Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
Title: A ROTARY ARM SYSTEM AND METHOD
Inventor: Joshua P. Meilinger
Field of Invention: The various aspects discussed herein relate to rotating
the axes of structures
and workpieces.
Background/ Description of Prior Art:
The present invention recognizes the need to conserve the natural environment
and resources.
In the context of sawmilling, conventional portable sawmills are typically
designed to cut logs
lengthwise. Also, in the context of logging or felling a tree, the widest part
of the tree: the
stump, is most often left in the ground.
In one aspect, this invention addresses the problem of stumps left behind at
logging sites and any
instance where a tree has been felled and the stump is left in the way as a
hazard or concern.
This invention seeks to take into account the environmental impact of these
stumps left behind,
which are often left behind to break down in the atmosphere or at the cost of
a type of stump
removal system usually designed to burn or grind up the stump, and/or removing
the ground's
slope side integrity.
This invention may remove stumps with stored greenhouse gas emissions by
removing and
repurposing the wood from the ground level up, leaving the roots intact until
new root systems
can develop. One object of this invention is to provide a sustainable method
of removing these
large stumps, both environmentally and economically.
This invention seeks to improve on prior art in the field (see: CA 1139642, CA
1064371, CA
2175606, CA 2070848, CA 1045520, CA 2445469) by recognizing that a
disadvantage of
sawmills and stump cutters/grinders/reduction/removal devices such as these is
that some of the
most valuable, profitable and unique wood is being left behind or ground up,
losing its creative
potential for woodwork.
This invention is designed to cross-cut sections from the tree base where
normal lengthwise log
milling usually requires straight grain; however, cross-cutting figured grain
from the flared tree
base results in excellent hobby and craft wood. This invention seeks to create
jobs by
reclaiming, resawing and repurposing tree stumps for discs and hobby wood or
all creative
purposes in pieces and as a whole.
Another aspect of this invention is to resurface and repurpose other resources
and natural
formations/environment to create a geographically useful surface and help
areas for development
of land and recreational areas.
Accordingly, this invention helps resolve environmental impacts and conserves
the natural
environment and resources.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
Summary of the Invention:
The invention is a rotary arm system and method for rotating a rotary arm
system, the rotary arm
system comprising a plurality of apparatuses and apparatus configurations
built for applying the
method. The method for rotating the rotary arm system is a method for rotating
along the
working height and around the surface of any one of a structure and workpiece
in all directions
and on all angles, adjusting for unevenness about a fixed common vertical
rotary rotational axis
centering to the structure and workpiece, and controlling the axes of an end
effector around the
working height perimeter for rotating and any one of navigating, working,
processing, cutting,
and cross-cutting.
The rotary arm system disclosed in this invention may also be referred to as
an apparatus,
machine, configuration, attachment, portable sawmill (mill) or a "Stump Saw"
and/or "Stone
Saw", as previously referred to as in CA: Application Number: 3132363, all
representative of the
invention disclosed.
Though not limited to wood or a chainsaw or a portable sawmill rotary arm
system
configuration, the rotary arm system and rotary arm method described herein
may focus on the
use of the rotary arm system built as an apparatus to cut wood, specifically
tree stumps, and the
method of removing tree stumps in this way. Though useful for cutting tree
stumps, the rotary
arm system and method described herein is not limited to any specific
application. The disclosed
rotary arm system and method may be used with any one of a structure and
workpiece and any
tools and their equipment suitable for rotating and working along the height
of the material and
around the perimeter. The disclosed rotary arm system and method may also be
useful for
cutting all wood or stone and other structures and workpieces in this way. The
material
described herein is used for descriptive purposes and may represent any
suitable structure and
workpiece for the rotary arm system.
The invention relates to a system and method for processing material
comprising a base
.. attachment to mount/make stable near the center of a structure/workpiece
and from that base
position rotating a rotary arm system apparatus with a mounted power
saw/processing tool or
multiple arms mounted with power saws/processing tools. The rotary arm system
rotates and
cuts from wherever the base mount is located: top, bottom or anywhere around
the structure/
workpiece. This rotary arm system relates to an arm that holds a work tool
that rotates around its
circumference/perimeter. A rotary arm system apparatus can be built with
multiple
cutting/processing arms. The invention relates to adjustable arm/arms links
that rotates from the
centered radius around the vertical axis and cuts the circumference/perimeter.
This invention is a rotary arm configuration comprising an attached cutting
element configured
.. for cutting around the outside surface along the working height to the
common vertical rotary
axis (axis of rotation) where the arms rotate the material's perimeter. The
common vertical
rotary is a pivot joint that permits rotational motion with the axis that the
arms rotate around.
A cutting element and its accompanying equipment has the capacity for cutting
off material from
the structure and workpiece up to and beyond the common vertical rotary axis
(axis of rotation)
when cutting around the outside surface and the capacity for cutting cross
sections horizontal,
vertical, on an angle, and irregular about the common vertical rotary (axis of
rotation) for
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
doubling the length of cut when cutting from both sides of the structure and
workpiece and
cutting across the width and the diameter.
Brief Description of the Drawings:
The enclosed drawings serve as an example of the invention and are not
intended to limit the
invention, application, use or method.
According to the drawings, which provide an illustration of the invention
disclosed:
= Figure 1 illustrates: A side view of the rotary arm system apparatus'
linear length/arm
depth axis with base plate attachment (to a stump/working material).
= Figure 2 illustrates: A side view of the rotary arm system apparatus'
linear length/arm
depth arm tilt with base plate attachment (to a stump/working material).
= Figure 3 illustrates: A side view of the rotary arm system apparatus
representing similar
to a 'cylindrical robot arm configuration (Figures 1-3)', with a base plate
attachment (to a
stump/working material).
= Figure 4 illustrates: A side view of the rotary arm system apparatus
representing similar
to an articulating robot arm configuration (with a base plate attachment to a
stump/working material).
= Figure 5 illustrates: A side view of the rotary arm system apparatus
representing similar
to a scara robot arm configuration (with a base plate attachment to a
stump/working
material).
= Figure 6 illustrates: A top three-quarter view of a cartesian/rectangular
gantry using XY
linear coordinates to rotate the perimeter of stump cutting discs from the top
working
downward.
= Figure 7 illustrates: A side view of the rotary arm system apparatus
representing similar
to a polor/spherical robot arm configuration with a base plate attachment to a
stump/working material.
= Figure 8 illustrates: A side angle view of the rotary arm system
apparatus with a base
plate attachment, eliminating the common vertical rotary.
= Figure 9 illustrates: A side angle view of the rotary arm system
apparatus with a rotary
grapple attachment, eliminating the common vertical rotary.
= Figure 10 illustrates: A rear view of the rotary arm system apparatus with a
ground base
and eliminated common vertical rotary.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
= Figure 11 illustrates: A side view of the rotary arm system apparatus
with base plate
attachment, attaching on top of stump/cutting material with locked/eliminated
arm/wrist
rotary.
= Figure 12 illustrates: A side view of the rotary arm system apparatus
base attached to a
linear motion guide system.
= Figure 13 illustrates: A top view of the rotary arm system apparatus
that's attached with a
base plate to the top of stump/cutting material being pulled with a line
puller that's
attached to an additional arm on the common vertical rotary while cutting
around the
outside perimeter.
= Figure 14 illustrates: A side view of the rotary arm system apparatus with
clamp
attachment using a wheel to propel the saw around the base area perimeter of
stump/cutting material, cutting as it advances.
= Figure 15 illustrates: A side view of a chainsaw with improved chainsaw
bar clamp that
connects/attaches the bar clamp to the bar studs.
= Figure 16 illustrates: A top view of a basic linear clamp for the rotary arm
system
apparatus' material attachment.
= Figure 17 illustrates: A side view of the rotary arm system apparatus
with a linear clamp
material attachment that's supported by a separate element and cutting around
the stump
perimeter base area.
= Figure 18 illustrates: A top three-quarter view of the rotary arm system
apparatus as a
single arm cutting attachment supported by a cartesian/rectangular gantry.
= Figure 19 illustrates: A side view of a vehicle with an attached
supporting element that
lifts/raises/places rotary arm system apparatus as a supported attachment with
a rotary
material attachment rotating perimeter cutting from the bottom of
stump/cutting material.
= Figure 20 illustrates: A side view of the rotary arm system apparatus with
grapple attach
closest to the common vertical rotary and articulating cutting arm.
= Figure 21 illustrates: A side view of the rotary arm system apparatus
with grapple
attaching to stump and centering the common vertical rotary over the perimeter
of axis
being cut.
= Figure 22 illustrates: A side view quarry saw/rock cutting chainsaw built
for rotational
perimeter processing/working/cutting with common vertical rotary centered,
rotating and
cutting an outcrop/cutting material.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
= Figure 23 illustrates: A side view of an excavator working as a rotary
arm system,
rotational perimeter cutting.
= Figure 24 illustrates: A front view of the rotary arm system apparatus
with a linear clamp
and dual cutting arms extending to near the base of attached stumps/cutting
material.
= Figure 25 illustrates: A front view of the rotary arm system apparatus
with two
articulating cutting arms on a vertical column and common vertical rotary
attached to a
base plate mounted on top of a stump/cutting material.
= Figure 26 illustrates: A side view of the rotary arm system apparatus
representing a
trailer version with a supporting element holding the apparatus cutting arm as
an
attachment, cutting from the top of stump/cutting material that's being held
by a separate
base attachment.
= Figure 27 illustrates: A side view of the rotary arm system apparatus
with a grapple
attaching to the top of stump/working material and extending an additional arm
link
holding a pressure washer under the opposite side of attached material.
= Figure 28 illustrates: A side view of the rotary arm system apparatus upside
down with
the common vertical rotary under the working material with grapple attachment
working
material closest to the common vertical rotary.
= Figure 29 illustrates: A side view of the rotary arm system apparatus
with cutting arm
working closest to the common vertical rotary and grapple arm working furthest
from the
common vertical rotary.
= Figure 30 illustrates: A side view of the rotary arm system apparatus
with a sphere
shaped ground base encircling the working material with grapple attachment
near the
common vertical rotary and curved bracket/arm rotating the inside of sphere
base and
giving working arm access around the outside of working material.
= Figure 31 illustrates: A side view of the rotary arm system apparatus with
clamp base
attachment mounted on either side of stump top vertical edges reaching an
articulating
arm with a grapple attaching below the linear clamps for repositioning the
common
vertical rotary for cutting the stump/cutting material.
= Figure 32 illustrates: A side view of the rotary arm system apparatus
attached and
supported with a clamp and grapple that's centered to the stump/material being
cut.
