ES2564429B1 - Trunk vibrator clamp pad to reduce damage from barking trees - Google Patents

Abstract

Trunk vibrator clamp block to reduce damage from barking of trees. # The block (3) comprises a hollow rubber housing, constructed of rubber reinforced with polyester, polyamide or steel cables or fibers, and full padding or partially of a filling material (7.1) of plastic origin with high properties of mechanical and thermal resistance, such as a PEHD, PA6, PA66 or PEEK, with granular shape, cylinders or lenticular, of equivalent grain size between 1 and 5 mm and optionally carry molybdenum disulphide, fiberglass, graphite or PTFE and additionally heat evacuation mechanisms such as natural or forced ventilation can be included. In addition, you can have some support skirts (4) and contact skirt (5) that cover the block (3). This block design allows for easy deformation, achieving a large contact surface and adapting to the irregularities of the trunk and reducing tensions in the contact.

Description

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TRUNK VIBRATOR CLAMP TACO TO REDUCE THE DANE BY DISCORTEZED TO THE TREES

DESCRIPTION

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention, a log of a log vibrator to reduce damage by barking the tree, and particularly more precisely its configuration, construction and material used in the manufacture thereof.

The demolition of fruits through the use of log vibrators is a technique used in crops such as olive, almond, cherry, plum, nuts, pistachio and others. The log vibrators have an elastic contact material between the machine and the plant, whose objectives are the transmission of the vibration, which generates the necessary efforts for the demolition of the fruits and the reduction of the possible damages generated to the tree. Therefore, the field involved is that of agricultural mechanization and a sector of the physics in materials, and particularly that of the logs of log vibrators.

It is a first objective of the present invention the skirts and materials thereof used in the coating of the plugs mounted on the logs of log vibrators.

It is also the object of the present invention to develop the geometry, materials and characteristics of the studs used in the log vibrator clamp.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mechanized collection necessarily involves the transmission of high levels of energy, through mechanical vibration, from a vibrating system (clamp or jaw) to the trunk of a tree, which in turn is

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transmitted to the main and secondary branches, causing the demolition of the fruits. The coupling and transmission of energy between the vibrator clamp and the trunk, can cause damage to the bark of the tree, which can cause the loss of future crops or even unfeasibility or death of the tree. The mission of the gripping material is to reduce the damage, or the probability that these occur, maintaining adequate levels of transmission of the vibration that allow a high demolition of fruits.

Traditional log vibrators use gripping materials constructed with rubber elastic parts, known as studs, which are coated with sheets or sheets of an elastic material, known as skirts, made of materials such as rubber, textile materials or combination thereof, whose mission is to hold the block, as well as to protect it from friction wear and improve the deformability of the assembly in the grip process. Damage caused to tree trunks due to machine grip is minimized by achieving a large contact surface with the trunk, which reduces the stresses caused by stresses, by deforming the whole grip material, dowels and skirts. produced in the process of grip and transmission of vibration. Rubber is an elastic material that requires great compression efforts to achieve significant levels of deformation capable of guaranteeing the efficiency of energy transmission. In addition, this high level of effort increases the likelihood of damage to the bark of the tree trunk undergoing the collection process.

In the case of olive cultivation, bark damage can occur during vibrating for mechanical collection due to various factors, such as the physiological state of the plant, human factors (handling during harvesting) and its own design. vibrating system Reduce the risk of damage in the contact area of the tree trunk, by controlling these factors.

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As for the physiological factors of the plant, the susceptibility of the tree to damage depends on the resistance to tensions of the vascular cambium of the tree's bark, located on the inner face, its resistance being less the better the hydric state of the tree and the greater its physiological activity, being maximum between spring and the beginning of autumn, and more susceptible in irrigated conditions than in dry land, and increasing resistance in the months of biological stop (end of autumn to winter) and in dry or situation of water stress. To this is added, that there is a tendency to early harvest of the fruit for the improvement of the quality of olive oil, when the tree is more susceptible to damage during the harvest.

As for the human factors, the duration of the vibration and the skill of the operator when making the grip of the machine to the tree are also influential. However, it is the gripper that is the most important element to take into account at the time of any improvement that is intended to be done to avoid or reduce damage to the crust, since it is the means of transmission of vibration from the system of vibrated to the trunk, and within it, its most important element is the material used in the grip, being in direct contact with the tree, and being the ultimate transmitter of the kinetic energy of vibration.

Therefore, the factor of the design of the vibrator or of the material of contact with the trunk is the key factor and object of said patent to reduce the problem of debarking.

