US2318218A - Logging apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 4, 1943. P. GRABINSKI LOGGING APPARATUS Filed July 21, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVEI'VTOR Pk/W) firm/05m May 4, 1943. P. GRABINSKI LOGGING APPARATUS Filed July 21, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 R m mm M 2 M Wm H 6m f y 1943- P. GRABINSKI LOGGING APPARATUS Filed July 21, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENITOR flTTOR/VEYS .to hang in a curve.

Patented May 4, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE LOGGING mans-ms Philip Grabinski, South Prairie, Wash.

Application July 21, 1942, Serial No. 451,909

4 Claim.

This invention relates to skidder apparatus of a type adapted for use in logging operations.

Objects of this invention are to simplify and render more eflicient skidder apparatus of this type; to make possible a substantial saving or conservation of wire cables, pulley blocks, carriages and like equipment in skidder apparatus of this type; to provide skidder apparatuswhich can be operated at a substantial saving in labor and at a substantial saving in cost of timber handled as compared to skidder apparatus of the type heretofore in common use; to provide skidder apparatus that is safer for workmen to handle and that does away with a cause of accidents inherent in skidder apparatus now in common use; and to provide skidder apparatus that will speed up production in the logging industry and that will conserve timber. Another object is to provide skidder apparatus eliminating the commonly used taut "sky line.

In skidder apparatus of the form commonly used for hauling in logs in the woods, especially in rough and mountainous country, it is common practice to use a wire rope sky line stretched between two spars, usually trees, as a trackway for a carriage that is used in lifting and hauling in the logs. For the logging of heavy timber it is common practice to use a wire rope sky line two inches in diameter and from two to three thousand feet long. A two inch sky line three thousand feet long will weigh about nine tons,

and is a very heavy and cumbersome article to handle. Often it has to be stretched relatively taut between the two spars so that it will be high enough at all points to support the load at a required elevation above the ground-this is particularly true when a relatively long tong line is used to connect the load to the carriage. The strain on this slw line due to its initial tensioning plus its own weight and the weight of a carriage and heavy load of logs is very great and is much more when said sky line is drawn taut than when it is loosely suspended and allowed The spars must be of great strength and must be supported by many strong guy lines .to render them capable of supporting a sky line of the type above described. The pulley blocks through which a two inch sky line runs must necessarily be large and heavy and are difllcult and cumbersome to handle. The carriage used on such a sky line oftenrweighs as much as three tons. Usually two two-inch sky lines, each about three thousand feet long, are provided for each logging operation sothat while one of said sky lines is being used to log on one strip or road the other sky line can be hauled out into the woods ready to be put up on the next strip or road to belogged oil.

The lines and equipment heretofore used in a typical sky line logging operation are substan tially as follows:

6000 feet of two-inch sky line; 5000 feet of one and one-eighth inch receding line;

2500 feet of one and one-eighth inch skidding 7 Nine tie up chains;

Fifteen two-inch cable clamps;

Six large shackle and tightening blocks for sky 9 lines; and rigging, such as blocks and guy wires.

for both the head spar and the tail spar. A tong line and a number of choker lines are also used.

In contrast to the large amount of wire cable and other equipment used in a typical sky line logging operation, as above explained. myskidder apparatus for the same logging operation does not require a sky line or transfer line or fall line. Also, my apparatus requires only 4500 feet of one and one-eighth inch receding line; 2500 feet of one and one-eighth inch skidding line; 3000 feet of flve-eighths inch slack pullingiine; 5000 feet of one-half inch straw line; one main carriage weighing about 350 pounds and having three sheaves; one or two receding line blocks having hook means connected therewith and forming a. secondary carriage; two tie up chains; and a nominal amount of rigging such as, pulley blocks and guy wires for the head spar and tail spar.

of pulley blocks, tie-up chains, cable clamps, shackles and the like. Also greater latitudes of operation are ei'lected as the reduced weights oi necessary equipment on the spar trees make lighter and more remotely situated trees available as spar trees.

In addition to the savings in material above listed, my skidder apparatus, when used in a typical logging operation as hereinbeiore mentioned. can be operated with less men, and eliminates much strain on the men employed because they do not have to handle as much heavy equipment. A typical sky line logging operation requiring the equipment above mentioned will usu ally require a crew of about twenty-one men. I have operated my apparatus successfully with a crew of seventeen men and have been able to bring in more logs than are ordinarily brought in by a crew of twenty-one men using the conventional sky line equipment hereinbefore mentioned. This is a saving of four men over the usual crew of twenty-one.