= Figure 33 illustrates: A side view of the rotary arm system apparatus
with two base
attaching arms with grapples mounting to the stump/cutting material centering
the
common vertical rotary while cutting the perimeter.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
= Figure 34 illustrates: A side view of a support cable holding the rotary
arm system
apparatus rigid.
= Figure 35 illustrates: A front view of a rotary grapple used with the
rotary arm system
apparatus with twisting grabbers built with rubber torsion to adjust to the
materials'
contours.
With reference to the attached drawings, the numbers represent:
1. The common vertical rotary (axis of rotation) that the rotary arm system's
apparatuses'
arms rotate around.
2. The rotary arm system's apparatuses' cut when cutting from the bottom
working upward.
3. The rotary arm system's apparatuses' cut when cutting from the top working
downward.
4. Arms'/ wrist single-axis vertical rotator
5. Arms' /wrist spherical three-axis rotator
6. The rotary arm system apparatus representing similar to a Cylindrical-type
robot
configuration.
7. The rotary arm system apparatus representing similar to an Articulating-
type robot
configuration.
8. The rotary arm system apparatus representing similar to a Spherical-type
robot
configuration.
9. The rotary arm system apparatus representing similar to a Scara-type robot
configuration.
10. The rotary arm system apparatus representing similar to a Cartesian-type
robot
configuration.
11. The rotary arm system apparatus representing similar to a Polar-type robot
configuration.
12. Eliminating the rotary on the wrist
13. Eliminating the arms' rotary ("common vertical rotary") that's centered to
the working
material.
14. Making a plunge cut
15. Comparing the two basic parallel vertical rotaries, one on the arms' wrist
and the common
vertical rotary that's centered to the working material.
16. The arms' common vertical rotary with no vertical column
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
17. The arms' common vertical rotary with vertical column
18. The base plate that attaches the rotary arm system apparatus to the
working material or to
the attached application
19. Support cables when applicable
20. Linear motion guide system used to expand the working envelope of the
rotary arm
system apparatus.
21. The arms' common vertical rotary centered position to the working
material.
22. Additional horizontal arm/booms used as anchor points to rotate rotary arm
system
apparatus' arms from
23. A wheel or traction gear used to propel/rotate the rotary arm system
apparatus'
working/processing arms around the "common vertical rotary" axis.
24. A chainsaw bar clamp with added bracket built as a multi-point attachment.
25. A linear materials' base clamp attachment
26. The arm/arms configurations built as an attachment to attach to a
supporting element.
27. The apparatus' arm link of a processing tool's arm link that makes an
attachment
perpendicular to the common vertical rotary.
28. The apparatus' arm link of a processing tool's arm link that rotates the
height of the
working material.
29. Separate material attachments not a part of the rotary arm system
apparatus configuration
30. A common vertical rotary grapple built for base attaching the rotary arm
system
apparatus to the working material.
31. The rotary arm system apparatus' arm link of a base attachment's arm link
attaching
perpendicular to the common vertical rotary.
32. The rotary arm system apparatus' arm link of a base attachment's arm link
that can rotate
the height of the working material.
33. A pressure washer used in place of the power saw/processing tool/end
effector on the
working/processing arm.
34. The rotary arm system apparatus arm link of an additional arm link on
either the base
attachment arm or the processing tool's arm/arms added to the wrist of the
link that
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
rotates the working height of the working material/workpiece, and it's the
link that works
the opposite side of working material/workpiece as the common vertical rotary.
35. The cutting/working material that the rotary arm system apparatus often
attaches to
36. A material mount on top of the common vertical rotary when the rotary arm
system
apparatus rotates from the ground/ is used upside down.
37. Arms/wrist horizontal rotator
38. The ground base attachment of the rotary arm system apparatus
39. A sphere-shaped ground base encircling the working material.
40. A curved/alternative shaped member used for arm tool access as a guide
system when
used on the rotary arm system apparatus' common vertical rotary that's
centered to the
working material.
41. The carriage that attaches the arms on the curved/alternative shaped
member that's used
for arm(s) as a guide system access that's used on the rotary arm system
apparatus'
common vertical rotary that rotates centered to the working material.
42. Linear/articulating arms on the curved/alternative shaped member when
rotating from the
common vertical rotary.
43. Quarry saw and guide bar and chain mounted to the rotary arm system
apparatus.
44. An excavator used and working as an apparatus for a rotary arm system
application.
45. A cutting element allowable to cut the working material with a single pass
cut from the
same side of material.
46. Twisting rubber torsion used with rotating grapple/clamp pads attachments.
47. Torsion grapple's contact pads
48. Contour grapple
49. A cartesian gantry's vertical Z-axis built with rotational wrist used for
rotational
perimeter cutting.
50. Cartesian X, Y linear coordinates used to rotate the perimeter of working
material when
using the rotary arm system apparatus method.
51. Stump's top cut surface
52. A chainsaw that's attached to the rotary arm system apparatus' arm.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
53. Ann's linear joint
54. Arm joint locking mechanism.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments:
The rotary arm system and method disclosed herein rotates around on a common
vertical rotary 1
point that's made stable near the center of a tree stump, though not limited
to tree stumps, as it
has the ability to manoeuvre a work tool to process/work/cut all wood/stone
and all cuttable
material and any one of a structure and workpiece in this way.
From the centrally located common vertical rotary 1 point, an arm 27 stretches
across the stumps'
top surface 51. From beyond the outside edge, an arm link 28 reaches
perpendicular and
below/toward the ground from the stump's top outside edge attaching to a
cutting chainsaw
52/power saw but not limited to, that is capable of cutting from the outside
edge to the common
vertical rotary axis (axis of rotation) located close to the centre of
material. The working arms
rotate along the working height perimeter and are capable of adjusting up,
down, and on all
angles depending on the rotary arm system configuration and the cut desired.
This invention is a rotary arm configuration comprising an attached cutting
element configured
for cutting around the structure and workpiece outside surface along the
working height to the
common vertical rotary axis (axis of rotation) where the arms rotate the
material's perimeter.
The common vertical rotary is a pivot joint that permits rotational motion
with the axis that the
arms rotate about. Originally built of, but not limited to, steel material.
A cutting element and its accompanying equipment has the capacity for cutting
off material from
the structure and workpiece up to and beyond the common vertical rotary axis
(axis of rotation)
when cutting around the outside surface and the capacity for cutting cross
sections horizontal,
vertical, on an angle, and irregular about the common vertical rotary (axis of
rotation) for
doubling the length of cut when cutting from both sides of the structure and
workpiece and
cutting across the width and the diameter.
A plurality of end effector/work tool configurations can be mounted to the
rotary arm system to
rotate the perimeter along the working height of the structure and workpiece.
This invention gives a work tool controlled access around the
circumference/perimeter of a
structure and workpiece within the arms' manoeuverability and its workspace.
The power saw's
rotational ability, along with arm adjustments, will help manoeuvre the saw
around uneven
material shapes, as needed. Unlike most regular sawmills that make their first
cut starting at the
top and work their way down, this rotary arm system and method has the
capacity to make the
first cut its lowest cut 2 while finishing at the top to maintain the rotary
arm system's connection
to the stump/wood/cutting/processing material. Or when mounting to the bottom
cuts from the
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
top 3 to maintain the material attachment. Or mounts and rotates from any
center to the material
location and cuts around the material on any angle or direction until the base
mounted material is
cut off or process complete.
A stump might take one or more passes to achieve a complete cut through the
center of the stump
base. Depending on the diameter of cut and the stiffness of chainsaw bar, a
longer length of
cutting bar may need to follow the first groove of a shorter, stiff length of
bar to maintain a
clean, straight cut.
Proper sawing skills and or a longer, stiff length of bar can eliminate this
technique used in the
method of this invention. This invention has the ability to cut all cuttable
material from all sides
by doubling the width/length of cut normally produced by a single-pass
portable sawmill.
A rotary arm system configuration may be built as a portable sawmill
configuration or as an
attachment to heavy machinery. For instance, it could be made hydraulic and
mounted to a
hydraulic type logging machine such as a tree felling and grappling head (see
United States
Patent: 9,795,091 by Lindbom, 2017). A circular saw could also be mounted as
in a feller-
buncher, see Canada Patent: 1224703 owned by the Forest Engineering Research
Institute of
Canada by Mellgren, Pergustaf (Canada). However, this invention is not limited
to a portable
sawmill or heavy ground machinery attachments. Technology and aircraft can
further this
invention, eg. helicopter attachments and heavy-lift drones for agriculture,
etc., this invention
can be attached to VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing) technology. This
invention can be
efficiently powered by computers like a Computer Numerical Control (CNC)
machine (see
Canada Patent application: CA 3080191 by Chepurny, Mark Philip).
Quick easy placement for autonomous VTOL applications can be accomplished
using robots
base attaching arm to reposition robots' base position.
Technology can be a part of each style/design/configuration of how the rotary
arm system can be
built. The common vertical rotary 1 point attached to the adjustable arm 27 to
reach across the
working material 35 to access the working height around the outside
circumference/perimeter.
The rotary arm system can be powered or programmed like any working machine
with a
workspace depending on its configuration for the material type and
environment. The rotary arm
system always works from the same theory depending on cutting conditions,
e.g.: material type
and the environment. A selected robot arm and base mount configuration
maneuvers the power
saw/work tool around the outside of the cutting/working material to make a
straight cut straight
through the radius on a straight cut axis or maneuvered around the outside
wood/cutting material
surface with all sizes of cutting element to cut whatever pattern desired. All
functions running
simultaneously, as required.
Simultaneously, all of the rotary arm system's adjustments work together
whether it is the
apparatuses' wrists' ability to adjust to all angles or the arms'/booms'
ability to adjust vertically
up or down and around the arms' vertical columns' axis. Combined with rotating
arm
maneuverability, a wrist with rotary 4,37 or 3-axis spherical joint 5 rotates
a perpendicular
mounted processing tool and work tool. The processing tool and work tool can
maneuver on all
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
angles and work/cut on all axes, as required however the tools mounted
orientation. By
combining all rotary arm system functions simultaneously, the rotary arm
system has the ability
to rotate on the outside cutting/working surface and cut/work on all angles
while rotating on all
axes about one centrally located common vertical rotary 1 pivot point. The
rotary arm system is
able to rotate from above or from the underside of working material or rotate
from any centered
point of working material 21 and cut on one straight axis or on angles from
the centered common
vertical rotary 1 (axis of rotation) that rotates from the center 21 and cuts
around the
circumference/perimeter. For example, the rotary arm system can reach down to
its lowest
cutting/working level 2 just above the ground surface and make a complete
radial cut on one axis
with a work tool/cutting element that cuts across the width and the diameter
of cutting material to
separate the stump from the roots with a straight cut and then continue cross-
cutting the stump
into discs working its way up around the vertical axis at whatever intervals
desired to remove
stump in pieces or as a whole. Or the rotary arm system can run programs to
sculpt the structure
and workpiece with technological capabilities to run on all axes with all
functions running
simultaneously or run on all axes maneuvered by hand as a jig without actual
computer
technology. Full rotational access is needed to maneuver the work tool on an
angle that it
naturally needs to move to accomplish the cut/work desired. The rotary arm
system can run all
axes while rotating the adjustable arm around the outside surface of
workpiece.
The rotary arm system has the capacity to cut cross sections horizontal,
vertical, or on an angle
about the common vertical rotary axis with a cutting element capable of
cutting around the outer
surface. Attached to the rotary arm system is the cutting element and its
equipment capable to
cut to the common vertical rotary 1 (axis of rotation) to cut the diameter of
the structure and
workpiece when cutting around the perimeter. Cross cutting the diameter of the
structure and
workpiece can start at the top and bottom of the structure and workpiece
depending on the rotary
arm system's arm order on the common vertical rotary 1 (the axis of rotation).
The rotary arm system can be powered by any energy that can maneuver an
adjustable arm or
arms around a fixed rotary 1 and maneuver an attached processing tool/work
tool.
However the rotary arm system is powered or driven, the method remains the
same. Some
examples of propulsion types include motors, hydraulics, pneumatics, robotics
and worm gears,
or other types of gear reduction. An epicyclic gear train or planetary gear
set can reduce the
force that's needed to turn the rotary arm system apparatus from the centrally
located pivot point
that's attached to or made solid on the top center of a work material used for
propulsion.
The invention disclosed is a rotary arm system and method comprising precise
configurations
with accurate/natural rotating movements, well-built for each application from
the base
attachment with a fixed base rotary to the securely mounted work tool/end
effector.
The invention is a series of linear 53 and/or rotator 4,5,37 joints making up
an arm/boom
configuration that's made stable and rotating near the 'center of working
material 21'. Built to
hold a work tool and work around the working height and perimeter.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
However the rotary arm system's apparatuses' arms/booms and joints are
constructed, as
linear/articulating arms/booms or some beams/booms/arms type
design/shape/construction and
however the bracing and/or supports are positioned and however the arms/booms,
and axes are
built and braced.
Combining construction and material that's used for strength and weight
management to
maintain a rigid frame/system for the intended application/method of
rotational motion for
rotating around the perimeter and
navigating/working/building/processing/cutting/crosscutting
along the height of any one of a structure and workpiece is how a rotary arm
system apparatus
can be built.
The rotary arm system comprises robot-type configurations capable of being
modified to work
and for processing material using a method of rotational motion with a base
attachment and
modified for reaching arm(s) with end effectors around the height of the
structure and workpiece
as the rotary arm system, changing/altering/modifying or eliminating parts as
necessary
depending on the configuration and its designed purpose.
A robot configuration designed to maintain weight, function and mobility to
attach/ make stable
to the structure and workpiece to rotate from a base mount or with the rotary
arm/arms as an
attachment to a supporting element and able to cut/sculpt/process/wash/work
material configured
with any/all arm/boom modifications to work on all axes, as required.
A robot configured and modified to work as the rotary arm system and
configured and modified
to hold and work a cutting element and processing tool and their equipment
that's capable to cut
beyond the common vertical rotary axis (axis of rotation) when cutting all
sides around the
perimeter of the cutting axis.
With reference to the drawings:
Figure 1 illustrates the rotary arm system apparatuses' linear length/arm
depth axis;
Figure 2 illustrates the rotary arm system apparatuses' linear length/arm
depth arm tilt;
Figure 3 illustrates the rotary arm system apparatus representing similar to a
'Cylindrical robot
arm configuration with a base plate attachment (to a stump/working material).
Figures 1,2, and 3 illustrate a rotary arm system Cylindrical robotic arm
configuration/design;
Figure 4 illustrates a rotary arm system Articulating robotic-type
configuration/design;
Figure 5 illustrates a rotary arm system SCARA robotic-type
configuration/design;
Figure 6 illustrates a rotary arm system Cartesian robotic-type
configuration/design; and
Figure 7 illustrates a rotary arm system Polar/Spherical robotic-type
configuration/design.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
As illustrated in Figures 1 -7, the rotary arm system may be configured such
that it represents
similar to a cylindrical robotic arm configuration/design 6 or any linear or
articulating robot-type
design (see also: Articulating 7, Spherical 8, SCARA 9, Cartesian 10, and
Polar 11 and any other
integrated robotic configuration/design that can carry out the method of the
rotary arm system
around the working height) with computer programming and runs on all axes, as
necessary that's
built to mount and rotate from close to the center of any one of a structure
and workpiece
designed and built to carry out the method of this invention. The rotary arm
system can
represent similar to any robot-type configuration, according to the rotary arm
method of this
invention.
A rotary arm system apparatus may be configured and built cost-effective
and/or for smaller size
cutting. This is illustrated in Figures 8-11, wherein:
Figure 8 illustrates the rotary arm system apparatus with a base plate
attachment, eliminating the
common vertical rotary;
Figure 9 illustrates the rotary arm system apparatus with a rotary grapple
attachment, eliminating
the common vertical rotary;
Figure 10 illustrates the rotary arm system apparatus with a ground base and
eliminated common
vertical rotary; and
Figure 11 illustrates the rotary arm system apparatus with base plate
attachment, attaching on top
of stump/cutting material with locked/eliminated arm/wrist rotary.
Ways to limit axes of the rotary arm system would be to 'eliminate either one
of the parallel
vertical rotary joints 12,13' or eliminate the "horizontal length axis" on the
arm 27 that attaches
perpendicular to the common vertical rotary 1 that's centered to the working
material 35. This is
accomplished by eliminating the rotary joint 12 on the wrist of the arm 28 for
horizontal/perpendicular and/or all-directional chainsaw 52/power
saw/processing tool/work tool
mounting/rotating, or by 'eliminating the common vertical rotary 13'. If the
base attachment is
made solid to the horizontal arm/boom 27 stopping it from rotating, then the
horizontal
arm/boom is still adjustable for the diameter of wood/cuttable material 35 cut
or the horizontal
arm/boom 27 could be made solid at a standard length for certain size cutting
material 35. The
cut depth axis could still be heightened or lowered or adjusted, depending on
the cut
height/length adjustment desired. 'Eliminating the center to the base common
vertical rotary
joint 13', eliminates the ability to rotate around the outside
circumference/perimeter of material
to cut/work from all sides. Depending on the width/diameter of the
wood/cutting material, a
longer length of cutting element/chainsaw bar will need to exceed the width of
the wood/cutting
material with a single pass cut 45. When 'eliminating the center to the base
common vertical
rotary joint 13', the rotary arm system cuts from one side of material
rotating the chainsaw
52/power saw on the material height arm 28 or the arm's wrist rotary 4,5,37
and cuts discs
starting at the top 3/bottom 2 (from the opposite working end of material base
connection) and
works down/up (cutting off material working toward the wood/cutting
material/rotary arm
system attachment) cutting straight across or on an angle for angled cuts
while maintaining
wood/material attachment. Rotating the horizontal oriented arm/boom 27 from
the common
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
vertical rotary 1 that's made stable and/or attached to the base, or base and
vertical column 17
allows the saw to cut around the outside of wood/stone/cutting material 35 to
double the
length/depth of cut from all or both sides. While cutting around the
stump/cutting material the
usually horizontal oriented arm/boom 27 axis can adjust, extend/retract the
arm/boom with or
without additional links) to manoeuvre around the uneven outside wood
material/stump/cutting
surface edge. Eliminating the "horizontal length axis" reduces the adjustment
for material
width/size to make the adjustment where the base is attached for the standard
set size of wood
material/cutting material. In addition, the length of bar used on the set
horizontal arm/boom 27
length needs to exceed half the diameter of material width when cutting from
all sides. If the
chainsaw bar is shorter than the horizontal arm/boom 27 when fastened at the
end of set size
arm/boom 27, then the chainsaw will not cut to the common vertical rotary
(axis of rotation)
that's centered to wood/cutting material. If the chainsaw 52/processing tool
360 degrees
horizontal rotation or a full axis wrist 5 is locked or made solid 12 (see
Figure 11) then the
horizontal axis would need to guide the first cut and be pushed/guided into
the wood/cutting
material vertically 90 degrees/perpendicular straight into the material making
a "plunge cut" 14
starting with the vertical tip of the power saw/chainsaw bar tip to the
chainsaw bar depth desired,
or cutting/blade depth desired then rotate on the common vertical rotary joint
1 remaining. If the
horizontal independent arm/wrist rotation is eliminated 12 (as illustrated in
Figure 11) both the
common vertical rotary 1 axis and vertical/cut depth/working height axis are
still needed for
proper functioning of the rotary arm system.
If 'eliminating the common vertical rotary 13', (see Figures 8-10), on the
perpendicular arm 27
attachment makes a solid/nonrotating/fixed common vertical rotary, the rotary
arm system would
be limited to at least a single last necessary rotary that rotates the arms'
wrist. 'Eliminating the
center to the material common vertical rotary 13' would limit the rotary arm
system to a solid
base attachment to cut and rotate on the same side of the working material 35
that the rotary
arm/link system is attached or assembled to.
This configuration of the rotary arm system differs from other cut off saws
like hydraulic feller
buncher (see patent: CA 1224703) since this configuration often has a ground
base with material
attachment to stand and work on its own and with a sized configuration version
that can be
carried by hand.
This method differs from regular tree felling processing heads that remove
branches and cut trees
to lengths, moving trees longitudinally to length for fixed saw cross-cutting.
The rotary arm system with 'eliminated common vertical rotary 13' attaches the
rotating saw
perpendicular to the saws' cut height axis, while holding the wood material
from a determined
location.
Eliminating one of the 'two parallel rotaries 15' that the rotary arm system
is built with builds an
economical rotary arm system assembly. 'Eliminating the common vertical rotary
13' that's
centered to the material reduces/limits the size of the material being cut to
the length of cutting
element/chainsaw cutting bar with a single pass 45 from the same side of
material.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
This type of rotary arm system assembly is not limited to a chainsaw or
circular saw or a saw
capable of a plunge cut 14 only (see Figure 11). 'Eliminating the common
vertical rotary 13' on
the base attachment limits the size of material being cut to the size of
powered saw/processing
tool's cutting elements capable of cutting the diameter of material with a
single pass cut
off/cross-cut 45.
This type of rotary arm system assembly would open the door to rotate any kind
of saw with 'a
saw cutting length allowable to cut the diameter of material that the system
is attached to 45'.
This allows types of "endless saws" running on a continuous loop, like a
bandsaw, see Figure 10,
or a diamond rope saw, by having the rotary arm system attached to near one
end of cutting
material 35 and rotating a perpendicular mounted saw swinging from a fixed
height axis. The
material needs to be able to pass between the wheels within the "endless saws'
throat capacity
when rotating from a single point on one side of the cutting material 35. This
configuration
'eliminates the rotary arm system's common vertical rotary 13' that rotates
arm from on/near the
center of the working material for rotating around the materials'
circumference/perimeter.
When manoeuvring the rotary arm system by hand or when under mechanical power,
the rotary
arm system has the ability to lock 54 either of 'the rotator joints 15' to
pivot and saw/work from
any one of the rotator joints. Rotating from either one of 'the rotator joints
15' will give the work
tool/ arm configuration better control when manoeuvring by hand. All axes need
full control of
manoeuverability as required for safety and function. Also, additional handles
and levers add
control and leverage when hand guiding. A way to balance the horizontal
arm/boom 27 on its
centrally located rotating/pivot (common vertical rotary 1) is to add weight
on the opposite side
of the arm/boom length from the work tool/processing tool. Any instance where
adding weight
helps balance the sawmill for "gravity compensating" could be beneficial in
maintaining a
straight cut. Two saws cutting from opposite sides on one horizontal arm/boom
can balance each
other for "gravity compensating". Two or more working/cutting arms turning the
same direction
on opposite sides of the common vertical rotary can work together balancing
each other.
A basic rotary arm system configuration is built with 'two vertical/parallel
rotary joints 15' (one
at the arm/base and one at the arm/wrist). The base is made stable mounting
the common
vertical rotary 1 near the center of stump/wood and/or all cuttable material
35. Attached to the
base is the common vertical rotary joint 1 with reduced height or 'eliminated
vertical column 16'
(see Figure 12) that rotates the horizontal axis and perpendicular vertical
arm link 28.
Reducing the linear vertical column causes the working tool/processing tool
that's often mounted
perpendicular to the vertical oriented arm 28 to extend the arm/boom dropdown
axis in a
direction past the base level toward the working height. Located along the
horizontal axis, the
arms' vertical axis/working height axis raises and lowers the working height
with a working
tool/processing tool. If the 'vertical column 17' that's attached to the
common vertical rotary
joint 1 and the base connection is left remaining, it can be used as the
working height
axis/gantry. If eliminating the axis on the arm that's attached to the
working/processing tool, the
vertical/working height axis could raise and lower the working/processing tool
from the vertical
column 17 (see Figure 4) axis that's center to the base. If the
vertical/working height arm axis
that raises and lowers the working/processing tool is made solid, then the
stiff vertical arm that
rotates the working height will need to exceed the length of travel on the
vertical column
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
17/gantry to move up and down without restrictions. Using the vertical column
17 as a gantry
adds one length of mechanism between the base attachment/base plate 18 and the
working/processing tool connection. If both vertical axes remain (vertical
arm/working height
axis attached to the working/processing tool and the vertical axis attached to
the vertical column
17), mobility and machine function will increase. Adding an additional axis on
the vertical
column 17 will help raise the rotating arm over uneven material surfaces.
A debarker may be mounted on the rotary arm system in conjunction with a
chainsaw/power saw
and used on the cutting axis ahead of/or before the power saw/chainsaw's
cutting path of travel
for its intended use.
An X-ray system or log scanner may help locate rocks within the wood to
measure the difference
between the rocks and measure the coordinates and distance of rocks to avoid
and to determine
the best cutting path of travel. Avoiding rocks within the rotary arm system
cutting path of travel
will help the rotary arm system cut more efficiently for manual and/or
autonomous use.
A displacement sensor may help measure the distance of an object as well as
its size and shape.
X-ray sensors and displacement sensors can help determine the best cutting
path for regular or
autonomous use and maximize the potential of each cut.
The rotary arm system that's autonomously propelled will need to know how much
pressure to
apply within the chainsaws' power/RPM cutting range/capacity. With the help of
a variety of
sensors including pressure and torque sensors can help control either of the
rotary or linear axes,
depending on configuration. A distance sensor can help adjust arm length and
axis movements
to sense distance needed between end effector and the material/object being
worked/processed.
This configuration may use repetition to its advantage for autonomous use.
Latest technology
may continue to advance development and efficiency with the rotary arm system
and method.
X-ray vision may help see the rocks within the wood to steer the rotary arm
system correctly.
Certain skill practices are helpful or necessary for cutting and handling of
stumps and all cuttable
material for the method of this invention. When cross-cutting heavy discs with
short grain and
when cutting through compromised material, i.e., seams, cracks, fractures and
hollow material,
the finished cut material is left unstable. For the rotary arm system to
remain efficient and
cutting straight and depending on the rotary arm system configuration,
fasteners could be added
to help keep the cut material that the rotary arm system is mounted and
cutting through hold
together and stable. A strap tensioning system can be placed around the
circumference/perimeter
of the material being cut to help keep the material and the rotary arm system
configuration that
it's mounted on top of solid and together until the cutting process is
complete. Wedges can keep
the blade and/or chainsaw bar and chain from becoming pinched from a lessening
saw cut gap or
cutting kerf. A wedge opens the cut kerf gap and keeps the saw cutting free
with less "pinching"
or obstructions. Once the base mounted material is cut off, a force/torque
applied from beyond
the rotary arm system could create a twisting/turning of smaller size attached
material without a
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
base mount/ground base connection. Adding attachments to connect ground base
material to
either side of unstable cut off material can help eliminate torque from an
outside force.
Trees are generally round and circular in "circumference" allowing the
arm/arms to 'rotate from
on/near the center of uneven stump shapes 21' (see Figure 32). This makes
vertically rotating the
working height perimeter with an adjustable arm assembly for unevenness the
right motion to cut
from. Since the tree stump has been partly manufactured with a partly
flattened top surface,
mounting/attaching adjustable, rotating arm links is a good rotary arm system
configuration/template/model/style to cut from. Saving new trees and bringing
justice to the old
ones with one good cut angle at a time.
Figure 12 illustrates the rotary arm system apparatus base attached to a
linear motion guide
system.
Attaching the rotary arm system apparatus with a base plate 18/ base
attachment to a linear motion
guide system 20, as seen in Figure 12 expands the working envelope. Attaching
the rotary arm
system apparatus with a base plate 18 used for material 35 attachment to the
mounting surface of
a linear motion guide carriage expands the rotational axes with straight or
angled cuts.
The rotary arm system apparatus with center common vertical rotary 1 and
orthogonally attached
arm 27 is torsionally rigid around its working axes. From a center point of
rotation, extending
horizontal axis arm links can reach around uneven shapes and rotate the
vertical axis. Attaching
the base plate 18/base attachment with center point of rotation to a "linear
motion guide system"
20. The "linear system" centered lengthwise attaches near/on the medial line
of the working
material 35. The rotary arm system apparatus that's attached to a linear
system is torsionally rigid
in the vertical and horizontal directions and expands the rotary arm system's
cutting arm reach
around the length of the linear axis.
However the rotary arm system is propelled or powered, whether driving the
rotary arm system's
rotation from the it's configuration's base common vertical rotary 1 and or
vertical shaft, or some
other means with the added torque necessary to push, drive the length of
horizontal arm/boom 27
from the center of cutting material 35 around the outside edge where the power
saw is driving
the cutting. Adequate speed/power and torque/force are needed over the stiff
length of arms/
booms 27 to match the chainsaws 52/power saw/processing tool power/RPM and
cutting/working speed. Whatever the rotating arm/boom length or the size of
processing
tool/chainsaw/power saw/cutting element or power driving the saw, or the size
or type of
wood/material being cut/processed, or the size of cut being made, the amount
of force driving the
rotary arm system's rotation by man or machine needs to be adjustable with
each application as
necessary to match the working/cutting/processing speed required.
Whether directly driving the rotary arm system from the common vertical rotary
1 that's centered
to the working material or by directly pushing or pulling the chainsaw
52/power saw/processing
tool from around the outside circumference/perimeter, significantly more force
or torque is
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
needed for every length of cutting mechanism added. Less force is needed and
more torque
generated to push, pull, or operate from a longer length arm around the
outside
circumference/perimeter of the circle than that from a shorter radius arm that
rotates closer to the
center. Turning a force around a circle from the same diameter circle gets
easier as you get
wider to outside the circle using leverage to lessen the force applied.
Whereas the smaller your
rotation to drive that same size circle, greater force is applied moving less
torque around the
center with a lesser size rotating arm. Taking the route of less force around
the outside
circumference/perimeter and turning the force into increased rotational torque
energy makes
pulling/pushing the rotary arm systems' arm/arms from around the outside
circumference/perimeter (e.g.: with a line puller/winch) an economical way to
turn the rotary
arm system.
Figure 13 illustrates the rotary arm system apparatus that's attached with a
base plate to the top of
stump/cutting material being pulled with a line puller that's attached to an
additional arm on the
common vertical rotary while cutting around the outside perimeter.
By establishing anchor points and using the same center to the cutting
material common vertical
rotary axis 1 used to pivot the rotary arm systems' cutting path, 'additional
horizontal arm/arms
boom/booms' 22 as seen in Figure 13 ahead or behind, before/after the rotary
arm systems'
horizontal arm/boom 27 on the common vertical rotary 1 axis can be used to
anchor and winch
from. Adding additional arm/arms on the common vertical rotary 1 arm axis to
establish anchor
points with eg: one/directional lock and travel as a means of ratcheting
around the rotary arm
system's rotational axis resetting/repositioning the anchor points with manual
or autonomous
operation. Pushing/pulling the arms/booms to direct and lead from.
Whether the rotary arm system apparatus is driven by some mechanical means or
if the saw is
pushed/pulled around by hand, the purpose and method remain the same. If
propelled by human
force (hand guiding), this action involving leverage by a type of arm/lever
extending beyond the
arm/boom or from the outside of working area for the purpose of
pushing/pulling could be used
to lessen the mechanical/physical force needed to turn the rotary arm system
around its rotational
axis. This arm lever has the capacity to be built in many different ways as an
extension from the
horizontal arm/boom 27, attached to some part of the outside rotation of the
rotary arm system or
an attached arm extending beyond the working/processing tool itself. Any type
of stiff arm
created to be attached to the rotary arm system and used as a lever extending
beyond the outside
of rotary system for the purpose of lessening the force required to move the
mill around on its
cutting/working axes could help lessen the work needed by human force or
lessen the force
needed with mechanical help.
Figure 14 illustrates the rotary arm system apparatus with clamp attachment
using a wheel to
propel the saw around the base area perimeter of stump/cutting material,
cutting as it advances.