The traditional grip material systems that exist in the market are usually based on a combination of materials, usually based on rubber. They consist of a main block, composed of a relatively hard and durable rubber (60-75 Shore A hardness) firmly attached to the clamp system, and a series of skirts, sheets or plates on the outside. To protect trees more sensitive to damage, they are also used

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softer and deformable rubber compounds in the grip pad (4555 Shore A), but their durability is also less. The skirts are usually made of rubber-based material, this being a material not manufactured for this purpose, but cut to size of a market rubber plate, normally thought of as a conveyor belt, which typically a plate of a rubber similar in hardness to of the block (60-75 Shore A), of a thickness between 7 and 20 mm, reinforced by polyester fibers.

A typical configuration of placing the skirts on the vibrator is a first sheet of conveyor belt fixed by the upper and lower part of the clamp that fully embraces the block, even holding it, and another additional sheet that is only held by the part superior and that prevents the transmission of tangential efforts to the trunk. For the construction of the skirts present in the market, pieces of conveyor belt are usually used, which are a continuous plate of vulcanized rubber reinforced with polyester fibers, between 7 and 20 mm thick. This configuration is almost always the same for the inner or clamping sheet. For the outer skirt the same material is usually used as the innermost one (rubber conveyor belt 7 to 20 mm thick), although for this there are other alternatives that are usually used when it is estimated that the trees are in a physiological state more sensitive to be damaged In this sense, for the contact skirt, cuts of a softer rubber plate (35-55 Shore A), which is not reinforced with fibers, can be used. It is also used for the latter, in early harvest olive groves, as an alternative to rubber, a softer textile material to give additional protection to the bark, such as natural or synthetic felt sheets (textile blends based on wool and other fibers ), about 200 g / cm3 density and thicknesses between 10 and 15 mm. These last two configurations cause the soft rubber or textile skirts, which are not very resistant to abrasion, to wear quickly, due to the efforts to which they are subjected in the vibrating process, since they are materials not intended to resist abrasion .

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The Spanish patent ES1057930U proposes a rubber block that is easy to mount on the jaws of a jaw that is very effective in its function and simple in its constitution, in order to achieve an appropriate firmness in the tree trunk. The deformation of the rubber is favored by cylindrical holes that partially recess the main rubber piece, reducing the force necessary to crush it against the tree.

Likewise, the Spanish patent ES1052168U describes rigid elements of sufficient strength inserted in the rubber of the block during its manufacture, so that the fixation to the housing of the vibrator is firm and stable.

The Spanish invention patent WO2011067422A1, for a better transmission of the vibration through the direct fixation on the tree's core and to prevent the bark from detaching, proposes a rubber block for a fruit collection machine consisting of a central block of rubber and a rubber skirt, which has nails embedded inside it, which emerge outwards through perforations made on the vertical surface of said rubber skirt, so that when these rubber studs are pressed on a log, gums are deformed emerging nails that are locked inside the trunk.

In order to avoid the relative displacement between caliper and trunk, the ES2255870B1 patent describes the use of a skirt consisting of a molded piece of virgin caramel rubber rich in natural rubber, which incorporates at least one layer of woven-cable, provided with straight and independent stiffening threads. , threads that in some layers are perpendicular to the mooring edges of the skirt, and that in other cases are markedly oblique, finally giving the molded piece of reinforcement strips in correspondence with their fixing edges to the vibrating machine. Aims to

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avoid the problems of stiffness and temperature increase experienced by the skirts constituted by a rubber conveyor belt.

Among the studies focused on determining the causes and reducing damage due to barking by combining taco with skirts, the work on cherry crops developed by G.K. Brown et al. (1988). In the design a perforated neoprene block with which it manages to eliminate damages even in trees harvested in irrigation, another of the agronomics that influences said damage, since the pre-harvest irrigation reduces the resistance of the cambium and therefore increases the danger of barking. The grip material system used is applicable to other vibrators.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the grip material of a log vibrator to gather fruits, should be to transmit the vibration forces from the machine to the tree trunk and distribute the vibration and clamping forces over an area as large as possible to minimize tensions in the bark

At the same time, the gripping material should reduce the transmission of tangential stresses to the tree trunk, which are not effective for the demolition of the fruit and cause damage to the bark, and should improve the transmission of normal stresses to the tree trunk , that if they are effective for the demolition of the fruit and cause less risk of producing damage to the tree. The gripping material must therefore be deformable and also provide a firm grip between the trunk and the vibrator clamp, because if the clamp slipped during vibration it could cause great damage to the tree, mainly due to barking.

