Abstract:
An apparatus which delimbs and debarks one or multiple tree stems which are fed into the apparatus by a circle loader by its boom arm and claw. The tree stem(s) are pulled through the apparatus by the circle loader as the apparatus delimbs and debarks the tree stems with a flail means of various designs and configurations. The flail means if further designed to eject material striped from the tree stems in a controlled fashion from the apparatus. Other safety features contain and prevent uncontrolled ejection of material striped from the tree stems. The flail means is further designed to assist the tree stem feeding by frictionally moving the tree stems into the apparatus with the action of one of the flail drums; and thus reducing wear and tear on the circle loader. The expanse of the feeding opening is designed to accommodate larger diameter and more numerous tree stems resulting in more efficient, faster, and safer delimbing and debarking.

Description:
RELATED U.S. PATENT APPLICATION DATA  
       [0001]    Applicant claims priority for this application to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/279,556 filed on Mar. 29, 2001. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention described herein generally relates to a mechanical tree delimber and debarker and method of its use. More specifically, the invention is a vehicle mounted or trailer mounted flail apparatus used to delimb and debark single or multiple trees and is specially designed to be used with a conventional circle loader.  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART  
         [0003]    In the timber industry, the use of flail machines to debark or delimb cut trees is well known. The usual method to debark or delimb trees after cutting is to pass them through a delimbing or debarking machine either singularly or several at a time, rendering the trees bare of bark and limbs for loading onto trucks and further processing. The use of flails, such as chains or cables, have been well known in the art for some years. For example, the machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,713,365 (Jul. 19, 1955) discloses an upper and lower flail cylinder to which flails are attached and between which single trees are fed. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 2,822,837 discloses a debarker using three flail cylinders to which bristles are attached. Two such cylinders are parallel and vertical and the third horizontal, positioned above and perpendicular to the other two cylinders. A single tree is then fed through the three flail cylinders for processing. Another debarking and delimbing flail apparatus is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,325, which uses a feed mechanism to feed one tree between two horizontal and parallel flail drums, one above and one below. Other debarker and delimbers using a flail apparatus which are limited to the processing of a single log at a time are U.S. Pat. No.&#39;s 4,738,292; 5,193,597; 5,249,613; 4,889,169; 5,349,999; 4,719,950. Other types of debarkers and delimbers using flail apparatuses are designed to be used with a skidder which may drag a single or a plurality of tree stems through the apparatus. For example, refer to U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,431; 4,903,744; and 4,711,280. U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,846 discloses a delimber and debarker using a flail apparatus of two parallel horizontal flail drums between which multiple tree stems may be passed. Also, disclosed is a feed arm for use on the apparatus for feeding the tree stems into the flail mechanism. Like the invention disclosed herein, a circle loader is used to feed the trees through the delimbing and debarking machine. U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,280 also discloses a flail mechanism containing two vertical and parallel flail drums through which multiple trees may be processed and fed by a circle loader.  
           [0004]    Certain limitations and problems arise when using machines currently in the market and disclosed in the referenced patents. Current systems are limited in the number of trees which can be accommodated by their feed system or mechanism. Moreover, conventional machines have to be stopped and cleaned of debris periodically in order to continue the log processing process. Often, conventional machines do not completely remove the limbs or bark to yield a clean log in no further need of additional rough processing.  
           [0005]    Further, openings through which trees are fed often allow stripped material to become projectiles as it is stripped from the trunk, a serious safety concern.  
           [0006]    Moreover, conventional delimbers and debarkers are not designed to be used with a circle loader such that if they are so used with the circle loader the difficult and awkward angles (through which the circle loader must feed the tree stems) resulting from configuration of the delimber creates great strain and wear and tear on the circle loader boom and mechanisms. This causes circle loaders to wear out quickly, adding to the expense of the delimbing and debarking process.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention provides a compact delimbing and debarking device designed to be used with a circle loader on site where the trees are being felled. The system is designed to reduce wear and tear on the circle loader and provide more efficient and faster operation than conventional machines. Moreover, the present invention allows for larger and more trees to be processed into logs even while doing a more complete job of delimbing and debarking than conventional machines and in a safer environment for workers wherein potential ejected material stripped from the stems is controlled..  