A wheel or traction gear 23, as seen in Figure 14 can be used to propel the
rotary arm system
apparatus on its common vertical rotary 1 similarly to how a "can opener" uses
a geared wheel to
propel a cutting wheel around the circumference cutting as it advances. A
geared wheel could
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
propel the apparatus while the working/processing tool cuts/works around the
circumference/perimeter as it advances.
Feed rollers for tree handling systems mounted on either side of a log
applying pressure are used
to roll the tree longitudinally. Rollers or track feed systems for log
handling roll the logs
lengthwise, perpendicular to the rollers. Rotary feed systems using tracks or
rollers or other types
used to move a log lengthwise for smaller size tree harvesting could also
propel/drive the apparatus
around a pivot to advance a cutting working/processing tool around the outside
circumference/perimeter of working material.
A rotary arm system chainsaw bar attachment configuration can work on a single
arm/post
attachment/connection much like some smaller chainsaw mills such as the
Granberg Alaskan
Small Chainsaw Mill 20 - G777, see patent: CA 1064371 "Log sawing attachment
for a
chainsaw". This rotary arm system configuration can use a single bar clamp on
the saw bar base
unlike the larger, original "Alaskan chainsaw mill" that uses 2 bar clamps
allowing the log to
pass between the two bar clamps attached on either end of the cutting bar
makes the mill to bar
connection stable. Since the rotary arm system attaches on or near the base of
the chainsaw's
cutting bar, an additional bar clamp near the chainsaw bar tip would be
difficult or impossible.
The rotary arm system is built to be used in the same freedom as how a tree
faller can
independently cut around the circumference/perimeter of a tree. Holding the
saw near the
chainsaw's cutting base or by holding the handles around the powerhead allows
the chainsaw bar
to cut freely using only the bar and chain to cut a groove up to the length of
the chainsaw bar
with a full-length cutting bar. A lumberjack or tree faller is one who often
falls larger size trees
than tree falling machines/ equipment are made to cut when cutting from the
same side of the
tree. This is partly because a human tree faller has the freedom to use their
chainsaw to cut from
all sides of the tree base much like the rotary arm system is designed to do.
Since the single bar
clamp chainsaw mill attachments are often used for shorter lengths of bars and
smaller size
cutting, additional holding arrangements near the powerhead will be helpful or
necessary to hold
the chainsaw 52 and/or the chainsaw bar and chain firmly and/or stable for
accomplishing the
rotary arm system method with larger size stumps/cutting material 35.
Small size mills with a single bar clamp allow this rotary arm system and
method to double the
diameter of cut performed with the same bar type clamp and saw size since the
"Stump Saw"
(rotary arm saw) doubles the length of cut possible by a single pass cut by
cutting from all or
both sides of stump/wood/cutting material. This invention allows smaller size
saws with shorter
lengths of bars with proven single bar clamp attachment useful to the sawyer
and landowner.
Large size wood material is not usually attempted with a chainsaw with half
the cutting width of
full-length cutting bar. The rotary arm system, however, gives the same jigged
results each time
with a properly functioning chainsaw 52 and the attached rotary arm system
configuration. The
single post attachments used by previous small mills is a proven application
that the rotary arm
system can use with their type of single post/bar attachment for cutting with
smaller size
chainsaw bar length.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
Also, on other single bar clamp chainsaw mills, the unclamped bar tip is most
unstable because it
applies similar force to both ends of the bar (clamped bar base and unclamped
bar tip) when
pushing the equal size linear material through the full length of bar. Whereas
the rotational
method of the rotary arm system usually applies the main force to the clamped
bar base where
the majority of work is done. With clamped side cutting all around the outside
perimeter/edge
and the bar tip near the axis of rotation not moving as much, less force is
applied working near
the center with the rotational force applied from the outside rotary
arm/chainsaw guide bar base
attachment making the chainsaw guide bar base attachment area the majority of
force usually
applied to the bar.
Additional fastening would help longer lengths of chainsaw bars remain solid,
stable and hold
stiff between the axis of rotation and the chainsaw bar and rotary arm system
connection. For
example, drilling and bolting a hole in the bar along with a regularly used
bar clamp would also
help hold the chainsaw's bar attachment in place, or other type chainsaw bar
attachment with
holes drilled with bolts and/or clamp would keep the bar from additional
movements from
twisting attachments around the rotating axis. Attaching to a solid fixed
bolting position rather
than a bar clamp that only relies on friction. Chainsaw bar studs and nuts are
the devices that
normally hold the bar solid from outside movements when cutting with a
chainsaw, as intended.
The rotary arm system arm holds a bar clamp that attaches to a metal
plate/angle that reaches
under the usually horizontally cutting/lateral positioned chainsaw that
attaches directly to the
chainsaw bar studs and with or without bar nut/stud extenders to hold the
chainsaw solid to cut
by.
Figure 15 illustrates a chainsaw with improved chainsaw bar clamp that
connects/attaches the bar
clamp to the bar studs.
A common single bar attachment with 'extended bracket invention' 24, (as seen
in Figure 15)
connecting directly to the bar studs will keep the bar from movements beyond
the rotary arm
system's normal function around the axis of rotation. In addition, connecting
the bar studs to a
regularly used bar clamp would make a single base clamp a multi-point improved
chainsaw base
solid attachment with bar clamp attached to bar studs. This multi-point single
bar attachment
uses an ordinary chainsaw bar post clamp (see patents: CA 1064371 and CA
2541734) that bolts
on either side of the chainsaw bar base (that relies on friction) and reaches
over to one or both
bar studs, making it a multi-point bracket attachment resembling a triangle-
shaped bolting
pattern.
Joining/adapting a bar clamp to the bar studs using a straight bracket adapter
or with a small
bend and/or fabrication with appropriate spacing when leaving or eliminating
the chainsaw
dawgs. Proper bar stud hole size depending on the saw model and whether one or
two studs are
a part of the bracket, with or without bar stud extenders and spacers, and
hole patterns depending
on the chainsaw model is an application that can help stiffen a chainsaw bar
attachment to the
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
rotary arm system. Each of the working/cutting/processing tools that are held
by the rotary arm
system will each have its/their own unique holding/fastening/attaching
mounting application.
A baseplate which is also a rotary arm system connection to the
stump/wood/cutting material
needs to be made stable in some way. The base plate 18 size and shape will
change depending
on the size of the rotary arm system's mill and the wood/cutting material it's
being attached to.
The base needs to be made solid in some way with fasteners of proper
size/function to hold the
base plate 18/cutting material solid and help keep the mills' horizontal 27
and vertical arm links
28 from movements that are beyond the rotary arm system cutting axis/axes.
Once the rotary
arm system is finished cutting the stump/wood/ cutting material that it's
attached to, the
fasteners/attachments need to be removed/unattached from the base plate 18 and
the "Stump
Saw"/rotary arm system raised off and removed from the stump/wood/cutting
material. The base
needs to be made solid on top of the wood material 35/cutting material with
whatever size base
footprint is needed. A rotten stump would make a center point attachment
difficult without
proper surface area attachment.
Separate base mount/support element attachment machines with the rotary arm
system as an arm
attachment configuration could position the saw with coordinates or using
weight/pressure could
help stabilize the cut and/or with types of clamps and grapples and sensors,
e.g.: pressure/force
sensor technology can further how the rotary arm system base can be made
stable as an e.g.:
hydraulic machine attachment.
A baseplate 18 and mounting hardware configuration is necessary for the rotary
arm system
baseplate's 18 stable connection to cut from. A definition of base plate in a
dictionary is: "a flat
supporting plate or frame at the base of a column, designed to distribute the
column's weight over
a greater area and provide increased stability" (Collins English Dictionary,
Harper Collins
Publishers). Pre-mounting brackets adds efficiency when attaching the rotary
arm system to the
working/processing material without the awkwardness of handling a portion of
or the entire rotary
arm system by hand. A separate attachment added for pre-attaching the base
attaches, connects,
and makes solid the base to rotary arm system connection. It would help
efficiency and cutting
accuracy when mounting and operating by hand (e.g., usually not as a vehicle
attachment) to pre-
set brackets to the working/processing material for best position and
strength.
Depending on the type of base attachment and leveling adjustments for how the
shape of the
stump face was left cut or broken, a stump/base plate attaching surface may
need cutting/altering
for proper base plate and rotary arm system's function. A steel base plate
that's perpendicular to
the base common vertical rotary without leveling adjusters will need to
flatten/adjust the
stump/material/object's top surface for a flat solid connection on the same
angle as the cutting
axis. All other materials in the way of the horizontal booms swing rotation
will need removal.
Once the rotary arm system's pre-mount bracket is attached, measuring and
adjusting the base
plate for the cut angle (e.g., sensors, laser level, straight edge, measuring
tape, etc.) would help
efficiency and cutting accuracy. Types of leveling adjusters for the base
plate, e.g., how
threaded adjusters used to tilt a camera, or a (ball joint) that is adjustable
and locking on an easy
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
tilt system. Adjusting the base plate angle/axis before or after the mill is
connected to the
bracket adjusts the cut angle. The rotary arm system can disassemble for
manageable
transportation or field use depending on the configuration, how it's built,
and its application. A
base plate pre-mount adapter could be used to pre-mount the rotary arm system
apparatus.
Most clamp/"grapple" base mounts will eliminate the need for further
processing of the stump
for proper base attachment.
A screw leveling platform like a 3- or 4-way screw leveling camera/mechanism
mount is a solid,
practically built type of leveling mechanism that could be built heavier duty
for industrial
applications.
This mechanism uses vertical screws to adjust a horizontal platform to a
desired angle. A similar
type of application is used when levelling light posts with anchor bolts
embedded in concrete as
a solid base attachment from the protruding portion of vertically embedded
bolts to screw and
level by. This arrangement of solid vertical bolts with nuts and usually
washers often on either
side of the mounting application screws the top and bottom nuts up or down to
change the angles
of the light post or of the attached application.
For this application, instead of concrete, vertical bolts could be attached
perpendicular to a
separate attached application/base plate to level the base plate/mount that's
attached to the
common vertical rotary or made part of a clamp/grapple or other type base
attachment
application attaching on/near a center point on the working material thus
using vertical bolts to
level the apparatus' usually horizontally oriented swing and cut angle by.
Using an adjusting tilt baseplate/base attachment for directing the cut angle
reduces the need to
shim the base plate/base attachment or shape the stump/material's base plate's
attaching surface
angle to match/resemble the rotary plane/cutting axis path of travel.
Depending on the tree/stump/material shape/ground angle and the desired cut
angle, an
adjustable base mount will be helpful or necessary for most portable
applications of the rotary
arm system when deciding the best angle to cut on and when used for pre-
setting base mounts.
Shimming can help produce the desired tilt angle platform and can be useful to
change the angle
for the rotary arm system's base plate mount.
The rotary arm system that's built with a material base mount attaches to the
best position to
execute the best cut for each application. Since not all stumps are created
equal and with
environmental pressure to adapt to their surroundings, trees grow different in
each environment
and landscape forcing them to transform and compensate their shape to the
ground where they
sprout. All stumps grow different starting at the roots, making the cut
axis/axes unique to each
stump cutting material to maximize the wood/material value and process.
Adjusting the base
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
mount angle is necessary, depending on how each tree grows to its environment
to make the
lowest cut and all cut angles unique to each tree.
A grapple 30 can be a good base attachment to hold the rotary arm system
apparatus arm
attachment.
Figure 16 illustrates a basic linear clamp for the rotary arm system
apparatus' material
attachment.
Figure 17 illustrates the rotary arm system apparatus with a linear clamp
material attachment
that's supported by a separate element and cutting around the stump perimeter
base area.
Figure 18 illustrates the rotary arm system apparatus as a single arm cutting
attachment
supported by a cartesian/rectangular gantry.
Figure 19 illustrates a vehicle with an attached supporting element that
lifts/raises/places the
apparatus as a supported attachment with a rotary material attachment
rotational perimeter
cutting from the bottom of stump/cutting material.
Figure 20 illustrates the rotary arm system apparatus with grapple attaching
closest to the
common vertical rotary and articulating cutting arm.
Figure 21 illustrates the rotary arm system apparatus with grapple attaching
to stump and
centering the common vertical rotary over perimeter axis being cut.
As illustrated in Figures 16 and 17, (see also: Figures 14, 24,31, 32) a
linear clamp style 25 that
resembles certain grapple type abilities reaches/stretches across the stump
top cut face 51 and
reaches down to grab the stump's top outside circumference/perimeter edges and
holds firmly for
cutting. Centered to the linear type clamp 25 an adjustable opening usually
connects to the
common vertical rotary 1 that rotates the clamp to the best position on the
stump cut face/cutting
material. Next to the clamp's attachment on the same common vertical rotary 1
axis rotates an
adjustable linear/articulating arm 27 extending/retracting past the outside
circumference/perimeter of working material to an arm/boom link 28 reaching
up/down/around
the outside working height of the base mounted material to a rotary 4,37 or
spherical joint 5
mounting a usually horizontal oriented adjustable/rotating powered
saw/chainsaw 52/processing
tool. The clamp/grapple jaws attach perpendicular to the
stump/cutting/processing/working
material's outside edge and open away from the center common vertical rotary 1
attachment to
stretch across stump/cutting/processing material's circumference/perimeter and
close the clamp
25 with adjustable rotating jaws on opposite sides of the stump's outside
attachment
section/vertical/contoured/ angled edges.
The jaws curve matches/resembles tree stump/working/processing material
outside edge contour.
The rotary arm system's arm/arms built as an attachment can be multiple
cutting arms.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
When a separate base mount is used to hold the processing/working material
steady, the rotary
arm system can be used as arm/arms as an attachment 26 without the base mount
as a part of the
configuration, see Figure 18. The support element attachment section usually
attaches above the
arms centered common vertical rotary 1 and rotates the horizontal-oriented
arm/arms 27 centered
above its workspace and working material. Just beyond the top outside edge of
working material
rotates a usually perpendicular and vertically oriented arm/arms 28 around the
usually
vertical/working height axis and with a rotary rotates a usually horizontal-
mounted powered
saw/chainsaw/processing tool. With the saw's/work tool's ability to epicycle,
the saw rotates
around the working materials 35 centered rotary joint doubling the length of
cut from all or both
sides.
Rather than attaching to the top center of working/processing material and
making its first cut its
lowest 2, the rotary arm system configuration with arm/arms as an attachment
moves, rotates,
and works around the material the same way as the base attachment model but by
rotating the
horizontal arm 27 just above the top surface and makes each cut from the top 3
of material
working downward, unless instability allow otherwise.
The height of a perpendicular linear arm 28 is often adjusted just above the
working/processing
material 35 by adjustments on the attachment on the horizontal arm 27.
An optional and adjustable in length cutting stabilizer could make contact
with the
working/processing material that's below the attachment section common
vertical rotary joint.
The portable sawmill rotary arm system configuration can cut from the bottom 2
and work up,
whereas the arm/arms as an attachment configuration 26 with separate material
base attachment
29 cuts from the top 3 and works its way down. If the rotary arm system's
arm/arms attachment
26 that attaches to near the top of the common vertical rotary joint 1 to a
supporting element also
attaches to the material underneath the common vertical rotary 1 with a base
mount solid to the
working material and adequate arm length (see Figure 19), it could also cut
from the bottom 2
working up, as a rotary arm system portable sawmill configuration. When
cutting/removing
material from the top, the arm length of working height depends mostly on the
thickness of
cut/cuts and is not as necessary to be as long when cutting and removing
material from the top.
The rotary arm system makes a complete diameter cut across the working
material and repeating
the process, working toward the material base attachment.
Like the portable sawmill rotary arm system configuration, the arm/arms
attachment
configuration 26 rotates vertically around the working height
circumference/perimeter of the
material holding a usually horizontally mounted chainsaw 52, but not limited
to, as it can also
hold a circular saw on different angles in a similar way.
The rotary arm system's cutting/processing arm/arms 26 can be used as a
machine attachment or
on its own with a material base mount.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
With the rotary arm system, the arm/arms on its/their own 26 or with a base
mount, is the
invention.
The arm/arms 26 for this invention can be an attachment and does not need to
be mounted to the
stump/cutting material.
Base setup for rotary arm system arm/arms as an attachment and used without
machine and
without the base plate requires the base mounted attachment to be outside of
arm swing area, i.e.:
like a cartesian/rectangular gantry/apparatus.
The rotary arm system has the option to be powered by a support element's
separate machine
power source.
The rotary arm system can be controlled manually or "hand guided" but may work
more
efficiently powered with technology (i.e., actuators and computer programmed
with sensors,
etc.).
The rotary arm system as an attachment using more than one rotary arm
configuration can attach
the base attachment section to the wrist of the previous rotary arm
configuration in a series with
their own separate configurations or with the same configuration as a system
that repeats itself.
The rotary arm system as an attachment using more than one rotary arm
configuration with their
own configurations can branch off each other making a network of rotary arm
configurations
with their own end effectors.
Figure 22 illustrates a quarry saw/rock cutting chainsaw built as a rotary arm
system
configuration with common vertical rotary centered, rotating and cutting an
outcrop/material.
A chainsaw or a circular saw could be used for this invention to cut wood or
stone, depending on
the blade or chain used (see Figure 22). "In contrast to the cutting of wood,
that is removed
primarily in the form of chips, when concrete is being cut, fine particles are
removed by abrasion
as fine dust ... in this manner a chain of a chainsaw for concrete can be
manufactured from a
chain of a chainsaw for wood in an especially economical manner in that the
cutting segment is
melted onto each top of a tooth of a tooth of the chain of a chainsaw for
wood" (See CA patent:
2556661 CHAIN OF A CHAINSAW FOR CONCRETE by Applicant: Dolmar GMBH
(Germany) Inventor: Lehmann, Rolf (Germany), 2005.
A quarry saw, such as Eurostone machine, 70RA/P (Italy) chainsaw is designed
to execute
horizontal and vertical cuts of marble and other tough stones without the need
for water cooling.
As such, the rotary arm method and system for processing material claimed for
this invention is
not limited to cutting tree stumps/wood material. This rotary arm system also
has the ability to
cut stone, marble, and/or other tough stone. This invention claims the method
of cutting stone
using this rotary arm system application. Using a quarry chainsaw/stone
circular saw with the
rotary arm method and system for perimeter cutting rock outcrops/stones and
formations to
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
create a geographically useful surface and can help areas for development of
land and
recreational areas. Also helpful for the study of geology. Eliminating quarry
saws' standard
features such as the track mobility system and other features drastically
reduces the weight of the
quarry chainsaw, to use certain quarry saw components to help build a "Stone
Saw" version of
the rotary arm system. A chainsaw that can cut wood or stone wouldn't be
affected by rocks
integrated in the wood and tree stump base.
This invention is only limited to the chain's cutting ability. Any power
saw/chainsaw/circular
saw or plunge saw/processing tool capable of being mounted to and carrying out
the method
described in this invention could be used.
A jib crane resembles a simple model of this invention and could be modified
and configured in
a similar way to carry out the method of this invention. There is room for
other design types
providing the method and invention are applicable.
Like the previously mentioned "Tree Felling and Grappling Head" (US Patent:
9,795,091), an
excavator can represent an articulating rotary arm system configuration given
that it raises the
arm/boom vertically on horizontal rotaries and swings arm/boom from base
horizontally on a
centered common vertical rotary.
A robotic arm/boom design or any machine or apparatus built in the way of this
rotary arm
method and system and however it is powered or driven, is unique to this
invention.
Figure 23 illustrates a side view of an excavator rotational perimeter
cutting.
When matching the cutting speed of a quarry saw 43 to the swing speed of an
excavator 44, an
excavator has the ability to cut the same as the rotary arm system method to
cut off the stone
outcrop, hill, or other large cuttable mass 35 an excavator 44 can stand on
top of. The rotary arm
system attaches its base to the top of the working material, similarly an
excavator can stabilize
the arm swing common vertical rotary 1 base as necessary with jacks, blocking,
etc. to accurately
swing/cut around the common vertical rotary 1 axis of the excavator swing
plane axis. Adjusting
excavator swing speed gearing and its boom, arm, wrist controls to match a
working quarry saw's
cutting bar 43 attachment an excavator works rotational perimeter
navigating/cutting/working as
this rotary arm system and cuts like a quarry saw. Matching an excavator swing
speed to a
quarry saw cutting speed with computer controls and sensors to adjust
excavator's movements to
maintain a proper cut. Lengthening the excavator's boom and arm to reach below
the
excavator/ground base attachment for wider, deeper horizontal
circumference/perimeter-type
working/cutting, an excavator can be built to work as a rotary arm system
configuration. From a
stabilized ground base, a vertical rotating, horizontal/swinging excavator arm
reaches below its
rotary base that's centered on top of the cutting material 35. Rotating the
arm/boom below the
base around the circumference/perimeter and cutting off the material 35 that
the excavator is
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
mounted on top of. Horizontally mounted and cutting perpendicular or on an
angle to the
vertical rotating axis of the horizontally swinging excavator.
Figure 24 illustrates a front view of the rotary arm system apparatus with a
linear clamp and
dual-cutting arms extending to near the base of attached stumps/cutting
material.
