Nifty log splitter

[quinnf]

There's a pinion gear spinning on the shaft.  A heavy gear rack connected to the business end of the splitter is evidently held up off the pinion gear, perhaps by a weak spring.  When the gear rack is manually engaged via the knob, the inertia of the flywheel propels it forward, and the rest, as they say, is history.  Evidently, near the end of the stroke there is a cam that disengages the rack.

It's an elegantly simple mechanism. one that can be powered by a tiny motor because the flywheel stores beaucoup energy, rather than running a hydraulic ram via a big 'lectric motor.   Sure would like to have some closeup photos of the chit'lins of the beast.  Seems one could be kludged together from junkyard parts.

Quinn