Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Description
PORTABLE STI~MP REMOVER
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Technical Field - ''
This invention relates generally to apparatus for
removing tree stumps and roots and, more particularly, to
a portable, self-contained stump remover that cuts and
grinds a tree stump and may be hand held'by the operator.
Background Art
Prior portable tree stump removers, of the type that
10 cut, grind and mill away a stump, are of complicated con-
- struction and are usually relatively large, cumbersome,
heavy and expensive. Wheels are customarily employed to
transport the stump remover to a tree stump and to support
the stump remover during the cutting process. Many of
15 these removers must be towed to and from the job site and
many have no independent built-in driving power source and '
must be driven or powered by auxiliary equipment, such-as ''
-- by the power take off:-shaft-of~a-'tractor.`'' ' '
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Disclosure of Invention ' ~ '
20 '-''In contrastjithe' stump removèr of the present'
-~ invention-exhibits none of these disadvantages and instead
- provi-des`'a'uniqùe stump remov'e''r` of relatively simple and '
inexpen'sive';cons't'ruc~t`i'o`n, "and':whi'ch~`is~'small~,'light~weight
a'nd e'nti`rely 'self-'conta'ined ,! :thereby requiring no `external
25 power source whatsoever. Moreover, the stump rem'ov'e`r can
-'`be handled-by''a'single pé~rson ~the !operator) and, in fact,
may be hand-h'e'ld`~:by''ith~at''ipe'r's'on''du'ri'ng'c'ut'ting~;'of:ia-'tree ''
'i' stump. ''Becausè''of î'tis p'hy'is'ic'ai'isi'z'e~and~'w'ëigh't,~-the' stump
- - remover -of the inventi`on~ma'y~-be transporeed~'to and from the
-'30~Job;isi~e~in the trunki~oEJàn~or`dina`ry~p'asseng'er'`aut'rjmobile
~ith th'e trunk'lid c`loserl,-anri`this'~iis p`ois`sible''eve'n if the
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automobile is-a sub~compact. --
~ The invention provides a portable,' self-contained
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stump remover which is manually movable by an operator
across a tree stump to effect grinding thereof. The stump
remover comprises a base element having a lower base
surface for engaging and resting on the top of the tree
stllmp ~hen the stump remover is placed on the stump. The
base element may take any of a variety of di~ferent forms,
such as a plate, strip, bar, rod or merely an edge portion,
in order to provide a suitable lower base surface for
contacting and resting on the stump. There is at least one
10 rotating cutting device having a plurality of cu~ting
teeth. Driving means (such as a small gasoline engine
~hose output shaft is mechanically coupled, either directly
or indirectly, to the cutting device) rotates the cutting
teeth through a circular path at least a portion of which
l5 path extends below the lower base surface provided by the
element. A cutting depth is defined by the extent to ~hich
the rotating cutting teeth project below the base surface.
When the operator places the stump remover on the tree
stump so that the lower base surface engages the stump, the
20 base surface effectively supports, guides and stabilizes
the stump remover;as.it is manually moved by~,the operator
across the stu~p, the stump thereby being cut away and
ground down to the cutting depth as the stump remover
traverses the stump. If.the base e:lement is located on one
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25~side of the rotating cutt.ing teeth, the stump remover could
be manually moved acxoss the stump by the operator in the
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~, .,the,~rotating.cutting teeth and ride on ~the top~of the
stump. ~,,-.," ..,-~, . .-..,-;-~ . ? ~
~30 , -- The-.amount..by,..whichj.the cutting~teeth.project below
..,.~the lower-base-surface may..be made.adjustable to vary the
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.~",~, cutting.,depth ? r~depending-upon the type ,ofj.~tree stump, (hard
-~ .--3 .or~soft wood.,and.,the stump..size) being.removed.~ r Appropriate
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- - handle~ may,also be,.provided~.for hand holding and guiding
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35 the stump remover across.the,.,tree stump. ,Moreover, for
safety reasons the cutting device may be shrouded to pro-
tect.the operator.not only from contact with the rotatinV
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cutting teeth but also from the flying wood debris, such
as wood chips and sawdust, produced during the stump
cut~ing process.
Brief Description of Drawin~s
The features of the invention ~hich are believed to
be novel are se~ for~h wi.th particularity in the appended
claims. The invention may best be understood, however, by
reference to the following description in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers
10 identify like elements, and in which:
Figure 1 is a side view of a tree stump remover con-
structed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
Figures 2 and 3 are top and end views respectively of : .
the stump remover of Figure l;
Figure 4 is a sectional vie~ of the stump remover
taken along line 4-4 in Figure l;
Figure 5 is a fragmentary, exploded, perspective
view of a portion of the stump remover of Figure 1 and
shows the manner in which a cutting tooth may be removably
20 affixed to a cutting device to fac:ilitate replacement of
the too~h;
Figure 6 is a fragmentary, s:ide view, partly in ~
section, of a portion of the stump remover of Figure 1 and
illustrates the manner in which the rotating cutting teeth
25 cut into and remove a tree stump; . :
. - Figures 7 and 7a illustrate the manner in which the
.~ stump remover of Figures.l-6 may be modified in accordance
with;another embodiment of the.invention to provide means
for permitting adjustment.;of the cutting depth, and also
30 to provide::a~shroud around the.cutting device, the cutting
-.device normally-being retracted.upwards by~a:spring bias
into.the shroud (sho~n in Figure 7) so that~the cutting
. . teeth do not project.below the lower base surface,-but are
.: capable of being lowered by the operator, against the force
3; of the spring bias, in order to extend the teeth below the
base surface (shown in Figure 7a) to effect grinding of a
tree stump;
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Figures 8 &~nd 8a show another modification of the
stump remover~ af~igures 1-6 in ~hich the cutting depth is
variable and wherein the position of a shroud is adjustable
to vary the extent to which the rotating cutting teeth are
enclosed by the shroud, Figure 8 illustrating the shroud
completely covering and surrounding the cutting teeth and
the teeth being above the lower base surface to provide a
zero cu~ting depth, while Figure 8a shows a maximum cutting
depth with the shroud being positioned to maximize the
10 exposure of the cutting teeth out of the shroud;
Figure 9 is a side view of a tree stump remover con-
structed in accordance with another embodiment of the
invention and illustrates that the shroud around the
cutting teeth may have a pivotally connected guard that
15 normally CoYerS the cutting teeth which extend below the
lower base surface and is pivoted and camed by the tree
stump out from under the cutting teeth as the operator
moves the stump remover across the stump;
Figure 10 is a fragmentary side view and Figure 11 is
20 an end view showing a modification of the stump remover o5
.Figure 9 wherein the shroud is provided with an internal
channel-shaped debris guide to lead the flying wood debris
to a flap-covered opening through which the:debris may exit
the shroud; ~ . ~
. Figure~12 illustrates a stump remo~er similar to that
shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11 and shows that the debris
guide,:within the shroud, may take the form.:of two non-
. parallel,.converging-guide tracks that effectively funnel
.-the flying ~ood debris:to the opening in the shroud;
.~ Figure,13.is a.fragmentary side view:showing a
~- :modification of.the stump remover-~of Figure 1 and includes
; a-vertically adjustable-:shroud a;lower ! édge portion of
~ .which shroud servés as the base element, and.provides the
.. .lower.base surface,~so~that adjusting the~shroud varles not
35 only the extent to which the cutting teeth`-are enclosed by
the shroud-but also the cut~ing depth;
.. Figures 14 and 15 are bottom and side views respec~
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tively of another embodiment wherein a pair of oppositely
rotating cutting devices each has a plurality of cutting
teeth that rotate through a circular path whose plane is
90 degrees displaced from ~he plane defined by the circular
path followed by the cutting teeth in the previous embodi-
ments, the entire circular paths of the teeth in the
Figures 14 and 15 embodiment therefore lying below the
lower base surface to effect cutting of a stump; -'-
Figure 16 is a fragmentary, exploded, perspective
10 view of a portion of the stump remover of Figures 14 and 15
and illustrates the manner in ~hich the cutting teeth of .
each cutting device may be removably secured to the device;
and Figure 17 shows a variation of the embodiment of
Figures ,14, 15 and 16 wherein four cutting devices are
15 employed, two of which rotate in one direction while the
other two rotate in the opposite direction to balance the , :
opposing torques.
