Timber cutting and firewood splitting apparatus with improved lubrication of endless saw chain in a log cutting unit thereof

Abstract

Invention refers to a timber cutting and firewood splitting apparatus (1) with improved lubrication of endless chain (42) in a log (9) cutting unit (4) thereof. Such apparatus (1), among others, comprises a cutting unit (4), which includes a saw bar (41), an endless saw chain (42) and a lubricating assembly (44). In order to assure supplying of optimal quantity of lubricating liquid, said lubricating assembly (44) comprises a piston pump (441), which is hydraulically connected, on the one hand, via an inlet pipeline (441') with a reservoir (43) with the hydraulic liquid, and on the other hand via an outlet pipeline (441'') with an outlet opening (441'''), which is located in the lubricating area, in particular within a guiding groove (411) on the circumference of said saw bar (41), along which the saw chain (42) is guided, wherein said saw bar (41) is together with the belonging casing (40) pivotal around a geometric axis (400) relative to the framework (2) of the apparatus (1) and also relative to said pump (441). A piston rod of said pump (41) is permanently pressed in a direction towards said geometric axis (400) and is rest on an inclined external surface (444') of a supporting segment (444), which is attached on said casing (40) of the cutting unit (4).

Description

[0001] Timber cutting and firewood splitting apparatus with improved lubrication of endless saw chain in a log cutting unit thereof

[0002] The invention refers to a timber cutting and firewood splitting apparatus with improved lubrication of endless saw chain in a log cutting unit thereof. Such apparatus enables cutting of logs due to producing firewood, and comprises a cutting unit, furnished with an endless saw chain and is suitable for cutting each log to longitudinal sections of a pre-determined length and comprising, a transporting unit, which is suitable for forwarding of each timber towards said log cutting unit, as well as a splitting unit, which is suitable for splitting each one of said split-off longitudinal sections to separate firewood pieces.

[0003] Such inventions generally belong to wood processing, in particular to saws for cutting of wood, namely to endless chain saws, and in particular to lubricating appliances, which are especially adjusted for lubrication of an endless saw chain in a wood cutting saw unit.

[0004] The purpose of the invention is to improve such firewood processing apparatus, which is furnished with a power-driven saw unit with a bar, which is pivotal in a plane transversely to the longitudinal geometric axis of forwarding of logs, and an endless saw chain, which is displaceable along a guiding groove arranged on s circumference of said saw bar, so that the contact area between said guiding groove and said endless chain should be optimally lubricated, which means that lubrication during effective cutting should be much more intensive than during unloaded freely sliding of the saw chain within said guiding groove, and moreover, the user should also have a possibility of adjusting each desired intensity of lubrication, namely of quantity of lubricant, which is supplied towards said lubricating area within the guide of the saw chain.

[0005] A timber cutting and firewood processing apparatus, which is suitable for operating on the basis of splitting of longitudinal log sections is disclosed in EP 2 933 074 Al and comprises a framework, which is adjusted to be rest onto a ground and for receiving of a splitting unit, which is located at certain distance above the ground, as well as of a cutting unit, which is suitable for cutting of a log in its transversal direction to longitudinal sections of a pre-determined length, wherein said cutting unit comprises a casing, a driving motor with a driving chain wheel, an endless chain driven by said chain wheel, as well as a saw bar, around which said endless chain is guided, wherein said splitting unit comprises a splitting chute and a splitting tool, towards to which a cut-off longitudinal log section can be pushed by means of a suitable piston, so that said log section is split to separate firewood pieces. Said document discloses tensioning of the endless saw chain in the cutting unit, but is completely silent with regard to potential solution of the initially defined technical problem.

[0006] A process of cutting logs to separate longitudinal sections of a pre-determined length for the purpose of subsequent splitting such obtained log sections in order to produce firewood pieces is disclosed in DE 10 2009 014 861 Al, where also a cutting unit with an endless saw chain is mentioned. An apparatus, which is suitable for carrying-out such a process, comprises a longitudinally oriented framework, which is on its first end portion furnished with a transporting unit, suitable for resting and forwarding of a complete log prior to cutting thereof, and on its second terminal portion with a splitting unit. Adjacent to the splitting unit there is a splitting chute, and a piston of a pushing cylinder, which is directed towards the splitting unit, protrudes inside of said splitting chute. In the area between said transporting unit and said splitting unit there is a bearing means mounted onto said framework, on which a cutting unit with an endless saw chain is attached, wherein said chain is guided along the circumference of a bar, which is oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal geometric axis of the framework, and moreover, said bar is pivotal around a geometric axis, which extends in parallel with said longitudinal geometric axis of the framework. Effective length of said bar with the saw chain placed thereon shall exceed a diameter of said log, which is foreseen to be cut to said longitudinal sections, and the cutting unit is pivotal around said geometric axis at a sufficient angle, which during said pivoting of the bar allows cutting of the log across the complete crosssection thereof, upon which each longitudinal log section is split away from the rest of the log. Length of the saw bar with the endless chain exceed a maximal allowable diameter of a timber, which is to be cut to said longitudinal sections, and the saw unit as such is pivotal around its pivoting geometric axis at least such angle that, when pivoting the saw bar, the endless saw chain is capable to cut the log across the complete cross-section thereof, and to split such cut-off longitudinal log section apart from the rest of the log. Also this document does not provide any suitable information about tensioning of the saw chain or guiding of the saw bar, and in particular also not about lubrication of the endless saw chain, as mentioned in the initially exposed technical problem.

