US2370556A - Chain saw machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 27, 1945. A. w. MALL CHAIN SAW MACHINE Filed April 24, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 //v VEN rofl BY ATToR/VEY Feb. 27, 1945. A w MALL 2,370,556

CHAIN SAW MACHINE Filed April 24, 1942 4 sheets-sheet 2 /NVENTDR Feb. 27, 1945.

A. W. MALL CHAIN SAW MACHINE Filed April Fia.

24, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 27, 1945. A. w. MALL 2,370,555

CHAIN SAW MACHINE Filed April 24, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 92 819s 7g 5 Pf6/2, 7574 sl sa /A/ VE'IY TOR @Mia/zzz.

Patented Feb. 27, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE cnam saw Arthur William Mall, Flossmoor, lll. Application April 24. 1942, serai No. 440,303

l (ci. 14s-sz lOlalm.

My invention relates to chain saw machines and has as its primary object the provision of an auxiliary engine for supplying added power to the cutting chain. By employing two engines to drive the cutting chain,I am able to maintain a minimum diameter for the driving sprockets and in turn a minimum width for the chain guide plate.

Another object of my invention is to provide a iloating" chain guide plate! A further object is to provide improved means for adjusting the guide plate rotatively relative to the engines and for detaching the engines from the guide plate.

A further object of my invention is to provide The engines A and B may be identical in mechanical construction so as to have interchangeability of parts and they are of the same size and capacity so that each operator carries the same an improved engine cooling device and engine starting device.

Other objects and advantages of my invention v will become apparent upon reading the following specification and upon examination of the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my improved chain sawing machine;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the adjusting device for adjusting the guide plate rotatively relative to the engines and for detaching the engines from the guide plate;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of one end of the chain saw machine showing the guide plate in a horizontal plane:

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8--8 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail viewl of the underneath side of the sprocket supporting casting;

Fig. 8 is a detail front view of the special nut used in connection with the chain tensioning device;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the chain tensioning bo t;

Fig. 10 is a fra engine starting device and cooling system;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the oil tank condensed from its normal length;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the driving sprocket; and

Fig. 13 is a perspective detail view of the crank holding lever. y

Referring to Fig. 1 I have shown thev preferred embodiment of my invention which is comprised generally of gasoline engines A and B, chain guide plate C and cutting chain D.

entary sectionalview of the i amount of weight when operating the sawing machine. Each engine is provided with a centrifugally operated automatic clutch comprised of a driving clutch member 2 secured to the engine shaft 3 of each engine A and B. The drive ing clutch member 2 has clutch shoes 4 pivotally mounted on clutch member 2 so as to establish driving conneotionwith driven clutch member 5. Driven clutch member 5 transmitsrotation to sprocket shaft 6 through the'medium of gear 'I and sprocket I6 drives the cutting chain D. It is to be noted vthat one engine may be operated without operating the second Aengine if desired. This is accomplished by virtueI of the fact that there is an automatic clutch at each end of the sawing machine.V Thus, if engine B were being operated and engine A were idle, the driven clutch member B would be rotating (viewing Fig. 3) however, there would be no driving connection between clutch member 6 and clutch shoes I. The only time clutch shoes 4 establish driving connection with clutch member E is when engine shaft 3 is rotated.

Referring to Fig. 1 it will be noted that the v chain guide plate C is not shown in its normal ting chain D is applied to the log and the log il'isdes vagainst curved surface il of guide bracket It is to be noted that when both engines are operating at the same speed, they each impart equal horsepower to the drive sprockets I6 and I1, thereby distributing the torque load equally on each drive sprocket. .This distribution of torque load permits the use of a drive sprocket of smaller diameter, thereby, in turn, permitting the use of a chain guide plate D of minimum width. The reason for using a guide plate of minimum width is important when felling a standing tree-the less the width of the guide plate--the'sooner a wedge can be driven in the flr'erf ofthe tree to prevent the treefrom pinching the cutting chain.

It can be seen that when the widthof the guide plate is reduced to a minimum. its resistance to handles 2I and 22.

bending is likewise' reduced, consequently when my sawing machine ls-cutting in a horizontal plane, guide plate C is caused to bend arcuately. To remedy this I have `provided a pair of straps I9 and 20 having their free ends secured to opposite sides of the engines. The loop portions of the straps may be placed around the operators neck and shoulders to permit the weight of the sawing machine to be carried by the operators body as well as his hands and arms which grasp Consequently, it is easy for the operators to exert a slight downward pressure on handles 2I and 22 against the leverage obtained through straps I9 and 20 thereby oisetting or counterbalancing the gravity load on guide plate C 'and thereby eliminating any tendency of guide plate C to bend.

It can be seen that by using two engines of equal weightand size I have obtained a well balanced sawing machine in which each operator carries an equal amount of weight when operating the sawing machine and at the same time I have supplied twice as much power to the cutting chain D. As previously pointed out, the engines A and B are preferably identical in mechanical construction. Likewise, each end of the sawing machine is provided with lubricating systems of identical construction, engine starting and engine cooling devices of identical construction and transmissions (including automatic clutches, sprockets. and gears) of identical construction.

Itis to be noted that gear housings 3I are both located on the same side of guide plate C, whereby when guide plate C is adjusted to a horizontal plane for cutting down a standing tree, then guide plate C can be operated within 2 or 3 inches of the ground, thereby eliminating tree stumps.

Referring to Fig. 3, I have shown the manner in which I provide a floating guide plate. Guide plate C is provided with an elongated slot through which bolts 26 extend. Guide bracket 21 is provided with an upwardly extending elongated rectangular shoulder 28 which provides a guide for slot 25 of guide plate C. Guide plate C may be adjusted longitudinally relative to guide brackets 21 and I 5 by loosening bolts 26 and manually moving said guide plate. When bolts 26 are retightened, bracket I 5 clamps the guide plate C in a fixed position. This effects a rough adjustment of the tension of cutting chain D.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and '1, I have also provided a casting 30 which is rigidly secured to gear housing 3|. Casting 30 has a downwardly depending annular flange 32 received in the upper end of gear housing 3| and serving as a bearing retainer for bearing 33. Casting 30 also has an outwardly extending shoe 34. Said shoe is provided with a centrally located elongated rectangular shoulder 35, which shoulder is arcuately dished throughout its length at 36 so as to provide a bearing surface for spring 31. Guide bracket 21 is provided with a central bore 38 which receives compression spring 31. Shoulder guides.

bracket 21 which bracket is formed with an elongated slot 39 so as to be slidable relative to casting 2 and so as to be guided by guide rail 35. It will be noted the bore 38 in bracket 21 has parallel walls 4Il-,and` 4I thereby providing a channel having an interior contour corresponding to the exterior contour of nut 42. Nut 42 is,.thereby,' slidable within bore 38, but is non-rotatable relative thereto. The flat underneath surface of nut 42 rides on shoulder 35. An adjustment screw 44 ls threadedly received by nut 42 and has a circular shoulder 45 which is biased against a semicircular shoulder' 46 on casting 30.y The semicircular shoulder 46 is formed by means of a boss 41 which is integral with casting 30 and which is provided with a slot 49. Screw 44 has a stub shaft portion 50 which is received in slot 49 so as to be rotatable therein. It can be seen that by rotating screw 44, nut 42 is caused to move axially of said screw thereby increasing or decreasing the tension on spring 31 (depending upon the direction of rotation of screw 44). 'Screw 44 may be rotated by inserting an Allen wrench through hole 48 in bracket 21 into the square hole 5I in the outer end of screw 44. Screw 44 may also be adjusted by using a crescent wrench on head portion 52. It can be seen that when screw 44 is rotated it cannot move axially in the direction of sprocket shaft 6 because of shoulder 45 being biased against shoulder 46. Likewise, screw 44 does not move axially in a direction away from sprocket shaft 6 because of the resistance of spring 31 abutting against nut 42. 'I'he tension stored in spring 31 is opposed by the tension of cutting chain D which is trained around sprocket 8. Therefore it can be seen that the tension of cutting chain D may be accurately adjusted by rotating screw 44 in either direction. It can also be seen that since each end of the sawing machine is provided with the same type of chain tensioning device as shown in Fig. 3, then guide plate C may be considered to iloat between the opposing tensions of springs 31 at each endof the sawing machine.

When cutting chain D is removed from sprocket I 6, there is nothing to resist the outward thrust of compression spring 31, consequently, I have provided a pair of parallel slots 56 in the underneath surface of shoe 34. Two pairs of bolts 51 and 58 extend through slots 56 `and are threaded into bracket 21 so as to be movable along with bracket 21. Said bolts have shoulders 59 which prevent threading them toc far into bracket 21. A pair of flat bars 60 and 6I provide a at bearing surface for riding against the underneath surface of shoe 34. When bolts 51 and 58 are tightened so as to cause shoulders 59 to be tightened against the underneath surface of bracket 21, then there is enough play to permit sliding movement of bracket 21 relative to shoe 34 within the limits of slots 56. Thus when cutting chain D is removed from sprocket I6, spring 31 urges bracket 21, guide bracket I5 and guide Plate C outwardly until bolts 51 and 58 reach the ends of slots 56.

I have Provided an automatic lubrication system for lubricating the cutting chain at all times while the sawing machine is operating.. Mounted on each. end of the sawing machine is an oil container 64 secured to gear housings 3l by means of strap irons 65. Each oil tank 64 has a plunger 66 therein which is continually under tension by compression spring 61. When relling the oil tank, plunger 66 is retracted by pulling handle 68 outwardly. The oil is then inserted through opening 69 and a sealing cap 10 (not shown in Fig. 11) is threaded into opening 69. A second opening 1I in the oil tank has a conduit 12 (Fig. 3) threaded thereinto which conduit is also threaded into gear housing 3| thereby directing the oil from tank 64 into compartment 13 in gear housing 3 I. It can be seen that the oil from tank 64 is urged into compartment 13 under pressure at all times due to spring 61 acting on plunger 66. The oil travels through oil passage 14 in sprocket shaft 6 until it reaches passage 15 (Fig. 12) also in the sprocket shaft. Passage 15 opens into pasoil in passage 16 is prevented sages 18 in sprocket hub 11. The oil then travels through passages 18 which open into the sprocket teeth 19. The sprocket teeth construction may be of the type shown in the .co-pending application, Serial No. 436.014, by myself and Walter L. Gorden. In order to assure that the cutting chain will be lubricated automatically while the saw is operating, which lubricant supply is cut of! when the saw is not operating. I have provided a. centrifugally operated valve device which will admit lubricant to the sprocket teeth regardless of what position the sawing machine may be in.

The valve device is comprised of aplurality of balls 8| preferably spaced 90 degrees from each other so as to have a total of four. Each ball is radially movable within cylindrical chamber 82. The bottom of each chamber 82 is dished to form a valve seat 83 having a contour corresponding to the spherical contour of balls 8| so that when the balls 8| are seated in said valve seats 83, the from flowing past balls 8|. In Fig. 12 I have shown one of the balls 8| in its normal seated position and the other ball in unseated position.

When the engine is not running sprocket shaft 8 is idle and compression springs 85 urge balls 8| into seated position. Set screws 88 may be adjusted to vary the tension of springs 85. When the engines are started up, sprocket shaft 8 is rotated, thereby imparting rotation to sprocket hub 11. When a predetermined speed of rotation of sprocket hub 11 is reached, centrifugal force causes balls 8| to overcome the resistance of springs 85 and said balls move radially outwardly so as to permit the oil in passage 18 to flow through passage 18 into the sprocket teeth. The teeth of cutting chain D are consequently lubricated as they travel around sprocket teeth 19. In order to prevent sawdust from clogging passages 18, I have provided enlarged tapered openings 88 in the sprocket teeth 18 which facilitate disposal of sawdust.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, I have provided means for rotatively adjusting guide plate C and cutting chain D relative to engines A and B so as to permit sawing in either a horizontal or a vertical plane without changing the position of the engines A and B from their normal upright positions as shown in Fig. 1. Said rotative adjustment means also permits separating the two engines from the guide -plate and cutting chain, whereby to facilitate transporting the sawing machine from one locality to another. Gear housing 3| has a circular flange portion 82 which embraces a circular flange portion 83 on engine casting 84. Flange 82 may be provided with a series of four or more openings 85 into which steel bushings 88 may be cast. Flange 83 is also provided with an equal number of openings 81 to register with the openings in steel bushings 86. It is to be noted that the inner periphery of flange 82 and the outer periphery of flange 83 are tapered for reasons which will be hereinafter described. Formed integrally with engine casting 84 are two bosses 88, one located on each side of engine casting 94 so as to Ibe diametrically opposite each other. Said bosses have an interior surface 88 which is arcuately concaved (not shown in drawings) so as to conform to the arc defined by the exterior periphery of flange 82. It is to be noted that the outer annular edge of flange 83 abuts against annular shoulder |0| formed at the base of flange 82. A second annular shoulder |02 is also formed in flange 82. A pin |03 extends through boss 88 into the openings in steel bushings 'of a spring pressed ball |04 seated in 88 and openings 81 in flange 83. Said pin |03 is normally anchored in the position shown in Fig. 2 by means annular groove |05 in pin |03.

When it is desired to rotate guide plate C, cutting chain D and gear housing 3| relative to engine casting 84, pins |03 are manually retracted to the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Then gear housing 3| is manually rotated to the desired position of adjustment and pins |03 are pushed back into the openings in anges 82 and 83 to anchor gear housing 3| relative teengine casting 84. The tapered exterior periphery of flange 83 and the tapered interior periphery of flange 82 facilitate rotative movement of gear housing 3| relative to engine casting 84.

