiencies require additional labor and therefore are expensive. The goal of baling very large trees is to compact their branches so that their overall width is within legal limits for transporting on the highway. 
     There is therefore a need in the art for a lightweight, maneuverable yet sturdy and powerful high-reach tree baler that is sufficiently robust to handle the force required to bale large standing trees so that they are condensed to a size legal for highway transport. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to meet the needs in the art for an improved standing tree baler, the present apparatus has been devised. To provide a lightweight apparatus, one embodiment of the invention has been constructed as a towable, trailered baler which as described in detail below has independent maneuvering capabilities so that it can achieve a close working position next to the tree. To achieve the structural strength required for baling large trees, a novel telescoping wheeled frame has been devised. This novel framework provides a ground support directly underneath the ring next to the tree trunk and hence provides a strong structural foundation for pushing the ring upward. This is in contrast to the prior art equipment in which the tree branch compression ring and related lifting structures are cantilevered over the back end of a hauling vehicle requiring a heavy counterweight. Thus, the present invention&#39;s approach to constructing a standing tree baler is conceptually very different from the prior art. 
     In addition to this novel trailer and frame configuration, the present apparatus includes many other unique features which add to its efficiency and ease of use. For example, the lifting boom utilizes an interconnecting rotation arm between the end of the boom and the compression ring so that the ring may be positioned at a very low starting point close to the ground around the base of the tree trunk, and accurately moved upwardly with the circumference of the ring being held level and centered as the ring is moved upward. With the present invention, this horizontal orientation can be easily maintained as the center of the ring follows the axis of the tree as it is pushed upward to the top. The inability of high lift prior art devices to position the tree branch compression ring close to the ground beneath the lowest tree branches is a major failing of prior art apparatus. The rotation arm provides a double-jointed support of the compression ring that not only more accurately controls its properly aligned upward movement, but also because of its range of movement provides a compacted folded up condition of the boom and compression ring for ease of transportation. 
     To further accommodate the flexibility of use and to better achieve proper alignment of the compression ring, a unique frame suspension system has been devised so that support wheels may be both steered and tilted. A steering mechanism provides added maneuverability while a tilt mechanism allows stable placement and centering of the apparatus on uneven ground. Yet another aspect of the invention is a compression ring that includes a specialized lining material which has proven to greatly reduce tree limb damage due to friction between the tree limb bark and the force-applying surface of the ring. The added benefit of reduced friction is a lower power requirement and therefore greater efficiency. Advantageously, the liner is releasably affixed to the outer surfaces of the ring which makes economical the initial fabrication as well as any continuing maintenance or replacement needed. Applicant&#39;s discovery of this material for this use is an important aspect of the invention. Other features of the compression ring also contribute to its ease of use and allow “double tying” of larger trees which will be discussed in more detail below. 
     More specifically, the Applicant has invented a tree branch compression apparatus with a main frame and at least two wheels affixed to a sub-frame rollably supporting the main frame and being located at an extreme trailing end of the apparatus. The sub-frame is in telescoping engagement with the main frame and extends and retracts the wheels carried by said sub-frame which may be positioned beneath the compression ring during its operation. The main frame also includes a forwardly extending tongue rail in sliding engagement with the main frame with means to extend and retract it. The ring includes a liner releasably affixed around its external operative surface to reduce the friction of the ring against the tree branches. Access to the interior of the ring for positioning around the tree is provided by a releasable segment. The ring is vertically extendable by a boom connected to the front of the main frame at a pivot joint. A hydraulic boom lifter is connected between the main frame and the boom for raising and lowering the boom about the pivot joint. A rotation arm is pivotably connected to the end of the boom at a first end of the arm. The ring is rotatably connected to a second end of the arm and includes drive means on the arm for independently rotating the ring in a vertical plane relative to the arm. All of the means for driving the various components of the invention are hydraulic cylinders controlled by a hydraulic pump and operator controls on the main frame. The invention further includes hydraulic line routing means for supporting the lines on the main frame and sub-frame in a manner such that the length of the path of the hydraulic lines remains substantially constant as the rear wheels are retracted or extended with respect to the main frame. 
     In accordance with the foregoing, one object of the invention is to provide a lightweight yet structurally strong standing tree baler apparatus which is compact and highly maneuverable. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a standing tree baler which allows the maximum controlled range of motion of the baling ring while allowing structural ground support directly beneath the ring. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a baling ring with reduced friction characteristics to avoid damage to tree branches. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a standing tree baler which is economical to use and compactable for ease of transport as a trailered vehicle. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a right side elevation view with an alternate raised position of the apparatus shown in phantom. 
         FIG. 2  is a right side elevation view in position with a tree to be baled. 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan sectional view of the compression ring with the access segment removed, its assembled position being shown in phantom. 
         FIG. 3 a    is a top front isometric view taken from  FIG. 3  as shown in that Figure which depicts the ring access connecting joint. 
         FIG. 4  is a right side elevation view showing operation of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 5  is a right side elevation view showing the completed operation of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the support frame with alternate positions of the steerable wheels shown in phantom. 
         FIG. 6 a    is a top right rear isometric view of the support frame slide assembly and drive cylinder. 
         FIG. 6 b    is a right side sectional view taken from  FIG. 6  as shown in that Figure. 
         FIG. 7  is a right side elevation sectional view taken from  FIG. 6  as shown in that Figure. 
         FIG. 8  is a rear view taken from  FIG. 7  as shown in that Figure. 
         FIG. 9  is a right side elevation view of the rotation arm mechanism. 
         FIG. 10  is a rear view taken from  FIG. 9  as shown in that Figure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the tree baler of the invention  11  is constructed in towable trailer configuration with a hitch  13  at the front of a leading end rail  14  and wheels  15  at a trailing end. As depicted, the trailer is unhitched and supported adjacent the leading end by a jack stand  17 . In this Figure, the apparatus is shown in its compacted stowed position for transport, and a partially extended position is shown in phantom. Referring to the components of the apparatus in their partially extended position, the apparatus includes a telescoping main boom  18  which supports an articulated rotation arm  20  that in turn pivotably supports the tree branch compression ring  25 . The base of the boom is pivotably supported at joint  26  on a main support post  21  and is lifted by hydraulic cylinder  22 . A single boom is preferred in that the pivot joint  26  inherently provides an amount of lateral freeplay which permits the ring to self-adjust in response to the force of the tree branches being compressed as they are lifted by the ring. Likewise, the rotation arm is pivotably moved with regard to said boom by hydraulic actuator  40 . These hydraulic systems are driven by a pump and fluid reservoir  23  regulated by fluid valves and control levers at station  24 . These various components are supported by a unique telescoping frame which will be discussed in more detail below. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the apparatus of the present invention is shown in its starting operative position. The compression ring  25  has been placed around a tree trunk  30 , access being first provided by the removal of releasable ring segment  27  which is then replaced. The boom  18  is in a low position with the rotation arm  20  pointing downward so that the ring is horizontally supported close to the ground and in fact the boom can be lowered so that the ring can rest on the ground if needed. As seen in this Figure, the ring  25  may be positioned close to the ground below the height of the transport wheels  15 . This is an important aspect of the invention which allows the apparatus to be used with standing trees having limbs close to or on the ground. The releasable ring segment  27  is shown in more detail in  FIG. 3 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the inner structure of the ring is polygonal and made of a series of interconnecting straight sides  31 . The compression ring is positioned around tree trunk  30  which is centered in the middle of the ring. The releasable ring segment  27  is attached at a closure end by releasable latch  35 . The other hinge end of the releasable segment is a tongue and slot joint shown in more detail in  FIG. 3 a   . As shown in  FIG. 3 a   , each of the ring sides  31  including those of the releasable ring segment  27  includes a top-facing liner  34  which is secured to the segments by rivets  33 . The hinge joint end of the releasable ring segment is secured by tongue and slot engagement. The segment end of the hinge joint includes segment end plate  37 . The ring end of the hinge joint includes ring end plate  36 . Ring end plate  36  includes slot  38 , and segment end plate  37  includes tongue  39  which matingly engages the slot  38  when the two ends are brought together. By this hinge and latch joinder of the segment, it will be appreciated that the segment may be fully released away from the remainder of the ring and then securely replaced as needed. 
     The releasable ring segment allows for an alternate “double tying” method of baling larger trees. Rather then beginning at the base of the tree as shown in  FIG. 3 , the ring may be positioned around the tree trunk midway up the tree. The ring is then moved upwardly and the upper branches of the tree are tied first. Then the ring is moved to its lower position to tie up the lower branches. This sequence provides space above the lower branches so they can be lifted and compressed inwardly more easily. 
     The composition of the liner material is preferably a polyethylene polymer plastic. In particular, the preferred plastic is one of the Tivar® 1000 plastics produced by the Quadrant company located at 2120 Fairmont Avenue, P.O. Box 14235, Reading, Pa. 19612. More specifically, the preferred material with the lowest coefficient of friction is Quadrant Tivar® Dryslide which has a coefficient of friction of 0.08. The polyethylene polymer plastic material suitable for this embodiment is applied to the compression ring in ⅛ inch sheets, cut and affixed by rivets  33  as shown in this Figure. Any color of the liner material is acceptable except black, which has been found to absorb too much solar radiation and become too hot, which can damage the tree. As another example, non-black and Tivar® 88 is suitable for use with the present invention. As employed in this embodiment, the liner material exhibits some flexibility and resilience which spreads the force against the tree branches and helps prevent damage. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the apparatus is shown in an intermediate position of operation with the compression ring  25  lifted around the tree. It can be seen from this Figure that the telescoping sub-frame  28  has been extended so that the frame support wheels  15  are now positioned beneath the ring close to the tree trunk  30 . The wheels  15  are extended as soon as the ring clears the height of the wheels. Extending the wheels provides the strongest possible structural configuration which can support the force load of the branches against the compression ring with minimal chance of tipping the trailer. This allows the use of a lighter weight trailer than would otherwise be possible with other configurations in which the compression ring is severely cantilevered beyond the end of the support vehicle, which then requires heavy counter-weighting to prevent tipping. As shown in this Figure, as the ring is moved upward around the tree, the boom  18  is pivoted upward as hydraulic cylinder  40  is extended. The various hydraulic actuators ( 22 ,  40 ) are controlled so that the boom and rotation arm  20  support the compression ring in a horizontal orientation as it operates on the tree. The controls are lever-operated hydraulic valves  10  located at station  24 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the ring  25  has been extended above the top of the tree after baling of the tree with rope line  41 . Typically, the baling line is spiral wound manually around branches of the tree just beneath the ring in stepwise fashion as the ring is moved vertically up around the tree. As shown in this Figure, the boom  18  is fully rotated upward and telescopically extended by cylinder  32  to provide sufficient reach above the top of the tree. The rotation arm  20  has been pivoted slightly with regard to the boom and the compression ring  25  has been rotated clockwise, now substantially in line with the rotation arm. Also seen in this Figure, the tongue rail  14  at the leading end of the trailer has been extended and the transport wheels  15  maintained in their same position by retracting the sub-frame back into the main frame  29 . In this way, the hitch-to-wheel distance remains constant while bringing the base of the boom and the support jack closer to the tree to achieve the greatest possible vertical reach and greater structural support with the least chance of tipping the frame. Thus, by controlling the hydraulic cylinders the sub-frame and tongue rail may be positioned in a variety of ways to achieve the best possible structural support while allowing accurate placement of the ring throughout its upward movement. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the mechanisms which allow the unique telescoping of the frame members is shown. The rearward extending sub-frame consists of two parallel frame members  28   a  and  28   b  constructed of inter-fitting square tubing. The forwardly extending tongue rail  14  together with the sub-frame provide a dual telescoping structure with two separate telescoping sections, one forward and one aft, each moved individually by separate hydraulic cylinders  50  and  52 . Each telescoping assembly includes a suitable bearing material between the moving elements. In this embodiment, the cylinders  50  and  52  are stacked, one above the other as shown in  FIGS. 6 a -6 b   . The top cylinder  50  and associated piston rod  51  move the sub-frame framework  57  which carries the wheels  15  and their hydraulically controlled steering and suspension system. The wheels are pivotable at the ends of axle  58  and are steered by tie rod  59  that is actuated by hydraulic cylinder  60 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 b    and further in  FIG. 7 , a lower cylinder  52  moves an extendible tongue rail  14  that can move all of the frame components rearward if the towing hitch is held stationary. As discussed with respect to  FIG. 5 , this is done in conjunction with retraction of the sub-frame to keep the wheels in position next to the tree trunk. This permits movement of the boom with respect to the tree when the tongue rail is hitched to a support structure such as the rear of a hauling vehicle. It will be appreciated by those in the mechanical arts that with these telescoping mechanisms, the main frame, support wheels and hitch tongue rail may achieve a variety of positions as needed. 
     Referring further to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , one inventive aspect of the apparatus is the routing of the various hydraulic lines which control movement of the wheel suspension components. Typically, the hydraulic hoses, connections, couplings and their joints represent the greatest weaknesses in the apparatus which require the most maintenance. In order to properly support the hydraulic lines which run to the rear suspension and steering components of the wheels from the frontally located control valves, a unique system of line routing has been devised. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , each hydraulic line  43  follows a serpentine path at the end of the main frame  29  around two guides, a tubular guide  44  on the main frame  29  and a spring-biased pulley  42  at the overlapping end of the sub-frame  28  which supports the rear wheels. This forms a reverse direction run  45  in the middle of the lines which expands at the same rate as the ends of the lines come together. Thus, the length of the path of the hydraulic lines remains substantially constant as the rear wheels are retracted or extended with respect to the main frame while spring maintains a tension on the lines. This configuration controls the support of the hydraulic lines and holds them close to the frame which protects them from damage or entanglement with surrounding brush often found in their operating environment. 
     Referring further to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , greater detail of the main frame  29  and retractable sub-frame  28  which carries the wheel suspension system is shown. The main frame comprises square tubular rails  55 ,  54   a  and  54   b  which receive dimensionally corresponding inner-telescoping members, namely one single, centered, forwardly extending tongue rail  14  and two side-by-side sub-frame rails  28   a  and  28   b  which are connected by cross members  62  and  56 . As shown in these Figures, the serpentine routing of the hydraulic lines around main frame guide  44  and sub-frame rail pulley  42  is shown. The pulley is spring-biased in the direction of the main frame in order to maintain tension on the hydraulic lines  43 . It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art from these mechanical relations that as the sub-frame is retracted and extended the length of the hydraulic lines is substantially constant and tension is maintained by the spring  46 . Also shown in these Figures is the wheel suspension system which includes the tilt-controlling hydraulic cylinder  66  that is secured at one end to the sub-frame framework member  57  and a bottom end to the axle  58  which connects both wheels  15  as shown in greater detail in  FIG. 8 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , the hydraulic systems of the rear wheel suspension are shown in more detail. The steering assembly which carries the wheels pivots about horizontal joint  81  and can be moved and held in selected angular positions in the vertical plane, one extreme position of tilt to one side being shown in this Figure in phantom as angle A. The angle of tilt is controlled by hydraulic cylinder  66 . Permitting the wheels  15  to tilt allows the ring-lifting apparatus to be level and stably supported on uneven or sloping ground. As shown in this Figure, the entire steering assembly is mounted on the same pivoting bracket  82  so that steering the wheels maybe controlled independently of the tilt mechanism. The tilt mechanism can be controlled to ensure that the ring remains concentric with the trunk and branches of the tree as it is lifted even when the baler is supported on uneven ground. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the rotation arm  20  which is pivotably connected to the boom  18  is moved by hydraulic cylinder  40 . A compression ring support rod  63  is connected to the bottom end of the rotation arm and is rotatably controlled by a chain and sprocket mechanism. The ring by way of rod  63  is rotated by drive sprockets  68  that are in turn rotated by movement of the chain  78  which is driven by hydraulic cylinder  70 . Cylinder  70  is supported at the stationary end by a bracket  79  affixed to the arm, while the moving piston of the cylinder at the opposite end is connected to follower  75 . Idler sprockets  72  maintain tension on the chain drive mechanism which operates in both directions. A follower  75  rides along a guide plate  74  across the top of the arm  20  and is pinned by pin  76  to a slot  77  in the guide plate  74  to restrict the movement of the follower to a linear path between and parallel to the chain. The follower is attached on opposite sides to the chains  78  which encircle and are engaged with the drive sprockets  68 . Thus, the linear motion of hydraulic cylinder  70  is translated to rotary motion of the drive sprockets  68  that rotate the compression ring support rod  63  and hence the compression ring through its range of angular positions. By these mechanical relations, the compression ring can be rotated throughout a range greater than 180° which allows the ring to be folded backwardly beneath the boom to achieve a compacted stowed position for transport as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.