Description

DendroFlexómetro© is a tool used to measure the main dimensional variables of a tree and a forest. Its major advantages lie in its combination within a single instrument (a conventional flexometer) of different traditional forest measurement techniques (angular sampling, Biltmore stick, Christen's rule, etc.), allowing measurements to be made by a single operator. Also, it is not expensive, costing just the price of a self-rolling measuring tape. This tool was developed following the idea of developing an economic dendrometer of free use and assembly that facilitates forest measurements precise enough to meet the forester's needs. The commercial exploitation of the DendroFlexómetro© is protected under patent by the University of Valladolid (number P-200100767). http://patentados.com/invento/depositivo-para-la-medicion-de-magnitudes. The device is composed of a self-rolling measuring tape (Images 1 and 2) to which a series of measuring elements can be added (scales, rules and signals) for forestry inventory. Like most commercial self-rolling metallic measuring tapes (flexometers), it is composed of a parallelepiped-like case (1), which has a normal shaft (1.1) on its larger sides and an opening (1.2) on one of its smaller sides. Inside the case there is a flexible metal tape (2) rolled spirally on the shaft (1.1), to which its inner end is attached. The tape can be pulled out through the opening (1.2) by pulling its free outer end, unrolling partially or completely at will. An opposing spiral spring applied on the shaft (1.1) facilitates that, when releasing the free end, the unrolled portion of the tape comes back into the case automatically, but not completely because of a heel (2.1) located at that end for this purpose. By using a brake (1.3), the desired extracted portion can be kept outside. The general arrangement of the mechanisms described is the one adopted by commercial self-rolling flexible metallic measuring tapes, the section of the tape itself having a slight transverse curvature which makes it rigid enough to keep stiff for a certain length.

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