JP7652065B2 - Felling equipment and method - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a felling device and a felling method.

Conventionally, there is known a felling machine for felling trees, for example in mountainous areas. The felling machine described in Patent Document 1 includes a chainsaw and a pinch prevention device for preventing the chainsaw from being pinched in the cut end of a tree. The chainsaw has a rotary blade driven by a rotary blade motor, and the entire chainsaw is driven by a travel motor to rotate in the cutting direction. The pinch prevention device includes a wedge and a slide motor that slides the wedge in the cutting direction. When felling a tree, the slide motor is driven to insert the wedge into the cut end to prevent the chainsaw from pinching it.

JP 2010-110292 A

However, the tree-cutting device in Patent Document 1 has a separate drive source (the movement motor) for rotating the chainsaw in the cutting direction and a separate drive source (the slide motor) for sliding the wedge in the cutting direction, which makes the device configuration complicated and unsuitable for use in densely wooded environments such as mountain forests.

The present disclosure can be realized in the following forms.
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a tree felling machine comprising: a cutting unit for cutting a tree, a drive unit for driving the cutting unit in a cutting direction, a spacer located on the opposite side of the cutting unit from the cutting direction, and an elastic member for indirectly driving the spacer by the drive unit via the cutting unit so as to follow the cutting unit when the cutting unit is driven, the elastic member connecting the spacer to the cutting unit so as to allow only the cutting unit to continue to be driven in the cutting direction while the spacer, which has been inserted into a cut opening of the tree to follow the cutting unit, remains in the cut opening.
In the felling machine of the above-mentioned form, the elastic member may be a spring that expands after the spacer stops within the cut end of the tree, thereby allowing only the cutting portion to be driven in the cutting direction.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tree felling method using a tree felling device including a cutting unit for cutting a tree, a drive unit for driving the cutting unit in a cutting direction, a spacer located on the opposite side of the cutting unit from the cutting direction, and an elastic member for indirectly driving the spacer by the drive unit via the cutting unit so as to follow the cutting unit when the cutting unit is driven, the elastic member connecting the spacer and the cutting unit so as to allow only the cutting unit to continue to be driven in the cutting direction while the spacer inserted into the cut end of the tree following the cutting unit remains within the cut end, the tree felling method including the steps of: indirectly driving the spacer by the drive unit via the cutting unit so as to follow the cutting unit when the cutting unit is driven; and continuously driving only the cutting unit in the cutting direction by the elastic member while the spacer inserted into the cut end of the tree following the cutting unit remains within the cut end.

(1) According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tree felling machine comprising: a cutting unit that cuts trees, a drive unit that drives the cutting unit in a cutting direction, a spacer that is connected to the side of the cutting unit opposite the cutting direction and configured to be indirectly driven by the drive unit via the cutting unit so as to follow the cutting unit when the cutting unit is driven, and an adjustment unit that connects the spacer to the cutting unit so as to allow only the cutting unit to continue to be driven in the cutting direction while the spacer, which has been inserted into a cut opening of the tree to follow the cutting unit, remains within the cut opening.
According to this type of felling machine, the driving source of the spacer and the driving source of the cutting unit are configured as a common driving unit, so that the structure of the felling machine can be simplified. Also, since the adjustment unit is provided, the cutting unit alone can be continuously driven in the cutting direction while the spacer alone remains in the cut, so that pinching of the cutting unit in the cut can be prevented. In other words, a felling machine that can prevent pinching of the cutting unit with a simple device configuration can be realized.
(2) In the above embodiment, the adjustment portion may be a spring that extends after the spacer stops within the cut end of the tree, thereby allowing only the cutting portion to be driven in the cutting direction.
According to this tree-cutting device, the cutting section and the spacer are connected by a spring as an adjustment section, so that the driving force of the drive section acts indirectly on the spacer via the cutting section. This allows the spacer to follow the rotational movement of the cutting section, and after the spacer stops within the cut, the extension of the spring allows only the cutting section to continue to rotate. In other words, the adjustment section that continues to drive only the cutting section while the spacer remains within the cut can be suitably realized by a simple configuration that includes a spring.
(3) In the above embodiment, the end of the spacer on the cutting portion side may be formed as a gradient portion whose thickness decreases toward the cutting direction. According to this embodiment of the felling device, during cutting, the spacer can smoothly follow the cut portion by gradually widening the cut portion from the thinner portion.
(4) According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a tree felling method using a tree felling device including a cutting unit that cuts a tree, a drive unit that drives the cutting unit in a cutting direction, a spacer connected to the side of the cutting unit opposite to the cutting direction, and an adjustment unit that adjusts movement of the cutting unit and the spacer in the cutting direction, the tree felling method including the steps of: indirectly driving the spacer by the drive unit via the cutting unit so that the spacer follows the cutting unit when the cutting unit is driven; and continuously driving only the cutting unit in the cutting direction by the adjustment unit while the spacer, which follows the cutting unit and is inserted into a cut edge of the tree, remains within the cut edge.
According to this form of felling method, the felling device has a simple configuration in which a common drive unit serves as the drive source for the spacer and the drive source for the cutting unit, thereby effectively preventing pinching within the cut edge of the cutting unit.
(5) In the above embodiment, the method may further include supporting the tree in an upright position by a support member connected to the tree, and felling the tree while supporting the tree in an upright position. Since the tree can be supported by the support member, adjustment of the felling direction can be eliminated.

