JP7630821B2 - Log transporter - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a log transporter that transports logs by dragging them.

Mature trees are cut down at the felling site using axes and chainsaws. The felled trees (hereafter referred to as logs) are collected at a log yard. The log yard is set up facing a forest road, so the logs can be transported from the log yard by truck. To transport the logs from the felling site to the log yard, some means other than trucks are required.

The slope between the felling site and the log storage area makes it difficult to bring in heavy machinery. For this reason, small, lightweight transport devices have been proposed as an alternative to heavy machinery (see, for example, Patent Document 1 (Figure 1)).

Patent Document 1 will be explained with reference to the following figure.
Figure 10 is a diagram explaining the basic configuration of a conventional conveying device. The conveying device 100 consists of a single crawler 101, a control unit 102 built into the crawler 101, a frame 103 supported by the crawler 101 and extending upward, a crab-claw shaped clamp 104 supported by the frame 103 and extending upward, a wedge 105 positioned between the pair of clamps 104, and a sensor 107 for the object to be conveyed attached to a log 106 sandwiched between the pair of clamps 104.

A sensor 107 for the transported object detects the left-right deviation of the log 106, and the control unit 102 controls the traveling direction, etc. based on this detection information to correct the left-right deviation of the log 106.
To remedy this, a crawler 101 with a width narrower than the outside diameter of the log 106 can be employed.

However, the conveying device 100 disclosed in Patent Document 1 has the following problems.
Since the sensor 107 for the transported object and the control unit 102 for performing complex control are essential, the transport device 100 becomes expensive.

The transport object sensor 107 is handled by a worker who is accustomed to forestry work, and is equipped with a CCD camera, GPS, orientation sensor, and angle sensor (Patent Document 1, paragraph 0022). Because the transport object sensor 107 is a precision machine, workers are required to have knowledge different from that of forestry work in order to handle it, which places a heavy burden on the workers.

Furthermore, the logs 106 move up and down significantly during transport. Sensors 107 for transported objects are attached to the logs 106. Because the sensors 107 for transported objects are precision instruments, they are prone to malfunction when subjected to strong up and down movements, and inspection, adjustment, and replacement of the sensors 107 for transported objects are required.

Therefore, the transport device 100, which requires a sensor 107 for the transported object, is not suitable for traveling up a slope from the felling site to the log storage area.

In addition, the weight of the log 106 causes the wedge 105 to drop, and the wedge 105 closes the pair of clamps 104. However, when traveling up a slope from the felling site to the log storage area, the clamping force of the pair of clamps 104 may weaken due to vibrations, etc., making it difficult to stably hold the log 106.

One possible solution would be to open and close the pair of clamps 104 using hydraulic pressure. However, this solution would require the frame 103 to be equipped with hydraulic cylinders, hydraulic pumps, pressure-resistant hoses, and hydraulic valves, making the conveying device 100 heavier and more expensive.

With the need to reduce the burden on workers and cut costs of transport equipment, there is a demand for inexpensive log transporters that do not require precision sensors or hydraulics.

JP 2020-92670 A

The objective of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive log transporter that does not require precision sensors or hydraulics.

The invention according to claim 1 is a log transporter that drags and transports a log with one end of the log placed on the ground and the other end of the log placed on the ground,
The log transporter includes a body, left and right crawlers provided on the left and right sides of the body,
an electric motor provided on the machine body for rotating the left and right crawlers;
a battery provided on the airframe for supplying electric energy to the electric motor;
A handle extended from the body and held by an operator walking on the ground;
a turntable that is obliquely provided on the body and supports the one end of the log,
The electric motor is one.
The left and right crawlers are rotated in the same direction at the same speed,
The handle is shaped so that the worker can grip the log while visually observing the log,
The turntable is characterized by comprising a support shaft erected on the body of the machine, a rotating plate rotatably supported by the support shaft and supporting one end of the log, and a support body rotatably mounted on the body of the machine and supporting the underside of the rotating plate.

The invention according to claim 2 is the log transporter according to claim 1,
The locking mechanism is characterized in that it has a first pin hole in the rotating plate, a second pin hole in the fuselage, and a lock pin that passes through the first pin hole and is inserted into the second pin hole.

In the invention according to claim 1, the log transporter is equipped with a spike member and a hook on the turntable, and one end of the log is inserted into the spike member and fixed to the turntable with a rope (or string, wire) and hook. Compared to the prior art in which a pair of clamps are opened and closed hydraulically, the present invention does not require hydraulic pressure.

In addition, with the log transporter of the present invention, the operator continues to visually monitor the logs while transporting them. This eliminates the need for sensors to monitor the condition of the logs.

