GB2494459A

GB2494459A - A log splitter whose blades engage the log at both ends

Info

Publication number: GB2494459A
Application number: GB1115705.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Martin
Original assignee: Forest Master Ltd
Current assignee: Forest Master Ltd
Priority date: 2011-09-12
Filing date: 2011-09-12
Publication date: 2013-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 2031-09-12
Also published as: GB201115705D0; GB2494459B

Abstract

A log splitter 2 has a platform 6 to support a log including an aperture 10. A first blade 12 can be driven through the aperture towards a second blade 14 to split a log therebetween. Ideally the second blade can be secured 28 to a support 24 at various positions 26. A weighted hammer 40 may be slid along guide 36 to impact the second blade. The splitter can be oriented horizontally or vertically. Preferably the platform 6 and the horizontal log supports 80 are detachably mountable so that the appropriate one can be used depending upon the splitters orientation. The levers 20, 120 to operate the hydraulic or pneumatic ram 18 can also be interchangeable depending upon orientation.

Description

LOG SPLITTER

The present invention relates to a log splitter.

Log splitters are used to split logs into smaller pieces of wood for use as fire wood and kindling. Various sizes of log splitter are available and generally comprise a blade that is driven into a log by hydraulic, pneumatic or manual means.

US4782868 describes a log splitter having a base on which a log to be split is mounted. The base comprises a platform mounLed on a spring biased fulcrum lever system that enables the platform to move downwardly under the weight of the log so that a lower blade mounted in the base can move through an aperture in the platform to enter the lower end of the-log.

Lips are provided on the platform to hold the iog+ n upper blade is driven into the top of Lhe log by a hydraulic cylinder.

This log splitter suffers from the drawback that because the lower platform on which the log is mouriLod moves under Lhe weight of the log, the platform can be unstable. In particular, if a large log or a log having an uneven weight distributi on is mounted on the platform, the olatform may tilt to one side causing the log to fall off. This apparatus can therefore be awkward to use.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention seeks to

overcome the above disadvantages of the prior art.

According to the present invention, there is provided a log splitter comprising: a base for supporting the log splitter; a platform arranged to support a first end of log to be split, wherein the platform further comprises an aperture formed therethrough and wherein the platform is irrnovable in use relative to the base; a first blade moveable through the aperture formed in the platform to be driven into the first end of the log; and a second blade arranged to be driven into the second end of the log.

This provides the advantage of a log splitter that provides a stable support for a log co be split. This simplifies use of the ioq splitter and reduces what is known as "recyclo Lime".

The recycle time is a measure of the raLc at which logs can be split. By making the log spliLter more stable and therefore straightforward to use, logs can be split faster with this log splitter.

In a preferred embodiment, movement of the first blade through the aperture causes the first blade to engage the first end of the log and drive the second end of the log against the second blade, such that further inovemenL of Lho first blade through the aperture causes the first and second blades to be driven into opposite ends of the log to split the log.

This provides the advantage of a mechanism that compresses the log botween two blades to effectively split the log.

In a preferred embodiment, the second blade is slidably mountable to a support member to enable movement of the second blade along the support member, and wherein the second blade is adapted to be secured to the support member at a S pluraliLy of differenL distances from the platform.

This provides the advantage of making the log splitter adapLable Lo be able Lo spIlL logs of different sizes. This also therefore provides the advantage of further reducing recycle time.

In a preferred embodiment, the log splitter further comprises guide means mountable to the second blade and an impact weight slidable along the guide means to be able to impact a portion of the second blade.

This provides the advantage of providing a means Lo remove a log that has become stuck on the firsL or second blade. If a blade of a log splitter encounters a knot in a piece of wood heinq split, the blade can sometimes become sLuck.

Consequently, the impact weight provides Lhc advantage of enabling a user to apply a blow to the upper blade to free a log that has become stuck.

In a preferred embodiment, log splitter has: a first configuration in which the log splitter is rested on the base and the first and second blades move along an axis substantially perpendicular to a surface on which the base is rested; and a second configuration in which the log splitter is rested on Lhe support member and the first and second blades move along an axis subsLantially parallel to a surface on which the support member is rested.

ihis provides the advantage that the log splitter can operate in both horizontal and vertical configurations. This is advantageous because smaller logs can be split using the log splitter in the vertical configuration, and larger, heavier logs can be split by tilting the log splitter over to rest the log splitter on the support member for use in the horizontal configuration.

The platform may be removable for use of the log splitter in the second configuration.

The log splitter may further comprise at least one log support member mountable to the support member to support a log when the log splitter is used in Lhu second configuration.

This prcvi*des the advantage of enabling additional support to he provided to a log to be split when the log splitter is used in the horizontal configuration.

The log spUtter may further comprise a hydraulic or pneumatic jack for driving the first blade, wherein said hydraulic or pneumatic jack is operable with a removable lcvcr.

This provides the advantage of enabling more than one different size of lever to be used by a user to drive Lhe first blade. This is advantageous because in the first or vertical configuration, a user will require a foot lever to opcrate the jack, and in the second or horizontal configuration, a user will require a longer lever to enable Lhe jack to be operated by the hand of the user.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be S described, by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a log splitter according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view from the other side of Figure 1 of the log splitter of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the log splitter of Figures 1 and 2 shown with a log mounted on the platform and without the guide post mounted to the second blade; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the log splitter of Figures 1 to 3 shown in the second or horizontal configuration.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a log splitter 2 comprises a base 4 for supporting the log splitter and a platform 6 arranged to support a first end of a log 8 to be split. The platform further comprises an aperture 10 formed therethrough and a first blade 12 moveable through the aperture. The platform is arranged to he immovable in use relative to the base 4. This means that when the log splitter 2 is in use to split log 8, the height of platform 6 above base 4 is fixed such that the platform cannot move, but the first blade 12 can move upwardly through aperture 10 and into a base of a log.

