US1742573A - Log-splitting gun - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 7, 1930. BERG 1,742,573

LOG SPLITTING GUN Filed Aug. 50, 1927 gwuemtoz 7770/10/47 fiery Matt army Patented Jan. 7, 1930 THOBVALD BERG, OF PORT ANGELES, WASHINGTON LOG-SPLITTING GUN Application filed August 30, 1927.

My invention aims to provide an improved gun for splitting logs by means of explosives, particularly adapted for splitting pulp wood.

Among the objects of this invention are the provision of means whereby the barrel of the gun, when driven into a log, will automatically engage the fibers of the wood in a manner to resist being blown out by the recoil, there '10 by accomplishing more effective splitting than is possible by means of a smooth-barreled gun using an equal charge of explosive, or accomplishing equal results with a smaller charge.

Further objects are to permit the gun to be, repeatedly hammered into logs without deformation, to provide a member to receive the driving blows which will not need frequent renewal, to prevent the entrance of water and dirt into the vent. and to allow ready cleaning or renewal of the vent.

Additional objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of my improved gun is illustrated, it being understood that the characteristic features and principles of my invention may be applied in forms other than those herein shown and described.

My present invention contains certain features in common with my copending application Serial No. 181,207, filed April 5, 1927.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross section of my improved gun, certain features being shown in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a top view; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are partial side views of the barrel showing alternative forms of the Woodengaging elements or surface configuration.

My splitting gun consists of a barrel comprising, successively, a tapered muzzle 1, a cylindrical chase 2, ataper 3 to the breech portion, and a cylindrical breech portion 4. The tapered muzzle increases rearwardly from a diameter slightly larger than that of the bore to the diameter of the cylindrical chase 2, and the second conical portion or breech taper 3 is near the rear end of the chase, whereby Serial N0. 216,446.

the barrel is enlarged to the diameter of the breech portion 4.

In the present form of my gun I provide means, preferably in the form of av buttress screw thread 5, Figs. 1 and 2, upon the exterior surface of the chase 2, for engaging the fibers of the wood so as to resist the recoil and utilize the force of the explosion in splitting the log rather than in projecting the gun backwards. I prefer a buttress screw thread for this purpose, as being readily cut on the surface of the barrel by ordinary tools, as allowing easy driving entrance of the gun by reason of the inclined forward faces of the threads, and as strongly holding the gun in place by engagement of the wood fibers against the vertical rear faces of the threads. It is contemplated that the gun will be driven into the log by means of a sledge hammer or the like and not screwed in. Consequently I may finish the surface of the chase with parallel circumferential grooves 6 of shape similar to a buttress thread, (see Fig. 3). I may employ any other finish of similar characteristics, such as a plurality of rasp-like teeth 7, as illustrated in Fig. 4, or other engaging elements wherein the front sides are inclined to permit of easy driving and the rear sides slope abruptly to prevent withdrawal from the log.

The bore 8 of the gun extends back from the muzzle through the greater part of the length of the barrel, this type of gun being a muzzle-loader. Near the inner end of the bore a radial internally-threaded vent hole 9 communicates with the outside of the barrel. The breech of the gun is bored from the rear towards the muzzle with a shallow recess 10 of relatively large diameter, a sufficient thickness of steel for safety being left, as at 11, between the inner end of the bore and the bottom of the recess.

retaining member, such as a cap screw 14, passes through a longitudinally elongated slot 15 in the side of the recess 10 into the driving head, to hold the latter from falling out. The longitudinal elongation of the slot permits the necessary play of the cap screw duringvthe' driving.

A remova-blevent bushing 16, preferably of case-hardened steel, externally threaded, and centrally pierced with a vent hole 17 enlarged at the outer end to receive the end of a fuse, is screwed into the vent hole; This bushing has an enlarged head 18 adapted to project abovethe outer surface-ofthe barrel,- and the breech portion 4 is flattened immediately'behind the breech taper 3 toprovide a seat 19 for the head 18.

In; operation, the gunis loaded from the muzzle with a powder'charge and'a wad, and is then driven into thelogby a sledge hammer, after themanner of; a wedge, with the vent preferably upward; The tapered muzzle l facilitates driving the'barrel into a log,

especially of soft wood, without first boring a hole. The inclined facesof the buttress threads. force vthe fibers apart during insertion of the barrel, after which the vertical I rear faces engage the fibers, opposing rearward motion, thus holdingthe gun'firmly' in the toga-The breech tape-r 3 and the protruding head 18 of the vent. bushing l6zprevent water from the log,kwhichmay'runalong the chase 2, from entering the vent and wetname to this specification.

and a thrust-transmitting cushion between said driving head and said breech, said drivmg head and cushion being adapted to transmit the shock of hammer blows to said breech and protect said breech from being deformed thereby.

2, In agun adaptedto'be hammered into wet logs, in combination, a tapered muzzle portionadapted, When driven in, to wedge "ingfrom'said breech,'and a thrust-transmitting cushion between said driving head and said breech, said drivingheadand cushioniisfi being adaptedtotransm-it the shock of hammerblows to said breech and protect said breech from being deformed thereby;

In testimony whereof, -I have signed my 9o THORVALD BERG.

ting the powder charge. When the charge is fired by a fuse inserted in the hole 17 the logis split by the force of. theexplosion, and

thejgun is freed therefrom.v

This gun issimple and strong, easily "driven into a log, particularly: of'the varieties of wood used for pulp manufacture, and exceedinglytenacious in'its holdwhen driven home, thus forcing the main energy of the explosion forward intothe log. Thereis nothing about the gun which is weak or readily deranged, and the only parts likely'tobe injured either by hard usage-or corrosion, namely the driving head and the ventplug, are easily, quickly and cheaply replaceable;

Itlwill be understood that 'I do not limit 7 apart the fibers of alo'g, a cylindrical chase adapted to enter a log without further wedging,rearwardly-inclined fiber-engaging elements on said chase, an enlarged breech, a charge-receiving bore within said gun, a vent holefrom said bore to the surface of said breech,'said breech enlargement being adapt- .edto turn water flowing on the surface of sa1d gun from said vent hole, a removable driving head pro ect1ng from said breech,

Images