Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~.07~Z5
-
Background of Invention
This invention relates to improved sawmill methods and ~-
apparatus, and more particularly relates to an lmproved
sawmill design and operating concept. In addition, the
invention 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 trees 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 also to provide other such devices for moving
and handling the lumber and timers 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 sawmill may be characterized as a system wherein
certain functions or steps in a process are performed. The
initial point in the process may be considered to be the
;~
1071250 ,.
"log deck" where sawlogs are positioned in a manner such
that they may be taken, one at a time, to be cut into l~er
and the like. Thus, a "nose section" is preferably provided
between the log deck and the carriage and saw section for
the purpose of selecting and transferring each sawlog to
the carriage which travels back and forth between a revolving
circular saw blade.
When a slice is taken from a sawlog or cant which is
secured on the carriage, it may be either a board or timber,
L0 ox it may be a so-called "slab" which is useless for purposes
of providing lumber. It is desirable to segregate different
pieces at the time they are cut from the sawlog, and thus
means is preferably provided for depositing a slab on a 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, ~o 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 more convenient sites. Accordingly, the many small,
relatively portable sawmills of the past have now been largel~
replaced by a proportionately fewer number of much larger and
relatively permanently installed sa~nnills which are, in turn,
--2--
~ompletely 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 o~ these features in the same operating unit, and thus
simplicity and portability have accordingly been sacrificed
in favor of mechanization.
These disadvantages of the prior art are overcome ~7ith
the present invention, and novel sawmill methods and apparatus
are herewith disclosed for providing a sawmill which is
operable with a ninimum 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 aorementioned 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"
1~71ZSO - -
which 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
therefore composed of a plurality o~ "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 .
1~ 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 im?ortant, however, a sawmill of the type
contemplated by the present invention can be disassembled
and re-erected at another site by merely unfastening and
removing the modules from the longerons, ~as well as dis-
connecting the various pneumatic and electrical conduits and
connections which are necessarily provided between the various
modules).
It will be seen in the detailed descriptior. hereinafter
provided that the platform is itself a feature of the present
inven~tion,~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
longèrons, 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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- ~07~ZSO - -
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 modular concept has per-
mitted or required redesign of the modules whereby they are
structurally independent of each other (e~cept 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 assem~lies her;einarter
described are substantial improvements over corresponding
portions of conventional sawmills, and the lumber and tie
stacker assemblies 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 various novel devices and techniques for mechanically
handling not only the sawlogs which are sought to be cut, but
also the boards, timbers and other pieces severed therefrom.
In addition to the aforementioned lumber and tie stacker
apparatus, novel and improved means is provided with the
carriage and saw section or module for selectively depositing
the saw se-veral 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.
1(~7~12~0
~-~ 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 components of the
system, all without the use of any manual labor other than the
sawmill operator. Accordingly, not only is the sawmill of the
present invention cheaper and easier to erect, it may ideally be
operated by only one person as will hereinafter be apparent.
Thus broadly, the invention contemplates an assembly for
separating and conveyingmateirals which comprises support means
defining a first trough, conveyor means disposed in the lower
section of the trough for carrying to a discharge point materials
falling into the trough, and a pivoted flip board associated with ;~
the support means and spaced above the conveyormeans for effecting
separation of materials.
Another embodiment of the invention provides an assembly for
separating and conveying materials which comprises support means
defining first and second trough sections, first and second con-
veyor means located respectively in the trough sections for
carrying to a discharge point materials falling into the trough
sections, and first and second flip boards pivoted to the support
means above each said conveyor means for selectively effecting
separation of materials.
In a further embodiment the invention contemplates an assembly
for separating and conveying materials which comprises support
means defining first, second and third troughs, first, second, and
third conveyor means located respectively in the troughs for
carrying to a discharge point materials falling into the troughs,
and first and second flip boards pivoted to the support means above
the first and second conveyor means for selectively effecting
separation of materials.
In a still further embodiment the invention contemplates a
sawmill which comprises a log deck assembly for receiving a plurality
of sawlogs and for transferring the sawlogs from one end of the deck
assembly to the other, a carriage and saw section for slicing logs
-- 6 --
1~71Z50
.
into salvageable slabs, salable pieces, and ties with
the section including a saw and a movable carria~e having
at least one knee assembly, a nose section for transferring logs
from the deck assembly to the carriage and including a stop and
loader member for handling the logs one-by-one with a slapper bar
for driving individual logs onto the carriage, and a lumber deck
assembly for receiving the pieces and ties cut from the logs and
transferring the pieces and ties to a firs~ discharge point. Means
are provided for receiving slabs from the saw section and transfers
the slabs to a second discharge point, which means include a separ-
ator and conveyor assembly located adjacent the saw section. The
separator and conveyor assembly have support means defining a first
trough, with conveyor means disposed in the lower section of the
trough, and a pivoted flip board is connected to the support means
and spaced above the conveyor means.
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 operat-
ing 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 i~ a simplified pictorial representation of a platform
suitable for the purposes of the present invention.
Figure 4 i9 a more d'etailed pictorial representation of a port-
ion 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, appearing with
Figures 1, 6 and 7.
Figure 6 is a simplified pictorial representation of one of the
parts of the component depicted in Figure 4, appearing with Figures
, ~
~ .
~ - 7 -
i~7~Z50
1, 5 and 7.
Figure 7 is a simplified pictorial representation of another
part of the component depicted in Figure 4, a~pearing wi ~ Figures
1, 5 and 6.
Figure 8 is a pictorial representation of another portion
of the supporting platform depicted in Figure 3;
Figure 9 is a pictorial representation of another
dif~erent portion of the structure depicted in Figure 3,
appearing with Figure 3.
Figure 10 is a pictorial representation of a fur~her ~ :
different portion o the structure depicted in Figure 3.
Figure 11 is a pictorial view of a portion of one o
the components of the sawmill depicted generally in Figure 2.
Figure 12 is another di~ferent view o the structure
depicted in Figure 11.
Figure 13 is a simplified pictorial view of another of
the component parts o~ the sawmill depicted generally in
Figure 2.
Figure 14 is a simplified pictorial view of another
portion of the sawmill depicted generally in Figure 20
Figure 15 is a pictorial representation of another
component of the sawmill depicted in Figure 2.
Figure 16 is a different reeresentation of the apparatus
depicted in Figure 15.
Figure 17 is another view of the apparatus depicted in
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 ~f the apparatus depicted in Figure 18
-- 8 --
Figure 20 is anothér plctorial view of the apparatus
- illustrated in Figures 18 and l9o
Figure 21 is a pictorial representation of a portion
of the apparatus depicted in Figures 18-20, appearing with Figures
2, 22 and 23.
Figure 22 is another different pictorial representation
of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 21j appearing with Figures
2, 21 and 23. . - .
Figure 23 is a further different pictorial view of a -
portion of the apparatus depicted in Figures 21 and 22 ,appearing with Figures 2, 21 and 22.
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 in
Figure 24.
Figure 26 is a pictorial representation of the details
of another portion of the apparatus depicted in Figure 18
illustrating the position of certain components during its
20 operation. .
Figure 27 is another view of the apparatus depicted in
Figure 26.
Figure 28 is another different v,iew o~ the apparatus
depicted in Figures 26 and 2i.
Figure 29 is a pictorial representation of another
portion of the apparatus decpited in Figures 26-28~
Figure 30 is a similar pictorial view of the apparatus
illustrated in Figure 29.
Figure 31 is a different pictorial view of the apparatus
1~71ZSO - - :
. . .
-- depicted in Figures 29-300
Figure 32 is a pictorial representation of another
portion of the sawmill depicted in Figl~res 1-3.
Figure 33 is a diffexent pictorial view of the apparatus
depicted in Figure 32.
: . .
Figure 34 is another pictorial view of the apparatus
depicted in Figures 31-32.
., Figure 35 is a functional diagram o a portion of t~e
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
~rotecting 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 pictorial representation of
a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 38.
--10--
1071ZS0
Detailed Description
As hereinbefore 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 o three functional elevations hereinafter
referred to as Elevations I, II and III. -Referring now to
Figure 1, there may be seen a simplified functional repre-
sentation o a sawmill embodying this concept wi~h respect
to such locations and different levels or ele~ations.
.
Accoxdingly, it will be seen that the depicted sawmill is
.
composed of a log deck assembly 2 which is perpendicul æ ly
arranged with respect to a carriage and saw section 6. As
will hereinafter be explained in detail, the motive power for
the carriage and saw section 6 may be provided by a suitable
feedworks base section 4 aligned longitudinally with such
carriage and saw section ~. The log deck assembly 2 is
interconnected with the carriage and saw section 6 by a nose
section 3 aligned longitudinally with the log deck assembly 2,
and which is perpendicular to the carriage and saw section 6.
Referring again to Figure 1, it will be seen that the
sawmill further includes suitable roller bed sections 9 and
10, and a slab con~eyor section 11, which are aligned parallel
with, and along the side of,- the carriage and saw section 6.
Perpendicular thereto and displaced "downstream" 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 secti~ns
3 9 and 10. As will be further explained in detail, the purpose
iO71Z50
of the roller bed section 9 is to carry lumber from ~he
carriage and saw section 6 to a selected one of the two
- lumber deck assemblies 12 and 13, whereas the purpose of
.. the other roller bed section 10 is to carry railroad ties
or other larger such pieces from the carriage and s~w 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
22r in parallel with the other ~wo roller bed sections g and
10, which connects:~ the transfer deck assembly 22 with the
four tie dec~ assemblies 16-19. .-
Reerring again to Figure 1, it will be seen that thelumber deck assemblies 12 and 13 are each respectively inter-
connected with the lumber roller ~ed section 9 by one of apair of lumber stacker sections 20-21, and also by one of a
pair of pull-off assemblies 20A-21A, and that the transfer
deck assembly 22 is interconnected with the timber roller
bed section 10 by another pull-off assembly 22A. In addition,
the transfer deck assembly 22 is joined at its other end to
the thixd roller bed section 15 by a trimmer section 14 and
. a push-off assembly 14A.
As hereinafter stated, each of the various aforementioned
.
components axe further positioned at one of three levels or
elevations, depending upon their respective functions within
the system. In particular, the various lumber and tie deck
assemblies 12-13 and 16-19, as well as the transfer deck
assembly 22, are located at Eleva~ion 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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1071250 - : -
.. . . ........................ .
elevations in the system. The log deck assembly 2 and nosesection 3 are located at Elevation II, and the carriage and
saw section 6 is located at Elevation III which is the
highest functional elevation in the system~ The position of
feedwords base 4 is at Elevation I.
As will hereinafter be explained in detail, sawlogs are
positioned along the length of the log deck assembly in a
manner parallel to the carriage and saw section 6. Accordingly,
the nose section 3 operates to select and transfer a sawlog
from the log deck assembly 2 to the carriage and saw section 6,
preferably by ro1ling 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 tie~ or the like, each board or o~her 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 considered to be lumber are, of course, longitudinally
carried by the roller bed section 9 to the appropriate one
of the two lumber deck sections 12-13.
As will hereinafter be explained in detail, the function
of the two pull-off sections 20A-21A is to transfer the
board or other piece onto the corresponding one of the two
stac~er 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 pro~ided by the carriage and
saw section 6 will, as hereinbefore stated, be deposited
longitudinally on the other roller bed section 10 to be carried
to the transfer deck assembly 22. Accordingly, such railroad
-13-
10712S0
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 hereinbafore mentioned,
whereby the transer dec~ assembly ~2 may carry such tie to
the trimmer section 14. Thereafter, the tie is transferred
onto the third roller bed section 15 by either a push-off
- : .... ; - .
assembly 14A, or by another pull-off assembly, for transfer --
to the appropriate one of the four tie deck assemblie5 16-19~
The system will also include four tie stac~er sections 23-26,
.
and four pull-off assemblies 23A-26A, for the purpose of
.
removing such ties from the roller bed section 15, and for
the purpose of thereafter stacking them appropriately onto
one of the four tie deck assemblie~s 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 l; wherein these components are
depicted with respect to movement of sawlogs and lumber
throughout the system. Accordingly, the system may be seen
to include a rub-bar assembly 5 which prevents the carriage 27
from being thrown from the rails of the carriage and saw
section 6 by the impact of the slapper bar 37 (see Figure 14)
on a sawlog being driven onto the carriage 27, a driving
means 195 of conventional design for energizing the rotary
saw (not specifically depicted in Figures 1 and 2), and a
suitable cage or control booth 30 for accommodating the
operator of the sawmill. Further, there may be seen that the
sawmill includes a conveyor belt section 11 which is composed
of an endless belt arranged beside and parallel with the
carriaga saw section 6 for carrying away slabs and other debris
-14-
-- ~071ZS0 ~t~ "
not suitable for use as lumber or railroad ties or the like,
Figure 2 also depicts the location of each triple leg
assembly 200, which is a component more particularly described
and depicted in Figures 10-12.
Referring now to Figure 3, there may be seen another
different pictorial representation of the sawmill illustrated
,' in Figures 1-2 and more particularly showing the platform
hereinbefore desoribed for the purpose of supporting the ~'
various modulés and components at'the appropriate one of the
three 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
hereinafter,referred to as a column 45, is used to provide
support for components located at the intermediate Elevation II.
In addition, it may be seen that extension members 70 may be
located on top of piers 4~ for the purpose of also providing
support at the intermediate Elevation II.
The highest Elevation III nay be considered to be the
top surface of the rails 74 of the carriage and saw section 6,
and which is composed of a pair of railroad-type rails 74,
each mounted on a rail bed member 73, which, for present
purposeq, 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 ~o rail bed members 73. Piers 44
71ZSO
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 of extension members 70 moun~ed,
on these longerons. The feedworks base 4, which supports
a feedworks 42 for driving the carriage 27, is centrally
supported at Elevation I.by a pair of piers 44.' It
. .
also includes the return stop'assembly 32 which, in turn,
' is centrally supported at Elevation II by vertical extensian
.
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 the
piers 44, columns 45 and other members are connected together
into a structural unit by the various modules such as the -
carxiage saw section 6 and the lumber and tie deck assemblies
12-13 and 16-19 which are mounted thereon, As indica~ed
in Figure 3, however, one or more diagonal braces 46-47 may
be suitably employed at points adjacent the ends oE the
carriage saw section 6, however, because of stress created
: by movement of the carriage 27 and its impact upon o~e or
the other of the two stop assemblies 31-32.
The carriage 27, which is depicted in Figure 3 and which
functions to support a sawlog intended to be cut into lumber,
may be of any suitable'design such as that illustrated in
-16-
- ~ iO71Z50
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 oppos-ite side of the circular saw blade. ~4, not ~ . :
.only to better observe the cutting operation provided by
the saw blade 34 but also to observe readings.indicated by
the dial 17g.
. . .. .
. 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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1071ZS0 -~ t., ~ .
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 a~orementioned lowest
functional Elevation I in the sawmill, and ~hus 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 ~hat 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 established by the
longerons 50, it will be apparent that piers 44 and columns
45 must be appropriately mounted. As may be seen in Figures
5-7, such mounting is preferably performed by digging a
poqthole 52 an appropriate depth in the earth 63, by disposing
in such posthole 62 a base pad assembly 57, and by supporting
such base pad assembly 57 in the posthole 62 by means of
concrete 64. More particularly, the base pad assembly 57
may be seen to be composed of a rectangular metal plate 58
and three lengths of metal supporting rod 59-61 each having
one end built in the 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 the hole 62.
