GB2223444A

GB2223444A - Wood splitting device

Info

Publication number: GB2223444A
Application number: GB8823502A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Johannes Jakobus Oosthuizen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-10-06
Filing date: 1988-10-06
Publication date: 1990-04-11
Also published as: GB8823502D0

Abstract

A wood splitting device is provided including a plurality of wood splitting mechanisms; a wood splitting edge 22 operatively associated with each wood splitting mechanism; and a locating base 16 for each wood splitting mechanism for locating a log of wood. A piston and cylinder device 12 is provided for each wood splitting mechanism for moving the splitting edge 22. Furthermore the device includes activation means for activating the piston and cylinder devices 12 in sequence so that when at least some of the wood splitting mechanisms are in an inoperative position the remaining wood splitting mechanisms are in an operative position. The locating bases 16 are carried by a link member 18 displaceable along a central stabilizer 26. Hitch connections 42 are for connection to a tractor three point hitch. The devices 12 can be connected to the hydraulic connection of an agricultural tractor. <IMAGE>

Description

WOOD SPLITTING DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a wood splitting device.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION Wood splitting devices especially in the form of wood choppers known to the inventor have the disadvantage that these are of single action construction and thus perform the task of chopping wood at only a slow rate. Furthermore some of these devices are of elaborate construction making them prone to mechanical malfunction especially if operated by unskilled labour.

It is thus an object of the invention to provide a sequentially operable wood splitting device capable of high performance but of simple and robust construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, a wood splitting device includes (a) a plurality of wood splitting mechanisms, each being adapted to perform a splitting action on a log of wood; (b) a wood splitting member operatively associated with each wood splitting mechanism; (c) locating means for each wood splitting mechanism for locating a log of wood, which is to be split, in alignment with a splitting member; (d) moving means for each wood splitting mechanism for moving the splitting member of each wood splitting mechanism from an inoperative position, when a log can be placed into a locating means, into an operative position in which such a log is split by the relative splitting member; and vice versa; and (e) activation means for activating the moving means in sequence so that when at least some of the wood splitting mechanism are in an inoperative position the remaining wood splitting mechanisms are in an operative position.

The wood splitting mechanisms may be provided in cooperating pairs.

The cooperating pairs of wood splitting mechanisms may be arranged such that when one wood splitting mechanism is in the operative position the other is in the inoperative position.

Each wood splitting mechanism may include a unidirectionally activatable to and fro movable member.

Each wood splitting mechanism may include a stationary part acting as locating means.

Each movable member may include a piston and cylinder assembly.

A link member may link the pistons of the piston and cylinder assemblies together along their respective end regions.

A stabilizer is provided extending parallel to and between two piston and cylinder assemblies to maintain the assemblies in parallel relationship.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings there is shown: Figure 1 a wood splitting device in accordance with the invention, in front elevation; Figure 2 the splitting device of Figure 1 in side elevation; and Figures 3a, 3b, 3c stepwise diagrammatically the device of Figures 1 and 2 performing an operative cycle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings, a wood splitting device, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.

The device 10 comprises two splitting mechanisms each comprising a uni-directionally activatable to and fro movable member provided by a conventional hydraulically activatable piston and cylinder assembly 12 of which the remote end of the piston rod 14 of each engages with a splitting edge cooperating facility providing a splittable material location base 16, activation means in the form of a mechanical interacting arrangement provided by a link member 18 firmly interlinking the piston rod 14 of the piston and cylinder assemblies 12 together and providing the bases 16 along integral extension thereto and a stationary cooperating facility 20 for each piston and cylinder assembly 12 presenting a splitting edge 22 between which splitting edges 22 and bases 16 splittable material such as wood logs 24 (as shown in Figures 3a, 3b, 3c) are positioned to axe-fashion split these.

The piston and cylinder assemblies 12 are mounted in parallel relationship to one another on a centrally extending stabilizer 26 thus resulting in the pistons 12 being displaceable along parallel axes 28 and 30.

The stabilizer 26 is in the form of an opposedly flanged beam presenting opposedly extending flanges 26.1. The link member 18 displaceably engages with the stabilizer 26 by means of an integral sleeve 32 snugly slidably fitting onto the stabilizer. To promote smooth movement of the sleeve 32 along the stabilizer 26 rollers 33 are mounted inside the sleeve 34 and engage rollably with the inside surfaces 26.1.1 of the flanges 26.1.

