TREE COUNTER FOR A SAW HEAD IN A TREE FELLER

• US 20090095375A1
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Breutzman, Mark, Little, Elliot, Wigginton, Karle
• Granted Patent: US 7,934,523 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 144/336
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/091 Sawing apparatus specially adapted for felling trees A01G23/081, A01G23/083, A01G23/093 take precedence

Abstract

A forestry machine includes a frame, and a felling saw carried by the frame. The felling saw includes a saw head. A tree counter associated with the saw head includes an audio sensor providing an output signal representing an audio parameter associated with a cutting action of the saw head. An electrical processing circuit is coupled with and receives the output signal from the audio sensor. The electrical processing circuit determines a tree count associated with the saw head, dependent upon the output signal from the audio sensor.

Claims

1. A forestry machine, comprising:

a frame;

a felling saw carried by said frame, said felling saw including a saw head; and

a tree counter associated with said saw head, said tree counter including;

an audio sensor providing an output signal representing an audio parameter associated with a cutting action of said saw head; and

an electrical processing circuit coupled with and receiving said output signal from said audio sensor, said electrical processing circuit determining a tree count associated with said saw head, dependent upon said output signal.

2. The forestry machine of claim 1, wherein said audio parameter comprises at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of an audio signal received at said audio sensor during a cutting action of said saw head.

3. The forestry machine of claim 1, including a speed sensor providing an output signal corresponding to an approximate rotational speed of said saw head, said electrical processing circuit receiving said output signal from said speed sensor, said electrical processing circuit determining said tree count associated with said saw head, dependent upon each of said output signal from said audio sensor and said output signal from said speed sensor.

4. The forestry machine of claim 3, wherein said speed sensor includes a magnetic pick up sensor associated with said saw head.

5. The forestry machine of claim 1, including a clamp sensor providing an output signal corresponding to a clamp cycle of said saw head, said electrical processing circuit receiving said output signal from said clamp sensor, said electrical processing circuit determining said tree count associated with said saw head, dependent upon each of said output signal from said audio sensor and said output signal from said clamp sensor.

6. The forestry machine of claim 5, including a speed sensor providing an output signal corresponding to an approximate rotational speed of said saw head, said electrical processing circuit receiving said output signal from said speed sensor, said electrical processing circuit determining said tree count associated with said saw head, dependent upon each of said output signal from said audio sensor, said output signal from said speed sensor, and said output signal from said clamp sensor.

7. A tree counter for a felling saw in a forestry machine, comprising:

an audio sensor providing an output signal representing an audio parameter associated with a cutting action of a saw head in the felling saw; and

an electrical processing circuit coupled with and receiving said output signal from said audio sensor, said electrical processing circuit determining a tree count associated with said saw head, dependent upon said output signal.

8. The tree counter of claim 7, wherein said audio parameter comprises at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of an audio signal received at said audio sensor during a cutting action of said saw head.

9. The tree counter of claim 7, including a speed sensor providing an output signal corresponding to an approximate rotational speed of said saw head, said electrical processing circuit receiving said output signal from said speed sensor, said electrical processing circuit determining said tree count associated with said saw head, dependent upon each of said output signal from said audio sensor and said output signal from said speed sensor.

10. The tree counter of claim 9, wherein said speed sensor includes a magnetic pick up sensor associated with said saw head.

11. The tree counter of claim 7, including a clamp sensor providing an output signal corresponding to a clamp cycle of said saw head, said electrical processing circuit receiving said output signal from said clamp sensor, said electrical processing circuit determining said tree count associated with said saw head, dependent upon each of said output signal from said audio sensor and said output signal from said clamp sensor.

12. The tree counter of claim 11, including a speed sensor providing an output signal corresponding to an approximate rotational speed of said saw head, said electrical processing circuit receiving said output signal from said speed sensor, said electrical processing circuit determining said tree count associated with said saw head, dependent upon each of said output signal from said audio sensor, said output signal from said speed sensor, and said output signal from said clamp sensor.

13. A method of counting trees cut with a felling saw in a forestry machine, comprising the steps of:

sensing an audio parameter associated with a cutting action of a saw head in the felling saw; and

determining a tree count associated with said saw head, dependent upon said sensed audio parameter.

14. The method of counting trees of claim 13, wherein said sensed audio parameter comprises at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of an audio signal received at an audio sensor during a cutting action of said saw head.

15. The method of counting trees of claim 13, including the step of:

establishing an approximate rotational speed of said saw head; and

said determining step comprises determining said tree count associated with said saw head, dependent upon each of said sensed audio parameter and said established rotational speed of said saw head.

16. The method of counting trees of claim 13, including the step of:

detecting a clamp cycle of said saw head; and

said determining step comprises determining said tree count associated with said saw head, dependent upon each of said sensed audio parameter and said detected clamp cycle.