EP3332931B1 - Wood splitter for mobile use - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a log splitter for mobile use according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a log splitter is from the WO2012 / 069801 A1 known.

The invention further relates to a method for severing branches with the log splitter.

From the FR 2 524 372 A1 is a wood splitter with a bottom and a connecting element projecting vertically upward from the floor. A guide rod for a riving knife can be inserted into the connecting element. The US 5,535,795 A. also relates to a log splitter with a bottom, with two projecting connecting elements, which together form a linear guide for a splitting device. More log splitters are from the US 4,211,264 A , the DE 20 2011 109238 U1 , the US 6 453 958 B1 , the WO 03/097311 A1 and the US 4,429,727 known.

A first aspect relates to a log splitter for mobile use, the log splitter comprising a guide tube, a riving knife and a shaped steel. The guide tube can have a round shape, oval or polygonal in a sectional view transverse to its longitudinal axis. The guide tube preferably has a rectangular, in particular a square, sectional view. The shaped steel can, for example, be an insert which can be inserted into the guide tube and / or connected to the guide tube. The log splitter can furthermore have a guide tube extension which can be connected to the guide tube in order to increase a drop height of the riving knife. At the same time, the guide tube extension can serve to reduce the pack size of the log splitter.

The log splitter comprises a base plate with an underside, with which the base plate stands on a subsurface, and an upper side, and three essentially vertically projecting connecting elements from the upper side, one of the connecting elements being prepared, with an axial end of the guide tube, preferably with the axial end of the extension to be connected. The further connecting elements are each prepared to receive a further guide tube, each additional guide tube being prepared to be connected to a support wheel.

The riving knife is prepared to be connected to the guide tube or is movably connected to the guide tube. In the connected state, the riving knife can be moved along the guide tube in the axial direction of the guide tube.

The insert or shaped steel can be a square steel or in particular a round steel. The shaped steel can be Be shaped over the axial end of the guide tube protruding end, for example pointed, that it can easily penetrate into a preferably soft surface, such as the ground. In order to insert the shaped steel of the log splitter into a chopping stick or a tree stump, it is advantageous if the chopping stick or the tree stick has an opening for the shaped steel. Such an opening can be made in the wood, for example, by means of a drill with the aid of a drill, outdoors using a drill with a rechargeable battery. The diameter of the bore is preferably chosen so that the shaped steel has no or only very little play in the bore.

The riving knife can be connected to a slide or can be formed with the slide in one part. The carriage moves the riving knife along the guide tube and can preferably be releasably fixed in predetermined positions on the guide tube and, if appropriate, on the guide tube extension. If the riving knife and the carriage are separate components and the riving knife can be connected to the carriage, this can mean that the carriage has an opening into which the riving knife can be inserted. The riving knife inserted into the opening can be secured in the carriage in a known manner in order to prevent the riving knife from accidentally coming loose from the carriage, in particular during the splitting process. It is preferred that the riving knife is so firmly connected to the slide that little or no energy loss occurs due to relative movements between the slide and the riving knife when the riving knife hits the object to be split.

In order to support sliding of the slide on the guide tube and to prevent the slide from tilting on the guide tube, the slide can comprise a bearing. Ball bearings, needle bearings or barrel bearings can be used as bearings, but the bearing is preferably a plain bearing. Graphite can be used as the sliding material, or a suitable plastic or a preferably hardened metal, such as bronze, aluminum, brass, suitable alloys, which preferably comprise at least one of these metals, ceramic or another suitable material, the suitability of which is known to the person skilled in the art as a sliding material , The carriage can also have a lubrication system with one Include grease nipples in order to be able to lubricate the bearing of the slide from the outside.

In order to be able to insert pieces of wood of different lengths into the log splitter, the slide can preferably be locked at different heights on the guide tube. A latch with a pretensioned latch element, which can be released with one hand, can be used for locking, for example.

In order to be able to act on the splitting wedge with, for example, a known splitting hammer, one side of the splitting wedge facing away from the wedge tip is flat and forms a first striking plate. If the splitting hammer is a splitting hammer with a plastic attachment, the splitting hammer can be used to strike directly on the first striking plate, which is usually made of steel. If the splitting hammer is a steel splitting hammer without a plastic covering, a flat contact surface for the splitting hammer on the splitting wedge is preferably formed by a further striking plate, which can be connected, for example, to the splitting wedge or its side forming a striking plate, or to that Riving knife is connected. The connection with the riving knife is chosen in such a way that the further striking plate can be easily connected to the riving knife by hand and removed from the riving knife if, for example, the further striking plate is worn or damaged, or a splitting hammer with a plastic insert is used.

The connection can be, for example, a plug-in connection or a click connection, the connection can be by means of a positive connection, non-positive connection or a combination of these and other known connection techniques that are easy to produce and to solve by hand. The further striking plate is preferably secured in or on the riving knife by pins which can have an end with a thread which can be screwed into a mating thread in the riving knife by hand. Known alternative fuses that prevent the pins from falling out during use and transport of the log splitter are included in the scope of the invention.

