Woodworking – Special-work machine – Combined
Patent
1981-07-21
1983-11-22
Bray, W. D.
Woodworking
Special-work machine
Combined
144 2Z, D01G 2308
Patent
active
044163118
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to tree harvesters.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are a large number of tree harvesters available in the forestry and logging industries. The main disadvantage with such harvesters are that they are extremely expensive and are out of the reach of the small owner-operator. These operators usually have to rely on two small machines--a fellow-buncher and a delimber, each mounted on a separate prime mover.
Two prime movers are expensive to purchase, operate and maintain and if one machine fails, the other must be left idle until the first is repaired.
Another major problem with known machines is that they are extremely bulky and cumbersome and can only operate along an out-row when thinning a forest and so can only thin one or two rows on either side of the outrow.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The general object of the present invention is to provide a tree harvester which is particularly compact, and simple and economical to manufacture and operate, and will very efficiently de-limb tree trunks and cut them into logs of substantially uniform length.
The invention resides broadly in a tree harvester of the type having a grapple assembly for releasably gripping a tree trunk, a shear assembly for severing the tree trunk, a de-limbing assembly for engaging releasably about the tree trunk, and means for moving the de-limbing assembly in the direction away from the grapple assembly to strip limbs from the trunk, characterized in that:
means are provided for simultaneously moving the grapple assembly and the de-limbing assembly in opposite directions away from, or towards, each other.
Preferred features and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to the skilled addressee from the following description; the scope of the invention being defined in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a tree harvester according to the invention,
FIG. 2 is a section along line 2--2 in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the tree harvester,
FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are plan views of the front part of the machine at different stages of tree harvesting,
FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the machine with trees cut and placed on the de-limber,
FIGS. 8 and 9 are small-scale diagrammatic views of the machine showing the de-limbing and log-cutting operations,
FIG. 10 is a side elevation of a tree harvester according to another embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 11 is a side elevation of a further modification of the invention, and
FIG. 12 is a side elevation of a still further form of the invention.
The tree harvester shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 has a chassis 10 on four wheels 11 driven by an engine within a housing 12, a driver's cabin 13 being on the left of the chassis. On the right of the chassis, a de-limber carrier 14 having two parallel tubular side members 15 interconnected by a rear member 16 and a front member 17 is supported by a standard 18 so that the carrier 14 is pivotal about a transverse axis at 19 and also about a longitudinal axis at 20. The front of the de-limber carrier 14 is supported by a pair of hydraulic rams 21 so the angle of the carrier to horizontal can be adjusted.
A grapple and shear carrier 22 has two tubular side members 23 slidable in the tubular side members 15 of the de-limber carrier 14 and rigidly interconnected by a front member 24. The grapple and shear carrier 22 may be telescopically advanced and retracted by a hydraulic ram 25, its cylinder being fixed to the rear member 17, its piston passing through the front member 17 of the de-limber carrier and being secured to the front member 24 of the grapple and shear carrier 22.
A de-limber assembly 26 is slidably mounted on the right-hand side member 15 of the de-limber carrier 14, being roller-mounted on rails 27 and retained thereon by keepers 28. The assembly consists of a number of similar parallel plates 29 each with a central upright 30 with a pair of curved wings 31 extending to
REFERENCES:
patent: 3995671 (1976-12-01), Wirt
patent: 4147194 (1979-04-01), Johnson
Bray W. D.
Murdoch Logging Industries Pty. Ltd.
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