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http://toolmonger.com/2009/04/14/antique-tools-logging-gear/
Two wheeled manual sulkies were developed in the 1970ies for use in the tropics
by forest development projects of mainly Scandinavian countries. In its final
development stage a sulky with double bogie wheels was designed in 1985 in
Finland and applied widely in east African countries and the Philippines under the
Finnida APPRODEV Project. In recent years larger and stronger framed models
were developed for tractor and ATV operations, these will be covered in a
separate fact sheet.
Logging sulkies are probably the most appropriate systems to start stepwise
improved small scale forwarding operations in smallholder (plantation) and
community type (natural forest) operations, particularly where animal extraction
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has not been practiced yet or where it has been replaced by large scale heavy
equipment applied by commercial companies .
Design features
In its basic design a logging sulky consists of two wheels with a straight or arched
axis elevated by at least 30 cm above mid wheel level. It serves the dual purposes
of lifting as well as transporting (skidding) logs either in full suspension above
ground ( see supplier mistersawmill) or dragging with one end suspension. The
elevation of the fixation point of the log above the wheel center determines the
forces required for lifting and total diameters for single or bundled logs which
can be attached either with (1) ropes, (2) choker chains, hooked into a slotted
notch bar (iron angle) on top of the axis or (3) hook tongs (not suitable for
bundles).It is recommended that on level ground the load is suspended as much
as possible in order to reduce friction during extraction. On sloping terrain (max
up to 40 % the load should be dragged on the ground to increase breaking power
via friction. This should be considered in the design distance between handle and
axis. An extendable handle bar can also be considered to adjust for different load
lengths.
Fig. 2: Basic design and horizontal dimensions of bogie type logging sulky
from Kantola and Harstela (1988)
There are a few manufacturers and international suppliers (see Annex) for logging
sulkies. However, transport costs and import taxes will in most cases make import
to expensive, given the fact, that the relatively simple design of this equipment
allows local production by welding shops, which need at least (gas) welding and
steel water pipe bending equipment.
Fig.4 : Commercially produced hand sulky with chain choker system
From www.norwoodsawmills.com
Loading capacity is normally around 125 kg for light frame and 200 kg for heavier
frame two wheel sulkies, whereas 250 to 300 kg can be loaded on bogie types. If
higher loading capacity is required, the sulky will have to be equipped with hand
winches ( see mistersawmill in suppliers list) and adapted to 3 to 4 person teams.
Most studies on hand sulkies indicate that weight (25 vs. 50 kg) will affect
productivity (1.6 vs. 1.0 m3/hr ) by as much as 30% on gentle slopes (Ole-Meiludie
a. Omes 1979). Thus, weight limitations are the essential consideration in any
sulky design.
Fig 5: FTP double wheel bogie sulkie
from: Seymore, M.(1996) and Kantola M. and Harstela,P.(1988)
r
Please note the clamping device and the extendable handle bar with an inside pipe of about 100 cm and
the spade like emergency break
On steeper slopes (above 30o) the use of hand sulkies reaches its s agronomical
limits. In such situations the use of pulleys ( for details see hand tool fact sheet) as
shown in Fig 8 is recommended. This will allow either the(1) safer downhill
extraction with a counterweight or easier uphill movement by using the downhill
force of the empty sulky and downhill pulling force of the operators. It is
advisable that such systems will also apply the safety spade break system as
illustrated in the bamboo sulky.
Draught animals such as oxen, buffaloes, horses and donkeys can all be used in
combination with the sulky to transport heavy loads. Putting loads on wheels
reduces the skidding resistance and allow animal to pull heavier loads. For safety
reasons uphill pulling of sulkies with draught animals on steep slopes either
directly or via pulleys is quite dangerous and is not recommended. In such cases
dragging logs on the ground is the preferred method
These figures and some further studies Skaar 1975, Ole-Meiludie 1984, Saarilahti
1992) indicate skidding outputs in relation to extraction distances (moderate
slopes ) for 2 man sulky skidding teams on prepared trails with average loads of
100 to 200 kgs.
Skidding distance (m)
Skidding output (m3/ day)
Labour productivity (m3/pers/day )
10
12-18
6-9
40
8-13
4-6.5
80
5-10
2.5-5
the trial cycles was 350 meters and topography was moderately sloped (20% of
extraction route ) and flat ( max 15%) with soft ground on paddy terraces Table 2
gives the time breakdown of activities in bamboo extraction. In comparison to
timber extraction the loading time is with 20 to 30 % relatively high, which is due
to the small size material. Due to top loading of the clam bank pre-bundling of
bamboo culms, which would reduce cycle time, is so far technically not possible.
Over 5 cm delimbed
Below 5 cm delimbed
Dead
Loading
Trip without the load
0%
Dead
Below 5 cm de-limbed
Over 5 cm de-limbed
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Productivity, t/h
0,283
0,302
0,467
Average load, kg
134
106
155
0,236
0,200
85
84
21,5
25,3
Given the extraction distance and the extremely low range of volume (weight)/
piece ratio of 8-20 kg/piece, productivity figures are surprisingly high in
comparison to timber (50 to 200 kg/piece). In terms of labour productivity
extraction would be in a range of 0.8 to 2.0 t/pers/day. Under the given site
conditions the use of the sulky would increase labour productivity in bamboo
extraction by at least 3 to 5 times as compared to carrying by hand..
Recommendations:
Sulkies offer the ideal solution for a first step improvement of labour efficiency
from purely manual extraction both in flat terrain, downhill and possibly even
uphill situations. The average load can be improved from 30 to 50 kg per person
to 150 -200 kg on flat terrain and 250 to 280 kg in downhill extraction. This can
improve extraction efficiency by a factor of 2 to 5 and result subsequently in
considerable labour cost saving. Sulkies can be built in most rural environments
with locally available (often scrap) materials. Due to the low construction costs
(200 to 300$US) machine cost for the systems are negligible and can be recovered
over very short periods. The system offers further upgrading into more solid and
heavier logging arches to be drawn by animals, 4 wheel tractors, hand tractors or
all terrain vehicles as shown in the respective fact sheets.
Literature:
Abeli. W.S. (1992). Optimal road spacing for manual skidding sulkies J. Trop. For Sc.6(1):8-15
FAO. (1989). Design manual on basic wood harvesting technology FAO Training Series 18. p 1117 http://www.fao.org/docrep/016/t0129e/t0129e.pdf
Fosser E. (1974) The sulky a working aid in conifer plantations. NORAD TAN/70/005 Oslo
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Skogsarbeten Swedish forestry techniques with possible applications in the third world (p97-98)
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Annex
1. Suppliers :
www.grube.de (Germany)
www.norwoodsawmills.com
see Fig 4
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www.hakmet.com Canada
www.mistersawmill.com (USA)
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Model:
HP:
(P)
INITIAL INVESTMENT
(S)
(N)
Estimated Life:
(SH)
(U)
Utilization: ___
(H)
(AVI)
$_______
$_______
____ years
___ hrs/yr
$_______/yr
I. Fixed Cost:
Depreciation= (P-S)/N
$_______/yr
$_______/yr
$_______
$_______
$_______
$_______
$_______
$_______
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$_______
$_______
$_______
$_______
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