DE102021133703B3 - Device for pruning a tree - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a device for pruning a tree, having the following features: a mast (21-24) for raising the device (20) lengthwise to the trunk (11) on a base (14) next to the tree (10), perpendicular to the Mast (21-24) protruding locks (25, 26) for fastening the erected mast (21-24) to the trunk (11), a clamp (27) connected at the end to the mast (21-24) for clamping the device (20 ) on the tree (10) and a ring rail (28) running along the clamp (27) with a saw module for freeing the trunk (11) from branches (12, 13).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for pruning a tree.

State of the art

In forestry and silviculture, any measure to free a tree trunk from branches is referred to as value pruning, value pruning or pruning, in the lower trunk area in particular as high pruning. Typically, branches are raised up to a height of 6 meters, but with some tree species such as spruce, larch or Douglas fir up to a height of 12 meters. In the case of high-quality veneer wood from so-called selection or Z-trees of these types, at most minimal knot inclusions are considered acceptable in the industry.

According to the state of the art, pruning is done manually near the ground with hand, pole or wing saws, up to a height of 5 meters also with pruning saws and ladders. At higher altitudes, high-limbing is usually possible with multi-part ladders by forest workers secured to the tree, mechanically with climbing saws or chemically with herbicides.

Electrically supported pruning shears are known, for example, in order to relieve the branch base in the course of a preliminary cut approx. 30 cm from the trunk. Such pruning shears are used, for example, in combination with a so-called Japanese saw for final delimbing. The pruning of a single tree sometimes takes several hours of work.

U.S. 3,612,117 A discloses the subject-matter of the preamble of claim 1.

DE 35 35 825 C2 shows and describes a high pruning device with a ring rail running around the tree trunk with a saw module for freeing the trunk from branches.

Out of DE 1 207 595 B a delimbing device is known which has a saw chain and climbs up the tree trunk by means of climbing caterpillar chains or is lifted along the tree trunk by means of a telescopic device.

DE 35 05 752 A1 , EP 2 245 919 A2 and JPH08-242708 A relate to further limbing devices, which are lifted by means of a telescopic device along the tree trunk.

Out of DE 14 82 983 A1 , DE 2 720 149 A1 , DE 297 13 899 U1 , FR 2 809 587 A1 , KR 10-1780007A , U.S. 3,451,448 A , U.S. 2014/0110021 A1 , WO 2006/069223 A1 , WO 2007/116291 A1 and WO 2007/121213 A1 Relevant devices are known which move up along the trunk by means of a wheel drive or climbing caterpillar chains.

US 10,561,071 B2 finally discusses the use of a drone for high pruning.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides improved apparatus for pruning a tree.

An advantage of this solution is that it can be used even under adverse conditions, such as on forest floors with low soil pressure, in inaccessible terrain or even on slopes.

Further advantageous refinements of the invention are specified in the dependent patent claims. Thus, the device can comprise a mast with a base frame and a linkage made up of several telescopically extendable segments, on the innermost of which the clamp used to clamp the device to the tree is attached. In the case of free-standing trees, this embodiment allows a high limbing up to an advantageous height of 15 meters.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the chainsaw used has a saw blade with a rotating micro chain according to FIG DE 10 2012 215 460 A1 such as that sold by Robert Bosch GmbH under the trade name "NanoBlade". Given the sensitivity of the growth layer between the bark and the trunk, a suitable device allows precise de-barking close to the bark, thus avoiding any shearing and growth damage associated with it.

Finally, the chainsaw may be electrically driven in order to enable it to be powered by mobile generators.

character list

• 1 zeigt eine Hochastung nach dem Stand der Technik.
• 2 zeigt einen Vertikalmast als möglichen Lösungsansatz.
• 3 bis 5 zeigen Vorschläge zur Anbindung einer Säge.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and is described in more detail below.

• 1 shows a prior art high scan.
• 2 shows a vertical mast as a possible solution.
• 3 until 5 show suggestions for connecting a saw.

