US2385419A - Hydraulic pruning tool - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 25, 1945.

F. A. MATULICH HYDRAULIC PRUNING TOOL Filed Oct. 13, ,1944

INVENTOR Fred H. MaZuZich Jazz-Z; m

w a I I I I n I k ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 25, 1945 UNITED Y STATE HYDRAULIC PRUNING Proof. Y 1 l Fred A- Matulich, Drytovvn, Calif. 1

Application October 1 7 Claims. relied-+1803 This invention relates in general to an improved pruning tool, and particularly foruse in vineyards; the invention being directed in particular, and it is an object to provide, a pruning tool which is hand manipulated but power actuated by fluid'pressure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hand supported, fluid pressure power actuated pruning tool which comprises, in combination with a handle, a fixedblade and a cooperating movable'blade, a power cylinder arranged to actuate the blade, anda fluid pressure supply system connected with the cylinder and including a control valve and a trigger adjacent the handle to operate the valve.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

in use.

Figure 2 is an enlargedside elevation partly in section.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the tool. I V Referring now'more particularly to the characters of reference onthe drawing, the tool comprises a hand grip or handle I fitted at one end witha forwardly projecting blade 2, said blade including a substantially square edge 3 disposed at right angles to the handle I and facing toward its opposite end.

At said opposite end the handle I includes a forwardly projecting leg 4 whose outer end is enlarged to provide a circular base 5 disposed at right angles to the handle I and facing the edge 3 of blade 2.

A cylinder 5 is fixed to the base 5 and projects toward the blade 2, such cylinder including, at its free end, a cylinder head I. A piston 8 is slidable in the cylinder 6 and includes a piston rod 9 which extends through a guide sleeve If] on the head I; said rodterminating at its free end outwardly of the cylinder. A compression spring II surrounds the piston rod 9 in the cylinder and is engaged between the head I and piston 8; such spring acting to retract the piston.

At its outer end the piston rod 9 is secured to the base I2 of a flat knife blade I3 whose outer edge is sharpened as at I4, and which outer edge lies parallel to and is alined with the edge 3 of Figure 1 is a side elevation of the pruning tool 3, 1944, Serial 55359155? same. The base 12 of knifeblade i3 the handle 1 I blade .2. forcooperative engagement with .the is guided between spaced upstanding guide plates 15 secured onthercylinder head .I.

Fluidlpressureis supplied to and ventedfrorn the cylinder fitbeyond. the piston 8 by meansof a supplyconduit I6, and a return conduit. I'l, which'conduits are formed'in the handleI and leg 34,1,0f the. tool. At. the outer end of the leg 4 the conduits I6. and IT lead into the cylinder 6, while at the opposite ,end of thehandle I said conduits terminate in fittingsg indicated gener ally at I8; Thefittings I8 areadapted for connection: with, flexible tubes "l9 which lead to=,a source of fluid pressure, preferably hydraulic; ';It is intended that this source o-f-fluid pressure shall be carried and actuated by theworkeryand-preferably will comprise a device embodying the invention.of-myxco-pending application -for U. S. Letters Patent on fFoot-actuated pressure generator, SerialNo..558,592, fileol- October 13, 1944.

Flow of fluid pressure toiand from the cylinder 6, and, through the conduits lfi'andgl'l, is selectivelycontrolled by the operator by means of a relatively smallpiston valve 20. associated with said valvebeingexposed-to the front of the handle adjacent one end thereof and including. a finger. loop or trigger 2 I through which the -operatorfs index finger is adapted to engage. The valve 26 is arranged so-that only the conduitv IE5 or conduit ;I-'I is open at;,one time, and is normally advancedby a spring 22 so;that conduit I1 is normally open, and a t, .which,time

the piston-B is retracted and with-the tool blades apart.

In use, a twig to be cut is engaged between the blades 2 and I3, and the operator then depresses the valve 20 by thetrigger" 2|, closing conduit I! and opening conduit I6. When this occurs fluid pressure surges into the cylinder 6 and advances the piston 8, causing the blade I3 to rapidly advance into cutting engagement with the twig. When the operator releases the trigger 2! the conduit I6 is closed, the conduit I1 is open, and the spring II immediately retracts the piston B and blade I3 to starting position, and preparatory to a further cutting operation.

From the foregoing description it will be read ily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the de vice, still in practice such deviations from .such detail may be resorted to as do not form a dewith said fixed blade, and manually actuated means to control operation of the power cylinder; said manually actuated control means including a valve mounted in connection with the handle, and a valve operatin trigger disposed adjacent said handle for finger engagement.

5. A portable, hand supported pruning tool comprising a handle, a fixed blade projecting laterally from adjacent one end of the handle, a fixed leg projecting laterally in the same direction from adjacent thenother end of the handle, a fluid pressure actuated power cylinder mounted on the outer end portion of the handle subterminating short of the fixed blade, said cylinder including a piston and projecting from the end adjacent the fixed blade, another blade secured on the outer end of the rod adapted to cooperate with said fixed blade, and manually actuated means to control operation of the power cylinder.

2. A tool as in claim 1 in which the piston rod is normally spring retracted and said. other blade normally clear of the fixed blade.

3. A portable, hand supported pruning tool comprising a handle, a, fixed blade mounted in connection with and projecting laterally from the handle adjacent one end thereof, a fixed leg projecting in the same direction from the handle adjacent its other end, a fluid pressure actuated power cylinder mounted on the leg in spaced re 1 lation to the handle and extending axially toward but terminating short of the fixed blade, said cylinder including a piston and projecting from the end adjacent the fixed blade, another blade secured on the outer end of the rod adapted to cooperate with said fixed blade, and manually actuated means tocontrol operation of the power cylinder; the cylinder including a head adjacent said other blade, and a pair of guide plates secured on the head parallel to-the piston rod extending on opposite sides of said other blade in guiding relation thereto, said guide plates terminatingshort of the fixed blade.

4. A portable hand supported pruning tool comprising a handle, a fixed blade mounted in connection with and projecting laterally from the handle adjacent one end thereof, a fixed leg projecting in the same direction from the handle adjacent its other end, a fluid pressure actuated power cylinder mounted on the leg in spaced'relation to the handle extending axially toward but terminating short of the fixed blade, said cylinder including a piston and projecting from the end adjacent the fixed blade, another blade secured on the outer end of the rod adapted to cooperate stantially parallel to but spaced therefrom, said cylinder terminating at its free end some distance from the fixed blade and including a piston rod projecting from said end, another blade mounted on the projecting end of the piston rod in position for cooperation with the fixed blade upon advance of the rod, the rod being normally retracted and said other blade then being clear of the fixed blade, and manually actuated means to control operation of the power cylinder.-

6. A portable, hand supported prunin tool comprising a handle, a fixed blade propecting laterally from adjacent one end of the handle, a fixed leg projecting laterally in the same direction from adjacent the other end of the handle, a fluid pressure actuated power cylinder mounted on the outer end portion of the handle sub-- stantially parallel to'but spaced therefrom, said cylinder terminating at its free end'some distance from the fixed blade and including a. piston rod projecting from said end, another blade mounted on the projecting end of. the piston rod in position for cooperation with the fixed blade upon advance of the rod, the rod being normally retracted and said other blade then being clear of the fixed blade, and manually actuated means to control operation of the powe; cylinder; the handle of said leg including a passage system therethrough in communication with the power cylinder, a valve mounted in the handle operative to selectively control how to and from said cylinder, and means to introduce fluid pressure into said system.

7. A tool as in claim 6 in which the. valve is sli'dalble. substantially radially of the handle adjacent said one end thereof, and in a direction toward the power cylinder, and an exposed trigger on the valve operative by one finger of the hand which grasps the handle.

FRED A. MATULICH.

Images