1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a felling device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the felling machine is fixed to a tree when cutting the tree. 1 is a flowchart showing the steps of a felling method. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the felling device. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the felling device. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 5. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the felling device.

A. Embodiments:
A1. Overall configuration of the felling device:
Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a tree felling device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the tree felling device 1 is fixed to a tree 2 when cutting the tree 2. Fig. 1 shows a state in which the tree felling device 1 is fixed to the tree 2 before cutting begins, and does not show a case 16 and a fixing belt 17, which will be described later, that are provided on the tree felling device 1. Fig. 1 is also a plan view showing the tree felling device 1 when in use, viewed vertically downward.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tree harvesting device 1 includes a chain saw 11, a spacer 12, a rotary blade drive unit 13, a movement drive unit 14, and a spring 15. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the tree harvesting device 1 includes a case 16 and a fixed belt 17. The chain saw 11 corresponds to the "cutting unit."

The chainsaw 11 is a well-known type having a chain-shaped blade (not shown) as a rotary blade, and the blade is rotated by the rotary blade drive unit 13. The chainsaw 11 is also driven by the travel drive unit 14 to rotate (swivel) in the cutting direction R. The rotary blade drive unit 13 and the travel drive unit 14 are specifically motors. The travel drive unit 14 corresponds to the "drive unit". The chainsaw 11 is attached to the tip of the first attachment member 18, and is connected to the rotating shaft 19 of the motor (hereinafter also referred to as the "travel motor 14") as the travel drive unit 14 via the first attachment member 18. Therefore, the rotational driving force of the travel motor 14 acts directly on the chainsaw 11 via the rotating shaft 19. The first attachment member 18 is a plate-shaped member having a rectangular shape in a plan view.

When the chainsaw 11 is driven, the spacer 12 rotates in the cutting direction R following the chainsaw 11 until partway through the cut, and when it reaches near the center of the tree 2 and receives the weight of the tree 2 from above, it remains in the cut to prevent the chainsaw 11 from being pinched in the cut. The spacer 12 is located on the opposite side of the chainsaw 11 from the cutting direction R (rotation direction). The spacer 12 is a plate-like member that is approximately semicircular in plan view. The end of the spacer 12 on the chainsaw 11 side is formed as a gradient section 21 that gradually becomes thinner along the cutting direction R.

In this embodiment, the sloped section 21 is gradually thinner in thickness going downward. The thickness of the spacer 12 at its thickest point is smaller than the vertical thickness of the chainsaw 11 blade. The spacer 12 is also removable and can be adjusted as needed to suit the diameter of the tree 2 and the width of the chainsaw 11 blade.

The spacer 12 is connected to the rotating shaft 19 via the second mounting member 23. The second mounting member 23 is a flat plate-like member that is approximately L-shaped in plan view. The second mounting member 23 is located below the first mounting member 18. The second mounting member 23 has a long side portion 24 and a short side portion 25, and one end of each is connected to the long side portion 24 and the short side portion 25 so that the long side portion 24 and the short side portion 25 form an angle of 90 degrees. The spacer 12 is fixed to the end of the long side portion 24 opposite the part connected to the short side portion 25. An insertion hole 27 through which the rotating shaft 19 passes is formed at approximately the center position of the short side portion 25 in plan view. The second mounting member 23 is connected to the rotating shaft 19 so as to be slidable around the rotating shaft 19 via a bearing not shown.

The spring 15 connects the chain saw 11 and the spacer 12 via the first mounting member 18 and the second mounting member 23. One end of the spring 15 is connected to the short side 25 of the second mounting member 23 near the tip opposite the part connected to the long side 24. The other end of the spring 15 is connected to the first mounting member 18 near the end opposite the part where the chain saw 11 is attached.

When the travel motor 14 is driven while the spacer 12 is not receiving the weight of the tree 2, the spacer 12 indirectly receives the rotational driving force from the travel motor 14 via the chainsaw 11 and the spring 15. Therefore, the spacer 12 rotates integrally with the chainsaw 11, following the chainsaw 11. In other words, the spring 15 functions as a connecting member that connects the chainsaw 11 and the spacer 12.

On the other hand, when the cutting progresses and the spacer 12 rotates in the cutting direction R and receives the weight of the tree 2 within the cut, and the travel motor 14 is driven, if the load is greater than a predetermined value, the spacer 12 remains within the cut and only the chainsaw 11 rotates in the cutting direction R. This is because the frictional force in the opposite direction to the cutting direction R that occurs at the contact surface between the spacer 12 and the tree 2 due to the load becomes greater than the restoring force of the spring 15, so the spring 15 simply stretches and the spacer 12 remains in place. After the spacer 12 stops, the spring 15 stretches and functions as an adjustment unit that allows only the chainsaw 11 to continue rotating in the cutting direction R. The spring 15 corresponds to the "adjustment unit."

As described above, the spring 15 allows the spacer 12 and the chain saw 11 to be connected so that they rotate together when the spacer 12 is not subjected to a load from the tree 2 that is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and has an appropriate rigidity that allows only the chain saw 11 to extend and rotate in the cutting direction R when the spacer 12 is subjected to a load from the tree 2 that is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

As shown in FIG. 2, the chainsaw 11 and spacer 12 are disposed in the lower part of the case 16. The drive unit 31 including the travel motor 14 is disposed in the upper part of the case 16. When cutting, the chainsaw 11 and spacer 12 protrude from an opening (not shown) formed in the case 16, and felling is performed. The fixed belt 17 is, for example, a well-known ratchet belt that is pulled out from the case 16, and is wound around the outer circumference of the tree 2 and tightened to connect the felling device 1 and the tree 2.

A2. Tree felling method and operation of the tree felling device 1:
Next, the felling method and operation of the felling device 1 described above will be described. Here, as shown in Fig. 2, the tree 2 is connected by a support member such as a crane 32, and the tree 2 is felled while being supported in an upright position. Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the felling method. The felling method includes, in order, a step (S10) of supporting the tree 2 by the crane 32, a step (S20) of connecting and fixing the felling device 1 and the tree 2 by a fixing belt 17, a step (S30) of rotating the chain saw 11 and the spacer 12 together, and a step (S40) of rotating only the chain saw 11. The details of the felling method will be described below in conjunction with the operation of the felling device 1.

First, the rope 33 (see FIG. 2) of the crane 32 is wound around the tree 2 to support the tree 2 so that it does not fall randomly during and after cutting (S10). Next, the fixing belt 17 is wrapped around the tree 2 and tightly fastened to secure the felling device 1 to the side of the tree 2 so that the felling device 1 does not move during cutting (S20). Once the tree 2 has been supported and the felling device 1 has been set on the tree 2, the rotary blade drive unit 13 drives the rotary blade, and the movement motor 14 drives the chainsaw 11 in the cutting direction R to begin cutting.

Figures 4, 5, and 7 are plan views that show a schematic overview of the tree harvesting device 1. Figure 4 shows the state when the chainsaw 11 starts cutting the tree 2, and Figure 5 shows the state when cutting has progressed further and the spacer 12 is receiving the weight of the tree 2 from above. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Figure 5. Figure 7 shows the state when cutting has finished. Note that the movement motor 14 is not shown in Figures 4, 5, and 7.