Best Mode for Carryin~ Out the Invention
Turning now to the embodiment of Figures 1-6, a
20 rectangular-shaped.plastic support frame is provided by the
two long parallel plastic tubes 11 and 12 and the three
shorter,plastic:tubes 13,.14 and 15 that attach to and
interconnect the tubès,ll and 12.. Secured to'the bottom of
the plastic frame is a-rectangular-shaped plastic base-
.. 25 plate or.element 17 which.is preferably.affixed to the
.,., , three,tubes 13, 14 and:.l5-by-..means of.a.series of six
.,carriage bolts 18.and.appropriate nuts,jthe-nuts being
..inside,.of the.tubes,;ias best-~seen.in,Figure 4.: 0nly four
, of the:.six carriage,bolts 18~are-:visible in Figures!l 6.
30 The,;bottom surface'17a of..~basë plate`'l7.provides a'lower
~ base ,-Tsur Eace; ? ~ t~ r ~t ~
A,smalllgasoline,internal-combu'stion engine~or motor
21;is~securediby bolts..22;(see Figure 4),i'and appropriate
nuts,(not shown) to an L-shaped metal~brac~et 23 which in :-
.35,turn is affixed.by,bolts 24:and appropriate nuts (see
Figure 4) to tubes 11 and 12. An L~shaped plastic tube 26
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has one end bolted (by bolt 27) to the housing Z8 of gas-
oline engine 21 and the other end rigidly secured to tube
lS, A gasoline tank 29, strapped to and held by tube 26,
is coupled by fuel line 31 through an on/off fuel line
valve 32 to the carburetor 33 of engine 21.
A dead man's switch 34 is mounted on tube 26 for
manually controlling the operation of engine 21. Tube 26
also serves as a handle to be held by the operator's right
hand. The portion of tube 26 to be grasped by the
10 operator's right hand is covered by a cushion sleeve 35
for ease of handling. A handle for the operator's left
- hand is provided by metal bar 37, one end of which is
- affixed by the two bolts 38 to bracket 23 while its other
end is secured to the inside of a plastic tube over which
15 is provided a cushion sleeve 39. The engine or motor 21 . .
includes a pull start 41, a single spark plug 42 and an
exhaust pipe 43 and operates in conventional fashion in
order to rotate its output shaft 44 anytime switch 34 is
held closed by the operator.
A rotatable cutting device 46 is mounted on and
,-. ., secured to output shaft.44.so as to be:driven directly by
engine 21. ,More specifically, device 46 includes a cir-
cular disc,or ~heel.47 which i5 affixed to hub 48 by meansof bol~s 49...(see.Figure .6) and nuts 52, the hub being
25 secured to shaf.t:44 by.bolt 53. -Cutting device 46 has a
- series~of.eight cutting teeth 55 evenly spaced around its
~circular.periphery:and..projecting beyond or outside of the
,circumference of.disc 47. .Preferably, these teeth are
.,.,-~ removab.ly,secured.:to~the cutting.device.to facilitate easy
~30 replacement when:~.the teeth are.iworn,out. This:is best
,illustra~ed in.Figure 5:~where it is-~seen.that:each tooth
55 is attached to the periphery of wheel.47:by..means of
, two~bolts 56,..four.!-ashers 57,.two,10ck:washers 58 and two
~'J ;" nuts 59. When driven by-~engine 21, cutting device'46
.35 rotates:in a-counter-clock~ise direction as viewed in
Figure 3 and.as indicated by the arrow 61.in the:-figure. ::
.The leading surface of the radially outermost ends or tips
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W~91/~3~ ~ U PCT/V~9~/~031
of ~he rotatin~ teeth 55 are provided with a carbide
coating 55a since, as will be seen, those are the surfaces
that will engage and cut a tree stump.
As is apparent, the circular path, through which the
cutting ~eeth 55 rotate, deflnes a plane which is perpen-
dicular to the planar, lower base surface 17a provided by
the base plate 17, A portion of this path extends below
the lower base surface 17a, the cutting depth of the stump
remover being determined by the extent to which the
10 rotating cutting teeth 55 project below the base surface
17a. Inoperation, after pull start 41 and switch 34 are
actuated to start engine 21 and effect rotation of cutting
device 46, the operator grasps cushion sleeve 35 with his
right hand and cushion slee~e 39 with his left hand and
15 lifts the stump remover and places the lower base surface
17a on top of a tree stump to be removed so that the
cutting device is positioned next to, but does not contact,
the tree stump. The operator then manually moves, specif-
ically pulls or drags, the stump remover across the stump.