The increased production, made possible by the use of my apparatus, is due largely to the fact that it requires less time to make an initial set-up of my apparatus in a new location in the woods and less time to change roads, 1. e., to move my apparatus from one strip to the next adjacent strip on the same location after the logs are all picked up oi! the first mentioned strip.

In making an initial set-up in a new location, with the conventional sky line apparatus heretofore used, it is necessary to rig up both a head spar and a tail spar. This usually consumes from three and one-half to four days of the time oi. an entire crew of about twenty-one men. With my apparatus an initial set-up in a new location can be made in two days with only a crew of seventeen men. This makes possible a saving of from one i and one-half to two days for each initial set-up on a new location where my apparatus is used. It is necessary to make an initial set-up on a new location every four to six weeks. Thus the use of my apparatus makes possible the saving of from one and one-half to two days every four to six weeks. as well as the use of a reduced crew:

After an initial set-up has been made it is common practice to work around the same head spar and bring in the logs from successive strips of somewhat segmental shape, each strip being commonly referred to as a road. As soon as all of the desired logs have been brought in from one strip, a new tail spar, usually a tree, is selected and the receding line moved to this new tail spar. With conventional sky line apparatus heretofore used, it requires about one and one-half hours to change from one road to another when two sky lines are being used alternately for successive roads and would require much longer if the crew were provided with only one sky line. With my apparatus a change of roads can be made in less than ten minutes. As it is necessary to change excessive wear; a recoding line so positioned on the ground may exert a substantial downward pull on a sky line carriage when the carriage is positioned near a tail spar thus putting needless strain on the sky line; the sheaves which support a receding line so positioned on the grotmd may break or pull loose from their anchor means thus allowing the receding line to whip across the ground and injure workmen in its path, and a fire hazard exists by reason 0! a cable passing over material on the ground. My apparatus overcomes all of the above outlined objections by placing the receding line on the spar members so that itwill not drag over any objects on the ground and can not be caused to whip across the field of logging operations on which men are working, and by using said receding line to support the carriage and the load as well as to govern the movement of the same.

Another object of my invention is to provide skidder apparatus in which all of the lines are moving lines-thus obviating the danger of dragging one line across a single spot of another line and thereby subjecting the said other line to excessive wear and damage in said single spot.

Figure l is a somewhat diagrammatic view in side elevation of log lifting and hauling equipment constructed in accordance with my invention showing the several parts in a position they may occupy at the time the cables are being connected with logs on the ground;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the several parts as they may appear when logs are being hauled in; v

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the carriage members and cables on a larger scale than they are shown in Figs. 1 and roads about every one and one-half days, this is a substantial saving in time.

Also, in skyline logging apparatus of conventional form heretofore used, it is common prac tice tooperate the receding line on the ground. To do this the receding line is usually passed through pulley blocks that are positioned oil to one side of the area being logged with the outermost pulley block positioned near the tail spar. Suchan arrangement of the receding line is open to the following objections: a receding line so positioned on the ground may be drawn at high speed over rocks or logs thus subjecting it to Fig. 4 is a viewin elevation similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the apparatus connected up in a different way than it is in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modified manner of rigging up a spar tree at the outer end of a line to avoid reverse bends in a supporting cable;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view showing the drums of a logging engine that is especially well adapted for use in connection with my invention;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of said drums with parts shown diagrammatically and other parts shown in section on line 8-4 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a detached view of a drive shaft used in connection with said drums showing parts in section;

Fig. 10 is a somewhat diagrammatic view illustrating my invention applied to high lead logging, and showing logs being hauled in; and

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 illustrating Lille cold decking of logs that have been hauled In the preferred form of my apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 5, I provide a main supporting and hauling cable i2, which has the function of a line commonly referred to in the art as a receding line and cable i2 is hereinafter so termed. The receding line I! is wound upon a receding line drum 5!! of a logging engine i4 and passes over a sheave i5 on a head spar It, usually a tree, thence around one or more sheaves at the location of a tail spar i'l, also usually a tree, and thence to a main carriage block l8 to which it is secured, as by a hook i9. Figs. 1, 2 and 5 show the receding line I 2 as passing over a sheave 20 on the tail spar ll, thence around a sheave 2| that'is anchored to a stump 22 thence over a sheave 23 on the tail spar l1 and back to the carriage I3.

I have found this arrangement of the sheaves 2|, 2i and 23 to be satisfactory. However, I am able to reduce the number of sheaves over which the receding line l2 passes, thereby reducing friction and reducing the danger of undesirable reverse bends in this receding line 12 by using a single sheave 24 on the tail spar ll, as shown in Fig. 6. ,When a single sheave 24, such as shown in Fig. 6, is used then the tail spar I! may be supported by guy line means. One satisfactory way of supporting this tail spar l1 by guy line means is tosecure two sheaves 25 and 28 to the upper end portion of the tail spar I1 and pass a guy line 21 through these sheaves, said guy line 21 having its respective end portions secured to two stumps 28 and 29 and having a medial portion that preferably is passed around a stump 30. The guy line 21 will slide enough on the stump 30 to substantially equalize the pull on all laps of the same and said guy line will anchor and support the top end portion of the tail spar IT.

The main carriage 18 has an upper sheave 3| that runs on the upper portion of the receding line that extends between the head spar l and tail spar ll. A lower sheave 32 is also operatively mounted in the main carriage l8 and is adapted to have a cable 33, commonly referred to as a tong line, passed thereover.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I connect the tong line 33 with a secondary carriage 34 that is supported from the receding line l2 by a sheave 33. v

A skidding line 35 is wound on a drum 5| on the logging engine l4, thence passes over a sheave 31 on the head spar l6 and is secured to the secondarycarriage 34 as by a hook 39.

A slack pulling line 38 is wound on a slack pulling drum 52 of the logging engine l4, thence passes over a sheave 40 on the head spar l3, thence preferably extends through a guide 4| on the secondary carriage 34, thencepasses around a sheave 42 that is carried by the carriage I3,

I and thence extends to, and is connected with,

the secondary carriage 34, as by a hook 43.

In the apparatus disclosed in Fig. 4, the secondary carriage member 34 is dispensed with, and the slack pulling line 38 is secured directly to the skidding line 35, preferably by a sleeve 44 on said skidding line. Preferably the sleeve 44 fits loosely on the skidding line 35 so that relative rotary movement of this sleeve and the skidding line are provided. Preferably, I provide one or more rings 45 on the skidding line for engagement by one end of the sleeve 44 and I provide an enlargement 46 in the skidding line 35 toserve as a stop for the rings 45. The enlargement 45 is preferably made in a conventional manner by separating the metal strands of theJine 5 and inserting U-shaped pieces of relatively oft wire, commonly termed "hairpins between the metal cable strands so separated.

These pieces of soft wire will not cut or wear the harder strands of the skidding line 35 and the line 35 will return to its normal size when the pieces of wire are removed. The pieces of wire may be removed and inserted at different cations at frequent intervals to prevent objectionable wear of the cable at one location by the sleeve 44. In the structure shown in Fig. 4, a, portion of the skidding line beyond the enlargement 43 constitutes the tong line and is ninnbered 41 in said Fig. 4. It is also possible to use a separate tong line ith the apparatus shown in. Fig. 4. and to connect this separate tong line with the-skidding line 35 of Fig. 4, adjacent the enlargement 43.

In all instances, any portion or extension of the skidding line 35 beyond the point where it connects with the slack pulling line 33 is regarded as a tong line.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 4, will operate satisfactorily if carefully handled, but I prefer to use the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, as it is more fool proof and there is less danger of the slack pulling line 33 becoming twisted around the tong line in the said apparatus as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 shows a modified hook-up of my apparatus in which the partsare arranged so that the receding line willbe subjected to less strain in the event it is desired to move the logs backward or toward the tail spar ll than it will be if the form of connection shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is used.

I accomplish this by reversing the relative positions of the-main carriage l3 and secondary carriage 34. When this is done the skidding line 35 is connected with the main carriage II, the receding line I2 is connected with the secondary carriage 34. The slack pulling line passes around the sheave 42, which has been transferred to the secondary carriage '34, and is connected with the main carriage l8. The tong line 33 in Fig. 5 passes over the sheave 32 and is connected with the secondary carriage 34. It will be noted that, in Fig. 5, the receding line l2 and to'ng line 33, are, in effect, connected with each other by connecting both of them with the secondary carriage 34.

When the parts are connected in the manner shown in Fig. 5 and the tong line 33 is, in effect, thus connected directly with the receding line H, and pull, that is exerted on the receding line i2 tending to move the load back toward the tail spar II, will be transmitted directly to the load.

When the parts are connected a'sshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, tension or a pull on'the receding line l2 in a direction tending to move the load back toward the tail spar I! will be exerted on the sheave 32 which will be in the bight of the tong line 33 so that only approximately one-half of the receding line tension will be applied to the load and th remainder of said tension will be expended against the skidding line 35.

The arrangement of the several parts shown in Fig. 5 thus reduces tension or strain in the receding line when loads are to be moved toward the tail spar tree II. This arrangement is only used in instances where the around over which I the logs are being moved is such as to require the loads to b moved backwardiy at frequent intervals.

In Figs. '1, 2 and 5 I show a straw line 43 that may be used in connection with this skidder ap-. paratus as hereinafter explained. Preferably this straw line is made up of a plurality of sections of wire cable, each section preferably being light enough in weight sothat, when it is coiled, it can be carried in the woods by one'man.

My skidder apparatus can be used in connection with any logging engine that has suitable drums for the lines I2, 35, 33 and 48. However, I prefer to use the same in connection with the logging engine disclosed in Figs. 7, 8 and 9.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show somewhat diagrammatically a loggin engine having an arrangement ofwinding drums especially well adapted for usewith my skidder apparatus as shown in the preceding figures.

These drums comprise a receding line drum 58, a skidding line drum 5i, a slack pulling line drum 52, and preferably two straw line drums 53 and 54. The drums 58, Ill and 52 are mounted on three shafts 55, 56 and 51 respectively and the nect or disconnect the respective drums 50, 5I

and 52 and gearwheels 60, SI and 62. The clutch 68 is operable to connect or disconnect drum 50 and gearwheel 6.3 and the clutch 61 is operable to selectively connect or disconnect either the drum 8 53 or the drum 54 as respects the shaft 58. The gearwheels 68, 6|, 62 and 69 are preferably each freely rotatable on the shafts on which they are carried. The gearwheel 63 is rigidly secured to its shaft 58 asby a key 58. shown in Fig. 8.

The clutches 64, 65, 66, and 68 are preferably each capable of being operated to frictionally lock together the gearwheel and the drum between which they are positioned. The clutch 61 is preferably capable of being operated to selectively frictionally lock either of the drums 53 or 54 to the shaft 58, leaving the other drum disconnected, or to leave both of said drums 53 and 54 disconnected and freely rotatable on said shaft 58. Each clutch 64, 65, 66, 61 and 68 may be operated in the manner common to equipment of this type by means such as a rod I0 longitudinally movable in the shaft on which the clutch is mounted. As clutch operating means of this type is very well known in the art, it is shown III form they are herein shown somewhat diagrammatically.

The engine I4 is provided with a transversely extending driven shaft I6 that is driven by a suitable prime mover ll, shown diagrammatically in Figs. 1 and 4. The shaft I6 has one gear pinion 18 that meshes with the gearwheel 6| and another gear pinion I9 that meshes with the gearwheel 63. The pinion I8 is of substantially smaller size than the pinion I8 and these two pinions provide a slow speed gear ratio for lifting and hauling a load and a faster speed gear ratio for moving the empty carriage out into the woods to' pick up a load. Preferably both of the pinions l8 and 13 are rotatable on the shaft 16 and said pinionseare respectively provided with clutch ele ments 88 and 8|. Other clutch elements 82 and 83 are adapted to be moved into and out of driving engagement relative to the respective clutch elements 80 and 8|. Preferably the clutch elements 82 and 83 are splined] to the shaft I6.

In Figs. 1 to 4, the carriage I8 is supported on the upper lap of receding line I 2 and is moved in one direction by receding line I 2 and in the other direction by skidding line 35. Tail and head spars, as II and I8, are commonly spaced apart about 2000 feet with the intervening terrain often rough and uneven and with canyons present. Also the tail spar is frequently at a higher elevation than the head spar. Under conditions commonly present, my skidder mechanism will permit greater distances between the head and tall spars than was heretofore practically possible.

