Feed Wheel Arrangement for Timber Working Heads

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing timber working heads with feed wheels fail to maintain satisfactory contact with tree trunks of varying diameters, leading to damage and excessive wear of the feed wheels, particularly when gripping small-diameter trunks.

Innovation Solution

A feed wheel arrangement with a centrally located third feed wheel, driven by a separate motor and utilizing a power transfer mechanism such as a chain or belt drive, ensures consistent contact with the tree trunk, allowing for reduced damage and wear, while enabling smaller external dimensions and easier maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If feed wheels are arranged to accompany the motion of grippers to and from the gripping position, then the feed wheels can maintain contact with the tree trunk during gripping, but the feed wheels damage the tree trunk through sliding and suffer excessive wear when gripping small-diameter trunks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact reliabilityVSAvoidtree trunk damage and feed wheel wear

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The feed wheel arrangement is made dynamically adjustable to adapt to different tree diameters. The feed wheels can move independently relative to the grippers, allowing them to maintain optimal contact with tree trunks of varying sizes without causing damage through sliding or excessive pressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Shape

If feed wheels are mounted directly on the gripper assembly, then the structure is compact, but the feed wheels cannot maintain satisfactory contact with tree trunks of varying diameters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural compactnessVSAvoidadaptability to different tree diameters

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The feed wheel assembly is segmented into independently controllable units that can adjust their positions relative to the grippers. This segmentation allows each feed wheel to adapt to the specific diameter of the tree trunk while maintaining overall structural compactness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If a centrally located third feed wheel is added to improve contact with small-diameter trunks, then contact reliability improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact reliabilityVSAvoidfeed wheel arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The centrally located third feed wheel serves multiple functions: it provides contact for small-diameter trunks, supports the tree trunk during feeding, and helps stabilize the tree position. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2986104B1Feed wheel arrangement, timber working head, crane and timber working machine

Publication Date: 2020.04.15 KOMATSU FOREST

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AI summary

This invention concerns a feed wheel arrangement (1) intended to be used in a timber working head (2) for at least one of felling, trimming, bark-peeling and cutting of a tree or tree trunk comprising a frame (3) on which feed wheels (1.1-1.2) and grip fittings (4) are mounted either fixed or in a manner that allows them to be removed. The feed wheel arrangement (1) comprises a feed wheel (1.3) and a motor (7) for rotation of the feed wheel (1.3) for feed of the tree or trunk through the timber working head (2), where the motor (7) is arranged at a distance from the feed wheel (1.3). The invention concerns also a timber working head, a crane and a timber working machine.