Mobile log splitting apparatus

Claim 2

A log splitting apparatus comprising, in combination, a framework, an open top guide chute supported by said framework and defining a generally V-shaped passageway open at least at one end thereof, a drive member mounted for reciprocal movement in the passageway defined by said chute, said drive member being of stepped configuration and of progressively decreasing thickness, a log splitting head supported by said framework adjacent said one end of said chute, said splitting head having a log splitting wedge directed toward said one end of said chute, and hydraulic ram means operable to advance and retract said drive member in the passageway defined by said chute whereby said drive member successively forces individual logs disposed in the passageway defined by said chute against said log splitting head.

Claim 3

The combination as set forth in claim 1 including conveyor means supported by said framework and adapted to convey logs individually to the open top of said chute.

Claim 4

The combination as set forth in claim 1, said splitting head including multiple log splitting wedges disposed in angular relationship with respect to each other and directed toward said one end of said chute.

Claim 5

The combination as set forth in claim 1 including valve means effective to automatically advance and retract said hydraulic ram means.

Claim 6

The combination as set forth in claim 2 including a hydraulic motor for advancing said conveyor means, and means controlling the actuation of said hydraulic motor and operable as a function of the movement of said hydraulic ram means to advance said conveyor means incrementally.

Claim 7

The combination as set forth in claim 1 including means for raising and lowering said log splitting wedge relative to the apex of said chute.

Claim 8

The combination as set forth in claim 4, said valve means including a reversing handle, a latch mechanism controlling the actuation of said reversing handle, said latch mechanism comprising a pair of latch plates mounted for pivotal movement about a common axis and having abutment surfaces selectively engageable with said reversing handle, resilient means biasing said latch plates in opposite angular directions about said common axis, spring means actuated by said ram means and operable to force said handle alternately against said abutment surfaces, and means fixed to said ram means and operable to selectively disengage said abutment surfaces from said handle.

Claim 9

The combination as set forth in claim 7 including means limiting the angular movement of said latch plates.

Claim 10

A log splitting apparatus comprising in combination, a framework, an open top, generally V-shaped guide chute supported by said framework and defining a generally V-shaped passageway open at least one end thereof, a drive member mounted for reciprocal movement in the passageway defined by said chute, said drive member being of stepped configuration and of progressively decreasing thickness in a direction toward the apex of said chute, a log splitting head supported by said framework adjacent said one end of said chute, said splitting head having a log splitting wedge directed toward said one end of said chute, and hydraulic ram means operable to advance and retract said drive member in the passageway defined by said chute whereby said drive member successively forces individual logs disposed in the passageway defined by said chute against said log splitting head, and conveyor means supported by said framework and adapted to convey logs individually to the open top of said chute.

Claim 11

A log splitting apparatus comprising in combination, a framework, an open top, generally V-shaped guide chute supported by said framework and defining a generally V-shaped passageway open at least one end thereof, a drive member mounted for reciprocal movement in the passageway defined by said chute, said drive member being of stepped configuration and of progressively decreasing thickness in a direction toward the apex of said chute, a log splitting head supported by said framework adjacent said one end of said chute, said splitting head having a log splitting wedge directed toward said one end of said chute, and hydraulic ram means operable to advance and retract said drive member in the passageway defined by said chute whereby said drive member successively forces individual logs disposed in the passageway defined by said chute against said log splitting head, and conveyor means supported by said framework and adapted to convey logs individually to the open top of said chute.

Claim 12

The combination as set forth in claim 9, said splitting head including multiple log splitting wedges disposed in angular relationship with respect to each other and directed toward said one end of said chute.

Claim 13

The combination as set forth in claim 10 including valve means effective to automatically advance and retract said hydraulic ram means.

Claim 14

The combination as set forth in claim 11 including a hydraulic motor for advancing said conveyor means, and means controlling the actuation of said hydraulic motor and operable as a function of the movement of said hydraulic ram means to advance said conveyor means incrementally.

Claim 15

The combination as set forth in claim 12 including means for raising and lowering said log splitting wedges relative to the apex of said chute.

Claim 16

The combination as set forth in claim 13, said valve means including a reversing handle, a latch mechanism controlling the actuation of said reversing handle, said latch mechanism comprising a pair of latch plates mounted for pivotal movement about a common axis and having abutment surfaces selectively engageable with angularly spaced surfaces on said reversing handle, resilient means biasing said latch plates in opposite angular directions about said common axis, spring means actuated by said ram means and operable to force said augularly spaced surfaces on said handle alternately against said abutment surfaces, and means fixed to said ram means and operable to selectively disengage said abutment surfaces from said augularly spaced surfaces on said handle, said last mentioned means including an elongate tension member having one end thereof fixed to said ram means and the other end thereof fixed to one of said latch plates.

Claim 17

The combination as set forth in claim 14 including means limiting the angular movement of said latch plates.

Claim 18

The combination as set forth in claim 15 including an actuating member fixed to said ram means and engageable with the other of said latch plates.

Claim 19

A self-contained, mobile log splitting apparatus comprising, in combination, a framework, a guide chute supported by said framework and defining a generally V-shaped passageway open at each end and at the top thereof, a drive member mounted for reciprocal movement in the passageway defined by said chute, said drive member being of stepped configuration and of progressively decreasing thickness in a direction toward the apex of said chute, a log splitting head supported by said framework adjacent one end of said chute, said splitting head having a plurality of log splitting wedges directed toward said one end of said chute, hydraulic ram means operable to advance and retract said drive member in the passageway defined by said chute, a hydraulic pump mounted on said framework and operatively connected to said hydraulic ram means, an internal combustion engine mounted on said framework and powering said hydraulic pump, and wheel means supporting said framework.

Claim 20

A self-contained, mobile log splitting apparatus comprising, in combination, a framework, a guide chute supported by said framework and defining a generally V-shaped passageway open at each end and at the top thereof, a drive member mounted for reciprocal movement in the passageway defined by said chute, said drive member being of stepped configuration and of progressively decreasing thickness in a direction toward the apex of said chute, a log splitting head supported by said framework adjacent one end of said chute, said splitting head having a plurality of log splitting wedges directed toward said one end of said chute, hydraulic ram means operable to advance and retract said drive member in the passageway defined by said chute, a hydraulic pump mounted on said framework and operatively connected to said hydraulic ram means, an internal combustion engine mounted on said framework and powering said hydraulic pump, and wheel means supporting said framework.

Claim 21

The combination as set forth in claim 17 including conveyor means supported by said framework and adapted to convey logs individually to the open top of said chute.

Claim 22

The combination as set forth in claim 18 including means connecting one end portion of said conveyor to said framework for compound movement of said conveyor relative to said framework.

Claim 23

The combination as set forth in claim 19 including a hydraulic motor effective to advance said conveyor means, and means controlling the actuation of said hydraulic motor as a function of the movement of said hydraulic ram means so as to advance said conveyor means incrementally.

Claim 24

The combination as set forth in claim 20 including means for raising and lowering said log splitting wedges relative to the apex of said chute.

Claim 25

The combination as set forth in claim 21, said valve means including a reversing handle, a latch mechanism controlling the actuation of said reversing handle, said latch mechanism comprising a pair of latch plates mounted for pivotal movement about a common axis and having abutment surfaces selectively engageable with spaced surfaces on said reversing handle, resilient means biasing said latch plates in opposite angular directions about said common axis, spring means actuated by said ram means and operable to force said spaced surfaces on said handle alternately against said abutment surfaces, disengaging means fixed to said ram means and operable to selectively disengage said abutment surfaces from said spaced surfaces on said handle, said disengaging means including an elongate tension member having one end thereof fixed to said ram means and the other end thereof fixed to one of said latch plates and also including an actuating member fixed to said ram means and engageable with the other of said latch plates.

Claim 26

The combination as set forth in claim 22 including means limiting the angular movement of said latch plates.