CA1056358A - Triple leg coupler - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT
An improved fully mechanized sawmill is provided which is composed of structurally independent modules which are removably mounted on a platform composed of a plurality of side-by-side longerons supported horizontally on files of spaced-apart vertical piers and columns. The longerons provide horizontal stress support for the platform along the files of piers and columns perpendicularly to the cut-ting axis of the sawmill, and the modules mounted thereon provide horizontal stress support for the platform along the ranks of the piers and columns parallel to the cutting axis. In addition, improved mechanisms and techniques are provided for handling and selecting the sawlogs to be cut, for selecting and distributing the pieces cut therefrom according to shape and utility, and for stacking and handling the distributed pieces at preselected locations according to shape and utility. In particular, there is provided a support and coupling member which includes at least two spaced apart and upright leg bracket members joined at their lower ends by a U-shaped saddle element. The leg bracket members are adopted to carry slidably mounted pulleys, and three sets of upper arm support elements.

Description

` 10563S8 ~ B4ckground of Invention - This invention relates to improved sawmill methods and apparatus, and moxe particularly relates to an improved sawmill design and operating concept. In addition, the inve ~ion relates to a novel sawmill concept ~herein improved methods and apparatus are provided ~or performing certain of the various functions now performed in sawmills of conventional design.
~ It is well known that trees are harvested to provide lumber and wood pulp, and that ~such felled trees are carried to sa~mills for this purpose after being de-topped and delin~ed, and perhaps also debarkéd. It is also well known that the sawlogs are sliced into lumber, railroad ties or timbers, and the like, by longitudinally carrying them to and from a revolving circular saw. It is further well known to provide mechanical devices for moving and handling the sa~logs in the sawmill, and also to provide ot~her such devices for movin~
and handling the lumber and timbers which are produced. What is not well known is that, because of economic and social changes occurring during the past few decades, a need has arisen for a different type or sawmill. More particularly, what is required is a sawmill which is simpler, easier, cheaper and much quicker to erect and put into operation, which is also operable with a minimum number of persons, which is simpler and easier to maintain and repair, and which may be conveniently dis~ssembled for removal and re-erection at another operating site.
A sawmill may be characterized as a system wherein certain functions or steps in a process al-c performed. The initial point in the process may be considered to be the . ~ .

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~ "log deck" where sawlogs are positioned in a manner such that they may be taken, one at a time, to be cut into lumber - and the like. Thus, a "nose section" is preferably provided between the log deck and the carriage and sa~ section for the purpose of selecting and transferring each sawlog to the carriage which travels back and forth between a revolving circular saw blade.
When a slice is taken from a sawlog or cant which is secured on the carriage, it may be either a board or timber, ~10 or it may be a so-called "slab" which is useless for purposes o~'providing lumber. It is desirable to segregate different pieces at the time they are cut from the sawlog, and thus means is preferably provided for depositing a slab on a ~irst conveyor sectlon leading to a chipper or the li~e, and for depositing lumber and timber-sized pieces on two or more other different conveyors`leading, respec-tively, to lumber ; and railroad tie "decks."
It will be apparent from the foregoing that the typical sawmill is a large and complex system which is expensive and time-consuming to install and put into operation. However, the cost and complexity of sawmills has been greatly enllance~, during recent years, by the need to mechanize as much o~ the operation as possible. This, in turn, has resulted in making sawmills relatively permanent installations, which is incon-sistent with an inherent need to be moved, from time-to-time, to move convenient sites. Accordingly, the many small, relatively portable sawmills of the past have now been largely replaced by a proportionately fewer number of much larger and relatively permanently installed sawmills which are, in turn, : , . . .

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`~c~pletely dependent on a transportion system which can ` accumulate and supply sawlogs from a wide area.
Aceordingly, there has long been a need or a mechanical sa~mill which requires a minimum number of personnel to operate, but which is also capable of being erected in a shorter length of time, which can be disassembled and removed to another operating site ~ithout effectively being destroyed as an operating unit, and which is simpler and therefore easier and cheaper to maintain. The various features and 1~ techniques which are employed to provide the l~rge sawmills of the prior art are inherently inconsistent with providing all of these features in the same operating unit, and thus simplicity and portability have accordingly been sacri~iced in favor of mechanization.
These disadvantages of the prior art are overcome with the present invention, and novel sa~ill methods and apparatus are herewith disclosed for providing a sawmill which is opera;le with a ~inimum num~er of persons, which is relatively simple and quick to erect and put into operation at a substantially lower cost, which may be easily disassembled and reassembled at a new location, and which fur~ler includes improved and novel component sections for perfoxming various of the aforementioned functions or steps.

Summary of Invention In a preferred form of the present invention, a novel sawmill design is provided which is basically comprised of a platform formed by a plurality of piers or columns arranged in ranks and fil~es and carrying a plurality of hollow longi-~ ., . , ~ .
tudinal structural members hereinafter referred to as "lon~erons" ' ~

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, which extend or lie across the various files of plers or columns to provide two preselected functional or operating levels. The various operating sections of the mill is therefore composed of a plurality of "modules" which are merely set down in straddle fashion on the longerons at .various locations relative to the vertical cutting pl~ne or "saw line" of the mill, as well as with respect to the two .operating levels. . .
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- . As will hereinafter be apparent, mounting the modules 10~ on a platform of this.type can be done in only a few days, and -.thus a sawmill:;.`of this type can also be erected in a fraction of the time required to erect a conventional sawmill. More important, however, a sawmill of the type . contemplated by the present invention can be disassembled and re-erected at another site by merely unfastening and removing the modules from the longerons, (as well as dis-connecting the various pneumatic and electrical conduits and connections which are necessarily provided between the various modules).
It will be seen in the detailed description hereinafter , provided that the platform is itself a feature of the present invention,.wherein the platform is basically a plurality of vertical support members arranged in a rank and file to support a plurality of longerons carried by files of these vertical members at one of two operating levels or elevations.
The longerons, which connect the files of piers or columns, provide strength to the assemblement of piers, columns and longerons, in a lateral direction perpendicular to the cutting line of the sa-~.ill, and the modules~which strzddle and rest on the longerons connect and strengthen the assembled .~

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- -lV5~3S8 sawmill in the lateral d~rection paxallel to the cutting line.
Thus broadly, the inYention contemplates a support and coupling member for interconnecting structures which comprises, in combination, first and second spaced-apart upright leg bracket members, each member havi~ng an upper end and a lower end, a saddle element connected to the lower ends of the bracket members, a first pair of support arms connected to the upper end of each of the leg bracket members, a second pair of support arms connected to the upper end of each of the leg bracket members, and a third pair of support arms connected to the upper end of each of the leg bracket members.
Although a sawmill constructed in this fashion will ~ -basically perform the same functions as those performed or : sought to be performed by conventional sawmills, redesign of the sawmill to incorporate the modular concept has permitted or required redesign of the modules whereby they are structurally independent of each other (except for inter-connection of electrical cables and pneumatic hoses, etc.).
Thus, many if not all of the various modules are not limited in usefulness to the sawmill system and method of the present invention, but may be effectively interconnected in and operated as a part of a conventional sawmill. For example, ; the various log, lumber and tie deck assemblies hereinafter . described are substantial improvements over corresponding portions of conventional sawmills, and the lumber and tie stacker assemblies may be used with particular advantage in '' . ~ 5 ~
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~OS6358 any type of sawmill or other similar system, as will hereinafter be apparent.
A~other feature of the present invention is the provision of various novel devices and techniques for mechanically handling not only the sawlogs which are sought to be cut, but also the boards, timbers and other pieces severed therefrom. In addition to the aforementioned lumber and tie stacker apparatus, novel and improved means is provided with the carriage and saw section or module for selectively depositing the saw several pieces on one of three different conveyor sections depending on whether the piece is a slab, a plank or board, or a rail-road tie or other like size of timber.
Also, novel routing means is provided for trans-ferring boards or ties from the conveyor sections to selected ones of a plurality of lumber and tie deck assemblies and other components of the system, all without the use of any manual labor other than the sawmill operator.
Accordingly, not only is the sawmill of the present invention cheaper and easier to erect, it may ideally be operated - by only one person as will hereinafter be apparent.
- These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, wherein reference is made to the figures of the accompanying drawings.

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In the Drawings:

Figuxe 1 is a simplified conceptual representation of the operating levels-of a sawmill embodying the concept of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a simplified functional representation - of the various functional modules, in a sawmill as depicted in Figure 1, w~th respect to its sawline or cutting axis.

Figure 3 is a simplified pictorial representation of a plat~orm suitable for the purposes of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a more detailed pictorial representation of ~ portion of the strucutre illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a simplified pictorial representation of one of the components of the structure illustrated in Figu,re 4~ appearing with Figs. 1, 6 and 7.

Figure 6 is a simplified pictorial representation of one of the parts of the component depicted in Fiqure 4, appearing with Figs. 1, 5 and 7.

Fi~ure 7 is a simplified pictorial representation of aPothex p,a~t of the component depicted in Figure 4, appearing ~ -with F~gs, l, 5 and 6~

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- . 1056358 -- -Figure 8 is a pictorial representation of a~other portion of the supporting platform depicted in Figure 3;
Figure 9 is a ~ictorial representation of another di~ferent portion of the structure depicted in Figure 3, appearing with Fig. 3.
Figure 10 is a pictorial representation of a further dif~erent portion of the structure depicted in Figure 3, Figure ll is a pictorial view of a portion of one of the components o~ the sawmill depicted generally in Figure 2.
Figure 12 is another different view of the structure depicted in Figure 11.
Figure 13 is a simplified pictorial view of another of the component parts of the sawmill depic.ed generally in Figure 2.
Figure 14 is a simplified pictorial view of another portion of the sawmill depicted generally in Figure 20 Figure 15 is a pictorial representation of another component of the sawmill depicted in Figure 2.
. Figure 16 is a different representation of the apparatus depicted in Figure 15.
Figure 17 is another view of the apearatus depicted in Figures lS and 16.
: Figure 18 is a more detailed pictorial view of another different component of the sawmill generally represented in Figures 1 and Z.
Figure 19 is a pictorial view, partly in cross section, of the internal details of the apparatus depicted in Figure 18.

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_~_ lOS6358 Figure 20 is another pictorial view of the apparatus illustrated in Figures 18 and l9o .
Figure 21 is a pictorial representation of a portion of the apparatus depicted in Figures 18-20, with Figs. 2, 22 & 23.
Figure 22 is another diferent pictorial representation o~ the apparatus illustrated in Figure 21, With Figs. 2, 21 & ~23.
Figure 23 is a further different pictorial view of a poirtthioF~ of 2the21apparatus depicted in Figures 21 and 22, appearing Figure 24 is a pictorial representation, partly in cross section, of the internal details of a portion o~ the apparatus depicted in Figure 18.
Figure 25 is another view of the apparatus depicted in Figure 24~ . .
Figure 26 is a pictorial representation of the details of another portion of the apparatus depicted in Figure 18 illustrating the position of certain components during its operation.-Figure 27 is another view of the apparatus depicted in : :
Figure 26.
Figure 28 is another different view of the apparatusdepicted in Figures 26 and 27. .
Figure 29 is a pictorial repr~sentation or another portion of the apparatus decpited in Figures 26-280 Figure 30 is a similar pictorial view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 29. -Figure 31 is a different pictorial view o~ the apparatus . . .

