CA2442494C - Modular drive wheel for log processors, delimbers and single grip harvesters - Google Patents

Abstract

The modular drive wheel for log processors includes a tubular midsection sandwiched between a pair of annular rings mounted concentrically on opposite ends of the midsection. The midsection has a resilient outer surface extending around the midsection. The pair of annular rings each have a radially spaced apart array of notches therearound. The notches in the radially spaced apart arrays of notches are sized to snugly receive in releasable locking engagement therein links on opposite ends of chain segments extending between the pair of annular rings. The drive wheel further includes means mounted between the pair of annular rings for selectively forcing apart the pair of annular rings along a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the midsection.

Description

~~~~f.~l~ ~~1~1~ 'I~I~EIJ i~~W f,~~~ ~~~:~~1=;~5~~~~, ~1~,~;~II~/:~~3~,~,1a~
~~~I~ ~11~~~.E ~'.~~'P
~~ i~a'~/ l~S~fEI~~
Meld ofthe I~ve~tion This iz~~erftio~ rei~3te,s to the fie;ld of log processors, detirrnbers ~.~d single grid harvesters arid in particular, for Esc; thereon. to ~~ iz~~ro ved dr~~e.
~~~eel ofrnodnlar eo~str~etioi~.
~ack~;ro~~d of the Invention It is yell l~r~ova~~ i.~.~ the l~r~or ~~t v.o ease log ~.~li~ers, ~roeesso~°s, single grip harvesters and other log ~roeessin~; ~aehines ~g~~~reinafter voile~.tivel~
referred to as ~roeessors~ for e~arra~le in the form c~f attaeh~e~~cs for rnownting to the distal end of the boorr~ and stick of an e~ceavator ~or the deli~9~ing ar~~. proeessing of felled trees.
~or~vea~tionally, the delia~r~ber attac~nent pivks ~z~ one end of a ~,Iled tree ~r, ~:vh~~~ tl~e trees are ofsn~al'3er ~dia~netvr, gathers the ends of a ~l~:ralit~ of trees so as to :lace, the ei~d of i~i~e tree or trees bet~veera a pair of drive ~nrlxeels ~.o~nted ors opposite sides of the tree or trees. t~, pair of grappling alrr~s hold the ends of the trees between the drive wheels and ~~ against a~. elo~~gate stapporting frame to whieh are o~.znted the grappling a~°rns arid the drive w~eE~ls. '~~.jah the grappling arms legging the trees vp against the 2 0 support frame so as to dispose tl~e ends of thke trees =~etweera the drive wheel s, the drive wheels are ac;t~aated so as to snngl~ f~ictior~~3x~ engage op~~osite sides of the tree or trees therebetweerg and draver~ so as to ran the tcree or trees loc~gitodinall~ along their le~~~~h thereby eausin,g the ass to strip the branehes. '~'he tree or trees so longitudinally driven b~ ~~~e pair of wheels n~~~% be stab~ect to repeated passes tl~o~.gh the ar'~s by tla~. reversing of the drive direction of the wheels so as to 2 5 prod~ee a reeiprocating stroke of tl~e tree ~~r~nks until the operator is satisfied with the result. 'fhe frar~~e gay also support a res~tei~ aet~ab'e ~.aw for cutting tl~e tr~r~ks, or~ee delibed, into le:r~gths.

In the prior ~rt~ the arrive whPeis nay cor~~entiotg~iiy be for e~a~npie ei~tber entirely rigid ~~beeis whose outer surface are ~;o'v~;red t~~,<~ spikes or other grip e~~h~n ei8~g rne~nsg or rnay be rubber sheathed wheels er~ploy~r~g eliai~~ ~%~rapped around the ir~~aer and outer s~.~rfaces of the wheel. The chains are wrcapped '~o produce a toy ~as-Tike protecti ~.~e cover around the rubber and so that the varapped strand of ehai~ enl~anees the grid of the rub~~er°
dri~~e wheel eng~gi~.g the tree trunks being held ~n the delF&Yi~e:°. ~t 1~ t~'its a~tt~r type ~~
~Jtr~~,ee~ ~a~filie~ IS the ~~1''~°~jeCt ~;9:f g~he irnprovernents according to the pr~ser~t inve~~tiono The conventionai r:~~bber v~heels used in con~uns~~io~~ wah a ~.~rapped chain are one 1 C piece ~r~:~eets. consequently, as the eh~:irr during use wears and qtr etches, the ehai~~ ~eeornes more loosely wrapped around the wh~,eas~d eonse~~~ently in~,rease;~ tie rare o~f erosi~r~ of the rubber outer liner orf the vJheet beyond t.~.t normally e~~eo entered ~,~he~ tile chain is tight, resulting in the premature ~~~e~~r of the rubber outs r liner and. ~. shorr:ened useful life of the rubber outer finer before the ex3tire wheel ra~.ust be replaced ~~nd the worn wheels sent for ~e;~lser~sive re~~rbisi~ir~g. ~feog~.rse, operator s nay, and should, periodieally tig;~ten vhe chain satrap ~:~ take up the slack in the chain due to ~,vear arid stretching so as to e_~tend the use~a~l fife of the rut~ber vvheei° ~Iowever, in reality, because this is quite a time eo~s~~aing e~ereiSe involving l~~vir~g to rerr~o~e the er~A'cire wheat frorr~
tl~e delimber end thereby e~usi~g s=gnit~icr~nt dov~~~a tine o~ tl-~e eo~uiprr~er~t., operators o'~~r en will not perfor°n sash periodic tightening of the e~~agr~. 4.~onseqa.~ently, it is one object of the present 2 0 invention to assist operators ira_ mov°e si~npiy and qz~ic,hly taghter~ing lengths of chain x~our~ted onto the modular rubber drive whe~;l of the p~°esent in~rentio~rx and to provide for ease of interchangeability of parts of the drive ~,~neel ~;-hi~:,h are su~jee;t to ~re~r.
Sun~m~r°~ of the Inventio~~
In summary, the rrP~~dol~r ri~Je ~rl~~:el for log processors of pie preserbt ir~vea~ation includes ~ tubular midsection s~r~dwicl~e~ 'oet"vaE:en ~ pair of armuiar rings mounted concentrically on opposite ends of the rnidsectio~. The cr~icisectio~E tree ~i resilie~~t outc;r surface extending ~rour~d the midsection. 'The pair ~f a~~~lar .Sings cash laa~c ~ radially spaced apart array of r~o~ches therear~und. ~. he notches i~ the radially spiced apart arrays of:rrotches arc sized to sr~~gly receive irl releasable locking er~gagcrne~.t there$r~ lir~h~ on opposite creeds of chain scgrnents extending het~cen the pair of annular rings. ~'he drive ~hce~ fizrthcr incl~.dcs ~r~ear~s n~o~nte,d betvaeen the pair of ~.nn~lar rings for sclccti~re-1y forcing ~par~ ~h pair c~f ari~a~l~r rings along a longst~.~dinai axis of syrnrr~c~ry of the idsectio~.
~ radially spaced apart ar:~°a~y of grc~ovcs rr~ay c~~atc,~d substarEtially lo~~gitudi~°~ally along the rraidsection so as to he sabstanti~Il~ para~_1cI to the lo~~gi~~dinal axis of syrr~rnctry of the midsection. 'The grooves are formed ire the resilient outer surface of tl~.e midscctio~~. 'T he grooves arc aligned ~r%ith corresponding k:~o=:ches ivy the r~di«lly spaced a.~ar~
are°ays of'notchcs. ~'hc affrays ofnotchcs are in o~~p~ositely disposed relatiovA to eac;=~a o-tlFer on o~positely disposed eT~ds of the pair ~:i ar~ular rings.
A, plurality of chain segancrts are; m~ur~tcd or rnour~~able arovr~d the n~fidsectior~ ira a radially spaced apart array. each chain segrr~e.~~t E~f the pl~rali~:y of chai:a~ segrnen~a is r~rno~ntcd substantially parallel to the longir:~~d:nal axis s~f the miciscctio~~ and.
has a le~.gtl~_ which is long enough to extend from being rel~;~sabl~~ 1,~~..l~ecl inta~ a cor respor~dir~g notch at one e,~~ad of the each chain segment, and, at the other cud of the each chain se;grrvent, relcasably locl~ed into a 2 0 corresz~orFdPr~g oppositely d9 sposed notch so as ~o ai=g~~ each chair~g seg~:ncn4 al~_~g a coy cespor~ding groove of the array of grooves.
