GB2154937A - A post peeler - Google Patents

Abstract

A post peeler has roller means preferably comprising first and second roller means 3 and 4, which in use receive and rotatably support a post 5 to be peeled. A drive means motor (56) or other power source causes the rotation of the roller means and hence the post. A peeling means 12 has a powered cutting head (23) for peeling the post. A guiding means 13 is provided enabling the peeling means 12 to be moved along the supported and rotating post 5 thereby enabling the cutting head (23) to peel the post along its length. The guiding means preferably has a track 14 along which a carriage 16 is movable, the cutting head being mounted at or towards the end of an arm 20 attached to the carriage. The carriage 16 is pivotal about the track 14 to enable the cutting head (23) to follow the contours of the post as it is moved along the post. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Post peeler and a frame constructed of frame members This invention relates to a post peeler, and to a frame constructed of frame members.

Logs for posts for use as fence posts or telegraph posts, for example, are usually peeled before use. Peeling involves removal of the bark and perhaps removal of some timber to reduce the irregularities in the shape of the post with a view to making it a more cylindrical shape. Peeled posts are better to handle and are easier to treat and maintain than are unpeeled posts.

While posts can be peeled manually this is a laborious job and so machines have been developed for post peeling. These usually involve feeding a post longitudinally through the machine. Such existing machines tend to suffer from limitations such as the limited range of diameters of posts that can be handled by a particular machine, and arising from problems caused by posts which are too irregular in shape. It was with problems such as these in mind that the present invention was devised. Alternatively the present invention provides the public with a useful choice.

In one aspect the present invention broadly consists in a post peeler comprising: roller means adapted to receive and rotatably support a post to be peeled; drive means which enables the supported post to be rotated; peeling means having a powered cutting head for peeling the post; and guiding means which enables the peeling means to be moved along the supported and rotating post and which thereby enables the cutting head to peel the post.

Preferably the roller means comprises first and second roller means rotatable about substantially parallel axes and positioned relative to each other to support said post between them.

Preferably the first and second roller means each comprises a pair of rollers spaced from each other but rotatable about substantially common axes.

Preferably the spacing between the rollers of a pair is adjustable.

Preferably the rollers of a pair are mounted on a common axle.

Preferably each roller of the first roller means is positioned substantially adjacent a respective roller of the second roller means.

Preferably the rollers of the first roller means are toothed wheels.

Preferably the rollers of the second roller means are treaded wheels.

Preferably the axes of the roller means are substantially horizontal.

Preferably the drive means rotates at least one of the roller means.

Preferably the guiding means includes an elongated track lying substantially parallel to the axis or axes of the roller means.

Preferably the guiding means includes a second drive means which moves the peeling means along the track.

Preferably the peeling means includes a carriage movable along the track by the second drive means.

Preferably the peeling means has an arm attached to and extending from the carriage with the cutting head mounted to the arm.

Preferably the arm is pivotal about an axis parallel with the track so that the arm can follow the contours of the post.

Preferably the pivotal movement of the arm is provided by having the carriage pivotal about an axis coinciding with the track.

Preferably the cutting head is pivotally mounted to the arm, the pivot axis being substantially at right angles to the post supported by the rolling means so that the cutting head can follow the contours of the post.

Preferably the cutting head is driven by a hydraulic motor.

Preferably the cutting head has a rotor to which a blade or blades are attached, the rotor being rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the track and hence substantially parallel to a post supported by the roller means.

Preferably the peeling means has a depth gauge to predetermine the extent by which the post will be peeled.

Preferably the arm has an arm extension beyond the cutting head and there is a wheel at the end of the extension which can run along a path parallel to the track and thus offer some support to the arm and cutting head when the cutting head is not sitting on a post supported by the roller means.

Preferably the post peeler has fingers pivotally mounted to lift a supported post off and away from the roller means.

Preferably the components of the post peeler are mounted on a frame.

Preferably the frame is mobile.

In a second aspect the present invention broadly consists in a method of peeling a post comprising the steps: of rotatably supporting a post to be peeled on roller means; operating a drive means to cause the supported post to be rotated; moving a peeling means carried by a guiding means and having a powered cutting head to bring the cutting head into contact with an end of the post; and moving the peeling means along the guiding means while the supported post is rotated to cause the cutting head to peel the post along its length.

