A pruning system includes a cutting head comprising upper and lower cutting rings positioned along a bottom portion of one or more tubes. At least one cutting ring is adapted to rotate in a circular motion, while the other cutting ring may be adapted to remain stationary. A vacuum may be applied to suction target plant material, and the cutting head may be lowered toward the target plant material. As adjacent blades from the upper and lower cutting rings are separated in an open position, plant material may be collected in the opening defined by the adjacent blades. As the blades converge, the opening may close, and plant material collected in the opening may be severed from the plant. System variables, may be adjusted to accommodate different types of plant material. The pruning system may be used with a vision system to remove materials from plant beds in a field.

An apparatus, such as for tree trimming, includes a mobile carriage having a frame and a pedestal supported by the frame. The apparatus further includes a boom, such as a telescoping boom that is secured to the pedestal through a boom support. The pedestal is pivotable with respect to the carriage frame so that the boom may be selectively operated in a variety of orientations. The mobile carriage of the apparatus is sufficiently compact to fit though tight openings, while also being capable of stably supporting boom extension for operation of a distal end of the boom at elevated heights.

An apparatus, such as for tree trimming, includes a mobile carriage having a frame and a pedestal supported by the frame. The apparatus further includes a boom, such as a telescoping boom that is secured to the pedestal through a boom support. The pedestal is pivotable with respect to the carriage frame so that the boom may be selectively operated in a variety of orientations. The mobile carriage of the apparatus is sufficiently compact to fit though tight openings, while also being capable of stably supporting boom extension for operation of a distal end of the boom at elevated heights.

An apparatus, such as for tree trimming, includes a mobile carriage having a frame and a pedestal supported by the frame. The apparatus further includes a boom, such as a telescoping boom that is secured to the pedestal through a boom support. The pedestal is pivotable with respect to the carriage frame so that the boom may be selectively operated in a variety of orientations. The mobile carriage of the apparatus is sufficiently compact to fit though tight openings, while also being capable of stably supporting boom extension for operation of a distal end of the boom at elevated heights.

A field-configurable apparatus for different aerial applications is provided. The field-configurable apparatus attaches to an aerial boom on a mobile carrier. The apparatus can perform rapid semi-precise cutting of vegetation. Additionally, the apparatus can perform more precise trimming of one or more areas (e.g., limbs) and optionally use a limb clamp to prevent cut limbs/vegetation from arbitrarily falling on objects below the cutting area. Still further, the apparatus can have a grapple or similar device attached to the end of the boom for use in relocating debris or for loading debris. Other industrial applications are also possible (e.g., commercial water blasting, deicing of planes, etc.). In each configuration, the apparatus comprises one or more rotatable or pivoting couplings to allow for rotation about one or more axis and therefore allow precise manipulation of an aerial tool assembly from an operator in the vehicle or on the ground.

A pruning system includes a cutting head comprising upper and lower cutting rings positioned along a bottom portion of one or more tubes. At least one of the cutting rings is adapted to rotate in a circular motion, while the other cutting ring may be adapted to remain stationary. A vacuum may be applied to suction target plant material, and the cutting head may be lowered toward the target plant material. As adjacent blades from the upper and lower cutting rings are separated in an open position, plant material may be collected in the opening defined by the adjacent blades of the cutting rings. As the blades converge, the opening may close, and plant material collected in the opening may be severed from the plant. System variables, such as blade orientation, vacuum speed, blade rotation speed, barrel size, and the cutting mechanisms, may be adjusted to accommodate different types of plant material. The pruning system may be installed on a vehicle and used with a vision system to remove materials from plant beds in a field.

A pruning machine (12) for pruning vegetation growing on generally horizontal support wires. The pruning machine (12) includes a vertical shaft (22) mounted for rotation and at least one blade assembly (26) mounted on the shaft (22). The blade assembly (26) includes a plurality of blades (30) mounted to rotate with the shaft (22). The shaft (22) is threaded at least in the region where the blade assembly (26) is mounted. The vertical position of the blade assembly (26) on the shaft (22) is adjustable by an adjustment nut (56) which threadably engages the shaft (22) below the blade assembly (26) and which during adjustment, bears against the underneath of the blade assembly (26) so that rotation of the nut (56) upwardly of the shaft (22) raises the blade assembly (26) and rotation of the nut (56) downwardly allows the blade assembly to lower.

An unmanned aerial vehicle having a petrochemical-based engine powering at least one rotational blade for achieving flight provides for improved vegetation removal. The AEV includes a power transformer connected to the engine, the transformer generating electrical power from the operation of the engine and a plurality of electrically-powered blade units, each unit having a blade powered by a motor. In the AEV, a plurality of electrical connectors provide for transferring the electrical power generated by the transformer to each of the electrical motors of the blade units for causing circular rotation of the corresponding blade such that unmanned aerial vehicle is operative to trim the vegetation using the plurality of blade units powered by the engine.

A blade has a flat body with a first side, a second side, an aperture extending between the first side and the second side, and an outer peripheral edge. The aperture has a central axis defining an axis of rotation. A plurality of teeth is formed along a portion of the outer peripheral edge forming a cutting edge. Each of the teeth has a tip that is a radial outermost part of the flat body in a plane defined by the tip and the central axis of the aperture. The cutting edge has a first end and a second end. The distance between each tip of the teeth increases from the first end of the cutting edge to the second end thereof. The distance between each tip and the central axis increases from the first end of the cutting edge to the second end thereof.

The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a cutting tool for a vegetation cutting machine, such as a brush cutter or an edge trimmer, comprising the following steps: (a) producing by an injection molding process at a first temperature a preform (200) made of a polyamide mixture comprising at least one homopolymer and at least one copolymer; (b) stamping the preform at a second temperature lower than the first temperature so as to cause polymer chains of the polyamide mixture to extend according to at least two different directions, thereby forming a planar piece (201), (c) cutting the planar piece (201) to define at least one cutting edge of the cutting tool (2).