Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~071065
3ack~round of Invention
This invention relates to improved sawmill methods and
apparatus, and more particularly relates to an improved
sawmill design and operating concept. In addition, the
inve ~:ion relates to a novel sawmill concept wherein improved
methods and apparatus are provided for performing certain of
the various functions now performed in sawmills of conventional
design.
It is well known that 'rees are harvested to provide
lumber and wood pulp, and that ~such felled trees are carried
to sawmills for this purpose after being de-topped and delimbed,
and perhaps also debarked. 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 sawlogs in the
sawmill, and alsa to provide ot~her such devices for moving
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 of 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 disassembled for removal and re-erection at
another operating site.
A sa~mill may ~e characterized as a system wherein
certain functions or steps in à process are performed. The
initial point in the process may be considered to be the
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1071~65
'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 pro~ided
between the log deck and the carriage and saw section for
the purpose of selecting and trans~erring 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,
or it may be a so-called "slab" which is useless for purposes
of providing lumber. It is desirable to segregate dif~erent
pieces at the time they are cut from the sawlog, and thus
means is preferably provided for depositing a slab on a first
conveyor section leading to a chipper or the like, and for
depositing lumber and timber-sized pieces on two or more
other different conveyors leading, respectively, 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 enhanced,
during recent years, by the need to mechanize as much of 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 o~ much larger and
relatively permanently installed sawmills which are, in turn,
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completely dependent on a transportion system which can
accumulate and supply sawlogs from a wide area.
Accordingly, there has long been a need for a mechanical
sawmill 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 without effectively being destroyed
as an operating unit, and which is simpler and therefore
easier and cheaper to maintain. The various features and
techniques which are employed to provide the large sawmills
of the prior art are inherently inconsistent with providing
all of these features in the same operating unit, and thus
simplicity and portability havF accordingly been sacrificed
in favor of mechanization.
These disadvantages of the prior art are overcome with
the present invention, and novel sawmill methods and apparatus
are herewith disclosed for providing a sawmill which is
operable with a minimum number 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 further includes
- improved and novel component sections for performing 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 files and carrying a plurality of hollow longi-
tudinal structural members hereinafter referred to as "longerons"
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1071065 - -
7hich extend or lie across the various files of piers or
columns to provide two preselected functional or operating
levels. The various operating sections of the mill is
therefGre 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 plane or
"saw line" of the mill, as well as with respect to the two
operating levels. :
As will hereinafter be apparent, mounting the modules
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, tas 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 sawmill, and the modules which straddle
and rest on the longerons connect and strengthen the assembled
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~ 071065
sawmill in the lateral direction parallel to the cutting
line.
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 m~dular concept has per-
mitted 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 assem~lies may be used with particular advantage in
any type of sawmill or other similar system, as will herein-
after be apparent.
Another feature of the present invention is the provision
of ~arious 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 se~eral pieces on one of three different conveyor
sections depending on whether the piece is a slab, a plank
or board, or a railroad tie or other like size of timber.
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- 1071065
Also, novel routing means is provided for transferring boards
or ties from the conveyor sections to selected ones of a
plurality of lumber and tie deck assemblies and other com-
ponents 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 easi~r to
erect, it may ideally be operated by only one person as will
hereinafter be apparent.
The invention, in its broadest aspect, contemplates
a sawmill and the like which comprises a conveyor means for
conducting timbers and other elongate bodies longitudinally :~
along a path to a preselected location. The improvement in
combination therewith comprises an elongate support member :
disposed at least partially across the path at the location,
actuating means for longitudinally moving the support member
perpendicularly relative to the path, and an engaging member
pivotally supported on the support member for engaging selected
4nes of the bodies at the location upon movement of the
` support member in one longitudinal direction by the actuating
means and for yielding to the bodies upon movement of the
support member in the other longitudinal direotion.
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1~)71(~6S
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.
In the Drawings:
Figure 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, with respect to its sawline or cutting axis.
Figure 3 is a simplified pictorial representation of
a platform suitable for the purposes of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a more detailed pictorial representation
of a portion of the structure illustrated in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a simplified pictorial representation of
one of the components of the structure illustrated in Figure 4,
and appears with Figs. 1, 6 and 7.
Figure 6 is a simplified pictorial representation of
` 20 one of the parts of the component depicted in Fig~re 4, and
appears with Figs. l, 5 and 7.
.
Figure 7 is a simplified pictorial representation of
' another part of the component depicted in Figure 4, and appears
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~7~65
Figure 8 is a pictorial representat~on of another portion
of the supporting platform depicted in Figure 3.
Figure 9 is a pictorial representation of another
different portion of the structure depicted in Figure 3, with
Fig. 3,
Figure 10 is a pictorial representation of a further
different portion of the structure depicted in Figure 3.
Figure 11 is a pictorial view of a portion of one of ~:~
the component~ of the sawmill depicted generally ln 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 sawmili depicted generally in
Figure 2.
Figure 14 is a simplified pictorial view of another
portion of the sawmill depicted generally in Figure 2.
Figure 15 is arpictorial representation of another
component of the sawmill depicted in Figure 2.
Figure 16 is a different representation of the apparatus
' 20 depicted in Figure 15.
Figure 17 is another view of the apparatus depicted in
.l Figures 15 and 16.
: Figure 18 is a more detailed pictorial view of another
different component of the sawmill generally represented in
,~ Figures 1 and 2.
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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1071(~65 - : -
Figure 20 is another pictorial view o~ the apparatusillustrated in Figures 18 and 19
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 different pictorial representation
of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 21/ with Figs. 2, 21 and 23.
Figure 23 is a further different pictoxial view of a
portion of the appaxatus depicted in Figures 21 and 22, with
Figs. 2, 21 and-22. - . - .-
10 . Figure 24 is a pictorial representation, partly in cross
section, of the internal details of a portion of the apparatus
depicted in Figure 18.
Figure 25 is another view of the apparatus depicted inFigure 24.
Figure 26 is a pictorial representation of the details
o~ 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 apparatus
depicted in Figures 26 and 27,
~` Figure 29 is a pictorial representation o~ another
portion of the apparatus decpited in Figures 26-280
. Figure 30 is a similar pictorial view of the apparatus
i}lustrated in Figure 29.
Figure 31 is a diferent ~ictorial view of the apparatus
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1071~65 `
depicted in Figures 29-30~
Figure 32 is a pictorlal 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 apparatus
depicted i~ Figures 31-32.
, Figure 35 is a functional diagram of a portion of the
pneumatic operating components and system employed in a
sawmill of the type embodying the concept of the present
invention.
Figure 36 is a functional diagram of-a portion o~ the
electrical operating components and system employed in a
sawmill of the type embodying the concept of the present
invention.
Figure 37 is a pictorial representation of means for
protecting and supporting electrical cables and leads
required 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 picto~ial representation of
a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 38.
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~ ).71~65 ~
Detailed Description
As hereinbe~ore 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
reerred to as Elevations I, II and III. Referring now to
Figure 1, there may be seen a simplified functional repre-
sentation of a sawmill embodying this concept with respect
. to such locations and different levels or elevations.
Accordingly, it will be seen ~hat the depicted sawmill is
composed of a log dec~ 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 sui.table
feedworks 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
i 10, and a slab conveyor section 11, which are aligned parallel
with, and along the side of, the carriage and saw section 6.
Perpendicular thereto and displaced "downstream" from the
.carriage and saw section 6, there may be seen a pair of lumber
deck assemblies 12 and 13 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 roller bed sections
9 and 10. As will be further explained in detail, the purpose
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1071(~65 . ..
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 o~er 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
22,in parallel with the other two roller bed sections 9 and
10, which connec'ts:~ the transfer deck assembly 22 with the
four tie deck assemblies 16-19.
' Referring again to Figure 1, it will be seen that the
lumber dec~ 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 lO 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
elevation~, 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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1~71~65 .
elevations in ~he 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
~eedwords base 4 is at Elevation I.
As will hereina~ter 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. Accordingly,
the nose section 3 operates to select and trans~er 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 then carried
longitudinally back and forth to slice it into lumber or
railroad ties or the like, each board or other piece tending
to fall sideways from-the carriage and saw section 6 onto the
appropriate one of the two roller bed sections 9-10. Those
pieces considerea 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 function
. of the two pull-off sections 20A-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
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
longitudinall~ on the other roller bed sect.ion 10 to be carried
; 30 to the transfer deck assembly 22. Accordingly, such railroad
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1~71~65
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 dec~ 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 anothe~ pull-off assembly, for transfer
to the app.ropriate one of the four.tie deck assemblies 16-19
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The system will also include four tie stacker sections 23-26, .:
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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 ~hereafter stacking them appropriately onto
' one of the four tie deck assemblies 16-19 as will hereinafter
be explained in detail.
Referring now to 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 tsee Figure 14)
on a sawlog being driven onto the carriage 27,'a driving . .
means 195 of conventional design for energizing the rotary
~aw ~not specifically depicted in Figures 1 and 2), and a
suitable cage or control booth 30 for accommodating the
operator of the sawmill. Further, there may be seen that the
sawmill includes a convevor 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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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
diferent pictorial representation of the sawmill illustrated
in Figures 1-2 and more particularly showing the platform
.
hereinbefore described for the purpose of supporting the ,',
various modulés and components at'the appropriate one o~ the
~hree elevations hereinbefore mentioned with 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
lowest Elevation I. A similar vertical strength memberj
hereina~ter 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 r,ails 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 member 73, which, for present
purposes, may be a rectangular hollow 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 two rail bed members 73. Piers 44
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1071~65 ~ ~ .
are provided to carry longerons 50, as may be seen in
Figure 4, and the rail bed members 73 may therefore be
supported on.the upper ends o~ extension members 70 mounted :
on these longerons. The feedworks base a, 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
. .
members 70 mounted on piers 44, and is also connected to
one end of the t~o 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 ~he
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 suitably employed at points adjacent the ends o~ the
carriage saw section 6, however, because of stress created
by movement of the carriage 27 and its impact upon one 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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107106S - -
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 appropriate 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 blade.34, not
only to better observe the cutting operation provided by
::.the saw blade 34 but also to observe readings.indicated by
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 of 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 members 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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107~065
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 two
chain 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 estab~ished by thelongerons 50, it will be apparent that piers 44 and columns
45 must be appropriately mounted. As may be seen in Figures
5-7, 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 57, and by supporting
20 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 three lengths of metal supporting rod 59-61 each having
one end built in *he manner of a right angle. The 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 t~e hole 62.
After the concrete 64 has set, its level is measured by
30 conventional means for the purpose of determining the length
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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 that the .
~ pier 44 (or column 45) is preferably welded onto thé upper .:
., ~ . . . ~ . .................................... .. -
surface of the plate 58 of the base pad assembly 57 and that
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two or more sleeves 52-53 or other tubular members are appro-
10. priatsly welded to the sides of the inverted short saddle 51
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which is positioned on the upper end of the pier 44. It will
be noted upon use o~ 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 . .
... .
platform 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 ends of the U-tie bolt 54. It will also be seen,
however, that this manner of interconnecting the components o~
the platform may also be used, as will hereinafter be depicted,
to connect the modules and components of the system to the
longerons 50 of the platform, and 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
. 30 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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1071065
It is not ordinarily practical, however, to salvage the
base pad assemblies 57 ~hich 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 platform
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-~73 are composed of a pair
of rails 74 each mounted on elongate rectangular hollow members
which are positioned on either cross-tie members 206, which
are channel members carrying a pair~of spaced-apart in~erted
short saddles 51, or on cross~tie extension assemblies 72
which, 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
20 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 note~ -
.
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 vertical 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
I ~ 76 and extending around either the longerons 50 or the short
30 saddle member 51 on the upper end of the pier 4A.
-20- ..
.
. .- . .- .
- . : : .- . . .: . .
~71065
Similar sleeves 76 may be provided on the adjacent sides
of the inverted saddle members 76 positioned on the upper
- . ends of the vertical extension members 70 for the purpose o~
containing U-tie bolts 54 ln 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 the 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
saddle members 51 are provided with sleeves 76 located to
correspond with the location of the sleeves 76 on the inverted
saddle 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 by 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 saddl~ 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 of the maior components of
` the platform and carriage 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 79
mounted on the rail bed member 73 and base member 85,
.
. -21-
,
`: . .. . .-. . ~
1~7~065 - -
respectively. Re~erring no~ 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 angle brackets
84 as well as the tie-bolt 80 which interconnects the rail
bed member 73 to the base member 85. :: .
