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US3776390A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Skyline logging carriage
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-06-17
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1991-06-17
Abstract
Abstract The carriage is moved back and forth on a skyline by winch drums on a yarder at one end of the skyline. The carriage contains a three-section cable drum having individual sections for a main line, a haulback line and a hoisting line. A hydraulic brake in the carriage operates on the three-section drum and a hydraulic clamp operates on the skyline. When the carriage drum brake is set and the skyline clamp released, the yarder winch drums pull the carriage out by winding in the haulback line and slacking off the main line. The yarder winch drums pull the carriage in by winding in the main line and slacking off the haulback line. When a turn of logs is to be lifted by the carriage for travel back to the yarder, the skyline clamp is set and the carriage drum brake released. The logs are lifted by causing the yarder main line winch to pull in the main line while the haulback line is slacked at the yarder. The skyline clamp and drum brake in the carriage are actuated by a special leak-proof hydraulic system. A hydrostatic transformer provides a high pressure source of hydraulic fluid for the clamp. The hydraulic system is supplied by a bi-rotational pump operated by rotation of the carriage cable drum and pressurized oil is stored in an accumulator when the pump is not operating. Valves for actuating and releasing the brake and clamp are radio controlled by an operator at the yarder. To facilitate putting the carriage on the skyline and removing it from the skyline, the skyline clamp is made accessible by a hinged frame so that the skyline does not have to be threaded lengthwise through the clamp shoes.
Inventors
- 👤 N Junes
- 👤 W Stanyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:02
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66C; B66C1/00; B66C1/10; B66C1/22; B66C1/34; B66C1/36; A; A01; A01G; A01G23/00; A01G23/003; B66C21/00; B66C2700/00; B66C2700/01; B66C2700/011; B66D; B66D2700/00; B66D2700/01; B66D2700/0125; B66D2700/0158
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
273 words
A skyline logging carriage comprising a carriage frame; a pair of yokes mounted on transverse pivots at opposite ends of said frame and having skyline rider sheaves for flexible suspension of said carriage on a skyline cable; a removable lid plate on said carriage, a skyline clamp having stationary and movable clamp jaws mounted on said lid plate and extending approximately the length of said carriage, a series of clamp cylinders operable on said movable clamp jaw at intervals along the length thereof to apply said clamp, a plurality of retractor cylinders operable on said movable clamp jaw to release said clamp; a three section cable drum in said carriage receiving a main line, a haulback line and a hoisting line, a pair of end plates on said drum supporting the drum for rotation on a stationary shaft in said carriage, said drum having a central chamber between said end plates defining an oil reservoir; a birotational pump having radial cylinders mounted on said shaft in said oil reservoir, a cam ring connected with said drum arranged to reciprocate pistons in said cylinders; a hydraulic brake operable on said drum, said drum being rotated to raise and lower said hoisting line by yarder winch drums at one end of said skyline connected with said main and haulback lines; a hydraulic system in said carriage outside of said drum having radio controlled solenoid valves arranged to apply and release said brake and clamp, axial oil passageways in said shaft connecting said pump with said hydraulic system, and a pressure accumulator in said hydraulic system maintaining fluid pressure in said retractor cylinders at all times.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
273 words
A skyline logging carriage comprising a carriage frame; a pair of yokes mounted on transverse pivots at opposite ends of said frame and having skyline rider sheaves for flexible suspension of said carriage on a skyline cable; a removable lid plate on said carriage, a skyline clamp having stationary and movable clamp jaws mounted on said lid plate and extending approximately the length of said carriage, a series of clamp cylinders operable on said movable clamp jaw at intervals along the length thereof to apply said clamp, a plurality of retractor cylinders operable on said movable clamp jaw to release said clamp; a three section cable drum in said carriage receiving a main line, a haulback line and a hoisting line, a pair of end plates on said drum supporting the drum for rotation on a stationary shaft in said carriage, said drum having a central chamber between said end plates defining an oil reservoir; a birotational pump having radial cylinders mounted on said shaft in said oil reservoir, a cam ring connected with said drum arranged to reciprocate pistons in said cylinders; a hydraulic brake operable on said drum, said drum being rotated to raise and lower said hoisting line by yarder winch drums at one end of said skyline connected with said main and haulback lines; a hydraulic system in said carriage outside of said drum having radio controlled solenoid valves arranged to apply and release said brake and clamp, axial oil passageways in said shaft connecting said pump with said hydraulic system, and a pressure accumulator in said hydraulic system maintaining fluid pressure in said retractor cylinders at all times.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A logging carriage as defined in claim 1 including a combined inlet and outlet check valve unit mounted at and communicating with the inner end of each of said pump cylinders.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A logging carriage as defined in claim 1 including an oil bypass line having an injector nozzle in the intake of said pump, and a pressure relief valve connected between the pump discharge and said bypass line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A logging carriage as defined in claim 1 including a target ring on said carriage, and a hydraulic line adapted to be ruptured by a rifle shot into the target area to release hydraulic clamping pressure from said skyline clamp in an emergency.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
110 words
A logging carriage as defined in claim 1 including means in each of said drum sections for anchoring a cable end without damage to the cable in the event that drum rotation overruns the length of cable on the drum, said means comprising an arcuate plate of short radius curvature in the drum section extending parallel with the drum axis, an axial keyhole slot in said plate having a wide portion to receive an end ferrule on the cable and a narrow portion only wide enough to pass the cable, and a narrow circumferential slot in said plate intersected at mid length by the narrow end of said keyhole slot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
In a skyline logging carriage as defined in claim 1, means holding said plurality of hydraulic clamp cylinders loosely in position at said intervals along said movable jaw to apply direct thrust against said movable jaw, and a pair of abutment blocks on the carriage engageable with opposite ends of said movable jaw to resist end thrust on said jaw.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
A skyline logging carriage as defined in claim 6, said holding means also holding said movable jaw loosely in operative position for transverse movement toward and away from the skyline and for lengthwise movement against one or the other of said abutment blocks, said holding means being releasable and said movable jaw being removable from the carriage when said holding means is released.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
A skyline logging carriage as defined in claim 7, said lid plate having rectangular holes narrower than said clamp cylinders supporting said cylinders in horizontal position, said lid plate supporting said movable jaw for said transverse and lengthwise movements, and a hinged overarm assembly overlying said cylinders and movable jaw holding said cylinders and movable jaw loosely in operative positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
A skyline logging carriage as defined in claim 1 including a hydrostatic transformer connected with said hydraulic pressure system and said clamp cylinders, said hydrostatic transformer operating said clamp cylinders at said system pressure in moving said movable jaw from a retracted to a clamped position and then operating as a pressure intensifier to increase the hydraulic pressure in the clamp cylinders to a pressure higher than said system pressure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
149 words
A logging carriage as defined in claim 9, said hydrostatic transformer comprising a piston having a large diameter end and a small diameter end, a large diameter cylinder containing said large end of said piston and a small diameter cylinder integral with said large diameter cylinder containing said small end of said piston, external port connections in the opposite ends of said large cylinder and in the end of said small cy inder which is remote from said large cylinder, an axial fluid passageway through said piston, a check valve in said passageway normally preventing fluid flow through said passageway from said small cylinder to said large cylinder, and a rod mounted in the end of said large cylinder which is remote from said small cylinder, said rod projecting into said passageway and arranged to open said check valve as said piston approaches said end of said large cylinder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A skyline logging carriage as defined in claim 9, said retractor cylinders being effective to retract said movable jaw when said clamp cylinders are not energized.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |