CA1077087A - Accumulator grapple for use in a grapple skidder - Google Patents
Accumulator grapple for use in a grapple skidderInfo
- Publication number
- CA1077087A CA1077087A CA255,743A CA255743A CA1077087A CA 1077087 A CA1077087 A CA 1077087A CA 255743 A CA255743 A CA 255743A CA 1077087 A CA1077087 A CA 1077087A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- grapple
- frame
- trees
- grapples
- pair
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
- B66C1/00—Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting or lowering gear of cranes or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting lifting forces to articles or groups of articles
- B66C1/10—Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting or lowering gear of cranes or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting lifting forces to articles or groups of articles by mechanical means
- B66C1/42—Gripping members engaging only the external or internal surfaces of the articles
- B66C1/58—Gripping members engaging only the external or internal surfaces of the articles and deforming the articles, e.g. by using gripping members such as tongs or grapples
- B66C1/585—Log grapples
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Load-Engaging Elements For Cranes (AREA)
- Shovels (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A grapple skidder having an accumulator type grapple which includes two grapples disposed in close side-by-side relation on a frame and aligned for grasping the trunk of one or more trees. The frame has means thereon for freely suspending the same from a support associated with means for dragging trees grasped by the accumulator type grapple.
A first one of the grapples on the frame consists of a pair of arms pivotally mounted on the frame and controllably moved by a power actuator connected thereto and the second one of the grapples is arranged to grasp and retain the trees in the jaws of the first grapple while the latter is opened to grasp further trees. The second grapple includes a pair of principal arm members pivotally attached adjacent one end thereof to the frame and each has a finger member pivotally attached to the other end thereof. The fingers are arranged to overlap one another in a jaw closed position and power means is provided comprising a hydraulic piston cylinder assembly interconnecting the principal arms and, by being connected directly to the principal arms, is swingable relative to the frame during effecting pivotal movement of the principal arms. Means is associated with the finger members and principal arms associated there-with biasing the finger members to a jaw open position against spring means limiting pivotal movement of the fingers relative to their respective principal arm. A tree engaging abutment means is located on the frame adjacent the grapples for abutting the trunks of the trees grasped by the same.
A grapple skidder having an accumulator type grapple which includes two grapples disposed in close side-by-side relation on a frame and aligned for grasping the trunk of one or more trees. The frame has means thereon for freely suspending the same from a support associated with means for dragging trees grasped by the accumulator type grapple.
A first one of the grapples on the frame consists of a pair of arms pivotally mounted on the frame and controllably moved by a power actuator connected thereto and the second one of the grapples is arranged to grasp and retain the trees in the jaws of the first grapple while the latter is opened to grasp further trees. The second grapple includes a pair of principal arm members pivotally attached adjacent one end thereof to the frame and each has a finger member pivotally attached to the other end thereof. The fingers are arranged to overlap one another in a jaw closed position and power means is provided comprising a hydraulic piston cylinder assembly interconnecting the principal arms and, by being connected directly to the principal arms, is swingable relative to the frame during effecting pivotal movement of the principal arms. Means is associated with the finger members and principal arms associated there-with biasing the finger members to a jaw open position against spring means limiting pivotal movement of the fingers relative to their respective principal arm. A tree engaging abutment means is located on the frame adjacent the grapples for abutting the trunks of the trees grasped by the same.
Description
11)770~7 This invention relates to grapple tree skidders and more particularly to an improved grapple for the same. The invention also relates to a grapple skidder utilizing an accumulator type grapple.
Accumulator grapples are known in the art of harvesting trees wherein the trees are collected or accumulated as they are severed from their roots. Attention in this regard is directed to Coffey Canadian Patent 911,860 issued October 10, 1972, Smith Canadian Patent 961,383 issued January 21, 1975, Kurelek U. S. Patent 3,875,983 issued April 8, 1975, Iarocci U. S. Patent 3,866,985 issued June 3, 1975, ;
Tucek U. S. Patent 3,910,326 issued October 7, 1975 and U. S. Patent 3,911,981 issued October 14, 1975 and Hamilton Canadian Patent 9369449, issued November 6, 1973. Reference may also be had to applicant's co-pending Canadian application Serial No. 251,116 filed April 27, 1976 entitled "Apparatus for Accumulating Trees During Harvesting of the Same".
In general, accumulator grapples consist of one or more fingers associated with a grapple to retain trees previously collected in the " grapple while the grapple ~aw is opened to collect a further tree or trees. The finger or fingers are unted in sùch a manner they can be withdrawn from between the trees collected and a further tree or trees in the grapple and repositioned to embrace all of the trees in the grapple before the grapple ~aws open to embrace another tree.
Withdrawing of the finger from between the trees has been referred to as a snaking operation.
A principal ob~ect of the present invention is to provide an improved accumulator grapple particularly suitable for use in collecting prefelled trees and skidding the same while grasped by the grapple to a suitable location.
Tree grapple skidders are known in the art and consist generally of a boom member mounted on a self-propelled mobile vehicle and having a grapple depending downwardly from the free outer end of the boom near the trailing end of the vehicle. Previously felled trees can be bunched together within the limits of the bite of the grapple and tightly embraced for skidding when the vehicle moves forwardly. In order to pick up a load of worthy size for the vehicle an extremely large bite is requirud in the grapple as once the ~awfi have been closed to embrace the load, they cannot be re-opened to pick up further trees without losing the first bunch that has been collected.
Previously known tree skidders having the capability of accumulating trees include a bunk mounted on the vehicle for anchoring the trees and ~ ~srapple mounted on an extendible and retractable boom for loading the butt end of the trees onto the bunk. As an example of such, reference may be had to Canadian Patent 840,775 issued May 5, 1970.
Although the bunk skidders and the grapple skidders are use-ful for their intended purpose, they have inherent drawbacks and are costly to manufacture relatlve to the pay loads they are capable of handling.
Accordingly, a further principal object of the present invention is to provide a grapple skidder whereio the grapple hafi the capability ~`~ of holding trees therein while being opened to collect further prefelled trees and, at the same time, such grapple being comparatively smaller in size than the grapples on existing grapple skidders.
Accordingly, there is provided in accordance with the present invention an improvement for grapple skidders comprising an accumulator type grapple which includes a frame having means thereon for freely suspending the same from a support associated with means for dragging trees grasped by the grapple, said accumulator grapple having two grapples mounted on said frame in closely ad~acent side-by-side relation and aligned for grasping a common object, a first one of said grapples being arranged for grasping the trunk of one or more logs, trees or the like and comprising a pair of rigid arm members pivotally mounted on the frame and controllably moved by power actuator means operatively connected thereto, and a second one of ~aid grapples being arranged to grasp and retain the trees in the jaw of the first grapple while the latter is opened to grasp further trees, said second grapple comprising a pair of principal arm members pivotally attached ad~acent one end thereof to the frame and each having a finger member pivotally attached to the other end thereof, said fingers being arranged to overlap one another in a ~aw closed position; power means comprising ..
a hydraulic piston cylinder assembly interconnecting said principal arm members and thereby being swingable relative to the frame during r effecting pivotal movement of said principal arms; means operatively associated with the finger members and principal arm associated there-lC with biasing the finger members to a jaw open position against stop members limiting pivotal movement of the fingers relative to their respective principal arm member; and tree engaging abutment means on said frame disposed ad~acent said grapples for abutting the trunks of trees grasped by said grapples.
There is also provided in accordance with the present invention a grapple skidder comprising a self-propelled mobile vehicle having a boom member mounted thereon with means for raising and lowering the ; free outer end thereof and a grapple as defined in the preceding paragraph freely suspended from the free end of the boom behind the trailing end of the vehicle.
The invention is illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tree grapple skidder provided in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the accumulator grapple mounted on the vehicle illustrated in Figure l;
Figure 3 is a side elevational view of Figure 2; and i Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2.
Referring now in detail to the drawings, shown in Figure 1 is a grapple skidder 10 consisting of a mobile self-propelled articulated type vehicle 20 having a boom 21 mounted thereon and a grapple 30 depending downwardly from the free outer end thereof behind the trailing end of the vehicle. The boom 21 is pivotally mounted by a pin 22 on an arch 23 rigldly secured to the vehicle. The free end of the boom is controllably raised and lowered by a hydraulic cylinder unit 24 l:hereby providing means for raising and lowering the grapple. The grapple is illu~trated grasping a bunch of trees ad~acent the butt end thereof and raised to a skidding position. The grapple is of particular construction illustrated in detail in Figures 2 and 3 freely suspended s on the free end of the boom by an assembly illustrated in detail in Figure 4 and which will be described hereinafter.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the grapple 30 is an accumulator type consisting basically of a rigid frame 31 having two grapples, designated respectively 50 and 70, mounted thereon in close side-by-side relation. The frame 31 is a rigid assembly, essentially E-shaped in cross-section, comprising three parallel spaced-apart plates designated respectively 32, 33 and 34 rigidly secured to a web member 35. The webs define side-by-side channels designated 36 and 37 in which respective grapples 50 and 70 are mounted. Grapple 50 consists of a pair of arcuate arms 51 and 52 pivotally mounted on frame 31 by respective pivot pins 53 and 54 located at positions spaced apart from one another longitudinally along the channel 36. Each arm 51 and 52 has a portion designated 55 extending beyond the pivot pin associated therewith and, together with lugs 56 and pins 57, mounts opposite ends of a hydraulic cylinder unit 58 for swinging the arms. ~ovement of the arms is synchronized by a link member 59 connected at opposite ends to respective arms 51 and 52 by pins 60 and 61. The hydraulic cylinder unit 58 and synchronizing link 59 are located in the channel 36 and thus protected from damage by trees during use of the grapple.
The grapple 70 consists of two grapple jaw arms designated respectively 71 and 72 pivotally mounted on the frame 31 by respective pivot pins 53 and 54 and each consists of a primary arm member 73 and a finger member 74 pivotally interconnected by a pin 75. The primary arms 73 have a portion 76 pro~ecting beyond respective ones of the pivot pins 53 and 54 associated therewith and which are inter-connected by a hydraulic cylinder unit 77. The cylinder unit 77 i9 located in channel 37 and is free floating for swinging relative to the frame for a purpose which will become more apparent herelnafter.
The finger members 74 have a shoulder 78 engageable with the side face of a lug 79 on the principal arm 73 associated therewith. The finger ` members are resiliently urged by torsionsprings 80 in a direction towards a ~aw open position which normally retains the shoulders 78 on the fingers in engagement with the stops 79 on respective ones of the princlpal arms. The finger and principal arm associated therewith thus move as a unitary unit during opening and closing of the jaw of grapple 70 through extension and retraction of hydraulic cylinder unit 77 unless a force is applied to the finger moving it against the tension of torsion spring 80 (note from Figure 3 torsion springs 80 circumscribe pivot pins 75 and are anchored at opposite ends respectively to the finger and principal arm associated therewith).
