Hydraulic stone splitter with shock absorber means

Claim 1

In combination, a stone splitter and means for actuating said splitter, said splitter having upper and lower relatively movable cutting jaws normally spaced apart to receive a stone workpiece therebetween, said actuating means including means for applying reciprocatory movement to one of said jaws so as to produce a stone splitting force across said jaws, said actuating means including: a. hydraulic circuit apparatus comprising a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure, first conduit means coupling the outlEt of said source to a fluid working cylinder and second conduit means for returning fluid to the inlet of said pressure source for completion of the hydraulic circuit; b. said fluid working cylinder having a piston with a forceapplying ram coupled thereto with said force-applying ram being operatively coupled to one of said jaws, said piston being arranged for reciprocatory motion within said fluid working cylinder; c. said fluid working cylinder defining first and second chamber segments disposed on opposite sides of said piston, with one of said chambers being adapted to receive a charge of hydraulic fluid from said source under high pressure while the other chamber retains a charge of hydraulic fluid under substantially lower pressure; d. third conduit means coupling said low pressure chamber to orifice means for permitting restricted flow of fluid from said low pressure chamber to said second conduit means; and e. pressure relief valve means coupled to said second conduit means and being disposed in parallel relationship with said orifice means and responsive to permit flow upon achieving fracture of a stone workpiece disposed between said jaws.