Patent Application
20170087740
The present invention field generally relates to rotary log debarkers. More particularly, the invention relates to a rotary log debarker with a tilting system.
Log debarkers are typically used in the wood and timber industry. They are designed to remove bark from wood logs, subsequently producing forest biomass. Log debarkers can use various mechanisms to remove bark from wood logs. Typical debarkers generally comprise ring debarkers, flail debarkers, cutter head debarkers, drum debarkers and rotary debarkers. Once bark is removed from the logs, the logs are ready to be used to produce wood products such as wood chips.
An objective of log debarking is to obtain a given degree of log cleanliness depending on the intended application of the debarked logs, while reducing wood losses on the logs. Reaching the desired degree of cleanliness is an important factor since it directly influences the quality and the value of the wood products produced from the debarked logs. A high degree of efficiency is desired to produce quality logs at a high rate.
Ring debarkers and cutter head debarkers generally offer the possibility to remove the bark from only one log at a time, which is not always ideal when high yields are required. The productivity is also reduced when small diameter logs are being debarked. On the other hand, drum debarkers and flail debarkers do allow for multiple logs to be loaded at the same time. However the cleanliness of the logs can be suboptimal and large diameters logs cannot generally be processed. Rotary debarkers are efficient only for certain species of wood.
Moreover, with the typical log debarkers, it is not always possible to ensure a constant productivity when the log parameters are changing, such as their diameter, their shape and even the species of the trees.
Considering the above, there is presently a need for an improved log debarker in order to overcome at least some of the mentioned drawbacks.
In some implementations, there is provided a rotary log debarker comprising a container. The container comprises a bottom part, two opposed longitudinal walls extending upward from the bottom part, one end wall, and a chute. The bottom part comprises rotors being drivable by a power source. The rotors comprise a plurality of debarking plates. The debarking plates comprise an abrasive surface. The rotary log debarker is characterized in that it is provided with a tilting system for adjustable tilting of the container about a pivot point.
In some implementations, the rotary log debarker further comprises a stabilizer to stabilize the container upon tilting the container.
In some implementations, the tilt angle of the container determines a longitudinal travel speed of the logs being debarked.
In some implementations, the debarking plates further comprise at least one abrader tool.
In some implementations, the at least one abrader tool comprise at least one tooth.
In some implementations, the rotary log debarker further comprises an output conveyor, to convey bark from the logs being debarked.
In some implementations, the rotary log debarker is mountable onto a vehicle.
In some implementations, there is provided a rotary log debarker comprising a container. The container comprises a bottom part, two opposed longitudinal walls extending upward from the bottom part, one end wall, and a chute. The bottom part comprises rotors being drivable by a power source. The rotors comprise a debarking plate base assembly comprising an abrasive surface and an debarking plate base assembly placeable above the rotors. The debarking plate base assembly comprises transversal openings shaped and positioned such that the debarking plate base assembly interlaces with the debarking plates. The rotary log debarker is characterized in that it is provided with a tilting system for adjustable tilting of the container about a pivot point.
In some implementations, the rotary log debarker comprises a stabilizer to stabilize the container upon tilting the container.
In some implementations, the tilt angle of the container determines a longitudinal travel speed of the logs being debarked.
In some implementations, the debarking plate base assembly further comprise serrated plates.
In some implementations, the debarking plates further comprise at least one abrader tool.
In some implementations, the at least one abrader tool comprise at least one tooth.
In some implementations, the rotary log debarker comprises an output conveyor, to convey bark from the logs being debarked.
In some implementations, the rotary log debarker is mountable onto a vehicle.
In some implementations, the at least one of the longitudinal wall has at least a rotatable panel attached thereto.
In some implementations, the end wall has at least a rotatable panel attached thereto.
In some implementations, each rotatable panel is manually driven.
In some implementations, each rotatable panel is hydraulically driven.
In some implementations, there is provided a process for debarking logs using a rotary log debarker. The process comprises top-loading the logs in a container. The container comprises a bottom part, two opposed longitudinal walls extending upward from the bottom part, one end wall, and a chute. The bottom part comprises rotors. The rotors comprise a plurality of debarking plates with an abrasive surface, and are drivable by a power source. The bottom part further comprises a debarking plate base assembly placed above the rotors. The debarking plate base assembly comprises transversal openings shaped and positioned such that the debarking plate base assembly interlaces with the debarking plate. The process further comprises tilting the container in relation to a ground surface.
In some implementations, the process further comprises a step for stabilizing the container with a stabilizer upon tilting of the container.
In some implementations, the process further comprises a step a step for retrieving the debarked logs exiting the chute.
In some implementations, the process further comprises a step a step for conveying bark and debris from the logs being debarked, with an output conveyor located opposite to the end wall.
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Having the possibility to adjust the travel speed of the logs and being able to control of the debarking conditions depending of the parameters of the logs to be debarked can result in an increased efficiency and productivity. In one embodiment, the stabilizer can be a retractable leg 18. The retractable leg 18 can have an adjustable height, which provides the leg with the opportunity to adopt the required height to provide the support to the container 38 depending on the tilt angle of the container 38.
In a preferred embodiment, the tilting system 16 and the stabilizer 18 are arranged horizontally, in an opposed relationship, as shown in
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In the above description, the same numerical references refer to similar elements. Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity and clarity, namely so as to not unduly burden the figures with several reference numbers, not all figures contain references to all the components and features, and references to some components and features may be found in only one figure, and components and features of the present invention illustrated in other figures can be easily inferred therefrom. The embodiments, geometrical configurations, materials mentioned and/or dimensions shown in the figures are optional, and are given for exemplification purposes only.
Furthermore, although the present invention may be used with various objects, such as debarkers, for example, it is understood that it may be used with other debarking systems. For this reason, expressions such as “debarker”, “debarking plate”, etc. not be taken as to limit the scope of the present invention to these devices. These expressions encompass all other kinds of materials, objects and/or purposes with which the present invention could be used and may be useful, as can be easily understood.
