WO2017180071A1

WO2017180071A1 - Log splitter and production method of a log splitter

Info

Publication number: WO2017180071A1
Application number: PCT/TR2016/050106
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cenk SEZER
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-04-11
Filing date: 2016-04-11
Publication date: 2017-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 2018-10-11

Abstract

A log splitter having an elongated unitary body (10) comprising an upper striking wall (12) and an opposed cutting edge (27) provided at a lower end of a triangular wedge portion (20). The log splitter comprises the body (10) is having a T-shape; a header (18) is formed at the upper part the wedge portion (20), extending outwardly from both opposite ends of the upper edge of the wedge portion (20) in a transverse direction and a contact angle (16) between the header (18) and neighboring lateral wall (21) of the wedge portion (20) is being configured from a value between 95-110°.

Description

LOG SPLITTER AND PRODUCTION METHOD OF A LOG SPLITTER

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a unitary splitting device having a wedge form to crack or open up the wood by penetrating by means of user strike.

PRIOR ART Log splitting devices, namely log splitters, are pushed by a ram or a user strike to enable splitting of a wood such as logs of various varieties and diameters. Log splitters are comprising a body portion and flank portions preferably formed of steel or other suitable material. In order to form unitary structure separate pieces are welded or fixed together or otherwise shaped from a single piece of stock material.

US4387753 discloses an elongate unitary splitting device having a lower portion of multiangular configuration with a pair of opposed edges converging at a first angle toward a pointed lower end. An upper portion additionally has a pair of oppositely facing, generally planar side surfaces which intersect and extend upwardly from said edges. The angle between the side surfaces is at least as great as the angle of convergence of the opposed edges. A spear-point configuration provided by the lower end produces ease of startup penetration, and the upper portion produces efficient splitting once initial penetration has occurred. US4445555 discloses an improved wood splitting tool which incorporates improved multiple wedge means adapted to engage the wood with successively increasing wedge angles and decreasing area contact whereby the efficiency of the wood splitting tool is increased and wood of various varieties and sizes may be split with a minimum of force. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a unitary log splitter with an increased cutting efficiency and shock absorbance. In order to realize the abovementioned object, invention comprises a log splitter having an elongated unitary body comprising an upper striking wall and an opposed cutting edge provided at a lower end of a triangular wedge portion. According to the preferred embodiment, the body is having a T-shape; a header is formed at the upper part the wedge portion, extending outwardly from both opposite ends of the upper edge of the wedge portion in a transverse direction and a contact angle between the header and neighboring lateral wall of the wedge portion is being configured from a value between 95-110°. The contact angle provide best available balancing effect considering a user strike to the striking wall by means of a hammering tool to split a log comparing with any other configuration. Additionally, wider base of the wedge portion provide better handling to the shocks occur with a user strike. In a preferred application, the contact angle of the header and each lateral wall is particularly set to 98°. This is configuration show a surprising success to split logs with knots where the particular angle ensure gradual penetration of the wedge part inside the log, upon any strike from the top of the device.

In a preferred embodiment, the ratio between length of the wedge portion and the header is 9. This facilitates driving the wedge into the log of various diameters easily and quickly with a minimum force. Preferably, the unitary body is made of metal. Metal body is resistant to the force applied by a sledge hammer or other tools of a user.

In another preferred embodiment, the ratio of thickness of the body and width of the header is configured between 0,30-0,45. Selection of a width of a header matching the log diameter show that the given ratio provide great success to prevent stuck of the wedge portion into the log.

In a preferred embodiment, the body is having a uniform rectangular cross-section. Uniform cross-section allow removal of the complete body being merged into the log by pushing back or pulling towards another direction by means of another tool.

In another preferred embodiment, the total body length is 200 to 300 mm. Such a body length make the device portable and compact to fit in a toolbox. Additionally, the selected length range is provide the most convenient one for the log splitting. In a possible embodiment, he cutting edge of the wedge portion is formed tapered between 5 to 10 mm. Particularly, the total body length is 250 mm. This particular value is the most ergonomic to obtain a portable and merge smoothly to the various types of the logs.

