US3872758A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sawmill
Assignee: HERTZELL IND Inc
•
Filing: 1973-01-10
•
Granted: 1975-03-25
•
Expires: 1993-01-10
Abstract
Abstract A set of log support carriage units are supported for horizontal movement by a set of parallel spaced tubular tracks and are connected by an elongated hydraulic cylinder. The carriage units include depending plate-like brackets which support corresponding dog members for engaging the opposite ends of a log when the connecting cylinder is retracted. The main carriage unit includes a variable speed hydraulically driven resilient wheel. The wheel engages the bottom surface of one of the tracks and is effective to move both of the carriage units along the tracks for feeding the log into a pair of rotary saws of a corresponding set of laterally adjustable saw husks. The dog member of the main carriage unit is mounted on one end of an elongated horizontal shaft rotatably supported by the corresponding bracket. The opposite end of the shaft connects with a hydraulic motor which is also supported by the bracket and is controlled by valves positioned adjacent a rotary actuator driven by the shaft through an electrically actuated clutch. The log is rotated to a selected position for the initial cutting operation and is then automatically indexed by precisely 90* from the initial cutting position.
Inventors
- 👤 George W Hartzell
- 👤 Robert J Gunnerman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:16
CPC Classifications
B; B27; B27B; B27B29/00; B27B29/08; B27B29/085; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/02; B65G47/04; B65G47/06; B65G47/08; B65G47/74; B65G47/84; B65G47/846; B65G47/88; B65G47/8807; B65G47/883; B65G47/8853; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02; B65G2201/0214; B65G2201/0217; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/647; Y10T83/6492; Y10T83/6499; Y10T83/65; Y10T83/654; Y10T83/6584; Y10T83/6587; Y10T83/6588; Y10T83/6608; Y10T83/6614; Y10T83/6616; Y10T83/6619
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
277 words
An improved sawmill adapted for efficiently cutting a successive supply of logs, comprising a set of elongated parallel spaced tracks, frame means supporting said tracks in horizontally spaced positions, a first carriage unit, said first carriage unit including a first set of wheels spaced longitudinally relative to said tracks and engaging said tracks in longitudinally spaced relation to provide said first carriage unit with both lateral and longitudinal stability, said first set of wheels supporting said first carriage unit for independent longitudinal linear movement on said tracks, a second carriage unit, said second carriage unit including a second set of wheels spaced longitudinally relative to said tracks and also engaging said tracks in longitudinally spaced relation to provide said second carriage unit with both lateral and longitudinal stability, said second set of wheels supporting said second carriage unit for longitudinal linear movement along said tracks independent of said first carriage unit, means connecting said first and second carriage units and providing for adjusting the space between said carriage units relative to said tracks, said carriage units including means supporting a set of horizontally disposed opposing dog members adapted to engage opposite ends of each log, means associated with at least one of said carriage units for moving said carriage units along said tracks, laterally adjustable cutting means positioned adjacent the path of said carriage for cutting the log, drive means on at least one of said carriage units for rotating the corresponding said dog member through 360* for positioning the log at an initial cutting position, and control means for actuating said drive means to produce precisely 90* rotation of the log from said initial cutting position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
277 words
An improved sawmill adapted for efficiently cutting a successive supply of logs, comprising a set of elongated parallel spaced tracks, frame means supporting said tracks in horizontally spaced positions, a first carriage unit, said first carriage unit including a first set of wheels spaced longitudinally relative to said tracks and engaging said tracks in longitudinally spaced relation to provide said first carriage unit with both lateral and longitudinal stability, said first set of wheels supporting said first carriage unit for independent longitudinal linear movement on said tracks, a second carriage unit, said second carriage unit including a second set of wheels spaced longitudinally relative to said tracks and also engaging said tracks in longitudinally spaced relation to provide said second carriage unit with both lateral and longitudinal stability, said second set of wheels supporting said second carriage unit for longitudinal linear movement along said tracks independent of said first carriage unit, means connecting said first and second carriage units and providing for adjusting the space between said carriage units relative to said tracks, said carriage units including means supporting a set of horizontally disposed opposing dog members adapted to engage opposite ends of each log, means associated with at least one of said carriage units for moving said carriage units along said tracks, laterally adjustable cutting means positioned adjacent the path of said carriage for cutting the log, drive means on at least one of said carriage units for rotating the corresponding said dog member through 360* for positioning the log at an initial cutting position, and control means for actuating said drive means to produce precisely 90* rotation of the log from said initial cutting position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A sawmill as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said tracks includes flat parallel upper and lower surfaces, and said means for moving said carriage units comprises a power driven wheel having a resilient outer surface engaging said lower surface of said one track.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A sawmill as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said tracks is tubular and includes parallel flat opposite side surfaces, and each of said carriage units includes roller means engaging said side surfaces of said track to assure positive lateral stability.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A sawmill as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said dog member and the log, comprise an elongated substantially horizontal shaft, one of said carriage units includes means for rotatably supporting said shaft, and motor means supported by said one carriage unit and connected to rotate said shaft through 360*.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A sawmill as defined in claim 1 wherein said means connecting said carriage units comprise a generally horizontally disposed elongated fluid cylinder, and means for actuating said cylinder to effect movement of one of said carriage units on said tracks relative to the other said carriage unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sawmill as defined in claim 5 including means projecting cantileveredly from one of said carriage units and supporting said fluid cylinder in a horizontal position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
A sawmill as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means comprise a rotary actuating member connected to be driven by said drive means through a clutch, a control unit positioned to be actuated by rotation of said actuating member, and means for actuating said clutch to effect positive rotation of said actuating member with the log from the initial cutting position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
252 words
An improved sawmill adapted for efficiently cutting a successive supply of logs, comprising a set of elongated parallel spaced tracks, frame means supporting said tracks in horizontally spaced positions, a first carriage unit including a first set of wheels engaging said tracks in longitudinally spaced relation, said first set of wheels providing for independent longitudinal linear movement of said first carriage unit on said tracKs, a second carriage unit including a second set of wheels also engaging said tracks in longitudinally spaced relation, said second set of wheels providing for longitudinal linear movement of said second carriage unit along said tracks independent of said first carriage unit, a fluid cylinder connecting said first and second carriage units and providing for adjusting the space between said carriage units relative to said tracks, said carriage units including means supporting a set of horizontally disposed opposing dog members adapted to engage opposite ends of each log, a first rotary fluid motor associated with one of said wheels on one of said carriage units for moving said carriage units along said tracks, laterally adjustable saw means positioned adjacent the path of said carriage for cutting the log, a second rotary fluid motor on at least one of said carriage units for rotating the corresponding said dog member through 360* for positioning the log at an initial cutting position, and fluid control means on said one carriage unit for actuating said second fluid motor to produce precise 90* rotation of the log from said initial cutting position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
252 words
An improved sawmill adapted for efficiently cutting a successive supply of logs, comprising a set of elongated parallel spaced tracks, frame means supporting said tracks in horizontally spaced positions, a first carriage unit including a first set of wheels engaging said tracks in longitudinally spaced relation, said first set of wheels providing for independent longitudinal linear movement of said first carriage unit on said tracKs, a second carriage unit including a second set of wheels also engaging said tracks in longitudinally spaced relation, said second set of wheels providing for longitudinal linear movement of said second carriage unit along said tracks independent of said first carriage unit, a fluid cylinder connecting said first and second carriage units and providing for adjusting the space between said carriage units relative to said tracks, said carriage units including means supporting a set of horizontally disposed opposing dog members adapted to engage opposite ends of each log, a first rotary fluid motor associated with one of said wheels on one of said carriage units for moving said carriage units along said tracks, laterally adjustable saw means positioned adjacent the path of said carriage for cutting the log, a second rotary fluid motor on at least one of said carriage units for rotating the corresponding said dog member through 360* for positioning the log at an initial cutting position, and fluid control means on said one carriage unit for actuating said second fluid motor to produce precise 90* rotation of the log from said initial cutting position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
158 words
A sawmill adapted for efficiently cutting a successive supply of logs, comprising a set of elongated parallel spaced tracks, frame means supporting said tracks in substantially horizontal positions, carriage means mounted on said tracks for longitudinal movement and supported by a plurality of rollers engaging said tracks, said carriage means including brackets supporting a set of horizontally disposed opposing dog members adapted to engage opposite ends of each log, means for moving said carriage means along said tracks, a rotary fluid motor mounted on at least one of said brackets for rotating the corresponding dog member through 360* to effect corresponding rotation of the log supported by said dog members, valve means for controlling said rotary fluid motor, a rotary actuator for operating said valve means, drive means including a remotely controllable clutch for rotating said actuator in response to rotation of the log, and saw means supported for lateral adjustment relative the path of said carriage means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
158 words
A sawmill adapted for efficiently cutting a successive supply of logs, comprising a set of elongated parallel spaced tracks, frame means supporting said tracks in substantially horizontal positions, carriage means mounted on said tracks for longitudinal movement and supported by a plurality of rollers engaging said tracks, said carriage means including brackets supporting a set of horizontally disposed opposing dog members adapted to engage opposite ends of each log, means for moving said carriage means along said tracks, a rotary fluid motor mounted on at least one of said brackets for rotating the corresponding dog member through 360* to effect corresponding rotation of the log supported by said dog members, valve means for controlling said rotary fluid motor, a rotary actuator for operating said valve means, drive means including a remotely controllable clutch for rotating said actuator in response to rotation of the log, and saw means supported for lateral adjustment relative the path of said carriage means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1093680A
Cited
US2741278A
Cited
US2803272A
Cited
US3129733A
Cited
US3600833A
Cited
US3747455A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |