FI121108B - Logging machine and logging equipment - Google Patents

Description

TREE BODY COLLECTOR AND TREE DRAWER

Field of the Invention 5

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tree trunk pickup device for a tree trunk dump apparatus. The invention further relates to apparatus for felling tree trunks.

Background of the Invention

Tree trunks are handled using felling equipment, which is designed to grab, cut and fell the tree in a vertical direction. The felling equipment then cuts the tree trunk and cuts it into sections of a certain length. The tipping equipment is usually attached by joints to the crane head of the forestry machine. In particular, the machine is a harvester which moves on the terrain by means of wheels or tracks. Certain felling equipment is also used to load the tree trunk in lorries that act as harvesters, which also has a pair of grapple arms that rotate relative to the frame structure in pairs across the tree trunk. The grapple members which carry out the pruning can also act as a grapple.

The pouring apparatus comprises the necessary actuators, usually hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic motors, by means of which the position of the pouring apparatus and its various functions can be controlled. The equipment is usually attached to the crane end of the forestry machine by means of a rotation device, which allows the equipment to be rotated about a vertical axis of rotation.

The felling apparatus, also called the harvester head or the felling head, usually has at least upper pruning members which rotate with respect to the frame structure. The pruning members are usually located in pairs on different sides of the tree trunk. The pruning members comprise pruning blades for pruning the branches while the tree trunk is supported and fed through the system 35. The felling apparatus may also have a second lower pruning member pair or a single pruning member. The feeders usually comprise a feed roller or a drive wheel which presses against the tree trunk and pulls it by friction past the pruning members and through the apparatus. The feeders are usually located in pairs on different sides of the tree trunk. There are also cutting means, such as a chain saw, for cutting the wood for felling and sawing to a certain length.

5

Apparatus without feeders is used to treat whole tree trunks, whereby the cutting means may be, for example, one or more cutting blades or a rotating saw blade. The pruning members are replaced by a pair of grapple members which take the trunk from the tree for cutting. One example is in WO 2005/099438 A1. The grapple can even be a timber grapple. In addition, the apparatus may include pruning members.

It is also possible to collect several small trees in the felling equipment, for example, by thinning, which utilizes collectors that are attached to the felling equipment and which, together with grapple members, adhere to the tree and hold it in the grip of the apparatus. One collecting device is disclosed in WO-01/10190-A1, where it is connected to a hanging arm of a tipping apparatus. When the harvester is not in use, the felling equipment can be used to prune individual larger trees horizontally. Collecting smaller trees is carried out in an upright position, whereby the feeders are idle or assist in holding the trees. The trees are released by opening the pick-up unit, allowing the collected trees and equipment to rotate horizontally.

25 The Collector is utilized in various felling installations that collect logs. The collector is particularly useful in feller plants, which prune individual tree trunks. The collection of multiple logs can thus be added to the functions of these felling installations.

The pick-up device usually comprises a first arm which rotates relative to the body of the tipping apparatus or pick-up device and a second arm which is attached to the end of the first arm and is rotatable relative to it by means of a joint. The pick-up also has an actuator that pivots the arms to grip and hold the tree trunk. The mutual position of the En-35 first arm and the second arm is usually maintained by a spring, which additionally allows the second arm to close toward the tree trunk even when the first arm is stopped or opening.

3

A spring is necessary when the first arm is about to open and the second arm is pulled between the tree trunks. The spring restores the position of the other arm.

5 Alternatively, the actuator of the pickup device can be coupled to a second arm, which also moves the first arm.

However, problems have been encountered in the collectors comprising only the first arm and the second arm to which the actuator is connected by means of a nive-10. When the stems are in the closing movement towards the tree trunk, the position of the other stem is not precisely controlled and its tip may penetrate into the tree trunk. While the collector is operating smoothly, one of the side or inner surfaces of the other arm should press against the tree trunk.

15

Summary of the Invention

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above problems.

20

The wood frame collecting device according to the invention is set forth in claim 1. The tree trunking apparatus according to the invention is set forth in claim 11.

According to the invention, the collecting device is provided with a braking device which ensures that the second arm of the collecting device is closed and rotated towards the tree trunk only when the first arm is completely closed or stopped after colliding with an obstacle, e.g. During closing, the actuator first pivots the first and 30 second arms together, with each arm remaining unchanged, and then the second arm moves alone. The actuator is connected to one arm. The braking device produces a counter-rotational force, which depends on the friction and geometry prevailing and must be overcome by the actuator if necessary. The braking device must be adjusted for a suitable period of 35 minutes to provide sufficient but not unnecessarily high rotational resistance to those forces which resist the first arm rotation.

4

In one example, the braking device is integrated into the link between the arms and affects the tightness of the joint. In one example, both the first arm and the second arm have a braking device. The two brake-5 actuators can be adjusted so that one of them moves more readily than the other, so that either the first or the second arm moves with less actuator force. Also, one braking device is adjustable so that the anti-twisting force of the second arm is greater than the force opposing the twisting of the first and second arms.

10

With the invention, the tip of the second arm travels along a standardized path, which enables the pick-up to operate more accurately and reliably. The positioning and dimensioning of the stems can be more precisely defined, which also prevents the tip from penetrating the tree trunk.

15

The braking device tends to resist the closure of one arm and, in one example, the opening of the other arm.

According to one example, the braking device resists movement of the second arm 20 relative to the first arm, whether it is momentarily clockwise or counterclockwise, simultaneously resisting both of the above directions of rotation. Operation is continuous and independent of the position and direction of movement of the other arm.

25 The braking device also allows the actuator to first turn the first and second arms together and then move the second arm alone when the pick-up is opened. If the second arm is between the tree trunks, the movement of the first arm will move the second arm slightly sideways so that it can be pulled out between the tree trunks more easily.

Reducing the length of the stems and limiting them to just two results in a structure that is durable and compact. The short arms are easy to position in the frame protection. The stems located on opposite sides of the tree-35 trunk receive a firm grip on the tree trunk. The narrow structure of the stems makes it easier to pull them between the tree trunks.

5

In one embodiment of the invention, the pick-up device is connected directly to a rotating device, to which, for example, the suspension arm of the pouring apparatus is directly connected. The height and weight of the tipping equipment or its suspension arm are not unnecessarily increased and the height of the suspension arm in the upright position is not increased because the pick-up device is around the rotating device. There is no additional load on the hanger arm or its attachment.

In one embodiment of the invention, the collecting device is formed of at least two interconnected parts, whereby it is easy to install and detach. When attaching parts to each other and to the rotating device, screw or bolt attachments or joints, for example, are used. The advantage is that the collecting device can be detached if the tipping device does not collect small trees 15 but only handles large, mature trees.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following description, the invention is illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates a pouring apparatus according to an example of the invention in which a collecting device is applied.

Figure 2 shows in more detail the pick-up device, the rotation device and the hanger arm 25 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a collector device according to an example of the invention in a closed position.

Figure 4 is a top view of the collecting device of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the collecting device of Figure 4 and viewed from the side 30.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure 1 shows a felling apparatus 1 for felling, felling and pruning of tree trunks, showing a trunk structure or a trunk 15 positioned against the tree trunk to be treated, in which the connecting arms of the feed members are secured by means of pivots. In the example of Figure 1 there are two feed members 12 located on opposite sides of the tree trunk, and each feed member 12 comprises a motor-driven roll. The rotary axes of the feed members 12 are either oblique or perpendicular to, or one to five in, the longitudinal direction of the tree trunk. The wood frame is supported and pressed against the frame 15 by the feed means 12. The wood frame moves in its own longitudinal direction parallel to the frame 15. An actuator, usually a hydraulic cylinder, is coupled between the attachment arms to provide rotation and clamping force for the feed member 12. It is also possible to use two cylinders 10 connected between the frame and the mounting arms.

The apparatus 1 also comprises a curved grapple member 10 connected to the pruning blade and having a rotational axis substantially longitudinal. The pair of grapple members 10 on the opposite side 15 of the tree trunk also has a curved grapple member 11 to which also a pruning blade is connected. The grapple members 10, 11 are used to grip the tree, support the tree trunk and prune the tree trunk when the tree trunk is fed longitudinally by the feeding means 12 through the apparatus 1. In addition, the apparatus 1 has a curved blade 9 which presses against the wood-20 frame to prune the upper surface of the tree trunk.

In the vertical position shown in Fig. 1, the apparatus 1 is located when the wood frame is substantially vertical, with the grapple members 10, 11 and the feed members 12 open and the tree-25 body resting against the support surfaces of the frame 15. Horizontal equipment is when the tree trunk is cut off and pruned horizontally with the grapple members 10, 11 and the feed members 12 closed and supporting the tree trunk. The apparatus 1 further comprises a cutting device 14 for cutting the tree trunk. The cutting device 14 is usually a chain saw with a pivoting saw blade 30. The chain saw is placed in a saw box. The cutting device 14 also performs the cutting of the tree trunk into portions of length when it is supported horizontally.

With respect to the position of Figure 1, the body 15 is rotatable about 90 degrees 35 to the horizontal position by means of pivots 16 (Figure 2) about a horizontal rotation axis. The articulations 16 fasten the frame to the suspension arm 3, which is suspended on the crane end of the mobile work machine by means of attachment and rotation means, e.g. by means of a rotation device 8 and a bracket 13. The rotation device 8 comprises one or more fasteners 8a, or other similar means by which the rotation device 8 is suspended. The position of the body 15 relative to the suspension arm is controlled by an actuator 17 (Figure 2) 5, which in this example is fastened between the body 15 and the suspension arm 3.

The apparatus 1 may further comprise a lower grapple member to which a pruning blade may be associated. The lower grapple member may be paired with another 10 grapple members. The grapple supports the tree trunk and secures the tree trunk against the support surfaces of the trunk.

In the felling apparatus which performs the felling of wood only, the feed means 12 and the grapple members 10, 11 are not provided with pruning blades, and normally the blade 9 is also missing. The number of grapple members may vary and the cutting device 14 may be a cutting or cutting blade or a rotating blade. The cutting device may have a horizontal support surface on which the tree trunk is pulled after the cutting. The grapple can also be of the fork type. The structure of the suspension arm 3 may be very variable, comprising, for example, a short suspension arm which engages the lower surface of the rotating device 8 and the upper surface of the body 15. The suspension arm may also engage on the rear surface of the body 15 and comprise only one arm structure. In Figures 1 and 2, the suspension arm 3 is a fork-shaped extension extending to both sides of the body 15.

25

The actuators of the apparatus 1 are controlled in a manner known per se using a pressurized medium and usually hydraulically actuated actuators controlled by a valve control circuit known per se. In addition, the operation of the pruning members, the grapple and the feed wheels are known per se from equipment of the same type.

In the example of Figure 1, the body 4 (Figure 3) of the collecting device 18 is disposed around the rotating device 8. The outer surface of the rotation device 8 against which the body 4 rests rotates about a vertical axis of rotation by means of a motor contained in the rotation-35 device 8. The bracket 8a is secured to a part of the rotating device 8 which remains fixed and with respect to which the outer surface rotates. Instead of the fixture 8a, other means or fixtures may be used to hang the non-rotating part of the rotating device, e.g. The pick-up device 18 remains oriented in the same direction as the open pouring apparatus 1. Figure 2 shows in more detail the horizontal arm 5 3a of the suspension arm, on the upper surface of which the rotating device 8 is fixed, e.g. by screw mounting. There is also attached to it a support plate 31 having a concave toothed edge which cooperates with the support plate 27, positioned vertically above and below the arm structures. The pick-up device 18 is protected by a cover 28. The suspension arm 3 has a vertical projection 3b where the body 4 is locked.

According to another example, the collecting device 18 is attached to the hanging arm 3. The collecting device 18 is not in use when the equipment 1 is horizontal for pruning.

15

According to the example of Fig. 3, two arms are fixed to the body 4 by means of pivots, each comprising a first arm 2 and a second arm 5. First arms 2 having separate extensions folding inwardly, i.e., second, are mounted on both sides of the body 4 and support plate 27. stems 5 for engaging the harvested trees. Actuators 7, such as hydraulic cylinders, are attached to the body 4 by means of pivots 19, and each actuator 7 is connected to a second arm 5 by means of a pivot 20. By means of the actuator 7, both the first arm 2 and the second arm 5 are opened and closed. The first arm 2 is secured to the second arm 5 by a joint 21. The joints 6, 19, 20 and 21 are disposed relative to one another such that, for example, the extension of the actuator 7 pivots both arms in the same direction towards the body 4 and closes them. The arm structure presses against the support frame 27 of the tree trunk, which has a concave, toothed edge. Correspondingly, the opening 30 takes place in a common direction away from the frame 4 and the support plate 27. The hydraulic control circuit of the actuators 7 is designed such that the turning can also be controlled separately from e.g. the control of the grapple members 10, 11.

As shown in Figure 3, and as the pickup device 18 closes, the movement of the first arm 2 is limited by a mechanical stop 22 (Figure 2) against which the arm 2 stops and stops. Before stopping, the second arm 5 moves simultaneously with the first arm 2, around the joint 6, and the angle between the arms 2, 5 remains unchanged (see trajectory P1 of tip 5b). However, after the stem 2 has stopped, the actuator 7 continues to elongate and the arm 5 rotates alone, around the joint 21, until it presses against the tree trunk via its inner surface 5c (Fig. 4) or the movement of the actuator 7 stops. In Fig. 3, the arm 5 is completely closed and is unobstructed to pass under the support plate 27 into the shield.

When the pickup device 18 opens, the second arm 5 again moves simultaneously with the first arm 2 and the angle between the arms 2 and 5 remains constant (see trajectory P2 of tip 5b). However, after the arm 2 has stopped, the actuator 7 continues to shorten and the arm 5 rotates alone until it is completely open or the motion of the actuator 15 7 stops (see the movement path P1 of the tip 5b). The opening can utilize stoppers disposed on the frame 4 or the first arm 2. If the arm 5 is disposed between the wood frames of the pick-up device 18, the angle between the arms 2 and 5 does not remain constant. The actuator 7 pivots the first arm 2, which moves 20 second arms 5 sideways, so that the arm 5 withdraws between the tree trunks (see trajectory P3 of tip 5b). The arm 5 moves almost parallel to its longitudinal axis if the arms 2 and 5 are almost perpendicular to each other. After the arm 5 is released, the arms will open simultaneously if the braking device of Figure 5 is used.

25

For the above operating sequence, the arm 5 is provided with a brake device. The braking device according to one example increases the friction between the arms 2 and 5 in the joint 21, as shown in Figure 5, and is preferably adjustable. Under the action of the braking device, the joint 6 acts first and when the joint 30 6 stops, e.g., under the stop, the force of the actuator 7 increases until it reaches a level exceeding the resistance against rotation of the arm 5 and the joint 21 acts. The force increase is easily accomplished by the use of a hydraulic cylinder controlled by a fluid whose pressure is determined by the resistive load. The braking device 35, for example in the hinge 21, tends to resist the closing of the second arm 5. In addition, it is often necessary to resist the opening of the arm 5. The braking device according to the example of Fig. 5 continually tends to resist both clockwise and anticlockwise rotation of the arm 5 relative to the first arm 2.

According to one example, the brake devices, or similar members or friction devices 5, are provided for both the arm 2 and the arm 5. The braking devices in question are selected, set or adjusted such that the joint 6 pivots more easily than the joint 21. The braking devices are preferably adjustable. The braking device, for example in the joint 6, tends to resist the closing of the first arm 2. In addition, it is often necessary to resist opening 10 of the arm 2. The brake device 2 of the arm 2, for example in the joint 6 and figure 5, continually tends to resist both clockwise and anticlockwise rotation of the first arm 2 with respect to the apparatus 1 to which the arm 2 is attached or the body 4 as in Figure 3.

15 An example of an integrated joint brake device is shown in Fig. 5. At the end of the first arm 2 there are lugs 2a which lie on both sides of the second arm 5. Shaft pin 23 pierces lugs 2a and shank 5 and is locked to shank 2, e.g. by a retaining ring or locking plate 24. Shaft pin 23 is substantially parallel to, e.g., the longitudinal direction of, e.g., wood 20, and substantially vertical. For example, a bearing sleeve 29 is disposed about the shaft pin 23. One or more disk springs 25 are disposed around the shaft pin 23, which are transverse to the shaft pin 23 and extend between the lug 2a and the arm 5 and press against the arms 2, 5. The disc springs 25 may be on either side of the arm 5, but in the example of Fig. 4 they are only on one side of the arm 5 and the other side of the arm 5 presses directly against the arm 2.

The force by which the disc spring 25 acts on the shaft 5 can be varied by means of the adjustment screws 26 provided on the bracket 2a. Alternatively, the adjusting screws 26 are on the arm 5 so that they push the disc spring 25 towards the lug 2a. As a result of the spring action, the friction between the disc spring 25 and the arm 2,5 is increased when the disc spring 25 is clamped by the adjusting screws 26. In the example 35 shown there are three adjusting screws to distribute the load on the disc spring 25 evenly. As the friction increases, the force required to move the arm 5 relative to the arm 2 also increases.

11

The actuator 7 is coupled between the lugs 5a of the arm 5 which are pierced by the shaft pin 30. The shaft pins 23, 30 are substantially parallel and spaced apart. The hinge 6 can be implemented in a manner similar to the figure 5, but the arm 5 is replaced by a body 4 located between the lugs 2a.

According to another example, the brake device is implemented by means of a brake disk and a brake shoe which are connected to the arms and are e.g. According to a third example, a spring member mounted on one arm presses against the other arm and brakes by friction. According to a fourth example, the opposite surfaces of the arms are pressed or pressed against one another and the friction between them prevents rotation. In accordance with the principles set forth above, other braking devices, preferably adjustable, may be provided.

According to the example of Figure 3, the body 4 of the collecting device 18 is divided into at least two separate parts 4a and 4b which can be attached to one another and removable. The parts 4a, 4b have, for example, flanges, lugs 20 or other projections which are fastened to each other, for example, by means of screws, bolts or other locking means, so that the parts 4a and 4b engage with one another and around the rotation device 8. For example, the rotating device has an annular groove or shoulder on which the corresponding portion of the body 4 of the pick-up device 18 rests. The pivoting device 18 is prevented from rotating about the rotating device 8 and the vertical axis of rotation by means of a stopper rod 3 or a gripping member against which the corresponding part of the body 18 of the collecting device 18 is seated or locked. An adhesive rod is, for example, a projection on a hanging arm.

When the apparatus 1 is used, it is driven adjacent to the tree and the tree is grasped by grapple members 10, 11 and by the arm structures of the pick-up device 18 which close around the truncated tree. The grapple members 10, 11 are opened and adhere to the new shearable wood which rests on the closed shank structures, in the example of Figure 1, on the shank 5. In the following step 35, the arms 5 move under the tree by the actuator 7 and open. When the arms 2, 5 are pulled open, the tree trunks are held by the grapple members 10, 11 of the apparatus. Next, the stem structures are pressed again around the truncated trees. By holding the truncated tree trunks by means of the collecting device 18, the grapple members 10, 11 can be opened for receiving and cutting a new tree trunk.

In the foregoing description, the invention is illustrated by some examples, but the invention is not limited thereto, but may also be applied within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (16)

A tree trunk collection device, for a tree trimming device (1), arranged to grip and cut a tree trunk, and several cut tree trunks for collection, comprising at least: a first rotatable arm (2); a second rotatable arm (5) secured to the first arm (2) by a hinge (21); and 10. an actuator (7) coupled to the second arm (5) and arranged to close and open both the first arm (2) and the second arm (5); characterized in that the collecting device (18) further comprises: 15. a braking device which tends to counter the closure of the second arm (5). Collecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the force which counteracts rotation of the second arm (5) relative to the first arm (2) is set greater by the braking device than the force which counteracts rotation of the first and second arms (2). , 5) together. Collecting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the braking device tends to continuously counteract rotation of the second arm (5) both clockwise and counterclockwise relative to the first arm (2). Collection device according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the braking device is adjustable. Collection device according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the braking device is arranged in a joint (21). Collection device according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the joint (21) comprises an axle (23) which connects the first arm (2) and the second arm (5) with each other, the braking device comprising at least a plate spring (25) positioned about the shaft (23) to which a pressing is directed between the first arm (2) and the second arm (5). 5 Collecting device according to claim 6, characterized in that the braking device comprises at least one adjusting screw (26) with which the pressing directed to the disc spring (25) can be adjusted. Collection device according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the collection device (18) also comprises a second brake device which tends to counteract opening and / or closing of the first arm (2). Collecting device according to any of claims 1-8, characterized in that the collecting device (18) comprises at least a pair of first arms (2); eating at least one pair of other arms (5); and at least a pair of actuators (7). The collecting device according to any of claims 1-9, characterized in that the collecting device (18) further comprises: a body (4) consisting of at least two fastenable and detachable parts (4a, 4b) with which the collecting device (18) can be coupled to the precipitating apparatus (1); in which the first arm (2) is fixed to the body (4) through a second joint (6) and the adjusting member (7) is fixed between the body (4) and the second arm (5). 11. An apparatus (1) provided for collecting tree trunks, comprising an eating minimum: 30. a frame structure (15); grippers (10, 11) fixed in a rotatable manner to the body structure and arranged to open and also to close around a tree trunk and to pour the tree trunk to be cut and / or cut; 35. a cutting device (14) for cutting the tree trunk; a collecting device (18) arranged to seize and cut said tree trunk, and several cut tree trunks for collection; wherein the collecting device (18) further comprises: 5. a first arm (2) fixed in a rotatable manner to the apparatus (1) through a first hinge (6); a second arm (5) secured in a rotatable manner to the first arm (2) through a second joint (21); an actuator (7) secured between the apparatus (1) and the second arm (5) and arranged to close and open both the first arm (2) and the second arm (5); characterized in that the collecting device (18) further comprises: a braking device which tends to counteract closure of the second arm (5). 12. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the braking device is adjustable. Apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the collecting device (18) comprises at least a pair of first arms (2); eating at least one pair of other arms (5); and at least a pair of actuators (7). Apparatus according to any of claims 11-13, characterized in that the device further comprises: a suspension arm (3), on which the body structure (15) is suspended in a pivotal manner so that the body structure can be rotated about a substantially horizontal direction, when the apparatus is in its operating mode; a rotator (8) on which the suspension arm (3) is suspended in a rotatable manner so that the suspension arm can be rotated about a substantially vertical axis when the apparatus is in its operating position; 35 Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the collecting device (18) is attached to the rotator (8) or to the suspension arm (3) or to the body structure (15). Apparatus according to Claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the apparatus (1) comprises additional feeders (12) which are attached in a rotatable manner to the body structure (15) and arranged to position themselves against the tree trunk and also to feed the cut tree trunk through the apparatus (1) for tapping. 10