Figure 25 illustrates a front view of the rotary arm system apparatus with two
articulating cutting
arms on a vertical column/ common vertical rotary attached to a base plate
mounted on top of a
stump/cutting material.
A multi-arm rotary arm system configuration with base attachment arms (see
Figure 33) and the
cutting arms (see Figures 24 and 25) all rotate independent about the same
common vertical
3.0 rotary 1 axis. It's the arm attachment that rotates closest to the
material 35 that works the side of
the material 35 that's closest to the common vertical rotary 1. It's the side
of the common vertical
rotary that rotates furthest from the material 35 that has the arm attachment
that works the
material furthest from the common vertical rotary 1.
The rotary arm system configuration with multiple arms all attach to a common
vertical rotary 1,
all have their own end effectors and degrees of freedom, and all have a common
goal.
All rotary arm system configurations need stable material 35 to rotate and
work around.
A multi-arm robot rotary arm system with base arm configuration works on the
same principle as
the simplest mechanical rotary arm system configuration whereby both need a
stable common
vertical rotary attaching to the working material 35 to make apparatus and
material stable to
rotate and work/cut around.
A dual-armed rotary arm system robot/machine/apparatus can have one arm to use
as an
attachment to the working material 35 and the other arm used to rotate and
work/cut around the
attached material 35.
The rotary arm system and processing/working/cutting material 35 are both made
stable for
processing/working/cutting by attaching them together. If the material is made
stable on its own
without the rotary arm system material base attachment, the rotary arm system
can work as an
arm/arms attachment 26 without having to attach itself to the material.
If the common vertical rotary 1 is above the working material and 'cutting
from the top 3' of
cutting material the rotary arm system with a material base mount arm
attachment will need to be
mounted to the top of common vertical rotary 1 (or furthest from the working
material) to
reach/attach to the working material beyond the cutting working arms from the
common vertical
rotary. Without the rotary arm system's attached base mount, a separate base
mount would be
helpful or necessary to attach to the underside of cutting material. If the
cutting material has its
own separate base mount 29 the rotary arm system arm/arms as an attachment
configuration 26
rotates from the center and can cut from the top 3 and work down whereas the
rotary arm system
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
configuration that often mounts to the top (see Figure 20) of cutting material
can make its lowest
cut first 2 while working toward the top mounted base. The base mount arm/arms
can attach
near or at arms length from the common vertical rotary 1 that's centered 21
(see Figure 21) to the
processing/working/cutting material 35. Arms orientation depends on the rotary
arm system's
configuration and how it processes/works/cuts the material that's held by the
base attaching
arms/material attachment and works towards the attachment until the attachment
is cut off.
A separate portable machine with a swinging arm/boom sits next to the stump on
unstable forest
floor which would make a clamp 25/grapp1e30 type attachment (e.g.: patents: US
4576406A, CA
2155450, CA 2233641) with top or bottom stump/material base mount a good
rotary arm system
configuration to saw with. Commonly when the rotary arm system is built as a
machine
attachment, it is built to attach with minimal linkage between the machine and
the apparatus'
material attachment section. Machine attachment section depending on the
rotary arm system
arm configuration. For example: a cartesian robot-type rotary arm system
configuration 10 built
for the rotary arm method and system with a separate material base mount 29
uses single or
multi-arm cutting attachments and can cut from the top working toward the base
attachment, see
Figure 18.
Figure 26 illustrates a side view of the rotary arm system apparatus
representing a trailer version
with a supporting element holding the apparatus as a cutting arm attachment,
cutting from the top
of stump/cutting material that's being held by a separate base attachment.
When the arm attachment 26 is made solid and stable from a support terminal
(as in Figures 18
and 26) the rotary arm system as an arm cutting attachment 26 can work and cut
starting from the
top 3 of cutting material working its way down toward the materials' separate
base mount
attachment 29.
When using a cartesian gantry rotary arm system configuration 10, as
illustrated in Figure 6 for
the rotary arm system and method with separate material base attachment 29 and
without using
rotary arm system 26, the rectangular X, Y, Z linear coordinates will need to
guide the saw
around the processing/working/cutting material. The drop-down vertical Z-axis
49 that's
connected to a cartesian gantry has added wrist rotation 4,5,37 mounted to the
horizontal cutting
chainsaw/power saw/processing tool with X, Y linear coordinates 50 for
vertically rotating the
circumference/perimeter of the material.
When using the rotary arm system 26 as an attachment on the cartesian gantry
10 (see Figure 18)
a separate base mount 29 will need to hold the cutting material in place
usually from the bottom
like how a conventional sawmill holds a log steady from the bottom and cuts
from the top.
Then the rotary arm system that normally attaches itself at an arms distance
apart from the
working side of the material can be built without a base attachment to the
working material 35
and can be used with cutting/processing arm/arms only as an attachment 26 to a
supporting
element.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
If a separate material base mount 29 is attached under the cutting material
like that on fixed or
portable trailer type sawmills, then the rotary arm system as a portable
trailer version, as
illustrated in Figure 26 works like most regular portable sawmills cutting the
attached material
from the top 3 working downward.
If the rotary arm system is a trailer version with separate material base
attachment, then the
rotating/height adjusting rotary arm system arm configuration needs to be
lowered and centered
above the working material 35 by an adjustable elevated horizontal member or
any of the
linear/articulating support configuration that can center, raise, and lower
the rotary arm system
over the cutting material 35.
Linear/articulating configurations, such as a "jib crane" may support the
rotary arm system as an
attachment. A linear/articulating lift/support system can center, raise, and
lower the rotary arm
system from on a fixed mounted bed and can assist a portable trailer rotary
arm system version to
work from the top of cutting material downward.
A portable trailer rotary arm system arm version can use linear or rotator
fasteners 29 to
mount/attach the cutting material to the portable rotary arm system's trailer
cutting bed that's
built of proper shape and size to easily rest large vertically and
horizontally oriented material 35
for horizontal/all directional/irregular circumference/perimeter for cutting
on the trailer deck.
The trailer version can have an attached material base mount 29 separate from
the rotary arm
system cutting apparatus or built with additional cutting and material base
mount arm/arms that
both rotate on the same common vertical rotary 1 axis. Whatever rotary arm
system
configuration with or without the material base attachment is the invention.
The trailer version
of the rotary arm system can be built without a proper mounting deck leaving
awkward cutting
materials, i.e., tall vertical stumps and large heavy rocks (when using proper
stone cutting saws)
to be left on the ground next to the trailer. This version is able to clamp or
grab the attached
material to the rotary arm system's portable trailer or make solid in some way
for solid
circumference/perimeter cutting from all angles, depending on material
attachment location.
For stumps/roots or material 35 needing cleaning from rocks, dirt, or other
debris the rotary arm
system and method with saw cutting/processing application has epicyclic
ability to cut/work and
rotate from the centrally located common vertical rotary 1 that can also hold
a variety of tools
including a pressure washer 33 to clean working material to prepare for
cutting.
Figure 27 illustrates a side view of the rotary arm system apparatus with a
grapple attaching to
the top of stump/working material and extending an additional arm link holding
a pressure
washer under the opposite side of attached material.
Using a pressure washer 33 instead of a power saw with the rotary arm system
and method could
help to use "rock locating sensors" to locate, wash and clean rocks, dirt and
debris. High enough
water pressure can clean and remove bark as a way of processing or preparing
the wood or all
cuttable material 35.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
If a stone cutting power saw is used to cut the base of the stumps at the
dirt/ground level, then
stone detecting sensors and pressure washing may not be as necessary for some
processing.
If the rotary arm system that holds a power saw/circular saw cuts wood/stone
it can also hold a
plurality of tools, including (but not limited to) a rotating
blade/disc/cutting torch to cut
steel/metal.
The rotary arm system is only limited to a tools ability to process/work/cut
from the rotary arm
systems' arms' manoeuverability, i.e., a linear/articulating clamp/grapple can
grab either side of a
large metal pipe and navigate a tool around the outside curved
surface/circumference/perimeter
at a desired location from the base attachment.
Figure 28 illustrates a side view of the rotary arm system apparatus that's
upside down with the
common vertical rotary under the working material with grapple attachment
working material
closes to the common vertical rotary.
Figure 29 illustrates a side view of the rotary arm system apparatus with
cutting arm working
closest to the rotary and grapple arm working furthest from the common
vertical rotary.
Figure 30 illustrates a side view of the rotary arm system apparatus with a
spherical ground base
encircling the working material with grapple attachment near the common
vertical rotary and
curved bracket/arm rotating the inside of sphere base and giving working arm
access around the
outside of working material.
If stumps are being worked on (cut or pressure washed) then access is often
needed for all sides
and underneath. The way to access the underside of the working material is by
attaching a link
34 (see Figures 27 and 29) to extend base attachment or cutting processing
tool axes reach while
suspending the material by a base mount with a load handling device.
A multi-arm rotary arm system configuration that rotates the base arm
attachment side of the
common vertical rotary 1 furthest from the working material 35 attaches the
material furthest
from the common vertical rotary 1. When flipping the rotary arm system upside
down the arm
that normally grabs from the bottom now grabs from the top. If holding steady
from the top
makes underside cutting 2 possible, then the multi-armed rotary arm system
configuration that
now grabs from the top furthest from the common vertical rotary 1 and rotates
underneath can be
mounted and made stable to the ground below the common vertical rotary 1. The
base arm that
now grabs from the top can be built with strength to lift from the top for
"pick and place"
material.
If a rotary arm system configuration with the common vertical rotary 1 that
rotates on top of the
material 35 that has a base arm that rotates and works closest to the working
material 35 is
flipped upside down, then the grabbing arm that grabbed from the top of
working material would
then grab from the lower-level section, see Figure 28. This makes an added
material mount 36
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
that's on top of the common vertical rotary 1 necessary to place material.
Thus, having grapple
arm axes to grab material however necessary or grab material from the top and
flip the working
material on top of the common vertical rotary 1 that's now on the underside of
working material.
If the base attachment is without the horizontal rotator 37 to flip the
material 35 on top of the
common vertical rotary 1 then the material 35 will need to be placed on top
some other way.
If a stump and "root ball" or other types are being held suspended in the air
by the material base
attachment or when used with upside down rotary arm system configuration with
ground base 38
under the common vertical rotary 1 attachment, an added arm link 34 could
rotate in connection
with the regular rotary arm configuration. Located at the end of the vertical
arm/wrist axes
location attaches an additional length adjusting link 34 to access the
underside of working
material attaches to the arm link 28,32 that rotates the working height. This
is access that is
necessary for processing the opposite side of the working materials from its
base common
vertical rotary 1.
