GB2608604A - Automated chainsaw - Google Patents

Abstract

A chainsaw comprising that provides remote operating of the chains saw, automated movement of the cutting arm, and the setting of the angle of cut. The chainsaw comprises a power unit S1 that is linked to a drive shaft D1 that runs through a main chassis (MC, figure 6) which is connected to cutting arm A. The disclosed saw provides safety to the operator and is portable and may perform cutting tasks that is usually undertaken by larger cutting machinery.

Description

Automated Chainsaw This document serves to outline the technical specification and mechanism of the Automated Chainsaw. This document is to be submitted as part of the patent process, pending approval. This invention relates to a device that is used to automatically cut trees without manual force being applied by the operator.

Background

The use of modern chainsaws to cut trees has multiple limitations, including a lack of safety due to the close proximity of the operator to the tree/saw blade, lack of speed and inaccuracy due to use of force-applied stability as opposed to fixation to a tree ensuring a cleaner cut. Additionally, the prolonged use of modern chainsaws by operators in one session can lead to fatigue, leading to both inabilities to work further and a higher chance of human error. Moreover, hazards involving the direction in which the tree is felled are plentiful and potentially fatal.

This invention seeks to rectify these limitations by minimising the input needed by the operator throughout the entire process of cutting a tree. Differently from hand held chainsaws, it is operated remotely using a trigger style remote control similar to those seen in RC cars which eliminates the danger of injury. It also allows for angle chosen for the cut to be more precise which cannot be achieved with hand held chainsaw when cutting thicker tree trunk.

Description

Structure - The power unit consists of a commonly found combustion engine that is contained in normal petrol-powered chainsaws. However, the arm of these original chainsaw is removed, and only the power unit of these chainsaws are used in this invention.

- The power unit sits on the main chassis (MC; Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10) and is held in place by 4 cross-head screws (CRS; Figures, 5, 6, 9 and 10) and is situated behind the functional part of the device. Functional part of the device is a box (B; Figures 1, 3, 7 and 8) containing inner workings of the device and is fitted into the main chassis (MC).

- The clutch inside the power unit is attached to a clutch drum that has a normal bicycle-style chain (CH1; Figure 1) wrapping around a sprocket ring (S1; Figure 1), powering its movement.

This chain (CH1) is linked to another identical sprocket (S2; Figure 1) that is inside the device, at the bottom. The bicycle-style chain (CH1) spins both sprockets (S1+S2; Figure 1) as it moves.

- There is a driveshaft (D1; Figure 1) that is inserted into the middle of the sprocket (52) located inside the bottom of the device (Figures 1 and 3). The driveshaft runs through a tunnel within the main chassis (MC). This driveshaft runs to the top of the device.

- In the middle of the driveshaft, there is a U-joint (U; Figure 1) that effectively splits the driveshaft into two separate shafts (D1 and D2).

- Above the U-joint, there is a flat platform (P1; Figures 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7) which the upper driveshaft (D2) runs through the centre of.

- The flat platform (P1) is held in place by a platform holder (HP; Figures 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7) that wraps around the entire platform (P1). This platform holder (HP) is screwed onto the main chassis (MC) using two locking screws (LS1 and LS2; Figures 2, 3 and 4) that are situated in the front and back of the device, respectively.

- These locking screws (LS1 and LS2) travel along two corresponding locking screw canals (LSC1 and LSC2; Figures 2, 3 and 4) and controls the movement of (P1), depending on the cutting angle set by the operator. They can then be screwed tighter to prevent movement and change of angle. This ensures no change in angle when cutting thick trunk which cannot be achieved by operating hand held chainsaw.

(D2) can extend from inside depending on the movement of (P1) - There is a hammer (C; Figure 1, 2 and 4) bolted onto this platform, which the upper driveshaft (D1) also runs through the centre of. An impact wrench mechanism like those seen in electric screwdrivers is applied in hammer (C), to provide an additional power when cutting difficult and dense objects.

- At the top of the driveshaft there is another sprocket (S3; Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8), which has the saw-chain (CH2; Figures 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8) around it. This sprocket (S3) sits on a platform (P2; Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8) with the arm (A; Figures 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8) of the device bolted onto the platform.

- The chain (CH2) wraps around the end of the saw arm (A).

Mechanism The three key mechanisms involved in this invention are: (a) Operating the saw-chain (b) Automatic movement of the arm (c) Setting the angle of the cut.

(a) -Operating the saw-chain - Power supplied from the power united spins (S1) causing (CH1) to spin with it, leading to (S2) also to spin.

- The spinning of (52) leads to the spinning of (D1) which implanted in the middle of (52).

- Lower drive shaft (D2), U-joint (U) and upper drive shaft (D1) move together at the same speed which is dictated by the power supplied by the power unit.

- Movement of upper drive shaft (D1) leads to the spinning of sprocket on the top (S3).

- Chain (CH2) that is wrapped around the (S3) spins with it and runs along the arm and to the curved end, identical to a normal chainsaw arm.

(b) -Automatic movement of the arm - Upper drive shaft (D1) runs through hammer (C), platform (P2) and sprocket (S3). Hammer (C) is attached to platform (P2) at its bottom.

- Upon engagement of power, hammer (C) will spin at the same RPM as lower drive shaft (D2) and upper drive shaft (D1).

- In the condition that the arm is cutting through an object, the power supplied by the engine is the power used to spin the arm that is attached to platform (P2). The power used is fully mechanical, where in hand held chainsaw man power is needed to make the cut.

(c) -Setting the angle of the cut - Locking screws (LS1 and LS2; Figures 2, 3 and 4) are the screws responsible for dictating and allowing a change in the angle of the cut. When they are fastened, there is no change in angle or movement.

- To change the angle, both screws must first be loosened.

- The operator then adjusts to the chosen angle by grabbing the two opposing sides of the (HP) and rotating accordingly.

- When the correct angle is achieved, the (LS1) and (LS2) can be tightened again to ensure no further movement.

- When the (HP) is rotated, both (LS1) and (LS2) travel along (LSC1) and (LSC2), respectively. Variables - (S2) and (S3), the two sprockets involved in the device, can be adjusted for size, therefore influencing the speed and power of the chain. For example, by decreasing the circumference of (S3), higher chain speed can be achieved to the detriment of power. Inversely, by increasing the circumference and therefore the size of the sprocket, higher chain power can be achieved to the detriment of speed.

- Arm (A; Figures 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8) can be changed according to the type of object that needs cutting. For example, a longer arm can be used to cut trees that have a ticker trunk.

- Hammer (C; Figures 1, 2 and 4) can be increased in circumference to increase power.

List of drawing figures Figure 1 -Overall structure of the device and the attached section of the power unit. This is a side view dissection of the device showing the inner workings within the (MC).

Figures 2 -Front-side anatomical view of the device. The strap going around the tree passes through (RSH1), (RSH2), (RSH3) and (RSH4). The front locking screw (LS1) can travel along the Front-facing locking screw canal (LSC1), depending on the angle of movement of the holding platform (HP). The (LS1) can then be tightened to prevent any movement of the holding platform (HP).

Figure 3 -Rear-side view showing the posterior angle of the device anatomy. The lower driveshaft (D1) and the corresponding bottom sprocket (S2) that it is attached to can be seen at the bottom of the device. The front locking screw (LS2) can travel along the Front-facing locking screw canal (LSC2), depending on the angle of movement of the device. The (LS2) can then be tightened to prevent any movement of the device.

Figure 4 -Front-side anatomical view of the device with cutting angle adjusted. In this example, the cutting angle has been changed by the operator to a 35-degree angle. Therefore, the platform holder (HP) that wraps around (P1) is raised on one side and lowered on the other, while the locking screw (LS1) is to the right of the locking screw canal (LSC1) and is tightened to avoid movement.

Figure 5 -Birds-eye view of the device with main chassis (MC) with device. Figure 6 -Side view of the device with main chassis with device.

Figure 7 -Birds-eye view of the device anatomy that displays the top of the device. As shown by the arrow, (P2) and (53) that sits atop it can rotate at a 180-degree angle. The arm is attached to the end of (P2), facing outwards towards the object that it will be interacting with.

Figure 8 -Side view of the device anatomy.

Figure 9 -Birds-eye view of the main chassis (MC). Fixing spikes (FS) are welded on to the front panel which faces the tree, providing extra stability to the device.

Figure 10 -Side view of the main chassis (MC). Hexagon head screws that hold device box (B) within main chassis are visible here. Cross-head screws (CRS) are used to fix power unit to the main chassis.

Figure 11 -Hexagon-head screws (HXS) in this figure. Main chassis and device are held together by 18 of these in total.

Figure 12 -Cross-head screws (CRS). There are 4 of these in total on the main chassis (MC) to fix the power unit in place.

Claims (1)

1. Claims - Claim 1 Safety of the operator -The minimal involvement of the operator in the entire process of cutting the object can be achieved with the use of this device. The distance of the operator from the action area means that there is minimal risk of injury. Additionally, the lack of mechanical force needed from the operator reduces the risk of long-term injury and tiredness due to repeated use. Moreover, addition of a remote-control system increases these benefits greatly, completely negating the need for any force applied from the operator.- Claim 2 Clean cutting at an angle -By being able to choose the angle of the cut, you can not only achieve a completely clean cut, but therefore also be able to accurately choose the direction in which the tree that you're cutting will fall. Since this is conducted mechanically and not by force, there are no inconsistencies and inaccuracies in holding and maintaining the chosen angle.- Claim 3 Portability -As this device can perform tasks that are usually done by much larger and more expensive machinery, this device can be transported as a regular chainsaw that doesn't have any of these features and capabilities. Therefore, a single operator can carry multiple chainsaws into difficult-to-access areas without and difficulty.- Claim 4 Cost -This device can be produced at a low cost. There is no need to redesign the power unit as device can be connected to the one identical to those used in hand held chainsaws.