CA2696186A1 - Running skyline intermediate support assembly and carriage therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides an improved multi-span running skyline logging system, used to transport trees off of a mountain slope. Whereby, an intermediate support assembly supports all running lines enabling a carriage to cross over an intermediate support assembly. Mounted on the intermediate support assembly is a line catch leg that pivots outwardly away from the carriage as the carriage passes a concave shape shearing plate. This shearing plate is attached horizontally on the line catch leg. The line catch leg has two outwardly tapered pulleys one placed above the other. These pulleys support and allow for the longitudinal movement of the running lines. When the carriage makes its initial contact with the intermediate support assembly the running lines are lifted off of the line catch leg pulleys, at this point the line catch leg is then pushed laterally. This action is necessary to enable the carriage to pass smoothly over the intermediate support assembly free of entanglement. After the carriage has past the intermediate support assembly, the line catch leg returns to its original position enabling the running lines to fall back onto the line catch-leg pulleys.

Description

RUNNING SKYLINE INTERMEDIATE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY AND
CARRIAGE THEREFOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to skyline logging systems of the type employing a running skyline yarder where running lines are suspended on an intermediate support assembly. The intermediate support assembly will enable logs attached to a open-sided mechanical slack pulling carriage to pass smoothly over a rise in ground at a mid-span location between a running skyline yarder and the back end of a multi-span logging setting. The major difference in this design from past running skyline intermediate support devices is that both main lines and both sides of the haulback line are supported on the intermediate support assembly. This advantage compared to past inventions will maximize log turn payload as well as reducing severe line wear and fire hazards associated with running lines coming in contact with the surrounding ground either at the intermediate support site, or some other location along a yarding road.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Skyline logging is a cable logging system used to harvest timber from ground terrain too steep for ground based harvesting systems. In most cases skyline logging systems employ a carriage which transport felled logs from a location along a yarding road to a landing site where logs are then processed and loaded onto a logging truck. An intermediate support device at a mid span location may be utilized to increase the length of yarding distance where negative line deflection results from a rise in the ground between the backend and the yarder site. Employing an intermediate support assembly will provide the necessary lift to yard over such a rise thereby keeping the logs fully or partially suspended off the ground.
Utilizing intermediate supports in skyline logging has been a common practice in skyline logging throughout the world for the past half century. Until recently the use of static skyline cable systems have dominated multi-span logging. In static skyline logging, a single static skyline cable is anchored to a stump or other ground object at the far end of a yarding road.
The other end of the static skyline cable is held on the yarder's drum. At the yarder end of the static skyline cable, the cable can be lifted or lowered by the yarder drum winch. The difference between a static skyline cable and a running skyline is that a running skyline cable moves longitudinally during some phase of the yarding cycle. The running skyline passes around an anchored pulley set up at the backend of a yarding road. The present invention allows for longitudinal movement of all running lines on the intermediate support assembly pulleys and catch leg pulleys.
Running skyline intermediate supports have also been used in the past. Typical logging intermediate support devices of this type are shown for example, in the following United States of America patents:

2,140,585 Johansen 4,347,938 Gorsh 4,355,727 Biller 4,387,812 Biller and Johnson, Patent issued June 14, 1983 4,440,305 Biller and Johnson, Patent issued April 3, 1984 In the early use of running skyline intermediate support applications, the upper side of the haulback line was the only line supported on the intermediate support assembly. By not supporting all running lines these earlier devices have had limited commercial success.
In the modem day system, the intermediate support assembly supports all running lines. This improvement will substantially increase log turn payload because all running lines are utilized to create lift instead of only using one side of the haulback line as the sole lifting line. In essence, by supporting more than one line at the intermediate support site, log turn payload will double. On the intermediate support assembly, a sidewall is arranged with two inwardly tapered pulleys that supports and allows for longitudinal movement of the upper haulback line.
Attached to the intermediate support assembly is a pivoting line catch leg with two inwardly tapered pulleys arranged one above the other. The line catch leg inwardly tapered pulleys supports and allows for longitudinal movement of the lower haulback line, slack pulling mainline and pulling mainline. As the carriage passes over the intermediate support assembly, the line catch leg is pushed outwardly away from the mechanical slack pulling carriage by a concave shape shearing plate mounted on the line catch leg. In addition to the increased log turn payload capacity, fire hazard and severe line wear are minimized because all running lines are supported at the intermediate support site thereby eliminating line contact with the surrounding ground at any location of the yarding road.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide an improved carriage and cooperating intermediate support assembly for running skyline-logging systems.
A further objective of the invention is to provide an improved intermediate running skyline support assembly, which enables all running line (i.e. Slack pulling main line, pulling main line and both sides of the haulback line) to be supported and allow for longitudinal movement on the intermediate support assembly. The ability to support all running line by the intermediate support assembly will assist in maximizing turn payload, eliminate fire hazards from running lines coming in contact with surrounding ground, and minimize severe line wear.
A further objective of the invention is to provide an improved skyline logging carriage, which employs the precise dimensions to mesh with the cooperating intermediate support assembly and attached line catch leg to permit a smooth passage of the carriage over the intermediate support. This catch leg will pivot away from the logging carriage allowing all mainlines and the lower haulback line to be caught and released from inwardly tapered line catch leg pulleys at the appropriate time in order to eliminate carriage entanglement as the carriage passes over the intermediate support assembly.
A still further objective is to provide a pair of line gates that interlock with pivoting inwardly tapered duel sheaved plate members. This interlocking action will provide the means for preventing the haulback line from slipping out of the opened side of the logging carriage.
A still further objective is to provide a pair of inwardly tapered duel sheaved plate members which will allow for a smoother passage over the intermediate support than if a pair of single sheaved pulleys where utilized.
A still further objective is to provide outwardly beveled entering tips on sidewall that will assist in smoothly guiding the logging carriage straight as it approaches and passes over the intermediate support assembly.
A still further objective is to provide a inwardly beveled shearing plate mounted on the top of the main body of the logging carriage which, when interlocked with the intermediate support assembly sidewall, enables the development of the lateral shifting force necessary to outwardly pivot the line catch leg.
A still further objective is to provide a outwardly beveled shearing plate, mounted on the front and back of the carriage support arms, that will assist in smoothly guiding the movement of the logging carriage as the logging carriage passes over the intermediate support assembly sidewall.

A still further objective is to provide a pair of guide rollers allowing the line catch leg arm to ride smoothly on the outside surface of the intermediate support assembly arm without friction and wear.
A still further objective is to provide a outwardly beveled plate member mounted on the top front and back portion of logging carriage main body to assure lifting upper haulback line, dropline and pulling main line off of line catch leg inwardly tapered upper pulley.

