WO2012164464A1

WO2012164464A1 - Remote controlled grapple carriage

Info

Publication number: WO2012164464A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/052632
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter ALLPASS
Original assignee: Allpass Peter
Priority date: 2011-05-27
Filing date: 2012-05-25
Publication date: 2012-12-06

Abstract

A grapple logging system, which includes a remote controlled grapple carriage, a cable yarder comprising at least two drums, one of which holds a haulback cable connected to the clamping carriage and another of which holds a mainline cable connected to a mainline activated timber grapple, a haulback block distal from the cable yarder for receiving a haulback cable from the cable yarder and directing it to the clamping carriage, irrespective of whether the haulback block is located on a higher or lower plane relative to the cable yarder, a haulback cable, running from one of the cable yarder's winch drums, underneath t h e at least one free running haulback sheave, around the haulback block and back to the clamping carriage, a mainline cable running from another one of the cable yarder's winch drums past the free running mainline sheave of the clamping carriage, to the mainline activated timber grapple.

Description

REMOTE CONTROLLED GRAPPLE CARRIAGE

This invention relates to cable logging. In particular, the invention relates to a remote controlled grapple carriage, and a two drum, downhill (and uphill) grapple logging system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Those skilled in the art of cable logging will know that the most common grapple logging systems use a mechanical grapple carriage that can grapple log timber downhill and uphill. However, these mechanical grapple systems require three working cables. The grapple carriage is usually suspended from a rider-block, running on a haulback cable. The haulback cable extends from a yarder, through the rider-block to a haulback block(pulley) attached to a securing anchor at a distance from the yarder, and back to an attachment formation on the grapple carriage.

A mainline cable extends from the cable yarder to the grapple carriage, and is directly used to close the grapple around the timber, and haul the carriage and load of timber to the landing. A third cable, extends from the yarder to the grapple carriage, where after it is attached back onto the mainline cable, and is used indirectly to open the grapple, and is often referred to as a slackpulling line.

When the haulback cable is wound in, and sufficient tension is kept in the mainline cable, the grapple carriage is not only suspended from the haulback cable, but is also pulled back towards the haulback block, to the log pick-up point, by the haulback cable. When the grapple is placed over a log, and the mainline cable is reeled in, while the grapple carriage is held stationary relative to the haulback cable by applying a braking force to the haulback drum of the cable yarder, the grapple is closed tight around the log. Reeling in the mainline cable, while reducing but still maintaining sufficient tension in the haulback cable, results in the grapple carriage and the load of timber being hauled in to the landing with the carriage still suspended from the haulback cable. At the same time, the slackpulling line must also be reeled in at the same speed as the mainline cable, so as to prevent it from snagging on obstacles.

This system is fast and efficient, but requires a relatively expensive and complex three-drum winch set, and appropriate controls.

There are many simple two-drum cable yarders currently in use in the timber industry, which cannot run a typical mechanical grapple logging system, as they are not equipped with three winch drums.

The inventor therefore identified a need for a two drum grapple logging system and grapple carriage, that is capable of grapple logging downhill and uphill, in a similar fashion to the mechanical grapple logging system explained above, but using only a haulback cable and a mainline cable.

The grapple carriage needs to retain the advantages of the common mainline activated grapple system, as used in the mechanical grapple carriages described above. However, to suspend the carriage from the haulback cable while the carriage is being pulled back towards the haulback block, sufficient tension should be maintained in the mainline cable, but tensioning the mainline cable causes the grapple to close. Therefore, since there is no slackpulling line to control the opening of the grapple, an alterative method of controlling the opening of the grapple is required. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a remote controlled clamping carriage, which includes

a carriage frame; at least one free running haulback sheave mounted on the carriage frame, operable to run on an overhead haulback cable;

at least one free running mainline sheave mounted on the carriage frame, arranged to guide a mainline cable running from a mainline drum of a cable yarder, through part of the carriage to the timber grapple, in use permitting the mainline cable to close a timber grapple around a log, and to pull the carriage, grapple and attached log towards the yarder when the mainline cable is reeled in;

a mainline cable brake mounted on the carriage frame arranged to interact with the mainline cable, when activated, to clamp the mainline cable to the carriage;

a haulback cable brake mounted on the carriage frame arranged to interact with the haulback cable, when activated, to clamp the haulback cable to the carriage;

a haulback cable attachment formation mounted on the carriage frame, in use, for attaching an end of a haulback cable running from the attachment formation, around the sheave of a haulback block, returned to the carriage passing back under the carriage's haulback sheave or sheaves, to a haulback drum of a cable yarder; and

a remote control system controllably connected to the mainline cable brake and the haulback cable brake, operable to receive control signals from a remote transmitter selectively to activate and deactivate the mainline cable brake and the haulback cable brake.

The clamping carriage may include a power supply system connected to the mainline cable brake and the haulback cable brake, in use providing operating power to the brakes. The power supply may be an electric power supply system.

The power supply system may be a hydraulic power supply system comprising

an hydraulic pressure generator;

a hydraulic oil reservoir;

a hydraulic accumulator;

hydraulic valves; and

hydraulic brake actuators controllably connected to the mainline cable clamp and the haulback cable clamp.

The power supply may be a pneumatic power supply system comprising

a pneumatic pressure generator;

pneumatic valves;

an air pressure reservoir; and

pneumatic brake actuators controllably connected to the mainline cable clamp and the haulback cable clamp.

The hydraulic- and pneumatic pressure generators may be driven by any one of the haulback sheave and the mainline sheave running on the haulback cable. The remote control system may be operable to control an optional grapple rotator motor.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a remote controlled grapple carriage, which includes:

a remote controlled clamping carriage as described; and

a mainline activated timber grapple, comprising steel jaws attachable to a mainline cable running from the cable yarder via the clamping carriage, the steel jaws displaceable between a closed and an open position under control of the mainline cable selectively being tensioned or released.

In use, the steel jaws are moved from the open to the closed position by de- activating the mainline cable brake, and tensioning the mainline cable. The steel jaws are operable to be retained in a closed position, by tensioning the mainline cable and by activating the mainline cable brake.

In use, the steel jaws are operable to be opened by de-activating the mainline cable brake and by relieving tension on the mainline cable. The steel jaws, once opened, are operable to be retained in an open position by activating the mainline cable brake.

The mainline activated timber grapple may be directly mounted onto the clamping carriage.

The grapple carriage may include a grapple rotating device disposed between the clamping carriage and the mainline activated timber grapple permitting the timber grapple to rotate about a substantially vertical axis.

To this end the grapple rotator may include an actuator, operable to drive the grapple rotator.

The mainline activated timber grapple may be suspended from the clamping carriage.

The grapple carriage may include a grapple rotating device disposed between the clamping carriage and the mainline activated timber grapple permitting the timber grapple to rotate about a substantially vertical axis. The grapple rotator may include an actuator, operable to drive the grapple rotator.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a logging system, which includes:

a remote controlled grapple carriage as described above;

a cable yarder comprising at least two drums, one of which holds a haulback cable connected to the clamping carriage and another of which holds a mainline cable connected to a mainline activated timber grapple;

at least one haulback block distal from the cable yarder for receiving a haulback cable from the cable yarder and directing it to the clamping carriage, irrespective of whether the haulback block is located on a higher or lower plane relative to the cable yarder;

a haulback cable, running from one of the cable yarder drums, underneath the at least one free running haulback sheave of the clamping carriage, around the haulback block and back to the clamping carriage, where it is attached to the haulback cable attachment formation on the carriage;

a mainline cable running from another one of the cable yarder drums past the free running mainline sheave of the clamping carriage, to the mainline activated timber grapple; and wherein the

The logging system may include a receiver mounted on the clamping carriage and controllably connected to the mainline cable brake and the haulback cable brake. The logging system may include a remote transmitter operable to control the remote receiver on the clamping carriage. On a logging system having a cable yarder comprising at least two winch drums, one of which holds a haulback cable connected to a clamping carriage and another of which holds a mainline cable connected to a mainline activated timber grapple on the clamping carriage; at least one haulback block distal from the cable yarder for receiving the haulback cable from the cable yarder and directing it to the clamping carriage; a haulback cable, running from one of the cable yarder drums, underneath at least one free running haulback sheave of the clamping carriage, around the haulback block and back to the clamping carriage, where it is attached to the clamping carriage;

a mainline cable running from another one of the cable yarder drums past the free running mainline sheave of the clamping carriage, to the mainline activated timber grapple;

a mainline cable brake operable to clamp the mainline cable to the clamping carriage;

