Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02244540 1998-07-30
1 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
2 The present invention relates to a tree processor for felling, delimbing
3 and bucking a tree.
4
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
6 In general, a conventional tree processor (otherwise known as a
7 "head") typically involves:
8 ~ A mast carrying the following components;
9 ~ A retractable cutting element, such as a chain saw or rotary blade,
carried at the foot of the mast, for felling the tree;
11 ~ Upper and lower pairs of grapple arms which are movable to hug or
12 engage the stem of the tree - these arms have sharp edges for
13 delimbing the stem as it is advanced longitudinally through them;
14 ~ A pair of driven rolls, usually cylindrical and carrying spikes,
positioned between the pairs of grapple arms - the rolls are
16 adjustable and can be clamped against two sides of the stem and
17 rotated, to advance the stem longitudinally; and
18 ~ A measuring wheel provided to press against the stem and rotate in
19 response to lineal advance by the stem, providing measurement
thereof.
21 The processor is typically carried on the end of a boom. The boom is
22 mounted on a turntable carried by a tracked or wheeled, self-propelled
carrier.
23 In some cases, the boom mechanically controls rotation of the mast as it
24 moves between horizontal and vertical positions. In other cases the mast
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1 dangles from the end of the boom and is free to pivot between vertical and
2 horizontal positions as the cut tree topples over.
3 In operation, the boom positions the mast vertically against the tree
4 stem at its base. The grapple arms are actuated to engage and hug the stem.
The cutting element is actuated to fell the tree. In the case of the dangling
6 processor, the severed tree topples over from vertical to horizontal and the
7 mast rotates with it. In the case of the mechanically rotatable mast, the
cut
8 tree is controllably lowered to a horizontal position. In both cases, the
mast
9 ends up horizontal above the stem, with the stem suspended by the
downwardly extending grapple arms. The rollers, usually vertically positioned
11 at this stage, to engage the sides of the horizontal stem, are then
actuated to
12 advance the stem longitudinally. The grapple arms shear off the branches as
13 the stem is advanced. After the stem has advanced a predetermined
14 distance, as measured by the measuring wheel, the rolls are stopped and the
cutting element is actuated to cut off a length. The rolls are then re-
activated
16 and the process continued until the tree has been converted into delimbed
17 lengths.
18 In general, these machines are large, heavy and expensive. Typically,
19 a tracked carrier carrying a boom and processor will have a width of 10 -
12
feet, weigh in the order of 50,000 pounds, and cost in the order of $500,000.
21 The smallest unit I am aware of weighs about 30,000 pounds, is about 8'
wide
22 and costs about $400,000 - it has a dangle connection between boom and
23 head.
24 These prior art machines work well in clear cut operations, where
substantially all of the trees are cut and processed.
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1 However, they are not well suited for thinning operations, where only a
2 relatively small number of selected trees are to be cut and processed. Their
3 size leads to damage to trees to be left standing and their weight leads to
4 damage of the forest floor.
When initiating the design and development of the present processor,
6 the following criteria were established:
7 ~ the carrier/processor unit should be sufficiently narrow and light so
8 that it can adequately maneuver through the standing trees in a
9 thinning operation without damaging the trees or the forest floor;
~ the unit must have a processor which is mechanically rotated or
11 controlled, so that it can carry an upright cut tree, to move it to an
12 area where it is to be cut into lengths;
13 ~ the processor should be able to process stems having a diameter
14 up to about 12 inches; and
~ it would be desirable to keep the cost of the carrierltree processor
16 unit relatively low, preferably at half the cost of the typical prior art
17 units.
18
19 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A known tracked carrier was selected having a width of about 6 feet
21 and weight of about 10,000 pounds. The carrier was small enough and light
22 enough to get around in a forest area being thinned without causing
23 significant damage.
4
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1 The carrier was conventionally equipped with a pair of forwardly
2 extending, parallel arms, pivotally mounted at their rear ends, each being
3 raised and lowered by a cylinder, and a pair of hydraulic cylinders
pivotally
4 mounted at their rear ends to lugs extending from the two arms. The latter
cylinders extended parallel to the arms. The arms and cylinders combined to
6 provide a linkage assembly.
7 A carrier having the aforementioned characteristics and structure is
8 referred to herein as a loader-type carrier (it is also known as a skid
steer).
9 The prototype processor devised comprised:
~ a beam for extending transversely between the carrier arms and
11 being pivotally connected to both the arms and cylinders of the
12 linkage assembly, so that the beam could be raised or lowered and
13 rotated or tilted forward and backward to a limited extent;
14 ~ a shaft extending forwardly from the beam between its ends;
~ a mast rotatably mounted on the shaft;
16 ~ a hydraulic tilt cylinder pivotally connected at its ends to the beam
17 and mast, for controllably rotating or tilting the mast between
18 vertical and horizontal positions;
19 ~ a pair of grapple arms pivotally mounted to the mast and operative
to hug the stem, the arms having sharp edges for delimbing;
21 ~ an elongated driven roll, mounted on the mast, operative to support
22 the stem from below when the mast is horizontal and to advance
23 the stem longitudinally;
24 ~ an idler roll movable to clamp the stem against the drive roller and
to function as a measuring wheel;
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1 ~ an angular delimbing arm at the top end of the mast, for assisting in
2 delimbing and helping to support the tree; and
3 ~ a retractable chain saw mounted at the base of the mast, for felling
4 and bucking the stem.
The prototype processor was characterized by the following features:
6 ~ Only one set of grapple arms was needed because the stem was
7 partly supported from below by the elongated drive roll assembly -
8 this helped reduce the weight of the processor;
9 ~ The selection of an elongated drive roll to support and drive the
stem from below meant that the small hydraulic system of a small
11 carrier could successfully drive the stem through the delimbing
12 elements;
13 ~ The processor was able to hold the cut tree upright as the carrier
14 transported it to a location where the processing was to be carried
out; and
16 ~ The processor weighed only about 1100 pounds.
17 Broadly stated, the invention is concerned with a tree processor, for
18 use with a loader-type carrier having a pair of parallel, forwardly
projecting
19 pivoting arms, operative to fell, delimb and buck the stem of a tree,
comprising
a beam for connection with the carrier arms; a mast having a longitudinal axis
21 which will extend along the tree stem when the mast is in contact
therewith,
22 said mast being rotatably mounted to the beam for pivoting between
23 substantially vertical and horizontal positions; means, pivotally connected
to
24 the beam and mast, for controllably rotating the mast between positions; a
movable cutting element mounted to the mast at its base for cutting the stem
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1 in a plane transverse to the mast axis; a pair of opposed rolls rotatably
2 mounted to the mast above the cutting element, one roll being elongated and
3 driven and oriented to support the stem from below when the mast is in the
4 horizontal position, the other roll being opposed to the driven roll and
movable
to clamp the stem against the driven roll; and a pair of opposed grapple arms
6 mounted to the mast adjacent the rolls and operative to embrace the stem
7 and to delimb it as it is advanced therethrough.
8
9 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the carrierltree processor unit in the
11 process of felling a tree;
12 Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the tree processor with the
13 grapple arm and roll assemblies in the open position;
14 Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the tree processor;
Figure 4 is a front elevation of the processor;
16 Figure 5 is a side elevation of the processor;
17 Figure fi is a plan view of the mount assembly;
18 Figure 7 is a side view, partly sectional, of the saw assembly;
19 Figure 8 is a plan view of the saw assembly;
Figure 9 is a plan view of the roll assembly;
21 Figure 10 is a plan view of the grapple arm assembly;
22 Figure 11 is a plan view of the top delimbing knife;
23 Figure 12 is a simplified side view of the carrierltree processor unit
24 felling a tree;
Figure 13 is a simplified side view of the unit carrying a severed tree;
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1 Figure 14 is a simplified front view of the unit delimbing a stem;
2 Figure 15 is a side view of part of the mast, with the hydraulic valve for
3 controlling the components shown thereon; and
4 Figure 16 is a schematic of the hydraulic system.
6 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
7 Having reference to Figures 1 and 2 the carrierlprocessor unit 1
8 comprises a loader-type carrier 2 and a tree processor 3.