If a speed difference is to be provided between the left and right crawlers, it would be effective to use two electric motors, but this would increase costs and weight.It would also be effective to use one electric motor and provide left and right side clutches, but this would increase costs and weight.
In this regard, in the present invention, although the log transporter is equipped with left and right crawlers, the left and right crawlers rotate in the same direction at the same speed, so only one electric motor is required and left and right side clutches are not necessary, thereby making the log transporter lighter and less expensive.

As described above, claim 1 provides an inexpensive log transporter that does not require precision sensors or hydraulics.

In the invention according to claim 2, the turntable can be made unrotatable by inserting the lock pin.
If a brake that applies braking at any rotational position were provided, the cost and weight would increase accordingly.
In this regard, the present invention has the advantage that the lock pin is inexpensive and lightweight.

1 is a perspective view of a log transporter according to the present invention; 1 is a side view of a log transporter according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view (conceptual diagram) of the log transporter without the turntable. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the operation of the main switch box. FIG. 5 is a view taken along the arrow 5 in FIG. 3 . FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system. FIG. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a direction change. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a conventional conveying device.

The embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

In Figure 1, as shown by the directional arrows, the direction in which the handle 15 extends is called "front," the opposite is called "rear," the right grip 16 side is called "right," and the left grip 18 side is called "left." The same applies to Figures 2 and onward.

As shown in Figure 1, the log transporter 10 has a turntable 50 on top of the body 11, crawlers 14 including drive wheels 13 on the left and right sides of the body 11, a handle 15 extending forward from the body 11, a right grip 16 on the handle 15 that the operator holds with his right hand and a travel speed control lever (Figure 3, symbol 17) that is operated with the right hand, and a left grip 18 on the handle 15 that the operator holds with his left hand.

The structure of the airframe 11 may be any structure, such as a pipe frame structure or a plate structure.
A main switch box 21 is attached to the handlebar 15 near the right grip 16 .
In addition, an idler wheel 23 is attached to the machine body 11 so as to be freely rotatable, and a crawler 14 is wound around this idler wheel 23 and the drive wheel 13.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rotating plate 52, which is one of the components of the turntable 50, is attached at an angle to the machine body 11 so that it slopes backward (to the left in the figure).

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with the turntable 50 omitted.
3, the machine body 11 is equipped with a drive shaft 26 that drives the left and right drive wheels 13, large and small sprockets 27, 28 and a chain 29 that drive the drive shaft 26, large and small gears 31, 32 that drive the small diameter sprocket 28, an electric motor 33 that drives the small diameter gear 32, and a potentiometer 35. A battery 34 that supplies power to the electric motor 33 is attached to the handle 15 (or the machine body 11).

The potentiometer 35 is a device that has an input shaft, and when this input shaft is turned from the outside, the resistance value changes, making it possible to adjust the voltage. It has a simple internal structure, is resistant to vibration, and is inexpensive.

A lever 36 is attached to the input shaft of the potentiometer 35 , and a wire 37 extends from this lever 36 . The tip of the wire 37 is connected to the travel speed control lever 17 .
The traveling speed of the log transporter 10 can be increased or decreased depending on the gripping amount of the traveling speed control lever 17 .

Since there is only one electric motor 33 and one drive shaft 26, the left and right crawlers 14 rotate in the same direction at the same speed. To change direction, the worker lifts the handle 15 and moves the handle 15 to the right or left while reducing the contact area of the left and right crawlers 14.

If a speed difference is to be provided between the left crawler 14 and the right crawler 14, it is effective to use two electric motors 33, but this increases costs and weight. It is also effective to use one electric motor 33 and provide left and right side clutches, but this increases costs and weight.
In this regard, according to the present invention, since there is only one electric motor 33 and one drive shaft 26, the log transporter 10 can be made lighter and less expensive.

The main switch box 21 is located near the right grip 16, and a seesaw-type forward/reverse switch 38 is provided on the top surface of the main switch box 21. The forward/reverse switch 38 can be of any type and format as long as it is a switch that is held in the operated position.

As shown in FIG. 4A, when the forward/reverse switch 38 is not being operated, the operator holds the right grip 16 with his/her right hand 39.
When switching from forward to reverse, as shown in FIG. 4( b ), the right grip 16 is grasped with fingers 42 (all or part of the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger) other than the thumb 41, and the thumb 41 is extended to operate the forward/reverse switch 38.
When switching from reverse to forward, as shown in FIG. 4C, the right grip 16 is gripped with fingers 42 other than the thumb 41, and the thumb 41 is extended to operate the forward/reverse changeover switch 38.

As shown in FIG. 5, the main switch box 21 has a built-in rotary key switch 43, and the key hole 44 of this key switch 43 is exposed. The key switch 43 is a three-position switch that has a "start" position in addition to "off" and "run."

As shown in FIG. 6, the log transporter is equipped with a control unit 45 and is electrically controlled by this control unit 45. The control unit 45 includes a CPU 46, which performs various processes. The key switch 43 and forward/reverse switch 38 are connected to the control unit 45, and the control unit 45 acquires switching information. A potentiometer 43 is connected to the control unit 45. The control unit 45 then controls a motor driver 47, which supplies electrical energy from the battery 34 to the electric motor 33.

The turntable 50 of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIG.
As shown in Figure 7, the turntable 50 consists of a support shaft 51 erected on the body 11, a rotating plate 52 rotatably supported on the support shaft 51, and a support body 53 rotatably mounted on the body 11 and supporting the underside of the rotating plate 52.
The support 53 may be a sliding plate such as a resin plate or a metal plate, but is preferably a plurality of support rollers 53 (for example, three arranged at a pitch of 120°).

More specifically, the support shaft 51 is rotatably attached to a bracket 54 that is erected on the machine body 11 via a bearing 55. The bearing 55 is preferably an inexpensive ball bearing, but a roller bearing may also be used, and any type is acceptable. The support shaft 51 may be a rotating shaft or a non-rotating shaft. In the case of a non-rotating shaft, a bearing can be placed between the support shaft 51 and the rotating plate 52.

More specifically, the support roller 53 is rotatably attached via bearings 57 to a pair of brackets 56 erected on the machine body 11. The type of bearing 57 can be any type, but ball bearings, roller bearings, and plain bearings are preferred. Ball bearings are inexpensive. Roller bearings are more expensive than ball bearings, but are highly durable. Plain bearings have a higher rotational resistance than ball bearings and roller bearings, but are extremely durable. As plain bearings, sintered metal plain bearings containing graphite particles can be used.

The upper surface of the rotating plate 52 is provided with a plurality of spike members 60 (two in this example) that dig into the logs.
The spike member 60 is formed by hollowing out the upper edge of a long and narrow steel plate 61 in an arc shape, and forming a sawtooth portion 62 on the arc-shaped upper edge. The spike member 60 may be a plurality of needles that are directly erected on the rotating plate 52.

Hooks 63 for hanging ropes for binding logs are provided on the rotating plate 52. The number and shape of the hooks 63 are arbitrary, but the following shape is recommended.
The hook 63 is, for example, composed of a U-shaped guardrail hook 64 and an L-shaped hook 65 disposed at the portion where the guardrail hook 64 ends.
The guardrail/hook 64 has an end portion 64 a fixed to the rotating plate 52 , and a central portion 64 b fixed to the rotating plate 52 via a plate 66 .
The L-shaped hook 65 is welded to the rotating plate 52 so as to protrude from the rear end of the rotating plate 52.

In addition, the means for securing the logs may be a combination of the spike members 60 and rope, or it may be just the spike members 60, just the rope (including wire and string), or other tools.

A first pin hole 67 is provided in the front portion of the rotating plate 52 .
A bracket 68 is provided on the machine body 11, and a second pin hole 69 is provided in this bracket 68. This second pin hole 69 is provided at a position where it can communicate with the first pin hole 67.
When the rotating plate 52 is in the neutral position, the first pin hole 67 overlaps with the second pin hole 69, allowing the lock pin 71 to be inserted from above.

The log transporter 10 of the present invention can be used to transport fixtures in addition to transporting logs.
When the logs are to be transported, the lock pin 71 is removed from the first pin hole 67 and the second pin hole 69 to allow the rotating plate 52 to rotate freely.

Equipment includes chainsaws, axes, ropes, strings, chains, chain blocks, and workers' luggage, which are transported from the log yard to the felling site.
When transporting these materials, the lock pin 71 is inserted into the first pin hole 67 and the second pin hole 69 to prevent the rotating plate 52 from rotating.

The operation of the log transporter 10 having the above configuration will now be described.
8, one end 73 of a log 72 is lifted at a felling site by hand, a chain block, a pulley, a simple hoist, or other means. Then, the log transporter 10 is inserted into the one end 73 of the log 72. The one end 73 of the log 72 is lowered.

As a result, one end 73 of the log 72 rests on the rotating plate 52. The other end 74 of the log 72 remains on the ground 75. The spike member 60 bites into one end 73 of the log 72. In this state, the rope 76 is wound around one end 73 of the log 72, and the rope 76 is hung on the hook 63. In this way, one end of the log 72 is fixed to the rotating plate 52. The rope 76 may be a string, chain, or wire.

The worker 77 holds the handle 15 and moves the log transporter 10 forward as shown by the arrow (1). While moving forward, the worker 77 continues to look at the log 72. If a rear view mirror 79 is provided as a rear monitor 78 on the handle 15, the worker 77 can visually check the rear as needed while moving forward.

The rear view mirror 79 can be a bicycle (or motorcycle) rearview mirror, so it is easy to obtain and inexpensive. If the outer diameter of the handlebars 15 is made the same as that of the bicycle handlebars, a commercially available bicycle rearview mirror can be used, which is preferable.

The rear monitor 78 can be a garage entry monitor or a so-called drive recorder that are now installed in vehicles. That is, a rear camera can be attached to the handlebar 15, and a monitor can be attached to the handlebar 15.

If you have a drive recorder that can record in both the front and rear directions, you can keep a record of the work you did. If a problem occurs during work, you can easily verify the problem, which is convenient.

Next, the procedure for changing direction will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9(a), the log transporter 10 is moving forward as indicated by the arrow (2).
If it is necessary to change direction, the worker manually changes the direction of the log transporter 10 as shown by the arrow (3) in Figure 9(b). At this time, the rotating plate 52 does not rotate, and the machine body 11 and handle 15 change direction around the support shaft 51. This makes it easy to change the direction of the log transporter 10. Next, the log transporter 10 is moved forward as shown by the arrow (4).

Then, the log 72 is dragged, and as a result, the log 72 and the log transport machine 10 move forward in the changed direction, as shown in Figure 9 (c).

As described in Figures 1 to 3, the log transporter 10 of the present invention does not require precision sensors or hydraulics, and is small, lightweight, and inexpensive, and can transport logs 72 from a felling site to a log storage area.

The lock pin 71 described with reference to FIG. 7 is a member that connects the first pin hole 67 and the second pin hole 69 .
9(a) to 9(c), the lock pin 71 is not connected, but is inserted into a pin insertion plate (81 in FIG. 3) attached to the handle 15. In other words, the pin insertion plate 81 is a storage location for the lock pin 71 when it is not connected.

However, the lock pin 71 is easily lost. The lock pin 71 may be connected to the handle 15 with a string or chain, but the string or chain gets in the way.
At the felling site, undergrowth is thick and it is difficult to find the dropped lock pin 71.

As a countermeasure, multiple pin insertion plates 81 are provided on the handle 15 (or the machine body 11), and a lock pin 71 is inserted into each of the pin insertion plates 81. One of the multiple lock pins 71 is correct, and the rest are spares. If one is lost, the spare is used.

The pin holder plate 81 may be enlarged so that multiple lock pins 71 are inserted into one pin holder plate 81. Alternatively, the pin holder plate 81 may be replaced with a pin storage box with a lid. If the pin storage box is used, multiple lock pins 71 can be stored.
However, the pin insertion plate 81 can be constructed from a simple rectangular thin steel plate, and the inserted lock pin 71 is exposed and always visible, which has the advantage of eliminating the need to search for the lock pin 71 .

The log transporter of the present invention can be used not only to transport logs from a felling site to a log storage area, but also to transport logs to other locations.
In addition, while the main purpose of the log transporter is to transport logs, it is permissible to use it for a secondary purpose of transporting items other than logs (such as fixtures). However, because the turntable is constantly tilted, secondary uses are limited.

The present invention is suitable for a log transporter used to transport logs from a felling site to a log storage area.

10...log transporter, 11...body, 14...crawler, 15...handle, 33...electric motor, 34...battery, 50...turntable, 51...support shaft, 52...rotating plate, 53...support body (support roller), 60...spike member, 63...hook, 67...first pin hole, 69...second pin hole, 71...lock pin, 72...log, 73...one end of log, 74...other end of log, 75...ground, 76...rope, 78...rear monitor, 81...pin insertion plate.

Claims (2)

A log transporter that transports a log by dragging it with one end of the log loaded and the other end of the log placed on the ground,
The log transporter includes a body, left and right crawlers provided on the left and right sides of the body,
an electric motor provided on the machine body for rotating the left and right crawlers;
a battery provided on the airframe for supplying electric energy to the electric motor;
A handle extended from the body and held by an operator walking on the ground;
a turntable that is obliquely provided on the body and supports the one end of the log,
The electric motor is one.
The left and right crawlers are rotated in the same direction at the same speed,
The handle is shaped so that the worker can grip the log while visually observing the log,
said turntable comprises a support shaft erected on said body of the machine, a rotating plate supported rotatably by said support shaft and supporting said one end of said log, and a support body rotatably mounted on said body of the machine and supporting the underside of said rotating plate. 2. The log transporter according to claim 1,
A log transporter comprising: a first pin hole in the rotating plate; a second pin hole in the body; and a lock pin that passes through the first pin hole and is inserted into the second pin hole.

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