[0007] An endless saw chain, which is suitable to be applied on usual and commonly used motor-driven chain saws for cutting of wood pieces in situ, is known and is commonly used in the field of forestry, wherein such a chain is conceived similarly like a sprocket chain i.e. a Gall’s chain, which is used for transferring of torque between two shafts arranged in parallel with each other, but is moreover furnished with a cutting edge and a suitable limiting protrusion, which determines a depth of cutting and prevents the chain from excessive progression towards the interior of the wood piece as processed. As soon as such chain is placed onto the saw bar, it also needs to be properly tensioned, so that the chain links may slide along the guide and also cooperate with the driving chain wheel, wherein said tension must be sufficient to enable permanently maintaining of chain links within the guide and proper engagement between the chain links and chain wheel teeth. During the use, namely by actual cutting the wood by means of said cutting edges on chain links, such chain exposed to essential tension and other loads, but at the same time also to essential friction and heating, and consequently to wearing, so that in practice one should unavoidable take a sufficient care about sufficient lubrication of the chain during its sliding along the guiding groove on the circumference of the chain bar, and also during relative displacements of the chain links when running around the chain wheel, which is normally achieved by means of a suitable lubricant, e.g. oil, so that on the one hand all contact surfaces between the saw chain and the saw bar, and on the other hand also all pivot points between the chain links, are properly lubricated. Intensive lubrication is expected in particular during cutting, when said movable components of the saw unit are exposed to essential mechanical loadings and potentially also to thermal loadings, while during idle running of the saw chain just a small quantity of lubricant is quite sufficient. Lack of lubrication during said cutting process might quickly result in excessive friction and increase of loadings due to enhanced resistance, which leads to increased wearing of saw chain, saw bar and other components of the saw, by simultaneously overheating of the saw chain and the saw bar, which leads to damages not only of components of the saw but also to visible damages of the wood surface, and which moreover also leads to dangerous emissions resulting from chemical destruction of the wood and of the lubricant.

[0008] A further apparatus for successively cutting of a log to longitudinal sections and splitting of each particular section to separate firewood pieces, which is relatively simple, is disclosed in DE 20 2013 000 344 Ul. In such apparatus, a commonly used motor-driven endless chain saw is used, which is attached to the apparatus framework pivotally in a transversal direction relatively to a log. There is no useful information in said document, which could provide at least some hints about lubrication and tensioning of the chain saw, and could therefore contribute to resolving of the initially mentioned technical problem, so that one could only anticipate that both these tasks are managed similarly like in other commercially available saw units.

[0009] A concept of lubricating of an endless chain in a saw unit is disclosed in DE 31 11 641 Al. A driving chain wheel of the saw unit is mounted on a shaft, which is driven by a motor. A centrifugal pump is mounted on the same wheel and is adjusted for pumping of a lubricant, namely of an oil with proper lubricating characteristics, which is via suitable hydraulic conduit supplied from a reservoir towards the guiding groove on the circumference of the saw bar, along which the saw chain may slide. In fact, there is a pump, which establishes practically uniform flowing capacity, which depends on rotating speed of the shaft and on a nominal capacity of the pump as such, and which is able to supply a pre-determined quantity of lubricant to said contact area between the endless saw and the chain guide on the circumference of the saw bar. When bearing in mind previously mentioned circumstances during the use of a saw unit, and also various potential characteristics of the wood intended for cutting, such concept is in most cases actually unable to assure optimal lubricating conditions. Namely, during an idle running of a saw chain along the guide on the circumference of the saw blade, or by cutting of light or soft wood, such pre-determined lubrication is actually excessive and leads to undesired emissions and penetration of the lubricant into the wood. Namely, such penetrated lubricant remains present within the wood for a while and is therefore also burned together with the firewood pieces. On the other hand, the flowing capacity of the lubricant cannot be decreased e.g. by means of selecting some smaller pump with correspondingly lower flowing capacity, since by cutting of hard wood in heavy duty conditions, such disposable quantity of the lubricant would be insufficient, which would then lead to even worse consequences, namely to overheating and damages on components of the saw unit and also of the wood as processed.

