Blount, Inc.

Ron Bowman

Patrick E Foley

Emanuel Guzman

Marilena Papaianache

Jason Carlson

Drew Arnold

Don Leliefeld

John Hatch

Hovan Huang

Randy Pitzer

A kinetic log splitter having: a frame; a geared rack; a pinion coupled with the geared rack and to cause the geared rack to translate linearly based on rotation of the pinion; an actuation handle that engages the geared rack and the pinion; and a linkage system coupling the actuation handle to the geared rack that allows disengagement of at least a portion of the linkage system in response to a stall condition that occurs due to a stall of the geared rack during the operation of the geared rack of the kinetic log splitter. The kinetic log splitter may be towable and/or include a push plate splinter recovery system.

Kinetic log splitter

Embodiments provide a log splitter with an extendable, or otherwise movable, work zone to increase the accessibility of the work zone for a user and improve movability of the log splitter. The log splitter may be configurable to be in an extended position, a compact position, a vertical position, or a moving position. In the extended position, the log splitter may split logs in a horizontal direction, and in the vertical position the log splitter may split logs in a vertical direction. When the log splitter is in the moving position and/or the compact position an operator of the log splitter may manually move the log splitter to a new position and/or location, or tow the log splitter with a vehicle.

Log splitter with extendable work space

A log splitter where splitting force is generated by storing kinetic energy in a rotating flywheel. Rotational energy is converted to splitting force by means of a rack and pinion, which is coupled to the flywheels through a belt-driven clutch system. A belt rests around a driven sheave and a drive sheave. An idler pulley tensions the belt, causing the driven pulley to rotate. The idler pulley is attached to an actuation handle causing the idler to lock, by means of a latch, until the operator disengages the pulley, or until a component mounted to the rack forces the latch to disengage. The rack remains engaged to the pinion by a bearing mounting system. A spring bumper may be placed at the end of travel so that at the end of the stroke, the ram mechanism compresses the spring, and uses stored energy to reverse the ram, pinion and sheave.

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Golden, CO, United States of America

Ron Bowman