Articulated Accumulating Arm for Forestry Bunching Head
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Forestry devices have limited capacity and operational efficiency due to the long retraction path of accumulating arms, which restricts the accumulation of trees and increases downtime and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The forestry device incorporates an accumulating arm with an outer arm that can move between extended and folded configurations, featuring multiple pivot axes and biasing elements, allowing for reduced retraction space and efficient folding to facilitate the accumulation of more trees.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the accumulating arm uses a single hinge design, then the arm can retract easily when the accumulation area is at low capacity, but the arm will not be able to retract when the accumulation area is near full capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The outer arm is divided into multiple segments (first outer arm segment and second outer arm segment) connected by a second hinge, allowing independent movement of each segment. This segmentation enables the arm to retract in stages: the distal segment folds first, then the proximal segment, providing adaptability across different accumulation capacity levels while maintaining ease of operation.
2Device complexity
If the accumulating arm follows a traditional retraction path, then the structure is simple, but the retraction path is too long and limits the accumulation capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The accumulating arm transitions from a static, rigid structure to a dynamic, multi-segmented structure with multiple hinges. This allows the arm to adapt its configuration dynamically - extending when capacity is low and folding compactly when capacity is high - thereby increasing accumulation capacity without excessive structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The arm incorporates vertical movement through the first hinge (providing vertical component to retraction), adding a dimensional aspect to the retraction path. This vertical dimension allows the arm to clear trees more effectively and reduces the horizontal retraction distance, enabling greater accumulation capacity.
3Speed
If the accumulating arm travels a long distance to retract and engage, then the arm can cover more area, but the downtime between gathering trees increases and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-hinge design enables rapid, staged folding motion that significantly reduces retraction time. The arm can quickly transition from extended to compact configuration by sequentially actuating the hinges, minimizing downtime between tree gathering operations while maintaining the ability to cover necessary areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A forestry device, for example, a bunching and felling head configured to group trees, includes a support frame and an accumulation area located proximate to the support frame. The device includes at least a first arm rotatable relative to the support frame, to gather trees, and at least one accumulating arm rotatable relative to the support frame, to secure one or more gathered trees in the accumulation area and to retract from the accumulation area to allow a newly gathered tree to be added in the accumulation area. The one or more accumulating arm(s) include(s) an inner arm pivotable relative to the support frame and an outer arm pivotable relative to the inner arm. The outer arm has at least one articulation dividing the outer arm into at least a proximate member and a distal member.