Log splitter
OwnerEdward M. Schroederinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is claimed a log splitter comprising means for penetrating a log, a handle pivotally mounted for manual operation, a cam shaped sheave which is rotated by rotation of the handle, a ratchet and pawl assembly which transmits force from the handle to the sheave, a drive cable attached so that it is wound onto said sheave, and as said drive cable is wound onto the sheave it causes a sharpened edge to penetrate the log, splitting the log, and the cam shape of the sheave produces large mechanical advantage as the log is initially penetrated, and lesser mechanical advantage but greater travel distance as the penetration continues.
Claims18
A log splitter comprising:
- (a) a frame which supports the parts of said log splitter;
- (b) means for penetrating a log which exerts force against said log;
- (c) means for holding said log against the force exerted upon said log by said means for penetrating said log;
- (d) a handle pivotally mounted at a first end to said frame and manually moved in an arcuate path at a second end;
- (e) a sheave rotatably mounted on said frame and driven in rotational motion by said handle when said handle is manually moved in said arcuate path;
- (f) a drive cable attached at a first end to said sheave so that said drive cable is wound onto said sheave as said sheave is driven in said rotational motion, thereby providing said force between means for penetrating said log and said means for holding said log;
- whereby arcuate motion of said handle rotates said sheave causing said drive cable to wind about the exterior surface of said sheave and said winding causes the distance between said means for penetrating said log and said means for holding said log to decrease, thereby exerting compressive force upon said log and causing said means for penetrating said log to penetrate said log and split said log.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.