Elasticity is an intrinsic property of rubber, the main component of the market's grip blocks, which implies that the greater the pressure in the clamp, the greater the deformation and the greater the contact surface is achieved. There are attempts in the market to achieve larger areas of

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contact by means of particular forms of the flattened rubber block or with perforations that allow a small initial deformation with less pressure in the tightening (patent ES1057930U). These methods, although they contribute to reduce the risk of damage, are not entirely effective when the bark of the tree is more sensitive.

On the other hand, despite using high clamping pressures to deform the studs, the elastic characteristics of the rubber itself cause the gripping material to have oscillating deformations during the transmission of the vibration, due to the variation of the stresses caused by the inertia of the oscillating mass of the clamp, which is the origin of the vibration. These deformations produce amplification of the vibration in the tree and can produce small displacements between the bark and the grip material, causing tangential stresses and damage to the tree in the grip area.

On the other hand, amplification of amplitude is an often undesirable phenomenon, because despite producing greater accelerations and demolition of fruit, it also produces more demolition of complete branches, damage to roots and bark, and damage to the tree in general. The current vibrating systems for the olive grove have to look for demolition by high frequencies against excessive accelerations or amplitudes, as it is the first least damaging mechanism for the tree. This effect is exacerbated if a softer rubber is used, sometimes counteracting the beneficial effect of a softer and deformable grip material.

In our invention, a grip block is achieved which, due to its characteristics, reduces the risk of damage to the cortex, regardless of factors such as the shape of the block. The design allows a plastic consistency, which as the process of tightening the vibrator head on the trunk begins, deforms easily and even with low pressures, until reaching a maximum, adequate degree of deformation

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for the jaw-trunk contact, from which an increase in grip pressure causes the material to become sharp, acquiring a high rigidity for the transmission of vibrations, transmitting the vibrating energy with higher frequencies and amplitudes lower than the grip materials based on the traditional rubber block.

In order to achieve high rates of vibration transmission with low tightening pressures, a block is proposed that combines different materials to achieve the purpose of the plastic behavior in deformation and once the maximum deformation is reached.

To do this, each grip block is formed by a hollow container, more or less cylindrical or prismatic outside, identical to that of the traditional plug, even interchangeable by it without additional modifications to the vibrating machine. The container is formed by two rubber blocks at the ends as covers between which the cylinder is closed with a rubber band or canvas reinforced with polyester fiber threads, polyamides, glass fiber or steel wire, construction similar to a tire's casing.

The configuration of this carcass, such as that of car tires, is flexible and allows deformation in terms of bending and changing shape, but it is very sharp in terms of tensile stresses, allowing the carcass to deform while The total surface of the material remains practically constant.

To limit the deformation of the housing, inside there is a granular filling material, of grains between 1 and 5 mm, which can slide between them, to the point where the pressure and the housing containing them prevent their movement. If the filling occupies 100% of the space, the possible deformation of the block is null or practically zero, but if the filling is not total, as we press the block against the tree, the filling, with relatively

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little effort, will tend to move, allowing the deformation of the housing, until said deformation occupies all the available gap. It is at this time, when the material passes from a plastic to rigid consistency, due to the combination of the properties of resistance to the elongation of the housing and the stiffness of the filling material.

Obviously, the greater the space available in the hollow block object of the invention, the greater the possibility that it will be deformed, and the larger the contact surface, the available space may be regulated from the amount of filling material that is insert into the block housing. This allows the grip material to be adapted to the size of the trunk of the tree (2), as an excess of hole in the block, would cause it to deform more than the outline of the tree, causing the material to never tighten to it and not transmit the vibration, while in general a greater available space also means greater contact area and greater protection for the bark of the tree. Thus, for small trunk diameters, a practically full block could be used, while for larger diameters we would use a smaller filling percentage, thus being able to adapt the block to the average size of the trees in the plot or object farm of collection.

A rigid and granular material is needed as filling material for this invention. The more or less spherical shape of the grains, as long as they have an adequate size, is not important. Plastic material pellets, such as polyethylene (PE), high density polyethylene (PEHD), polyamide (PA6 or PA66), PEEK, are suitable. These materials in their original pellets have cylindrical shapes or lenticures, according to their manufacturing process. Both forms give a good functioning in our invention, since they allow its particle size, of apparent diameters between 1 and 5 mm, to slide between them allowing the block housing to adapt as the tightening process occurs.

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The filling material, during the vibration process, is subjected to alternating pressures and great efforts, which cause heating and possible fusion of said material, deteriorating the functioning of the block. From the point of view of the material, a filling material must be chosen that, having a viable cost, has properties of mechanical resistance and high temperature, seeking an optimal compromise between the cost of the material and its resistance and durability. At this point the PE or the PEHD, are more economical, although less resistant, being, increasing the resistance and price if the P6 or P66 is used, or, in the same sense the PEEK. In addition, the durability of the filler material can be increased by decreasing its internal friction through the addition of a solid lubricant. In the market there are suitable solid lubricants such as graphite, fiberglass, PTFE or molybdenum disulfide. All of them facilitate the deformation in the grip and decrease the friction in the transmission of the vibration, decreasing the heating. They also have the effect of favoring the redistribution of the grains inside the block when it is not vibrating, thus favoring the distribution of heat therein in the periods between successive gripping and vibrating cycles.

Alternate plug deformation cycles require the entry and exit of outside air to complete the volume of the block. The internal ventilation of the block can be favored with the recovery of the shape of the block after the grip / vibration process. If the housing of the block, after being deformed in the grip / vibration process, when not being pressed, it is able to recover its original shape and volume allows the entrance of the outside air to the atmospheric pressure, which is then expelled in the next cycle of grip / vibration, when the block is deformed by the force of the tightening. In this way, the air inlet and outlet in each cycle constitute a first natural air ventilation system, which may be sufficient with a filling material of sufficient consistency. The cross-linking of a part of the fibers or threads of the block housing, linked and continuous and connected with the rubber caps, which pull with the elastic properties of the rubber that

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form, would favor this property of recovery of the original form of the cue.

Another important factor to reduce the risk of damage to the tree is skirts or skirts, sheets or plates. Usually they are arranged in two layers or pieces, whose mission is multiple, on the one hand to hold the block and on the other hand to reduce the risks of damage, both improving the deformation and adaptation of the grip material to the trunk of the tree and reducing the efforts that most easily produce damage to the bark of the tree (outer skirt). The existing skirts in the market have several possible configurations, which we discuss below with the inconveniences, which solves our invention.

The object of our invention is a novel combination of materials in the constitution of the skirts, so that the materials existing in the state of the art, together with materials of novel use are arranged so that they allow deformation, within the plastic behavior , not masking the advantages of the refillable block, they do not transmit tangential tensions, contributing to reduce the risk of damage due to debarking and maintain or increase the durability of the gripping material.

The materials and configuration for the skirts that we expose in this invention constitute a set of techniques, independent of the grip, which can be applied together or separately, in different combinations, to be applied by the manufacturer of the vibrator, with or without the heel. recommended, with the objectives in which they have been exposed.

Therefore, we propose a combination of materials ordered from inside to outside (Fig. 2), that is, from the taco of the vibrator to the bark of the tree, with its corresponding functions:

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1. Rubber sheet as a fastener for the block, with high mechanical resistance and friction properties, with reduced thicknesses (less than 10 mm), to avoid maintaining deformability; or molded piece of polyurethane hardness 90 shores: as a fastener of the block, with high mechanical resistance and friction properties, with reduced thicknesses (3-4 mm), to facilitate the deformability of the block.

2. PTFE sheet between 0.5 and 2 mm thick or polyamide or glass fiber fabric impregnated with PTFE, fiberglass, graphite or other solid lubricant, which would act as a solid lubricant between the previous or subsequent layers as of mechanical fuse that allows the relative movement between the block and the bark of the tree.

3. Rubber band, as intermediate skirt without fastening function, with high properties of mechanical resistance and friction, with reduced thicknesses (less than 10 mm), to avoid maintaining deformability or textile piece of high thickness (between 10 and 20 mm) of felt type fabric, which lubricates the contact of the preceding layer with the cortex by progressive wear of the tissues in the use thereof, or combination of the above.

An additional and necessary technique to reduce the possible tangential stresses transmitted from the vibrator clamp to the trunk, both in the grip and in the vibration process, not addressed before in the current state of the art, is the existing union between the coupling of the contact skirt and the vibrator frame. If said coupling is rigid, any displacement of the vibrator arm, both in the grip process and in the process of transverse or tangential direction to the tree's bark, can be transmitted in the form of tangential tensions that are very susceptible to damage. .

In the current state of the art, for this purpose many market trunk vibrators hold the contact skirt only by its upper part, to allow a greater relative displacement of it.

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However, this technique is not enough, given the stiffness of the materials of the skirts, usually of rubber conveyor belt, so that the only upper fastener is already sufficient to limit the deformation and that the stresses are transmitted.

This additional technique, which is based on the novel combination of materials object of this patent, consists in unifying the different sheets or skirts of lubrication and wear, in a piece that would wrap the pieces as a bag, this piece being only held by said bag and articulated with the gripper. The material of the bag, which acts as a skirt, would be a fine textile fabric (not more than 1 mm) of one or more layers, it is flexible, isolating the transverse displacements of the arm of the clamp, which would not be transmitted to the skirt, not affecting the stiffness of the inner piece. The effect of flexibility in the grip of the sheets, can be improved if the coupling of the skirt set, we do it with a narrower but sufficient slings to guarantee the fastening to the screws, so that having less material we increase our own flexibility of said material, thus reducing the risk of transmission of tangential efforts. The fastening strips or slings, could be of the same material and same piece as the flaps of the skirt, or be straps or slings of a material specifically designed for that purpose and firmly attached to the sheets.

Therefore, thanks to the proposed block, it is possible to transmit the vibrant energy with higher frequencies and lower amplitudes than the grip materials based on the traditional rubber block, and therefore with low tightening pressures.

On the other hand and in a complementary way thanks to the materials used in the skirts the transmission of efforts is reduced

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tangential to the trunk of the tree, which are not effective for the demolition of the fruit and cause damage to the bark

Unless otherwise indicated, all the technical and scientific elements used herein have the meaning that the normal expert in the technique to which this invention belongs belongs to. In the practice of the present invention procedures and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used.

Throughout the description and the claims the word "comprises" and its variants are not intended to exclude other technical characteristics, additives, components or steps. For those skilled in the art, other objects, advantages and characteristics of the invention will be derived partly from the description and partly from the practice of the invention.

EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical realization thereof, a set of drawings is accompanied as an integral part of said description. where, with an illustrative and non-limiting nature, the following has been represented.

Figure 1 shows a configuration of a log vibrator with grip material and skirts.

Figure 2 shows a detail of the skirts that cover the plug of the vibrating clamps.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the grip block, along with a detail of the interior.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the grip block.

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PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the figures, a preferred embodiment of the proposed invention is described below.

In Figure 1 we can see a typical log vibrator with a jaw or clamp (1) with two arms, appropriate for the application of the invention. The clamp (1), in particular the arms are designed to be arranged, preferably approximately facing each other on the surface of a tree (2), on the ends of the clamp arms (1) there are tacos (3 ) or grip pads that are covered on their faces by a fastening skirt (4) of the block or pad (3) by means of screws (11) that join both ends of the fastening skirt (4), the outer face or contact of the arms of the clamps is covered by a contact skirt (5) fastened at its upper end by the screws (11), this contact skirt (5) falling by gravity by lacking lower support.

The clamp (1) is mounted on a telescopic frame (1.1) of the log vibrator, being suspended from said frame (1.1), which have the necessary means to position the clamp with respect to the trunk of the tree.

Figure 2 shows a detail of a configuration of the grip block (3) and skirts object of the invention. As can be seen, the block (3) is a hollow rubber casing (7), similarly or identically external to the rubber blocks used by the market log vibrators, and even fully interchangeable by these, but hollow and Constructed by rubber reinforced with cables or fibers of polyester, nylon, polyamide or steel, similar to the construction of a tire.

The heel (3) is covered on all of its faces by the support skirt (4), with a support skirt (4) arranged on top of the support skirt (4).

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contact (5) that slips down the outermost side of the block and supports and is retained on the clamp by means of the screw (11) that also retains the ends of the fastening skirt (4).

The contact skirt (5) comprises:

- An inner layer (9) of contact with the support skirt (4) which can be:

or of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), better known by the trade name Teflon: between 0.5 and 1 mm thick, which would act as a solid lubricant,

or o be made of polyamide or fiberglass fabric, or be impregnated with polyamide.

- An outer layer (10) that can be:

o A rubber conveyor belt without fastening function, with mechanical resistance and friction properties, with reduced thicknesses (less than 10 mm), to avoid maintaining deformability.

or OR a textile piece of high thickness (between 10 and 20 mm) of felt type fabric, which lubricates the contact of the preceding layer with the cortex by progressive wear of the tissues in the use thereof, or combination of the above .

On the covers (8) of the housing (7) of the block (3), the block has:

- a sleeve or nut (13) or female thread metal opening, attached to the housing of the grip block (3), which serves as an opening inside said housing, for filling and emptying the filling material of the grip block , to which you can screw a cap screw.

- A screw cap (14), with a hexagonal head for closing the grip block (3).

- a series of perforations (15) of the screw cap (14) for closing, to allow the entry / exit of air for cooling.

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A possible configuration of the gripping block (3) object of the invention is shown in Figure 3. The views A and B, which represent 2 typical configurations of the present invention, are also noted.

The grip block (3) in a configuration that goes from the outside to the inside comprises:

- a skin or shell (7) of the grip block (3) made of rubber sheet of moderate thickness (4 to 10 mm), which is reinforced with polyester, nylon, polyamide, glass fiber or wire steel, similar to the construction of a tire

- a filling material (7.1) of the block (3) housed inside the housing (7) of the block (3), which has a rigid consistency and granular structure. The shape of the beans, as long as they have an adequate size, is not important. Plastic material pellets, such as polyethylene (PE), high density polyethylene (PEHD), polyamide (PA6 or PA66), or PEEK, are suitable. These materials in their original pellets have cylindrical or lenticular shapes, according to their manufacturing process. Both forms give a good functioning in our invention, since they allow its particle size, of apparent diameters between 1 and 5 mm, to slide between them allowing the block housing to adapt as the tightening process occurs.

The above materials are covered on its front and rear face by covers (8) or closure piece, on which a sleeve or nut (13) is disposed on which a threaded closure plug (14) is arranged.

In the view (B) of this figure 3, a screw cap (14) is shown on which a series of perforations (15) have been made to allow the entry and exit of the filling material air (7.1) of the Taco.

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In Figure 4 a block can be observed as the one proposed in the present invention in combination with the skirt-like materials that cover the block, which, as already mentioned above, this block, may well be, a conventional block or a taco as described.

In this figure it is observed how the different sheets or skirts of lubrication and wear are unified in a piece that would wrap the pieces as a bag (16), this piece being only held by said bag and articulated with the gripper. The material of the bag, which acts as a skirt, would be a fine textile fabric (not more than 1 mm) of one or more layers, it is flexible, isolating the transverse displacements of the arm of the clamp, which would not be transmitted to the skirt, not affecting the stiffness of the inner piece. The effect of flexibility in the grip of the sheets, can be improved if the coupling of the skirt assembly, we do it with a narrower slings (12) narrower but sufficient to guarantee the fastening to the screws (11), so that having less material we increase the flexibility of said material, thus reducing the risk of transmission of tangential efforts. The fastening strips or slings (12), could be of the same material and same piece as the sheets of the contact skirt (5), or be straps or slings of a material specifically designed for that purpose and firmly attached to the sheets .

In a first embodiment of the invention, a conventional block can only be covered by the support skirt (4) and the contact skirt (5).

As a fastening skirt (4), if the conventional block is used, the same skirt constructed of conveyor belt material that the vibrator manufacturer would use for its conventional rubber block (10 to 15 mm thick) would be used, while if the block to be used was the one described in the realization of this patent, it would be replaced by a band of minimum thickness (7 mm thick) or a 90 Shore A hardness 90 mm polyurethane sheet

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thickness, since both configurations retain the properties of the plastic block described in this invention.

On the fastening fault (4) and as a contact skirt (5) a set of 2 sheet materials would be available, which allow the lubrication of the contact with the grip skirt (4) avoiding the transmission of tangential forces. Thus, a first serfa layer of a natural felt of virgin wool, of greater durability than the synthetic one, of 10 mm for the plastic consistency block object of the invention, or of the thickness originally recommended by the manufacturer of the conventional taco vibrator. To this would be added a second layer between 0.5 and 2 mm thick or polyamide or glass fiber fabric impregnated with PTFE, fiberglass, graphite or other solid lubricant, which would act as a solid lubricant between the anterior or posterior layers as a mechanical fuse that allows relative movement between the block and the bark of the tree.

In a possible preferred embodiment that reduces the risk of debarking and increases durability, they would be on a conventional market rubber block where the fastening (4) and contact skirts (5) would be constructed with a conveyor belt recommended by the manufacturer for said vibrator model, to which an intermediate layer of solid lubricant would be added, which could be a solid PTFE plate 1 mm thick and an outer layer of PTFE impregnated polyamide, which would increase the lubrication in the contact and the durability due to its resistance to abrasion, from the set of contact skirts (5).

In another possible embodiment, in which the block described above will be used, the clamping skirt (4) would be a 90 Shore A hardness 90 Shore A polyurethane sheet, for better preserving the plastic properties of the block and as contact skirt (5) 7 mm thick conveyor belt, due to its resistance to abrasion and temperature (greater durability), while a layer similar to the previous case would be used

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intermediate comprising an inner layer of solid lubricant that could be a solid PTFE plate 1 mm thick and an outer layer of polyamide impregnated with PTFE, which would increase contact lubrication and durability due to its abrasion resistance, set of contact skirts (5).

In the event that the skirt had an articulated coupling to the log of the log vibrator, and if it were the conventional market rubber grip block, the fastening skirts (4) would be those constructed with a conveyor belt recommended by the manufacturer for said vibrator model, while in the case of one of the preferred gripping block embodiments of this invention, of plastic consistency, as the clamp fastening (4) is missing, a 90 Shore A 4 hardness polyurethane sheet would preferably be used mm thick, or rubber conveyor belt 7 mm thick, for its resistance to abrasion and temperature (greater durability).

The embodiment is based on the design of the contact skirt, which would comprise the layers (9 and 10) in a single piece (contact skirt (5)). An inner layer (9) of a material with lubricating and abrasion resistance properties composed of one or more layers of an abrasion resistant textile material and with lubricating properties, which can be improved by adding it with a solid lubricant, which preferably it can be polyamide fabric additive with Teflon ®, which in a single piece would wrap a piece with the same purpose and materials as the two previous embodiments, which could be rubber conveyor belt 7 mm thick or less (to reduce at least the elastic properties of the rubber), to look for greater durability, or as an alternative, a textile piece of high thickness (between 10 and 20 mm) of felt type fabric, which lubricates the contact of the preceding layer (9, 10) with greater deformability than the conveyor belt rubber, although without elastic properties, which would provide greater protection to the crust, although less durability.

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In this preferred embodiment, the piece of polyamide added with PTFE (teflon ®), will be closed by the sides, either with buttons, velcro, sewn, glued or riveted to hold the inner parts (9 and 10), the pieces not being connected interiors with the arm of the vibrator clamp, but contained between the bag that forms the wear and lubrication sheets (12).

The assembly (5) is attached to the arm of the clamp or jaw by means of fastening strips or slings (12) of the skirt, which are extensions of the same sheet that forms the bag, of reduced width but sufficient to guarantee anchoring with the screws (11) to the arm of the clamp (1), allowing this type of coupling a great lateral flexibility due to the properties of the textile material that compose them and for being of reduced width.

When disassembling the skirt set, removing the screws (11), the bag composed of the sheets (9 and 10), could be opened to replace the inner material, if it deteriorates due to wear.

The grip block (3), is constructed as a hollow container, more or less cylindrical or prismatic exterior, identical to that of the traditional plug, even interchangeable by it without additional modifications to the vibrating machine. The container is formed by two rubber blocks at the ends as covers (8) between which the cylinder is closed with a rubber band or canvas reinforced with polyester fiber threads (6), of construction similar to the housing of a tire. The configuration of this housing, such as that of the tires, is flexible and allows deformation in terms of bending and changing shape, but non-deformable in terms of tensile stresses, allowing the housing to deform while the total surface of the material remains practically constant. In the same way as a tire not mounted on a wheel, this configuration maintains the shape by the elasticity of the rubber of the walls and inner reinforcing fibers, recovering the shape

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even when we deform this with moderate efforts when the cause of the deformation ceases to act. Thus, this housing would easily deform with the pressure that the vibrating machine would exert in the process of tightening the tree by closing the jaw arms, recovering the shape after finishing the tightening and vibrating process, reopening the arms of the gag.

In this configuration the two lateral ends or covers (8) of the block (3), would have inserted and glued by means of adhesives to the rubber cover (8), a threaded sleeve (13), which would allow us to fill or empty the block with the granular filling (7.1). To close the plugs and that the filling (7.1) did not come out, the sleeve opening was covered with a threaded plug (14), which had a large number of perforations (15), in such a way as to allow air inlet / outlet but not of the granular filling (7).

To limit the deformation of the housing, a granular material (7.1), of polyamide pellet (PA6 or PA66), lubricated with molybdenum disulfide, which is usually available in cylindrical grains of an external size of between 2 and 4 mm. The filling of this material will not occupy 100% of the internal volume of the housing (7) refillable, but a percentage of vacuum will be left. For convenience, to measure the amount of padding / vacuum arranged inside the pad (3) refillable, the percentage of weight of the padding material (7.1) is used, with respect to the maximum that would fit in the fully filled housing.

The quantity of filling material will be a function of the average diameter and variability of the existing trocos in the plantation and the external shape of the refillable block, some indicative values of the degree of filling would be: for trunk diameters less than 150 mm, filling between the 95 and 90%; for trees between 150 and 400 mm, filled between 90 and 75% and for trees with diameters greater than 400 mm, filled between 80 and 65%.

