RETAINING DEVICE FOR SECURING WOOD TO A SAW MILL

Abstract

The present invention discloses a system for retaining a piece of wood onto a saw mill in an orientation at an angle to the horizontal, such that horizontal cuts made to the wood result in shorter planks with full exposure of wood end grain, displaying the growth rings of the tree.

Claims

1. A retaining device for securing a piece of wood to a saw mill, said saw mill comprising a cutting saw, a first rail, a second rail, and one or more cross members, with said first and second rails spaced apart and oriented parallel to each other, said first and second rails being horizontally oriented, each of the one or more cross members running between the first and second rails and attached thereto and with each of the one or more cross members oriented substantially perpendicular to said rails, and said cutting saw positioned above said first and second rails, said retaining device comprising a support carriage, said support carriage being elongate and rigid, with said support carriage being oriented perpendicular to one of the one or more cross members, said cross member being located proximate to an end of the saw mill, said support carriage being pivotally attached to said cross member, with said support carriage configured to support the piece of wood thereon, and further configured to be pivoted downward.

2. The retaining device of claim 1 wherein the support carriage has a first end and a second end, with the first end of the support carriage pivotally attached to said cross member and the second end of the support carriage configured to be placed onto a surface, whereby said surface is positioned lower than the first end of the support member, such that when the piece of wood is placed onto the support carriage the piece of wood is held at an angle to the horizontal.

3. The retaining device of claim 1 wherein the support carriage has a first end and a second end, with the first end of the support carriage pivotally attached to said cross member and the second end of the support carriage removably attached to a lower portion of the saw mill, whereby said lower portion of the saw mill is positioned lower than the first end of the support member, such that when the piece of wood is placed onto the support carriage the piece of wood is held at an angle to the horizontal.

4. The retaining device of claim 3 wherein the second end of the support carriage is removably attached to a plurality of locations on the lower portion of the saw mill.

5. The retaining device of claim 3 wherein the saw mill further comprises a first support leg and a second support leg, with the first support leg attached to the first rail and oriented substantially perpendicular to the first rail, and the second support leg attached to the second rail opposite the first support leg and oriented substantially perpendicular to the second rail, wherein the support carriage has a first side and a second side, with the first side of the support carriage located proximate to the second end of the support carriage being removably attached to the first support leg of the saw mill, and the second side of the support carriage located proximate to the second end of the support carriage being removably attached to the second support leg of the saw mill, whereby the second end of the support carriage is positioned lower than the first end of the support member.

6. The retaining device of claim 5 wherein the first side of the support carriage located proximate to the second end of the support carriage is removably attached to a plurality of locations along the first support leg of the saw mill, and the second side of the support carriage located proximate to the second end of the support carriage is removably attached to a plurality of locations along the second support leg of the saw mill.

7. The retaining device of claim 1 wherein the support carriage further comprises a stop member, with said stop member being attached to the support carriage such that the piece of wood placed onto the support carriage rests against the stop member.

8. The retaining device of claim 7 wherein the stop member of the support carriage is configured to be removably attached to the support carriage at a plurality of locations along the support carriage.

9. The retaining device of claim 1 wherein the support carriage further comprises one or more clamping members, with each clamping member configured to secure the piece of wood to the support carriage.

10. The retaining device of claim 9 wherein each clamping member comprises a first clamping arm, a second clamping arm, a lateral cross piece, and a threaded rod, with each of the first and second clamping arms having a clamping end, a middle portion, and a distal end, the lateral cross piece having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion, and the threaded rod having a first end, a second end, first threads located proximate to the first end of the threaded rod, and second threads located proximate to the second end of the threaded rod, with the first threads having a reverse orientation from the second threads; wherein the middle portion of the first clamping arm is pivotally attached to the lateral cross piece at a location proximate to the first end of the lateral cross piece, the middle portion of the second clamping arm is pivotally attached to the lateral cross piece at a location proximate to the second end of the lateral cross piece, the first end of the threaded rod is threaded through the distal end of the first clamping arm, the second end of the threaded rod is threaded through the distal end of the second clamping arm, and the lateral cross piece is secured to the support carriage; whereby when the threaded rod is rotated in a first direction, the distal ends of the first and second clamping arms are brought closer together resulting in the clamping ends of the first and second clamping arms being moved away from each other, and when the threaded rod is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction, the distal ends of the first and second clamping arms are moved away from each other resulting in the clamping ends of the first and second clamping arms being moved closer together.

11. The retaining device of claim 10 wherein each clamping member further comprises a cradle, said cradle comprised of a first cradle member and a second cradle member, with the first and second cradle members being placed onto the lateral cross piece of the clamping member and located adjacent to each other, with each of first and second cradle members being angled to the vertical in equal but opposite directions; whereby an upper portion of the first cradle member is located a first distance from an upper portion of the second cradle member and a lower portion of the first cradle member is located a second distance from a lower portion of the second cradle member such that the first distance is greater than the second distance.

12. The retaining device of claim 11 wherein the first cradle member is configured such that the angle of the first cradle member is embodied in an edge of the first cradle member, and the second cradle member is configured such that the angle of the second cradle member is embodied in an edge of the second cradle member, whereby the edge of the first cradle member faces the edge of the second cradle member.

13. The retaining device of claim 11 wherein the first cradle member is configured such that the angle of the first cradle member is embodied in a planar face of the first cradle member, and the second cradle member is configured such that the angle of the second cradle member is embodied in a planar face of the second cradle member, whereby the face of the first cradle member faces the face of the second cradle member.

14. The retaining device of claim 1 wherein the support carriage further comprises a plurality of cradles, with each said cradle being configured the same as each other cradle, with each cradle comprised of a first cradle member and a second cradle member, with the first and second cradle members being secured to the support carriage, located adjacent to each other, and aligned laterally with each other, with the first and second cradle members of each cradle being angled to the vertical in equal but opposite directions, whereby for each cradle, an upper portion of the first cradle member is located a first distance from an upper portion of the second cradle member and a lower portion of the first cradle member is located a second distance from a lower portion of the second cradle member such that the first distance is greater than the second distance.

15. The retaining device of claim 14 wherein the first cradle member is configured such that the angle of the first cradle member is embodied in an edge of the first cradle member, and the second cradle member is configured such that the angle of the second cradle member is embodied in an edge of the second cradle member, whereby the edge of the first cradle member faces the edge of the second cradle member.

16. The retaining device of claim 14 wherein the first cradle member is configured such that the angle of the first cradle member is embodied in a planar face of the first cradle member, and the second cradle member is configured such that the angle of the second cradle member is embodied in a planar face of the second cradle member, whereby the face of the first cradle member faces the face of the second cradle member.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1A is a side view of a typical saw mill having pair of horizontally oriented parallel rails and a horizontally oriented cutting saw.

[0017] FIG. 1B is a top view of the saw mill shown in FIG. 1A, depicted with a piece of wood placed thereon.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a side view of another embodiment of the present invention, depicting the retaining device comprised of a support carriage and clamping member, with a piece of wood retained by the retaining device at an angle to the horizontal.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a top view of the embodiment of the retaining device depicted in FIG. 3, showing the support carriage.

[0020] FIG. 4A is a plan front view of one embodiment of a clamping member of the retaining device.

[0021] FIG. 4B is a plan front view of another embodiment of a clamping member of the retaining device.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a plan front view of another embodiment of a clamping member of the retaining device having a cradle attached thereto.

[0023] FIG. 6 is a plan side view of an embodiment of the support carriage with a cradle attached thereto.

[0024] FIG. 7 is a perspective top view of the embodiment of the support carriage with a cradle attached thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The present invention discloses a retaining device for securing a piece of wood 10 to a saw mill 20. The saw mill 20 must be configured with a cutting saw 26, a first rail 22 and a second rail 24, with the first and second rails 22,24 spaced apart and oriented parallel to each other and both being horizontally oriented, a first support leg 28 and a second support leg 29 spaced apart and oriented parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first and second rails 22,24 and both being vertically oriented, and a plurality of cross members 25, with each of the plurality of cross members 25 running between the first and second rails 22,24 and attached thereto, said cross members 25 oriented substantially perpendicular to said rails 22,24. See FIGS. 1A and 1B. The cutting saw 26 is horizontally oriented and is positioned above the first and second rails 22,24 . A piece of wood 10 (typically a log) is placed horizontally onto the saw mill 20 between the first and second rails 22,24 and the cutting saw 26 is moved horizontally into an end of the piece of wood 10 and then through the piece of wood 10, cutting a slice from the upper portion of the piece of wood 10 and leaving a planar surface on the remaining portion of the piece of wood 10.

[0026] In one embodiment, the retaining device comprises a support carriage 1000. The support carriage 1000 is elongate and rigid, and is configured to support a piece of wood 10. See FIGS. 2, 3, and 7. The support carriage 1000 is pivotally attached at its first end 1012 to one of the cross members 25 of the saw mill 20. In one embodiment, the second end 1014 of the support carriage 1000 is placed onto a surface 30, such as a floor or the ground. Because the surface 30 is positioned lower than the cross member 25, the support carriage 1000 is oriented at an angle to the horizontal. When a piece of wood 10 is placed onto the support carriage 1000, the piece of wood 10 is likewise held at an angle to the horizontal. To change the angle of the support carriage 1000 in this embodiment, one or more shims may be placed between the second end 1014 of the support carriage 1000 and the surface 30. The more shims that are interposed between the second end 1014 of the support carriage 1000 and the surface 30, the shallower the angle of the support carriage 1000 to the horizontal will be.

[0027] In another embodiment, the second end 1014 of the support carriage 1000 is removably attached to a lower portion of the saw mill 20. See FIG. 2. Because the lower portion of the saw mill 20 is positioned lower than the cross member 25, the support carriage 1000 is oriented at an angle to the horizontal. Repositioning the second end 1014 of the support carriage 1000 upward or downward on the lower portion of the saw mill 20 allows the degree of the angle of the support carriage 1000 to the horizontal to be modified as desired. In one embodiment, the lower portion of the saw mill 20 is the first support leg 28 of the saw mill 20 and the second support leg 29 of the saw mill 20. The first side of the support carriage 1000 located proximate to the second end 1014 of the support carriage 1000 is removably attached to the first support leg 28 of the saw mill 20, and the second side of the support carriage 1000 located proximate to the second end 1014 of the support carriage 1000 is removably attached to the second support leg 29 of the saw mill 20. To change the angle of the support carriage 1000 in this embodiment, the second end 1014 of the support carriage 1000 is repositioned along the first and second legs 28,29 of the saw mill 20, such that when the second end 1014 of the support carriage 1000 is positioned higher along the first and second legs 28,29 of the saw mill 20, the shallower the angle of the support carriage 1000 will be, and when the second end 1014 of the support carriage 1000 is positioned lower along the first and second legs 28,29 of the saw mill 20, the steeper the angle of the support carriage 1000 will be. The second end 1014 of the support carriage 1000 may be removably secured to the first and second legs 28,29 of the saw mill 20 by a plurality of pins placed through apertures formed in the sides of the support carriage 1000 and through a series of vertically spaced apart apertures formed in the first and second legs 28,29 of the saw mill 20. Alternatively, the second end 1014 of the support carriage 1000 may be removably secured to the first and second legs 28,29 of the saw mill 20 by a pair of clamps, one clamp located on each of the first and second sides of the support carriage 1000, with each clamp configured to be secured to one of the first and second legs 28,29 of the saw mill 20. Other means for removably securing the second end 1014 of the support carriage 1000 to the first and second legs 28,29 of the saw mill 20 are also contemplated.

[0028] In preferred embodiments of the support carriage 1000, there are one or more laterally oriented central rollers 1050. See FIG. 3. The piece of wood 10 is placed onto the one or more central rollers 1050, facilitating movement of the piece of wood 10 along the support carriage 1000. The one or more central rollers 1050 may be made of metal, wood, plastic, rubber, or other materials. Each central roller 1050 has an axel about which the central roller rotates, with said axel being affixed to the support carriage 1000.

[0029] In yet another embodiment of the support carriage 1000, there are a plurality of laterally oriented guide rollers 1030. See FIG. 3. The piece of wood 10 is supported by the support carriage 1000 by being placed onto the plurality of guide rollers 1030. Preferably, there are an equal number of guide rollers 1030 located on either side of the support carriage 1000, such that the piece of wood 10 is supported between pairs of guide rollers 1030. Each guide roller 1030 is mounted on a lateral arm 1032 which is attached to the support carriage 1000. The one or more guide rollers 1030 may be made of metal, wood, plastic, rubber, or other materials. Each guide roller 1030 has an axel about which the guide roller 1030 rotates, with said axel being affixed to the corresponding lateral arm 1032. In the most preferred embodiments, the lateral arms 1032 may be moveably attached to the support carriage 1000 such that each lateral arm 1032 is capable of being repositioned laterally with respect to the support carriage 1000, thereby allowing for differing distances between pairs of guide rollers 1030 in order to accommodate different diameters of the piece of wood 10 placed therebetween. In one embodiment, the lateral arm 1032 of the guide roller 1030 is fitted into a lateral sleeve 1034 attached to the support carriage 1000, with the lateral arm 1032 moveably positionable within the lateral sleeve 1034, and there further being a means for fixing the position of the lateral arm 1032 within the lateral sleeve 1034, such as a locking pin, a clamp, or any other mechanism known in the art.