;r~ ore embodime~~--~, one; asa~vlaa ring o1° the pair ~9f aF~ri~iar rigs furtl~cr corr~priscs a shirt ring rnountcd thereto. 'fhe ~:kirt rig ag a xtc;nds around the ~.rn~lar rirygs, around ~~ base ofthc 2 5 annular ri3~g. 'The shirt ring has a ra~dially spliced apart array of r:ot~hes thcrearound for relcasably mating v~ith ~ chain link, ~rhere tl~c chaff link is one of the li3rtalcs between opposit~° e~~d lids of each of the chain segments when the cl~ais~ segments ~.re rno~~rAtcd around the midsection in a radially spaced array of chain segBrae~ts each s~~bsta~atially pa~-<~.ilel to the longitudinal axis of the midsection. ~'he notches assist in guiding tire linlcc in tlm chain segments into mating alignment with coxresponding grooves in the array of oro~~~rcs around the: ~nidse ;tion.
In one, err3bodzment, the radially spaced apart arrays ofgrooves on ll~e midsection may be equally radially spaced apart.
'fhe notches on the pair of annular rings rr~ay then also be equally ~°adially spaced. apart. T'he radially spaced apart array of groo~,~cs may ~e form~:d as parallel helical spirals her_ically spiralling about the longitudinal axis.
In one ernbodirr~~en~. of the yr_°~,se~~t inver~tio n, the, rx~.eans for forcing ~har°~ the pair of annular rings gray include a telescopirng ~~oantir~g means telesoopicaly mounting a ~~rst annular ring of the annular rings to the midsection. T'he shirt ring may be mounted to a second anr;ular ring of the pair of annular rings opposite to 'tee ~~rst armular ring. Tlae telescopic ~reounting means may include a first annular flange concentrically rigidly mounted within the first annular ring, a second armular flange concentrically rigidly mounted withi~~ the ~nidsection and selectively adjustable spacing means, for selectively adjLZSting a lo~~gitudinal spacing between the first and second annular ~"langes, mou~.ted ~etwean-~he ~arsv~ and second. annular flanges. further, spacing means may include a threaded member threadably engaging corresponding threaded apertures in the first and second annular flanges, and also may include refnovably mountable rigid spacers remoqJably mountable between the. first and se~.~or~d an~vular flanges.
In a preferred embodiment, the end ring which may be telescopically translated relative to the midsection also h~~s a resilient ~>uter svrFa.ce thereahound, and the rac~~ial an~ay of notches are recessed radially ii-~wa~~°dly o~~ti~e resilient band so that the corresponding ends of the chain segments must be tensioned across the resilient band so as to lochably engage into the notches. in this fashion, the resisie~~t band serves to resilien~:iy apply a te,nsionir~g ~ree to the 2 5 chain segments to assist in taping up anir~or slack in the chain :9~;genrs due to wear and stretch in between periodic adjustments in vhe telescopic, relationship between the midsection and the end ring which may be telescopically translated.

both cud rir~.gs ire rovided ~witr locking rin~~; ~ai~i~,~h gay be ~ot,~~ted over the notches to lock the end chain li;~ of the chair. se;~r~e,~ts into the ergo ring rgotches.
'I'he spiralled or slued ~rr~y of ch~ia~ se~rrgerat;~ og~ the drive wheels thereby urge logs i~~ the delirrgber iu ~ directions ~~airist t~~e trance ~~~~the del:ig~be~.
brief ~3escrr~tio~a of the ~r~v~i~~
Figure 1 is, i~ ~eg°s:~icyive view, ~ lj~~ detiber ~~~d processor h~vig~g the modular drive wheels according to the ~re,~.erat :~nvergtie~:y ~Aourgtes a therefor.
FigLire Z is, ire per~~ectve view., ore of -tl~e odalu~° drive ~~rlzeels ~:~ Figure t.
Figure 2a is9 i~ enlarged ~~rti~l.ly cg:~tav~~y view, urge drive wheel ofthe i~vea~riorg of F figure 1, Figure 3 is ~ p~rtl.a~ly cud: ~w~y enlarged view c'~ ~ ~ortioz~ of F'iga~re 2.
Figure 4 is erg exploded vleF~ ir~sid~ elev~tiou of the drive wheel of Figurc ~,.
Figure 5 is ~~ exploded ~ers~ecaiv~, view of th~: dr_ve wheel of Figure ~.
Figure 5~ is ~~ eg~t~rged artr~lly cast ~w~y view t~e~ ~ro~ the exploded view of Figure ~.
Figure 6 is e~t~x-;ed v~Ee~%a oi'~ iCOrtic~~ of Fi;g~re ~.
Figure '~ is ~~a eg~l~e~ed vie~,~~ of the; botto:rga ir~,~ of Figure 4.

~'ig~rc ~ is9 in c~~~la~°ged ~r dally cutwaway v~c~j, an alternative preferred en~bc~dirnent of the annular guide ~~ing ~~ the drive wheel according tc~ the present invention.
~ctailed ~escr°z~tion of ~rn~cdir~ents of tl~c I~~wcr~ricn As seen in the ~ccc~~p~~~y~ng figvre:~ wherein sir~rgilar characters ~fref~rer~ce den~tc c~rrcsp~r~dir~g parts in each vicvrj the lsg .~rs~~~,es:~~r I~ of f"ignre I
includes a c~~~plcr I2 f~r rn~unting supp~rt frame I~ to tl~e .re~-r~~te ei~d c~l~a ~b,-s~rk a~~~ suc;i:g as the end ofthe h~~~and stick of an excavator ~n~t shown). ~ ~_ opposed f~; ing pair of ar°rrgs 1 ~
are pivotally rxi~untcd to frame I ~ and are rern~tely actua5lc sc~ ~.~s to g:~°asp a tress trua~i~ I ~
~~r plur~llty <~f tree tru~rlcs 1 ~ in a sia~aultaneous '"hugging" or grappli~~g rnotior~ ire direction ~ so ~~.s to a r~gagc trunk I ~ adj scent and parallel to thG 1~ngitudinal axis of ~~°ar~ie I~.
I~c~~cin~afterrefere~~~ce tc~ a singular tree gunk is meant to include also the plural.
A pair of drive ~,~ccls :~~, 5e~_ter seen in ~'i~,~~rc 2; arc rotatal~ly recounted on hydra~.~ldc vahcel rr.otors 22, as convcntionaily ~vailahlc ;-:~nd h~;ttcr seen in'~igazrc ~~, t~ a pair ~f corrcsp~nding cantiievcred arrz~s i~ whiciz n_ay tic remotely actssated so as to pivot oiv otherwise s~
as to bring the outer surfaces o~ ~irivc ~%vl~eeis ~i~ fr~-'o ~:ngagernc-nt v~~At~ tree trunk 5 ~.

~onvcntionally ~~-ul°~ougl~ t5=s is n":~t intended e:~ 5e lirniting9 drive nnotors (not shown) arc ~unted within drive v~heels ;,~ on ~nr~.~alar flanges ~~ so ~s t~
selecti vely r~tatc drive wheels 2Q in dirccti~ns ~ about, axes of rotation ~~. ~i~~ultant,o~~s rotation ~f drive wheels 2Q
translates tree trunk I ~ in directions . 'I'rar~~slat~ior~ of tree trunl~. I
~ along its 1~ngitudinal axis in 2 5 direction I~ causes auras I6 and tos% k~nifc '~,_~~ to cur: offany branches p~°ot<siding frcrn tl~e trr.~nk as the ors and top knife cut fnc 5r~nci~cs duria~g tire strove ov" ~hc tree tru~~lc 5et~ve,en the drive whcc 1 s.

l~s seen in the asso,baod vaiew of Figure ~, the ~~largod view of ~'ig~~°e 3 a,.~d the o~plodod side elevation and perspective v~e~s, respoct~~oly, of I~~ig~res 4 and 5, the modular drive wheel according to the presort invention ir2cludes a rubber srAc;~~tl~od ~~idsootiora ~E~ sarxdwiched bet~~ee~: a first end ring 2~ and az~ opposi~ely disposed second er~d ring ~~.
fhe r~s~ber slaeaf~~ may be for e~arnpie two inches tbicb>. thirst of top end ~°~.ng ~~ as rr~o~~,ted boy jeans of bolts 3~, only two of which are illustrated, ~~r.~~.g~ bol3W bodes 34 in inner a~iar mange ~~
and through corresponding bolt holes ~b ghrough inner aa~n~~iar flange ~I~~ on the correshondl~~g end of midsection ~~.