           [0008]    It is an object of the invention to provide a compact system, easily transportable by conventional means or by mounting on a vehicle. The width and other dimensions of the entire delimbing system are designed to comply with FTC regulations governing the trailering or transport of such machinery on the public highways. The system does not have protruding arms such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,846 nor does it have protruding feed mechanisms as some other conventional debarker and delimbers. Its compact design allows it to be easily placed on a vehicle or on a trailer to be moved to the site where trees are being felled and logs produced.  
           [0009]    Another object of the invention is to provide the ability to process larger diameter trees and more tree stems in one processing pass. To overcome the limitation of the current machines of the number of trees which can be processed at once, the disclosed device provides for more flails which results in more efficient debarking and delimbing. A wider distance than conventional machines between the flail drums to allow up to 10 to 12 trees (depending on their diameters) to be debarked and delimbed at one time. Embodiments of the present invention provide for tri-directional delimbing (so that the tree stems are flailed from three directions) which improves the speed of the delimbing process as well as the completeness of the delimbing or debarking process. Not only are all sides of the tree stem delimbed and debarked, it is accomplished faster and more efficiently than conventional devices and processes. It has been determined that the disclosed invention can delimb and debark up to three times faster than conventional systems which wear circle loaders out in approximately 24 months.  
           [0010]    Another object of the invention is to improve the safety for workers working in the area of the delimber. Controlling the ejection of debris becomes important for the safety of the workers onsite. Embodiments of the disclosed machine provide for a horizontal drum flail which turns in the same direction as the trees are fed. Thus, the bottom flails as they spin upward toward the tree stems clean out the debris from the trough below the horizontal flail drum and eject it in a controlled fashion back out of the loading point of the trees in the opposite direction that the trees are being loaded. Thus, the tree stems and tree limbs provide buffers for ejected material.  
           [0011]    Another important safety innovation on some embodiments is the offset roof and neck through which the tree stems are loaded. The configuration of the offset roof and neck provides a complete encasement of the tree stems as they are processed. This precludes ejection of debris out the loading neck unlike any conventional delimbing or debarking machine. The configuration of the loading neck also precludes a necessity for loading arms and feeding mechanisms which protrude beyond the footprint of the disclosed machines. The disclosed machines are compact in width and length allowing for easy fixing atop a vehicle or easy trailering to job sites. Also, an important aspect of embodiments of the disclosed invention is the angled roof and feed neck configuration which enables faster tree stem feeding which increases speed of production of logs.  
           [0012]    As another safety aspect, one embodiment of the disclosed invention provides for a level feed arm with a hydraulically controlled push arm which feeds tree stems into the delimber throat. The push arm, once closed, completely encapsulates the tree stems so that no tree stem can escape from the delimber as the process continues. Another embodiment with the angled roof also provides the same safety for workers. All embodiments of the disclosed invention have large open throats which enable trees with larger diameters and more multiple stems to be delimbed in one fast motion than conventional delimbers and debarkers.  
           [0013]    Additional safety features for the protection of the operator of the circle loader and other works in the area are a controllably hinged roof above the feed opening through which the tree stems are fed and a controllably hinged door at the opening through which the processed tree stems emerge. The roof and door present physical barriers limiting the ejection of stripped material during the operation of the machine. The door particularly limits ejection of stripped material toward the operator of the circle loader.  
           [0014]    Another object of the invention is to provide a delimber with a longer life and less maintenance. The disclosed invention, although which may be powered with conventional belts and pulleys, also discloses that the flail drums may be hydraulically driven providing smoother operation as well as longer and more reliable service. Thus, the disclosed invention requires less maintenance and has a longer life than conventional delimber and debarker machines.  
           [0015]    Yet another object of the invention is to reduce the stress and wear and tear on the circle loader&#39;s boom arm and mechanisms. In one embodiment of the disclosed invention, the horizontal flail drum helps force the tree stems through the system providing greater speed and efficiency in the debarking and delimbing process, thus reducing the cost of the process, as well as assisting the circle loader as the tree stems go through the machine. Thus, there is less wear and tear on the circle loader. Less stress on the circle loader is also accomplished by using the offset angled roof and feed throat configuration which allows for a natural motion of a circle loader as it passes the tree stems, which are pivoted on their tops, through the disclosed machine. Further to assist in reducing resistence as the tree stems go through the machine is a third flail mechanism which assists in pushing the tree stems through the machine in addition to delimbing and debarking the upper portion of the tree stem.  
