A log splitter

Abstract

This invention relates to a wood splitter, comprising a frame, an oil tank connected to the frame, tires mounted on both sides of the oil tank, and a foot support connected to the other end of the frame; an engine and a gear pump are also mounted on the oil tank; a working beam is provided on the frame, a tail plate and a baffle are mounted on the working beam, a stop is provided between the tail plate and the baffle, a hydraulic cylinder is installed between the tail plate and the stop, the end of the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder is connected to the back of the splitting blade, a bracket is installed between the stop and the baffle, the bracket is installed on both sides of the working beam, a slider is slidably connected to the working beam, and the bottom of the splitting blade is fixed on the slider with the blade facing the baffle. The wood splitter designed using this invention can solve the problems of not being able to clean the workbench after each splitting action, not being able to increase the speed of the splitting action, and simply increasing the power, which leads to various problems, reduces work efficiency, and even accelerates the wear of moving parts, seriously affecting the service life of the wood splitter itself.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of mechanical manufacturing technology, specifically to a wood splitter. Background Technology

[0002] A wood splitter is a machine specifically designed to split logs or large pieces of wood into smaller blocks. Its workflow is as follows: the wood is placed on the worktable, the machine is started, and then the blades advance at high speed or hydraulic pressure causes the wood to split along the grain, ultimately completing the block splitting. This process, from the high-speed blade advance or hydraulic pressure step to the final block splitting, is typically considered one wood splitting action. In current technology, one wood splitting action takes 12-15 seconds. This is because after each splitting action, a large amount of sawdust and residue is inevitably left on the worktable, and current technology cannot clean the worktable after each splitting action. Therefore, current technology cannot increase the speed of the splitting action. Simply increasing the power will lead to various problems, such as the blades getting stuck and unable to return to their original position, or uneven wood surfaces after splitting. These problems actually affect work efficiency and even lead to accelerated wear on moving parts, seriously affecting the lifespan of the wood splitter itself.

[0003] Therefore, existing technologies have shortcomings and need to be improved and developed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a wood splitter to address the problem in existing technologies where a large amount of sawdust and residue is inevitably left on the worktable after each splitting action, and there is no way to quickly and automatically clean the worktable after each splitting action. Therefore, existing technologies cannot increase the speed of wood splitting. Simply increasing the power would lead to accelerated wear of moving parts, severely affecting the service life of the wood splitter itself.

[0005] This invention provides a wood splitter, including a frame, an oil tank connected to one end of the frame, tires mounted on both sides of the oil tank, and a foot support connected to the other end of the frame.

[0006] An engine and a gear pump are installed outside the oil tank. The output shaft of the engine is driven to the drive shaft of the gear pump, and the oil suction port of the gear pump is connected to the oil tank.

[0007] The frame is provided with a working beam, which includes a first flat beam, a second flat beam and a main beam. The first flat beam and the second flat beam are parallel to each other. The main beam is welded between the first flat beam and the second flat beam. The second flat beam is bolted to the frame. A tail plate that curves upwards above the first flat beam is welded to one end of the working beam near the foot support. A baffle plate that is higher than the top surface of the first flat beam is welded to the other end of the working beam.

[0008] The bottom of the hydraulic cylinder is bolted to the tail plate, and the piston end of the hydraulic cylinder is detachably connected to the back of the chopping blade; the back of the chopping blade is provided with side air guide plates extending to both sides of the chopping blade; the chamber of the hydraulic cylinder is connected to the output port of the reversing valve through a hose, the oil inlet of the reversing valve is connected to the gear pump through a hose, and the oil return port of the reversing valve is connected to the oil tank through a hose.

[0009] A slider is slidably connected to the first flat beam, and the blade of the chopping knife is fixed on the slider;

[0010] A bracket is installed between the hydraulic cylinder and the baffle, which is used to support the wood when it is being split.

[0011] Furthermore, the side air guide plates are arranged on both sides of the chopping blade to form a flow guiding surface. The flow guiding surface is 5-6 cm away from the blade edge of the chopping blade. The flow guiding surface has a backward tilt angle of 15°-25° with the side of the chopping blade facing away from the blade edge. The curvature of the end of the flow guiding surface away from the working beam is greater than the curvature of the end of the flow guiding surface near the working beam. The flow guiding surface is radially distributed in an involute-like pattern from the end away from the working beam to the end near the working beam.

[0012] Furthermore, a stop is detachably connected to the first flat beam, and a slider is slidably connected to the first flat beam, with the bottom of the chopping blade fixed on the slider; the stop has an opening recessed into the upper surface of the first flat beam on the side facing the baffle, and when the slider slides between the opening and the baffle, the stop is used to limit the distance the slider slides towards the tail plate.

[0013] Furthermore, there are two brackets located on both sides of the first flat beam, and the base of each bracket is bolted to the main beam; the vertical height of the end of the bracket closest to the first flat beam is defined as H, and the vertical height of the top of the slider from the first flat beam is defined as h, where H > h, and H and h are positive numbers greater than 0.

[0014] Furthermore, the bracket is defined as having a bearing surface for supporting the wood, and an opening is provided on the bearing surface that penetrates the bearing surface.

[0015] Furthermore, a female flange is installed on the outer wall of the oil tank, and a male flange is connected to the female flange. An interface connecting the inside and outside of the oil tank is installed on the male flange for airtightly connecting the end of the hose of the reversing valve to the oil tank. A return oil filter is threadedly connected to one end of the interface inside the oil tank.

[0016] Furthermore, a reinforcing rib is welded to the main beam, with the top of the reinforcing rib welded to the bottom surface of the first flat beam and the bottom of the reinforcing rib welded to the top surface of the second flat beam. The base of the bracket is bolted to the reinforcing rib.

[0017] Furthermore, the surface of the baffle used to support the wood is defined as the blocking surface, and a wedge-shaped block protrudes outward from the blocking surface.

[0018] Furthermore, the slider includes a first plate, a second plate, and a third plate. The chopping blade is fixed to the top surface of the first plate. The first plate and the third plate are parallel. There are two second plates, both sandwiched between the first plate and the third plate. The thickness of the second plate is greater than the thickness of the first flat beam. The first flat beam is sandwiched between the two second plates. The top surface of the second plate is flush with the top surface of the first flat beam. The distance between the two second plates is greater than the width of the first flat beam.

[0019] Beneficial effects:

[0020] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, this invention provides a wood splitter that reduces the time for each wood splitting operation from the conventional 12-15 seconds to 6-8 seconds. During each splitting action, the high-speed movement of the splitting blade generates airflow that efficiently blows away sawdust and residue from the surface of the working beam, reducing damage to the blade surface from these residues. Because the power of the splitting blade involved in this invention varies significantly during operation, a tire-and-foot-supported fixing method is used to fully utilize the characteristics of the tires to mitigate the kinetic energy impact during operation. Similarly, the working beam of this invention is more robust and reliable than existing technologies. These structural features ensure the feasibility of high-speed wood splitting.

[0021] The overall concept of this invention breaks with conventional technical methods. In other technical fields, such as environmental protection equipment, there are already numerous technical solutions that use air guide vanes for cleaning. However, in conventional considerations in this field, since each wood-splitting operation generates residue and debris, air guide vanes cannot remove all of it; furthermore, adding air guide vanes not only increases equipment costs but also increases wind resistance, thus it is considered a inferior technical solution. However, through the structural design of this invention, the applicant discovered that by determining the diameter of the oil inlet of the reversing valve for the interface between the hose and the gear pump, the output intensity can be increased, allowing the splitting blade to operate at a faster speed. This faster operating speed, combined with the air guide vanes, results in a better effect of blowing away debris and residue. Using the technical solution described in this invention, the proportion of debris and residue blown away from the wood splitter blade's movement track reaches as high as 92%, with the blowing rate of debris and residue with a radius greater than 0.5 mm that affects blade movement approaching 100%. Furthermore, because the time required to complete the wood-splitting action is reduced, even though the engine power consumption is increased, the energy consumption per unit of wood split is actually reduced.

[0022] By selecting the appropriate inlet diameter for the reversing valve's connection to the gear pump via the hose, the efficiency of the wood-splitting cycle is significantly improved, achieving an optimal balance between the hydraulic oil's flow resistance and the pipeline filling speed. This minimizes the filling and movement time of the hydraulic cylinder, resulting in the shortest complete cycle time for each wood splitter and improved overall operational efficiency. It also reduces energy consumption and alleviates the burden on the hydraulic system: If the inlet diameter is too small, it leads to high flow resistance and increased pressure loss, causing the gear pump and engine to operate under high load for extended periods, resulting in increased energy consumption and severe heat generation. Conversely, if the inlet diameter is too large, the fluid flow rate decreases, the system response slows down, and unnecessary energy loss occurs. Optimizing the inlet diameter allows the system to operate at suitable flow rates and pressures, significantly reducing energy consumption and extending system lifespan. Finally, it ensures the stability and reliability of the hydraulic system: A properly matched inlet diameter reduces hydraulic shock, pipeline vibration, and the rate of hydraulic oil temperature rise, helping to maintain oil viscosity and lubrication performance. This extends the lifespan of core components such as the hydraulic cylinder, reversing valve, and gear pump, improving the overall reliability and safety of the wood splitter. Reduced maintenance frequency and costs: Due to minimal fluid impact and less wear on components, the equipment failure rate is reduced, significantly decreasing the number of maintenance operations and parts replacements, thus saving substantial maintenance costs. The wood splitter operates smoothly and continuously during the splitting process, with ample power, eliminating any jamming or delays. This provides a good user experience, significantly improving both production efficiency and worker comfort.

[0023] It should be understood that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and the additional concepts described in more detail below can be considered part of the inventive subject matter of this disclosure, provided that such concepts do not contradict each other.

[0024] The foregoing and other aspects, embodiments, and features of the teachings of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Other additional aspects of the invention, such as features and / or beneficial effects of exemplary embodiments, will become apparent from the following description or may be learned through practice of specific embodiments according to the teachings of the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component shown in the various figures may be denoted by the same reference numeral. For clarity, not every component is labeled in each figure. Embodiments of various aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0026] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a wood splitter according to an embodiment of this application.

[0027] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of a wood splitter from a second viewpoint in an embodiment of this application.

[0028] Figure 3 This application describes a wood splitter in one of its embodiments. Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A in the image.

[0029] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the splitting blade of a wood splitter according to an embodiment of this application.

[0030] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0031] 1. Frame; 2. Oil tank; 3. Tires; 4. Foot support; 5. Engine; 6. Gear pump; 7. First flat beam; 8. Second flat beam; 9. Main beam; 10. Tail plate; 11. Baffle; 12. Hydraulic cylinder; 13. Cleaver; 14. Reversing valve; 15. Stop; 16. Bracket; 17. Safety chain; 18. Handle; 19. Reinforcing rib; 20. First plate; 21. Second plate; 22. Third plate. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the described embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention. Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used herein should have the ordinary meaning understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

[0033] The terms "first," "second," and similar words used in the specification and claims of this patent application do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Similarly, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms of "an," "a," or "the," etc., do not indicate a quantity limitation, but rather indicate the presence of at least one. Terms such as "comprising" or "including" mean that the element or object preceding "comprising" encompasses the features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, and / or components listed following "comprising" or "including," and do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or collections thereof. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are used only to indicate relative positional relationships; these relative positional relationships may change accordingly when the absolute position of the described object changes.

[0034] In the existing technology, a large amount of wood chips and residue will inevitably be left on the workbench after each wood splitting action. Moreover, the existing technology cannot clean the workbench after each wood splitting action. Therefore, the existing technology cannot increase the speed of wood splitting action. If the power is simply increased, it will lead to increased wear of moving parts and seriously affect the service life of the wood splitter itself.

[0035] Therefore, embodiments of the present invention provide a wood splitter, referring to... Figures 1-3 It includes a frame 1, an oil tank 2 connected to one end of the frame 1, tires 3 installed on both sides of the oil tank 2, the rolling direction of the tires 3 being the same as the length direction of the frame 1, and a foot support 4 connected to the other end of the frame 1.

[0036] An engine 5 and a gear pump 6 are mounted on the outside of the fuel tank 2. The output shaft of the engine 5 is driven by the drive shaft of the gear pump 6, and the oil suction port of the gear pump 6 is connected to the fuel tank 2. The frame 1 serves as the skeleton of the overall device, with the fuel tank 2 fixedly mounted at one end. The fuel tank 2 is mounted on a support platform extending from its outer wall. In some embodiments, the support platform extends outward from the outer wall of the end of the fuel tank 2 facing the foot support 4. The engine 5 is bolted to the support platform, and the gear pump 6 is connected to the mounting flange of the engine 5 via a coupling. The output shaft of the engine 5 is driven by the drive shaft of the gear pump 6, enabling the engine 5 to drive the gear pump 6. Tires 3 are mounted on both sides of the fuel tank 2 to enable the movement and positioning of the wood splitter; the other end is connected to the foot support 4, providing necessary support and stability for the entire frame 1. By utilizing the rigidity of the frame 1 and the load-bearing capacity of the fuel tank 2 platform, the fuel tank 2, engine 5, and gear pump 6 are tightly integrated, reducing the risk of mechanical loosening caused by structural dispersion. Engine 5 and gear pump 6 constitute the core power source for hydraulic oil delivery. The output shaft of engine 5 is directly connected to the drive shaft of gear pump 6 to achieve energy transfer. Gear pump 6 is responsible for drawing hydraulic oil from oil tank 2 to provide the system pressure required for splitting wood. The hydraulic oil is then distributed through reversing valve 14 and enters the chambers of hydraulic cylinder 12. By tightly integrating oil tank 2, engine 5, and gear pump 6, the power transmission path is clearly defined, thereby ensuring the sealing and stability of the oil delivery process and improving response speed.

[0037] Reference Figure 4 There are two side air guide plates, which are arranged on both sides of the cleaver 13 to form two flow guide surfaces. The end of each flow guide surface near the cleaver 13 is 5-6 cm away from the blade of the cleaver 13. The flow guide surface and the surface of the cleaver 13 facing away from the blade edge form a backward tilt angle of 15°-25°. The curvature of the end of the flow guide surface away from the working beam is greater than the curvature of the end of the flow guide surface near the working beam. The flow guide surfaces are radially distributed in an involute-like pattern from the end away from the working beam to the end near the working beam to avoid dynamic imbalance.

[0038] The side of the side guide plate, opposite to the cutting edge of the splitting blade 13 (i.e., the back of the blade), can be welded or directly integrally formed with the side guide plate to create a guide surface. This guide surface accelerates and guides the airflow. The air source channel is formed by the airflow being guided by the guide surface to cover areas where wood chips may be scattered after the blade breaks through the air at high speed. When the blade moves forward at high speed, the airflow is pushed to the lower end of the guide surface. Thus, during the forward movement of the blade, the airflow below laggingly covers the work surface during wood splitting, blowing and cleaning it. At the same time, a low-pressure zone is formed between the guide surface and the work surface. External air is drawn into the low-pressure zone, forming a spiral path that accelerates and rotates, ultimately creating a composite airflow with tangential rotation. Large wood chips are carried away by the cyclone. In addition, the airflow also forms a protective layer on the blade surface to prevent debris from adhering.