20 Preferably in a generally linear direction along the~longi~udinal axis of base plate 17 (~amely to the right as
vie~ed-in Figures l, 2 and 6), so that the base surface 17a
:precedes the rotating cutting teeth 55 and rides on top of
the stump, the cutting teeth thereby cutting the stump
25.:away and grinding or~milling it down to the cutting depth.
This is clearly evident in Fi~ure 6 which illustrates a
tree stump 63 being cut by the cutting teeth. ~Of-course,
: the operator must traverse the stump repeatedly to com- `
pletely;~remove~the stump down:to:or below the'~ground level.
? ~ 30 Depending on-`the size of-the-tree:~stump and:the type of
tree,-'severall~passes'across-:the~stump'will probably be
`-3~ ;necessary sincereach~pass removes only-a portion'of the
-~ stump down'to~the cutting depth:as~shown in:;Figure 6. The
" ; :stump~remover' is~ca'pable of cutting'and~grinding`a stump
35 to'a level substantially~below the ground or-grade level '''
~:..and well in~o the stump's roots. ': '
: : It is to be appreciated that when base plate 17 is
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placed on and engages a tree stump, the base surface 17a
functions to support, guide and stabilize the stump remover
as it is manually moved by the operator across the stump.
With the base plate providing a planar or flat lower base
surface of substantial size to interface with the top
surface of the stump, the stability of the stump remover
is significantly enhanced. It i;s~to be noted~ ho~ever,
that by sacrificing some stability the function performed
by base plate 17 and base surface:17a may be performed by
10 any of a wide variety of different structures having
different sizes and shapes. For example, base plate 17
may comprise merely a narrow bar or strip or even a rod.
All that is necessary is to provide some reference or
base surface that will ride on top of the stump, and below
15 ~hich base surface the rotating cutting teeth project, as
the stump remover is moved across the stump. The position
of the base surface relative to the lowermost portion of
the circular cutting path of the rotating cutting teeth,
namely the distance or separation between that base sur-
20 face and the lowermost portion of the cutting path, defines
, the,cutting depth of the stump:remover.. Since manydifferent,devices or elements may be employed,to provide
such a base surface, some.-of the appended claims merely
. recite,",a:base element:having a lower,-base surface".
, While:the output shaft 44 of:the driving means,
, namely gasoline engine~21, is directly.:connected to the
,-:,, cutting~device~46,~it-,will be understood:that the:~coupling
- bet~een the~driving means and,.~he,cutting device may be
"indirect and.may-~comprise any appropria~e-drivej such as
j30-belt,;-gear,.fluidj etc.,,If.desired,,the coupling may be
J.l -,.adjustable or,the~,driving;means may~,be,,adjustable,to vary
?~ he~,speed ofirthe cutting device~ In~ad,dition,,,it.,may be
,, desirable to,include,ajslipping~mea,ns,,of,some type, or an "-
; ., automatically~releaseable clutch inithe,coupling:so that
3S the,driving:;connection from-the driving means will be
effectively interrupted if the cutting device becomes hung
up or stuck, thereby minimizing the possibility of burning
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out the driving means. '`
In the embodiment shown in Figures 1-6, the positions
of ~he driving means (engine 21), the circular cutting path
through which the cutting teeth 55 rotate, and the base
element 17 and its lower base surface 17a are all effec-
tively fixed relative to each other, the cutting depth of
the stump remover thereby also being fixed. In the
embodiment of Figures 7 and 7a, which is a modification of
the Figures 1-6 embodiment, the position of the driving
10 means and the circular cutting path are fixed relative to
each other, but their positions are variable relative to
that of the lower base surface to facilitate adjustment of
the cutting depth. An adjustable cutting depth i5
desirable for cutting di~ferent types of tree stumps. In
15 effect, the driving means is adjustably attached to the
base element to permit adjustment of the cutting depth.
