Log splitter

Claim 2

In apparatus for splitting a log, the combination comprising a frame, a support slidably mounted on said frame and adapted to engage one end of a log to be split, a carriage slidably mounted on said frame, a wedge secured to said carriage and adapted to engage the opposite end of said log, manual quick-release clamping means slidably mounted with respect to said frame including spring means normally clamping said carriage to said frame and lever means arranged to be actuated with one hand against the force of said spring means to release said carriage from said frame, and drive means arranged to cause relative closing movement between said support and said wedge thereby to force said wedge into said log.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame includes two spaced parallel standards, and said clamping means includes a pair of spring-biased clamps each securing said carriage to one of said standards, said lever means being arranged to release said clamps substantially simultaneously from said standards.

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wedge has converging edges and opposing converging surfaces and said edges and said surface terminate in a single centrally located point adapted to engage said log.

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 including a base forming part of said frame and wherein said drive means is a hydraulic jack positioned on said base and arranged to move said support toward said wedge.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said carriage is arranged for movement in a substantially vertical direction, said support is positioned below said carriage and includes an upper surface, and a projection extending upwardly from said surface in the direction of said wedge and having a top area, spaced from said surface, of at least one square inch, said projection being arranged to engage the lower end of said log and adapted to prevent contact between the end of said log and the said surface of said support adjacent said projection.

Claim 7

In apparatus for splitting a log, the combination comprising a frame, a carriage mounted on said frame, a wedge secured to said carriage and having a terminus adapted to engage one end of a log to be split, support means for the opposite end of said log, and drive means arranged to produce relative closing movement between said support means and said carriage, said support means having a first surface generally facing said wedge, a projection extending from said first surface in alignment with said terminus in the direction of the path of said closing movement, said projection having a second surface of a least one square inch generally facing said wedge and being spaced from said first surface and adapted to engage said opposite end of said log and prevent contact between said log and said first surface adjacent said projection thereby to minimize the generation of twisting moments.

Claim 8

In apparatus for splitting a log, the combination comprising a frame, a carriage mounted on said frame, a wedge secured to said carriage and having a terminus adapted to engage one end of a log to be split, support means for the opposite end of said log, and drive means arranged to produce relative closing movement between said support means and said carriage, said support means having a first surface generally facing said wedge, a projection extending from said first surface in alignment with said terminus in the direction of the path of said closing movement, said projection having a second surface of a least one square inch generally facing said wedge and being spaced from said first surface and adapted to engage said opposite end of said log and prevent contact between said log and said first surface adjacent said projection thereby to minimize the generation of twisting moments.

Claim 9

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said wedge has converging edges and opposing converging surfaces, and said edges and said surfaces terminate in said terminus.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said frame includes two spaced parallel standards, said support means is positioned below said carriage and said projection extends upwardly from said first surface.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claims 6, 7 or 8 wherein said second surface has an area not greater than eight square inches.