Claims:1. A vehicle mounted trimming mechanism comprising:
at least one cutter arm mounted on the vehicle, said cutter arm configured to pivotally move in a plane, wherein said cutter arm has a telescopic configuration; and
at least one cutting element mounted on a free end of said cutter arm.

2. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cutter arms include a first cutter arm and a second cutter arm mounted on the vehicle and spaced apart from each other.

3. The mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first cutter arm is configured to pivotally move along a first horizontal plane passing through a longitudinal axis of said first cutter arm.

4. The mechanism as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said second cutter arm is configured to pivotally move along a second horizontal plane passing through a longitudinal axis of said second cutter arm, wherein the movement of said first cutter arm is opposite to the movement of said second cutter arm.

5. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cutting element is selected from a group consisting of a cutting wheel, a vibrating blade, and a chainsaw.

6. The mechanism as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said first horizontal plane is parallel to said second horizontal plane.

7. The mechanism as claimed in any of the preceeding claims, wherein said first cutter arm and said second cutter arm are displaceable along operative vertical axis that is orthogonal to said first and second horizontal planes.

8. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the extension and retraction of said cutter arms is by one of hydraulic actuation, pneumatic actuation, and mechanical actuation. , Description:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of mechanical engineering.
BACKGROUND
Operations such as harvesting of upstanding crops or pruning of trees are done manually. However, doing these operations manually requires a lot of time and effort. In order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, trimming mechanisms have been developed in the art, which are mounted on vehicles ,e.g., a tractor, and which facilitate the harvesting of upstanding crops in a manner that is easy and does not require a lot of time and effort. These conventional trimming mechanisms generally include a cutter arm that is mounted on the vehicle. A cutting element is generally mounted at a free end of the cutter arm. Generally, the cutting arm, and the cutting element mounted on the cutter arm are configured to be displaceable along an operative vertical axis to facilitate the cutting of crops or pruning of trees at different heights. However, a disadvantage of the conventional trimming mechanism is that the mechanism can only be maneuvered along the operative vertical axis. As such, only the crops directly in front of the vehicle are harvested, and to harvest the surrounding crops, one has to maneuver the whole vehicle. This is not desirable, since maneuvering the entire vehicle causes unnecessary consumption of fuel by the vehicle.
Hence, in order to overcome the abovementioned drawbacks, there is need for a trimming mechanism that can be easily maneuvered to harvest the crop in a wider range without moving the entire vehicle on which the trimming mechanism is mounted.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows.
It is an object of the present disclosure to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide trimming mechanism for harvesting of crops or pruning of trees that reduces the time and effort required in trimming operations.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a trimming mechanism that can be maneuvered over a wide range to harvest a crops within that range without maneuvering the entire vehicle on which the trimming mechanism is mounted.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages a trimming mechanism that is to be mounted on a vehicle. The trimming mechanism comprises at least one cutter arm mounted on the vehicle, wherein the cutter arm is configured to pivotally move in a plane, and wherein the cutter arm has a telescopic configuration. The trimming mechanism further comprises at least one cutting element mounted on a free end of the cutter arm.
In an embodiment, the cutter arms include a first cutter arm and a second cutter arm mounted on the vehicle and spaced apart from each other.
Typically, the first cutter arm is configured to pivotally move along a first horizontal plane passing through a longitudinal axis of the first cutter arm.
Preferably, the second cutter arm is configured to pivotally move along a second horizontal plane passing through a longitudinal axis of the second cutter arm, wherein the movement of the first cutter arm is opposite to the movement of the second cutter arm.
In an embodiment, the first horizontal plane is parallel to the second horizontal plane.
In an embodiment, the first cutter arm and the second cutter arm are displaceable along operative vertical axis that is orthogonal to the first and second horizontal planes.
In another embodiment, the extension and retraction of the cutter arms is by one of hydraulic actuation, pneumatic actuation, and mechanical actuation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
The trimming mechanism of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the non-limiting accompanying drawing, in which:
Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic top view of a trimming mechanism deployed on a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic side view of the trimming mechanism of Fig. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Operations such as harvesting of crops or pruning of trees are generally done manually. However, doing these operations manually requires a lot of time and effort. To overcome this problem, trimming mechanisms have been developed in the art. The conventional trimming mechanisms are typically mounted on vehicles, e.g., a tractor. The conventional trimming mechanisms generally include a cutter arm that is mounted on the vehicle and has a cutting element mounted on a free end thereof. The conventional trimming mechanisms are displaceable along an operative vertical axis to facilitate the harvesting of crops or pruning of trees at different heights. However, the range of these conventional trimming mechanisms is very limited. A disadvantage of these mechanisms is that they are typically configured to only harvest the crops that are directly in front of the vehicle, and the surrounding crops, being beyond the range of the trimming mechanism, are not harvested. To harvest the surrounding crops, the entire vehicle needs to be maneuvered so that the trimming mechanism is appropriately positioned to harvest the surrounding crops. This causes excessive consumption of the fuel by the vehicle and is not desired. Also, the operator of the vehicle has to put in too much of an effort in maneuvering the vehicle to appropriately position the trimming mechanism.
To overcome the abovementioned drawback, the present disclosure envisages a trimming mechanism that has a wide operational range. The trimming mechanism, which is configured to be mounted on a vehicle, comprises at least one cutter arm mounted on the vehicle, wherein the cutter arm is configured to pivotally move in a plane, and wherein the cutter arm has a telescopic configuration. The trimming mechanism further comprises at least one cutting element mounted on a free end of the cutter arm.
Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic top view of a trimming mechanism 100 deployed on a vehicle 102, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic side view of the trimming mechanism 100. The trimming mechanism 100 of the present disclosure is described with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The trimming mechanism 100 is configured to be mounted on the vehicle 102. The cutter arms of the trimming mechanism 100 include a first cutter arm 104 and a second cutter arm 106 mounted on the vehicle 102 and spaced apart from each other.
The first cutter arm 104 is configured to move pivotally along a first horizontal plane 108 that passes through the longitudinal axis of the first cutter arm 104. Similarly, the second cutter arm 106 is configured to move pivotally along a second horizontal plane 110 that passes through the longitudinal axis of the second cutter arm 106, wherein the movement of the first cutter arm 104 is in a direction opposite to the movement of the second cutter arm 106. The trimming mechanism 100 further comprises a first cutting element 105 and a second cutting element 107, wherein the first cutting element 105 is mounted on the free end of the first cutter arm 104, and the second cutting element 107 is mounted on the free end of the second cutter arm 106. In the present embodiment, the first and second cutting elements 105, 107 are cutting wheels. However, the cutting elements are not restricted to being cutting wheels. The cutting elements can be selected from a group consisting of vibrating blades and chainsaw.
In the present embodiment, the first and second cutter arms 104, 106 are mounted on the opposite ends of the vehicle 102 and are configured to move pivotally in opposite directions. As such, the cutting range of the trimming mechanism 100 is widened when the first cutter arm 104 and the second cutter arm 106 are operational. The range of the first and second cutter arms 104, 106 is seen in Fig. 1. Due to such a wide operational range, the trimming mechanism 100 of the present disclosure facilitates the harvesting of crops that are right in front of the vehicle 102, as well as the surrounding crops. As such, the entire vehicle need not be maneuvered to harvest the surrounding crops.
In an embodiment, the first cutter arm 104 and the second cutter arm 106 have a telescopic configuration. The extension and retraction of the first cutter arm 104 and the second cutter arm 106 are facilitated by hydraulic actuation, pneumatic actuation, or mechanical actuation. The extension and retraction of the first cutter arm 104 and the second cutter arm 106 is such that the cutter arms can be extended or retracted at a desired length, which can be any length that less than the total length of the cutter arm in the extended configuration. The telescopic configuration further increases the operational range of the trimming mechanism 100.
In another embodiment, the first cutter arm 104 and the second cutter arm 106 are displaceable along an operative vertical axis 109 orthogonal to the first horizontal plane 108 or the second horizontal plane 110. The displacement of the first and the second cutter arms 104, 106 along the operative vertical axis 109 is facilitated by hydraulic actuation, pneumatic actuation, or mechanical actuation. In this embodiment, the first horizontal plane 108 is parallel to the second horizontal plane 110. As such, the movement of the first cutter arm 104 does not interfere with the operation of the second cutter arm 106.
Although, the operation of the timing mechanism 100 has been described, focusing its operation for harvesting of crops, it is to be noted that the application of the trimming mechanism 100 is not restricted to the harvesting of crops. Other applications, e.g., pruning of trees, can also be performed using the trimming mechanism of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCES AND ECONOMICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a trimming mechanism:
- that reduces the time and effort required in trimming operations; and
- that can be maneuvered over a wide range to harvest a crops without maneuvering the entire vehicle on which the trimming mechanism is mounted.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.