JP7788147B2 - Tree cutting support tool and felling device equipped with same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a tree cutting support tool that can display the cut and uncut areas of a tree being felled during tree felling operations, and to a tree felling machine equipped with the tool. In particular, it relates to a tree cutting support tool that can be attached to and used on a tree felling machine, and to a tree felling machine equipped with the tool.

Chainsaws are used to fell trees, but in recent years, high-performance forestry machinery such as feller bunchers and harvesters have also become available for efficiently and safely felling trees. A feller buncher is a self-propelled machine that can fell trees and then grab and collect them in a convenient location for transport. A harvester is a self-propelled machine that performs the combined tasks of felling, delimbing, and bucking, as well as collecting the bucked logs. Both are attached to the working arm of construction machinery such as a hydraulic excavator.

The present application also proposes Patent Document 1 (JP 2019-054734 A) as a tree felling device that can be attached to construction machinery. This document proposes a felling saw device that can prevent damage to the cutting member when cutting is complete, and includes a frame member that forms a housing, a saw member that is attached to the frame member and can cut trees, and a spacer member that follows the cutting action of the saw member and is attached to the frame member so that it can move forward and backward in the cutting direction of the saw member, as well as a tree felling attachment and tree felling device that use this felling saw device.

Furthermore, tree felling devices have also been proposed that use a machine to operate the saw components previously held and operated by an operator. For example, Patent Document 2 (JP 2010-110292 A) proposes a tree felling device equipped with a cutting means such as an electric chainsaw for felling trees and a lifting means mounted with the cutting means and moving up and down the tree. The device is attached to a pruned tree and descends while cutting the tree into predetermined lengths from above. Patent Document 3 (JP 2003-88258 A) proposes a saw device for tree felling that is installed near the grapple of a tree felling vehicle and comprises a case body and a saw body housed within the case body in a manner that allows it to rotate controllably. One end of the case body is pivotally supported so that it can rotate approximately horizontally when felling a tree, while the saw body is pivotally supported at a position laterally opposite the pivot point of the case body in a manner that allows it to rotate controllably.

JP 2019-054734 A JP 2010-110292 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-88258

As mentioned above, devices have previously been proposed for felling trees by rotating a saw element (or saw body) that cuts down the trees. In particular, the tree felling saw device of Patent Document 1 and the tree felling saw device of Patent Document 3 have an operator who uses the saw element (or saw body) to fell the tree from the driver's seat of the construction machine. However, it is difficult to confirm the position of the saw element cutting the tree or the cutting range from the driver's seat of the construction machine, making it difficult for the operator to know how much of the tree has been cut. In particular, when felling trees, the tree falls depending on the cutting range, so to ensure work safety, the operator must either check the cutting range as they proceed, or have an assistant check the cutting range while they work.

Therefore, one of the objectives of this invention is to provide a tree cutting support tool that allows the cutting position and cutting range of the saw member to be easily confirmed even from the driver's seat of the construction machine during tree felling work, and a tree felling device equipped with this tool.

Furthermore, when felling trees, determining the direction in which to cut the tree and the procedure for doing so are important for safe operation. Generally, when felling a tree, an undercut is made, which is a cut made in the direction of the cut, then a follower cut is made on the opposite side of the undercut, and a base section, which is the part that is not cut, is formed between the undercut and the follower cut. Even when felling trees with the saw components (or the saw itself) described above, it is desirable to control the direction of the cut, so it is desirable to be able to make undercuts and follower cuts when felling a tree. Adjusting the felling direction is particularly important when the tree to be felled is large and difficult to hold with a grab bar.

Therefore, another objective of this invention is to provide a cutting indicator for a tree felling machine that can cut trees so that the felling direction can be controlled when felling a tree, and a tree felling machine equipped with this.

Furthermore, because trees to be felled vary in size, the formation of the undercut, follower cut, and ridge portion by the saw member (or the saw body) must also be adjusted according to the size of the tree to be felled. Therefore, another objective of the present invention is to provide a tree cutting support tool that can objectively grasp the size of the tree to be felled, and a tree felling machine equipped with this tool.

To solve at least one of the above problems, the present invention provides a tree cutting support tool that can notify the operator of areas that have been cut or left uncut by the saw member when cutting trees during felling or other such operations, and a tree felling machine equipped with the tool.

In other words, the present invention provides a tree cutting support tool that notifies the operator of the cut or uncut areas of a tree being cut by a saw member, and includes a cutting area detection unit that detects the cutting area of the saw member cutting the tree, and an area notification unit that notifies the operator of the cut or uncut areas of the tree based on the cutting area of the saw member detected by the cutting area detection unit.

