Slack pulling carriage for logging operations

• US 20040129662A1
• Filed: 09/11/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scotty Baker
• Original Assignee: Scotty Baker
• Inventors: Baker, Scotty
• Granted Patent: US 7,213,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 212/94
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 21/00 Cable cranes, i.e. comprising hoisting devices running on aerial cable-ways rope or cable drives for trolleys, combinations of such drives with hoisting gear B66C11/16; railway systems B61B; rope or cable winding mechanisms B66D1/00

Abstract

The present invention involves a carriage of the type commonly used in skyline logging operations. The invention facilitates moving logs along a suspended skyline by means of a hoisting system built into the carriage comprised of a radio controlled electronics system, an internal combustion power plant, proportional controlled hydraulically driven skidline sheave, a skidline clamp and skyline clamp. A novel method of pump control keeps the internal combination engine operating within its power band. The volume output of the pump is controlled by engine RPM to adjust the pump'"'"'s load on the engine. Combined operation of the various controls on the carriage, in conjunction with the controlled operations of the yarder winch at the end of the skyline result in a system well suited for efficient logging operation. The choker/setter (ground crew) and the yarder are able to remotely control the carriage operation as a team. The carriage controls of the present invention are primarily hydraulic, actuated by means of electrical solenoid valves.

Claims

1. In a skyline logging carriage apparatus comprising a chassis with an internal combustion power plant, a main hydraulic pump with variable volume output driven by said power plant, a hydraulic motor driven by said main hydraulic pump and a sheave assembly driven by said hydraulic motor to move a logging skidline, the improvement comprising an electronic control system with a rotational rate sensor for said power plant and a main hydraulic pump volume output controller coupled to said rotational rate sensor.

4. The remotely controlled carriage of claim 1 whereby the intended application is skyline logging operations.

5. The remotely controlled carriage of claim 1 that utilizes an electrically controlled, proportional output hydraulic pump.

6. The remotely controlled carriage of claim 5 that utilizes a hydraulic-pilot controlled, proportional output hydraulic pump.

7. The remotely controlled carriage of claim 1 that incorporates a swiveling hydraulic fluid pick-up tube that facilitates fluid pick-up when operating said carriage at extreme angles.

9. The remotely controlled carriage of claim 6 that utilizes an electrically controlled, proportional output hydraulic pump.

10. The remotely controlled carriage of claim 6 that utilizes a hydraulic-pilot controlled, proportional output hydraulic pump.

11. The remotely controlled carriage of claim 6 that incorporates a swiveling hydraulic fluid pick-up tube that facilitates fluid pick-up when operating said carriage at extreme angles.

2. In a skyline logging carriage apparatus, with an internal combustion power plant and a main hydraulic pump driven by said power plant, the method of controlling said power plant'"'"'s rotational rate by adjusting the output volume of said main hydraulic pump in response to a change of load on said main hydraulic pump.

3. A remotely controlled slack pulling carriage for movement along a suspended cable which comprises:

A chassis containing an internal combustion power plant, and

An electrical system which comprises a battery, electric starter and alternator for starting and operation of said power plant, and

A main hydraulic pump with variable displacement, mechanically driven by said power plant, and which is, in-turn, connected to a hydraulic motor in a closed hydraulic loop, and

A secondary hydraulic pump, smaller than the main hydraulic pump, for pumping hydraulic fluid into a solenoid control manifold, and

A sheave pressure roller assembly and controlling actuator to bring sheave pressure roller assembly in or out of contact with an opposing sheave roller, to effectively allow the drivetrain to feed or disengage feed to a skidline cable, and

A skyline cable clamp assembly and controlling actuator to clamp or un-clamp said carriage to a skyline cable, and

A skidline cable clamp assembly and controlling actuator to clamp or un-clamp said carriage to a skidline cable, and

A radio subsystem that facilitates remotely controlling said carriage, and

An electronic control subsystem located within said carriage for performing control of said power plant and for performing control of said main hydraulic pump, and for performing control of sheave pressure roller actuator, and for performing control of said skyline cable clamp actuator, and for performing control of said skidline cable clamp actuator, and

A rotational rate sensor that facilitates detection by said electronic control of the rotational rate of said power plant.

8. A remotely controlled drum carriage for movement along a suspended cable whereby the intended application is skyline logging operations, which comprises:

A chassis containing a power plant, and

An electrical system which comprises a battery, electric starter and alternator for starting and operation of said power plant, and

A main hydraulic pump with variable displacement, mechanically driven by said power plant, and which is, in-turn, connected to a hydraulic motor in a closed hydraulic loop, and

A secondary hydraulic pump, smaller than the main hydraulic pump, for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to a solenoid-controlled selective distribution manifold, and

A cable drum assembly driven by said hydraulic motor, and

A skyline cable clamp assembly and controlling actuator to clamp or un-clamp said carriage to a skyline cable, and

A skidline cable clamp assembly and controlling actuator to clamp or un-clamp said carriage to a skidline cable, and

A radio control system that facilitates remotely controlling said carriage, and

An electronic control system for performing control of said power plant and for performing control of said main hydraulic pump, and for performing control of said skyline cable clamp actuator, and for performing control of said skidline cable clamp actuator, and

A rotational rate sensor that facilitates detection by said electronic control of the rotational rate of said power plant.