Loader Saw Attachment with Telescoping Boom for Vegetation Trimming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for vegetation maintenance along easements, right-of-ways, roads, and landscapes are labor-intensive, costly, and pose safety risks due to the need for handheld devices and large vehicles, which are often inadequate for reaching overgrown vegetation and can put workers in danger.

Innovation Solution

A saw attachment for skid-steers and tracked loaders, featuring a boom assembly, motor assembly, and circular saw blade with hydraulic control, allowing for extended reach and safe operation from within the vehicle, reducing manual labor and equipment costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If handheld devices (e.g., chainsaws) are used for vegetation maintenance, then workers can reach overgrown limbs, but workers are placed in danger zones of falling debris and at risk for injury

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to vegetationVSAvoidworker safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A long-reach pole saw attachment serves as an intermediary tool, extending the operator's reach to cut vegetation from a safe distance. The pole mechanism allows the cutting blade to reach high or distant vegetation while the operator remains protected behind the vehicle or at a safe distance, eliminating direct exposure to falling debris and cutting hazards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The manual operation of handheld chainsaws is replaced with a mechanically powered pole saw attachment mounted on a vehicle. The mechanical system provides powered cutting action while the vehicle platform provides stable positioning and safe operator distance, substituting the dangerous manual handheld system with a safer mechanical alternative.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If large expensive vehicles (e.g., bucket trucks) are used for vegetation maintenance, then workers can reach high vegetation, but equipment costs and personnel costs are high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereach capabilityVSAvoidequipment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The pole saw attachment is designed to be universally compatible with standard vehicle mounts and can be attached to various types of vehicles (trucks, SUVs, trailers). This multi-functional design allows existing vehicles to perform vegetation maintenance functions, eliminating the need for specialized expensive bucket trucks while maintaining high reach capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of investing in expensive permanent bucket truck equipment, the solution uses a relatively inexpensive pole saw attachment that can be mounted on existing vehicles. The attachment provides the necessary reach capability at a fraction of the cost of dedicated bucket trucks, offering a cost-effective alternative for vegetation maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of operation

If bucket trucks are used for vegetation maintenance, then high vegetation can be reached, but some areas are too narrow and/or confined for a bucket truck

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical reachVSAvoidaccess to confined areas

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The vegetation maintenance system is segmented into a mobile platform (vehicle) and a separate pole saw attachment. This segmentation allows the compact pole saw to be mounted on smaller vehicles that can navigate narrow and confined areas, whereas traditional bucket trucks require large access spaces. The pole mechanism itself is segmented into telescoping sections that provide extended reach from a compact base.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If handheld devices are used for vegetation maintenance, then cutting can be performed, but the process is tedious and time consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting capabilityVSAvoidmaintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Manual handheld cutting operations are replaced with a mechanically powered pole saw attachment. The mechanical cutting system provides powered blade rotation and cutting action, dramatically reducing the time and effort required compared to manual handheld chainsaws. The vehicle-mounted platform also provides stable positioning that enables more efficient cutting operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11058064B2Loader saw attachment device and methods of making and using the same

Publication Date: 2021.07.13 FECON INC

AI summary

Disclosed herein are devices, methods, and methods of making devices for solving the problem of providing vegetation maintenance along easements, right-of-ways, roads, paths, and landscapes. In one embodiment, a saw attachment includes a boom assembly and a motor assembly mechanically coupled with the boom assembly. The saw attachment also includes a circular saw blade mechanically coupled with the motor assembly and a mount assembly mechanically coupled with the boom assembly. The mount assembly is configured for attachment to a loader having lift arms and resident on a host vehicle. In certain embodiments, the host vehicle may be a skid-steer, a tracked loader, or the like. In other embodiments, the host vehicle may be a tractor, a telehandler, or the like.