a haulback cable brake operable to clamp the haulback cable to the clamping carriage; there is provided a method of controlling movement of a grapple carriage, the method including moving the grapple carriage in two opposite directions. To move the grapple carriage towards the yarder, the mainline cable is reeled in by the yarder while simultaneously applying a variable braking force to the haulback drum of the yarder, to keep the grapple carriage suspended from the haulback cable. Visa versa, to move the carraige away from the yarder, the haulback cable is reeled in while simultaneously applying a variable braking force to the mainline winch drum; and there is provided a method of retaining the jaws of the timber grapple in an open position by activating the clamping carnage's mainline cable brake after the jaws of the timber grapple have been moved to an open position to drop a log(s) at the log drop off point, by transmitting the appropriate signal using the transmitter, to retain the jaws in the said open position while returning the grapple carriage to the log pickup point, in a direction away from the cable yarder; and there is also provided a method of closing the timber grapple around a log(s) by moving the grapple carriage in a manner described above, to a log pickup point, and stopping the carriage above a log(s), slackening the haulback and mainline cables by reeling out the haulback and mainline winch drums to lower the grapple carriage until the jaws of the timber grapple straddles the log. Thereafter, the clamping carriage's haulback cable brake is engaged by transmitting the appropriate signal using the remote transmitter, to clamp the carriage to the haulback cable. Tension in the mainline cable may be reduced if necessary by feeding out the mainline drum slightly. The carriage's mainline cable brake is dis-engaged by transmitting the appropriate signal using the remote transmitter, to allow the jaws of the timber grapple to be free to close around the log(s) when the mainline cable is re-tensioned. The carriage's mainline cable brake can be engaged again, to retain the jaws in a closed position around the log, if necessary.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings.

DRAWING(S)

In the drawing(s):

Figure 1 shows a remote controlled grapple carriage in accordance with one aspect of the invention; and

Figure 2 shows a two drum downhill grapple logging system and a remote controlled grapple carriage, in accordance with another aspect of the invention.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In Figure 1 , a remote controlled grapple carriage that comprises a non-motorised remote controlled clamping carriage 10, and a mainline activated timber grapple 50, is shown. The carriage 10 includes two free running haulback sheaves 12.1 , 12.2, arranged to run free on an overhead haulback cable 14. The carriage 10 includes a free running mainline sheave 16, arranged to guide a mainline cable 18 running from a cable yarder (see Figure 2) through part of the carriage 10, to a timber grapple 50 suspended from the carriage. The haulback sheaves 12.1 , 12.2 and the mainline sheave 16 are mounted on a carriage frame 20. It is to be appreciated that the mainline cable 18 may include a replaceable closing line attached to the mainline cable just before the carriage, to run through the carriage 10 to the grapple 50, but this is deemed by the inventor to be a mechanical equivalent, or extension of the mainline cable.

A mainline cable brake 22 is mounted onto the carriage frame 20 and arranged to interact with the mainline cable 18, when activated, to brake the carriage frame 20 onto the mainline cablel 8.

A haulback cable attachment formation 24 is provided on the carriage frame 20 for attaching an end of a haulback cable 14 running from the attachment formation, around the sheave of a haulback block 76, and back towards the cable yarder 72 (see Figure 2), passing under the haulback sheaves 12.1 and 12.2 of the carriage 10. The carriage frame is specifically designed with respect to the placement of all the said sheaves and the haulback attachment formation, to enable the carriage to be pulled backwards by the haulback cable while riding on the haulback cable, in a balanced condition. The carriage 10 includes a haulback cable brake 26 arranged to interact with the haulback cable 14, when activated, to brake the carriage frame 20 onto the haulback cable 14.

The carriage 10 includes a power supply system 30, which in the preferred embodiment, is a hydraulic system including a hydraulic pump 15 driven by a power take-off device connected to the sheave 12.1 , running on the haulback cable 14, for generating hydraulic pressure. The power supply system 30 also includes a hydraulic oil reservoir 34, a hydraulic valve block 36 comprising a number of valves, and a hydraulic accumulator 17, connected in flow communication to the hydraulic pump 15.

The power supply system 30 further includes hydraulic actuators(not shown) on the mainline cable brake 22, and the haulback cable brake 26, and a hydraulic motor 59 on the rotating device 57.

The carriage 10 is provided with a remote control system 25, which in the preferred embodiment, comprises a radio frequency receiver and an electronic unit, operable to receive control signals from a matched radio RF transmitter, with the remote control system 25 being controllably connected to the hydraulic valves in the hydraulic valve block 36, to send pressurised hydraulic fluid to the actuators of the haulback and mainline cable brakes, upon receipt of the appropriate control signals from the remote RF transmitter. The remote transmitter may transmit combined or individual brake signals for the mainline cable brake 22 and the haulback cable brake 26, to engage and disengage the cable brakes, and different control signals to operate the optional grapple rotator motor in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction. In the preferred embodiment, a pendulum device 61 is attached to the carriage frame 20, to which a rotating device 57 and a hydraulic rotator motor 59 is attached, to rotate the grapple about a substantially vertical axis to align the grapple with a log for efficient log pickup. A mounting bracket 56, is in turn attached to the rotating device 57, from which the grapple 50 is suspended by means of a set of chains 58.1 and 58.2.

The grapple 50 includes a set of grapple jaws 52.1 52.2, that are attached at a central pivot shaft 54 permitting the jaws 52.1 , 52.2 to open and close. The grapple jaws 52.1 , 52.2 and the pivot shaft 54 are mounted onto a grapple frame 51 . The grapple jaws 52 include two cable guides in the form of free running sheaves 53.1 and 53.2 located on the grapple jaws 52.1 , 52.2 between the pivot shaft 54 and the jaw ends. The mainline cable extends from a cable yarder, through part of the carriage to the timber grapple, where it is reeved around the sheeves 53.1 and 53.2 and finally attached to a mainline cable attachment formation 57 on one of the jaws as shown in Figure 1 . When the mainline cable is tensioned, the mainline cable acts on the sheaves 53.1 and 53.2 causing the jaws 52.1 and 52.2 to be moved from an open position to a closed position.

In use, the grapple frame 51 will rise and abut against the mounting brachet 56 if sufficient tension is applied to the mainline cable 18, thereby adapting the mainline cable to close the grapple tightly around a log. In Figure 2 a two drum, downhill grapple logging system 70 is shown. The logging system 70 includes a remote controlled clamping carriage 10 and a mainline activated timber grapple 50, as described, and a cable yarder 72 comprising at least two drums 74.1 , 74.2, one connected to the haulback cable 14 and another connected to the mainline cable 18. The haulback cable 14 runs from the drum 74.1 through the carriage 10 around a haulback block 76 which is attached to a securing anchor 82, back to the carriage 10, where it is attached to the haulback cable attachment formation 24. The mainline cable 18 runs from the mainline drum 74.2 of the cable yarder, through the carriage 10 to the grapple 50. In use when logs are to be picked up, the carriage 10 (with the grapple 50 held in an open position by engaging the carriage's mainline brake 22) is hauled back to the log pickup point 80, by reeling in the haulback cable 14 while simultaneously maintaining sufficient tension in the mainline cable 18, to keep the carriage in an upright position, until the carriage is positioned overhead a log to be picked up. The two cables are slackened and or tensioned as required, until the grapple jaws 52 straddle a log. The carriage's haulback cable brake 26 is then engaged to brake the carriage 10 onto the haulback cable, and then the mainline cable brake 22 is disengaged to allow the grapple jaws 52 to close. It may not always be necessary to engage the haulback brake 26, which speeds up the log pickup process. The mainline cable 18 is then tentioned to close the jaws 52 tightly around the log while simultaneously either braking the haulback drum 74.1 of the cable yarder or by keeping the haulback cable brake 26 engaged. Thereafter the mainline cable brake 22 may be engaged if desired, to keep the jaws tight around the log during inhaul. Alternatively the jaws will stay tight around the log when the mainline cable is reeled in, if sufficient tension is maintained in the haulback cable during haul in, by applying the yarder's haulback drum brake, which reduces time wasted to engage and disengage the cable brakes. The carriage 10 and grapple load of timber can then be pulled to the log drop off point 81 by reeling in the mainline cable 18 onto the mainline drum 74.2, while simultaneously maintaining sufficient tension in the haulback cable 14 to at least keep the carriage in an upright position. Advantageously the carriage 10 and a grapple load of timber can be hauled downhill, as shown in Figure 2, or uphill, using this two drum grapple logging system. At the drop-off position 81 , the haulback cable brake 26 is engaged, and the mainline cable brake 22 is disengaged, if it was engaged during inhaul. The mainline cable drum 74.2 is unwound, to slacken the mainline cable thereby releasing the jaws 52 and dropping the logs at the designated position. When the jaws 52 have fully opened, the mainline cable brake 22 is engaged to keep the jaws in an open position, and the haulback cable brake 26 is then disengaged, so that the carriage 10 is again free to be hauled back to the log pickup point 80, by reeling in the haulback cable 14, repeating the cycle.

During the haulback phase of the logging cycle, or after the carriage arrives overhead a log, the grapple can be rotated by transmitting the appropriate signal, to align the grapple with the log for efficient log pickup.

The inventor is of the opinion that the invention provides a new remote controlled grapple carriage, specially designed to not only ride on the haulback cable, but to be pulled back by the haulback cable to the log pickup point, that comprises a mainline activated grapple that is not only held open during haulback by means of a mainline cable clamp, but is also closed by exerting tension on the mainline cable while braking the haulback cable. The combination of this remote controlled grapple carriage, with it's mainline activated timber grapple, and a two drum cable yarding system, also constitutes a new two drum grapple logging system, that is capable of grapple logging timber, downhill and uphill.

This system will not only benefit current two drum cable yarder owners, by enabling them to use their current machines to grapple yard timber downhill and uphill efficiently, but will also obviate the need for new cable yarders to have an expensive and complex three drum winch set.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A remote controlled clamping carriage, which includes: a carriage frame;

at least one free running haulback sheave mounted on the carriage frame, operable to run on an overhead haulback cable;

at least one free running mainline sheave mounted on the carriage frame, arranged to guide a mainline cable running from a mainline drum of a cable yarder, through part of the carriage to a timber grapple, in use permitting the mainline cable to close a timber grapple around a log, and to pull the carriage, grapple and attached log towards the yarder when the mainline cable is reeled in;

2. A remote controlled clamping carriage as claimed in claim 1 , which includes

a power supply system connected to the mainline cable brake and the haulback cable brake, in use providing operating power to the brakes.

3. A remote controlled clamping carriage as claimed in claim 2, in which the power supply is an electric power supply system.

4. A remote controlled clamping carriage as claimed in claim 2, in which the power supply is an hydraulic power supply system comprising

an hydraulic pressure generator;

a hydraulic oil reservoir;

a hydraulic accumulator;

hydraulic valves; and

hydraulic brake actuators controllably connected to the mainline cable brake and the haulback cable brake.

5. A remote controlled clamping carriage as claimed in claim 2, in which the power supply is a pneumatic power supply system comprising

a pneumatic pressure generator;

pneumatic valves;

an air pressure reservoir; and

pneumatic brake actuators controllably connected to the mainline cable brake and the haulback cable brake.

6. A remote controlled clamping carriage as claimed in claim 4, in which the hydraulic pressure generator is driven by means of a power take off device connected a sheave running in contact with the haulback cable;

7. A remote controlled clamping carriage as claimed in claim 5, in which the pneumatic pressure generator is driven by means of a power take off device connected a sheave running in contact with the haulback cable;

8. A remote controlled clamping carriage as claimed in claim 1 , in which the remote control system is operable to control an optional grapple rotator motor.

9. A remote controlled grapple carriage, which includes

a remote controlled clamping carriage as claimed in claim 1 , and a mainline activated timber grapple either directly attached to or suspended from the clamping carriage, comprising steel jaws attachable to a mainline cable running from a cable yarder , via the clamping carriage, the steel jaws displaceable between a closed and an open position under control of the mainline cable selectively being tensioned or released.

10. A remote controlled grapple carriage as claimed in claim 9, in which the steel jaws are moved from the open to the closed position by deactivating the carriage's mainline cable brake, and tensioning the mainline cable.

1 1 . A remote controlled grapple carriage as claimed in claim 10, in which the steel jaws are operable to be retained in a closed position, by tensioning the mainline cable and by activating the mainline cable brake.

12. A remote controlled grapple carriage as claimed in claim 1 1 , in which the steel jaws are operable to be opened by de-activating the mainline cable brake and by relieving tension on the mainline cable.

13. A remote controlled grapple carriage as claimed in claim 12, in which the steel jaws, once opened, are operable to be retained in an open position by activating the carriage's mainline cable brake.

14. A remote controlled grapple carriage as claimed in claim 13, in which the mainline activated timber grapple is directly mounted onto the clamping carriage.

15. A remote controlled grapple carriage as claimed in claim 14, which includes a grapple rotating device disposed between the clamping carriage and the mainline activated timber grapple permitting the timber grapple to rotate about a substantially vertical axis.

16. A remote controlled grapple carriage as claimed in claim 15, in which the grapple rotator includes an actuator, operable to drive the grapple rotator.

17. A remote controlled grapple carriage as claimed in claim 13, in which the mainline activated timber grapple is suspended from the clamping carriage.

18. A remote controlled grapple carriage as claimed in claim 17, which includes a grapple rotating device disposed between the clamping carriage and the mainline activated timber grapple permitting the timber grapple to rotate about a substantially vertical axis.

19. A remote controlled grapple carriage as claimed in claim 17, in which the grapple rotator includes an actuator, operable to drive the grapple rotator.

20. A grapple logging system, which includes:

a remote controlled grapple carriage as claimed in claim 13;

a haulback cable, running from one of the cable yarder's winch drums, underneath the at least one free running haulback sheave of the clamping carriage, around the haulback block and back to the clamping carriage, where it is attached to the haulback cable attachment formation on the carriage;

a mainline cable running from another one of the cable yarder's winch drums past the free running mainline sheave of the clamping carriage, to the mainline activated timber grapple; and wherein; the remote controlled grapple carriage not only rides on the haulback cable, but is pulled back to the log pickup point in a direction away from the cable yarder, when the haulback cable is reeled in by the cable yarder; and the mainline cable is used to not only close the jaws of the timber grapple, but to also pull the remote controlled grapple carriage and grapple load of logs towards the yarder when the mainline cable is reeled in by the cable yarder.

21 . A grapple logging system as claimed in claim 20, which includes a receiver mounted on the clamping carriage that is controllably connected to the mainline cable brake and the haulback cable brake.

22. A grapple logging system as claimed in claim 21 , which includes a remote transmitter operable to control the remote receiver on the clamping carriage.

23. On a grapple logging system having a cable yarder comprising

at least two winch drums, one of which holds a haulback cable connected to a clamping carriage and another of which holds a mainline cable connected to a mainline activated timber grapple on the clamping carriage; at least one haulback block distal from the cable yarder for receiving the haulback cable from the cable yarder and directing it to the clamping carriage; a haulback cable, running from one of the cable yarder drums, underneath at least one free running haulback sheave of the clamping carriage, around the haulback block and back to the clamping carriage, where it is attached to the clamping carriage;

a mainline cable brake operable to clamp the mainline to the clamping carriage;

a haulback cable brake operable to clamp the haulback cable to the clamping carriage; a method of controlling movement of a grapple carriage, the method including moving the grapple carriage in two opposite directions. To move the grapple carriage towards the yarder, the mainline cable is reeled in by the yarder while simultaneously applying a variable braking force to the haulback drum of the yarder, to keep the grapple carriage suspended from the haulback cable, while moving on the haulback cable. Visa versa, to move the carraige away from the yarder, the haulback cable is reeled in while simultaneously applying a variable braking force to the mainline winch drum to keep the carriage suspended from the haulback cable.

24. On a grapple logging system as described in claim 23, a method of retaining the jaws of the timber grapple in an open position by:

activating the clamping carriage's mainline cable brake after the jaws of the timber grapple have been moved to an open position to drop a log(s) at the log drop off point, by transmitting the appropriate signal using a remote transmitter, to retain the jaws in the said open position while returning the grapple carriage to the log pickup point, in a direction away from the cable yarder, in a manner described in claim 23.

25. On a grapple logging system as described in claim 23, a method of closing the jaws of the timber grapple around a log(s) by :

moving the grapple carriage in a manner described in claim 23, to a log pickup point, and stopping the carriage above a log(s);

slackening the haulback and mainline cables by reeling out the haulback and mainline winch drums to lower the grapple carriage until the jaws of the timber grapple straddles the log;

activating the clamping carriage's haulback cable brake by transmitting the appropriate signal using the remote transmitter;

relieving tension in the mainline cable if necessary; de-activating the carriage's mainline cable brake by transmitting the appropriate signal using the remote transmitter, to allow the jaws to be free to move to the closed position;

tensioning the mainline cable by reeling in the mainline cable to close the jaws of the timber grapple; and

activating the carriage's mainline cable brake to retain the jaws in a closed position around the log.

26. A clamping carriage as claimed in claim 2, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

27. A grapple carriage as claimed in claim 13, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

28. A logging system as claimed in claim 20, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

29. A method as claimed in claim 23, substantially as herein described.

30. A method as claimed in claim 24, substantially as herein described.

31 . A method as claimed in claim 25, substantially as herein described.

32. A new clamping carriage, a new grapple carriage, a new logging system and a new method substantially as herein described.