FI119570B - Measuring device for measuring the length of a tree - Google Patents

Description

119570

MEASURING DEVICE FOR MEASURING LENGTH OF WOOD

The invention relates to a measuring device for measuring the length of wood.

Measuring the length of wood before felling is important, especially when mechanically harvesting energy wood. When working with a harvester with a harvester head, it is often necessary to cut the upright tree midway first and then cut off the base, picking up the tree crown first on the felling head grab and then on the base for better loading of the load. If trunk timber is assembled and heavy trucks are transported on the highway, the importance of quantifying timber is further emphasized. Its capacity is best and most economically utilized when the timber bundles are of exactly the agreed length, eg two 3m bundles on a pallet and three 3m bundles on a trailer. This requires that the bodies that are cut vertically can also be cut to size.

Existing measuring devices integrated in the felling head grabs measure the length of the tree after felling during pruning. Energy harvesting rarely uses a conventional large-scale multifunctional machine for sawing and pulverizing lumber, because of its slowness and cutting technology. Felling heads for energy wood harvesting are simpler and generally lack a reliable measuring device to accurately measure the length of the tree.

It is an object of the invention to eliminate the above disadvantage and to provide a gauge for measuring the length of wood. It is a further object of the invention to provide a reliable length measuring device for mechanical harvesting, especially for standing timber.

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The object of the invention is achieved by a measuring device characterized by what is stated in the claims.

The measuring device according to the invention comprises a pipe, hose or similar measuring element extending near the felling head of a working boom, at least partially filled with a liquid, connected to a sensor unit mounted on the working tool, tracked to measure the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid. The measuring device is based on a height measurement based on the hydrostatic pressure of the measuring fluid: * ·, ·. Trees grow on average vertically, so hydrostatic pressure- * ·. ·· *. the difference between the different cut points provides sufficiently accurate information on the length of the cut wood.

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The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, which schematically shows an embodiment of a measuring device attached to a work machine.

The measuring device shown in the figure includes a sensor unit 5, a tube or hose or a corresponding measuring member 4 with a suitable fluid, and a connector of a measuring member, e.g. a hose end, which allows the fluid to flow in the tube or hose. The sensor unit 5 is attached to the implement 1 at a suitable point, such as a base. The sensor unit also has the necessary electronics and display and calibration functions. A measuring element 4, such as a tube or hose, is attached to the working machine boom 2 and extends in the vicinity of or up to the attachment of the tipping head 3 fixed to the boom, thereby indicating the position of the tipping head in height. At its other end, a tube or hose is attached to the sensor unit 5.

The machine is operated and the measuring device is used as follows: When being at the felling tree, place the felling end of the machine at the base of the tree at the cut-off point 15 and record the hydrostatic pressure at the base. Next, raise the felling head to the next cutting point, measure and record the hydrostatic pressure, move the felling head to the exact right cutting point after the measurement, and cut the tree to obtain a precisely length of wood. This proceeds to the point where the tree top is cut. Depending on the flexibility of the working method, the measurement refraction of the base and the cut-off point may be different. It is possible to move upwards from the top by first measuring the hydrostatic pressure at the cut-off point, cutting the tree, lowering the felling head and measuring the hydrostatic pressure , move the felling head to the desired position and cut the · · · tree at the desired position. The wood can also be cut visually at any desired location; ** 25, whereby the exact length of the wood is known from the differences in hydrostatic pressure at various points. Differences in pressure are computed as a measure, which ♦ · * ··· 'can be plotted directly in units of length, taking into account calibration.

The prototype device has an accuracy of about 1 cm. Machine vibration and liquid inert ». ···. This oscillation can be minimized by modifying the properties of the fluid and hose or electronically processing the pressure signal. Boom oscillation generally does not interfere with the felling situation, because in the cutting step, the felling head attaches to the tree trunk, stopping the swinging.

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The gauge is quick to install and easy to use. Normally, zero calibration is performed * ··· * once a day, after which the meter operates independently and reliably.

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In another embodiment of the invention, the measurement, calibration and display functions are combined with the sensor unit, whereby they may be separate parts or units from the sensor unit, but function logically together. Connecting means that they are connected to each other by wires or the like or wirelessly. In some applications, a measuring sensor that acts as a sensor unit can be located inside the end of a tube or hose.

The gauge sensor is usually located on or near the machine frame. In some embodiments, the hose or tube may extend only some distance from the tipping end toward the other end of the boom, e.g., halfway or otherwise, with the gauge sensor spaced from the body.

In various embodiments of the invention, there may be more than one fluid compartment for measuring the hydrostatic pressure, i.e. the tube or hose may be divided into two or more parts.

The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment shown, but may vary within the scope of the inventive concept of the claims.

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Claims (2)

119570 1. A measuring device for measuring the length of a tree, and in particular for measuring the length of a tree to be cut upright, characterized in that the measuring device comprises a tube, a hose or 5, at least partially filled with liquid, extending in the vicinity of the logging head (3) 4) connected to a sensor unit (5) arranged to measure the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid in the measuring member. Measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that measurement, calibration and display functions are connected to the sensor unit (5). · • ♦ ♦ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 · 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 · • 1 • · · · * * * * * * * * 1 1 M 5 119570 1. Mätanordning för avmätning längd av et trä och speciellt för avmätning längd av et i upprätt ställning avhuggande trä, kännetecknat av, att account mätanordningen 5 hör ätminstone et delvis med vätskan mätorgan (4), savom ell rör, som räcker account without loss av en vid bommen (2) av arbetsmaskin fäst fallningsända (3) för trä, och mätorganet är förenat med en sensorenhet (5), som är ordnat att rotten hydrostatiskt tryck av vätskan i mätorganen. 10 2. Mätanordning enligt patentgrav 1, kännetecknat av, att vid sensorenheten (5), and calibration, and bevisningsverksamhet. • • • · • mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm • ♦ ♦ • · · * · «·· • ♦ m · 9 m · • • · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·• ♦ · *