Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Thls invention relates ~o slashers, and more
particularly to mobile, self-propelled slashers capable of use in
difficult terrain.
It is conventional practice in lumber harvesting to fell
a number of trees, process them through a dellmber, and then to
saw lengths of the tree o~f, ~sually in 8 or 16 foot lengths, for
later processing, an operatlon known as slashing.
Many attempts have been made to design machines capable
of carrying out slashing operations at hlgh speed. However, the
prior art does not provide a mobile slasher that can be operated
by one person, that is capable of moving in rough terrain SUCII as
a partially cleared forest, that does not require expensive
conveyors for conveying a log through the machine, that does not
require lifting of the whole tree for processing, that is stable
even on surfaces that are not perfectly level, and can be
manufactured at low cost.
SUM~ARY OF THE I~V~NTION
The present invention provide~ a machine tha~ satis~ies
the above requirements in a surprisingly simple and efficient
manner.
The invention provides a mobile slasher co~prlsing: a
self-propelled steerable vehicle having a frame; slasher means
mounted on said frame, said slasher means comprislng a cradle that
is oriented transversely to the length o~ said frame and is open
at one end, a butt plate being positioned adjacent ~he opposite
end of said cradle, and a circular saw heing positioned on said
frame adjacent said open end of said cradle and being operable in
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a cutting plane perpendicular to the length of said cradle for
cutting trees contained therein; and loading means on said frame
for engaging the butt end of a felled tree and moving it
longitudinally into said slasher means through sald open end of
said cradle and into engagement with said butt plate; said mobile
slasher keing adapted to be driven to a location adjacent the butt
end of a felled tree, positioned with said cradle oriented
generally longitudinally of the tree, and operated at that
location in repeated cycles to cut the tree into predetermined
lengths, such cut lengths being removed from said cradle by said
loading means for subsequent handling.
The mobile slasher can be produced to include a
combination of known machines. The basic component is a
Timberjack ~TM) model TJ30 carrier, manufactured by Timberjack
Inc. of Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. This comprises a chassiæ
; having four hydrostatically driven wheels, and which is steered in
a conventional ~anner by
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"bending" the chassis on a central pivot. Centrally of the
chassis there is mounted a "Littlejohn" (TM) loader of a type
manufactured hy Lakeshore Industrial, Two Harbors, Michigan,
U.S.A., mounted on a pedestal so that it is elevated to provide
the operator with a clear view of the terrain and the lumber to be
processed. The loader arm is equipped with a grapple of a type
also manufactured by Lakeshore Industrial. Transversely of one
end of the chassis of the basic vehicle a slasher of known type is
pivotally mounted, on a transverse axis and in the working
position rests on the ground. A circular saw blade is disposed at
one end of the slasher, and a hydraulically operable butt plate is
disposed at the opposite end of the slasher. The vehicle can be
driven up to a felled tree, and the grapple operated to grasp the
tree, lift it into the slasher, abut it against the butt plate,
position it by movement of the butt plate, whereafter the circular
saw blade, which is mounted on an arm, is operated to cut the tree
to length, whereafter it is removed from the slasher and placed
either in a pile beside the machine or into a truck.
Operation of the machine is smooth and continuous and as
mentioned above is carried out by one worker- The simplicity oE
the machine, and its mobility, enables it to cut felled trees into
desired lengths at considerable speed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DR~WINGS
An embodiment of the invention is described below, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine manufactured
according to the inventi7n:
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Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine of Figure l;
and
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the machine in opera-
tion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMsoDIMENT
The basic vehicle 10 comprising a vehicle frame 11, that
is in two sections pivoted together at 12. The frame 11 is
supported on four wheels 13, preferably of substantial size. The
wheels are driven by hydrosta-tic motors (not shown) in a manner
known in the art, and steering of the vehicle is accomplished by
operating the hydraulic cylinders 14 which pivot the frame at 12.
~ The cylinders 14 are shown in chain-link lines in Figure 2.
