GB2357417A

GB2357417A - Combined harvester/baler for timber

Info

Publication number: GB2357417A
Application number: GB9927076A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Smalley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-11-17
Filing date: 1999-11-17
Publication date: 2001-06-27
Also published as: GB9927076D0

Abstract

Combined harvester/baler which allows the handling by one man, of short rotation coppice or timber harvesting residues. The produce is cut or collected, assembled into a convenient mass, cut to length, compressed to form a bale and a set number of bales is deposited for drying and subsequent roadside collection. The whole machine may be mounted on tracks or wheels; four sets of which are required for forward movement, steered from the centre pivot, about which the vehicle is articulated. There may be a cutting head 3 comprising circular saws, a conveyor 5 a compression chamber 9 and knotting devices 14 to form bales or bundles. The machine may pick up cut wood from the ground for baling.

Description

2357417 Combined harvester for wood fuel A requirement has arisen for the

provision of wood as a fuel for power stations. This requirement may be met by the growing of short rotation coppice and the collection of timber harvesting residues. Of necessity this needs a harvesting principle which is efficient in terms of energy use and personnel. A one piece harvester/baler has been conceived in which a device win cut a number of stems from the coppiced stump, or collect timber harvesting residues from the forest floor, cut them to length, compress them to form a bale and deposit a number of bales in a place convenient for drying and onward collection by road transport.

The machine is mounted on four independently operated tracks with pivot steer arrangement. These tracks are adaptable in width for road transport and ability to harvest a number of rows at one pass. A disc cutting unit is mounted at the foot of a conveyor. The cut stems are manouevred by retractable fingers which feed the stems via a spiked roller between two rollers to the pre-charge chamber. Alternatively pickup arms lift the timber harvest residues via the conveyor and rollers to the pre-charge chamber. The pre-charge chamber is used to assemble a number of stems which are pushed in layers into the compression chamber. A large hydraulic ram operates a plunger system which cuts the stems to length and compresses them to form a bale. A number of bands are secured around the bale in the horizontal and tied by knotters. The bale is held in position in the same plane before being released to the rear conveyor table, another three bales are loaded before the four bales are deposited in a place convenient for drying and for subsequent collection by conventional truck. The whole operation is controlled by one man from an ergonorrdcafly designed cabin for safe, comfortable working conditions.

A specific embodiement of the invention will now he described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing. Referring to the drawing Figure 1 and Figure 2 The vehicle comprises, four tracked or wheeled bogies( 1) in an' H' configuration (2). Cutting or lifting head (3) with pusher bar (4), conveyor (5) and rollers (6) to control the cut stems. Pre-charge chamber (7) to gather together a layer of stems for propulsion (8) into the compression chamber (9). Plunger (10) to cut the stems to length (11) and compress (12) the stems together for binding (13). Series of knotting devices (14) to hold the compressed stems securely. Means to hold the bale in the same plane (15) before it is finally released to the accompanying transporting device (16). Transporting device on which two bales may be moved laterally (17), four bales are then carried (18) to the convenient place arranged for collection and then automatically (19) placed in that position.

1 Combined harvester/baler for wood fuel Claims

1. A baling device in two parts connected by steerable, pivot.

2.A baling device as in claim 1, mounted on a four, wheeled or tracked bogies in'H' configuration with central pivot for steering. Means by which the width of the vehicle is adapted between working dimensions and road transport dimensions.

3. Cutting head mounted to the front of such baling device as described in claim 1 and claim 2, this cutting head containing one or more circular saws or other felling mechanism. Means to contrive acceptable fall of cut timber to allow efficient operation of conveyor. One or more pairs of fingered reels directing the cut timber stems onto a conveyor towards a spiked roller. Arrangement whereby the felling mechanism and the fingered reels may be replaced with pick-up arms for the manoeuvring and collection of tree harvesting residues.

4.Baling device as in claims 1 and claim 2 fed by conveyor including spiked roller as in claim 3 which pulls the cut stems or tree harvesting residue into the compression rollers.

5.Compression rollers to the front of baling device as claimed in claim 1, reduce the elasticity of the cut stems and feed into the pre-charge chamber of this baling device.

6.Pre-charge chamber as part of claim 1 wherein guide means are provided to assemble the cut stems before ejection into compression chamber.

7. Compression chamber part of claim 1 and claim 2, cuts stems to length by means of a plunger. A series of knotting devices binds the compressed stems before the completed bale of wood fuel is released to the transport device. Means are provided to hold the bale in the same plane until it is complete.

8. To the rear of baling device in claim 1 and using second set of bogies is transport means to move completed bales laterally to make load of stacked bales. Means to deposit load of stacked bales to the ground for collection convenient for road transport.

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