Remote-Controlled Tree Limb Cutter with Rotating Saw Bar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tree trimming methods are hazardous and inefficient, requiring operators to climb trees, use ladders, or large trucks with limited reach, leading to high injury and fatality rates and restricted access for high branch delimbing.
Innovation Solution
A portable, remote-controlled tree limb or trunk cutter with a saw assembly, motor, saw bar support, saw chain, chain drive, and wireless receiver, allowing secure attachment to a tree limb or trunk and operation from a safe distance using a remote controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If an operator climbs a tree or uses a ladder to reach high branches, then the ability to access and cut high branches is improved, but the safety of the operator deteriorates due to high injury and fatality rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pole-mounted saw assembly as an intermediary device that can be positioned near the branch to be cut without requiring the operator to climb the tree. The saw assembly is held by the operator at a safe distance while still enabling cutting of high branches, thus mediating between the need for reach and operator safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual climbing and positioning with a remote-controlled or extended-reach saw system. The saw assembly can be positioned and operated remotely, substituting the dangerous mechanical act of climbing with a safer operational mode that maintains cutting capability
2Ease of operation
If a pole saw is used to trim branches, then the portability and ease of operation are improved, but the cutting effectiveness deteriorates due to blade pinching from limited cutting angles
Solution Approach 1:
The saw bar is designed to be rotatable about an axis, allowing the operator to dynamically adjust the cutting angle during operation. This dynamic adjustment capability prevents blade pinching by enabling the operator to optimize the cutting angle for each specific branch configuration, thereby maintaining cutting effectiveness while preserving portability
3Length of moving object
If a large truck with an extendible boom is used for high branch delimbing, then the reach and access to high branches are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cutting function from the complex boom truck system and concentrates it in a simplified pole-mounted saw assembly. By taking out only the essential cutting capability and mounting it on a simple pole structure, the invention achieves high reach without the complexity and cost of a full boom truck system
Solution Approach 2:
The pole-mounted saw assembly represents a simpler, more affordable alternative to expensive boom trucks. While the pole may need replacement more frequently than heavy equipment, its lower cost and simplicity make it an economically viable solution for high branch delimbing without requiring complex mechanical systems
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe and cost-effective remote cutting of tree branches and trunks, reducing operator risk and increasing accessibility for high-reach trimming tasks while allowing for efficient processing of cut limbs into manageable pieces.
Implementation Method 1
at least one motor disposed within the housing; a saw bar support rotatably coupled to the housing, wherein the at least one motor is operatively coupled to the saw bar support and configured to rotate the saw bar about an axis in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction
Implementation Method 2
a chain drive operatively coupled to the at least one motor and configured to rotated the saw chain about a periphery of the saw bar
Data Source
AI summary
A tree limb or trunk cutter including a saw assembly, a clamp, and a remote controller. The saw assembly includes a housing, at least one motor disposed within the housing, and a saw bar support rotatably coupled to the housing. The motor is operatively coupled to the saw bar support and configured to rotate the saw bar support about an axis in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. A wireless receiver coupled to the housing is operable to receive commands from a remote controller. The clamp is configured to secure to a limb or trunk of a tree. The housing releasably couples to the clamp. The remote controller is in communication with the wireless receiver and is configured to control a direction of rotation of the saw bar support and to control power provided to a chain drive.