It is to be noted that when gear housing 3| is rotated to a new position of adjustment, peripheral edge |00 of flange 93 rides against annular shoulder |0| thereby serving to keep the openings 86 and 91 aligned in a common radial plane so as to facilitate inserting pin |03 into said open ings.

When it is desired to detach gear housing 3| from engine casting 84, this is accomplished by loosening screw |08 which is threaded into the outer end of boss 88. Bar |01 is then manually pulled outwardly within the limits of slot |08 and the inner end of bar |01 which protrudes beyond the inner face of boss 88 adjacent annular shoulder |02 is retracted so as to permit shoulder |02 to pass -by bar |01 as gear housing 3| is pulled in an axial direction away from engine casting 84. Bar |01 is bent at its outer end so as to provide a stop |05 for preventing pin |03v from being completely removed from boss 88.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 10 I have shown my improved engine starting and engine cooling devices. Starter housing ||0 is secured to a second engine casting by means of bolts ||2. Housing ||0 has an eccentrically located sleeve portion I3 extending into the interior of said housing. The inner end of said sleeve ||3 is reduced in diametric dimension so as to provide a bearing for the inner end of starter sleeve I4. Sleeve ||4 is provided with internal teeth ||5 which mesh with the external teeth on starter pinion ||8. A bushing ||1 is threaded into sleeve ||3 so as to provide a bearing' for the outer end of sleeve |4 and also to provide a stopshculder |8 to limit the outward movement of sleeve ||4 relative to sleeve ||3. A spring washer ||8 is anchored in an annular groove in sleeve ||4 and normally abuts against stop shoulder ||8 as a result of compression spring |28 which is always under tension. A channel iron is secured to the cuter end of sleeve 4 b'y welding and a handle |2| is secured to the outer end of channel iron |20 forming a hand crank generally referred to as |2|A. An elongated slot |22 is located in the outer end of channel iron |20 for receiving the outer end of arm |23. Arm |23 is pivotally mounted within bifurcated boss |24 on housing I |0 and a torsion spring |25 normally urges arm |23 about its pivot in a counter-clockwise direction (viewing Fig. 10) so as to rest against the wall of housing ||0.

When starting the engine, crank |2|A is manually pushed inwardly until teeth l5 engage pinion ||8 secured to engine shaft ||'6A. As soon as the engine starts, spring |28 urges the crank |2|A outwardly into the position shown in Fig. l0. In order to maintain the gear teeth ||8 out of engagement vwith pinion IIS, arm |23 is swung outwardly (clockwise viewing Fig. 10) Iand the hook |21 is inserted into slot |22., The Width of slot |22 is only slightly more than the width of hook |21, consequently the stop shoulders |28 (Fig. 3) o n either side of hook |21 engage the outer face of channel iron |20 thereby preventing crank |2 IA from moving axially inwardly and in turn preventing teeth ||5 from engaging with pinion I8.

Embracing sleeve ||3 is a multi-bladed fan |30,

the blades |3| of which extend radially outwardly from hub |32 to the outer supporting ring |33. Said blades are angularly inclined relative to the axis of hub |32 as indicated by an edge of said blades being shown in section at |34. Consequently, the air ilows from fan |30 in an axial directionas indicated by the arrows in Fig. 10. A second fan |36 is multi-bladed and its blades |31 extend radially outwardly from engine shaft ISA and also extend axially relative to engine shaft HSA. Consequently fan blades |31 direct the air centrifugally outwardlyas shown by the arrows in Fig. 10. Both fans |30 and |316 are secured together through the medium of an annular ring member |38. The fans are spaced from each other so that fan |30 supercharges fan |36 thereby increasing the amount of air dis charged by fan |36 around the cylinder walls of the engine, and in turn aording a cooler running temperature for the engines. It is to be claim is:

A chainsaw machine comprising a power unit, a chain guiding member extending therefrom, a transmission housing, a sprocket rotatably supported y the transmission housing, a cutting chain trained about the sprocket and chain guiding member, va bracket member secured to the transmission housing, an opening in the bracket through which the sprocket shaft extends, a trough in the bracket member, a carrier having its underneath surface spanning the trough and riding on the upper surface of the bracket, a spring resting in the trough and in a groove in the carrier, an adjustment screw extending into the interior of the spring, a shoulder at one end of the bracket against which one end of the screw abuts, a nut threaded onto the screw and having a at underneath surfacespanning the trough, said spring abutting the nut and urging one end of the adjustment screw against the bracket shoulder and an opening in the end of the carrier whereby the adjustment screw may. be

adjusted.

ARTHUR WILLIAM MALL.

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