US2878843A

US2878843A - Buoyant-log debarker having bark-removing and log-rotating chains driven in opposite directions

Info

Publication number: US2878843A
Application number: US678824A
Authority: US
Inventors: Allen C Edwards
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-08-19
Filing date: 1957-08-19
Publication date: 1959-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 1976-03-24

Description

A. C. EDWARDS March 24, 1959 RDI NAI

WHD C mum DGI O 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 19, 1957 INVENTOR. Allen CEdWards i a E March 24, 1959 A. C. EDWARDS BUOYANT-LOG DEBARKER HAVING BARK-REMOVING AND LOG-ROTATING CHAINS DRIVEN IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS Filed Aug. 19, 1957 1 2 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Ellen C.Edwards BY United States Patent 2,878,843 BUOYANT-LOG DEIBARKER HAVING BARK- MOVING AND LOG-RGTATING CHAINS DRIV- EN IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS Allen C. Edwards, Portland, Oreg. Application August 19, 1957, Serial No. 678,824 9 Claims. (Cl. 144-208) This invention relates to log-barking apparatus and more particularly to log-barking apparatus wherein bark is removed from a rotating log advanced through the apparatus.

In the manufacture of lumber products from a log, it has been the practice first to remove the bark from the log prior to sawing or cutting the log. Machines of various types have been suggested for performing this operation, including apparatus having mechanism for rotatably supporting a log while advancing the log through barking machinery placed adjacent the path of the log, and apparatus which depended at least in part upon the buoyancy of the log for supporting the log while moving the log past the barking machinery. Generally all of the apparatus has been subject to the disadvantage that considerable time and effort must be expended in positioning the log prior to debarking the log. For instance, those methods which rely on supporting the log outside the water during the barking operation must provide for transporting the log to the support structure. Apparatus of this type has the further disadvantage that it should be of considerable size and strength if it is to adequately support the log. Methods known to date which have utilized the buoyancy of a log in water for supporting the log have required unwieldy attaching devices for securing the log while it is being barked, decreasing the efliciency with which a log may be handled.

Generally it is an object of this invention to provide a novel log-barking apparatus for buoyantly supported logs wherein logs may be readily fed into the apparatus with a minimum of time and effort.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the type described which employs a gripping or dog chain with grippingelements about its outer periphery for rotating the' log in the water against bark-rossing mechanism placed against the log; and to provide such an apparatus wherein the rossing mechanism'comprises a barking or cutting chain driven across the surface of the log in a direction opposing the rotation imparted to the log by the dog chain.

Another object of the invention is to provide barking apparatus employing a gripping or dog chain wherein the dog chain moves across the surface of the log so as to crowd it against an abutment means, and more particularly to provide such an apparatus having a dog chain which engages the surface of the log while moving across the log at an oblique angle so that the abutment means and dog chain coact to impart longitudinal movement to the log.

Another object of the invention is to provide a barking apparatus employing a dog chain and suitable barkrossing mechanism which are both pivotally mounted to a support adjacent the log to be treated, so that both may be readily swung over and into engagement with the surface of the log; and to provide with such a barking apparatus a common lift means whereby both the dog chain and rossing mechanism may be swung into and out of engagem'ent with the log. These and other objects and advantages areattained by the present invention, various novel features of which will become disclosed as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Patented Mar. 24, 1959 2 Fig. 1 is a top view of apparatus embodying the invention and a log in process thereunder;

F Fig. 2 is an end view of the apparatus and log in Fig. 3 is a side view of a portion of the cutting chain employed in the invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a portion of the dog chain employed in the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a log-barking apparatus embodying this invention comprises in general a support structure 10 having an electric motor 11 and barking mechanism generally indicated at 12 suitably supported thereon. The support structure 10 is composed of tint bers 13 floating in water generally indicated at the level 14. The support structure 10 is shown in the form of a float which may be anchored to the bottom in a suit able manner, although it is obvious that if desired the support may be a permanent one which is afiixed to the ground.

An auxiliary platform 16 composed of timbers 17 is secured to the support structure 10 and spaced therefrom by cross members 18, uprights 19, and diagonals 21. The platform 16 is spaced a suflicient distance from the support structure 10 to permit a log to be floated between the two structures. As can best be seen in Fig. 2, the platform 16 has a pair of timbers stacked one on top of the other located at the inner edge of the platform, these timbers forming an abutment means for logs revolving thereagainst.

Secured as by bolts 22 to the top side of support struc ture 10 is a mounting 23. A pair of brackets 24 presenting upstanding bearing portions are fastened to the top of mounting 23 as by bolts 26. Extending between the upstanding bearing portions of these brackets is a "ice shaft 27. A frame 28 of the barking mechanism 12 having

frame members

29 and 31 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 27, the inner ends of

frame members

29 and 31 being rotatably mounted on the shaft intermediate the brackets 24.

