Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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"Log Splitting Apparatus"
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a log splitting appara-tus. More par-
ticularly it relates to a log splitting apparatus adapted from a back
hoe or loading shovel.
2. Description of Prior Art
The most re'levant prior art of which the inventor is aware is
discussed below.
French Patent Specification No. 2,529,821 describes a combined log
splitting and log cutting apparatus. The blade is guillotine-like in
construction for cross-cutting with a cross blade which is used for
the splitting function. The framework which is described is installed
permanently rather than on a prime mover.
U.K. Patent Specification No. 1,061,937 describes a log cutter
rather than a log splitter. Figure 2 of that specification shows the
operation oF a log cutter mounted on a back hoe but its operation is
controlled by a separate added piston.
U.S. Patent Specification No. 4,019,549 is the most relevant to
the present invention. A back hoe is modified so that a lo9 lying
hori70ntally may be split by the stick arm of the back hoe. The
apparatus described has a blade which is mounted in a stationery posi-
tion in juxtaposition with a set of rails forming a guide way for a
log to be split. The log is moved by the end of the back hoe stick
arm. This appar~tus would be useful for the splitting of relatively
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short logs but would be limited by the length of the guide way in
respect of longer logs.
U.S. Patent Specification No. 4,111,246 is also a log splitting
device which is used as an attachment on a back hoe. The splitting is
done by pushing downwards with a block against a piece of wood which
is split by a fixed blade whose edge projects vertically upwardly.
U.S. Patent Specification No. 4,240,467 relates to a tractor hi-tch
attachment consisting of a fixed blade and a movable piston and flat
plate which co-operate with a pair of horizontal rails to split a log
lying horizontally on the rails.
U.S. Patent Specification No. 4,340,09~ also relates to a device
for use with a tractor hitch. A fixed wedge like blade splits a log
which is pressed against it by pivoting a platform on which a short
log is impaled by spikes.
U.S. Patent Specificat;on Mo. 4,444,241 is very similar to U.S.
4,111,246 except that in this case the blade is movable vertically
downwardly and the log to be split rests on a flat surfce.
As will be apparent from this prior art there are various require-
ments for d-ifferent applications of log splitting. For example ~hen
the object is to produce firewood, relatively short lengths of log are
split. When the object is to reduce the diameter of logs to feed them
into a chipper at a pulp mill the logs to be split are relatively
long. It is des-irable to have a machine which is adaptable from simi-
lar apparatuses to be used in both of these applications.
It is an object of this invention to go some ~lay towards achieving
these desiderata or at least to offer the public a useful choice.
SUMMARY OF IHE INVENITON
Accordingly the invention may be said broadly to consist in a log
splitting apparatus comprising:
. a blade mounted at the distal end of an arm,
said arm being pivotally mounted at the end of a boom,
said boom being pivotally mountable on a frame,
means for pivoting said arm,
means for pivoting said boom,
said arm and said boom being pivotal about parallel axes
said blade being pivotal at said distal end of the said arm about
axis substantially parallel to said parallel pivot axes of said boom and
. arm,
m~ans for pivoting said blade,
a pivotal claw mounted at the end of the said arm on pivot axis
substantially perpendicular to the pivot axes of said boom and said arm,
and means for pivoting claw,
the arrangement being such that in use when a log to be split is
grasped between said side of said blade and said claw member and thereby
aligned with its longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to said
parallel pivotal axes and has one end against an immovable abutment, and
the cutting edge of said blade is applied to the other end of said log and
said arm and boom are pivoted to pull the blade towards the base of the
boom into said log end, said log is split.
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Preferably said blade comprises a substantially straight cutting edge
and is tapered outwardly to provide wedging as the cutting edge enters the
log to be split.
Preferably said pivoting means comprises in each case a hydraulic
ram.
Preferably each said hydraulic ram is a double acting hydraulic ram.
Preferably said log splitting apparatus is mounted on a frame.
In one preferred embodiment said frame is mounted on or a part of, a
farm tractor.
In another embodiment said log splitting apparatus is mounted on a
turntable which is itself mounted on an undercarriage having a pair of
tracks.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention may be more fully understood by having reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus.
