US 8,573,106 B2 · Portable sawmill

Abstract

The portable sawmill is constructed on a frame having a series of mechanisms for loading and manipulating a log thereon and removing boards cut from the log. Powered tines load a log onto a vertically adjustable log deck, the deck including powered mechanisms for turning and securing the log in the desired orientation for cutting. Cuts are made by a horizontally traveling band saw. The saw has no vertical adjustment. Board thickness is determined by the height of the vertically adjustable log deck. Cut boards are removed by a board sweep that pushes the board laterally from the top of the log onto a tray. The saw travels along the tray to push the board longitudinally onto a suitable platform for transport. All of the above mechanisms are controlled hydraulically from a single operator station on the mill, thus freeing the operator from many manual tasks and increasing production.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A portable sawmill, comprising:

a frame having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side;
a vertically adjustable log deck disposed upon the frame;
means for adjusting the height of the log deck relative to the frame;
a band saw track immovably affixed to the frame between the first end and the second end thereof;
and
a band saw secured to the track, the band saw having a blade, the band saw selectively traveling longitudinally over the log deck along the track, the track precluding vertical motion of the band saw, wherein the band saw blade defines a substantially horizontal cut plane, the portable sawmill further comprising a board sweep extending from the frame, the board sweep selectively sweeping laterally across the frame immediately above the cut plane defined by the blade of the band saw.

3 more elements

A portable sawmill, comprising:

a frame having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side;
a band saw track disposed between the first end and the second end of the frame;
a band saw secured to the track, the band saw having a blade, the band saw selectively traveling longitudinally along the track;
a plurality of log lift tines pivotally extending from the second side of the frame;
a plurality of log lift tine links pivotally depending from the frame and corresponding in number to the plurality of log lift tines;
a tine lift strut adjustably connecting each of the log lift tine links with a corresponding one of the log lift tines;
the band saw has a blade defining a substantially horizontal cut plane;
and
a board sweep extends from the frame, the board sweep selectively sweeping laterally across the frame immediately above the cut plane defined by the blade of the band saw.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Portable sawmill

Life of this patent

Portable sawmill

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24