Log splitter
AssigneeMilwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
InventorsEvan M. Glanzer, Travis S. Mergener, Ian C. Richards, Joseph William Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A powered log splitter includes a support structure configured to support a log, a ram that is operable to engage and split the log, a hydraulic drive unit to actuate the ram, and a stand-alone motor unit to power the hydraulic drive unit. The stand-alone motor unit includes a housing, an electric motor located within the housing, and a battery pack removably coupled to the housing. The battery pack is configured to supply electrical current to the electric motor.
Claims20
A powered log splitter comprising:
- a support structure configured to support a log;
- a ram operable to engage and split the log;
- a hydraulic drive unit configured to actuate the ram;
- and
- a stand-alone motor unit configured to power the hydraulic drive unit, the stand-alone motor unit comprising
- a housing,
- an electric motor located within the housing, and
- a battery pack removably coupled to the housing, the battery pack is configured to supply electrical current to the electric motor.
A method of operating a log splitter including a hydraulic drive unit and a stand-alone motor unit to power the log splitter, the stand-alone motor unit including an electric motor and a battery pack to supply electrical current to the electric motor, the method comprising:
- providing an actuator to activate the hydraulic drive unit;
- monitoring, with a controller, a first sensor signal from a first sensor configured to detect a first position of the actuator;
- monitoring, with the controller, a second sensor signal from a second sensor configured to detect a second position of the actuator;
- commanding, in response to an absence of the first sensor signal or the second sensor signal, the electric motor to operate at a first non-zero power level;
- and
- commanding, in response to the controller detecting either the first sensor signal or the second sensor signal, the electric motor to operate at a second non-zero power level, the second non-zero power level being different from the first non-zero level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.