This is achieved in the embodiment of Figures 7 and 7a by
means of a bracket arrangement 66 that may be adjusted to
vary the distance bet~een the driving means 21, and thus
20 the cutting teeth 55, and the lower base surface 17a of
base element or plate 17.~
To elucidate, a bracket plate'67, affixed to plastic
tubes 11-15 and base plate 17, hasi'a vertical slot 67a for
' accomodating a bolt 68 ~hich is screwed'into the housing
25 28 of engine 2~. Plate 67 also has a pair of angular
slots 67b through which a pair of studs 69 extend, the
-~studs being~rigidly securëd to housing 28. A pair of coil
springs 71'~are mounted`bétween engine ~21 and ~he"ba'se
structurè~formed by tubes 11-15 and base element 17. A
~30 shroùd 739 affixed to tubes 11 and i2,'surrounds cutting
device 46 to provide-~a guard over the cutting devicé and
~ a protec~ive~shield agàinst'flying'';wood~debris', created
during the stump cutting process,that`mày otherwise'injure
the operator of~the stump rémover.'~i!Shroud 73'has a down-
35 wardly extending open end through which the cutting teeth55 may project in order to engage and grind a ~ree stump.
When bolt 68 is loose'and and not tightly screwed into
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engine housing 28, en~ine 21 is positioned as shown in
Figure 7 and is spring mounted on tubes 11-15 and base
element 17, the coil springs 71, which serve as a biasing
means J normally biasing or urging englne 21 and cuttin~
5 device 46 upwar.ds in a direction away from base element 17.
In that Figure 7 position of engine 21, cutting device 46
is retracted upwards into shroud 73 to the extent that the
lowermost projections of the cutting teeth 55 are posi-
tioned above the lower base surface 17a thereby providing
10 a zero cutting depth.
If it is desired to adjust the cutting depth to a
particular selected level and to maintain the depth fixed
at that level, engine 21 may be pushed down by the operator
against the biasing force of springs 71 until the cutting
15 teeth extend below base surface 17a the desired amount.
When that selected cutting depth is reached, bolt 6-3 is
tightened securely so that bracket plate 67 will be fixed
to housing 28 and the selected cutting depth will be locked
in. Figure 7a sho~s the stump remover when it is locked
20 in at the maximum cutting depth. A bar 74, which is
secured to engine housing 28 by bolt 75, provides a lever
which may be depressed by the operator to facilitate push-
ing down of engine 21. As the engine is pushed down from
its uppermost position shown in Figure 7 to its lowermost
25 position.sho~n in Figure 7a, bracket plate 67 and
everything affixed thereco (namely9 tubes 11-15, base
. element 17, base surface 17a and. shroud 73) will remain
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stationary.while engine 21 and cutting device 46 move both
vertically.and slightly.sideways to the right due.to the
3û guiding effect of angular slots 67b.and studs 69,.the.studs
.. being camed and.shifted to the.right as they.are pushed
. down to-the bottom of slots 67b. The desirability of the
. . lateral shifting of engine 21 and cutting device 46 will ..
,~..be appreciated later. Of course, since bolt 68 is also
35 moving.sideways to the right, as will as vertically down
the slot 67a, as engine 21 i5 lo~ered, the diameter of the
shaft of bolt 68 should be sufficiently smaller than the
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width of vertical slot 67a so-that-the slot will not
interfere wlth the lateral movement of engine 21 and cutting
device 46.
If it is not necessary to lock the stump remover at a
particular desired cutting depth, bolt 68 may be loosened
so that the spring action provided by coil springs 71 will
automatically raise engine 21 and retract the cutting device
46 further into shroud 73, as shown in Figure 7. In this
way, until actual cutting of a stump is desired, no pressure
10 is exerted by the operator on lever 74, thereby causing
springs 71 to hold the stump remover in its Figure 7
position so that the cutting teeth 55 will not project
belo~ base surface 17a. .In this position, the protection
afforded by shroud 73 is maximized. When stump cutting is
15 desired, the operator merely depresses lever 74 to over-
come the biasing force of springs 71 and lower the cutting
teeth 55 to the extent desired. Of course, if the pressure
on lever 74 is sufficient to push engine 21 down to its
position shown in Figure 7a, the maximum cutting depth is
20 achieved. When it is desired to cease cutting, the ...
operator releases the downward pressure on lever 74, and
consequently on engine 21, whereupon springs 71-cause the
cutting device 46 to retract further into shroud .73 as shown
in Figure 7. .The advantage of angular slots 67b and studs
25 69 will now be appreciated. As engine 21 and cutting~device
46 are raised, relative..to base surface 17a,-in going from
their positions illustrated~in Figure 7a to .their positions
. ' ' ..'~1 illustrated in Figure;.7., the cutting device moves.laterally
to:the left...In other words, under the guidance of angular
30 slots .67bi.and~tuds ~9~.cutting.device 46 moves.in an~~.
