SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DELIMBING TIMBER

• US 20130233448A1
• Filed: 03/06/2012
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carl D. Schrubbe, Robert E. Hill Jr
• Original Assignee: Robert E. Hill Jr
• Inventors: Schrubbe, Carl D., Hill, Robert E. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,374,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 144/343
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/083 Feller-delimbers
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/091 Sawing apparatus specially adapted for felling trees A01G23/081, A01G23/083, A01G23/093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/095 Delimbers A01G23/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/097 having a fixed delimbing head
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/099 Auxiliary devices, e.g. felling wedges

Abstract

A tree harvesting system includes a loader and a delimber. A camera system mounted on the delimber permits an operator to view an interaction area between a delimbing saw or toping saw and the tree being cut while the operator remains safely in a cab of the loader. The camera system provides image data to a display system located in the cab of the loader, and the image data may be viewed and/or processed to provide information about the interaction area, physical data about the tree, or some combination thereof. Advantageously, the tree harvesting system may allow for more accurate saw cuts at a preferred location of the tree, which in turn may result in a higher dollar amount and more efficient distribution of sticks to the mills.

Claims

1. A pull-through delimbing system for a tree harvester, the delimbing system comprising:

a saw for cutting a tree;

a camera arranged to capture an interaction point between the saw and a portion of the tree;

a display system configured to receive image data from the camera; and

a processor configured to receive the image data and determine at least one physical parameter related to the portion of the tree that allows an operator of the delimbing system to choose where to cut the portion of the tree.

2. The delimbing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one physical parameter includes a diameter of the portion of the tree to be cut.

3. The delimbing system of claim 1, wherein the wherein the at least one physical parameter includes a length of the portion of the tree to be cut.

4. The delimbing system of claim 1, wherein the display system is configured to show a real-time image of the interaction point between the saw and the portion of the tree and further configured to simultaneously show the at least one physical parameter determined by the processor.

5. The delimbing system of claim 1, wherein the display system is configured to show markings that provide a simulated version of the at least one physical parameter.

6. The delimbing system of claim 1, further comprising a power system to supply electricity to at least the camera and the processor.

7. The delimbing system of claim 6, further comprising a charger to recharge power system.

8. The delimbing system of claim 6, wherein the power system includes a solar panel array.

9. The delimbing system of claim 1, wherein the camera includes a radio transmitter to send the image data to the processor.

10. The delimbing system of claim 1, further comprising a mounting system for the camera, the mounting system controllable by the operator to orient and maintain a field of view of the camera.

11. The delimbing system of claim 1, wherein the mounting system for the camera includes a maneuverable housing.

12. The delimbing system of claim 1, further comprising an opening formed in a structure of the harvester that allows the camera to capture the interaction point between the saw and the portion of the tree.

13. The delimbing system of claim 1, further comprising a guard coupled to a structure of the harvester, the guard configured to protect the camera from being damaged and from being undesirably shifted during processing of the portion of the tree.

14. The delimbing system of claim 1, further comprising a motion detection sensor in communication with the processor.

15. The delimbing system of claim 14, wherein the motion detection sensor is configured to detect start-up and shut-down times of at least one of the saw or the tree harvester.

16. The delimbing system of claim 14, wherein the motion detection sensor is configured to detect contact between the harvester and the tree.

17. The delimbing system of claim 14, wherein the motion detection sensor is an accelerometer configured to detect vibration at a pre-determined frequency or amplitude.

25. The method of claim 8, wherein displaying data indicative of the at least one physical parameter includes displaying the portion of the tree relative to reference markings at least temporarily displayed on a display screen.

18. A method for delimbing a tree with a tree harvester, the method comprising:

viewing, with a camera, an interaction point between a saw of the tree harvester and a portion of the tree to be harvested;

transmitting image data of the interaction point from the camera to a processor;

interpreting the image data with a processor;

displaying, on a display system that is remotely located from the camera, the processed image data;

determining, with the processor, at least one physical parameter of the tree to be harvested;

displaying data indicative of the at least one physical parameter of the portion of the tree to be harvested; and

based on the displayed interaction point and the displayed data, cutting the portion of the tree to be harvested at a selected location.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising maneuvering the camera to achieve a desired view on the display system.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein viewing the interaction point includes manipulating the camera in at least one degree of freedom.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein transmitting image data of the interaction point includes transmitting image data wirelessly.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein displaying the processed image data includes displaying the processed image data using a graphical user interface controller by the operator using an input/output device.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein determining the at least one physical parameter of the tree includes determining a diameter of the tree at the interaction point.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein displaying data indicative of the at least one physical parameter includes displaying the data schematically.