           [0016]    Other objectives, advantages, and pertinent features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which when taken in conjunction with the drawings attached, discloses several preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    The invention will be described in detail hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawing figures wherein;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the disclosed invention (tree delimber and debarker), the circle loader, a pile of cut trees ready for processing, several tree stems being loaded into the disclosed invention, and a pile of processed logs;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the hydraulic drive system which may be used for each disclosed embodiment;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 shows a top view of the flail drum configurations as well as the angled offset roof and open throat configuration of the first preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 shows a side view of the flail drum configuration and the angled offset roof and open throat configuration of a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of the drum configuration of a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 shows a side view of the flail drum configuration and open feed throat configuration of a preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7 shows a top cross sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 8 shows a top view of the configuration of the flail drums in a preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 9 shows a cross sectional rear view of the configuration of the flail drums used in a preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 10, 11, and  12  show a side view of another preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 13 shows a cutaway view of the three drum flail mechanism of a preferred embodiment.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 14 shows a side view of the invention with controllably hinged roof portion and door portion in open positions.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 15 shows a side view of the invention with the controllably hinged roof and door in closed positions.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 16 shows a cutaway view of the invention with the controllably hinged roof and door. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]    As shown in FIG. 1 the disclosed invention (tree delimber and tree debarker)  20  is designed to be used in connection with a circle loader  21  having a boom arm  22  and a claw  23  able to grasp, pick up, and move one or a plurality of tree stems. The freshly cut tree stems are skidded or otherwise placed in a pile  24  in proximity to the circle loader  21  and the delimber  20 . The logs are processed by the circle loader  21  grasping one or a plurality of freshly cut tree stems with its claw  23  from tree pile  24  and moving in a circular motion toward the delimber  20 . The tree stems  25  which are in the claw  23  are moved by the boom arm  22  of the circle loader  21  and placed into the delimber  20 . The natural mechanical motion of the circle loader  21  allows the tree stems  25  to pivot on their tops  26 , continuing the motion of the boom arm  22  in a circular direction. The tree stems  25  after going through the delimber  20  are then placed in a pile of cleaned logs  27 . These logs  27  are ready for delivery to the lumber mill. The process is designed to provide the most efficient and fastest use of a circle loader for the processing of tree stems. As described below, the delimber  20  is designed to push the tree stems through the process and thereby assist the circle loader causing less wear and tear on the circle loader and conventional systems.  
         [0033]    Shown in FIG. 2 is a schematic of a hydraulic drive system for the flail drums depicted in the other attached drawings. Although the disclosed invention may be powered by conventional belt and pulley systems, the powering of the flail drums by a hydraulic system provides smoother operation, more reliable processing and less frequent service and maintenance. Thus, the use of a hydraulic power system reduces the cost of overall tree processing. The hydraulic system disclosed shows an engine  30 , being one of a number of diesel engines or other internal combustion engines such as a General Motors 240 horsepower diesel engine. The engine  30  is mechanically connected to a hydraulic pump  31  which forces hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic line  32  to a directional valve  33 . The directional valve  33  directs the hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic lines  36 ,  36   a  and  36   b  to hydraulic motors  34 ,  34   a , and  34   b . Each of the hydraulic motors  34 ,  34   a  and  34   b  is operationally connected to a flail drum (e.g.  42 ,  40 ,  40   a ). Hydraulic motor  34 ,  34   a , and  34   b  are powered by the hydraulic fluid which is then directed through the hydraulic lines  37 ,  37   a  and  37   b  to the oil cooler  35 . From the oil cooler, the hydraulic fluid is directed through the hydraulic line  38  back to the hydraulic pump  31  to be recirculated.