US3647151A

US3647151A - Angle feed chipper with card breaker

Info

Publication number: US3647151A
Application number: US861786A
Authority: US
Inventors: Adrian Artiano; Robert M Brown
Original assignee: Black Clawson Co
Current assignee: Black Clawson Co; Acrowood Corp
Priority date: 1969-09-29
Filing date: 1969-09-29
Publication date: 1972-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 1989-03-07

Abstract

A disk chipper in which a log or other large piece of wood is fed to a rotating disk having a series of radially oriented slots extending through it and a chipper blade positioned adjacent each of the slots. In order to break up cards which pass through the slots into chips without unduly breaking up chips which are already of an acceptable size, and thereby produce fines, a series of flat bars are mounted behind the working face of the disk spaced apart a distance equal to three to six times the width of an acceptable chip, so that as the cards pass through the slots in the disk, they strike the bars and are broken up into chips of an acceptable size. The base member to which the bars are attached may be adjustably mounted on the chipper so that the position of the bars can be adjusted for optimum performance.

Description

[15] 3,647,151- 1 Mar .7, 1972 United States Patent Artiano et al.

2,566,721 9/1951 Dunbar....................................24lI92 [54] ANGLE FEED CHIPPER WITH CARD BREAKER Primary Examiner-Theron E. Condon [72] Inventors: Adrian Artiano; Robert M. Brown, both of Ammey M3recha|, Biebel, French & Bugs Everett, Wash.

ABSTRACT A disk chipper in which a log or other large piece of wood is fed to a rotating disk having a series of radially oriented slots extending through it and a chipper blade positioned adjacent each of the slots. In order to break up cards which pass through the slots into chips without unduly breaking up chips which are already of an acceptable size, and thereby produce fines, a series of flat bars are mounted behind the working face of the disk spaced apart a distance equal to three to six times the width of an acceptable chip, so that as the cards pass through the slots in the disk, they strike the bars and are broken up into chips of an acceptable size. The base member to which the bars are attached may be adjustably mounted on the chipper so that the position of the bars can be adjusted for optimum performance.

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2 or 3 FIG-4 FIG-5 FIG-6 ANGLE FEED CIIIPPER WITH CARD BREAKER I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the preparation of papermaking pulp, and to some extent in other forest product manufacturing processes, it is necessary to reduce logs or other large pieces of wood into small, chip size segments. One of the most common ways of accomplishing this is to use a rotary chipper. A rotary chipper utilizes a rotatable disk having a series of slots formed through it and a series of chipper blades positioned adjacent the slots. Logs or other large pieces of wood are fed to the working face of the disk and the shearing action of the chipper blades causes groups of chips loosely connected together by wood fibers, referred to as cards, to be severed from the log and pass through the slots in the disk. In order to break the cards into chip size segments, it is common practice to mount a series of fingers on the back face of the disk which intermesh with stationary fingers and break the cards into chips. One disadvantage of this method of card breaking is that a great number of the chips are crushed by the intermeshing fingers, resulting in an inordinate amount of fines or pin chips.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A plate member is mounted within the disk housing behind the working face of the disk and is provided with a series of bars attached to its surface, spaced from each other a distance equal to three to six times the width of an acceptable size chip and extending in a direction normal to the axis of rotation of the disk. In this way, most of the larger cards passing through the slots are projected against the bars and caused to break into chip size segments. Since the majority of the chips which are already of an acceptable size will pass between the bars, they will not be broken down further and the production of undesirable fines and pin chips is kept at a minimum. Additionally, even when a chip strikes a bar, because it has considerably less mass than the larger cards, there is considerably less tendency for the chip to break down further.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gravity fed conventional chipper which may incorporate the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view showing cards being projected against a card breaker;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the attaching brackets which permit adjustment of the position of the card breaker within the gravity fed chipper housing;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a horizontal feed chipper with portions broken away to show a second form of card breaker;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the chipper of FIG. 7, also with portions broken away to show the card breaker;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the card breaker used in the horizontal feed chipper; and

FIG. 10 shows a modified form of card breaker bar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As seen in FIG. I of the drawings, a disk chipper 10 is provided with a chute ll inclined with respect to the working face of a disk 12 mounted within a housing 13 with the axis of the chute l1 offset with respect to the axis of rotation 14 of the disk 12. The disk 12 has a series of blades 15 mounted on its surface adjacent a series of radially extending slots 16. As logs or other large pieces of wood are fed into the chute 11, their weight causes them to be brought into contact with the rapidly revolving blades 15. This causes chunks of wood consisting of series of loosely interconnected chips, or cards, to be severed from the end of the wood being fed into the chute and ejected through the slots 16 where they impinge upon the card breaker of the present invention, referenced in its entirety by the numeral 20.

As best seen in FIGS. 2-4, the card breaker 20 comprises a fiat baseplate member 21 having a series of bars 22 affixed thereto by welding or the like. The bars are attached to. the plate 21 in spaced parallel relationship to each other and positioned apart from each other a distance equal to approximately three to six times the desired width of a chip. The base member 21 with the bars 22 attached may be then placed as a unit in the housing of the chipper and attached to a channel 23 by means of bolts 24 received in apertures 25 formed in the web of the channel, with the channel attached to a portion of the chipper in a manner described below. Preferably the card breaker 20 is positioned within the housing behind the working face of the disk, beneath the axis of rotation thereof, and offset with respect thereto.

With the card breaker thus installed in the disk chipper,

cards

30 or 31, as seen in FIG. 5, are projected through the slots 16 of the disk against the stationary bars 22. Each of the cards consists of two or more chip-size segments 32 loosely connected together by fibers, and the striking of the cards against the bars 22 causes them to be segregated into discrete chips 32. Thus, if a card 30 strikes a bar adjacent the juncture of two chips, the chips tend to be bent, at their point of juncture, about the portion of the bar which they contact. On the other hand, if a card 31 of sufficient size to span two or more bars strikes the bars, the momentum of the card will cause it to deflect from the portions of the bars which it is contacting toward the base 21. In either case the effect is to break the cards down to a more acceptable size.

However, because the bars are spaced apart a distance greater than the width of an acceptable size chip, the majority of such chips will pass between the bars 22 and not be broken down further, thereby reducing the amount of fines. Additionally, even if a chip of acceptable size does strike one of the bars 22, because the mass of a chip is appreciably less than that of a card, and a chip is a more coherent unit, the tendency for a chip to break down further will be appreciably less.

Because the characteristics of different woods vary considerably and the operating conditions under which the card breaker of the present invention performs are also subject to variation, it is desirable to provide means for adjusting the position of the card breaker 20 with respect to the other components of the chipper. Specifically, it is desirable to provide for some degree of the adjustment in a direction parallel to the axis of the disk 12 and angularly about a line extending horizontally normal thereto, as shown by the

arrows

40 and 41, respectively. Also, because the velocity of the chips thrown off from the disk 12 adjacent the periphery thereof will ordinarily be greater than that of chips thrown off near the axis of the disk, it is desirable to provide for some degree of adjustment angularly about a line running vertically normal to the axis of the chipper, as shown by the arrow 42, FIG. 4.

While any suitable means for providing such adjustability is acceptable, one manner in which this may be accomplished is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the brackets 23 may comprise a pair of plate members 50, each having an essentially circular opening 51 and an arcuate opening 52 formed therein and receiving threaded bolts 53. A second plate member 54 is secured to plate 50 at right angles thereto and has apertures 55 formed therein for receiving the bolts 56 which also pass through identical slots 57 formed in the legs 58 of the channel member 23, adjacent each end thereof. A pair of angle members 60 are secured to a portion of the chipper by means of bolts 61 which pass the apertures 62 in one leg thereof. The other leg has elongated slots 63 formed therein through which the bolts 53 pass and are secured therein by nuts 64.