As described above, for a period of time from when the travel motor 14 starts to drive until the spacer 12 receives the weight of the tree 2 from above as shown in FIG. 5 (see FIGS. 1 and 4), the spacer 12 is connected to the chainsaw 11 by the spring 15, and therefore receives the driving force of the travel motor 14 indirectly and rotates together with the chainsaw 11 (S30). In other words, the above step S30 is a step of indirectly driving the spacer 12 by the travel motor 14 via the chainsaw 11 so as to follow the chainsaw 11. At this time, the end of the spacer 12 on the chainsaw 11 side is formed as a sloped portion 21, so that the spacer 12 can smoothly follow the inside of the cut made by the chainsaw 11.

As the cutting progresses, the chainsaw 11 and spacer 12 eventually reach near the center of the tree 2, and reach the state shown in Figures 5 and 6. More specifically, the chainsaw 11 passes through the center of the tree 2, and the spacer 12 receives the weight of the tree 2 from above and stops within the cut S just before reaching the center.

Note that this stopping position of the spacer 12 is just one example, and will vary depending on the diameter of the tree 2 and the size of the chainsaw 11 and spacer 12. For example, the spacer 12 may stop after passing the center. In any case, the spacer 12 will remain in a specified position within the cut S by receiving the weight of the tree 2 from above during cutting.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, when the spacer 12 is stopped and the travel motor 14 continues to be driven, the spring 15 expands and only the chainsaw 11 rotates in the cutting direction R (S40), resulting in the state shown in Figure 7. That is, after the spacer 12 stops, only the chainsaw 11 rotates in the cutting direction R relative to the spacer 12 due to the expansion of the spring 15. The above step S40 is a step in which only the chainsaw 11 continues to be driven in the cutting direction R by the spring 15 while the spacer 12, which has been inserted into the cut S of the tree 2 following the chainsaw 11, remains in the cut S.

[effect]
(1) According to the felling device 1 of the first embodiment, the drive source for the spacer 12 and the drive source for the chain saw 11 can be configured as the same moving motor 14 and rotating shaft 19, so that the structure of the felling device 1 can be simplified and made smaller. This is suitable for use in forests where trees 2 are densely packed.

(2) When cutting using only the chainsaw 11 without the spacer 12, generally, as the chainsaw 11 passes through the center of the tree 2, the load of the tree 2 is received and the cut S through which the chainsaw 11 has passed gradually narrows, and there is a risk of the chainsaw 11 becoming pinched in the cut S. However, with the felling device 1 of the first embodiment described above, the spacer 12 remains in the cut S until the end of cutting, so the gap in the cut S is maintained by the thickness of the spacer 12, preventing the chainsaw 11 from becoming pinched in the cut S.

(3) In the tree felling device 1 of the first embodiment, the chainsaw 11 and the spacer 12 are connected by the spring 15, so that the driving force of the travel motor 14 acts indirectly on the spacer 12 via the chainsaw 11. Therefore, the spacer 12 can follow the rotation of the chainsaw 11 until the spacer 12 receives the load of the tree 2 from above, and after the spacer 12 receives the load and stops, the extension of the spring 15 allows only the chainsaw 11 to continue rotating. In other words, an adjustment unit that continues to drive only the chainsaw 11 in the cutting direction R while the spacer 12 remains in the cut S can be suitably realized by a simple configuration with the spring 15.

(4) In the spacer 12 of the tree-cutting device 1 of the first embodiment, the end on the chainsaw 11 side is formed as a gradient section 21 that becomes thinner as it approaches the cutting direction R. Therefore, during cutting, the spacer 12 can smoothly follow the chainsaw 11 by gradually expanding the cut edge S cut by the chainsaw 11 in the vertical direction from the thinner part.

(5) In the felling method of the first embodiment, the tree 2 is supported in an upright position by the crane 32 and then felled. In other words, because the tree is not felled, there is no need to adjust the felling direction. Specifically, the adjustment of the felling direction involves, for example, making a receiving hole in the direction of felling and making a follow-up hole on the opposite side or inserting a wedge. Supporting the tree with the crane 32 also makes it possible to transport the tree 2 as is by the crane 32 after cutting.

B. Other embodiments:
(B1) In the felling device 1 of the first embodiment described above, a remote drive mechanism capable of receiving a signal for driving the drive unit 31 from a remote location may be further provided, and after the felling device 1 is set on the tree 2, the chainsaw 11 may be driven by remote control by an operator at a remote location.

(B2) The shapes of the first mounting member 18 and the second mounting member 23 in the felling device 1 of the first embodiment can be changed as appropriate. For example, the second mounting member 23 does not have to be L-shaped in a plan view.

