CA1214710A - Tree harvesting device - Google Patents

Tree harvesting device

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Publication number
CA1214710A
CA1214710A CA000448960A CA448960A CA1214710A CA 1214710 A CA1214710 A CA 1214710A CA 000448960 A CA000448960 A CA 000448960A CA 448960 A CA448960 A CA 448960A CA 1214710 A CA1214710 A CA 1214710A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
tree
jib
attached
frame
harvesting device
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
Application number
CA000448960A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Olavi Kuusilinna
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA000448960A priority Critical patent/CA1214710A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1214710A publication Critical patent/CA1214710A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

Abstract:

Tree harvesting device is connected to a mobile vehicle by means of a jib (1) and comprises means for cutting, felling and debranching a tree. The device (2) has a general U-shaped frame comprising two side parts (3, 4), rear part (5) and an open front side (6). The cutting means (7, 8), the conveying means (11, 12) and debranching means (14, 15) being attached to the side parts (3, 4). The felling frame (19-23) is attached to the rear part (5) of a turnable means (28) in order to turn the device (2) in the transversal plane with respect to the vertical plane in the longitudinal direction of the jib (1). The felling frame (19-23) being connected to the jib (1) turnable in the vertical plane in the longitudinal direction of the jib (1).

Description

~4~

Trec harvesting device Ihis invcntion relatcs to tree harvcsting clevice.

I~tore yarticurarly this invention relates to device, which can aclvantageously be used in connection with mobile vehicle such as tractor so that the total weight and other dimensions of the vehicle and the device are sui-table for a special purpose in the field of harvesting namely cleaninx. The cleaning in this sense means that a part of the trees in a forest, that has reached a certain growth (the volume of the trce being 100-200 dm~ and age ~or example thirty years in the nordic areas, are harvested in order to improve the output of the forest. This means that a certain percentage of the trees namcly those which have the lowest growth are removed. The problem however is the fact that this ought to be done without damaging the remaining trees, in order to achieve the basic purpose, that is, to allow the remaing trees to grow without damages and without rivals.

These requirements cannot be satisfied by means of the conventional harvesting apparatuses. ~irstly because most of them are constructed for clearance harvesting, whereat all the trees in a certain area are harvested. Thus their construction is unsuitable for this kind of special purpose. Their total weight is too high. This means that the surIacc perssure against the ground can damage the roots of the remaining trees. Secondly they are too large in size to allow them to operate adequately between the remaining trees. Thirdly the construction of these apparatuses is such that after cutting thc tree thcre is a limited number of possible directions to fell the tree. This is very unadvantageous, because the felling ancl debranching ought to be done between the remaining trees.

~hus tilC purpose of this invention is to l)resent a harvcsting device which can be used in conncction with lightweight mohile vehicle sucil as tractor, having hydraulic operation.ll ecluiplllents ~or operating the device. The total weight can thus ~)e limited in order to prevent the roots from damaging. The dimensions of such a vehicle together with the same of the device mal~e it possible to work between the remaining trees without clamaging thcm. The construction of the harvesting device allows various i~ossible directions to fell and to debranch the tree between the remaining ones.

Thus the purpose of the invention is broader sense is to rise the state of art as far as the economy of the forestry is concerned by means of a device which can do the cleaning harvesting which at the moment most widely is done manually.

In order to achieve these purposes the harvesting device in accordance with the invention is rnainly characterized in that the device has a general U-shaped frame comprising two side parts, rear part and an open front side, the cutting means, the conveying means and debranching means being attached to the side parts, the felling frame being attached to the rear part by means of a turnable means, in order to turn the device in the transversal plane with respect to the vertical plane in the longitudinal direction of the jib and the felling frame being connected to the jib turnable in the vertical plane in the longitudinal direction of the jib.

The definitions in the claims and description are ~ased on the cutting position of the device, whereat the front side of the device is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tree before cutting the same.

The harvesting device in accordance with the invention is more closely described in the following clescription with references to the closed clrawings in which ~ig. 1 and 2 are perspective views of thc harvesting dcvice, ~`ig. 3 - S are plan views showing the construction in detail in corresponding sections from figure 1 and l;`ig. ~ shows schematically the com~)ination of tractor, jib-and device in work.

The harvesting device 2 is connected to a rnobile vehicle such as tractor by means of crane jib or boom 1. l`he jib 1 is tiltable and pivotable by means of one or several links so that the distance between the vehicle and the device can be adjusted during harvesting. Further the jib can be turnable around the vertical axle, which connects the jib to the vehicle.
These con$tructions can vary within a large scale and are familiar to a person skilled to art and thus tehy aren't described more closely in this connection.

~igures 1 and 2 show the harvesting device 2, which consists of cutting, felling and debranching means, which can be operated by hydraulic equipment such as cylinders and motors connected to them. The hydraulic tubes and valves are not shown in the figures in order to clearify the construction itself. T'le operator of the harvesting device has the control units in hand for operating the valves to accomplish the cutting, felling and debranching stages.

