A HARVESTER

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a harvester (10) for harvesting logs. The harvester comprises a traction arrangement (11) configured to drive the harvester, an articulated boom (13) configured to connect to a processing head, a fuel reservoir, an electrical energy generator fuelled by a fuel from the fuel reservoir and configured for supplying power to the traction arrangement and the articulated boom, and an electrical connector (17) configured for coupling the electrical energy generator to an electrical energy storage of a shuttle. The harvester is configured to load a harvested log onto a coupled shuttle and charge the electrical energy storage of said coupled shuttle using electrical energy from the electrical energy generator.

Claims

1. A harvester for harvesting logs comprising a traction arrangement configured to drive the harvester; an articulated boom configured to connect to a processing head; a fuel reservoir; an electrical energy generator fueled by a fuel from the fuel reservoir and configured for supplying power to the traction arrangement and the articulated boom; and an electrical connector configured for coupling the electrical energy generator to an electrical energy storage of a shuttle; wherein the harvester is configured to load a harvested log onto a coupled shuttle and charge the electrical energy storage of said coupled shuttle using electrical energy from the electrical energy generator.

2. The harvester according to claim 1, wherein the harvester is configured to load said harvested log onto said coupled shuttle at a same time as charging the electrical energy storage of said coupled shuttle.

3. The harvester according to claim 1, wherein the harvester is configured to: charge said coupled shuttle by a charging amount.

4. The harvester according to claim 1, further comprising an electrical energy storage electrically connected to the electrical energy generator and charged thereby.

5. The harvester according to claim 1, further comprising at least one electrical motor electrically connected to the electrical energy generator and configured for supplying electrical power to the traction arrangement and the articulated boom.

6. The harvester according to claim 1, wherein the electrical energy generator comprises an internal combustion engine, ICE, and a generator, wherein the ICE is fueled by fuel from the fuel reservoir and configured to deliver mechanical power to the generator, wherein the generator is configured to convert the mechanical power into electrical energy.

7. The harvester according to claim 6, wherein the ICE is configured to operate at a determined rate.

8. The harvester according to claim 1, wherein the electrical energy generator comprises a fuel cell.

9. The harvester according to claim 1, wherein the articulated boom comprises a connect system comprising an electrical interface and at least one of a mechanical interface and a hydraulic interface, wherein the connect system is configured to connect to a processing head.

10. The harvester according to claim 9, wherein the connect system is further configured to connect to a log grapple.

11. The harvester according to claim 9, wherein the harvester further comprises a tool holder configured for hold a tool configured to be connected to the articulated boom.

12. The harvester according to claim 1, wherein comprises at least one sensor configured to gather sensory data from an environment around the harvester.

13. The harvester according to claim 1, wherein the harvester is configured for data communication with at least one of a shuttle, and an unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV.

14. The harvester according to claim 1, further comprising an operator cab, and wherein the harvester is configured to be operated by a user within the operator cab.

15. The harvester according to claim 1, wherein the harvester is configured to be remotely operated by a user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The invention will by way of example be described in more detail with reference to the appended schematic drawings, which show presently preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a harvester according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a top view of a harvester according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in a forestry environment.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a harvester and three self-driving shuttles of a forestry system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of elements of a harvester according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled person.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a harvester 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] The harvester 10 comprises a traction arrangement 11 configured to drive the harvester 10. The traction arrangement 11 comprises eight wheels 11, wherein four of the wheels 11 are shown in FIG. 1. It is to be understood that the remaining four wheels of the traction arrangement 11 are arranged on the other side of the harvester 10. The traction arrangement 11 is not limited to comprising wheels 11 and may for example comprise continuous tracks or a combination of continuous tracks and wheels. The harvester 10 further comprises a fuel reservoir (not shown; see FIG. 4), and an electrical energy generator (not shown; see FIG. 4) fuelled by a fuel from the fuel reservoir. The fuel reservoir and the electrical energy generator may be arranged in a body 19 of the harvester 10. The harvester 10 further comprises an electrical connector 17 configured for coupling the electrical energy generator to an electrical energy storage of a shuttle 20. The harvester 10 is configured to load a harvested log 3 onto a coupled shuttle 20, and charge the electrical energy storage of said coupled shuttle 20 using electrical energy from the electrical energy generator, wherein the harvester 10 may be configured to load a harvested log 3 onto the coupled shuttle 20 at a same time as charging the electrical energy storage of the coupled shuttle 20.

[0040] The harvester 10 comprises an operator cab 12. The harvester 10 is configured to be operated by a user within the operator cab 12. However, the harvester 10 may be remotely operated by a user.

[0041] The articulated boom 13 comprises a connect system 13a. The connect system 13a comprises an electrical interface and at least one of a mechanical interface and a hydraulic interface. The connect system 13a is configured to connect to a harvester tool, such as a processing head 14 or a log grapple 15. The harvester 10 further comprises a tool holder 16, arranged at an end of the body 19 of the harvester 10. The tool holder 16 is configured to hold a harvester tool, such as a processing head 14 or a log grapple 15. In FIG. 1, a log grapple 15 is currently arranged in the tool holder 16. The tool holder 16 enables the harvester 10 to more easily switch between tools. Additionally, the tool holder 16 provides the harvester 10 with storage of one or more tools during driving.

[0042] The harvester 10 further comprises a charging dock 18 configured for charging an unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV, 30. The charging dock 18 is arranged on top of the operator cab 12. However, the charging dock 18 may be arranged on other parts of the harvester 10, such as on the body 19 of the harvester 10. FIG. 1 shows a UAV 30 which is docked in the charging dock 18 and is thereby charged. The harvester 10 may be configured to receive an image of a forestry scene in a neighbourhood of the harvester 10 by the UAV.

[0043] The charging dock 30 may allow for one or more UAVs 30 to be operated in the neighbourhood of the harvester 10 continuously, since it is able to be charged at the charging dock 18.

[0044] The harvester 10 may further comprise an electrical energy storage (not shown; see FIG. 4) electrically connected to the electrical energy generator and charged thereby. The electrical energy storage may be arranged within the body 19 of the harvester 10.

[0045] The harvester 10 may further comprise at least at least one electrical motor electrically connected to the electrical energy generator and configured for supplying electrical power to the traction arrangement 11 and the articulated boom 13. The at least one electrical motor may be arranged within the body 19 of the harvester 10.

[0046] The electrical energy generator may comprise an internal combustion engine, ICE, and a generator, wherein the ICE is fuelled by fuel from the fuel reservoir and configured to deliver mechanical power to the generator. The generator may be configured to convert the mechanical power into electrical energy. Alternatively, the electrical energy generator may comprise a fuel cell.

[0047] The harvester 10 shown in FIG. 1 comprises two electrical connectors 17, wherein the electrical connectors 17 are arranged at opposite ends of the harvester 10. In FIG. 1, the harvester 10 is coupled to a shuttle 20 via one of the electrical connector 17. The harvester 10 is currently loading a harvested log 3 onto a compartment of the shuttle 20 by using the articulated boom 13 and the processing head 14 connected to the articulated boom 13. It may be understood that the shuttle 20 is being charged by the harvester 10 via the electrical connector 17.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a top view of a harvester 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in a forestry environment.

[0049] The harvester 10 described with reference to FIG. 2 may comprise features, elements and/or functions corresponding to the harvester described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is provided for an increased understanding of a harvester 10 according to some embodiments. The same reference numerals in FIGS. 1 and 2 denote the same or similar components, having the same or similar function.

[0050] The harvester 10 shown in FIG. 2 is currently operating at a work site, which may also be termed a logging area, and is coupled to a shuttle 20 via an electrical connector 17 of the harvester 10. The harvester 10 is currently delimbing and bucking a tree which it has felled by using the articulated boom 13 and the processing head 14 connected to the articulated boom 13. The harvester 10 has positioned the articulated boom 13 such that the delimbed log 3 may be directly loaded onto a compartment of the coupled shuttle 20. The coupled shuttle 20 has positioned the compartment to allow for easier loading of harvested logs 3 for the harvester 10.

