Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a water driven cleaning apparatus for aquatic bodies such as swimming pools which travels in any desired direction on the bottom of a swimming pool and has controls connected thereto which are operable by a person located adjacent to the pool. The water powered apparatus for cleaning aquatic bodies includes a rigid frame, a bin connected to the rigid frame for collecting and holding debris removed from the aquatic body, wheels connected to the rigid frame for supporting and moving the apparatus along the bottom of the aquatic body, a motor for driving the drive wheels, the motor being driven by water under pressure, and a suction tube connected to the rigid frame for inducting water from the aquatic body into the bin to remove debris from the water.

Abstract: A horizontally mounted cylindrical container is adapted to mount through demountable end plates a cartridge filter in the container through demountable end plates for rotation around a lower axis than the center axis of the container. The combination of container and filter is connected in an aqueous system through a top inlet pipe and hand controlled valve and a lower front end plate outlet, and to a source of pressure cleaning media through an upper quadrant valve controlled turnable tube slidably mounted through a rear plate inlet and supported in the container by a combination track and baffle member fixed to the container top. A nozzle fixed to the free end of the pressure media tube jets cleaning media against the filter to rotate it alternately in both directions of rotation and for its full length. A second inlet pipe and valve is fixed to the top inlet pipe a chemical cleaning soak in baffled minimum amounts because of the baffling and filter mounting below the center of the container.

Abstract: An improved tree harvester and buncher of the horizontally articulated type with stump gripper, as described in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,991,799 and 3,946,775, and 4,013,106, wherein the tree cutting device is lowered to reduce stumpage waste and the actuating motor thereof is raised to prevent trash interference therewith. Also a tree chock is independently pivoted to follow the the tree cutting device into a tree cut as the cut is opened by horizontal articulation of the harvester and buncher to chock a tree against vertical slippage in tree supporting grapples and the stump gripper on the stump for preventing the cutting device from binding in the cut or being bent therein. Also a stump penetrating member is mounted below the tree cutting device for penetrating the stump, and in cooperation with the stump gripper, assist in preventing movement of the harvester and buncher relative to the stump.

Abstract: In combination, a directional tree feller a mounting pedestal for pivotally mounting the feller on the free end of a prime mover boom, a tree grapple pivotally mounted with the pedestal on the prime mover boom to depend therefrom behind the feller short of the lowest part thereof when in a horizontal tree cutting position, and an hydraulic cylinder mounted on the boom and adapted to pivot the feller upward clear of the grapples for a normal use thereof, and downward and rearward for cutting a tree below horizontal, the back of the feller pushing the grapple out of the way until swung forward and upward to allow grapple to return to normally depending operating position.

Abstract: An improved harvester and buncher of the horizontally articulated type having base and upper structure such as described in my prior invention of Apparatus and Method of Felling and Bunching Trees, U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,799. Base structure has been reshaped forwardly as a three dimensional wedge for the removal of fallen trees, debris and snow from the cutting path of a chain saw mounted therein and from around a tree, and enclosed for better protection of the chain saw and hydraulic apparatus therefor. The three dimensional wedge defines a center front recess for receiving a tree, and a contact point above the cutting line of the chain saw for limiting tree movement relative to the base. An annular ball bearing connects the invention to a power train while providing for side tilt and pickup, and the center hole of the annular ball bearing allows entrance of hydraulic and control lines where the relative movement is axial.

Abstract: A method of harvesting trees, by engaging separately between a pair of jaws adapted to pivotally open and close, the jaws having vertically spaced, tree-engaging double edges; by cutting the engaged tree between the double edges, the cut tree being held in place by the pair of jaws bridging the cut; by felling the cut tree in a desired direction toward which the jaws were tilted, the edges of the tree stump chipping away to free the sharp edges engaged therewith without releasing the jaws from the tree trunk; and by bunching the cut tree with others before releasing said jaws.

Abstract: Shear knives are pivoted, side by side with sharp edges opposed, by a pair of adjacent ends to a pivot strap. Cam rollers are mounted respectively for rotation on the knives at the junctions of their free ends and outboard sides. Rearwardly converging cam edges are mounted in forwardly extending arms of a forwardly movable frame, and arms being adapted to receive the pivot strap transversely therebetween and a tree of not over an equal diameter. The knives are slidably mounted in slots in the respective arms with their free ends forward and their roller cam followers respectively engaging the converging cam edges on which they are spring biased forwardly. The knives are cammed closed to cut a tree as the movable frame moves forwardly relative to tree and knives.

Abstract: A flywheel tree feller is slidably mounted in a base and comprises a combination drive and saw chain peripherally engaging and driving a circular saw bar sprocket in flywheel rotation with no relative rotational motion therebetween. The circular saw bar sprocket is the outer flywheel race of a ball bearing, the inner stationary race of which is supported semi-peripherally to eliminate a center hub and supporting axle thereby cross-cutting for more than the full radius of the flywheel race, rather than a lesser chord, and thus to fell larger trees. A pusher for biasing a cut tree from falling in the direction of the flywheel feller is mounted on the base and also a pair of reaction grapples for loosely closing around a tree to hold the base against reaction displacement by the operating forces of flywheel feller and pusher.

Abstract: Upper and lower parts of an upright structure are horizontally articulated, and the structure pivoted to a power train below the point of articulation. The axes of pivot and articulation are parallel, the upright structure being pivotable as a whole and in part past the vertical both forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the power train. The upper part comprises a tree trunk gripper longitudinally spaced from and between a pair of trunk stabilizers, and the lower part comprises a stump gripper spaced below a chain saw and sheath which are pivoted to initially engage the forward part of a tree and cut rearwardly, the cut being opened by pivoting the upper part rearwardly around the axis of articulation. All relatively movable parts are actuated by hydraulic apparatus mounted on the upright structure and connected to an auxiliary hydraulic power system of the power train.

Abstract: A gripping arm for addition to tree harvesting apparatus having chain saw means, the arm being operable in opposition to a tree engaging anvil. The arm is angled and pivotally mounted on the underside of the tree engaging anvil and adapted to be hydraulically operated by its own controls simultaneously with the chain saw means. The arm swings below and parallel to the path of the chain saw means to engage and grip a tree to be harvested between itself and the tree engaging anvil as near to the ground as possible or convenient, thereby anchoring the tree harvesting apparatus to the stump part of the tree during and after its felling. The engaging edge of the arm and a lower engaging edge of opposition part of the tree engaging anvil are tapered downwardly to penetrate the stump part to firmly anchor the apparatus thereto. An upper engaging edge of the anvil is flat to non-penetrably engage the harvestable part of the tree.