Grapple 70 is illustrated in Figure 2 in a jaw closed position embracing the trunk of a tree 90 and the jaw of grapple 50 is illustrated in an open position for receiving a further tree or trees 91 lying on the ground. When the jaw of grapple 50 is closed, trees 91 are embraced by members 51 and 52 and pressed against the fingers 74. The ~aw of grapple 70 is then opened and, in so doing, the fingers 74 are withdrawn from between tree 90 and the further trees 91 embraced by the grapple 50. Forces applied on the fingers by the trees require snaking the fingers out from therebetween and such snaking is facilitated by having the hydraulic cylinder 77 free floating relative to the frame so that it can oscillate back and forth longitudinally in channel 37 in response to forces varying on respective ones of the pair of fingers 74. The two grapples 50 and 70 are operable independent of one another, grapple 70 being operative to retain trees picked up by grapple 50 while the ~aw of the latter is open to pick up further trees in collecting a load to be skidded. The trees embraced by the grapples are pressed against 1~7~708~
an edge 33 of plate member 33 and which, if desired, may be sharpened for partially impaling the surface of the tree trunks. A llghter and less rigid grapple frame can be provided by omitting plate 33 in which case grapples 50 and 70 are retained in spaced apart relation by spacers therebetween on pivot pins 53 and 54. In this event the free outer edge of plates 32 and/or 34 may serve as an abutment for the tree trunks embraced by the grapples.
The accumulator grapple 30 is freely suspended from the boom 21 by a coupling designated generally by the reference numeral 100 illustrated in detail in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The coupling 100 includes a universal joint 101 connected to the rotor of a hydraulic power unit 102 which in turn is anchored to the frame 31 by a rigid frame structure 103. The power unit 102 thus permits pivoting the accumulator grapple 30 about an axis designated A-A in Figure 2 facilitating grasp-ing trees particularly when the accumulator grapple 30 is mounted on the free outer end of an extendible and retractable boom swingably mounted on the vehicle for slewing about a vertical axis. The universal joint 101 includes pivot pins 104 and 105, the latter of which is mounted in a yoke 25 of the boom 21.
Accumulator grapples are known in the art of harvesting trees wherein the trees are collected or accumulated as they are severed from their roots. Attention in this regard is directed to Coffey Canadian Patent 911,860 issued October 10, 1972, Smith Canadian Patent 961,383 issued January 21, 1975, Kurelek U. S. Patent 3,875,983 issued April 8, 1975, Iarocci U. S. Patent 3,866,985 issued June 3, 1975, ;
Tucek U. S. Patent 3,910,326 issued October 7, 1975 and U. S. Patent 3,911,981 issued October 14, 1975 and Hamilton Canadian Patent 9369449, issued November 6, 1973. Reference may also be had to applicant's co-pending Canadian application Serial No. 251,116 filed April 27, 1976 entitled "Apparatus for Accumulating Trees During Harvesting of the Same".
In general, accumulator grapples consist of one or more fingers associated with a grapple to retain trees previously collected in the " grapple while the grapple ~aw is opened to collect a further tree or trees. The finger or fingers are unted in sùch a manner they can be withdrawn from between the trees collected and a further tree or trees in the grapple and repositioned to embrace all of the trees in the grapple before the grapple ~aws open to embrace another tree.
Withdrawing of the finger from between the trees has been referred to as a snaking operation.
A principal ob~ect of the present invention is to provide an improved accumulator grapple particularly suitable for use in collecting prefelled trees and skidding the same while grasped by the grapple to a suitable location.
Tree grapple skidders are known in the art and consist generally of a boom member mounted on a self-propelled mobile vehicle and having a grapple depending downwardly from the free outer end of the boom near the trailing end of the vehicle. Previously felled trees can be bunched together within the limits of the bite of the grapple and tightly embraced for skidding when the vehicle moves forwardly. In order to pick up a load of worthy size for the vehicle an extremely large bite is requirud in the grapple as once the ~awfi have been closed to embrace the load, they cannot be re-opened to pick up further trees without losing the first bunch that has been collected.
Previously known tree skidders having the capability of accumulating trees include a bunk mounted on the vehicle for anchoring the trees and ~ ~srapple mounted on an extendible and retractable boom for loading the butt end of the trees onto the bunk. As an example of such, reference may be had to Canadian Patent 840,775 issued May 5, 1970.
Although the bunk skidders and the grapple skidders are use-ful for their intended purpose, they have inherent drawbacks and are costly to manufacture relatlve to the pay loads they are capable of handling.
