WO2014019682A1 - Apparatus for determining a diameter of a tree trunk - Google Patents

Description

 Device for determining a diameter of a tree trunk

The invention relates to a device for determining a diameter of a tree trunk. Such devices are known in various embodiments from the prior art and are used, for example, to measure existing in a forest or forest wood. This is particularly important in order to determine the economic and environmental performance of a forest, for the determination of which wood stock in the forest concerned is one of the important parameters.

To determine the stock of wood in a forest or forest, the tree trunk diameter is measured at a fixed height from the ground. In most cases, the so-called breast height diameter is measured, which is defined as a tree trunk diameter at a height of 1.30 m above the ground.

Conventionally, tree trunk diameters are determined by so-called calipers or clips. These are in the simplest embodiment, large calipers. On a measuring rail two sliding elements are arranged, which are arranged on two sides of the tree trunk to be measured. The sliding elements are pushed towards each other until they rest against the tree trunk to be measured. The distance between the two sliding elements and thus the diameter of the tree can then be easily read. In newer models an electronic measurement of the distance is already provided, so that a tedious reading of a possibly contaminated scale is eliminated. The disadvantage of such a clip, however, is that on the one hand it is large and unwieldy and on the other hand it is necessary to approach very close to this tree for measuring a tree. This is especially true for forests on a slope or other

CONFIRMATION COPY This is a major drawback for the difficult-to-reach area, which significantly prolongs the survey of the forest and the trees it contains.

In order to counteract this disadvantage, WO 2006/127265 A1 discloses a clip in which the sliding elements, which are displaceable along the measuring rail, no longer have to be applied to the tree. Instead, a laser is located on both sliding elements, the two lasers being arranged so that they emit parallel laser beams. The distance of these parallel laser beams can be changed by the sliding elements and is now adapted so that the two laser beams tangentially abut the tree to be measured. Since the laser beams are emitted parallel to each other, the distance of the laser beams on the clip corresponds to the distance of the laser beams to the tree to be measured, so that the distance to the clip can be easily read. By such a laser clip, it is no longer necessary to approach directly to the tree, so that the measurement of the trees is greatly simplified, especially in inaccessible areas. Nevertheless, the two lasers must be brought to a distance which corresponds to the diameter of the tree. This means that even such a laser clip must be made large and bulky.

When measuring the diameter of tree trunks, it is also necessary to pay particular attention to the height at which the tree trunk measures the diameter, as the diameter of trees usually decreases from the bottom to the top. Conventionally, the so-called breast height diameter is determined. In addition to the diameter, the height in which the diameter is determined must therefore be determined for an exact measurement of the respective tree. This is very difficult to achieve with a laser cable according to WO 2006/107265 A1, since at most it can be estimated how high the laser beams are tangentially against the tree to be measured.

Another method of determining tree trunk diameter without having to approach the tree is described in US 6,738,148 B2. In the measuring method described there, the measuring device has a measuring window in which clamping elements are shown. The person who wants to measure a tree, looks through this measurement window and aligns the meter so that the tree appears exactly between two of these measuring clamps. For example, it may be necessary to change the distance to the tree. From this distance and the known distance of the measuring clamps in the measuring window then the diameter of the tree can be determined. The disadvantage is that even in this case it is very difficult to determine the height at which the diameter of the tree is determined. In addition, the distance to the tree must be determined in another way, which is done for example via a tape measure, so that even with this method, the person measuring the tree trunk often has to approach close to the tree.

From the state of the art, a so-called electronic one-hand clip is also known, which emits a laser beam, which is pivotable over a certain angular range. The clip also has a measuring arm which is rigidly connected to the clip and attached to the tree trunk for measuring a log diameter. Thus, the distance between the tree and the clip is clearly defined, so that from the angle by which the laser must be pivoted once to pivot over the entire tree, and the known distance of the diameter of the tree can be determined. Another disadvantage is that the measuring arms, to make them manageable, have a length of 30 to 50 cm, so that even in this case must be approached close to the surveying tree. In addition, it is not possible with such a device, the height too determine in which the diameter of the tree trunk is determined.

The determination of the diameter of the tree trunk is not only important for standing trees. Also in example felled or fallen trees or stacked and already cut into pieces of certain length tree trunks, so-called rumbling or polders the determination of the diameter of the tree trunks or tree trunk parts is important in order to estimate the volume of wood can.

The invention is therefore based on the object, a generic device for determining a diameter of a tree trunk so that it can be made small and compact and yet that the diameter of the tree trunk can be determined easily and safely, without having to approach the tree trunk ,

The invention achieves the stated object by a device for determining a diameter of a tree trunk, which has a light emitting unit for emitting at least two light beams and a distance determining device for non-contact determination of a distance of the device from the tree trunk, wherein there is an angle between the two light beams is different from 0 °.

To determine the tree trunk diameter, the device is now aligned so that the two light beams that are not parallel to each other, both tangent to each opposite sides of the tree trunk. About the distance determination device, the distance of the tree trunk is determined without contact, so that the diameter of the tree trunk can be calculated from the data obtained in this way. In a preferred embodiment, the device also has an electrical control, which is set up to calculate the diameter of the tree trunk from the angle between the two light beams and the distance of the device to the tree trunk. Such a configured device can thus be made very small and compact and yet is able to determine contactlessly over relatively large distances away the diameter of the tree trunk. It is therefore handy and easy to transport and especially in difficult to access area, such as forests that are on slopes, advantageously used.

To determine the diameter of the tree trunk from the angle between the two light beams and the distance of the device to the tree trunk, the tree trunk is assumed to be provided with a circular average. This means that the distance between the point of impact of the light rays on the tree trunk and the device is slightly larger than the distance between the device and the tree trunk itself.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the electrical control is also arranged to calculate from the angle between the two light beams and the distance of the device from the tree trunk, how far the two light beams are at a distance from the device from each other, the distance of the device corresponds to the tree trunk. To determine the diameter of the tree trunk, this size is not necessary. However, if the electrical control is set up to calculate this size, the device can also be used to measure, for example, the height of the location at which the diameter of the log was determined. This is not possible with clips from the prior art. Instead, as in the determination of the diameter of the tree trunk, the device Align direction so that the two light rays tangent to the two sides of the tree trunk, the device is now aligned so that one of the rays of light hits the bottom of the tree trunk as close to the ground on the tree trunk. The device is aligned so that at the same time the second light beam hits in height on the tree in which the diameter of the log has been determined or is to be determined. The electrical control now only has to determine from the angle between the two light beams and the distance of the device to the tree trunk, the distance that lies between the two points of impact of the two light beams on the tree trunk. Thus, the height is determined quickly, safely and easily, in which the diameter of the tree trunk is determined. This is particularly advantageous when the tree trunk is, for example, on a slope or excretes, for example by Verbiss or abnormal growth forms a measurement in a standard height of, for example, 1, 30 m above the ground. In these cases, the diameter can be determined in a well-defined other height and then converted into a breast height diameter using tables available in the prior art.

In this case, the distance from the device to the tree trunk can be known, for example, from a first measurement in which the diameter of the tree trunk was determined. Alternatively, it can also be determined within the framework of the height measurement, how far away the tree trunk is from the device. For this purpose, it should be ensured that, for example, a beam emitted by a radiation source of the distance determination device hits the tree trunk as perpendicularly as possible. Therefore, it may be advantageous if the angle between the two light beams is adjustable in that both light beams can be moved separately from each other. In this way, it is not necessary that, for example, a beam of a given radiation emitted by a distance-determining device always has the power of bisector of this angle forms. Instead, it is also possible that the two light beams are at different distances from this beam, which is particularly advantageous for this application.

With such a trained electrical control, it is thus very easy with a device described here, not only to determine the diameter of the log without contact and over long distances very accurately, but at the same time determine the height at which the diameter was determined, so that a particularly accurate and comprehensive measurement of the tree trunk is possible quickly and easily.

Advantageously, the light emitting device has a light source for emitting a primary light beam and a splitting device which can be used for splitting the primary light beam into the two light beams. This can be for example a prism, a lens system or another arrangement of optical components. By using only one light source, which may be a laser or a laser diode, for example, the necessary space for the device is further reduced, so that a particularly handy and small design of the device is achieved. Alternatively, it is of course also possible to provide a separate light source, for example a separate laser, for each of the two light beams. When using, for example, laser diodes is still a very small size and only a very low power and power consumption achievable, so that the device is convenient, easy and usable over a relatively long period of time.

