Tree transporter

Claim 2

Apparatus for transporting trees comprising a framework having two spaced parallel sides, ground wheels on which the framework can be supported for transport, a plurality of buckets each having a planar open mouth, a peripheral wall and an axis at right angles to the plane of the mouth and each being shaped to receive the root section of a tree, and means mounting each bucket on the framework for pivotal movement about a pivot axis, the mounting means being arranged such that the pivot axis is inclined to the plane of the mouth and therefore passes through the peripheral wall of the bucket at two points one of which is spaced from the mouth by a greater distance than the other, such that the pivot axis is inclined to the horizontal whereby the end of the bucket adjacent said one point is higher than the other end and such that the axis is inclined relative to the side of the framework whereby the bucket can be pivoted from a loading position wherein the bucket axis faces upwardly and outwardly from the side of the framework to a transport position in which the bucket axis faces upwardly/and along the framework.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1 wherein the mounting means is arranged so that the bucket axis in the loading position extends outwardly from the side substantially at right angles thereto.

Claim 4

The invention according to claim 1 wherein in the transport position the bucket axis lies in a vertical plane which is parallel to a vertical plane including the side.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 1 wherein the mounting means is arranged such that the pivot axis is arranged at an angle of the order or 45° to the side.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 1 wherein the framework has a plurality of support beams forming a plurality of rectangular cells each for receiving a bucket, one side of each cell being formed by the side of the framework wherein the mounting means is arranged at diagonally opposite corners of each cell whereby the pivot axis of each bucket lies diagonal to the cell.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 1 wherein the framework includes a central beam parallel to the sides and wherein the central beam is supported in a position higher than the sides, the mounting means including means mounted on said central beam so as to support the pivot axis higher at the central beam than at the side.

Claim 8

The invention according to claim 1 wherein the mounting means includes a pair of collars attached to the peripheral wall of the bucket and a pair of stub shafts mounted on the framework on which the collars are rotatable.

Claim 9

The invention according to claim 1 including latch means for releasably latching each bucket in the transport position.

Claim 10

The invention according to claim 1 wherein the bucket rests against the framework in the transport and loading positions.

Claim 11

Apparatus for transporting trees comprising a framework having a first longitudinal beam, a second longitudinal beam, means mounting the beams in parallel spaced relation with the second on a level higher than the first and a plurality of transverse beams spaced along the length of the first and second beams so as to form a plurality of rectangular framed cells, ground wheels on which the framework can be supported for transport, a plurality of buckets each having a planar open mouth and a peripheral wall arranged to provide an axis of the bucket which lies at right angles to the plane of the mouth and shaped to receive the root section of a tree, mounting means at opposed positions on the outer surface of the peripheral wall of each bucket for mounting the bucket on the framework and mounting receiving means on the framework for receiving the mounting means of the respective bucket, the mounting receiving means having a first portion on the first beam and a second portion on the second beam at the diagonally opposite position on the cell, the mounting means being arranged on the bucket such that the bucket is pivotal relative to the mounting receiving means about a pivot axis so that the pivot axis is inclined to the plane of the mouth and passes through the peripheral wall of the bucket at two points one of which is spaced from the mouth by a greater distance than the other, so that the axis is inclined to the horizontal whereby the end of the bucket adjacent the second beam is higher than the other end and such that the axis is inclined relative to the first beam whereby the bucket can be pivoted from a loading position wherein the bucket axis faces outwardly from the first beam for receiving the tree root section to a transport position in which the bucket axis lies in a plane substantially parallel to the first and second beams.

Claim 12

Apparatus for transporting trees comprising a framework having a first longitudinal beam, a second longitudinal beam, means mounting the beams in parallel spaced relation with the second on a level higher than the first and a plurality of transverse beams spaced along the length of the first and second beams so as to form a plurality of rectangular framed cells, ground wheels on which the framework can be supported for transport, a plurality of buckets each having a planar open mouth and a peripheral wall arranged to provide an axis of the bucket which lies at right angles to the plane of the mouth and shaped to receive the root section of a tree, mounting means at opposed positions on the outer surface of the peripheral wall of each bucket for mounting the bucket on the framework and mounting receiving means on the framework for receiving the mounting means of the respective bucket, the mounting receiving means having a first portion on the first beam and a second portion on the second beam at the diagonally opposite position on the cell, the mounting means being arranged on the bucket such that the bucket is pivotal relative to the mounting receiving means about a pivot axis so that the pivot axis is inclined to the plane of the mouth and passes through the peripheral wall of the bucket at two points one of which is spaced from the mouth by a greater distance than the other, so that the axis is inclined to the horizontal whereby the end of the bucket adjacent the second beam is higher than the other end and such that the axis is inclined relative to the first beam whereby the bucket can be pivoted from a loading position wherein the bucket axis faces outwardly from the first beam for receiving the tree root section to a transport position in which the bucket axis lies in a plane substantially parallel to the first and second beams.

Claim 13

The invention according to claim 10 wherein the mounting means is arranged so that the bucket axis in the loading position extends outwardly from the side substantially at right angles thereto.

Claim 14

The invention according to claim 10 wherein the mounting means includes a pair of collars attached to the peripheral wall of the bucket and a pair of stub shafts mounted on the framework on which the collars are rotatable.

Claim 15

The invention according to claim 10 including latch means for releasably latching each bucket in the transport position.

Claim 16

The invention according to claim 10 or 13 wherein the bucket rests against the framework in the transport and loading positions.