Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
` 10563S8
~ B4ckground of Invention
- This invention relates to improved sawmill methods and
apparatus, and moxe particularly relates to an improved
sawmill design and operating concept. In addition, the
inve ~ion relates to a novel sawmill concept ~herein improved
methods and apparatus are provided ~or performing certain of
the various functions now performed in sawmills of conventional
design.
~ It is well known that trees are harvested to provide
lumber and wood pulp, and that ~such felled trees are carried
to sa~mills for this purpose after being de-topped and delin~ed,
and perhaps also debarkéd. It is also well known that the
sawlogs are sliced into lumber, railroad ties or timbers, and
the like, by longitudinally carrying them to and from a
revolving circular saw. It is further well known to provide
mechanical devices for moving and handling the sa~logs in the
sawmill, and also to provide ot~her such devices for movin~
and handling the lumber and timbers which are produced. What
is not well known is that, because of economic and social
changes occurring during the past few decades, a need has
arisen for a different type or sawmill. More particularly,
what is required is a sawmill which is simpler, easier, cheaper
and much quicker to erect and put into operation, which is
also operable with a minimum number of persons, which is
simpler and easier to maintain and repair, and which may be
conveniently dis~ssembled for removal and re-erection at
another operating site.
A sawmill may be characterized as a system wherein
certain functions or steps in a process al-c performed. The
initial point in the process may be considered to be the
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~563S~ `
~ "log deck" where sawlogs are positioned in a manner such
that they may be taken, one at a time, to be cut into lumber
- and the like. Thus, a "nose section" is preferably provided
between the log deck and the carriage and sa~ section for
the purpose of selecting and transferring each sawlog to
the carriage which travels back and forth between a revolving
circular saw blade.
When a slice is taken from a sawlog or cant which is
secured on the carriage, it may be either a board or timber,
~10 or it may be a so-called "slab" which is useless for purposes
o~'providing lumber. It is desirable to segregate different
pieces at the time they are cut from the sawlog, and thus
means is preferably provided for depositing a slab on a ~irst
conveyor sectlon leading to a chipper or the li~e, and for
depositing lumber and timber-sized pieces on two or more
other different conveyors`leading, respec-tively, to lumber
; and railroad tie "decks."
It will be apparent from the foregoing that the typical
sawmill is a large and complex system which is expensive and
time-consuming to install and put into operation. However,
the cost and complexity of sawmills has been greatly enllance~,
during recent years, by the need to mechanize as much o~ the
operation as possible. This, in turn, has resulted in making
sawmills relatively permanent installations, which is incon-
sistent with an inherent need to be moved, from time-to-time,
to move convenient sites. Accordingly, the many small,
relatively portable sawmills of the past have now been largely
replaced by a proportionately fewer number of much larger and
relatively permanently installed sawmills which are, in turn,
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10563S~
`~c~pletely dependent on a transportion system which can
` accumulate and supply sawlogs from a wide area.
Aceordingly, there has long been a need or a mechanical
sa~mill which requires a minimum number of personnel to
operate, but which is also capable of being erected in a
shorter length of time, which can be disassembled and removed
to another operating site ~ithout effectively being destroyed
as an operating unit, and which is simpler and therefore
easier and cheaper to maintain. The various features and
1~ techniques which are employed to provide the l~rge sawmills
of the prior art are inherently inconsistent with providing
all of these features in the same operating unit, and thus
simplicity and portability have accordingly been sacri~iced
in favor of mechanization.
These disadvantages of the prior art are overcome with
the present invention, and novel sa~ill methods and apparatus
are herewith disclosed for providing a sawmill which is
opera;le with a ~inimum num~er of persons, which is relatively
simple and quick to erect and put into operation at a
substantially lower cost, which may be easily disassembled
and reassembled at a new location, and which fur~ler includes
improved and novel component sections for perfoxming various
of the aforementioned functions or steps.
Summary of Invention
In a preferred form of the present invention, a novel
sawmill design is provided which is basically comprised of
a platform formed by a plurality of piers or columns arranged
in ranks and fil~es and carrying a plurality of hollow longi-
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tudinal structural members hereinafter referred to as "lon~erons" '
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` .- . 1~563S~
, which extend or lie across the various files of plers or
columns to provide two preselected functional or operating
levels. The various operating sections of the mill is
therefore composed of a plurality of "modules" which are
merely set down in straddle fashion on the longerons at
.various locations relative to the vertical cutting pl~ne or
"saw line" of the mill, as well as with respect to the two
.operating levels. . .
.
- . As will hereinafter be apparent, mounting the modules
10~ on a platform of this.type can be done in only a few days,
and -.thus a sawmill:;.`of this type can also be erected in a
fraction of the time required to erect a conventional
sawmill. More important, however, a sawmill of the type
. contemplated by the present invention can be disassembled
and re-erected at another site by merely unfastening and
removing the modules from the longerons, (as well as dis-
connecting the various pneumatic and electrical conduits and
connections which are necessarily provided between the various
modules).
It will be seen in the detailed description hereinafter
,
provided that the platform is itself a feature of the present
invention,.wherein the platform is basically a plurality of
vertical support members arranged in a rank and file to
support a plurality of longerons carried by files of these
vertical members at one of two operating levels or elevations.
The longerons, which connect the files of piers or columns,
provide strength to the assemblement of piers, columns and
longerons, in a lateral direction perpendicular to the
cutting line of the sa-~.ill, and the modules~which strzddle
and rest on the longerons connect and strengthen the assembled
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lV5~3S8
sawmill in the lateral d~rection paxallel to the cutting
line.
Thus broadly, the inYention contemplates a support and
coupling member for interconnecting structures which comprises,
in combination, first and second spaced-apart upright leg
bracket members, each member havi~ng an upper end and a lower
end, a saddle element connected to the lower ends of the
bracket members, a first pair of support arms connected to
the upper end of each of the leg bracket members, a second
pair of support arms connected to the upper end of each of the
leg bracket members, and a third pair of support arms connected
to the upper end of each of the leg bracket members.
Although a sawmill constructed in this fashion will ~ -
basically perform the same functions as those performed or
: sought to be performed by conventional sawmills, redesign
of the sawmill to incorporate the modular concept has permitted
or required redesign of the modules whereby they are
structurally independent of each other (except for inter-
connection of electrical cables and pneumatic hoses, etc.).
Thus, many if not all of the various modules are not limited
in usefulness to the sawmill system and method of the present
invention, but may be effectively interconnected in and
operated as a part of a conventional sawmill. For example,
; the various log, lumber and tie deck assemblies hereinafter
. described are substantial improvements over corresponding
portions of conventional sawmills, and the lumber and tie
stacker assemblies may be used with particular advantage in
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~OS6358
any type of sawmill or other similar system, as will
hereinafter be apparent.
A~other feature of the present invention is the
provision of various novel devices and techniques for
mechanically handling not only the sawlogs which are sought
to be cut, but also the boards, timbers and other pieces
severed therefrom. In addition to the aforementioned
lumber and tie stacker apparatus, novel and improved
means is provided with the carriage and saw section or
module for selectively depositing the saw several pieces
on one of three different conveyor sections depending
on whether the piece is a slab, a plank or board, or a rail-
road tie or other like size of timber.
Also, novel routing means is provided for trans-
ferring boards or ties from the conveyor sections to
selected ones of a plurality of lumber and tie deck
assemblies and other components of the system, all without
the use of any manual labor other than the sawmill operator.
Accordingly, not only is the sawmill of the present invention
cheaper and easier to erect, it may ideally be operated
- by only one person as will hereinafter be apparent.
- These and other features and advantages of
the present invention will become apparent from the following
detailed description, wherein reference is made to the
figures of the accompanying drawings.
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In the Drawings:
Figuxe 1 is a simplified conceptual representation
of the operating levels-of a sawmill embodying the
concept of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a simplified functional representation
- of the various functional modules, in a sawmill as depicted
in Figure 1, w~th respect to its sawline or cutting axis.
Figure 3 is a simplified pictorial representation
of a plat~orm suitable for the purposes of the present
invention.
Figure 4 is a more detailed pictorial representation
of ~ portion of the strucutre illustrated in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a simplified pictorial representation
of one of the components of the structure illustrated in
Figu,re 4~ appearing with Figs. 1, 6 and 7.
Figure 6 is a simplified pictorial representation
of one of the parts of the component depicted in Fiqure 4,
appearing with Figs. 1, 5 and 7.
Fi~ure 7 is a simplified pictorial representation
of aPothex p,a~t of the component depicted in Figure 4, appearing ~ -
with F~gs, l, 5 and 6~
.
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- . 1056358 -- -
Figure 8 is a pictorial representation of a~other portion
of the supporting platform depicted in Figure 3;
Figure 9 is a ~ictorial representation of another
di~ferent portion of the structure depicted in Figure 3, appearing
with Fig. 3.
Figure 10 is a pictorial representation of a further
dif~erent portion of the structure depicted in Figure 3,
Figure ll is a pictorial view of a portion of one of
the components o~ the sawmill depicted generally in Figure 2.
Figure 12 is another different view of the structure
depicted in Figure 11.
Figure 13 is a simplified pictorial view of another of
the component parts of the sawmill depic.ed generally in
Figure 2.
Figure 14 is a simplified pictorial view of another
portion of the sawmill depicted generally in Figure 20
Figure 15 is a pictorial representation of another
component of the sawmill depicted in Figure 2.
. Figure 16 is a different representation of the apparatus
depicted in Figure 15.
Figure 17 is another view of the apearatus depicted in
Figures lS and 16.
: Figure 18 is a more detailed pictorial view of another
different component of the sawmill generally represented in
Figures 1 and Z.
Figure 19 is a pictorial view, partly in cross section,
of the internal details of the apparatus depicted in Figure 18.
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lOS6358
Figure 20 is another pictorial view of the apparatus
illustrated in Figures 18 and l9o
.
Figure 21 is a pictorial representation of a portion
of the apparatus depicted in Figures 18-20, with Figs. 2, 22 & 23.
Figure 22 is another diferent pictorial representation
o~ the apparatus illustrated in Figure 21, With Figs. 2, 21 & ~23.
Figure 23 is a further different pictorial view of a
poirtthioF~ of 2the21apparatus depicted in Figures 21 and 22, appearing
Figure 24 is a pictorial representation, partly in cross
section, of the internal details of a portion o~ the apparatus
depicted in Figure 18.
Figure 25 is another view of the apparatus depicted in
Figure 24~ . .
Figure 26 is a pictorial representation of the details
of another portion of the apparatus depicted in Figure 18
illustrating the position of certain components during its
operation.-
Figure 27 is another view of the apparatus depicted in : :
Figure 26.
Figure 28 is another different view of the apparatusdepicted in Figures 26 and 27. .
Figure 29 is a pictorial repr~sentation or another
portion of the apparatus decpited in Figures 26-280
Figure 30 is a similar pictorial view of the apparatus
illustrated in Figure 29. -
Figure 31 is a different pictorial view o~ the apparatus
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10563S8
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depicted in Figures 29-30~
Figure 32 is a pictorial representation of another
portion of the sawmill depicted in Figures 1-3.
Figure 33 is a different pictorial view of the apparatus
depicted in Figure 32.
Figure 34 is another pictorial view.of the apearatus
depicted in Figures 31-32. : - :
., Figure 35 is a functional diag'ram of a portion of the
- -
pneumatic operating components and system employed in a
,
sawmill of the tyee embodying the concept of the present -
invention. - ' . . - -
.
. Figure 36 is a functional diagram of-a portion of the
electrical operating components and system employed in a
sawmill o~ the type embodying the concept o~ the present
; invention. ~ ~
Figure 37 is a pictorial representation of means for
protecting and supporting electrical cables and leads
re~uired to energize the apparatus depicted in Figure 36.
Figure 38 is a pictorial representation, partly in.
cross section, of the apparatus depicted in Figure 37.
Figure 39 is an exploded pictorial representation of -
a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 38.
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Detailed Description
As hereinhefore explained, the present invention con-
.
templates a sawmill which is composed of a plurality of
modules each mounted on a supporting platform at a particular
location and at one of three functional elevations hereinafter
referred to as Elevations I, II and III. Referring now to
Figure 1, there may be seen a simplified unctional repre- ~ -
sentation of a sawmill embodying this concept with respect
to such locations and different levels or elevations. -
Accordingly, it will be seen that the depicted sawmill is
-
composed of a log deck assembly 2 which is perpendicularly -
arranged with respect to a carriage and saw section 6. As
will hereinafter-be explained in detail, the motive power for
the carriage and saw section 6 may be provided by a suitable : :
fèedworks base section 4 aligned longitudinally with such
carriage and saw section 6. The log deck assembly 2 is
interconnected with the carriage and saw section 6 by a nose
.
section 3 aligned longitudinally with the log deck assembly 2,
and which is perpendicular to the carriage and saw section 6.
Referring again to Figure 1, it will be seen that the
sawmill further includes suitable roller bed sections 9 and :
10, and a slab con~eyor section 11, which are aligned parallel
. with, and along the side of, the carriage and saw section 6.
.
Perpendicular thereto and displaced "downstream" fro~ the
carriage and saw section 6, there may be seen a pair of lumber
.
deck assemblies 12 and l3 arranged side-by-side and extending
at right angles from the roller bed sections 9 and 10 in one
direction therefrom, and a transfer deck assembly 22 extending
in an opposite direction from the end of the rolle bed sections
9 and 10. As will be further explainea in detail, the purpose
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1056;~S~
of the roller bed section 9 is to carry lumber from the
carriage and saw section 6 to a selected one of the two
lumber deck assemblies 12 and 13, whereas the purpose of
the other roller bed section 10 is to carry railroad ties
or other larger such pieces from the carriage and saw section
6 to the transfer deck assembly 22. There may be further
seen a third roller bed section 15 arranged perpendicularly
. to and across the opposite end of the transfer deck assembly
22rin parallel with the other two roller bed sections 9 and
-10 10, which connects:~ the transfer.deck assem~ly 22 with the
four tie deck assemblies 16-19. .-
- - - Referring again to Figure 1, it will be seen that the
lumber deck assemblies 12 and 13 are each respectively inter-
connected with the lumber roller bed section 9 by one of a
pair of lumber stacker sections 20-21, and also by one of a
pair of pull-off assemblies 20A-21A, and that the transfer
.deck assembly 22 is interconnected with the timber roller
bed section 10-by another pull-off assembly 22A. In addition,
the transfer deck.assembly 22 is joined at its other end to
the third roller bed section 15 by a trimmer section 14 and
a push-off assembly 14A.
. As hereinafter stated, each of the various aforementioned
components are further positioned at one of three levels or
elevations, depending upon their respective functions within
the system. In particular, the various lumber and tie deck
assemblies 12-13 and 16-19, as well as the transfer deck
assembly 22, are located at Elevation I, as are the three
roller bed sections 9-10 and 15. Similarly, the various
stacker and pull-off sections 20-21 and 23-26 are located
at Elevation I, which is the lowest of the three functional
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105635~ .
elevations in the system. The log deck assembly 2 and nose
section 3 are located at Elevation II, and the carriage and
saw section 6 is located at Elevation III which is the
highest functional elevation in the system. The position of
feedwords base 4 is at Elevation I.
As will hereinafter be explained in. detail, sawlogs are
positioned along the length of the log deck assembly in a
manner parallel to the carriage and saw section 6. Accordingl.y,
the nose section 3 operates to select and transfer a sawlog
from the log deck assembly 2 to the.carriage and saw section 6,
preferably by rolling it or pushing it sideways onto the
carriage portion of the carriage and saw section 6. After the
log is properly secured thereon, the log is ~hen carried
longitudinally back and forth to slice it into lumber or
railroad ties or the like, each board or other piece tenaing
to fall sideways from-the carriage and saw section 6 onto the
- appropriate one of the two roller bed sections 9-10. Those
- pieces considered to be lumber are, of course, longitudinally
carried by the roller bed section 9 to the appropriate one
of the two lumber deck sections 12-13.
As will hereinafter be explained in detail, the ~unction
. of the two pull~off sections ~OA-21A is to transfer the
board or other piece onto the corresponding one of the two
stacker sections 20-21, and that component may thereafter be
~ employed to transfer such piece onto the selected one of the
.j . . .
two lumber deck assemblies 12-13. Railroad ties and other
such larger pieces or timbers provided by the carriage and
saw section 6 will, as hereinbefore stated, be deposited
longitudinally on the other roller bed section 10 to be carried
to the transfer deck assembly 22. Accordingly, such railroad
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l~S63S~ -
tie or timber is removed onto the transfer deck assembly 22
by another pull-off section 22A similar in design and function
to the pull-off assemblies 20A-21A hereinbefore mentioned,
whereby the transfer deck assembly 22 may carry such tie to
the trimmer section 14. Thereafter, the tie is transferred
' onto the third roller bed section 15 by either a push-off
'assembly 14A, or by another pull-off assembly, for transfer
to the appropriate one of the four tie deck assemblies,l6-19. -
The system will also include four tie stacker sections 23-26,
and four pull-off assemblies 23A-26A, for the purpose of
removing such ties from'the roller bed section 15, and for
the purpose of thereafter stacking them appropriately onto
one of the four tie deck assemblies 16-19 as'will hereinafter
be explained in detail.
- Referring now ~o Figure 2, there may be seen another
functional,representation of the various components of the
sawmill depicted in Figure 1, wherein these components are
depicted with respect to movement of sawlogs and lumber
throughout the system. Accordingly, the system may be seen '
to include a rub-bar assembly 5 which prevents the carriage 27
' from being thrown from the rails of the carriage and saw
section 6 by the impact of the slapper,bar 37 ~see Figure 14)
on a sawlog being driven onto the carriage 27,`a driving -
means 195 of conventional design for energizing the rotary
saw ~not specifically depicted in Figures 1 and 2), and a
suitable cage or control booth 3G for'accommodating the ~-
operator of the sawmill. Further, there may be seen that the
sawmill includes a conveyor belt section 11 which is composed
of an endless belt arranged beside and parallel' with'the '
carriage saw section 6 for carrying away slabs and other debris
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105~;~SI~ ~.t !,
not suitable for use as lumber or railroad ties or the like.
Figure 2 also depicts the location of each triple leg
assembly 200, which is a component more particularly described
and depicted in Figures 10-12.
Referring now to Figure 3, there may be seen another
different pictorial representation o~ the sawmill illustrated
in Figures 1-2 and more particularly showing the platform
hereinbefore described for the purpose of supporting ~he
~arious modules and components at the appropriate one of the
.. .
three elevation~ hereinbefore mentioned wi~h respect.to -.
. Figure 1. In particular, the platform may be seen to be
composed of a plurality of vertical strength members hereinafter
. referred to as piers 44, which are adapted to provide the
lowes~ Elevation I. A similar vertical strength member,
hereinafter referred to as a column 45, is used to provide
.
support for components located at the intermediate Elevation II.
In addition, it may be seen that extension members 70 may be
located on top of piers 44 for the purpose of also providing
support at the intermediate Elevation II.
The highest Elevation III may be considered to be the
top surface of the rails 74 of the carriage and saw section 6,
and which is composed of a pair of railroad-type rails 74,.
each mounted on a rail bed me~ber 73, which, for present
purposes, may be a rectangular hollo~ channel member or
other suitable structural device.
Referring again to Figure 3, it may be seen that the
columns 45 are intended to support both the log deck assembly
~not depicted in Figure 3) and the nose section 3, as well
as a portion of each of the t~o rail bed members 73. Piers 44
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are provided to carry longerons 50, as may be seen in
Figure 4, and the rail bed members 73 may there~ore be
supported on~the upper ends of extension members 70 mountea
on these longerons. The feedworks base 4, which supports
a feedworks 42 for driving the carriage 27, is centrally
supported at Elevation I by a pair of piers 44. It
also includes the return stop`assembly 32 which, in turn,
is centrally supported at Elevation II by vertical extension
memkers 70 mounted on piers 44, and is also connected to
- one end of the two rail bed members 73 for the purpose of
structurally integrating these components into the assembly
formed by the platform. As may be further seen, a second
stop assembly 31 is mounted at the opposite ends of the
rail bed members 73, at Elevation I, on one of the two
longerons 50 which support the first lumber deck assembly 12,
although it is also interconnected with the other ends of
the two rail bed members 73 to achieve structural unity.
~- As hereinbefore stated, the platform composed of the
piers 44, columns 45 and other members are connected together
into a structural unit by the various modules such as the
carriage saw section 6 and the lumber and tie deck assemblies
12-13 and 16-19 which are mounted thereon. As indicated
in Figure 3, however, one or more diagonal braces 46-47 may
be suitabl~ employed at points adjacent the ends of the
carriage saw section 6, however, because o~ stress created
: by movement of the carriage 27 and its impact upon o~e or
the other of the two stop assemblies 31-32.
The carriage 27, which is depicted in Figure 3 and which
functions to support a sawlog intended to be cut into lumber,
may be of any suitable design such as that illustrated in
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U. S. Patent No. 3,566,933. Accordingly, the carriage 27
may include two or more knee assemblies 28-29 and other
components such as an appxopriate carriage dial 179 to
indicate the lateral position of the knee assemblies 28-29
and sawlog (not depicted) on the carriage 27. Accordingly,
the control booth 30 is appropriately positioned adjacent to
- - -
. but on the opposite side of the circular saw bla~e.34, not
-.only to better observe the cutting operation provided by --
.. . .
'''.the saw blade 34 but also to observe readings.indicated by
la the dial 179
. .' Referring again to Figures 2-3, it will be seen that
.
.' the depicted sawmill is basically composed of a plurality
of functional components or modules which are interconnected
- together on a platform composed, fundamentally,of piers 44,
- columns 45 and longerons 50. The piers 44 and columns 45
are, of.course, arranged in ranks and files to provide
. vertical support for the modules, and the longerons 50
provide strength to the platform along the files or piers
'44 and/or columns 45. Accordingly, when a module such as
the lumber deck 12 is disposed on two longerons 50, it also
provides strength between the ranks of piers 44 which support
it.
Referring now to Figure 4, there may be seen a partial
but different view of the platform depicted in Figure 3 and
composed of the various vertical structural mem~ers here-
inbefore referred to as piers 44. Each of these piers 44 may
be seen to be provided at its upper end with an inverted
short saddle member 51 composed of a piece of channel or the '~
like, and of a size'to receive'and hold, without binding, a
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lOS~5~ -
square tubular member referred to as a longeron 50. The
purpose of the various longerons 50, which are carried on
files of piers 44, is to establish the aforementioned lowest
functional Elevation I in the sawmill, and thus these
longerons 50 operate to support either a vertical extension
member 70 or an operating module such as the lumber deck
assembly 12. It will therefore be seen that the lumber - -
deck assembly 12 is composed of a pair of long saddle members-
71 which, in turn, each include a spaced-apart pair of
. -
chain assemblies 86 and 87. Lumber is loaded on the twochain assemblies 86-87, and may therefore be moved laterally
thereon by means of movement of movable chains therein (not
depicted). ; - - -
Since Elevations I and II are established by the
longerons 50, it will be apparent that piers 44 and columns
- - ,
45 must be appropriately mounted. As may be seen in Figures
5-~, such mounting is preferably performed by digging a
posthole 52 an appropriate depth in the earth 63, by disposing
in such posthole 62 a base pad assembly ~7, and by supporting
such base pad assembly 57 in the posthole 62 by means of
concrete 64. More particularly, the base pad assembly 57
may be seen to be composed of a rectangular metal plate 58
and ~hree lengths of metal supporting rod 59-61 each having
one end built in the manner of a right angle. ~he angular
ends of the rod 59-61 are appropriately welded to the underside
of the plate 58, as suggested in Figure 6, whereby the plate
58 will provide a supporting pad for the pier 44 when the
base pad assembly 57 is appropriately mounted in the hole 62.
After the concrete 64 has set, its level is measured by
conventional means for the purpose of determining the length
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lOS~S~
of the pier 44 which is necessary to support a longeron 50
at Elevation I. In this respect, the height of Elevation I
above the surface of the earth 63 is not significant, but
the height of Elevations II and III above Elevation I is,
of course, material to the operation of the sawmill.
Referring again to Figure 5, it will be seen ~hat the
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pier 44 (or column 45? is preferably welded onto the upper
surface of the plate 58 of the base pad asse~ ly 57 and that
- ~
two or more sleeves 52-53 or other tubular members are appro-
- : . - ; -. -.......................................... .
priately welded to the sides of the inverted short saddle 5i
: " ' ' ! . ! . .: ; .
which is positioned on the upper end of the pier 44. It will
be notea upon use of the present invention that the weight of
the various components sought to be supported on the longerons
.. , . - . . . - .
50 will be sufficient to provide immobility of these modules
and components and corresponding structural integrity to the
platorm composed of the piers 44, columns 45 and longerons 50.
~ In some instances, it may be desirable to further secure one
portion of the platform to another, and thus it may be seen
in Figures 5 and 7 that a U-tie bolt 54 may be inserted over
the longeron 50 and through the sleeves 52-53, whereby the
longeron 50 may be further connected to the pier 44 by nuts
55-56 on the e~ds of the U-tie bolt 54. It will also be seen,
however, that this manner of interconnecting the components of
the platform may also be used, as will hereinafter be depi~ted,
to connect the modules and components of the system to the
longerons 50 of the platform, ana that both erection and dis-
assembly of the sawmill are relatively simple and rapid
expedients. The various piers 44 and columns 45 must, of
course, be cut from the plates 58 of the various ~ase pad
assembles 57, and may not be re~useable if they are too short
to support a longeron 50 at Elevation I at the new site.
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5~S 8
It is not ordinarily practical, however, to salvage the
base pad assemblies 57 which are embedded in the concrete-
filled holes 62.
Referring now to Figure 8, there may be seen a detailed
and pictorial representation of the portion of the plat~orm
depicted in Figure 3 and composed of the portion supporting
the carriage and saw section 6. More particularly, it may
be seen that the rail bed members-J73 are composed of a pair
-. : , . . -
of rails 74 each mounted on elongate rectangular hollow members
- . . . . . . -
: 10 which are positioned on either cross-tie members Z06, which
.. . .
are channel members carrying a pair~of spaced-apart inverted
short saddles 51, or on cross-tie extension assem~lies 72
whioh, in turn, are mounted on longerons 50 at Elevation I.
. As further indicated in Figures 3 and 8, some of these
: longerons 50 are supported at Elevation I by piers 44, and
some are.supported at the intermediate Elevation II by columns
45, depending on whether the longerons 50 are located to carry
a cross-tie 206 or a cross-tie extension assembly 72. As
may further be seen in Figure 8, a cross-tie assembly 72 is
a unit composed of a pair of v.ertical extension members 70
mounted on a long saddle member 71 and carrying a cross-tie
member 77~ Referring again to Figure 8, it will be noted
that the long saddle member of the cross-tie extension
assembly 72 is provided with a pair of sleeves 76 on each side
at a location.adjacent the lower ends of the ~ertical extension
members 70. Accordingly, the cross-tie extension assembly 72
may be fixédly secured to the longeron 50 upon which it rests
by a plurality of U-tie bolts 54 inserted through the sleeves
~ 76 and extending around either the longerons 50 or thè short
saddle member 51 on the upper end o~ the pier 44.
.
-20-
' . .
- - - , ~ . .
- . -: - . ., - . .
- ~ , : . : -
- ~os~s~
Similar sleeves 76 may be provided on the adjacent sides
of the inverted saddle members 76 positioned on the upp~r
ends of the vertical extension members 70 for the purpose o~
containing U-tie bolts 54 in the manner hereinbefore explained.
It.will be noted, however, that these upper positioned U-tie
bolts 54 engage a snubbing block 75 which is welded or
otherwise affixed to ~he sides of the rail bed support member
.. : ~ . . . .
73. Each rail bed member 73 rests in one of the short saddle
` members 51 of the cross-tie member 77, and.thus the short
.
`sadale membe~s 51 are provided with sleeves 76 located to
. correspona with the location of the sleeves 76 on the inverted
æaddle member 51 fixed to the upper end of the column 45.
Accordingly, the rail bed member 73, which is also provided
with a.second pair of snubbing blocks 75 at this location,
may be secured to the cross-tie channel member 206 and
columns 45 ~y means of longer U-tie bolts 54 extending through
the sleeves 76 on both the upper inverted short saddle member
51 fastened to the cross-tie saddle 206, and the lower inverted
saddle member 51 fastened to the upper end of the column 45.
Referring now to Figure 9, there may be seen a more
detailed pictorial representation o~ ~he major components of
the platform and carria~e and saw section 6 depicted in Figure
3. More particularly, it may be seen that the rails 74 are
. mounted on the upper surface of the rail bed members 73 and
that the ends of the rail bed members 73 are arranged to mate
with the base members of the two stop assemblies 31 and 32.
More particularly, the rail bed members 73 are each connected
to the base members 85 by means of connecting bolts 80 and
nut 81 extending through each of a pair of sleeves 78 and 7
mounted on the rail bed member 73 and base member 85,
.
-21-
.. : - . .
.
. ~
1~7S635~ .
respectively. Reerring now to the first stop assembly 32,
it will be seen that this module is composed of a pair of
leg members 83 mounted on the two base members 85 and
supporting in horizontal arrangement a shock-absorbing
bumper 49 in a channel-like bumper holder 82. Strength is
provided against impacts on the bumper 49 by angie brackets
84 as well as the tie-bolt 80 Which interconnects the rail
bea member 73 to the base member 85. .-:
:It will be noted in bo~h Figure 3 and Figure 9 that the
: . - . ............................................. ..
-base member 85 of the stop member 32 rests not only on the
- vertical extension mem ~rs 70 of a cross-tie extension 72
but also on the floor 43 of the feedworks base 4 which carries
-. the feedworks 42. Accordingly, the-floor 43 is also provided
with a saddle member 65 to rest on the longeron 50 which is
carried by the pier 44, and which supports the floor 43 of
the feedworks base 4.
. Referring again to Figure 9, it may be seen that the
other stop assemb1y 31 is more simply composed of a pair of
vertical leg members 83 supporting an impact-absorbing bumpe~
48 mounted horizontally across the two base members 85 in a
similar bumper holder 82. The leg members 83 are further
joined to the base members 85 by a pair of short angle
brackets 199. The stop assembly 31 is supported by a cross-
tie exte~sion assembly 72 on a pair of piers 44, and on
another pair of piers 44 by a further assembly of components
which include a cross-strut 90 spanning and interpose~ between
the two base members 85 and a pair of horizontal struts 89,
a special vertical extension column 70A and an angle bracket
70B. The special vertical extension column 70A is mounted on
- -22-
.
- . .
1056;~5~
a short saddle member 65 for suitably engaging a longeron
5Q carried by the second pair of piers 44.
Referring now to Figure 13, there may be seen another
pictorial view of a portion of the carriage and saw section
6 and also the related portions o~ both the supporting plat-
form and the rail bed sections 9 and lQ and the conveyor.:-
belt section 11. More particularly, there may be seen a
~ pictorial illustration of the longeron 50 extending across
: two or more piers 44 at Ele~ation I and supporting the
vertical extension column 70 which carries the rail..74 mounted
on the rail bed member 73. There may also be seen a more
detailed illustration.of both the roller bed sections 9 and 10
as mounted on the longeron 50, and also the conveyor belt
section 11 as disposed on the longeron 50. As hereinbefore
stated, the carriage 27 which rides on the rails 74 is adapted
to carry a sawlog longitudinally with respect to the roller
bed sections 9 and 10 and in gripping contact with the knee
assemblies 28 on the carriage 27. The first cut taken from
a sawlog will produce a "slab" having no value for lumber
purposes but which is salvageable for purposes of conversion
to pulp. Accordingly, when a slab is produced the-flip board
102 which is a portion of the slab flip board section 7 is
arcuately raised about the hinge 103 and the slab (not depicted
in Figure 13) may then fall into the space between the higher
support member 107 adjacent the carriage 27 and the lower
support member 108 and extension support member 109 on the
opposite side. More particularly, the slab will fall into
the U-trough 97 and onto the endless belt 113 which, as indicatea
in Figure 2, will move to carry the slab away from the carriage
and saw section 6 to an appropriate discharge point such as a
23 ~
'' ' ' , , ,
. .
lOS~;~S~
conventional chipper assembly (not depicted). It may be seen
in Figure 2 that the endless belt depicted in Figure 13 must
travel over a substantial distance. Accordingly, and as further
depicted in Figure 13, the conveyor belt section 11 may
suitably include one or more belt support rollers 96 loca~ed
beneath the conveyor belt section 11 for supporting the return
portion of the endless belt 113.
Referring again to Figure 13, it will be seen that the .
flip board 102 rests on the lip portion of a suitable support
member 106, which is. mounted on the upper end of the higher
support member 107, and which extends toward and immediately
underneath the projecting lip or edge of the deck of the. -
. carriage 27. .The purpose of the support member 106 is to
span the gap between the carriage 27 and the slab flip board
102. : .
Referring again to Figure 13, it will be seen that the
two roller deck sections 9 and 10 are composed of a plurality
of rollers 110 rotatably mounted between channels 111 which,
in turn, are mounted on an array.of spaced-apart lower support
members 108. The purpose of the extension support member 109 .
is to provide for angular positioning of both the flip board
102 which is a portion of the slab flip board section 7 and
the fIipboard 104 which is a portion o~ the lumber flip board.
8. The two flip boards 102 and 104 are unted to form an
incl~ned plane extending generally from the deck o~ the
carriage 27 at its upper end and to the rollers 110 of the
second.roller bed section 10 at its lower end. Accordingly, if
the piece severed from the sawlog on the carriage 27 is a slab
or otherwise.relatively worthless piece, the flip board 102 is
.
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' ". . - ' ' ' ~
-:~ : . - : . - . ,
,, : . .
.
105~;~S~
raised pivotally about the hinge 103 by a pne~matic cyiinder
(not depicted) whereby the severed piece will thereupon fall
onto the endless helt 113. If the severed piece is of
salable size and shape, however, the first flip board 102
is left resting on the support member 106, and the second
flip board 104 may be elevated about its hinge portion 105
by suitable means such as a pneumatic cylinder (not depicted)
- .
In this event, the severed piece will roll across the support
member 106 and first flip board 102 and thereafter onto the
~ rolle s 110 composing the first roller bed section 9. As
hereinbefore stated, the first roller bed section 9 is arranged -
to carry pieces to the lumber deck assemblies 12-13. Accord-
ingly, the second flip board 103 will only be raised if the
severed piece is of lumber dimension, and it will be left
down on the upper end of the extension support member 109 if
the severed piece is, instead, suitable for railroad tie
purposes or the like. In this event, the severed piece will
roll across the support member 106 and both flipboards 102
. and 104 to the rollers of the second roller bed section 10
and may then be carried down to the receiving end of the
transfer deck assembly 22.
It will be noted that the rollers 110 are provided with
belt grooves 116 for receiving driving belts, whereby the
rollers 110 may be rotated by suitable means to ~ravel the
severed pieces to their intended destinations In addition,
curb rails 112 are appropriately included to keep the
severed pieces from sliding off of the rollers 10~ during
their travel thereon.
.
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- - . . - .
lOSf~SI~
As hereinbefore stated, it is a concept of this
invention to provide a sawmill composed of modules which,
though functionally interconnected with each other, are
substantially structurally independent of each other.
Furthermore, it is another concept or feature of the inven-
tion that certain modules are constructed according to a
standard design whereby they may be interchangeable, and
whereby parts from one module may each be substituted for -
parts used for a different purpose in another module, as a
temporary expedient to maintain productivity during-relati~ely
. .
'short intervals. - ~ -
As an example of the interchangeability of various ;
modules in the system depicted herein, it should ~e noted that
the log deck assembly 2 is substantially the same as the
lumber deck assemblies 12-13, the transfer deck assembly 22,
and also the four tie deck assemblies 16-19. The different
nomenclature employed herein is, therefore, not intended to
indicate a difference in construction but only a difference
in function or purpose within the system.
Referring now to Figure 14, there may be seen a more
detailed pictorial ~iew of the log deck assembly 2 as it is
functionally interconnected with the nose section 3 and
carriage and saw section 6. As hereinbefore stated, the '
only difference between the log deck assemblies 2 and the
lumber deck assemblies 12-13, transfer deck assem~ly 22 and
the tie deck assembly-16-19, is its location and function
within the saw mill hereinbefore described with respect to
Figures 1-3. Accordingly, the log-de~k assem~ly 2 (and also
.
- -26-
~ , .
10S6~5~
~-'t~e other referenced modules) may be seen to be a structural
unit resting upon a pair of spaced apart longerons 50 which,
together with the aforementioned columns 45 comprise the
supporting platform. The log deck assembly 2 is composed
of the two chain assemblies 86-87 supported on a pair of
long saddle members 71 by a plurality of vertical support
members, whereby a pluraiity of saw logs 98 may rest on a
pair of endless chains 100. A suitable driving means 101 is
. ~ ~ , .
also preferably included for the purpose of connecting power
10- through an appropriate gear reduction assembly 118 and driving
chain 119 to drive the chains 100 in a manner to carry the
saw logs 98 from one end of the log deck assembly 2 to the
other end. More particularly, saw logs 98 which are brought
to the saw mill by trucks and the li~e and loaded onto the
log deck assembly 2 at one end, and are then carried by
chains 100 to the other end of the log dec~ assembly 2 for
discharge, one-by-one, onto the nose section 3 of the saw
mill. Accordingly, control means (not depicted in ~igure 14)
will be appropriately located in the control booth 30 whereby
the operator can start and stop travel of the saw logs 98 as
may be desired.
Referring again to Figure 14, there may be seen a more
detailed pictorial representation of one especially suitable
form of nose section 3 and which is more particularly
described and explained in the copending patent application,
Serial No. _470,338~ which was filed May 16, 1974 ~now U.S.
Patent No. 4,094,220, June 13, 1978. Accordingly, it will ~e
noted that the nose section 3 is designed to provide t~o
functions, i.e., the nose section 3 selective~v~ acce~ts
saw logs g8 from the log deck assembly 2 for transfer to
:
. ,)1 r - 27
10~5~ ~
the carriage 27 of the carriage and saw section 6, and it
also operates to manipulate any saw log 98 which may become -
juxtaposed between the log deck assembly 2 and the carriage
and saw section 6. Thus, the nose section 3 is provided
with two or more crescent-shaped stop and loader members 36
which are rotatable about a driving shaft 36A, and which have
a curvilinear edge to catch and support a saw log 98. More
particularly, when the stop and loader members 36 are rotated
in a counter-clockw~se direction, the ou~wardly curving
.
surface 36B.of eac~ loader member 36 will be rotatea below
the top of the log deck assembly 2 and the inwardly curving
surface or edge 36A will be presented to accept the sa~ log
98 at the end of the log deck assembly 2.~ After a saw log 98
has rolled onto the curved edge 36A of the loader members 36,
the log members 36 are rotated in an opposite clockwise
direction to dump the saw log 98 carried thereon. onto the
sloping rails 39, and also to elevate the outwardly curved
edges 36B of the log members 36 to block any other saw log 98
.from rolling off of the log deck assembly 2 and onto the nose
section 3.
As previously noted, a well formed saw log 98 will tend
to roll up the rails 39 and into abut.ting engagement with
the knee assemblies 29 of the carriage 27, whereby the saw
log 98 may be engaged by the dogs of the knee assemblies 29
: and carrie~ to the saw blade 34. Many saw logs 98 are crooked
or have flattened portions along their circumference, and
. may even have a vestage of one or more branches extended from
,. their surfaces, whereby such saw logs 98 may not roll along
the rails 39 in a proper manner. In the event such an irregular
3~ or reluctant saw log 98 does not travel entirely along the
. - -28-
.
- ~ - ' ' : '' : - . -
1056358
~ength ~ the rails 39 to the deck of the carriage 27, or if
such sawlog 98 becomes irregularly positioned on the rails 39,
a slapper bar 37 may be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction
to strike the sawlog 98 from behind and drive it onto the deck
of the carriage 27.
As hereinbe~ore stated, the nose section 3 is one of the .
.
- modules which is structurally independent of -the other portions
- . - . -
: ~ of the sa ~ llo Accordingly, it may be seen that the nose
- section 3 is also provided with a pair of long saddle members
71 to permit the nose section 3 to be mounted as a unit on the
- longerons 50 which carry both the log deck assembly 2 and the
-
carriage and saw section 6.
Re~erring again to Figure 14, it will ~e seen that thecarriage 27, which is positioned.on the rails 7a carried by
the rail bed members 73, is located betwean the rub bar
.
assembly 5 and the nose section 3. More particularly, the
carriage 27 travels from a location between the rub bar assembly
5 and the.nose section 3 to and past the circular saw blade 34.
When a sawlog 98 is discharged ~rom the loader arms 36 onto
the xails 39, it does not usually strike the knee assembly 29
with neavy impact. When the sawlog 98 on the rails 39 is struck
by the slapper bar 37, however, the sawlog 98 will often strike
the knee assembly~29 with an impact sufficient to arive the
carriage 27 off of the rails 74. Thus, the rub bar assembly 5
is located to backup the carriage 27 at this point.
As further indicated in Figure 14, the rub bar assembly 5
-29- ~
lOS~3S~
is comprised of a pair of vertical struts 93, which support an
impact-absorbing bumper 91 located in a channel-like bumper
holder 92, and which are vertically mounted on long saddle
members 71. The rub bar assembly 5 further convenient~y has
angle brac~ets 94 to reinforce the vertical struts 93 against
impact delivered by the.sawlog 98 through the knee assemblies
2g and the deck of the carriage 27. -
As indicated in Figure 14, the nomenclature "sawlog"is con~entionally applied to a log which has not previously
been longitudinally sliced. After a sawlog has received at
least one cut by the circular saw 34, however, the portion
; remaining on the deck of the carriage 27 ls conventionally
referred to as a "cant." Accordingly, the apparatus depicted
in Figure 14 illustrates the carriage 27 as supporting a
cant 99. - .
It should be noted that the various modules are not only
constructed so as to be installed in the system by merely
supporting them on the longerons of the platform; many of them
; are further designed so as to propsrly space themselves, one
from another, according to functi:on. .For example, the long
saddle members 71 of the log deck assembly 2, the nose section
3, and the rub bar section 5, and the cross-tie saddle member
206 of the carriage and saw section 6, are of predetermined
lengths such that, when butted together on the longerons 50,
these modules will be spaced toge~her in a properly functional
manner within the sawmill. Since these components must also
~ . :
-30-
~. . -
'
l~S~i358 :~
be located with respect to the saw line illustrated in
Figure 2, however, it will ~irst be necessary to locate
either the nose assembly 3 or the carriage and saw section 6
with respect to the saw line, before the other modules can
be properly installed.
Referring again to Figure 3, it will be noted that if
.; . - . . - ~ . ,
~ a board or tie i5 to be delivered to an appropriate location
along the lengths of the roller ~ed section.9-10, some means .
. .
: must be provided for stopping the board or tie as it travels
.
along these components. This may be done by stopping .the
rotation of the roller members 110, but this is unsatisfactory
since ~he board or tie will tend to continue sliding forward
along the surfaces of the immobilized roller members 110.
Referring now to Figures 15-17, there may be seen a
plurality of pictorial views of a stop assembly 115 which may
be used to selectively stop a board or tie as desired, and
which is preferably interconnected with a triple leg 200 in
one or the other of the various roller bed sections 9-10 and
15, as will further be explained. M~re particularly, the
; 20 stop assembly 115 may be composed of a plate 120 pivotally
mounted on a rocker bar 121 by a pair of spaced-apart sleeve
memb2rs 122-123. The roc~er bar 121, in turn, is pivotally
mounted between a pair of spaced-apart vertical arms 1~4-125
having a piv~t rod 137 located between their lower ends The
vertical arms 124-125 are, in turn, interconnected with a
pair of vertical support members 130-131 by means of a pair
.
., -
-31- -
-
ivsf~;~S~ ~
of pivot arms 132 and 134 interconnected at one end to the
rocker bar 121, and at their other ends to a pivot rod 1~8
extending between the two vertical support members 130-131.
Another pair of lower pivot arms 133 (only one being visible)
are interconnected between ~he vertical arms 124-125 and the
vertical support members 130-131 by the pivot rod 137 at one
- end and another pivot rod 136 at the other end_ In addition,
. a pneumatic cylLnder 139 is pivotally anchored at one end to
the eivot rod.l36 by a spacing sleev~ 171, and its piston rod
140 is pi~otally linked to the rocker bar 121. As indicated
in Figure 15A, extension of the piston rod 140 rotates the
vertical arms 124-125 to raise the upper edge of the plate
120 above the level of the channels 111 which support the
roller members 110 of the rolle.r.~.:;deck assemblieso
Alternatively, and as indicated in Figure 16, retractian of
the piston arm 14Q will lower the vertical arms 124-125 to
...... ... ....... retract the plate 120 below the.upper surfaces of ~he.roller
members 110. Thus, when the plate 120 is elevated as
.
indicated in Figure 15A it will block a board or timber 114
being carried by the roller members 110. On the other hand,
if the plate 120 is retracted as in Figure 16, the timber 114
can travel past without interference by the stop assembly 115.
. Referring again to Figures 15-17, it may be seen that
an appropriate limit switch 129 may be interconnected with one
of the two vertical support members 130-131 to position its
whisker 128 to be enga5ed by an actuator arm assembly 127
I
. -32- .
' ' ,
-, .
:~
.
.
lOS635~
~ixed to the rear surface of the plate 120. More particularly,
the plate 120 is normally tilted against the up~er ends of
the vertical arms 124-125 by suitable spring means 126 to
lower ~he end of the actuator arm assembly 127 below the '.
whisker 128. When.the plate 120 is elevated to stop a
timber 114 as indicated in Figure 15A, the colliding timber .-
114 will rotate the plate l20 only far enough to cause the
actuating arm assembly 127 to lift the whisker 128 and thereby
- - -- . - - -
'' - ': actuate the limit switch 129. This,.as will further be
,
explained, wiIl actuate the appropriate puil-off assembly'to
'remove the timber from the particular roller bed section.
-
. Referring now to Figure 15B, it may be seen that the
actuator arm assembly 127 is preferably composed of a s~uaré
hollow tube 127A of a length sufficient to reach from the
plate 120 to the ~hisker 128 of the limit switch 129. In
addition, a shorter length of rectangular tubing 127B is
also provided immediately beneath the square tube 127A.
The plate 120 tends to'receive very heavy impacts, and thus
the purpose of the rectangulax or oblong tubing 127B is to '
provide'support or the square tube'127A. .
Referring now to Figure 18, there may be~seen a simplified
pictorial representation of the pull-off assembly 23A, wherein
it may be seen how its two pull-off arms 141-142 of this
portion o ~h~ sawmill are functionally positioned with respect
to both the roller bed section 15 which interconnects with
the four tie deck assemblies 16-19, and also with respect to
-33-
10563S8 ! ~
the li~ting arms 161-163 of the stacker section 23. As
hereinbefore stated, timbers are deposited, one at a time,
on the roller bed section 15 to be carried longitudinally to
the appropriate one of the four tie deck assemblies 16-19,
the appropriate one being selected by elevation of the
plate 120 of a stop assembly 115 as hereinbefore mentioned.
When the timber strikes the plate 120 and thereby actuates
.. . . ..
the limit switch 129 contained therein, this will actuate a
. pneumatic ylinder within each of the two pull-off arms 141- .
142, as will hereinafter be explained. Each of these two
` . - - : , - -
cylinders is interconnected with a dogging tooth 143 or 145
which projects above the upper surface of the two pull-off
: arms 141-142 on the opposite side of the timber, and thus
retraction of the piston rods connected to these teeth 143 ~ -
; and 145 will drag the timber sideways across the pull-off -.
arms 141-142 and, accordingly, onto the arms 161-163 of the
tie stacker assembly 23. . --
.Referring more particularly to Figures 19 and 20, there
may be seen a detailed representation of the internal
components of the pull-off arm 141 depicted in Figure 18
and which is similarly representative of the internal ~ .
configuration of the other pull-off arm 142. Accordingly,
the pull-off arm 141 may b~ seen to be a rectangular hollow
member having a larger.section 141A containing a suitable
pneumatic cylinder 148, and a smaller section 141B having a
slot 144 in its upper surface. The cylinder 148, which is
-3~-
lOS6358 -
suita~ly anchored by pin 159, has the free traveling end o~
its piston rod 149 connected to a suitable link bar 152 by
a clevis 150 and clevis pin 151, and the link bar 152 is
ereferably disposed within the smaller portion 141B of the
pull-off arm 141 on a pair of rollers,l53 ~only one visible
in Figure 19). The dogging tooth 143, in turn, is pivotally
- :; - ..
interconnected by a pivot pin 155 between a pair of spaced-:
- ~ . . . .
àpart tooth brackets 154 (only one visible in Figure 19)
. .
. mounted on-toe of the link bar 152. Referring again to
10 . Figure 19, it will be seen that a suitable switch 156 is
. arranged in the larger portion 141A with a whisker 157
disposed to be deflected by an actuator projection 158, which
is mounted on the side ~ the link bar 152, and which
actuates the switch 156 upon retraction o~ the piston shaft
, ' 149 into the cylinder 148. , '
Referring again to Figures 19 and 20, it may be seen
how the tooth 143 is arranged and adapted to engage the timber
147 to draw it onto the arms 161-163 o~ the tie stacker, upon
' retraction of the piston rod 149 into the cylinder 148, but
.
' 20 to underride the timber 147 whenever,the piston rod 149 is
extended from the cylinder 148. The advanta'ge there~y derivea
is that the pull-off assembly will only mo~e a timber 147 in
~ one direction and will not push it back onto the roller bed
section 15 upon exten ion of the piston rod 14~ for the
purpose oF taking a subse~uent timber from ~he roller bed
: section 15.
'
-35-
.
1056;~5~ ,
Referring now to Figures 21-23, there may be seen a more
detailed pictorial representation o~ the link bar 152 and pull-
of tooth 143. Accordingly, the link bar 152 may be seen to
be a rectangular body having pinhole 160 at one end for receiving
the clevis pin.l51, and having a pair o~ rollers 153 mounte~
adjacent its other end. The actuator 158 may be seen to bs an
angular projection mounted.on the side of the link bar 152 at
a location suitable or timely engagement of the whiskér 157
of the limit switch 156 depicted in Figures 18 and 19. The
dogging tooth 143 may be seen to be a flat body having a right-
triangular configuration and secured between the two toot~
. .
brackets 154 on top of the link bar 152 by means of the tooth
pivot pin 155, and fur~her having laterally projecting portions
which act as counterweights to maintain the tooth 143 in a
normally erect position relative to the link bar 152.
.
Referring again to Figure 22, it may be seen that the
. engaging surface 143B of the tooth 143 is the longer right side
.
of the t~iangle defined by the tooth 163, and that when ~he
hypotenuse side 143A is driven against the timber 147 depictea
in Figures 19 and 20, the tooth 143 will yieldably rotate unaer
the timber 147 instead o displacing it from its location on
: the tie stacker arms 161-163. Alternatively, when the engaging
surface 143B of the tooth is brought into contact with a timber
147 or the like, the tooth 143 is rotated clockwise to bring
its short side into abutting engagement with the top of the
link bar 152, whereby further rotation of the tooth 143 is
.
lOS63S8
preventPd, and whereby the tooth 143 then opposes the timber
147 to displace it along the length of the arms 161-163 of
the tie stacker assembly.
Referring again to Figure 2, it will be noted that the
timbers which are received from the trimmer section 14 are
pushed onto the roller bed section 15 by a push-off assembly
. - . .
14A. This component of the system is entirely the same as the
eull-off assembly 20A, except that its tooth 143 is reversed
with;respect to its position as indicated in Figure 22, and
. .
10 that the ylinder 148 and piston rod 149 in Figures 19 and 20
are operated in a manner opposite to that hereinbefore descri~ed
~ith such an arrangement! the hypotenuse side 143A of the tooth
143 will be drawn yieldably against the timber, to rotate the
tooth 143 under the timber during retraction of the piston rod
149 into the cylinder 148, and the engaging side 143B of the
- tooth 143 will be pushed into contact with the timber to shove
it from the trimmer section 14 onto the roller bed section lS
upon extension of the piston rod 149 from the cylinder 148.
.
Alternatively, of course, a pull-off assembly may be used at
this location in the system instead of the push-off assembly l~A.
Referring again to Figure 18, it will be seen that the tie
stacker portion of the pùll-off and tie stacker assembly 23 is
. co~posed of an arrangement of three lifting arms 161-163 which
are fixedly positioned on a rotatable cross-bar 169, whereby
rotation of the cross-bar 169 will elevate the lifting arms
161-163 to deposit timbers carried thereon onto the lifting
.
:
. . .
lOS63S~
. pads 180 and 181 of ~he tie deck assembly 18.
Referring now to Figures 29-31, there may be seen how the
lifting arms 161-163 may be elevated by an arrangement of
components interconnected with the center arm 163 and composed
of pneumatic cylinders 231 and 237. More particularly, cylinder
231 is anchored between a pair of spaced-apart elevation arms
.
230-230A which are pivotal-ly mounted at one end on the cross-bar
169, and which are pivotally connected to the cylinder 231 by
an anchor pin 235 slidably disposed in a spacing sleeve 24 .
extending between the arms 230-23OA and fixedly attached to the
:` base of the cylinder 231. The piston arm 232 extending from
the cylinder 231 is interconnected with a bracket 246 on the
lower surface of the center arm 163 by a clevis 233 and clevis
pin 234. The other pneumatic cylinder 237, which is anchored
: at its base between the arms 230-230A by a sleeve 2g5 and.
anchor pin 236, is connected at its other end through the piston
shaft 238 to a bracket 241 mounted on a short saddle 242 by a
clevis 239 and clevis pin 240. The short saddle 242 is, in turn,
mounted on a brace 243 or ot~.er suitable portion of the platform
. 20 herein~efore described, by U-tie bolts (not depicted) as
previously explained.
:; The particular tie stacXer configuration depicted in ~igures
29-31, wherein two cylinders are employed instead of only one,
provides a number of advantages over the stacX~rs and other
similar apparatus of the prior art. In the first instance, it
will be noted that whenever it is sought to elevate ~he center
~ ' . .
1 .
.
-38- ..
~, .: -: ,
lOS635~
arm 163 with on~y one cylinder, the cylinder will necessarily
assume a very sharp angle of attitude with respect to the
center arm 163 either at the beginning of the elevation or at
its point of termination in a vertical position, for the reason
that ~he arm 163 is being rotated through a relatively large
àngle (i.e., 90 or more j D With the two-cylinder arrangement
.
~ depicted in Pigures 29-31, however, the cylinders 231 and 237
, . .- . . .: - . . -: .
always maintain a substantial angle of attitude relative to
. . .. . . - .. .
the lifting arm 163, at all po~ts of travel between horïzontal
10 and vertical. This, in turn, provides a second advantage
wherein the amount of ~pneumatic driving force reguired when
the arms 161-163 are either at horizontal or verticaI may be
substantially reduced. In other words, when only a single
cylinder is employed it must have a capability which is
substantially greater than the combined capability of both o~
the two cylinders 231 and 237 employed as hereinbefore described.
- A third advantage, which is particularly important,
derives from the fact that the combination o~ the two cylinders
231 and 237 permits the elevation oE the liEting arm 163 with
20 a more controllable amount of force at all positions during
its rotation between horizontal and vertical. ~hus, ~he
lifting arm 163 can ~e moved at a speed such that the timbers - -
147 ca~ried thereon are not thrown forward onto the lif ting
pads 180 and 181 of the tie deck assembl~ 18 but are stacked
, thereon in ~he manner sought to be proviaed with this apparatusO
In this respe~t, it should be noted that pneumatic cylinders
.: ' . . '
r
'
3~
:
iO563S8
tend to vary with respect to their internal friction, and
thus it is difficult to control such cylinders in a preselected
manner whenever close tolerances of movement are required By
using a two-cylinder arrangement rather than only one, as in
.
the case of the prior art, the two cylinders tend to cooeerate
in this regard, whereby they effectively oper2te as a single
cylinder having a driving force w'nich averages out the
. ~
variations arising because of differences of internal friction
in their internal components. - - ~
In normal operation of this apparatùs, it is conventional
as well as desira~le to actuate the pull-off arms 141-142 to
load five timbers 147 onto the lifting arms 161 163 o~ the tie
stacker assembly 23, before the arms 161-163 of the tie
stacker assembly are elevated to deposit this stack of timbers .
147 onto the tie dec~ assembly 18. In actual operation, each
.
timber 147 may be deposited across the lifting arms 161-163 .
only to the extent that the dogging teeth 143 and 145 can
travel along the slots 144 and 146 in the pull-off arms 141-1 2,
As each ti~ber 147 is pulled onto the lifting arms 161-163 by
20 the dogging teeth 143 and 14~ in the pull-off arms 141-142,
the subsequent timber 147 will push the precedirg ~imber or
timbers thereon further down the lifting arms 161-163. . Such
travel will only occur, however, until the first timber loaded
- thereon comes into abutting engagement with the angular stops
166-168 mounted on the three lifting arms 161-163. Thereupon,
the cylinder 174 located witbin the center lifting arm 163
~`' .
~ .
10563S~ .
may be actuated to retract the piston shat 176 until the
clampîng tooth 165 grips the last loaded timber 147 and draws
all five timbers into locking engagement against the stop 168.
Thus, the five timbers are held secured together by the
clamping tooth 165 during elevation of the lifting arms
161-163 by the cylinders 231 and 237, there~y avoiding any
tendency for the stac~ of five timbers 147 to topple over in
disarray on the tie deck assembly 18. - -
:. : '- ' .,
~ ~ Referring again to Figures 24-25, it will be seen that
the clamping tooth 165 is a ~-shaped component having its
shank portion pivotally connected to ~he free traveling end
of the piston shaft 176 by a clevis 177 and clevis pin 178
and having rollers 172 for facilitating movement of the
- clamping tooth 165-within and along the length of the center .
lifting arm 163~ It Will also be seen that the clam~ing tooth
is only extended up through the slot 164 and above the surface
of the lifting arm 163 when the piston shaft 176 is retracted --
to bring the clamping tooth 165 into engagement with the
timbers 147. Thus, a portion of the lower wall section of th~
lifting arm 163 is preferably bent outwardly thereof in the
manner of a downwardly extending flap 173, whereby the rollers
of the clamping tooth 165 will roll downwardly on this flap
173 to drop the engaging portion of the clamping tooth 165
below the u~per surface vf the lifting arm 163, and whereby
timbers 147 may be drawn onto the lifting arms 161-163 of
the tie stacker assembly without interference by the
-
: 4~
1056358 '
clamping tooth 165.
Reerring now to Figures 18 and 26-28, it may be seen
that the outer lifting arms 161-162 are each provided with
a suitable stack pusher member 190 pivotally mounted thereon
by means of sleeve bearings 215 ana 216. In addition, lifting
pads 180-181 are appropriately mounted ad~acent the inner
surfaces of the two chain assemblies 86-87 of the tie deck
assembly 18. More particularly, the lifting pad 180 may be
seen to be pivotally supported with respect to the chain .
assembly 86 by means of a shorter pivot arm 183 at one end of
-~he lifting pad 180 and a longer pivot arm 182 at its other
end. In addition, a pneumatic cylinder 184 is interconnected
by a pin 186 rotatably linked to a ~racket 185.mounted on or -
adjacent the lower surface of the chain assembly 86 and having
its piston rod 187 connected to the lower end of the longer
pivot arm 182 by a clevis and pin asse~bly 188. Accordingly,
when the piston rod 187 is extended from the cylinder 184,
the.lifting pad 180 will be elevated by the pivot arms 182-183
above the upper surface of the chain assembly 86, and when the
piston rod 187 is retracted, the lifting pad 180 is retracted
below ~he upper surface of the chain asse~bly 86. Although
not spacifically depicted in the accompanying drawings, it
~ will be noted that the lifting pad 181 is similarly connected
; to and movable with respect to the o~her chain assembly 87.
Referring again to Figures 26-28, it will be noted that
when ~he center arms 161-163 are elevated to a vertical
:
-42- .
:,
105635~
position, the piston rod 187 is extended from the cylinder
184 to elevate the pads 180 and 181 above their respective
chain assemblies 86-87, and the stack of timbers 147 carried
thereon may then be deposited on the lifting pads 180-181.
When another flve timbers have been received onto the
lifting arms 161-163 of the tie stacker section 20, and when
the arms 161-163 are again elevated to a ver.tical position,
.
this additional stack of timbers will again be set d~wn on the ..
elevated lifting pads 180-181. To prevent the second stac~ of
.. . .
.timbers from interfering with the first deposited stack of
timbers 147, it will be noted that the rotatable stack pusher
190, which is rotatable freely i~ the appropriate one of the
two bearings 215-216, and which is balanced to keep the position
depicted in Figures 26-28, will be brought into abutting engagement
with the first stack of timbers 147 to push them forward along the
two lifting pads 180-181. Each time the lifting arms 161-163 are
elevated to a vertical position, the two stack pushers l90 will
therefore be brought into abutting engagement with the preceding
i stack or stacks of timbers to sho~e them out of the way and to
thereby prevent them from being toppled over by the arrival of
. the subsequent stack of timbers 147.
As hereinbe~ore explained, lumber which is carried by the ~
roller bed section 9 for loading onto the lumber aeck assemblies
12 and 13 must be deposited thereon by means of the two lumber
stacker sections 20-21 depicted in Figure 2. The lùmber stacker
section 20 depicted in Figures 32-34 is basically the same as
~, .
, :
-43-
.
.
.. . . . ,. ., :, ~ , ~ .
1~56;~58
; the tie stacker section 23 depicted and described in Figures
18 and 24-28, and is therefore elevated by the same type of
apearatus depicted in Figures 29-31. Accordingly, it will be
seen in Figure 32 that the lumber stacker section 20 is comprised
of three lifting arms 161A-163A fixedly mounted on an appropriate
cross-bar 169A. It is not necessary to stack lumber received
onto the lifting arms 161A-163A, however, and thus the center
lifting arm 163A need not contain clamping apparatus such as
the cylinaer 174 and clamping tooth 165 depictea in Figures
24-25. The center arm 163A therefore need not be pro~ided with
the slot 164 which is re~uired to accommodate the clamping tooth -
165, as depicted in Figure 32, but it is a-lways convenient for
purposes of interchangeability to use components of like designO
. As hereinbefore stated, lumber received onto the lifting
arms 161A-163A is not required to be neatly stacked in the
same manner as are the timbers 147 which are carried by the
lifting arms 161-163 of the tie stacker assembly, and it
is cnly necessary that such lumber be displaced completely
from the roller bed section 9 before the lifting arms I61A-
.- 20 153A are elevated~to deposit the lumber onto the lum~er
deck assembly 12. However, the two outside lifting arms
161A-162A of ~he lumber stacker 20 are preferably provided
with a pair of upwardly projecting triangular fins 210-211
to cause lumber dragged thereon by the dogging teeth
- 143 and 145 of the pull-off arms 141-142, to jump
~ forward down the leng~h of ~he li~ting arms 161A-163A,
,~ ' ,. .
,~ " ~ ' .
-44-
.
105635~ ` .
this respect, it will be noted that the smaller fin 210
is preferably located adjacent the end o each of the two
lifting arms 161A-162A, and that the larger fin 211 is located
further down the length of the arms 161A-162A~ In addition,
each of the two fins 210-211 is positioned with its longer side
directed toward the lumber being received from the roller bed
section 9. - . . .
Re~erring again to Figure 32t it will be noted that since
.
the lumber received onto ~he liting arms 161A-163A iS not
.10 intended to be neatly stacked onto the lumber deck assembly 12, -
as hereinbefore explained, the stack pusher members 190
depicted in Figures 18 and 26-28 are not required. On the
other hand, it is desirable to pro~ide ~eans for preventing
lumber piled onto the lumber deck.assembly 12 from falling
back onto the lifting arms 161A-163A, and thus discs 213-214
are preferably mounted rotatably in the sleeves 215-216
for preventing this from occurring~ .
Referring now to Figures 33-34, it will be seen how
; . lumber 207 which is drawn onto the lifting arms 161A-163A by
` 20 the dogging teeth 143 and 145 of the pull-off arms 141-142
will tend to sweep over the fins 210 and 211 to bs piled in
a random fashion on the li~ting arms 161A-163Ao ~hen the
lifting arms 161A-163A are elevated to a vertical position, the
lumber 207 tends to fall forward onto the rotatable discs
213-214~ Since these discs 213-214 are both freeiy rotatable
in th- sleeves 215-216, however, the lumber 207 wi-l continue
-45-
.
10563S8
forward, away from the vertically erect lifting arms 161A-
163A onto the chain assemblies 86-87 of the lumber deck
assembly 12. Since the lumber deposited thereon may be
accumulated in a random fashion, as hereinbefore stated,
the lumber deck assembly 12 need not be provided with the
li~ting pads 180-181 and actuating components therefor, as
previously described with respect to Figure 18. . - .-:
. . . . . . .. ..
. ~eferring now to Figures 10-12, there may be seen a .
-; . . : . .
:detailed pictorial representation of the triple leg 200 . - -
-. .
hereinbefore mentioned with respect to Figure 2, and more
:' . . -,
especially illustrating how this component is employed in the
sawmill structurë to provide a number of functions and -
.. . . . .
beneits. More particularly, ~he triple leg 200 is designed
to couple two or more portions of the various roller bed
.~ .
~ sections 9-10 and 15 together as operating units, and to
.; , . .
~ support the assembled roller bed sections 9-10 and 15 on the
.,~ . ,
~'. piers 44 at the Blevation I. In addition, the triple leg 200
, , . , . - .
~ is designed to provide means for coupling driving power from
:~ . . . . . .
. one portion of the roller bed section to another, and to
. 20 support an idling roller 193, as will~hereinafter be explained.
Other functions of the triple leg 200 include providing support
for either portion 141a or portion 141B of a pull-off assembly
~, ~ 141, and to support two or more such pull-off assemblies
either in side-by-side relationship or in reverse relationship
. wherein one of the two pull-off assemblies has had its tooth
1~ 143 reversed to provide push-o~f rather than pull-off, as in ~ -
.i, , .
,, .
. ~ .
-46-
.~ ~
.~, . . . . . .
... . . . . . . . .
. .. ~ . ,
, .
., . ~ ., ~, .
105635~ -
the case o~ the push-off asse~ribly employed to transfer ties
onto the roller bed section 15 from the trimmer section 14.
Also, the triple leg 200 pro~rides support for the lifting
arms 161-163 of each of the tie stacker assem~lies, and also
for the lu~ber stackers depicted in Figure 320
Referring more particularly to Figure ll, it will be seen
that the triple leg 200 is composed of a pair of upright
leg brackets 223-224 spaced apart along a short saddle 205
and each having a pair of oppositely projecting arms 203
.
.
adapted to be bolted to the adjacent ends O:e t~e dannel me~bers `
. 111 of the roller bed section 10 or the like. ~he short
.
saddle 205 is, of course, mountable on the appropriate longeron
50, and therefore is preferably provided with sleeves 76 for
holding two or more U-tie bolts 54. As ma~ further be seen in
Figure 11, the upper portion of each of the ~o leg brackets
223-224 is provided with a pair of upwardly extending suppor~
arms 202 spaced adjacent the. ends of the channel members 11,
.
and another pair of inside support arms 204. It will thus be
seen that a pair of arms 202 and 204 fur~ction to support a
20 pull-off assembly 141, or the idler roller me~ber 193 may be
;I:ocated therebetween as illustrated in Figure 11.
Referring again to Figures 11-12, it will be seen tha~
the space between adjacent outside and inside support arms
202 and 204 accommodates the smaller portion 141B of a
pull~off assembly 141, whereas the space between the t~o ..
inside arlT~ 204 will accommodate the larger portion 141A o~
_47_
., :
.- . . . -. - : :
1~)563S8 - .
such a pull-of~ assembly, Accordingly, two pull-off assemblies
141 may be laid side-by-side, as hereinbe~ore explained.
Referring again to Figure 11, it may be seen how the
triple leg 200 functions as a connecting link for driving the
various roller members 110 in two separate sections of a
roller bed section 10 or the like More particularly, it will
- be seen that the roller members 110 in one of the two sections
will be interconnected by an endless driva belt 192, which is
passed about a driving sheave or pulle~ 191 a~apted to arry
two belts. The second belt 198 carried by the two sheaves 191
is an endless member extending over a pair of pulleys 189, each
of which is slidably mounted in a verticaI slot 197 in the
adjacent vertical leg bracket 223 or 224 of the triple leg
200. Accordingly, the two pulleys 189 may be secured in the
slot 197 at an appropriate position by suitable bolts or
loc~ing means 196, in order to apply the proper amount of
tension to the connecting belt 198. Thus, rotation of the
belt 192 in the lefthand section of the roller bed, which
rotates the roller members 110 therein, will also rotate the
connecting belt 198 by rotating the sheave 191. Rotation of
the connecting belt 198 will, of course, rotate the sheave
191 and ro~ller members 110 in the other section of the-
roller bed secti:on 10.
As hereinbefore stated, the triple leg 200 provides a
suitable means for positioning the stop assembly 115, which
is described in Figures 15-17. Thus, ~he vertical support
.
-48-
1056;~5~ - .
~nembers 130-131, ~hich-provide support for the pivot arms
132-134, may be seen to be positioned between the two leg
brackets 223-224.
As hereinbefore stated, it is the function of the triple
leg 20Q also to provide support for the li~ting arms 161-163 of.
the tie stacker assembly depicted in Figure 18. Only one of
the three legs of the tie stacker need be supported, however,
and thus a single r st 201, having the configuration of an
- . . .
angle member, may be fixed to one of the two support arms
10 202-203, as indicated in Figures 10-11.
With reference to the pull-off asselliblies 141, which may be
laid across and supported by the triple leg 200, it should be
noted that these asse~blies are preferably provided with some
form (not depicted) of projection for engaging one or more
of the support arms 202 and 204. Accordingly, this prevents
the pull-off asseTnblies 141 from being displaced horizontally
while resting on the triple leg 200.
Referring now to Figure 35, there may be =een a simplified
. functional illustration of the major pneumatically-actuated
20 driving means hereinbe ore mentioned with respect to the
other components. In particular, there may be seen in Figure
35 a functional representation of a suitable source of pneumatic
pressure 250, which source 250 is suitably connected through
line 251 to $he pressure input ports B of each of a plurality
of solenoid-actuated valves 252-256 which, in turn, have an
exit port A vented to the =tmosphere, an outlet pressure port
--49--
.
- l~S~3S~ ~
C opened to intake port B upon actuation of the respective
solenoid, and an intake port D coupled to a hydraulic return
line 252B. The normal position of each of these valves
252-256 is to couple intake port B to exit eort D therein.
Thus, when the valve is actuated, port D will be interconnected
with port A to provide an exhaust or return route to atmosphere,
and ports B and C will be interconnected to route pneumatic-
pressure ~rom the sou~ce 250 and pressure line 251 to the
components sought to be energized~ -- -
.
Referring in particular to Figure 35, it will be seen
that the actuating cylinder of the stop assembly 115 is
normally in a retracted position to position the plate 120
below the surface o the roller bed section. If the solenoia
260 is energized, however, pneumatic pressure will be couplea
across ports B and C to the pressure line 252A leading to the
pressure por~ P of the pneumatic cylinder 139, and the exhaust
line 252B leading from the exit port R of the cylinder 139 will
be connected through ports A and D in the valve 252 to
atmosphere. Thus, energizing the solenoid 260 will extend the
shaft 140 to elevate the plate 120 to intercept the timber 114,
as indicated in Figure 15A. Releasing the valve 252, however,
will cause it to revert to its normal posi~ion wherein ports
A and C are connected to the atmosphere, and pressure from the
source line 251 through ports B and D will cause the pis~on
shaft 140 to be retracted within the cylinder 139. Referring
again to Figure 35, it will be seen that since the pull-off
-50-
.
`-` 1056358 ~
-~ Q ssemblies are generally provided in pairs, the pneumatic
system depicted in Figure 35 herein will incorporate at least
two cylinders 148 with piston rods 149. As indicated, the
normal position o~ the valve 253 is with ports A and C
interconnected and ports B and D interconnected. Thus, when
the valve 253 is actuated and poxts B and C are then
.
interconnected, pressure from line 251 will be applied to line
253B and the upper intake port R of the cylinder 148. Thus,
pressure from line 253B into ~ort R in the cylinder 148 will
cause retraction of the piston rod 149 therein, line 253A betwean .`
port P of the cylinder 148 and port D of the valve 253 being
the return route for this c~linder 148.
As-hereinbefore stated, there are two cylinders involved .
with two pull-off arms. It is aspecially desirable that both
cylinders operate in synchronism with each other, and thus
lines 254A-B are interconnected respectively to ports P and R
.. :
of cylinder 148A, the same as with lines 253A-B and cylinder
1480 -
.
As indicated in Figure 35, the cylinder 174 which
positions the clamping tooth 165 is interconnected to be
.
~ controlled by the same control valve 255 which is interconnected
.
I to control the two lifting cylinders 231 and 237 depicted in
i Figures 29-31. The reason for this is that it is necessary
~ to draw ~he clamping ~ooth 165 into compression against ~he
j stack of five timbers 147 at the very instant that the
1 lifting cylinders 231 and 237 are enersizea to raise the li~ting
.~ , - .
, .
,j - . .
1 -
--. .
-51- ~. -
- , ~ -. . . , -
105~i3S~
arms 161-163. On the other hand, it may also be seen in
Figure 35 that the cylinder 174 has its piston rod 176
extended whenever the piston roas 232 and 238 are retracted
within cylinders 231 and 237. This is accomplished by
coupli.ng ports P of the lifting cylinders 231 and 237 to the
pressure line 255A which interconnects port C o the valve
255 with port R of the clamping cvlinder 174. Similarly, ~orts
R of the lifting cylinders 231 and 237 are interconnected with
. line 255B which is interconnected with port P of the clamping
cylinder 174. Accordingly, when the control valve 255 is
energized, pressure from line 251 will be delivered through
ports C and B of the valve 255 and line 255A to extend piston
rods 232 and 238 at the same time that piston rod 176 is
retracted within the cylinder 174 to engage the clamping
tooth 165 against the stac~ of timbers 147.
I~ this regard it should be noted that the clamping
cylinder 174 is not only smaller, relative to the lifting
cylinders 231 and 237, but it is faster acting due to the
fact that.piston rod 176 will only travel a relatively short
distance in either direction along its.length. Accordingly,
when the.~alve 255 is actuated, the clamping cylinder 174
will immediately draw the clamping tooth 165 into engagement
with the stack of timbers 147 before the lifting cylinders 231
and 237 ha~e lifted the lifting arms.161-163 even a short
distance from horizontal. On the other hand, when the control
valve 255 is released for the purpose of returning the lifting
105~;358
arms 161-163 to horizontal, the cylinder 174 will react
immediately to disengage the clamping tooth 165 from the
stack of timbers 147 before the li~ting cylinders 231 and
237 have effectively moved away from vertical. Thus, the
li~ting arms 161-163 may be lowered away from vertical, leaving
the stack o~ timbers 147 standing undisturbed on ~he li~ting
paas 180-181. ~ -
It should be noted that the lifting pads 180-181 are
normally permitted to remain erect until a suitable number of
stacks of timbers 14? have been dQpositea thereon, and the
lifting arms 161-163 have been returned to horizontal at the
end of a cycle. Accordingly, control valve 256 may be
energized to connect power through line 256A to port R in
the cylinder 184 which positions the lifting pad 180, and
; also to port R of the matching cylindQr 184A which controls the
other lifting pad 181. Thus, piston rods 187 and 187A will be
retracted simultaneously to lower the two lifting pads 180-181
as a unit to deposit the accumulated stacks of timbers 147
onto the chains 100 o~ the chain assemblies 86 and 87 of the
tie deck assembly 18. The chains lOO may then be shifted
by the driving means 101 depicted in Figure 14 to transport
the timbers to another location to make room for a next
succeeding accumulation of timbers. De-energi~ing the solenoid
264 will permit the control valve 256 to be returned to normal,
whereby pressure from line 251 will again be supplied through
ports B and D of the valve, and line 256B to ports P of the
-53-
. .
:. ,, . . . . - . .. - : .
1~5635~ -
cylinders 184 and 184A. This will again extend the piston
rods 187-187~ to re-elevate the lifting pads 180-181, line
256A providing an exhaust route from ports R of the cylinder.
184-184A to ports A and C of the valve 256.
As hereinbefore stated, the dogging tooth 143 may be
reversed to permit the pull-off arms 141 and 142 in Figure
18 to o~ rate as a "push-off" assembly Referring again to --
Figure 35, therefore, if the cylinder 148 is incorporated in
.
an assembly 141 which is used to push rather than pull, ~hen
line 253A will be connected to port R of the cylinder 148, and-
line 253B will be connected to port P, whereby the piston rod
149 will move oppositely of the manner hereinbefore explained~
It will further be noted that the limit switch 156 depicted
in Figures 19-20 must be repositioned whereby its whisker 157
will be actuated upon extension of the piston rod 149, rather
than by retraction for pull-off purposes. Appropriately,
therefore, the switch 156 may be located at the end of the
small portion 141B of the assembly 141 whereby the whisker 157
may, for example, be deflected by the link bar 152 .or one of
the rollers 153.
Referring n~w to Figure 36, there may be seen a simpli~ied
schematic diagram illustrating the electrical circuits and
con~rol switches for operating examples of the various
components hereinbefore described In particular, circuitry
il~us rate~ therein is representative of the circuits required
to control and enexgize the roller bea section 15, the roller
-54-
. ~ . . . . . . . . .
.
~ 0563S8
bed section 9, the valves 253-254 which are necessary to
operate any one of the various pull-off asse~blies, the
valve 255 which is required to operate any of the tie or
lumber stacker sections, the motor 101 which energizes an~
one of the tie deck assemblies 16-19, and the valve 256
which operates any one of the lifting pads which may be
- . found on any one of the tie deck assemblies 16-19. For
eureoses o~ simplification, it will be noted that those
switches represented in Figure 36 by double-dashed lines
. will ~e found located in the rontrol booth 30, and those
switches represented in Figure 36 by only a single dashed
line will be fcund located on or adjacent~the component
sought to be controlled.
Referring again to Figure 36, ~herefore, it will be
seen that a master switch 271 is provided for connecting
power from a suitable electrical source 270 to the circuitry
which, in turn, includes a stop relay switch 272 for
energizing the solenoid of the stop positioning relay 274
in any of the various stop assemblies 115 which are located
? throughout the system, and which are illustrated in Figures
15-17. Accordingly, when the relay 274 is energized, it will
be seen to couple power through the first of three sets of
contacts to the solenoid 260 by way of a stop override switch
2.73, and also to couple power through its second set of
contacts to hold the relay 274 closed after the switch 272
is reopened. In aadition, power is connected through the
-55-
. . - . . . .
-- . - - : . . .
- . . .
10563S8
third set of contacts of the relay 27a to energize the
motor 288, whereby ~he plate 120 is now elevated to intercept
the timber 11~ being carried on the ~ollers 110 of the roller
bed section 15. As hereinbefore stated, switch 129 is closed
by impact of the timber 114 on the plate 120, whereby power is
~coupled through the first set o contacts of the stacker
safety xelay 292 to energize the solenoid of the pull-off
relay 290. Note that the pull-off relay 290 may be energized
.
~at any time by the pull-off start switch 276. The pull-of
` 10 relay 290 will now close to couple power from the normally
closed pull-o~f return switch 277 and the two normally closed
switches 156 and 156A to be found inside the two pull-off
assemblies 141-142, to latch the eull-off relay 290 closed.
Power to the solenoid of the stop positioning relay 274 will
- now be broken to reopen the relay 274, and the solenoids
:261-262.of .~he pull-off control valves 253-254 will now be
energized to pull the timber 114 of of the roller bed
,. . . . .
section 15 and onto the lifting arms 161-163 of the tie
. stac~er assembly 23. ~ote also that when the pull-off relay
: 20 290 is energized, the motor 288 which ~rives the roller bed
. section 15 is de-energized because of reopening of the stop
control relay 274.
` As hereinbefore stated, retraction of the piston arms
149-149A will open the two switches 156-156A, there~y
disconnecting power from the solenoid of the pull-off relay
290, whereby the solenoids 261-263 will be ae-energizea
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and the teeth of the pull-o~ asselliblies will be returned
to ~heir normal position. When five ties 147 have been
drawn onto the lifting arms 161-163 of the tie stacker
assellibly 23, and when switch 170 has been closed, power
will now pass through the approE~riate contacts o:E~ the now
reclosed pull-off relay 290 and the middle contacts of the
normally closed stacker safety relay 292 to energize the ~
solenoid of the stacker relay 2910 Closing this component
will connect a latching circuit to the relay by way of its
10 first two contacts and the stacker limit and return swit~hes
279-280, and will connect power through its second two
contacts to energize the solenoid 263 of the stacXer control
valve 255. Accordingly, the lifting arms 161-163 of the tie
stacker assemibly will now be elevatad.
As soon as the arms 161-163 are elevated a short.
interval, however, the stacker safety switch 281 will bs
released to close its bottom contacts to energize the
stacker safety relay 292. Power will now be disconnected
from the soler~oid of the pull-off relay 290 to keep the pull-
20 offs from operating while the lifting arm~ 161-163 of the
stacker section are in an elevated position. In addition,.
E~ower is further disconnected from the coil of the stacker
relay even though the switch 170 is still dosed by ~he
weight of the ties 147. ~ote further that, when t~e stacker
safety relay 292 is opened, the lifting pads may not be
retracted even if the solenoid 264 of the pad control valve
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256 is energized by closuxe o~ the pad-down limit switch 282.
When the lifting arms 161-163 reach their full point of
elevation, this will open the stacker limit switch 279 to
break the latching circui~ which is holding the s~ac~er relay
closed. ~ote that this same effect can be achieved, of
course, by opening the stacker return control switch 280
located in the control booth 30. Power will now be removed
from the solenoid 263 of the stacker control valve 255,
whereby the liting arms 161-163 will be returned to their
horizontal position to await arrival of the next timber being
carried on the roller bed section 15. At this point, it will
.
be noted that the stacker safety switch 281 is returned to
its normal position, thereby breaking the circuit to the
coil of the stacker safety relay 292, which will now revert to
its closed position, reconnecting power to the pad-down limit
switch 282. If this component has been Flosed, the solenoid
264 of the pad control valve 256 will be energized to
.actuate cylinders 184-184A~ In this regard, it may be noted
that solenoid 26* may be energized at any time by closure
. 2 0 of the lifti~g pad control switch 283.
; As hereinbefore explained, whenever a preselected number
of stacks of ties has been received on the lifting pads 18~-
181, the pads-down limit switch 282 will be closed to
connect power to the solenoid 264 of the pad control valve
256. The pads 180-181 will now be retracted by the cylinders
184-184A until the deck start switches 286-287 (one being
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actuated by each pad) are closed ~o couple power to the motor
101 which shi:Ets the stacks o~ ties along the tie deck
asse~ly and away from the pads until the pads-down limit
switch is released to de-energize solenoid 264. The pads
180-181 will then be re-elevated to release the deck start
switches 286-287 and th1ls de-energize the motor 101, When
a stack of ties is carried to a certain distance along the
tie deck asse~bly, however, it will eventually depress and
. .
close the deck limit switch 285 to disconnect power to the
10 coil of the deck safety relay 293. If the deck control
switch 284 is positioned as illustrated in Figure 36, pawer .
will now be connected through the upper pa-ir of contacts o
the deck safety relay 293 to ero~tide a latching circuit for
this component, and power will be disconnected from the dec~
. start switches 286-287 to stop the motor 101 and thereb~ -
- prevent ities from being carried of:E the end of the tie deck
asse~bly. Positioning the deck control switch 284 to its
. alternative l?o~3ition will break the latching circuit to the
deck safety relay 293 to permit it to return to its normal
20 . position, and will also connect power to re-energize the
. motor 101 as long as long as switch 284 is in its alternative ~ .
,, positionO
As may be seen in Figures 32--34,a ~pical lu~iber decl~ -
asse~bly 12 will not be provided wit~h the lifting pads 180-
181 which are incorporated with the tie dec}c asserr;blies In
addition, ~he motor 288 which operates the roller bed section
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1056;~S~
15 will not be involved with the operation of the lumber
stackers, but the lumber roller bed section 9 having motor
289 will be involved, Accordingly, the lifting arms 161A-
163A of the lumber stac~er 20A depicted in Figure 32 will be
elevated upon actuation or closure o~ switch 212 to again
.
connect power to the relay 291, ~he same as hereinbefore
described~ Actuation of the switch 129 will again close the
pull-of~ relay 290 to pull a ~oard or plank onto the li~ting
arms 161A-163A of the lumber stacker 20. ~ote that power is
now applied through the bottom two contacts of relay 290 to
energize the lumber roller bed stop relay 294 to break the
energiæed circuit to the motor 289 which drives t~e roller
bed section 9. When switch 212 is closed, this-will again
- energize the relay 291 to again energize the solenoid 263,
as herein~efore described~ As soon as switch 212 is closed,
power will be connected through the stacker safety switch 281
to energize the tie dec~ motor 101, as well as to energize
the stacker relay 2910 As soon as the lifting arms 161a-163A
are elevated far enough to release the stacker safety switch
281, however, power will be removed from the tie deck motor
101 ana will be connected to actuate the stacker sa~ety relay
292, Thus, the lumber dec~ assembly will be actuated to
carry lumber pre~iously deposited thereon only far enough to
remove it from lumber again being deposited thereon by the
rising lifting arms 161A - 163Ao
As hereinbefore stated, the hollow longerons 50 are not
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only employed to sup~ort the various modules but are also
used to provide support as well as protection for electrical
cables which must necessarily be extended between the
components previously discussed with respect to Figure 36.
On the other hand, accass is required to these cables at
points intermediate the ends of the longerons 50, and also
provision must be had for connecting other similar aucts
- to the longerons 50 at selected locations between their ends.
Referring now to Figures 37-39, there may be seen
pictorial illustrations of apparatus which has been found
particularly suitable for this purpose. Referring more
especially to Figure 37, there may be seen an exemplary form
of duct assembly 300 whi~h includes a junction box 301
adapted to be interconnected between an aperture 305 (see
Figure 38) in the bottom of the longeron 50 and a rectangular- :
duct extending at right angles to the longeron 50. More
.~ especially, the junction box 301 may be seen to be provided
with curvilinear surfaces 302 to support the cables 310
contained therein against deformation or damage, such surfaces
20 or curvilinear wall portions 302 being con~eniently pr~vided
,~ by taking a one-fourth round section of the wall of a m~tal
.~ tube or the like of proper radiusO The junction box 301 may
be seen to be interconnected with an inverted short saddl~
~: 51 which, as hereinbefore described, may be c~nnected with
,~ the longeron 50 by means o~ U-tie bolts 54 and sleeves 76.
.j .
Referrin~ now to Figure 38, it may be seen that access
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may be had to the cables which transfer from the junction box
301 to the longeron 50, either by disconnecting the U-tie
bolts 54 and removing the ~unction box 301 from the longeron
50, or by removing the access door 303 which is connected to
the end of the junction box 301 by means of screws 304 or
other suitable fasteners.
. As indicated in Figures 37-38, provision,may be required
for connecting an extension duct 306 to the duct 308
'at an angle less than 90. This may be conveniently ef~ected
by providing a pair-of pipe sections 307 to the sides of an
aperture in the duct 308, and by thereafter welding the
extension 306 to the pipe sections 307. The advantage of ~:
employing pipe sections 307 in this manner is that their
sur~aces are rounded to protect the cables from abrasion,
and thus similar components may conveniently be used at
the aperture 305 in the longeron 50O
Referring now to Figure 39, there may be seen a pictorial
representation of the components which secure and protect
electrical cables 310 when extending out of a duct 308 or
the ~ike. More particularly it will be noted that brackets
311:lmay be secured to spaced-apart edges of the end of the - -
duct 308, and may also be,pro~ided with threaded apertures
for receiving ~he screws 304. me opening in the end of the
'duct 308 is preferably closed by a pair of plates 312-313,
each of'which has a screw aperture 315 for matching the hole
in the brackets 311, and which is also provided with one or
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105~5~
more spaced-apart circular recesses 316. Accordingly, when
the plates 312-313 are secured to the end of the duct 308
by the screws 304, the end of the duct 308 will be closed
except for one or more holes formed by the matching recesses
316. Thus, one or more suitable couplings 314 are preferably
provided in the recesses 316 to fixedly secure cables passing
out of the duct 308 in the manner depicted in Pigure 38
~ote also that means such as the plates 312-313 may be
employed instead of the access door 303 in Figure 38.
Referring again to Figure 14, it will be noted that the
elevation and tilt of the rails 39 of the nose section 3
should be xather precisely established in order that a sawlog
98 will roll properly onto the deck of the carriage 27.
-Accordingly, a plurality of shims 225 and the like are
preferably included as a part of the nose section 3, whereby
the positioning of this module may, from time to time, be
selectively convenient.
Referring again to Figure 4, it will be not~d that-lumber
deck assembly 12 is depicted as straddling two longerons 50,
20 Such an assembly may be constructed to straddle or rest on
three or more longerons 50 to accommodate bo4rds of greater
leng~h, of course, without departing from the concept of the
present invention. In this regard, the log deck assemdaly 2,
the nose section 3, and the other modules of the system may
be similarly adapted.
The concept of a modular-1:ype sawmill depends, of course,
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on the definition of the term "module." As used herein,
therefore, a module is any component of the systém which,
like the nose section 3 and log deck section 2, is both
self-contained and independently operable. Accordingly,
the components described and depicted herein, which are
considered to be modules are the log deck section 2, the nose
section 3, the carriage and saw section 6, the conveyor
assembly as hereinafter described, each of the two lumber
~eck assemblies 12-13, the transfer deck assembly 22, and
each of the tie deck assemblies 16-19. The conveyor
assembly is composed of the two roller bed sections 9-10
and the conveyor belt section 11, the various triple legs
200 interconnected therein, the stop assemblies 145 in the
triple legs 200, and the flip board sections 7-80 The ~ull-
off assemblies 20A-21A, and other like components, are also
a part of the conveyor assembly inasmuch as ~hey are su~ported
by the triple legs 200 rather than being dis~osed on
longerons 50~ Similarly, the lumber stac~er sections 20-21
and the tie stacker sections 23-26 are ~art of the lumber
deck and tie deck assemblies 12-13 and 16-19, respectively,
since they are mounted on these components rather than on
longerons 50 as self-contained modules.
Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, it should be noted
that the log deck assembly 2, the two lumber deck assembiies
- 12-13, the trans~er deck assembly 22, and the our tie deck
assemblies 16-19 are all basically the same in design~ Any
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dif~erences such as the tie stackers 23-26 are additions
only, and thus all of these components are basically
interchangeable.
It will be apparent from the foregoing that many other
variations and modifications may be made in the structures
described herein without substantially departing from the
- basic concept of the present invention. Accordingly, it
should be clearly understood that the forms of the invention
described herein and depicted in the accompanying drawings
are exemplary only and are not intended as limitations in
~h- sc of tbe pres-n~ t}on.
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