Embodiments of the invention

1 illustrates the manual pruning of a tree (10) by a forest worker (16). As can be guessed from the illustration, climbing the ladder (15) set up on uneven forest floor (14) with a handsaw (17) proves to be extremely dangerous for him. In addition, his unsafe position on the tree trunk (11) makes it difficult for the worker (16) to precisely process the branches (12, 13).

Against this background, the benefits of the in 2 lighted device (20). To erect the device (20) along the trunk (11), a lightweight mast (21-24) is used here, which consists of a cuboid base frame (21) for setting up on the ground (14) next to the tree (10) and a linkage (22-24) for setting the desired working height. In the present case, the latter comprises three segments (22-24) that are extended telescopically from the base frame (21). The innermost and thus uppermost segment (24) when extended carries the actual saw module along a clamp (27) connected at the end to the mast (21-24), the structure of which will be explained below.

To fasten the mast (21-24) erected according to the figure, two latches (25, 26) are attached to the base frame (21) which protrude at right angles from the mast and wrap around the trunk (11) with two coaxial rings like a cuff.

3 shows what has already been mentioned above, by the worker (16 - 1 ) remote-controlled saw module (30) in its entirety. An electric chainsaw (29) with a NanoBlade saw blade (33) is used here, the chain of which is equipped with 52 teeth, each 4 mm long and 0.9 mm wide. Along the circumference of the tree trunk (11), the saw module (30) is on its in 4 illustrated ring rail (28) by means of a - transported transport system in the intended working position - not shown in the drawing.

A synopsis of 3 and 5 clarifies the kinematics of the saw module (30) with respect to the ring rail (28), which is essentially based on a combination of commercially available components. For this purpose, the latter initially carries a so-called XY or compound table (31), which guides the chain saw (29) in a plane extending tangentially to the ring rail (28). The compound table (31), in turn, carries a rotary guide (32) which is able to align the motor saw (29) about two axes of rotation, in this case orthogonal, running parallel to said plane. If one also takes into account the working height of the saw module (30), which can be adjusted along the trunk (11), and its mobility on the ring rail (28), the resulting open kinematic chain gives the chainsaw (29) six degrees of freedom.

Claims (6)

Device (20) for pruning a tree (10) with a trunk (11), having the following features: - a mast (21-24) for erecting the device (20) along the trunk (11) on a base (14) next to it the tree (10), - locking mechanisms (25, 26) protruding at right angles from the mast (21-24) for fastening the erected mast (21-24) to the trunk (11) and - one end connected to the mast (21-24). Clamp (27) for clamping the device (20) on the tree (10), characterized by the following features: - the mast (21-24) is of lightweight construction and includes a base frame (21) for setting up on the ground (14) and a linkage (22-24) for setting a desired working height above the ground (14), - the linkage (22-24) comprises several telescopically extendable segments (22-24) from the base frame (21), - the locks (25, 26) are attached to the base frame (21) and the clamp (27) is the innermost under the segments (22-24) and - the device (20) u mIncludes a ring rail (28) running along the clamp (27) with a saw module (30) set up for a remote control for removing branches (12, 13) from the trunk (11). Device (20) after claim 1 , characterized by the following features: - the saw module (30) comprises a motor saw (29) and - the saw module (30) comprises a cross table (31) carried by the ring rail (28) for guiding the motor saw (29) in a direction tangential to the Ring rail (28) extending plane. Device (20) after claim 2 , characterized by the following features: - the saw module (30) also includes a rotary guide (32) for rotating the chain saw (29) about two parallel to the plane, preferably orthogonal axes of rotation and - the cross table (31) carries the rotary guide (32). Device (20) after claim 2 or 3 , characterized by the following feature: - the chainsaw (29) has a saw bar (33) with a rotating microchain. Device (20) after claim 4 , characterized by the following feature: - the micro-chain is made up of links with a maximum length of 4 mm and a maximum width of 1 mm. Device (20) according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized by the following feature: - the ring rail (28) is set up for a connection to a transport system.

Images