US 12,290,030 B2
Self-aligning pruning device
Jeremy Merrick, Concord, NC (US)
Filed by Jeremy Merrick, Concord, NC (US)
Filed on Jul. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/862,875.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/222,006, filed on Jul. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0016831 A1, Jan. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. A01G 23/095 (2006.01); A01G 3/08 (2006.01); B64D 1/22 (2006.01); B64U 10/14 (2023.01); B64U 101/40 (2023.01)
CPC A01G 23/095 (2013.01) [B64U 10/14 (2023.01); B64U 2101/40 (2023.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for self-aligning pruning of trees, the apparatus comprising:
a saw;
a motor for driving the saw by a shaft;
a support apparatus for the saw;
an alignment guide; and
wherein the alignment guide includes a first leg that is angled down and away from the saw and the saw is connected to the support apparatus such that the saw can rotate relative to the support structure in a horizontal plane; and
wherein a second leg is positioned such that together the first leg and the second leg define the alignment guide, the alignment guide is in a V-shape, the saw is located near an apex of the V, and the shaft is disposed between the first and the second legs.
 
11. An apparatus for self-aligning pruning of trees, the apparatus comprising:
a frame;
a saw that is attached to the frame;
the saw comprising:
a motor;
a blade mounted on a shaft;
a power supply connected to the cutting tool;
a means for controlling the power supply;
a support apparatus for supporting the frame, wherein the support apparatus is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle;
a means for positioning the support apparatus comprising:
means for positioning the frame horizontally;
means for positioning the frame vertically;
a balancing bar;
a plurality of holes defined through the balancing bar;
a first leg that is angled down and away from the cutting tool and the frame is connected to the support apparatus such that the frame can rotate relative to the support structure in a horizontal plane;
a second leg positioned such that together the first leg and the second leg define a V-shaped guide wherein the saw is located near an apex of the V, and the shaft is disposed between the first leg and the second leg; and
an abradable guide block positioned near the saw that is operable together with the first leg to prevent items from being carried by around the shaft of the saw by action of the blade.
 
14. A method for operating an apparatus for self-aligning pruning, the apparatus having: a saw mounted on a shaft; a means for activating the saw; a support apparatus for the saw; an alignment guide; and wherein the alignment guide includes a first leg that is angled down and away from the saw and a second leg is positioned such that together the first leg and the second leg define the alignment guide, the alignment guide is in a V-shape, the saw is located near an apex of the V, and the shaft is disposed between the first leg and the second leg and the saw is connected to the support apparatus such that the saw can rotate relative to the support structure in a horizontal plane, the method comprising:
attaching the apparatus to a UAV,
flying the UAV such that the apparatus is above an object to be cut;
operating the saw;
lowering the apparatus such that the object to be cut is within the alignment guide,
continuing to lower the apparatus such that the operating saw engages the object to be cut; and
cutting the object to be cut.