[0039] A working beam is provided on the frame 1. The working beam includes a first flat beam 7, a second flat beam 8 and a main beam 9. The first flat beam 7 and the second flat beam 8 are parallel to each other. The main beam 9 is welded between the first flat beam 7 and the second flat beam 8 and is perpendicular to the first flat beam 7. The second flat beam 8 is bolted to the frame 1. A tail plate 10 that curves upward above the first flat beam 7 is welded to one end of the working beam near the foot support 4. A baffle 11 that is higher than the top surface of the first flat beam 7 is welded to the other end of the working beam.

[0040] The working beam adopts a modular structure, including a first flat beam 7, a second flat beam 8, and a main beam 9. The first flat beam 7 and the second flat beam 8 are arranged parallel to each other, and the main beam 9 is welded between the two flat beams to form an integral load-bearing platform. An upward-curving tail plate 10 is welded to one end of the working beam near the foot support 4 to provide a reference and guide for the bottom installation of the hydraulic cylinder 12; the other end is welded with a baffle 11 that extends above the top surface of the first flat beam 7 to support or guide the timber during operation. This modular structure, through multi-layered cooperation, not only has high rigidity in terms of load-bearing capacity but also provides precise positional references and fixed support for the installation of subsequent components such as the hydraulic cylinder 12 and the splitting blade 13.

[0041] The bottom of the hydraulic cylinder 12 is bolted to the tail plate 10, and the piston end of the hydraulic cylinder 12 is detachably connected to the back of the chopping knife 13. The chamber of the hydraulic cylinder 12 is connected to the output port of the reversing valve 14 through a hose. The oil inlet of the reversing valve 14 is connected to the gear pump 6 through a hose, and the oil return port of the reversing valve 14 is connected to the oil tank 2 through a hose.

[0042] In some embodiments, the back of the chopping blade 13 is welded with a back plate, and a Y-shaped bracket is welded to the side of the back plate facing the tail plate 10. The top of the Y-shaped bracket is a U-shaped groove, and a screw facing the tail plate 10 is fixed in the center of the groove. Threaded holes are opened on the left and right walls of the U-shaped groove. The piston end of the hydraulic cylinder 12 is threaded to the screw, and can also be connected to the left wall of the U-shaped groove, the piston end, and the right wall of the U-shaped groove in sequence by other screws to fix the piston end, thereby limiting the stroke of the piston end and protecting the hydraulic cylinder 12. The hydraulic cylinder 12 is mounted on the tail plate 10 and fixed by bolts connected to the tail plate 10. Its piston end is directly connected to the back of the chopping blade 13, and the blade of the chopping blade 13 faces the baffle 11. The hydraulic cylinder 12's oil-containing chamber is connected to the output port of the directional valve 14 via a hose, allowing oil to enter the chamber of the hydraulic cylinder 12 according to work requirements. This causes the piston to move forward, pushing the chopping blade 13 to chop the wood. When the oil leaves the chamber of the hydraulic cylinder 12 and returns to the directional valve 14, the piston moves backward, bringing the chopping blade 13 back. This structure utilizes the principle of hydraulic transmission to achieve a smooth conversion of mechanical force, ensuring that the chopping blade 13 moves along a predetermined trajectory when driven by hydraulic oil, thereby achieving the function of chopping wood. The directional valve 14 also has a return port, which sends the oil returning from the hydraulic cylinder 12 back to the oil tank 2 via a return oil pipe, completing a closed loop.

[0043] A stop 15 is detachably mounted on the first flat beam 7. A slider is slidably connected to the first flat beam 7, and the bottom of the chopping blade 13 is fixed to the slider. The stop 15 has an opening recessed above the upper surface of the first flat beam 7 on the side facing the baffle 11. When the slider slides between the opening and the baffle 11, the stop 15 limits the distance the slider slides towards the tail plate 10. The opening being recessed above the upper surface of the first flat beam 7 means that, with the upper surface of the first flat beam 7 unchanged, the bottom of the stop 15 on the side facing the baffle 11 is recessed towards the tail plate 10, forming an opening with the upper surface of the first flat beam 7.

[0044] A bracket 16 is installed between the stop 15 and the baffle 11. There are two brackets 16, which are located on both sides of the first flat beam 7 respectively. The base of each bracket 16 is bolted to the main beam 9. The vertical height of the end of the bracket 16 closest to the first flat beam 7 is defined as H, and the vertical height of the top of the slider from the first flat beam 7 is defined as h, where H > h, and H and h are positive numbers greater than 0.

[0045] In some embodiments, the back of the cleaver 13 is welded with a back plate, and a Y-shaped frame is welded to the side of the back plate facing the tail plate 10. The top of the Y-shaped frame is a U-shaped groove, and a screw facing the tail plate 10 is fixed in the center of the groove. Threaded holes are opened on the left and right walls of the U-shaped groove. The piston end of the hydraulic cylinder 12 is threadedly connected to the screw, and can also be connected to the left wall of the U-shaped groove, the piston end, and the right wall of the U-shaped groove in sequence by other screws to fix the piston end, thereby limiting the stroke of the piston end and protecting the hydraulic cylinder 12.

[0046] By presetting the H and h parameters, the gaps and relative heights between components are ensured to meet design requirements, allowing the slider to slide and cut the wood at the required position, achieving both force balance and motion accuracy. The H and h data are designed to create a gap between the bracket 16 and the working beam, which not only allows the slider to slide smoothly but also allows some wood chips to fall through the gap after the wood is chopped by the splitting blade 13, preventing wood blockage and improving wood splitting efficiency.

[0047] An engine 5 drives a gear pump 6, which in turn circulates the hydraulic oil in the oil tank 2 within a sealed oil circuit. The movement of the hydraulic cylinder 12 is then controlled by a reversing valve 14. The entire energy conversion process relies on the interaction of mechanical transmission, hydraulic transmission, and sealing technology to ensure that power is efficiently converted from engine 5 into hydraulic energy, and then into the linear motion of the splitting blade 13. During the operation of the wood splitter, engine 5 provides continuous power, gear pump 6 hydraulically powers the power, reversing valve 14 adjusts the hydraulic oil flow according to control requirements, and hydraulic cylinder 12 uses oil pressure to drive the piston, which is fixedly connected to the splitting blade 13, directly driving the splitting of wood.

[0048] In some embodiments, the foot support 4 is a rotating foot support 4, and the rotation angle range of the rotating foot support 4 is [0°, 105°].

[0049] The rotating support 4 is existing technology and includes a main support frame and a tension spring. The main support frame is connected to the frame 1 by screws, and a locking bracket limits the main support frame to rotate counterclockwise at the connection point. During traction, the main support frame is retracted and fixed; during operation, the main support frame rotates to the required angle to support the wood splitter. The tension spring is connected between the frame 1 and the main support frame by a fixing pin. The locking bracket is fixed to the main support frame by screws, with a 140° bend at the end. Spring clips are welded to both sides of the main support frame and are adapted to the spring clips on the frame 1. The end of the tension spring is designed with an arc-shaped hook, the inner diameter of which matches the outer diameter of the spring clip to ensure that the tension spring will not fall off after installation. Fixing clips can also be welded to the sides of the main support frame, with bent ends. Rubber limit brackets can also be designed on the frame 1 to keep the clips fixed during traction and prevent the main support frame from falling. By rotating the support 4, the angle of the support 4 can be adjusted during installation or operation to adapt to different working conditions, ensuring that the frame 1 is subjected to balanced force during splitting. Rotational design provides multi-angle support, distributes loads, reduces single-point stress, and prevents equipment tipping or localized fatigue. By setting a limited rotation range, the geometry and stress state of the support can be controlled, utilizing static principles to place the overall center of gravity in a more reasonable position, thereby enhancing the stability of the equipment. In some embodiments, such as... Figures 1-2 The diagram shows a safety chain 17 and a handle 18 for pulling and gripping.

[0050] In some embodiments, a female flange is installed on the outer wall of the oil tank 2, and a male flange is connected to the female flange. An interface connecting the inside and outside of the oil tank 2 is installed on the male flange for connecting the end of the hose of the reversing valve 14 to the oil tank 2 in an airtight manner. A return oil filter is threadedly connected to one end of the interface located inside the oil tank 2.

[0051] The connection between the male and female flanges ensures high-precision sealing, preventing hydraulic oil leakage and guaranteeing that the sealing performance at the oil circuit connections meets design requirements, thus guaranteeing the stable operation of the hydraulic system. Adding a return oil filter filters impurities, keeping the hydraulic oil clean; it also evenly disperses the hydraulic oil, optimizing system performance and reducing fluid shock and pressure fluctuations.

[0052] In some embodiments, reinforcing ribs 19 are welded to the main beam 9. The top of the reinforcing ribs 19 is welded to the bottom surface of the first flat beam 7, and the bottom of the reinforcing ribs 19 is welded to the top surface of the second flat beam 8. The base of the bracket 16 is bolted to the reinforcing ribs 19. The distribution of the reinforcing ribs 19 evenly transmits the stress generated inside the working beam, avoiding local stress concentration.

[0053] In some embodiments, the bracket 16 is defined as having a bearing surface for supporting the wood, and an opening is formed on the bearing surface that penetrates the bearing surface. When the bracket 16 bears the weight of the wood, the opening structure can reduce the weight of the bracket 16 and can also be used to achieve ventilation and chip removal. By reducing the local weight through the opening design, and improving the stress distribution by utilizing the opening, the problem of local stress concentration caused by wood loading is alleviated to a certain extent.

[0054] In some embodiments, the surface of the baffle 11 used to receive the wood is defined as the blocking surface, and a wedge-shaped block protrudes outward from the blocking surface. The wedge-shaped block faces the wood, and when the wood is placed, the wedge-shaped block can fix the wood and also assist in splitting the wood, which not only improves the accuracy of wood positioning, but also improves the efficiency of wood splitting.

[0055] In some embodiments, the slider includes a first plate 20, a second plate 21, and a third plate 22. The chopping blade 13 is fixed to the top surface of the first plate 20. The first plate 20 and the third plate 22 are parallel. There are two second plates 21, both sandwiched between the first plate 20 and the third plate 22. The thickness of the second plate 21 is greater than the thickness of the first flat beam 7. The first flat beam 7 is sandwiched between the two second plates 21. The top surface of the second plate 21 is flush with the top surface of the first flat beam 7. The distance between the two second plates 21 is greater than the width of the first flat beam 7.

[0056] The slider structure is designed such that the two second flat plates 21 can be respectively positioned to clamp the two ends of the gap between the first flat plate 20 and the third flat plate 22. Bolts are then passed through the first flat plate 20, the second flat plate 21, and the third flat plate 22 to ensure the chopping blade 13 is securely installed. Simultaneously, the multi-layer flat plate combination design optimizes the stress state and the stability of the motion trajectory. The multi-plate combination utilizes the principle of distributed load to evenly transmit external forces to each layer of plates; setting the plate spacing and thickness ensures smooth slider sliding.

[0057] In some embodiments, the surfaces of the first plate 20, the second plate 21, and the third plate 22 facing the first flat beam 7 are all covered with a lubricating layer. The lubricating layer is designed to reduce the frictional resistance between the slider and the first flat beam 7, slow down the wear rate, and ensure the smoothness and positioning accuracy of the cleaver 13 during sliding motion.

[0058] The working principle of this design is as follows: Initially, the oil tank 2 contains hydraulic oil, and the gear pump 6 is in standby mode. The reversing valve 14 is in the neutral or locked position. When timber is placed on the bracket 16 and needs to be chopped, the engine 5 is started. The engine 5 drives the gear pump 6 to run, and the gear pump 6 begins to draw oil from the oil tank 2 and delivers the pressurized oil through the inlet of the reversing valve 14. When the operator operates the reversing valve 14, the single-handle operating valve associated with the reversing valve 14 moves, changing the oil circuit path. For example, high-pressure oil is distributed to the chamber of the hydraulic cylinder 12. As the oil pressure in the chamber rises, the piston is pushed. The operator then changes the position of the reversing valve 14 again, causing the oil to return to the reversing valve 14, thus causing the piston to move in the opposite direction. The entire process is continuously repeated until the timber is chopped.

[0059] Using the wood splitter provided by this invention, while keeping the power of the engine 5 constant, the speed of the wood splitting action can be increased by changing the force-bearing area of ​​the hydraulic cylinder 12 and increasing the flow rate. This reduces the splitting time per cycle from the conventional 12-15 seconds to 6-8 seconds, thereby increasing the number of cycles and reducing the single cycle time T, where T = t 伸出 +t 退回 Calculate the single-cycle time for a wood splitter to process 25 tons of timber using the following formula:

[0060] t = V / Q;

[0061] V = A C ×L S ;

[0062] Wherein, V refers to the volume of the liquid, and the liquid in this invention is hydraulic oil;

[0063] Q refers to the flow rate of the hydraulic oil;

[0064] A C This refers to the cross-sectional area of ​​the hydraulic cylinder piston;

[0065] L S This refers to the stroke of the hydraulic cylinder;

[0066] In the wood splitter provided by this invention, the stroke length of the hydraulic cylinder 12 is L. S The unit is m; the diameter of the piston rod of hydraulic cylinder 12 is d, with the unit being m; the flow rate of hydraulic oil is Q, with the unit being m³. 3 / min; the cylinder diameter of hydraulic cylinder 12 is D, in meters. The cycle time T is calculated using the following steps:

[0067] 1. Calculate the extended working area A 伸出 =π×D 2 / 4;

[0068] 2. Calculate A 退回 =π×(D) 2 -d 2 ) / 4;

[0069] 3. Calculate V 伸出 =A 伸出 ×L S V 退回 =A 退回 ×L S ;

[0070] 4. Calculate t 伸出 =V 伸出 / Q;t 退回 =V 退回 / Q;

[0071] 5. Calculate the cycle time T = t 伸出 +t 退回 .

[0072] In existing technology, conventional wood splitters take 12-15 seconds per cycle to process 25 tons of wood. However, the wood splitter provided by this invention, by providing a specific L... S The values ​​of d, Q, and D indicate that the time required for a single cycle to process 25 tons of wood is 6 to 8 seconds, which is shorter and more efficient than existing technologies.

[0073] When calculating the time consumed in a single cycle of wood processing using the wood splitter provided by this invention, it is necessary to limit the factors affecting the wood processing time. The most important factor is limiting the diameter of the inlet of the reversing valve 14 for the connection of the hose to the gear pump. The following calculation process is designed to obtain the diameter of the inlet of the reversing valve 14 for the connection of the hose to the gear pump 6, so that the hydraulic cylinder 12 completes the shortest single cycle time:

[0074] 1. Theoretical lossless speed calculation:

[0075] Ignoring pipeline losses, the theoretical piston extension speed v0 is:

[0076]

[0077] Among them, Q p This refers to the rated flow rate of gear pump 6;

[0078] The corresponding one-way time t0:

[0079]

[0080] 2. Calculation of friction loss along the hose

[0081] Pressure loss Δp of fluid along the hose lossUsing the Darcy-Weisbach formula:

[0082]

[0083] Among them, L h D1 refers to the length of the hose connecting the oil inlet of the reversing valve 14 and the gear pump 6; D1 refers to the inner diameter of the hose connecting the oil inlet of the reversing valve 14 and the gear pump 6.

[0084] ρ refers to the density of hydraulic oil;

[0085] v h This refers to the volume of the hose connecting the oil inlet of the reversing valve 14 and the gear pump 6;

[0086] A h This refers to the cross-sectional area of ​​the hose connecting the oil inlet of the reversing valve 14 and the gear pump 6;

[0087] λ refers to the friction coefficient corresponding to the Reynolds number of the hose, and its value is 0.025;

[0088] Will Substitution can be written as

[0089]

[0090] This formula shows that the smaller the pipe diameter D, the more drastically the loss increases (∝D). -5 ).

[0091] 3. Calculate the lossy speed and one-way time.

[0092] The actual effective pressure P that can be used on the piston eff Approximately

[0093] P eff =P max -Δp loss ,

[0094] Among them, P max This refers to the maximum pressure of the hydraulic cylinder;

[0095] Corresponding flow attenuation Q eff It can be approximated as

[0096]

[0097] Therefore, the actual piston speed is v1

[0098]

[0099] Corresponding one-way time t move (D)

[0100]

[0101] 4. Tube filling time

[0102] At the start of each cycle, fresh oil is pumped into the hose for a time t. fill (D) is

[0103]

[0104] This indicates that the larger the pipe diameter, the larger the volume, and the longer the filling time.

[0105] 5. Total Cycle Time Model

[0106] Treating the extension and return strokes as two identical single trips, and ignoring the effect of the return port size on the retraction speed during the return stroke for simplicity, the total time T(D) for one cycle is:

[0107] T(D)≈2[t fill (D)+t move (D)],

[0108] Substituting into the above formula, we can obtain

[0109]

[0110] in It is a constant.

[0111] 6. Find the optimal pipe diameter D. opt

[0112] make

[0113]

[0114] Taking the derivative of the total cycle time T(D) with respect to D1 in the above equation, we can obtain the optimal pipe diameter D. opt The implicit equation.

[0115] The following example illustrates this: For instance, consider the following typical parameters...

[0116] Q p =1.33×10 -4 m 3 / s

[0117] P max =2.0×10 7 Pa

[0118] ρ=850kg / m 3

[0119] λ = 0.025; L h =2m

[0120] A c =0.00636m2 L s =0.40m

[0121] Solve

[0122] D opt ≈0.01905m≈19.05mm,

[0123] That is approximately 3 / 4 inch.

[0124] Therefore: when D < 19.05 mm: the pipeline pressure loss increases sharply, the flow rate decreases significantly, the velocity decreases, and the flow rate slows down. move The cycle time increases.

[0125] When D > 19.05 mm: Although the loss is small, the pipeline volume increases, and the filling time t fill The increase leads to a rise in total time.

[0126] When D≈19mm, the optimal compromise is achieved, resulting in the shortest cycle time and highest efficiency.

[0127] Therefore, by limiting the diameter of the pipe from the oil inlet of the reversing valve 14 to the interface of the gear pump 6, the optimal wood splitting circulation efficiency can be achieved.

[0128] In summary, the wood splitter provided by this invention reduces the splitting time from the conventional 12-15 seconds to 6-8 seconds per split. During each splitting action, the high-speed movement of the splitting blade generates airflow that efficiently blows away sawdust and debris from the surface of the working beam, reducing damage to the blade surface from these residues. Because the power of the splitting blade involved in this invention varies significantly during operation, a tire-and-foot support system is used for fixation, fully utilizing the tire's characteristics to mitigate kinetic energy impact during operation. Similarly, the working beam of this invention is more robust and reliable than existing technologies. These structural features ensure the feasibility of high-speed wood splitting.

[0129] After adopting the technical solution described in this invention, the rate of blowing away debris and residue on the movement track of the wood splitter blade is as high as 92%, of which the blowing rate of debris and residue with a radius greater than 0.5 mm that affects the movement of the blade is close to 100%. Furthermore, since the completion time of the wood splitting action is reduced, even if the power consumption of the engine is increased, the energy consumption per unit of wood splitting is actually reduced.

