Log splitter design for short stroke cylinder

[matrob]

I have two 7" cylinders to build log splitters, but the stroke is somewhat short (15-18"). Does anyone have experience in building a splitter that works like a hinge or scissor action? Any other ideas out there? The cycle is slow, about 1 second per inch with my tractor hyd. but I am fine with that, and could possibly build a 4 or 6 way wedge.

 

[Scotty370]

7" in Diameter? (I assume?) If so, some type of racheting device on the slider might be some thing to think about. Push, retract, as the lead end of the ram gets another bite, and push to completion. Retraction after completion is going to take some thinking about. If you've got 18" of stroke now, might be easier to have a 6" block that is hinged to the top edge of the push plate, that you can 'flop' over to get the last 6"s ~S

 

[matrob]

I had a similar thought, but at that slow rate of speed, backing up for any piece that doesnt split at 18" could get a bit more time consuming. I thought if I hinged it somehow I could get longer pieces and increase the rate. I just havent thought of the correct design to get the 2 ends notto move in an arch (or maybe that doesn't matter on the wedge end??) Thanks for the thoughts.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

Kind of rough but this basic geometry may give you what you want. There will be a large bending force on the links so they will need strength even greater than the main I-beam.

 

[matrob]

Looks manageable. I had kept imagining the pivot in the center, thus the arch. Thanks for straightening me out.
Matt

 

[mwb]

Instead of making a lever why not make a more agressive splitting wedge? the first couple of inches could be typical but then have it flare out at a steeper angle to finish the job using less stroke.
The ram will still be slow but the splitting action will probably take the same time to complete - you certainly have enough force available with that cylinder.

You could also run two splitting heads side-by-side

 

[studor]

Why not have one cylinder push the wedge and the other push the stop? Or even have the stop on one end fixed with one cylinder pushing a two way wedge and the other stop on the other end attached to the cylinder making it adjustable. That way you could split up to 36" or split 16" pieces on either side. --Just a thought

 

[MikeInEburg]

Or sell the two 7'' cylinders that you have and purchase an appropriate splitter cylinder... I forsee nothing but trouble down this path.

Mike

 

[mad_planter]

I'd try to build one that had two wedges, no stop. Instead of splitting toward one end I'd split from both ends to the middel.

 

[jas67]

Instead of making a lever why not make a more agressive splitting wedge? the first couple of inches could be typical but then have it flare out at a steeper angle to finish the job using less stroke.
The ram will still be slow but the splitting action will probably take the same time to complete - you certainly have enough force available with that cylinder.

You could also run two splitting heads side-by-side

This wouldn't work so well on "stringy", or very green wood, where the initial couple inches of travel will split it, but it is still held together with a lot of "strings" of wood (too many to just pull apart by hand).