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depicted in Figures 29-30~
Figure 32 is a pictorial representation of another portion of the sawmill depicted in Figures 1-3.
Figure 33 is a different pictorial view of the apparatus depicted in Figure 32.
Figure 34 is another pictorial view.of the apearatus depicted in Figures 31-32. : - :
., Figure 35 is a functional diag'ram of a portion of the - -pneumatic operating components and system employed in a , sawmill of the tyee embodying the concept of the present -invention. - ' . . - -.
. Figure 36 is a functional diagram of-a portion of the electrical operating components and system employed in a sawmill o~ the type embodying the concept o~ the present ; invention. ~ ~
Figure 37 is a pictorial representation of means for protecting and supporting electrical cables and leads re~uired to energize the apparatus depicted in Figure 36.
Figure 38 is a pictorial representation, partly in.
cross section, of the apparatus depicted in Figure 37.
Figure 39 is an exploded pictorial representation of -a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 38.

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Detailed Description As hereinhefore explained, the present invention con-.
templates a sawmill which is composed of a plurality of modules each mounted on a supporting platform at a particular location and at one of three functional elevations hereinafter referred to as Elevations I, II and III. Referring now to Figure 1, there may be seen a simplified unctional repre- ~ -sentation of a sawmill embodying this concept with respect to such locations and different levels or elevations. -Accordingly, it will be seen that the depicted sawmill is -composed of a log deck assembly 2 which is perpendicularly -arranged with respect to a carriage and saw section 6. As will hereinafter-be explained in detail, the motive power for the carriage and saw section 6 may be provided by a suitable : :
fèedworks base section 4 aligned longitudinally with such carriage and saw section 6. The log deck assembly 2 is interconnected with the carriage and saw section 6 by a nose .
section 3 aligned longitudinally with the log deck assembly 2, and which is perpendicular to the carriage and saw section 6.
Referring again to Figure 1, it will be seen that the sawmill further includes suitable roller bed sections 9 and :
10, and a slab con~eyor section 11, which are aligned parallel . with, and along the side of, the carriage and saw section 6.
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Perpendicular thereto and displaced "downstream" fro~ the carriage and saw section 6, there may be seen a pair of lumber .
deck assemblies 12 and l3 arranged side-by-side and extending at right angles from the roller bed sections 9 and 10 in one direction therefrom, and a transfer deck assembly 22 extending in an opposite direction from the end of the rolle bed sections 9 and 10. As will be further explainea in detail, the purpose 'I'. -11- . -' . ' ' . ' ' ' ' . .
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of the roller bed section 9 is to carry lumber from the carriage and saw section 6 to a selected one of the two lumber deck assemblies 12 and 13, whereas the purpose of the other roller bed section 10 is to carry railroad ties or other larger such pieces from the carriage and saw section 6 to the transfer deck assembly 22. There may be further seen a third roller bed section 15 arranged perpendicularly . to and across the opposite end of the transfer deck assembly 22rin parallel with the other two roller bed sections 9 and -10 10, which connects:~ the transfer.deck assem~ly 22 with the four tie deck assemblies 16-19. .-- - - Referring again to Figure 1, it will be seen that the lumber deck assemblies 12 and 13 are each respectively inter-connected with the lumber roller bed section 9 by one of a pair of lumber stacker sections 20-21, and also by one of a pair of pull-off assemblies 20A-21A, and that the transfer .deck assembly 22 is interconnected with the timber roller bed section 10-by another pull-off assembly 22A. In addition, the transfer deck.assembly 22 is joined at its other end to the third roller bed section 15 by a trimmer section 14 and a push-off assembly 14A.
. As hereinafter stated, each of the various aforementioned components are further positioned at one of three levels or elevations, depending upon their respective functions within the system. In particular, the various lumber and tie deck assemblies 12-13 and 16-19, as well as the transfer deck assembly 22, are located at Elevation I, as are the three roller bed sections 9-10 and 15. Similarly, the various stacker and pull-off sections 20-21 and 23-26 are located at Elevation I, which is the lowest of the three functional . . ~ ~ - :.

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elevations in the system. The log deck assembly 2 and nose section 3 are located at Elevation II, and the carriage and saw section 6 is located at Elevation III which is the highest functional elevation in the system. The position of feedwords base 4 is at Elevation I.
As will hereinafter be explained in. detail, sawlogs are positioned along the length of the log deck assembly in a manner parallel to the carriage and saw section 6. Accordingl.y, the nose section 3 operates to select and transfer a sawlog from the log deck assembly 2 to the.carriage and saw section 6, preferably by rolling it or pushing it sideways onto the carriage portion of the carriage and saw section 6. After the log is properly secured thereon, the log is ~hen carried longitudinally back and forth to slice it into lumber or railroad ties or the like, each board or other piece tenaing to fall sideways from-the carriage and saw section 6 onto the - appropriate one of the two roller bed sections 9-10. Those - pieces considered to be lumber are, of course, longitudinally carried by the roller bed section 9 to the appropriate one of the two lumber deck sections 12-13.
As will hereinafter be explained in detail, the ~unction . of the two pull~off sections ~OA-21A is to transfer the board or other piece onto the corresponding one of the two stacker sections 20-21, and that component may thereafter be ~ employed to transfer such piece onto the selected one of the .j . . .
two lumber deck assemblies 12-13. Railroad ties and other such larger pieces or timbers provided by the carriage and saw section 6 will, as hereinbefore stated, be deposited longitudinally on the other roller bed section 10 to be carried to the transfer deck assembly 22. Accordingly, such railroad '.

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l~S63S~ -tie or timber is removed onto the transfer deck assembly 22 by another pull-off section 22A similar in design and function to the pull-off assemblies 20A-21A hereinbefore mentioned, whereby the transfer deck assembly 22 may carry such tie to the trimmer section 14. Thereafter, the tie is transferred ' onto the third roller bed section 15 by either a push-off 'assembly 14A, or by another pull-off assembly, for transfer to the appropriate one of the four tie deck assemblies,l6-19. -The system will also include four tie stacker sections 23-26, and four pull-off assemblies 23A-26A, for the purpose of removing such ties from'the roller bed section 15, and for the purpose of thereafter stacking them appropriately onto one of the four tie deck assemblies 16-19 as'will hereinafter be explained in detail.
- Referring now ~o Figure 2, there may be seen another functional,representation of the various components of the sawmill depicted in Figure 1, wherein these components are depicted with respect to movement of sawlogs and lumber throughout the system. Accordingly, the system may be seen ' to include a rub-bar assembly 5 which prevents the carriage 27 ' from being thrown from the rails of the carriage and saw section 6 by the impact of the slapper,bar 37 ~see Figure 14) on a sawlog being driven onto the carriage 27,`a driving -means 195 of conventional design for energizing the rotary saw ~not specifically depicted in Figures 1 and 2), and a suitable cage or control booth 3G for'accommodating the ~-operator of the sawmill. Further, there may be seen that the sawmill includes a conveyor belt section 11 which is composed of an endless belt arranged beside and parallel' with'the ' carriage saw section 6 for carrying away slabs and other debris .

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105~;~SI~ ~.t !, not suitable for use as lumber or railroad ties or the like.
Figure 2 also depicts the location of each triple leg assembly 200, which is a component more particularly described and depicted in Figures 10-12.
Referring now to Figure 3, there may be seen another different pictorial representation o~ the sawmill illustrated in Figures 1-2 and more particularly showing the platform hereinbefore described for the purpose of supporting ~he ~arious modules and components at the appropriate one of the .. .
three elevation~ hereinbefore mentioned wi~h respect.to -.
. Figure 1. In particular, the platform may be seen to be composed of a plurality of vertical strength members hereinafter . referred to as piers 44, which are adapted to provide the lowes~ Elevation I. A similar vertical strength member, hereinafter referred to as a column 45, is used to provide .
support for components located at the intermediate Elevation II.
In addition, it may be seen that extension members 70 may be located on top of piers 44 for the purpose of also providing support at the intermediate Elevation II.
The highest Elevation III may be considered to be the top surface of the rails 74 of the carriage and saw section 6, and which is composed of a pair of railroad-type rails 74,.
each mounted on a rail bed me~ber 73, which, for present purposes, may be a rectangular hollo~ channel member or other suitable structural device.
Referring again to Figure 3, it may be seen that the columns 45 are intended to support both the log deck assembly ~not depicted in Figure 3) and the nose section 3, as well as a portion of each of the t~o rail bed members 73. Piers 44 ~O 5~5 ~ ' are provided to carry longerons 50, as may be seen in Figure 4, and the rail bed members 73 may there~ore be supported on~the upper ends of extension members 70 mountea on these longerons. The feedworks base 4, which supports a feedworks 42 for driving the carriage 27, is centrally supported at Elevation I by a pair of piers 44. It also includes the return stop`assembly 32 which, in turn, is centrally supported at Elevation II by vertical extension memkers 70 mounted on piers 44, and is also connected to - one end of the two rail bed members 73 for the purpose of structurally integrating these components into the assembly formed by the platform. As may be further seen, a second stop assembly 31 is mounted at the opposite ends of the rail bed members 73, at Elevation I, on one of the two longerons 50 which support the first lumber deck assembly 12, although it is also interconnected with the other ends of the two rail bed members 73 to achieve structural unity.
~- As hereinbefore stated, the platform composed of the piers 44, columns 45 and other members are connected together into a structural unit by the various modules such as the carriage saw section 6 and the lumber and tie deck assemblies 12-13 and 16-19 which are mounted thereon. As indicated in Figure 3, however, one or more diagonal braces 46-47 may be suitabl~ employed at points adjacent the ends of the carriage saw section 6, however, because o~ stress created : by movement of the carriage 27 and its impact upon o~e or the other of the two stop assemblies 31-32.
The carriage 27, which is depicted in Figure 3 and which functions to support a sawlog intended to be cut into lumber, may be of any suitable design such as that illustrated in ., .

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U. S. Patent No. 3,566,933. Accordingly, the carriage 27 may include two or more knee assemblies 28-29 and other components such as an appxopriate carriage dial 179 to indicate the lateral position of the knee assemblies 28-29 and sawlog (not depicted) on the carriage 27. Accordingly, the control booth 30 is appropriately positioned adjacent to - - -. but on the opposite side of the circular saw bla~e.34, not -.only to better observe the cutting operation provided by --.. . .
'''.the saw blade 34 but also to observe readings.indicated by la the dial 179 . .' Referring again to Figures 2-3, it will be seen that .
.' the depicted sawmill is basically composed of a plurality of functional components or modules which are interconnected - together on a platform composed, fundamentally,of piers 44, - columns 45 and longerons 50. The piers 44 and columns 45 are, of.course, arranged in ranks and files to provide . vertical support for the modules, and the longerons 50 provide strength to the platform along the files or piers '44 and/or columns 45. Accordingly, when a module such as the lumber deck 12 is disposed on two longerons 50, it also provides strength between the ranks of piers 44 which support it.
Referring now to Figure 4, there may be seen a partial but different view of the platform depicted in Figure 3 and composed of the various vertical structural mem~ers here-inbefore referred to as piers 44. Each of these piers 44 may be seen to be provided at its upper end with an inverted short saddle member 51 composed of a piece of channel or the '~
like, and of a size'to receive'and hold, without binding, a , -, . . .

lOS~5~ -square tubular member referred to as a longeron 50. The purpose of the various longerons 50, which are carried on files of piers 44, is to establish the aforementioned lowest functional Elevation I in the sawmill, and thus these longerons 50 operate to support either a vertical extension member 70 or an operating module such as the lumber deck assembly 12. It will therefore be seen that the lumber - -deck assembly 12 is composed of a pair of long saddle members-71 which, in turn, each include a spaced-apart pair of . -chain assemblies 86 and 87. Lumber is loaded on the twochain assemblies 86-87, and may therefore be moved laterally thereon by means of movement of movable chains therein (not depicted). ; - - -Since Elevations I and II are established by the longerons 50, it will be apparent that piers 44 and columns - - , 45 must be appropriately mounted. As may be seen in Figures 5-~, such mounting is preferably performed by digging a posthole 52 an appropriate depth in the earth 63, by disposing in such posthole 62 a base pad assembly ~7, and by supporting such base pad assembly 57 in the posthole 62 by means of concrete 64. More particularly, the base pad assembly 57 may be seen to be composed of a rectangular metal plate 58 and ~hree lengths of metal supporting rod 59-61 each having one end built in the manner of a right angle. ~he angular ends of the rod 59-61 are appropriately welded to the underside of the plate 58, as suggested in Figure 6, whereby the plate 58 will provide a supporting pad for the pier 44 when the base pad assembly 57 is appropriately mounted in the hole 62.
After the concrete 64 has set, its level is measured by conventional means for the purpose of determining the length ~8-. .