A first equally radially spaced apart array of rlotcLles 42, better seen in t~'~e enlarged viev~ of Figure C, are formed in as ~ ~pstar~ding ar~nu ~~ar rirrn 44 concentric ~rith firmer annular flange ~6 on first er~d ring 2~ so as to thereby forn°~ a corresponding Ilrs~t equally r~dially spaced apart array of ~zpstar~dlryg rigid teetb 44a into ~vhic~ tl~e penultimate e~~d lir~l~ 46a on the corresp~rldzng first e~~ds of chain segments 46 ~~aJ~ be locl~a'~ly and rerr~ovably abated.
In particular as better seen in Figux°e 3, t~~e penultimate end linl~ 4~a is be~.ng engaged in direction ~; so as to mate into the corresponding notch 42 thereby io~~l~~g the a~~accnt e~d~rnos~; iinl~ 4~b beb~nd tl~e teeth 44a on either side of noteb 42. In Figure ~ she penuitimr~te end iinl~ 46~.
ill~~strated in dotted o~.-~tline is also mated into the corresponding nota~b. 42. itl~~ per~~altirnate end links 46a of chairs segments 46 r~.ated into the5c corresponding ~.~~otcl~es 4~ chain segments 46 a~r~ mated ~rith notches 4~a formed 2 0 between teetl~~ 4~ in annular guide r ing ~~' fo~-~~ned a an ortl~.ogor~aliy od°iented s~ir~~ r~Jlarive to arid around the base of rim 44. In one embodiment, ~~ft-~r cl~a~~ segments 46 may be mounted around a drive wheel 2~. Ire an alternative prøferred e~~~bc~dirr~er~t as see~~ itn i iga~re ~, the annuiar guide ring may advantageously be an argr~rti~.r equally radially spaced arradr of lugs ~~a° f~~~i.~g a ring 50' of such lugs wherein lugs Sfla° do not i~rotrude radially outwardly beyond the outermost edges of iinlcs 2 5 46° recounted in notches 4~a'.
First end ring ~~ i s properly o~°ie~tep~ onto rr~idsc,cti~n ~& by the ynating of ~ pin or dowel 52'~ with a corresponding aperture J4a for~r~ed in ig~ner anrg~~lar flange 40, adhere pin ~2b depends from irmcr annular fiar~gc ~~. svgs ~~~. siis~abi~ and s~.~giy ~tc into corresponding slots 5~fb. i_,ugs ~2~. arc mounted to, ~r°rd dcpencl fror~r, inner ar~~~uiar :~iar~gc _l6, ~ pots 5~b are :~orr~cd in in~cr ar~nuiar ~Iar~gc 40.
The proper aiigrz~r~cvt of first cn~'z ring 2~ rciati~n; t~ ~~r~i~scctio~:~ ~&
~~out the axis of substa~tiai s~n~ctr~ ~ is irnpo~ a~zt so as to pre;pc~°~~r align n~td~bcs ~2 ire rirr~ 44 and r~otciZCS 4~a in ann~aiar guide ring 5G ~iti~ l~eiic~~ii~ spiralled or siantcdl grooves S~, which dcfgnc vi~crcbet~ccn raised lands SCa, in tine rubber c~t~,rior sv,r~~cc or ~~9ieath ~~ raciiaii~
c~:mcasi~g the i~:Lracr rigid, for c~ampie steel, core tube or sieez~~c or co7iar ~0 of r~~idscc;tior~ ~'.~. ~r ~ovcs 56 are sued so as to sr~ugi~ receive in releasable rya~ur~tang cr~gagc~rr~~rlt -thcrci.n altcr~r~atir~g chain links QCs; so that chain scgrner~ts ~.6 once n~ountcd into arid along t~~ear cor:resporpding groo~~cs 5~ ire rubber sheath ~~ are tbcre'o~ guided and urged so as to maintain the parallel ~:~uali~ spaced apart spiralled or siarbtcd arra~r of chain segrr~ents ~6 as s°eA~ in ~'ig~~res I a~~d ~. It is ~andcrsta~od that the array of chain segrncnts ~ouid continue all the ~a~~~ aro~~:~ci the outer surface o i'cach drive ~rhce~. ~0 to provide a continuous or endless traction-crah~nced surfaces ors drive heels l 0 so as to cr~gagc ~rce tr~arik 1 ~
as ttae drive ~reeis arc rotated.
