There are many different tree harvester brands on the market. Most rely on variations of the feed wheel setup to process felled trees. While they may use the most powerful hydraulic motors for the feed wheels, the problem is that spinouts can happen with high power. Among all felling heads, only Keto Harvesters employ a patented track feeding system. This unique design minimizes surface damage to logs and applies the full power of the feed motor instantly without spinout. Consequently, Keto Harvesters produce perhaps the highest true net tractive effort while providing the most accurate length measurements in the industry. When the trees you are felling are your livelihood, those are important considerations! Not convinced? Here are 5 reasons to get on track with Keto!
5 reasons to get on track with Keto Harvesters
The advantages of the Keto track feed system are manyfold. The track feed provides:
- very high net feeding and delimbing power.
- extremely accurate TRIPLE length measuring.
- long life on tracks and motors.
- easy servicing.
- more profitable and marketable, better quality timber.
Very high net feeding and delimbing power.
In order to delimb and cut timber to log lengths, all harvester heads include some method for propelling logs forwards and delimbing them at the same time. Typically, other brands involve two to four feed wheels to propel the stem. However, there are negatives to this technology. A wheel offers a very short contact surface with a log. Consequently, wheels offer less net grip than a flatter and longer track surface. Think about your car offroad. Letting some air out of your tires increases the footprint of the tire, generating more grip on muddy or sandy surfaces. A tire full of air is more likely to spin out, especially with high powered engines. The same is true for feed wheels. The decreased contact offered by a solid feed wheel increases the likelihood of a spin out, causing damage to the trunks you are processing.
Keto Harvesters use a unique and patented track feeding system. Depending on the model, these harvesters provide a gentle, but firm grip over a length of ~15 -24 inches (~40 – 60 cm) on both sides of the trunk. The result is an extremely strong, positive tractive effort for propelling the log through the head.
Keto harvesters use a patented track feed for a gentle but firm grip.
The Keto track motor sprocket is smaller in diameter compared to wheeled harvesters. This means that same motor torque provides more tractive force. The high net tractive feed effort is a key factor in high delimbing power of Keto Harvesters. There is little danger of tracks spinning, even when hitting oversized branches. Larger Keto heads handle branches in excess of 20-30 cm. As we all know, trees are not uniform, the irregularities include bends, crooks, forks, big branches, etc. Harwood species are the most challenging in general. Keto heads have a proven track record with even the toughest trees.
Extremely accurate TRIPLE length measuring.
The degree to which a measuring wheel penetrates the bark and wood impacts the standard error of length measurements. This is because the measuring wheel’s effective radius changes based on surrounding conditions. Consequently, length measurements on feed wheel systems depend on ambient conditions. Comparatively, the long and flat contact area provided by Keto tracks results in very accurate measurements. Whether on the bark surface or deeper inside, the flat and straight line length is the same.
Additionally, both tracks have an encoder sending the signals independently to the xLogger computer. This data is displayed as 2 separate, very accurate lengths. Subsequently, the xLogger analyses the data steams. It repairs any issues caused by tree characteristics, feed speed, power, and mechanics. It manages all of this quickly during tree feeding process. The xLogger then displays the repaired data stream as a third length. The computer takes this as the correct length measurement. We call this system TRIPLE length measuring.
Tracks provide an excellent base for accurate length measurements.
This kind of measuring is unique to Keto heads using xLogger computer, and is proven the most accurate system in the industry. Users and log buyers have often commented that Keto Harvesters consistently measure within a 5 cm window, even on logs over 20 m long and in challenging conditions.
The user friendliness of the system compliments the extreme accuracy. The system hardly needs any recalibrations after the delivery – a big advantage! The same calibration works for all species and all weather conditions. Since the track surface is straight and flat, spike penetration into bark is not a calibration factor. Conversely, it is a factor for measuring wheels as their effective rotating radius changes depending on penetration. Tracks stay in perfect contact with the tree, with no skipping over irregularities in the tree.
Kone Ketonen Oy abandoned measuring wheels nearly 30 years ago.
Keto abandoned using measuring wheels nearly 30 years ago, and there has been no looking back! Measuring wheels fall prey to the irregularities in tree species, log surface quality, bark thickness, ambient temperatures, etc. Additionally, they require daily monitoring, frequent calibrations, and servicing. No measuring wheel means no maintenance on it, which is a major advantage!
Long life on tracks and motors.
The track system distributes the log load across the track surfaces. Very little if any load is on the motor shaft. As a result the motor shafts last in Keto harvesters. Also, the drive sprocket is in line with the bearings on the motor shaft. In turn, this eliminates most of the bending forces on the shaft. Additionally, thanks to the unique drive design, a lower cost gear motor provides more than adequate tractive effort.
Conversely, in feed wheel setups, the log load applies directly to the motor drive shaft through the feed wheel. Not only does this cause the motor bearings and shaft seals to wear faster, but the shafts may break as the wheels are further away from the bearings.
Track life has increased over the years thanks to Kone Ketonen’s intensive research and development. The xLogger computer system also has features which optimize the holding power against the log surface, increasing the life of tracks. Most customers get between 7000 and 8000 hours of use before replacement. Some even 10,000 hours of use! Further, Keto currently warranties the tracks up to 5000 hours of use.
Easy Servicing.
Firstly, the Keto track and measuring system do not need much servicing due to a very simple design. The most common service task is normal greasing and adding oil to the lube tank. Retightening takes a few minutes at 3-4 month intervals. Motors do not usually need regular service attention.
Additionally, tracks are fully self-cleaning. The motion of the tracks in conjunction with the nature of the link assembly results in no accumulation of resin or bark. Waste naturally falls off of tracks as the move. Consequently, you do not waste time cleaning the tracks.
Finally, the length encoders are well protected and last even several years. In fact, they last so long that customers forget how to service them! All encoder signals and faults are visible and identifiable on the service mode screens in the cab, which eliminates the guessing work.
More profitable and marketable, better quality timber.
When processing, the degree of fiber damage caused by feeding depends on a variety of factors. Among them, temperature fluctuations cause changes in trunk firmness. Additionally, firmness varies from one species of tree to the next. Hardness of the tree impacts the depth to which the cleats of a feeder penetrate the wood. Seasonal, if not daily changes in temperature can cause feed wheel cleats to dig more deeply into wood, damaging fibers. On top of that, branches present challenges by interfering with feeding process. The fiber damage may be more severe with high powered wheel motors because the strength of the fiber cannot withstand the forces.
Keto Harvesters apply the holding force over a long and flat area. This is the key factor making the track feed more or less immune to challenges caused by tree species, branches, bark thickness and ambient conditions. The greater contact surface with the log also reduces damage to logs caused by gripping elements and spinning. Keto tracks use multiple track links with various cleats to grip the tree at any given moment. Consequently, the grip force is much more evenly distributed. The tracks also pivot when in contact with trunk irregularities, like a bogie drive. This results in less, if any, spinning damage.
Get on track!
The combination of very high tractive effort, no slippage, and highly accurate measuring makes log processing happen in one pass. Keto Harvesters have no need to go back and forth, loosing time. Even most of the limby trees happen in one pass. This increases productivity.
It all comes down to your bottom line. The Keto Harvesters unique track feed system will help you produce more marketable timber. With fewer logs lost to feed wheel spinning, time and money saved as a result of less maintenance, less fiber damage to your trees, and extremely accurate length measurements increase the value of your logs. You’ll waste less wood, be more productive, and offer higher quality timber.
In short, if you get on track – you stay on track!
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