Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~ arious forms of log splitting devices have
been heretofore designed. However, most log splitting
devices are power driven and those which are not power
driven and are adapted to be manually powered are cumbersome
to use and do not provide sufficient mechanical leverage
to enable hardwood logs to be readily split.
Accordingly, a need exists for a simple, mechanically
operated log splitter which will provide sufficient leverage
to enable ease of operation even when splitting hardwood
logs.
Examples of previously known forms of log splitters
including some of the general structural and operational
features of the instant invention as well as other similar
devices as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 720,010, 881,538 and
4,112,985.
- According to the present invention there is
provided a log splitter including a base, an elongated
support lever, means pivotally supporting one end of the
lever relative to the base for swinging of the support lever
in an upstanding plane about a first axis elevated relative
to the base and for movement of the other end of the support
lever toward and away from a predetermined location on the
base while the other end of the lever is elevated above
the base. An upright is carried by the base and defines
a series of vertically spaced notches thereon, and a
downwardly facing wedge structure is carried by the other
end of the support lever opposing the predetermined location.
The base defines support means for supporting an upstanding
log section thereon with the lower end of the log section
disposed in the predetermined location. ~n elongated actuatinq
lever has an anchor structure on one end thereof and is
selectively releasably pivotally receivable in the notches
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and defines a handle on its other end. An upstandlng
connecting link structure is pivotally connected at one
end to the other end of the support lever and at the
other end to the one end of the actuating lever at a point
thereon spaced from the anchor structure.
The log splitter of the instant invention is
therefor constructed in a manner whereby considerable
mechanical leverage is afforded a person desiring to
split a log and whereby the log splitting wedge portion of
the splitter may be forced into the log to be split in
successive increments of penetration with each increment
of penetration affording the same mechanical leverage as
the preceding increment of penetration.
The main object of this invention is to provide
a log splitter which may be conveniently utllized by a
single person in splitting logs.
Another object of this invention is to prepare
a log splitter which will be operative to split long logs
as well as short logs with the same efficiency.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide
a log splitter which will afford a considerable mechanical
advantage to the person using the splitter for the purpose
of splitting logs.
Another object of this invention is to provide a
log splitter which may be readily`transported from one
location to another.
Still another important objec-t of this invention
is to provide a log splitter which may be constructed from
readily available components.
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A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated
herein is to provide a log splitter in accordance with the preceding objects
and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple
construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be econom-
ically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the log splitter in use for the
purpose of splitting a log;
Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substan-
tially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2--2 of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the log splitter with the
log splitting components thereof in a static raised elevated position pre-
paratory to the placement of a log on the base of the log splitter for the
purpose of splitting the logs;
Figure 4 is a top plan view of the assemblage illustrated in
Figure 3;
Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional
view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5--5
of Figure 3; and
Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken
substantially upon a plane indicated by the section line 6--6 of Figure 3.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10
generally designates the log splitter of the instant invention. The log
splitter 10 includes a horizontally elongated base 12 including a support
upright 14 on one end. The other end of the base 12 includes a transverse
member 16 supported therefrom for steadying the base 12 upon the ground 18
upon which the base 12 rests.
The support upright 14 has one end of an elongated lever 20
pivotally supported therefrom as at 22 and the other end of the lever 20
includes a downwardly facing wedge member 24 supported therefrom.
The intermediate portion of the base 12 includes an upright
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standard 26 defining a series of vertically spaced horizontally outwardly
. and downwardly opening notches 28 and an inclined brace 30 extends between
and is secured to the upper end of the support upright 14 and the upright
standard 26.
The base 12, intermediate the upright standard 26 and the trans-
verse member 16, includes upwardly projecting log bottom anchoring teeth 32
and an L-shaped lever 34 has the free end of its short leg 36 pivotally
anchored to the upper end of the upright s~andard 26 as at 38. The long leg
40 of the lever 34 defines a handle and an elongated connecting link 42 has
one end thereof pivotally connected to a longitudinal midportion of the lever
20 as at 42 and the other end thereof pivotally connected to the short leg 36
of the lever 34 as at 44. The pivot connection at 44 is defined by a pivot
fastener removably secured through selected longitudinally spaced bores 46
in the connecting link 42 and longitudinally spaced bores 48 formed in the
short leg 36 of the lever 34.
An elongated actuating lever 50 is provided and one end of the
lever 50 includes a cross pin 52 which is selectively receivable and rotatable
in the notches 28. The other end of the lever 50 defines a handle 52 and a
: connecting link structure referred to in general by the reference numeral 54
and including a pair of opposite side links 56 has one end thereof pivotally
anchored to the lever 20 as at 58 and the other end thereof pivotally anchored
relative to the lever 50 as at 60.
When it is desired to split a log section, the log section 62 is
placed upon the base 12 with the teeth 32 biting into the lower end of the
log section 62. Thereafter, the lever 50 is swung to a substantially vertical
position with the pin 52 spaced outwardly of the side of the upright standard
26 through which the notches 28 open. Then, the upper end of the connecting
link structure 5~ i3 swung toward the upright standard 26 in order to engage
the pin 52 in one of the notches 28. After the pin 52 has been engaged in
one of the notches 28, downward pressure is applied to the handle 52 whereby
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the wedge member or structure 24 will be driven a short distance downwardly
into the log section 62. As soon as the lever 50 reaches a generally hori-
zontal position, the handle end 52 thereof is swung upwardly and pulled
outwardly away from the upright standard 26 toward a vertical position.
This, of course, causes the pin 52 to be disengaged from the slot 28 and
will lower pin 52 for engagement with a lower notches 28 on the upright
standard 26. After the pin 52 has been engaged in the lower notch 28, the
same process is repeated in order to further downwardly force the wedge struc-
ture 24 into the log section 62 until the latter splits.
With attention invited more specifically to Figure 5 of the drawings,
it may be seen that the web structure 24 comprises a V-shaped member 64 with
the associated end of the lever 20 defining a center web portion with a V-
shaped member 64. A closure plate 66 is secured across the upper edges of
the upper ends of the legs of the V-shaped member 64 and the upper edge of
the corresponding portiGn of the lever 20 thus defining an abutment surface
for engagement by the lever 50 when the latter is in the position thereof
ilustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings.
The lever 34 may be swung from the position thereof illustrated in
Figure 1 of the drawings to the position thereof in Figure 3 of the drawings
in order to retain the wedge member supporting end of the lever 20 in the
elevated position thereof illustrated in Figure 3. When the lever 34 is
swung to the position illustrated in Figure 3, the pivot point 44 passes
through a center plane containing the pivot connections 38 and 42 and thereby
moves into an over-center position with the lever 20 supported in the raised
inoperative position illustrated in Figure 3, the vertical midportion of the
connecting link 42 abutting the upper end of the upright standard 26 in order
to define a limit position of movement of the link 42 to its over-center
position.
It will be noted that the upright standard 26 comprises a pair of
opposite side notched standards 26', that the support upright 14 comprises
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a pair of opposite side uprights 14' and tha~ the lever 20 is disposed be-
tween the uprights 14' and the standards 26'. Further, it will also be
noted that the upright standard 26 is braced relative to the base 12 by
means of buttress plates 70.