[0030] In other embodiments, there is a stop member 1040 removably attached to the support carriage 1000 behind the piece of wood 10. See FIG. 3. As the piece of wood 10 is slid upwards along the support carriage 1000, the stop member 1040 is repositioned against the back of the piece of wood 10 to prevent it from sliding backwards. The stop member 1040 may be removably secured to the support carriage 1000 by any appropriate means, including, for example, by a pair of pins extending downward into a series of apertures formed into the sides of the support carriage 1000. Alternatively, the stop member 1040 may be removably secured to the support carriage 1000 by a pair of clamps, one clamp located on each side of the stop member 1040 and configured to grip one of the sides of the support carriage 1000. Other means for removably securing the stop member 1040 to the support carriage 1000 are also contemplated.

[0031] In another embodiment of the present invention, the support carriage 1000 further comprises one or more clamping members 1060. See FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 5. Each clamping member 1060 is configured to secure the piece of wood 10 to the support carriage 1000. In one embodiment, the clamping member 1060 has a pair of clamping arms 1062 which may be brought together or spread apart. The clamping arms 1062 are joined to a lateral cross piece 1068. The clamping member 1060 is placed onto the support carriage 1000 with the cross piece 1068 placed against the upper side of the support carriage 1000, and then the clamping arms 1062 are brought together until they contact the piece of wood 10 that has been placed onto the support carriage 1000. In one embodiment, the clamping arms 1062 are pivotally attached to either end of the cross piece 1068, and the distal (non-clamping) ends 1066 of the clamping arms 1062 are joined together by a threaded rod 1069, which is located below the support carriage 1000. Rotation of the threaded rod 1069 in one direction moves the distal ends 1066 of the clamping arms 1062 towards each other, thereby simultaneously moving the clamping ends 1064 of the clamping arms 1062 away from each other, allowing the piece of wood 10 to be placed between or removed from the clamping member 1060, while rotation of the threaded rod 1069 in the opposite direction moves the distal ends 1066 of the clamping arms 1062 away from each other, thereby simultaneously moving the clamping ends 1064 of the clamping arms 1062 towards each other and into the piece of wood 10, thereby clamping it securely to the support carriage 1000.

[0032] In yet another embodiment, the support carriage 1000 may comprise a plurality of cradles 1070 shaped to accommodate a piece of wood 10 cut with a polygonal (either regular or irregular) cross section. See FIGS. 6 and 7. Each such cradle 1070 will have the same configuration as each other cradle 1070. Each cradle 1070 is comprised of a first cradle member 1072 and a second cradle member 1074, with the first and second cradle members 1072,1074 being located adjacent to and aligned laterally to each other, with each of first and second cradle members 1072,1074 being angled to the vertical in equal but opposite directions, whereby the lower portions of the first and second cradle members 1072,1074 are positioned closer to each other than upper portions of the first and second cradle members 1072,1074. The angle of the first and second cradle members 1072,1074 may be configured to accommodate differently shaped pieces of wood 10. For example, if the piece of wood 10 has a square cross section, the first and second cradle members 1072,1074 will each be at a forty-five degree angle to the vertical. If the piece of wood 10 has a pentagonal cross section, the first and second cradle members 1072,1074 will each be at a fifty-four degree angle to the vertical. If the piece of wood 10 has a hexagonal cross section, the first and second cradle members 1072,1074 will each be at a sixty degree angle to the vertical. If the piece of wood 10 has an octagonal cross section, the first and second cradle members 1072,1074 will each be at a sixty-seven and a half degree angle to the vertical. Other polygonal cross sections (regular and irregular) may be accommodated by differently configured cradles 1070.

[0033] The angle of the first and second cradle members 1072,1074 may be embodied as a thin edge of the respective first and second cradle members 1072,1074. The edges of the respective first and second cradle members 1072,1074 face each other. Alternatively, the angle of the first and second cradle members 1072,1074 may be embodied as a broad, substantially planar face of the respective first and second cradle members 1072,1074. The faces of the respective first and second cradle members 1072,1074 face each other.

[0034] In yet another embodiment, the clamping member 1060 described above may comprise a cradle 1070 as described above, with said cradle 1070 positioned onto the cross piece 1068 of the clamping member 1060. See FIGS. 4B and 5.

[0035] Modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments of the present invention without departing from the subject or spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.