After the concrete 6a has set, its level is measured by
conventional means for the purpose of determining the length
: _ ` 1071250 ;~ ~
of the pier 44 which is necessary to suppori 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 the upper
sur~ace of the plate 58 of the base pad assembly 57 and that
. . - . -: -:
two or more s~eeves 52-53 or other tubular members are appro-
, . ~ ; , , : . : -
priately welded to the sides of the inverted short saddle 51
which is positioned on the upper end of the pier 44. It will
., , . -
be noted upon use of the present invention that the weight of
.i., . i: - . , . :: .
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 S and 7 that a U-tie bolt 54 may be inserted over
20 the longeron 50 and through tha 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 of
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 ba~se pad
assembles 57, and may not be re-useable if they are too short
to support a longeron 50 at Elevation I at the new site.
--19-- .
1071ZS0 r- ~
--~, .
It is not ordinarily practical, however, to salvage the
base pad assemblies 57 which are embedded in the concrete-
filled holes 62.
Referring now to Figure 8, there may be seen a detailed
and pictorial representation of the portion of the 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-J73 are composed of a pair .
of rails 74 each mounted on elonga~e rectangular hollow members
--
which are positioned on either cross-tie members 206, which
are channel members carrying a pair~of spaced-apart inverted
short saddles 51, or on cross~tie extension assem~lies 72
which, in turn, are mounted on longerons 5~ 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 ~I 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 ~urther be seen in Figure 8, a cross-tie'assembly 72 is
a unit composed o a pair of v.ertical extension members 70
mounted on a long saddle member 71 and carrying a cross-tie
member 77, Referring again to Figure 8, it will be noted
that the long saddle member of the cross-tie extension
,assembly 72 is provided with a pair of sleeves 76 on each side
at a location adjacent the lower ends of the vertical extension
member~ 70. Accordingly, the cross-tie extension assembly 72
may be,fixedly secured to the longeron 50 upon which it rests
by a plurality of U-tie bolts 54 inserted through the sleeves
76 and extending around eith~r the longerons 50 or the short
saddle member 51 on the upper end of the pier 4~.
- -20-
10712S0
,~ .
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 of
containing U-tie bolts 54 in the manner hereinbefore explained.
It will be noted, however, that these upper positioned U-tie
bolts 54 engage a snubbing block 75 which is welded or ' ~'
- . , . -
. otherwise affixed'to the sides of the rail hed 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
- . ' . .
sad~le 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 bloc~s 75 at this location,
may be secured to the cross-tie channel member 206 and
columna 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 saddle 206, and the lower inverted
saddle member 51 fastened to the upper end of the column 45.
Referring now to Figure 9, there may be seen a more
detailed pictorial representation of the major 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-
71ZSO ;~
respectively. Referring now to the first stop assembly 32,
it will be seen that this module is composed of a pair of
leg members 83 mounted on the two base members 85 and
supporting in horizontal arrangement a shock-absorbing
bumper 43 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 mem~ers 70 of a cross-tie extension 72
.
but also on the floor 43 of the feedworks base 4 which carries
the feedworks 42. Accordingly, the floor 43 is also provided
with a saddle member 65 to rest on the longeron 50 which is
carried by the pier 44, and which supports the floor 43 of
the feedworks base 4.
Referring again to Figure 9, it may be seen that the
other stop 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 further
joined to the base members 85 by a pair of short angle
brackets 199. The stop assembly 3I is supported by a cross-
tie exte~sion assembly 72 on a pair of piers 44, and on
another pair of piers 44 by a further assembly of components
which include a cross-strut 90 spanning and interposed between
the two base members 85 and a pair of horizontal struts 89,
a special vertical extension column 70A and an angle bracket
70B. The special vertical extension column 70A is mounted on
-22-
1071Z50 :
,
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 th~ supporting plat-
form and the rail bed sections 9 and 10 and the conveypr.
belt section 11. More particularly, therQ may be seen a
. . . .
pictorial illustration of the longeron 50 extending across
two or more piers 44 at Elevation I and supporting the
vertical extensio~ column 70 which carries the rail..74 mounted
on the rail bed member 73. There may also be seen a more
detailed illustration.of both the roller bed sections 9 and 10
as mounted on the longeron 50, and also the conveyor belt
section 11 as disposed on the longeron 50. As hereinbefore
stated, the carriage 27 which rides on the rails 74 is adapted
to carry a sawlog longitudinally with respect to the roller
bed sections 9 and 10 and in gripping contact with the knee
assemblies 28 on the carriage 27. The first cut taken from .
a sawlog will produce a "slab" having no value for lumber
purpose~ 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 ~lab flip board section 7 is
arcuately raised about the hinge 103 and the slzb (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
opposi*e side. More 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 sla~ away from the carriage
and saw section 6 to an appropriate discharge point such as a
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1071250 - - ~
, ,
conventional chipper assembly (not depicted). It may be seen
in Figure 2 that the endless belt depicted in Figure 13 must
travel over a substantial distance. Accordingly, and as further
depicted in Figure 13, the conveyor belt section 11 may
suitably include one or more belt support rollers 96 located
beneath the conveyor belt section 11 for supporting the re~urn
portion of the endless belt 113. ~
- . . . . . ..
Referring again to Figure 13, it will be seen that the
flip board 102 rests on the lip portion of a suitable support ;-
member 106, which is mounted on the upper end of the highersupport member 107, and which-extends toward and immediately
underneath the projecting lip or edge of the deck of the
carriage 27. The purpose of the support member 106 is to
span the gap between the carriage 27 and the slab flip board
102.
Referring again to Figure 13, it will be seen that the
two roller deck sections 9 and 10 are composed of a plurality
of rollers 110 rotatably mounted between channels 111 which,
in turn, are mounted on an array of space2-apart lower support
20 members 108. The purpose of the extension support member 109
is to provide for angular positioning of both the flip board
102 which is a portion of the slab flip board section 7 and
the flipboard 104 which is a portion of the lumber flip board
8. The two flip boards 102 and 104 are mounted to form an
inclined 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
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1~7~ZS~
raised pivotally about the hinge 103 by a pneumatic cylinder
(not depicted) whereby the severed piece will thereupon fall
onto the endless belt 113. If the severed piece is of
salable size and shape, however, the first flip board 102
- is left resting on the support member 106, and the second
flip board 104 may be elevàted about its hinge portion 105
by suitable means such as a pneumatic cylinder (not depicted).
In this event, the severed piece will roll across the support
member 106 and first flip board 102 and thereafter onto the
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 104 will only be raised if the
severed piece is of lumber dimension, and it will be left
down on the upper end of the extension support member 109 if
the severed piece is, instead, suitable for railroad tie
purposes or the like. In this event, the severed piece will
roll across the support member 106 and both flipboards 102
and 104 to the rollers of the second roller bed section 10
and may then be carried down to the receiving end of the
transfer deck assembly 22.
It will be noted that the rollers 110 are provided with
belt grooves 116 for receiving driving belts, whereby the
rollers 110 may be rotated by suitable means to travel the
severed pieces to their intended destinations. In addition,
curb rails 112 are appropriately included to keep the
severed pieces from sliding off of the rollers 100 during
their travel thereon.
,
107~250
. . . . .. ..
As hereinbe~ore stated, it is a concept of this
invention to pro~ide a sawmill composed of modules which,
though functionally interconnected with each other, are
substantially structurally independent of each other
Furthermore, it is another concept or feature of the inven-
tion that certain modules are constructed according to a
standard design wherepy they may be interchangeable, and
- :.
whereby parts from one module may each be substituted for
.. ..: :
parts used for a different purpose in another module, as a
temporary expedient to maintain productivity during relatively
'short intervals.
As an example of the interchangeability of various
modules in the system depicted herein, it should ke noted that
the log deck assembly 2 is substantially the same as the
lumber deck assem~lies 12-13, the transfer deck assembly 22,
and also the faur tie deck assemblies 16-19. The different
nomenclature emplo~ed 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
wlthin the saw mill hereinbefore described with respect to
Figures 1-3. Accordingly, the log-deck assembly 2 (and also
-26-
~o~
-
the other referenced modules) may be seen to be a structural
unit resting upon a pair of spaced apart longerons 50 which,
together with the aforementioned columns 45 comprise the
supporting platform. The log deck assembly 2 is composed
of the two chain assemblies 86-87 supported on a pair of
long saddle members 71 by a plurality of vertical support
members, whereby a 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 assembly 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
i 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 control booth 30 whereby
the operator can start and stop travel of the saw logs 98 as
may be desired.
Referring again to Figure 14, there may be seen a more
detailed pictorial representation of one especially suitable
form of nose section 3 and which is more particularly
described and explained in the copending patent application,
Serial No. 470,338, which was filed May 16, 1974 , now U.S.
Patent No. 4,094,220, June 13, 1978. Accordingly, it will be
noted that the nose section 3 is designed to provide two
functions, i.e., -the nose section 3 selectively accepts
saw logs 98 from the log deck assembly 2 for transfer to
- 27 -
11~7~ZSO ~ ~
the carriage 2~ 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 sec~ion 3 is provided
with two or more crescent-shaped stop and loader members 36
which are ro~atable about a driving shaft 36A, and which have
.
a curvilinear edge to catch and support a saw log 98. .More
particularly, when the stop and loader members 36 are rotated
in a counter-clockwise 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 sa~ log
98 at the end of the log deck assembly 2.~ After a saw log 98
has rolled onto the curved edge 36A of the loader members 36,
the log members 36 are rotated in an opposite clockwise
direction to dump the saw log 98 carried thereon onto the
sloping rails 39, and also to elevate the outwardly curved
edges 36B of the log members 36 to block any other saw log 98
from rolling off of the log deck assembly 2 and onto the nose
section 3.
As previously noted, a well formed saw log 98 will tend
to roll up the rails 39 and into abut.ting engagement with
the knee assemblies 29 of the carriage 27, whereby the saw
log 98 may be engaged by the dogs of the knee assemblies 29
and carried to the saw blade 34. Many saw logs 98 are crooked
or have ~lattened portions along their circumference, and
may even have a vestage of one or more branches extended from
their surfaces, whereby such saw logs 98 may not roll along
the rails 39 in a proper manner. In the event such an irregular
or reluctant saw log 98 does not travel entirely along the
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1~712~0 : -
length ~ the rails 39 to the deck of the carriage 27, or if -
such sawlog 98 becomes irregularly positioned on the rails 3g,
a slapper bar 37 may be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction
to strike the sawlog 98 from behind and drive it onto ~he deck
- . .
of the carriage 27. . ..~
As hereinbefore stated, the nose section 3 is one of the
. modules which is structurally independent of the other portions
.: - . .
- ~ of the sawmillO Accordingly, it may be seen that the nose : .
.. . . . ..
section.3 i5 also providea with a pair of long saddle members
, . . . ~, .
71 to permit the nose section 3 to be mounted as a unit on the
longerons 50 which carry both the log-decX 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, i5 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 i9 discharged from the loader arms 36 onto
the xails 39, it does not usually strike the knee assembly 29
with heavy impact. When the sawlog 98 on the rails 39 is struck
by the slapper bar 37, however, the sawlog 98 will often strike
the ~nee assembly ~29 with an impact sufficient to drive the
carriage 27 off of the rails 74. Thus, the rub bar assembly 5
i9 located to backup the carriage 27 at this point.
As further indicated in Figure 14, the rub bar assembly 5
29
1071250 - ;
is comprised of a pair of vertical stru~s 93, which supeor~ 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 to reinforce the vertical struts 93 against
impact deli~ered by the sawlog 98 through the knee assemblies
. .
29 and the deck of the carriage 27. ~- -
As indicated in Pigure 14, the nomencla~ure sawlog"
is conventionally applied to a log which has not previously
been longitudinally sliced. After a sawlog has received at
least one cut by the circular saw 34, however, the portion
remaining on the deck of the carriage 27 is conventionally
referred to as a "cant." Accordingly, the apparatus depicted
in Figure 14 illustrates the carriage 27 as supporting a
cant 99.
It should be noted that the various modules are not only
constructed so as to be installed in the system gy merel~
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 members 71 of the log deck assembly 2, the nose section
3, and the rub bar section 5, and the cross-tie saddle member
206 of the carriage and saw section 6, are of predetermined
lengths such that, when butted together on the longerons 50,
these modules will be spaced together in a properly functional
manner within the sawmill. Since these components must also
- -30-
1(11~7~ZSO ;
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~
i
a board or ~ie is to be delivered to an appropriate location
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 ~he board or tie will tend to continue sliding forward
along the surfaces of the immobilized roller members 110.
2eferring 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 o~ the various roller bed sections 9-10 and
15, as will further be explained. More particularly, the
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
having 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-
1071250 - - ~
of pivot arms 132 and 134 interconnected at one end to the
rocker bar 121, and at their other ends to a pivot rod 138
extending between the two vertical support members 130-131.
Ansther pair: of lower pivot arms 133 (only one being visible)
are interconnected between the vertical arms 124-125 and the
vertical sup~ort.members 130-131 by ~he pivot rod~l37 at one
.
end and another pivot rod 136 at the other end. In addition,
a pneumatic cylinder 139 is pivotally anchored at one end to
the pivot rod 136 by a spacing slee~re 171, and its piston rod
140 is pivotally linked to the rocker 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 o~ the channels 111 which support the
roller me~ers 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. ~hus, when the plate 120 is elevated as
indicated in Pigure 15A it will block a board or timber 114
20 }~eing carried by the roller members 110. On the other hand,
i:E the plate 120 i9 retracted a5 in Figure 16, the ti~er 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
o~ the two vertical support members 130-131 to position its
whisker 128 to be engased by an actuator arm assembly 127
--32-- .
.
10712S0. - , .
fixea to the rear surace 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 the
whisker 128. When.the plate 120 is eleva~ed to stop a
ti~ber 114 as indicated in Figure 15A, the colliding timber
.
114 will rotate the plate 120 only far enough to cause the
.
actuatihg arm assembly 127 to lift ~he whisker 128 and thereby
actuate the limit switch 129. This,.as will ~urthër 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 ..
prcvide support or the square tube 127A.
Referring now to Figure 18, there may be seen a simplified
pictorial repre9entation of the ~ull-off assembly 23A, wherein
it may be seen how its two pull-off arms 141-142 of this
portion o 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-
107~2S0 . : -
the li ting arms 161-163 o~ the stacker section 23. As
hereinbefore stated, timbers are deposited, one at a time,
on the roller bed section 15 to be carried longitudinally to
the aperopriate one of the four tie deck assemblies 16-19,
the appropriate one being selected by elevation of the
plate 120 of a stop assembly 115 as hereinbefore mentioned.
When the timber strikes the plate 120 and thereby actuates '
the limit switch 129 contained therein, this will actuate a - .
- . . . . :
. pneumatic cylinder within each of the two pull-off arms 141-
142, as will-hereinafter be explained. Each'of these two
cylinders i5 interconnected with a dogging tooth 143 or 145 '
which projects above the upper sur~ace of the two pull-orf
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. ~he cylinaer 148, which is
-34-
10 7 1 2 S 0 ~ ~ !
suitably anchored by pin 159, has the free 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
pre~erably disposed within .he smaller portion 1418 of ~he .
pull-o~f arm 141 on Q 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 visible in Figure 15)
mounted on top of the link bar 152. Reerring again to
Figure 19, it will he seen that a suitable switch 156 is
arranged in the larger portion 141A with a whisker 157
disposed to be deflected by an actuator projection 158, which
is mounted on the side ~ the link bar 152, and which
actuates the switch 156 upon retraction 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 pistDn rod 149 is
extended from the cylinder 148. The advantage there~y derived
! iS th~t the pull-off assembly will only move 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 subsequent timber from the roller bed
section 15.