. .
: It will be noted in both Figure 3 and Figure 9 that the
- . . .
base member 85 of the stop member 32 rests not only on the
vertical extension members 70 of a cross-tie extension 72
but also on the floor 43 of the feedworks base 4 which carries
the feedworks 42. Accordinglyj the floor 43 is also proviaed
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 assembly 31 is more simply composed of a pair of
vertical leg members 83 supporting an impact-absorbing bumper
48 mounted horizontally across the two base members 85 in a
similar bumper holder 82. The leg members 83 are urther
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 o~ piers 44 by a further assembly of components
which include a cross-strut 90 spanning and interposed between
: the two base members 85 and a pair of horizontal struts 89 r
a special.vertical extension column 70A and an angle bracket
70B. The special vertical extension column 70A is mounted on
' . ' :
;
-22-
- ~:
,. .. . . - . , . ~ ~,
1071065
a short saddle member 65 for suitably engaging a longeron
50 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 of both the supporting plat-
form and the rail bed sections 9 and 10 and the conveyor:
belt section 11. More particularly, there may be seen a ~`
pictorial illustration of the longeron S0 extending across
two or more piers 44 at Elevation 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 bea 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 prodùce 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 Fi~ure 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. ~ore particularly, the slab will fall into
: the U-trough.97 and onto the endless belt 113 which, as indicated
in Figure 2, will move to carry the slab away fro~ the carriage
and saW section 6 to an appropriate discharge point such as a
~ .
-23-
- , . . . . . .
.
.- . - ~ - .. - . . .
~071065
conventional chipper assembly (not depicted). It may be seen
in Figure 2 that the endless ~elt 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 located
beneath the conveyor belt section 11 for supporting the return . .
portion of the endless belt 113.
,
Referring again to Eigure 13, it will be.seen that the .
'flip board 102 rests on the lip portion of a suitable support
,
member 106, which is mounted bn the upper end of the higher
support mem~er 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 llQ 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 bo,th the flip board
102 which is a portion of the slab flip board section 7 and
,'; the flipboard 104 which is a portion of the lumber ~lip board
8. The two flip boards 102 and 104 are mounted to form an
incl~ned plane extending generally from the deck of 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
.. :
.
.. .. ~.
~ - -24-
.
:1071~65
raised pi~otally about the hinge 103 by a pneumatic cyiinder
(not depicted) whereby the severed piece will thereupon fall
onto the endless belt 113. If the severed piece is o~
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,i the severed piece will roll across the support
member 106 and irst flip board 102 and thereafter onto the
rollers 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 liXe. 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
beIt grooves 116 for receiving driving belts, whereby the
rollers 110 may be rotated by suitable means to travel the
severed pieces to their intended destinations. In addition,
cur~ rails 112 are appropriately included to keep the
severed pieces from sliding off of the rollers 100 during
their travel thereon.
.
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~071~65 -
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.
Furt:hermore, it is another concept or,feature of the inven- .'
tion that certain modules are constructed according to a
standard design where,,by t~ey may be interchangeable, and
whereby parts from one modu~e may each be substituted for
- . . . ..
parts used for a different purpose in another module, as a
temporary expedient to maintain productivity during relatively
'short intervals. ~ ' ' . .
, As an example of the interchangeability of various
modules in the system depicted herein, it should be 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 view of the log deck assembly 2 as it is
functionally interconnected with the nose section 3 and
carriage and saw section 6. ~s hereinbefore stated, the `
only difference between the log deck assemblies 2 and the
lumber deck assemblies 12-13, transfer deck assembly 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-deck assembly 2 (and also
- -26-. .
1(~711 )65
the other referenced modules) may be seen to ~e 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 o~ vertical support
members, whereby a plurality 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
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 asse~bly 2 to the
other end. More particularly, saw logs 98 which are brought
to the saw mill by trucks and the like 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 deck assembly 2 for
discharge, one-by-one, onto the nose section 3 of the saw
mill. Accordingly, control means (not depicted in Figure 14)
will be appropriately located in the con~rol 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 United States1Patent No. 4,094,220,
June 13, 1978, by Harold A. Pryor and Roy R. Pryor. Accordingly,
it will be noted that the nose section 3 is designed to provide
t~o functions, i.e., the nose section 3 selectively accepts
,~ saw logs 98 from the log deck assembly 2 for transfer to
~ 30
. . `
., ` '
-27-
B
lV~1~65 ~ .
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 whlch 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 outwardly curving
surface 36B of each loader member 36 will be rotated below
. the top of the log deck assembly 2 and the inwardly curving
surface or edge 36A will be presented to accept the saw 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 assem~ly 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 carried 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 rol~ along
the rails 39 in a proper manner~ In the event such an irregular
or reluctant saw log 98 does not travel entirely along the
: -28-
:, . , . . , - . ., ,, - . - -: . . .
~ 071065
length ~ the rails 39 to the deck o~ 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 t:he carriage 27.
As hereinbefore stated, the nose section 3 is one o~ the
modules which is structurally inde~endent of the other portions
o~ the sawmillO Accordingly, it may be seen that the nose
.
section.3 is also provided with a pair o~ long saddle members
.: . . : .
71 to permit the nose section 3 to be mounted as a.uni~ on the
longerons 50 which carry both the log deck assembly 2 and the
.
carriage and saw section 6.
Referring again to Figure 14, it will be seen that the
carriage 27, which is positioned.on the rails 74 carried by
the rail bed members 73, is. located between 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 from the loader arms 36 onto
`~ 20 the rails 39, it does not usually strike the knee assembly 29
~' with heavy impact. When the sawlog 98 on the rails 3~ is stxuck
by the slapper bar 37, however, the sawlog 98 will often strike
the knee assembiy ~29 with an impact sufficient to drive the
caxriage 27 off of the rails 74. Thus, the rub bar assembly 5
. is located to backup the carriage 27 at this point.
As ~ùrther indicated in Figure 14, the rub bar assembly 5
.
: -29- ~ :
~.
~71~!65 - ~
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 conveniently has
angle brackets 94 ~o reinforce the vertical struts 93 against
impact delivered by the sawlog 98 through the knee assemblies
29 and the deck of the carriage 27. -
- . , , ,. , ~ .
As indicated in Figure 14, the nomenclature "sawlogl'
.
is conventionally applied to a log which has not previously
been longitudinally sliced. After a sawlog has recei~ed at
least one cut by the circular saw 34, however, the portion
remaining on the dec~ of the carriage 27 is conventionally
referred to as a ''cant." Accordingly, the apparatus depicted
in Figuxe 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 function. For example, the long
saddle mem~ers 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 together in a properly ~unctional
manner within the sawmill. Since these components must also
., ' ,. '.
:" ' '
- -30-
1~71065 ~
be located with respect to the saw line illustrated in
Figure 2, however, it will first 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 i~ -
a board or tie is to be delivered to an appropriate loca~ion
along the lengths of the roller bed 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 unsatis~actory
since 'the board or tie will tend to continue sliding forward
along the surfaces of the immobilized roller members 110.
~eferring 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. ~lore particular}y, 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
members 122-123. The rocker bar 121, in turn, is pivotally
mounted between a pair of spaced-apart vertical arms 124-125
haYing a pivot 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-
. .
1071065 .
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.
~not:her pair. of lower pivot arms 133 (only one being visible)
are interconnected between the 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 eneumatic cylinder 139 is pivotally anchored at one end to
the pivot rod 136 by a spacing sleeve 171, and its piston rod
10 140 is pivotally linked to the roc~er bar 121. As indicated
in Figure 15A, extension o~ 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 roller.:;deck assemblies.
Alternatively, and as indicated in Figure 16, retraction of
the piston arm 140 will lower the vertical arms 124-125 to
.. retract the plate 120 below the upper surfaces of the roller
members 110. Thus, when the plate 120 is elevated as
indicated in Figure 15A it will block a board or timber 114
20 being carried by the roller members 110. On the other hand,
if the plate 1~0 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 suppoxt members 130-131 to position its
whisker 128 to be enga~ed by an actuator arm assembly 127
-32- .
.
107~65 ~
fixed to the rear surf~e of the plate 120. More particularly,
the plate 120 is normally tilted against the upper ends of
the vertical arms 124-125 by suitable spring means 126 to
lower the end of the actuator arm assembly 127 below ~le
whis'ker 128. When.the elate 120 is elevated to stop a
timber 114 as indicated in Figure l5A, 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
,: - '. i , .. . .
: actuate the limit switch 129. This,.as will further be
.
explained, will actuate the appropriate pull-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 square
hollow tube 127A of a length sufficient to reach from the
plate 120 to the whisker 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 rectangular or oblong tubing 127B is to '
. .
pro~ide support for the square tube 127A.
Referring now to Figure 18, there may be seen a simplified
pictorial repxesentation of the pull-off assembly 23A, wherein
it may be seen how its two pull-off arms 141-142 of this
portion of the 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-
1~71065 - .
the lifting arms 161-163 of the stacker section 23 As
hereinbefore stated, timbers are deposited, one at a time,
on t:he roller bed section 15 to be carried longitudinally to
the appropriate one of the four tie dec~ 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 cylinder 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-of
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 be 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'l48, which is
~' ' ' ' ' '
~ .
-34-
;' ' ' ' ' .
suitably anchored by pl~ ~55, ~as the fre~ traveling end of
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 o~ the
pull-o~f arm 141 on a pair of rollers,153 ~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-'
' . apart tooth brackets 154 (only one visib1e in Figure 19)
mounted on top 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 ~he switch 156 upon retraction of 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 of the tie stacker, upon
' retraction of the piston rod 149 into the cylinder 148, but
to underride the timber 147 whenever,the piston rod 149 is
extended from the cylinder 148. The advantage there`,~y derived
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 extension of the piston rod 149 for the
purpose of taking a subse~uent timber from the roller bed
section 15~ .
'
: -35-
107~065
Referring now to Figures 21-23, there may be seen a more
detailed pictorial representation o~ the link bar 152 and p~
off tooth 143. Accordingly, the link bar 152 may be seen to
be a rectangular body having pinhole 160 at one end for receiving
the clevls pin 151, and having a pair of rollers 153 mounted
adjacent its other end. The actuator l58 may be seen to be an
angular projection mounted on the side of the link bar 152 at
- , .
a location suitable or timely engagement o4 the whisker 157
.
. of the limit switc~ 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 too~h
brackets 154 on top of the link bar 152 by means of the tooth
~: pivot pin 155, and further having laterally projecting portions
which act as counterweights to maintain the tooth 143 in a
normally erect position relati~e 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 triangle defined by the tooth 163, and that when the
hypotenuse side 143A is driven against the timber 147 depicted
in Figures 19 and 20, the tooth 143 will yieldably rotate under
the tim~er 147 instead of displacing it from its location on
the tie stacker arms 161-163. Alternativel~, 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 ~butting engagem9nt with the top of the
link bar 152, whereby further rotation of the tooth 143 is
- -36-
~ 071065
prevented, 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.
Referrins again to Figure 2, it will be noted that the
timbers which are received from the trim~er section 14 are
eushed onto the roller bed section 15 by a push-off assembly
14A.; ThLs component of the system is entirely the same as the
pull-off assembly 20A, except that its tooth 143 is reversed
with respect to its position as indicated in Figure 22, and
that the cylinder 148 and piston rod 149-in Figures 19 and 20
.
are operated in a manner opposite to that hereinbefore described,
With such an arrangement! the hypotenuse side 143A of the tooth -~
143 will be drawn yieldably against the tim~er, to rotate the
tooth 143 under the timber during retraction of the piston rod
149 into the cylinder 148, and the engaging side 143B o~ the
tooth 143 will be pushed into contact with the timber to shove
it from the trimmer section 14 onto the roller bed section 15
.
. 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 14A,
Referring again to Figure 18, it will be seen that the tie
stacker portion o the pull-off and tie stacker assembly 23;is
.. composed of an arrangement of three lifting arms 161-163 which
are fixedly positioned on a rotatable cross-bar 169, whereb~
rotation o the cross-bar 169 will ele~ate the li~ting arms
161-163 to deposit timbers carried thereon onto the lifting
.
-37- . :
10~65 :.
pads 180 and 181 of the tie deck asse~ly 18.
Referring now to Figures 29--31,there may l~e seen how the
lifting arms 161--163may ~e elevated by an arran~ement o~
components interconnected with the center arm 163 and composed
of pneumatic cylinders 231 and 237. More particularly, cylinder
231 is anchored ~etween a pair of spaced-a~art elevation arms
230-230A which are pivotally mounted at one end on the cross-bar
169, and which are pivotally conr~ cted to the cylinder 231:by
. .
an anchor pin 235 slldably disposed in a spacing sleeve 244 -:
.. 10 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 245 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 otke r suitable portion of the platform
20 hereinbefore described, by U-tie bolts ~not depicted) as
previously explained.
Ihe particular tie stacker configuration depicted in Figures
29-31, wherein two cylinders are employed instead of only one,
provides a nu~er of advantages over the stackers and other
similar apparatus of the prior art. In the first instance, it
will be noted that whenever it is sought to elevate 1:Ae center
:
--38-- ..
- ' '; ' ' ' ' ' ': , . .
1071Q65
arm 163 with onlly 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 the arm 163 is being rotated through a relatively large
angle (i.eO, 90 or more~O ~ith the two-cylinder arrangement .
depicted in Figures 29-31, however, the cylinders 231 and 237
,. . ............................. , . . . : :
always maintain a substantial angle of attitude relative to
- . .
the lifting arm 163, at all points of travel be~een horizont~l
and vertical. .This, in turn, provides a second advantage
wherein the amount of pneumatic driving force required when
the arms 161-163 are either at horizontal or verticaI may be
substantially reduced. In other words, when only a single
cylind~r is employed it must have a capability which is
substantially greater than the combined capability of both of
: the two cylinders 231 and 237 employed as hereinbefore described,
.A third advantage, which is particularly important,
derives from the fact that the combination of the two cylinders
231 and 237 permits the elevation of the lifting arm 163 with
a more controllable amount of force at all positions during
its rotation between horizontal and vertical. Thus, the
lifting arm 163 can be moved at a speed such that the timbers
147 carried thereon are not thrown forward onto the lifting
pads 180 and 181 of the tie deck assembly 18 but are stacked
thereon in the manner sought to be provided with this apparatusO
In this respect, it should be noeed that pneumatlc cylinders
, ,- .' ::
_39_
la7l06s
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 priox art, the two cylinders tend to cooperate
in ~his regard, whereby they effectively operate 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 o~ this apparatus, it is conventional
as well as desirable to actuate the pull-off arms 141-142 toload five timbers 147 onto the lifting arms 161-163 of 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 deck 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 141-142.
As each timber 147 is pulled onto the lifting arms 161-163 by
the dogging teeth 143 and 145 in the pull-oE~ arms 141-142,
the subsequent timber 147 will push the precedi~ ~imber or
timbers thereon further down the lifting arms 161-163.. 5uch
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 locat-d within the center lifting arm 163
:
.
_an_
.. . . . . .
1071~f~5
may be actuated to retract the piston shaft 176 until the
clamping tooth 165 grips the last loaded tim~er 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,.thereby avoiding any
tendency for the stack of five timbers 147 to topele over in
disarray on the tie dec~ 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 the ree 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 o~ the center
lifting arm 163. It will also be seen that the clamping 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 o the
lifting arm 163 is preferably bent outwardly thereo~ 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 upper surface of the lifting arm 163, and whereby
timbers 147 may be drawn onto ~he lifting arms 161-163 of
the tie stacker assembl~ without interference by the
.' ' ,
... . . , . - ~ ,., . . . : , . .
1071065 -
clamping tooth 165.
Referring now to Figures 18 and 26-28, it may be seen
that the outer liting arms 161-162 are each provided with
a suitable stac~ pusher member 190 pivotally mounted thereon
by means of sleeve bearings 215 and 216. In addition, lifting
pads 180-181 are appropriately mounted adjacent the inner
surfaces of the two chain assemblies 86-87 of the tie deck
assembly 18. More particulariy, the li~ting 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 o~
the liting pad 180 and a longer pivot arm 182 at its other
endO In addition, a pneumatic cylinder 18 is interconnected
by a pin 186 sotatably linked to a bracket 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 assembly 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 suxface of the chain assembly 86, and when the
20 piston rod 187 is retracted, the li~ting pad 180 is retr~cted
below the upper surface of the chain assembly 86. Although
not specifically depicted in the accompanying drawings, it
., will be noted t~at the lifting pad 181 is similarly connected
~ to and movable with respect to the other chain assembly 87.
~3
Referring again to Figures 26-28, it will be noted that
when the center arms 161-163 are elevated to a vertical
:, ' .
~ .
~ `' ' .
-42-
10~1065
position, the piston rod 187 is extended ~rom the cylinder
184 to elevate the pads 180 and 181 above their respective
chain assemblies 86-87, and the stack of timbers 147 carried
ther.eon may then be deposited on the lifting pads 180-181.
When another five tim~ers have been received onto the
lifting arms 161-163 o~ 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 down on the -.
, , .: . - : .
elevated lifti~g pads 180-181. To pre~ent the second stack 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 in 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
ele~ated to a vertical position, the two stack pushers 190 will
therefore be brought into abutting engagement with the preceding
stack or stacks of timbers to shove them out of the way and to
20 thereby pre~ent them from being toppled over by the arri~al 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 deck assemblies
12 and 13 must be deposited thereon by means o~ the two lumber
stacker sections 20-21 depicted in Figure 2. The lumber stacker
section 20 depicted in Figures 32-34 is basically the same as
,
" ~:
-43-
'
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:~07~)65
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 li~ting 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, howevert and thus the center
lifting arm 163A need not contain clamping apparatus such as
the cylinder 174 and clamping tooth 165 depicted in Figures
24-25. The center arm 163A therefoxe need not be provided with
the slot 164 which is required to accommodate the clamping too~h
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 161~-163A is not required to be neatly stacked in the
same manner as are the timbers 147 which are carried by the
.
liting arms 161-163 of the tie stacker assembly, and it ~:
is only necessary that such lumber be displaced completely
from the roller bed section 9 before the lifting arms I61A-
163A are elevated to deposit the lumber onto the lumber
deck assembly 12. ~owever, the two outside li~ting arms
161A-162A Of the 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 the lifting arms 161A-163A.
:, . . .
, . -44-
., .
.
~ 7~65 . .
In this respect, it will be noted that the smaller fin 210
is preferably located adjacent ~he end of each of the two
lifting arms 161A-162A, and that the larger fin 211 is located
further down the length of the arms 161A-162Ao 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. ;
Referring again to Figure 32, it will be noted ~hat since
the lumber received onto the lifting arms 161A-163A is not
intended to be neatly stacked onto the lumber deck assembly 12, -
as hereinbefore explained, the stac~ pusher members 190
depicted in Figures 18 and 26-28 are not requixed. On the
other hand, it is desirable to provide means for preventing
lumber piled onto the lumber deck assembly 12 from falling
back onto the 1ifting arms 161A-163~ and thus discs 213-214
are preferably mounted rotatably in the sleeves 215-216
for preventing this from occurringO
Referring now to Figures 33~34~ it will be seen how
lumber 207 which is drawn onto the lifting arms 161A-163A by
the dogging teeth 143 and 145 of the pull-of~ arms 141-1~2
will tend to sweep over the fins 210 and 211 to ba piled in
a random fashion on the lifting arms 161A-163Ao When the ~ :
lifting arms 161A-163A are elevated to a vertical positiont the
lumber 207 tends to ~all forward onto the rotatable discs
213-214. Sinee these discs 213-214 are both freely xotatable
in ~h- sleeves 215-216~ however, the lumber 207 will continue
.
.
-45-
.
1071065
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 assembl~ 12 need not ~e provided ~ith the
liting 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 o the triple leg 200 .
10 hereinbefore mentioned with respect to Figure 2, and more . .
especially illustrating how this component is emplo~ed in the
sawmill.structuré to provide a number of functions and
benefits. More particularly, the 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 lS on the
piers 44 at the Elevation 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-of assembly
141, and to support two or more such pull-of assemblies
either in side-b~-side relationship or in reverse relationship
wherein one of the two pull-off assemblies has had its tooth
143 reversed to provide push-off rather than pull-of f, as in
. , .
,
,': ., '
-46-
-
107106~ -
the case of the push-off assembly employed to txansfer ties
onto the roller bed section 15 from the trimmer section 14.
Also, the triple leg 200 provide~ support ~or ~he li~king
arms 161-163 of each o~ the tie stackRr assemblies, and also
fox the lumber stackers depicted in Figure 320
Referring more particularly to Figure 11, 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 ad~acent ends of the cha~nel members `
. 111 of the rolier bed section 10 or the like. The short
:
saddle 205 is, of course, mountable on the appropri~te longeron
50" and ~here~ore is preferably pr.ovided with sleeves 76 for ,"
holding two or more U-tie bolts 54. As may further be seen in
Figure 11, the upper portion of each of the two leg brackets
223-224 is provided with a pair of upwardly extending support
arms 202 spaced adjacent the.ends o~ 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 function to support a
puIl-o~f assembly 141, or the idler roller member 193 may be
~ocated therebetween as illustrated in Figure 11.
Referring again to Figures 11-12, it will be seen that
the space between adjacent outside and inside support arms
,
202 and 204 accommodates the smaller portion 141B o~ a
pull-off assembly 141, whereas the space between the two ..
in-ide arms 204 will,accommodate the larger portion 141A of ,
~47-
~ 071065
such a pull-off assembly. Accordingly, ~o pull-off assemblies
141 may be laid side-by-side, as hereinbefore 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 ln 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 drive beLt 192, which is
passed about a driving sheave or pulley 191 adapted to carry
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 Z24 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 section 10.
As hereinbefore stated, the triple leg 200 provides a
suitable means for positioning the stop assembly 115, which
is described in Figures lS-17. Thus, the vertical support
'
-48-
': . . ' : -:. . - -
~. : , , - .
1071065
mernbers 130-131, which-provide support for the pivot arrns
'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 200 also to provide support for the lifting arms 161-163 of.
the tie stacker assembly depicted in Figure 18. Only one of
the three legs of the tie'stacker need be supeorted, however,
and thus a single rest 201, having the configuration of an
angle member, may be fixed to one of the two support arms
202-203, as indicated in Figures 10-11.
With reference to the pull-off assemblies 141, which may,be -
laid,across and supported by the triple leg 200, it should be
noted that these assemblies 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 assemblies 141 from being displaced horizontally
while resting on the triple l.eg 200.
' Referring now to Figure 35, there may be seen a simelified.
functional illustration of the major pneumatically-actuated
dri~ing means hereinbefore mentioned with respect to the ,
other components. In pa~ticular, there may be seen in ~igure
35 a functional representation of a suitable source of pneumatic
pressure 250, which source 250 is suitably connected through
line 251 to the 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 atmosphere, an outlet p~essure port
" " ' ' ' '
` ' ' .
.
~071065
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 port D therein.
Thus, when the valve is actuated, port D will be interconnected
with port A to ~rovide an exhaust or return route to atmosehere,
and ports B and C will be interconnected to route pneumatic
pressure from the source 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 of the roller bed section. If the solenoid
260 is energized, however, pneumatic pressure will be coupled
acro~s ports B and C to the pressure line 252A leading to the
pressure port P of the pneumatic cylinder 139, and the exhaust
line 252B leading from the exit por~ 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 po5ition wherein ports
A and C are connected to the atmosphere, and pressure from the
source line 251 through ports B and D wlll cause the piston
shaft 140 to be retracted within the cylinder 139~ Referring
` again to Figure 35, it will be se-n that since the pull-off
`` , ' ' ,:
,
.,
-50-
. ~:
1~71065
assern~lies are generally provided in pairs ~ the pneumatic
system depicted in Figure 35 herein will incorporate at least
t~^~o cylinders 148 with piston rods la9 As indicated, the
norxnal position of the valve 253 is with ports A and C
int~erconnected and ports B and D interconnected. Thus, when
the valve 253 is actuated and ports B and C are then
interconnected, pressure from line 251 will be applied to line
253B and the upper intake port R oi~ the cylinder 148. Thus,
pressure from line 253B into port R in the cylinder 148 will
cause retraction of the piston rod 149 therein, line 253A between
port P of the cylinder 148 and port D of the valve 253 being
the return route for this cylinder 148.
As hereinbefore stated, there are two cylinders involved
with two pull-off arms. It is especially desirable that both
cylinders operate in synchronism with each other, and thus
lines 2~4A-B are interconnected respectively to ports P and R
of cylinder 148A, the same as with lines 253A-B and cylinder
148.