[0010] The present invention refers to a timber cutting and firewood splitting apparatus with improved lubrication of endless chain in a log cutting unit thereof, wherein such apparatus comprises a rigid framework, a transporting unit adjusted for transporting of logs, namely for forwarding of logs one by one in a longitudinal direction of said framework, a cutting unit suitable for successively cutting of each particular log as forwarded by said transporting unit to separate longitudinal sections of a pre-determined length, a splitting unit, which is adjusted for splitting of each cut-off longitudinal section of said log to separate firewood pieces of a roughly pre-determined shape and approximately pre-determined dimensions, and moreover, a hydraulic driving assembly, which is suitable for driving of said transporting unit, said cutting unit and said splitting unit. In this, said framework is adjusted for being rest on at least approximately horizontal ground surface and is on its first terminal portion furnished with said transporting unit, which is arranged at a suitable height above the ground surface and is suitable for successively transporting of single logs in the longitudinal direction of said framework, which is defined by longitudinal geometric axis, wherein said framework is on its second terminal portion furnished with said splitting unit, while in the central area of said framework, namely between the transporting unit and the splitting unit, there is a cutting unit, which is also mounted onto said framework. The cutting unit as such is separately and independently on attachment of said transporting unit and said splitting unit mounted onto the framework of the apparatus. Said hydraulic driving assembly is also mounted onto said framework, and said framework is optionally furnished with suitable connecting means for establishing a detachable mechanical interconnection between the framework and a tractor or any other vehicle, by means of which the apparatus is transportable to each desired location. Said transporting unit is generally conceived as a hydraulically driven belt conveyor, which is adjusted for transporting of a single log prior to cutting thereof in a direction along said longitudinal geometric axis of the framework, namely in a direction towards the cutting unit and the splitting unit. Said cutting unit is generally conceived as a motor-driven chain saw and comprises at least a casing, a bar, which is attached to said casing, and an endless cutting chain, which is suitably tensioned and guided along the circumference of said bar by means of a chain wheel placed on a driving shaft, which is driven by means of a hydraulic motor, which is powered by said hydraulic driving assembly, and moreover, said bar is on its circumferential area, along which said endless saw chain is movable, furnished with a guiding groove, into which during said movement of the saw chain along said groove, guiding protrusions of saw chain links are inserted. Said cutting unit is mounted on the framework of the apparatus in such a way that the casing of the cutting unit is located outside of a cross-section of each log to be cut, which is defined by the maximal allowable diameter thereof, wherein said casing is, together with the bar, which is attached thereto, and the endless chain, which extends along the circumference of said bar, pivotal around the geometric axis, which extends throughout the pivot point of the casing, over the complete crosssection of the log, the thickness of which is limited by said maximal diameter and which is intended to be cut and after that also split by means of the apparatus, and wherein the effective length of the bar is longer than said allowable maximal diameter of the log, which is to be cut on said apparatus. Said casing of the cutting unit is, together with the belonging bar and the endless chain, attached to the framework of the apparatus pivotally around the horizontal geometric axis, which extends parallel to the longitudinal geometric axis of the framework of the apparatus, so that by pivoting of said casing around said geometric axis, the bar is together with the endless chain, which is placed thereon, displaceable from its initial position, namely inactive position, in which it protrudes in approximately vertical direction away from said framework, into its terminal position, in which it in a vertical plane passes transversely across the framework, so that inbetween of these two positions of the bar, the log being intended for cutting and splitting and having a diameter smaller than the maximal allowed diameter, can be transported along the longitudinal geometric axis of the framework by means of said transporting unit. Said saw unit further comprises a reservoir, which is suitable for storing of a lubricating liquid, and a lubricating assembly, which is suitable for pumping of the lubricating liquid from said reservoir and forwarding said lubricating liquid towards said guiding groove on the circumference of the saw bar, along which said endless saw chain is displaceable. On the other hand, said splitting unit of the apparatus comprises a suitable splitting chute, which is adjusted for receiving of a longitudinal log section of a pre-determined length, which is cut-off from the log by means of said cutting unit, and, in addition to said chute, also a splitting tool, a supporting means, and a driving means which is powered by means of said driving assembly. Accordingly, either a splitting tool is by means of said driving means displaceable in a direction towards the interior of said cut-off log section, which is in such case supported by said supporting means, or said supporting means is displaceable by means of said driving means in a direction towards said log section and along the splitting chute together with the log section towards the splitting tool. Still further, said hydraulic driving assembly is suitable for supplying of a sufficient energy power to the previously mentioned mechanical units of the apparatus, which is required for assuring their functionality, wherein said hydraulic assembly is either autonomous, or may as such also be energized by a suitable power source, which is available on a tractor or any other vehicle or working apparatus, to which said apparatus is connectable.

[0011] The invention apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that said lubricating assembly, which is adjusted for lubrication of said endless saw chain of the cutting unit, comprises a piston pump, which is either directly or indirectly via a suitable bearing beam rigidly attached to the framework of the apparatus and is located adjacent to the casing of the cutting unit, and which is hydraulically connected on the one hand via an inlet pipeline with the reservoir for the lubricating liquid, and on the other hand via the outlet pipeline with an outlet opening, which is located within the guiding groove, in which the endless saw chain is guided along the circumference of the saw bar, which is together with the belonging casing pivotal around the geometric axis relatively to the framework of the apparatus and also relatively to the said pump. In this, said piston pump comprises a casing, which is substantially a hydraulic cylinder, within which a piston is inserted, which is adjusted for pumping of said lubricating liquid from the inlet pipeline into the outlet pipeline, wherein a piston rod, which is firmly connected with said piston, is elastically supported and is correspondingly forced to protrude outwards from said casing in a direction at least approximately towards said geometric axis, around which said casing of the cutting unit is pivotal together with the saw bar and the endless saw chain as placed thereon. Moreover, a supporting segment is mounted on said around the geometric axis pivotal casing of the cutting unit, wherein said supporting segment is furnished with a smooth external surface, which is deflected and shaped as an arch, and is simultaneously also inclined in the sense of a wedge extending in the circumferential direction of the casing, so that said outwardly from the casing of the pump forced piston rod is rest onto said external surface. Said external surface of the supporting segment is, when observed in circumferential direction of said casing of the cutting unit, on its one side ended with a lower terminal area having a shorter radius relative to said geometric axis of the casing of the cutting unit, which is located closer to the framework of the apparatus, and on its other side with a higher terminal area having a longer radius relative to said geometric axis of the casing of the cutting unit, which is located at correspondingly longer distance apart of the framework of the apparatus.

[0012] In one of the embodiments of the invention, said piston rod is rest on said external surface of the supporting segment directly by means of its terminal front surface.

[0013] In another embodiment of the invention, said piston rod is rest on said external surface of the supporting segment with an axially, namely in axial direction of said piston rod, extendable intermediate member, the length of which is adjustable within a pre-determined range and which is secured against undesired changing of its length. In this, said axially extendable intermediate member can be a screw with a suitably formed head, which is adjusted for sliding along said external surface of the supporting segment and which is secured against undesired rotation thereof around its longitudinal geometric axis.

