US4086111A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wood splitter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-09-13
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Granted: 1978-04-25
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Expires: 1996-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A wood splitter, particularly suited to hydraulic operation, for mechanically splitting sections of wood lengthwise for shakes or for more suitable sizes for burning is provided. In a preferred form the device is mounted on a trailer having a flat working deck. A column, which is lowerable for travel, projects upward out of the deck. A lever arm actuated by a hydraulic cylinder is attached to the column below the deck and upon actuation of the cylinder projects upward through a hole in the deck. A splitting blade is slidably mounted on the column over the lever arm. A piece of wood is placed over the lever arm and the blade which is also actuated by a hydraulic cylinder is lowered, by operation of a foot lever, against the top of the piece of wood. The contact with the wood is sensed by a sequence valve which then causes the lever arm to raise above the deck forcing the wood to be split by the blade. If the wood does not split cleanly the blade automatically lowers more closely toward the lever which retracts then actuates again. Another embodiment of the wood splitter utilizes the blade mounted on a threaded screw. The screw is rotated to raise or lower the blade rather than a cylinder.
Inventors
- 👤 Max L. Corey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:12
CPC Classifications
B; B27; B27L; B27L7/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/869; Y10T83/8821; Y10T83/8835
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A wood splitter comprising: a. a column having a first and second end; b. a blade slidably attached to the column having its edge directed toward the second end of the column; c. a pusher member attached to the second end of the column having a portion thereof movable along the column toward the blade edge; d. means for moving the blade directly toward the pusher to contact one end of a piece of wood placed between the blade and the pusher while the opposite end of the piece of wood contacts the pusher member; and e. means for forcefully moving the pusher member so that the portion that moves toward the blade causes the wood to move against the blade and split.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A wood splitter comprising: a. a column having a first and second end; b. a blade slidably attached to the column having its edge directed toward the second end of the column; c. a pusher member attached to the second end of the column having a portion thereof movable along the column toward the blade edge; d. means for moving the blade directly toward the pusher to contact one end of a piece of wood placed between the blade and the pusher while the opposite end of the piece of wood contacts the pusher member; and e. means for forcefully moving the pusher member so that the portion that moves toward the blade causes the wood to move against the blade and split.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
A wood splitter, as claimed in claim 1, comprising, in addition, means for controlling the blade moving means and the pusher member moving means so that the blade first moves toward the pusher member to securely clamp a piece of wood between the blade and the pusher member and then the pusher member moves toward the blade to effectuate the splitting of the wood.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A wood splitter, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pusher member comprises a lever pivotally attached to the column.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A wood splitter, as claimed in claim 3, wherein the means for moving the pusher lever comprises a hydraulic cylinder attached between the column and the lever and a means for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to actuate the cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
A wood splitter, as claimed in claim 4 wherein the blade has a threaded hole passing through it and wherein the blade moving means comprises a threaded shaft, longitudinally aligned with the column and rotatably attached to the column, passing through the hole in the blade and having its threads engaging the threads in the hole in the blade and means for rotating the shaft to cause the blade to move along the column.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A wood splitter, as claimed in claim 4 wherein the blade moving means comprises a second hydraulic cylinder attached between the column and the blade and means for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to actuate the cylinder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
A wood splitter, as claimed in claim 6, comprising, in addition, means for controlling the hydraulic fluid supplied to the pusher cylinder and the blade cylinder so that the blade is first forced against the piece of wood to securely clamp it between the blade and the pusher lever and then the pusher lever is forcefully moved to effectuate the splitting of the wood.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A wood splitter, as claimed in claim 7, wherein the hydraulic fluid control means comprises a sequence valve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A wood splitter, as claimed in claim 6, comprising, in addition, means for resisting the tendency of the blade to reverse directions during the splitting operation and be forced away from the pushing lever toward the first end of the column by the force of the pushing lever.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A wood splitter, as claimed in claim 9, where the blade reversal resistance means comprises a holding valve in the blade hydraulic supply means which allows the fluid traveling to the blade cylinder to enter but not leave the cylinder during the splitting operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
A wood splitter, as claimed in claim 10, comprising, in addition, a sequence valve associated with both hydraulic fluid supply means for controlling the hydraulic fluid supplied to the pusher cylinder the blade cylinder so that the blade is first forced against the piece of wood to securely clamp it between the blade and the pusher lever and then the pusher lever is forcefully moved to effectuate the splitting of the wood.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
A wood splitter, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the column has a pair of tracks running longitudinally along its length and the blade has a pair of elongated grooves which engage the tracks to slidably attach the blade to the column, the grooves being offset laterally from the edge of the blade where it contacts the piece of wood so that a twisting of the blade on the track occurs to bind the blade in position on the tracks and further resist the tendency of the blade to reverse directions during the splitting operation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
A wood splitter, as claimed in claim 13, wherein the column is positionable in an upright position and comprising, in addition, a substantially horizontal planar working surface adjacent the column having an opening in the surface permitting the portion of the pusher lever which is movable toward the blade to project above the surface when effectuating the splitting.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A wood splitter, as claimed in claim 13, comprising in addition a trailer structure and wherein the column and planar working surface are mounted on the trailer structure to permit travel to a convenient location where the wood splitting operation will occur.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
A wood splitter, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the column has a pair of tracks running longitudinally along its length and the blade has a pair of elongated grooves which engage the tracks to slidably attach the blade to the column, the grooves being offset laterally from the edge of the blade where it contacts the piece of wood so that a twisting of the blade on the track occurs to bind the blade in position on the track and resist the tendency of the blade to reverse directions during the splitting operation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
A wood splitter, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the column is positionable in an upright position and comprising, in addition, a substantially horizontal planar working surface adjacent the column having an opening in the surface permitting the portion of the pusher member which is movable toward the blade to project above the surface when effectuating the splitting.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
A wood splitter, as claimed in claim 16, comprising, in addition, a trailer structure and wherein the column and the planar working surface are mounted on the trailer structure to permit travel to a convenient location where the wood splitting operation will occur.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
103 words
A wood splitter, as claimed in claim 17, wherein the pusher member comprises a lever pivotally attached to the column having a first and second end with its first end opposite the blade edge; wherein the column is pivotally attached to the trailer structure to permit the column to be placed in a lowered position for travel; and comprising, in addition, a cross member attached to the trailer structure adjacent the second end of the lever arm so that when the pusher member moving means is actuated to move the lever when the column is in the lowered position the column is raised.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-04-24 | 1981-10-24 | 1982-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-24 | 1985-10-24 | 1986-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-24 | 1989-10-24 | 1990-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |