Device for splitting wood

Abstract

A device for splitting wood is provided, comprising a frame (10) to which a vertically movable splitting wedge (12) and a counter plate (30) serving as a support for the wood to be split are attached, wherein the movement of the splitting wedge defines a splitting axis (H) that coincides with a vertical axis of the device, and wherein the device is equipped with at least one arm (1) designed as a wood-splitting holding or catching element for supporting wood splits that tip sideways after a splitting operation and, in particular, for preventing them from tipping over uncontrollably and endangering the operator, wherein a substantially elongated arm support (2) of the at least one arm is spaced from the vertical axis and arranged perpendicular to it, and wherein the arm support is furthermore located at a height above the counter plate (30) of approximately 0.5 to 0.9 lengths of the wood to be split is arranged and wherein the arm on its side facing the splitting axis comprises a shock-absorbing material (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for splitting wood with a frame to which a vertically movable splitting knife and a counter plate serving as a support for the wood to be split are attached, wherein the splitting knife movement defines a splitting axis which coincides with a vertical axis of the device, and wherein the device is equipped with at least one arm designed as a wood-splitting holding or catching element for supporting wood splits that tip to the side after a splitting operation has been carried out and in particular for preventing them from tipping over uncontrollably in a way that would endanger the operator.

[0002] In the prior art, motor-driven log splitters such as those from DE 202012102064 U1 are known, although these are often horizontally operating machines whose safety and operating conditions are different from those of vertically operating machines.

[0003] Vertical log splitters are already known in the prior art. In these machines, a motor-driven splitting wedge descends vertically onto pre-positioned material, usually sections of logs, splitting it along the natural grain. This process transforms heavy, unwieldy pieces of wood into smaller, easily manageable pieces, and logs into firewood. A vertical log splitter of this type is disclosed, for example, in CH 700076 A2. A disadvantage of this type is that split wood falls to both sides of the machine and is only prevented from falling uncontrollably to the ground by safety bars.

[0004] Since the operation of log splitters is semi-automated, larger and, to a certain extent, individual pieces of wood must be positioned in the machine by hand, and the split pieces must then be removed manually. The safety, ease, and speed of performing this work on these machines need improvement.

[0005] Regarding meter-long logs, i.e., tree sections approximately 100 cm long with a certain tolerance, a device is now proposed that, with simple means—that is, with few additional components and minimal additional design features—increases the safety and efficiency of working with a log splitter. At the same time, this solution is durable, easy to maintain, and easy to clean.

[0006] The device according to the invention achieves this by having a substantially elongated armrest of the at least one arm spaced apart from the vertical axis and arranged perpendicular to it, wherein furthermore the armrest is arranged at a height above the counter plate of about 0.5 to 0.9 lengths of the wood to be split and wherein the armrest comprises a shock-absorbing material.

[0007] Another embodiment involves using rubber, textile, a woven strap, or rigid foam as the absorbing material, with the armrest spanning a surface facing the wood splits, which is particularly textured to prevent the wood splits from slipping sideways. The shock-absorbing material also has the advantage of gently catching wood falling into the arms, preventing it from unintentionally bouncing to the side or damaging the machine.

[0008] Another embodiment involves the shock-absorbing material being a flexible mat stretched in a U-shape around the arm and attached to it, leaving a predetermined gap between the arm and the shock-absorbing material. This results in an additional shock-absorbing effect achieved in a very simple manner.

[0009] Another embodiment involves attaching the arm to the frame via a pivot axis with a spring-loaded, predetermined damping force. This absorbs violent impacts from falling logs, and secondly, the device can also be modified to make it easier to remove split wood from the machine.

[0010] Another embodiment of the invention arises from the fact that the axis of rotation of the arm is skew to the vertical axis. This changes the falling motion of the wood splits in a direction that is more favorable to the operator, moving them away from him.

[0011] One embodiment of the invention is achieved by providing two arms, one to the right and one to the left of the vertical axis, and in particular by attaching them to the frame in a mechanically mirrored manner. This allows wood chips falling to the side to be caught on both sides.

[0012] Another embodiment of the invention arises from the fact that an arm is designed to be lowered to and raised from ground level. This allows wood lying on the ground to be automatically and thus easily transported into the device by the operator.

[0013] Another embodiment arises from the arm having an end that, when lowered to the ground level, is aligned at or very close to it, with this end acting as a ramp over which a piece of wood lying on the ground can be rolled onto the arm. The advantage of this is that it simplifies the process of moving the wood from the forest floor into the device.

[0014] One embodiment of the invention is achieved by designing the ramp to pivot between two positions and to lock into place at these positions, with the ramp forming a roller stop in the restricted position. This ensures that wood lying behind the ramp is held more securely in the device, whether before, during, or after pivoting upwards.

[0015] One embodiment is achieved by the counter plate comprising a base plate and a grid plate pivotably attached to the base plate. This offers the advantage that the counter plate and the area on and around it are easier to clean.

[0016] One embodiment is achieved by having a textured grid plate. This advantageously holds standing wood in the device more securely in its position.

[0017] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1. A perspective view of the entire device, Fig. 2 a front view of the entire device, Fig. 3 a side view of the entire device, Fig. 4 a top view of the entire device, Fig. 5 detailed views of two arms of the device in section Fig. 4, Fig. 6 another detail of an arm in partial section of the device, Fig. 7 a ramp, Fig. 8 a section of the device consisting of ramp and arm, Fig. 9 the base area of ​​the device.

[0018] According to Fig. In steps 1 to 4, a meter-long log (not shown) to be split is placed vertically, i.e., with the grain running perpendicular to gravity, on a counter plate 30 and under a splitting wedge 12, which at this time has been moved to an upper position. To ensure proper and safe operation, the counter plate 30 and the splitting wedge 12, along with other machine parts, are attached to a common frame 10. According to various possibilities, which are not relevant to the present invention, the log remains fixed or in this position on its own while an operator then operates the device such that the splitting wedge 12 moves vertically downwards and splits the log. The split pieces (also not shown) then fall to the side.They could be dropped to the ground and then picked up, but it is safer and more practical for the operator if they are instead moved into a better position by the device.

[0019] This is made possible by arms 1 positioned to the left and right of the splitting axis H, at a suitable height and distance from it. Since the wood to be split is approximately 100 cm long with typical tolerances, the height of the arms 1 should be about 0.5 to 0.9 times this length, i.e., between 50 cm and 90 cm. The distance of the arms 1 from the splitting axis H should allow for easy loading of the wood into the device and removal of split wood. Conversely, the distance from the splitting axis H should not be too great to prevent pieces of wood falling to the side from having to fall too far. To enable the arms 1 to catch individual pieces of wood, individually falling pieces of wood, or multiple falling pieces of wood, they are designed to curve around the splitting axis H over a certain angular range – particularly visible from above.

[0020] The arms 1 can be used as in the Fig. The components shown in figures 1 to 4 are supplemented by doubled arms 11 of the same geometry extending below, in order to also accommodate shorter wood splits and to provide greater overall stability. The arms 1 are firmly attached to the frame 10 of the device, also feature a spring mechanism, and can be lowered as necessary, as explained in more detail below.

[0021] According to Fig. 5 and Fig. The arms 1 are equipped with a shock-absorbing material. This shock-absorbing material 3 only needs to be attached to the side 2 of an arm 1 facing the gap axis H. The shock-absorbing material 3 is then wrapped around an arm 1 in such a way that it forms a gap 4 on the corresponding side of the arm 1. The shock-absorbing material 3 is then attached to an arm 1 by screwing it to the top and bottom of the arm using screws 9. Permanent stability is ensured by the contact pressure and a degree of protection of the material at the edges provided by a U-profile strip 5, which hugs the material and simultaneously serves as a base plate for the screws 9. A secure and permanent attachment without altering the damping effect can thus be achieved remarkably simply using only three screws 9 on each arm 1.

[0022] If, after the splitting process, the wood chips fall from the splitting axis H towards the arms 1, their impact is cushioned by the shock-absorbing material 3. In this embodiment, the damping effect is caused by two features: firstly, by the damping effect of the material itself, which is rubber, textile, a woven belt, rigid foam, or a similar material; and secondly, by the fact that the material does not rest directly on the arm 1, but can move a short distance into the space 4.

[0023] To prevent or significantly reduce lateral slippage of the wood splits in undesirable directions, the shock-absorbing material is textured with nubs. These nubs are typically not formed in a separate process, but rather during the manufacturing of the shock-absorbing material itself. Furthermore, experts know which geometry and distribution of the nubs achieve the desired effect and which nub shapes or distributions would be unsuitable.

[0024] Since even particularly heavy impacts against the arms must be absorbed without endangering the safety of the device and the operator, the entire arm 1 is additionally spring-mounted over a small angular range via a joint on the frame 10. If a particularly heavy piece of wood or a piece of wood falls against the arm 1 at high speed, it is not only absorbed by the shock-absorbing material 3, but the entire arm 1 also swings back briefly. This swing-back action must be designed in such a way that it actually reduces the impact and does not cause the piece of wood to fall again in undesired directions. This is achieved by ensuring that the axis of rotation D, around which the arm swings upon a hard impact, is not parallel to or perpendicular to the splitting axis H, but is tilted at a predetermined angle backwards from the operator's perspective relative to the splitting axis H (as shown in [reference]). Fig. 4 to be seen) or lies completely skew to the slit axis H.

[0025] In Fig. 4 points the slit axis H into the plane of the leaf.

[0026] If arm 1 yields in this manner upon impact of the piece of wood, it is guided slightly away from the operator. At the same time, this prevents the piece of wood from falling over completely or otherwise being dislodged from its secure position. In particular, arm 1, together with the doubled arm 11, has roller stops 19 designed as ribs, which prevent wood from rolling or bouncing out of arm 1. These roller stops 19 are provided at the edges of the area of ​​arm 1 where wood is to arrive and be temporarily held.

[0027] This advantageously ensures that the wood maintains its secure position on the counter plate 30 throughout the entire process, from placement in the device, through splitting, and even until the split wood reaches its resting position after splitting. This results in a very high level of safety for the operator while working with the device.

[0028] Typically, the logs to be split are lying on the ground and are relatively fresh, undried greenwood of considerable weight. Therefore, it is advantageous if the device offers assistance in positioning the piece to be split. For this purpose, one arm (1) of the device is designed to be lowered. This arm is designed according to... Fig. 2. The arm 1 is connected to the frame 10 via a boom 17 and a joint 18, which can be, for example, a hinge, and which is located at the bottom of the device as close as possible to the ground. In an upper position, this lowerable arm 1 is held by a chain 13, which is also (indirectly) connected to the frame 10. To keep the machine as simple as possible, the chain 13 is connected to a slide that already moves the splitting wedge 12 up and down along the splitting axis H. This slide 14 can now be lowered using the same motor. This lowers the arm 1, which is connected to the slide 14 via the chain 13, down to the ground.In this lowered position (not shown), a meter-long log lying on the ground can now be pushed or rolled into the device so that one end of the log rests approximately on the counter plate 30, while the other end rests approximately on the lowered arm 1. When the carriage 14 is then raised again, the arm 1, which is connected to the joint 18 via the boom 17, lifts and moves the log into a vertical position. The operator then only needs to fine-tune the positioning of the log, centering it on the splitting axis H, and is then ready to perform the splitting operation.It goes without saying that smaller mechanical elements are provided on the device to ensure that, when the carriage 14 descends, either the arm attached to the frame 10 via the boom 17 is lowered to the ground, or that this arm 1 remains in the upper position and a piece of wood located in the device is split by the splitting wedge 12. Likewise, the electrical control of the device can switch between the "lower arm" function and the "lower splitting wedge 12" function by known means, which need not be described here.The device is therefore characterized in that at least one arm 1 is connected to the frame 10 via a joint 18 located near the ground, and wherein the arm is connected to the slide 14 of the splitting knife 12 via a connection, in particular a chain 13, such that the arm 1 can be moved down to the ground and back up again via the movement of the slide 14 already provided.

[0029] This device also optimizes the possibility of raising splitting wood from the ground while it is lying flat, thus making the operator's work easier. This is achieved by providing a ramp 6 at the end of the lowering arm 1. This ramp, for example, consists of a sheet metal plate that forms an incline when the arm 1 is lowered to the ground. This incline can then be manually rotated between a lowered position 7 and a folded-in position 8, in which the ramp 6 acts as a roller stop, via a joint 15, such as a hinge. Those skilled in the art will understand that mechanical elements are required at this point to ensure that the ramp 6 locks into both positions, yet can still be manually released from these positions. The roller stop of the ramp 6 functions in the same way as the roller stops 19 of the non-lowering arm 1 described above.

[0030] In the folded-down position 7, the ramp 6 acts like a slope down which wood can be pushed or rolled into the device. To improve this effect in outdoor operation on uneven ground and on surfaces with varying textures, the ramp 6 has an additional lip 16 at the edge that rests on the ground. This lip runs at an angle to the plane of the ramp 6 and meets the ground at an even steeper angle. As a result, rolling wood is much less likely to become unintentionally caught under the ramp 6, which would otherwise require cumbersome readjustment by the operator.

[0031] Once arm 1 has been lowered to the ground via chain 13 so that an operator can load the device with a new piece of wood, ramp 6 is first moved into the folded-down position 7. This allows the small step that arm 1 still forms when lying on the ground to be overcome by the rolled or pushed wood. If arm 1, along with the new piece of wood, is to be raised, ramp 6 is folded in manually to prevent any rolling wood from entering the raising arm 1.

[0032] The counter plate 30 is designed to facilitate the safe handling and splitting of wood. Several features achieve this. Naturally, the counter plate 30 must provide a firm and solid platform for heavy pieces of wood. Therefore, it is shaped as an approximately rectangular surface with sides several decimeters long, but it must also possess a certain thickness. To ensure that wood can be safely placed on the counter plate 30 and that split wood can be removed, and to prevent the operator from injuring themselves on the edges of the counter plate 30, it has a chamfer 28 at least on the front and on its sides. On its upper surface, where the wood to be split rests and where high pressure can be exerted, at least during the splitting process, the counter plate 30 has knobs 34 that further secure the wood in place, but do not cause the wood to be pressed inextricably onto the counter plate 30.The person skilled in the art also knows here which geometry and distribution of the studs achieves the desired effect and which stud shapes or distributions would be unsuitable and therefore to be avoided. The studs 34 of the counter plate 30 are made of a very rigid material, preferably the same material as the counter plate itself, e.g., iron, and have nothing to do with the studs of the shock-absorbing material 3 (see above). The studs 34 of the counter plate 30 can, for example, be a few millimeters high, a few millimeters in diameter, and tapered to a point. The person skilled in the art knows that they should not be designed as spikes on which an operator could injure themselves. They should also not permanently impale the wood, but only prevent it from slipping during the splitting process and then simply release it.