-35-
1~71250 - -
Referring now to Figures 21-23, there may be seen a more
detailed pictorial representation of the linX bar 152 and pull-
off tooth 143. Accordingly, the link bar 152 may be ~een to
be a rectangular body having pinhole 160 at one end for receiving
the clevis pin.151, and having a pair of rollers 153 mounted
adjacen~ its other end. The actuator-158 may be seen to be an
.
angular projection mounted.on the side of the lin~ bar 152 at
a location suitable for timely engagement o~ the whis~er 157
of the limit switch 156 depicted in Figures 18 and 19. The
dogging tooth 143 may be seen to be a flat body having a right-
triangular configuration and secured between the two tooth
brackets 154 on top of the link bar 152 by means of the tooth
pivot pin 155, and urther having laterally projecting portions
which act as counterweights to maintain the tooth 143 in a
normally erect position relative to the link bar 152.
Referring again to Figure 22, it may be seen that the
engaging surface 143B of the tooth 143 is the longer right side
of the triangle defined by the tooth 163, and that when the
hypotenuse side 143A i5 driven against the timber 147 depicted
in Figure9 19 and 20, the tooth 143 will yieldably rotate under
the timber 147 instead of displacing it from its location on
the tie stac~er arms 161-163. Alternatively, when the engaging
surface 143B of the tooth is brought into contact with a timber
147 or the like, the tooth 143 is rotated clockwise to bring
its short side into abutting engagement with the top of the
link bar 152, whereby further rotation of the tooth 143 is
-36-
107~Z50 .
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.
Referring again to Figure 2, it will be noted that the
timbers which are received from the trimmer section 14 are
pushed onto the roller bed section 15 by a push-off assembly
14A. This component of the system is entirely the same as the :-
.
pull-off assembly 20A, except ~hat its tooth 143 is reversed
with respect to its position as indicated in Figure 22, and
that the c~linder 148 and piston rod 149 in Figures 19 and 20
are operated in a manner op~osite to that hereinbefore described.
With such an arrangement! the hypotenuse side 143A of the tooth
143 will be drawn yieldably against the timber, to rotate the
tooth 143 under the timber during retraction of the piston rod
149 into the cylinder 148, and the engaging side 143~ of the
tooth 143 will be pushed into contact with the timber to shove
it from the trimmer section 14 onto the roller bed section 15
upon extension of the piston rod 149 from the cylinder 148.
Alternatively, o~ course, a pull-off assembly may be used at
thiq location in the system instead of the push-off assembly 14A.
Reerring again to Figure 18, it will be seen that the tie
stacker portion of the pull-of and tie stacker assembly 23.is
composed of an arrangement of three lifting arms 161-163 which
are ixedly positioned on a rotatable cross-bar 169, whereby
rotation of the cross-bar 169 will elevate the lifting arms
161-163 to deposit timbers carried thereon onto the lifting
-37- .
107~50 - `
pads 180 and 181 of the tie deck asse~bly 18.
Referring now to Figures 29-31, there may be seen how the
lifting arms 161-163 may be elevated by an arrangement of
components interconnected with the center arm 163 and composed
of pneumatic cylinders 231 and 237. More particularly, cylinder
231 is anchored between a pair o~ spaced-apart elevation arms
230-230A which are pivo~ally mounted at one end on the cross-bar
169, and which are pivotally conr~cted to the cylinder 231 by
an anchor pin 235 s3~idably disposed in a spacing sleeve 244
extending between the arms 230-230A and fixedly attached to the
base of the cylinder 231. The piston arm 232 extending from
the cylinder 231 is interconnected with a brac3cet 246 on the
lawer surl~ace 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
shat 238 to a bracket 241 mounted on a short saddle 242 by a
clevis 239 and clevis pin 240. The short saddle 242 is, in turn,
mounted on a brace 243 or ot}E!r suitable ~ortion of the plat~orm
20 herein~efore described, by U-tie bolts (not depicted) as
previously explained.
~ he particular tie stacker configuration depicted in Figures
29-31, wherein two cylinders are employed instead of only one,
provides a nulr~ber of advantages over the stackers and other
similar apparatus of the prior art. In the ~irst instance, it
will be noted that whenever it is sought to elevate the center
--38--
1071250- -
arm 163 with only 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 ~he elevation or at
its point o~ termination in a vertical position, for the reason
.. . .
that the arm 163 is being rotated through a relatively large
angle (i.eO, 90 or morejO With 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 poin ts of travel between horizontzl
and ~ertical. 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
cylinder is employed it must have a capability which is
substantially greater than the combined capability of both o~
the two cylinders 231 and 237 employed as hereinbefore described.
A third advantage, which is particularly important,
d~rives from the fact that the combination of the two cylinders
231 and 237 permits the ele~ation of the lifting arm 163 with
a more controllabla 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 erovided with this apparatusO
In this respect, it should be noted that pneumatic cylinders
-39-
~ .
11~71ZSO
tend to vary with respect to their internal friction, and
thus it is difficult to control-such cylinders in a preselected
manner whenever close tolerances of movement are required_. By
using a two-cylinder arrangement rather than only one, as in
the case of the prior art, the two cylinders ~end to coopera~e
in this regard, whereby they ef~e tively o~erate as a single
- , ' . . :
cylinder having a driving force w'nich averages out the
,, - -
. variations arising because of differences o~ internal friction
in their internal components.
In normal operation of this apparatus, it is conventional
as well as desirable to actuate the pull-off arms 141-142 to
load 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 do~ging teeth 143 and 145 in the pull-off arms 141-142,
the subsequent timber 147 will push the precedi~ timber or
timbers thereon further down the lifting arms 161-163. Such
travel will only occur, however, until the first timber loaded
thereon comes into abutting engagement with the angular stoes
166-168 mounted on the three lifting arms 161-163. Thereupon,
the cylinder 174 located within the center lifting arm 163
--~L r~_
-' 1071Z~0 `
may be actuated to retract the piston shaft 176 until the
clamping tooth 165 grips the last loaded timber 147 and draws
all five timbers into locking engagement against the stop 168.
Thus,. the five timbers are held secured together by the
clamping tooth 165 during elevation o~ the lifting arms
! 161-163 by the cylinders 231 and 237, thereby a~oiding any
- :.
tendency for the stac~ of five timber~ 147 to topele over in
diaarray on the tie deck assembly 18. -
7 ' " ~eferrir.g again to Fi~ures 24-25, it will be seen that
10 the clamping tooth 165 is a T-shaped component ha~ing its
shank portion pivotally connected to the free traveling ena
of the piston shaft 176 by a cle~is 177 and clevis pin 178
and having rollers 172 for facilitating movement of the
clamping tooth 165 within and along the length of the center
lifting arm 163. It will also be seen that the 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 of the
lifting arm 163 is preferably bent outwardly thereo in the
manner o a downwardly extending flap 173, whereby the rollers
of the clamping tooth 165 will roll downwardly on this 1ap
173 to drop the engaging portion of the clamping tooth 165
below the u~per surface of the li~ting arm 163, and whereby
timbers 147 may be drawn onto the lifting arms 161-163 of
the tie stacker assembly withouL interference by the
:.
-41-
1071ZS0 . . h
clamping tooth 165. -~
Referring now to Figures 18 and 26-28, it may be seen
that the outer lifting arms 161-162 are each provided with
a suitable stack pusher member 190 pivotally mounted thereon
by means of sleeve bearings 215 and 216. In addition, liting
pads 180-181 are appropriately mounted adjacent the inner
surfaces of the two chain assemblies 86-87.of the tie deck
assem~ly 18. More particularly, the lifting pad laO may be
seen to be pivotally supported with respect to the chain
assembly 86 by means of a shorter pivot arm 183 at one end of
the lifting pad 180 and a longer pivot arm 182 at its other
end. In addition, a pneumatic cylinder 184 is interconnected
by a pin 186 xotatably 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 surface of the chain assembly 86, and when tha
piston rod 187 is retracted, the lifting pad 180 is retracted
below the upper surface of the chain assembly 86. Although
not specifically depicted in the accompanying drawings, it
will be noted that the lifting pad 181 is similarly connected
to and movable with respect to the o~her chain assembly 87.
Referring again to Figures 26-28, it will be noted that
when the center arms 161-163 are elevated to a vertical
-42-
lO~Z50 ~ ~
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
thereon may then be deposited on the lifting pads 180-181.
When another five timbers have been received onto the
lifting arms 161-163 of the.tie.stac~er section 20, a~d when
the arms 161-163 are again elevated to a ~er.tical position,
this additional stack of timbers will again be set down on the
elevated lifting pads 180-181. To prevent t~e second stack of
.
timber5 from interfering with the first deposited stacX of
timbers 147, it will be noted that the rotatable stack pusher
190, which is rotatable freely in the appropriate one of the
two bearing9 215-216, and which is balanced to keep the position
d~epicted in Pigures 26-28, will be brought into abutting engagement
with the fir8t stack of timbers 147 to push them forward along the
two lifting pads 180-181. Each time the lifting arms 161-163 are
elevated to a vertical position, the two stack pushers 190 will
therefore be brought into abutting engagement with the preceding
8tac~ or stacks of timbers to shove them out of the way and to
thereby prevent them from being toppled over by the arrival of
the 8ub9e~uent stack of timbers 147.
As hereinbefore explained, lumber which is carried by the
roller bed ~ection 9 ~or loading onto the lumber deck assemblies
12 and 13 must be depo9ited thereon by means of the two lumber
stàcker section~ 20-21 depicted in Figure 2. The lumber stacXer
section 20 depicted in Figures 32-34 is basically the same as
,
-43-
.
- 1071250
the tie stacker section 23 dep~cted and described in Figures
18 and 24-28, and is therefore elevated by the same ~ype of
apparatus depicted in Figures 29-31. Accordingly, it will be
seen in Figure 32 that the lumber stac~er sec~ion 20 is comprised
of three lifting arms 161~-163A fixedly mounted on an appropria~e
cross-bar 169A. It is not necessary to stack lumber received
onto the lifting arms 161A-163A, howe~er, and thus the center
lifting arm 163A need not contain clamping apparatus such as
the cylinder 174 and clamping tooth 16~ depicted in Figures
24-25. The center arm 163A therefore need not be provided with
the 510t 164 which is re~uired to accommodate the clamping tooth
165, as depicted in Figure 32, but it is ~lways convenient for
purposes of interchangeability to use components of like designO
As hereinbeore stated, lumber received onto the lifting
arms 161A-163A is not required to be neatly stacked in the
same manner as are the timbers 147 which are carried by the
lifting arms 161-163 of the tie stacker assembly, and it
is only necessary that such lumber be displaced completely
from the roller bed section 9 before the lifting arms I61A-
163A are ele~ated to deposit the lumber onto the lumberdeck assembly 12. However, the two outside lifting 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 length of the lifting arms 161A-163A_
_,~A _
1 0 71 2 50 !: .
In this respect, it will be noted that the smaller fin 210
is preferably located adjacent the end of each of the two
lifting arms 161A-162A, and that ~he larger fin 211 is located
further down the length of the arms 161A-162A~ In addition,
each o~ the two Lins 210-211 is positioned wi~h its longer side
directed toward the lumber being received from the roller bad
section 9. ~ ~
~eferring again to Figure 32, it will be noted that since
.
the lumber received onto the liting arms 161A-163A is not
intended to be neatly stacked onto the lumber deck assembly 12, .
as hereinbefore explained, the stack pusher members 190
depicted in Figures 18 and 26-28 are not required. On the
other hand, it is desirable to provide means for preventing
lumber piled onto the lumber deck assembly 12 from falling
back onto the lifting arms 16LA-163A, and thus discs 213-214
are pre~erably mounted rotatably in the sleeves 215-216
for preventing this from occurring.
Referring now to Figures 33~34t it will be seen h~
lumber 207 which is drawn onto the lifting arms 161A-163A by
the dogging teeth 143 and 145 of the pull-of~ arms 141-142
will tend to sweep over the fins 210 and 211 to be piled in
a random fashion on the lifting arms 161A-163Ao When the
lifting arms 16LA-163A are elevated to a vertical position, the
lumber 207 tends to all forward onto the rotatable discs
213-214. Since these discs 213-214 are both reely rotata~le
in the sleeves 215-216~ however, the lumber 207 will continue
1(171250
forward, away from the vertically erect lifting arms 161A-
163A onto the chain assemblies 86-87 of the lum~er deck
assembly 12. Since the lumber deposited thereon may be
accumulated in a random fashion, as hereinbefore stated,
the lumber deck assembly 12 need not be provided with the
.: .
lifting pads 180-181 and actuating components therefor, as
previously described with respect to Figure 18.
.. Re~erring now to Figures 10-12, there may be seen a .
. . . - . . , , ~ .
detailed pic.torial-representation of the triple leg 200 . .
hereinbefore mentioned with respect to Figure 2, and more
especially illustrating how this component is employed in the
sawmill structuré to provide a num~er 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 15 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
support an idling roller 193, as will hereinafter be explained.
Other functions of the triple leg 200 include providing support
for either portion 141A or portion 141B of a pull-off assembly
141, and to support two or more such pull-off assemblies
. either in side-by-side relationship or in reverse relationship
wherein one of the two pull-ofr assemblies has had its tooth
143 reversed to provide push-off rather than pull-off, as in
-46-
10712S0 -
the case of the push-off assembly employed to transfer ties
onto the roller bed section 15 from the trimmer section 14.
Also, the tripLe leg 200 provide~ support for the lifting
arms 161-163 of each of the tie stacker assemblies, and also
for the lumber stackers depicted in Figure 32~
Reerring 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 a~art along a short saddle 205
and each ha~ing a pair of ~ppositely projecting arms 203
adapted to be bolted to the adjacent ends of the channel members `
111 of the roller bed section 10 9r the like. The short
saddle 205 is, of course, mountable on the appropri te longeron
50" and therefore is preferably pr.ovided with sleeves 76 for
holding two or more U-tie bolts 54. As may further be seen in
Fi~ure 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 of the d annel 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
pull-off 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 of a
pull-off assembly 141, whereas the space between the two
inside arms 204 will accommodate the larger portion 141A of
_47_ - -
lO~lZSO
such a pull-off assembly Accordingly, two pull-off assemblies
141 may be laid side-by-side, as her~inbefore explained.
~ eferring again to Figure 11, it may be seen how the
triple leg 200 functions as a connecting link for driving the
~arious roller members 110 in two separate sec~ions 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. ~rhe second belt 198 carried by the two sheaves 191
is an endless member extending over a pair of pulleys 189, each
of which is slidably mounted in a verticaI slot 197 in the
adjacent vertical leg bracket 223 or 224 of the triple leg
200. Accordingl~, the two pulleys 189 may be secured in the
slot 197 at an appropriate position by suitable bolts or
locking 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 15-17. Thus, the vertical support
-~8-
~ 10~71Z50
membe.s 130-131, which-provide support for the pivot arms
132-134, may be seen to be positioned between the ~wo leg
brackets 223-224.
As hereinbefore stated, it is th~ 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. Onl~ one of
the three legs of the tie stacker need be supported, however,
and thus a single rest 201, having the configuration of an
- . .: : -
angle member. may be fixed to one of the two support axms
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 ~e
noted that these assemblies are preferably provided with some
form (not depicted) of projection for engaging one or more
of the sup~ort arms 202 and 204. Accordingly, this prevents
the pull-off assemblies 141 from being displaced hori~ontally
while resting on the triple leg 200.
Referring now to Figure 35, there may be seen a simplified
~unctional illustration of the major pneumatically-actuated
driving means hereinbefore mentioned with respect to the
other components. In particular, there may be seen in Figure
35 a ~unctional 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 pressure port
_49_
''- .
1071250 ^-
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 o~ 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 provide an exhaust or retur~ route to atmosphere,
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 o the stop assembly 115 is
normally in a retracted position to eosition the plate 12~
below the surface o the roller bed section. If the solenoid
260 is energized, however, pneumatic pressure will be coupled
across ports B and C to the pressure line 252A leading to the
pres5ure port P o~ the pneumatic cylinder 139, and the exhaust
line 252B leading from the exit port R of the cylinder 139 will
be connected through ports A and D in the valve 252 to
atmosphere. Thus, energizing the solenoid 260 will extend the
~haft 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 position wherein ports
A and C are connected to the atmosphere, and pressure from the
source line 251 through ports B and D will cause the piston
shaft 140 to be retracted within the cylinder 139. Referring
again to Figure 35, it will be seen that since the pull-off
-50-
- 1~71ZSO -
asselliblies are generally provided in pairs, the pneuma,ic
system depicted in E'igure 35 her~in will incorporate at least
two cylinders 148 wi~h piston rods 149. As indicat~d, the
normal position of the valve 253 is with ports A and C
interconnected and ports B and D interconnected. ~us, when
.
the valve 253 is actuated and ports B and C are ~hen
interconnected, pressure from line 251 will be applied to line
- 253B and the upper intake port R of the cylinder 148 ~hus,
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 or 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 254A-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 for this is that it is necessary
to draw the clamping tooth 165 into compression against the
stack of five timbers 147 at the very instant that the
lifting cylinders 231 and 237 are energized to raise the liting
--51-- . .
1~) 7 ~ 2 S O ~ -
arms 161-163. On the other hand, it may also be seen in
Figure 35 that the cylinder 174 has its piston rod 176
extended whenever the piston rods 232 and 238 are retracted
within cylinders 231 and 237. This is accomplished by
coupling ports P of the lifting cylindsrs 231 and 237 to the
pressure line 255~ which intercormects port C of the valve
255 with port R o the clamping cylinder 174.. Similarly, ports
R of the lifting cylinders 231 an~ 237 are interconnected with
line 255B which is interconnected with port P of the clamping
cylinder 174. Accordingly, when the control valve 255 is
energized, pressure from line 251 will be delivered through~
ports C and B of the valve 255 and line 255A to extend piston
rods 232 and 238 at the same time that piston rod 176 is
retracted within the cylinder 174 to engage the clamping
tooth 165 against the stac~c of ti~ers 147.
In this regard it should be noted that the clamping
cylinder 174 is not only sIialler, relative to the lifting
cylinders 231 and 237, but it is faster acting due to the
fact that pi~ston rod 176 wil:L only travel a relatively short
20 distance in eit~her direction along its length. Accordingly,
when the ~alve 255 i9 actuated, the clamping cylinder 174
will immediately draw the clamping tooth 165 into engagement
with the stac~c of timbe~s 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 the lifting
--52--
-- 107~ZS0
arms 16--163 to horizontal, the cylinder 174 will react
immediately to disengage the clamping tooth 165 from the
stack of timbers 147 before the li~ting cylinders 231 and
237 have effectively moved away from vertical Thus, the
lifting arms 161-163 may be lowered away from vertical, leaving
the stack of timbers 147 standing undisturbed on the lifting
pads 180-181~ -
It should be noted that the li~ting pads 180-181 are
normally permitted to remain erect until a suitable number of
stacks of timbers 14? have been deposited thereon, and the
liftir.g arms 161-163 have been returned to horizontal at the
end of a cycle. Accordingly, control valve 256 may be
energized to connect power through line 256A to port R in
the cylinder 184 which positions the lifting pad 180, and
also to port R of the matching cylinder 184A which controls the
other lifting pad 181. Thus, piston rods 187 and 187A will be
ret~acted sim~ltaneously 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 ~ and D of the valve, and line 256B to ports P of the
- 10712~0 -
cylinders 184 and 184A. This will again extend the piston
rods 187-181A to re-el~vate the li_ting pads 180-181, line
256A providing an exhaust rou~e from ports R of the cylinders
184-184A to ports A and C of the valve 256.
As hereinbefore stated, the dogging tooth 143 may be
reversed to permit the pull-off arms 141 and 142 in Figure
18 to operate as a 3'push-off" assembly. Referring again to
Figure 35, therefore, if the cylinder 148 is incorporated in
an assembly 141 which is used to push rather than pull, then
line 253A will be connected to port R of the cylinder 148, and-
line 253B will be connected to port P, whereby ~he piston rod
149 will move oppositely of the manner hereinbefore explained.
It will further be noted that the limit switch 156 depicted
in Figures 19-20 must be repositioned whereby its whisker 157
will be actuated upon extension of the piston rod 149, rather
than by retraction for pull-off purposes. Appropriately,
therefore, the switch 156 may ~e located at the end of the
~mall portion l~lB of the assem~ly 141 whereby the whisker 157
may, for example, be deflected by the link bar 152 or one of
the xollers 153.
Referring now to Figure 36, there may be seen a simplified
schematic diagram illustrating the electrical circuits and
control switches for operating examples of t~e various
components hereinbefore described. In particular, circuitry
iYlustrated therein is representative of the circuits required
to control and energize the roller bed section 15, the roller
'' .
-54-
.
~ ~07 ~Z 50
bed section 9, the valves 253-254 which are necessary to
operate an~ one oE the various pull-off assemblies, the
valve 255 which is required to operate any of the tie or
lumber stacker sections, the motor 101 which energizes any
-one of the tie dec~ assemblies 16-l9, and the val~e 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 tha~ those
switches represented in Figure 36 by double-dashed lines
will be found located in the control booth 30, and those
switches represented in Figuxe 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
seen that a master switch 271 is provided for connecting
power from a suitable electrical source 270 to the circuitry
which, in turn, includes a stop relay switch 272 for
energizing the solenoid of the stop positioning relay 274
in any of the various stop assemblies 115 which are located
throughout the system, and which are illustrated in Figures
15-17. Accordingly, when the relay 274 is energized, it will
be seen to couple power through the first of three sets of
contacts to the solenoid 260 by way of a stop override switch
2.73, and also to couple power through its second set of
contacts to hold ~he relay 274 closed after the switch 272
is reopened. In addition, power is connected through the
-55-
71'~5
third set of contacts of the relay 274 to energize the
motor 288, whereby the plate 120 is now elevated to intercept
the timber 11~ being carried on the rollers 110 of the roller
bed section 15. As hereinbefore stated, swi~ch 129 is closed
by impact of the timber 114 on the plate 120, whereby power is
coupled through the first set o~ contacts of the stacker
safety 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 pull-of~ start switch 276. The pull-off -
relay 290 will now close to couple power from the normally
closed pull-off return switch 277 and the two normally closed
switches 156 and 156A to be ound inside the two pull-off
assemblies 141-142, to latch the pull-off relay 290 closed.
Power to the solenoid of the stop positioning relay 274 wili
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 off of the roller bed
section 15 and onto the lifting arms 161-163 of the tie
stacker assembly 23. Note also that when the pull-off relay
290 is energized, the motor 28~ which drives the roller bed
section 15 is de-energized because of reopening of the stop
control relay 274.