[0014] A still further embodiment of the invention provides that, on the one hand, said supporting segment is on its first terminal portion, on which said lower terminal area is located, attached to said around the geometric axis pivotal casing of the cutting unit pivotally around the pivot point, which is in the geometrical context arranged in parallel with said geometric axis of said casing of the cutting unit, and outside of the external surface in a direction towards the saw bar and adjacent to said lower terminal area, while on the other hand, said supporting segment is on its second terminal portion, on which said higher terminal area is located, supported by a supporting member, which is adjusted for pivoting of said supporting segment around its pivot point by simultaneously changing a distance between said higher terminal area of the external surface of the supporting segment and the geometric axis, around which the casing of the cutting unit is pivotal together with the saw bar and the endless saw chain placed thereon. In this embodiment, said supporting member can be a screw, which is secured against undesired rotation thereof around its longitudinal geometric axis.

[0015] The invention will be described on the basis of embodiments, which are presented in the attached drawings, wherein

[0016] Fig. 1 is a schematic presentation of a timber cutting and firewood splitting apparatus with improved lubrication of endless chain in a log cutting unit thereof, in isometric view and in its inactive position;

[0017] Fig. 2 is a separately presented embodiment of a cutting unit, integrated within the apparatus according to Fig. 1, also in inactive position;

[0018] Fig. 3 shows the embodiment of a cutting unit according to Fig. 2, however in its active position during cutting; and

[0019] Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of said cutting unit, again in its active position during cutting.

[0020] A timber cutting and firewood splitting apparatus 1 with improved lubrication of endless chain 42 in a log 9 cutting unit 4 thereof is, as such, schematically presented in Fig. 1. Such apparatus generally comprises a rigid framework 2, a transporting unit 3, which is adjusted for transporting of timbers i.e. logs 9, namely for forwarding of logs 9 one by one in a longitudinal direction 200 of said framework 2, a cutting unit 4, which is suitable for successively cutting of each particular log 9, as forwarded by said transporting unit 3, to separate longitudinal sections of a pre-determined length, a splitting unit 5, which is adjusted for splitting of each cut-off longitudinal section of said log 9 to separate firewood pieces of a roughly pre-determined shape and approximately pre-determined dimensions, and moreover, as well as a hydraulic driving assembly 6, which is suitable for driving of said transporting unit 3, said cutting unit 4 and said splitting unit 5.

[0021] Said framework 2 is adjusted for being rest on at least approximately horizontal ground surface and is on its first terminal portion 21 furnished with said transporting unit 3, which is herewith located at a suitable height above the ground surface and is suitable for successively transporting of single logs 9 in the longitudinal direction of said framework 2, which is defined by the said longitudinal geometric axis 200. Moreover, said framework 2 is on its second terminal portion 22 furnished with said splitting unit 5. Apparatus 1 is furnished with a cutting unit 4, which is located on the central area of said framework 2, namely between the transporting unit 3 and the splitting unit 5, wherein said cutting unit 4 is mounted onto said framework 2 separately and independently on attachment of said transporting unit 3 and said splitting unit 5. In addition to that, said hydraulic driving assembly 6 is also mounted onto said framework 2, and said framework 2 is optionally furnished with suitable connecting means for establishing a detachable mechanical interconnection between the framework 2 and a tractor or any other vehicle, by means of which the apparatus 1 is transportable to each desired location. Said driving assembly may e.g. be a hydraulic circuit. Said transporting unit 3 is essentially conceived as a hydraulically driven belt conveyor, which is adjusted for transporting of a single log 9 prior to cutting thereof in a direction along said longitudinal geometric axis 200 of the framework 2, namely in a direction towards the cutting unit 4 and the splitting unit 5. Said cutting unit 4 is substantially a motor-driven chain saw, comprising at least a casing 40, and a bar 41, which is attached to said casing 40, as well as an endless cutting chain 42, which is suitably tensioned and guided along the circumference of said bar 41 by means of a chain wheel placed on a driving shaft, which is driven by means of a hydraulic motor, which is powered by said hydraulic driving assembly 6. Said saw bar 41 is on its circumferential area, along which said endless saw chain 42 is displaceable, furnished with a guiding groove 411, into which during said displacement of the saw chain 42 along said guiding groove 411, appropriate guiding protrusions on saw chain 42 links are inserted, which the operation slide along said guiding groove 411, so that said guiding groove 411 is an optimal location, in which lubrication of the saw chain 42 should take place.

[0022] Said cutting unit 4 is mounted on the framework 2 of the apparatus 1 in such a way that the casing 40 of the cutting unit 4 is located outside of a cross-section of each log 9 to be cut, which is defined by the maximal allowable diameter D thereof, wherein said casing 40 is, together with the saw bar 41 attached thereto, and the endless chain 42, which extends along the circumference of said bar 41, pivotal around the geometric axis 400, which extends throughout the pivot point of the casing 40, over the complete cross-section of the log 9, which is intended to be cut and upon that also split by means of said apparatus 1 , and the thickness of which is limited by said maximal diameter D. Those skilled in the art will understand, that the effective length L of the bar 41 must be longer than allowable maximal diameter D of the log 9, which is to be cut on said apparatus 1 , which is a pre-condition that said log 9 of a diameter D can during a single stroke be duly cut along its complete cross-section. Namely, said casing 40 of the cutting unit 4 is, together with the belonging saw bar 41 and the endless chain 42 placed thereon, attached to the framework 2 pivotally around the horizontal geometric axis 400, which extends parallel to the longitudinal geometric axis 200 of the framework 2 of the apparatus 1, so that by pivoting of said casing 40 around said geometric axis 400, the saw bar 41 is together with the endless chain 42, which is placed thereon, displaceable from its initial position, namely inactive position (Figs. 1 and 2), in which it protrudes in approximately vertical direction away from said framework 2, into its terminal position (Figs. 3 and 4), in which it in a vertical plane extends transversely across the framework 2. Consequently, the log 9, which is intended for cutting and splitting and has a diameter, which is smaller than the maximal allowed diameter D, can be transported along the longitudinal geometric axis 200 of the framework 2 by means of said transporting unit 3 within an area of the previously mentioned extreme positions of the saw bar 41.