As indicated in Figure 35, the cylinder 174 which
20 positions the clamping tooth 165 is interconnected to be
- controlled by the same control valve 255 which is interconnected
to control the two lifting cylinders 231 and 237 depicted in
Figures 29-31. The reason ~or this is that it is necessary
to draw the clamping tooth 165 into compression against the
stack of ive tilribers 147 at the very instant that the
lifting cylinders 231 and 237 are energized to raise the liting
. .
-
--51~
~` -
.
1~7~)65
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 ~he piston rods 232 and 238 are retracted
within cylinders 231 and 237. This is accomplished by
coupling ports P of the lifting cylinders 231 and 237 to the
pressure line 255A which interconnects port C of the valve
255 with port R of the clamping cylinder 174. Similarly, ports
R of the liftirg cylinders 231 and 237 are interconnected with
line 255B whi~h is interconnected with port P o~ the clamping
cylinder 174. Accordingly, when the control valve 255 is
energized, pressure from line 251 will ~e 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
xetracted within the cylinder 174 to engage the clamping
tooth 165 against the stac3c of tillibers 147.
In 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
20 distance in either direction along its length~ Accordingly,
when the-~ralve 255 is actuated, the clamping cylinder 174
will immediately draw the clamping tooth 165 into engagement
with the stacl~ of timber~ 147 before the lifting cylinders 231
and 237 have 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 t~e lifting
--52--
107~1065
arms 161-163 to horizontal, the cylinder 174 will react
immediately to dlsengage the clamping tooth 165 from the
stack of timbers 147 before the lifting cylinders 231 and
237 have effectively moved away ~rom vertical. Thus, the
lif1:ing arms 161-163 may be lowered away from vertical, leaving
the stack of timbers 147 standing undisturbed on the li~ting
pads 180-181.
It should ~e noted that the lifting pads 180-181 are
normally permitted to remain erect until a suitable number of
stacks of timbers 147 have been deposited 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 i84 which positions the lifting pad 180, and
also to port R o the matching cylinder 184A which controls the
other lifting pad 181. Thus, piston rods 187 and 187A will be
ret~acted simultaneously to lower the two lifting pads 180-181
as a unit to deposit the accumulated stacks of timbers 147
onto the chains 100 of 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-energizing 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-
1071(~65
cylinders 184 and 184A. This will again extend the piston
rods 187-187A to re-elevate the liftiny pads 180-181, line
256A providing an exhaust route from ports R of the cylinders
184-184A to ports A and C of the valve 256.
As hereinbeEore stated, the dogging tooth 143 may be
reversed to permit the pull-off arms 141 and 142 in Figure
18 to oFerate as a "push-off" assembly. Re~erring again to
Figure 35, therefore, if the cylinder 148 is incorporated in
an assembly 141 which is used to push rather than pull, then
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 man~er 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 l~lB of the assembl~ 141 whereby the whisker 157
may, for example, be deflected by the link bar 152.or one of
the rollers 153.
: Referring now to Figure 36, there may be seen a simplif.ied
schematic diagram illustrating the electrical circuits and
control switches for operating examples of the various
components hereinbefore described. In particular, circuitry
il~lustrated therein is representative of the circuits required
to control and energize the roller bed section 15, the roller
'
.
1071065 ` i
bed section 9, the valves 253-254 whi.ch are necessary to
operate any one of the various pull-off assemblies, the
valve. 255 which is required to operate any of the tie or
lumber stac~er sections, the motor 101 which energizes any
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
purposes of simplification, it will be noted that those
switches represented in Figure 36 by double-dashed lines
wi}l be found located in the control booth 30, and those
switches represented in Figure 36 by only a single dashed
line will be found located on or adjacent~the component
sought to be controlled.
Referring again to Figure 36, therefore, it will be
sesn 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
273, and also to coupIe power through its second set of
contacts to hold the relay 274 closed after the switch 272
is reopened. In addition, power is connected through the
~ .
-55-
1071065
third set o~ contacts of the relay 274 to energize the
motor 288, whereby the plate 120 is now elevated to intercept
the timber 114 being carried on the rollers 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 of contacts o~ the stacker
. . .
safety relay-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 pu11-off start switch 276. The pull-of~
relay 290 will now close to couple power from the normally
closed pull-off return switch 27? and the two normally closed
switches 156 and 156A to be found inside the t~o pull-off
assemblies 141-142, to latch the pull-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 .the pull-off control valves 253-254 will now be
energized to pull the timber 114 of ~ 0~ the roller bed
section 15 and onto the lifting arms 161-163 o.f the tie
stacker assembly 23. Note also ~hat when the pull-of relay
290 is energized, the motor 288 which drives the roller bed
section 15 is de-energized because of reopening of the stop
control relay 274.
As hereinbefore stated, retraction o~ the piston arms
149-149A will open the two switches 156-156A, thereby
disconnecting power from the solenoid of the pull-off relay
290, whexeby the solenoids 261-263 will be de-enerqized
-56-
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1071065
: and the teeth of the pull-off assemblies will be xeturned
to their normal eosition. When five ties 147 have been
drawn onto the lifting arms 161-163 o~ the tie stacker
assembly 23, and when switch 170 has been closed, power
will now pass through the appropriate contacts of the now
reclosed pull-off relay 290 and the middle contacts of the
normally closed stacker safety relay 292 to energize the
solenoid o~ the stacker relay 2910 Closing this component
will connect a latching circuit to the relay by way o~ its
. 10 first two contacts and the skacker limit and return switches
279-280, and will connect power through its second two . ~:.
contacts to energize the solenoid 263 of the stacker control :
valve 255. Accordingly, the lifting arms 161-163 of the tie
stacker assembly will now be elevated.
As soon as the arms 161-163 are elevated a short.
interval, however, the stacker safety switch 281 will be
released to close its bottom contacts to energize the
stacker safety relay 292. Power will now be disconnected
; from the solenoid of the pull-off relay 290 to keep the pull-
o~fs from operating while the lifting arms 161-163 of th~
stacker section are in an elevated position. In addition,
power is further disconnected from the coil of the stacker
relay even though the switch 170 is still closed by the
weight of the ties 147. Note further that, when the stacker
safety relay 292 is op,ened, the lifting pads may not be
retracted even i~ the solenoid 264 of the pad control valve
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57
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256 is energized by closure o~ the pad-down limit switch 282.