In a further aspect the present invention broadly consists in a frame constructed of frame members at least one of which is hollow and liquid tight to provide a liquid reservoir, there being means which enables liquid to be placed in and removed from the reservoir.

Preferably there is a plurality of frame members which have interconnected reservoirs.

Preferably any frame member used as a liquid reservoir is made of a heat conducting material.

Preferably the frame supports or is otherwise used in conjunction with a hydraulic pump and/or a hydraulic motor and the reservoir(s) form(s) part of a hydraulic liquid circuit connected or connectable with the said pump and/or motor.

Preferably the post peeler defined previously has a frame as defined above.

The above gives a broad description of the present invention some preferred forms of which will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows in diagrammatic form an end view of a first preferred embodiment of the post peeler; Figure 2 shows in diagrammatic form a front view of the post peeler, this being a view on ll-ll of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows in diagrammatic form a plan view of the post peeler; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the post peeler from above the same end shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the peeling means; Figure 6 shows a plan view of a preferred blade used in the cutting head of the peeling means; Figure 7 shows an end view of the preferred rotor and blades used in the cutting head;; Figure 8 shows an end view of a second preferred embodiment of the post peeler being a view on VIII-VIII of Figure 9.

Figure 9 shows a side view of the second preferred post peeler on IX-IX of Figure 8; and Figure 10 shows a plan view from above of the second preferred post peeler.

It should be noted that in all these drawings some components have been simplified or have been omitted for the sake of clarity.

The preferred post peeler of the present invention has its components mounted on a frame 1 and the frame is preferably portable or mobile to allow the post peeler to be moved from place to place as required. For example, in Figure 1 two road wheels 2 are shown attached to the frame and at one end of the frame there is a trailer coupling (not shown) so that the post peeler can be towed.

When the trailer is uncoupled from the towing vehicle a jack or jacks may be used to support the coupling end of the trailer from the ground. The trailer could have four road wheels and in an alternative form of the invention the post peeler could be self propelled. If, however, portability or mobility of the post peeler is not necessary then it can be made as a permanent installation, for example, in a timber yard or factory. For a permanent installation a frame as shown in the drawings may not be necessary.

The post peeler has roller means adapted to receive and rotatably support a post to be peeled. This roller means preferably comprises first and second roller means 3 and 4 respectively which are rotatable about substantially parallel axes and are positioned relative to each other to support a post 5 to be peeled between them. In the preferred post peeler the first roller means comprises a pair of rollers, such as toothed wheels 6, spaced from each other but rotatable about substantially common axes. Most conveniently the toothed wheels 6 are mounted on a common axle 7. Similarly the second roller means comprises a pair of rollers, such as treaded wheels 8, also spaced from each other but rotatable about substantially common axes and preferably a single axle 9. The ends of the axles 7 and 9 are mounted in bearings 10 and 11 respectively attached to transverse members of the frame 1.This is best seen in Figures 1 and 4. Each toothed wheel 6 of the first roller means is shown positioned substantially adjacent a respective treaded wheel 8 of the second roller means to support the post 5 in the substantially V-shaped space (as shown in Figure 1) between the roller means. This arrangement allows posts of considerably varying diameters to be dealt with by the post peeler.

The use of wheels rather than cylindrical rollers for the roller means is preferred because posts to be peeled are rarely uniformly cylindrical and cylindrical rollers would tend to throw the irregular posts about in operation of the post peeler. In order to minimise the throwing about of an irregularly shaped post as it is rotated it is desirable for the post to be supported inwardly from its ends, for example, a fifth to a quarter of the length of the post in from each of its ends. This is shown in Figure 4. Because it may be necessary to peel posts of different lengths the wheels 6 of the first roller means and the wheels 8 of the second roller means are preferably adjustable in position on their respective axes 7 and 9 so that the spacing between the wheels of each pair of roller means can be varied.

The preferred post peeler has the axes of the roller means substantially horizontal. This means that the post is itself substantially horizontal when supported for peeling. There is thus no deliberately induced longitudinal movement of the post when it is rotated.

