Clamping device and method for collecting timber using the clamping device

Abstract

The objective is to provide a clamping device and logging method that can be easily used when logging materials by pulling in a rope through the bending and extending motion of the arm, without having to fix the clamping device to the arm of a logging vehicle. [Solution] A clamping device 100 is used, which consists of a clamp 10 that prevents the rope R from being paid out toward the object to be collected W, and a gripping part 20 that is gripped by the claws M81 of a grapple M8, which is a gripping attachment of a logging vehicle M.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a clamping device and a logging method using the clamping device, and more particularly to a clamping device used when logging is performed using a logging work vehicle and a logging method performed using the clamping device and utilizing the bending and stretching movements of an arm.

Background Art

[0002] In forestry, as a logging method for collecting wood near a logging work vehicle, generally, as shown in FIG. 4 of Patent Document 1, a method of collecting using a winch attached to a boom or the main body of a logging work vehicle having a boom and an arm is known. Specifically, a rope (here, collectively referred to as a "rope" for a metal wire and a non-metal rope) is extended from the winch, passed through a pulley attached near the tip of the arm, hooked on the wood, and then the rope is wound up by the winch.

[0003] However, since this method pulls the wood only by the force of the winch, a large tensile force is required for the winch, and a very expensive winch is required. Therefore, in order to enable logging work even with an inexpensive winch with a small tensile force, the inventor of the present application has previously made an invention as in Patent Document 2 and has also made related inventions as in Patent Documents 3 and 4.

[0004] In Patent Documents 2 to 4, when the logging work vehicle bends the arm to pull the logging target at the tip of the rope, the rope is locked by sandwiching it in the rope insertion passage, and when the arm is extended toward the logging target, a clamping device that releases the lock of the rope is used. Thus, since the wood is logged by the bending and stretching force of the arm, the winch only needs to have the force to wind up the slack rope, and it becomes possible to use a low-cost winch.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-73074 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6714460 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-116189 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-113539 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] In Patent Document 2, the blocking mechanism for preventing the wire from being fed out is firmly fixed to the arm. Similarly, the clamping devices in Patent Documents 3 and 4, which correspond to this blocking mechanism, are also firmly fixed to the arm. In order to firmly attach the blocking means or clamping device to the arm in this manner, drilling holes or welding are required, which necessitates time and equipment for the work.

[0007] Incidentally, in recent years, natural disasters such as those caused by heavy rains have been occurring frequently. During such disasters, roads can be blocked by driftwood and other debris, making the removal of driftwood and other debris one of the most urgent tasks.

[0008] However, since moving heavy objects such as driftwood cannot be easily done by hand, the timber collection methods described in Patent Documents 2-4 are also very effective for moving heavy objects during disasters.

[0009] On the other hand, as mentioned above, the logging methods described in Patent Documents 2 to 4 require the clamping device to be firmly fixed to the arm. Therefore, unless the clamping device can be fixed to the arm in advance, it is difficult to use in an emergency.

[0010] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a clamping device that can be easily used without fixing the clamping device to the arm of a logging vehicle when collecting timber by pulling a rope through the bending and extending motion of an arm. Furthermore, the present invention aims to provide a logging method in which timber is collected by pulling a rope through the bending and extending motion of an arm, and in which timber is collected without fixing the clamping device to the arm of a logging vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] To solve the above problems, a clamping device according to one aspect of the present invention is characterized by comprising a clamp that prevents the rope from being paid out toward the object to be collected, and a gripping part that is gripped by a gripping attachment of a logging vehicle.

[0012] In other words, instead of directly fixing the clamp device to the arm, the attachment that grips the clamp device is flexed and extended by the arm, allowing logging operations to be performed without fixing the clamp device to the logging vehicle as in conventional methods. This reduces the time and effort required for clamping. Therefore, in emergencies such as disasters, logging operations can be performed if a logging vehicle equipped with this attachment is available. Furthermore, because the clamp device is gripped by the gripping attachment, the clamp device is located at the tip of the attachment, resulting in a longer towing stroke due to the flexing and extending of the arm compared to conventional clamps fixed to the arm. This reduces the number of extensions and retractions, shortening the towing operation time.

[0013] Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, a clamping device according to one aspect of the present invention is characterized by comprising a clamp that prevents the rope from being paid out toward the object to be collected, and a hooking part that hooks onto the mining attachment of a logging vehicle. This embodiment also has the same effects and advantages as the embodiment in which the clamping device is gripped by an attachment.

[0014] Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, a logging method using a clamp device according to one aspect of the present invention is a logging method that uses a clamp device to prevent the rope from being paid out toward the object to be logged, and pulls the rope towards the object to be logged by the bending and extending motion of the arm of a logging vehicle, wherein an attachment for gripping objects is attached to the tip of the arm, and the bending and extending motion of the arm is performed by gripping the clamp device with the attachment.

[0015] Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, a logging method using a clamp device according to one aspect of the present invention is a logging method that uses a clamp device to prevent the rope from being paid out toward the logging target, and pulls the rope towards the logging target by bending and extending the arm of a logging vehicle, wherein an attachment with claws for mining is attached to the tip of the arm, and the clamp device is hooked onto the claws of the attachment to perform the bending and extending motion of the arm.

[0016] According to the present invention's logging method, logging operations can be performed without fixing the clamp device to the arm. Therefore, in emergencies such as disasters, logging operations can be carried out using a logging vehicle equipped with an attachment for gripping objects, or a logging vehicle equipped with an attachment for excavation. Consequently, even in places where roads are blocked by driftwood caused by heavy rain, for example, driftwood can be moved in an emergency.

[0017] Furthermore, in the logging method of the present invention, it is preferable to further provide a stopper function that prevents the rope from moving together with the clamp device when the clamp device moves in the direction of the object to be logged by the extension of the arm. Specifically, this could include a stopper function in the winch that winds up the rope that prevents the winch from rotating. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] A is a front view showing a clamping device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and B is a right side view thereof. [Figure 2] It is a front view showing an operation of gripping a clamping device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention with a grapple. [Figure 3] A is a front view showing a state where a clamping device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is pulling a rope, and B is a front view showing a state where the clamping device is releasing the rope from being tightened. [Figure 4] A is a front view showing a state where a clamping device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is hooked on a bucket claw, B is a right side view thereof, and C is a view taken along the line IVC-IVC.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments and drawings. However, the embodiments shown below are not intended to limit the present invention to what is described herein, and the present invention can be equally applied to various modifications without departing from the technical idea shown in the claims. In each of the drawings used for the description in this specification, in order to make each member recognizable on the drawing, the scale is varied for each member, and it is not necessarily shown in proportion to the actual dimensions.

[0020] [Embodiment 1] As shown in FIG. 3, the clamping device 100 of Embodiment 1 in the present invention is gripped by a grapple M8 which is an attachment at the tip of an arm M6 of a skidding work vehicle M, and a rope R connected to a skidding object W is passed through it.

[0021] When bending this arm M6, the skidding object W such as wood is attracted by the bending force, the slack rope R is wound up by a winch M9, the arm M6 is extended, and the skidding object W is attracted again by the bending force of the arm M6, and this is repeated. Since the skidding object W is attracted by the bending force of the arm M6, the winch M9 only needs a rotational force to wind up the slack rope R, and it uses an inexpensive electric motor. Furthermore, the logging method and the principle of the clamp 10 in this embodiment are basically the same as those described in Patent Documents 2, 3, and 4 previously invented by the present inventor.

[0022] [Clamping device 100] The main components of the clamp device 100 of Embodiment 1 will be explained using Figures 1, 2, and 3. Figure 1A is a front view of the clamp device 100, and Figure 1B is its right side view. Figure 2 is a front view showing the operation of gripping the clamp device 100 with the grapple M8. Figure 3A is a front view showing the clamp device 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention pulling the rope R, and Figure 3B is a front view showing the clamp device 100 releasing the rope from tightening. As shown in Figure 1B, the clamping device 100 consists of a clamp 10 that grips the rope R and a gripping part 20 that is gripped by the grapple M8.

[0023] [Clamp] As shown in Figure 1, the clamp 10 consists of a fastener 1, a contact 2, a clamp release 3, and a frame 4. As shown in Figure 1, the fastener 1 has a roughly comma-shaped form with a metal base and is pivotally supported by a first shaft 11 between two parallel ribs 41 hanging down from the top plate of the frame 4.

