Cutting Characteristics and Power Requirements of Chain Saws

A test apparatus and mathematical relations have been developed which greatly reduce the amount of testing, required to determine the power requirements and cutting characteristics of specified cutting chains. The test stand was designed to measure the horizontal and vertical cutting forces, engine torque, engine rpm, and the feed rate. The results of this investigation demonstrated that it was necessary to conduct only a sufficient number of cutting tests over the operating range of the chain saw in order to be able to use a regression analysis to determine the values of the constants in the horizontal and vertical cutting force equations. Once this had been done, the cutting horsepower over the complete operating range of the chain saw was determined. Once the relation for the power losses of the chain-chain bar combination was known, then the required engine horsepower for an engine powering the chain was determined by adding the cutting horsepower and the power losses. The results obtained during this investigation were independent of the type or size of power unit driving the chain. Therefore, they can be used to aid in the design of any type or size engine that will be matched with the cutting chain and chain bar of interest. Also, the test procedure and mathematical relations developed during this study will greatly reduce the amount of testing now required to determine the power requirements and cutting characteristics of chain saw cutting chains.

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