In Fig. 1 is shown: choker lines 86 connecting a load as two logs 85, with tong line 33; one line 86 connected with hook 81 fixed on line 33'and the other connected with a hook 88 slidable on line 33; and with carriages I8 and 34 in positions occupied before the load is lifted.

My skidder mechanism may operate'with the receding line I2 slack and not taut (see Fig. 2 which provides for maximum load carrying capacity. The carriage I8 is moved toward tail spar I! by winding in receding line l2 and paying out of both skidder line 35 and slack puller line 38. During such movement, preferably the hooks 81 and 88 on the tong line 33, are drawn closely to the carriage I8. After the carriage I8 is suit-.

ably positioned, carriage 34 may be moved toward carriage I8 and tong line 33 lowered by holding receding line I2, paying out skidding line 35, and winding in slack puller line 38.

Referring to Fig. 4, the tong line 41 may be lowered by holding receding line I2, paying out skidding line 35, winding in slack pulling line 38, and thus moving sleeve 44 toward carriage I8. Due to the shortness and minimum weight of the tong line on one side of sheave 32, the hooks 81 and 88 and the choker lines on the other side of said sheave will provide sufficient weight for gravity lowering of the tong line. As I may, at will, provide slack in lines I2, 35, and 38, and cause the carriage and parts connected therewith, including the tong line, to be lowered, I have provided a relatively large logging area and at the same time a short and relatively light tong line. Such tong line provides for ease in handling the same and eliminates the need for a driven tong line and also eliminates the wear on the tong line which was a necessary incident to a driven tong line employing the usual prior art gripping driving devices. Also there is less break-up of logs, when a short tong line is employed, as swinging of the logs is lessened.

As the carriage l8 may be lowered to the ground, I not only may use short and light tong lines which may be moved by one man, but can operate over a large area as the full length of the tong line may extend between two objects on the ground. As the logs may be moved close to the carriage, the carriage may travel at elevations close to the ground while dragging logs.

After tong line 33 connects with the load (Fig. 1), the load may be raised to a haul-in position (Fig. 2) by holding receding line I2, releasing slack pulling line 38, and winding in skidding line 35winding in one line 35 draws tong line 33 through sheave 32 until hooks 88-81 engage carriage I8 and then the carriage is raised. It is common practice to raise the forward ends of logs (Fig. 2) enough to clear most obstacles and then drag the logs to a loading position near head spar I6.

In view of the sag in receding line I2 and skidding'line 35 as previously explained, I can successfully and safely use a receding line of one and one-eighth inch diameter under the same load conditions requiring two-inch diameter sky lines of the prior art.

After logs are raised to the haul-in position (Fig. 2),'they may be hauled to head spar l8 by simultaneously winding in skidding line 35 and paying out receding line l2. While receding line l2 and skidding line 35 Jointly support the load and are therefore of the same size, obviously slack pulling line 38 is also wound in while the load is being hauled in. In order to provide for greater speed as the carriage moves toward tail spar l1 and greater power as the carriage moves toward head spar l8, drum 58 will wind in at higher speed and with less leverage than will drum 5|.

In the event further elevation of the load is desired at any time, I preferably hold receding line l2 and wind in skidding line 35. It is possible to lift the load by holding skidding line 35 and winding in receding line l2. If the load encounters an obstacle and it is desired to move the same backward (i. e., toward tail spar l1) this may be done by simultaneously winding in receding line H and paying out skidding line 35 and slack pulling line 38.

In backing up with a load with the apparatus of Figs. 1-4 (1. e., moving toward the tail spar), receding line I! is wound in until the carriage is positioned a substantial distance behind the load, with the tong line 33 substantially doubled and the sheave 32 positioned in the bight of the tong line. Then the receding line is held and a pull is exerted on the skidding linethus tightening all lines and tending to lift the load. In such operation thesupport for sheave 32 is the receding line which must take substantially twice the strain which is applied to the load. Inbacking up with the apparatus of Fig. 5, receding line I2 is wound in until the carriage I8 is at its greatest distance back of the load so that the tong line extends substantially straight from the load through the sheave 32 to carriage member 34 and thus connects with receding line l2. Then receding line I2 is held and skidding line 35 wound in.- Thus tension is exerted in the receding and skidding lines and the load is lifted but the tension on the receding line is not applied through the leverage of a sheave block. Thus where the nature of a particular location requires frequent backward movements of the load, the apparatus of Fig. 5 is preferable.

