GB2108043A

GB2108043A - A sawing frame

Info

Publication number: GB2108043A
Application number: GB08132973A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Ernest Padgett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-11-02
Filing date: 1981-11-02
Publication date: 1983-05-11

Abstract

A tensile clamping arrangement 14 is taken over a length of wood 15 and tensioned by a lever 18 to draw the length of wood downwardly into firm seating engagement with a pair of spaced-apart supports 12 and 13 mounted on a base 11. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sawing frame This invention relates to a sawing frame for supporting a length of wood which is required to be cross-cut.

Sawing frames usually comprise a wide base to give the frame stability during a sawing operation, and V-shaped supports mounted on the base and arranged to hold a length of wood. The V-shaped supports are spaced apart from each other by a sufficient distance to provide stable support for the length of wood, and usually are located one at each end of the frame. The length of wood can then be positioned with one end overhanging one of the V-shaped supports so that successive sawing operations, by means of a hand saw or a motor driven saw, can be carried out on the overhanging end.

When sawing frames are used to saw-up lengths of wood or timber into logs, it is well known inconvenience that considerable difficulty is met when attempting to saw-off pieces from the remaining length when this has become shorter than the spacing-apart of the V-shaped supports.

It is necessary to balance, as far as possible, the remaining length of wood over one of the V-shaped supports while sawing the overhanging end. When this is being done by a single sawing operator, there is great difficulty in keeping the wood sufficiently steady to enable a satisfactory, and safe sawing operation to be carried out.

Bearing in mind the increasing use of motor operated saws i.e. petrol driven saws, there are obvious dangers in the use of such saws when the remaining length of wood is less than the spacing apart of the V-shaped supports.

While it might be possible to alleviate the risks by arranging the two V-shaped supports more closely together, this then would provide a less stable support for an initially long piece of wood.

Accordingly, there has developed a need to provide a sawing frame, for supporting a piece of wood which is to be cross-cut, which provides in simple manner more stable support than hitherto throughout sawing operations to produce progressively shorter lengths of remaining wood.

According to the invention there is provided a sawing frame for supporting a length of wood which is required to be cross-cut, said frame comprising a base and a pair of spaced-apart supports mounted on the base for holding a length of wood; in which a lever-operated tensile clamping arrangement is provided which can be taken over the length of wood and, upon operation of the lever, can draw the length of wood downwardly into firm seating engagement with the supports.

Preferably, the supports are U or V-shaped, though other shapes may be adopted if desired.

The lever-operated tensile clamping arrangement enables the portion of the length of wood which is located between the supports to be firmly seated, so that safe sawing operations can be carried out on the overhanging end of the wood.

Preferably, the supports are located fairly close to each other i.e. spaced apart by a distance equal to about the maximum length of "log" which is required e.g. say 10 to 18" apart. Then, when the wood has been advanced progressively through the supports as successive "logs" are sawn-off, a final, acceptable log will remain when the last sawing operation has been carried out.

To provide satisfactory stable support for lengthy pieces of wood and timber, the sawing frame may have a further support (preferably V shaped) which is spaced apart, along the length of the wood, from the first mentioned pair of supports by a sufficient distance to provide the necessary stable supports for the wood. Thus, for example, one of the first mentioned pair of supports may be arranged at one end of the frame with the other (intermediate) support closely adjacent thereto, and said further support may be aranged at an opposite end of the frame with a spacing from the intermediate support of about 3 to 4 times the spacing between the first mentioned pair of supports.

Preferably, the tensile clamping arrangement is pedal-operated, so that the sawing operator may have both hands free to carry out sawing operations, and any necessary adjustment of the wood.

The tensile clamping arrangement may comprise a length of chain, or any other suitable flexible material such as belting. To provide for easy adjustment in the length of chain to suit different transverse dimensions of wood, the chain may be engageable, at predetermined positions along its length, with a hook element carried by the foot pedal. To provide a return action for the foot pedal, a tension spring may be connected to the pedal and to a fixed part of the frame and serves to release chain pressure when the foot pedal is released, thereby enabling the wood to be moved sideways for the next cut.

Conveniently, the sawing frame is fabricated from tubular metal, and may be constructed so as to be readily dismantled to occupy a minimal storage volume suitable for transport of the frame.

