US3352335A

US3352335A - Wood block splitting device

Info

Publication number: US3352335A
Application number: US507114A
Authority: US
Inventors: Pentti U Koski
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-11-10
Filing date: 1965-11-10
Publication date: 1967-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 1984-11-14

Description

P. u. KOSKI 7 Nov. 14, 1967 WOOD BLOCK SPLITTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F G I Filed Nov. 10, 196

INVENTOR PENTTI u. KOSKI ATTORNEYS Nov. 14, 1967 I P. u. KOSKI 3,352,335

WOOD BLOCK SPLITTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 10, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 INVENTOR. PENTTI u. KOSKI ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 14, 1967 United States Patent ()fifice "3,352,335

3,352,335 WOOD BLOCK SPLITTING DEVICE Pentti U. Koski, Aberdeen, Wash, assignor of one-half to Olli R. Koski, Aberdeen, Wash. Filed Nov. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 507,114 14 Claims. (Cl. 144-195) This invention relates to devices for splitting wood blocks into smaller, more manageable sections, More particularly, this invention relates to a device for splitting blocks of wood into smaller sections which are to be split further into shakes or shingles.

A primary object of this invention is to provide an hydraulically-operated device for splitting wood blocks which is mounted from an overhead support structure. Another object is to provide such a device which transfers compressive cutting forces through the cutting assembly to the overhead support structure such that the cutter assembly mounting does not absorb such forces to any appreciable extent. A further object is to provide such a device that can be positioned over a relatively large area to reach wood blocks transported to the splitting area at random locations from a log sawing area. These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanyin drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention with some parts broken away to show certain features;

FIG. 2 is a cross section view of one feature of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a cross section view of another feature of the invention together with a schematic diagram of an exemplary hydraulic system.

This invention comprises a device for splitting wood blocks into smaller sections and includes a vertically mounted hydraulically-operated cutter assembly, means for mounting the cutter assembly to an overhead sup port structure such that the cutter assembly may be pivoted about an offset overhead mounting point to position the cutter assembly over a wood block, and means for transferring compressive cutting forces to the overhead support structure such that the mounting means does not absorb such cutting forces to any appreciable extent. A preferred embodiment of the invention also includes an overhead support structure which has a base adapted to support the wood blocks to be split. With reference to the figures, a cutting assembly is identified by the numeral 10, a cutting assembly mounting meansby the numeral 12, a compressive force transfer means by the numeral 14, and an overhead support assembly by the numeral 16.

The cutting assembly comprises a knife 18, an hydraulic cylinder 20 and an hydraulic piston rod 22 connected to the upper section of knife 18 and adapted to vertically raise and lower the knife by longitudinally sliding within the hydraulic cylinder. The lower end of the hydraulic cylinder is provided with a lower seal bushing 24 that guides thehydraulic piston rod and provides a hydraulic fluid seal. The upper end of the hydraulic piston is provided with an upper seal bushing and piston 26 that also guides the hydraulic piston rod and provides an hydraulic fluid seal. The hydraulic cylinder is provided with a reversible hydraulic fluid inlet and outkit, 28 and 30, that are adapted to be connected to a pressurized hydraulic fluid circulating system for raising or lowering the hydraulic piston rod. The upper end of the hydraulic cylinder is fluid-tightly edge-welded to a fiatcircular pressure plate that constitutes the compressive force transfer means 14. The adjacent surfaces of the plate and the ceiling of the overhead support structure are in close proximity so that the mounting means will undergo little bending stress when a block is being split.

Because the hydraulic piston is essentially floating within the hydraulic cylinder it may easily be rotated by manually turning the knife when the hydraulic piston is retracted. Thus, when the cutter assembly is properly positioned over a wood block, the knife may be manually turned to produce a desired cut angle on the wood block.

The knife 18 is preferably fabricated as a wedge with a lower cutting edge 18a and rectangular side walls, 18b and 180, triangular end walls 18d and 18e, and 3. rectangular top wall 18] fabricated from steel plates edgewelded together. A cylindrical collar 32, having an axial hollow threaded section, is welded to the top wall 18f at the latters midpoint. The piston rod 22 has a reduced diameter threaded lower end section adapted to be threaded into collar 32 so that the knife 18 can be easily removed for sharpening or replacement. The knife interior is preferably provided with triangular brace members to stiffen the side walls.

The lower seal bushing 24 comprises an annular section 24a that is positioned at the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder interior by upper and

lower snap rings

34 and 36. Inner and outer O-

rings seal

38 and 40 are fitted to the inner and outer peripheries of the annular sections 24a to provide respective fluid-tight seals between the hydraulic piston rod 22 and the lower seal bushing 24 and between the inner wall of hydraulic cylinder 20 and the lower seal bushing 24. The lower seal bushing 24 also comprises a cylindrical section 24b axially aligned with the center axis of the hydraulic cylinder and having an inner surface that provides a sliding fit for the hydraulic piston rod. The cylindrical section 24b extends outwardly beyond the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder so that the knife, when in a retracted position, will not abut the hydraulic cylinder lower end. The lower seal bushing annular and cylindrical sections are preferably fabricated from brass.

The upper seal bushing and piston 26 is provided with an axial hollow threaded section adapted to be threaded onto a reduced diameter threaded upper end section of the piston rod 22. At the upper end of the upper seal bushing and piston 26 a hollow hex head section 260 is provided to facilitate threading and unthreading. The outer peripheral surface of the upper seal bushing and piston 26 is provided with O-ring seals 42 to provide a sliding fluid-tight seal with the inner Wall of the hydraulic cylinder 20.

The mounting means 12 comprises two

tubular pivot arms

44 and 46 pivotally joined together by hearing means 48 at their respective first ends, the second end of pivot arm 44 being connected to the cutter assembly 10 and the second end of pivot arm 46 being connected to the overhead support assembly 16. The bearing means 48 joining the two pivot arms comprises an axially rotatable cylindrical housing 50 to which pivot arm 44 is welded, top and

bottom mounting plates

52 and 54, separated by a cylindrical pin 56, to which pivot arm 46 is welded, and upper and lower tapered roller bearing

assemblies

58 and 60 spaced apart by a cylindrical spacer 59 and mounted between bearing housing 50 and pin 56. The lower end of pin 56 is enlarged to provide an annular surface upon which lower roller bearing assembly 60 seats. The upper end of bearing housing 50 is provided with an inwardly extending lip 50a which seats on the top of the upper bearing assembly 58. The second end of pivot arm 44 is connected to the upper end section of hydraulic cylinder 20 by means of a split-type clamp 61. One half of the clamp 61 is welded to the second end of pivot arm 44 and is bolted to the other half of clamp 61 positioned on the opposite side of the hydraulic cylinder. The second end of pivot arm 46 is connected to the overhead support assembly 16 by bearing means 62. Bearing means 62 comprises an axially rotatable cylindrical bearing housing 64 to which the second end of pivot arm 46 is welded, a cylindrical pin 66 extending upwardly through the bearing housing 64 and welded to a support plate 68 which is bolted to the overhead support assembly 16, and upper and lower tapered roller bearing

assemblies

70 and 72 spaced apart by a cylindrical spacer 74 and mounted between bearin'g housing 64 and pin 66. The lower bearing assembly 70 is positioned around pin 66 by spacer 76 and retained in' such position by snap ring 78. The upper end of bearing housing 64 is provided with an inwardly extending lip 64a which seats on the top of the upper bearing' assembly 70. Because of the provision of two rotatable bearing means, 48 and 62, the mounting means 12 permits considerable pivotal movement of the cutter assembly 10.

The overhead support assembly 16 preferably comprises a ceiling structure and a floor structure. The ceiling structure comprises a plurality of parallel channel members 80 arranged so that they face inward toward the center'li'rie of the ceiling as shown. The ends of the channel members are welded to one'of two parallel I-beams 82. A support plate 84 is welded to one of the I-bea'ms and is adapted to be bolted to the support plate 68 of mounting means 121A- channel cross-member 86 is welded between two of the channel members 80 adjacent and parallel to the support plate 84' to reinforce that portion of ceiling structure to which the' mounting means 12 is attached. A ceiling plate 88 is provided on the underside of the channel members 80 and I-beams 82 and is adapted to be contacted by compressive force transfer means 14 when a block is split. The ceiling plate has a cut-out portion through which pin 66' extends. The ceiling structure is supported from the floor structure byfour tubular column members 90 each positionedat the corners of the ceiling and'fioor structures and weldedto the ends of the I-be'ams. The mounting point for mounting means 12 is preferably at about the mid-point of one of the ceiling structure sides; as shown, so that the'cutte'r assembly can be easily positioned anywhere over the floor structure;