The log g engine shown in Figs. '7, 8 and 9 is particularly well adapted for use in connection with the skidder mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.

This logging engine provides slow speed and great power for moving the load when the drums are driven from the smaller pinionand higher speed with correspondingly less power for moving the carriage back toward the tail spar I! after a load has been released.

The gears 88, 8|, 62 and 83 are all rotatable on their shafts and each drum can be manipulated in such a manneras to secure maximum speed of operation of the skidder mechanism. Each drum is provided with its own individual brake which may be used to retard the drum or to hold it immovable. The gears 60, BI, 62 and 63 are all interlocked and it will be noted from Fig. 8 that the receding line I2 and skidding line 35 wind in the same direction on their drums and the slack pulling line winds in an opposite direction on its drum.

In the operation of this logging engine, to move the carriage l8 outwardly from the head spar l8, the engine operator preferably releases the drums 8| and 52 and engages the clutch 68 and the clutch 8|, 83. This utilizes the high speed gears 13 and 83 to drive the receding line drum 58 in a counterclockwise direction with reference to Fig. 8, thereby winding in the receding line 2 and moving the carriage |8 outwardly on said receding line to the position where a load is to be picked up. While the carriage I8 is being moved outwardly the gears 19 and 88 will necessarily be operating but all of the other gears preferably will be stationary and the brake 12 on the skidding line drum 5| preferably will be set lightly to provide a drag on this drum. When thus operated, rotation of the gears 80, 8|, 82, 83 and 18, with the accompanying wear and noise of said gears, is avoided during the outward mov'ement of the carriage. This is the usual and preferred mode of operation as it avoids rotating the gears- 88, 6|, 62, 63 and 18 when high gear speeds are being used in moving the carriage l8 outwardly.

Should it be desired to interlock the skidding line drum 5| to the receding line drum 50 so that the skidding line 35 will 'be paid out while the carriage I8 is being moved outwardly, this can be done by engaging the clutches 64 and 65 while the clutches 68 and 8|, 83 are engaged and theclutch 80, 82 disengaged. When this is done it will not be necessary to use the brake 12 as a drag on the skidding line drum and the carriage'can be moved outwardly at a faster speed than it can when the gears 60, 8|, 62, 63 and 18 are allowed to idle, but there will be more gear wear and gear noise.

After the carriage I8 has been moved outwardly to the location of the load that is to be picked up then the clutch 8|, 83 is disengaged, the receding line I2 is held by setting the brake II on the receding line drum 50, the skidding line 35 is released, and the slack pulling line 38 is wound onto the drum 52 by engaging the clutch 88 and the clutch 88, 82. This moves the secondary carriage 38 toward the carriage l8 and lowers'the hook carrying end of the tong line 33. If the apparatus shown in Fig. 4 is being used, the sleeve 44 will be drawn toward the carriage l8 and the hook carrying end of the tong line 81 lowered when the slack pulling line 38 is wound in. The hooks on the end of the tong line are heavy enough to insure that the tong line will be lowered when it is slacked by the slack pulling line.

.After the load has been attached to the tong line 33 the receding line |2'is heldnon-movable by brake 1|, the slack pulling line 38 is released by releasing clutch 82 and the skidding line 35 is wound on the drum 5| by engaging clutch 85 and driving through gears! and 18 to lift the load substantially vertically as much as it is desired to lift said load.

As soon as the load has been lifted high enough for bringing it in, the operator simultaneously engages the clutch 88 and disengages the brake 1|, thus leaving the receding line drum 50 and the skidding line drum 5| interlocked,for rotation in opposite directions at the same speed, by means of gearwheels 88 and 6|. The receding line |2 then winds of! of the drum 50 at the same speed that the skidding line 35 winds onto the drum 5| and this moves the load towardthe head spar l6 and holds it at the desired elevation. The slack pulling line 38 is wound in at the same speed as the skidding line-by holding the clutch 86 in engaged position.

Usually, in hauling in logs, the forward ends of the logs are lifted ofl of the ground and the rear ends allowed to drag on the ground. If desired the carri e may be stopped and theload raised or lowered at any desired-point along the line cables and operating drums therefor.

justments may be made to compensate for-variations in the winding in and paying out of the lines 39 and I2 as they wind onto and of! of their respective drums and tend to increase or decrease the eflective diameters of said drums.

After the load has been hauled in it may be lowered byslacking either the receding line II or the skidding line 35 or both of said lines and the tong line. will be lower. Also, the receding line I! may be held, the skidding line 35 released, and the slack pulling line 33 drawn in which will lower the tong line in closer proximity to the head spar l6.

The straw line 49 which winds on the drums 53 and I4 is only used in moving the other lines from one location or road to another. It is preferably made up of a plurality of relatively detacha'ble sections of wire cable. In practice these sections are usually cable of about one-half inch in diameter, about three hundred feet in length and of a weight of about one hundred fifty pounds. This provides straw line sections each of which, when coiled, can be carried by one man. when in use the several sections of the straw line are carried to the desired locations, extended over areas desired, and coupled together by coupling devices of-conventional form that will run through the sheaves and over the straw line drums 53 and 54.

"At times it is desirable to wind in on both the receding line 12 and the skidding line 35. For instance, this may be done in drawing up the tong line 33 after releasing a load and before moving the carriage out into the field for another load. This may be done by engaging both ofthe clutches 90, 92 and 8|, 83 on the drive shaft 16 and by engaging the two clutches 65 and 68 to connect the drums SI and ill with the gearwheels 9| and 99 respectively.

The two carriages l8 and 34 of Figs. 1 to 3 and 5, or the carriage l8 and sleeve 44 of Fig. 4 will have utility if used in connection with a stationary sky line. In other words, if the top lap ofreceding line I! were a stationary line and the bottom lap thereof were driven by any means other than the portion used to function as a stationary sky line, the benefits of my invention relating to the parts l9-34 or "-44 will obtain. However, the commercial utility of such structure would be only with short tong line or tong lines employing driven means for lowering the same. Also, the before mentioned disadvantages of a fixed sky line will obtain.

My invention is also applicable to that type of logging generally termed in the art as high lead log g." Referring to Figs. 10 and 11, spar trees II and 92, which are respectively the head spar and tail spar, are illustrated. These said spar trees may be supported in any usual manner such as, for example, that diagrammatically illustrated in connection with tail spar 92.

In high lead logging there are essentially two Therefore. I have illustrated receding line 93, generally termed in high lead logging as the holdback, and skidding line 94, generally termed in high lead V logging as the main line, which are supported on sheaves on spars 9| and 92 and which lines have driven drums for operating the same. In the interest of simplicity I have only illustrated gen-- erally means for providing power to the receding line 93 and the skidding line 94. High lead 10gging is employed where only short hauling of logs is necessary up to, for example, eight to nine I means.

skidding line function in supporting the load. As

hundred feet. Also, high lead logging is employed where the logs are to be "cold decked or disposed at locations removed from the tail spar 9|. In high lead logging apparatus as heretofore known, the haul-back line was used solely as-a hold-back line and ran directly between the supports as between the head spar and pulleysor the like placed on the ground at a remote loca--- tion. The haul-back line continued and was connected with the main line and a plurality of chokers were connected with the main line so that the main line would drag or pull the logs to a location which was somewhat removed from the head spar. In my apparatus. I employ a receding line 93 which not only hauls the carriage means back to the location where further logs are situated, but also aids in supporting the logs ofl the ground.

I employ the receding line 93 which is supported by sheave located on the head spar 9| and the tail spar 92 and which receding line '93 is connected with the skidding line 94. As a connecting means between the receding line 99 and the skidding line 94 I employ a carriage 95. The carriage 95 is provided with sheave means 99 which is supported on receding line 93 so that receding line 93 is employed not only as a haulback line, but as the supporting means for 'the logs. The carriage 95 also has what is generally termed in the art as "butt rigging" 91 and a plurality of chokers 98 are secured to the 'butt rigging 91. Generally the receding line 93 is threequarter to seven-eighth inch cable and the skidding line 94 is generally one and a quarter inch cable. With such size cables involved in the lines 93 and 94 and with the usual distances involved for high lead logging, generally only one log is carried at a time by a choker 98. Thus one log 99 will be connected by a choker 98 to the butt rigging 91 and while said one log 99 is being moved to' a location such as to the pile of logs I00, the workmen will be placing a choker 98 on a log 99 on the ground so as to be ready to reload as soon as the carriage '95 is returned so that another log 99 may be loaded.

