GB2161421A - Apparatus for splitting logs - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for splitting logs comprising a body (10), provided with first (19) and second (21) log-engaging members, means (18) to mount at least one of said members (21) on the body (10) to permit relative movement between said members (19,21) in a direction so that the members (19,21) act compressively on a log (L) positioned therebetween, the first (19) and/or second member being shaped to cause splitting of the log (L) as a result of said relative movement. The apparatus may be mounted on a dipper arm of a mechanical excavator. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for splitting logs This invention relates to apparatus for splitting logs.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for splitting logs.

According to one aspect of the invention, we provide an apparatus for splitting logs comprising a body, provided with first and second log engaging members, means to mount at least one of said members on the body to permit of relative movement between said members in a direction so that the members act compressively on a log positioned therebetween, the first and/or second member being shaped to cause splitting of the log as a result of said relative movement.

The first member may be fixed to the body and the second member movable relative to the body.

The first member may be shaped to provide a blade to cause splitting of the log where engaged by the blade and the second member may comprise an abutment to force the log against the blade.

The body may be provided with means to permit of the body being mounted on a mechanical excavator and one of said log engaging members being connected to a piston rod of a hydraulic ram of the excavator, so that actuation of the ram causes said relative movement between the members.

Preferably the body is provided with means to permit of the body being mounted on the back hoe of a back hoe-type mechanical excavator.

According to another aspect of the invention, we provide a mechanical excavator having mounted thereon an apparatus for splitting logs according to the first aspect of the invention.

Preferably, the mechanical excavator comprises a back hoe-type excavator comprising a boom mounted on the excavator for movement about vertical and horizontal axes, a dipper arm mounted on the boom for movement about a horizontal axis, mounting means adapted to mount a bucket on the dipper arm, a crowd ram adapted to pivot the bucket relative to the dipper arm about a horizontal axis, and wherein the body of the apparatus for splitting logs is mounted on the dipper arm by said bucket mounting means and one of said log engaging members is connected to the crowd ram.

Preferably, the log engaging member connected to the crowd ram is the second log engaging member where the second log engaging member is movable relative to the body.

An apparatus for splitting logs embodying the invention provides a very simple, economical to produce, and simple to use apparatus for splitting logs which does not require any specifically dedicated power source. It is merely necessary to remove the bucket and crowd linkage from a conventional back hoe-type excavator and mount the log splitting apparatus on the dipper arm utilising the same mounting means as are provided for the bucket. The crowd ram of the excavator then provides the power for the apparatus.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for splitting logs embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing a mechanical excavator having an apparatus embodying the invention mounted thereon.

Referring to the drawings, an apparatus for splitting logs comprises an inverted channel-shaped body 10, in the present example made as a fabrication in steel, and provided with an end closure plate 11 at one end 12. At the other end 13 the body is open to receive a dipper arm 14 of a back hoe-type excavator 15 mounted on the rear of a tractor 16. The body 10 has a top plate 17 which is provided with a longitudinally extending centrally disposed guide slot 18 which extends from a stop strip 18a at the end 13 of the body up to a first log engaging member 19 in the form of a stationary log splitting blade 20.

Received in the slot 18 is a downwardly depending guide part (not shown) of a second log engaging member 21 which is thereby guided for movement longitudinally of the body 10 towards and away from the blade 20. The second log engaging member 21 provides an abutment surface 22 which, in use, compresses a log L between the abutment 22 and the blade 20 to cause the blade 20 to split the log. The second log engaging member 21 is provided with a pair of sockets 23 which receive a pin 24 to connect the member 21 to a crowd ram 25 of the back hoe excavator 15.

The sides 26 of the body 10 are provided with downwardly depending lugs 27 in which are provided further sockets 28 to receive pins 29 to mount the body 10 on the dipper arm 14 using the mounting apertures (not shown) provided thereon for an excavating bucket and crowd linkage (not shown).

Also depending downwardly from the sides 26 of the body 10 at the end 13 is a strengthening strap 31 which extends around the dipper arm 14 as shown in Figure 2.

In use, when it is desired to use the log splitting apparatus embodying the invention, the pins 29 which normally hold the excavating bucket and crowd ram (not shown) to the dipper arm 14 are removed, as is the pin 24 so that the excavating bucket and crowd linkage can be disconnected from the dipper arm 14 and ram 25.

The log splitting apparatus is then offered up to the dipper arm 14, the pins 29 engaged in the sockets 28 and bucket and crowd linkage apertures (not shown) and the pin 24 is engaged in the sockets 23 and an aperture (not shown) provided on the end of the piston rod 32 of the crowd ram 25.

Thereafter, operation of the crowd ram control of the excavator causes movement of the abutment 22 longitudinally of the body 10 so that the log L positioned between the first and second log engaging members 20, 21 has a compressive load imposed thereon to cause the blade 20 to split the log. The crowd ram is then operated in the reverse direction to withdraw the abutment 22 towards the end 13 of the body to permit a new log required to be split to be positioned on the body between the members 20, 21.

Although in the above example the stationary log engaging member 19 has been described as being provided with a log splitting blade 20, if desired, the stationary log engaging member could be in the form of an abutment similar to the abutment 22 provided by member 21 and the blade provided on the member 21.

Further alternatively, both the stationary and the movable log engaging members could be provided with log splitting blades similar to the blade 20. If desired, the body 10 may be formed to provide lateral location means for the log, for example, by providing upstanding guides on the top plate 17 or by the extending the sides 26 upwardly above the top plate 17 at least in the region adjacent to the stationary log engaging member 19.

Although in the above example the apparatus for splitting logs has been described as being mounted on a back hoe excavator mounted on the rear of a tractor, if desired the apparatus may be attached to any other type of excavator having an appropriately positioned hydraulic ram for direct connection to the apparatus, or connection to the apparatus via a linkage which may be provided to adapt a standard excavator to the apparatus. Also, the excavator, whether of the back hoe or any other type, may be mounted on some other vehicle than a tractor, or may be self-propelled or provided with suitable ground-engaging means to enable the excavator to be transported over the ground for example by being towed or with ground-engaging means to permit the excavator to be positioned immovably at a desired location.

Claims (13)

1. An apparatus for splitting logs comprising a body, provided with first and second log engaging members, means to mount at least one of said members on the body to permit of relative movement between said members in a direction so that the members act compressively on a log posi tioned therebetween, the first and/or second member being shaped to cause splitting of the log as a result of said relative movement.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first member is fixed to the body and the second member is movable relative to the body.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the first member is shaped to provide a blade to cause splitting of the log where engaged by the blade.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the second member comprises an abutment to force the log against the blade.

5. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the body is provided with means to permit of the body being mounted on a mechanical excavator and one of said log engaging members being connected to a piston rod of a hydraulic ram of the excavator, so that actuation of the ram causes said relative movement between the members.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the body is provided with means to permit the body being mounted on the back hoe of a back hoe-type mechanical excavator.

7. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

8. A mechanical excavator having mounted thereon an apparatus for splitting logs according to.

any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. An excavator according to claim 8 comprising a back hoe-type excavator comprising a boom mounted on the excavator for movement about vertical and horizontal axes, a dipper arm mounted on the boom for movement about a horizontal axis, mounting means adapted to mount a bucket on the dipper arm, a crowd ram normally adapted to pivot the bucket relative to the dipper arm about a horizontal axis, and wherein the body of the apparatus for splitting logs is mounted on the dipper arm by said bucket mounting means and one of said log engaging members is connected to the crowd ram.

10. An excavator according to claim 9 where appendant to claim 2 wherein the log engaging member connected to the crowd ram is the second log engaging member.

11. An excavator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of mounting an apparatus for splitting logs according to any one of claims 1 to 7 in an excavator according to any one of claims 9 to 11 comprising the steps of removing a bucket and crowd linkage from the hoe-type excavator, mounting the log splitting apparatus on the dipper arm utilising the same mounting means as are provided for the bucket.

13. A method of mounting an apparatus for splitting logs, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.