(B3) In the first embodiment of the felling device 1, the spacer 12 has a generally semicircular shape in plan view, but it does not have to be a generally semicircular shape and can be rectangular or another suitable shape. For example, it may be changed to match the size of the tree 2. It is sufficient for the spacer 12 to function as a spacer that ensures a gap at the cut end S by receiving the load of the tree 2 on a surface with a certain area.

(B4) In the tree felling device 1 of the first embodiment described above, the chainsaw 11 cuts the tree 2 by rotating around the rotation axis 19, but it may be configured to cut the tree 2 by, for example, translation, without being limited to a rotating motion.

(B5) In the first embodiment of the felling device 1, the spacer 12 is naturally stopped by the weight of the tree 2, but it may be stopped by other physical configurations. For example, a stopper that only the spacer 12 engages may be provided, and the spacer 12 may be stopped by hitting the stopper when it rotates a predetermined amount.

(B6) In the felling device 1 of the first embodiment described above, a lifting device may be provided that can adjust the height position of the chainsaw 11 and the spacer 12 in order to adjust the cutting height position.

(B7) In the felling method of the first embodiment described above, the tree 2 is supported in an upright position by the crane 32 and cut, but it may be cut without being supported. The means for supporting is not limited to the crane 32. For example, it may be supported by a catcher provided on the overhead line logging system.

(B8) In the above first embodiment of the felling device 1, the spring 15 is provided as an adjustment unit that adjusts the following operation of the spacer 12 and the continuous operation of the chainsaw 11, but it does not have to be a spring. For example, it can be configured with an elastic body such as rubber. The connection position of the spring 15 can also be any position that can function as the adjustment unit. For example, one end of the spring 15 can be connected to a portion of the short side portion 25 of the second mounting member 23 that is connected to the long side portion 24, and the other end of the spring 15 can be connected to a position on the first mounting member 18 closer to the rotation shaft 19.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, the technical features in each embodiment corresponding to the technical features in each form described in the Summary of the Invention column can be replaced or combined as appropriate to solve some or all of the above-described problems or to achieve some or all of the above-described effects. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described in this specification as essential, it can be deleted as appropriate.

1... felling device, 2... tree, 11... chainsaw (cutting part), 12... spacer, 13... rotary blade drive part, 14... moving drive part, 15... spring, 16... case, 17... fixed belt, 18... first mounting member, 19... rotating shaft, 21... sloped part, 23... second mounting member, 24... long side part, 25... short side part, 27... insertion hole, 31... drive unit, 32... crane (support member), 33... rope, R... cutting direction

Claims (5)

A cutting unit for cutting trees;
A drive unit that drives the cutting unit in a cutting direction;
a spacer located on an opposite side of the cutting direction of the cut portion;
an elastic member that enables the spacer to be indirectly driven by the drive unit via the cutting unit so that the spacer follows the cutting unit when the cutting unit is driven, and that connects the spacer and the cutting unit so that only the cutting unit continues to drive in the cutting direction while the spacer, which has been inserted into the cut end of the tree and follows the cutting unit , remains in the cut end;
A felling device comprising: The elastic member is
2. The felling machine according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is a spring that allows only the cutting portion to be driven in the cutting direction by expanding after the spacer stops within the cut end of the tree. The felling device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the end of the spacer on the cutting section side is formed as a gradient section whose thickness gradually decreases along the cutting direction. A cutting unit for cutting trees;
A drive unit that drives the cutting unit in a cutting direction;
a spacer located on an opposite side of the cutting direction of the cut portion;
an elastic member that enables the spacer to be indirectly driven by the drive unit via the cutting unit so that the spacer follows the cutting unit when the cutting unit is driven, and that connects the spacer and the cutting unit so that only the cutting unit continues to drive in the cutting direction while the spacer, which has been inserted into the cut end of the tree and follows the cutting unit, remains in the cut end;
A tree-cutting method using a tree-cutting device comprising:
indirectly driving the spacer by the driving unit via the cutting unit so that the spacer follows the cutting unit when the cutting unit is driven;
a step of driving only the cutting portion in the cutting direction by the elastic member while the spacer, which has been inserted into the cut end of the tree following the cutting portion , remains in the cut end;
Logging methods, including: supporting the tree in an upright position with a support member connected to the tree;
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: felling the tree while supporting the tree in an upright position.

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