The tree cutting support tool of the present invention is particularly effective when felling standing trees, and can be embodied as a tree felling support tool that notifies the operator of the cut or uncut areas of the tree being cut by the saw member.

In the tree cutting support tool (particularly preferably a "felling support tool"; the same applies hereinafter) of the present invention, the cutting area detection unit can be configured to detect at least one of the rotational position, rotation angle, and rotation range of the saw member that rotates in the direction of cutting the tree. The area notification unit can also be configured to display and output light or an image that indicates the cut area or uncut area of the tree, or to output a sound corresponding to the cut area or uncut area of the tree being cut.

The cutting area detection unit can be configured to detect the cutting area from one side of the thickness direction of the tree being cut, and the cutting area from the other side that faces the cutting area from the one side. The cutting area from one side and the cutting area from the other side can be positioned directly opposite each other, or they can be positioned so that they intersect each other. The area detection unit can also be configured to notify the worker of the area of the vines that exists between the cutting area from one side and the cutting area from the other side. This is because the presence of vines is important when felling trees, especially standing trees.

Furthermore, in the tree cutting support tool according to the present invention, it is also desirable that the area notification unit be configured to notify the operator of the thickness of the tree being cut by the saw member. Furthermore, by notifying the operator of the cut or uncut areas of the tree, safety during felling can be increased. Therefore, it is desirable that the area notification unit be configured to notify the operator of the thickness of the tree being cut by the saw member and the cut or uncut areas of the tree being cut by the saw member using sound, light, and/or images. The thickness of the tree being cut can be determined by processing images captured by a camera or the like, or by the opening of a grabber or other device that grips the tree to be felled.

In order to solve at least one of the above problems, the present invention also provides a felling saw device formed using the tree cutting support tool of the present invention. That is, the present invention provides a felling saw device for felling trees, which comprises a saw member capable of cutting trees and a tree cutting support tool that displays the cut or uncut areas of the tree in the saw member, and the tree cutting support tool is the tree cutting support tool of the present invention.

The present invention also provides a tree felling attachment that uses the felling saw device. The tree felling attachment is attached to the tip of a movable arm of a work machine and comprises a grabber device that grips the tree to be felled and a felling saw device for felling the tree. The felling saw device can be configured with an area notification unit that notifies the operator of the position and/or cut area of the saw member that is cutting the tree.

The present invention provides a tree felling device that comprises a work machine equipped with a movable arm and a tree felling attachment attached to the tip of the movable arm, wherein the tree felling attachment is configured as the tree felling saw device of the present invention.

The tree cutting support tool and tree felling equipment equipped with the tool according to the present invention are equipped with a cutting area detection unit that detects the cutting area of the saw member cutting the tree, and an area notification unit that notifies the operator of the cut or uncut areas of the tree based on the cutting area of the saw member detected by the cutting area detection unit. This allows the operator to accurately know the cutting position and cutting range of the tree being felled while actually felling the tree, and provides a tree cutting support tool and tree felling equipment equipped with the tool that allows the operator to easily check the cutting position and cutting range of the saw member even from the driver's seat of the construction machine during tree felling operations. As a result, the direction of the tree being felled can be controlled, improving work safety.

In particular, when this tree cutting support tool is used in conjunction with a grabber device that grips the tree to be felled, the thickness of the tree can also be measured when the grabber device grips the tree. As a result, it is possible to determine the optimal way to leave the vines of the tree to be felled, and it is possible to provide a tree cutting support tool and a felling machine equipped with this tool that can accurately fell trees.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a tree felling device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a bottom view showing a felling saw device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a bottom view showing a felling saw device provided with a cutting support tool according to a first embodiment; 10 is a bottom view showing a felling saw device provided with a cutting support tool according to a second embodiment; 10 is a bottom view showing a felling saw device provided with a cutting support tool according to a third embodiment.

The tree cutting support tool, felling saw device 20, and tree felling device 50 according to this embodiment will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a side view of the tree felling device 50 according to this embodiment, Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the felling saw device 20 according to this embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the felling saw device 20 equipped with the cutting support tool according to the first embodiment. In particular, this embodiment is embodied as a felling saw device 20 and tree felling device 50 for felling standing trees, but it is also possible to implement a felling saw device 20 and tree felling device 50 that cuts felled trees to a predetermined length.

As shown in Figure 1, the tree felling device 50 of this embodiment is composed of a work machine 40 equipped with a movable arm and a tree felling attachment 30 attached to the end of the movable arm. The tree felling device 50 of this embodiment uses a backhoe as the work machine, and the tree felling attachment 30, described below, is attached to the end of its movable arm. The tree felling attachment 30 is composed of a grabber device 10 that grips the tree, and a felling saw device 20 that has a saw member 21 for cutting the tree.

The tree felling device 50 can also be constructed by attaching a saw device for cutting trees to a work machine equipped with the grubbling device 10, or by providing a work machine such as a backhoe with both the grubbling device 10 and a saw device. Note that the work machine is not necessarily limited to a backhoe, and any work machine equipped with a mechanism for gripping trees, such as the grubbling device 10, can be used.

Figure 2 is a bottom view showing the felling saw device 20 that constitutes the tree felling attachment 30. This felling saw device 20 is primarily used for felling trees and is composed of a saw member 21 that can cut trees and a tree cutting support tool that displays the cut or uncut areas of the tree at the saw member 21. In particular, Figure 2 shows an encoder 24 for detecting the amount of rotation or rotation range of the saw member 21. By detecting the rotation position or rotation range of the saw member 21 using this encoder 24, the cut area of the tree can be detected.

This felling saw device 20 consists of a grabber 10 that can grab the tree to be felled, and a felling saw device 20 that is attached integrally to the grabber 10. The felling saw device 20 also includes a frame member 25 that forms the housing, a saw member 21 that is attached to the frame member 25 and can cut trees by rotating, and a cutting area detector 24 that detects the rotation range of the saw member 21.

The grabber device 10 is comprised of two gripping sections 11 that can be opened and closed freely. These gripping sections 11 can be opened and closed using hydraulic cylinders that are operated by hydraulic pressure supplied from the work machine. The opening and closing movement of the gripping sections 11 allows the tree to be grasped and can be used to prevent the felled tree from falling in an unintended direction, lift the felled tree, rotate the felled tree in any direction, or even move the felled tree.

In this embodiment, the felling saw device 20 is attached to the grubbling device 10. The tree to be felled is grasped by the grubbling device 10, and the felling saw device 20 is provided near the grubbling device 10 so that the tree is cut near the grasped part, preferably below.

In this embodiment, the felling saw device 20 houses a saw member 21 for cutting trees in a frame member 25 attached to the grubbling device 10. In particular, a chainsaw is used as the saw member 21, which is configured to rotate (or swing; the same applies below) around one end of the chainsaw as an axis, and trees can be cut and felled by the rotation of the chainsaw. In this embodiment, the rotation of the saw member 21 is performed by a hydraulic cylinder (particularly referred to as a "saw member hydraulic cylinder 22") attached to the frame member 25. However, the saw member 21 can also be operated by an electric power device such as a motor instead of the hydraulic cylinder 22.

In this embodiment, the contracting force of the hydraulic cylinder for the saw member 21 retracts the tongue 23 protruding from the rotation drive unit located at the rotation center of the saw member 21, thereby rotating the saw member 21 in a direction that pushes it out of the frame member 25. When storing the saw member 21 in the frame member 25, the force that extends the hydraulic cylinder for the saw member 22 pushes out the tongue 23 of the rotation drive unit, thereby rotating the saw member 21 in a direction that stores it in the frame member 25. The operation of the cylinder 22 is particularly set in this way so that it can exert a large force when returning the saw member 21 after felling. Note that the saw member 21 is not necessarily limited to a chainsaw; a reciprocating saw, circular saw, or axe could also be used depending on the diameter of the tree to be felled.

Figure 3 is a bottom view showing a felling saw device 20 equipped with a cutting support tool according to the first embodiment. The felling saw device 20 shown in this figure is the same as the felling saw device 20 shown in Figure 2, except that it is equipped with a cutting area detection unit 24 that detects the cutting area of the saw member 21 cutting the tree, and an area notification unit 26 that notifies the operator of the cut or uncut areas of the tree based on the cutting area of the saw member 21 detected by the cutting area detection unit 24.

In this embodiment, the cutting area detection unit 24 is configured as an encoder 24 that is positioned opposite a rotary drive unit located at the rotation center of the saw member 21 and measures the amount of rotation of the rotary drive unit. In this embodiment, the encoder 24 not only measures the amount of rotation of the rotary drive unit magnetically, but can also be configured to detect the amount of rotation of the saw member 21 using a roller or gear that comes into contact with the rotary drive unit. The area notification unit 26 is also provided with an indicator 26 (area notification unit 26) whose display changes depending on the amount of rotation detected by the encoder 24. In this embodiment, the indicator 26 is configured to indicate the cutting area and the uncut area by turning on, off, or changing the color of the LED 27. However, the area notification unit 26 can also indicate the cutting area and the uncut area using an LCD display in addition to the LED 27, or it can even indicate the cutting area and the uncut area using an analog meter. Such an area notification unit 26 can be installed in a location within the field of view of the operator in the operator's seat of the work machine, and can be installed in the operator's seat or on the grabble device 10 so that it can be seen with minimal eye movement during tree cutting work.