When the li~ting arms 161-16~ reach their ~ull point of
elevation, this will open the stacker limit switch 279 to
break the latching circuit which is holding the stacker relay
closed. Note that this same effect can be achieved, o~
course, by o~ening the stacker return con~rol switch 280
located in the control booth 30. Power wil} now be removed
- from the solenoid 263 of the stacker control valve 255,
whereby ~he lifting arms 161-163 will be returned to their
horizontal position to await arrival o~ 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~ I~ this component has been closed, the solenoid
264 of ~he ead control valve 256 will be energized to
actuate cylinders 184-184Ao In this regard, it may be noted
that solenoid 264 may be energized at any time by closure
of the lifting pad control switch 283.
As hereinbefore explained, whenever a preselected number
of stacks of ties has been received on the lifting pads 180-
181, the pads-down lim~t switch 282 will be closed to
` connect power to the solenoid 264 0~ the pad control valve
256. The pads 180-181 will now be retracted by the cylinders
184-184A until the decX start switches 2B6-287 tone being
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actuated by each pad) are closed to couple power to the motor
101 which shi~ts the stacks of ties along ,he ~ie deck
assembly and away from the pads until the pads-down limit
switch is released to de-energize solenoid 264. ~he pads
180-181 will then be re-elevated to release the deck start
switches 286-287 and thus de-energize the motor 101. When
a stack of ties is carried to a certain distance along the
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tie deck assembly, however, it will e~entually depress and
close the deck limit switch 285 to disconnect power to the
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 provide a latching circuit for
this component, and power will be disconnected from the dec~
start switches 286-287 to stop the motor 101 and thereby
prevent ties from being carried of the end of the tie deck ~:
assembly. Positioning the deck control switch 284 to its
alternative position will break the latching circuit to the
deck sa~ety relay 293 to permit it to return to its normal
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 FiguLes 32-34, a typical lumber deck
assembly 12 will not be provided with the lifting pads 180-
181 which are incorporated with the tie deck assemblies, In
addition, the motor 288 which operates the roller bed section
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15 will not be involved with the operation of the lumber
stac~ers, but the lumber roller bed section 9 having motor
289 will be in~olved. Accordingly, the li~ting arms 161A-
163A of the lumber stacker 20A depicted in Figure 32 will be
elevated upon actuation or closure of switch 212 to again
connect power to the relay 291, the same as herein~e~ore
described. Actuation of the switch 129 will again close the
pull-o~ rela~ 290 to pull a board or plank onto the li~ting
arms 161A-163A of the lumber stacker 20. Note that pawer is
now applied through the bottom two contacts o~ relay 290 to
energize the lumber roller bed stop relay 294 to break the
energized 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 hereinbefore describedO As soon as switch 212 is closed,
power will be connected through the stacker safety switch 281
to energize the tie deck motor 101, as well as to energize
~he stacker relay 2910 As soon as the lifting arms 161A-163A
are elevated far enough to release the stacker safety switch
20 281~ however, power will be removed from the tie deck mobor
101 and will be connected to actuate the stacker safety relay
292~ ~hus~ the lu~ber deck assembly will be actuated to
carry lumber previously deposited ~hereon only far enough to
remove it from lumber again being deposited thereon by the
risirlg lifting arms 161A-163A o
As hereinbefore stated, the hollow longerons 50 are not
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only employed to support 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, access is required to these cables at
points intermediate the ends of the longerons 50, and also
pro~ision must be had for connecting other similar ducts
to the longerons 50 at selected locations between their ends.
Referring now to Figures 37-39, there may be seen
pictorial illustrations o~ a~paratus which has been found
particularly suitable ~or this purpose. Referring more
especially to Figure 37, there may be seen an exemplary form
of duct assembly 300 which 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
or curvilinear wall portions 302 being conveniently provided
by taking a one-fourth round section of the wall o~ a metal
tube or the like of proper radiusO The junction box 301 may
be seen to be interconnected with an inverted short saddle
51 which, as hereinbefore described, may be connected with
the longeron 50 by means of U-tie bolts 54 and sleeves 76.
. Referring now to Figure 38, it may be seen that access
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1071065
may be had to the cables which transfer from ~he junction box
301 to the longeron 50, either by disconnecting the U-tie
bolts 5a and removing the junction 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 o~ screws 304 or
other suita~le 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 effected
L0 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 o~
employing pipe sections 307 in this manner is that their
surfaces are rounded to protect the cables from abrasion,
and thus similar components may conveniently be used at
the aperture 305 in the longeron SOO
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 likeO More particularly it will be noted that brac~ets
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 the screws 304. The 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 i -
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1071065 -,
more spa^ed-apart circular recesses 316. Accordingly, when
the plates 312-313 are secured to the end o~ 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 Figure 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 rather precisely established in order that a sawlog
98 will roll properly onto the deck of the carriage 27.
~ccordingly, a plurality of shims 225 and the like are
preerably 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 noted that lumber
deck assembly 12 is depicted as straddling two longerons 50D
Such an assembly m~y be constructed to straddle or rest Oh
three or more longerons 50 to accommodate boards of greater
- length, of course, without departing from the concept of the
present invention. In this regard, the log aeck assembly 2,
the nose section 3, and the other modules o~ the system may
be similarly adapted.
The concept of a modular-type sawmill depends, of course,
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nn the definition of the term "module." As used herein,
there~ore, a module is any comeonent of the system which,
like the nose section 3 and log deck section 2, is both
sel~-contained and independently operable. Accordingly,
the components descri~ed 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 descri~ed, each o~ the two lumber
deck assemblies 12-13, the trans~er 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 ~he 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 7-8~ The pull-
off assemblies 20A-21A, and other like components, are-also
a part of the conveyor assembly inasmuch as they are supported
by the triple legs 200 rather than being disposed on
longerons 50. Similarly, the lumber stacker sections 20-21
and the tie stacker sections 23-26 are part of the lumber
20 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 ass~mblies
12-13, the trans~er deck assembly 22, and the four 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 structuxes
described herein without substantially departin~ from the
basic concept o~ the present invention_ Accordinglyr it
should be clearly u~derstood that the forms of the invention
described herein and depicted in the accompanying drawings
are exemplary only and are not intended as limitations in
the scope of the present invention.
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