The log spliLLcr also comprises a second blade 14 arranged to be driven into the second end of the log 8. As can be seen from Figure 3, when first blade 12 moves through the aperture it causes the first blade to engage the first or lower end of the log 8. This lifts log B and drives it against second blade 14 such LhaL furbher movement of the first blade through the aperture causes the first and second blades to be driven into opposite ends tc the log to split the log.

Drive means 16 is provided to move the first blade 12. In the embodiment shown, the drive means comprises a pneumatically or hydraulically operated jack 18 which is driven by a foot lever 20. When a user pumps foot lever 20, the jack 18 pushes the upper blade 12 which is mounted on rod 22 upwardly. It should be undersijood that the drive means could also be powered by an electric motor or internai combustion engine for larger sizes of log is required.

Support member 24 supports the second blade 14. The second blade is slidably mountable to a support memher to enable movement of the second blade along the support member. The second blade 14 is adapted o be secured to the support member at a plurality of different distances from the platform. This is accomplished by a plurality of screw holes 26 are provided in the support member 24 to enable the upper blade 14 to he hol ted by bolts 28 at different heights above platform 6. The upper blade 14 is bherefore mounted on a sliding bracket 30t hat can be slid up and down support member 24 to be bolted by bolts 28 aL different heights above platform 6.

A guide means such as a guide post 36 is mounted to upper blade 14. As shown in Figure 3, a boss 38 is provided into which guide post 36 is inserted. The lower end of guide post 36 and the internal surface of boss 3B may be threaded to enable the guide post to be securely screwed into the boss 38. An impact weight 40 is slidably moveable along the guidepost 36 to enable an impact to be applied to upper blade 14 to free a log 8 that has become stuck between the first and second blades. In order to use the impact weight 40, bolts 28 are removed to allow the second blade to slide on support member 24.

The operation of the log splitter 2 to split a log 8 will now be described.

A user first places log 8 on platform 6 and then fixes upper blade 14 at a suitable height on support member 24 to be adjacent the upper end *ot log 8. Once the height of upper blade 14 has been set by using bolts 28 through screw holes 26, the guidepost 36 can be mounted in boss 38 and impact weight 40 slid downwardly over guidepost 36.

The user then pumps lever 20 of jack 18 which raises the first blade 12 through aperture 10 and into the lower end of log 8. This pushes log 8 upwardly against the second blade 14. Repeated pumping of the jack 18 then causes the two blades to enter the log and split the log.

If the log 8 has become stuck on one of the blades, the user can remove bolts 28 to allow the second blade to slide on support member 24, lift impact weight 40 and thendrop the impact weight 40 along guidepost 35 to impact upper blade 14.

This applies a blow to log 8 to split the log 8. Repeated blows can he applied until the log is split. Releasing the lever 20 then enables first blade 12 to retract downwardly to reset the splitter 2. F Referring o Figure 4, The log splitter 2 has a second configuration in which the log splitter is rested on support nember 24 rather than base 4. This places the log splitter in a subsLantially horizorxLal configuration in which the first and second blades 12, 14 move along an axis substantially parallel to a surface on which the support member 24 is placed. In the aiternative first configuration shown in figures 1 to 3, the log splitter 2 rests on base 4 such that the blades move along an axis substantially perpendicular to a suriace on which the base is rested.

This enables log splitter 2 to be used in a horizontal configuration to split larger logs. In this configuralliori, foot lever 20 can be removed from j aclc 18 arid replaced with a longer hand lever 120. In the second, horizontal configuration, at least one support member 80 can be mounted in guides 82 disposed on the support member 24. Furthermore, platform 6 can be removed by removing bolts 32 to provide more clearance for a log.

it w ii be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiment has been described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departure frcm the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. A log splitter comprising: S a base for supporting!.hc log splitter; a platform arranged to support a first end of log to be split, wherein he plaLiiorrri further comprises an aperture formed therethrough and wherein the platform is immovable in use relative to the base; a first blade moveable through the aperture formed in the platform to be driven into the first end of the log; and a second blade arranged o be driven into the second end of the log.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A log splitter according to claim 1, wherein movcmcnL of the first blade through the aperture causes the first blade to engage the first end of the log and drive the second end of the log against the second blade, such that InrLhcr movement of the first blade through the aperture causes the first and second blades to he driven into opposite ends of the log to split the log.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A log splitter according to claim I or 2, wherein ho second bladeS slidably mountable to a support member to enable movement of the second blade along the support member, and wherein the second blade is adapted to be secured to the support member at a plurality of different distances from Lhe platform.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A log splitter according to claim 3, further comprising guide means mountable to the second blade and an impact weight slidable along the guide means to be able to impact a portion of Die second blade.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A log splitter according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein Lhe log splitter has: a first configuration in which the log splitter is rested on Lhe base arid The first and second blades move along an axis substannially perpendicular to a surface on which the base is rested; and a second configuration in which the log splitter is rested on the support member and the first and second blades move along an axis substantially parallel to a surface on which the support member is rested.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A log splitter according to claim 5, wherein the platform is removable for use of the log splitter in the second configuration.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A lcg splitter according tc claim 5 or 6, further comprising at least one log support member mountable to the support member to support a log when the log splitter is used in the second configuration.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A log splitter according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a hydraulic or pneumatic jack for driving the first blade, wherein said hydraulic or pneumatic jack is operable with a removable lever.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A log splitter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.</claim-text>