Accordingly, a further principal object of the present invention is to provide a grapple skidder whereio the grapple hafi the capability ~`~ of holding trees therein while being opened to collect further prefelled trees and, at the same time, such grapple being comparatively smaller in size than the grapples on existing grapple skidders.
Accordingly, there is provided in accordance with the present invention an improvement for grapple skidders comprising an accumulator type grapple which includes a frame having means thereon for freely suspending the same from a support associated with means for dragging trees grasped by the grapple, said accumulator grapple having two grapples mounted on said frame in closely ad~acent side-by-side relation and aligned for grasping a common object, a first one of said grapples being arranged for grasping the trunk of one or more logs, trees or the like and comprising a pair of rigid arm members pivotally mounted on the frame and controllably moved by power actuator means operatively connected thereto, and a second one of ~aid grapples being arranged to grasp and retain the trees in the jaw of the first grapple while the latter is opened to grasp further trees, said second grapple comprising a pair of principal arm members pivotally attached ad~acent one end thereof to the frame and each having a finger member pivotally attached to the other end thereof, said fingers being arranged to overlap one another in a ~aw closed position; power means comprising ..
a hydraulic piston cylinder assembly interconnecting said principal arm members and thereby being swingable relative to the frame during r effecting pivotal movement of said principal arms; means operatively associated with the finger members and principal arm associated there-lC with biasing the finger members to a jaw open position against stop members limiting pivotal movement of the fingers relative to their respective principal arm member; and tree engaging abutment means on said frame disposed ad~acent said grapples for abutting the trunks of trees grasped by said grapples.
There is also provided in accordance with the present invention a grapple skidder comprising a self-propelled mobile vehicle having a boom member mounted thereon with means for raising and lowering the ; free outer end thereof and a grapple as defined in the preceding paragraph freely suspended from the free end of the boom behind the trailing end of the vehicle.
The invention is illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tree grapple skidder provided in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the accumulator grapple mounted on the vehicle illustrated in Figure l;
Figure 3 is a side elevational view of Figure 2; and i Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2.
Referring now in detail to the drawings, shown in Figure 1 is a grapple skidder 10 consisting of a mobile self-propelled articulated type vehicle 20 having a boom 21 mounted thereon and a grapple 30 depending downwardly from the free outer end thereof behind the trailing end of the vehicle. The boom 21 is pivotally mounted by a pin 22 on an arch 23 rigldly secured to the vehicle. The free end of the boom is controllably raised and lowered by a hydraulic cylinder unit 24 l:hereby providing means for raising and lowering the grapple. The grapple is illu~trated grasping a bunch of trees ad~acent the butt end thereof and raised to a skidding position. The grapple is of particular construction illustrated in detail in Figures 2 and 3 freely suspended s on the free end of the boom by an assembly illustrated in detail in Figure 4 and which will be described hereinafter.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the grapple 30 is an accumulator type consisting basically of a rigid frame 31 having two grapples, designated respectively 50 and 70, mounted thereon in close side-by-side relation. The frame 31 is a rigid assembly, essentially E-shaped in cross-section, comprising three parallel spaced-apart plates designated respectively 32, 33 and 34 rigidly secured to a web member 35. The webs define side-by-side channels designated 36 and 37 in which respective grapples 50 and 70 are mounted. Grapple 50 consists of a pair of arcuate arms 51 and 52 pivotally mounted on frame 31 by respective pivot pins 53 and 54 located at positions spaced apart from one another longitudinally along the channel 36. Each arm 51 and 52 has a portion designated 55 extending beyond the pivot pin associated therewith and, together with lugs 56 and pins 57, mounts opposite ends of a hydraulic cylinder unit 58 for swinging the arms. ~ovement of the arms is synchronized by a link member 59 connected at opposite ends to respective arms 51 and 52 by pins 60 and 61. The hydraulic cylinder unit 58 and synchronizing link 59 are located in the channel 36 and thus protected from damage by trees during use of the grapple.