The further striking plate can be formed from a wood, a soft metal or from plastic. The further striking plate is preferably formed from a plastic, for example from a polyamide such as PA6 or a composite material with comparable properties. With the riving knife, further striking plates with different thicknesses can be used, for example to increase the shock absorption and / or to lengthen the riving knife.

The carriage can comprise a second striking plate which can be connected to the carriage corresponding to the first striking plate and can be made of the same material as the first striking plate. Another striking plate can also be removably connected or connectable to the second striking plate. In order to optimize the storage of replacement striking plates, it is advantageous if the other striking plates are of identical design.

With regard to the guide tube, the second striking plate can be arranged opposite the first striking plate, that is to say the guide tube runs between the first striking plate and the second striking plate in the case of carriages connected to the guide tube and first striking plate formed by the riving knife or second striking plate connected to the carriage ,

In a side view of the vertical log splitter, it is advantageous if the second striking plate is arranged higher than the first splitting plate relative to the guide tube. The carriage is preferably shaped such that a force which acts on the second striking plate is transmitted to the riving knife essentially without loss. The second striking plate can be used in particular for power transmission to the riving knife if the riving knife with the first striking plate has completely penetrated a wood to be split.

The first striking plate and / or the second striking plate can be conventional steel striking plates. Support structures are also included, for example, which alone cannot be used or serve as a striking plate, but are prepared to be connected to a further striking plate, as described in this document.

For inexperienced users, an essentially V-shaped guide aid for the percussion instrument, such as a folded spring steel sheet, can be provided, which can be inserted between the side of the splitting wedge facing away from the piece of wood and the first striking plate and / or the bearing surface and the second striking plate. The arms of the spring steel sheet extend beyond the respective striking plate towards the sky and form a kind of funnel which guides the striking element, for example the splitting hammer or another percussion instrument with which the striking plates can be struck, towards the striking plate. The free ends of the spring steel sheet can be shaped so that they do not form an open edge that can be hit with the striking element. The free ends can, for example, preferably be bent outwards or designed as a folded fold. The spring steel sheet can be easily removed when it is no longer needed.

The carriage can comprise at least one handle to move the carriage with the riving knife by hand along the guide tube in an upward direction. The slide preferably comprises two handles which can be detachably connected to the slide, for example inserted or screwed into prepared bores or threaded bores. The handle or handles can be plastic coated.

In addition to the slide, a weight can be connected in a similar or identical manner to the guide tube, the guide tube extension. The weight preferably comprises a handle, like the sled, and can be arranged above the sled as seen from the piece of wood. The weight can be fixed to the guide tube regardless of the slide and can be released from the guide tube independently of the slide. For splitting, the weight and the slide can jointly perform the first splitting stroke by both sliding down along the guide tube. The weight can then be moved by hand along the guide tube in a direction away from the slide and locked in preferred positions on the guide tube. If the weight is released, it falls through the guide tube due to its weight on the splitting wedge already in the object to be split and drives it into the wood to be split. The weight can be like a sled Include slide bearings to prevent weight from canting and to reduce noise. The weight can include a fixed or removable handle, similar to the sled, or the handle / handles for the sled can also be used for the weight. The weight can be formed in such a way that it can be placed on the guide tube in two positions, in a first position in which it interacts with the riving knife or the first striking plate, and in a second position in which it interacts with the second striking plate ,

The log splitter has a base plate with an underside, with which the base plate can stand on a base, and an upper side. The base plate can be formed from a steel sheet. A connecting element can protrude essentially vertically from the upper side, the connecting element being designed to be connected to an axial end of the guide tube, preferably the axial end of the insert with the tip. According to the invention, the base plate comprises three or more connecting elements. The connecting elements can in particular be hollow profiles that are welded, screwed or otherwise firmly and preferably permanently connected to the top of the base plate.

The base plate can have a round, rectangular, in particular square or any shaped surface. The base plate is preferably flat. The corners can be rounded and / or a peripheral edge of the base plate can be bent or flanged to the top or to the bottom in order to reduce the risk of injury from the log splitter. A connecting element can protrude upward from the top of the base plate and is designed to receive the guide tube or a free end of the shaped steel or the insert.

The top of the base plate can also have a structure on which a wooden part to be split rests and which reduces a contact surface of the wooden part on the base plate. The structure can be formed by at least one longitudinal and / or cross strut, which were produced by embossing the base plate or which is a separate component made of metal, plastic or wood, which is connected to the base plate. The strut (s) or the web (s) can be tapered, angular or rounded on their upper side pointing away from the base plate. The structure can also be knob-shaped or needle-shaped in order to additionally fix the wooden part to be split on the base plate.

The surface of the base plate between the struts or webs can be covered with a rubber mat, a height of the rubber mat perpendicular to the surface of the base plate corresponding to a height of the struts or webs, so that the base plate forms a flat support surface. As a result, the force with which the wedge is acted upon is transmitted to the web (s) and the material to be split can dip into the rubber with outer edges. This advantageously prevents the force of the wedge from being transmitted to the outer edges when the wedge penetrates the material, as a result of which part of the splitting effect would be lost due to a change in the contact angle of the material.

The underside can also have a structure that can penetrate a soft surface, for example, to give the log splitter a secure stand. The base plates can also have openings so that no liquid can collect on the top of the base plate and / or in order to fix the log splitter in the soft base by means of anchors.

In order to reduce the load on the slide bearing, a spring element can be provided that is arranged between the guide tube and the base plate or the connecting element. The spring element can be a spring-elastic solid body or a spring element that comprises a spring, in particular a spiral spring. The spring element can be supported with an axial end on an end of the guide tube facing the floor and with the other axial end on a free end of the connecting element which receives the shaped steel or its free end.

The log splitter has at least two further connecting elements, each of which can accommodate a further guide tube. With the other guide tubes can be identical hollow profiles. At least one of the further guide tubes can form the guide tube extension, which is preferably connected to the guide tube only after the wood splitter has been set up at the place of use. What has been said about the guide tube applies accordingly to the shape of the other guide tubes. The other guide tubes are arranged on the base plate in such a way that they can each be connected to a support wheel so that the log splitter can be easily transported to the place of use on foot if the place of use cannot be reached directly by a vehicle. In order to be able to move the log splitter easily with the support wheels, the handles of the slide already described can serve as handles for the log splitter in transport mode in a second function.

The support wheels can preferably be connected to the log splitter without tools, for example by means of a plug-in connection with a snap pin lock or another quick-change system known. Depending on the accessibility of the place of use, the tires can be off-road tires, twin tires, triple tires or wide tires. Additional wheels can be attached laterally to the base plate of the log splitter and / or, for example, connected in the middle via an axle to a bearing below the base plate or at the edge of the base plate that is closest to the guide tube. At least one of the wheels, in particular the wheels arranged laterally on the base plate, can be connected to the base plate at different heights, for example to compensate for a slope.

Alternatively, the log splitter can comprise an additional handle construction that connects the guide tube and the further guide tube (s) to one another. As a result, the force necessary for pulling or pushing the log splitter with or without loading is distributed to the two or preferably three guide tubes, as a result of which a more stable construction of the log splitter is achieved in the transport mode.

A side arm can also be connected to the further guide tube, wherein the side arm can be moved in a guided manner along the further guide tube. Preferably, the side arm on the further guide tube in several preferably predetermined positions are determined. The side arm projects substantially horizontally from the guide tube and runs essentially parallel to the base plate, preferably parallel to the top of the base plate and parallel to an outer edge of a rectangular base plate, and transverse to a cutting edge of the riving knife.

An extended side arm can be connected to the side arm, which can be moved along the side arm and fixed in several preferred positions on the side arm. The extended side arm, when connected to the side arm, stands horizontally from the side arm. The side arm and the extended side arm can lie essentially in a common plane which runs parallel to the plane of the base plate. The expanded side arm can protrude from the side arm essentially at a right angle and run parallel to the cutting edge of the riving knife.

Fixing elements, such as claws, needle-shaped projections, etc., can be formed or attached to the extended side arm, which can hold a wood to be split with the splitting wedge for splitting. At the same time, the side arm and the extended side arm can prevent the pieces of wood produced by the splitting of the wood from tipping to the side in an uncontrolled manner or from flying away to the side due to the force of the splitting. This makes work easier and reduces the risk of injury to people in the vicinity of the log splitter.

Since the side arm on the further guide tube can be adjusted in height, and the extended side arm can be adjusted along the side arm, a space can be defined by the side arms and the extended side arms, which space can be adapted to the size of the piece of wood to be split.

The further guide tubes, side arms and / or further side arms can have fastening elements, such as eyelets, in order to be able to fix a load which stands on the base plate, for example by means of lashing straps, for transport.

Since it is an object of the invention that the log splitter can be assembled and disassembled by hand as simply as possible, it is preferred if all of the connections described above for assembling the log splitter can be released by hand. The connections of the profiles with or without a locking function can be easily made, for example, using wing screws that are screwed into a thread that is encompassed by one of the parts to be connected. Alternatively, split pins or bayonet fasteners can be used, or other secure quick connectors suitable for the purpose and well known to those skilled in the art.

The splitting wedge can have a tip made of a first metal, for example a hardened weldable steel such as Hardox®, and a wedge adjoining the tip made of a second material different from the first material, for example ST 37. The tip can be wedge-shaped, the tip preferably comprises an area facing the wedge with parallel outer surfaces. This means that the wedge tip is knife-shaped at least in some areas in order to have a good cutting effect. This cutting effect can be particularly advantageous when shortening branches. The log splitter can also include a first wedge for splitting and a second wedge with the knife function.

In order to be able to use the wood splitter to produce kindling from, for example, boards, the splitting wedge, which is preferably guided on the guide tube, can comprise a preferably removable handle, so that the splitting wedge can be guided directly by hand. The handle can be inserted into an opening in the riving knife and preferably be fixed in the connected state against unwanted loosening by the pins fixing the further striking plate on the riving knife. Other fuses that those skilled in the art can easily find are within the scope of the invention.

The log splitter can further comprise a support block made of a metal or a plastic or a composite material, which can be placed on the top of the base plate in order to reduce the contact area for the piece of wood to be split. The top of the base plate or its structure can be formed so that the support block is secured against slipping when it rests on the top of the base plate. The support block is advantageous, for example, for shortening branches.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a method for severing branches, which can be carried out with the log splitter described above. In the process, the support block is first placed on the top of the base plate. Then the branch to be cut is placed on the support block and fixed on the support block by means of the extended side arm (s) or their fixing elements. The branch is then cut with a chainsaw or with a riving knife with or without the knife-shaped tip.

The branches do not lie on the floor or the base plate, which protects a chain of the chain saw and at the same time allows the sawing operator to adopt a more ergonomic posture than branches lying on the floor.

The log splitter according to the invention is a useful alternative to splitting with an ax. The speed of work and occupational safety are blatantly increased. Since the riving knife is guided and the wood to be split is fixed, there is no need to hold the wood by hand, which practically eliminates hand injuries. In addition, by guiding the riving knife, the riving knife will always hit the piece of wood to be split at the exact same location, without failures or scattering of the blows, as when using an ax. The strenuous lifting and turning of the wood with the ax is no longer necessary, and the sawing of a slot by means of a chain saw in the run-up to splitting can also be omitted. This protects the back of the operator and the body of the operator of the ax is not subjected to the forces of the blow and kickback.

Hitting steel on steel is prohibited due to the material splintering that occurs and the resulting risk of injury in accordance with the applicable safety regulations (UW der GUV). The log splitter according to the invention preferably comprises a high-quality, large and very easily exchangeable striking plate, which further improves work safety can be. The further striking plate can in particular be formed from a plastic. Any steel splitting hammer that may be present can continue to be used. If a splitting hammer with plastic inserts is available, the wood splitter can be used without the additional striking plates.

• ❖ effektive Spaltwirkung durch die Form des Keils und der gegenüber einer Axt größeren Masse;
• ❖ einfache Bedienung;
• ❖ geringe Betriebskosten;
• ❖ keine Umweltverschmutzung durch zum Beispiel Treibstoff oder Hydrauliköl;
• ❖ Langlebigkeit, preiswerte Ersatzteile;
• ❖ kleine Abmessungen, geringes Gewicht;
• ❖ einfach zerlegbar und zusammensetzbar ohne den Einsatz von Werkzeug;
• ❖ Verwendung mit und ohne Hackstock;
• ❖ geringe Geräuschentwicklung.

Further advantages which can be achieved by the log splitter according to the invention compared to, for example, a comparable motor-operated log splitter:

• ❖ effective splitting effect due to the shape of the wedge and the larger mass compared to an ax;
• ❖ simple operation;
• ❖ low operating costs;
• ❖ no pollution from, for example, fuel or hydraulic oil;
• ❖ longevity, inexpensive spare parts;
• ❖ small size, light weight;
• ❖ easy to disassemble and assemble without the use of tools;
• ❖ use with and without chopping block;
• ❖ low noise.

From the preceding description it can be seen that the log splitter is not only a splitter with the characteristics of a hand truck, but at the same time is preferably a device for producing kindling wood, a sawhorse and a device for cutting wood using the support or chopping block.

In the following, the invention is further explained with reference to figures of an exemplary embodiment, without the invention being restricted thereby to the exemplary embodiment. Features essential to the invention, which are only shown in the figures, can advantageously further develop the subject matter and the method of the invention individually or in the combinations shown. They belong to the scope of the invention.

Figur 1:

Einsatzbereiter Holzspalter in einer ersten Ansicht

Figur 2:

Einsatzbereiter Holzspalter in einer zweiten Ansicht

Figur 3:

Führung für Schlaghammer in einer Detailansicht

Figur4:

Schlitten mit Spaltkeil in drei Ansichten

Figur 5:

Federelement als Verbindung zwischen Bodenplatte und Führungsrohr

Figur 6:

weitere Schlagplatte

Figur 7:

Verbindungsrohr mit Rundstahl

Figur 8:

Griff als Detail

Figur 9:

Klappspintsicherung als Detail

Figur 10:

Gleitlager

The figures show in detail:

Figure 1:

Ready-to-use log splitter in a first view

Figure 2:

Ready-to-use log splitter in a second view

Figure 3:

Guide for hammer in a detailed view

Figur4:

Sledge with riving knife in three views

Figure 5:

Spring element as a connection between the base plate and guide tube

Figure 6:

further striking plate

Figure 7:

Connection tube with round steel

Figure 8:

Handle as a detail

Figure 9:

Snap lock as a detail

Figure 10:

bearings

The Figure 1 shows a log splitter that is assembled so that the log splitter can be used as intended to split pieces of wood.

The log splitter comprises a base plate 1 with which the log splitter can be set up on an essentially flat surface. In the exemplary embodiment, the base plate 1 is shaped essentially rectangular in a plan view. The base plate 1 has an invisible underside 1b, with which it stands on the ground, and an upper side 1a. The upper side 1a has struts 5 which are connected to the base plate 1 and / or are produced in the base plate 1, for example by embossing. If the struts 5 are separate, they can be made of metal, a plastic or wood or comprise one of these materials and can be firmly, for example welded, glued, non-destructively connected by rivets or other aids, or they can be releasably connected to the base plate 1, for example screwed, by positive locking or in any other known manner.

The base plate 1 further comprises three connecting elements 1c, 1d and not to be seen 1e, which project vertically upwards from the top 1b of the base plate 1. In the exemplary embodiment, two of the connecting elements 1c, 1e are formed identically and are arranged at a maximum spacing from one another near an outer edge of the base plate 1 and serve to receive a further guide tube 6 each. Each of the further guide tubes 6 is prepared to be connected to several other parts of the log splitter. The connection of the guide tube 4 and the further guide tubes 6 with the respective connecting element 1c, 1d, 1e can, as shown in the exemplary embodiment, by means of each at least one wing screw 14, or in another known way, for example by positive and / or frictional connection and, for example, an additional pin lock. The further guide tube 6 can be a hollow profile or a solid body. As shown, it can have a square cross section in a section transverse to a longitudinal axis of the further guide tube, or alternatively a rectangular or polygonal, round, oval, star-shaped or other cross section. A metal or light metal or a preferably reinforced plastic can be considered as the material in order to keep the weight of the log splitter low.

With each of the further guide tubes 6, as shown, for example, at least one support wheel 20 can be connected, at least one side arm 9 and / or a handle 12 or part 12a, 12b of a handle with which the log splitter is placed on transport wheels 20A and then on the Transport wheels 20A can be moved standing over the ground. The side arm 9 can in particular project substantially perpendicularly from the further guide tube 6, in a direction parallel to an axis 21 of the transport wheels 20A or support wheels 20 or transversely to a splitting direction and away from the connecting element 1d. The side arm 9 can be displaced on or on the further guide _tube 6 in the longitudinal direction L _{wFr of} the further guide _tube 6 and can be connected or locked in any or in one of a plurality of predetermined positions. In the exemplary embodiment, the further guide tube comprises a connecting element 15 in the form of a hollow profile, which encloses the further guide tube 6 in a form-fitting manner and, with a wing screw 14, which engages in a thread in the further guide tube 6 or in the connecting element 15, the side arm 9 on the further guide tube 6 by friction or a threaded connection.

The third connecting element 1d is prepared to receive a guide tube 4. The statements made regarding the shape and material of the further guide tube 6 apply accordingly to the guide tube 4. The guide tube 4 forms a guide for a slide 3, which moves along the guide tube 4 in the longitudinal direction L _{Fr of} the guide tube 4 and can be fixed in preferred positions on the guide tube 4. The carriage 3 carries the riving knife 2. In order to be able to move the carriage 3 by hand along the guide tube 4, the carriage 3 and / or the riving knife 2 comprises one of the carriage 3 or riving knife 2 protruding handle 12a. The handle 12a is preferably detachably connected to the slide 3 or riving knife 2, so that it can be removed when splitting with the log splitter in order to avoid a risk of injury from the protruding handle 12a when splitting. The removed handle 12a can, for example, be inserted into an open end of the guide tube 4 or one of the further guide tubes 6 and / or the handle 12a can, in a further function, form a partial handle 12a of the handle 12 with which the log splitter can be moved.

At least one extended side arm 10 can be connected to the side arm 9, which projects essentially perpendicularly from the side arm 9 and in the exemplary embodiment shown is essentially parallel to the splitting direction and essentially parallel to the base plate 1 in the direction opposite to the direction of the other Guide tube 6 connected support wheels 20 extends. The extended side arms 10 have at least on the underside facing the base plate 1 claw-shaped, needle-shaped or other shaped holding elements 24, which serve to engage in or to lie against a wooden part to be split in order to make it more difficult or to prevent the wooden part from slipping when splitting ,

The side arms 9 and the extended side arms 10 define a space which can be adapted in its dimensions such as height H and width B to the wooden part to be split. The space can also be adjusted in the longitudinal direction L if the log splitter comprises, for example, a set of extended side arms 10 of different lengths, or extension pieces for the extended side arms 10 that can be connected to it, or if the extended side arms 10 can be telescoped out.

In the embodiment shown the Figure 1 In the area in which the guide tube 4 engages in the third connecting element 1d, a damping device in the form of a spring element 17 is arranged, which is intended to slow down a movement of the carriage 3 during log splitting before it strikes the connecting element 1d without being braked.

The carriage 3 can be secured to the guide tube 4 at predetermined positions by means of, for example, a folding pin lock 29.

The Figure 2 shows the log splitter of the Figure 1 in another view. The log splitter of the Figure 2 corresponds to the log splitter Figure 1 , so that not all reference numbers have to be repeated. The log splitter comprises a first striking plate 7 which is formed by an upper side of the riving knife 2 and a second striking plate which is arranged opposite the first striking plate with respect to the guide tube 4. The second striking plate 8 is connected to the riving knife 2 via the slide 3 in such a way that a force which acts on the second striking plate 8 is transmitted to the riving knife 2 essentially without loss.

In the Figure 2 is also provided with a reference numeral, a hollow profile 30, by means of which the support wheels 20 are connected to the further guide tubes 6, and a handle 22, with which the carriage 3 can be moved by hand along the guide tube, for example after a first split blow for to position a second gap on the guide tube 4 again. Furthermore shows the Figure 2 that the slide 3 of the exemplary embodiment has a slide bearing 33 at its axial ends (see Figure 10 ) includes.

In order to prevent the inexperienced user of the log splitter from missing the striking plate 7, 8, for example with a splitting hammer, the log splitter can comprise a guide 31 which, for example, can preferably be detachably connected to the first striking plate 7 or the second striking plate 8 , The guide 31 can be a funnel-shaped sheet metal, for example made of spring steel, as is shown in FIG Figure 3 is shown.

The Figure 4 shows in three views the carriage 3 with the riving knife 2 and the plate 19 which forms the second striking plate 8. The slide 3 comprises a central guide part 18, which is at least partially as a slide bearing 32 (see Figure 10 ) can be formed or can comprise a slide bearing 32 in order to ensure unimpeded sliding of the slide 3 along the guide tube 4. Connected to the central guide part 18 is the splitting wedge 2, whose end facing away from the wedge tip 13 is designed as a first striking plate 7, and a second Striking plate 8, which is arranged above the first striking plate 7 and, relative to the central guide part 18, the first striking plate 7.

The second striking plate 8 is connected to the central guide part 18 via plates 19 in such a way that a force acting on the second striking plate 8 is introduced into the central guide part 18 without loss. The carriage 3 further comprises lateral grip elements 22 with which the carriage 3 can be moved along the guide tube 4 by hand. The handle elements 22 are preferably detachably connected to the slide 3 and can be removed before splitting wood in order to prevent a risk of injury from the handles 22 during the splitting process.

As already described, the slide 3 can be locked in different discrete positions on the guide tube 4. For this purpose, a securing device (not shown) is provided in particular, which can be easily released and is held in the released position in order to allow the slide 3 to fall freely along the guide tube 4 for splitting. In particular, it can be a "quick-release" device that is triggered by hand and then quasi-automatically releases the slide 3 for splitting. The securing device can reach through the opening 23 to secure the slide 3 on the guide tube 4 and can be connected to the central guide part 18.

In order to increase the splitting force of the splitting wedge 2, a weight (not shown) can be pushed onto the guide tube 4 above the slide 3, which causes the wooden part to split due to gravity together with the slide 3 in free fall, guided on the guide tube 4 onto the wooden part to be split falls. The weight can include a handle, so that it can be moved along the guide tube 4 independently of the wedge gap 2 and can always fall down on the splitting wedge 2 to split the wooden part. This means that the weight replaces, for example, a hammer with which the splitting wedge 2 can be driven into the piece of wood for splitting.

The riving knife 2 can, as shown, be firmly connected to the slide 3, for example welded. For this purpose, the Figure 2 a plate 25 with an outside of the carriage 3 with the carriage 3 by positive locking and / or connected by friction, for example the parts are worn together and / or glued. A spacing element 26 is joined to the splitting wedge 2 and the plate 25, so that the splitting wedge 2 is at a distance from the plate 25 and thus from the guide tube 4 which is determined by the spacing element 26. Alternatively, the carriage 3 could also include a receptacle for the riving knife 2. For splitting, the splitting wedge 2 would then be inserted into the receptacle and secured therein in order to prevent the splitting wedge 2 from accidentally separating from the carriage 3 during splitting. This variant enables the riving knife 2 to be easily removed if it has to be replaced or the riving knife tip 13 has to be reground.

In the Figure 4 includes the riving knife 2 in the Figure 1 Lateral opening 33, not shown, for receiving a handle 12a. With this handle 12a, the riving knife 2 can be guided by hand, for example, in order to produce wood chips, for example. Furthermore, the riving knife 2 and the striking plate 8 each comprise two openings 16. These openings 16 form receptacles for connecting pins 28 with which the further striking plate 27, as shown in FIG Figure 4 are shown, can be easily replaced with the striking plates 7, 8. The further striking plates 27 can in particular be made of a plastic and serve to protect the surfaces of the striking plates 7, 8 from damage, to reduce the volume when striking and, when using a striking hammer, to transfer the force of the striking back to the body of the striking hammer oscillator dampen.