In a preferred embodiment, he ratio between width of the header and upper part of the wedge portion is 1 ,79. Specific value prevent header penetration into the log in case of an excess use of force during the user strike. A preferred application, comprising the steps of cutting a metal strip to form the body in a T- shape where the lower wedge portion is in triangular form and the header perpendicular to a tip of the wedge portion extends transversely from two ends of the base of the wedge portion. T-shape suggest similarity to an uppercase T letter in general which means transverse extension and perpendicular extension is having one common intersection point which does not limit geometry of the arms of a T shape where obviously longer arm is a wedge and is in a triangular form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is the perspective view of a representative embodiment of subject matter log splitter.

Figure 2 show front view of another embodiment of the log splitter where the cutting edge is formed in chisel geometry.

THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the subject matter improvement is explained with references to examples without forming any restrictive effect only in order to make the subject more understandable.

In Figure 1 , a log splitter with a T-shaped body (10) is shown. The body (10) is made by cutting a metal strip to form an upper header (18) and a unitary lower wedge portion (20) and therefore having a uniform thickness. The header (18) is in prismatic form where the upper side of the header is flat and forming a striking wall (12). Width of the header (18) is greater than the height so that both opposite side walls (14) are in rectangular form. In the figure, width is 50 mm where the length is only 25 mm. This provide larger striking wall (12) comparing with the front face of the header where the length of extension of header (18) from edge of the adjacent wedge portion (20) is equal to the height of the header which is 25 mm. This provide a unique strength to the log splitter and prevent any micro fractures to occur with a strike from the striking wall (12) via a sledge hammer or the like.

The wedge portion (20) is in equilateral triangle taper through a tip (25) at the lower end of the body (10). A support part (22) of the wedge portion (20) is adjacent to the header (18) and provides wider base of the triangular shape to increase shock resistance of the header (18) by providing a large support area. A lateral wall (21) of the wedge part (20) is thickness of the metal strip which is 50 mm. A contact angle (16) between lateral wall (21) of the wedge portion (20) and the bottom edge of the header (18) is 98°. This value is very critical to provide enough shock resistance by means of a wide support part (22) adjacent to the header (18) during a strike and smooth merge of the wedge portion (20) into the log. Intermediate splitting part (26) of the wedge is having 40 mm of width which is equal to a width of a wedge for common log splitter. The tip (25) provide a cutting edge (27) sharp to easily penetrate into the log. Figure 2 show a chisel at the cutting edge (27) which is another geometry for penetration into the log suitable for different types of a wood. Overall length of the wedge portion is 225 mm which is convenient for a user to easily carry the tool inside a toolbox.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 Body 20 Wedge portion

12 Striking wall 21 Lateral wall

14 Side wall 22 Support part

15 Arm 24 Cutting part

16 Contact angle 25 Tip

18 Header 26 Splitting part

27 Cutting edge

28 Upper part

Claims

1. A log splitter having an elongated unitary body (10) comprising an upper striking wall (12) and an opposed cutting edge (27) provided at a lower end of a triangular wedge portion (20) characterized in that the body (10) is having a T-shape; a header (18) is formed at the upper part the wedge portion (20), extending outwardly from both opposite ends of the upper edge of the wedge portion (20) in a transverse direction and a contact angle (16) between the header (18) and neighboring lateral wall (21) of the wedge portion (20) is being configured from a value between 95-1 10°.

2. A log splitter according to claim 1 , wherein the contact angle (16) of the header (18) and each lateral wall (21) is particularly set to 98°.

3. A log splitter according to claim 2, wherein the ratio between length of the wedge portion (20) and the header is 9.

4. A log splitter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the unitary body (10) is made of metal.

5. A log splitter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ratio of thickness of the body (10) and width of the header (18) is configured between 0,30- 0,45.

6. A log splitter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body (10) is having a uniform rectangular cross-section.

7. A log splitter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the total body (10) length is 200 to 300 mm.

8. A log splitter according to claim 7, wherein the cutting edge (27) of the wedge portion (20) is formed tapered between 5 to 10 mm.

9. A log splitter according to claim 7, wherein the total body (10) length is 250 mm.

10. A log splitter according to claims 7-9, wherein the ratio between width of the header (18) and upper part (28) of the wedge portion (20) is 1 ,79.

11. A production method of a log splitter according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of cutting a metal strip to form the body (10) in a T-shape where the lower wedge portion (20) is in triangular form and the header (18) perpendicular to a tip of the wedge portion (20) extends transversely from two ends of the base of the wedge portion (20).