The grapple 70 consists of two grapple jaw arms designated respectively 71 and 72 pivotally mounted on the frame 31 by respective pivot pins 53 and 54 and each consists of a primary arm member 73 and a finger member 74 pivotally interconnected by a pin 75. The primary arms 73 have a portion 76 pro~ecting beyond respective ones of the pivot pins 53 and 54 associated therewith and which are inter-connected by a hydraulic cylinder unit 77. The cylinder unit 77 i9 located in channel 37 and is free floating for swinging relative to the frame for a purpose which will become more apparent herelnafter.
The finger members 74 have a shoulder 78 engageable with the side face of a lug 79 on the principal arm 73 associated therewith. The finger ` members are resiliently urged by torsionsprings 80 in a direction towards a ~aw open position which normally retains the shoulders 78 on the fingers in engagement with the stops 79 on respective ones of the princlpal arms. The finger and principal arm associated therewith thus move as a unitary unit during opening and closing of the jaw of grapple 70 through extension and retraction of hydraulic cylinder unit 77 unless a force is applied to the finger moving it against the tension of torsion spring 80 (note from Figure 3 torsion springs 80 circumscribe pivot pins 75 and are anchored at opposite ends respectively to the finger and principal arm associated therewith).
Grapple 70 is illustrated in Figure 2 in a jaw closed position embracing the trunk of a tree 90 and the jaw of grapple 50 is illustrated in an open position for receiving a further tree or trees 91 lying on the ground. When the jaw of grapple 50 is closed, trees 91 are embraced by members 51 and 52 and pressed against the fingers 74. The ~aw of grapple 70 is then opened and, in so doing, the fingers 74 are withdrawn from between tree 90 and the further trees 91 embraced by the grapple 50. Forces applied on the fingers by the trees require snaking the fingers out from therebetween and such snaking is facilitated by having the hydraulic cylinder 77 free floating relative to the frame so that it can oscillate back and forth longitudinally in channel 37 in response to forces varying on respective ones of the pair of fingers 74. The two grapples 50 and 70 are operable independent of one another, grapple 70 being operative to retain trees picked up by grapple 50 while the ~aw of the latter is open to pick up further trees in collecting a load to be skidded. The trees embraced by the grapples are pressed against 1~7~708~
an edge 33 of plate member 33 and which, if desired, may be sharpened for partially impaling the surface of the tree trunks. A llghter and less rigid grapple frame can be provided by omitting plate 33 in which case grapples 50 and 70 are retained in spaced apart relation by spacers therebetween on pivot pins 53 and 54. In this event the free outer edge of plates 32 and/or 34 may serve as an abutment for the tree trunks embraced by the grapples.
The accumulator grapple 30 is freely suspended from the boom 21 by a coupling designated generally by the reference numeral 100 illustrated in detail in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The coupling 100 includes a universal joint 101 connected to the rotor of a hydraulic power unit 102 which in turn is anchored to the frame 31 by a rigid frame structure 103. The power unit 102 thus permits pivoting the accumulator grapple 30 about an axis designated A-A in Figure 2 facilitating grasp-ing trees particularly when the accumulator grapple 30 is mounted on the free outer end of an extendible and retractable boom swingably mounted on the vehicle for slewing about a vertical axis. The universal joint 101 includes pivot pins 104 and 105, the latter of which is mounted in a yoke 25 of the boom 21.
Claims (16)
1. An improvement for grapple skidders comprising an accumulator type grapple which includes a frame having means thereon for freely suspending the same from a support associated with means for dragging trees grasped by the grapple, said accumulator grapple having two grapples mounted on said frame in closely adjacent side-by-side relation and aligned for grasping a common object, a first one of said grapples being arranged for grasping the trunk of one or more logs, trees or the like and comprising a pair of rigid arm members pivotally mounted on the frame and controllably moved by power means operatively connected thereto, and a second one of said grapples being arranged to grasp and retain the trees initially grasped by the first grapple while the first grapple is opened to grasp further trees, said second grapple comprising a pair of principal arm members pivotally attached adjacent one end thereof to the frame and each having a finger member pivotally attached to the other end thereof, said finger members being arranged to over-lap one another in a jaw closed position; power means comprising a hydraulic piston cylinder assembly interconnecting said principal arm members and thereby being swingable relative to the frame during effecting pivotal movement of said principal arm members; means operatively associated with the finger members and principal arm member associated therewith biasing the finger members to a jaw open position against stop members limiting pivotal movement of the finger members relative to the principal arm member associated therewith; and tree engaging abutment means associated with said frame adjacent said grapples for abutting the trunks of trees grasped by said grapples.
2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the arm members of said first one of the grapples and the principal arm members associated therewith of said second one of the grapples are pivoted on common axes,
3. A device as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein the pivot axis, of at least some of said arm members and principle arm members, are spaced from one another longitudinally along the frame.
4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the pivot axes for the principal arm members are spaced apart from one another longitudinally along the frame.
5. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the arm members of said first and second grapples are pivoted about respective ones of a pair of pivot axes spaced apart from one another.
6. A device as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein said power means for respective ones of said first and second grapples are located in respective ones of a pair of channels in said frame.
7. A device as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein said tree engaging abutment means comprises a plate disposed between said first and second grapples.
8. A device as defined in claim 1 including a power rotary coupling interposed between said frame and said means for freely suspending the frame from the support.
9. An accumulator type grapple for use in a grapple skidder, said grapple comprising:
(a) a frame substantially E-shaped in cross-section providing two channels disposed in substantially side-by-side parallel relation, said frame having means thereon for freely suspending the same from a support associated with means for dragging trees grasped by the grapple;
(b) a first pair of grapple arms pivotally mounted on said frame and having one end thereof located in one of said channels;
(c) a second pair of grapple arms pivotally mounted on said frame and having one end thereof disposed in the other of said pair of channels, said first and second pair of grapples being disposed closely adjacent one another in side-by-side relation and aligned for grasping a common object;
(d) a pair of hydraulic cylinders interconnecting the arms of the respective pairs of arms for moving the same respectively to and from a grapple open and closed jaw position, said second pair of arms each consisting of a primary member pivotally attached to the frame and a finger member pivotally attached to the free end of the primary member with stop means limiting movement in one direction and spring means operatively associated with said finger member and primary member biasing the finger member in a direction against the stop, said second pair of grapple arms being provided for the purpose of holding trees while the jaw provided by the first pair of grapple arms is open to receive further trees, the pivotal mounting of said finger members allows the same to be snaked out from between the trees; and (e) tree engaging abutment means on said frame disposed adjacent said grapples for abutting the trunks of trees grasped by said grapples.
(a) a frame substantially E-shaped in cross-section providing two channels disposed in substantially side-by-side parallel relation, said frame having means thereon for freely suspending the same from a support associated with means for dragging trees grasped by the grapple;
(b) a first pair of grapple arms pivotally mounted on said frame and having one end thereof located in one of said channels;
(c) a second pair of grapple arms pivotally mounted on said frame and having one end thereof disposed in the other of said pair of channels, said first and second pair of grapples being disposed closely adjacent one another in side-by-side relation and aligned for grasping a common object;
(d) a pair of hydraulic cylinders interconnecting the arms of the respective pairs of arms for moving the same respectively to and from a grapple open and closed jaw position, said second pair of arms each consisting of a primary member pivotally attached to the frame and a finger member pivotally attached to the free end of the primary member with stop means limiting movement in one direction and spring means operatively associated with said finger member and primary member biasing the finger member in a direction against the stop, said second pair of grapple arms being provided for the purpose of holding trees while the jaw provided by the first pair of grapple arms is open to receive further trees, the pivotal mounting of said finger members allows the same to be snaked out from between the trees; and (e) tree engaging abutment means on said frame disposed adjacent said grapples for abutting the trunks of trees grasped by said grapples.
10. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein one of the first pair of arms and one of the second pair of arms are pivoted on a first common axis and wherein the other arms are pivoted on a second common axis.
11. A device as defined in claim 10 wherein said first and second pivot axes are spaced apart from one another longitudinally along the frame.
12. A device as defined in claims 9 or 10 wherein the hydraulic cylinder for the arms are located in respective ones of the pair of channels.
13. A device as defined in claim 9 including a universal coupling attached to the frame and means for attaching said universal coupling to the free end of a boom.
14. A device as defined in claim 13 including a power rotary coupling interposed between said frame and said universal coupling.
15. A device as defined in claim 9 including a synchronizing link interconnecting said first pair of arms for interrelating movement of the same.
16. A grapple skidder comprising a self-propelled mobile vehicle, a boom mounted on said vehicle, means connected to said boom and being operative to raise and lower a free outer end of the boom located behind the trailing end of the vehicle and an accumulator type grapple as defined in claim 1 freely suspended from the free outer end of said boom.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA255,743A CA1077087A (en) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-06-25 | Accumulator grapple for use in a grapple skidder |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA255,743A CA1077087A (en) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-06-25 | Accumulator grapple for use in a grapple skidder |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1077087A true CA1077087A (en) | 1980-05-06 |
Family
ID=4106290
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA255,743A Expired CA1077087A (en) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-06-25 | Accumulator grapple for use in a grapple skidder |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1077087A (en) |
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4576406A (en) * | 1984-05-07 | 1986-03-18 | Timberjack Inc. | Rotational grapple |
| US5129438A (en) * | 1990-11-21 | 1992-07-14 | Logging Development Corporation | Boom mounted type tree processing head and mounting therefore |
| WO1997012831A1 (en) * | 1995-10-03 | 1997-04-10 | Roy Markley Rounds | Grapple for use on skidder |
| EP1870372A2 (en) * | 2006-06-23 | 2007-12-26 | The Stanley Works | A grappling system, a combination and a method of grappling |
| CN102390725A (en) * | 2011-07-09 | 2012-03-28 | 溧阳市正申饲料机械厂 | Manipulator device |
| CN102730550A (en) * | 2012-06-26 | 2012-10-17 | 三一集团有限公司 | Lifting tool and engineering machine having the same |
| EP3586608A1 (en) * | 2018-06-26 | 2020-01-01 | Jak-Metalli OY | Group accumulator for energy wood grapple and energy wood grapple |
-
1976
- 1976-06-25 CA CA255,743A patent/CA1077087A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4576406A (en) * | 1984-05-07 | 1986-03-18 | Timberjack Inc. | Rotational grapple |
| US5129438A (en) * | 1990-11-21 | 1992-07-14 | Logging Development Corporation | Boom mounted type tree processing head and mounting therefore |
| WO1997012831A1 (en) * | 1995-10-03 | 1997-04-10 | Roy Markley Rounds | Grapple for use on skidder |
| US6131978A (en) * | 1995-10-03 | 2000-10-17 | Rounds; Roy M | Grapple for use on skidder |
| EP1870372A2 (en) * | 2006-06-23 | 2007-12-26 | The Stanley Works | A grappling system, a combination and a method of grappling |
| EP1870372A3 (en) * | 2006-06-23 | 2008-02-13 | The Stanley Works | A grappling system, a combination and a method of grappling |
| CN102390725A (en) * | 2011-07-09 | 2012-03-28 | 溧阳市正申饲料机械厂 | Manipulator device |
| CN102730550A (en) * | 2012-06-26 | 2012-10-17 | 三一集团有限公司 | Lifting tool and engineering machine having the same |
| EP3586608A1 (en) * | 2018-06-26 | 2020-01-01 | Jak-Metalli OY | Group accumulator for energy wood grapple and energy wood grapple |
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