. angular.directioni:both upwards and.side~ys to the .left.
This maximizes.the-separation of the cutting-device:-~from
. - .base.surface 17a, which will-be helpful in freeing,~he
cutting device if it ever gets hung up or stuck in a stump : :
35 being cut. ~
.. : .. The embodiment of:Figures 8 and 8a illustrates another
arrangement for providing an adjustable engine mount to
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obtain a variable c~t~ting depth that may be locked in at a
desired setting. Engine 21 is pivo~ally connected, by means
of hinge 78, to the base structure comprising tubes 11-15,
base element 17 and base surface 17a. The position of
engine 21, and consequently that of cutting device 46,
relative to the position of base surface 17a may therefore
be adjusted to establish the cutting depth at any desired
setting over a predetermined range, and that setting may be
locked in by means of bracket plate 79 which is affixed to
10 tube 11 and has a slot 79a through which bolt 81 extends
and screws into engine housing 28. In Figure 8, hinge 78
is locked in its position providing a minimum, actually
zero, cutting depth, while in Figure 8a the hinge is
adjusted to and locked in its maximum cutting depth
15 position. . '
This embodimen~ also includes a shroud 82 covering
and surrounding the cutting device 46 and whose position,
relative to that of the cutting dev:ice) is adjustable by
the operator to vary the extent to ~hich the cutting teeth
20 55 project down through the shroud's open end. Portion 82a
of the shroud is affixed to .tubes ll.and..12, whereas the
remaining and major portion of shroud 82 is attached to the
engine housing;28 by means of a flexible spring bracket 83
that may be flexed by the opera~or to~''raise the shroud and
25 increase the amount-by ~hich the.cutting teeth 55 extend
down through the shroud's open end. .In effect, spring
bracke~:83 serves as a biasing~means-for normally biasing or
urging shroud 82 in its position :-.prbviding maximum'coverage
and enclosure of cutt:ing-device 46.~ ~-Lever--or bar`84,
30-attached~to`shroud-82 by bolt.85,~may be.depre'ssed by the
: operator ~.o bend--the:flexible spring.bracket 83 'to:raise
-.:the.shroud,'-:release o`f the pressure by the'lo'perator`'causing
the!shroud to lower,~ther'eby increasin'g~the~enclosure around
-..;. the~cutting~teeth 55. ~ F,r ~ ?" `: ':
The embodiment of Figure 9 is similar .to that of '
Figures 7 and 7a includes a shroud.88, a major portion 88a
of which is affixed:to tubes 11 and 12 aDd encloses
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substantially all of the cutting device 46, portion 88a
having a do~nwardly extending open end through which the
cutting teeth 55 ~ay project downward to engage and grind
a tree stump. Shroud 88 has another, smaller portion 88b
~hich is pivotally connected, by a pair of pivot pins 87
(only one of which is shown in Figure 9), to and normally
encloses and guards the open end of shroud portion 88a to
completely envelop cutting device 46. Portion 88b is shown
in its normal position in Figure 9 and in that position
lO extends below both the cutting teeth 55 and lower base
surface 17a. When the operator pulls the stump remover
across a stump, portion 88b of the shroud engages the stump
and is pivoted and camed by the stump out from under the
cutting teeth 55, thereby permitting the cu~ting teeth ~o
15 cut the stump.
The Figure 9 embodiment may be modified to provide
the embodiment of Figures 10 and 11 wherein a similar
shroud 89 has a major fixed portion 89a and a minor movable
portion 89b ~hich is pivotally connected to portion 89a, by
20 a pair of pivot pins 91, so that i.t may be camed or kicked
out.of the way by a tree stump to allowithe cutting teeth
to cut the stu~p. Shroud 89 differs from shroud 88 in
having an opening 89c (seen in Figu:re,11) in portion 89a,
..through ~hich opening.~he flying ~ood debris~may.exit from
25 the shroud. A.flexible debris flap,-92 is connected-alo,ng
one of its edges ~o the outside-of the shroud~,by screws 93
,and normally covers.the,~opening 89c,~the,flap.92 being
pushed~or~flexed out during the cutting(process by-force of
the.flying wood debris to.-uncover~the,.opening and.allow the
.30 debris,.to..escape from.the-shroud..,~The3inside-.of,;shroud
,. portion 89a also has.a,jchannel-shaped debris;guide,~l9,4
,.. having.a pair of depending9s,.~parallel,.guide tracks";,for
leading;or guiding,the~flyingjwood~debris to opening 89c,
... -.;. In ~the embodiment~of,F,igure 129 the debris guide has
35 two non-parallel guide.tracks,95;~on the inside~of shroud
96, that converge toward,and lead to an opening 96a in the
shroud in order to effectively funnel,the flying wood
~UeSTlT~TE SHET
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debris to the opening.
As men~ioned previously, the base element that
provides a lower base surface for ridin~ or restlng on top
of a tree stump may take a variety of different forms.
In the Figure 13 embodiment, a portion of a-vertically
adjustahle shroud may serve as the base element. In that
figure, a metal bracket 99 is secured to both engine 21
and plastic tube 11 to provide a statiQ`nary engine mount.
Shroud 101 is fastened to engine 21 by an adjustable
10 bracket arrangement which permits the shroud to be ver-
tically adjusted to, and locked in, a selected vertical
position relative' to engine 21 and consequently to cutting
device 46. Specifically, a pair of brackets 102 are
affixed ~o shroud 101, while a pair of bolts 103, each of
15 which extends through a slot of one of brackets 102, screw '
into either the housing 28 of engine 21 or into bracket
104 which is bolted to bracket 99. Note that shroud 101
is not secured to plastic tube 11, 'but is adjustable with
respect thereto. Moreover, a plastic plate equivalent to
20 plate 17 is not needed between tubes 11 and 12. Note also
.-~that as shroud 101 is vertically adjustèd relat'ive to
: cutting device 46, an edge or rim portion lOla of the
' downwardly extending open end of the shroud (through which
- open'end the cutting::teeth 55 may engage and cut a`-tree
` 25~stump~ :also moves vértically and provides a lower base
surface'that-:'rides on top'of and engages'the stump when
---the stump~remover'is placed'on the:~stump, as is evident in
- Figure 13.~;`Edge`'portion lOla therefore functions as and
~`~' ";' cons`titut`ès-the-bàse'~'elementj providing a`lower-base
30 sùrface-~that:engages`the:tree stump and supports, g`u'ides
iand`sthbilizes the s`tump'``remover as it is:moved across the
~stump'`by the'operator.'i'~ence,': when the`vertical position
';'~ of'shro'ud:101 is chang~ed,'':'r'elative':to 'thë posit'i'o'n 'of
cutting'devic'e 46, th'e'extènt'to wh`ic'h'`the `cu:tting teeth 55
35'are'covered and enclos'ed by the shroud is changed, `as well . .-
as the`cutting depth, namely the extent to which the
cutting ~eeth project below the lower surface of edge
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portion lOla. As shown i~ Figure 13, shroud 101 is locked
in its uppermost position, thereby minimizing the enclosure
of cutting teeth 55 by the shroud and maximizing the cutting
depth. Tab 105 is affixed to shroud 101 and may be grasped
by the operator to facilitate vertical adjustment of the
shroud and setting of the cutting depth at the desired
level.
In the embodiments of Figures 1~13, the plane, defined
by the circular path through which the cutting teeth rotate,
10 is generally vertical and is perpendicular to the generally
horizontal direction in which the operator usually moves
the stump re~over across a tree stump during the cueting
process. With the plane of the circular path being vertical,
the stump is cut by the rotating cutting teeth only as they
15 rotate through the lowermost portion of the circular path,
namely the portion of the path that extends or lies belo~
the lower base surface. In the embodiment of Figures 14-16,
there are also cutting teeth that rotate in a circular path, .
but the.plane of this path is generally horizontal and
20 parallel to the direction in which the operator pulls the
stump remover across a tree stump to effect cutting.thereof.
In this case,.the entire circular path of the cutting teeth
.lie below:the lower base~~surface when.the stump is cut.