As hereinbeore stated, retraction of the piston arms
149-149A will open the two switches 156-156A, thereby
disconnecting p~ er from the solenoid of the pull-off relay
290, whereby the solenoids 261-263 will be de-energized
-56-
7~Z50
and the teeth of the pull-off assemblies will be returned
to their normal position. When fiva ties 147 have been
drawn onto the lifting arms 161-163 of the tie stacker
. assembly 23, and when switch 170 has been closed, power
will now pass through the appropriate contacts of the n~w
reclosed pull-off relay 290 and the middle con~acts of the
normally closed stacker safety relay 292 to energize the
solenoid of the stacker relay 2910 Closing this component
will connect a latching circuit to the relay by way of its
first two contacts and the stacker limit and return switches
279-280, and will connect p{~er 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 stacXer safety switch 281 will be
: roleased 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-
offs from operating while the lifting arms 161-163 of the
stacker section are in an elevated position. In addition,
Rower is ~urther 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 opened, the lifting pads may not be
retracted even if the solenoid 264 of the pad control valve
-57-
107~2~ ' .
256 is energized by closure o~ the pad-down limit switch 282.
- When the lifting arms 161-163 reach their full point of
elevation, this will open the stac~er limit switch 279 to
break the latching circuit whlch is holding the stac~er relay
closed. ~ote that this same effect can be achieved, o~
course, by oeening the stacXer return con~rol switch 280
located in the control booth 30. Power will now be removed
from the solenoid 263 of the stacker control ~alve 255,
whereby the 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 ~he pad-down limit
switch 282. If this component has been closed, the solenoid
264 of the pad control valve 256 will be energized to
actuate cylinders 184-184A. In this regard, it may be noted
that solenoid 264 may be energized at any time by closure
of the lifting pad control switch 283.
A~ hereinbefore explained, whenever a preselectea number
of stacks of ties has been received on the lifting pads 180-
181, the pads-down limit switch 282 will be closed to
connect power to the solenoid 264 of the pad control valve
256. The pads 180-181 will now be retracted by the cylinders
184-184A until the deck start switches 286-287 (one being
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~` 107~2S0
actuated by each pad) are closed to couple power to the motor
lOl which shifts the stacks o~ ties along ~he tie decX
assembly and away from the pads until the pads-down limit
switch is released to de-energize solenoid 264. me pads -
180-181 will then be re-elevated to release the dec~ star~
.
switches 286-287 and thus ~e-energize ~he motor 101. When
a stack of ties is carried to a certain distance along the
tie deck assembly, however, it will eventually depress and
close the deck limit switch 285 to disconnect power to the :.
coil o the deck safety relay 293. If the dec~ control
switch 284 is positioned as illustrated in Figure 36, power
will now be connected through the upper pa-ir of contacts of
the deck safety relay 293 to provide a latching circuit for
this component, and power will be disconnected from the deck
start switches 286-287 to stop the motor lOl and thereby
prevent ties from being carried off 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 safety 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
position O
As may be seen in Figures 32-34, a typical lumber dec~
assembly 12 will not be provided with the lifting pads 180-
181 which are incorporated with the tie decX assemblies, In
addition, the motor 288 which operates the roller bed section
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~07 ~Z 50 :,
15 will not be involved with the operation of the lumber
stackers, but the lumber roller bed section 9 having motor
289 will be involved. Accordingly, the lifting arms 161A--
163A o the lumber stacker 20A depicted in Figure 32 will be
elevated upon actuation or closure of switch 212 to again
connect eower to the xelay 291, the same as herei~before
ae~cribed. Actuation of the switch 129 will again close the
pull-of~ relay 290 to pull a board or plank onto the liting
arms 161A-163A o the lu~ber stacker 20. ~ote that power is .
now applied through the bottom two contacts of relay 290 to
energize the lumber roller bed stop relay 294 to break the .
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 ~he 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
the stacker relay 2 910 AS soon as the lifting arms 161A-163A
are elevated far enough to release the stacker safety switch
281, however, power will be removed from the tie deck motor
101 and will be connected to actuate the stacker safety relay
292. Thus, the lum~er deck assembly will be actuated to
carry lumber previou31y deposited thereon only far enough to
remove it from lumber again being deposited thereon by the
rising lifting arms 161A-163A..
As hereinbefore stated, the hollow longerons 50 are not
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~ 107~ 0
only employed to support the various modules but are also
used to proviae support as well as protection for electrical j -
cables which must necessarily be extended between the
components previously discussed with respect ko Figure 36.
On the other hand,. access is required to ~hese cables at
points intermediate the ends of the longerons 50, and also
provision must be had for connecting other similar ducts
to the longerons 50 at selec~ed locatiohs between their end~.
Referring now to Figures 37-39, there may be seen
pictorial il~ustrations of apparatus which has been found
particularly suitable for this purpose. Referring more
especially to Figure 37, there may be seen an exemplary form
of duct assem~ly 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
es~ecially, 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 ~eing conveniently provided
by taking a one-fourth round section of the wall of a mstal
tube or the like of proper radius. The junction box 301 may
be seen to be interconnected with an inverted short saddl~
Sl which, as hereinbefore described, may be connected wikh
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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~ 7 ~Z ~ ,.
may be had to the cables which transfer rrom the ju~ction box
301 to the longeron 50, either by disconnecting the U-tie
bolts 54 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 suitable fasteners.
As indicated in Figures 37-38, provision may be required
for connecting an ex~ension duct 306 to the duct ~08
at an angle less than 90. This may be conveniently effected
by providing a pair-of pipe sections 307 to the sides of an
aperture in the duct 308, and by thereafter welding the
extension 306 to the pipe sections 307. The advantage of
employing pipe sections 307 in this manner is that their
surfaces are rounded to prot~ct the cables from abrasion,
and thus similar components may conveniently be used at
the aperture 305 in the longeron 50O
Re~erring 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 like. More particularly it will be noted that brackets
311lmay be secured to spacea-apart edges of the end of the
duct 308, and may also be provided 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 on- or
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~071~5() - -
more spaced-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
pro~ided in the recesses 316 to fixedly secure ca~les passing
out o 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
~hould be rather precisely established in order that a sawlog
98 will roll properly onto the deck of the carriage 27.
Accordingly,.a plurality of shims 225 and the like are
pre~erably 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 50O
Such an assembly may be constructed to straddle or rest on
three or more longerons 50 to accommodate boards of greater
leng~h, of course, without departing from the concept of the
present invention. In this regard, the log deck assembly 2,
the nose section 3, and the other modules of the system may
be similarly adapted.
The concept of a modular-type sawmill depends, of course,
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`` 1 0'71Z 50 r~
on the definition of the term "module." As used herein,
therefore, a module is any component o~ the system which,
like the nose section 3 and log deck section 2, is bo~h
sel~-contained and independently operable. Accordingly,
the components described and depicted herein, which are
considered to be modules are the log deck section 2, the nose
section 3, the carriage and saw section 6, the conveyor
- . ,.
assembly as hereinafter described, each o~ ~he two lumber
deck a~semblies 12-13, the transfer dec~ assembly 22, and
each of the tie deck assemblies 16-19. The con~eyor
assembly is composed of the two roller bed sections 9-10
and the con~eyor belt section 11, the various triple legs
200 interconnected therein, the stop assemblies 145 in the
triple legs 200, and the flip board sections 7-80 The pull-
off assemblies 20A-21A, and other like components, are also
a part o the conveyor assembly inasmuch as they are supported
by the triple legs 200 rather than being disposed on
longerons 50. Similarly, the lumber stacker sec~ions 20-21
and the tie stacker sections 23-26 are part of the lumber
deck and tie deck assemblies 12-13 and 16-19, respectively,
since they are mounted on these components rather than on
longerons 50 as sel~-contained modules.
Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, it should be noted
that the log deck assembly 2, the two lumber deck assemblies
12-13, the transfer deck assembly 22, and the four tie deck
assemblies 16-19 are all basically the same in design~ Any
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l~t71ZSO
differences such as the tie stackers 23-26 are additions
only, and thus all of these components are basically
interchangeable.
It will be apparent from the foregoing that many other
variations and modifications may be made in the structures
described herein without substantially departing from the
basic concept o~ the present invention. Accordingly, it
should be clearly understood that the forms of the invention
described herein and depicted in the accompanying drawings
are exemplary only and are not intended as limitations in
the scope of the present invention.
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