In a felling saw device 20 equipped with such a cutting support tool, when the saw member 21 has not yet cut the tree, all of the LEDs 27 of the indicator 26 are lit, as shown in FIG. 3(A). In particular, when felling a tree, a notch, which is a cut made in the direction of the tree's felling, is formed. Therefore, when the saw member 21 is gripped by the grubbling device 10, it protrudes from the housing. The tree is then cut to a predetermined extent to form the notch T1 (see FIG. 3(B)). At this time, the LEDs 27 of the indicator 26 turn off depending on the amount of rotation (or rotation angle) of the saw member 21. The tree is then released from the grip of the grubbling device 10, and the saw member 21 is returned to the housing (frame member 25). The tree is then gripped by the grubbling device 10 so that the saw member 21 is positioned higher than the notch. Depending on the size and height of the tree to be felled, the saw member 21 may be gripped at the same height as the notch.

The saw member 21 is then retracted into the housing (frame member 25), and after re-gripping the tree, the saw member 21 is rotated in a direction that pushes it out of the housing, cutting the tree to form the backcut T2 (Figure 3(C)). At this time, the LEDs 27 on the indicator 26, which correspond to the cutting amount or cutting range, gradually turn off. This allows the operator to know the extent of the tree's cutting, with the off-lighted LEDs 27 corresponding to the cutting range for the undercut and the off-lighted LEDs 27 corresponding to the cutting range for the backcut. Furthermore, the remaining width of the vine portion T3, which is the uncut area of the tree to be felled (i.e., the uncut area), can be displayed by the illuminating LEDs 27, allowing for safe felling while preventing unintended tree toppling. In particular, the felling saw device 20 intuitively indicates the remaining vine portion by illuminating the LEDs 27, allowing the operator to grasp the remaining vine portion more accurately and reliably than by observing it with a camera image. Even if you try to photograph the cut area with a camera to check it, it can be difficult to determine the cut area depending on the direction of the image. Therefore, as shown in this embodiment, by obtaining information about the cut area of the saw part using a cutting area detection unit 24 such as an encoder 24, the width of the temple part can be accurately confirmed.

After leaving the optimal vine portion, the tree can be felled in any direction using the grubbling device 10 that is holding the tree. In particular, the felling saw device 20 of this embodiment uses the grubbling device 10 to grip the tree, allowing the felled tree to be rotated in any direction. Therefore, by leaving the vine portion, even trees with thick or long trunks can be safely felled.

The felling saw device 20 of this embodiment forms undercuts and follower cuts when felling a tree, and can notify the operator of the cut or uncut areas. This allows the operator to carry out felling work while checking the amount of vines remaining. Since the optimal range for the amount of vines remaining varies depending on the thickness and length of the tree being felled, it is also desirable for the area notification unit 26 to display the optimal amount of vines remaining based on the thickness and length of the tree, i.e., the number of LEDs 27 to turn on or off.

Figure 4 is a bottom view of a felling saw device 20 equipped with a cutting support tool according to a second embodiment. The felling saw device 20 according to this embodiment is configured to detect and display the thickness of the tree being felled. Specifically, the felling saw device 20 according to this embodiment is configured to detect the degree of opening of the two freely opening and closing gripping sections 11 when the grabber device 10 grips a tree and display this information on the indicator 26 (area notification section). For example, as shown in Figure 4(A), when a tree with a thick trunk is gripped, the gripping sections 11 are widely opened, and all LEDs 27 are accordingly lit. When a tree with a thinner trunk is gripped, as shown in Figure 4(B), only the LEDs 27 within the range corresponding to the trunk thickness are lit. In this embodiment, the tree thickness is detected based on the degree of opening of the gripping sections 11. However, this can also be detected based on the degree of extension and contraction of the hydraulic cylinder that opens and closes the gripping sections 11. Additionally, the thickness of a tree can also be detected by analyzing images of the trunk.

In particular, the indicator 26 (area notification unit) in this embodiment is also used as the area notification unit 26 for informing the operator of the tree's cut or uncut areas. It is configured to detect and display the thickness of the trunk of the tree to be felled, and then display the cut or uncut areas within that range. When the indicator 26 (area notification unit 26) displays the cut or uncut area by lighting up the LED 27, this can be done by changing the color of the LED 27. Alternatively, the tree trunk thickness and the cut or uncut area can be displayed separately above and below. In particular, by displaying the tree trunk thickness and the cut or uncut area, it is possible to confirm how much vines to leave behind depending on the thickness of the tree to be felled, thereby improving the safety of the felling operation.