Figure 2 is a perspective view looking forward from beside the left
side of the cab of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a perspective view in detail of ~he cutting blade of the
apparatus as it enters a log.
Figure 4 is a view forward from the cab of the apparatus of a log
being split.
DETAIlED~ESCRIPTION QF THE DRAWINGS:
The apparatus comprises a main chassis given the gen~ral designa-
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tion lO provided with a pair of tracks 12 and mounted on a turn-table
between the tracks 12 of the chassis. An operator's cab 14 is pro-
vided on the left hand front portion of chassis 10. Extending
upwardly and forward from the chassis 10 is a boom comprising a lower
boom arm 16 and a upper boom arm 18~ These two arms are welded
together and cannot pivot relative to one another. The pair of boom
arms 16 and 18 are pivotal from the chassis lO. Upper boom arm 18 has
attached above it an upper hydraulic ram 20 and a lower hydraulic ram
22. Preferably these are double acting hydraulic rams. A second pair
of hydraulic rams 24 each fixed at one end on the chassis 10 and at
the other end to the joint of the boom portions 16 and 18. An arm 26
is pivotal at the end of the boom portion 18. Rams 20 and 22 pivot
arm 26.
On the front face of arrn 26 is a hydraulic ram 28. This pivots
the blade member 32. The blade member 32 has a straight cutting edge
46 and an outwardly tapered wedging porticn 48. Blade 32 is mounted
on the bottom oF a mounting bracket 44. Or,e end 45 of the bracket 44
is pivotal at the bottom of arm 26. A connecting rod 42 connects the
other end of bracket 44 to a bracket 40 which in its turn is pivotal
on arm 26~ Hydraulic ram 28 can pivot bracket 40, connecting rod 42,
bracket 44 and hence blade 32.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4 it ~ill be seen that on the left side
of the arm 26 (facing forward) there is provided a pair of arms 38
ending in claw pieces 39. A hydraulic ram 30 is mounted at one end on
a bracket 29 to a vertical melnber 27 which in its turn is mounted to
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arm 26. A second bracket 31 mounts other end of the hydraulic ram 30
to the claw arms 38.
In operation, the operator in cab 14 manoeuvres the vehicle to at
least a pair of logs and takes a first log 36 and places it cross ways
in front of the tracks 12. Boom 16, 18 and arm 26 are manoeuvred, in
the manner of back hoe or a power shovel, so thae the claw piece 38,
39 grasps logs 34 against the side of a blade 32. A second log 34 is
aligned substantially perpendicular to log 36. Arm 26 is then
manoeuvred to the position illustrated in Figure 3. Ram 28 is posi-
tioned so that the blade edge 46 is substantially square to the end of
log 34. At the beginning of the cut the blade edge 46 may be at a
slight angle (shown in Figure 3) to log 34 to drive it into the ground
as arm 26 is pivotted towards log 36. The log is split by pulling the
arm 26 and boom 16, 18 by operating hydraulic rams 20, 22 and 24 to
draw the blade 46 along the length of log 34~ Throughout the cut the
blade edge 46 is maintained substantially perpendicular to the plane
of the ground by gradually increasing the ext2nsion of rarn 28 as the
arm 26 and boom 16, 18 are drawn toward log 36. The relatively thin
portion of blade 32 il~nediately behind cutting edge 46 allows the
blade 32 to enter the log 34 relatively easily. When blade 32 has
entered log 34 to the depth of wedging portion 48 the wedging action
increases the width of the split along the log. In the case of logs
without any knots this will generally result in the log 34 splitting
along its entire length. If a knot is encountered as the blade is
being drawn along log 34 the raln 28 can be operated back and forth to
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force the blace through the knot. Similarly the chassis 10 can be
swung about the turntable to achieve the same effect.
The invention is illustrated in an embodiment particularly
designed to split long logs for use in feeding to chippers at pulp
mills. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a back
hoe adapted for use on the back of a farm tractor could equally be
adapted to apply a blade of this type. It will be seen that if the
logs are aligned to be split by other means (or manually) the claw
piece is not a necessary part of that aspect of that the inYention.
The claw piece is a convenient addition to the basic splitting appara-
tus.
Other combinations of the invention within the scope of the
appended claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