In the drawings, which form a part of the specification, Figure 1 is a side view of a running skyline multi-span logging system employing a mechanical slack pulling dropline carriage that is capable of passing over an intermediate support assembly.
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of figure 1 showing the mechanical slack pulling dropline carriage as it approaches the intermediate support assembly.
Figure 3 is a fragmented side view of a mechanical slack pulling dropline carriage passing over an intermediate support assembly.
Figure 3a is a vertical cross-sectional view of an intermediate spar support swivel that is a variation to the support swivel depicted in figure 3.
Figure 3b is a side view of the intermediate spar support swivel that is depicted in figure 3a.
Figure 4 is a fragmented vertical cross-sectional view of a line catch leg pivoted in the outward position away from a mechanical dropline carriage.
Figure 5 is an overhead view of the concave shape shearing plate, which is attached to the pivoting line catch leg.
Figure 6 is an overhead view of a line gate that pivots in an opened and closed position when carriage passes intermediate support.
Figure 7 is an overhead view of an inwardly beveled shearing plate mounted on the main body of the logging carriage.
Figure 8 is a vertical cross sectional view of a line gate locked into position with the pivoting inwardly tapered duel sheaved plate member.
Figure 9 is an overhead view of the sidewall that supports the upper haulback line.
Figure 10 is a side view of a mechanical dropline carriage crossing over an intermediate support assembly. It depicts the carriage side furthest away from the intermediate support assembly.
Figure 11 is a side view of a mechanical dropline carriage crossing over an intermediate support assembly. It depicts the carriage side closest to the intermediate support assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring first to figure 1, which illustrates a running skyline intermediate support system. It employs a running skyline swing yarder 11. The yarder 11 utilizes running lines, which include a haulback line 12, a slack pulling mainline 14, and a pulling mainline 13. The upper side of a haulback line 12a extends over two pulleys near the top of the particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention illustrated, intermediate support assembly 23. The lower side of the haulback line 12b is attached to the back of an open-sided mechanical slack pulling carriage 20. The intermediate support assembly 23 is suspended from an intermediate spar tree 19, at a height necessary to create adequate deflection for logs and carriage to clear the ground. A tail spar 6 is located at the furthest log yarding distance away from the yarder at a point which requires extra height of the lines were negative line deflection would result if a tail spar 6 was not used. Guylines are utilized to stabilize intermediate spar 19 and tail spar 6 from line tension pulling spar over.
The haulback line extends around a haulback block 8 that is anchored to a stump 7 or other fixed object on the ground. The upper and lower side of the haulback line 12a and 12b are supported on respective tree blocks 9, which are suspended from a tail spar 6.
Figure 2 shows an enlarged side view of figure 1. The advantageous opened-sided mechanical slack pulling carriage (Herein after referred to as the logging carriage) rides on upper haulback 12a.
Lower haulback line 12b runs around a tail hold block 8 where it is connected to the back of the logging carriage 20. Upper haulback 12, slack pulling main 13b and 14, pulling main 13a and dropline 15 are supported off the ground by intermediate support assembly 23.
Dropline 15 and slack pulling main 13b are connected to 13a by a flush pin shackle or molly Hogan 13c. When slack pulling main 14 is pulled out of logging carriage 20 towards yarder 11 it will pull pulling main 13a and slack pulling line 13b and dropline 15 towards front of logging carriage 20. This pulling action will engage the internal mechanics of the logging carriage 20 to feed dropline 15 out of the bottom of logging carriage 20.
Referring to figure 3, a fragmented view of the advantageous logging carriage 20 and intermediate support assembly 23, which shows logging carriage 20 passing over intermediate support assembly 23 traveling in a forward direction 2 towards the yarder 11. Logging carriage 20 rides on the upper haulback 12a by a pair of duel sheaved pivoting parallel plate members 40.
These plate members pivot on a shaft 42 which are attached to two carriage support arms 54 that extend upwards from the main body of the carriage 20. The inwardly tapered duel sheaves 41 rotate on two respective bearing shafts 80 held in position by pivoting parallel plate member 40. The pair of plate members 40 has inwardly tapered surfaced duel sheaves 41 that ride over the outwardly beveled top edge 83 of the parallel side plate members 82. These two parallel side plate members 82 make up the main structural and design component of sidewall body 84. The haulback line 12a moves longitudinally over two sheaves 63 located between side plates 82 which are held in place by a bearing shaft 81.
Parallel side plates 82 are strengthened by a side plate member 61 which prevents inward collapsing of the outwardly beveled top edge 83 while it is subjected to the log turn loads imparted by the logging carriage inwardly tapered duel sheaves 41 passing over the sidewall body 84. The side plate member 61 sits directly over the haulback line 12a and is positioned between side plates 82. The upper surface of plate member 61 is flush with the upper most part of the inwardly beveled top edge 83 of side plate 82. Plate 61 is secured into place by three flush pin screw bolts 62. Below plate 61 between the side plates 82 are four pins and bushings 92, which act to strengthen the lower portion of side plates 82. An inner supporting plate 36 also adds over all strength to the pivoting sidewall 84. The sidewall 84 pivots on a shaft 65, which allows for pivoting movement when carriage 20 passes over sidewall 84. The carriage 20 is guided straight into the sidewall 84 by two inwardly beveled plate members 55 and 53. Plate member 53 has inwardly beveled entering tips with a straight edge that runs along the top portion of carriage body 50. Plate member 53 not only acts as a shearing guide for the logging carriage as it approaches sidewall 84, but also prevents the top portion of the logging carriage 50 from being push laterally away from sidewall 84 by line catch leg when logging carriage 20 pushes line catch leg concave shape shearing plate 72 laterally away from logging carriage 20. Inwardly beveled plate members 55 are mounted on the front and back of carriage support arms 54. These plate members 55 will assist in smoothly guiding the movement of the logging carriage as the logging carriage passes over the intermediate support assembly sidewall 84. A further design configuration of sidewall 84 is in the way entering points 93 of sidewall 84 bevel outwardly to secure a smooth guided path of logging carriage 20 as the carriage 20 makes its first contact with sidewall 84. To reduce wear on the out side plate member of the carriage from the outside edge of the catch leg concave shape shearing plate 72 a replaceable abrasion resistant plate 85 is attached to lower out side portion of carriage body. Intermediate support assembly is supported on a guyline cable 16 (see figure 2) and spar support swivel 78. This spar support swivel 78 allows main body of intermediate support assembly 23 to swivel pivot and rotate off of the guyline cable 16. Support swivel 78 connects to a shackle 76 and pin 77 where intermediate support arm 79 and line catch leg arm 88 can pivot laterally. Referring to figure 3a and 3b which shows a different variation of the intermediate spar support swivel 78. Figure 3a shows a cross sectional view while figure 3b shows a side view of an alternative spar support swivel and the spar support swivel respective moving parts including a rotating moving swivel 89, a laterally and longitudinally moving double ended pin shackle 90, and a laterally moving block connector plate 91. In figure 3 a fragmented view of the internal mechanics of the logging carriage 20 shows how the dropline cable 15 is pinch against the carriage sheave 45 and by a tension roller 87. This tension roller 87 attaches to a leverage arm 46 and is forced into the engaged position by an adjustable bolt and spring assembly 47. When the sheave 45 rotates counterclockwise at the same time as the tension roller adds pressure on the dropline 15, the dropline 15 will be pushes out of the bottom of logging carriage 20.
As seen in figure 4 the line catch leg 60 pivots on a screw and nut pin shackle 77. This line catch leg is positioned on the outside surface of the intermediate assembly support arm 79. Guide rollers 75 assist in smooth movement laterally of the line catch leg 60 as well as to eliminate any abrasion caused by catch leg arm 88 and intermediate support assembly arm 79 as they come in contact with each other. An inner structural support plate 51 adds strength to line catch leg arm 88 and prevents structural deformation resulting from the twisting action to line catch leg arm 88 when carriage 20 comes in contact with line catch leg shearing plate 72. Lines 13a, 13b, 15 and 12b ride on the upper inwardly tapered pulley 66 that rotates on a shaft 67 (see figure 2). Inwardly tapered pulley 66 is secured in position by structural support plates 64, 68, 73, and 74 and located directly above concave shape shearing plate 72. An inwardly tapered lower pulley 70, which supports the slack pulling mainline 14, and rotates on shaft 71 is also built on the line catch leg. Lower pulley 70 is located under concave shearing plate 72 and structurally supported in position by two square steel tubing 69. The square tubing 69 is designed in a triangle shape with the bottom end of the square tubing attached at the shaft 71 location.

OPERATION.
In operation as the logging carriage 20 approaches the intermediate support assembly 23 and starts to ride up onto pivoting sidewall 84, the carriage will lift lines 13b, 15 and 12b off of respective line catch leg inwardly tapered pulleys 66 and 70. Logging carriage 20 is guided smoothly into sidewall 84 by logging carriage inwardly beveled shearing plates 53 and 55 as the logging carriage 20 makes its first contact with the outwardly beveled sidewall entering tips 93.
Mainlines are further assured in lifting off upper catch leg pulley 66 by a outwardly beveled plate member 49 mounted on the front upper portion of logging carriage body 50. Like the front of the carriage a outwardly beveled plate member 49 also assists the haulback line 12b in clearing catch leg pulley 66 at the appropriate time to permit the line catch leg to be pushed outwardly away from logging carriage 20 in order to eliminate entanglement with logging carriage 20 and line catch leg 60. The haulback line 12b is connected to the back upper portion of the carriage body 50 by a screw bolt 52 that runs through carriage body.
Referring to figure 3, 4, 6, 8 and 11 shows a pair of line gates 44 (see figure 7) which will assist in securing the haulback 12 and 12a from falling out the opened side of the logging carriage 20 (see figure 11) between the duel sheaved pivoting side plates 40 and the guide plate located on top of main body of logging carriage 50. The line gate 44 blocks the opened side area of the carriage between the bottom of plate member slot 43 and the top of carriage guide plate 53 (see figure 11).
The line gate 44 pivots on a pin 57 in a longitudinally back and forth direction as it moves past sidewall pivoting shaft 65 (see figures 3 and 4). Line gate return springs 48 (see figure 3) returns the line gates 44 to the closed position that locks the tip of line gates 44 with plate member slot 43 (see figures 7 and 8). The pair of line gates 44 are attached in place by pins 57 that run through outwardly beveled plate members 49.
Referring to figure 3 shows the internal mechanics on the mechanical slack pulling carriage 20. It comprises of two rotating sheaves 45, which lock together by a spring-loaded dog positioned between inside area of sheaves 45. When sheaves 45 are in the locked-in position both sheaves turn in the same direction. A tension roller 87 pinches the dropline 15 and, when both sheaves turn in the same direction, dropline is pushed out the bottom of carriage. The length of dropline 15 to come out of carriage will depend on the distance to a turn of logs located on the ground.

Claims (3)

1) A intermediate support assembly comprising:
.cndot. a body .cndot. a laterally pivoting line catch leg mounted on the body, .cndot. a vertically pivoting sidewall whereby upper and lower edges of sidewall have a parallel and concave shape. The shape and dimension of the sidewall will mesh precisely with shape and dimension of the logging carriage, enabling the logging carriage to smoothly cross over intermediate support assembly free of entanglement or lateral movement, .cndot. a outwardly beveled entering tip on front and back of the pivoting sidewall, which will assure a smooth guide path without entanglement with logging carriage as the logging carriage approaches and makes its initial contact with the intermediate support assembly's pivoting sidewall, .cndot. a support plate member; whereby a plate will prevent top edge portion of sidewall from collapsing inwardly by forces exerted by logging carriage's duel inwardly tapered sheaves.
.cndot. a main body support arm; whereby the line catch leg arm is positioned on the outside surface of the main body support arm. Guide rollers mounted to the line catch leg arm assists in the unrestricted lateral movement there over main body support arm,

2) A line catch leg comprising:
.cndot. an inwardly tapered upper line pulley and a inwardly tapered lower line pulley mounted on the line catch leg positioned one over the other; whereby lower side of haulback line and mainlines are supported and move longitudinally on pulleys, .cndot. a concave shape shearing plate mounted horizontally below upper line inwardly tapered pulley; whereby line catch leg is pushed outwardly away from the logging carriage immediately after running lines are lifted off of line catch leg inwardly tapered pulleys, thereby enabling the logging carriage to pass over the intermediate support assembly without logging carriage and line catch leg entanglement, .cndot. a pair of guide rollers mounted to line catch leg arm; whereby the line catch leg arm will ride smoothly without pinching or abrasive contact on the outside surface of the intermediate support assembly arm.

3) A mechanical slack pulling drop line logging carriage comprising:
.cndot. a pair of spring held line gates; whereby line gates locks into position with a pair of inwardly tapered duel sheaved pivoting plate members; and means for blocking the opened space on the opened side of logging carriage where haulback line could potentially fall out, .cndot. a pair of inwardly tapered duel sheaved plate members, whereby the inwardly tapered duel sheaved plate members are attached to the top of logging carriage support arms, and a means for the line gates to lock into slots located on lower outside portion of duel sheaved plate members, .cndot. a pair of logging carriage support arms, whereby the logging carriage support arms design construction creates the precise dimensions and surface area to attach and position plate members a means to secure and guide logging carriage there over intermediate support assembly, .cndot. a inwardly beveled plate member mounted on the top portion of main body of the carriage;
whereby shearing plate member guides and secures logging carriage on a straight path as carriage approaches and passes intermediate support assembly sidewall; and means for the top portion of the carriage to remain secured without any lateral movement to the sidewall while pushing the line catch leg laterally away from logging carriage, .cndot. a inwardly beveled plate member, mounted on the front and back of the carriage support arms, a means for guiding the movement of the logging carriage as the logging carriage passes through the intermediate support assembly sidewall, .cndot. a outwardly beveled plate member, mounted on the front and back top portion of main body of carriage, a means to assure haulback and mainlines to lift off of upper catch leg inwardly tapered pulley at the appropriate time to permit the line catch leg to be push outwardly away from logging carriage in order to eliminate entanglement with logging carriage and line catch-leg.