The floor structure is a substantial duplicate of the ceiling structure and comprises a plurality of parallel channel members 92* arranged'so that they face'inwardly toward the center line of the floor as-shown, two parallel I-beam's 94-to which the'channelmeinber ends are welded, and-a fioorplate 96 provided on topof the channel members 92- and I-beams 94; Chainbelts'98 maybe'pla'ce'd on top-of floor plate:9'6to transport log blocks to a position where they may beisplit:

The'hydrauliccylinder 20' is provided with handle bar means 100 for manipulation of the cutter assembly. The handle-means are-welded to one half ofasplit-type clamp and the other clamp half is bolted thereto with the hydraulic cylinder'between the clamp halves. The handle means afctuatcs a spring-loaded, self-centering control valve 104 ina manner such that depressing the handle means will'cause hydraulic fluid to lower the knife 18 and such that releasing thehandle'means will'cause hydraulic fluid to raise thekn'ife'18'to a retracted position.

The hydraulicsystem -cornprisesa motor driven pump 106 having an inlet opening'to a reservoir 108' through a strainer 110' and an-outlet-op'ening to a relief valve 112 and to control valve 104-through hydraulic fluid outlet line 114. An hydraulic-fluid return line 116-connects control valve- 104 with thereservoir 108'.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for mounting to an overheadstructure which comprises a cutter assembly adapted for overhead mounting comprising a knife having a lower cutting edge-and an hydraulic mechanism for vertically raising and lowering said knife including a vertical hydraulic cylinder and an hydraulic piston rod attached to said knife and slidable longitudinally'within said hydraulic cylinder; means connected to an uppersection of said cutter assembly mountingsaid cutter assembly to said overhead support structure at an offset overhead mounting point such that said cutter assembly may be pivoted about the overhead mounting point; and means attached to an upper section of said cutter assembly for transferring compressive cutting force to said overhead s'upport structure.

2 Apparatus according to claim 1 whereina lower end section of said hydraulic cylinder is provided with a lower seal bushing adapted to guide said hydraulic piston rod and provide an hydraulicfluid seal; and wherein an upper section of said hydraulic piston rod is provided with an upper seal bushing and piston to guide said hydraulic rod and provide an hydraulic fluid seal.

3. Apparatus according to claim. 1 wherein saidknife comprises a hollow wedge-like member having a pair of rectangular side walls and a pair of triangular -sh'aped end walls and a rectangular top wall; and including acylindrical collar welded to the knife top Wall' having a hollow axial threaded section; and wherein the lower-end of. said hydraulic piston rod comprises a threaded section adapted to be threaded into said cylindrical collar. g

4. Appparatus according to claim 1 wherein the cutter assembly mounting means comprises two arm members pivotally joined together at respective first ends with the second end of one arm member joined to said hydraulic cylinder and with the second end of the other arm member adapted to be pivotally connected'to an overhead support structure. V p w p m I 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said and members are pivotally pinned at respective first ends by bearing means which comprises an axially rotatable cylindrical bearing housing connected to one arm member, a pin member extending axially through said' bearing housing-connected to the other arm member, and a bear ing assembly mounted between said bearing housing and s'aidpin member. s I I 6. Apparatus according to'cl aim 4 including a bearing means connected to the second end of the arm niern'ber adapted to be pivotally connected to an overhead support assembly which comprises an axially rotatable cylindrical bearing housing connected to the second end of such arm member, a pin member extending axially through said bearing housing and adapted to be connected to an overhead support structure; and a bearing assembly mounted between said bearing housing and said pin member;

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 including an overhead support structure which comprises a ceiling structure provided with a ceiling plate, a floor structure provided with a floor plate; and column support members for supporting said ceiling structure from said floor structure;

and wherein the cutter assembly mounting means is con nected to the ceiling structure at about the mid-point of one of the ceiling structure sides.v

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 including handle means provided on said hydraulic cylinder for positioning.

said cutter assembly; and including a spring loaded, selfcentering hydraulic control valve means mounted on and actuated by said handle means and adapted to permit.

hydraulic fluid to lower said hydraulic piston rodjwhen said handle means is depressed and to raise said hydraulic piston rod to a retracted position when said handle means is undepressed.

9. Apparatus which comprises a cutter assembly adapted for overhead mounting comprising a knife having a lower, cutting edge and an hydraulic mechanism for vertically raising and lowering said knife including a V61? tical hydraulic cylinder and an hydraulic pistonrod attached to said knife and adapted to slide longitudinally within said hydraulic cylinder; means connected to an up per section of said cutter assembly adapted to mount said cutter assembly to an overhead support structure at an offset overhead mounting point comprising two arm mem;

bers pivotally joined together at respective first ends with the second end of one arm member joined to said bydraulic cylinder and with the second end of the other arm member adapted to be pivotally connected to an overhead support structure; an overhead support structure which comprises a ceiling structure provided with a ceiling plate, a floor structure provided with a floor plate, and column support members .for supporting said ceiling structure from said floor structure, the cutter assembly mounting means being swingably mounted to said ceiling structure; and a pressure plate connected to an upper section of said hydraulic cylinder in close proximity to said ceiling structure and adapted for transferring compressive forces to said ceiling structure.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein a lower end section of said hydraulic cylinder is provided with a lower seal bushing adapted to guide said hydraulic piston rod and provide an hydraulic fluid seal; and wherein an upper section of said hydraulic piston rod is provided with an upper seal bushing and piston to guide said hydraulic piston rod and provide an hydraulic fluid seal.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said knife comprises a hollow wedge-like member with a bottom cutting edge having a pair of rectangular side Walls and a pair of triangular-shaped end walls and a rectangular top wall; and including a cylindrical collar welded to the knife top wall having a hollow axial threaded section; and wherein the lower end of said hydraulic piston rod comprises a threaded section adapted to be threaded into said cylindrical collar.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said arm members are pivotally pinned at respective first ends by bearing means which comprises an axially rotatable cylindrical bearing housing connected to one arm member, a pin member extending axially through said bearing housing connected to the other arm member, and a bearing assembly mounted between said bearing housing and said pin member.

13. Apparatus according to claim 9 including a bearing means connected to the second end of the arm member adapted to be pivotally connected to an overhead support assembly which comprises an axially rotatable cylindrical bearing housing connected to the second end of such arm member, a pin member extending axially through said bearing housing and adapted to be connected to an overhead support structure, and a bearing assembly mounted between said bearing housing and said pin member.

14. Apparatus according to claim 9 including handle means provided on said hydraulic cylinder for positioning said cutter assembly; and including a spring-loaded, self-centering hydraulic control valve means mounted on and actuated by said handle means and adapted to permit hydraulic fluid to lower said hydraulic piston rod when said handle means is depressed and to raise said hydraulic piston rod to a retracted position when said handle means is undepressed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 513,637 1/1894 Fox 144-193 3,285,304 11/1966 Fuller 144-193 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,133,964 7/1962 Germany.

DONALD R. SCHRAN, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. AN APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING TO AN OVERHEAD STRUCTURE WHICH COMPRISES A CUTTER ASSEMBLY ADAPTED FOR OVERHEAD MOUNTING COMPRISING A KNIFE HAVING A LOWER CUTTING EDGE AND AN HYDRUALIC MECHANISM FOR VERTICALLY RAISING AND LOWERING SAID KNIFE INCLUDING A VERTICAL HYDRAULIC CYLINDER AND AN HYDRAULIC PISTON ROD ATTACHED TO SAID KNIFE AND SLIDABLE LONGITUDINALLY WITHIN SAID HYDRAULIC CYLINDER; MEANS CONNECTED TO AN UPPER SECTION OF SAID CUTTER ASSEMBLY MOUNTING SAID CUTTER ASSEMBLY TO SAID OVERHEAD SUPPORT STRUCTURE AT AN OFFSET OVERHEAD MOUNTING POINT SUCH THAT SAID CUTTER ASSEMBLY MAY BE PIVOTED ABOUT THE OVERHEAD MOUNTING POINT; AND MEANS ATTACHED TO AN UPPER SECTION OF SAID CUTTER ASSEMBLY FOR TRANSFERRING COMPRESSIVE CUTTING FORCE TO SAID OVERHEAD SUPPORT STRUCTURE.