[0023] Since there is a need on lubrication of the endless saw chain 42 by its running along the circumference of the saw bar 41 , said cutting unit 4 is furnished with a reservoir 43 for storing of a lubricating liquid, as well as with a lubricating assembly 44, which is suitable for pumping of the lubricating liquid from said reservoir 43 and for forwarding said lubricating liquid towards said guiding groove 411 on the circumference 410 of the saw bar 41, along which said endless saw chain 42 is displaceable. It should be noted that various concepts of apparatuses 1 are known in the state of the art, which are all suitable for cutting and splitting of logs 9, although their splitting units 5 may essentially differ from each other, however in most these variations the concept of the cutting unit 4 according to this invention may be applied, which is disclosed in this application. Said splitting unit 5 of the apparatus 1, which is just symbolically presented in Fig. 1 and which, as such, does not represent any limitation of the present invention, comprises a suitable splitting chute 51 , which is adjusted for receiving of a longitudinal log section of a predetermined length after being cut-off from the log 9 by means of said cutting unit 4, and, in addition to said chute 51, also a splitting tool 52, a supporting means 53, and a driving means 54, which is powered by means of said driving assembly 6. In view of the previously exposed remarks, either a splitting tool 52 may be by means of said driving means 54 displaceable in a direction towards the interior of said cut-off log section, which in such case needs to be supported by said supporting means 53, or said supporting means 53 may be displaceable by means of said driving means 54 in a direction towards said log section and along the splitting chute 51 together with the log section also towards the splitting tool 52.

[0024] Said hydraulic driving assembly 6 is suitable for supplying of sufficient energy to the previously mentioned mechanical units 3, 4, 5 of the apparatus 1, which is required for assuring their functionality. Said driving assembly 6 is either autonomous, or may as such also be energized by a suitable power source, which is available on a tractor or any other vehicle or working apparatus, to which said apparatus 1 is connectable.

[0025] During the operation of such apparatus 1, the driving assembly is switched-on, upon which a log 9 may be loaded onto a transporting unit 3, wherein the diameter of said log should be smaller than the maximal allowable diameter D, wherein the cutting assembly is maintained in a position according to Figs. 1 and 2, in which the saw bar 41 is directed upwards in approximately vertical direction. Upon activation of the transporting unit 3 the log 9 is transported along the longitudinal geometric axis 200 in a direction towards the splitting unit 5, which is stopped as soon as its front side reaches a pre-determined distance beyond the cutting unit 4, wherein said pre-determined distance corresponds to the anticipated length of firewood pieces, which are to be produced by processing of said log 9. As soon as the transporting unit 3 is stopped, the cutting unit 4 is activated, which means that, on the one hand, said endless saw chain 42 starts running along the circumference 441 of the saw bar 41 , which of course requires some lubrication of the saw chain 42, and on the other hand, the casing 40 of the cutting unit 4 together with the saw bar 42 and the saw chain 43 running thereon, starts pivoting around the geometric axis 400, around which said casing 40 is pivotal, namely from its approximately vertical initial position (Figs. 1 and 2) towards its approximately horizontal terminal position (Figs. 3 and 4), upon which the cutting unit 4 is automatically returned back to the said initial position according to Figs. 1 and 2. As soon as the transporting assembly 3 is activated again, the log 9 is forwarded in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus 1, i.e. along the geometric axis 200, by which the log 9 pushes a previously cut-off longitudinal section thereof towards the splitting unit 5, namely into said splitting chute 51, in which it is then upon activation of said splitting tool 52 split to separate firewood pieces, during which, or upon which, cutting of the subsequent longitudinal log section can be performed.

[0026] The present invention as such is however merely focused on lubrication of said endless chain 42 in the cutting unit 4 of the previously characterized apparatus 1 for cutting and splitting of logs 9. The invention proposes that said lubricating assembly 44 for lubricating said endless saw chain 42 of the cutting unit 4 comprises a piston pump 441, which is either directly or indirectly via a suitable bearing beam rigidly attached to the framework 2 of the apparatus 1 and is located adjacent to the casing 40 of the cutting unit 4.

[0027] Said piston pump 41 is hydraulically connected on the one hand via an inlet pipeline 441’ with the reservoir 43 for the lubricating liquid, and on the other hand via the outlet pipeline 441” with an outlet opening 441”’, which is located within the guiding groove 411, in which the endless saw chain 42 is guided along the circumference 410 of the saw bar 41, which is together with the belonging casing 40 pivotal around the geometric axis 400 relatively to the framework 2 of the apparatus and also relatively to the said pump 441.

[0028] Said piston pump 441 comprises a casing 442, which is in fact also a hydraulic cylinder, within which a piston is inserted, which is adjusted for pumping of said lubricating liquid from the inlet pipeline 441’ into the outlet pipeline 441 ”, wherein a piston rod 443, which is firmly connected with said piston, is elastically supported and is correspondingly forced to protrude outwards from said casing 442 in a direction at least approximately towards said geometric axis 400, around which said casing 40 of the cutting unit 4 is pivotal together with the saw bar 41 and the endless saw chain 42 placed thereon. In this, a supporting segment 444 is mounted on said pivotal casing 40 of the cutting unit 4, which is pivotal around the geometric axis 400, and said supporting segment 444 is furnished with a smooth external surface 444’, which is deflected and shaped as an arch, and is simultaneously also inclined in the sense of a curved wedge, which extends in the circumferential direction of the casing 40, so that said piston rod 443, which is elastically supported and forced to protrude outside of the casing 442 of the pump 441, is rest onto said external surface 444’ of the supporting segment 444.

[0029] Said forced protruding of the piston rod 443 out from the casing 442 of the pump 441 towards the external surface 444’ of the supporting segment 444 is achievable by means of a spring, which is inserted within the interior of the casing 422 of the pump 441, so that the piston rod 443 is pressed out from the casing 442 of the pump 441 to such extent, which is enabled by resting of the piston rod 443 onto said external surface 444’ of the supporting segment 444. The piston inside of said casing 442 is displaced simultaneously with said piston rod 443, and may either suck the lubricating fluid from the reservoir 43 through the inlet pipeline 441’ or press the lubricating liquid through the outlet pipeline 441 ” towards the lubricating area, in particular to the guiding groove 441 ” ’ on the saw bar 41.

[0030] When observed in the circumferential direction of the casing 40 (Fig. 2), said external surface 444’ of the supporting segment 444 is on the one side ended with a lower terminal area 4441’ with a shorter radius Ri relative to said geometric axis 400 of the casing 40 of the cutting unit 4, which is located closer to the framework 2 of the apparatus 1 , and on the other side with a higher terminal area 4441 ’ ’ with a longer radius R2 relative to said geometric axis 400 of the casing 40 of the cutting unit 4, which is located at correspondingly longer distance apart of the framework 2 of the apparatus 1. Quite geometrically, said external surface 444’ of the supporting segment 444 can be, when compared with a regular circle with its central point located on said geometric axis 400, a further circle with some longer radius and its central point located outside of said geometric axis 400, so that the distance between the first terminal area 4441’ of the external surface 444’, arranged proximal with respect to the saw bar 41, and said geometric axis 400, is smaller than the distance between the other terminal area 4441 ’ ’ of the external surface 444’, which is arranged distal with respect to the saw bar 41, and said geometric axis 400.

[0031] Said piston rod 443 can be generally rest on said external surface 444’ of the supporting segment 444 directly by means of its terminal front surface 4430. However, in the shown embodiments (Figs. 2 - 4) said piston rod 443 is rest on said external surface 444’ of the supporting segment 444 via an axially, namely in axial direction of said piston rod 443, extendable intermediate element 4431, the length of which is adjustable within a pre-determined range, and moreover, said element 4431 is also is secured against undesired changing of its length. Said axially extendable intermediate member 4431 may generally be a screw with a suitably formed head, which is adjusted for smoothly sliding along said external surface 444’ of the supporting segment 444 and which is secured against undesired rotation around its longitudinal geometric axis. By changing the length of said extendable intermediate member 4431, effective length of the piston rod 4432 and consequently also a position of the piston within the casing 442 can be adjusted in advance, by which a pumping capacity of the pump 441 is defined, namely a quantity of the lubricating liquid, which is supplied from the reservoir 43 by every piston stroke and is then forwarded towards the lubricating area.

[0032] In order to provide a still further possibility of adjusting intensity of lubrication of the endless saw chain 42, a further embodiment of the invention is foreseen (Fig. 4) in which on the one hand said supporting segment 444 is on its first terminal portion 4447, on which said lower terminal area 4441’ is located, pivotally attached to said casing 40 of the cutting unit 4, which is per se pivotal around the geometric axis 400, namely pivotally around the pivot point 4440, which is in the geometrical context arranged in parallel with said geometric axis 400 of said casing 40 of the cutting unit 4 and outside of the external surface 444’ in a direction towards the saw bar 41 and adjacent to said lower terminal area 4441 ’. On the other hand, said supporting segment 444 is on its second terminal portion 4448, on which said higher terminal area 4441” is located, supported by a supporting member 445, which is adjusted for pivoting of said supporting segment 444 around its pivot point 4440 by simultaneously changing a distance between said higher terminal area 4441 ” of the external surface 444’ of the supporting segment 444 and the geometric axis 400, around which the casing 40 of the cutting unit 4 is pivotal together with the saw bar 41 and the endless saw chain 42 placed thereon. Said supporting means 445 can be a screw, which is secured against undesired rotation thereof around its longitudinal geometric axis.