The device 2 is a general U-shaped frame (in a horizontal section) comprising frame parts 3, 4 and 5. The frame is made of welded beams. These beams are arrangecl so that the side ~)arts 3, 4 of the frame have mainly rectangular form. The side parts 3, 4 of the frame form the sicles of the U-shapecl configuration and the rear part 5 of the frame forms the bottorn part of the same, whereas the front side 6 is open for l)ringing the tree into the U-shaped frame for harvesting. The attachment of the device 2 to the jib 1 is at the rear part 5 Or the frame. The cutting means 7, 8 are attached to the lower beams of these side parts in the lower section of the sarne, the conveying means 11, 12 are attached to the upper I>eam and placed in the openings of these side parts in the miclclZe section of the same and debranching means 14, 15 are attached to the upper beams of these side parts in the upper section of the same.

In the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2 and especially in fig. 3 the holding jaw 7 is attached to the lower beam of the side part 3 of the frame. This jaw is turnable rouncl its attachment axle by means of a hydraulic cylinder inside the U-shaped frame mainly in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tree. The jaw 7 holcls the tree to be harvested inside the frame while the cutting organ ~
cut the tree. The cutting organ 8 is preferably a chain saw 20 attached to the opposite side part 4 and is turnable round its attachment axle inside the U-shaped frame mainly in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tree by means of a hydraulic cylinder. The jaw 7 and the cutting organ 8 are placed at the lower side of the device 2, when it is in a cutting position as shown in figures. During cutting the parts 7 and o are effecting to the opposite directions and are placed on the top of another in the vertical direction to allow the cutting.

The side parts 3 and 4 of the frame cornprise the convcying 30 means ll and 12 as shown in fig. 4, which are used durin~
the clebranching and possible further cuts of the tree into srnaller parts. The conveying means are in the miclclle section of the side parts 3 and 4 and are attached to the upper bealns of the same by means of articulated arms 9 and lO. The conveying means itself can suitably comprise roller which is turnable around its attachment axle to the articulatcd arms. ~hc 5 ~2~

surface of the roller is roughned iTl or(~er to firmly contclct to the surface of tlle tree to be conveycled through the clevice.
The hydraulic rrlotor 13 connected to the axle of thc respective roller is driving the rollers. The arms 9 and 10 are turnable round their attachment axle inside the U-shaped frarlle by means of hydraulic cylinder 27 connecting the arms 9 of the opposite rollers so that the contact between the rollers and the tree is constant. The rollers are arranged to rotate in opposite directions so that they move the trunk of the tree towards the jaw 7 and cutting organ 8 and therethrough thc device, whereat the cutting means cut the trunk into logs if necessary.

The upper side of the frame comprise debranching jaws 14, 15, 16 as especially shown in fig. 5, The upper edges of these jaws are sharpened in order to accorrlplish the debranching when the rollers convey the trunk forwards. One of the jaws 16 is stationary, somewhat curved and arranged mainly parallel to the rear side 5 of the frame. The two other jaws 14 ancl 15 are connected to hy~raulic cylin~ers 17 by means of which they are turnable round their attachment axles toward each other in a plane mainly perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tree so that they can due to their curvecl shape surround the trunk together with the stationary jaw 16.

The rear part 5 of the frame cc-nprise support means 18 for example a steering plate which is in the plane of the rear part and attached to it. Another steering plate 20 is attached to the hydraulic motor 19, the axle 28 of which is attached to the ~late 18. The steering plate 20 forrns a part of the felling frame and is parallel with the above mentioned plate 30 180 The felling frarne corrlprise flanges 20-23 radially projecting ~rom the centre of the plate 20, wilere the motor 19 is placccl.
The head of the jib 1 is linked at 26 to the felling frame at the centre of the same and hydraulic cylinder 24 is linkecl at 2~ to the flanges 23 vertically above the link 26. The 6 ~2~

opposite end of the cylinder 24 is linkecl to thc jib. l'hus by means of the cylinder 24 the harvestin~, dcvice can bc turnecl in a vertical plane round the link 26.

~y means of the hydraulic motor 19 it is possible to rotate the device 2 in a transversal plane. The axle 28 of the motor connects and supports the felling frame 20-23 and the device
2.

I~ith reference to the foregoing the construction of the felling frame and its connection to the device 2 make several felling directions of the trunk possible. Firstly after cutting thc distance between the vehicle and the device 2 can be adjusted by means of the tiltable jib 1, but second and most important factor is the possibility of rotating the device 2 with the trunk both in a vertical plane in the longitudinal direction of the jib 1 by means of the cylinder 24 and in the transverse direction with respect to the said plane by means of the motor 19. These possibilities and their combinations make it possible for the operator to direct the felling of the trunk for debranching and possible further cuts to th.e most advantageous direction.
These properties can be also used-advantageously when grasping the next tree for cutting.

The cutting, felling and debranching can be carried out so that the vehicle with the harvesting devicle 2 moves in the forest to be cleaned gradually. This can be carried out without damaging the remaining trees and their roots due to the fact that the total weight and thus the surface pressure of the combination and other dimensions are suitable. The harvesting device 2 mainly due to its frame construction is light enough to allow the use of light-weight tractor as the mobile vehicle.
The combination is easy to manouver betwecn the remaining trees.

~y means of the jib 1 the harvesting device 2 is directe(l towards the tree and further adjustment c(nrl be mflcle by cylinder 24 and motor 19 if necessary so that the dcvice 2 is in a position shown in figures 1 and 2. The tree is clirecte<l insidc the U-shaped frame between the side parts 3 and 4, which is of course free for the tree. After this the jaw 7 rotates to gras~ the tree and to hold it inside the frame when t}le cutting organ 8 cut the tree. Thereafter, by usinX parts 19 and 24 the trunk is fallen to the direction most suitable for debranching which is done by the jaws 14, 15, IG, which surround the trunk, two of them 14, 15 being adjustable by means of cylinders 17 to maintain the contact of the samc with the surface of the trunk and thus remove the branches~
~he trunk is conveyed towards the jaw 7 and cutting organ 8, which are rotated away from their cutting positions by means of the rollers 11, 12 at the opposite sides of the trunk.
The rollers driven by motors 13 are pressed against the tree ~y the cylinder 27 connecting the articulated arms 9. Further cut s may be done by means of the jaw 7 and cutting organ 8 in order to divide the trunk into smaller logs.

Claims (7)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE
IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Tree harvesting device, which is connected to a mobile vehicle by means of a jib (1) and comprising means for cutting, felling and debranching a tree, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the device (2) has a general U-shaped frame comprising two side parts (3, 4), rear part (5) and an open front side (6), the cutting means (7, 8), the conveying means (11, l2) and debranching means (14, 15) being attached to the side parts (3, 4), the felling frame (19-23) being attached to the rear part (5) by means of a turnable means (23) in order to turn the device (2) in the transversal plane with respect to the vertical plane in the longitudinal direction of the jib (1) and the felling frame (19-23) being connected to the jib (1) turnable in the vertical plane in the longitudinal direction of the jib (1).
2. Tree harvesting device as defined in the claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the cutting means (7, 8) comprise the holding jaw (7) and the cutting organ (8) suitably a chain saw, which are located to the lower section of the side parts (3, 4) and arranged to turn inside the U-shaped frame from opposite directions and in different horizontal planes in order to cut the tree inside the U-shaped frame.
3. Tree harvesting device as defined in the claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the conveying means (11, 12) comprise at least one roller or the like driven by a motor (11) at the middle section of both of the side parts (3, 4), the rollers (11, 12) being connected to the corresponding side part by means of turnable arms (9) or the like, the arms (9) of the opposite rollers being connected to each other by the organ (27) for changing the distance between the same in order to turn the rollers inside the U-shaped frame to contact the surface of the tree and to convey the tree in its longitudinal direction by means of the rollers.
4. Tree harvesting device as defined in the claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the debranching means (14, 15) comprise a pair of jaws (14, 15), which are located to the upper section of the side parts (3, 4) and turnable inside the U-shaped frame from the opposite directions and in different horizontal planes in order to surround the tree.
5. Tree harvesting device as defined in the claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a stationary jaw (16) is arranged between the jaws (14, 15).
6. Tree harvesting device as defined in the claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the rear part (5) comprise a support means (18) to which the axle (28) of the motor (19) is attached, the motor (19) being attached to the felling frame (19-23).
7. Tree harvesting device as defined in the claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the felling frame (19-23) comprise two links (25, 26) to the lower one of which (26) the head of the jib (1) is attached and to the upper one of which the cylinder or the like (24) is attached, the opposite end of the cylinder (24) being attached to the jib (1).
CA000448960A 1984-03-06 1984-03-06 Tree harvesting device Expired CA1214710A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000448960A CA1214710A (en) 1984-03-06 1984-03-06 Tree harvesting device

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000448960A CA1214710A (en) 1984-03-06 1984-03-06 Tree harvesting device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1214710A true CA1214710A (en) 1986-12-02

Family

ID=4127348

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000448960A Expired CA1214710A (en) 1984-03-06 1984-03-06 Tree harvesting device

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1214710A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2011090419A1 (en) * 2010-01-23 2011-07-28 Sverre Aronsson Device and method for felling and cutting tree trunks

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2011090419A1 (en) * 2010-01-23 2011-07-28 Sverre Aronsson Device and method for felling and cutting tree trunks

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