Abstract: A choker hook has a main body and a latch member rotatable relative to the main body. The latch member is biased by a spring thereby to form a pocket to hold the ferrule of a choker cable used in logging operations. The latch member has a toe piece which contacts the surface of a log when the choker hook is rotated by the choker cable relative to the log. The force between the toe piece and its attached latch member will tend to rotate the latch member relative to the main body when the effect of the force on the choker hook is such that the toe piece is brought into contact with the outside of the log. The ferrule pocket will open and the ferrule and attached cable will be released thereby releasing the log being transported without manual intervention at the point of log release.

Abstract: A choker hook is connected to a choker cable and is used for pulling a log from its felled position to a desired location. The choker hook is remotely released from the log without manual intervention at the desired end position. The choker hook has a configuration where a ferrule on the end of the choker cable tends to nest within the choker hook and assume a locking position when the log is being transported. When the direction of pull in the cable is reversed, the forces will tend to remove the ferrule from its locking position and release it from the choker hook thereby releasing the log. During the force reversal, the choker hook rotates about a predetermined angle and about predetermined axes of rotation depending on its specific configuration.

Abstract: A common carrier for a feller-buncher, forwarder, or skidder comprising a self-propelled vehicle including a chassis and a bogie on either side of the chassis. The bogie includes a walking beam with pneumatic wheels on either end of the walking beam. A first arm extends upwardly from the walking beam and is connected by links to a rocking beam mounted in a horizontal plane on the top of the chassis and pivoting about a vertical axis. The rocking beam is mounted on a sliding pad adapted to slide in a track along a longitudinal axis of the chassis. Hydraulic piston and cylinder means are provided for giving a limited longitudinal adjustment or displacement to the mounting pad.

Abstract: A vehicle with an improved suspension system having a chassis with a bogie on each side of the chassis. The vehicle has a hydraulic system that includes actuator means connected between each bogie and the chassis for maintaining the chassis generally level on level ground. The hydraulic system includes first and second connecting systems extending between the two actuator means in a manner to have movement of one wheel in one bogie in one direction tend to cause movement of the corresponding wheel in the other bogie in the opposite vertical direction to the one direction to minimize tilting of the chassis. The improved suspension system also includes a second hydraulic system that can be selectively connected to one of the first and second connecting systems to tilt the chassis relative to the bogies in one direction or the other so as to generally maintain the chassis level on ground that slopes in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle for use in transporting goods having a specific wheel mounting arrangement on the chassis. A first wheel carrying beam is provided on one side of the chassis, fixed to the chassis and carrying a wheel at each end. A second wheel carrying beam is provided on the other side of the chassis, pivotably mounted at about its center to the chassis and carrying a wheel at each end. Thus the vehicle is provided with a fixed wheel mounting on one side and a bogie wheel mounting on the other side.

Abstract: A tree cutting and collecting apparatus. The apparatus comprises a boom and means intermediate the ends of the boom for use in mounting the apparatus on a vehicle for rotation about an upright axis. A circular saw is mounted at one end of the boom to cut down trees as the apparatus is rotated. A tree collecting basket forms part of the apparatus, the basket located behind the saw, and above and generally parallel to the boom. Pusher means are provided adjacent the saw for toppling trees just cut by the saw into the basket.The invention is also directed toward a machine incorporating the above apparatus, and to an off-road vehicle which can be used with the apparatus.

Abstract: A vehicle particularly suited for loading and transporting elongated articles such as trees. The vehicle has a chassis with one pair of wheels on one side of the chassis and another pair of wheels on the other side of the chassis. A cab and a power supply are mounted from the chassis over the one pair of wheels. A grapple is mounted at about the center of the vehicle and movable sideways over the other side of the chassis to pick up a bundle of trees alongside the vehicle. The grapple picks up the bundle at about its center of gravity and moves the bundle over the chassis between the wheels to transport the trees. The first pair of wheels is fixed to the chassis via a first beam while the second pair of wheels is mounted on a second beam which is pivotally mounted to the chassis.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning bush. The apparatus has a frame with a circular saw mounted at the front end and power means, for use in operating the saw, mounted at the rear end. Pivot means on the frame are used to pivotally mount the apparatus on a bush vehicle. The vehicle is driven in bush and the saw is operated to cut down bush and small trees. The vehicle operator can both move the circular saw from side to side, and tilt the frame, to raise or lower the saw with one hand.

Abstract: A feller head for a tree felling apparatus comprises a first forward projection adjacent a tree trunk receiving recess. A chain saw is mounted within the first projection and extends away from the first projection in the direction of the recess. A motor for powering the chain saw is operatively connected to the chain saw within the first projection. There is a mechanism for slidably moving the chain saw along a curved path within the projection. The path is convex in the direction of the recess.