Bimodal stability controlled cutting apparatus with hands off operation

Abstract

A cutting tool that contains the cutting forces within its assembly. The cutting tool includes an outside housing that attaches multiple jaws, attachment points for jaw clamping, anchor point to secure clamping forces, a bearing surface to allow saw bar movement, handles for user movement, and protection for internal components used in its operation. The jaws include interlocking gears to synchronize rotation, cross bracing, jaw clamping attachments points, and tie-offs for hoisting rope. The saw bar and chain electric motor attach to a rotation tube that is rotated by a worm gear situated at opposite end. Electrical power contained within the main housing is transferred to electrical chain motor using an electric rotary joint. The electric batteries and electric motor controller, electrical power switch and electrical fuse is contained within the main housing. Electro-pneumatic valves are situated in a separate housing and used for chain motor activation.

Claims

1. Bimodal stability controlled cutting apparatus with hands off operation comprising: A housing having a first end, second end, top end and bottom end. A rotatably coupled motor tube between top and bottom end with end of motor tube consisting of first end and second end. The motor tube having first end between first and second end of housing and second end in line with second end of housing. A rotatably coupled jaw attachment on top end of housing with rotation axis parallel to rotatably coupled motor tube.

2. A Bimodal stability controlled cutting apparatus with hands off operation of claim 1 with at least one clamping jaw rotatably attached to jaw attachment point on housing.

3. A Bimodal stability controlled cutting apparatus with hands off operation of claim 2 with jaws locked into rotational synchronization.

4. A Bimodal stability controlled cutting apparatus with hands off operation of claim 1 where in the motor tube and bar rotation is manually controlled using plurality of input methods from user.

5. A Bimodal stability controlled cutting apparatus with hands off operation of claim 4 wherein the rotation of motor tube and cutting bar is actuated by rotation of worm gear mechanism situated at second end of housing.

6. A Bimodal stability controlled cutting apparatus with hands off operation of claim 5 is where in rotation of worm gear mechanism is accomplished by rotating a handle.

7. A Bimodal stability controlled cutting apparatus with hands off operation of claim 5 where rotation of worm gear mechanism is accomplished by rotating a capstan pulley and rope assembly.

8. A Bimodal stability controlled cutting apparatus with hands off operation of claim 1 wherein the motor that drives the cutting chain is activated and deactivated using an air over mechanical electrical switch.

9. A Bimodal stability controlled cutting apparatus with hands off operation of claim 8 wherein the motor that drives the cutting chain can be activated and deactivated remotely by sending pressurized air through the remote-control valve to the air over mechanical electrical switches.

10. A Bimodal stability controlled cutting apparatus with hands off operation of claim 3 wherein the jaws are open and closed using an air cylinder with one end attached to jaws and opposite end attached to housing.

11. A Bimodal stability controlled cutting apparatus with hands off operation of claim 10 wherein the air cylinder is activated and deactivated by sending air pressure through the remote-control valve to air cylinder.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0010] This section briefly describes the figures included in the drawing section. Page 1 FIG. 1 shows the side view of the invention; items 1 through 6 indicate individual components of the invention. Page 2 FIG. 2 shows the underside of the invention, balloons 7 and 8 are individual components of the invention. Page 3 FIG. 3 shows the back side of the invention, balloon number 9 is a component of the invention. Page 4 FIG. 4 shows the front side of the invention. Balloon number 10 shows a component of the invention. Page 5 FIG. 5 shows a cross section side view of the invention; balloons 11 through 13 are components of the invention and are also shown as a cross section side view. Page 6 FIG. 6 shows a separate component for this invention, namely the valve and battery box, balloons 16 through 20 show individual components within the separate component of this invention. Page 7 FIG. 7 shows the same component as page 6, namely the valve and battery box, with additional detail as a component is excluded from the view, namely the cover, to allow the reader to see into this component with more clarity, balloons 21 through 23 are individual components with this separate component of this invention. Page 8 FIG. 8 shows a separate component of this invention, namely the control box that is not attached to the main invention. Balloons 24 through 28 are separate components within this component that is part of the main invention. Page 9, FIG. 9 shows the same component as page 8 FIG. 8, namely the control box, with a component excluded from the view, namely the cover, to allow the reader more clarity to view the internal components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0011] This invention is as described. This section describes the drawings in further detail.