[0033] As mentioned, during operation of the cutting unit 4, the casing 40 together with the saw bar 41 and the endless chain 42 placed thereon is pivoted from its initial position (Figs. 1 and 2), in which the piston rod 443 of the pump 441 of the lubricating assembly 44 is rest on the lower area 4441 ’ of the supporting segment 444 on the casing 40, to its terminal position, in which the piston rod 443 of the pump 441 of the lubricating assembly 44 is rest on the higher area 4441 ” of the supporting segment 444 on the casing 40. Since the pump 441 is firmly attached to the casing 2 of the apparatus 1, and since the casing 40 of the cutting unit 4 is pivotal around said geometric axis 400, during said pivoting a position of the piston rod 443 of the pump 441 is changing due to changing of distance RbR2 apart from the geometric axis 400, which is a pivoting axis of the casing 40, corresponding to which the piston rod 443 is displaced at a certain distance, which is simultaneously followed by a corresponding stroke of the piston inside of the casing 442 of the pump 441 in the lubricating assembly, so that during each pivoting of the cutting assembly 4 around said geometric axis 400 a corresponding quantity of the lubricating liquid is forwarded to the saw chain 42, which is running along the circumference of the saw bar 41. By means of a suitable preadjusting of the initial position of the piston rod 443, and also by means of a suitable pre-adjusting of inclination of the external surface 444’ of the supporting segment 444, on which said piston rod 443 is rest, quantity of such supplied lubricating liquid may be adjusted within a pretty wide range.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Timber cutting and firewood splitting apparatus (1) with improved lubrication of endless chain (42) in a log (9) cutting unit (4) thereof, wherein such apparatus comprises a rigid framework (2), a transporting unit (3) adjusted for transporting of logs (9), namely for forwarding of logs (9) one by one in a longitudinal direction (200) of said framework (2), a cutting unit (4) suitable for successively cutting of each particular log (9) as forwarded by said transporting unit (3) to separate longitudinal sections of a pre-determined length, a splitting unit (5), which is adjusted for splitting of each cut-off longitudinal section of said log (9) to separate firewood pieces of a roughly pre-determined shape and approximately pre-determined dimensions, and moreover, a hydraulic driving assembly (6), which is suitable for driving of said transporting unit (3), said cutting unit (4) and said splitting unit (5), wherein said framework (2) is adjusted for being rest on at least approximately horizontal ground surface and is on its first terminal portion (21) furnished with said transporting unit (3), which is arranged at a suitable height above the ground surface and is suitable for successively transporting of single logs (9) in the longitudinal direction of said framework (2), which is defined by longitudinal geometric axis (200), and wherein said framework (2) is on its second terminal portion (22) furnished with said splitting unit (5), while in the central area of said framework (2), namely between the transporting unit (3) and the splitting unit (5), there is a cutting unit (4) attached onto said framework (2), and the cutting unit (4) as such is separately and independently on attachment of said transporting unit (3) and said splitting unit (5) mounted onto the framework (2) of the apparatus (1), and moreover, said hydraulic driving assembly (6) is also mounted onto saidframework (2), wherein said framework (2) is optionally furnished with suitable connecting means for establishing a detachable mechanical interconnection between the framework (2) and a tractor or any other vehicle, by means of which the apparatus (1) is transportable to each desired location, and wherein said transporting unit (3) is a hydraulically driven belt conveyor, which is adjusted for transporting of a single log (9) prior to cutting thereof in a direction along said longitudinal geometric axis (200) of the framework (2), namely in a direction towards the cutting unit (4) and the splitting unit (5), and wherein said cutting unit (4) is a motor-driven chain saw, comprising at least a casing (40), a bar (41), which is attached to said casing (40), and an endless cutting chain (42), which is suitably tensioned and guided along the circumference of said bar (41) by means of a chain wheel placed on a driving shaft, which is driven by means of a hydraulic motor, which is powered by said hydraulic driving assembly (6), and wherein said bar (41) is on its circumferential area, along which said endless saw chain (42) is displaceable, furnished with a guiding groove (411) into which during said displacement of the saw chain (42) along said groove (411), guiding protrusions of saw chain (42) links are inserted, and wherein said cutting unit (4) is mounted on the framework (2) of the apparatus (1) in such a way that the casing (40) of the cutting unit (4) is located outside of a cross-section of each log (9) to be cut, which is defined by the maximal allowable diameter (D) thereof, wherein said casing (40) is, together with the bar (41), which is attached thereto, and the endless chain (42), which extends along the circumference of said bar (41), pivotal around the geometric axis (400), which extends throughout the pivot point of the casing (40), over the complete cross-section of the log (9), the thickness of which is limited by said maximal diameter (D) and which is intended to be cut and after that also split by means of the apparatus (1), wherein theeffective length (L) of the bar (41) is longer than said allowable maximal diameter (D) of the log (9), which is to be cut on said apparatus (1), and moreover, said casing (40) of the cutting unit (4) is, together with the belonging bar (41) and the endless chain (42), attached to the framework (2) of the apparatus pivotally around the horizontal geometric axis (400), which extends parallel to the longitudinal geometric axis (200) of the framework (2) of the apparatus (1), so that by pivoting of said casing (40) around said geometric axis (400), the bar (41) is together with the endless chain (42), which is placed thereon, displaceable from its initial position, namely inactive position, in which it protrudes in approximately vertical direction away from said framework (2), into its terminal position, in which it in a vertical plane passes transversely across the framework (2), so that inbetween of these two positions of the bar (41), the log (9) being intended for cutting and splitting and having a diameter smaller than the maximal allowed diameter (D), can be transported along the longitudinal geometric axis (200) of the framework (2) by means of said transporting unit (3), and wherein said cutting unit (4) further comprises a reservoir (43) for storing of a lubricating liquid and a lubricating assembly (44), which is suitable for pumping of the lubricating liquid from said reservoir (43) and forwarding said lubricating liquid towards said guiding groove (411) on the circumference (410) of the saw bar (41), along which said endless saw chain (42) is displaceable, and wherein said splitting unit (5) of the apparatus (1) comprises a suitable splitting chute (51), which is adjusted for receiving of a longitudinal log section of a pre-determined length, which is cut-off from the log (9) by means of said cutting unit (4), and, in addition to said chute (51), also a splitting tool (52), a supporting means (53), and a driving means (54) which is powered by means of said driving assembly (6), so that either a splitting tool (52) is by means of said driving means (54) displaceable in a direction towards the interior of said cut-off log section, which is in such casesupported by said supporting means (53), or said supporting means (53) is displaceable by means of said driving means (54) in a direction towards said log section and along the splitting chute (51) together with the log section also towards the splitting tool (52), and wherein said hydraulic driving assembly (6) is suitable for supplying of sufficient energy to the previously mentioned mechanical units (3, 4, 5) of the apparatus (1), which is required for assuring their functionality, wherein said assembly (6) is either autonomous, or may as such also be energized by a suitable power source, which is available on a tractor or any other vehicle or working apparatus, to which said apparatus (1) is connectable, characterized in that said lubricating assembly (44) for lubricating said endless saw chain (42) of the cutting unit (4) comprises a piston pump (441), which is either directly or indirectly via a suitable bearing beam rigidly attached to the framework (2) of the apparatus (1) and is located adjacent to the casing (40) of the cutting unit (4), and which is hydraulically connected on the one hand via an inlet pipeline (441 ’) with the reservoir (43) for the lubricating liquid, and on the other hand via the outlet pipeline (441 ”) with an outlet opening (441”’), which is located within the guiding groove (411), in which the endless saw chain (42) is guided along the circumference (410) of the saw bar (41), which is together with the belonging casing (40) pivotal around the geometric axis (400) relatively to the framework (2) of the apparatus and also relatively to the said pump (441), wherein said piston pump (441) comprises a casing (442), which is substantially a hydraulic cylinder, within which a piston is inserted, which is adjusted for pumping of said lubricating liquid from the inlet pipeline (441 ’) into the outlet pipeline (441 ”), wherein a piston rod (443), which is firmly connected with said piston, is elastically supported and is correspondingly pressed outwards from said casing (442) in a direction at least approximately towards said geometric axis(400), around which said casing (40) of the cutting unit (4) is pivotal together with the saw bar (41) and the endless saw chain (42) as placed thereon, and wherein a supporting segment (444) is mounted on said around the geometric axis (400) pivotal casing (40) of the cutting unit (4), said segment (444) is furnished with a smooth external surface (444’), which is deflected and shaped as an arch, and is simultaneously also inclined in the sense of a curved wedge extending in the circumferential direction of the casing (40), so that said outwardly from the casing (442) of the pump (441) forced piston rod (443) is rest onto said external surface (444’), wherein said external surface (444’) of the supporting segment (444) is on the one side ended with a lower terminal area (4441 ’) having a shorter radius (Ri) relative to said geometric axis (400) of the casing (40) of the cutting unit (4), which is located closer to the framework (2) of the apparatus (1), and on the other side with a higher terminal area (4441 ”) having a longer radius (R2) relative to said geometric axis (400) of the casing (40) of the cutting unit (4), which is located at correspondingly longer distance apart of the framework (2) of the apparatus (1).