Both piston and cylinder assemblies 12 are pivotally connected to the stabilizer 26 at their cylindrical portion ends 34 while the remote ends 14.1 of the piston rods 14 releasably engage with link formations 36 extending integrally with the link member 18 by means of quick release engagement mechanisms thereby enabling pivoting the piston and cylinder assemblies 12 away from the stabilizer 26 for amongst others servicing purposes. The device 10 is further fitted with a base 40 while provision is made for lifting thereof by the conventional three point hitch of a tractor (not shown) by hitch formations of which the lower formations are indicated by reference numeral 42.

Each piston and cylinder assembly 12 is connectable to a hydraulic power source (not shown) via its hydraulic connections 38. The assemblies 12 are preferably connectable to a common power source having a change over facility to enable manual or automatic changing of the power source between the two assemblies 12.

In operation and referring more particularly to Figures 3a, 3b, 3c the device 10 is positioned in the upright condition by locating it on its base 40 and the connections 38 hydraulically connected to a hydraulic power source (not shown). The hydraulic power source may for example be the conventional hydraulic connection of an agricultural tractor including a change over facility.

Referring to Figure 3a the device 10 is shown having just completed the mechanical function of splitting a wood log. To distinguish the piston and cylinder assemblies 12 from one another these are shown as assembly 12.1 and assembly 12.2. Figure 3a thus shows assembly 12.1 in its fully withdrawn or inoperative condition whereas assembly 12.2 is in its fully extended or operative condition. As next step a labourer (not shown) now positions a further log 24.2 desired to be split in the gap 44 between the assembly 12.1 and its splitting edge 22.1 and manually maintains it aligned.The change over facility on the tractor (not shown) is now switched over by an operator (not shown) with the subsequent activation of the piston and cylinder assembly 12.1 which thus causes the egress of the piston rod 14.1 of this assembly 12.1 resulting in narrowing of the gap 44 causing the log 24.2 to become lodged between the base 16.1 displayed along the link member 18 and the splitting edge 22.1. Due to the forcefulness of the applied hydraulic power the gap 44 is narrowed even further as shown in Figure 3c resulting in the gradual axe-fashion splitting of the log 24.2 until it is fully split as the piston rod 14.1 engaging with the link member 18 causes the base 16.1 to move towards its minimum gap condition with respect to its splitting edge 22.1.

As the link member 18 however interconnects the piston rods 14 of the two assemblies 12 along their end regions, the action stroke of the assembly 12.1 automatically results in recycling of the assembly 12.2 up till its condition as shown in Figures 3c.

The full operation is now repeated by simply positioning a further wood log in the gap 44 between the assembly 12.2 and its splitting edge 22.2 and hydraulically activating this assembly.

As diagrammatically shown in Figures 3a and 3c the gap 44 is not fully closed off on full egress of the respective piston rods 14 for safety reasons thus minimizing the possibility of injury of an upper limb of a person feeding the device 10.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A wood splitting device, which includes (a) a plurality of wood splitting mechanisms, each being adapted to perform a splitting action on a log of wood; (b) a wood splitting member operatively associated with each wood splitting mechanism; (c) locating means for each wood splitting mechanism for locating a log of wood, which is to be split, in alignment with a splitting member; (d) moving means for each wood splitting mechanism for moving the splitting member of each wood splitting mechanism from an inoperative position, when a log can be placed into a locating means, into an operative position in which such a log is split by the relative splitting member; and vice versa; and (e) activation means for activating the moving means in sequence so that when at least some of the wood splitting mechanism are in an inoperative position the remaining wood splitting mechanisms are in an operative position.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the wood splitting mechanisms are provided in cooperating pairs.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the cooperating pairs of wood splitting mechanisms are arranged such that when one wood splitting mechanism is in the operative position the other is in the inoperative position.

4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each wood splitting mechanism includes a uni-directionally activatable to and fro movable member.

5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each wood splitting mechanism includes a stationary part acting as locating means.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4, in which each movable member includes a piston and cylinder assembly.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, in which a link member links the pistons of the piston and cylinder assemblies together along their respective end regions.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, in which a stabilizer is provided extending parallel to and between two piston and cylinder assemblies to maintain the assemblies in parallel relationship.

9. A wood splitting device substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying schematic drawings.