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of the pier 44 which is necessary to support a longeron 50 at Elevation I. In this respect, the height of Elevation I
above the surface of the earth 63 is not significant, but the height of Elevations II and III above Elevation I is, of course, material to the operation of the sawmill.
Referring again to Figure 5, it will be seen ~hat the - . . : - . . .; .................... . -pier 44 (or column 45? is preferably welded onto the upper surface of the plate 58 of the base pad asse~ ly 57 and that - ~
two or more sleeves 52-53 or other tubular members are appro-- : . - ; -. -.......................................... .
priately welded to the sides of the inverted short saddle 5i : " ' ' ! . ! . .: ; .
which is positioned on the upper end of the pier 44. It will be notea upon use of the present invention that the weight of the various components sought to be supported on the longerons .. , . - . . . - .
50 will be sufficient to provide immobility of these modules and components and corresponding structural integrity to the platorm composed of the piers 44, columns 45 and longerons 50.
~ In some instances, it may be desirable to further secure one portion of the platform to another, and thus it may be seen in Figures 5 and 7 that a U-tie bolt 54 may be inserted over the longeron 50 and through the sleeves 52-53, whereby the longeron 50 may be further connected to the pier 44 by nuts 55-56 on the e~ds of the U-tie bolt 54. It will also be seen, however, that this manner of interconnecting the components of the platform may also be used, as will hereinafter be depi~ted, to connect the modules and components of the system to the longerons 50 of the platform, ana that both erection and dis-assembly of the sawmill are relatively simple and rapid expedients. The various piers 44 and columns 45 must, of course, be cut from the plates 58 of the various ~ase pad assembles 57, and may not be re~useable if they are too short to support a longeron 50 at Elevation I at the new site.

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5~S 8 It is not ordinarily practical, however, to salvage the base pad assemblies 57 which are embedded in the concrete-filled holes 62.
Referring now to Figure 8, there may be seen a detailed and pictorial representation of the portion of the plat~orm depicted in Figure 3 and composed of the portion supporting the carriage and saw section 6. More particularly, it may be seen that the rail bed members-J73 are composed of a pair -. : , . . -of rails 74 each mounted on elongate rectangular hollow members - . . . . . . -: 10 which are positioned on either cross-tie members Z06, which .. . .
are channel members carrying a pair~of spaced-apart inverted short saddles 51, or on cross-tie extension assem~lies 72 whioh, in turn, are mounted on longerons 50 at Elevation I.
. As further indicated in Figures 3 and 8, some of these : longerons 50 are supported at Elevation I by piers 44, and some are.supported at the intermediate Elevation II by columns 45, depending on whether the longerons 50 are located to carry a cross-tie 206 or a cross-tie extension assembly 72. As may further be seen in Figure 8, a cross-tie assembly 72 is a unit composed of a pair of v.ertical extension members 70 mounted on a long saddle member 71 and carrying a cross-tie member 77~ Referring again to Figure 8, it will be noted that the long saddle member of the cross-tie extension assembly 72 is provided with a pair of sleeves 76 on each side at a location.adjacent the lower ends of the ~ertical extension members 70. Accordingly, the cross-tie extension assembly 72 may be fixédly secured to the longeron 50 upon which it rests by a plurality of U-tie bolts 54 inserted through the sleeves ~ 76 and extending around either the longerons 50 or thè short saddle member 51 on the upper end o~ the pier 44.
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Similar sleeves 76 may be provided on the adjacent sides of the inverted saddle members 76 positioned on the upp~r ends of the vertical extension members 70 for the purpose o~
containing U-tie bolts 54 in the manner hereinbefore explained.
It.will be noted, however, that these upper positioned U-tie bolts 54 engage a snubbing block 75 which is welded or otherwise affixed to ~he sides of the rail bed support member .. : ~ . . . .
73. Each rail bed member 73 rests in one of the short saddle ` members 51 of the cross-tie member 77, and.thus the short .
`sadale membe~s 51 are provided with sleeves 76 located to . correspona with the location of the sleeves 76 on the inverted æaddle member 51 fixed to the upper end of the column 45.
Accordingly, the rail bed member 73, which is also provided with a.second pair of snubbing blocks 75 at this location, may be secured to the cross-tie channel member 206 and columns 45 ~y means of longer U-tie bolts 54 extending through the sleeves 76 on both the upper inverted short saddle member 51 fastened to the cross-tie saddle 206, and the lower inverted saddle member 51 fastened to the upper end of the column 45.
Referring now to Figure 9, there may be seen a more detailed pictorial representation o~ ~he major components of the platform and carria~e and saw section 6 depicted in Figure 3. More particularly, it may be seen that the rails 74 are . mounted on the upper surface of the rail bed members 73 and that the ends of the rail bed members 73 are arranged to mate with the base members of the two stop assemblies 31 and 32.
More particularly, the rail bed members 73 are each connected to the base members 85 by means of connecting bolts 80 and nut 81 extending through each of a pair of sleeves 78 and 7 mounted on the rail bed member 73 and base member 85, .

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respectively. Reerring now to the first stop assembly 32, it will be seen that this module is composed of a pair of leg members 83 mounted on the two base members 85 and supporting in horizontal arrangement a shock-absorbing bumper 49 in a channel-like bumper holder 82. Strength is provided against impacts on the bumper 49 by angie brackets 84 as well as the tie-bolt 80 Which interconnects the rail bea member 73 to the base member 85. .-:
:It will be noted in bo~h Figure 3 and Figure 9 that the : . - . ............................................. ..
-base member 85 of the stop member 32 rests not only on the - vertical extension mem ~rs 70 of a cross-tie extension 72 but also on the floor 43 of the feedworks base 4 which carries -. the feedworks 42. Accordingly, the-floor 43 is also provided with a saddle member 65 to rest on the longeron 50 which is carried by the pier 44, and which supports the floor 43 of the feedworks base 4.
. Referring again to Figure 9, it may be seen that the other stop assemb1y 31 is more simply composed of a pair of vertical leg members 83 supporting an impact-absorbing bumpe~
48 mounted horizontally across the two base members 85 in a similar bumper holder 82. The leg members 83 are further joined to the base members 85 by a pair of short angle brackets 199. The stop assembly 31 is supported by a cross-tie exte~sion assembly 72 on a pair of piers 44, and on another pair of piers 44 by a further assembly of components which include a cross-strut 90 spanning and interpose~ between the two base members 85 and a pair of horizontal struts 89, a special vertical extension column 70A and an angle bracket 70B. The special vertical extension column 70A is mounted on .
- . .

1056;~5~
a short saddle member 65 for suitably engaging a longeron 5Q carried by the second pair of piers 44.
Referring now to Figure 13, there may be seen another pictorial view of a portion of the carriage and saw section 6 and also the related portions o~ both the supporting plat-form and the rail bed sections 9 and lQ and the conveyor.:-belt section 11. More particularly, there may be seen a ~ pictorial illustration of the longeron 50 extending across : two or more piers 44 at Ele~ation I and supporting the vertical extension column 70 which carries the rail..74 mounted on the rail bed member 73. There may also be seen a more detailed illustration.of both the roller bed sections 9 and 10 as mounted on the longeron 50, and also the conveyor belt section 11 as disposed on the longeron 50. As hereinbefore stated, the carriage 27 which rides on the rails 74 is adapted to carry a sawlog longitudinally with respect to the roller bed sections 9 and 10 and in gripping contact with the knee assemblies 28 on the carriage 27. The first cut taken from a sawlog will produce a "slab" having no value for lumber purposes but which is salvageable for purposes of conversion to pulp. Accordingly, when a slab is produced the-flip board 102 which is a portion of the slab flip board section 7 is arcuately raised about the hinge 103 and the slab (not depicted in Figure 13) may then fall into the space between the higher support member 107 adjacent the carriage 27 and the lower support member 108 and extension support member 109 on the opposite side. More particularly, the slab will fall into the U-trough 97 and onto the endless belt 113 which, as indicatea in Figure 2, will move to carry the slab away from the carriage and saw section 6 to an appropriate discharge point such as a 23 ~
'' ' ' , , , . .

lOS~;~S~
conventional chipper assembly (not depicted). It may be seen in Figure 2 that the endless belt depicted in Figure 13 must travel over a substantial distance. Accordingly, and as further depicted in Figure 13, the conveyor belt section 11 may suitably include one or more belt support rollers 96 loca~ed beneath the conveyor belt section 11 for supporting the return portion of the endless belt 113.
Referring again to Figure 13, it will be seen that the .
flip board 102 rests on the lip portion of a suitable support member 106, which is. mounted on the upper end of the higher support member 107, and which extends toward and immediately underneath the projecting lip or edge of the deck of the. -. carriage 27. .The purpose of the support member 106 is to span the gap between the carriage 27 and the slab flip board 102. : .
Referring again to Figure 13, it will be seen that the two roller deck sections 9 and 10 are composed of a plurality of rollers 110 rotatably mounted between channels 111 which, in turn, are mounted on an array.of spaced-apart lower support members 108. The purpose of the extension support member 109 .
is to provide for angular positioning of both the flip board 102 which is a portion of the slab flip board section 7 and the fIipboard 104 which is a portion o~ the lumber flip board.
8. The two flip boards 102 and 104 are unted to form an incl~ned plane extending generally from the deck o~ the carriage 27 at its upper end and to the rollers 110 of the second.roller bed section 10 at its lower end. Accordingly, if the piece severed from the sawlog on the carriage 27 is a slab or otherwise.relatively worthless piece, the flip board 102 is .

' ". . - ' ' ' ~
-:~ : . - : . - . , ,, : . .
.

105~;~S~

raised pivotally about the hinge 103 by a pne~matic cyiinder (not depicted) whereby the severed piece will thereupon fall onto the endless helt 113. If the severed piece is of salable size and shape, however, the first flip board 102 is left resting on the support member 106, and the second flip board 104 may be elevated about its hinge portion 105 by suitable means such as a pneumatic cylinder (not depicted) - .
In this event, the severed piece will roll across the support member 106 and first flip board 102 and thereafter onto the ~ rolle s 110 composing the first roller bed section 9. As hereinbefore stated, the first roller bed section 9 is arranged -to carry pieces to the lumber deck assemblies 12-13. Accord-ingly, the second flip board 103 will only be raised if the severed piece is of lumber dimension, and it will be left down on the upper end of the extension support member 109 if the severed piece is, instead, suitable for railroad tie purposes or the like. In this event, the severed piece will roll across the support member 106 and both flipboards 102 . and 104 to the rollers of the second roller bed section 10 and may then be carried down to the receiving end of the transfer deck assembly 22.
It will be noted that the rollers 110 are provided with belt grooves 116 for receiving driving belts, whereby the rollers 110 may be rotated by suitable means to ~ravel the severed pieces to their intended destinations In addition, curb rails 112 are appropriately included to keep the severed pieces from sliding off of the rollers 10~ during their travel thereon.

.

- - . . - .

lOSf~SI~
As hereinbefore stated, it is a concept of this invention to provide a sawmill composed of modules which, though functionally interconnected with each other, are substantially structurally independent of each other.
Furthermore, it is another concept or feature of the inven-tion that certain modules are constructed according to a standard design whereby they may be interchangeable, and whereby parts from one module may each be substituted for -parts used for a different purpose in another module, as a temporary expedient to maintain productivity during-relati~ely . .
'short intervals. - ~ -As an example of the interchangeability of various ;
modules in the system depicted herein, it should ~e noted that the log deck assembly 2 is substantially the same as the lumber deck assemblies 12-13, the transfer deck assembly 22, and also the four tie deck assemblies 16-19. The different nomenclature employed herein is, therefore, not intended to indicate a difference in construction but only a difference in function or purpose within the system.
Referring now to Figure 14, there may be seen a more detailed pictorial ~iew of the log deck assembly 2 as it is functionally interconnected with the nose section 3 and carriage and saw section 6. As hereinbefore stated, the ' only difference between the log deck assemblies 2 and the lumber deck assemblies 12-13, transfer deck assem~ly 22 and the tie deck assembly-16-19, is its location and function within the saw mill hereinbefore described with respect to Figures 1-3. Accordingly, the log-de~k assem~ly 2 (and also .

~ , .

10S6~5~
~-'t~e other referenced modules) may be seen to be a structural unit resting upon a pair of spaced apart longerons 50 which, together with the aforementioned columns 45 comprise the supporting platform. The log deck assembly 2 is composed of the two chain assemblies 86-87 supported on a pair of long saddle members 71 by a plurality of vertical support members, whereby a pluraiity of saw logs 98 may rest on a pair of endless chains 100. A suitable driving means 101 is . ~ ~ , .
also preferably included for the purpose of connecting power 10- through an appropriate gear reduction assembly 118 and driving chain 119 to drive the chains 100 in a manner to carry the saw logs 98 from one end of the log deck assembly 2 to the other end. More particularly, saw logs 98 which are brought to the saw mill by trucks and the li~e and loaded onto the log deck assembly 2 at one end, and are then carried by chains 100 to the other end of the log dec~ assembly 2 for discharge, one-by-one, onto the nose section 3 of the saw mill. Accordingly, control means (not depicted in ~igure 14) will be appropriately located in the control booth 30 whereby the operator can start and stop travel of the saw logs 98 as may be desired.
Referring again to Figure 14, there may be seen a more detailed pictorial representation of one especially suitable form of nose section 3 and which is more particularly described and explained in the copending patent application, Serial No. _470,338~ which was filed May 16, 1974 ~now U.S.
Patent No. 4,094,220, June 13, 1978. Accordingly, it will ~e noted that the nose section 3 is designed to provide t~o functions, i.e., the nose section 3 selective~v~ acce~ts saw logs g8 from the log deck assembly 2 for transfer to :

. ,)1 r - 27 10~5~ ~
the carriage 27 of the carriage and saw section 6, and it also operates to manipulate any saw log 98 which may become -juxtaposed between the log deck assembly 2 and the carriage and saw section 6. Thus, the nose section 3 is provided with two or more crescent-shaped stop and loader members 36 which are rotatable about a driving shaft 36A, and which have a curvilinear edge to catch and support a saw log 98. More particularly, when the stop and loader members 36 are rotated in a counter-clockw~se direction, the ou~wardly curving .
surface 36B.of eac~ loader member 36 will be rotatea below the top of the log deck assembly 2 and the inwardly curving surface or edge 36A will be presented to accept the sa~ log 98 at the end of the log deck assembly 2.~ After a saw log 98 has rolled onto the curved edge 36A of the loader members 36, the log members 36 are rotated in an opposite clockwise direction to dump the saw log 98 carried thereon. onto the sloping rails 39, and also to elevate the outwardly curved edges 36B of the log members 36 to block any other saw log 98 .from rolling off of the log deck assembly 2 and onto the nose section 3.
As previously noted, a well formed saw log 98 will tend to roll up the rails 39 and into abut.ting engagement with the knee assemblies 29 of the carriage 27, whereby the saw log 98 may be engaged by the dogs of the knee assemblies 29 : and carrie~ to the saw blade 34. Many saw logs 98 are crooked or have flattened portions along their circumference, and . may even have a vestage of one or more branches extended from ,. their surfaces, whereby such saw logs 98 may not roll along the rails 39 in a proper manner. In the event such an irregular 3~ or reluctant saw log 98 does not travel entirely along the . - -28-.

- ~ - ' ' : '' : - . -~ength ~ the rails 39 to the deck of the carriage 27, or if such sawlog 98 becomes irregularly positioned on the rails 39, a slapper bar 37 may be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to strike the sawlog 98 from behind and drive it onto the deck of the carriage 27.
As hereinbe~ore stated, the nose section 3 is one of the .
.
- modules which is structurally independent of -the other portions - . - . -: ~ of the sa ~ llo Accordingly, it may be seen that the nose - section 3 is also provided with a pair of long saddle members 71 to permit the nose section 3 to be mounted as a unit on the - longerons 50 which carry both the log deck assembly 2 and the -carriage and saw section 6.
Re~erring again to Figure 14, it will ~e seen that thecarriage 27, which is positioned.on the rails 7a carried by the rail bed members 73, is located betwean the rub bar .
assembly 5 and the nose section 3. More particularly, the carriage 27 travels from a location between the rub bar assembly 5 and the.nose section 3 to and past the circular saw blade 34.
When a sawlog 98 is discharged ~rom the loader arms 36 onto the xails 39, it does not usually strike the knee assembly 29 with neavy impact. When the sawlog 98 on the rails 39 is struck by the slapper bar 37, however, the sawlog 98 will often strike the knee assembly~29 with an impact sufficient to arive the carriage 27 off of the rails 74. Thus, the rub bar assembly 5 is located to backup the carriage 27 at this point.
As further indicated in Figure 14, the rub bar assembly 5 -29- ~

lOS~3S~
is comprised of a pair of vertical struts 93, which support an impact-absorbing bumper 91 located in a channel-like bumper holder 92, and which are vertically mounted on long saddle members 71. The rub bar assembly 5 further convenient~y has angle brac~ets 94 to reinforce the vertical struts 93 against impact delivered by the.sawlog 98 through the knee assemblies 2g and the deck of the carriage 27. -As indicated in Figure 14, the nomenclature "sawlog"is con~entionally applied to a log which has not previously been longitudinally sliced. After a sawlog has received at least one cut by the circular saw 34, however, the portion ; remaining on the deck of the carriage 27 ls conventionally referred to as a "cant." Accordingly, the apparatus depicted in Figure 14 illustrates the carriage 27 as supporting a cant 99. - .
It should be noted that the various modules are not only constructed so as to be installed in the system by merely supporting them on the longerons of the platform; many of them ; are further designed so as to propsrly space themselves, one from another, according to functi:on. .For example, the long saddle members 71 of the log deck assembly 2, the nose section 3, and the rub bar section 5, and the cross-tie saddle member 206 of the carriage and saw section 6, are of predetermined lengths such that, when butted together on the longerons 50, these modules will be spaced toge~her in a properly functional manner within the sawmill. Since these components must also ~ . :

~. . -' l~S~i358 :~
be located with respect to the saw line illustrated in Figure 2, however, it will ~irst be necessary to locate either the nose assembly 3 or the carriage and saw section 6 with respect to the saw line, before the other modules can be properly installed.
Referring again to Figure 3, it will be noted that if .; . - . . - ~ . , ~ a board or tie i5 to be delivered to an appropriate location along the lengths of the roller ~ed section.9-10, some means .
. .
: must be provided for stopping the board or tie as it travels .
along these components. This may be done by stopping .the rotation of the roller members 110, but this is unsatisfactory since ~he board or tie will tend to continue sliding forward along the surfaces of the immobilized roller members 110.
Referring now to Figures 15-17, there may be seen a plurality of pictorial views of a stop assembly 115 which may be used to selectively stop a board or tie as desired, and which is preferably interconnected with a triple leg 200 in one or the other of the various roller bed sections 9-10 and 15, as will further be explained. M~re particularly, the ; 20 stop assembly 115 may be composed of a plate 120 pivotally mounted on a rocker bar 121 by a pair of spaced-apart sleeve memb2rs 122-123. The roc~er bar 121, in turn, is pivotally mounted between a pair of spaced-apart vertical arms 1~4-125 having a piv~t rod 137 located between their lower ends The vertical arms 124-125 are, in turn, interconnected with a pair of vertical support members 130-131 by means of a pair .

., --ivsf~;~S~ ~
of pivot arms 132 and 134 interconnected at one end to the rocker bar 121, and at their other ends to a pivot rod 1~8 extending between the two vertical support members 130-131.
Another pair of lower pivot arms 133 (only one being visible) are interconnected between ~he vertical arms 124-125 and the vertical support members 130-131 by the pivot rod 137 at one - end and another pivot rod 136 at the other end_ In addition, . a pneumatic cylLnder 139 is pivotally anchored at one end to the eivot rod.l36 by a spacing sleev~ 171, and its piston rod 140 is pi~otally linked to the rocker bar 121. As indicated in Figure 15A, extension of the piston rod 140 rotates the vertical arms 124-125 to raise the upper edge of the plate 120 above the level of the channels 111 which support the roller members 110 of the rolle.r.~.:;deck assemblieso Alternatively, and as indicated in Figure 16, retractian of the piston arm 14Q will lower the vertical arms 124-125 to ...... ... ....... retract the plate 120 below the.upper surfaces of ~he.roller members 110. Thus, when the plate 120 is elevated as .
indicated in Figure 15A it will block a board or timber 114 being carried by the roller members 110. On the other hand, if the plate 120 is retracted as in Figure 16, the timber 114 can travel past without interference by the stop assembly 115.
. Referring again to Figures 15-17, it may be seen that an appropriate limit switch 129 may be interconnected with one of the two vertical support members 130-131 to position its whisker 128 to be enga5ed by an actuator arm assembly 127 I

. -32- .
' ' , -, .
:~
.
.

lOS635~
~ixed to the rear surface of the plate 120. More particularly, the plate 120 is normally tilted against the up~er ends of the vertical arms 124-125 by suitable spring means 126 to lower ~he end of the actuator arm assembly 127 below the '.
whisker 128. When.the plate 120 is elevated to stop a timber 114 as indicated in Figure 15A, the colliding timber .-114 will rotate the plate l20 only far enough to cause the actuating arm assembly 127 to lift the whisker 128 and thereby - - -- . - - -'' - ': actuate the limit switch 129. This,.as will further be , explained, wiIl actuate the appropriate puil-off assembly'to 'remove the timber from the particular roller bed section.
-. Referring now to Figure 15B, it may be seen that the actuator arm assembly 127 is preferably composed of a s~uaré
hollow tube 127A of a length sufficient to reach from the plate 120 to the ~hisker 128 of the limit switch 129. In addition, a shorter length of rectangular tubing 127B is also provided immediately beneath the square tube 127A.
The plate 120 tends to'receive very heavy impacts, and thus the purpose of the rectangulax or oblong tubing 127B is to ' provide'support or the square tube'127A. .
Referring now to Figure 18, there may be~seen a simplified pictorial representation of the pull-off assembly 23A, wherein it may be seen how its two pull-off arms 141-142 of this portion o ~h~ sawmill are functionally positioned with respect to both the roller bed section 15 which interconnects with the four tie deck assemblies 16-19, and also with respect to 10563S8 ! ~
the li~ting arms 161-163 of the stacker section 23. As hereinbefore stated, timbers are deposited, one at a time, on the roller bed section 15 to be carried longitudinally to the appropriate one of the four tie deck assemblies 16-19, the appropriate one being selected by elevation of the plate 120 of a stop assembly 115 as hereinbefore mentioned.
When the timber strikes the plate 120 and thereby actuates .. . . ..
the limit switch 129 contained therein, this will actuate a . pneumatic ylinder within each of the two pull-off arms 141- .