2. Timber cutting and firewood splitting apparatus (1) with improved lubrication of endless chain (42) in a log (9) cutting unit (4) thereof according to Claim 1, characterized in that said piston rod (443) is rest on said external surface (444’) of the supporting segment (444) directly by means of its terminal front surface (4430).

3. Timber cutting and firewood splitting apparatus (1) with improved lubrication of endless chain (42) in a log (9) cutting unit (4) thereof according to Claim 1, characterized in that said piston rod (443) is rest on said external surface (444’) of the supporting segment (444) with an axially, namely in axialdirection of said piston rod (443), extendable intermediate element (4431), the length of which is adjustable within a pre-determined range and which is secured against undesired changing of its length.

4. Timber cutting and firewood splitting apparatus (1) with improved lubrication of endless chain (42) in a log (9) cutting unit (4) thereof according to Claim 3, characterized in that said axially extendable intermediate member (4431) is a screw with a suitably formed head, which is adjusted for sliding along said external surface (444’) of the supporting segment (444) and which is secured against undesired rotation thereof around its longitudinal geometric axis.

5. Timber cutting and firewood splitting apparatus (1) with improved lubrication of endless chain (42) in a log (9) cutting unit (4) thereof according to anyone of Claims 2 - 4, characterized in that on the one hand said supporting segment (444) is on its first terminal portion (4447), on which said lower terminal area (4441’) is located, attached to said around the geometric axis (400) pivotal casing (40) of the cutting unit (4) pivotally around the pivot point (4440), which is in the geometrical context arranged in parallel with said geometric axis (400) of said casing (40) of the cutting unit (4) and outside of the external surface (444’) in a direction towards the saw bar (41) and adjacent to said lower terminal area (4441’), while on the other hand, said supporting segment (444) is on its second terminal portion (4448), on which said higher terminal area (4441 ”) is located, supported by a supporting member (445), which is adjusted for pivoting of said supporting segment (444) around its pivot point (4440) by simultaneously changing a distance between said higher terminal area (4441 ”) of the external surface (4441) of the supporting segment (444) and the geometric axis (400),around which the casing (40) of the cutting unit (4) is pivotal together with the saw bar (41) and the endless saw chain (42) placed thereon.

6. Timber cutting and firewood splitting apparatus (1) with improved lubrication of endless chain (42) in a log (9) cutting unit (4) thereof according to anyone of Claims 2 - 4, characterized in that said supporting means (445) is a screw, which is secured against undesired rotation thereof around its longitudinal geometric axis.

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