The Figure 5 shows in a detail the connecting element 1d, the guide tube 4 and the spring element 17, which is supported with its axial ends 17a, 17b on the correspondingly prepared connecting element 1d and the likewise prepared guide tube 4. The guide tube 4 comprises an insert or an extension 11, the extension 11 engaging in the connecting part 1d and being secured in the connecting part 1d by means of wing screws 14. The extension 11 can in particular be a steel rod, which at its end facing away from the guide tube 4 is designed to be inserted into the ground or into a stump, for example, in order to isolate the guide tube 4 directly from the described log splitter To be able to use wood splitting. The isolated extension 11 or the insert is in the Figure 4 shown. The tip 11a of the extension 11 is shown in a detailed view.

The Figure 6 shows a further striking plate 27 which can be connected to the first and / or the second striking plates 7, 8, if these are conventional striking plates made of steel, for example. In the Figures 1 and 2 An embodiment of a carriage 3 is shown, which comprises the first striking plate 7 and the second striking plate 8. The first and second striking plates 7, 8 are each connected to a further striking plate 27. For this purpose, the further striking plate 27 comprises two connecting pins 28, which in the in the Figure 5 openings 16 shown can be inserted. A person skilled in the art knows numerous possibilities of how a further striking plate 27 can be securely connected to the first striking plate 7 and the second striking plate 8 and thus secured on the respective striking plate 7, 8, so that the further striking plate 27 is not unintentionally used when the log splitter is used detaches from the first striking plate 7 or the second striking plate 8. At the same time, the connection should allow a quick, uncomplicated removal of the further striking plate 27, for example for removal when using a striking hammer with a plastic striking surface or for exchanging the further striking plate 27 for another further striking plate 27.

The Figure 7 shows isolated the insert or extension 11 of the guide tube 4, which at least partially engages in the connecting element 1d when the guide tube 4 is connected to the base plate 1. The extension 11 can in particular be a full steel profile, such as a round steel. The extension 11 is firmly attached to the guide tube 4.

In the detailed view, a front free end 11a of the extension 11 is shown, which has a smaller diameter than the adjoining sections of the extension. In a special case, the free end 11a can also be pointed so that it can easily penetrate into a soft surface.

With the extension 11, the guide tube 4 can be used detached from the log splitter construction described directly, for example to split wood in inaccessible terrain. For this purpose, the guide tube 4 with the free end 11a of the extension 11 inserted into the ground or a preferably prepared opening in a tree stump. Then the carriage 3 with the riving knife 2 can be placed as usual on the guide tube 4 and the riving knife 2 can be used in the manner described above by its gravity or the use of an additional splitting weight or splitting hammer for splitting wood. That is, the guide tube 4 with the extension 11 and the slide 3 with the riving knife 2 can form a log splitter according to the invention without the need for the base plate and the additional attachments. The log splitter defined in this way is easy to transport and therefore particularly well suited to be used, for example, on steep slopes.

The Figure 8 shows a handle 12a or partial handle 12a, which in a slightly modified embodiment can be part of the handle 12, as in the Figure 1 is shown. The handle 12a comprises two areas of different diameters which are connected to one another in a step 34. In the exemplary embodiment shown, one of the two areas includes through bores 35 which can be penetrated by securing pins (not shown) for securing the handle 12a, which can be inserted, for example, into the openings 16 of the first striking plate 7 and / or the second striking plate 8.

If the handle 12a forms part of the handle 12, it is clear that the counterpart (not shown) cannot be identical to the partial handle 12a shown. The counterpart then has a receiving area into which the area of the partial handle 12a with the through bores 35 can be inserted and preferably secured in the inserted state via the through bores 35. In addition, the handle 12a and the counterpart must have a connecting element at each free end, with which the handle 12 can be connected, for example, to the further guide tubes 6.

The Figure 9 shows a folding pin lock 29 as it can be used, for example, to lock the slide 3 on the guide tube 4.

The Figure 10 shows an example of a plain bearing 32 which can be supplied with lubricant from the outside via lubrication openings 34. A suitable lubricant can be graphite or another, preferably environmentally friendly, lubricant in order to at least largely avoid contamination of the floor at the place of use.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

baseplate

1a

Top of the base plate

1b

Bottom of the base plate

1c

connecting element

1d

connecting element

1e

connecting element

2

riving knife

3

carriage

4

guide tube

5

strut

6

another guide tube

7

first striking plate

8th

second striking plate

9

sidearm

10

extended side arm

11

renewal

11a

Tip of the extension, free end

12

Handle

12a

Handle, partial handle

12b

Handle, partial handle

13

Keilspitze

14

thumbscrew

15

connecting element

16

opening

17

spring element

17a

axial spring end

17b

axial spring end

18

central guide part

19

plate

20

stabilizer

20A

Transport wheel

21

axis

22

handle element

23

opening

24

retaining element

25

plate

26

spacer

27

further striking plate

28

connecting pin

29

Klappsplintsicherung

30

hollow sections

31

guide

32

bearings

33

opening

34

step

35

Through Hole

36

lubrication hole

H

height

B

width

L

longitudinal direction

L _Fr

Longitudinal direction of the guide tube

L _wFr

Another guide tube in the longitudinal direction

Claims (13)