However, because of irregularities in the shape of the post, there may be a tendency for it to drift longitudinally while being rotated and if need be stops, also preferably adjustable in position, can be provided to be removably placed adjacent the ends of a supported post to prevent any longitudinal drift. In fact, with the use of end stops it is not even essential that the axes of the roller means be horizontally mounted.

The post peeler includes drive means which enables the supported post to be rotated.

Most conveniently the drive means drives at least one if not both of the axles 7 and 9.

With reference to Figures 1 and 4, and whether only one or both of the axles 7 and 9 are driven, the toothed and treaded wheels 6 and 8 will each rotate anti-clockwise so that the post 5 rotates clockwise. The drive can be provided by means of an internal combustion engine or an electric motor or a hydraulic motor each operating through a reduction box. The motor and reduction box may be separate from the rest of the post peeler and connected thereto by pulley belts or gearing though if the post peeler is to be portable or mobile it is desirable for the motor and the reduction box to be a part of the unit. Alternatively the drive can be provided from a powertake-off point of a suitably equipped vehicle.

A power source having an output of approximately 10 horsepower would be suitable for peeling most posts likely to be encountered.

The post peeler has peeling means 1 2 and guiding means 1 3 which co-operate to enable the supported post to be peeled. The guiding means has an elongated track 14, supported by uprights 1 5 of the frame 1, and lying substantially parallel to the axles 7 and 9. The track can be made from a length of cylindrical steel pipe.

The peeling means includes a carriage 1 6 which is movable along the track. The preferred carriage encircles the track and has three pairs of inwardly projecting brackets supporting roller wheels or bearings 1 7 at equi-angular dispositions with the wheels or bearings 1 7 making contact with the track.

This arrangement assists in the movement of the carriage along the track yet also permits the carriage to be pivotal about the track. The guiding means includes a second drive means which in use moves the carriage and the rest of the peeling means along the track. A suitable second drive means incorporates a chain 1 8 passing through the hollow track and about a pulley or sprocket 1 9 mounted at each end of the track with the ends of the chain connected to the carriage. One of the pulleys 1 9 is mounted on a driveable shaft which can be driven in either direction so that the carriage can be moved in either direction along the track.This shaft can be driven by a suitable motor or power-take-off, and may be synchronised with the rotation of the roller means, or instead it may be driven manually by an operator of the post peeler.

Forming part of the peeling means is an arm 20 which is attached to the underside of the carriage, the attachment preferably being a pivotable one with the pivot point shown at 21 in Figure 5. At the free end of the arm and under a safety shield 22 there is a cutting head 23. The preferred cutting head comprises a rotor which is triangular in end view as shown in Figure 7 and which carries a blade 24 at each apex. The preferred shape of each blade is shown in plan view in Figure 6.

At each end the blade is cut away at an angle, perhaps at about 45 , and these cut away portions are also cutting edges of the blade.

The rotation of the cutting head, and therefore the direction of the movement of the cutting edges of the blade, is preferably such as to oppose the rotation of the post being peeled.

The cutting head as shown is driven by a pulley belt 25 which passes around two pulleys 26 and 27, the shaft of one pulley 26 being connected to the rotor and the shaft of the other pulley 27, which is located at the back end of the arm 20, being driven by a hydraulic motor 28. The hydraulic fluid lines 29 pass through a stirrup 30 which is slidably carried on a cable 31 strung between two upwardly extending, though angled back, frame members 32. This ensures that the hydraulic lines move with the carriage along the track and are not dragged.

The length of the arm 20 is such that in use the cutting head is positioned directly on a post to be peeled which is supported by the roller means. Some movement of the cutting head towards and away from the track and also some change in the angle at which the arm and hence the cutting head makes with a post to be peeled can be effected by pivotal adjustment of the arm relative to the carriage by means of the arm pivot 21. For this purpose a crank handle 33 passes through the carriage 1 6 and an upright member 34 attached at the rear end of the arm and engages with each by screw threaded connections pivotally mounted to each (not shown).

Rotation of the crank handle thereby moves the upper end of the arm upright 34 towards or away from the carriage. This adjustment may need to be done for posts of different diameters.

