GB2107643A

GB2107643A - Log splitting apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2107643A
Application number: GB08229990A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Aloise Bachmann
Original assignee: AVA PLASTICS Ltd
Current assignee: AVA PLASTICS Ltd
Priority date: 1981-10-24
Filing date: 1982-10-20
Publication date: 1983-05-05

Abstract

A rotatable conical splitting member (5) is mounted on a drive shaft (4) connected to a motor (7), said conical member being screw threaded over its entire length and having a first, leading section (13) of smaller included angle than a second, trailing section (14), there being mounted below the rotating conical member a fixed wedge member (10). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Log splitting apparatus This invention relates to log splitting apparatus.

There are various apparatus currently available for the splitting of logs or blocks of timber. Thus, it is known to provide a conical wedge-like member, the pointed tip of which can be placed against a log to be split and the member driven into the log such as by a hammer. Whilst logs can be split in this way, it is relatively an inefficient time consuming and arduous operation.It is also known to provide a machine for the splitting of logs-in which a rotating cone is provided which extends from a stationary housing, the purpose ofthe stationary housing being to relieve the pressure on the rotating cone as a log is driven against it, and for there to be further provided a support platform for the log or block to be split capable of moving to increase its distance from the cone if the pressure transmitted to it during splitting of a log exceeds a pre-determined level. Such apparatus is not entirely satisfactory in its splitting action but more than that is complex and expensive.

The object of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple and efficient log splitting apparatus.

According to the present invention, log splitting apparatus comprises a rotatable conical splitting member suitably mounted on a drive shaft connected to a motor, said conical member being screw threaded over its entire length and having a first, leading section of smaller included angle than a second, trailing section, there being mounted below the rotating conical member a fixed wedge member.

Thus, the conical member may be mounted on a support body with its shaft mounted in two self aligning bearings, the shaft extending to a pulley to be driven by drive belts or the like from a motor. The support body may extend beyond the conical member to support logs or the like to be split. The wedge may also be mounted on the body and so mounted that the tip of the conical member protrudes beyhond the leading edge of the wedge. Thus with a log placed on the body and urged against the rotating conical member manually or with the aid of mechanical drive means, the rotating conical member rapidly penetrates the surface of the log and when the screw thread on the conical member assists in driving the log rearwardly of the conical member.As the log is urged rearwardly, it contacts the wedge to cause a rapid and efficient splitting of the log, that splitting action being greatly enhanced when the log reaches the position on the cone where the angle increases. The increased angle on the trailing section of the cone efficiently and effectively relieves the pressure between the leading section and the log enabling rapid penetration of the cone through the log to be effected. As the log is urged along the cone it meets the leading edge on the stationary wedge causing the log to be split at its base it progresses along the cone, thus giving substantial assistance to rapid splitting of the log and having a substantial effect on still further relieving pressure on the cone.

Preferably the leading section of the conical member has an included angle of approximately 20 , and the trailing section has an angle of approximately 34 . It is also preferred that the threaded profile of the leading section is more fine than the threaded section on the trailing section. Thus, in the leading section the pitch of the screw thread may be approximately 7mm and the pitch of the screw thread on the trailing section 8mm, and in the leading section the threads have a leading flank at 60 to the horizontal and a trailing flank at 300 to the horizontal whereas in the trailing section the leading and trailing flanks are each at 45" to the horizontal.

It is further preferred that the conical member is formed from hardened and tempered steel, e.g., EN24, and whilst the cone may be produced as a single member it is preferred to form the leading section separately from the trailing section and for the two to be suitably secured together such as by providing a spigot on the leading section to engage in a socket on the trailing section. It is further preferred that the trailing section also has a socket to receive the drive shaft, the various components being secured together such as by grub screws.

It is also preferred that the stationary splitting wedge is formed from hardened and tempered steel, e.g., EN24.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a side elevation of log splitting apparatus in accordance with the invention.