1. A wood splitter for mobile use, wherein the wood splitter comprises:

   a guiding tube (4);

   a splitting wedge (2) which is or can be connected to the guiding tube (4) and, when connected to the guiding tube (4), can be moved along the guiding tube (4);

   an insert or elongation (11) which is or can be connected to the guiding tube (4) and, when connected, protrudes outwards partially beyond an axial end of the guiding tube (4),

   wherein the elongation (11) of the wood splitter can be inserted into a substrate, for example a chopping block or into the ground, for the purpose of splitting wood,

   characterised in that

   the wood splitter comprises: a base plate (1) having a lower side (1b), via which the base plate (1) is positioned on a substrate, and an upper side (1a); and three connecting elements (1c, 1d, 1e) which protrude substantially perpendicularly from the upper side (1a), wherein the first connecting element (1d) is designed to be connected to an axial end of the guiding tube (4), preferably the axial end (11a) of the elongation (11), and wherein the second connecting element (1c) and the third connecting element (1e) are designed to accommodate one other guiding tube (6) each, wherein each other guiding tube (6) is designed to be connected to a support wheel (20) using which the wood splitter can be moved.
2. The wood splitter according to Claim 1, wherein the splitting wedge (2) is connected to a carriage (3), and the carriage (3) moves the splitting wedge (2) along the guiding tube (4), wherein the carriage (3) can preferably be fixed in predetermined positions on the guiding tube (4), and wherein the carriage (3) preferably comprises a slide bearing (32) in order to prevent the carriage (3) from jamming on the guiding tube (4).
3. The wood splitter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the splitting wedge (2) comprises a first striking plate (7), and the carriage (3) comprises a second striking plate (8), wherein the first striking plate (7) lies opposite the second striking plate (8) in relation to the guiding tube (4), wherein the first and second striking plate (7; 8) are or can be each connected to another striking plate (27), wherein the other striking plates (27) preferably consist of a plastic and can be exchanged by hand.
4. The wood splitter according to Claim 2, wherein the connection between the guiding tube (4) and the base plate (1) comprises a spring element (17) in order to reduce the load on a slide bearing (32) of the carriage (3).
5. The wood splitter according to Claim 1, wherein a side arm (9) can be connected to the other guiding tube (6) and fixed in multiple positions on the other guiding tube (6), and the side arm (9) protrudes substantially horizontally from the other guiding tube (6) and parallel to the base plate (1), and an extended side arm (10) can preferably be connected to the side arm (9) and fixed in multiple positions, such that it protrudes substantially horizontally from the side arm (9) and parallel to the base plate (1), wherein the extended side arm (10) preferably comprises holding elements (24) which can fix a piece of wood to be split in the wood splitter.
6. The wood splitter according to Claim 3, wherein all of the connections can be released by hand and, with the exception of the striking plates (7; 8), the connections are preferably formed by quick-release elements, for example by winged screws (14) and corresponding receptacles for the thread or by securing linchpins (29).
7. The wood splitter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the splitting wedge (2) has a tip (13) made of a first metal and a wedge made of a second material which is different from the first material, and the tip (13) preferably comprises a region comprising outer surfaces extending in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the tip (13).
8. The wood splitter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper side (1a) of the base plate (1) comprises a structure (5) and preferably a rubber mat which lies on the base plate (1) next to the structure (5), and/or the wood splitter comprises a contact block, in order to reduce a contact surface for the piece of wood to be split.
9. The wood splitter according to Claim 2, wherein the carriage (3) and/or splitting wedge (2) comprise(s) a preferably removable grip (12a) in order to directly guide the splitting wedge (2) by hand.
10. The wood splitter according to Claim 3, wherein a guide (31) can be connected to the first striking plate (7) and/or the second striking plate (8) in order to direct a striking instrument, such as a striking hammer, when striking the first and/or second striking plate (7, 8).
11. The wood splitter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wood splitter comprises a guiding tube elongation using which the guiding tube (4) can be lengthened in order to increase a drop height of the splitting wedge (2).
12. The wood splitter according to Claim 4, wherein the slide bearing (32) and/or the carriage (3) comprises a lubricating device using which a sliding surface of the slide bearing (32) can be lubricated from without.
13. A method for slicing branches using the wood splitter according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein
    a contact block is placed onto the base plate (1),
    a branch to be sliced is placed onto the contact block,
    the branch is fixed by means of the extended side arms (10) comprising holding elements (24) of Claim 5, and
    the branch is sliced using the splitting wedge (2) of Claim 7 comprising the preferred tip (11a).

Images