US3596691A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for manufacturing wood fencing material
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-06-20
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Granted: 1971-08-03
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Expires: 1988-06-20
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for machine-splitting logs to form wooden fencing materials wherein the log is held while a powered knife or wedge is caused to split it from end to end and additionally having means to hold the split segments according to manual selection in their relative positions while effecting additional splitting functions.
Inventors
- 👤 Lindell L Broadfoot
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:07
CPC Classifications
B; B27; B27L; B27L7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
In an apparatus for manufacturing wooden fencing materials from wooden logs, a log-splitting device mounted on a frame comprising: a cradle for supporting and centering a log along a longitudinal axis in which the cradle has a stop means for preventing the log from moving longitudinally; a splitting wedge movably mounted on the frame opposing the stop means for reciprocally moving along the axis for splitting the log along a diameter of the log; a drive means operatively connected to the splitting wedge for reciprocating the wedge along the longitudinal axis to split the log along a diameter during each stroke; said cradle having rotating means mounted thereon for incrementally rotating the log about the longitudinal axis to sequentially position the log at various angular positions to enable the splitting wedge to split the log along various diameters to form a plurality of log sectors; and holding means mounted on the frame for holding the log sectors together while the log is being split and rotated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
In an apparatus for manufacturing wooden fencing materials from wooden logs, a log-splitting device mounted on a frame comprising: a cradle for supporting and centering a log along a longitudinal axis in which the cradle has a stop means for preventing the log from moving longitudinally; a splitting wedge movably mounted on the frame opposing the stop means for reciprocally moving along the axis for splitting the log along a diameter of the log; a drive means operatively connected to the splitting wedge for reciprocating the wedge along the longitudinal axis to split the log along a diameter during each stroke; said cradle having rotating means mounted thereon for incrementally rotating the log about the longitudinal axis to sequentially position the log at various angular positions to enable the splitting wedge to split the log along various diameters to form a plurality of log sectors; and holding means mounted on the frame for holding the log sectors together while the log is being split and rotated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a log-conveying means mounted on the frame for moving a log laterally into position between the stop means and the movable splitting wedge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
In the apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising sector separation and discharge means mounted on the frame for separating the sectors at the conclusion of the log-splitting operation and discharging the sectors from the log-splitting device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
In the apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the holding means includes releasable engaging means for engaging the periphery of the Log on both sides of the longitudinal axis, to hold the sectors together during the splitting operation and further comprising a sector separating and discharge means operatively connected to the rotating means and engaging means for disengaging the engaging means from one side of the log at the conclusion of the splitting operation and for operating the rotating means to rotate the log at an increased speed to discharge the sectors laterally one at a time from the splitting device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
In the apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the holding means includes arm structures pivotally mounted on the frame on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis for pivotal movement between a nonengaging position and an engaging position to engage both sides of a log positioned between the stop means and the movable splitting wedge to hold the sectors together while the log is being split along the various diameters and further comprising pivot drive means operatively connected to the arm structures for pivoting the arm structures between the nonengaging position and the engaging position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the rotating means includes powered wheels supported on the cradle for engaging the periphery of the log to rotate the log and further compromising disengaging means mounted on the frame for disengaging the powered wheels from the log periphery while the log is being split to prevent damage to the powered wheels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
In the apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein the powered wheels engage the underside of the log periphery to provide at least some support of the log while the log is being rotated about the longitudinal axis and wherein the disengaging means includes an inclined elevating ramp movably mounted with the splitting wedge to move under the log to raise the log from the wheels while the log is being split to prevent damage to the powered wheels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
104 words
In the apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which each of the log sectors is substantially pie-shaped having a segment portion and an apex portion; further comprising a sector-splitting device mounted on the frame for receiving the log sectors in which the sector-splitting device has a movable splitting wedge and an accompanying drive means for moving the splitting wedge for splitting the log sector to separate the segment portion and the apex portion to form post material and rail material respectively and further comprising conveying means mounted on the frame for transferring the log sectors from the log-splitting device to the sector-splitting device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
In the apparatus as defined in the claim 8 further comprising a conveying means for conveying the post material and rail material to a trimming device mounted on the frame in which the trimming device has a movable cutting blade and an accompanying drive means capable of moving the cutting blade the full length of the material to trim off any protruberant shapes that may exist along the length of the material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
In the apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which the cutting blade is affixed to a continuous chain that has a forward flight and a return flight in which the accompanying drive means is operatively connected to the chain to drive the chain in one direction and wherein the trimming device further comprises a stop means mounted on the frame along the forward flight of the chain to receive one end of the material and prevent the longitudinal movement of the material while the material is being trimmed, said stop means having a slot therethrough to enable the cutting blade to pass therethrough at the completion of a trimming operation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-02 | 1975-02-01 | 1975-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-02 | 1979-02-01 | 1979-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-02 | 1983-02-01 | 1983-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |