Abstract:
A device for handling and splitting logs is characterized by a unique mechanism for holding logs while they are cut into sections of a desired length and then simultaneously splitting the cut sections into quarters. The log holding apparatus is arranged on a portable frame and inclined bed for the logs, the entire apparatus being easily transported to the log handling site.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to log splitting and handling device, and more particularly to a device for positioning a log for cutting into firewood lengths and for splitting the cut log into four pieces. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Cutting logs into firewood is routinely a two step process, including: (1) cutting the log into firewood lengths using a saw and (2) splitting each length into two or four pieces. Devices are known for automating these steps, and the prior art also teaches the combining of these two steps in a single device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,873 to Weeks and U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,696 to Greeninger are representative of such devices. Greeninger also illustrates a sloping conveyer system by which a log may be pulled into cutting position without the necessity of lifting it. This reduces the physical effort required to move a log into cutting position, but it increases the need to adequately secure the log in position while cutting occurs. If the log is inadequately supported, saw kick-back is possible or the log may slide out of position. The requirement to effectively secure the log in position may be inconsistent, however, with a need for simplicity of operation and low cost of construction. Securing mechanisms based on use of heavy weights or power-driven rollers, for example, are not entirely satisfactory. 
     Hydraulic devices for splitting firewood commonly have a single wedge for splitting the log in two. If a log must be split into four pieces, i.e., quartered, as many as three separate cuts may be required. When it is desired to combine the cutting and splitting operations into one process, however, the log-splitting operation must be synchronized with the log-cutting operation for maximum efficiency. In a particular, it is desirable that splitting be a one-step process requiring substantially the same amount of time to split one log as it takes to cut one length. In an effort to solve this problem, combination wedges having two cutting edges have been developed. U. S. Pat. No. 4,951,726 to Sieverin illustrates a cutting wedge for splitting a log into four pieces in a single motion of the hydraulic cylinder. The more complex wedge structure is not without its disadvantages, however, for significantly more pressure is required to split a log into four pieces than to split it into two pieces. The design of the wedge greatly affects how efficiently it operates. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The log cutting and splitting device according to the present invention includes an improved structure for securing and stabilizing a log during cutting and also for splitting a cut log into firewood. The device is easily portable to a work site, yet is rugged and easily operated by two operators. A first operator moves a log to be cut into position with a power operated winch. The positioned log is firmly and securely held in place for cutting by a unique log-holding device. After a cut, the winch moves the uncut log forward, thereby pushing the cut log onto an angled discharge tray. The log is conveyed by gravity to an adjacent log splitter controlled by a second operator. A uniquely shaped wedge quarters the log with a single motion of the hydraulic cylinder and the second operator is ready to receive the next cut length of the log. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a passive device for holding logs securely in position for cutting. 
     It is another object to provide an improved wedge for quartering logs. 
     It is still another object to efficiently cut and split firewood in a continuous two-person operation 
     Finally, it is an object to provide an easily manufactured wood cutting and splitting device that is efficient and simple to operate. 
     A log holding device according to the present invention includes: (a) an inclined bed having a first end and a second end, the first end being substantially at ground level; (b) a frame for supporting the second end of the bed above ground level, the frame extending above the bed; (c) apparatus for holding the log in position to be cut on the bed, comprising: (i) a first member rigidly affixed to the frame above the bed at a sufficient distance to permit logs to pass thereunder; (ii) a second member pivotally affixed to, and extending downward from, the first member, the second member resting upon a log in cutting position and inclined toward the end of the log to be cut; and (iii) a third member having a first end pivotally affixed to the second member, and a second end, both the first and second ends being supported by a log in cutting position, the second end extending toward the end of the log to be cut, the member being bent away from the log between the first and second ends. 
     A log splitting wedge according to the present invention includes: (a) a first wedge having a cutting edge extending along a first plane and an opposing edge elevated from the cutting edge relative to the first plane; (b) a second wedge extending along a second plane, the second plane being substantially perpendicular to the first plane; and (c) means for forcing the log against the wedge. 
     An apparatus for cutting and splitting a log according to the present invention includes: (a) an inclined bed having a first end and a second end, the first end being substantially at ground level; (b) a frame for supporting the second end of the bed above ground level, the frame extending above the bed; (c) apparatus for holding the log in position to be cut on the bed, comprising: (i) a first member rigidly affixed to the frame above the bed at a sufficient distance to permit logs to pass thereunder; (ii) a second member pivotally affixed to, and extending downward from, the first member, the second member resting upon a log in cutting position and inclined toward the end of the log to be cut; (iii) a third member having a first end pivotally affixed to the second member, and a second end, both the first and second ends being supported by a log in cutting position, the second end extending toward the end of the log to be cut, the member being bent away from the log between the first and second ends; (d) a discharge conveyor for catching and carrying the cut log; (e) a platform for receiving the cut log and supporting it in position for splitting; (f) a log splitter, including (i) a first wedge having a cutting edge extending along a first plane and an opposing edge elevated from the cutting edge; (ii) a second wedge extending along a second plane, the second plane being substantially perpendicular to the first plane; and a displacement device for forcing the log against the wedge. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a combination log cutter and splitter configured for operation in accordance with the teaching of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a log holding device in accordance with the teaching of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a long holder in accordance with the teaching of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a log-quartering wedge in accordance with the teaching of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is side plan view of the wedge of FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the vertical blade member of the wedge of FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the description that follows, like numbers refer to like elements throughout all figures. Referring to FIG. 1, a combination log handler  16  and log splitter  17  in accordance with the invention are illustrated as configured for operation. Log handler  16  includes an inclined log-supporting bed  20  having a first end  21  supported by the ground and a second end  22  supported off the ground by removable jacks  25  on a frame  31 . Wheels  32  are provided for transportation of the device. When the log cutter/handler combination is configured for operation as in FIG. 1, the wheels may remain touching the ground to provide some support for bed  20 . However, jacks  22  and frame  31  provide the principal support for bed  20  to ensure stability and minimize movement of the apparatus as logs are moved up the bed. Frame  31  is rigidly connected to bed  20  such that frame  31  is substantially vertical with respect to the ground when the log cutter is in operating position, i.e., when wheels  32  have been supported by jacks  25  and the lower end  21  of bed  20  is supported on the ground. 
     A winch  35  is affixed atop frame  31  for drawing logs up the incline of bed  20  until a log is in position to be cut. A log to be cut and split is initially positioned near the bottom of bed  20  near lower end  21 , and a cable  27  is attached. The attachment may be made by a hook  30 , a chain wrapped around the log, or any other similar method. The log is moved up bed  20  until its lower end is fully on the bed, as is shown by the position of log  36 . At this point, a second log is positioned near the bottom of bed  20  and hook  30  will be repositioned from the first log  36  to the second log  26 . Log  36  is pushed up bed  20  by the following log  26  as winch  35  puts tension on cable  27 . For reasons of both safety and efficiency, a winch operating switch is preferably positioned on frame  31  such that it can be activated by pressure applied by the first operator&#39;s front thigh. A conventional industrial “on-when-depressed” switch would permit the operator to advance the log by depressing the switch with his leg without setting a chain saw down after each cut. Once the log is in position, a log holding device  38  grips the log and secures it in position during the cut. Structural details and operation of device  38  are more fully described with respect to FIG. 3 below. 
     When log  36  is in position to be cut, a log section substantially equal in length to a standard fireplace log (usually 16″-18″) will overhang a discharge conveyer  37 . Preferably, when the log cutter is set up for operation, conveyer  37  is connected to bed  20  by a hinge  40  and, near the top of frame  31 , by a chain  41 . This arrangement permits conveyer  37  to be drawn up to facilitate transportation. It also provides for adjustment of the angle of conveyer  37  relative to log handler  17  to ensure proper transfer of cut logs to the log handler. After being cut, a log falls onto conveyer  37  and rolls onto a platform  45  (FIG. 2) of log handler  17 . 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of log handler  17 . A steel I-beam  50  or similar rigid structure supports a pneumatic cylinder  52 . A bracket assembly  53  rigidly connects one end of cylinder  52  to I-beam  50  to prevent relative motion between them. A piston rod  55  extending from cylinder  52  engages a support assembly  56  having a log-engaging pad  57  on a slidable member  60 . A four-way wedge splitting blade assembly  61 , described in more detail below with respect to FIG. 4, is rigidly attached to I-beam  50 . That part of I-beam  50  between pad  57  and assembly  61  serves as a platform  45  onto which a cut log is carried by conveyer  37 . A power source  65 , such as a gasoline engine, powers cylinder  52 , which is manually operated via a lever  66  by the second operator. Once a log is in position, the second operator uses lever  66  to activate the hydraulic cylinder, forcing the log against the wedge and thereby splitting it. 