Preferably the peeling means has a depth gauge to predetermine the extent by which the post will be peeled. This is shown in Figure 5 where the depth gauge is a small roller 35 mounted to a bracket 36 and adjustable in height relative to the cutting head by means of an adjusting handle 37. Movement of the peeling means when a post is being peeled is such that the depth gauge precedes the cutting head.

The effect of irregularities in the shape of a post to be peeled is minimised, first of all by the arm being pivotal relative to the track so that the arm and hence the cutting head can follow the contours of the post. The effect of irregularities is also reduced by there being a space between the cutting head and the depth gauge roller which tends to bridge hollows and raised portions in the post. Not only is the effect of the irregularities on the peeling operation reduced but the irregularities themselves are reduced so that use of the post peeler means that the peeled post more nearly approximates a cylindrical shape than before it was peeled. Another preferred feature which assists in achieving this involves having the cutting head pivotally mounted to the arm 20 with a pivot axis substantially at right angles to the axis of the rotor. This is the axis X shown in Figure 5.This axis may be located at a point midway along the length of the cutting head though is preferably located closer towards the end of the cutting head which is away from the depth gauge.

With the arrangements so far described the arm 20 would drop down with no post supported by the roller means 3 and 4. To prevent this the arm 20 has an extension 38 beyond the cutting head and there is a wheel 39 at the free end of that arm extension. This wheel 39 can run along a path 40 provided by a plank to one side of the post peeler and thus support the arm when there is no post in the post peeler. The path provided by the plank is sufficiently wide to take into account the movement of the cutting head towards and away from the track 14 and hence towards and away from the path 40 effected by means of the crank handle 33 as previously described. This is to ensure that the wheel 39 does not drop off the side of the path 40 with any such adjustment of the position of head between the track 14 and the path 40.When there is a post in the post peeler the wheel is held clear of the path as is shown in Figure 5.

The arm extension also provides a handle whereby the arm can be swung upwardly by hand to allow a post to be placed in the roller means from the right hand side of the post peeler shown in Figures 1 and 4. As has been indicated the post is peeled during movement of the peeling means in one direction along the track, this being away from the viewer when looking at Figure 4. The apparatus can be modified to allow peeling with the peeling means moving in either direction. When the end of the post is reached the cutting head drops off it and the wheel 39 of the arm extension 38 then sits on the path 40 to prevent further dropping of the peeling means. The peeled post is removed from the roller means and the peeling means moved back along the track ready for the next post to be peeled to be received.To remove a post when the cutting head is off the post, the post peeler is provided with fingers 41 which are attached to a shaft (not shown) these being pivoted by means of a handle 42 so as to lift the post out over the second roller means and to the left of the apparatus shown in Figure 4.

The above describes one preferred form of the invention and indicates some possible modifications but various other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as broadly defined. The post peeler can be equipped with a rack at each side of the machine to store posts before and after peeling. The machine can have control means to operate automatically or can be manually controlled by one or more operators. A conveyor belt can be placed under the machine to remove peeled waste.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 relate to a second preferred embodiment of the invention. Most components which correspond with components of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 7 are given like numbers. Because many of the features of this embodiment of the invention are the same as that of the first embodiment, only the major differences between the two embodiments will now be described.

