AU756779B2 - Garden refuse shredding apparatus - Google Patents

Description

-1- GARDEN REFUSE SHREDDING APPARATUS TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to garden refuse shredding apparatus.

The invention has application to garden refuse generally but has particular application to garden refuse containing fibrous plant material such as palm fronds.

BACKGROUND ART The presently available garden refuse shredding apparatus typically have a feed hopper which can be loaded with leaves and twigs for shredding as well as a small bore inlet chute for S introducing small stems and branches to be chipped or shredded.

S Many such machines have a flail assembly at the base of the S hopper for shredding material fed through the feed hopper and a S separate chipper assembly at the base of the small bore inlet chute for chipping small branches introduced through that chute.

Some disadvantages associated with these types of shredders stem from their relative complexity often making servicing, such 0.o as drive belt replacement and blade maintenance difficult and .oo unreliable. Furthermore the flail assembly is sometimes easily 2D accessible from the underside of the machine making them S dangerous for operation around children. In addition the flail e assembly of some machines shreds green leafy material to a very fine form which may not be the most suitable for garden mulching purposes.

Attempts have been made to provide garden refuse shredding apparatus based on a single rotor of the type used in domestic lawn mowers. However because of the nature of garden refuse to be shredded such apparatus is not as efficient as desired. One disadvantage is that fibrous plant material such as palm fronds becomes entangled about the drive shaft of the rotor when shredded causing stalling of the drive motor or engine. In some rl 0103.amds.Filed 16 October 2002 cases entanglement about the drive shaft can damage seals and bearings.

Garden refuse shredding apparatus are typically portable and commonly driven by electric motors fed by a power cord from the mains supply, although it is also common for shredding apparatus to be driven by internal combustion engines. Mains fed electric motors operate relatively quietly which can lead to inadvertent contact by a user with the drive shaft or rotor with consequent injury to the user. Operators of garden refuse shredders often wear ear muffs which exacerbates the problem.

The present invention aims to overcome or at least S ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages and/or to provide garden refuse shredding apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION With the foregoing in view, the present invention in one aspect resides broadly in garden refuse shredding apparatus including: a housing defining a chamber having a refuse inlet for ego.

S receiving refuse therethrough and a discharge outlet through which shredded material may be discharged; a feed hopper in communication with said refuse inlet for directing refuse through said refuse inlet into said chamber; a rotor mounted in said chamber, said rotor including a mounting plate connected to a drive shaft or hub and adapted to rotate therewith about an axis of rotation extending through said housing, and one or more chipper blades integral with or mounted to said mounting plate for rotation therewith, said mounting plate having an opening in front of the or each chipper blade through which shredded refuse may pass, and one or more macerating means integral with or mounted to said mounting plate Srotation therewith and adapted to macerate refuse fed into 16 October 2002 said chamber, and fan means integral with or mounted to said mounting plate for rotation therewith for creating an outflow of air through said outlet; and drive means operatively connected to said drive shaft or hub for causing said rotor to rotate.

In another aspect the invention resides broadly in garden refuse shredding apparatus including: a housing defining a chamber having a refuse inlet for receiving garden refuse therethrough and a discharge outlet through which shredded refuse may be discharged; a feed hopper in communication with said refuse inlet for directing refuse through said refuse inlet into said chamber; a rotor mounted in said chamber, said rotor including a mounting plate connected to a drive shaft or hub and adapted to rotate therewith about an axis of rotation extending through said housing, and one or more chipper blades integral with or mounted to said mounting plate for rotation therewith, said mounting late having an opening in front of the or each chipper blade through which shredded refuse may pass, and one or more S macerating means integral with or mounted to said mounting plate for rotation therewith and adapted to macerate refuse fed into said chamber; fan means in fluid communication with said chamber for creating an outflow of air through said outlet; and drive means operatively connected to said drive shaft or hub for causing said rotor to rotate.

Terms such as upper, lower, side, above, below, inner, outer and the like, are generally used herein for the purpose of describing the invention in the position it would normally be used and are not intended to limit use of the invention to any particular orientation unless such a limitation is required by Z he context. Further, the term "macerate" and its derivatives as ;.Filed 16 October 2002 used herein is to be understood as'.meaning to separate into parts or particles, by the action of -being cut, chopped, shredded, struck or the like, for example by a rotating blade or block.

Preferably, said one or more chipper blades are elongate blades which are bolted to said mounting plate and extend partially across said mounting plate towards its periphery. In such form it is preferred that said one or more macerating means are angularly displaced from said one or more chipper blades.

Preferably, said drive shaft extends through a wall of said housing and said mounting plate is spaced from said wall and said drive shaft (or hub) between said wall and said mounting plate is enclosed by a shroud. In such form it is preferred that said shroud abuts and is secured to said housing at one end and terminates adjacent said mounting.plate at the other end. In one preferred form said shroud is a cylindrical tube which is welded to said housing at one end with the free end being immediately adjacent the mounting plate with only a running clearance therebetween. In such form it is also preferred that said one or more macerating means are adapted to pass in close proximity to said shroud as said rotor rotates.

.eeeei S20 Preferably, said one or more macerating means are adapted eeo* to co-act with one or more complementary protrusions on said housing or secured to said housing. In such form it is also preferred that said one or more macerating means is adapted to pass in close proximity to said one or more complementary protrusions as said rotor rotates. In a preferred form of the invention where the drive shaft or hub is enclosed by a shroud it is preferred that said macerating means pass in close proximity to said shroud also. It is also preferred that said one or more macerating means includes a block, lug, blade, or the like which is adapted to pass in close proximity to said one or sfi complementary protrusions and to force refuse into CbarI103. mds.Filed 16 October2002

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engagement therewith thereby macerating refuse adjacent said protrusions as said rotor rotates. In a preferred form where .said chipper blades are elongate, it is preferred that the inner end of the or each elongate chipper blade passes in close proximity to said one or more complementary protrusions and said one. or more elongate chipper blades extend to the periphery of said mounting plate.

In one form, said drive means is an internal combustion engine and the said drive shaft or hub is coaxial with and connected to the output shaft of said engine for rotation with .3Q said output shaft. In such form it is preferred that said drive shaft or hub is supported in a bearing which is mounted to said wall through which said drive shaft or hub extends outside said chamber and that said bearing is adapted to bear axial working loads applied to said drive shaft. Advantageously, such arrangement results in the axial load which would normally be placed on the engine output shaft which is normally the crankshaft being taken by the drive shaft or hub. In a preferred form the drive shaft or hub is effective to extend the length of S the output shaft with one portion forming a sleeve about the output shaft while in other forms it forms a sleeve about the drive shaft with the end of the sleeve and the output shaft being co-terminus. It is also preferred that the engine be mounted on an engine base which in turn is mounted to said housing and spaced from said housing wall to provide access to said bearing, and said internal combustion engine is mounted on said base.

Preferably, said bearing is a self-aligning bearing having an inner race which is locked to said drive shaft or hub for rotation therewith. In a preferred form where said bearing is bolted to said housing the heads of the bolts form said complementary protrusions which cooperate with said macerators o shred refuse therebetween.

16 October 2002 -6- Preferably, said wall through which said drive shaft extends is a first wall of said housing and said housing includes a second wall spaced from said first wall, said first wall being operatively connected to said second wall for pivoting movement relative thereto about a pivot axis from a closed position in which said first and second walls together define at least in part said chamber and enclose said rotor and an open position in which said rotor is exposed to allow manual removal of refuse from said chamber. It is also preferred that said first wall is an upper wall and said second wall is a lower wall and a set of wheels and/or skids are operatively connected to said lower wall o for supporting said housing thereon.

Preferably, said fan means is adapted to induce air flow through said feed hopper to assist in feeding refuse through said refuse inlet. It is also preferred that said housing forms an expanding outflow passage from said chamber to said discharge outlet to reduce the velocity of air flow as it reaches the discharge outlet. In a preferred form said chamber is a volute o **shaped chamber.

Preferably, said fan means includes one or more fan blades .0 mounted on the side of the mounting plate opposite to said one S or more macerating means.

In a preferred form said shredding rotor is mounted for rotation in use about a generally upright axis, said refuse inlet opens generally upwards, said feed hopper extends upwardly from said refuse inlet, said one or more macerating means extend upwardly from said mounting plate on the side proximal to said refuse inlet and said fan means extends downwardly from said mounting plate on the side distal from said refuse inlet.

Preferably, said refuse inlet has a leading edge and a trailing edge adjacent said rotor and relative to its rotation and stop means extend across said refuse inlet adjacent said 03.amds.Filed 16 October 2002 -7trailing edge against which refuse may rest as it is chipped or shredded by said one or more chipper blades.

Preferably, said refuse inlet opens onto a portion of said mounting plate extending across the outermost one third of its diameter. It is also preferred that said at least one chipper blade extends across at least the outermost one third of the diameter of said mounting plate.

Preferably, said housing includes a second refuse inlet through which branches and the like can be fed to the rotor while the first refuse inlet mentioned previously can be retained for general softer refuse such as leaves, twigs and the like. In a S preferred form the second inlet has a tubular guide or hopper in communication therewith which suitably can handle the heavy loads eeoc S applied to the branches by the rotating rotor and is adapted to act as a bearing surface for such refuse. In such form, it is preferred that the two inlets be arranged such that the outer portion of the or each chipper blade passes across the second .inlet while the whole of the or each chipper blade including the inner and outer portions pass across the other inlet.

Advantageously, such arrangement allows an operator to feed heavy refuse only to the outer portion of the chipper blades where the velocity of the blades is sufficiently high. In a preferred form, the first refuse inlet extends across about between one-half and three-quarters of the rotor's radial extent while the second inlet extends across about the outer one-quarter to one-half of the rotor's radial extent. In a more preferred form the first inlet extends across the outer two-thirds of the rotor's radial extent while the second inlet extends across the outer one-third of the rotor's radial extent.

In another aspect the invention resides broadly in garden refuse shredding apparatus including: T ,a housing defining a chamber having a refuse inlet for 16 October 2002 -8receiving refuse therethrough and a discharge outlet through which shredded material may be discharged; a feed hopper in communication with said refuse inlet for directing refuse through said refuse inlet into said-chamber; a rotor mounted in said chamber to a drive shaft or hub extending through a wall of said housing, said rotor including a mounting plate connected to and adapted to rotate with said drive shaft or hub about its axis, and one or more chipper blades integral with or mounted to said mounting plate for rotation therewith; and hean internal combustion engine having an output shaft aligned with and solidly connected to said drive shaft for causing said o rotor to rotate, said drive shaft or hub being supported in a bearing which is mounted to said wall through which said drive shaft or hub extends and said bearing is adapted to bear axial working loads applied to said drive shaft.

Preferably said drive shaft or hub has a central bore and the output shaft of said engine is engaged in said central bore.

In such form it is preferred that said drive shaft or hub is locked to said output shaft by a key extending through the wall of said drive shaft or hub and engaging with a key way in said output shaft to provide for easy fitting of the key. It is also preferred that said key is secured by a collar extending about said drive shaft or hub, the collar having grub screws therein which engage with said key. It is also preferred that said bearing is outside said chamber and is a self-aligning bearing having an inner race which is locked to said drive shaft or hub for rotation therewith. In a preferred form said bearing is a flange mounted cam lock bearing which is bolted to said housing wall and cam locked to said drive shaft or hub.

Preferably, the garden refuse shredding apparatus includes ,,an engine mounting base operatively connected to said housing and )103amds.Filed 16 October 2002 spaced from said housing wall to. provide access to said bearing and wherein said internal combustion engine is mounted on said base. In a Preferred form said drive shaft or hub between said wall and said mounting plate is enclosed by a shroud extending about said drive shaft or hub.

Preferably, said rotor includes one or more macerating means integral with or mounted to said mounting plate for rotation therewith adjacent said shroud and adapted to macerate refuse fed into said chamber.

In another aspect the invention resides broadly in garden refuse shredding apparatus including: housing defining a chamber having a refuse inlet for receiving refuse therethrough and a discharge outlet through which shredded material may be discharged; Sga feed hopper in communication with said refuse inlet for directing refuse through said refuse inlet into said chamber; a rotor mounted in said chamber to a drive shaft or hub extending through a wall of said housing, said rotor including •go• a mounting plate connected to and adapted to rotate with said drive shaft or hub about its axis, and one or more chipper blades .20 integral with or mounted to said mounting plate for rotation ee therewith, said wall through which said drive shaft or hub extends being a first wall of said housing and said housing including a second wall spaced from said first wall and said first wall being operatively connected to said second wall for pivoting movement relative thereto about a pivot axis from a closed position in which said first and second walls together define at least in part said chamber and enclose said rotor and an open position in which said rotor is exposed to allow manual removal of refuse from said chamber; and drive means operatively connected to said drive shaft or hub S r causing said rotor to rotate.

103.amds.Filed 16 October 2002 Preferably, in use, said first wall is an upper wa-l and said second wall is a lower wall and a set of wheels and/or skids are operatively connected to said lower wall for supporting said housing thereon.: In a preferred form said shredding rotor is mounted for rotation in use about a generally upright axis, said refuse inlet opens generally upwards, said refuse inlet is adjacent the periphery of said first wall, said feed hopper extends upwardly from said refuse inlet and said pivot axis is adjacent said refuse inlet. In such form said discharge outlet is generally opposite said refuse inlet and said chamber is 10 volute shaped and expands towards said discharge outlet.

In another aspect the invention resides broadly in garden refuse shredding apparatus including: a housing having first and second housing parts defining a chamber, said first housing part being movable relative to said second housing part from an operative closed position to an open position for manual removal of refuse from said chamber; an electric motor operatively connected to said first housing part; 0 S a rotor mounted in said chamber, said rotor including a o:ooo S20 mounting plate connected to the output shaft of said electric Sao* motor and adapted to rotate therewith about the axis of rotation of said. output shaft, and one or more chipper blades integral with or mounted to said mounting plate for rotation therewith; and brake means adapted to brake said rotor when said housing parts are in the open position.

Preferably, the output shaft of said electric motor extends through a wall of said first housing part and said first housing part is operatively connected to said second housing part for pivoting movement relative thereto about a pivot axis adjacent ONripheral edge of said second housing part.

-11- Preferably, said brake means includes a rotating drum or S disc connected to said output shaft aid a friction brake pad operatively connected to said first housing part and adapted to move from a disengaged position to an engaged position in contact with said rotating drum or disc. In such form it is preferred that said brake means include biassing means adapted to bias said friction brake pad towards engagement with said brake drum or disc and retaining means adapted to retain said friction brake pad in said disengaged position while said first and second housing parts are in the closed position and to release said friction brake pad to allow movement to said engaged position when said first and second housing parts are moved towards the open position.

Preferably, the apparatus also includes control means adapted to cut the electricity supply to said electric motor upon e'f* movement of said first and second housing parts towards the open position. In a preferred form said control means includes an on/off switch adapted to be switched to the off position by engagement of said brake means upon movement of said first and second housing parts towards the open position.

Preferably, said brake means includes a brake actuation member moveable between engaged and disengaged positions corresponding to the engaged and disengaged positions of said friction brake pad and said retaining means includes a retaining member for selectively retaining said actuation member in the disengaged position. In a preferred form said retaining member is a post connected to said second housing part and adapted to extend through an aperture provided in said first housing part when said first and second housing parts are in the closed position and said actuation member is adapted to releasably engage with said post to retain said brake actuation member in SThe disengaged position. In a preferred form, said locking post C -103.amds.Filed 16 October 2002

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-12has a waist and said' actuation member is keyed to releasably engage said waist. Preferably, said biasing means includes a helical coil spring under tension extending from said actuation member to said first housing part.

Preferably, the apparatus includes locking means adapted to lock said first and second housing parts in the closed position while said brake means is in the disengaged position.

In another aspect the invention resides broadly in a shredding rotor adapted to be mounted in the shredding chamber defined by a housing of a garden refuse shredding apparatus, the rotor including: a mounting plate adapted to be connected to a drive shaft S for rotation therewith in the shredding chamber of the shredding apparatus in which the rotor is to be mounted, said mounting e:f plate having one or more chipper blades integral with or mounted thereto and adapted for rotation therewith and an opening in front of the or each chipper blade adapted to receive therethrough refuse shredded by the or each chipper blade, and one or more macerating means integral with or mounted to said mounting plate for rotation therewith and adapted to macerate refuse fed into the chamber in which said rotor is mounted, said macerating means being adapted to macerate garden refuse fed into the shredding chamber of the shredding apparatus in which the rotor is to be mounted.

In another aspect the invention resides broadly in a housing for garden refuse shredding apparatus, the housing being adapted to have mounted therein a shredding rotor and including: first and second housing parts defining a shredding chamber, said first housing part having an opening adapted for communication with a feed hopper connected thereto for directing refuse through said refuse inlet into the shredding chamber, one )103.amds.Filed 16 October 2002 -13of said first and second housing parts or said first and second housing parts having an opening therein or together defining an opening adapted for discharge of shredded refuse from said shredding chamber and said first housing part being movable relative to said second housing part from an operative closed position to an open position for manual removal of refuse from said chamber.

Preferably, the upper housing parts are provided with connecting means for connecting a catcher across the discharge outlet.

In a further aspect this invention resides broadly in a method of inhibiting entwinement of elongate articles about the S: drive shaft of rotary processing members, the method including:forming a barrier wall about the drive shaft to substantially conceal access between the walls from and to which S:'i the drive shaft extends to the rotary processing member, and providing complementary disrupting members onthe respective walls from and to which the drive shaft extends to the rotary processing member, the disrupting members comprising fixed and stationary members which pass closely adjacent one another upon S rotation of the rotary processing member so as to disrupt material tending to pass to the drive shaft.

The disrupting members may be arranged between the drive shaft and the barrier wall or at the side of the barrier wall which is remote from the drive shaft. Suitably the access path across the barrier wall and past the disrupting members is a circuitous or labyrinth path.

The method of inhibiting entwinement of elongate articles about the drive shaft of rotary processing member may also include providing air flow or pressure distribution arrangements about the drive shaft whereby matter disrupted by the XZO j ementary disrupting members is induced to flow away from the -14drive shaft.

In an electrically driven. form of the invention in which the shredding rotor is supported on the output shaft of an electric motor, the shredding rotor suitably includes a friction brake biased to an engaged attitude so as to cause the shredding rotor to slow quickly to a stopped position once electrical power to the driving motor has ceased and a manual on/off control associated with an onboard electrical switch which controls the supply of electricity to the motor such that when the control is moved to the on position for supplying electricity to the motor the brake is maintained in a disengaged position and when the control is moved to the off position the brake is released for stopping the shredding rotor rotating. In one form the brake is a single shoe brake carried on a lever for movement to and from its engaged attitude and co-operable with a switch in its disengaged position to supply electricity to the motor. The brake is suitably arranged as a leading shoe brake such that the effort to operate the brake effectively is reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a typical embodiment of the invention and wherein:- Fig. 1 is a side view of garden refuse shredding apparatus in which the drive means is an internal combustion engine, according to the invention, fitted with a catcher; Fig. 2 is a corresponding side view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 without the catcher; Fig. 3 is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 disposed in a servicing mode without the catcher; Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation of part of the 16 October 2002 apparatus of Fig. 1 along a diametral plane through the drive .shaft of the apparatus; Fig. 5 is B top plan view of the rotor of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a top plan view of an alternative rotor and drive shaft with a modified housing for the apparatus of Fig. 1 according to the invention; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the rotor and drive shaft of Fig. 6 with part of the housing shown in cross-section; Fig. 8 is a top plan view of another alternative rotor and drive shaft for the apparatus of Fig. 1 according to the 6:90 invention; Fig. 9 is a side elevation of part of the apparatus of Fig.

1 with the rotor and drive shaft of Fig. 8 fitted with another modified housing with part of the housing and drive shaft shown in cross-section; Fig. 10 is a more detailed cross-sectional elevation of part of. the apparatus of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is an exploded pictorial view of the rotor of Fig.

8 with the components in line for assembly; Fig. 12 is an exploded pictorial view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 with the rotor and modified housing of Figs. 8 and 9 reppectively in line for assembly; Fig. 13 is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 12 fully assembled and disposed in a servicing mode without a catcher; Fig. 14 is a pictorial representation of a vacuum cleaning attachment for the apparatus of Fig. 1 or Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a pictorial representation of the apparatus of Fig. 1 or Fig. 13 with the vacuum cleaner attachment of Fig. 14 shown in line for assembly; Fig. 16 is a pictorial representation of garden refuse [03.ards.Filed 16 October 2002 -16shredding apparatus in which the drive means is an electric motor, according to the invention; Fig. 17 is a corresponding view but in an inoperative mode; FIG. 18 is a pictorial representation of the apparatus of Fig. 16 disposed in an open servicing mode with the rotor removed; FIG. 19 is a similar representation to Fig. 18 but with the rotor fitted; FIG. 20 is a top view of the rotor of the apparatus of Fig.

16; and FIG. 21 is a bottom plan view of the brake assembly of the apparatus of Fig. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The garden refuse shredding apparatus 10 illustrated in the :i :r5 drawings has a two-part housing 11 supported on rear wheels 12 and a front stand 13. The first (or upper) part 16 of the housing has a substantially rectangular upper wall 16a having a main feed opening (or inlet) 5 provided therein at the rear for receiving general refuse therethrough and a secondary feed opening (or inlet) 6 on one side for branches. A volute shaped side wall 16b extends downwardly from the lower face of the upper wall and terminates in two spaced apart free ends which define a discharge opening 7 at the front of the housing. The second (or lower) part 19 of the housing also has a substantially rectangular upper wall 19a which is adapted to abut the lower edge of the volute shaped side wall 16b such that the upper and lower parts together define a volute shaped shredding chamber 8 which opens to the discharge opening. The first part also has an outer side wall 16c contiguous with the upper wall and extending downwardly therefrom along the two opposite sides and partially across the front ST minating at the opposite ends of the discharge opening to ACbar 103.amds.Filed 16 October 2002 6% -17provide strength, safety and aesthetic appeal. The second part also has a side wall 19b contiguous with the upper wall and:,.

extending downwardly therefrom along the two opposite sides and a front wall 19c to provide strength and aesthetic appeal as well as a sealing face for a refuse blower attachment which will be described later.

A main feed hopper 14 extends upwardly from the upper wall 16a and communicates with the feed opening 5 for feeding refuse into the shredding chamber while a small bore feed tube extends upwardly from the second feed opening for feeding branches and the like to the shredding chamber. A catcher 17 is suspended from the front of the upper part of the housing and is in communication with the discharge opening for receiving shredded refuse from the shredding chamber.

The upper housing part 16 is connected to the lower housing i 'E part 19 at the rear by complementary hinge halves 22a and 22b which enable the upper housing part to be moved relative to the lower housing part about a pivot axis 22c across the rear of the .i housing to open the shredding chamber as illustrated in Fig. 3 by tilting the main feed hopper back and resting it on the ground or a suitable support such as a concrete block. The housing may be held in the open position by a steel bar 4 as shown. For this purpose, a short piece of tube 3 extends upwardly from the lower housing part at an angle to provide a socket adapted to receive therein the end of the steel bar. Spaced apart bolts 25 and nuts are provided to secure the two housing parts together for use at the front of the housing.

A small petrol engine 21 is mounted to the housing 11 on a frame 23 which is connected to and spaced above the upper wall of the first housing part. The output shaft 36 of the engine extends downwardly into the shredding chamber 8 and a drive shaft is mounted on and coaxial therewith as more clearly illustrated 103.amrnds.Filed 16 October 2002 -18in--Fig. 4, the lower end of the drive shaft.,terminating in a flange or hub 31 and the upper part forming a s;leeve 35 about the output shaft. A shredding rotor 20 as will be described more fully later is mounted to the hub of the drive shaft for rotation therewith about the shaft axis which extends vertically through the housing. The drive shaft is a thick walled hollow shaft which is co-terminal with the output shaft 36 of the engine 21 which is engaged within the hollow and keyed thereto by a key. In other embodiments, the drive shaft is longer than the engine output shaft and effectively forms an extension of it. The drive shaft is supported in a bearing 40 which is arranged to carry the axial loads applied to the rotor rather than have them bearing on the engine bearings as will be more clearly described later.

As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the shredding rotor 20 has Sg a disc-like mounting plate 28 which is locked to the motor shaft by a bolt 37 which extends through a central aperture in the mounting plate and threadedly engages a threaded bolt hole in the end of the motor shaft thereby pulling the mounting plate against the end of the shaft 36. The rotor is secured to the hub by four **angularly spaced apart bolts 38 located on a common bolt circle.

20 The mounting plate in this embodiment is 5mm thick steel plate but could be lighter or heavier depending on the application.

The bearing is a self-aligning flange mounted cam-lock bearing which is mounted on a stiffening plate 41 secured to the upper wall 16a of the housing. The inner race 40a of the bearing is locked to the motor shaft 36 by cam lock ring 40b so as to bear the axial working loads applied to the rotor by refuse being forced against the rotor 20. The bearing 40 also accommodates the side and impact loads created by the operation of the chipper blades 30 which otherwise would be borne by the crankshaft. As can be seen in Fig. 4, mounting the engine on the frame 23 above ,l housing provides for easy access to the bearing from the 103.amds.Filed 16 October 2002 -19front of the apparatus.

The mounting plate 28 4is provided with two elongate slots 27 at diametrically opposite positions with the longitudinal axis of each slot being parallel to the diameter of the plate. A chipper blade 30 is bolted tothe mounting plate adjacent each slot such that the cutting edge of each blade is within its respective slot whereby in use chips chipped from a branch and shredded material passes through the respective slots.

Macerator blocks 29 are angularly displaced from the blades by about 90 degrees and are fixed to the rotor 28 with inner ends spaced from the hub 31 to which the rotor 28 is bolted. A Pin 32 extends down from the upper wall 16a of the upper housing part 16 toward the rotor 20 radially inwardly in use from the inner edge of the macerator blocks which are arranged to pass in close proximity to the pin and to shred any refuse material which happens to feed to the inner region of the rotor.

Fan blades 44 are bolted to the bottom face of the mounting plate and are adapted to draw air in through either or both of i the feed openings and to create a draught through the discharge o*oo o opening 7. The draught assists in feeding refuse to be shred into the shredding chamber 8 and in discharging shredded refuse from the shredding chamber. A closure may be provided to close entry to the small bore feed tube 15 to increase the draught through the hopper 14. A closure may also be provided for the discharge outlet to direct shredded material downwards for safety.

Typically, the closure would be a flap as shown at item 47 hinged along its upper edge for up and down movement and arranged to permit a refuse catcher 17 similar to a conventional grass catcher to be releasably hung from the upper part of the housing 11.

It will be seen that the feed hopper 14 converges forwards towards the main feed opening 5 allowing the feed entry to the S- OdST0 Cba^3.amnds.Filed 16 October2002 z)

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hopper to be considerably larger than the feed opening.!A safety flap 48 is pivotally attached to the upper end of the hopper for closing the feed entry after refuse has been placed in the hopper for safety. When closed the flap leaves a narrow gap for air flow to assist with the feeding and/or discharge process. It will also be seen that the small bore feed tube 15 is inclined rearwards to make feeding of lengthy material from the rear easier and to allow oval shaped chips of greater major diameter to be created.

In use, when the rotor 20 is rotated at high speed, a draught of air is induced to flow through the feed hopper 14 and small bore inlet tube 15 to the discharge opening 7. The draught assists in the feeding of refuse to be shredded to the rotor and in keeping the rotor clear of shredded refuse. Most of the refuse will be shredded (or chipped) by the chipper blades 30 and pass through the apertures 27 for discharge through the discharge i :*it opening to the catcher 17. In the event that refuse moves across the top of the rotor adjacent the hub 31 it will be engaged by the macerator blocks 29 and be separated into particles which S will be discharged. The draught of air induced by the fan blades 44 will assist in discharging the macerated refuse.

When maintenance of the rotor, particularly the chipper blades, is required, access can easily be gained by unscrewing bolts 25 and tilting the upper housing part to the open position as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The alternative rotor 58 shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is the same as that of Fig. 5 except that instead of having macerator blocks 29 on the mounting plate 28, diametrically opposite macerator blades 56 are mounted thereon. The macerator blades are generally L- shaped with one leg forming a mounting portion through which the blades are bolted to the mounting plate and the other leg 57 forming a cutter portion which extends upwards from the mounting .a late and is positioned to pass closely to a complementary fixed 103.amds.Filed 16 October 2002 -21arcuate blade 59 which extends downwardly into the shredding chamber 8 from the upper wall 16a of the housing adjacent the flange or hub 31, the shadow of which is shown on the rotor of S Fig. 6. The proximity of the macerator blades and the fixed blade to the hub assists in macerating refuse which otherwise would tend to wrap around the hub and drive shaft thereby causing the engine to stall.

The alternative shredding rotor 60 shown in Fig. 8 and the alternative apparatus incorporating the rotor 60 shown in part in Fig. 9 have been found more effective in macerating fibrous garden refuse, particularly palm fronds than the shredding apparatus described earlier. While the housing is the same as that described earlier in many respects, one difference is that a short tubular member extends downwardly from the upper wall 16a of the upper housing part and terminates adjacent the upper face of the mounting plate to form a shroud 70 about the drive shaft 71 and its flanged end portion 72. Another difference is that instead of the drive shaft being supported by a bearing 40 as in Fig. 4, it is supported by a flange mounted cam lock bearing •g9• assembly 200 which is bolted to the upper wall 16a of the housing ::00 on the outside through the bearing flange 201 by ribbed alien head bolts 63 and the bolt heads 64 are positioned adjacent the outer cylindrical face of the shroud 70. Diametrically opposite macerator blades 61 are arranged to co-act with the bolt heads 64 to shred refuse therebetween and with the shroud to force refuse away therefrom as will now be described.

Each macerator blade 61 extends directly upwards from the mounting plate 69 adjacent the shroud with a recess being provided to accommodate the bolt heads 64 as the rotor rotates.

The bolt heads are positioned adjacent the shroud and terminate about half way along the shroud resulting in each blade being

JS

4 stantially L-shaped in side elevation. Thus it can be seen 103.amds.Filed 16 October 2002 -22that one edge port on 62a of each blade passes closely adjacent.

the end face 63 of- the bolt head, one orthogonal edge 62b passes closely adjacent the ,shroud below the bolt head and another orthogonal edge 62c radially out from and above the first orthogonal edge passes closely adjacent the cylindrical face of each bolt head. As can be more clearly seen in Fig. 10, the apparatus shown in part in Fig. 9 ensures that refuse can only reach the drive shaft via a circuitous path as indicated by the arrow 75 while the rotor is rotating. Refuse which is forced inward beyond the chipper blades 76 will be macerated by the macerator blades 61 and discharged with the general shredded refuse. As can be more clearly seen in Fig. 11, the fan blades see: oooo #0000 ee ~77 are secured to the mounting plate by the same bolts as secures the chipper blades 76 and the fanning portion 77a trails the of*: chipper blade which is believed to give better air flow :I:i characteristics.

Fig. 12 illustrates the simple and easy to manufacture nature of the shredding apparatus according to the present invention previously described with the housing and frame •go• *00 components being formed mostly of folded sheet metal bolted together and punched for bolt on mounting of other components such as the engine and flange mounted cam lock bearing while Fig.

13 shows the ease of servicing the rotor components which are normally concealed within the rotor housing. Further, the centre of gravity of the shredding apparatus illustrated is located between the wheels 12 and the stand 13 for stable operation. The weight of the hopper is offset by the catcher and the handle 24 provides for simple balanced wheeling of the shredder 10 from location to location as well as support for the upper part of the housing when in the open position.

The vacuum cleaner attachment illustrated in Fig. 14, s udes a length of flexible tube 83 with a spigot type coupling 3 amnds.Filed 16 October 2002 0 -23at one end which is adapted to engage in the small bore feed tube of any of the shredding apparatus previously described, the feed tube being shown in part in Fig. 14 as item 80. A pivoted closure flap 81 is normally fitted to the small bore feed tube and is normally closed under gravity in orderto ensure that the main source of air to the shredding chamber is through the main feed hopper 14 and the main feed opening 5. The other end of the flexible tube terminates in a suction nozzle and handle.

The shredding apparatus may be converted for use as a refuse blower as shown in Fig. 15 by connecting a refuse blower attachment to the housing of the apparatus in fluid communication S with the discharge opening 7. The refuse blower attachment includes an adaptor housing 90 which is adapted to be suspended from the upper part of the housing 11 from hooks 91 in the same g. manner as the catcher 17 and to seal against. the front of the "o.0j; housing, and a flexible tube 93 which is connected to the adaptor anrid communicates therewith via a blower outlet spigot 92, and a 0. nozzle 94 connected to the other end of the. flexible tube. A handle 95 is also provided for ease of use.

The garden refuse shredder assembly 110 illustrated in Fig.

16 is similar to the shredder illustrated in Fig. 1 in many respects. The main difference is that instead of being driven by coooe an internal combustion engine, it is driven by an electric motor which results in some variations. The housing 112 is a two part housing and is substantially the same as the housing of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and has an upper part 120 pivotally connected to a lower part 122 by hinges 121 such that the upper part 120 may be opened as shown in Figs. 18 and 19 to provide access to the shredding chamber 108 in a similar manner to that previously described in relation to Fig. 1. Normally the housing parts are secured together in the closed position by spaced apart S 124.

16 October 2002 -24- As can be more clearly seen in Fig. 18, a post 130 extends upwardly from the lower housing part 122, and extends through a .1

I

complementary aperture 133 provided in the upper housing part 120 when the housing is closed as can be seen in Fig. 17. When the housing is in the closed position, the upper end portion 131 of the post is exposed above the upper wall of the upper housing part housing 120 as can be seen in Figs. 16 and 17.

An electric drive motor 113 is mounted to the housing 112 on a mounting frame (or bracket) 136 which is connected to and spaced above the upper wall of the first housing part. The output shaft of the motor extends downwardly into the shredding chamber and a shredding rotor 111 is mounted to the output shaft for rotation therewith about the shaft axis which extends vertically through the housing via a hollow drive shaft or hub 135 as will be described more fully later. A main feed hopper 114 is provided :5 at the rear of the housing for directing garden refuse to the shredding chamber and a discharge outlet 115 is provided at the front of the housing through which shredded refuse may be discharged in the same manner as described in relation to the apparatus of Fig. 1. As can be more clearly seen in Fig. 19, the J20 shredding chamber is the same as that described in relation to S" the apparatus of Fig. 1 with an expanding discharge chute 125 opening to the discharge opening 115. The feed opening 126 for passage of refuse from the hopper to the shredding chamber can be seen in Fig. 18 along with the stopper 127 which is bolted to the trailing edge of the inlet 126 and adapted to co-act with the chipper blades 128 of the rotor to shear refuse fed through the feed opening 126 into the shredding chamber.

The hollow drive shaft or hub 135 is similar to drive shaft 9 described in relation to the apparatus of Fig. 1 except that besides the end flange 140 to which the rotor is bolted a solid cylindrical brake drum portion 141 of relatively large diameter 16 October 2002 is provided which is. positioned above the upper wall 16a of the housing between the motor mounting frame 136 and the upper wall.

A brake lever 137 is mounted at one end to a pin 123 which depends from the mounting frame 136 and is releasably connected to the post 130 at its other end through aperture 145 whereby upon release from the post the lever is pivotally moveable towards and away from the brake drum portion 141. A brake pad 138 is secured to the lever and arranged to engage with the cylindrical surface of the drum when the lever is moved towards the drum. A coil spring 139 is connected to the lever remote from the mounting pin which biasses the brake pad into engagement with the brake drum when the lever is released from the post 130.

An on/off power switch 140 is also mounted to the mounting frame 136 adjacent the brake lever 137. The switch is positioned and arranged so that the lever holds the switch in the "on" position when the lever is engaged with the post 130 and in the retained position. When the lever is released from the post the lever moves towards the brake drum and away from the switch which S then opens (that is switches off) and the brake pad engages the drum to slow the rotor which should reach standstill in a matter of seconds. Although the lever can be manually lifted from the pin so that the coil spring can pull it towards the brake drum, it will be appreciated that when the upper part 120 of the housing 112 is moved from the closed position to the open position relative to the lower part 122, it lifts the lever off the post thereby allowing the spring to pull the lever and attached brake pad into the engaged position and the switch to the off position, thus making the apparatus relatively safe. In some embodiments, the post 130 has a waist as shown at 150 and the aperture 145 of the lever is a keyhole slot in which the narrow part of the slot is a sliding fit around the waist and the lever is held in engagement with the narrow part by the spring 101 03.amds.Filed 16 October 2002 -26bias. Advantageously, in such form the upper housing part cannot be tilted relative to the lower housing part without first releasing the lever from the post thereby allowing the brake pad to engage the drum.

If desired, a more accessible master switch may be provided to provide an operator with a direct means of switching the electric motor on or off. Such a switch may be positioned on the handle of the shredding apparatus or placed elsewhere as desired.

Referring to Fig. 21, the brake drum is shown for clockwise rotation looking into the page and the brake lever and pad cooperate with the brake drum in a manner which acts similar to a leading shoe brake assembly which provides a self servo effect to assist the coil spring 139.

It will be appreciated that in other respects the rotor and housing correspond closely with those of the apparatus described :'15 in relation to Figs. 8 and 9. The rotor includes a mounting plate 0 116 to which chipper blades 128, fan blades 161 and macerator blades 166 are mounted in the same manner as in Fig. 8 and a shroud 164 is provided about the hub 140 in the same manner as in Figs. 9 and 10 with the macerator blades coacting with the S shroud and allen head bolts 165 as previously described. Chipped or shredded refuse passes through the openings 162 and then are discharged through the discharge outlet.

It will of course be realised that the above has been given by way if illustrative embodiment of the invention and all modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as is defined in the appended claims.

Claims (16)

1. Garden refuse shredding apparatus including: a housing defining a chamber having a refuse inlet for receiving refuse therethrough and a discharge outlet through which shredded material may be discharged; a feed hopper in communication with said refuse inlet for directing refuse through said refuse inlet into said chamber; a rotor mounted in said chamber, said rotor including a mounting plate connected to a drive shaft or hub and adapted to rotate therewith about an axis of rotation extending through said housing, and one or more chipper blades integral with or mounted to said mounting plate for rotation therewith, said mounting plate having an opening in front of the or each chipper blade S through which shredded refuse may pass, and one or more :15 macerating means integral with or mounted to said mounting plate for rotation therewith and adapted to macerate refuse fed into said chamber, and fan means integral with or mounted to said mounting plate for rotation therewith for creating an outflow of air through said outlet; and drive means operatively connected to said drive shaft or hub for causing said rotor to rotate.

2. Garden refuse shredding apparatus including: a housing defining a chamber having a refuse inlet for receiving garden refuse therethrough and a discharge outlet through which shredded refuse may be discharged; a feed hopper in communication with said refuse inlet for directing refuse through said refuse inlet into said chamber; a rotor mounted in said chamber, said rotor including a mounting plate connected to a drive shaft or hub and adapted to rotate therewith about an axis of rotation extending through said -28- housing, and one or more chipper blades integral with or mounted to said mounting plate for rotation therewith, said, mounting plate having an opening in front of the or each chipper blade through which shredded refuse may pass, and one or more macerating means integral with or mounted to said mounting plate for rotation therewith and adapted to macerate refuse fed into said chamber; fan means in fluid communication with said chamber for creating an outflow of air through said outlet; and drive means operatively connected to said drive shaft or hub for causing said rotor to rotate. S 3. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said one or more chipper blades are elongate blades which are bolted to said mounting plate and extend partially across said mounting plate towards its periphery.

4. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein said one or more macerating means are angularly displaced .og from said one or more chipper blades. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said drive shaft or hub extends through a wall of said housing and said mounting plate is spaced from said wall and said drive shaft or hub between said wall and said mounting plate is enclosed by a shroud.

6. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim wherein said shroud abuts and is secured to said housing at one end and terminates adjacent said mounting plate at the other end.

7. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 6, -29- wherein said one or more macerating means are adapted to pass in close proximity to said shroud as said rotor rotates.

8. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said one or more macerating means are adapted to co-act with one or more complementary protrusions on or secured to said housing.

9. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said one or more macerating means is adapted to pass in close proximity to said one or more complementary protrusions and said shroud as said rotor rotates. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of Claims 7 to 9, wherein said one or more macerating means includes a block, lug, blade, or the like which is adapted to pass in S close proximity to said one or more complementary protrusions and to force refuse into engagement with said complementary protrusions thereby macerating refuse adjacent said protrusions as said rotor rotates.

11. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner end of the or each elongate chipper blade passes in close proximity to said one or more complementary protrusions and said one or more elongate chipper blades extend to the periphery of said mounting plate.

12. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said drive means is an internal combustion engine and said drive shaft or hub is coaxial with and connected to the output shaft of said engine for rotation therewith. 16 October 2002

13. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein said drive shaft or hub is supported in a bearing whiqh- is mounted to said wall through which said drive shaft or hub extends and said bearing is adapted to bear axial working loads applied to said drive shaft or hub.

14. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein said bearing is outside said chamber. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein said bearing is a self-aligning bearing having an inner race which is locked to said drive shaft or hub for 09.: rotation therewith. oooo

16. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of oi.5 Claims 13 to 15, wherein said bearing is a flange mounted bearing which is bolted to said housing by two or more bolts and the heads of said bolts form said complementary protrusions. o.o

17. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 16, wherein said bolt heads are substantially cylindrical and have S ribs or other protrusions thereon adapted to grip garden refuse as said rotor rotates.

18. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of Claims 14 to 17 including an engine mounting base operatively connected to said housing and spaced from said housing wall to provide access to said bearing, and wherein said internal combustion engine is mounted on said base.

19. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein said drive means is an electric motor.

103.amds.Filed 16 October 2002 -31- Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of 'the preceding claims wherein said wall through which said drive shaft or hub extends is a first wall of said housing and said housing includes a second wall spaced from said first wall, said first wall being operatively connected to said second wall for pivoting movement relative thereto about a pivot axis from a closed position in which said first and second walls together define at least in part said chamber and enclose said rotor and an open position in which said rotor is exposed to allow manual removal of refuse from said chamber. 21. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 0.0: .wherein, in use, said first wall is an upper wall and said second wall is a lower wall and a set of wheels and/or skids are e:e0 operatively connected to said lower wall for supporting said housing thereon. 22. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said fan means is adapted to induce air flow through said feed hopper to assist in feeding refuse :X through said refuse inlet. 23. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 22, wherein said housing forms an expanding outflow passage from said chamber to said discharge outlet. 24. Garden refuse shredding apparatus as claimed in Claim 23, wherein said chamber is a volute shaped chamber. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of Claims 22 to 24, wherein said fan means includes one or more fan blades mounted on the side of the mounting plate opposite to said "Cb amds.Filed 16 October 2002 ~OF k. -32- one or more macerating means. 26. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said shredding rotor is mounted for rotation in use about a generally upright axis, said refuse inlet opens generally upwards, said feed hopper extends upwardly from said refuse inlet, said one or more macerating means extend upwardly from said mounting plate on the side proximal to said refuse inlet and said fan means extends downwardly from said mounting plate on the side distal from said refuse inlet. 27. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said inlet has a leading edge and a trailing edge adjacent said rotor and relative to its rotation and stop means extend across said refuse inlet adjacent said trailing edge against whichrefuse may rest as it is chipped by said one or more chipper blades. 28. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said refuse inlet opens onto a portion of said mounting plate extending across at least the oooeo S outermost one third of its diameter. 29. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 28, wherein each of said at least one chipper blade extends across at least the outermost one third of the diameter of said mounting plate. Garden refuse shredding apparatus including: a housing defining a chamber having a refuse inlet for receiving refuse therethrough and a discharge outlet through which shredded material may be discharged; oST Cbar 4 amdsFiled 16 October 2002 0~OF -33- a feed hopper in communication with said refuse inlet for directing refuse through said refuse inlet into said:chamber; a rotor. mounted in said chamber to a drive shaft :or hub extending through a wall of said housing, said rotor including a mounting plate connected to and adapted to rotate with said drive shaft or hub about its axis, and one or more chipper blades integral with or mounted to said mounting plate for rotation therewith; and an internal combustion engine having an output shaft co- axial with and solidly connected to said drive shaft or hub for causing said rotor to rotate, said drive shaft or hub being supported in a bearing which is mounted to said wall through which said drive shaft or hub extends and said bearing is adapted o.o. to bear axial working loads applied to said drive shaft or hub. So 31. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim o* 0 wherein said drive shaft or hub has a central bore and the output shaft of said engine is engaged in said central bore. .o go 32. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 31, wherein said drive shaft or hub is locked to said output shaft by a key extending through the wall of said drive shaft or hub and engaging with a key way in said output shaft. 33. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 32, wherein said key is secured by a collar extending about said drive shaft or hub. 34. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 33, wherein said collar includes grub screws which engage with said key. 16 October 2002 -34- Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of claims 30 to 34, wherein said bearing is outside said chamber. 36. Garden refuse shredding apparatus. according to any one of claims 30 to 35, wherein said bearing is a self-aligning bearing having-an inner race which is locked to said drive shaft or hub for rotation therewith. 37. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of Claims 30 to 36, wherein said bearing is a flange mounted cam lock bearing which is bolted to said housing wall and cam locked to said drive shaft or hub. 38. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of oooo Claims 30 to 37, including an engine mounting base operatively o. connected to said housing and spaced from said housing wall to S provide access to said bearing and wherein said internal gee combustion engine is mounted on, said base. S 39. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of claims 30 to 38, wherein said mounting plate is spaced from said wall and said drive shaft or hub between said wall and said mounting plate is enclosed by a shroud extending about said drive shaft or hub. oooee 40. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 39, wherein said rotor includes one or more macerating means integral with or mounted to said mounting plate for rotation therewith adjacent said shroud and adapted to macerate refuse fed into said chamber. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of 16 October 2002 claims 30 to 39, including fan means in fluid communication with said chamber for:creating an outflow of air through said outle&. 42. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 41, wherein said fan means are integral with or mounted to said mounting plate for rotation therewith. 43. Garden refuse shredding apparatus including: a housing defining a chamber having a refuse inlet for receiving refuse therethrough and a discharge outlet through which shredded material may be discharged; a feed hopper in communication with said refuse inlet for directing refuse through said refuse inlet into said chamber; a rotor mounted in said chamber to a drive shaft or hub 00: extending through a wall of said housing, said rotor including a mounting plate connected to and adapted to rotate with said 00 drive shaft or hub about its axis, and one or more chipper blade3 integral with or mounted to said mounting plate for rotation therewith, said wall through which said drive shaft or hub ee extends being a first wall of said housing and said housing 20 including a second wall spaced from said first wall and said first wall being operatively connected to said second wall for pivoting movement relative thereto about a pivot axis from a closed position in which said first and second walls together define at least in part said chamber and enclose said rotor and an open position in which said rotor is exposed to allow manual removal of refuse from said chamber; and drive means operatively connected to said drive shaft or hub for causing said rotor to rotate. 44. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 43, Ax* in, in use, said first wall is an upper wall and said second Filed 16 October 2002 -36- wall is a lower wall and a set of wheels and/or skids are operatively connected to said lower wall for supporting said housing thereon. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 43 or Claim 44, wherein said shredding rotor is mounted for rotation in use about a generally upright axis, said refuse inlet opens generally upwards, said refuse inlet is adjacent the periphery of said first wall, said feed hopper extends upwardly from said refuse inlet and said pivot axis is adjacent said refuse inlet. 46. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim wherein said discharge outlet is generally opposite said refuse inlet. 47. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 45 or Claim 46, wherein said chamber is volute shaped and expands towards said discharge outlet. 48. Garden refuse shredding apparatus including: 2 a housing having first and second housing parts defining a chamber, said first housing part being movable relative to said second housing part from an operative closed position to an open position for manual removal of refuse from said chamber; an electric motor operatively connected to said first housing part; a rotor mounted in said chamber, said rotor including a mounting plate connected to the output shaft of said electric motor and adapted to rotate therewith about the axis of rotation of said output shaft, and one or more chipper blades integral with or mounted to said mounting plate for rotation therewith; 16 October 2002 -37- brake means adapted to brake said rotor when said housing parts are in the open position. 49. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 48, wherein the output shaft of said electric motor extends through a wall of said first housing part and said first housing part is operatively connected to said second housing part for pivoting movement relative thereto about a pivot axis adjacent a peripheral edge of said second housing part. 50. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 48 or Claim 49, wherein said brake means includes a rotating drum or disc connected to said output shaft and a friction brake pad operatively connected to said first housing part and adapted to S move from a disengaged position to an engaged position in contact with said rotating drum or disc. 51. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim including biassing means adapted to bias said friction brake pad towards engagement with said brake drum or disc and retaining 20 means adapted to retain said friction brake pad in said disengaged position while said first and second housing parts are in the closed position and to release said friction brake pad to allow movement to said engaged position when said first and second housing parts are moved towards the open position. 52. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of Claims 48 to 51, including control means adapted to cut the electricity supply to said electric motor upon movement of said first and second housing parts towards the open position. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 52, 16 October 2002 -38- wherein said control means includes an on/off switch adapted to be switched to the off position by said brake means upon movement of said first and second housing parts towards the open position. 54. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of Claims 51 to 53, wherein said brake means includes a brake actuation member moveable between engaged and disengaged positions corresponding to the engaged and disengaged positions of said friction brake pad and said retaining means includes a retaining member for selectively retaining said actuation member in the disengaged position. 55. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 54, wherein said retaining member is a post connected to said second housing part and adapted to extend through an aperture provided in said first housing part when said first and second housing parts are in the closed position and said actuation member is adapted to releasably engage with said post to retain said friction brake pad is the disengaged position. 0 56. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim Swherein said locking post has a waist and said actuation member has a keyhole slot adapted to releasably engage said waist. 57. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of Claims 54 to 56, wherein said biasing means includes a helical coil spring under tension extending from said actuation member to said first housing part. 58. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of Claims 51 to 57 including locking means adapted to lock said S- -rst and second housing parts in the closed position while said Cbai' 3.amds.Filed 16 October 2002 -39- brake means is in the disengaged position. 59. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said refuse inlet is a first refuse inlet and said housing includes a second refuse inlet through which branches and the like can be fed to the rotor. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 59, wherein said second refuse inlet has a tubular guide or hopper in communication therewith adapted to act as a bearing surface for refuse. 61. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 59 or Claim 60, wherein said first and second inlets are arranged such that the outer portion of the or each chipper blade passes across S: 5 said second inlet while the whole of the or each chipper blade passes across said first inlet. 62. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 61, wherein said first refuse inlet extends across about between one- half and three-quarters of the rotor's radial extent while the second inlet extends across about the outer one-quarter to one- half of the rotor's radial extent. 0•too 63. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 62, wherein said first inlet extends across the outer two-thirds of the rotor's radial extent while the second inlet extends across the outer one-third of the rotor's radial extent. 64. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 1 as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying ings. CbarIlOI .amds.Filed 16 October 2002 OFin Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 2 as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 66. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 30 as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 67. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 43 as hereinbef ore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 68. Garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 47 as hereinbef ore described with reference t~o the accompanying drawings. 69. Garden refuse shredding apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the accomipan'ying drawings. A shredding rotor adapted to be mounted in the shredding chamber defined by a housing of a garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim I. or Claim 2, the rotor including: a mounting plate adapted to be connected to a drive shaft for rotation therewith in the shredding chamnber of the shredding apparatus in which the rotor is to be mounted, said mounting plate having one or more chipper blades integral with or mounted thereto and adapted for rotation therewith and an opening in front of the or each chipper blade adapted to receive therethrough refuse shredded by the or each chipper blade, and one or more macerating means integral with or mounted to said mounting plate for rotation therewith and adapted to macerate refuse fed into the chamber in which said rotor is mounted, said burl01 03.nnjndments.27 Nov'ember 2002 z 27/11 '02 WED 10:39 [TX/RX NO 8730] ~V1 ~l PVY~ YI l' VLI-II -41- macerating means being adapted to macerate garden refuse fed into the shredding chamber of the shredding apparatus in which the rotor is to be mounted. 71. A housing for garden refuse shredding apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, the housing being adapted to have mounted therein a shredding rotor and including: first and second housing parts defining a shredding chamber, said first housing part having an opening adapted for communication with a feed hopper connected thereto for directing refuse through said refuse inlet into the shredding chamber, one of said first and second housing parts or said first and second housing parts having an opening therein or together defining an opening adapted for discharge of shredded refuse from said shredding chamber and said first housing part being movable relative to said second housing part from an operative closed position to an open position for manual removal of refuse from said chamber. 72. A shredding rotor for garden shredding apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 73. A housing for garden shredding apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. amds m 7 Nomr 2002 rharrf .amds.amendments.27 November 2002 27/11 '02 WED 10:39 [TX/RX NO 8730] L