9 The carrier 2 depicted is a known machine manufactured by All Season
Vehicles, Grand Rapids, Minnesota and designated as model HD4500. It has
11 a pair of forwardly extending, pivoting arms 4 and a pair of forwardly
12 extending, pivoting cylinders 5. The hydraulic cylinder-actuated arms 4 and
13 hydraulic cylinders 5 combine to provide a linkage assembly for lifting,
14 lowering and tilting the processor 3 forward and back.
Having reference to Figures 2 and 6 - 10, the processor 3 comprises a
16 mount assembly 6, a mast 7, a bottom saw assembly 8, a roll assembly 9, a
17 grapple arm assembly 10 and a top plate delimbing arm 11.
18 More particularly, the mount assembly 6 comprises a beam 12 having
19 pairs of parallel, spaced-apart plates 13 at each end. Each plate 13 forms
a
pair of holes 14. The carrier arms 4 and cylinders 5 are pivotally connected
to
21 the plates 13 by pins 15 extending through the holes 14. The pivoting
carrier
22 arms 4 are operative to raise and lower the transversely extending beam 12
23 and the cylinders 5 tilt it forwardly and rearwardly.
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1 A mast support shaft 16 is connected to the beam 12 intermediate its
2 ends and projects forwardly therefrom. The mast 7 is rotatably mounted on
3 the forward end of the shaft 16. A lug 17 projects down from one end of the
4 beam 12 and carries a short, forwardly projecting shaft 18. A hydraulic tilt
cylinder 19 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 18 and extends upwardly at an
6 angle. It is pivotally connected at its upper end with the rear wall 20 of
the
7 mast 7. Extension of the cylinder 19 tilts the mast 7 about its support
shaft 16
8 between the vertical position shown in Figure 12 and the horizontal position
9 shown in Figure 14.
The mast 7 is a frame on which the working components of the
11 processor are supported.
12 Having reference now to Figures 2 and 10, the mast 6 has a recess-
13 forming housing 21 at its lower end. A chain saw 22 is pivotally mounted on
a
14 stationary vertical post 23 in the recess 24. The post 23 is connected to
the
housing 21. A hydraulic saw cylinder 70 is pivotally connected at one end by
16 a pin 25 with a lug 26 projecting from the saw 22. At its other end the saw
17 cylinder 70 is pivotally mounted on a vertical post 27 connected with the
18 housing 21. Extension of the cylinder 24 pivots the saw 22 out of the
recess
19 24 and biases it through the tree stem to be felled. Contraction of the
cylinder
24 retracts the saw 22 back into the recess 24.
21 The roll assembly 9 comprises a fixed elongated, drive roll 30 and a
22 movable, cylindrical idler roll 31. The roll assembly 9 is positioned
23 immediately above the saw assembly 8 on the mast 7.
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1 The drive roll 30 is driven by a bi-directional hydraulic motor 32. The
2 motor 32 is mounted to the mast 7 and has an output shaft 33. The output
3 shaft 33 is connected through a spline 34 with the drive roll 30. The drive
roll
4 30 comprises a cluster of sprockets 35 mounted on a cylinder 36, which in
turn is connected with the spline 34. A support member 37 extends forwardly
6 from the mast 7. A plate 38 is connected to the end of the support member
7 37. The drive roll 35 is rotatably journalled at its forward end in the
plate 38
8 and at its rearward end in the mast 7. An idler roll 39, also comprising a
9 cluster of sprockets 40 mounted on a cylinder 41, is rotatably journalled at
its
ends in the mast 7 and plate 38. Roller chains 42, carrying traction spikes
43,
11 extend around the sprockets 35, 40.
