Log splitting device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6453958
  • Patent Number
    6,453,958
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, June 7, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 24, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
A splitting device for splitting logs comprising a base having an upright member secured thereto, a carriage moveable along said upright member, an axe portion also moveable along said upright member and carrying an axe head, the moveable carriage being releasably secured to the axe portion, and a locking device for locking the moveable carriage in a raised position from where it can be released to split a log. The device is compact and can easily be used without requiring a great deal of strength or ability.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to a log splitting device and more particularly, relates to a log splitting device usable by consumers.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Wood has been used as a source of fuel for many years, both for heating and cooking purposes. Since the size of the log which can be accommodated by most wood burning appliances is limited, the logs, after being cut into appropriate lengths, must be split into smaller pieces for final use.




Originally, the splitting of the logs was accomplished through hand tools such as an axe, maul, or a hammer and wedge arrangement. While these instruments are capable of splitting a log, they require a certain amount of skill which is normally acquired through practice. However, the use of these tools is inherently dangerous and can lead to severe injury to the unskilled user. In addition, the known tools require a substantial amount of strength in order to be used properly.




There are also devices for splitting logs which are safer but are considerably more expensive and can only be justified by a higher volume user. Thus, there are a number of known hydraulically and mechanically operated log splitters which are available on the market.




As fireplaces and wood stoves have increased in popularity, there is a requirement for a relatively inexpensive and portable log splitter which can be used by an unskilled user. Such a device would overcome the disadvantages of the use of an axe wherein the lower limbs of the user are in danger of suffering serious injury and which requires a great amount of physical energy.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive log splitting device which may be used by an unskilled and untrained user.




It is a further object of the present invention to provide a log splitting device which is effective to cut relatively large pieces of wood while requiring a minimum of effort on the part of the user.




According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a log splitting device which comprises a base, an upright member secured to the base, a chopping assembly which comprises a moveable carriage and an axe portion, the axe portion being moveable in a generally vertical direction along the upright member and carrying an axe head, a moveable carriage also being moveable in a generally vertical direction along the upright member and having means for releasable securement to the axe portion, and a locking device for retaining the moveable carriage in a raised position.




In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a leg guard which restricts access of the user to the area where the wood is being split. In one particularly preferred aspect of the invention, the leg guard may be repositioned so as to permit or assist in the movement of the device from one location to the other. As such, the leg guard device may have the form of a T-shaped member which, in the operative position for operation of the splitter, has a vertical member secured to an appropriate support and with a horizontal member extending outwardly to prevent access to the area proximate the axe head. For movement or transportation purposes, the horizontal member may be provided with wheels at the distal ends thereof and the entire leg guard repositioned so that it lies in a co-planer relationship with the base.




In one preferred embodiment, the axe portion comprises a bracket which is moveable along the upright member. To this end, there may be provided a bracket having bushings or bearings therein to permit smooth movement along the upright. Extending outwardly from the bracket is an arm and which carries at a distal end thereof an axe head. The axe head preferably has a slightly concave cutting edge. This shape provides for two points of contact when the axe head strikes the wood to be split. This tends to have a stabilizing action on the wood. The arm carrying the axe head preferably has a triangular configuration with an apex pointing downwardly such that the arm is configured similarly to the axe head. This reduces jamming in the logs.




The carriage, as previously mentioned, is moveable along the upright and also preferably has bushings or bearings to permit smooth movement along the upright and thereby maintain the upright in good condition. The carriage also preferably has provisions for receiving one or more weights. The amount of the weight used will determine the force exerted on the wood being split. The amount of weight can be varied depending upon the preference of the user, the type of wood and the size of the log.




The carriage has means for engagement with the upright such that it can be retained in an elevated position. This is done such that the wood can be placed in position prior to being split. Preferably, the carriage includes handle means to assist in lifting the same and conveniently, there are provided means for releasing the carriage from the raised position, the means being located proximate the handle means.




The axe portion is securable, in a releasable manner, to the moveable carriage. Preferably, there are also provided means proximate the handle to permit the engagement or disengagement of the axe portion from the carriage. The axe head is preferably of a minimum weight—the major portion of the weight being carried by the carriage to achieve maximum efficiency.




In an initial movement, the axe portion and the carriage are secured together and move to the raised position where they are held by a locking device. The wood to be split is then placed in the desired position and the releasing means operated to release the carriage and axe portion. The assembly will then move downwardly with the axe head contacting the wood. Automatically the locking device for the axe is then disarmed.




The initial blow to the wood may be sufficient to split the wood and then the whole operation is repeated with a further piece of wood. However, in the case where the force is not sufficient to split the wood on the first attempt, the axe portion remains in position with the axe head partially imbedded in the wood. The carriage assembly is then raised and released. In so doing, a second blow is struck to the axe head and the wood.




Normally, even for relatively large pieces of wood, two such blows are sufficient to split the wood. However, the blows can be repeated any number of times. An advantage of the present invention is that the axe head can be used to maintain the wood to be split in a desired position. Thus, in such a case, the axe head is not secured to the moveable carriage but can be placed in. position on top of the log or a portion thereof. The carriage can then be moved to its upper position and released to strike the axe head and split the wood. This arrangement is highly advantageous when the wood or log is not stable and/or when splitting kindling. Still further, one of the advantages of the arrangement of the present invention, when compared to the use of a conventional axe, is that when the axe is stuck in the wood, it does not have to be removed manually. Typically, when trying to split wood, the axe will become imbedded in the log and must then be removed in order that another blow is struck. With the present invention, repeated use of the carriage will split the log. This substantially reduces the physical effort which would otherwise be required.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a log splitting apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a front elevational view thereof with certain portions shown in a cut away;





FIG. 3

is a side elevational view thereof with certain portions being shown in a cut away;





FIG. 4

is a top plan view thereof;





FIG. 5

is a side elevational view illustrating operation of the log splitting apparatus; and





FIG. 6

is a side elevational view, partially in a cut away, of the moveable carriage and axe portion illustrating the operation thereof.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, the log splitting apparatus of the present invention is illustrated in FIG.


1


and is generally designated by reference numeral


10


.




Log splitting apparatus


10


includes several different components; a base generally designated by reference numeral


12


, an upright generally designated by reference numeral


14


, a moveable carriage assembly generally designated by reference numeral


16


, and an axe assembly generally designated by reference numeral


18


.




In greater detail, base


12


is designed to be placed on a suitable flat substrate and includes a log receiving area


22


and first and second foot receiving areas


24


. Both log receiving area


22


and foot receiving areas


24


are preferably provided with a high friction surface such that minimal slippage will occur. As may be seen in

FIG. 2

, base


12


also includes a plurality of feet or pads


25


such that a stable environment is provided. Preferably, three such feet or pads are present.




Log splitting apparatus


10


also includes a leg protection device generally designated by reference numeral


26


in FIG.


1


. Leg protection device


26


includes a bracket


28


mounted on base


12


intermediate foot receiving areas


24


. An L-shaped guard


30


has a horizontal portion


32


and a vertical portion


34


preferably formed, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, of square tubing having apertures


36


located in both vertical portion


34


and horizontal portion


32


. A locking pin


38


extends through bracket


22


and one of the apertures


36


in horizontal portion


32


to lock L-shaped tubing


30


in place.




A leg guard member


40


is secured to vertical portion


34


of L-shaped guard


30


and has a general T-shaped configuration with a bottom tube


42


and a horizontal bar


44


. Wheels


46


are mounted at the outer extremity of horizontal bar


44


while a locking pin


48


secures tube


42


to vertical portion


34


. As may be seen from the drawings, the protection device


26


is thus adjustable both in a horizontal and vertical direction.




As may be seen in

FIG. 1

, base


12


includes a bracket


50


which is designed to receive upright


14


. A locking key


54


is provided to secure upright


14


in a generally vertical position with respect to base


12


. It will be noted that upright


14


, although generally vertical, is slightly angled rearwardly with respect to base


12


. An advantage of this angling along with a forward angling of the carriage component is that sufficient clearances are maintained and the system is easier to use.




Axe assembly


18


includes a bracket


60


having a plurality of bushings


62


mounted in a manner such that bracket


60


can move along upright


14


. In the illustrated embodiment, four such bearing or bushing assemblies


62


are provided. Extending outwardly from bracket


60


is a support arm


64


which has an inverted triangle shape for reasons which will be discussed hereinbelow.




Similarly, as may be seen in

FIG. 1

, there is provided a deflector


70


which is also of a triangular configuration and is connected to the bottom of bracket


60


, again for reasons discussed hereinbelow.




Mounted at the distal end of support arm


64


is axe head


66


. As best seen in

FIG. 6

, axe head


66


has a cutting edge


68


which is of a slightly concave configuration. Also, axe head


66


is somewhat thinner at the central portion than the outer edges. This again provides for a better splitting action and aids when using the apparatus for kindling and smaller logs.




Also as best seen in

FIG. 6

, the upper portion of bracket


60


carries a grasping hook


72


.




Carriage


16


has a first side wall


76


, a second side wall


78


and an end wall


80


extending there between. There is also provided a bottom wall


82


. To permit the carriage


16


to travel along upright


14


, there are provided a plurality of bearing or bushing assemblies


86


extending between side walls


76


and


78


. Bearing assemblies


86


can conveniently comprise a roller bushing mounted on a shaft such that the rollers will rotate along upright


14


. In a preferred embodiment, there is provided a slight gap between the bushing and the upright so as to prevent binding.




A connecting shaft


88


extends upwardly from between side walls


76


and


78


. Connecting shaft


88


is provided with a plurality of apertures


90


and is secured to carriage


16


by means of bolts


92


or equivalent locking pins.




Carriage


16


includes an upper handle portion generally designated by reference numeral


94


and which comprises a shaft


96


and a horizontal handle bar


98


having grips


100


at either extremity thereof. As may be seen in

FIGS. 1 and 6

, a slot


102


is formed in the side wall of shaft


96


and a bolt


104


connects shaft


96


to connecting shaft


88


. A spring


106


is mounted interiorly of shaft


96


to provide a suspension or shock absorber capability thereto. The handle bar


98


may thus be adjusted to the height of the user.




In order to provide weight or mass to the carriage


16


, there are provided a plurality of weights


108


which are seatable on bottom wall


82


and which are retained between side walls


76


,


78


. Each of the weights may be retained between side walls


76


and


78


in a fixed position by means of pins or bolts


77


.




Referring to

FIG. 6

, there is provided a pivot pin


110


which extends between side walls


76


,


78


and upon which is mounted a pivotal hook member


112


. Hook member


112


is designed to engage an aperture


111


formed within upright


14


to retain carriage


16


in a raised or elevated position prior to operation. For purposes of controlling the movement, there is provided a cable


114


connected to one end of hook member


112


while a spring member


116


provides a biasing force. Cable


114


is connected to an actuator


118


situated proximate one end of horizontal handle bar


98


.




Situated at the other end of horizontal handle bar


98


is a second actuator


132


. Actuator


132


is connected by means of cable


126


to a hook


122


. Hook


122


is engageable with grasping hook


72


by means of a member


124


and a pivot pin


128


to which hook


122


is connected. A biasing spring


130


is also provided.




In operation, carriage


16


is raised to an elevated position with hook


122


engaging grasping hook


72


of axe assembly


18


. Thus, both axe assembly


18


and carriage


16


are raised to an elevated position with both actuators being pulled.




When so engaged, both carriage


16


and axe assembly


18


are retained in the elevated position as shown in

FIGS. 1

,


5


and


6


. Subsequently, a portion of a log L (

FIG. 5

) is placed on a long receiving area


22


of base


12


. The operator then stands in a position as shown in FIG.


5


and the carriage is raised to release hook


112


. Carriage


16


and axe assembly


18


are then free to move downwardly such that axe head


66


will fall on log L.




Depending upon the size of log L, the force may or may not be sufficient to split log L. If successfully split, carriage


16


and axe assembly


18


are raised upwardly and the process repeated with a further log. However, if splitting has not been completed, carriage


16


can then be moved to an elevated position leaving axe assembly


18


in a lower position. The carriage assembly


16


is then released again to strike a second blow on the upper surface of axe head


66


. This can be repeated until the log L is successfully split. In practice, most logs will require only one or two such operations although bigger logs—


12


-


16


inches may require more than two operations.




As previously mentioned, support arm


64


has an inverted triangular configuration such that if the log is very large, support arm


64


can enter into the split wood. Similarly, deflector


70


which is of a triangular configuration or alternatively, is somewhat arcuate, prevents any wood from entering between upright


14


and bracket


60


.