Figure 5 is a bottom view showing a felling saw device 20 equipped with a cutting support tool according to a third embodiment. The felling saw device 20 according to this embodiment is configured to detect the cutting area of the saw member 21 cutting the tree by the amount of extension and contraction of the hydraulic cylinder (saw member hydraulic cylinder 22) that controls the rotation of the saw member 21, in place of the encoder 24. In other words, the extensometer of the hydraulic cylinder for the saw member 21 serves as the cutting area detection unit 24. It should be noted that the cutting area detection unit 24 can also be configured to detect the cutting area of the saw member 21 cutting the tree by using a part that is driven or displaced as the saw member 21 rotates.

In addition, in the felling saw device 20 according to this embodiment, the area notification unit 26, which notifies the operator of the cut or uncut areas of the tree, displays the cut or uncut areas using an image. Specifically, the cut and uncut areas can be notified to the operator by displaying the cut areas in different colors within a circle displayed within the image. This area notification unit 26 can be formed by a video output device 28 such as a monitor, and can display the cut or uncut areas of the tree based on information about the cut area of the saw member 21 input from the cutting area detection unit 24. Furthermore, as mentioned above, when the thickness of the tree to be felled is detected, the size of the circle output to the monitor 28 can be changed depending on the size (value) of the detected thickness.

The felling saw device 20 according to this embodiment includes an area notification unit 26 consisting of the monitor, which visually notifies the operator of the cut or uncut areas of the tree, as well as a sound notification device 29, such as a speaker or buzzer, which audibly notifies the operator of the cut or uncut areas of the tree. The sound notification device 29 can notify the operator of the cut or uncut areas by varying the volume and tone of the sound depending on the cut or uncut area. Specifically, the position or range of the cut made as the undercut T1 is stored, and when making the backcut T2, the volume can be increased, or the sound can be changed to a higher or lower pitch, or the buzzer output interval can be shortened as the operator approaches the stored position, thereby notifying the operator of the amount of the cut or uncut area, i.e., the width of the tines T3. The area notification unit 26 using the sound notification device 29 can be installed together with or in place of the visual area notification unit 26, such as the monitor or indicator 26.

Therefore, the area notification unit 26 in this embodiment can be configured to notify the operator of the thickness of the tree being cut by the saw member 21, and the cut or uncut areas of the tree being cut by the saw member 21, using sound, light, and/or images.

The tree cutting support tool of the present invention can be used to cut standing trees while leaving the vines intact, and can also be used to cut only specific areas of a felled tree.

10 Grumble Device
11 Gripping part
20 Felling saw equipment
21 Saw parts
22 Hydraulic cylinder for saw components
23 Tongue piece
24 Encoder (cutting area detection section)
25 Frame member (housing)
26 Area notification section (indicator)
28 Video output device (monitor)
29 Sound generating device
30 Tree felling attachment
40 Work Machinery
50 Tree felling equipment

Claims (5)

A tree cutting support tool that notifies an operator of a cut area or an uncut area in a tree being cut by a saw member,
a cutting area detection unit that detects a cutting area of a saw member that is cutting a tree;
a region notification unit that notifies an operator of a cut region or an uncut region in a tree based on the cut region of the saw member detected by the cutting region detection unit,
The cutting area detection unit detects at least one of the rotation position, rotation amount, rotation angle, and rotation range of a saw member that is rotationally driven in a direction to cut a tree.
The cutting support tool according to claim 1, wherein the area notification unit displays and outputs a light or image indicating a cut area or an uncut area in a tree, or outputs a sound corresponding to a cut area or an uncut area in a tree being cut.
The cutting support tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cutting area detection unit detects the cutting area from one side in the thickness direction of the tree being cut and the cutting area from the other side opposite to the cutting area from the one side, and notifies the operator of the area of the vine portion that exists between the cutting area from one side and the cutting area from the other side.
A felling saw device for felling trees, comprising:
a saw member capable of cutting trees;
a tree cutting support tool that displays a cut area or an uncut area of the tree in the saw member,
The tree cutting support tool is a tree cutting support tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A felling saw device.
A tree felling device comprising a work machine equipped with a movable arm and a tree felling attachment attached to the tip of the movable arm,
A tree felling device, wherein the tree felling attachment is configured as the tree felling saw device according to claim 4.