NZ207088A - Sawmill with two perpendicular travelling blades - Google Patents

Description

Patents Form No. 5 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PATENTS ACT 1953 After Provisional No. 207088 dated 9th February 1984 "A SAWMILL" WE, JOHN BRAMLEY HELPS and RODNEY JOHN HELPS of 16 Selwyn Avenue, Akaroa, Banks Peninsula, New Zealand and 16A Selwyn Avenue, Akaroa, Banks Peninsula, New Zealand respectively, both British subjects and New Zealand citizens, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a, patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement 1 207OSS This invention relates to saw mills and more particularly to a saw mill of the type in which a saw carriage, thereof travels along and over a log being sawn and an accessory therefor.

An object of the present invention is to provide a saw mill in which a saw carriage thereof moves along and above a log being cut.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a relocatable set down saw mill including a straddle frame which runs on rails laid down and fixed in position on a work area, the straddle frame including a saw carriage which can move both horizontally and vertically relative to the straddle frame, the straddle frame can move relative to a log to be cut which is fixed in position between the rails, the saw carriage having mounted in association therewith a pair of driven saw blades the planes of which are normal to each other and which are positioned so that in a single traverse along the log a flitch is cut therefrom and is then removed from the log by the return traverse of the saw carriage.

The saw carriage can carry the operator of the mill.

The saw mill can be transportable on a trailer frame on which a mill cradle is formed and on which the straddle frame is positioned before it is raised and removed with the trailer frame.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a saw mill accessory the accessory including a saw blade with an integrally formed mounting hub on one side thereof, 207088 the hub having at least one liquid passage therethrough from one side of the hub to a planar side of the saw blade so that in use the planar side of the blade can be cooled while in contact with a material being cut by feeding a coolant liquid through the liquid passages.

Further aspects of the present invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following descriptions which are given by way of example only.

Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: shows a side view of the saw mill according to the present invention; Figure 2: shows an. end view of the saw mill shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 ; shows a perspctive view from above of a trailing frame on which the saw mill shown in Figures 1 and 2 may be transported; and Figure 4: shows a section through part of a saw mill accessory according to the second aspect of the invention The saw mill as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 is a transportable unit with a straddle frame 1 (Figures 1 & 2) which, in use, is mounted to run on rails at ground level along and over a log to be cut. Preferably the frame 1 rides on rails set up at ground level (not shown) between which is supported the log to be cut.

The frame 1 supports a saw carriage 2 the position of which relative to the frame 1 can be adjusted vertically. For example, 207088 the four corner posts 3 of the frame 1 have associated therewith screw threaded members 4 adapted to be rotated by a hydraulic motor 10 to thereby raise or lower a rectangular frame 6 on which the saw carriage 2 is mounted.

The hydraulic motor 10 drives a chain to sprockets which through threaded shafts to sprockets 5 drive oppositely threaded shafts 4.

The saw carriage 2 on the rectangular frame 6 is movable transversely. The transverse movement of the saw carriage is 10 controlled by a hydraulic ram (not shown).

The saw carriage 2 supports a prime mover 7 connected to provide the source of power for the mills hydraulics. The prime mover may drive a pair of saw blades 8 and 9 which alternatively may be hydraulically driven. The saw blades 8 and 9 are mounted 1-5 with their planes at right angles to each other and are positioned so that, in use, a line through the tips of the blades is parallel to direction of movement of the frame 1. The blades 8 and 9 are positioned one in front of the other so that in one cut along a log the cuts produced intersect and a flitch is thereby removed. -0 The travelling movement of the straddle frame 1 relative to the rails can be by way of - anchored wires (not shown) alongside each rail adapted to wind the frame 1, by a hydraulic motor (not shown) along the rail and then back. Alternatively and as shown the straddle frame can be mounted on steel or tyred wheels 14 •5 which are hydraulically direct driven.

In use when set up in the conditon shown in Figures 1 and 2 the straddle frame 1 with the carriage 2 in a preset position 207088 moves along a log to cut therefrom a first flitch. When the reverse movement of the frame 1 is completed the blades 8 and 9 are beyond the end of the log and the blades are then moved either or both transversely or vertically so that on its next forward cutting tranverse a required flitch of the preset dimensions are cut. The reverse traverse removes the flitch from on the remainder of the log.

The vertical movement varied is by raising or lowering the rectangular frame 6 while the transverse movement is varied by changing the position of the saw carriage 2 on the rectangular frame 6.

When the saw mill is to be dismounted after milling is completed the trailing frame 12 (Figure 3) is positioned so that the straddle frame 1 can move over the trailer 12. The rectangular frame 6 and saw carriage are lowered so that the frame 6 rests on the transverse members 13 of the trailer 12. The frame 6 and carriage are bolted, located or attached together. The wheels or runners 14 of the legs of the straddle frame 1 are then raised and then locked in their raised position by pins, bolts or other attachment means to member 27 of the frame 13.

The trailing frame 12 is then free to be moved to a new site for further milling operations.

The saw mill can include an accessory of the type shown in Figure 4. The blade and mounting shown in Figure 4 are ideally used to support either or both of the blades 8 and 9 of the mill shown in Figures 1 and 2. In Figure 4 the blade is indicated by arrow 15 and only the central mounting hub thereof 16 is shown. - -5 - 20708 The blade 15 has a collar 17 formed either integrally therewith or attached thereto. The collar forming a recess 18 for a lock nut 19 connected to a thread on the mounting shaft 20. The collar 17 is driven by pins 26 attached to member 21 via holes on the member 17 and is fixed to a coupling member 21 which is keyed to engage with the end of the shaft 20. The coupling member 21 and collar 17 are designed to spread the load between the blade 15 and shaft and to reinforce the connection therebetween. The collar 17 and coupling member 21 have at least one and preferably a series of equally spaced coolant passages 22. The machined recess forming a channel passage 23 is covered by an annular cover member 2.4 which is held stationary and has connected thereto a coolant pipe 25.

In use thie accessory mounting is used to support a saw blade relative to its saw spindle'or shaft and its overall strength reduces buckling in the saw blade which sometimes occurs especially when the blade is entirely against the surface of the log or timber being cut. The application of water as a coolant via the pipe 25 and through the passages 22 also cools the blade 15 with the attendant advantages thereof.

Thus by this invention there is provided a saw mill in which a saw carriage thereof can move along above a log to produce in .a single operation a flitch therefrom.

Particular examples of the invention have been described herein by way of example and it is envisaged that improvements and modifications can take place without departing from the scope of the appended claims. 207088

Claims (12)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A relocatable set down saw mill including a straddle frame which runs on rails laid down and fixed in position on a work area, the straddle frame including a saw carriage which can move both horizontally and vertically relative to the straddle frame, the straddle frame can move relative to a log to be cut which is fixed in position between the rails, the saw carriage having mounted in association therewith a pair of driven saw blades the planes of which are normal to each other and which are positioned so that in a single traverse along the log a flitch is cut therefrom and is then removed from the log by the return traverse of the saw carriage.

2. A saw mill as claimed in claim 1 wherein the saw carriage carries the operator of the mill.

3. A saw mill as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the straddle frame can be transported on a trailer frame on which a mill cradle is formed and on which the straddle frame is positioned.

4. A saw mill as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of the saw blades has an integrally formed mounting hub on one side thereof, the hub having at least one liquid passage therethrough from one side of the hub to a planar side of the saw blade so that in use the planar side of the blade can be cooled while in contact with a material being cut by feeding a coolant liquid through the liquid passages. 12 MAY 1986 7 207088

5. A saw mill as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame supports the saw carriage so that the position thereof relative to the frame can be adjusted vertically.

6. A saw mill as claimed in claim 5 wherein the frame has four corner posts associated with which are screw threaded members rotated by an hydraulic motor to thereby raise or lower a rectangular frame on which the saw carriage is mounted.

7. A saw mill as claimed in claim 6 wherein the saw carriage on the rectangular frame is movable transversely by an hydraulic ram.

8. A saw mill as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the saw carriage supports a prime mover which provides a source of power for hydraulics, the prime mover can also drive the pair of saw blades.

9. A saw mill as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the travelling movement of the straddle frame is either by way of anchored wires or by an hydraulic motor.

10. A saw mill as claimed in claim 4 wherein the blade has a collar formed either integrally therewith or attached thereto, the collar forming a recess for a lock nut connected to a thread on a mounting shaft for the blade, the collar is fixed to a coupling member which is engaged with the end of the shaft.

11. A saw mill as claimed in claim 10 wherein the collar and coupling member have at least one and preferably a series of equally spaced coolant passages. " 8 - : N.Z. PATENT OFFICE 2 4 APR 19S6 RECEIVED 0 207088

12. A saw mill substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. JOHN BRAMLEY HELPS and RODNEY JOHN HELPS By Their Attorneys BALDWIN, SON & CAREY iii N.2. PATENT OFFICE 2 4 APR 1986 - 9 - RECEIVED