The first difference is that the track 14 along which the carriage 1 6 is movable, together with the peeling means 12, has been lowered relative to the first and second roller means 3 and 4. This has been done so that when the roller means supports a post 5 for peeling, the arm 20 supporting the cutting head will lie in a substantially horizontal plane. The diameter of the post which enables the arm 20 to lie in a substantially horizontal plane can be regarded as the optimum size of post for which the post peeler has been designed. However the post peeler can, as has been previously indicated, handle posts of differing diameters. In the present embodiment, where a post has a larger than optimum size diameter the cutting head will be lifted and the arm 20 angled upwardly towards the cutting head.With a smaller than optimum diameter post the cutting head will be lower and the arm 20 will angle downwardly towards the cutting head. The change in angular disposition of the arm 20 occurs because that arm is attached to the carriage 1 6 which carriage is pivotal about the track 1 4 as has been previously described. With pivotal movement of the arm 20, and hence the cutting head, there will be some small movement of the cutting head in the directions Y-Y shown in Figure 8. However, by having the optimum position of the arm 20 in the horizontal plane and departures from that plane minimised, the change in position of the cutting head in the directions Y-Y has also been minimised. This means that for large, optimum size, or smaller posts, the position of the cutting head is still substantially over the centre of the post in each case. Because of this the construction of this embodiment of the post peeler has been simplified by having the arm 20 rigidly connected to the carriage 1 6. This has done away with the pivotal connection 21 between the arm 20 and carriage 1 6 of the first embodiment. It has also done away with the means for changing the angular disposition of the arm 20 relative to the carriage 1 6 which in the first embodiment included the crank handle 33 and upright member 34. It also means that the path 40 on which the arm supporting wheel 39 runs is made narrower than before.

Instead of treaded wheels 8 forming part of the second roller means 4 there are now wheels 8', each of which comprises a steel disc having a steel tyre or rim attached to it.

The steel disc can have large holes in it to save material and reduce weight.

Compared with the first embodiment the shafts 7 and 9 are now mounted in the same horizontal plane. This means that the upper peripheries of the wheels 6 and 8' are not now in the same horizontal plane, though this does not adversely affect the operation of the post peeler. In this second embodiment it is the shaft 7 of the first roller means 3 which is driven in use whereas the-shaft 9 of the second roller means is free wheeling. The shaft 9 is preferably in two parts 9', 9" (see Figure 10) each of which is capable of free wheeling independently of the other and each of which supports one of the wheels 8'. This means that the wheels 8' can rotate at different speeds from each other which is a desirable feature where posts which are tapered are being peeled.

Again with particular reference to Figure 10, the wheels 6 and 8' shown at the left hand end of the post peeler can be fixed in position on their respective shafts whereas to cater for posts of different lengths the right hand wheels 6 and 8' can be adjustable in position along their respective shafts. Each of these wheels can have a hub through which a threaded member passes which is capable of being screwed in to clamp against the shaft, but when loosened allows the wheel to be slid in either direction along the shaft. Alternatively, the right hand wheels can be adjustable between pre-set positions, a pin passing through the hub of a wheel also passing through or into a hole provided in the shaft for that purpose, there being a number of such holes at intervals along the length of the shaft.

In this embodiment the cutting head peels the log as it moves towards the right, and therefore there is a tendancy for the log to be pushed longitudinally towards the right. To prevent this a stop 50 is provided, this being adjustable in position in infinitely variable or in predetermined steps along the longitudinal frame member 51 to which it is mounted.

A modified post ejecting means is provided as shown in Figures 8 and 10 where a shaft 52 extends along one side of the post peeler.

This shaft is rotatably mounted to the frame at its ends and perhaps intermediate of its length. Two or more curved fingers 53 are attached to this shaft and at least the right hand finger (see Figure 10) is adjustable in position along it. At the left hand end of the post peeler, near the position where the operator of the post peeler would stand in use, is a handle 54 the operation of which causes the shaft and hence the fingers 53 to pivot upwardly from their rest positions shown in Figure 8 to lift the post up over the wheels 8'.

Instead of being manually operated the handle 54 could be operated by other means, for example, by a hydraulic ram and its operation could be triggered automatically by the carriage reaching the end of the track.

As with the first embodiment, the carriage and hence the peeling means is moved along the track by means of a chain 1 8 attached to the carriage and passing about a pulley 1 9 located at each end of the track 14, a length of the chain 1 8 passing through the hollow track 14. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, though not in Figure 10, the sprocket 1 9 at the left hand end of Figure 9 is manually driven by means of a crank arm 55 which is mounted in bearings and extends across the front end of the post peeler so that its handle is positioned conveniently for the operator of the post peeler. It has been found that manual control of the movement of the carriage and peeling means is satisfactory although other forms of drive could be used including hydraulic drive means.

The drive means for the post peeler shown in Figure 10 includes a petrol motor 56 which drives a hydraulic pump 57 which in turn powers a hydraulic motor 58. A pulley drive transmits power to the drive shaft 7. The drive can also be provided by means of a powertake-off. This power-take-off connection would connect to shaft 59, which is supported by flexible couplings at each end, and which would be disconnected from the petrol motor 56 for such power-take-off operation.

The embodiment illustrated in Figures 8 to 10 has been designed to be manufactured having a total length of five metres. However as can be easily seen from looking at the right hand end of Figures 9 and 10 it is a simple matter to change the lengths of the various longitudinally running members, that is of the frame and the track, for example, to change the length of the post peeler.

In Figure 10 skids 60 are shown attached to one side of the post peeler. These are shown in the position in which they would be carried, but they are capable of being detached and secured to the brackets 61 to extend laterally from the side of the post peeler. This can be done at each side of the post peeler. These skids provide supports for feeding posts to be peeled into the post peeler and for receiving peeled posts from the post peeler. At the ends of the skids remote from the post peeler when the skids are extending laterally from it, there is preferably a vertical leg slidably attached to each. At the bottom end of each leg is a foot. Thus, when the post peeler is in position for use and the skids are extended laterally, the legs may be dropped till the feet rest on the ground, and the legs then secured. This provides support for the free ends of the skids.

An important aspect of this embodiment of the invention is that although it does use hydraulics for driving the shaft 7 and also the cutting head there is no separate tank for the hydraulic liquid. The hydraulic liquid reservoir is conveniently provided by making use of the chassis part of the frame itself. This is made of RHS steel sections, and forms part of the hydraulic circuit although the connections between the chassis and the hydraulic pumps and motors are not shown. The frame is made of steel so that as well as providing a reservoir for the hydraulic liquid, the frame also acts as a radiator for cooling the hydraulic liquid.

Because of the relatively large surface area of the chassis frame, efficient cooling is provided which in turn means more efficient operation of the hydraulic motors. Another advantage is that the weight of the hydraulic liquid is spread throughout the chassis, this spreading the load, and also acting to provide some damping against vibration. Yet another advantage, is that with the chassis full of hydraulic liquid there is very little contact between the liquid and the air. One of the frame uprights, for example, an upright 32, may form part of the reservoir so that the filler neck for the hydraulic fluid goes into that upright. The upright has a relatively small internal cross sectional area, which is the only area where the liquid is exposed to the air. Of course some air is necessary above the hydraulic liquid to allow for its expansion and contraction on change of temperature.

This aspect of the invention has much wider application than to the post peeler of the present invention. Basically, any frame which is constructed of frame members may have one or more of these which are hollow forming a liquid tight reservoir, there being some suitable means for enabling liquid to be placed in and removed from the reservoir. The reservoir may function simply for storage or, as in the preferred case, a plurality of frame members may have interconnected reservoirs so as to form part of a liquid circuit through which liquid may flow continuously in use.

This is the case with the post peeler where the continuous flow of hydraulic liquid takes place about the chassis frame. Normally such a frame would support a hydraulic pump and/or a hydraulic motor with the reservoir forming part of a hydraulic liquid circuit con nected with the pump and/or motor. Alternatively the frame may not support a hydraulic pump or motor but may be connectable to these. In this latter case the frame may sup port machinery to be driven by the separate hydraulic pump and/or motor. Where there is a need to effect cooling the frame will need to be made of a heat conducting material, though this may not be necessary if only storage is required.This aspect of the invention has application to the storage of liquids and substances other than hydraulic liquid, for example, petrol for use with a petrol motor carried or to be used with the frame may be stored in the frame.

The embodiment illustrated in Figures 8 to 10 has been designed to be manufactured having a total length of about five metres.

However, as can be easily seen from looking at the right hand end of Figures 9 and 10 it is a simple matter to change the lengths of the various longitudinally running members, that is of the frame and the track, for example, to change the length of the post peeler.

In Figure 10 skids 60 are shown attached to one side of the post peeler. These are shown in the position in which they would be carried, but they are capable of being detached and secured to the brackets 61 to extend laterally from the side of the post peeler. This can be done at each side of the post peeler. These skids provide supports for feeding posts to be peeled into the post peeler and for receiving peeled posts from the post peeler. At the ends of the skids remote from the post peeler when the skids are extending laterally from it, there is preferably a vertical leg slidably attached to each. At the bottom end of each leg is a foot. Thus, when the post peeler is in position for use and the skids are extended laterally, the legs can be dropped till the feet rest on the ground, and the legs then secured. This provides support for the free ends of the skids.

An important aspect of this embodiment of the invention is that although it does use hydraulics for driving the shaft 7 and also the cutting head there is no separate tank for the hydraulic liquid. The hydraulic liquid reservoir is conveniently provided by making use of the chassis part of the frame itself. This is made of RHS steel sections, and forms part of the hydraulic circuit although the connections between the chassis and the hydraulic pumps and motors are not shown in the drawings.

The frame is made of steel so that as well as providing a reservoir for the hydraulic liquid, the frame also acts as a radiator for cooling the hydraulic liquid. Because of the relatively large surface area of the chassis frame, efficient cooling is provided which in turn means more efficient operation of the hydraulic motors. Another advantage is that the weight of the hydraulic liquid is spread throughout the chassis, this spreading the load, and also acting to provide some damping against vibration. Yet another advantage, is that with the chassis full of hydraulic liquid there is very little contact between the liquid and the air.

One of the frame uprights, for example, an upright 32, can form part of the reservoir so that the filler neck for the hydraulic fluid goes into that upright. The upright has a relatively small internal cross sectional area, which is the only area where the liquid is exposed to the air. Of course some air is necessary above the hydraulic liquid to allow for its expansion and contraction on changes of temperature.

This aspect of the invention has much wider application than to the post peeler of the present invention. Basically, any frame which is constructed of frame members may have one or more of these which are hollow forming a liquid tight reservoir, there being some suitable means for enabling liquid to be placed in and removed from the reservoir. The reservoir can function simply for storage or, as in the preferred case, a plurality of frame members can have interconnected reservoirs so as to form part. of a liquid circuit through which liquid can flow continuously in use.

This is the case with the post peeler where the continuous flow of hydraulic liquid takes place about the chassis frame. Normally such a frame would support a hydraulic pump and/or a hydraulic motor with the reservoir forming part of a hydraulic liquid circuit connected with the pump and/or motor. Alternatively the frame may not support a hydraulic pump or motor but may be connectable to these. In this latter case the frame may support machinery to be driven by the separate hydraulic pump and/or motor. Where there is a need to effect cooling the frame will need to be made of a heat conducting material, though this is not necessary if only storage is required. This aspect of the invention has application to the storage of liquids and substances other than hydraulic liquid, for example, petrol for use with a petrol motor carried or to be used with the frame can be stored in the frame.

A simplified roller means has only a single roller means. This could be located at the bottom of a shallow substantially V-shaped trough into which the post is placed for peeling, the post being supported at the sides by the trough and from below by the roller means. A disadvantage of this arrangement is the friction which arises between the trough and post when the latter is being rotated. The trough should have an open bottom below the roller means to allow chips and shavings to fall through.

In another embodiment of the invention, the cutting head can be carried on a carriage and track located directly over the position of the post on the rolling means. The connection between the cutting head and the carriage would preferably allow for vertical movement of the head so that it can follow the contours of an irregularly shaped post.

Claims (37)

1. A post peeler comprising: roller means which in use receives and rotatably supports a post to be peeled; drive means which enables the supported post to be rotated; peeling means having a powered cutting head for peeling the post; and guiding means which enables the peeling means to be moved along the supported and rotating post and which thereby enables the cutting head to peel the post.

2. A post peeler as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the roller means comprises first and second roller means rotatable about substantially parallel axes and positioned relative to each other to support said post between them.

3. A post peeler as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the first and second roller means each comprises a pair of rollers spaced from each other but rotatable about substantially common axes.

4. A post peeler as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the spacing between the rollers of a pair is adjustable.

5. A post peeler as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the rollers of a pair are mounted on a common axle.

6. A post peeler as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5 wherein each roller of the first roller means is positioned substantially adjacent a respective roller of the second roller means.

7. A post peeler as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 6 wherein the rollers of the first roller means are toothed wheels.