Also be noted, as seen in

FIG. 1

, that leg guard


40


can be moved to a position such that wheels


46


contact the ground and the device can then be moved from one location to another. Alternatively, bracket


50


may also include a slot to receive tube


42


whereby leg guard


40


is usable at the other end (as shown in dotted lines) for transportation of the apparatus.




For safety purposes, a pair of apertures


140


(

FIG. 3

) may be provided in upright


14


to receive a member to prevent unauthorized operation of the device. Thus, the lower aperture


140


would prevent movement of the carriage and a padlock or other such member may be utilized. This would prevent children from operating the device. The upper aperture


140


would prevent removal of the carriage and/or raising the carriage too high.




Similarly, as shown in the drawings, upright


14


may be formed of two pieces connected at joint


142


for ease of transport and saving of space.




It will be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of illustration only and that changes or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A splitting device comprising:a base; an upright member secured to said base; a chopping assembly comprising a moveable carriage and an axe portion; said axe portion being moveable in a general vertical direction along said upright member and carrying an axe head; said moveable carriage being moveable in a generally vertical direction along said upright member and having means for securement to said axe portion; a locking device for retaining said moveable carriage in a raised position; and a leg guard mounted on said base for protecting the legs of a user.
  • 2. The splitting device of claim 1 further including a high friction portion on said base for receiving a log to be split, said high friction area minimizing movement of said log.
  • 3. The splitting device of claim 2 further including high friction areas on said base for receiving the feet of a user to thereby prevent accidental slipping.
  • 4. The splitting device of claim 1 wherein said axe head has a cutting edge of a generally concave configuration.
  • 5. The splitting device of claim 1 wherein said moveable carriage includes handle means to receive the hands of a user of said device.
  • 6. The splitting device of claim 5 wherein said handle means includes means mounted thereon to operate said locking device.
  • 7. The splitting device of claim 6 wherein said handle means includes an actuator connected to said means for releasably securing said carriage and said axe portion.
  • 8. The splitting device of claim 1 wherein said moveable carriage includes a cavity for receiving a weight.
  • 9. The splitting device of claim 5 further including spring shock absorber means interposed between said handle means and said carriage.
  • 10. The splitting device of claim 1 wherein said axe portion comprises a bracket mounted on said upright for said movement in a generally vertical direction, an arm extending outwardly from said bracket, said axe being mounted at a distal end of said arm.
  • 11. The splitting device of claim 10 wherein said arm has a generally triangular configuration with an apex thereof pointed downwardly.
  • 12. The splitting device of claim 10 further including a deflector mounted on said carriage adjacent said upright member.
  • 13. The splitting device of claim 1 wherein said axe portion and said moveable carriage include bushings for movement along said upright.
  • 14. The splitting device of claim 1 wherein said leg guard includes an upright securable to said base and a horizontal member extending from said upright to prevent the legs of a user from moving towards said axe portion.
  • 15. The splitting device of claim 14 wherein said horizontal member has wheels at opposed ends thereof whereby said leg guard can be positioned to facilitate movement of said splitting device.
  • 16. A splitting device comprising:a base; an upright member secured to said base; a chopping assembly comprising a moveable carriage and an axe portion; said axe portion being moveable in a generally vertical direction along said upright member and carrying axe head; said moveable carriage being moveable in a generally vertical direction along said upright member and having means for securement to said axe portion, said moveable carriage including a cavity for receiving a weight; and a locking device for retaining said moveable carriage in a raised position.
  • 17. A splitting device comprising:a base; an upright member secured to said base; a chopping assembly comprising a moveable carriage and an axe portion; said axe portion being moveable in a generally vertical direction along said upright member and carrying an axe head; said moveable carriage being moveable in a generally vertical direction along said upright member and having means for releasable securement to said axe portion; an actuator connected to said means for releasably securing said carriage and said axe portions to; and a locking device for retaining said moveable carriage in a raised position.
  • 18. The splitting device of claim 17 wherein said axe head has a cutting edge of a generally concave configuration.
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Number Name Date Kind
3982572 Kortendick Sep 1976 A
4033390 Piontkowski Jul 1977 A
4280540 Meacham Jul 1981 A
4354537 Balkus Oct 1982 A
4391311 Levercom Jul 1983 A
4429727 Wilson Feb 1984 A
4905746 Bedard Mar 1990 A
5704374 Abrahamsson Jan 1998 A