142, as will hereinafter be explained. Each of these two ` . - - : , - -cylinders is interconnected with a dogging tooth 143 or 145 which projects above the upper surface of the two pull-off : arms 141-142 on the opposite side of the timber, and thus retraction of the piston rods connected to these teeth 143 ~ -; and 145 will drag the timber sideways across the pull-off -.
arms 141-142 and, accordingly, onto the arms 161-163 of the tie stacker assembly 23. . --.Referring more particularly to Figures 19 and 20, there may be seen a detailed representation of the internal components of the pull-off arm 141 depicted in Figure 18 and which is similarly representative of the internal ~ .
configuration of the other pull-off arm 142. Accordingly, the pull-off arm 141 may b~ seen to be a rectangular hollow member having a larger.section 141A containing a suitable pneumatic cylinder 148, and a smaller section 141B having a slot 144 in its upper surface. The cylinder 148, which is -3~-lOS6358 -suita~ly anchored by pin 159, has the free traveling end o~
its piston rod 149 connected to a suitable link bar 152 by a clevis 150 and clevis pin 151, and the link bar 152 is ereferably disposed within the smaller portion 141B of the pull-off arm 141 on a pair of rollers,l53 ~only one visible in Figure 19). The dogging tooth 143, in turn, is pivotally - :; - ..
interconnected by a pivot pin 155 between a pair of spaced-:
- ~ . . . .
àpart tooth brackets 154 (only one visible in Figure 19) . .
. mounted on-toe of the link bar 152. Referring again to 10 . Figure 19, it will be seen that a suitable switch 156 is . arranged in the larger portion 141A with a whisker 157 disposed to be deflected by an actuator projection 158, which is mounted on the side ~ the link bar 152, and which actuates the switch 156 upon retraction o~ the piston shaft , ' 149 into the cylinder 148. , ' Referring again to Figures 19 and 20, it may be seen how the tooth 143 is arranged and adapted to engage the timber 147 to draw it onto the arms 161-163 o~ the tie stacker, upon ' retraction of the piston rod 149 into the cylinder 148, but .
' 20 to underride the timber 147 whenever,the piston rod 149 is extended from the cylinder 148. The advanta'ge there~y derivea is that the pull-off assembly will only mo~e a timber 147 in ~ one direction and will not push it back onto the roller bed section 15 upon exten ion of the piston rod 14~ for the purpose oF taking a subse~uent timber from ~he roller bed : section 15.
' .

1056;~5~ , Referring now to Figures 21-23, there may be seen a more detailed pictorial representation o~ the link bar 152 and pull-of tooth 143. Accordingly, the link bar 152 may be seen to be a rectangular body having pinhole 160 at one end for receiving the clevis pin.l51, and having a pair o~ rollers 153 mounte~
adjacent its other end. The actuator 158 may be seen to bs an angular projection mounted.on the side of the link bar 152 at a location suitable or timely engagement of the whiskér 157 of the limit switch 156 depicted in Figures 18 and 19. The dogging tooth 143 may be seen to be a flat body having a right-triangular configuration and secured between the two toot~

. .
brackets 154 on top of the link bar 152 by means of the tooth pivot pin 155, and fur~her having laterally projecting portions which act as counterweights to maintain the tooth 143 in a normally erect position relative to the link bar 152.

.
Referring again to Figure 22, it may be seen that the . engaging surface 143B of the tooth 143 is the longer right side .
of the t~iangle defined by the tooth 163, and that when ~he hypotenuse side 143A is driven against the timber 147 depictea in Figures 19 and 20, the tooth 143 will yieldably rotate unaer the timber 147 instead o displacing it from its location on : the tie stacker arms 161-163. Alternatively, when the engaging surface 143B of the tooth is brought into contact with a timber 147 or the like, the tooth 143 is rotated clockwise to bring its short side into abutting engagement with the top of the link bar 152, whereby further rotation of the tooth 143 is .

lOS63S8 preventPd, and whereby the tooth 143 then opposes the timber 147 to displace it along the length of the arms 161-163 of the tie stacker assembly.
Referring again to Figure 2, it will be noted that the timbers which are received from the trimmer section 14 are pushed onto the roller bed section 15 by a push-off assembly . - . .
14A. This component of the system is entirely the same as the eull-off assembly 20A, except that its tooth 143 is reversed with;respect to its position as indicated in Figure 22, and . .
10 that the ylinder 148 and piston rod 149 in Figures 19 and 20 are operated in a manner opposite to that hereinbefore descri~ed ~ith such an arrangement! the hypotenuse side 143A of the tooth 143 will be drawn yieldably against the timber, to rotate the tooth 143 under the timber during retraction of the piston rod 149 into the cylinder 148, and the engaging side 143B of the - tooth 143 will be pushed into contact with the timber to shove it from the trimmer section 14 onto the roller bed section lS

upon extension of the piston rod 149 from the cylinder 148.
.
Alternatively, of course, a pull-off assembly may be used at this location in the system instead of the push-off assembly l~A.
Referring again to Figure 18, it will be seen that the tie stacker portion of the pùll-off and tie stacker assembly 23 is . co~posed of an arrangement of three lifting arms 161-163 which are fixedly positioned on a rotatable cross-bar 169, whereby rotation of the cross-bar 169 will elevate the lifting arms 161-163 to deposit timbers carried thereon onto the lifting .
:

. . .

lOS63S~
. pads 180 and 181 of ~he tie deck assembly 18.
Referring now to Figures 29-31, there may be seen how the lifting arms 161-163 may be elevated by an arrangement of components interconnected with the center arm 163 and composed of pneumatic cylinders 231 and 237. More particularly, cylinder 231 is anchored between a pair of spaced-apart elevation arms .
230-230A which are pivotal-ly mounted at one end on the cross-bar 169, and which are pivotally connected to the cylinder 231 by an anchor pin 235 slidably disposed in a spacing sleeve 24 .
extending between the arms 230-23OA and fixedly attached to the :` base of the cylinder 231. The piston arm 232 extending from the cylinder 231 is interconnected with a bracket 246 on the lower surface of the center arm 163 by a clevis 233 and clevis pin 234. The other pneumatic cylinder 237, which is anchored : at its base between the arms 230-230A by a sleeve 2g5 and.
anchor pin 236, is connected at its other end through the piston shaft 238 to a bracket 241 mounted on a short saddle 242 by a clevis 239 and clevis pin 240. The short saddle 242 is, in turn, mounted on a brace 243 or ot~.er suitable portion of the platform . 20 herein~efore described, by U-tie bolts (not depicted) as previously explained.
:; The particular tie stacXer configuration depicted in ~igures 29-31, wherein two cylinders are employed instead of only one, provides a number of advantages over the stacX~rs and other similar apparatus of the prior art. In the first instance, it will be noted that whenever it is sought to elevate ~he center ~ ' . .
1 .
.

-38- ..

~, .: -: , lOS635~
arm 163 with on~y one cylinder, the cylinder will necessarily assume a very sharp angle of attitude with respect to the center arm 163 either at the beginning of the elevation or at its point of termination in a vertical position, for the reason that ~he arm 163 is being rotated through a relatively large àngle (i.e., 90 or more j D With the two-cylinder arrangement .
~ depicted in Pigures 29-31, however, the cylinders 231 and 237 , . .- . . .: - . . -: .
always maintain a substantial angle of attitude relative to . . .. . . - .. .
the lifting arm 163, at all po~ts of travel between horïzontal 10 and vertical. This, in turn, provides a second advantage wherein the amount of ~pneumatic driving force reguired when the arms 161-163 are either at horizontal or verticaI may be substantially reduced. In other words, when only a single cylinder is employed it must have a capability which is substantially greater than the combined capability of both o~
the two cylinders 231 and 237 employed as hereinbefore described.
- A third advantage, which is particularly important, derives from the fact that the combination o~ the two cylinders 231 and 237 permits the elevation oE the liEting arm 163 with 20 a more controllable amount of force at all positions during its rotation between horizontal and vertical. ~hus, ~he lifting arm 163 can ~e moved at a speed such that the timbers - -147 ca~ried thereon are not thrown forward onto the lif ting pads 180 and 181 of the tie deck assembl~ 18 but are stacked , thereon in ~he manner sought to be proviaed with this apparatusO
In this respe~t, it should be noted that pneumatic cylinders .: ' . . ' r ' 3~

:

iO563S8 tend to vary with respect to their internal friction, and thus it is difficult to control such cylinders in a preselected manner whenever close tolerances of movement are required By using a two-cylinder arrangement rather than only one, as in .
the case of the prior art, the two cylinders tend to cooeerate in this regard, whereby they effectively oper2te as a single cylinder having a driving force w'nich averages out the . ~
variations arising because of differences of internal friction in their internal components. - - ~
In normal operation of this apparatùs, it is conventional as well as desira~le to actuate the pull-off arms 141-142 to load five timbers 147 onto the lifting arms 161 163 o~ the tie stacker assembly 23, before the arms 161-163 of the tie stacker assembly are elevated to deposit this stack of timbers .
147 onto the tie dec~ assembly 18. In actual operation, each .
timber 147 may be deposited across the lifting arms 161-163 .
only to the extent that the dogging teeth 143 and 145 can travel along the slots 144 and 146 in the pull-off arms 141-1 2, As each ti~ber 147 is pulled onto the lifting arms 161-163 by 20 the dogging teeth 143 and 14~ in the pull-off arms 141-142, the subsequent timber 147 will push the precedirg ~imber or timbers thereon further down the lifting arms 161-163. . Such travel will only occur, however, until the first timber loaded - thereon comes into abutting engagement with the angular stops 166-168 mounted on the three lifting arms 161-163. Thereupon, the cylinder 174 located witbin the center lifting arm 163 ~`' .
~ .

10563S~ .
may be actuated to retract the piston shat 176 until the clampîng tooth 165 grips the last loaded timber 147 and draws all five timbers into locking engagement against the stop 168.
Thus, the five timbers are held secured together by the clamping tooth 165 during elevation of the lifting arms 161-163 by the cylinders 231 and 237, there~y avoiding any tendency for the stac~ of five timbers 147 to topple over in disarray on the tie deck assembly 18. - -:. : '- ' ., ~ ~ Referring again to Figures 24-25, it will be seen that the clamping tooth 165 is a ~-shaped component having its shank portion pivotally connected to ~he free traveling end of the piston shaft 176 by a clevis 177 and clevis pin 178 and having rollers 172 for facilitating movement of the - clamping tooth 165-within and along the length of the center .
lifting arm 163~ It Will also be seen that the clam~ing tooth is only extended up through the slot 164 and above the surface of the lifting arm 163 when the piston shaft 176 is retracted --to bring the clamping tooth 165 into engagement with the timbers 147. Thus, a portion of the lower wall section of th~

lifting arm 163 is preferably bent outwardly thereof in the manner of a downwardly extending flap 173, whereby the rollers of the clamping tooth 165 will roll downwardly on this flap 173 to drop the engaging portion of the clamping tooth 165 below the u~per surface vf the lifting arm 163, and whereby timbers 147 may be drawn onto the lifting arms 161-163 of the tie stacker assembly without interference by the -: 4~

1056358 ' clamping tooth 165.
Reerring now to Figures 18 and 26-28, it may be seen that the outer lifting arms 161-162 are each provided with a suitable stack pusher member 190 pivotally mounted thereon by means of sleeve bearings 215 ana 216. In addition, lifting pads 180-181 are appropriately mounted ad~acent the inner surfaces of the two chain assemblies 86-87 of the tie deck assembly 18. More particularly, the lifting pad 180 may be seen to be pivotally supported with respect to the chain .
assembly 86 by means of a shorter pivot arm 183 at one end of -~he lifting pad 180 and a longer pivot arm 182 at its other end. In addition, a pneumatic cylinder 184 is interconnected by a pin 186 rotatably linked to a ~racket 185.mounted on or -adjacent the lower surface of the chain assembly 86 and having its piston rod 187 connected to the lower end of the longer pivot arm 182 by a clevis and pin asse~bly 188. Accordingly, when the piston rod 187 is extended from the cylinder 184, the.lifting pad 180 will be elevated by the pivot arms 182-183 above the upper surface of the chain assembly 86, and when the piston rod 187 is retracted, the lifting pad 180 is retracted below ~he upper surface of the chain asse~bly 86. Although not spacifically depicted in the accompanying drawings, it ~ will be noted that the lifting pad 181 is similarly connected ; to and movable with respect to the o~her chain assembly 87.
Referring again to Figures 26-28, it will be noted that when ~he center arms 161-163 are elevated to a vertical :

-42- .
:, 105635~
position, the piston rod 187 is extended from the cylinder 184 to elevate the pads 180 and 181 above their respective chain assemblies 86-87, and the stack of timbers 147 carried thereon may then be deposited on the lifting pads 180-181.
When another flve timbers have been received onto the lifting arms 161-163 of the tie stacker section 20, and when the arms 161-163 are again elevated to a ver.tical position, .
this additional stack of timbers will again be set d~wn on the ..

elevated lifting pads 180-181. To prevent the second stac~ of .. . .
.timbers from interfering with the first deposited stack of timbers 147, it will be noted that the rotatable stack pusher 190, which is rotatable freely i~ the appropriate one of the two bearings 215-216, and which is balanced to keep the position depicted in Figures 26-28, will be brought into abutting engagement with the first stack of timbers 147 to push them forward along the two lifting pads 180-181. Each time the lifting arms 161-163 are elevated to a vertical position, the two stack pushers l90 will therefore be brought into abutting engagement with the preceding i stack or stacks of timbers to sho~e them out of the way and to thereby prevent them from being toppled over by the arrival of . the subsequent stack of timbers 147.
As hereinbe~ore explained, lumber which is carried by the ~
roller bed section 9 for loading onto the lumber aeck assemblies 12 and 13 must be deposited thereon by means of the two lumber stacker sections 20-21 depicted in Figure 2. The lùmber stacker section 20 depicted in Figures 32-34 is basically the same as ~, .
, :

.
.

.. . . . ,. ., :, ~ , ~ .

1~56;~58 ; the tie stacker section 23 depicted and described in Figures 18 and 24-28, and is therefore elevated by the same type of apearatus depicted in Figures 29-31. Accordingly, it will be seen in Figure 32 that the lumber stacker section 20 is comprised of three lifting arms 161A-163A fixedly mounted on an appropriate cross-bar 169A. It is not necessary to stack lumber received onto the lifting arms 161A-163A, however, and thus the center lifting arm 163A need not contain clamping apparatus such as the cylinaer 174 and clamping tooth 165 depictea in Figures 24-25. The center arm 163A therefore need not be pro~ided with the slot 164 which is re~uired to accommodate the clamping tooth -165, as depicted in Figure 32, but it is a-lways convenient for purposes of interchangeability to use components of like designO
. As hereinbefore stated, lumber received onto the lifting arms 161A-163A is not required to be neatly stacked in the same manner as are the timbers 147 which are carried by the lifting arms 161-163 of the tie stacker assembly, and it is cnly necessary that such lumber be displaced completely from the roller bed section 9 before the lifting arms I61A-.- 20 153A are elevated~to deposit the lumber onto the lum~er deck assembly 12. However, the two outside lifting arms 161A-162A of ~he lumber stacker 20 are preferably provided with a pair of upwardly projecting triangular fins 210-211 to cause lumber dragged thereon by the dogging teeth - 143 and 145 of the pull-off arms 141-142, to jump ~ forward down the leng~h of ~he li~ting arms 161A-163A, ,~ ' ,. .

,~ " ~ ' .

.

105635~ ` .
this respect, it will be noted that the smaller fin 210 is preferably located adjacent the end o each of the two lifting arms 161A-162A, and that the larger fin 211 is located further down the length of the arms 161A-162A~ In addition, each of the two fins 210-211 is positioned with its longer side directed toward the lumber being received from the roller bed section 9. - . . .
Re~erring again to Figure 32t it will be noted that since .
the lumber received onto ~he liting arms 161A-163A iS not .10 intended to be neatly stacked onto the lumber deck assembly 12, -as hereinbefore explained, the stack pusher members 190 depicted in Figures 18 and 26-28 are not required. On the other hand, it is desirable to pro~ide ~eans for preventing lumber piled onto the lumber deck.assembly 12 from falling back onto the lifting arms 161A-163A, and thus discs 213-214 are preferably mounted rotatably in the sleeves 215-216 for preventing this from occurring~ .
Referring now to Figures 33-34, it will be seen how ; . lumber 207 which is drawn onto the lifting arms 161A-163A by ` 20 the dogging teeth 143 and 145 of the pull-off arms 141-142 will tend to sweep over the fins 210 and 211 to bs piled in a random fashion on the li~ting arms 161A-163Ao ~hen the lifting arms 161A-163A are elevated to a vertical position, the lumber 207 tends to fall forward onto the rotatable discs 213-214~ Since these discs 213-214 are both freeiy rotatable in th- sleeves 215-216, however, the lumber 207 wi-l continue .

forward, away from the vertically erect lifting arms 161A-163A onto the chain assemblies 86-87 of the lumber deck assembly 12. Since the lumber deposited thereon may be accumulated in a random fashion, as hereinbefore stated, the lumber deck assembly 12 need not be provided with the li~ting pads 180-181 and actuating components therefor, as previously described with respect to Figure 18. . - .-:
. . . . . . .. ..
. ~eferring now to Figures 10-12, there may be seen a .
-; . . : . .
:detailed pictorial representation of the triple leg 200 . - --. .
hereinbefore mentioned with respect to Figure 2, and more :' . . -, especially illustrating how this component is employed in the sawmill structurë to provide a number of functions and -.. . . . .
beneits. More particularly, ~he triple leg 200 is designed to couple two or more portions of the various roller bed .~ .
~ sections 9-10 and 15 together as operating units, and to .; , . .
~ support the assembled roller bed sections 9-10 and 15 on the .,~ . , ~'. piers 44 at the Blevation I. In addition, the triple leg 200 , , . , . - .
~ is designed to provide means for coupling driving power from :~ . . . . . .
. one portion of the roller bed section to another, and to . 20 support an idling roller 193, as will~hereinafter be explained.
Other functions of the triple leg 200 include providing support for either portion 141a or portion 141B of a pull-off assembly ~, ~ 141, and to support two or more such pull-off assemblies either in side-by-side relationship or in reverse relationship . wherein one of the two pull-off assemblies has had its tooth 1~ 143 reversed to provide push-o~f rather than pull-off, as in ~ -.i, , .

,, .
. ~ .

.~ ~

.~, . . . . . .
... . . . . . . . .
. .. ~ . , , .
., . ~ ., ~, .

105635~ -the case o~ the push-off asse~ribly employed to transfer ties onto the roller bed section 15 from the trimmer section 14.
Also, the triple leg 200 pro~rides support for the lifting arms 161-163 of each of the tie stacker assem~lies, and also for the lu~ber stackers depicted in Figure 320 Referring more particularly to Figure ll, it will be seen that the triple leg 200 is composed of a pair of upright leg brackets 223-224 spaced apart along a short saddle 205 and each having a pair of oppositely projecting arms 203 .
.
adapted to be bolted to the adjacent ends O:e t~e dannel me~bers `

. 111 of the roller bed section 10 or the like. ~he short .
saddle 205 is, of course, mountable on the appropriate longeron 50, and therefore is preferably provided with sleeves 76 for holding two or more U-tie bolts 54. As ma~ further be seen in Figure 11, the upper portion of each of the ~o leg brackets 223-224 is provided with a pair of upwardly extending suppor~
arms 202 spaced adjacent the. ends of the channel members 11, .
and another pair of inside support arms 204. It will thus be seen that a pair of arms 202 and 204 fur~ction to support a 20 pull-off assembly 141, or the idler roller me~ber 193 may be ;I:ocated therebetween as illustrated in Figure 11.
Referring again to Figures 11-12, it will be seen tha~
the space between adjacent outside and inside support arms 202 and 204 accommodates the smaller portion 141B of a pull~off assembly 141, whereas the space between the t~o ..
inside arlT~ 204 will accommodate the larger portion 141A o~

_47_ ., :
.- . . . -. - : :

1~)563S8 - .
such a pull-of~ assembly, Accordingly, two pull-off assemblies 141 may be laid side-by-side, as hereinbe~ore explained.
Referring again to Figure 11, it may be seen how the triple leg 200 functions as a connecting link for driving the various roller members 110 in two separate sections of a roller bed section 10 or the like More particularly, it will - be seen that the roller members 110 in one of the two sections will be interconnected by an endless driva belt 192, which is passed about a driving sheave or pulle~ 191 a~apted to arry two belts. The second belt 198 carried by the two sheaves 191 is an endless member extending over a pair of pulleys 189, each of which is slidably mounted in a verticaI slot 197 in the adjacent vertical leg bracket 223 or 224 of the triple leg 200. Accordingly, the two pulleys 189 may be secured in the slot 197 at an appropriate position by suitable bolts or loc~ing means 196, in order to apply the proper amount of tension to the connecting belt 198. Thus, rotation of the belt 192 in the lefthand section of the roller bed, which rotates the roller members 110 therein, will also rotate the connecting belt 198 by rotating the sheave 191. Rotation of the connecting belt 198 will, of course, rotate the sheave 191 and ro~ller members 110 in the other section of the-roller bed secti:on 10.
As hereinbefore stated, the triple leg 200 provides a suitable means for positioning the stop assembly 115, which is described in Figures 15-17. Thus, ~he vertical support .

1056;~5~ - .
~nembers 130-131, ~hich-provide support for the pivot arms 132-134, may be seen to be positioned between the two leg brackets 223-224.
As hereinbefore stated, it is the function of the triple leg 20Q also to provide support for the li~ting arms 161-163 of.
the tie stacker assembly depicted in Figure 18. Only one of the three legs of the tie stacker need be supported, however, and thus a single r st 201, having the configuration of an - . . .
angle member, may be fixed to one of the two support arms 10 202-203, as indicated in Figures 10-11.
With reference to the pull-off asselliblies 141, which may be laid across and supported by the triple leg 200, it should be noted that these asse~blies are preferably provided with some form (not depicted) of projection for engaging one or more of the support arms 202 and 204. Accordingly, this prevents the pull-off asseTnblies 141 from being displaced horizontally while resting on the triple leg 200.
Referring now to Figure 35, there may be =een a simplified . functional illustration of the major pneumatically-actuated 20 driving means hereinbe ore mentioned with respect to the other components. In particular, there may be seen in Figure 35 a functional representation of a suitable source of pneumatic pressure 250, which source 250 is suitably connected through line 251 to $he pressure input ports B of each of a plurality of solenoid-actuated valves 252-256 which, in turn, have an exit port A vented to the =tmosphere, an outlet pressure port .

- l~S~3S~ ~
C opened to intake port B upon actuation of the respective solenoid, and an intake port D coupled to a hydraulic return line 252B. The normal position of each of these valves 252-256 is to couple intake port B to exit eort D therein.
Thus, when the valve is actuated, port D will be interconnected with port A to provide an exhaust or return route to atmosphere, and ports B and C will be interconnected to route pneumatic-pressure ~rom the sou~ce 250 and pressure line 251 to the components sought to be energized~ -- -.
Referring in particular to Figure 35, it will be seen that the actuating cylinder of the stop assembly 115 is normally in a retracted position to position the plate 120 below the surface o the roller bed section. If the solenoia 260 is energized, however, pneumatic pressure will be couplea across ports B and C to the pressure line 252A leading to the pressure por~ P of the pneumatic cylinder 139, and the exhaust line 252B leading from the exit port R of the cylinder 139 will be connected through ports A and D in the valve 252 to atmosphere. Thus, energizing the solenoid 260 will extend the shaft 140 to elevate the plate 120 to intercept the timber 114, as indicated in Figure 15A. Releasing the valve 252, however, will cause it to revert to its normal posi~ion wherein ports A and C are connected to the atmosphere, and pressure from the source line 251 through ports B and D will cause the pis~on shaft 140 to be retracted within the cylinder 139. Referring again to Figure 35, it will be seen that since the pull-off .

`-` 1056358 ~
-~ Q ssemblies are generally provided in pairs, the pneumatic system depicted in Figure 35 herein will incorporate at least two cylinders 148 with piston rods 149. As indicated, the normal position o~ the valve 253 is with ports A and C
interconnected and ports B and D interconnected. Thus, when the valve 253 is actuated and poxts B and C are then .
interconnected, pressure from line 251 will be applied to line 253B and the upper intake port R of the cylinder 148. Thus, pressure from line 253B into ~ort R in the cylinder 148 will cause retraction of the piston rod 149 therein, line 253A betwean .`
port P of the cylinder 148 and port D of the valve 253 being the return route for this c~linder 148.
As-hereinbefore stated, there are two cylinders involved .
with two pull-off arms. It is aspecially desirable that both cylinders operate in synchronism with each other, and thus lines 254A-B are interconnected respectively to ports P and R
.. :
of cylinder 148A, the same as with lines 253A-B and cylinder .
As indicated in Figure 35, the cylinder 174 which positions the clamping tooth 165 is interconnected to be .
~ controlled by the same control valve 255 which is interconnected .
I to control the two lifting cylinders 231 and 237 depicted in i Figures 29-31. The reason for this is that it is necessary ~ to draw ~he clamping ~ooth 165 into compression against ~he j stack of five timbers 147 at the very instant that the 1 lifting cylinders 231 and 237 are enersizea to raise the li~ting .~ , - .
, .
,j - . .

--. .
-51- ~. -- , ~ -. . . , -105~i3S~
arms 161-163. On the other hand, it may also be seen in Figure 35 that the cylinder 174 has its piston rod 176 extended whenever the piston roas 232 and 238 are retracted within cylinders 231 and 237. This is accomplished by coupli.ng ports P of the lifting cylinders 231 and 237 to the pressure line 255A which interconnects port C o the valve 255 with port R of the clamping cvlinder 174. Similarly, ~orts R of the lifting cylinders 231 and 237 are interconnected with . line 255B which is interconnected with port P of the clamping cylinder 174. Accordingly, when the control valve 255 is energized, pressure from line 251 will be delivered through ports C and B of the valve 255 and line 255A to extend piston rods 232 and 238 at the same time that piston rod 176 is retracted within the cylinder 174 to engage the clamping tooth 165 against the stac~ of timbers 147.
I~ this regard it should be noted that the clamping cylinder 174 is not only smaller, relative to the lifting cylinders 231 and 237, but it is faster acting due to the fact that.piston rod 176 will only travel a relatively short distance in either direction along its.length. Accordingly, when the.~alve 255 is actuated, the clamping cylinder 174 will immediately draw the clamping tooth 165 into engagement with the stack of timbers 147 before the lifting cylinders 231 and 237 ha~e lifted the lifting arms.161-163 even a short distance from horizontal. On the other hand, when the control valve 255 is released for the purpose of returning the lifting 105~;358 arms 161-163 to horizontal, the cylinder 174 will react immediately to disengage the clamping tooth 165 from the stack of timbers 147 before the li~ting cylinders 231 and 237 have effectively moved away from vertical. Thus, the li~ting arms 161-163 may be lowered away from vertical, leaving the stack o~ timbers 147 standing undisturbed on ~he li~ting paas 180-181. ~ -It should be noted that the lifting pads 180-181 are normally permitted to remain erect until a suitable number of stacks of timbers 14? have been dQpositea thereon, and the lifting arms 161-163 have been returned to horizontal at the end of a cycle. Accordingly, control valve 256 may be energized to connect power through line 256A to port R in the cylinder 184 which positions the lifting pad 180, and ; also to port R of the matching cylindQr 184A which controls the other lifting pad 181. Thus, piston rods 187 and 187A will be retracted simultaneously to lower the two lifting pads 180-181 as a unit to deposit the accumulated stacks of timbers 147 onto the chains 100 o~ the chain assemblies 86 and 87 of the tie deck assembly 18. The chains lOO may then be shifted by the driving means 101 depicted in Figure 14 to transport the timbers to another location to make room for a next succeeding accumulation of timbers. De-energi~ing the solenoid 264 will permit the control valve 256 to be returned to normal, whereby pressure from line 251 will again be supplied through ports B and D of the valve, and line 256B to ports P of the . .

:. ,, . . . . - . .. - : .

1~5635~ -cylinders 184 and 184A. This will again extend the piston rods 187-187~ to re-elevate the lifting pads 180-181, line 256A providing an exhaust route from ports R of the cylinder.
184-184A to ports A and C of the valve 256.
As hereinbefore stated, the dogging tooth 143 may be reversed to permit the pull-off arms 141 and 142 in Figure 18 to o~ rate as a "push-off" assembly Referring again to --Figure 35, therefore, if the cylinder 148 is incorporated in .
an assembly 141 which is used to push rather than pull, ~hen line 253A will be connected to port R of the cylinder 148, and-line 253B will be connected to port P, whereby the piston rod 149 will move oppositely of the manner hereinbefore explained~
It will further be noted that the limit switch 156 depicted in Figures 19-20 must be repositioned whereby its whisker 157 will be actuated upon extension of the piston rod 149, rather than by retraction for pull-off purposes. Appropriately, therefore, the switch 156 may be located at the end of the small portion 141B of the assembly 141 whereby the whisker 157 may, for example, be deflected by the link bar 152 .or one of the rollers 153.
Referring n~w to Figure 36, there may be seen a simpli~ied schematic diagram illustrating the electrical circuits and con~rol switches for operating examples of the various components hereinbefore described In particular, circuitry il~us rate~ therein is representative of the circuits required to control and enexgize the roller bea section 15, the roller . ~ . . . . . . . . .
.

~ 0563S8 bed section 9, the valves 253-254 which are necessary to operate any one of the various pull-off asse~blies, the valve 255 which is required to operate any of the tie or lumber stacker sections, the motor 101 which energizes an~
one of the tie deck assemblies 16-19, and the valve 256 which operates any one of the lifting pads which may be - . found on any one of the tie deck assemblies 16-19. For eureoses o~ simplification, it will be noted that those switches represented in Figure 36 by double-dashed lines . will ~e found located in the rontrol booth 30, and those switches represented in Figure 36 by only a single dashed line will be fcund located on or adjacent~the component sought to be controlled.
Referring again to Figure 36, ~herefore, it will be seen that a master switch 271 is provided for connecting power from a suitable electrical source 270 to the circuitry which, in turn, includes a stop relay switch 272 for energizing the solenoid of the stop positioning relay 274 in any of the various stop assemblies 115 which are located ? throughout the system, and which are illustrated in Figures 15-17. Accordingly, when the relay 274 is energized, it will be seen to couple power through the first of three sets of contacts to the solenoid 260 by way of a stop override switch

2.73, and also to couple power through its second set of contacts to hold the relay 274 closed after the switch 272 is reopened. In aadition, power is connected through the . . - . . . .
-- . - - : . . .
- . . .

third set of contacts of the relay 27a to energize the motor 288, whereby ~he plate 120 is now elevated to intercept the timber 11~ being carried on the ~ollers 110 of the roller bed section 15. As hereinbefore stated, switch 129 is closed by impact of the timber 114 on the plate 120, whereby power is ~coupled through the first set o contacts of the stacker safety xelay 292 to energize the solenoid of the pull-off relay 290. Note that the pull-off relay 290 may be energized .
~at any time by the pull-off start switch 276. The pull-of ` 10 relay 290 will now close to couple power from the normally closed pull-o~f return switch 277 and the two normally closed switches 156 and 156A to be found inside the two pull-off assemblies 141-142, to latch the eull-off relay 290 closed.
Power to the solenoid of the stop positioning relay 274 will - now be broken to reopen the relay 274, and the solenoids :261-262.of .~he pull-off control valves 253-254 will now be energized to pull the timber 114 of of the roller bed ,. . . . .
section 15 and onto the lifting arms 161-163 of the tie . stac~er assembly 23. ~ote also that when the pull-off relay : 20 290 is energized, the motor 288 which ~rives the roller bed . section 15 is de-energized because of reopening of the stop control relay 274.
` As hereinbefore stated, retraction of the piston arms 149-149A will open the two switches 156-156A, there~y disconnecting power from the solenoid of the pull-off relay 290, whereby the solenoids 261-263 will be ae-energizea " , -56- ~

- . : - . ~

.
lC~S~3~ `
and the teeth of the pull-o~ asselliblies will be returned to ~heir normal position. When five ties 147 have been drawn onto the lifting arms 161-163 of the tie stacker assellibly 23, and when switch 170 has been closed, power will now pass through the approE~riate contacts o:E~ the now reclosed pull-off relay 290 and the middle contacts of the normally closed stacker safety relay 292 to energize the ~
solenoid of the stacker relay 2910 Closing this component will connect a latching circuit to the relay by way of its 10 first two contacts and the stacker limit and return swit~hes 279-280, and will connect power through its second two contacts to energize the solenoid 263 of the stacXer control valve 255. Accordingly, the lifting arms 161-163 of the tie stacker assemibly will now be elevatad.
As soon as the arms 161-163 are elevated a short.
interval, however, the stacker safety switch 281 will bs released to close its bottom contacts to energize the stacker safety relay 292. Power will now be disconnected from the soler~oid of the pull-off relay 290 to keep the pull-20 offs from operating while the lifting arm~ 161-163 of the stacker section are in an elevated position. In addition,.
E~ower is further disconnected from the coil of the stacker relay even though the switch 170 is still dosed by ~he weight of the ties 147. ~ote further that, when t~e stacker safety relay 292 is opened, the lifting pads may not be retracted even if the solenoid 264 of the pad control valve . .
. . , - - , 256 is energized by closuxe o~ the pad-down limit switch 282.
When the lifting arms 161-163 reach their full point of elevation, this will open the stacker limit switch 279 to break the latching circui~ which is holding the s~ac~er relay closed. ~ote that this same effect can be achieved, of course, by opening the stacker return control switch 280 located in the control booth 30. Power will now be removed from the solenoid 263 of the stacker control valve 255, whereby the liting arms 161-163 will be returned to their horizontal position to await arrival of the next timber being carried on the roller bed section 15. At this point, it will .
be noted that the stacker safety switch 281 is returned to its normal position, thereby breaking the circuit to the coil of the stacker safety relay 292, which will now revert to its closed position, reconnecting power to the pad-down limit switch 282. If this component has been Flosed, the solenoid 264 of the pad control valve 256 will be energized to .actuate cylinders 184-184A~ In this regard, it may be noted that solenoid 26* may be energized at any time by closure . 2 0 of the lifti~g pad control switch 283.
; As hereinbefore explained, whenever a preselected number of stacks of ties has been received on the lifting pads 18~-181, the pads-down limit switch 282 will be closed to connect power to the solenoid 264 of the pad control valve 256. The pads 180-181 will now be retracted by the cylinders 184-184A until the deck start switches 286-287 (one being , .

~ 58-: - -: :

lC~S63S8 actuated by each pad) are closed ~o couple power to the motor 101 which shi:Ets the stacks o~ ties along the tie deck asse~ly and away from the pads until the pads-down limit switch is released to de-energize solenoid 264. The pads 180-181 will then be re-elevated to release the deck start switches 286-287 and th1ls de-energize the motor 101, When a stack of ties is carried to a certain distance along the tie deck asse~bly, however, it will eventually depress and . .
close the deck limit switch 285 to disconnect power to the 10 coil of the deck safety relay 293. If the deck control switch 284 is positioned as illustrated in Figure 36, pawer .
will now be connected through the upper pa-ir of contacts o the deck safety relay 293 to ero~tide a latching circuit for this component, and power will be disconnected from the dec~
. start switches 286-287 to stop the motor 101 and thereb~ -- prevent ities from being carried of:E the end of the tie deck asse~bly. Positioning the deck control switch 284 to its . alternative l?o~3ition will break the latching circuit to the deck safety relay 293 to permit it to return to its normal 20 . position, and will also connect power to re-energize the . motor 101 as long as long as switch 284 is in its alternative ~ .
,, positionO
As may be seen in Figures 32--34,a ~pical lu~iber decl~ -asse~bly 12 will not be provided wit~h the lifting pads 180-181 which are incorporated with the tie dec}c asserr;blies In addition, ~he motor 288 which operates the roller bed section . .

, - . .
. ~ - ..
.: . . . ~, ".,.,.,.. ,.. :
. . , '- , '' ~ - .: . ' :

1056;~S~
15 will not be involved with the operation of the lumber stackers, but the lumber roller bed section 9 having motor 289 will be involved, Accordingly, the lifting arms 161A-163A of the lumber stac~er 20A depicted in Figure 32 will be elevated upon actuation or closure o~ switch 212 to again .
connect power to the relay 291, ~he same as hereinbefore described~ Actuation of the switch 129 will again close the pull-of~ relay 290 to pull a ~oard or plank onto the li~ting arms 161A-163A of the lumber stacker 20. ~ote that power is now applied through the bottom two contacts of relay 290 to energize the lumber roller bed stop relay 294 to break the energiæed circuit to the motor 289 which drives t~e roller bed section 9. When switch 212 is closed, this-will again - energize the relay 291 to again energize the solenoid 263, as herein~efore described~ As soon as switch 212 is closed, power will be connected through the stacker safety switch 281 to energize the tie dec~ motor 101, as well as to energize the stacker relay 2910 As soon as the lifting arms 161a-163A
are elevated far enough to release the stacker safety switch 281, however, power will be removed from the tie deck motor 101 ana will be connected to actuate the stacker sa~ety relay 292, Thus, the lumber dec~ assembly will be actuated to carry lumber pre~iously deposited thereon only far enough to remove it from lumber again being deposited thereon by the rising lifting arms 161A - 163Ao As hereinbefore stated, the hollow longerons 50 are not - . .

1056358 - . .
only employed to sup~ort the various modules but are also used to provide support as well as protection for electrical cables which must necessarily be extended between the components previously discussed with respect to Figure 36.
On the other hand, accass is required to these cables at points intermediate the ends of the longerons 50, and also provision must be had for connecting other similar aucts - to the longerons 50 at selected locations between their ends.
Referring now to Figures 37-39, there may be seen pictorial illustrations of apparatus which has been found particularly suitable for this purpose. Referring more especially to Figure 37, there may be seen an exemplary form of duct assembly 300 whi~h includes a junction box 301 adapted to be interconnected between an aperture 305 (see Figure 38) in the bottom of the longeron 50 and a rectangular- :
duct extending at right angles to the longeron 50. More .~ especially, the junction box 301 may be seen to be provided with curvilinear surfaces 302 to support the cables 310 contained therein against deformation or damage, such surfaces 20 or curvilinear wall portions 302 being con~eniently pr~vided ,~ by taking a one-fourth round section of the wall of a m~tal .~ tube or the like of proper radiusO The junction box 301 may be seen to be interconnected with an inverted short saddl~
~: 51 which, as hereinbefore described, may be c~nnected with ,~ the longeron 50 by means o~ U-tie bolts 54 and sleeves 76.
.j .
Referrin~ now to Figure 38, it may be seen that access , .

1056358 ' may be had to the cables which transfer from the junction box 301 to the longeron 50, either by disconnecting the U-tie bolts 54 and removing the ~unction box 301 from the longeron 50, or by removing the access door 303 which is connected to the end of the junction box 301 by means of screws 304 or other suitable fasteners.
. As indicated in Figures 37-38, provision,may be required for connecting an extension duct 306 to the duct 308 'at an angle less than 90. This may be conveniently ef~ected by providing a pair-of pipe sections 307 to the sides of an aperture in the duct 308, and by thereafter welding the extension 306 to the pipe sections 307. The advantage of ~:
employing pipe sections 307 in this manner is that their sur~aces are rounded to protect the cables from abrasion, and thus similar components may conveniently be used at the aperture 305 in the longeron 50O
Referring now to Figure 39, there may be seen a pictorial representation of the components which secure and protect electrical cables 310 when extending out of a duct 308 or the ~ike. More particularly it will be noted that brackets 311:lmay be secured to spaced-apart edges of the end of the - -duct 308, and may also be,pro~ided with threaded apertures for receiving ~he screws 304. me opening in the end of the 'duct 308 is preferably closed by a pair of plates 312-313, each of'which has a screw aperture 315 for matching the hole in the brackets 311, and which is also provided with one or - - .. : -. , , . ~

105~5~
more spaced-apart circular recesses 316. Accordingly, when the plates 312-313 are secured to the end of the duct 308 by the screws 304, the end of the duct 308 will be closed except for one or more holes formed by the matching recesses 316. Thus, one or more suitable couplings 314 are preferably provided in the recesses 316 to fixedly secure cables passing out of the duct 308 in the manner depicted in Pigure 38 ~ote also that means such as the plates 312-313 may be employed instead of the access door 303 in Figure 38.
Referring again to Figure 14, it will be noted that the elevation and tilt of the rails 39 of the nose section 3 should be xather precisely established in order that a sawlog 98 will roll properly onto the deck of the carriage 27.
-Accordingly, a plurality of shims 225 and the like are preferably included as a part of the nose section 3, whereby the positioning of this module may, from time to time, be selectively convenient.
Referring again to Figure 4, it will be not~d that-lumber deck assembly 12 is depicted as straddling two longerons 50, 20 Such an assembly may be constructed to straddle or rest on three or more longerons 50 to accommodate bo4rds of greater leng~h, of course, without departing from the concept of the present invention. In this regard, the log deck assemdaly 2, the nose section 3, and the other modules of the system may be similarly adapted.
The concept of a modular-1:ype sawmill depends, of course, ' iO5635~ '-on the definition of the term "module." As used herein, therefore, a module is any component of the systém which, like the nose section 3 and log deck section 2, is both self-contained and independently operable. Accordingly, the components described and depicted herein, which are considered to be modules are the log deck section 2, the nose section 3, the carriage and saw section 6, the conveyor assembly as hereinafter described, each of the two lumber ~eck assemblies 12-13, the transfer deck assembly 22, and each of the tie deck assemblies 16-19. The conveyor assembly is composed of the two roller bed sections 9-10 and the conveyor belt section 11, the various triple legs 200 interconnected therein, the stop assemblies 145 in the triple legs 200, and the flip board sections 7-80 The ~ull-off assemblies 20A-21A, and other like components, are also a part of the conveyor assembly inasmuch as ~hey are su~ported by the triple legs 200 rather than being dis~osed on longerons 50~ Similarly, the lumber stac~er sections 20-21 and the tie stacker sections 23-26 are ~art of the lumber deck and tie deck assemblies 12-13 and 16-19, respectively, since they are mounted on these components rather than on longerons 50 as self-contained modules.
Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, it should be noted that the log deck assembly 2, the two lumber deck assembiies - 12-13, the trans~er deck assembly 22, and the our tie deck assemblies 16-19 are all basically the same in design~ Any dif~erences such as the tie stackers 23-26 are additions only, and thus all of these components are basically interchangeable.
It will be apparent from the foregoing that many other variations and modifications may be made in the structures described herein without substantially departing from the - basic concept of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be clearly understood that the forms of the invention described herein and depicted in the accompanying drawings are exemplary only and are not intended as limitations in ~h- sc of tbe pres-n~ t}on.

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Claims (27)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A support and coupling member for interconnecting structures comprising, in combination:

first and second spaced-apart upright leg bracket mem-bers, each member having an upper end and a lower end, a saddle element connected to said lower ends of said bracket members, a first pair of support arms connected to the upper end of each said leg bracket members, a second pair of support arms connected to the upper end of each said leg bracket members, and a third pair of support arms connected to the upper end of each said leg bracket members.

2. The support and coupling member described in Claim 1, and including an angle rest member connected to the upper end of at least one of said leg bracket members.

3. The support and coupling member described in Claim 2, and wherein at least one of said leg bracket members is vertically slotted.

4. The support and coupling member described in Claim 3, and including at least one pulley slidably mounted in the slot of said one leg bracket member.

5. The support and coupling member described in Claim 4, and wherein there is provided a second pulley slidably mounted in said slot.

6. The support and coupling member described in Claim 5, and including means for locking said pulleys in said slot.

7. The support and coupling member described in Claim 6, and wherein said saddle element includes at least one sleeve member.

8. The support and coupling member described in Claim 7, wherein said saddle element is substantially U-shaped in configuration.

9. The support and coupling member described in Claim 8 and including a pair of vertically extending support members spaced between said bracket members.

10. The support and coupling member described in Claim 9 wherein said third pair of support arms are U-shaped in configuration.

11. The support and coupling member described in Claim 1 and including at least one pulley slidably mounted in a slot formed in at least one of said leg bracket members.

12. The support and coupling member described in Claim 11, and including a second pulley slidably mounted in said slot.

13. The support and coupling member described in Claim 12, and including means for locking said pulleys in said slot.

14. The support and coupling member described in Claim 13, and wherein said saddle element includes at least one sleeve member.

15. The support and coupling member described in Claim 14, wherein said saddle element is substantially U-shaped in configuration.

16. The support and coupling member described in Claim 11, and including a first pair of support arms connected to the upper end of each said leg bracket members.

17. The support and coupling member described in Claim 16, and including a second pair of support arms connected to the upper end of each said leg bracket members.

18. The support and coupling member described in Claim 17, and including a third pair of support arms connected to the upper end of each said leg bracket members.

19. The support and coupling member described in Claim 18, and including an angle rest member connected to the upper end of at least one of said leg bracket members.

20. The support and coupling member described in Claim 15, and including a first pair of support arms connected to the upper end of each said leg bracket members.

21. The support and coupling member described in Claim 20, and including a second pair of support arms connected to the upper end of each said leg bracket members.

22. The support and coupling member described in Claim 21, and including a third pair of support arms connected to the upper end of each said leg bracket members.

23. The support and coupling member described in Claim 22, and including an angle rest member connected to the upper end of at least one of said leg bracket members.

24. The support and coupling member described in Claim 23 and including a pair of vertically extending support members spaced between said bracket members.

25. The support and coupling member described in Claim 24 wherein said third pair of support arms are U-shaped in configuration.

26. A junction member for interconnecting structures and functions in a sawmill, comprising:
first and second spaced-apart leg bracket portions, each having an upper portion formed to support transfer devices having transfer axis aligned therewith;
a saddle-like element interconnected with and supporting lower end of said leg bracket portions; and an inverted saddle-like member centrally disposed across and interconnecting upper ends of said leg bracket portions; and at least one pulley slidably mounted in a vertical slot formed in at least one of said leg bracket members.

27. A junction member for interconnecting structures and functions in a sawmill, comprising:
first and second spaced-apart leg bracket portions, each having an upper portion formed to support transfer devices having transfer axis aligned therewith;
a saddle-like element interconnected with and supporting the lower ends of said leg bracket portions;
an inverted saddle-like member centrally disposed across and interconnecting the upper ends of said leg bracket portions; and a plurality of vertical mounting members each having one extremity interconnected to said saddle-like element and the remaining extremity interconnected to said inverted saddle-like member.