[0024] The contact device 2 has a metal base and is equipped with two walls 21 as shown in Figure 1B. The fastener 1 is positioned between these two walls 21, and the contact device 2 is pivotally supported on the fastener 1 by inserting the second shaft 22 into holes provided in each of the two walls 21 and a hole provided in the fastener 1. The second shaft 22 is detachable from the fastener 1 by a snap pin (23 in Figure 1B) or the like. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1A, the contact device 2 has a configuration in which the two walls 21 spread out in a fan shape, and the contact surface 24 is sandwiched between the two walls 21 at the tip of the fan.

[0025] The tightening release device 3 consists of an angle adjustment bolt 31 and a locking nut 32, the angle adjustment bolt 31 being screwed into the frame 4. The tip of the angle adjustment bolt 31 functions as a tightening release part 33. When this tightening release part 33 contacts the tongue piece 12 of the fastener 1, the rotation angle of the fastener 1 relative to the frame 4 does not exceed a set angle. This rotation angle is set by adjusting the protrusion of the tightening release part 33 by rotating the angle adjustment bolt 31. Once the predetermined rotation angle is set, the locking nut 32 prevents the angle adjustment bolt 31 from loosening.

[0026] As shown in Figure 1A, the clamp 10, with this configuration, has an insertion passage P through which the rope R passes between the fastening device 1 and the contact device 2. More specifically, the insertion passage P is formed between the arc-shaped fastening surface 13 at the tip of the second axis 22 side of the comma-shaped fastening device 1 and the curved contact surface 24 of the contact device 2.

[0027] Furthermore, in the clamp 10, the center O1 of the arc of the clamping surface 13 where the clamping device 1 contacts the rope R is displaced to the right from the center O2 of the second axis 22 (as shown in the enlarged view of Figure 3A). Therefore, when the clamping device 1 rotates counterclockwise around the second axis 22, as shown in the enlarged view of Figure 3B, the width of the insertion passage P becomes wider than the diameter of the rope R, compared to the state where the width of the insertion passage P is the same as the width of the rope R.

[0028] In other words, with this clamp 10, the rope R inserted into the insertion passage P can move to the right in Figure 1A, but it cannot move to the left because friction causes the clamping device 1 to rotate counterclockwise around the second axis 22 (as the width of the insertion passage P narrows), thus preventing the rope from being paid out. Regarding the clamp 10, a known one similar to those described in Patent Documents 2-4 can be used.

[0029] [Grip part] As shown in Figure 1, the gripping portion 20 consists of a metal member integrated with the frame 4 that extends in the lateral direction of the clamp 10 (in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the rope R extends). Since the gripping portion 20 will be gripped by the grapple M8, it is provided on the side of the clamp 10 to prevent interference between the operation of the clamp 10 (the operation of preventing the payout of the rope R) and the grapple M8. The gripping portion 20 can also be provided on the upper part of the clamp 10.

[0030] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2A, the gripping portion 20 has triangular grooves 5 formed on both sides into which the claws M81 of the grapple M8 are inserted. The upper slope 51 of the triangular groove 5 is longer than the lower slope 52, as shown in Figure 1A. An example of how to grip the clamping device 100 with the grapple M8 will be explained using Figure 2.

[0031] As shown in Figure 2(1), the clamping device 100 is placed on the ground. At this time, the fastening part 1 and the contact part 2 of the clamp 10 rotate, so that the bottom surface 6 of the gripping part 20 can make contact with the ground.

[0032] Then, the claws M81 of the grapple M8 grip the upper inclined surface 51 of the groove 5 of the gripping part 20. As shown in (2) of Figure 2, the clamping device 100 is lifted by the force component from the upper inclined surface 51, and the claws M81 enter the groove 5 all the way in, completing the grip.

[0033] Subsequently, when the grapple M8 is lifted by the clamping device 100, the fastener 1 and contact 2 of the clamp 10 rotate to the free position, as shown in Figure 2(3). In this embodiment, the upper slope 51 is made longer than the lower slope 52 so that the claw M81 can easily grip the upper slope 51.

[0034] The gripping portion 20 may have a shape without the groove 5 as in this embodiment. On the other hand, the clamping device 100, which is gripped by the gripping portion 20 of the grapple M8, needs to be held stably by the grapple M8 during logging, so it is preferable that it has a recess like the groove 5 so that the claws M81 can engage securely.

[0035] Furthermore, the shape of the M81 claws of the M8 grapple varies among manufacturers, and in disaster areas, it is impossible to know what shape they will be. Therefore, a versatile gripping portion 20 shape that can grip as many shapes as possible is preferable. Accordingly, it is preferable that the length of the gripping portion 20 extending in the lateral direction of the clamp 10 be sufficiently long, as shown in Figure 1B. Furthermore, the surface of the gripping part 20 can be covered with an elastic material such as rubber to prevent scratches and to ensure stability.

[0036] [Usage example] Next, an example of using the clamp device 100 of Embodiment 1 will be described using Figure 3. The logging vehicle M to which the clamp device 100 of this embodiment is attached includes a traveling body M1 that runs on rubber crawler tracks M1a, a slewing body M2 pivotally supported on the traveling body M1 and capable of rotation, a boom M4 pivotally supported on the slewing body M2 and capable of bending by a hydraulic boom cylinder M3, an arm M6 pivotally supported on the boom M4 and capable of bending by a hydraulic arm cylinder M5, a grapple M8 as an attachment pivotally supported on the arm M6 and capable of bending by a hydraulic bucket cylinder M7, and a winch M9 with a rope R wound around the slewing body M2.

[0037] In Figure 3A, the arm M6 is extended toward the object W to be collected, such as timber, and the gripping part 20 of the clamping device 100 is gripped by the grapple M8. The rope R, which is unfurled from the winch M9, passes through the insertion passage P between the fastening device 1 and the contact device 2, and the end of the rope R is connected to the object W to be collected.

[0038] Then, as the arm M6 bends slightly to pull in the object W to be collected, the clamping device 1 rotates clockwise around the second axis 22 in Figure 1A due to friction with the rope R. This narrows the space between the clamping surface 13 of the clamping device 1 and the contact surface 24 of the contact part 2, and eventually the rope R is locked into the clamp 10. The pulling force of the clamp 10 due to this lock allows the bending of the arm M6 to pull in the object W to be collected.

[0039] In Figure 3B, when the arm M6 bends to a predetermined angle and pulls the object W to be collected, the release part of the clamp release device 3 presses against the tongue 12 of the clamp 1. As a result, the clamp 10 releases the rope R that has become lodged between the clamp 1 and the contact device 2, and the rope R loosens. Once the rope R loosens, the rope R is wound up by the winch M9.

[0040] Next, when the arm M6 is extended, the friction between the clamping device 1 and the rope R is counterclockwise around the second axis 22 in Figure 1A, so the rope R remains released. Therefore, the arm M6 can be extended towards the end of the rope R.

[0041] Furthermore, when the clamping device 100 moves toward the object W to be collected during this extension, the winch M9 locks its rotation to prevent the rope R from moving toward the object W due to friction between the rope R and the insertion passage P. In other words, the winch M9 is equipped with a stopper function that can prevent rotation.

[0042] Next, by bending the arm M6, the object W to be collected can be pulled in using the mechanism described above. In this way, by repeatedly bending and extending the arm, the object W to be collected can be pulled in to the desired position.

[0043] In Embodiment 1, the clamping device 100 is not attached to the arm M6, but simply grips the object to be collected W with the grapple M8, and the bending and extending of the arm M6 pulls the object to be collected closer. This reduces the fixing work and fixing time of the clamping device 100. In other words, in emergency situations such as disaster sites, logging work can be performed without fixing the clamping device 100 to the arm M6, and for example, roads blocked by driftwood can be eliminated.

[0044] Furthermore, because the attachment has a clamp 10 at its tip, the traction stroke caused by bending and extending the arm M6 is longer compared to a conventional clamp 10 fixed to the arm M6. This reduces the number of extensions and retractions, thus shortening the traction work time.

[0045] In this embodiment, a grapple M8 is given as an example of a gripping attachment for the logging vehicle M, but this is also called a "scissors" or "fork," and is not limited to these names. Furthermore, as long as it can grip a clamp device 100 equipped with a gripping part 20 as in this embodiment, the gripping attachment is not limited to a grapple M8, and also includes attachments such as those called crushers.

[0046] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as a specific example of the gripping attachment (grapple M8) gripping the gripping part 20, Figures 2 and 3 show a state in which the tip of the claw M81 of the grapple M8 is pinching it. However, in this invention, "grabbing" does not only mean gripping (pinching) with the tip of the claw M81, but also, in the case of the grapple M8, means gripping (embracing) with the curved portions of the front and rear claws M81 (between the front and rear claws M81) at the front and rear of the traction. In particular, as mentioned above, since there are various shapes of gripping attachments, there are cases where gripping (embracing) between the claws is more appropriate than gripping with the tip of the claw.

[0047] Furthermore, the clamping device 100 of this embodiment is intended for use in emergency situations where the clamping device 100 cannot be fixed to the arm M6. However, after using the gripping part 20 to grasp the arm M6 in such an emergency, the gripping part 20 may be further equipped with a screw hole for fixing to the arm M6 when the situation returns to normal.

[0048] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the logging vehicle M was equipped with a winch M9 for winding up the rope R. However, according to the logging method of this embodiment, the winch M9 can be small, and it can be easily secured to the logging vehicle M with a belt or the like. Also, according to the logging method of this embodiment, since it only involves winding up a loose rope, the winch M9 is not necessarily required; for example, a manual winding machine can be used as a substitute. Therefore, the logging method of this embodiment is extremely useful in places such as disaster sites.

[0049] [Embodiment 2] Next, the clamping device 100A of Embodiment 2 will be described using Figure 4. Figure 4A is a front view showing the clamping device 100A inserted into the claws M101 of the bucket M10, Figure 4B is a right side view thereof, and Figure 4C is a view along the IVC-IVC arrow in Figure 4A.

[0050] In the clamping device 100A of Embodiment 2, the same reference numerals are used for parts that have the same configuration as the clamping device 100 of Embodiment 1, and their detailed description is omitted. For parts with the same name but different configurations, the subscript "A" is added to the reference numeral.

[0051] In this embodiment, a bucket M10 is used as an excavation attachment for the logging vehicle M. Most of these buckets M10 are equipped with claws M101. Therefore, a hooking portion 30 for hooking onto these claws M101 is provided on the clamping device 100A.

[0052] The hook portion 30 is provided with a square hole 31 into which the claw M101 is fitted. By bending and extending the bucket M10 to which the clamp device 100A is hooked, the material to be collected W can be pulled closer. In addition, the material to be collected W can be pulled closer by bending and extending only the arm M6, as long as the hooked clamp device 100A does not come off. Furthermore, by bending and extending the arm M8 and boom M4 simultaneously, the claw M101 of the bucket M10 can be moved parallel to each other, allowing the material to be collected W to be pulled closer without the clamp device 100A coming off the claw M101.

[0053] Thus, even by attaching the clamping device 100A to the bucket M10, the clamping work and fixing time can be reduced, similar to Embodiment 1, and thus the method is effective. Furthermore, since there are many work vehicles equipped with mining attachments, including at disaster sites, such work vehicles can be effectively utilized as logging vehicles at disaster sites. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0054] 100, 100A: Clamping device 10: Clamp 1: Fastener 2: Contact tool 3: Tightening release tool P: Insertion passage 20: Grasping part 5: Groove 30: Hook part M: Work vehicle for collecting wood M6: Arm M8: Grapple M81: Claw W: Objects to be collected

Claims

1. A clamp to prevent the rope from being paid out toward the object to be collected, The gripping part of the attachment for the logging vehicle, A clamping device characterized by comprising the following features.

2. A clamp to prevent the rope from being paid out toward the object to be collected, A hook that attaches to the mining attachment of a logging vehicle, A clamping device characterized by comprising

3. A logging method that involves using a clamping device to prevent the rope from being paid out toward the object to be collected, and pulling the rope in by the bending and extending motion of the arm of a logging vehicle, thereby collecting the object to be collected. An attachment for gripping objects is attached to the tip of the aforementioned arm. A method for collecting timber using a clamping device, characterized in that the clamping device is grasped by the attachment and the arm is bent and extended.

4. A logging method that involves using a clamping device to prevent the rope from being paid out toward the object to be collected, and pulling the rope in by the bending and extending motion of the arm of a logging vehicle, thereby collecting the object to be collected. An attachment with a claw for mining is attached to the tip of the aforementioned arm. A method for collecting timber using a clamping device, characterized in that the clamping device is hooked onto the claws of the attachment and the arm is bent and extended.

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