In a manner similar to the ioci~ing o:~pe~~xitirnate links ~6a into notches 42 i~~ ring ~~, the corresponding liniss at the opposite ends of chain scgmc~~ts 4~
siidabiy mate into 2 0 corresponding notc~cs ~2 better seen ir1 the cr~9argc~ viewer of Fi,~urc '~ forrued in ri'm ~~ r~rot~°uding frc~~ the base of second end ring :~0.
Second or bottorz a,;r$d ring :~0, t9irr~iiar to first er~~ ring 2~, is aligned relative t~
ra~idsection 2~ so as to pr~pcri~ align notches ~ ~~iti~ the corresponding cads of grooves 56 t~
2 5 thercb~ ~ecp the chain scgn~ents ~~= propcri~j ali~;ncc~, b~ the use, c~f a ba~~orct rya~untir~g of do~ci or pig b6a and lugs 6~sb, wherein dowel or pin ~~a mates v~itia a corresponding hole on an~~uiar r'iar~gc °~~ on the bottom of rnidscction cart ~~ and l~.gs ~~b mate ~i~h correspondingl;~ si~cd slots in annular flange 7~ on the opposite ~,nd of core ~0 f~-orn annular z~angc ~Q.

Second or bottom end ring 30 is noa~~ated in a telescopic fit onto midsection 26 so that, with the pin 66a and lugs 66 b bayonet mounted into flange t ~, ri~r~ 6k overlaps in a telescopic fit over the corresponding exposed °cottorn end e:f cE~re 60.. "fhe i;el°scopic fit of second end ring 30 onto midsection 26 provides for relative movement ir°1 direction ~
between second end ring 30 and midsection 26. This telescopic ~ t allows the periodic tensioning of chain segments 46 mounted so as to extend between the ~°~rst and second end ri~~gs, that is, so a;y to take up any slack produced by wear and stretch of the chain seg.ne~.ts d~.:~ring use of the drive wheel.
Tensioning of chain segments 46 is accomplished by translating secone end ring 30 along axis ~ in a direction away i°rorr~ midsection ~6, although a small amount oi'ter,sion is mai~'tained by reason oftl~e outermost surface of end ring 30 being resilient; the chain segments resiliently deforming a bevelled edge 30a of the resilient surface 30b as they pass over the resilient surface 30b into locking engagement within notches 62 in rim 64' ~e~;a~~se 13.71~s 4dc of c~~ain sebg~nents 4 6 are mounted into grooves 56 of sheath Sg, in order to keep the li~~lcs r'iush in the grooves as the chain segment transitions from sheath SF~ and over outer surface 30b of ri~~g 30, the outside diameter of outer surface 30b is equal to the outside diameter of sheath ~~ less the depth ov broo'~res 56, ~~at is, is hush with the radially-inner bottom of the grooves.
'Translation of end aging 30 along axis F ma;y be ac,~o~,plished by the use of jacking 2 0 bolts 70 better seen in Figure ~a9 only one of which is iilustrater~., which mount through threaded bolt holes 72 in the inner annular ring 74, and through correspor~dqng holes 76a in shires 76 so as to engage, by pushing up against, a~~nular fla~;:ge 7~ on the' botto~r~ ovcore 60. Thus evith bolts 70 threadably engaged in correspor~dia~g threaded bole. in angular f~~ar~ge 72 and pushing ~..~p against flange 7~ on the exposed end of c:~re 609 bolts 70 may'~se tightened so as to telescopically translate second. end ring 30 away from midsection ~6 tlze~~eby tensionizzg chain segncnts 46. Forcing flanges 72 and 7~ apart allows for the snug =rzse~-t of ships 76. ~~ith shir~as 76 in place, bolts 70 may be un-tightened so that the te~,sioW ng of chain segments 46 is maintained by pressure on shirrs 76. For ease of access =~~a bolts 70 t'or the periodic te~asioning of chain segments 46, a~ert~rcs ~0 arc ~rtwidcd i3 the ~-nner ~~~ar~gc ~2 of secomd e;rid ring 3~
and a~cxt~~rcs ~~- are ~r~~zded in hcl~i~g collar ~6 ~rvhictl reenacts s~~cr rir~ ~~. so as te;~ lock the ends of chain segcr~ts ir°ato notches ~2. ~hsas an ~~eratcr ~~ay adjust acls:vng'~c~lts %~R
frorm,~he ~c~~er cx~~sed er°ds of drive wheels 20 without having to rec~~ dri~~; ~.l~cels :>~ fre:r~~ ~l~cel rr~o$ors 22.
