Sawmill with hydraulically actuated components

Abstract

A sawmill has an elongated track extending longitudinally adjacent a platform for supporting a log. A carriage which carries a bandsaw is reciprocally movable along the track past the platform to cut the log with the bandsaw. The sawmill also has a clamp mechanism reciprocally movable laterally across the platform to clamp the log in place, which mechanism is movable between an upright position and a reclining position to provide a clamp for an uncut log and a clamp for a squared log. The sawmill also has a log turning mechanism and a log loading mechanism. The log loading mechanism includes two arms which are rotatable from the ground to the platform to load a log onto the platform. A hydraulic cylinder is coupled to each arm and acts against the ground to move the arms. The mechanisms are hydraulically actuated and the sawmill includes an electric motor which drives a hydraulic pump for providing pressurized hydraulic fluid to actuate the hydraulically actuated mechanisms. A source of electricity for powering the electric motor is carried on the carriage and is interlocked to the electric motor such that electricity is provided to the electric motor only when the carriage is in a predetermined position which is preferably at one end of the track.