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 3 shows a top view of the rear portion of a preferred embodiment detailing two vertical parallel flail drums  40  and  40   a  each having a plurality of flails  41  removably attached along the perimeter of each drum in any one of various densities and configurations. The flails  41  may be composed of chain, cable, bristles, or other material of sufficient strength to beat the bark and limbs off of the tree stems  25 (FIG. 1). Positioned below and offset to the vertical flail drums  40  is a horizontal flail drum  42  which likewise has attached flails  43  along its perimeter. The roof which is shown in perspective view  44  shows to overlap the rear portion of the base  45  and is angled at the same angle as the edge of the base to point  48 . The overlap  46  of the roof  44  over the rear portion of the base  45  becomes a critical element in the feeding of tree stems  25  (FIG. 1) by the circle loader for both the safety of workers in the area by containing ejected debris and in reducing wear and tear on the circle loader  21  by allowing a more natural motion of the circle loader in feeding the tree stems. Tree stems  25  (FIG. 1) are fed by the circle loader claw  23  (FIG. 1) by pivoting the top of the trees at pivot point  26  (FIG. 1) and guiding the tree stems between the overhang and the roof  44  and the rear of the base  45  at  47 . Horizontal drum  42  is turned by the power system in the same direction as the trees are being fed thus assisting the trees to move between vertical drums  40  and  40   a . This assistance also reduces stressful forces on the boom arm  22  (FIG. 1) increasing longevity of operational life to the circle loader  21 .  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 4 shows a side perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention. This perspective shows the two vertical flail drums  40  and the offset horizontal drum  42  each having removably attached a plurality of flails  41  and  43 . The overlap  46  of the roof  44  over the rear edge portion of the base  45 , helps contain ejected debris as trees are processed.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional perspective view of the configuration between the rearmost vertical drum  40  and the horizontal drum  42  both having removably attached flails  41  and  43 . The tree stems  25  (FIG. 1) are put through the machine by the claw  23  (FIG. 1) attached to the boom arm  22 . The direction of the trees is shown as direction  49 . The horizontal drum is turned in the same direction as the trees are fed (shown by the arrows), thus assisting the trees as they pass between the rearmost vertical drum  40  and its mirror image. The flails  43  removably attached to horizontal drum  42  move in the direction shown by the arrows and scrape the bottom of the trough below the horizontal drum thus cleaning the debris taken from the tree trunks and ejecting it in a controlled fashion back in the direction from which the trees  25  are being fed.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention. This figure shows a long vertical flail drum  50  to which a plurality of flails  51  are removably attached. Parallel to drum  50  is a second shorter vertical drum  52  to which a plurality of flails  52  are removably attached. The distance between the axes points of the parallel flail drums  50  and  52  can range from 36 inches to 52 inches, allowing the processing of larger diameter and more numerous tree stems in a single processing pass. The distance between the axes of these vertical parallel flail drums may be adjustable. Also shown is a bottom drum  54  which is below horizontal and offset to the two parallel vertical drums  50  and  52 . It  54  has removably attached a plurality of flails  55 . In one embodiment is a fourth flail drum  56  to which is removably attached a plurality of flails  57 . Each of the drums is attached to and powered by a hydraulic motor  34 , two of which are shown on FIG. 6. The overlap  46  of the roof over the rear edge of the base of the disclosed invention  45  provides barriers to the stripped material which would otherwise be ejected. Flail drum  56  is obliquely positioned in relation to the bottom drum  54  and when in motion, by the action of the flails  55  against the tree stems  25  (FIG. 1), assists in forcing the trees through the open throat and between the vertical flail drums  50  and  52 . Flail drum  56  and its flails  57  also assist in preventing the escape of ejected debris, improving the safety discussed above. Furthermore, drum  56  and its flails  57  assist in improving the efficiency and speed of operation of a tree stem  25  processing pass thus cutting the cost of log processing with the disclosed invention. Also shown is a conventional trailer tongue  59  designed to be used in connection with any conventional tractor or other pulling vehicle. Also shown is one of two telescoping adjustable legs and feet  58  at the tongue  59  end of the trailer unit. These legs  58  are located and adjustably attached one on each side of the device and may be operated independently either mechanically or hydraulically. Said legs  58  provide stability of the machine in the field either after the removal of the trailering vehicle or of the vehicle upon which the delimber system may be mounted.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 7 shows a pile of tree stems  24  with a tree stem  25  being put through the delimber. The top cross sectional view of the disclosed a preferred embodiment is shown with the long vertical drum  50  parallel to the short vertical drum  52  and offset to the horizontal drum  54 . Also shown is the small upper most flail drum  56  obliquely angled to horizontal flail drum  54 . The flails  57  on flail drum  56  act as described above mechanically moving the tree stem through the delimber system, resulting in reduced stress on the circle loader  21 .  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 8 shows the configuration of these four flail drums in the second preferred embodiment. The small upper most flail drum  56  is shown in relation to the small vertical flail drum  52 , the long vertical drum  50 , and the horizontal flail drum  54 . This is a top view looking down in cross section.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 9 shows a side view of the five flail drums of the second preferred embodiment. The small upper most flail drum  56  is shown in relation to the short vertical flail drum  52 , the long vertical flail drum  50  and the horizontal flail drum  54 .  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 10 shows the delimber  20  having a roof portion  70  hingedly attached to the remaining roof portion  78 . Said roof portion  70  having two opposite sides to which there is fixedly attached a side portion  71  and  79 .  