Adjacent the shaft 27 and parallel to the shaft is a shaft 32 having its ends rotatably mounted in the

frame members

29 and 31. At the outer end of frame 28 parallel to the shaft 32 is another shaft 33 with its ends rotatably supported in the

frame members

29 and 31.

Mounted on the

shafts

33 and 32 on projections of their ends outside of the frame 28 are a pair of cutting chain sprockets 34 and 36, respectively. Another pair of cutting-chain sprockets 37 and 38'are mounted on

theshafts

33 and 32 between the,

frame members

29, 31 adjacent the frame member 31. Encircling sprockets 34 and 36 and engaged thereby is a cutting chain 39, and similarly, encircling sprockets 37 and 38 is a second cutting chain 41. The sprockets 36 and 38 are secured to the shaft 32 for rotation with the shaft, whereas the sprockets 34 and 37 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 33 for rotation independently of the shaft. In this manner, the'cutting

chains

39 and 41 are driven simultaneously in a direction determined by the rotation of shaft 32.

Spaced on the shaft 33 and rotatably mounted on the shaft between the

frame member

29, 31 are three dog-chain sprockets 42, 43, and 44. Mounted on the shaft 27 and secured to the shaft for rotation therewith are three complementary dog-chain sprockets 46, 47-, and 48. Encircling the sprockets 42 and 46, 43 and 4.7, and 44 and 48 are three '

dog chains

49, 51, and 52, re; spectively. Since the sprockets 46, 47, and 48 are each' nonrotatably affixed to the shaft 27, the

dog chains

49, 51, and 52 rotate simultaneously in a direction determined by the rotation of shaft 27.

'Referring to Fig. L-afliited to an outer end of the shaft 32"is a spur geaasaa'aa affixed" to an outer end of the shaft 27 is spur gear 56, the

spur gears

54 and 56 meshing with each other to rotate simultaneously. A pair" of pulleys 57 arenonrotataolysecured to the other end of shaft 27. Encifcling the pulleys 57 are a pair of bclts'58, which are drivenby a pairof pulleys 59 secured to a motor shaft 61 of the motor 11. When the motor 11 is energized, the'shaft 27 together with the

dog chains

49, 51 and 52 are caused to be rotated in a given direction and the spurgear 4, shaft 32, and

cutting chains

39, 41 are driven in'the' opposite direction by the spur gear 56. Therefore, during operation, when the barking mechanism 12 is positioned across the log to be treated by pivoting the 'free end of frame 28 about the shaft 27 so' that the barking mechanism lies across the reg, the outer peripheral surfaces of the dog chains and cuttingchains will be drawn across the surface of the log with successive portions ofthe outer periphery of each chain engaging the leg as the chains are driven. As discussed hereinafter, the dogchains are constructed so as to impart rotation to the log, by grabbing the log. Since the dog chains and cutting chains are traveling in opposite directions, the'log will rotate in a direction opposing the direction of travel of the log-engaging portions of flights of the cutting chains.

' Means are included for raising the free end of frame 28 by pivotingthe frame about the shaft 27. To this end, a pair of vertical supports 62 and 63 are provided with their lower ends secured to the mounting 23 and their upper ends braced by

brace members

65 and 69. Fixed across the upper ends of the vertical supports is a bracket 64 having a painof upwardly projecting hearing portions. Disposed between the bearing portions of bracket 64 and rotatably mounted therein is a drum 66. Acable 68 extends between the outer or free end of frame 28 and drum'66fwith one of its ends fastened to a cross bar 75 of the frame 28 and the other of its ends wrapped around the drum 6 6. Suitable means such as an electric hoist 67 is provided for rotating the drum 66. When the drum 66 is rotated so as to wrap the cable 68 about the drum, the entire barking mechanism comprising theframe 28,

cutting chains

39, 41, and

dog chains

49, 51, 52 will be pivoted about the shaft 27.

As can be seen in Figs. 3 and 4, the

cutting chains

39 and 41, which are similar in construction, each have a series of cutter links 70 alternating with and pivotally connected at their ends by pins 71 to successive pairs of connecting links 72, .73. Each of the cutter links has a projection carrying a cutting portion 74 which forms the outer peripheral outline of the chain. The cutting portion 74 has a beveled leading edge which is adapted to' cut into the bark of a log and scrape the bark from the log as it is drawn across the log. With reference to Figs. 5 and 6, the

dog chains

49, 51, and 52 each have a series of gripping links 76 alternating with and connected at their ends by' pins 77 to successive pairs of connecting

links

78, 79. Each gripping link 76 has a curved blade portion 81 which forms the outer peripheral outline of the chain and is adapted to grab into and pull a log as it travels across a log. The gripping elements carried by the dog chains project a greater distance outwardly from the body of the chain, than the cutting elements project outwardly from the cutting chains. For this reason they will tend to bite into and grab the surface of a log to a greater extent than the cutting elements. It should also be noted that three dog chains are employed in the apparatus illustrated, whereas only two cutting chains are used. The dog chains therefore tend to impart to the log being barked, represented 'by log 53, a rotation determined by the direction of travel of the log-engaging portions or flights of the dog chains.

1.111 practice, the dog chains are driven so that they enga'g'e the surface of the-1 heiug-treated while traveling toward the abutment means which limits the lateral movement of the legal 'thewat'er Inthis manner, the log is crowded against the abutment means while rotating thereagainst. Referring to Fig. 2, in order for the logs to be crowded against the stacked timbers 17 located at the inner edge of platform 16, the dog chains are driven in a counterclockwise direction, so that the lower flights engage the surface of the log while traveling from left to right as viewed in Fig. 2.

The frame 28 is carried by the mounting 23 so that when the frame is lowered across the top surface of the log, it lies across the log at an oblique angle. The logcngaging portions or flights of the dog chains thus travel across the surface of the log'while moving at an oblique angle o'ver the surface of the log, thereby imparting longitudinal movement to the log. Because of this longitudinal movement and because of the rotation imparted to the log by the dog chains, the log is constantly turned during the barking process so that successive areas of the surface of 'a log are exposed to the bark-rossing mechanism and more particularly the cutting

chains

39 and 41.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a very convenient and highly practical apparatus has been devised wherein a log may be barked with a minimum of time and effort. By using the buoyancy of the water to completely support the log, the need for support structure for the'log and apparatus for transporting the log to the support structure is eliminated. It should also be apparent that the novel method employed for rotating the log has a number of'advantages. By providing a continuous dog chain with gripping elements projecting o'utwardly from the'chain toforrri the peripheral outline of the chain, rotation may be imparted to a log simply by lowering'the chain over the surface of the log. successive logs may be readied for barking merely by pivoting the free 'end of the barking mechanism upwardly and then lowering the barking mechanism on the new log inserted into the apparatus. The abutment means presented by the timbers 17 forms a limiting means for preventing a lateral displacement of a log while the barking process is under way. Still further, by driving the dog chains over the surface of the log at an oblique angle relative to the log, the dog chains and the abutment means cooperate to impart to the log longitudinal movement and thereby feed successive surface areas of the log into the bark-rossing mechanism comprised of the cutting

chains

39 and 41.

I Claim:

1. Log-barking apparatus for a log buoyantly supported in water comprising an abutment means limiting lateral movement of a log in the water, a continuous, driven dog'ch'ain having outwardly projecting gripping elements forming the peripheral outline of said dog chain, a continuous, driven cutting chain having outwardly projecting cutting elements'forming the peripheral outline ofsaid cutting chain, successive portions of the outer periphery of each of said chains engaging a peripheral surface of a supported log, said dog chain engaging a peripheral surface of such log so as to rotate such log in a direction opposing the direction of travel of the logengaging portions of said cutting chain and while moving toward said abutment means thereby crowding such log against said abutment means.

2. Log-barking apparatus for a log buoyantly supported in water comprising an abutment means limiting lateral movement of a log 'in the water, a movable frame, a' continuous, driven dog chain mounted on said frame and having outwardly projecting gripping elements forming theperipheral'outlineof said dog chain, successive portions of the outer' periphery of said dog chain engagirig aperipheral surface of a buoyantly supported log along the .top ofsuch log only, said dog chain when engaging ;a peripheral surface of a log rotating such log, said dog chain engaging a peripheral surface of l9;

while moving obliquely across such log and toward said abutment means thereby crowding such log toward said abutment means and urging longitudinal movement of such log relative to the abutment means, and bark-rossing means for removing bark from a log as it rotates against said abutment means.

3. Log-barking apparatus for a log buoyantly supported in water comprising an abutment means limiting lateral movement of a log in the water, a continuous, driven dog chain having outwardly projecting gripping elements forming the peripheral outline of said dog chain, successive portions of the outer periphery of said dog chain engaging a peripheral surface of a log While moving toward said abutment means so as to rotate such log against said abutment means, a continuous, driven cutting chain having outwardly projecting cutting elements forming the peripheral outline of said cutting chain, successive portions of the outer periphery of said cutting chain engaging a peripheral surface of such log while moving in a direction opposing the rotation of such log, said dog chain engaging a peripheral surface of such log while moving obliquely across such log so as to urge longitudinal movement of such log relative to said abutment means.

4. Log-barking apparatus for a log buoyantly sup ported in water comprising a support, an abutment means limiting lateral movement of a log in the water, and a log-barking mechanism pivotally mounted on said support and positionable over a log adjacent said abutment means, said barking mechanism including a continuous, driven dog chain having outwardly projecting gripping elements forming the peripheral outline of said dog chain, a continuous, driven cutting chain having outwardly projecting cutting elements forming the peripheral outline of said cutting chain, successive portions of the outer periphery of each of said chains engaging a peripheral surface of a supported log, said dog chain engaging a peripheral surface of such log so as to rotate such log in a direction opposing the direction of travel of the logengaging portions of said cutting chain and while moving toward said abutment means thereby crowding such log toward said abutment means.

5. Log-barking apparatus for a log buoyantly supported in water comprising a support, an abutment means limiting lateral movement of a log in the water, and a logbarking mechanism pivotally mounted on said support and positionable over a log adjacent said abutment mean, said barking mechanism including a continuous, driven dog chain having outwardly projecting gripping elements forming the peripheral outline of said dog chain, successive portions of the outer periphery of said dog chain engaging a peripheral surface of a buoyant log so as to rotate such log, said dog chain being constructed and arranged to engage a peripheral surface of a buoyantly supported log along the top of such log only, said dog chain engaging a peripheral surface of a log while moving obliquely across such log and toward said abutment means thereby crowding such log toward said abutment means and urging longitudinal movement of such log relative to said abutment means.

6. Log-barking apparatus for a log buoyantly supported in water comprising a support, an abutment means limiting lateral movement of a log in the Water, and a logbarking mechanism pivotally mounted on said support and positionable over a log adjacent said abutment means, said barking mechanism including a continuous, driven dog chain having outwardly projecting gripping elements forming the peripheral outline of said dog chain, successive portions of the outer periphery of said dog chain engaging a peripheral surface of a log while moving to ward said abutment means so as to rotate such log against said abutment means, a continuous, driven cutting chain having outwardly projecting cutting elements forming the peripheral outline of said cutting chain, successive portions of the outer periphery of said cutting chain engaging a peripheral surface of a log while moving in a direction opposing the rotation of such log, said dog chain engaging a peripheral surface of such log while moving obliquely across such log so as to urge longi tudinal movement of such log relative to said abutment means.

7. Log-barking apparatus for a log supported for rotation and longitudinal movement comprising a support, and a log-barking mechanism pivotally mounted to said support, said log-barking mechanism having a pivotable frame, a power-driven, continuous dog chain mounted in said frame, said dog chain having outwardly projecting gripping elements forming the peripheral outline of said dog chain, a power-driven, continuous cutting chain mounted in said frame parallel to said dog chain, said cutting chain having outwardly projecting cutting elements forming the peripheral outline of said cutting chain, said dog and cutting chains being driven in opposed directions, successive portions of the outer periphery of each of said chains engaging a peripheral surface of a log to be barked, said dog chain rotating a log to be barked in a direction opposing the direction of travel of the log-engaging portions of said cutting chain.

8. Log-barking apparatus for a log buoyantly supported in water comprising a support, an abutment means limiting lateral movement of a log in'the Water, and a log-barking mechanism pivotally mounted on said support and positionable across a log lying adjacent said abutment means, said log-barking mechanism comprising a frame, a power-driven, continuous dog chain mounted in said frame and having outwardly projecting gripping elements forming the peripheral outline of said dog chain, a power-driven, continuous cutting chain mounted in said frame parallel to said dog chain and having outwardly projecting cutting elements formingthe peripheral outline of said cutting chain, said dog and cutting chains being driven in opposed directions, successive portions of the periphery of each of said chains engaging a peripheral surface of a log to be barked, said dog chain engaging such surface while moving toward said abutment means thereby crowding such log against said abutment means.

9. Log-barking apparatus for a log buoyantly supported in water comprising a support, an abutment means limiting lateral movement of a log in the water, and a log-barking mechanism pivotally mounted on said support and positionable across a log lying adjacent said abutment means, said log-barking mechanism comprising a frame, a power-driven, continuous dog chain mounted in said frame and having outwardly projecting gripping elements forming the peripheral outline of said dog chain, a power-driven, continuous cutting chain mounted in said frame parallel to said dog chain and having outwardly projecting cutting elements forming the peripheral outline of said cutting chain, said dog and cutting chains being mounted in said frame to lie at an oblique angle across a log to be barked and being driven in opposed directions, successive portions of the periphery of each of said chains engaging a peripheral surface of a log to be barked, said dog chain engaging such log while moving toward said abutment means at an oblique angle across such log thereby crowding such log against said abutment means and urging longitudinal movement of such log relative to said abutment means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,139,012 Beadle May 11, 1915 2,259,584 Prentice Oct. 21, 1941 2,642,904 Pearce June 23, 1953 2,831,515 Potts Apr. 22, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,549 Norway July 8,1907