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S. Apps
Basic Technologies, Canada
Phone +1 905 735-05 10
Fax +1 905 788-35 84 Disc Saw felling Head
E-mail steve.apps@basic.ca
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Hydraulics for Full Tree Harvesting Machines
one or greater where as in an excavator it is less. Delimbers removed. The carrier’s hydraulic system then pro-
Finally, a high-speed disc saw felling head Once a tree has been brought out of the woods to vides the power to the delimber.
mounted on the boom is perhaps the most con- a processing site, the next step in the full tree har-
trasting visual difference between a feller buncher vesting process is to prepare it for road transport. The basic operation of a delimber is to grasp the
and an excavator. When the tree arrives at the site it is still full length tree, then via drive rolls or a winch system, pull the
with branches and limbs still attached. Depending tree through a set of stationary „knives“ which
Disc Saw felling Head on the final destination, and intended use of the then literally shear or „delimb“ the branches from
The disc saw felling head is perhaps the most im- lumber, the tree may or may not have to be cut to the tree. As stated, it may be required that the trees
portant element of a feller buncher. The head is the a predetermined length. However, in all cases the be cut into predetermined lengths thus providing
part which does the cutting of the tree as well as branches and limbs must be removed. To accom- fixed lengths of logs for the buyer of the wood.
holds or bunches cut trees before they are laid plish this a machine called a delimber is used. A Electronic measuring systems in conjunction with
down on the ground. The cutting is done using a delimber is a stand-alone piece of equipment, proportional control of the rolls or winch motors
fly wheel or inertial type disc with carbide tipped which is then fitted to a carrier. Typically the car- provide this function.
saw teeth fastened on the perimeter of the disc. rier is a tracked excavator which has had the boom
The disc is driven by a hydraulic motor while the
grab arms are controlled via cylinders.
Skidders
To remove a felled tree from the forest, a machine
called a skidder is used. By the nature of the name,
the machine literally „skids“ trees through the
forest and then out to a processing site. Although
a simple process, the demands put on this machine
are unparalleled in the mobile field. Typically these
machines are 4 wheel driven, with some designs
going to six and eight wheels (bogey systems) and
until recently were almost exclusively mechanically
powered using power shift gearboxes and drive
axles. The trend over the last couple of years how-
ever, is to move towards hydrostatic transmissions
with more and more manufacturers exploring this
avenue.
Skidder
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Log Loaders Hydraulic Systems and Compo- Hydraulics found in today’s FTH machines cover the
The last step in the full tree harvesting process is complete spectrum of system concepts and prin-
to load the fully processed tree or log onto a haul- nents for FTH Machines ciples as well as types of components. Components
ing truck. A log loader accomplishes this function. Hydraulics plays a significant role in today’s forestry such as open and closed loop pumps, motors in-
Much like the feller buncher, a log loader’s origins machines and is perfectly suited where high loads tegrated with gear drives, standard throttling, load
come from the excavator. Many of the differences and precision movements are required. High power sensing or LUDV distribution valves, machine con-
between a feller buncher and an excavator also to weight ratio and fine metering capabilities, are trol concepts from simple power regulation to full
apply with a log loader. However, the difference is only two of the reasons why. As a result of today’s microprocessor controlled systems, can all be found
that a log loader has a hydraulically powered grap- ever increasing demands on efficiency, productiv- operating in forests throughout North America.
ple mounted on the end of the boom. In addition, ity, reliability and state of the art technology, Electronics can also be found on some machines
depending on customer requirements, sometimes Rexroth Hydraulics, Brueninghaus Hydromatik and however, it should be pointed out that this is more
the operators cab is elevated in order to provide Lohmann & Stolterfoht have developed product the exception than the norm. With the increase in
better visibility. families which meet and often surpass those needs reliability and user „friendliness“ of such systems,
of forestry machine manufacturers. this technology is slowly gaining acceptance and
is surely a harbinger of things to come in the evo-
lution of FTH machines.
A4VG
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Hydraulics for Full Tree Harvesting Machines
feller bunchers rely on an A10VO or A11VO pump to A6VM motors. The A6VM with an HA control integration of a free flow check in the motor port
with a pressure compensated control. has been used in this application since it’s incep- plate has strengthened this motor’s position to the
tion and is still as reliable now as it was then. The point where it is almost exclusively used.
A4VG
The closed loop drive line requirement for skidders
is perfectly suited for the A4VG from BHY. This lat-
est trend for more efficient power transfer, during
all portions of the skidders operation, as well as
improved driver comfort (no manual shifting of
gears), has provided the perfect opportunity for this
pump. The initial machine control concept uses
hydraulic displacement controls with hydraulic
power regulation via the DA option. With the ad-
dition of integrated filtration, cold start function-
ality, and the high-pressure capabilities, the A4VG’s
future in FTH machines looks bright.
A6VM
A6VM motors can also be found in non-drive func-
tions in FTH machines. The disc saw felling head,
used on almost 98% of every feller buncher manu-
factured, owes a significant amount of its success
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Hydraulics for Full Tree Harvesting Machines
The newest development in delimber drives also GFT + A6VE GFB + A2FE
uses an A6VM motor. When combined with a gear As previously mentioned, BHY A6VE motors are Lohmann’s success in FTH machines does not lie
drive, this combination yields very positive results very popular and successful for the propel appli- solely with propel drives. The same high quality and
as compared to a traditional low speed high torque cation on tracked feller bunchers and log loaders. proven planetary gears are also found in similarly
motor. An increased performance and a projected When combined with Lohmann & Stolterfoht GFT reliable and successful GFB slew drives for feller
increase in life expectancy are two major reasons two and three stage planetary track drives, with bunchers and log loaders. Matched with a BHY
why the population of A6VM motors on delimbers an internal brake release port, this self contained A2FE, the fixed version of the popular A6VE, the
is expected to increase. and compact package is difficult to match. Reli- GFB/A2FE package has complimented the GFT/
ability and a proven history in the North Ameri- A6VE package and has made the „system „ con-
can forest industry have made L&S the #1 propel cept easy to implement where planetary gear/
drive supplier to feller buncher and log loader motor drives are required.
manufacturers in North America.
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Hydraulics for Full Tree Harvesting Machines
M4-15
When flow and pressure limit the application of
the MP valve, Rexroth Hydraulics’ M4-15 can ef-
fectively pick up where the MP valve left off. With
pressures up to 350 bar and section flows up to
200 l/min, the M4-15 is slowly making its presence
felt. Working hydraulics for skidders is a perfect
place for this valve as is the disc saw felling head
cylinder functions. The modular design of the M4-
15 also makes system changes, as result of cus-
tomer demands, a much easier task.
M7-20
MP-18 M4-15
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2TH6R
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168 RE 00 207/10.00