[0012] Page 1 balloon number one shows the chain bar, this is a metal blade with a channel running along its perimeter allowing the chain to rotate. Page 1, balloon number 2 is the clamping jaw, this item is made from plastic that should allow a little flexibility but still rigid enough to allow force to be transmitted to structure that is to be cut. This material needs to be able to withstand hot and cold temperatures as well as heat generated from solar radiation. PETG is a type of plastic that will work well for this application. The jaw needs to be designed to reduce weight while still allowing it to retain rigidity. The jaw needs to have a gear structure on the bottom half of it to allow rotation in sync with the jaws on the other side. Page 1, balloon item 3 is a handle, this handle needs to have rigidity to allow the user to pick up and grab device without undue flexing. This handle also needs to be constructed to reduce weight and increase rigidity, plastics such as PETG work well for this component. The handle can be constructed using additive manufacturing or through plastic injection molding. Orientation of component during manufacturing is critical to keep the strength sufficient. Page 1 balloon item 4 is a box made from plastic that is rigid but can give slightly when experiencing stress. PETG is a good plastic to use in this application. This component can be made from additive manufacturing as well as plastic injection molding. This item houses the batteries required to power the electric motor. This item also houses the air over electric switches that activate the motor as well as an additional switch that only allows the motor to engage when the jaws are activated. Page 1 balloon 5, this is a crank handle that is connected to an aluminum shaft that passes into the internals of the unit and spins the capstan pulley. This pulley is connected with 2 separate chains to a worm gear, this worm gear then engages with a mating worm gear attached to the main rotation tube. By turning the crank at item number 5 this will rotate the main rotation tube which the blade is connected to. This is how the unit engages the cutting chain into the material being cut. The handle can be made from a light weight material like plastic or aluminum. Page 1 balloon 6 is an aluminum shaft that connects two of the clamping jaws. This aluminum shaft is used to tie on a rope. This rope is used to hoist the entire mechanism up into the tree. Page 2 balloon 7 shows a pneumatic cylinder, this can also be an electric actuator, or a manual linear actuator. This device when activated will close the clamping jaws and hold on tight to the branch or log that is being cut. Page 3, balloon 9 is the back and it is pointing to the back end of the valve and battery box, there are quick disconnect fittings that connect to pneumatic lines that run from this device to the user input device, this allows the user to actuate the clamping jaws or the electric motor that spins the cutting chain. Page 4 balloon 10 is pointing to the cutting chain sprocket. This is a hardened metal component that is attached to the end of the motor and transfers power from the motor to the cutting chain. Page 5 balloon 11 is an electrical motor; this can be either AC or DC. This motor needs to be of sufficient power and speed to spin the cutting chain at an appropriate speed. This motor connects directly to the sprocket. The wires for the motor pass into the item designated by balloon 12, this is an electrical slip ring that allows the main rotating tube to spin completely around without tangling up the electrical wires, and the electrical slip ring needs to be of sufficient ability to carry the voltage and current that the electrical motor requires. Page 5, item 13 is a capstan; this is made out of light weight plastic. The capstan allows the user to wrap a rope around the capstan and rotate the cutting blade from a remote distance where by the only connection to the user is the rope that is wrapped around the capstan. Page 5, balloon 14 is a combination chain sprocket and worm gear, this component is made from plastic or another lightweight material, this component takes rotational movement of the capstan and is a gear reduction to the worm gear drive. Page 5, balloon 15 is a cover that shields the internals from moisture and debris, this component needs to be made from lightweight material like plastic or aluminum. Page 6, balloon 16 is a valve and battery box made from lightweight plastic, balloon 17 and 18 shows the exits that 2 pneumatic hoses pass through, these hoses will get plumbed to the pneumatic cylinder that moves the clamping jaws. Page 6 item 19 is a strain relief that helps keeps the pneumatic hoses from pulling out of the push-to-connect fittings shown as balloon 20. Page 7 balloon 21 is an electrical switch that is actuated by a small pneumatic cylinder balloon 22; this allows the user to actuate the motor while not being connected to the device by any electrical wires. Being isolated from the this cutting apparatus by plastic pneumatic lines means the user does not have as much risk working near electrical power transmission lines. Page 7 balloon 23 is the area where the battery pack is placed. Page 8 balloons 24 and 25 are manual air valves, these valves will pressurize either of the 2 pneumatic hoses that are connected to it, and both of these valves are also connected to air hoses connected to an air compressor. When the buttons on these valves are pushed or pulled it changes which line is pressurized. These valves control the actuation of the clamping jaws and also the motor that turns the cutting chain. When the user wants to actuate the jaws they pull out the button at balloon 25, when the user wants to turn the motor on they must first actuate the jaws, and then actuate the motor using the button shown by balloon 24. The motor will only operate if the jaws are first actuated, this minimizes the risk of accidentally turning the motor on when the user has not intended for it to turn on. Page 8 balloon 26 shows a bracket that is used to attach a lanyard such that the user can hang this from their neck if they desire. Balloon 27 shows a strain relief bracket that helps keep the pneumatic hoses from being pulled out of the push-to-connect fittings. Balloon 28 is pointing to area the pneumatic hoses enter to the control box. Page 9 balloon 29 shows the manual pneumatic valves; balloon 30 is a push-to-connect y splitter that splits the incoming air into two different lines.

[0013] This concludes the description of the Bimodal stability controlled cutting apparatus with hands off operation.