[0033] As especially in Fig. As shown in Figure 9, the counter plate 30 consists of a base plate 31 and a floor grid 32 that can be placed flat on it. The latter can be pivoted between two positions via joints 33 – e.g., hinges – specifically in the lowered position, as for example in Fig. 2 shown and in a folded-up position as in Fig.Figure 9 shows the raised studs. In this embodiment, it is not the base plate 31, but the base grid 32 that has them. Both the base plate 31 and the base grid 32 form the chamfer 28, which provides the aforementioned safety. The base grid 32 completely covers the base plate 31, preventing an operator's shoes or feet from becoming trapped between them. Therefore, the base grid 32 has a circumferential covering 27 that completely covers the chamfer 28 and the outer outline of the base plate 31. Furthermore, the base grid 32 has a pattern of holes 29. This hole pattern serves two functions. First, when the base grid 32 is lowered, the holes 29 form depressions in which dirt, chips, and particles can collect. This prevents the counter plate 30 from no longer providing a secure footing for wood after a short period of use.Secondly, the hole pattern formed by the holes 29 constitutes a system of concentric and radial lines that makes it easier for the operator to center the wood to be split in the device. If there is too much dirt in the holes 29 or the depressions they form, the bottom grid 32 can simply be folded out and the dirt particles remaining on the base plate 31 wiped away or otherwise removed. Reference symbol list 1 arm 2. Side of an arm 3 shock-absorbing material 4 Free space 5 U-profile strips 6 Ramp 7. Ramp folded down position 8 Folded position of the ramp 9 screw 10 frames 11 doubled arm 12 splitting knives 13 chain 14 sleds 15 joint 16 Lippe 17 outriggers 18 joint 19 Roller stop 27 Overcoating 28 Bevel 29 holes 30 Counter plate 31 Base plate 32 floor grates 33 joint 34 studs H Split axis D axis of rotation QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 202012102064 U1

[0002] CH 700076 A2

[0003]

Claims

[1] Device for splitting wood with a frame (10) to which a vertically movable splitting wedge (12) and a counter plate (30) serving as a support for the wood to be split are attached, wherein the splitting wedge movement defines a splitting axis (H) which coincides with a vertical axis of the device, and wherein the device is equipped with at least one arm (1) designed as a wood-splitting holding or catching element for supporting wood splits that tip to the side after a splitting operation has been carried out and in particular for preventing them from tipping over uncontrollably in a way that would endanger the operator, characterized by, that a substantially elongated arm support (2) of the at least one arm (1) is spaced apart from the vertical axis (H) and arranged perpendicular to it, wherein furthermore the arm support (2) is arranged at a height above the counter plate (30) of about 0.5 to 0.9 lengths of the wood (7) to be split and wherein the at least one arm (1) comprises a shock-absorbing material (3) on its side (2) facing the splitting axis. [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by , that the shock-absorbing material (3) is rubber, textile, a woven belt or rigid foam, wherein the material (3) is studded to prevent lateral slippage of wood splits. [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the shock-absorbing material is designed as a flexible mat which is stretched in a U-shape around the arm (1) and attached to it, with a predetermined free space (4) remaining between the arm (1) and the shock-absorbing material. [4] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the arm (1) is rotatably and resiliently attached to the frame (10) via a pivot axis (D) with a predetermined damping. [5] Device according to claim 4, characterized by , that the axis of rotation (D) of the arm (1) is skew to the vertical axis. [6] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that two arms (1) are provided to the right and left of the vertical axis and are attached to the frame (10) in a mechanically mirror-image manner. [7] Device according to claim 6, characterized by , that an arm (1) is designed to be lowerable down to ground level and to be raised and lowered. [8] Device according to claim 7, characterized by, that the arm (1) has an end which is positioned at or in close proximity to the ground level in a lowered position, wherein the end is designed as a ramp (6) over which a piece of wood lying on the ground can be rolled onto the arm (1). [9] Device according to claim 8, characterized by , that the ramp (6) is designed to pivot between two positions (7, 8) and to lock into place at these positions, wherein the ramp (6) forms a roller stop (8) in the pivoted position. [10] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by , that the counter plate (30) comprises a base plate (31) and a grid plate (32) pivotably attached to the base plate (31). [11] Device according to claim 10, characterized by that the grid plate is studded.

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