In the drawing, log splitting apparatus comprises a support body 1 mounted on legs 2 of a height such that the support body 1 is at a convenient height from the floor. Mounted on the support body 1 are two self-aligning bearings 3 through which extend a rotatable shaft 4terminating in a conical splitting member 5 at one end, and at the opposite end extending through and being keyed to a driven pulley 6. Mounted below the support body lisa drive motor 7, the shaft of which extends through and is keyed to a drive pulley 8 connected to the driven pulley 6 by two V-shaped drive belts 9.Also mounted on the support member 1 below the conical splitting member 5 is a fixed wedge member 10 having a rearwardly inciined leading edge 11 and a downwardly inclined upper edge 12, with the upper edge 12 having an angle of inclination generally corresponding to the cone angle of the conical splitting member and being spaced therefrom. The leading edge of the wedge lies behind the tip of the conical splitting member in the direction of movement of a log to be split.

The conical splitting member has a leading section 13 that has an included angle of approximately 20 , said leading section 13 merging into a trailing section 14 having an included angle of approximately 34", and the threaded profile of the leading section is more fine than the threaded section of the trailing section.Thus, in the leading section, the pitch of the screw th read is approximately 7mm and the pitch of the screw thread on the trailing section is approximately 8mm, and in the leading section the threads have a leading flank at 60 to the horizontal and a trailing flank at 30 to the horizontal whereas in the trailing section the leading and trailing flanks of the screw threads are each at 45". At the tip 15 of the conical splitting member, it is preferred to provide a short lead screw section to assist in penetration of the conical splitting member into a log.

The conical splitting member 5 is preferably formed from hardened and tempered steel, e.g., EN24 and whilst the conical splitting member can be produced as a single member it is preferred to form the leading section separately from the trailing section and to provide a spigot 16 on the leading section to engage in a socket 17 in the trailing section and to provide a grub screw 18 to lock the spigot 16 in the socket 17.

It is further preferred that the stationary splitting wedge 10 is formed from hardened and tempered steel, e.g., EN24.

Thus, with a log placed on the support member 1, and with the motor 7 driving the conical splitting member 5 the log can be urged by hand or by appropriate forward motion inducing means (not shown) to bring the front end of the log into contact with the tip 15 of the conical splitting member 5.

Once the tip 15 has penetrated into the log, there is rapid penetration by the conical splitting member with further movement of the log assisted by the screw th reads on the conical member. Rearward movement of the log brings it into contact with the leading edge of the fixed wedge member 10 which then penetrates the log to cause a rapid and efficient splitting of the log. As rearward movement of the log proceeds, it is brought to a position where the increased angle on the trailing section 14 of the conical splitting member 5 is brought into connection, this greatly enhances the efficient splitting of the log. Thus the combined effect of the splitting of the log at its lower edge by the wedge, and the log meeting the part of the conical splitting member of greater included angle causes automatic relief of the pressure created between the log and the conical splitting member.

Claims

1. Log splitting apparatus comprising a rotatable conical splitting member suitably mounted on a drive shaft connected to a motor, said conical member being screw threaded over its entire length and having a first, leading section of smaller included angle than a second, trailing section, there being mounted below the rotating conical member a fixed wedge member.

2. Log splitting apparatus as in Claim 1, wherein the conical member is mounted on a support body with its shaft mounted in two self-aligning bearings, the shaft extending to a pulley to be driven by drive beltsorthe like from a motor.

3. Log splitting apparatus as in Claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the support body extends beyond the conical member, to support logs of the like to be split.

4. Log splitting apparatus as in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the wedge is mounted on the body and so mounted that the tip of the conical member protrudes beyond the leading edge of the wedge.

5. Log splitting apparatus as in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the leading section of the conical member has an included angle of approximately 20 , and the trailing section has an angle of approximately 34 .

6. Log splitting apparatus as in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the threaded profile of the leading section is more fine than the threaded section on the trailing section.

7. Log splitting apparatus as in Claim 6, wherein in the leading section the pitch of the screw thread is approximately 7mm and the pitch of the screw thread on the trailing section 8mm, and in the leading section the threads have a leading flank at 60 to the horizontal and a trailing flank at 30 to the horizontal and in the trailing section the leading and trailing flanks are each at 450 to the horizontal.

8. Log splitting apparatus as in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the cone has the leading section formed separately from the trailing section with the two sections suitably secured together.

9. Log splitting apparatus as in Claim 8, wherein the leading section is provided with spigot to engage in a socket on the trailing section.

10. Log splitting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.