~ locking cellar ~~ is ~rcnided so ~s to szr~xlar~~ lock the opposite ends, tl°gat is links 46a and ~&b of chain sege~3ts ~.~ i~:~$~ matches ~2 in rlrr3 ~4, cellars ~6 arid d~ beh~g rejeasably rm~~.r~table onto their cc.r~cs~~r~dEr~g ~;md vis~gs ~~ tl~~; a.~se of bolts ~3(l.
A farther anr~~.lar flange 92 is $mounted ~~ $hln ~r~idsectic~~ 2~ to ~rcwlde a base omto which are n~~z~~ted ~hccl motors 22. "~hr°r:~ ass~:r~abled, vI:3e ~l~c~el rr~ct~rs ro$ate the drive t~heels relati~c ~:c arrms 2~.
l~fi~re~a~er, in lnterls~vting ~~t~~ the; secifgcatlon a~~d the clal:~s, all tcr~s sh~~ld be intcr~reted in the broadest ~ossiblc rr~anr:~,r cvmslstea~t ~~ntl~ the ~;er~tcxt. In ~artic:zlar, the terms vv~~~?2~rlSe" a~2d "c'~J1T1~7rlsiilgv° S11CBL:'.ld biv ~~~tGr~3rt-~tE;C~. as ~'ef~rr?rlg t~ ~1~,°1~'tcntS, ~~r~'~~(,'~lcnts, Cdr Sic~3S
i3 a mon-excl~sl~e manner, indic~$ir~~g $hat the refcrur~ced elei~zez~ts, co~~gone:~ts, or ste.~s r~7a~ be ~resemt, or ~tili~cd, or cornbimed ~aatla o$her elerr~enr:~9 corn~or?cn~.s, or steps that are mot ex~rcssl~
referer~ccd.
As will be apparent to hose skilled in the ark i~~ the light of ~l~e foregoing disclos~rc, ~~an~ alteratioxis amd r~godific;atiom~~ are possible it=_ tire l3ractice of $his imvemtion ~aitho~.~t dear ting frorm the spirit ~~r ~co~e f~ere~ ~: ~Lcor~l:~ngly, -~~h~c scome of the im~c~~tion is to be corast~°~aed in accordance with the s~~bstar~cc defamed b~ the fol'o~~mg claims.

Claims (21)

1. A modular drive wheel for log processors comprising:
a tubular midsection sandwiched between a pair of annular rings mounted concentrically on opposite ends of said midsection, wherein said midsection has a resilient outer surface extending around said midsection, wherein said pair of annular rings each have a radially spaced apart array of notches therearound, and wherein said notches in said radially spaced apart arrays of notches are sized to snugly receive in releasable locking engagement therein links on opposite ends of chain segments extending between said pair of annular rings, said drive wheel further comprising means mounted between said pair of annular rings for selectively forcing apart said pair of annular rings along a longitudinal axis of symmetry of said midsection so as to tighten said chain segments when said links on said opposite ends of said chain segments are in said engagement in said notches.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a radially spaced apart array of grooves extending substantially longitudinally along said midsection so as to be substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of symmetry of said midsection, wherein said grooves are formed in said resilient outer surface of said midsection, and wherein said grooves are aligned with corresponding notches in said radially spaced apart arrays of notches, said arrays of notches in oppositely disposed relation to each other on oppositely disposed ends of said pair of annular rings.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of chain segments mounted around said midsection in a radially spaced apart array, each chain segment of said plurality of chain segments substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis and having a length which is long enough to extend from being releasably locked into a corresponding said notch at one end of said each chain segment, and, at the other end of said each chain segment, releasably locked into a corresponding oppositely disposed said notch so as to align said each chain segment along a corresponding groove of said array of grooves.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein one annular ring of said pair of annular rings further comprises a skirt ring mounted thereto and extending therearound from a base thereof, said skirt ring having a radially spaced apart array of notches therearound for releasably mating with a link between opposite end links of each of said chain segments when a plurality of said chain segments are mounted around said midsection, in a radially spaced array of chain segments each substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, so as to guide links in said chain segments into mating alignment with corresponding grooves in said array of grooves around said midsection.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein said radially spaced apart arrays of grooves on said midsection are equally radially spaced apart and wherein said notches on said pair of annular rings are equally radially spaced apart.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein said means for forcing apart said pair of annular rings includes a telescoping mounting means telescopically mounting a first annular ring of said annular rings to said midsection.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said telescopic mounting means includes a first annular flange concentrically rigidly mounted within said first annular ring, a second annular flange concentrically rigidly mounted within said midsection and selectively adjustable spacing means, for selectively adjusting a longitudinal spacing between said first and second annular flanges, mounted between said first and second annular flanges.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said spacing means includes a threaded member threadably engaging corresponding threaded apertures in said first and second annular flanges.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said spacing means includes removably mountable rigid spacers removably mountable between said first and second annular flanges.