Another way to work the suspending material from all sides including the
opposite side of the
base mount and able to elevate without a lifting device would be to raise the
material 35 by a
"ground base mount" 38 that can be used for upside down rotary arm system
application and
surround the material by a "ground base mount" by putting the
processing/working/cutting
material in the center of a sphere 39 (see Figure 30). Material 35 is
mounted/attached to the
inside of the sphere 39 allowing tool axes all the way around the working
material 35. Rolling
gantry mounted on the inside of sphere 39 moves around the sphere 39 to access
the material
from all sides within the spherical base 39 make-up. This spherical shaped
base mount 39 has a
spherical work envelope with working tools attached to the carriage 41 on the
curved axes gantry
that rotates around materials perimeter/circumference for full processing
tool/cutting access or
pressure washing from all sides of material. The curved/alternative shaped
member for arm/tool
access as a guide system works on the same rotary arm system theory as all the
other rotating
arm configurations still mount and rotate from the common vertical rotary 1
near the center of
processing/working/cutting material 35.
Good machine response when cutting/washing material is placed in the center of
a surrounding
sphere shape ground base 39 that's built for tool access, with less arm length
linkage required.
Arm/tool attachment on the curved axes/rotating gantry moves adjacent to the
inside of the
sphere ground base wall. Rotating the curved axes around the working material
gives up close
access with less arm lengths within the controlled spherical make-up.
Linear or articulating arms 42 "holding" cutting/working/processing tools
etc., working around
the material that's placed in the center of a sphere by rotating the arms
and/or the material both
from the centered to the material rotator joint (common vertical rotary 1)
located on one or both
sides of the centered working material axis.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
Comparing linear type sawmills for logs that move the cutting blade through
the log or other
types that move the log through the blade, the rotary arm system's arm that
rotates the saw
around the cutting material can also rotate the material by the base
attachments common vertical
rotary 1 that holds the working material.
Rotating the rotary arm system from its base common vertical rotary 1 that's
mounted on or near
the outside surface center to the working material 35 with the arms common
base rotary 1 axis
mounted on top or underneath or rotating on the same vertical axis from both
sides of working
material or any side that's mounted on or near the outside center of working
material. Since the
common vertical rotary 1 axis rotates from both sides of the working material
thus allowing for
.. material base connection from one or both sides of working material.
Whatever the type of base
attachment and its orientation that centers the shared arm/base common
vertical rotary 1 axis can
have a spherical work envelope to allow access to all sides around the working
material.
A ground base with common vertical rotary 1 attachment mounted near the center
of the working
material can be attached inside a spherical application encircled by a sphere-
shaped shell/body
39 to gain tool access around the inside of the sphere. The sphere/alternative
shaped body 39
used for added strength, access and function can extend the base common
vertical rotary 1 to the
opposite side of the working material on the same axis from its common arm
attachment/base
attachment common vertical rotary 1. An additional common vertical rotary and
base attachment
can be used on the same axis or opposite sides of the attached material
anytime design allows.
From the base attachment the centered common vertical rotary 1 that's often
underneath the
working material for this application can attach a curved/alternative shaped
member used for arm
tool access as a guide system 40 that rotates on the apparatus' common
vertical rotary 1 for
base/arm attachment. Rotating the curved/alternative shaped member around the
base rotary 1
and used as arm access for a rolling gantry carriage 41 to attach linear
and/or articulating arms
.. 42 with their tools to work from all sides and angles around the working
material from inside the
sphere. The sphere 39 shape ground base could be a cube or alternative shape
frame base to
surround the rotary arm system and configured for the purpose of the rotary
arm system and
method.
Without the strength of the sphere encircling body, it would be more rigid for
curved gantry with
a full circle/surrounding shape with the strength of a full circle/alternative
shaped structure used
as a gantry, on its own without the sphere base body, instead of a semi-circle
of lesser structure.
A way to work with uniform stump sizes when harvesting whole stumps with roots
intact is to
shape the stump with a type of stump grinder/trimmer/shaper to create uniform
wood shapes.
Developing a consistent, efficient machine for rotating uniform and irregular
material shapes
within the workspace of this rotary arm system and method.
Trimming whole stumps with roots and all cuttable material to uniform
shapes/sizes for each
rotary arm system application within the workspace of each configuration.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
Figure 31 illustrates a side view of the rotary arm system apparatus with
clamp base attachment
mounted on either side of stump top vertical edges reaching an articulating
arm with a grapple
attaching below the linear clamps for repositioning the common vertical rotary
for cutting the
stumps/cutting material.
Figure 32 illustrates a side view of the rotary arm system apparatus attached
and supported with
a clamp and grapple that's centered to the stump/material being cut.
Figure 33 illustrates a side view of the rotary arm system apparatus with two
base attaching arms
with grapples mounting to the stump/cutting material centering the common
vertical rotary while
cutting the perimeter.
Figure 34 illustrates a side view of a support cable holding the rotary arm
system apparatus rigid.
Figure 35 illustrates a front view of a rotary grapple used with the rotary
arm system apparatus
with twisting grabbers built with rubber torsion to adjust to the materials'
contours.
Quick/ easy placement of the rotary arm system single or multi-arm robot
configuration attaches
on top of the partly manufactured horizontally cut stump top surface 51 or
on/near any center
point of all working material. A linear/rotator base arm's clamp 25/grapple 30
opens past the
width of the stump/material diameter to lower the vertical oriented grabbers
to the outside
perimeter/stump outside vertical height edges. Once the rotary arm system
apparatus is attached,
it can change angles and reposition the common vertical rotary 1 over uneven
stump shapes to
find its center 21 to rotate and cut from. Using both/all grabbers
linear/rotator as necessary
makes a multi-base attachment to rotate and cut from. The apparatus reaches
its clamp/grapple
arm for manual or autonomous repositioning to make a more desired location and
angle to rotate
and cut from. Doing so, the rotary arm system
apparatus/robot/machine/configuration uses a
base arm to reposition its base attachment/common vertical rotary 1.
If a clamp/grapple arm represents the rotary arm system base for a material 35
attachment, then
an additional clamp/grapple arm can be used to attach and reposition the first
attachment arm for
a more desired common vertical rotary 1 location, making the rotary arm system
a multi-base
arm robot/machine/configuration.
When selecting a base mount/material attachment that is appropriate for the
rotary arm system
configuration whether a model operated under machine power or a lighter weight
portable type
configuration, selecting the type of base mount and how it functions is of
important
consideration.
The base mount, when using a linear or rotator type of clamp/grapple,
grabs/attaches to the
processing/working/cutting material 35 and holds the material steady to cut
by. The direction
and type of cut depends on the selected rotary arm system configuration with
the appropriate
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
base mount. When selecting a clamp 25 or grapple 30 as a base mount either
linear or rotational
depends on the rotary arm system configuration and how it attaches to the
material.
Since most stumps flare and get wider at the base the trees linear contours
are uneven at most
tree bases in addition to other natural material mounting surface shapes. In
particular to grabbing
on uneven grabbing surfaces, it would be less damaging to the outer wood
surface if the
clamps/grapples' wood connection would not "bite" into the surface when the
clamp/grapple
applies pressure. A way to lessen pressure points where the grapple is
attaching is to "widen" the
surface areas contacts attachments of the clamp 25/grapple 30 to
wood/material/workpiece
connection. A way to widen the clamps'/grapples' contact points of attachment
to the uneven
.. material surfaces is to adapt the contacts to match the contour angles on
the material 35 that the
clamp/grapple is grabbing to.
This can be done by rotating the contact points of the clamps/grapples
grabbers to match the
contour of the surface that it's grabbing. By twisting/adjusting the contact
points where the
clamp/grapple contacts the materials' contours that it's grabbing, the
grapples contacts will twist
to adjust to the contour angles of the material to match the materials outside
surface shape
maximizing contact surface area to limit contact pressure points. Spreading
out the
clamps/grapples contact points of attachment makes a wider gripping hold to
attach with more
surface area to bite less into the cutting material that the clamp/grapple is
attaching to.
Depending on the clamps/grapples' pads design and shape (i.e., contact pads
curved shape and
.. low impact tooth design), its type of contact material, and its adaption to
the surface contours,
adequate pressure can be applied with the help of sensors to limit slipping,
with more friction
and less biting having wider contact points against the cutting material. By
applying a force to
the outer rotating pads, the grapples grabbers twist creating a torsional load
to a desired measure
of torque around an axis using "rubber torsion" 46. Using the same theory as
torsion bars for
.. twisting a torsion axle, the outer grapple pads 47 will adjust upon contact
and/or pressure applied
to the contour shape of the grapples grabbing surface. Like rubber torsion
used for trailer
application, the outer tubes are attached to the frame area and the inner
steel bar rotates with the
arm. When a similar theory is used for an adjustable "Contour Grapple 48" (see
Figure 35) the
outer tube is attached to pads that rotate around the inner steel tube that
is, or used in relation to,
.. the grapples grabbing arms. The grapples' construction material will depend
mainly on the
grip/friction of contact pads with their applied measure of pressure for the
torsion size and
material type and their contact shape applied to the surface that's being
grabbed.
A contour grapple that's not used for lifting can be built with lighter weight
material for a more
portable design that's less damaging to the outer wood/cutting material
surface to hold firmly for
.. processing.
A complete linear clamp and rotator grapple assembly that's built of light
weight material and
uses rubber torsion for rotating the contact pads attachments adjusted to the
workpieces contours
to hold steady for cutting; and
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21
A complete linear clamp and rotator grapple assembly that's built built heavy
duty for lifting
weight and uses rubber torsion for rotating the contact pads attachments
adjusted to the
workpieces contours to hold steady for cutting.
The improved chainsaw bar clamp and the improved "torsion" grapple are
necessary for optimal
performance that adds rigidity to the rotary arm system to work as intended.
The rotary arm system is constructed solid and free from movements beyond the
working axes of
the rotary arm system, constructed solid for added rigidity, and may be
constructed solid with
added support cables 19 for added rigidity.
Figure 34 illustrates a side view of a support cable 19 holding the apparatus
rigid.
3.0
Configured for strength and weight management to maintain a rigid frame system
for its intended
application and adjustable to rotate along the working height and around the
perimeter of
workpiece and material is how the rotary arm system is built.
The present invention is not limited to the above description. Adaptations,
alterations,
modifications, substitutions, and variations to the rotary arm system
configurations described
above may be possible without departing from the scope of the invention
wherein the invention
is a rotary arm system comprising an attached work element configured for
working around the
outside surface of a structure and workpiece along the work height about a
common vertical
rotary axis where arms rotate the structure and workpiece and a method for
rotating the rotary
arm system. The rotary arm system comprising a plurality of apparatuses and
adjustable arm
configurations for applying the method described above.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-03-21