Woodworking – Process – Timber harvesting or processing
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-29
2003-04-22
Bray, W. Donald (Department: 3725)
Woodworking
Process
Timber harvesting or processing
C083S467100, C083S468600, C144S004100, C144S024130, C144S335000, C144S343000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06550506
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed toward a delimber/slasher. The invention is also directed toward a boom assembly for use in a delimber/slasher and a delimbing boom for use with a boom assembly in a delimber/slasher. The invention is also directed toward a method of using the delimber/slasher.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under CFR §§1.97-1.99
Delimbers for delimbing felled trees are known. The known delimbers usually have either a fixed length sliding boom, sliding through a tubular support mounted on a vehicle, or a telescopic boom mounted on a support on a vehicle. Either type of boom has first gripping means at its free or head end for gripping the end of a felled tree. The support, supporting the boom, has second gripping means for holding the tree at its butt end. In use, the boom grips the butt end of a felled tree with the first gripping means, positions the butt end in the second gripping means, and operates the boom to move the first gripping means relative to the second gripping means to delimb the tree. Some of these delimbers have a cut-off saw at the head end of the boom for topping off the delimbed tree and some have a butt plate at the support against which the tree is positioned. The delimbed trees are all tree length however and further processing, using a different machine, is then required to cut the delimbed trees into the log lengths required by the mill.
It is also known to provide delimber/slashers having a delimbing head at the end of a boom, the head carrying tree gripping means; tree feeding means and a cut-off saw. In use, the butt end of a tree is gripped, by the gripping means and placed between the feed rollers. The feed rollers then move the tree rearwardly while the gripping arms delimb the tree. Some form of measuring means measures the length of tree delimbed and when a desired delimbed length is reached the cut-off saw is operated to cut off a log length. The measuring means employed however are not very accurate and the machine is operated to cut off log lengths which are well over the required length to ensure that minimum log length requirements are met. This however results in waste.
The known delimbers/slashers have other disadvantages as well. The fixed-length booms are quite long and this makes it difficult for the operator to clearly see the trees to pick them up. Also, the fixed-length booms, being quite long, can cause considerable damage to new and second growth trees when swinging around while in use. Further, fixed-length booms make it difficult, if not impossible, to handle felled trees located just in front of the delimber without having to move the delimber. The more the delimber has to be moved however, the less efficient the operation of the machine. Delimbers with telescoping booms have similar problems but not as pronounced. The manner of mounting of the boom on the vehicle and length of the boom also makes it difficult to leave delimbed trees parallel, or nearly parallel to the logging trail for pickup. Using the known delimbers, the delimbed trees are piled to the side of the trail, partway, or even completely, off the trail further damaging the environment. It is desirable to try to leave the trees as parallel to the logging trail as possible since subsequent collecting is easier and more environmental friendly.
Delimbers with a delimbing head at the end of a boom also have difficulty in delimbing, slashing and stacking the logs on the trail since the tree is usually delimbed in a direction transverse to the boom, and to the trail, to enable the operator to see the machine working. The cut-off logs thus extend transverse to the trail, and, to leave the trail open, may even extend partway off the trail again damaging the environment.
Environmental concerns are resulting in the passing of regulations requiring a high percentage of the area being logged to remain undamaged. It is difficult to do this with known delimbers and delimber/slashers. Known delimbers and delimber/slashers also are not constructed to leave the delimbed trees/cut-off logs in a position on the side of the trail, generally parallel to the trail, for easy pickup without extensively damaging the environment while maneuvering to try to place the trees/logs in the desired pick-up position. Known delimber/slashers also do not readily and easily allow the delimbed tree to be cut to various lengths and, more particularly, to be cut to various, accurate, lengths.
The use of known delimbers and delimber slashers also result in quite extensive damage to the environment. Using delimbers with a delimbing head at the end of a boom, requires the feller buncher, which passes on the logging trail first, to fell and bunch the trees to the side of the trail and extending in a direction transverse to the trail. This usually means that the trees extend far off the trail and damage the uncut forest area. Using delimbers with fixed length or telescopic booms has the long booms causing damage as they are swung about handling the trees, delimbing them, and stacking them on or beside the trail for slashing. The slashing operation requires another machine on the logging trail for slashing/forwarding the logs which leads to further environmental damage on the trail.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a delimber/slasher that allows the operator to more easily see the delimbing head thus making operation of the machine, particularly when picking up trees, easier. It is another purpose of the present invention to provide a delimber/slasher that makes it easier to see and reach felled trees very close to the machine thus lessening the movement required of the delimber/slasher. It is another purpose of the present invention to provide a delimber/slasher that can process trees to be delimbed and cut in a manner whereby the delimbed trees are processed to log length within the logging trail and are stacked parallel, or generally parallel, to the logging trail, and on the side of the logging trail, thereby making collecting of the logs much quicker and easier. It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide a delimber/slasher that can easily cut delimbed trees to any one of several required log lengths and to cut the trees to more accurate lengths than is now possible. It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide a delimber/slasher that can be easily adjusted to vary the log lengths that are cut off the tree. It is yet another purpose to provide a delimber/slasher that can be used in tree harvesting operations to provide an environmentally friendly harvesting operation.
In accordance with the present invention, a boom assembly for a delimber/slasher is provided having a supporting boom structure adapted to be connected to a vehicle at one end and having a delimber boom connected to the other end of the supporting boom structure. The delimber boom carries a delimbing head at its front end, the delimbing head having gripping and delimbing arms; feed rollers; and a cut-off saw; as is known. The delimber boom is angularly offset with respect to the supporting boom when the boom assembly is viewed from the top. Offsetting the delimber boom offsets the tree being delimbed from the supporting boom, and from the vehicle as well, allowing the delimber operator a clear look at the delimbing head during use and making it easier to pick up trees. With the tree offset from the vehicle, delimbing and cutoff can take place closer to the vehicle allowing the operator a better look at, and better control over, the operations. The angularly offset delimber boom also allows the trees being delimbed and cut to be more easily delimbed within the logging trail and, when cut, to be piled on the side of trail, more closely parallel to the trail, thus making forwarding of the trees easier and minimizing damage to the adjacent uncut portions of the logging area. The angularly offset delimbing boom, and the supporting boom which is a knuckle boom structure,
Levesque Gilles
Levesque Pierre
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