-: More~particularly, in the embodiment of Figures'14-16 a
25.support frame is provided by-a pair of para-llel plastic
.tubes 107.and 108.that:are interconnected byia plastic tube
109... The.base-element take.s;the form of;a plastic bar 112
.:.which:is.bol~e~.to' tube.~.109, the bottom surface 112a:of the
.J~base..element:~..thereby.providing tXe lower base;surface.
30.Although-the -c~omplete'-.driving'means is `not.shown,-:it-is'-to
be understood that-it may comprise an'--internal combustion
~gasoline-rengine'w'hich~i's''oriented gO:'degrees from its;
orientation in the fprevious embodiments;so' that-:the:engine's
~output:shaft~113 ~ill-beLvertical~and will extend':down~
35 wardly. A drive gear~114 is secured :to.shaft 113 and will
rotate with .the shaft in the direction indicated by the
--associated arrow~in Figure 14 when the en8ine is operating.
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Instead of having only one cutting device rotated by engine
~haft 113, two (115 and 1~6) are simultaneously rotated with
each cutting device having a plurality of cutting teeth.
Cutting device 115 comprises a vertical, cylindrical shaped
body 117 rotatably mounted within a bearing 118 which is
bolted to tube 107, whereas cutting device 116 has a similar
vertical, cylindrical shaped body 119 rotatably mounted
within a bearing 121 secured to tube 108. A driven gear
122, secured to the upper end of body 117, engages and is
10 driven by drive gear 114 to effect rotation of body 117
around the body's longitudinal axis and in the direction
indicated by the associated arrow in Figure 14. Body 119
. also has a driven gear 123 affixed to its upper end, but
this gear meshes with and is driven by gear 122 so that body
15 119,will rotate in the direction opposite to that of body
117. ..
Each body 117, 119 has a pair of cutting teeth 125
removably attached to the body's lowermost end to f,acili-
tate replacement of the teeth when they are worn out. This
20 is best seen in Figure 16 ~hich illustrates, by way.of
. example,..the.manner in.which.the cutting-teeth:125 are
: affixed to.body.117 of cutting device ll5. .Body.117 has a
pair.,of pockets..or.openings:ll7a:for:receiving :the upper
ends of-the.cutting teeth.:.:Set:screws.126,are provided to .
25:retain the:cutting teeth 125 in their respective pockets.
: . . It.is~apparent.that when~the.~engine,is operating,
::, shaft,113.:causes the::.cutting,:teeth 125.-of~each cutting
,, device. 115,~116 to,rotate through.different circular:;paths, .. .
both~of.,which pa~hs lie in~the..same~.horizontal~plane and
.30 entirely,cbelowfthe lower base.surface,;-112a.i~Hence~ if the
,operator places:the stump,;r,emover,of,,Figures.14-16 on top
of.,a. tree stump~rbase surface.ll:2a:will rest ,on~and engage
,the stump.J By,moving.the::.stump.-.remover across the.stump in
the:::direction:.~in which~base..surface..~ll2a:.~wi.11.!1ead~.or;.:be
35.ahead of the -.rotating,cutting.teeth.-125 9 .the stump ~ill be
cut away and ground down~to the~cutting ,depth determined
,. b~ the distance that cutting teeth 125 project below base
U8S~ITUTE ~HET
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surface 112a. Of course, rotating the cutting devices 115,
116 in opposite directions balances or neutralizes the oppo-
sing torques produced by the cutting devices.
Obviosly, the invention may also be imple~ented by
employing ~oxe than ~wo simultaneously rotating cutting
devices. In the Figure 17 embodiment, the vertical and
downwardly extending output shaft 113 of the engine rotates
a gear 127 which drives the gear train comprising the four
gears 128,129,131 and 132, each of gears 128-132 in turn
10 rotating associated cutting devices (not shown~ similar to
that shown in Figures 14-16. As indicated by the arrows
in Figure 17, the two cutting devices rotated by gears 128
and 131 rotate in one direction, while the other two
cu~ting devices rotated by gears 129 and 132 xotate in the
15 opposite direction to balance the opposing torques of the
cutting devices. Preferably, when more than two cutting
devices are employed, an even number should be selected
in order to facilitate neutralization of the torques
developed.
While particular embodiments of the invention have
been shown and described, modifici~tions may be made, and
it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such
modifications as may fall within the true spirit and
scope of the invention.
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