Extendible tree trimming apparatus

• Main Author: MATRE; DANIEL A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 12.02.1991
• Subjects: AGRICULTURE; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; BROACHING; COMPONENTS OR ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPSOR SEAWEED; FILING; FISHING; FORESTRY; HORTICULTURE; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HUNTING; LIKE OPERATIONS FOR WORKING METAL BY REMOVING MATERIAL, NOTOTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES IN GENERAL; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PLANING; SAWING; SAWS FOR WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; SCRAPING; SHEARING; SLOTTING; TRANSPORTING; TRAPPING; WATERING; WORKING OR PRESERVING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL

An extendible tree trimmer includes an extendible tube unit with a motor and a cutting blade connected to the opposite ends. The tube unit includes a first housing and a telescopic second housing connected by a releasable coupling unit. A first shaft connected to the motor extends through the first housing and second shaft is telescoped with the first shaft and extends through the second housing to the cutting blade. The housings are releasably coupled for telescoped positioning. A rotary bearing supports the shafts in the housings. A gear reduction unit and a slip clutch unit connects the motor to the first shaft. The cutter head includes a rotating cam secured to the second shaft. The cam has a peripheral groove with axially offset portions and with a follower in said groove. The follower is secured to the blade which reciprocates in the plane of the blade. The blade has teeth on the opposed edges to cut with the blade moving toward the housing. The face of the cutter support is S-shaped with a concave upper wall and a convex lower wall for engaging a limb. The bearing includes an inner race having a hexagonal cross-section in sliding coupling to the first shaft of corresponding cross-section. An enlarged outer guide head releasably on the end of the first shaft slides within the tubular shaft. The second shaft is tubular and is secured to the inner race connecting said tubular shaft to said first shaft for simultaneous rotation with the first shaft. The outer race of the bearing has a stepped surface secured to the second housing and slidable within the first housing. A handle is secured to the housing by a pivot connection such that the handle is horizontal for all positions of the trimmer.