Advantageously, the angle between the two light beams is adjustable. This makes it possible to adjust the angle of the between the two light beams at a fixed location of the device so that the light rays hit the tree trunk in the desired manner. The angle can thus be changed in order to determine the diameter be that the light rays tangentially abut on opposite sides of the tree trunk, while for the determination of the height in which the diameter is determined, the two light beams are directed in the manner described above on the tree trunk. An adjustable angle between the two beams thus results in the person missing the log not having to change its position.

Alternatively, the angle may be formed fixed and not adjustable. In this case, the device for optimally adjusting the light beams on the log must be moved toward or away from the log. It has been found to be advantageous if a plurality of light emitting devices and / or splitting devices are provided, which are easily and simply interchangeable with each other. Thus, it is possible, for example, and as an accessory to the device, to offer a plurality of splitting devices which ensure splitting of the two light beams at different angles between the two light beams. Thus, in each case the optimal for the current distance of the device to the tree trunk splitting devices are used in the device, so that possibly only a small change in the distance of the device to the tree trunk is necessary to achieve an optimal alignment of the light beams to the tree trunk.

This can also be achieved, for example, by including in the device a plurality of different splitting devices which can each be brought into an active state in which they are arranged in the beam path of the primary light beam and into a passive position. In this way it is ensured that no splitting device can be lost because they are not available as separate components.

The distance determination device preferably has a radiation source and a detector. The radiation source is advantageous legally a laser, an infrared radiation source or an ultrasonic transmitter. The radiation source advantageously emits radiation pulses which are directed onto the tree trunk to be measured and reflected by it. By means of the detector of the distance determining device, the radiation pulses thus reflected are detected. About the transit time measurement, ie the time that the emitted radiation pulses from the radiation source to the tree trunk and back to the detector and the known speed of the respective radiation pulses so the distance of the device to the tree trunk can be determined. In particular, the speed of sound, however, depends strongly on the current temperature and the humidity of the ambient air, so that it may be useful in the event that an ultrasonic transmitter is used as a radiation source, to determine the temperature and humidity. Depending on these specific values, a speed of sound adapted to these values is then used to calculate the distance of the device from the tree trunk. This speed of sound may for example be stored in the form of tables in a storage device of the device.

Alternatively, it is also possible to provide a reference path whose length is known, and at one end of which is an ultrasonic transmitter, while the other end is provided with an ultrasonic receiver. Since the distance between these two elements is known, the current speed of sound can be determined by a transit time measurement over this distance, so that in this case a measurement of the temperature and the humidity would not be necessary.

Advantageously, the device has a memory device for storing data and / or a data transmission device. In this way, the stored data of different trees and tree trunks can first be stored in the memory device and at a later time, for example after completion of the measurement. gene, be transferred to a corresponding data processing device, such as a laptop or computer. Alternatively or additionally, it is of course also possible, for example via radio links, to transmit the data directly to a central computer or other electronic data processing device.

Overall, with a device described here consequently a particularly simple, fast and yet safe and accurate measurement of trees and logs possible, in addition to the very precisely determinable tree diameter and the height at which the diameter is determined, can be determined.

The described device can not only determine the diameter of the tree trunk in standing trees, but can also be used for surveying lying or stacked wood, Hoizstämmen, assortments or rumbling or polders. Especially in the case of the latter, the diameter measured, for example, in the middle or at one of the ends of the trunk or assortment, and the length of the respective strain are of interest. With the device described here, an optionally reusable reflector is provided, for example, for the length measurement, which is attached to one of the trunks of the assortment or the patter. In this way, the beam emitted by the radiation source of the distance determining device can be reflected particularly well and recovered by the detector. In this way, it is particularly easy, fast and yet precise possible to determine the exact length of the individual tree trunks and trunk shares. The fact that the diameter and length of logs, parent parts and assortments can be determined independently of position by the device described here, it is advantageously used on a wide range of applications in the forestry and wood industries. In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a power source, in particular a capacitor, a rechargeable battery or a battery. This ensures an independent energy supply, in particular of the light emitting device and the distance determining device, so that the device can also be operated, for example, in a forest in which conventionally no external power supply is available.

With the aid of a drawing, an embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail below. Show it:

FIG. 1 shows the schematic illustration of the measurement of a tree trunk diameter,

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the measurement of the height of a measuring point and

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows the schematic representation of the measurement of a diameter of a tree trunk 2. In Figure 1, only the cross section of the tree trunk 2 is shown, which is assumed to be circular in determining the diameter. In the right-hand area of FIG. 1, a device 4 is shown which emits two light beams 6, between which an angle α is included which differs from 0 °.

The two light beams 6 are tangentially in contact points 8 on the tree trunk 2. From these investment points 8 to the center 10 auxiliary lines 12 are located, each including a right angle with the light beams 6 and the half of the diameter of the tree trunk 2 correspond. From the device 4, a further laser beam 16 is emitted via a distance determining device 14, not shown, which strikes the tree trunk 2 at an impact point 18, is reflected by the latter and is collected by a detector 20 (not shown) in the device 4. Also from the impact point 18 to the center 10, an auxiliary line 12 is shown, whose length corresponds to half the diameter of the tree trunk 2. From the angle α and the distance of the tree trunk 2 to the device 14, which is determined by the distance determining device 14, the diameter of the tree trunk 2 can be determined by simple trigonometric relationships. In this case, the sine of the half angle α is calculated as half the diameter of the tree trunk 2 divided by the sum of half the diameter of the tree trunk 2 and the distance of the tree trunk 2 from the device. 4

In this way, consequently, the diameter of the tree trunk 2 can be determined without contact.

Figure 2 shows the device 4 used to determine a height H. Very schematically, the tree trunk 2 is shown in the left part of Figure 2, the diameter of which tapers towards the top. The device 4 emits the two light beams 6, between which again the angle α is included. Here, too, the distance between the device 4 and the log 2 is determined via an additional laser beam 16 emitted by the distance determining device 14 included in the device 4. Again, the height H can be determined by simple trigonometric relationships.

Figure 3 shows the schematic representation of the device 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device has a light emitting device 22, which in the illustrated embodiment, a light source 24, which may be a laser, for example, and a splitter 26 includes. The light source 24 emits a primary light beam 28, which penetrates into the splitting device 26 and is split thereby into the two light beams 6.

The device 4 also has the distance determining device 14, which has a radiation source 30, which in the embodiment shown. Example is also designed as a laser and emits the laser beam 16. In order to catch a laser beam 16 reflected by the tree trunk 2, the distance determination device also has the detector 20. By measuring the transit time of the light emitted by the radiation source 30, the distance between the device 4 and the tree trunk 2 can be determined. For this purpose, the device 4 has an electrical control 32, which is connected to both the distance determining device 14 and the splitter 26 and so from the distance between the device 4 and the log 2 and the angle α between the two light beams 6, the diameter of Tree trunk or the height H can determine a measuring point. The electrical controller 32 has a memory device 34 in which the collected data and certain diameters and heights can be stored.

List of references α angle

 H height

 2 tree trunk

 4 device

 6 light beam

 8 investment point

 10 center point

 12 guides

 14 distance determination device

16 laser beam

 18 impact point

 20 detector

 22 light emitting device

 24 light source

 26 splitting device

 28 primary light beam

 30 radiation source

 32 Electric control

 34 storage device

Claims

claims: 1. Device (4), in particular clip, for determining a  Diameter of a tree trunk (2), the  a light emitting device (22) for emitting at least two light beams (6) and  a distance determining device (14) for determining, without contact, a distance of the device (4) from the tree trunk (2),  wherein between the two light beams (6) is an angle (a), which is different from 0 °. 2. Device (4) according to claim 1, characterized by an electrical control (32) which is arranged from the angle (a) between the two light beams (6) and the distance of the device (4) from the tree trunk (2). to calculate the diameter of the tree trunk (2). 3. Device (4) according to claim 2, characterized in that the electrical control (32) is set up, from the angle (a) between the two light beams (6) and the distance of the device (4) from the tree trunk ( 2) to calculate how far the two light beams (6) are at a distance from each other from the device (4), which corresponds to the distance of the device (4) from the tree trunk (2). 4. Device (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light emitting device (22) has a light source (24) for emitting a primary light beam (28) and a splitting device (26) for splitting the primary light beam (28) in the two Light rays (6). 5. Device (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light emitting device (22) comprises a laser as a light source. 6. Device (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angle (a) between the two light beams (6) is adjustable. 7. Device (4) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the angle (a) between the two light beams (6) is fixed. 8. Device (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance determination device (14) has a ne radiation source (30) and a detector (20). 9. Device (4) according to claim 8, characterized in that the radiation source (30) is a laser, an infrared radiation source or an ultrasound transmitter. 10. Device (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (4) has a memory device (34) for storing data and / or a data transmission device. 11. Device (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an energy source, in particular a capacitor, battery or a battery.