12 It is to be noted that the drive roll 30 is elongated to alone provide
13 sufficient traction surface area to advance the tree stem. It is also
positioned
14 so as to underlie the stem when the latter is in the horizontal position.
The idler roll 31 is rotatably mounted with bearings on an upstanding
16 pivot arm 44 pivotally mounted on the mast 7. A hydraulic roll cylinder 45
is
17 pivotally mounted at its ends to the mast 7 and pivot arm 44. The cylinder
45
18 acts to move the idler roll 31 toward or away from the drive roll 30, to
clamp
19 the tree stem thereagainst. The idler roll 31 carries spikes 46 on its
surface.
A conventional sensor assembly 47 is mounted on the pivot arm 44
21 and functions to count the revolutions and fractions thereof of the idler
roll 31,
22 to produce signals indicative thereof. A conventional computer assembly
(not
23 shown) receives the measurement signals and automatically stops the drive
24 motor 32 when appropriate, so that the saw 22 may be actuated to cut off a
length of the stem.
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1 The grapple arm assembly 10 comprises a pair of grapple arms 50, 51.
2 One arm 50 is connected to a vertical post 52 rotatably mounted to the mast
3 7. The other arm 51 is similarly connected to a vertical post 53, also
rotatably
4 mounted to the mast 7. A hydraulic grapple arm cylinder 54 is pivotally
connected by pins 55, 56 at its ends to the mast 7 and one end of grapple arm
6 50. A link 57 is pivotally connected by pins 58, 59 to the two grapple arms
50,
7 51. The cylinder 54 can be expanded and contracted to simultaneously and
8 equally open and close the grapple arms 50, 51 by means of the link 57.
9 At its upper end, the mast 7 comprises a top plate delimbing arm 11
which forms a right angle surface 60 and a knife 61, for abutting and
11 delimbing the stem.
12 The grapple arm cylinder 54, idler roll cylinder 41, saw cylinder 70, tilt
13 cylinder 19 and drive motor 32 are all actuated through a conventional four
14 section electric over hydraulic valve 80, mounted on the mast. The valve 80
is supplied with hydraulic oil through a hose by the hydraulic system of the
16 carrier 2 and operates the hydraulic circuit 81 shown in Figure 16. The
17 hydraulic system is conventional.
18 In operation, the carrier 2 maneuvers the mast 7, in an upright position,
19 so that its front abuts the tree stem. The stem is nestled in the corner of
the
right angle surface 60. The grapple arm cylinder 54 is actuated to close the
21 grapple arms 50, 51 so that they tightly hug the stem. Similarly, the idler
roll
22 cylinder 41 is actuated to pivot the idler roll 31 to engage and clamp the
stem
23 tightly against the drive roll 30. The saw cylinder 70 is then actuated to
bias
24 the saw 22 through the stem. The locked tilt cylinder 19, grapple arms 50,
51
and rolls 30, 31 hold the stem erect to enable the carrier to carry the tree
to
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1 the spot where processing is to be carried out. The tilt cylinder 19 is then
2 actuated to pivot the mast 7 to the horizontal position. The driven roll 30
is
3 now positioned beneath the stem and takes some of the load off the grapple
4 arms 50, 51, so that friction is reduced when the stem is advanced linearly
through the arms. The drive motor 32 is now actuated to advance the stem
6 past the knife 61 and grapple arms 50, 51, thereby delimbing the stem. The
7 revolutions of the idler roll 31 are monitored by the sensor assembly 47.
8 When the desired length of stem has been advanced past the saw 22, the
9 drive motor 32 is stopped and the saw cylinder 70 is actuated to bias the
saw
22 through the stem and then retract it. This process is repeated until the
11 stem has been cut into lengths. At this point, the tilt cylinder 19 is
contracted
12 to pivot the mast 7 back to the upright position and the grapple arm and
roll
13 assemblies 10, 9 are re-opened.
12