     Log handler  17  may be mounted directly on an extension of discharge conveyer  37 . Preferably, however, it will be detached and separately transportable. Wheels  67  and a hitch structure  70  mounted to I-beam  50  facilitate transportability. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a log holding device  38  in accordance with the present invention. A rigid arm  95  is securely and immovably attached to frame  31  above bed  20 . A hinge  96  connects arm  95  to an arm  97  to permit arm  97  to pivot freely relative to arm  95 . Another hinge  100  similarly connects another arm  101  to arm  97  to permit pivoting motion between them. Arms  95 ,  97  and  101  may be steel plates, the size of which will be determined primarily by the structural strength requirements necessitated by the size of logs being cut. Additional structural support and weight may be provided by plates  102  and  105  welded to arms  97  and  101 , respectively. 
     With no log on bed  20 , arms  97  and  101  will hang freely, with plate  101  resting on bed  20 . As a log  36  is moved up bed  20 , its leading edge  106  will push against arms  97  and  101  and pivot them to a position as shown in FIG.  3 . Forward movement of log  36  will be unimpeded by the arms. Once log  36  is in position for cutting, however, the log holding device  38  will hold the log securely in place and prevent movement of the log backward down the incline of bed  20 . Note in particular that arm  97  is bent at an angle β away from the log and arm  101  is bent at an angle δ toward the log. These bends cause the lower leading edge  106  of arm  105  to be forced downward by any attempted backward motion of log  36 , thereby gripping the log and holding it in place. The amount of the gripping force will increase with increasing backward force exerted by log  36 . As a result, the log is held firmly in place during the cutting operation, yet the holding device requires no attention and provides no obstacle to movement of the log during its forward movement into cutting position. 
     With reference to FIGS. 2,  4 ,  5 , and  6 , a log-splitting wedge in accordance with the present invention includes a substantially horizontal blade member  75  and a substantially vertical blade member  76 . A horizontal plate  77  and first and second vertical plates  80  and  81 , respectively, secure blades  75  and  76  in place for rigidity and strength. As is shown in FIG. 2, horizontal blade  75  is angled slightly such that the cutting edge  82  of the blade is closer to plate  77  than is the opposite edge  85 . The symbol a denotes the angle of deviation from the parallel between blade  75  and plate  77 . Angle a will preferably be quite small, on the order of 1°. However, this small angle significantly improves the cutting efficiency of the quartering wedge and reduces the potential for the apparatus to bind. The cutting edge  82  of blade  75  is positioned within supporting plates  77 ,  80  and  81  such that it will engage the log at substantially the log&#39;s center. 
     The segmented structure of vertical blade  76  promotes efficient splitting and further inhibits binding of the log. A center cutting blade section  86  is positioned above and below horizontal blade  75  to engage the log at substantially the log&#39;s center. Center blade section  86  and horizontal blade  75  are positioned to permit both blades to engage the log at the same time. Above and below center blade section  86  are blade sections  87  and  90 . The cutting edges of blade sections  87  and  90  are set forward of blade section  86  such that blades  87  and  90  engage the log before blade sections  75  and  86 . An additional blade section  91  may be affixed atop blade section  87  to ensure splitting of logs having a diameter too large to be fully split by blade  87 . Both blade sections  87  and  90  are preferably equal in thickness, but are thicker than central blade section  86  to increase their wedging action. The thickness of blade section  91  may be somewhat less than that of blade section  86 . Experimentation has determined that a thickness of about 1 inch for blade section  86 , ¾ inch for blade sections  87  and  90 , and ½ inch for blade section  91  works well. 
     While the preferred forms and embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without deviating from the inventive concepts set forth above.