[0130] By calculating the diameter of the inlet of the directional valve used for the hose connection to the gear pump, the efficiency of the wood-splitting cycle is significantly improved. Through scientific calculation of the diameter of the inlet of the directional valve and the connection to the gear pump, the optimal diameter was selected, achieving an optimal balance between the flow resistance of the hydraulic oil in the system and the filling speed of the pipeline. This minimizes the filling and movement time of the hydraulic cylinder, thus shortening the complete cycle time of each wood-splitting operation and improving overall work efficiency. Energy consumption is reduced, and the burden on the hydraulic system is lessened. If the diameter is too small, it will lead to high flow resistance and increased pressure loss, causing the gear pump and engine to operate under high load for extended periods, resulting in increased energy consumption and severe heat generation. If the diameter is too large, the fluid flow rate decreases, the system response slows down, and unnecessary energy loss also occurs. By optimizing the diameter, the system operates under appropriate flow rate and pressure, significantly reducing energy consumption and extending the system's lifespan. Ensuring the stability and reliability of the hydraulic system: Properly matched pipe diameters reduce hydraulic shock, lower pipeline vibration, and slow hydraulic oil temperature rise, helping to maintain oil viscosity and lubrication performance. This extends the lifespan of core components such as hydraulic cylinders, directional valves, and gear pumps, improving the overall reliability and safety of the wood splitter. Reducing maintenance frequency and costs: Minimal fluid shock and component wear lower the equipment failure rate, significantly reducing the frequency of maintenance and parts replacement, thus saving substantial maintenance costs. The wood splitter operates smoothly and continuously during the splitting process, with ample power and no jamming or delays. This provides a good user experience, significantly improving both production efficiency and worker comfort.

[0131] While the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the claims.

Claims

1. A wood splitter, comprising a frame, an oil tank connected to one end of the frame, tires mounted on both sides of the oil tank, and a foot support connected to the other end of the frame, characterized in that, An engine and a gear pump are installed outside the oil tank. The output shaft of the engine is driven to the drive shaft of the gear pump, and the oil suction port of the gear pump is connected to the oil tank. The frame is provided with a working beam, which includes a first flat beam, a second flat beam and a main beam. The first flat beam and the second flat beam are parallel to each other. The main beam is welded between the first flat beam and the second flat beam. The second flat beam is bolted to the frame. A tail plate that curves upwards above the first flat beam is welded to one end of the working beam near the foot support. A baffle plate that is higher than the top surface of the first flat beam is welded to the other end of the working beam. The bottom of the hydraulic cylinder is bolted to the tail plate, and the piston end of the hydraulic cylinder is detachably connected to the back of the chopping blade; the back of the chopping blade is provided with side air guide plates extending to both sides of the chopping blade; the chamber of the hydraulic cylinder is connected to the output port of the reversing valve through a hose, the oil inlet of the reversing valve is connected to the gear pump through a hose, and the oil return port of the reversing valve is connected to the oil tank through a hose. A slider is slidably connected to the first flat beam, and the blade of the chopping knife is fixed on the slider; A bracket is installed between the hydraulic cylinder and the baffle, which is used to support the wood when it is being split.

2. A wood splitter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The side guide vanes are arranged on both sides of the chopping blade to form a flow guiding surface. The flow guiding surface is 5-6 cm away from the blade edge of the chopping blade. The flow guiding surface has a backward tilt angle of 15°-25° with the side of the chopping blade facing away from the blade edge. The curvature of the end of the flow guiding surface away from the working beam is greater than the curvature of the end of the flow guiding surface near the working beam. The flow guiding surface is radially distributed in an involute-like pattern from the end away from the working beam to the end near the working beam.

3. A wood splitter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, A stop is detachably connected to the first flat beam, and a slider is slidably connected to the first flat beam. The bottom of the chopping knife is fixed on the slider. The stop has an opening that is recessed into the upper surface of the first flat beam on the side facing the baffle. When the slider slides between the opening and the baffle, the stop is used to limit the distance the slider slides towards the tail plate.

4. A wood splitter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, There are two brackets, located on both sides of the first flat beam. The base of each bracket is bolted to the main beam. The vertical height of the bracket near the first flat beam is defined as H, and the vertical height of the top of the slider from the first flat beam is defined as h, where H > h, and H and h are positive numbers greater than 0.

5. A wood splitter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The bracket is defined as having a bearing surface for supporting timber, and an opening is provided on the bearing surface that penetrates the bearing surface.

6. A wood splitter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, A female flange is installed on the outer wall of the oil tank, and a male flange is connected to the female flange. An interface connecting the inside and outside of the oil tank is installed on the male flange. The end of the hose connecting the reversing valve and the oil tank is airtightly connected to the interface. A return oil filter is threadedly connected to one end of the interface inside the oil tank.

7. A wood splitter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main beam is welded with reinforcing ribs. The top of the reinforcing ribs is welded to the bottom surface of the first flat beam, and the bottom of the reinforcing ribs is welded to the top surface of the second flat beam. The base of the bracket is bolted to the reinforcing ribs.

8. A wood splitter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The surface of the baffle used to support the wood is defined as the blocking surface, and a wedge-shaped block protrudes outward from the blocking surface.

9. A wood splitter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The slider includes a first plate, a second plate, and a third plate. The chopping blade is fixed to the top surface of the first plate. The first plate and the third plate are parallel. There are two second plates, both sandwiched between the first plate and the third plate. The thickness of the second plate is greater than the thickness of the first flat beam. The first flat beam is sandwiched between the two second plates. The top surface of the second plate is flush with the top surface of the first flat beam. The distance between the two second plates is greater than the width of the first flat beam.

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