Abstract: A boom system including a hoist boom pivoted to a machine base; a stick boom having a proximal end pivoted to the hoist boom and a distal end configured to carry a working tool; at least one hydraulic hoist cylinder mounted between the machine base and the hoist boom; a first stick cylinder mounted between the hoist boom and the stick boom; a second stick cylinder mounted similarly and mechanically linked with the first stick cylinder; and a hydraulic circuit for supplying hydraulic fluid to the hoist cylinder and stick cylinders, wherein the hydraulic circuit includes a hydraulic conduit line connecting a base end of the at least one hoist cylinder with a base end of the second stick cylinder to allow hydraulic fluid to shunt between the base ends of the hoist cylinder and the second stick cylinder.

Abstract: A traction assist system and method for heavy equipment on an incline or in other situations with poor or limited traction. In particular, a traction assist system for heavy equipment having an accessory such as a blade, the system including: a tether; an adaptation to the accessory allowing the tether to be placed to allow the accessory to function without disrupting the tether, such as through-holes in the blade; and an attachment point on the heavy equipment for attaching the tether to the heavy equipment. The adaptation will depend on the particular accessory involved but may generally be an adaptation allowing the tether to pass through the accessory.

Abstract: A combustion/pyrolization system for generating at least one of char and biochar comprising an upper base frame supporting a combustion/pyrolization housing, and the combustion/pyrolization housing having both an open top end and an open bottom end. A char collection bin defining a collection chamber therein and a perforated grate normally covering the open top end of the char collection bin. The perforated grate being sized so as to permit desired sized char and/or biochar to pass therethrough into the collection chamber. The open bottom end of the combustion/pyrolization housing of the upper base frame is movable into an engaged position where the combustion/pyrolization housing partially receives and surrounds the perforated grate and defines a combustion/pyrolization chamber for receiving and consuming feed material. The upper base frame is movable out of engagement with the perforated grate to facilitate movement of the perforated grate and removal of the generated char and/or biochar.

Abstract: A method and system for planting seedlings including a seedling handling system, a seedling chute system and a planting head. The seedling handling system retrieves the seedlings and then the seedling chute system transfers the seedlings from the seedling handling system to the planting head which then plants the seedlings. The method includes retrieving a row of seedlings and then delivering the row of seedlings to the planting head for individual planting of the seedlings. The method and system provide for continuous tree planting.

Abstract: A chain flail debarking apparatus including a flail chamber accommodating at least first and second rotatable flail shafts being supported on a movable flail assembly framework, and both of the first and second rotatable flail shafts having a plurality of chains, a disc chipper for receiving the debarked logs and trees from the flail chamber and generating wood chips having a desired shape and size, and a single drive for driving both the disc chipper and at least the first and second rotatable flail shafts in the flail chamber.

Abstract: A portable grinding/shredding/chipping system with a drive track assembly which is manipulatable to facilitate altering the orientation of the portable grinding/shredding/chipping system. This arrangement results in improved loading and processing, of both long and short materials, as well as facilitates connection of a transport dolly and a transport truck/tractor without requiring any additional lifting mechanism. A pivotable housing provides greater access to the rotor and has an over-center arrangement which prevents the pivotable housing from inadvertently moving or pivoting back into engagement with the rotor. The portable grinding/shredding/chipping system is provided with a belt drive assembly which facilitates modification of the rotational speed of the rotor by merely replacing a sheave of the belt drive assembly. Lastly, both head and tail pulleys are driven by a respective motor so that a catinary of the discharge conveyor is radiussed which shortens an axial length of the system.

Abstract: A combustion/pyrolization system comprising a combustion/pyrolization chamber supported by the base frame, and a perforated grate forms a bottom surface of the combustion/pyrolization chamber and facilitates passage of char and boichar therethrough. The combustion/pyrolization chamber is open along at a top and an air manifold supplies a first source of combustion air across the top of the combustion/pyrolization chamber to form an air curtain. A char collection/transfer chamber is located below the perforated grate for collecting at least the char and boichar that passes therethrough, and a conveying mechanism transfers the char and boichar out of the combustion/pyrolization system for collection and use. An air plenum chamber cools the char collection/transfer chamber such that the supplied secondary air becomes heated, and the heated secondary air flows into the char collection/transfer chamber and through the perforated grate into the combustion/pyrolization chamber to provide secondary combustion air.

Abstract: A boom system including a hoist boom pivoted to a machine base; a stick boom having a proximal end pivoted to the hoist boom and a distal end configured to carry a working tool; at least one hydraulic hoist cylinder mounted between the machine base and the hoist boom; a first stick cylinder mounted between the hoist boom and the stick boom; a second stick cylinder mounted similarly and mechanically linked with the first stick cylinder; and a hydraulic circuit for supplying hydraulic fluid to the hoist cylinder and stick cylinders, wherein the hydraulic circuit includes a hydraulic conduit line connecting a base end of the at least one hoist cylinder with a base end of the second stick cylinder to allow hydraulic fluid to shunt between the base ends of the hoist cylinder and the second stick cylinder.

Abstract: A combustion/carbonizing system which comprises a base frame and a combustion chamber frame which is pivotably attached to the base frame. The combustion chamber frame defines an open top combustion chamber having a bottom perforated plate. A plenum is formed below the perforated plate for collecting biochar which passes therethrough. A first source of combustion air is supplied across the top of the combustion chamber while a second source of combustion air passes through the perforated plate into the combustion chamber. The combustion/carbonizing system is capable of operating in a continuous manner for combustion wood or waste material to the desired degree required by the end user for the purpose of reducing the volume of the material as well as the associated emissions while generating valuable char and boichar as an end product. For some applications, the combustion/carbonizing system may be operated to combust completely the wood or waste material.

Abstract: A method and system for planting seedlings including a seedling handling system, a seedling chute system and a planting head. The method includes retrieving a row of seedlings and then delivering the row of seedlings to the planting head for individual planting of the seedlings.

Abstract: A protective window system for non-military heavy equipment including: at least two window panes with at least one air gap therebetween wherein the thickness of each window pane and the size of the air gap is determined such that the window system meets or exceeds UL/ANSI 752 level 1 testing. In particular, the panes may be of polycarbonate, formed with a curved shape and between 5 and 30 mm thick. The air gap may be between at least two of the at least two window panes that is between 5 and 50 mm thick. The window system may include a channel for transporting conditioned air and a vent for allowing the conditioned air to enter the air gap; and a hinge mechanism for allowing at least one of the at least two window panes to move in relation to another of the at least two window panes.

Abstract: A traction assist system and method for heavy equipment on an incline or in other situations with poor or limited traction. In particular, a traction assist system for heavy equipment having an accessory such as a blade, the system including: a tether; an adaptation to the accessory allowing the tether to be placed to allow the accessory to function without disrupting the tether, such as through-holes in the blade; and an attachment point on the heavy equipment for attaching the tether to the heavy equipment. The adaptation will depend on the particular accessory involved but may generally be an adaptation allowing the tether to pass through the accessory.

Abstract: A hydraulic assembly including a pivot connection defining a pivot axis, a hydraulic element linked to the pivot connection, and a connector for connecting a hydraulic conduit to the hydraulic element. The connector defines a connection axis and the connector is configured such that the connection axis approximately intersects the pivot axis. The hydraulic assembly may be used in various applications, including in forestry equipment, for example, with a rotator link assembly.

Abstract: A drive system and method includes a gearbox system, a first hydraulic motor driving a first input shaft, a second hydraulic motor driving a second input shaft, a drive pump driving the first and second hydraulic motors, and a system control for controlling the drive pump, the clutch assembly, and the first and second hydraulic motors. The gearbox system includes the first input shaft having a first input gear driving a first output gear on an output shaft, the second input shaft having a second input gear driving a second output gear disengageable from the output shaft, and a clutch assembly for engaging the second output gear with the output shaft. The clutch assembly includes a clutch to engage the second output gear with the output shaft, and a fluid access channel through a rotary manifold to provide pressurized fluid to activate the clutch.

Abstract: A drive system and method includes a gearbox system, a first hydraulic motor driving a first input shaft, a second hydraulic motor driving a second input shaft, a drive pump driving the first and second hydraulic motors, and a system control for controlling the drive pump, the clutch assembly, and the first and second hydraulic motors. The gearbox system includes the first input shaft having a first input gear driving a first output gear on an output shaft, the second input shaft having a second input gear driving a second output gear disengageable from the output shaft, and a clutch assembly for engaging the second output gear with the output shaft. The clutch assembly includes a clutch to engage the second output gear with the output shaft, and a fluid access channel through a rotary manifold to provide pressurized fluid to activate the clutch.

Abstract: In a tree handling device, where the tree is fed longitudinally through at least three drive wheels driven by a fixed-displacement hydraulic pump, feeding commences with all drive wheels simultaneously propelling the tree longitudinally through the knife arms and frame. During feeding, once the approximate maximum feeding speed of the drive wheels is achieved, one of the drive wheels is shifted to a free-wheeling condition, allowing the maximum feed speed to increase.

Abstract: When arranging the geometry of knuckle booms with efficient hydraulic circuits it is sometimes necessary to place the cylinder that provides the reaching force above the boom so that its base area rather than its rod end area provides the boom point motion and force in the pulling direction. It is also sometimes necessary to provide equal areas for both pushing and pulling by further modifying the reach cylinder installation. In the invention, the knuckle boom apparatus has a machine base, a hoist boom and a stick boom. The stick boom has an intermediate pivot pinned to pivot on the distal end of the hoist boom, and a proximal end having a suitable cylinder push point. At least one hydraulic hoist cylinder is mounted between the machine base and the hoist boom, and at least one hydraulic stick cylinder is mounted between the hoist boom and the stick boom.

Abstract: The knuckle boom includes a hoist boom having a proximal end pivoted to a machine base, and a stick boom having a proximal end pivoted to a distal end of the hoist boom. At least one hydraulic hoist cylinder is mounted between the machine base and the hoist boom, and at least one hydraulic stick cylinder is mounted between the hoist boom and the stick boom. A hydraulic circuit supplies hydraulic oil to the cylinders, and provides an oil flow path between working ends of the cylinders so as to transfer a slug of pressurized hydraulic oil between the working ends. In one embodiment, reaching movement is controlled by a pump connected to control transferring of the slug between the hoist and stick cylinders. The pump determines which cylinder receives which portion of the slug of oil, and thereby controls the angle between the booms, thereby producing reach.

Abstract: A hydraulic valve is used to judiciously shunt oil from lowering ends of the hoist and stick cylinders that have been plumbed to achieve near horizontal movement. This allows the use of cylinders that have unequal rod/bore ratios or to compensate for certain transient effects that may require the exchange of oil to the reservoir. The action of the hydraulic valve acts without obtrusive operator intervention and is essentially automatic. This allows for greater flexibility in the design of the boom system, allows the boom system to perform various tasks, while not requiring obtrusive intervention from the operator.

Abstract: The two boom members and hydraulic cylinders of a knuckle boom tree harvesting machine are so arranged and proportioned that with a single control movement during reaching and retracting actions the working tool head is made to travel in an approximately horizontal path. The cylinders and control valve are so connected that during horizontal reaching action load-supporting pressurized oil from a collapsing cylinder is not required to be dumped to the reservoir in the conventional heat generating manner, but is rather shunted directly to an extending cylinder where it continues to do useful load support work. Energy waste to hydraulic oil heat and fuel consumption is significantly reduced. Although these advances have been particularly developed for disc saw felling and stroke delimbing of trees they can also be applied to other knuckle boom applications where horizontal reaching is a major function.