In my modification of high lead logging equipment as heretofore known I have thus provided a receding and a skidding line and a carriage means which is connected to the skidding line and is mounted on the receding line by sheave Thus both the receding line'and the both the receding line and the skidding line are employed I am able to high lead and do so with the logs and chokers somewhat oil! the ground. This saves timber, prevents breakage, and tie-; ups. Also, in returning the chokers to obtain further logs, they may be moved above the ground and considerable time and labor is saved as the chokers will not become entangled, twisted and caught in the various objects on the ground over which they must pass.

Due to the fact that I am able to operate high lead logging off the ground, I am able to run high lead logging systems for length at least one-third longer than that heretofore found commercially practical. Besides being able to extend the length of operation and make high lead logging possible over distances not heretofore commercially possible, I am able to increase the production of logs over high lead logging systems heretofore known.

Obviously, changes may be made in the forms. dimensions and arrangements of the parts of my invention, without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment.

Iclaim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, sheave means; a driven receding line drum; carriage means; a receding line operative in spaced relation above the ground and connected at one end portion to said receding line drum, passing through said sheave means, and connected at its other end portion to said carriage means; a driven skidding line drum; a skidding line operative in spaced relation above the ground and connected at one end portion to said skidding line drum; first sheave means on said carriage means; a driven slack pulling drum; a slack pulling line operative in spaced relation above the ground and connected at one end portion to said slack pulling drum, passing through said first sheave means, and connected at its other end portion to said skidding line; second sheave means carried 'by said carriage means and mounted for traveling movement on said receding line, whereby said carriage means is supported by and for traveling movement on said receding line by said second sheave means and is also supported jointly by said receding and skidding lines connected thereto; third sheave means carried by said carriage means; and a tong line passing through said third sheave means and connected to the other end portion of said skidding line, whereby said slack pulling line will provide slack in said tong line.

2. In apparatus of the class described, sheave means; a driven receding line drum; first carriage means; a receding line operative in spaced relation above the ground and connected at one end portion to said receding line drum, passing through said sheave means, and connected at its other end portion to said first carriage means; a second carriage means; sheave means carried by said second carriage means and mounted for traveling movement on said receding line; a driven skidding line drum; a skidding line operative in spaced relation above the ground and connected at one end portion to said skidding line drum and at its other end portion to said second carriage; first sheave means on said first carriage means; a driven slack pulling drum; a slack pulling line operative in spaced relation above the ground and connected at one end portion to said slack pulling drum, passing through said first sheave means, and connected at its other end portion to said second carriage; second sheave means carried by said first carriage means and mounted for traveling movement on said receding line, whereby said carriage member is supported by and for traveling movement on said receding line by said second sheave means and is also supported jointly by said receding and skidding lines connected thereto; third sheave means carried by said first carriage means; and a tong line passing through said ,third sheave means and connected to said second carriage means, whereby said slack pulling line will move said first and second carriages toward each other and provide slack in said tong line.

3. In apparatus of the class described, sheave means; a driven receding line drum; carriage means; a receding line operative in spaced relation above the ground and connected at one end portion to said receding line drum, passing through said sheave means, and connected at its other end portion to said carriage means; a

driven skidding line drum; a skidding line operative in spaced relation above the ground and connected at one end portion to said skidding line drum; first sheave means on said carriage means; a driven slack pulling drum; a slack pulling line operative in spaced relation above the ground and connected'at one end portion to said slack pulling drum, passing through said first sheave means, and fixedly and rotatively connected at its other end portion to said skidding line; second sheave means carried by said carriage means and mounted for traveling movement on said receding line, whereby said carriage means is supported by and for traveling movement on said receding line by said second sheave means and is also supported jointly by said receding and skidding lines connected thereto; third sheave means carried by said carriage means; and a tong line passing through said third sheave means and connected to the other end portion of said skidding line, whereby said slack pulling line will provide slack in said tong line.

4. In apparatus of the class described, an overhead cable; a first carriage means carrying a plurality of sheaves and operatively supported by said cable for traveling movement thereon; a second carriage means operatively supported by said cable for relative traveling movement thereon toward and away from said first carriage; a skidding line fixedly connected with said second carriage; a tong line passing through a sheave in said first carriage and fixedly connected with said second carriage; and a slack pulling line fixedly connected with said second carriage and passing through sheave means ofsaid first carriage.

PHILIP GRABINSKI.

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