[0051] The forestry environment shown in FIG. 2 further comprises three piles of harvested logs 3 which are currently on the ground. It may be understood that the harvested logs 3 may have been harvested by the harvester 10 when there was no shuttle 20 present and has therefore placed the harvested logs 3 on the ground. The harvester 10 further comprises a connect system (not shown, see FIG. 1) configured for enabling the harvester 10 to switch between tools connected to the articulated boom 13. The harvester 10 further comprises a tool holder (not shown, see FIG. 1) in which a log grapple 15 is currently arranged. Thus, the harvester 10 is able to, by using the connect system, switch from the processing head 14 to the log grapple 15 and is thereby able to load the harvested logs 3, which are currently on the ground, onto the coupled shuttle 20.

[0052] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a harvester 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0053] The harvester 10 described with reference to FIG. 3 may comprise features, elements and/or functions corresponding to the harvester described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 is provided for an increased understanding of a harvester 10 according to some embodiments. The same reference numerals in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 denote the same or similar components, having the same or similar function.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a harvester 10 coupled to three shuttles 20, wherein the shuttles 20 are coupled together in a train configuration. The harvester 10 may be configured to be able to charge a plurality of interconnected shuttles 20, as long as one of the shuttles 20 is connected to the harvester 10 via the electrical connector 17. By being able to charge more than one shuttle 20, the harvester 10 allows for transport of shuttles 20 between, for example, work sites and may be able to charge the shuttles 20 during the transport. Thus, the operation of the harvester 10 and the shuttles 10 may begin as soon as the harvester 10 has reached the work site. Further, by being able to charge more than one shuttle 20, the harvester 10 enables charging during downtime of the operation of the harvester 10, such as during the night. Thus, once operation of the harvester 10 starts the shuttles 20 may be ready for deployment. The harvester 10 is not limited to being coupled to one, two, or three shuttles 20, and may be coupled to substantially any number of shuttles 20.

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of elements of a harvester 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0056] The block diagram shows elements which may be comprised by a harvester 10 as described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. FIG. 4 shows an electrical energy generator 91 connected to a fuel reservoir 92, thereby indicating that the electrical energy generator 91 is configured to be fuelled by a fuel from the fuel reservoir 92.

[0057] The electrical energy generator 91 may be configured as a fuel cell and may be configured to receive fuel, such as hydrogen, from the fuel reservoir 92.

[0058] Alternatively, the electrical energy generator 91 may be configured as an internal combustion engine, ICE, 91a connected to a generator 91b. The ICE 91a may be configured to be fuelled by fuel, such as diesel, from the fuel reservoir 92 and configured to deliver mechanical power to the generator 91b. The generator 91b may be configured to convert the mechanical power into electrical energy.

[0059] The electrical energy generator 91 is electrically connected to an electrical connector 17 configured for coupling the electrical energy generator 91 to an electrical energy storage of a shuttle. The electrical energy generator 91 may be coupled to the electrical connector 17 via an electrical energy storage 97 configured to store electrical energy. The harvester is not limited to comprising an electrical energy storage 97, which is indicated by the electrical energy storage 97 being shown with dashed lines.

[0060] The electrical energy generator 91 is further configured to supply power to the articulated boom 13 of the harvester. The supplied power may be electrical power. However, the harvester may comprise one or more mechanical device 93 and/or one or more hydraulic device 93 which are powered by the electrical energy generator 13 and which are configured for powering the articulated boom 13. Thus, the articulated boom 13 may be mechanically and/or hydraulically powered.

[0061] The electrical energy generator 91 may further, or alternatively, comprise at least one electrical motor configured for powering the traction arrangement and/or the articulated boom 13 of the harvester.

[0062] The person skilled in the art realizes that the present disclosure by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.