Wood chipper with noise and vibration abatement features

Details Wood chipper with noise and vibration abatement features Wood chipper with noise and vibration abatement features

1999-09-22

2001-09-18

Rosenbaum, Mark (Department: 3725)

Solid material comminution or disintegration

Apparatus

Comminuting surface provided with openings to permit...

C241S101200

Reexamination Certificate

active

06290155

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present relates generally to wood chippers. More particularly, the present invention relates a wood chipper having noise and vibration abatement features.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,548 to Bouwers et al. discloses one type of prior art wood chipper. The chipper includes a rotating cutting drum adapted to cut wood into small chips that are propelled through a discharge chute. Feed rollers are used to feed the wood desired to be chipped from an inlet into a cutting path of the rotatable cutting drum.
In recent years, wood chippers have become larger and more powerful. Consequently, such wood chippers have also become louder and more subject to excessive vibration. Noise pollution, especially in urban areas, is a growing concern. Excessive vibration generates noise and can cause premature fatigue failure in chipping devices. Therefore, what is needed is a wood chipper having improved noise and vibration abatement characteristics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention relates to a wood chipper including a support frame, an engine mounted on the support frame, and at least one resilient isolator for dampening vibration between the engine and the support frame. The chipper also includes a drive sheave, a chipping mechanism mounted on the support frame, and a belt for transferring torque between the drive sheave and the chipping mechanism. The drive sheave is moveable to tighten and loosen the belt. A drive member is provided for transferring torque between the engine and the drive sheave. The drive member includes a pivotal portion that allows the drive sheave to be laterally moved relative to the engine when the belt is tightened and loosened.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a wood chipper including a support frame, a housing mounted on the support frame, a cutter member for chipping wood within the housing, and a discharge chute for discharging wood chips from the housing. The wood chipper also includes a first resilient isolator for dampening vibration between the housing and the support frame.
A further aspect of the present invention relates to a wood chipper including a support frame, a housing mounted on the support frame, a cutter member for chipping wood within the housing, and a discharge chute for discharging wood chips from the housing. The wood chipper also includes a feed mechanism for feeding wood toward the cutter member, an inlet for allowing wood to be fed toward the feed mechanism, and a noise abating curtain that at least partially covers the inlet opening. The curtain includes a noise absorbing layer positioned between two wear resistant layers.
Still another aspect of the present invention relates to a wood chipper including a support frame, a housing mounted on the support frame, a cutter member for chipping wood within the housing, and a discharge chute for discharging wood chips from the housing. The wood chipper also includes a feed mechanism for feeding wood toward the cutter member, an inlet chute having an inlet for allowing wood to be fed toward the feed mechanism, and a detent member positioned on the inlet chute. The detent member defines a rear detent, an intermediate detent, and a front detent. The wood chipper further includes front and rear switches are positioned near the detent member, a control bar positioned near the inlet chute for controlling a feed direction of the feed mechanism, and a detent arm that moves in concert with the control bar. The detent arm is moveable between: i) a rearward position in which a portion of the detent arm is received within the rear detent; ii) a neutral position in which the portion of the detent arm is received within the intermediate detent; and iii) a forward position in which the portion of the detent arm is received within the forward detent. When the detent arm is moved from the neutral position toward the forward position, the detent arm engages the front switch thereby causing the feed mechanism to operate in an out-feed mode. When the detent arm is moved from the neutral position toward the rearward position, the detent arm engages the rear switch thereby causing the feed mechanism to operate in an in-feed mode.
The various aspects of the present invention provide numerous advantages over the prior art. For example, certain aspects of the present invention provide a power takeoff arrangement that is less expensive has lower operating costs, and requires less maintenance than many systems incorporating conventional friction-type clutches. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a power takeoff arrangement that decreases the likelihood of drive train damage and simplifies the belt changing process. Still another aspect of the present invention relates to a power takeoff arrangement that discourages side loading on the engine thereby allowing the engine to be isolated with a relatively simple vibration dampening scheme. Certain other aspects of the present invention relate to wood chipper configurations having improved noise and vibration abatement characteristics. A variety of additional advantages of the various aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.


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Brochure, “Brush Chipper BC1800A”,Vermeer, 2 pgs., (©1998).
Exhibit 1 of Vermeer BC1800A chipper that is prior art with respect to this application.
Exhibits 2A and 2B show a Vermeer BC935 chipper that is prior art with respect to this application.
Exhibits 3A and 3B show a Vermeer BC625 chipper that is prior art with respect to this application.

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