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The configuration described, in addition to allowing an easy deformation of the block in the tightening, and that the properties of the combination of materials from a certain pressure limit the deformation, acquiring an optimal rigid consistency for the transmission of vibrations, allows a way natural the entry and exit of air through the openings (15) of the screw caps (14), a process that is favored by the ease of recovering the shape after the closing and opening processes of the jaw arms. Likewise, these movements and the agitation that occurs in the filling during transport, favor the displacement and rotation of the filling material (7.1) inside the housing (7), so that heat distribution is favored and prevents overheating of the granular filling (7.1) and the set of gripping materials (3, 4 and 5).

Describing sufficiently the nature of the present invention, as well as the way of putting it into practice, it is stated that, within its essentiality, it may be implemented in other embodiments that differ in detail from that indicated by way of example. , and which will also achieve the protection sought, provided that it does not alter, change or modify its fundamental principle.

Claims (11)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 1. - Trunk vibrator clamp block to reduce damage by barking a tree characterized by comprising: - a hollow rubber casing (7) of cylindrical or prismatic exterior shape, hollow and constructed of rubber reinforced with polyester or nylon cables or fibers or polyamides or glass fiber or steel wire, at which ends two bands or tarps are placed as covers (8), of the same material and where said covers have an opening - a material for partial or total filling (7.1) of the block housing that can be inserted through the openings of the housing - means for allowing the entry and exit of air from inside the housing without letting the filling material out. 2. - Trunk vibrator clamp block to reduce damage by debarked to a tree, according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling material is plastic origin such as a polyethylene (PE), high density polyethylene (PEHD), polyamide (PA6 or PA66), or PEEK, with granular consistency, cylinders or lenticular, of grain size equivalent between 1 and 5 mm 3. - Trunk vibrator clamp block to reduce damage by debarked to a tree, according to claim 2, characterized in that the filling material has in its composition additional elements such as a solid lubricant such as molybdenum disulfide, fiberglass, graphite or PTFE, allowing the deformation of the block in terms of bending and change of form, but maintaining the rigidity in terms of tensile stresses, allowing the carcass to deform while the total surface of the material remains practically constant. 5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 4. - Trunk vibrator clamp block to reduce damage by barking a tree, according to claim 2 6 3, characterized in that the means for allowing the entry and exit of air comprise: - a threaded sleeve (13) or nut or metallic opening female thread, attached to the housing of the grip block (3), which serves as an opening inside said housing, for filling and emptying the filling material of the plug grip, to which you can screw a screw plug or plug. - A screw cap (14), for closing the grip block (3). - a series of perforations (15) of the screw cap (14) for closing, to allow the entry / exit of air for cooling. 5. - Trunk vibrator clamp block to reduce damage by barking a tree, according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the block (3) is covered on all of its faces by a fastening skirt (4), disposing a contact skirt (5) above the fastening skirt (4) that slips down the outermost side of the block and supports and is held on the clamp by means of the screw (11) that also retains the ends of the support skirt (4), where the contact fault comprises: - An inner layer (9) of contact with the support skirt (4) - An outer layer (10) 6. - Trunk vibrator clamp block to reduce damage by debarked to a tree, according to claim 5, characterized in that the inner layer (9) of the contact skirt is made from hardness polyurethane sheet between 70 and 90 Shore-A, between 3 and 7 mm thick, holding the grip block (13) 7. - Trunk vibrator clamp block to reduce damage by debarked to a tree, according to claim 5, characterized in that the inner layer (9) of the contact skirt (5) is made of 5 10 fifteen twenty 25 polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) between 0.5 and 1 mm thick, which would act as a solid lubricant, 8. - Trunk vibrator clamp block to reduce damage by debarked to a tree, according to claim 5, characterized in that the inner layer (9) of the contact skirt (5) is made of polyamide or fiberglass fabric, or is impregnated with polyamide. 9. - Trunk vibrator clamp block to reduce damage by debarked to a tree, according to claim 5, characterized in that the outer layer (10) is made of rubber with thicknesses smaller than 10 mm or of a textile piece of thickness between 10 and 20 mm of felt type fabric that lubricates the progressive wear of the tissues, or combination of these. 10. - Trunk vibrator clamp block to reduce damage by barking a tree, according to any of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the fastening skirts (4) and contact skirt (5) are unified in one piece which envelops them as a bag (16), this piece being only held by said bag and articulated with the gripper, being of a fine textile material (not more than 1 mm) of one or more layers, flexible, insulating the transverse displacements of the arm of the clamp, which would not be transmitted to the skirt, not affecting the rigidity of the inner piece. 11. - Trunk vibrator clamp block to reduce damage by barking a tree, according to claim 5, characterized in that the bag (16) is attached to the clamps by means of screws (11) through slings ( 12).