; Mounted on the forward end of the frame is a pedestal
15, and in turn there is mounted on the pedestal the "Littlejohn"
loader 21~ which comprises a pair of arms 16 and 17 operated by
hydraulic cylinders and 18 and 1~ respectively. Disposed on the
outer end of the second arm I7 is the hydraulically operated
grapple 20. The loader unit 21 is capable of rotation on -the
pedestal through 555. An operators cab 22 forms part of the
loader; as can be seen from the drawings, the cab 22 is mounted
high above the vehicle 10 so that the driver's view is unob-
structed. Mounted on the front of the frame is a slasher 23
of known type, comprising a cradle 24 for receiving the logs, a
butt plate 25 mounted on a telescopic arm 26 that is hydraulically
movable, and a circular saw blade 27 mounted on an arm 28 both
al~o hydraulically operated, to rctate abo~t an arc betw-en the
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withdrawn position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in
chain-link lines in Figure 2, which cuts through logs placed in
the cradle 24. The prime mover used for driving the basic vehicle
lO is also used in known manner to supply hydraulic fluid for all
of the operations of the mobile slasher.
With respect to the slasher unit 23, it is pivoted at 29
and is raised and lowered by means oE hydraulic cylinders 30. It
is shown in the raised, or road transport position, in chain-link
lines in Figure 2. A detailed description of the slasher is not
believed necessary, since it is of a type generally known in the
art.
In operation, the vehicle is driven by conventional
controls (not shown) by the operator in the cab. It can be driven
directly up to a large felled tree to be cut. The operator then,
manipulating controls for the arms 16 and 17 and the grapple 120,
grasps the base of the tree, using the grapple 20, and lifts it
transversely into the slasher 23. The butt plate is then moved to
ensure that the tree trunk is appropriately positioned with
respect to the saw blade, i.e., so that the desired length to be
cut off by the saw blade is established. The saw blade 27 is then
rotated toward the log by the operation of hydraulic means (not
shown) that rotate the arm 28. The saw blade 27, which may be a
60 inch blade, then severs the tree at the desired point. The
operator can then lift the severed length of the tree, using the
grapple, and place it to the right or left of the machine or in a
truck. The machine does not have to be moved again until the
en-tire tree is processed.
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It should be understood that the machine i9 capable of
picking up a number of smaller trees and simultaneously cutting
them, within the limits afforded by -the size of -the saw blade.
; It will be noted that the loader 21 is equipped with two
stabilizing feet 31, hydraulically operated, that can be extended
at the opera-tor's discretion to e~tend diagonally a substantial
distance to the side of the vehicle 16, ensuring stability in the
event -that trees of substantial weight are being handled. With
respect to bigger trees, less time and effort is expended because
the operator can drive the machine so that the slasher is adjacent
the trunk, raise the trunk of the tree and place the bottom of the
trunk in the cradle of the slasher. There is therefore less
` weight to lift and less of a tendency for the machine to upset
because it does not have to lift as heavy a weight in a poten-
tially awkward position. Since the first cut that the slasher
takes is the bottom of the tree, and because the slasher can
easily be disposed directly adjacent the tree to be cut, the
operator simply has to pick up the tree and does not have to drag
its full weight. He simply lifts and positions it in the slasher
bed, and cuts it. After the first cut, the tree is much lighter
and from then on subsequent cuts can be made by pulling the tree
in from the operator's left.
The above described machine, while relatively simple,
and using known components, satisfies the requirements set forth
at the beginning of this specification. Conventional slashers are
low and can only be operated from existing bush road beds. They
are not able to operate off-road because they have a low under-
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carriage. They are also costly, and often required two operators.
The machine described above also is economical in operation
because of the reduction of time spent moving through the bush; it
can move with relative ease over stumps and through rough terrain
while being towable on the highway at speeds of approximately 80
k/hr. It does not have to be "floated" to the work site, although
it can be towed if necessary. Because the machine can be con-
structed with an overall length of approximately 40 feet and a
width of less than 12 feet, highway movement at relatively high
speeds is feasible. The machine can carry sufficient fuel to
operate through a number of shifts of work without having to
return to a base camp to be refueled. In a test of the machine,
it was found feasible to cut 8 cords of wood in a 15 minute
period.
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