EP2934835A1

EP2934835A1 - A machine for splitting wood

Info

Publication number: EP2934835A1
Application number: EP12824868.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Eros Gozzi
Original assignee: Krea Srl
Current assignee: Krea Srl
Priority date: 2012-12-21
Filing date: 2012-12-21
Publication date: 2015-10-28
Also published as: WO2014097333A1

Abstract

Machine for splitting wood, comprising: a work bench (2), arranged to support a piece of wood; a first abutment (3), slidably mobile along a direction of work (X) between a first position and a second position; a wedge (4) integral with the work bench (2) and arranged along the direction of work (X); a hydraulic cylinder (5), whose stem (51) is connected to the first abutment (3) to move the first abutment (3) along the direction of work (X); a supply circuit, connected to the hydraulic cylinder (5) and arranged to be connected to a pump; an operator fluid, circulating along the supply circuit. The operator fluid is water.

Description

TITLE

A Machine for splitting wood

DESCRIPTION

Technical Field

The present invention refers to a machine for splitting wood.

The invention refers in particular to a machine for splitting wood for domestic use.

Portable devices of contained dimensions for splitting pieces of wood into fragments of smaller dimensions are currently available on the market. Such devices comprise a work bench, arranged to support a piece of wood, on which a wedge operates. This wedge is operated slidably on the work bench by a hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder is connected to a circuit, powered by a pump, along which an operator liquid flows consisting of mineral oil.

Devices of the known type therefore need a dedicated pump and a closed circuit connected to the pump and supplied with mineral oil. The overall cost and dimensions of devices of the known type are therefore affected by the necessary presence of the dedicated pump. Furthermore, the mineral oil necessary for operation must be periodically replaced due to the inevitable leaks that arise along the supply circuit, with consequent risks of environmental contamination.

The object of the present invention is to offer a machine for splitting wood that allows the disadvantages of the devices currently available to be overcome.

An advantage of the machine for splitting wood according to the present invention is that it does not require the presence of a pump dedicated exclusively to its operation.

Another advantage of the machine for splitting wood according to the present invention is that it does not require the use of mineral oil for its operation.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention in question, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the attached figures wherein:

Figure 1 shows a first axonometric view of the machine according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a second axonometric view of the machine according to the present invention, in a second operative configuration;

Figure 3 shows the machine of Figure 1 in a further operative configuration;

Figure 4 shows a version of the machine according to the present invention, wherein a work bench (2) is oriented vertically.

The machine for splitting wood according to the present invention comprises a support frame (10), provided with four support feet. At the ends of two support feet two wheels (11) are located rotatable about a common axis of rotation. A work bench (2) is associated with the support frame (10). Such work bench is arranged to support a piece of wood to be split. The work bench (2) extends longitudinally along a direction of work (X) and is provided with lateral sides (21), located on opposite sides of the direction of work (X), which project above the work bench (2) itself to laterally contain any movements of the piece of wood to be split.

The machine for splitting wood further comprises a first abutment (3), slidably mobile along a direction of work (X) between a first position and a second position with a work stroke and a return stroke. The first abutment (3) is associated with the stem (51) of a hydraulic cylinder (5), which is in turn associated with the support frame (10). The hydraulic cylinder (5) is arranged parallel to the direction of work (X) and, through the extension and shortening of its stem (51), is arranged to move the first abutment (3) along the direction of work (X).

A wedge (4) is integral with the work bench (2) and is arranged along the direction of work (X). The wedge (4) has an operative edge (41) facing towards the first abutment (3). The operation of the machine for splitting wood envisages placing the piece of wood to be split onto the work bench (2), in an intermediate position between the first abutment (3) and the wedge (4). Subsequently the first abutment (3) is operated slidably along the direction of work (X) in the work stroke from the first position, in which it is at a longer distance from the wedge (4), towards the second position, in which it is at a shorter distance from the wedge (4). Moving from the first towards the second position the first abutment (3) presses the piece of wood into contact with the wedge (4) and in particular with the operative edge (41) that penetrates into the piece of wood causing it to fracture. Subsequently the first abutment performs the return stroke during which it moves from the second position towards the first position. In an alternative solution it is the wedge (4), instead of the first abutment (3), to be associated with the stem (51) of the hydraulic cylinder (5). In that case it is the wedge (4) that moves along the direction of work (X) while the first abutment (3) stays still.

The machine for splitting wood further comprises a supply circuit, connected to the hydraulic cylinder (5) and arranged to be connected to a pump (7). In particular the supply circuit comprises a first conduit (101), connected to the chamber of the bottom of the hydraulic cylinder (5), and a second conduit (102), connected to the chamber of the stem of the hydraulic cylinder (5). In a known way for a person skilled in the art, the supply of liquid under pressure to the first conduit (101) causes the extension of the stem (51) and, consequently, the movement of the first abutment (3) from the first towards the second position. The supply of a liquid under pressure to the second conduit (102) causes the shortening of the stem (51) and the consequent stroke of the first abutment (3) from the second towards the first position.

The hydraulic cylinder (5) is operated by an operator liquid, circulating along the supply circuit (101 , 102). As already mentioned in the introductory part of the description, in machines for splitting wood of the known type the operator liquid consists of oil. The applicant has surprisingly discovered that the oil can be advantageously replaced by water. In other words, in the machine for splitting wood according to the present invention the operator fluid is water.

The use of water instead of oil as an operator liquid offers important advantages. First of all, the power required of the pump to produce sufficient pressure for the effective operation of the machine, that is, to produce sufficient pressure to generate a sufficient force to split pieces of wood, is lower with respect to the power required of the pump if the operator liquid is oil. This is because water subject to pressure has a much lower reduction in volume with respect to oil. In particular, the machine according to the present invention operates perfectly with a common pump for domestic use, powered with a voltage of 220V. The machine for splitting wood can be combined, for example with a high pressure water jet machine again for domestic use. Alternatively, the machine may be equipped with its own pump (7) which can be powered with a domestic voltage of 220V offering the same performance as an oil-operated machine powered at 380V.

Advantageously the wedge (4) is interchangeable with a second abutment (6). As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the wedge (4) and the abutment (6) can be associated with the work bench (2) by means of two lateral guides (22) that project horizontally at least partially above the work bench (2). The wedge (4) and the abutment (6) are provided with a support base (42, 62) that is partially inserted below the lateral guides (22) so that a prismatic coupling is defined. The lateral guides (22) prevent the wedge (4) and the second abutment (6) from being able to turn about an axis perpendicular to the direction of work (X) and being able to move in a perpendicular direction to the direction of work (X). A removable stop, not illustrated in detail, is provided to prevent any movements of the wedge (4) and of the second abutment (6) also in a parallel direction to the direction of work (X). The wedge (4) and the second abutment (6) can be interchanged with one another by simply removing the removable stop and extracting one or the other from the lateral guides (22) with a sliding movement parallel to the direction of work (X). By replacing the wedge (4) with the second abutment (6) it is possible to use the machine according to the present invention as a locking vice. A piece of wood can be locked firmly between the abutments (3, 6) to be cut with another tool, for example a chain saw.

Advantageously, the work bench (2) is inclinable about a horizontal axis of adjustment (Y). The axis of adjustment (Y) is perpendicular to the direction of work (X). Removable locking means, not illustrated in detail since they are accessible to a technician in the field, are arranged to prevent the rotation of the work bench (2) about the axis of adjustment (Y). The work bench (2) can be oriented in a desired position about the axis of adjustment (Y), after removing the locking means. Once the desired position has been reached, the work bench (2) can be locked by restoring the locking means. The inclination of the work bench (2) is useful to facilitate the loading and unloading of the pieces of wood. By way of example, the work bench (2) could be arranged vertically, as shown in Figure 4, so as to facilitate the loading of particularly heavy pieces of wood.

The machine further comprises a tank (8) for water, placed in communication with the cylinder (5). The tank (8) is preferably located below the work bench (2), so as to contain the overall dimensions of the machine. In particular, the tank (8) is connected to the cylinder (5) through a third conduit (103) of the supply circuit. The third conduit (103) is connected to a hydraulic distributor (106) to which, at one of its ends, the first and the second conduits (101 , 102) are also connected. The tank (8) is also connected to the supply pump (7) through a fourth conduit (104) of the supply circuit. The pump (7), at the inlet, is connected to the distributor (106) through a fifth conduit (105). In a known way, the distributor (105) determines whether the pump (7), which takes the water from the tank (8) through the fourth conduit (104), sends the water under pressure to the first or the second conduit (101 , 102) so as to control the extension or shortening of the stem (51) of the cylinder (5). The conduit (101 , 102) to which the water under pressure is not sent from the pump (7) acts as a return conduit to the tank (8).

Advantageously a tray (9) is arranged in proximity to the wedge (4) on the opposite part with respect to the first abutment (3). The tray (9) is substantially coplanar to the work bench (2) and is arranged downstream of the wedge (4) in the work stroke of the first abutment (3). Preferably the tray (9) is connected removably to the work bench (2), so that it can be removed when not being used. The tray (9) is provided with raised lateral sides (91), arranged to facilitate the lateral containment of the fragments of wood. Advantageously the tray (9) can be associated with the work bench (2) with an orientation aligned with the direction of work (X), as shown in Figure 1 , to collect and support the fragments of wood produced at the end of the work stroke of the first abutment (3) from splitting the piece of wood by the wedge (4). Alternatively the tray (9) can be associated with a work bench (2) oriented perpendicular to the direction of work (X) and located alongside the second abutment (6), as shown in Figure 2. In such a configuration the tray (9) is useful to support a larger piece of wood gripped in a vice between the first and the second abutments (3, 6), so as to enable cutting by means of another tool, for example, a chain saw or a manual saw.

The machine for splitting wood according to the present invention offers important advantages.

First of all, the use of water as the operator liquid makes the machine cheaper and simpler to handle and use. The use of water, in fact, requires less energy expenditure for operating the machine, hence it is possible to use pumps for normal domestic use. If the machine is provided with its own pump, it can be powered with the normal domestic power of 220V. Furthermore, the machine's own pump can also be used as a high pressure water jet machine. Another important advantage of the machine is represented by the lower ecological impact, connected with the absence of mineral oils or other oils.

Claims

1) Machine for splitting wood, comprising: a work bench (2), arranged to support a piece of wood; a first abutment (3), slidably mobile along a direction of work (X) between a first position and a second position; a wedge (4) integral with the work bench (2) and arranged along the direction of work (X); a hydraulic cylinder (5), whose stem (51) is connected to the first abutment (3) to move the first abutment (3) along the direction of work (X); a supply circuit, connected to the hydraulic cylinder (5) and arranged to be connected to a pump; an operator fluid, circulating along the supply circuit (101 , 102); characterised in that the operator fluid is water.

2) Machine for splitting wood according to claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises a tank (8) for water, placed in communication with the cylinder (5).

3) Machine for splitting wood according to claim 1 , comprising a pump (7), placed in communication with the cylinder (5) by means of a hydraulic distributor (106).

4) Machine according to the previous claims, wherein the supply circuit comprises: a first conduit (101), connected to the chamber of the bottom of the hydraulic cylinder (5); a second conduit (102), connected to the chamber of the stem of the hydraulic cylinder (5); a third conduit (103) that connects the tank (8) to the cylinder (5) through the distributor (106); a fourth conduit (104) that connects the tank (8) with the suction of the pump (7); a fifth conduit (105) that connects the inlet of the pump (7) with the distributor (106).

5) Machine for splitting wood according to claim 1 , wherein the wedge (4) is interchangeable with a second abutment (6).

6) Machine for splitting wood according to claim 1 , wherein the work bench (2) is inclinable about a horizontal axis of adjustment (Y), locking means being arranged to prevent the rotation of the work bench (2) about the axis of adjustment (Y). 7) Machine for splitting wood according to claim 1 , comprising a tray (9) arranged in proximity to the wedge (4) or to the second abutment (6).

8) Machine for splitting wood according to claim 7, wherein the tray (9) is associated with the work bench (2), with an orientation aligned with the direction of work (X), in proximity to the wedge (4) on the opposite part of the first abutment (3).

9) Machine for splitting wood according to claim 7, wherein the tray (9) is associated with the work bench (2), with a perpendicular orientation to the direction of work (X), alongside the second abutment (6).

10) Machine for splitting wood according to claim 1 , wherein the stem (51) of the hydraulic cylinder (5) is connected to the wedge (4) instead of to the first abutment (3), to move the wedge (4) along the direction of work (X).