10. The device of claim 2 wherein said radially spaced apart array of grooves are formed as parallel helical spirals helically spiralling about said longitudinal axis.

11. The device of claim 6 wherein said skirt ring is mounted to a second annular ring of said pair of annular rings opposite to said first annular ring.

12. A modular drive wheel for log processors comprising:
a tubular midsection sandwiched between a pair of annular rings mounted concentrically on opposite ends of said midsection, wherein each annular ring of said pair of annular rings has a spaced apart array of notches therearound so as to form an oppositely disposed pair of said spaced apart arrays of notches, wherein said midsection has a resilient outer surface extending around said midsection, a plurality of chain segments mounted around said midsection in a radially spaced apart array by means of mating opposite ends of each chain segment of said plurality of chain

13 segments with notches in said pair of said spaced apart arrays of notches so that said each chain segment of said plurality of chain segments is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, said drive wheel further comprising means mounted between said pair of annular rings for selectively forcing apart said pair of annular rings along said longitudinal axis so as to tighten said plurality of chain segments.

13. The device of claim 12 further comprising a radially spaced apart array of grooves extending substantially longitudinally along said midsection sa as to be substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of symmetry of said midsection, wherein said grooves are formed in said resilient outer surface of said midsection, and wherein each annular ring of said pair of annular rings having a radially spaced apart array of notches there-around, said grooves are aligned with corresponding notches in sand radially spaced apart arrays of notches, said arrays of notches in oppositely disposed relation to each other on oppositely disposed ends of said pair of annular rings.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein one annular ring of said pair of annular rings further comprises a skirt ring mounted thereto and extending therearound from a base thereof said skirt ring having a radially spaced apart array of notches therearound for releasably mating with a link between opposite end links of each of said chain segments when a plurality of said chain segments are mounted around said midsection, in a radially spaced array of chain segments each substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, so as to guide links in said chain segments into mating alignment with corresponding grooves in said array of grooves around said midsection.

15. The device of claim 12 wherein said radially spaced apart arrays of grooves on said midsection are equally radially spaced apart and wherein said notches on said pair of annular rings are equally radially spaced apart.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein said means for forcing apart said pair of annular rings includes a telescoping mounting means telescopically mounting a first annular ring of said annular rings to said midsection.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein said telescopic mounting means includes a first annular flange concentrically rigidly mounted within said first annular ring, a second annular flange concentrically rigidly mounted within said midsection and selectively adjustable spacing means, for selectively adjusting a longitudinal spacing between said first and second annular flanges, mounted between said first and second annular flanges.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein said spacing means includes a threaded member threadably engaging corresponding threaded apertures in said first and second annular flanges.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein said spacing means includes removably mountable rigid spacers removably mountable between said first and second annular flanges.

20. The device of claim 12 wherein said radially spaced apart array of grooves are formed as parallel helical spirals helically spiralling about said longitudinal axis.

21. The device of claim 16 wherein said skirt ring is mounted to a second annular ring of said pair of annular rings opposite to said first annular ring.