WO1996014192A1

WO1996014192A1 - Saw buck

Info

Publication number: WO1996014192A1
Application number: PCT/GB1995/002587
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexander Reid Sharp; Margaret Sharp
Original assignee: Alexander Reid Sharp; Margaret Sharp
Priority date: 1994-11-02
Filing date: 1995-11-02
Publication date: 1996-05-17
Also published as: GB2289643B; GB2289643A; AU3811695A; GB9422097D0

Abstract

A support device i.e. a saw buck is described of particular use in logging. The device (10) comprises a framework of supporting members for supporting an elongated item or a load of items (e.g. legs), a flexible securing means (21) and means (23-25) for tensioning the flexible securing means about the item or load of items. Preferably the flexible securing means (21) comprises two spaced apart flexible elements (22) such as webbing attached at a first end to the supporting members and at a second end to the means for tensioning. The means for tensioning may comprise a tensioning bar (23), a flexible element (24) attached at a first end to the tensioning bar and at the second end to a ratchet (25) and the ratchet being attached to attachment means. Preferably the supporting members comprise two pairs of crossed legs (11, 12) with crossbars (16, 17) therebetween, and are arranged such that the support device may be folded flat when not in use. The device (10) includes two safety features for preventing damage to the saw chain. The first comprises roller guards (28) located arround each leg (11, 12) and on crossbars (14, 16) and on tensioning bar (23). The second feature comprises protection caps (29) on the top of the legs (11, 12).

Description

SAW BUCK

Description of the Invention

The invention relates to a support device, and in particular although not exclusively to such a device for use in logging.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved form of support device.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a support device comprising a framework of supporting members for supporting an item or a load of items, a flexible securing means and means for tensioning the flexible securing means about the item or load of items.

The invention provides the advantage that an item or load of items of irregular shape may be held firmly in place whilst an operation is carried out on the item(s).

Preferably the flexible securing means comprises a plurality of spaced apart flexible elements, each attached at a first end to the framework and at a second end to the means for tensioning.

In a preferred embodiment the means for tensioning comprises a tensioning bar, a flexible element attached at a first end to the tensioning bar and at a second end to a ratchet and wherein the ratchet is attached to attachment means.

Preferably the supporting members comprise two pairs of crossed legs and cross members therebetween spacing the pairs of crossed legs apart.

At least one guard roller may be located around an upper portion of the framework.

Preferably the support device may be folded flat when not in use.

According to asecond aspect of the invention we provide a support device for an item or a load of items to be cut comprising two pairs of spaced apart sub-frames connected by cross members and at least one guard roller about an upper portion of a sub-frame.

An embodiment of a support device according to the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 illustrates a support device according to the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates the Figure 1 device when in use;

Figure 3 illustrates a ratchet for incorporation in the Figure 1 embodiment; and

Figure 4 illustrates the Figure 1 device when folded.

A support device 10 comprises a framework of supporting members in the form of two front legs 11 and two rear legs 12, each front leg 11 being pivotally connected to a respective rear leg 12 by means of a pin 13 to form a sub-frame. The front legs 11 are connected together by means of a front upper crossbar 14 and a front lower crossbar 15. Likewise the rear legs 12 are connected together by means of a rear upper crossbar 16 and a rear lower crossbar 17. The upper crossbars 14, 15 are located adjacent and below the point at which the front and rear legs are pivotally connected together. The lower crossbars 16, 17 are located adjacent the bottom of the legs 11, 12. The rear of the support device 10 is further braced by means of two rear braces 18 each of which is connected to a rear leg 17 at about the same point as the rear upper crossbar 16, and both of which are connected to the middle of the rear lower crossbar 17. The front portion of the support device 10 is further braced by means of an adjusting bar 19 connected between the mid-point of the front upper crossbar 14 and the mid-point of the front lower crossbar 15. The adjusting bar 19 has a plurality of holes 19a along its length. Chains 20 are connected between respective front and rear legs 11, 12 approximately midway between the attachment points of the upper and lower crossbars 14 to 17. The legs 11, 12, the lower crossbars 15, 16, the rear braces 18 and the adjustment bar 19 are all constructed from steel, preferably plastic coated. The upper crossbars 14, 15 are constructed from aluminium.

The support device 10 further comprises a flexible securing means 21 comprising two webbing straps 22 each of which is attached at a first end to the rear upper crossbar 16 at spaced locations, and at the other end is attached to a tensioning bar 23 at spaced locations. The securing means 21 further comprises means for tensioning comprising a webbing strap 24, a ratchet 25 and attachment means in the form of a hook 26.

The support device 10 further comprises two webbing restraining brackets 27 attached to each pair of legs 11, 12 by means of the respective pin 13.

The support device 10 further comprises two safety features. The first comprises roller guards 28 located around the portion of each leg 11, 12 above the chain location point and below the upper crossbar location point, on each rear leg 12 above the upper crossbar location point and below the leg pivot point, on crossbars 14, 16 and on tensioning bar 23. In addition to their safety role the roller guards 28 also serve to locate the webbing straps 22 on crossbar 16, to locate the adjusting bar 19 along crossbar 14, and to locate the webbing strap 24 along the tensioning bar 23. The rollers also serve to protect the metal from corrosion.

The second safety feature comprises the upper end of each leg 11, 12 a protection cap 29 constructed from plastic and aluminium, and being about 2.5cm long.

Referring to Figure 3 the ratchet 25 is of generally known kind and comprises a ratchet lever 30, a spring clip 31, and ratchet drum 32, and top notches 33.

The support device 10 is stored, folded flat, as shown in Figure 4. When the support device 10 is to be used, the hook 26 is removed from the hole 19.2, in which it is secured in the adjusting bar 19, the securing means 21 is unwound from around the upper and lower crossbars 14 to 17, and the legs 11, 12 are separated at their lower and upper ends, pivoting around the pins 13, until the chains 20 are taut. The support device 10 is then located on relatively flat piece of ground. Items to be supported, such as logs as shown in dashed lines and referenced 40 in Figure 1, are placed between the upper ends of the front and rear legs 11, 12. The flexible securing means 21 is then lifted up and over the logs 40, the webbing straps 22 are located behind the webbing restraining brackets 27, and the hook 26 is located in the lowest hole 19ϋ in the adjusting bar 19 which it can reach. The ratchet 25 is then activated by making short up and down strokes with the ratchet lever 30 such that the webbing strap 24 winds around the ratchet drum 32 to shorten the strap 24 and attain the required tension of the securing means 21.

This situation is illustrated in Figure 2 which also shows a chainsaw 34 being used to cut the logs 40 which are thus supported and restrained.

When it is desired to release the logs 40 from the support device 10 the ratchet 25 is released by pushing down on the spring clip 31 and holding it there while lifting the ratchet lever 30 until the spring clip 31 rests in the top notches 33. The hook 25 is then pulled firmly downwards and the webbing unwinds from the ratchet drum 32. Pushing down on the spring clip 31 again releases the ratchet lever 30 downwards to return to its operating position. The logs 40 may then be unloaded from the support device 10 and the device 10 folded for storage as shown in Figure 4.

Preferably when using the support device 10 for cutting logs into shorter lengths it is used as follows.

Once the support device 10 is erected as previously described, a thin length of timber, minimum 50mm diameter is placed in the Vs formed by the upper portions of the front and rear legs 11, 12. Additional pieces of timber are then loaded on top of that piece, preferably alternating the thick end of the timber on one side of the device 10 with the thin end on the other side, creating a balanced load. When loading of the timber is complete the flexible securing means 21 is fastened and tensioned as previously described. If the securing means 21 is too short for the hook 26 to reach a hole 19ϋ then too much timber has been placed on the device 10.

Once the flexible securing means 21 has been tightened the logs may be cut as desired. Preferably after about 600mm has been removed from one end of the logs the operator should move to the other end and repeat the process thus keeping the device 10 balanced. The tension of the flexible securing means 21 should frequently be checked since the logs may have settled as they become shorter, thus slackening the securing means 21. In particular this should be done when the logs are only protruding approximately 75mm on either side of the support device 10, as shown in Figure 2. A single cut may then be made through the middle of the logs 40, as shown in Figure 2, however the operator should stop before the first piece of timber placed in the device 10 is cut. The first piece of timber inserted into the device 10 supports the other logs once they are cut and protects the device 10 from damage caused by taking the chainsaw too far through the logs.

The support device 10 may also be used to cut fewer or even one single length of timber. To do this the flexible securing means 21 may have to be shortened if the size of the load of timber is small. This is achieved by dropping the flexible securing means 21 down between the front and rear crossbars 14 to 17, and bringing it up around the lower rear crossbar 17 and upper rear crossbar 16 before bringing it over the timber and fastening it as before. In general it will not be possible to use the webbing restraining brackets 27 when using the device 10 in this manner. Nor will it in general be possible to make a centre cut as shown in Figure 2 if the tensioning bar 23 is lying across the timber.

The first safety feature, comprising the roller guards 28 is designed to prevent damage to the chainsaw and the support device 10 if accidental contact is made between the chainsaw blade and the guards. The roller guards 28 are formed of plastics material and spin freely on the legs 11, 12, on the crossbars 14, 16 and on the tensioning bar 23. Use of such guards permits the support device 10 to be made partly of steel which has a high weight bearing capacity.

The second safety feature, the protection caps 29 on the tops of the legs ensure minimum damage to the chainsaw 34 should the chainsaw blade come into contact with the top of the legs by accident. Similarly, the upper crossbars 14, 16 are constructed from aluminium to ensure minimum damage to the chainsaw 34 and operator in the event of the chainsaw blade contacting the upper crossbars 14, 16. Preferably, the rollers on the crossbars 14, 16 and on tensioning bar 23 comprise a plurality of separate parts to facilitate the rollers rotating in the event that they are contacted by the chain or other saw.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A support device comprising a framework of supporting members for supporting an item or a load of items, which is foldable from an erected condition for use to a flatter condition for storage, a flexible securing means secured to the framework and comprising a plurality of spaced apart flexible elements, there being means for tensioning the flexible securing means about the item or load of items.

2. A support device according to claim 1 wherein each of the flexible elements is attached at a first end to the framework and at a second end to the means for tensioning.

3. A support device according to claim 2 wherein the means for tensioning comprises a tensioning bar, a flexible element attached at a first end to the tensioning bar and at a second end to a ratchet and wherein the ratchet is attached to attachment means.

4. A support device according to any preceding claim wherein the framework comprises two pairs of crossed legs and cross members therebetween spacing the pairs of crossed legs apart.

5. A support device according to claim 4 wherein each pair of legs is pivotally connected where they cross, whereby the framework is foldable.

6. A support device according to any preceding claims wherein at least one guard roller is located around an upper portion of the framework.

7. A support device for an item or load of items to be cut comprising two pairs of spaced apart sub-frames connected by cross members with at least one guard roller about an upper portion of a sub-frame.

8. A support device constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.