One embodiment of sawing frame according.to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the sawing frame; Figure 2 is a view from one end of the sawing frame; Figure 3 is a view from an opposite end; Figure 4 is a view from one side of the sawing frame; and Figure 5 is a view from the opposite side of the sawing frame, with a length of wood supported by the frame.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a sawing frame for supporting a length of wood which is required to be cross-cut. The sawing frame is designated generally by reference numeral 10 and comprises a rectangular base 11 and a pair of spaced-apart supports 12 and 1 3 mounted on the base for holding a length of wood or timber. The supports 12 and 13 are U or V shaped in order to hold a length of wood, as shown in Figures 2 and 5.

A lever operated tensile clamping arrangement is provided which can be taken over the length of wood and, upon operation of the lever, can draw the wood downwardly into firm seating engagement with the supports 12 and 13. The tensile clamping arrangement comprises a length of chain 14, or other suitable flexible material, which can be looped around a log 15, as shown in Figure 2.One end of the chain 14 is connected to a rigid cross-member 1 4a of the frame 1 0. A lever mechanism is provided to operate the tensile clamping arrangement and comprises a foot pedal 1 8. The foot pedal carries a hook element 19 which can engage at any desired position along the length of the chain 14, depending upon the size of log 15, and is biased upwardly by a tension spring 1 6 which is also connected to cross member 1 4a.

As shown in Figure 2, the chain 14 is loosely looped around the log 1 5 and is hooked by the hook element 1 9. Downward pressure on the foot pedal 1 8 will tension the chain 14, against the action of tension spring 1 6 and will draw the log 1 5 downwardly into firm seating engagement with the supports 12 and 13.

The supports 12 and 1 3 are located fairly close to each other i.e. they are spaced apart by a distance equal to about the maximum length of "log" required e.g. say 10 to 18" apart. Thus, when the wood has been advanced progressively through the supports 12 and 1 3 as successive "logs" are sawn-off from the end overhanging the supports 12, a final acceptable log will remain when the last sawing operation has been carried out.

To provide satisfactory stable support for lengthy pieces of wood and timber, the sawing frame 10 is also provided with a further support 20 which is arranged at an opposite end of the frame 10 to the support 12. The support 20 also is V-shaped, and is spaced from support 13 by a distance of about 3 to 4 times the spacing between supports 1 2 and 13. Evidently, when a piece of wood has been cut-down until the remaining length is less than the spacing between supports 12 and 20, it will still be possible for sawing operations to be carried out by seating the remaining piece on the supports 12 and 13, and operating the tensile clamping arrangement. This can be continued until such time as there is a remaining piece of wood which is only slightly longer than the spacing apart of the supports 12 and 13.

The sawing frame 10 is fabricated from tubular metal, and can be readily dismantled for storage and/or transport purposes. Thus, the sawing frame can readily be fabricated in a factory, and then despatched in a flat stacked position. Thus, the X-shaped ends of the frame (see Figures 2 and 3) which include the V-shaped supports 12, 13 and 20, can be detached from the rectangular base frame 11 and folded flat. The foot pedal 18 can be folded down to overlie the rectangular base frame 11, and in this position will not substantially increase the space taken up by the base frame 11.

Claims

1. A sawing frame for supporting a length of wood which is required to be cross-cut, said frame comprising a base and a pair of spaced-apart supports mounted on the base for holding a length of wood; in which a tensile clamping arrangement is provided which can be taken over the length of wood to draw the length of wood downwardly into firm seating engagement with the support.

2. A sawing frame according to claim 1, in which the tensile clamping arrangement is leveroperated.

3. A sawing frame according to claim 1 or 2, including a foot pedal for operating the tensile clamping arrangement.

4. A sawing frame according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the supports are U or V-shaped.

5. A sawing frame according to any one of the preceding claims, including a further support which is spaced apart, along the length of the wood, from the first mentioned pair of supports by a sufficient distance to provide the necessary stable support for the wood.

6. A sawing frame according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the tensile clamping arrangement comprises a length of chain or other flexible material, such as belting.

7. A sawing frame according to claim 6 when appendant to claim 2, in which the chain is engageable, at predetermined positions along its length, with a hook element carried by the foot pedal.

8. A sawing frame according to claim 7, including a return spring connected to the pedal and to a fixed part of the frame, and serving to release chain pressure when the foot pedal is released.

9. A sawing frame according to claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.