8. A post peeler as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 7 wherein the rollers of the second roller means are treaded wheels.

9. A post peeler as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 8 wherein the axes of the roller means are substantially horizontal.

1 0. A post peeler as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 9 wherein the drive means rotates -at least one of the roller means.

11. A post peeler as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the guiding means includes an elongated track lying substantially parallel to the axis or axes of the roller means.

1 2. A post peeler as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the guiding means includes a second drive means which moves the peeling means along the track.

1 3. A post peeler as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 1 2 wherein the peeling means includes a carriage movable along the track by the second drive means.

1 4. A post peeler as claimed in Claim 1 3 wherein the peeling means has an arm attached to and extending from the carriage with the cutting head mounted to the arm.

1 5. A post peeler as claimed in Claim 14 wherein the arm is pivotal about an axis parallel with the track so that the arm can follow the contours of the post.

1 6. A post peeler as claimed in Claim 1 5 wherein the pivotal movement of the arm is provided by having the carriage pivotal about an axis coinciding with the track.

1 7. A post peeler as claimed in any one of Claims 1 3 to 1 5 wherein the arm is angularly adjustable relative to the carriage to which it is pivotally attached.

1 8. A post peeler as claimed in any one of Claims 14 to 1 7 wherein the cutting head is pivotally mounted to the arm, the pivot axis being substantially at right angles to the post supported by the rolling means so that the cutting head can follow the contours of the post.

1 9. A post peeler as claimed in any one of Claims 14 to 18 wherein the arm has an arm extension beyond the cutting head and there is a wheel at the end of the extension which can run along a path parallel to the track and thus offer some support to the arm and cutting head when the cutting head is not sitting on a post supported by the roller means.

20. A post peeler as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the cutting head is driven by a hydraulic motor.

21. A post peeler as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the cutting head has a rotor to which a blade or blades are attached, the rotor being rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to a post supported by the roller means.

22. A post peeler as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the peeling means has a depth gauge to predetermine the extent by which the post will be peeled.

23. A post peeler as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the post peeler has fingers pivotally mounted to lift a supported post off and away from the roller means.

24. A post peeler as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the components of the post peeler are mounted on a frame.

25. A post peeler as claimed in Claim 24 wherein the frame is mobile.

26. A post peeler as claimed in Claim 24 or Claim 25 wherein the frame is constructed of frame members at least one of which is hollow and liquid tight to provide a liquid reservoir, there being means which enables liquid to be placed in and removed from the reservoir.

27. A post peeler as claimed in Claim 26 wherein the frame has a plurality of frame members which have interconnected reservoirs.

28. A post peeler as claimed in Claim 26 or Claim 27 wherein any frame member used as a liquid reservoir is made of a heat conducting material.

29. A post peeler as claimed in any one of Claims 26 to 28 wherein the frame supports or is otherwise used in conjunction with a hydraulic pump and/or a hydraulic motor and the reservoir(s) form(s) part of a hydraulic liquid circuit connected or connectable with the said pump and/or motor.

30. A post peeler as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

31. A frame constructed of frame members at least one of which is hollow and liquid tight to provide a liquid reservoir, there being means which enables liquid to be placed in and removed from the reservoir.

32. A frame as claimed in Claim 31 wherein the frame has a plurality of frame members which have interconnected reservoirs.

33. A frame as claimed in Claim 31 or Claim 32 wherein any frame member used as a liquid reservoir is made of a heat conducting material.

34. A frame as claimed in any one of Claims 31 to 33 wherein the frame supports or is otherwise used in conjunction with a hydraulic pump and/or a hydraulic motor and the reservoir(s) form(s) part of a hydraulic liquid circuit connected or connectable with the said pump and/or motor.

35. A frame substantially as herein de scribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

36. A method of peeling a post comprising the steps: of rotatably supporting a post to be peeled on roller means; operating a drive means to cause the supported post to be rotated; moving a peeling means carried by a guiding means and having a powered cutting head to bring the cutting head into contact with an end of the post; and moving the peeling means along the guiding means while the supported post is rotated to cause the cutting head to peel the post along its length.

37. A method as claimed in Claim 36 and substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment of the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings.