Grapple carriage
US5653350A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 10, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 5, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 10, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB66C21/00
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A remote-controlled grapple carriage picks up and transports logs along a skyline cable. The grapple carriage is designed to enable logs positioned laterally with respect to the skyline cable without any assistance from a logger at the logs. The grapple carriage includes a motor carriage rotatably coupled to a skyline coupler slidably coupled to the skyline cable. In addition, the grapple carriage includes a boom pivotally coupled at a proximal end to the motor carriage and coupled at a distal end to a grapple. The grapple is rotatably and pivotally coupled to the boom in a manner that enables the grapple to pick up and transport logs to a landing. The various pivotal and/or rotatable couplings of the elements of the grapple carriage enable the grapple to reach logs positioned laterally of the skyline cable in a safe and efficient manner.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.