WO2020254825A1

WO2020254825A1 - Vehicle tool arm

Info

Publication number: WO2020254825A1
Application number: PCT/GB2020/051494
Authority: WO
Inventors: William James Wilson
Original assignee: European Forest Machinery Limited
Priority date: 2019-06-20
Filing date: 2020-06-19
Publication date: 2020-12-24
Also published as: GB201908879D0; GB2587856B; GB202009422D0; GB2587856A

Abstract

A tool arm (10, 110) for a vehicle (100) and vehicle (100) thereby equipped are disclosed. The tool arm (10, 110) comprises a vehicle engaging portion (112, 12), a first member (114, 14) extending from said vehicle engaging portion (112, 12), with a first rotatable joint (116, 16) attached to said first member (114, 14) and a second member (118, 18) extending from said first rotatable joint (116, 16), a second rotatable joint (120, 20) attached to said second member (118, 18) and a third member (122, 22) extending from said second rotatable joint (120, 20), a third rotatable joint (122, 124, 24) attached to the third member (122, 22), wherein a tool portion (126, 26) extends from said third rotatable joint (122, 124, 24). The tool portion (126, 26) may comprise a guard with an enclosed saw (186, 86) which may be pivotable out of the guard portion (184, 84) to perform cutting operations. The tool arm (10, 110) may be retrofitted to a vehicle (100) such as an excavator (100) or similar, or may be fitted upon manufacture of said vehicle (100). The tool arm (10, 110) and vehicle (100) may be used to perform forestry management or arboreal operations and trimming.

Description

VEHICLE TOOL ARM

Description

Field of the Invention

The present relates to vehicles, and especially vehicles accessories, especially those that assist vehicles such as excavators and the like in cutting operations, such as forestry and arborist management

applications.

Background to the Invention

An important aspect of the proper management of forestry and trees in general is pruning branches and larger limbs to prevent unwanted hazards from developing.

This may be performed by either a user scaling the tree and cutting the desired branches from the tree or by a specialised cutting vehicle.

The former is undesirable in that it can be extremely hazardous, especially if the person cutting is armed with a heavy, unwieldy and potentially dangerous tool such as the common chainsaw, although it does offer the benefit of very precise targeting of specific branches to be pruned.

Whilst vehicles are in use which are much safer than the tree-scaling method, they may be costly to purchase and maintain, be so specialised that they have no alternative use, and lack the precision required for careful pruning.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a tool arm for use with a vehicle, the tool arm comprising a vehicle engaging portion, a first member extending from said vehicle engaging portion, with a first rotatable joint attached to said first member and a second member extending from said first rotatable joint, a second rotatable joint attached to said second member and a third member extending from said second rotatable joint, a third rotatable joint attached to the third member, wherein a tool portion extends from said third rotatable joint.

Providing three rotatable joints in addition to those that may already be provided on a suitable existing vehicle tool arm (such as an excavator’s boom/stick/arm) provides the tool with at least three degree of freedom to enable it to more readily access parts of trees requiring

delimbing/pruning.

The tool portion may include a circular saw blade, a chainsaw blade, or other delimbing apparatus.

The tool portion may include a guard portion.

A saw blade may be provided within the guard portion.

The saw blade may pivot from a first position where it is substantially enclosed within the guard portion and a second position substantially outside the guard portion.

The guard portion may be generally an elongate cuboidal shape, with a length, width and height, where the length is greater than height and width. Its smallest area faces may be substantially semi-cylinders.

The guard portion may be a generally elongate ellipsoidal shaped prism; and may even be a ellipsoidal shape translated along a central axis to form a 3-dimensional shape comprising, generally, two similar ellipsoid shaped sides with a one intervening side edge, substantially free of corners.

The guard portion may have a serrated edge.

This serrated edge may co-operate with the saw blade. This may allow a limb or the like to be pinched, braced or the like against the saw blade by the guard.

There may be provided a hydraulic or pneumatic ram system to

manipulate one or more of the first, second, third and third members relative to one another about their respective joints.

The hydraulic or pneumatic ram system may comprise one or more hydraulic or pneumatic rams.

A first hydraulic ram may be provided to alter the position of the first member with respect to the second member. This may be about the first rotatable joint.

A second hydraulic ram may be provided to alter the position of the third member with respect to the second member.

This may be about the second rotatable joint.

The vehicle engaging portion may be a box section.

The vehicle engaging portion may include a connector. The connector may enable the vehicle engaging portion to be mechanically fastened to a vehicle.

The connector may be attached to the vehicle engaging portion at an angle. Once the tool arm is connected to a vehicle a portion of the tool arm or the entire tool arm will be at an angle to the vehicle. This may allow the tool portion to be within the vehicle operator’s field of vision.

The angle may be between 0° and 10°.

The angle may be between 3° and 7°.

The angle may be 5°.

The first member may be a box section.

The first member may be partially positioned within the vehicle engaging portion. The first member may be telescopically arranged within the vehicle engaging portion.

The tool arm may further comprise a grapple.

The grapple may be mounted on a universal joint.

The grapple may be mounted adjacent the guard portion.

The grapple may be movable from a first or stowed position into a second or active position.

A grapple bracket may be provided on the vehicle engaging portion.

The grapple may grasp the grapple bracket to hold it in the stowed position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle equipped with a tool arm according to the first aspect of the present invention.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle including a tool arm which comprises vehicle engaging portion, a first member extending from said vehicle engaging portion, with a first rotatable joint attached to said first member and a second member extending from said first rotatable joint, a second rotatable joint attached to said second member and a third member extending from said second rotatable joint, a third rotatable joint attached to the third member, wherein a tool portion extends from said third rotatable joint. Optional features of the first aspect apply equally to the third aspect, mutatis mutandis.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment tool arm

according to a first aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tool arm of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the tool arm of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment tool arm according to a first aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the tool arm of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the tool arm of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the tool arm of Fig. 4 on a vehicle according to the second and third aspects of the present invention.

A tool arm 110 according to a first aspect of the present invention is depicted in Figs. 1 to 3. The tool arm comprises a vehicle engaging portion 112, a first member 114 extending from said vehicle engaging portion 112, with a first rotatable joint 116 attached to said first member 114 and a second member 118 extending from said first rotatable joint 116, a second rotatable joint 120 attached to said second member 118 and a third member 122 extending from said second rotatable joint 120, a third rotatable joint 124 attached to the third member 122, and a tool portion 126 extending from said third rotatable joint 124.

The vehicle engaging portion 112 comprises a rectangular metal box section 128. A connector in the form of a connecting lug 130 is attached to the metal box section 128 by welding in the present embodiment, albeit it will be appreciated that other suitable joining methods are known and usable. The connecting lug 130 is formed from a generally U- shaped bracket 132, with the base of the bracket 132 being attached to a surface of the box section 128 via a mounting plate 134. Pins 136 span the upper edges of the U-shaped bracket 132 to enable mechanical fixing to a vehicle 100.

The mounting plate 134 is formed such that the U-shaped bracket 132 is at a slight angle to the vehicle engaging portion 112 and, in this

embodiment, the tool arm 110 as a whole. This angle means that once attached to a vehicle 100 the tool arm 110 is directed into the field of vision of a user within the vehicle 100 such that the operation of the tool portion 126 may be better observed.

The angle may be between 0° and 10°, and preferably may be between 3° and 7°. Specifically in the present embodiment, the angle is 5°.

The first member 114 is formed primarily from a second rectangular box section 138. The first member 114 is telescopically arranged within the vehicle engaging portion 112, with the respective box sections 128, 138 being dimensioned to enable a secure but sliding fit.

A first ram lug 140 is positioned on a side surface of the box section 128 of the first member 114. A second ram lug 142 is provided on the box section 138 of the first member 114. A first hydraulic ram 144 is attached at one end to the ram lug 140 and at the second end to the second ram lug 142. Actuation of the first hydraulic ram 144 causes the first member 114 to extend out from, or retract into, the vehicle engaging portion 112, as the second box section 138 may telescopically extend or retract from the first box section 128.

The first rotatable joint 116 is a simple pinned joint, comprising a first pin bracket 145 attached to the first member 114, a pin 146, and a second pin bracket 148 attached to the second member 118. The pin 146 joins the two pin brackets 145, 148 and allows the two members 114, 118 to pivot with respect to one another.

A third ram lug 150 is attached to the first member 114 on the side opposite the second ram lug 142. The third ram lug 150 comprises two elongate ram lug plate members 150a, 150b. A second hydraulic ram 152 is attached at a first end to the third ram lug 150.

The second member 118 is similarly a rectangular box section 154. A fourth hydraulic ram lug 156 is located on the side of the rectangular box section 154. The fourth hydraulic ram lug 156 is on a surface of the rectangular box section 154 which corresponds with that of the third ram lug 150. The second hydraulic ram 152 connects to the fourth ram lug 156 at its second end. Actuation of the second hydraulic ram 152 causes the second member 118 to pivot with respect to the first member 114 about the first rotatable joint 116.

A second rotatable joint 120 attaches to the end of the second member 118 and comprises an hydraulic motor 158 and chain driven shaft coupling assembly 160. This enables the attached third member 122 and tool portion 126 to fully rotate around a generally longitudinal axis of the tool arm 110.

The third member 122 comprises a short cylindrical mounting for the tool portion 126. A fifth hydraulic ram lug 162 extends from the upper surface of the third member 122 (the same surface corresponding to the

connecting lug 130).

The tool portion 126 comprises a guard portion 184 and an enclosed saw 186. The saw blade 186 is mounted on a rotatable mount 188 which allows it pivot from a first position, where it is substantially enclosed within the body of the guard portion 184 to a second position

substantially outside the guard portion 184.

The guard portion 184 is generally an elongate cuboidal shape, with a length, width and height, where the length is greater than height and width. Its smallest area faces are substantially semi-cylinders.

The tool portion 126 connects to the third member 122 via third rotatable joint 124. Third rotatable joint 122 comprises two tool portion lugs 164 which attach to and extend from the tool portion 126 and attach onto the third member via a pin 166. The tool portion lugs 164 attach on opposite sides of the third member 122, both situated 90° in opposite directions from the fifth hydraulic ram lug 162.

A sixth hydraulic ram lug 168 is provided on the upper surface (i.e. the surface opposite from the open lower surface through which the saw extends) of the guard portion 184. A third hydraulic ram 170 is attached at a first end to the fifth hydraulic ram lug 162 and at a second end to the sixth hydraulic ram lug 168. Actuation of the third hydraulic ram 170 causes the tool portion 126 to pivot about the third rotatable joint 124.

A grapple assembly 172 is attached to the lower surface of the vehicle engaging portion 112 and the rectangular metal box section 128. A grapple lug 173 connects the grapple assembly 172 to the metal box section 128. The grapple lug 173 is located adjacent the connecting lug 130 albeit projecting from the opposite side of the box section 128.

The grapple assembly 172 comprises a universal joint 174 attached to the grapple lug 173 and a grapple 175 attached to the universal joint 174. The grapple 175 is of a known forestry grapple type, and comprises a three-point grapple clamp 176 mounted upon a hydraulic rotatable joint 177. A grapple bracket 178 projects downwardly from the box section 128 adjacent the three-point grapple clamp 176. The grapple bracket 178 provides a member onto which the three-point grapple clamp 176 may clamp when not in use and allow it to be held in the stowed position. The grapple assembly 172 may pivot about the grapple lug 173 by operating a grapple hydraulic ram (not shown) inside the grab and releasing the grip of 178 such that it may pivot from the first or stowed position shown in the Figs to a second or deployed position, where it may project downwardly under the action of gravity.

The arm 110 will be equipped with multiple hydraulic hoses (not shown) connected to the various hydraulic rams and so forth. These will be connected with a valve block or similar (not shown) and suitable hoses and connections may be deployed inside the various box sections or externally.

A tool arm 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is depicted in Figs 4 to 6. The tool arm 10 comprises a vehicle engaging portion 12, a first member 14 extending from said vehicle engaging portion 12, with a first rotatable joint 16 attached to said first member 14 and a second member 18 extending from said first rotatable joint 16, a second rotatable joint 20 attached to said second member 18 and a third member 22 extending from said second rotatable joint 20, a third rotatable joint 24 attached to the third member 22, and a tool portion 26 extending from said third rotatable joint 24.

The vehicle engaging portion 12 comprises a rectangular metal box section 28. A connecting lug 30 is attached to the metal box section 28 by welding in the present embodiment, albeit it will be appreciated that other suitable joining methods are known and usable. The connecting lug 30 is formed from a generally U-shaped bracket 32, with the base of the bracket 32 being attached to a surface of the box section 28. A strengthening rib 34 is welded across the interior of the U-shaped bracket 32 defining a lower and upper channel. Further strengthening ribs may be added to the interior or omitted as necessary. Pins 36 span the upper edges of the U-shaped bracket 32 to enable mechanical fixing to a vehicle 100. The first member 14 is formed primarily from a second rectangular box section 38. A first ram lug 40 is positioned on the upper surface (same side as the connecting lug 30). A first hydraulic ram 42 is attached at one end to the ram lug 40 and at the second end to the first rotatable joint 16.

The first member 14 is telescopically arranged within the vehicle engaging portion 12, with the respective box sections 28, 38 being dimensioned to enable a secure but sliding fit.

An extension hydraulic ram 43 is attached between the first ram lug 40 and an extension lug 45 located on the box section 28. Actuation of the extension hydraulic ram 43 causes the first member 14 to travel telescopically out of the vehicle engaging portion 12, thereby increasing the overall length of the vehicle engaging portion 12 and first member 14 assembly. The extension hydraulic ram 43 passes through the

connecting lug 30 is between the base of the bracket 32 and the strengthening rib 34.

The first rotatable joint 16 is a simple pinned joint, comprising a first pin bracket 44 attached to the first member 14, a pin 46, and a second pin bracket 48 attached to the second member 18. The pin 46 joins the two pin brackets 44, 48 and allows the two members 14, 18 to pivot with respect to one another.

Four connecting rods 50 attach the first hydraulic ram 42 to the first rotatable joint; two on either side. The connecting rods 50 branch in a Y- formation from a ram pin 52, which attaches through the piston rod eyelet 54 of the hydraulic ram 42. The upper pair of connecting rods 50 attach to the second pin bracket 48 whereas the lower pair attach to the first pin bracket 44. First and second bracket pins 56, 58 are provided, respectively, on the first and second pin brackets 44, 48, to enable joining of the connecting rods 50 to the pin brackets 44, 48, which also allow pivoting.

Actuating first hydraulic ram 42 forces the connecting rods 50 towards the second member 18 and thereby pivoting the second member 18 about the pin 46.

The second member 18 is similarly a rectangular box section 60. A second hydraulic ram 62 is located on the side of the rectangular box section 60. It is on a surface which in the position of the tool arm 10 in the Figs is 90° around from the first ram 42 i.e. the planes of the

respective attachment surfaces are generally at right angles, although it will be appreciated that this may alter as the tool arm 10 functions as described. The second ram 62 is anchored at one end to a second ram lug 64 and at a second end to the second rotatable joint 20.

The second rotatable joint 20 is a simple pinned joint, comprising a first pin bracket 66 attached to the second member 18, a pin 68, a second pin bracket 70 attached to the third member 22 and a third member ram lug 71. A pin 72 joins the two pin brackets 66, 70 and allows the two members 18, 22 to pivot with respect to one another. A further pin 74 is used to attach the second ram 62 to the third member ram lug 71. As the second ram 62 is actuated, it forces the two anchoring lugs 64, 71 apart, thereby allowing the second and third members 18, 22 to pivot with respect to one another and thereby providing the tool arms second degree of pivot freedom, or third overall if the telescopic extension mechanism of the vehicle engaging portion 12 and first member 14 assembly.

It will be appreciated that in the present embodiment third members 22 is likewise a simple rectangular box section, numbered 78.

The third rotatable joint 24 attaches to the end of the third member 22 and comprises a hydraulic motor and shaft coupling assembly 80. This enables the attached tool portion 26 to fully rotate around a generally longitudinal axis of the tool arm 10. Two reinforcing brackets 82 attach to the third member 22 and the hydraulic motor and shaft coupling

assembly 80, flanking the latter.

The tool portion 26 comprises a guard portion 84 and an enclosed saw 86. The saw blade 86 is mounted on a rotatable mount 88 which allows it pivot from a first position, where it is substantially enclosed within the body of the guard portion 84 to a second position substantially outside the guard portion 84 (compare Figs 1 to 3 with 4). A small hydraulic ram (not shown) is provided within the guard portion 84 to enable this pivoting.

The guard portion 84 is generally an elongate cuboidal shape, with a length, width and height, where the length is greater than height and width. Its smallest area faces are substantially semi-cylinders. The guard portion 84 has serrated edges 90 adjacent the opening through which the saw blade 86 extends. These serrated edges 90 co operate with the saw blade 86. This may allow a limb or the like to be pinched, braced or the like against the saw blade 86 by the guard portion 84.

The arm 10 will be equipped with multiple hydraulic hoses (not shown) connected to the various hydraulic rams and so forth. These will be connected with a valve block or similar (not shown) and suitable hoses and connections may be deployed inside the various box sections or externally.

In use, an excavator 100 (or other suitable vehicle) will have its standard bucket removed from its existing arm 101 and the tool arm 10, 110 attached via the connecting lug 30, 130 and pins 36, 136. Fig. 7 depicts the second embodiment tool arm 10 attached to a vehicle 100, but it will be understood that the first embodiment may similarly be attached and will function largely identically as to that subsequently described.

Existing control lines or additional control lines (not shown) of the excavator 100 are then attached such that the excavator 100 may exert control over the tool arm 10 and specifically the functioning of the three hydraulic rams 42, 43, 62; the rotatable joint 24; the saw blade mount 88 and the saw blade 86 itself. An auxiliary control unit (not shown) may be added to provide such control or may already be on-board excavator 100.

Video cameras (not shown) may be added adjacent the tool portion 26 (or on the roof of the vehicle) to enable the operator of the excavator 100 to view it/its intended target.

The excavator 100 may then be used to prune or delimb a tree 102. This is accomplished by positioning the excavator 100 and tool arm 10 adjacent the tree 102 and the operator applying suitable control to manipulate the tool arm 10 into a desired shape via the actuation of the three hydraulic rams 42, 43, 62; the rotatable joint 24; the saw blade mount 88 and the saw blade 86 itself.

The limb or branch to be cut will be located between the saw blade 86 and the guard portion 84, with the serrated edges 90 facing the limb.

The operator may then run the saw blade 86 and have it pivot back from the second position shown in Fig. 4 back into a first position shown in Figs 1 to 3, i.e. back into being housed by the guard portion 84.

This action causes the saw blade 86 to cut through the limb with the limb being braced against the serrated edges 90 of the guard portion 84.

It will be appreciated that the tool arm having several degrees of freedom offers the operator a greater degree of manipulation to address the saw blade 86 to tree to prune it. The presently described embodiment offers a further five degrees of freedom through the actuation of the three hydraulic rams 42, 43, 62; the rotatable joint 24; and the saw blade mount 88.

The first embodiment tool arm 110 the grapple assembly 172 may be used to grab limbs and so forth, either to manipulate a limb that has been removed from a tree or the like. The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described, but may be modified in both construction and detail.

For example, the tool portion may be altered by using a circular saw blade, other delimbing apparatus or some other form of suitable tool.

The guard portion need not have serrated edges. Cameras may be mounted on the tool arm 10, 110 to provide visual feedback to an operator, to more precisely undertake the work described.

The second embodiment tool arm 10 may also be provided with a grapple assembly.

Claims

1. A tool arm for use with a vehicle, the tool arm comprising a vehicle engaging portion, a first member extending from said vehicle engaging portion, with a first rotatable joint attached to said first member and a second member extending from said first rotatable joint, a second rotatable joint attached to said second member and a third member extending from said second rotatable joint, a third rotatable joint attached to the third member, wherein a tool portion extends from said third rotatable joint.

2. A tool arm according to claim 1 wherein the tool portion includes a guard portion.

3. A tool arm according to claim 2 wherein a saw blade is provided within the guard portion.

4. A tool arm according to claim 3 wherein the saw blade is pivotable from a first position where it is substantially enclosed within the guard portion and a second position substantially outside the guard portion.

5. A tool arm according to any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the guard portion is an elongate cuboidal shape, with a length, width and height, where the length is greater than height and width.

6. A tool arm according to any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the guard portion is a generally elongate ellipsoidal shaped prism.

7. A tool arm according to any of claims 2 to 6 wherein the guard portion has a serrated edge.

8. A tool arm according to any preceding claim wherein there is provided a hydraulic or pneumatic ram system to manipulate one or more of the first, second, third and third members relative to one another about their respective joints.

9. A tool arm according to claim 8 wherein the hydraulic or pneumatic ram system comprises one or more hydraulic or pneumatic rams.

10. A tool arm according to any preceding claim wherein a first hydraulic ram is provided to alter the position of the first member with respect to the second member.

11. A tool arm according to any preceding claim wherein a second hydraulic ram is provided to alter the position of the third member with respect to the second member.

12. A tool arm according to any preceding claim wherein the vehicle engaging portion includes a box section.

13. A tool arm according to any preceding claim wherein the vehicle engaging portion includes a connector to enable mechanical fastening of the tool arm to a vehicle.

14. A tool arm according to claim 13 wherein the connector is attached to the vehicle engaging portion at an angle.

15. A tool arm according to claim 14 wherein the angle is between 0° and 10°.

16. A tool arm according to claim 14 or 15 wherein the angle is between 3° and 7°.

17. A tool arm according to any of claims 14 to 16 wherein the angle is 5°.

18. A tool arm according to any preceding claim wherein the first member includes a box section.

19. A tool arm according to any preceding claim wherein the first member is partially positioned within the vehicle engaging portion.

20. A tool arm according to any preceding claim wherein the first member is telescopically arranged within the vehicle engaging portion.

21. A tool arm according to any preceding claim further comprising a grapple.

22. A tool arm according to claim 21 wherein the grapple is mounted on a universal joint.

23. A tool arm according to claims 21 or 22 wherein the grapple is mounted adjacent the tool portion.

24. A tool arm according to any of claims 21 to 23 wherein the grapple is movable from a first or stowed position into a second or active position.

25. A tool arm according to any of claims 21 to 24 wherein a grapple bracket is provided on the vehicle engaging portion.

26. A tool arm according to any of claims 21 to 25 wherein the grapple grasps the grapple bracket to hold it in the stowed position.

27. A vehicle equipped with a tool arm according to any preceding claim.

28. A vehicle including a tool arm which comprises a vehicle engaging portion, a first member extending from said vehicle engaging portion, with a first rotatable joint attached to said first member and a second member extending from said first rotatable joint, a second rotatable joint attached to said second member and a third member extending from said second rotatable joint, a third rotatable joint attached to the third member, wherein a tool portion extends from said third rotatable joint.