         [0042]    To the bottom edge of said side portions  71  and  79 , there are attached containment chains  73 . The roof portion  70 , in its closed position, rests on the lip  81  of the tongue  59  end of the delimber  20 . The roof portion  70  may be mechanically or hydraulically opened in the direction of the arrow and tree stems  25  placed through the flail mechanism. The disclosed flail mechanism has two vertical and parallel flail drums  74  and  75  and an offset horizontal drum  76  all of which have removably attached flails  77 .  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 11 shows the roof portion  70  which is hingedly attached to roof portion  78  in the closed position. Side portion  71  of roof portion  70  may be seen to which are attached containment chains  73 .  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 12 shows the roof portion  70  in a more open condition so that the sides  71  and  72  of roof portion  70  can be seen. In this open condition, tree stems  25  may be placed through the flail mechanism by the circle loader  21 .  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 13 discloses a cut-away view of the flail mechanism of a preferred embodiment showing the roof portion  70  in an open position. Horizontal flail drum  76  can be seen in proximity to vertical and parallel flail drums  74  and  75 .  
         [0046]    An embodiment shown in FIGS. 14, 15, and  16  contain certain safety features. Roof portion  81  is hingedly and controllably attached to roof portion  80 . Roof portion  81  may be lifted and lowered controllably by a hydraulic cylinder  82  or other mechanical or spring means. Tree stem exit door  85  likewise is hingedly attached to the delimber body and controllably operated by a hydraulic cylinder  86  or other mechanical or spring means. Roof  81  is lifted as the circle loader  21  inserts unprocessed tree stems  25  into the feed opening  90 . Door  81  is then closed, preferably by remote operation. Exit door  85  is open as the tree stems are drawn through the flail mechanism. Door  85  rides against the tree stems as they emerge from the delimber. Upon the clearing of the delimber by the processed tree stems, the door  85  continues to the closed position (FIG. 15) while the flail means of the machine continues to spin. The roof  81  at all times during the operation of the machine after the loading of tree stems  25  is kept in its closed position. Roof  81  presents a physical barrier for the ejection of material stripped from the tree stems  25  by the flail mechanism. Door  85  presents a physical barrier between the circle loader and the delimber which protects the circle load operator and other workers in the area from ejected stripped material. Feed opening  90  is wide enough to accommodate multiple tree stems or large diameter tree stems. The processed tree stems emerge from opening  91  which is covered by door  85  when in its closed position. The flail mechanism is comprised of two vertical parallel flail drums  95  and  96 , each having a plurality of flails  98  removably attached along the perimeter of each drum in any one of various densities and configurations. Positioned below and offset to the vertical flail drums  95  and  96  is horizontal flail drum  97  which likewise has attached flails  98  along its perimeter. Flail drum  95  turns in a clockwise direction while flail drum  96  rotates in a counterclockwise direction when looking from overhead. These opposite rotations of flail drums  95  and  96  serve to eject stripped material through feed opening  90 , the direction from which the tree stems were fed. Horizontal flail drum  97  may be turned in either direction. When turned in the same direction as the tree stems are fed, horizontal flail drum  97  serves to frictionally move the tree stems through the delimbing mechanism. This serves to save wear and tear on the circle loader. When horizontal flail drum  97  turns in the opposite direction from which the tree stems are fed, it serves to clear the bottom of the flail means of material stripped from the tree stems. In either direction, said horizontal flail drum  97  serves to assist in ejecting the stripped material through opening  90  in a controlled fashion thus maintaining safety for area workers and keeping the area of the flail mechanism clean of debris.