Thus, if it is desired to adjust the card breaker in a direction parallel to the axis of the disk 12, as indicated by arrow 40, FIG. 2, the nuts 53 are loosened and the card breaker moved either forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the disk. Movement in a direction angularly about a line extending horizontally normal with respect to the axis 14, as shown by the arrow 41, may also be accomplished by merely pivoting the channel and card breaker about the upper bolt 53 and allowing the lower bolt to ride in its arcuate opening 52. Adjustment in a direction angularly about a line extending vertical normal with respect to axis 14, as shown bythe arrow 42, is accomplished by loosening the nuts 64 adjacent one end of the card breaker and moving the opposite end toward or away from the disk 12, as desired, with the bolts 53 riding in the slots 63.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 through. 9 of the drawings, a second preferred embodiment of the invention will be described. In the chipper 10 shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings the feed chute 11 thereof is inclined with respect to the horizontal so that logs or other large pieces of wood fed through the chute are pressed against the face of the disk by the weight of the piece of wood being chipped. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings, the chipper 70 is of the horizontal feed type, having a feed chute 71, which, although angularly disposed with respect to the axis 72 of the disk, is disposed in a horizontal plane. With this type of configuration, cards severed from the leading end of the log fed through the chute 70 are projected toward the farthermost comer 73 of the chipper housing.

Therefore, in this form of the invention, the card breaker 80 comprises a base member 81 formed of a pair of right angularly disposed

portions

82 and 83. A series of elongated bars 84 are affixed to the base 81 by means of welding or the like so that the bars 84 are more or less vertically oriented when the card breaker 80 is installed within the chipper housing. In order to obtain the most efficient breakage of the cards, the bars are affixed to the base 81 such that cards propelled by the disk of the chipper toward the card breaker will strike the leading edge 85 of the bars rather than the side surfaces 86 thereof. Thus, bar 84, located closest to the axis 72 of the disk, is more acutely disposed with respect to the base portion 83 than is the bar 84" with respect to the base portion 82.

To provide for installation of the card breaker 80 on the horizontal feed chipper 70, a pair of

plate members

90 and 91 are affixed to the back wall 92 of the chipper housing and extend perpendicularly therefrom towards the front wall of the housing and the base 81 of the card breaker may be attached thereto by bolts or the like 93. If desired, the openings for the bolts 93 in the base member 81 or the

brackets

90 and 91, or both, may be slotted to provide for adjustability of the card breaker.

Although the

bars

22 and 84 of the card breakers described above have been shown as rectangularly cross sectioned, in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, each of the

bars

22 or 84 may be of more or less sawtooth configuration as seen in FIG. 10 of the drawings. Thus, as seen in FIG. 10, the card breaker may comprise a base member 100 having a series of bars 10] attached thereto with each of the bars being provided with a series of teeth 102 along its outer edge. The angle a between the intersecting

surfaces

104 and 105 of the teeth may have advantageously been formed at approximately 90. This configuration provides increased card breakage and is particularly advantageous in the breaking of cards from tougher woods.

From the above, it will be apparent that the present invention provides means for breaking cards into chips which is inexpensive and practically maintenance free and which accomplishes the desired result with a minimum production of undesirable fines and pin chips. In this regard it should perhaps be noted that such fines and pin chips are not removable by present methods and represent waste, while oversized chips can be recovered by screening and rechipped. Therefore, even if some cards escape processing by the card breaker of the present invention they are recovered and subsequently reduced to an acceptable size without, however, producing an inordinate amount of fines, as in thecard breakers utilizing intermeshing fingers.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In chipping apparatus including a rotating disk having a series of radially extending slots therethrough, a plurality of chipper blades mounted on said disk adjacent said slots, a chute inclined and offset with respect to the axis of said disk with the end of said chute terminating adjacent the face of said disk, and a housing enclosing said disk, the improvement comprising:

a. means for separating attached chips of wood into discrete chips,

b. said separating means comprising a series of elongated bars mounted on a base member to form a unit therewith and extending in spaced parallel relationship to each other a distance equal to three to six times the width of a chip formed by said chipper blades, and

c. means mounting said unit on the interior of said housing on the side of said disk opposite said chute with the longitudinal axes of said bars in perpendicular relationship to a plane containing the axis of rotation of said disk.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a. means for adjusting the position of said base member in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said disk.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a. means for adjusting said base member angularly about a line extending vertically normal to the axis of rotation of said disk.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a. means for adjusting said base member angularly about a line extending horizontally normal to the axis of rotation of said disk.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a. means for adjusting the position of said base member i. in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said disk, ii. angularly about a line extending vertically normal to the axis of rotation of said disk, and iii. angularly about a line extending horizontally normal to the axis of rotation of said disk.

6. In chipping apparatus including a rotating disk having front and rear faces and a peripheral edge, means defining a series of radially disposed slots extending through said disk from the front to the rear, a plurality of chipper blades mounted on said disk adjacent said slots, a chute inclined and offset with respect to the axis of said disk with the end of said chute terminating adjacent said front face of said disk, and a housing having front and rear portions extending in spaced relationship to said disk front and rear faces and a peripheral portion enclosing said disk, the improvement comprising:

a. means for separating attached chips of wood into discrete chips,

b. said separating means comprising a series of elongated bars mounted on the interior of said rear and peripheral portions of said housing behind said rear face of said disk and defining a pair of angularly disposed portions,

c. said bars in each portion extending in spaced parallel relationship to each other and perpendicularly to a plane containing said axis of said disk.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

a. a base member having a pair of angularly disposed portions,

b. means mounting said bars on said base member, and

0. means mounting said base member in said housing with said angularly disposed portions overlying said rear and peripheral portions of said housing.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:

a. each of said bars are angularly disposed with respect to the portion of the base member on which it is mounted, and

b. the degree of angular disposition of said bars with respect to said base member portions is nonuniform.

9. The apparatus of claim I wherein:

a. said bars are of sawtooth configuration.

10. In chipping apparatus including a rotating disk having a series of radially disposed slots extending therethrough from a front to a rear face thereof, a plurality of chipper blades mounted on said disk adjacent said slots, a chute inclined and disk, 0. said bars extending in spaced parallel relationship to each other and perpendicularly to a plane containing said axis of said disk whereby cards passing through said slots in said disk impinge directly on said bars for reduction to chip size segments, and

d. said bars are spaced apart a distance equal to three to six times the width of a chip formed by said chipper blades.

Claims

1. In chipping apparatus including a rotating disk having a series of radially extending slots therethrough, a plurality of chipper blades mounted on said disk adjacent said slots, a chute inclined and offset with respect to the axis of said disk with the end of said chute terminating adjacent the face of said disk, and a housing enclosing said disk, the improvement comprising: a. means for separating attached chips of wood into discrete chips, b. said separating means comprising a series of elongated bars mounted on a base member to form a unit therewith and extending in spaced parallel relationship to each other a distance equal to three to six times the width of a chip formed by said chipper blades, and c. means mounting said unit on the interior of said housing on the side of said disk opposite said chute with the longitudinal axes of said bars in perpendicular relationship to a plane containing the axis of rotation of said disk.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a. means for adjusting the position of said base member in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said disk.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a. means for adjusting said base member angularly about a line extending vertically normal to the axis of rotation of said disk.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a. means for adjusting said base member angularly about a line extending horizontally normal to the axis of rotation of said disk.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a. means for adjusting the position of said base member i. in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said disk, ii. angularly about a line extending vertically normal to the axis of rotation of said disk, and iii. angularly about a line extending horizontally normal to the axis of rotation of said disk.

6. In chipping apparatus including a rotating disk having front and rear faces and a peripheral edge, means defining a series of radially disposed slots extending through said disk from the front to the rear, a plurality of chipper blades mounted on said disk adjacent said slots, a chute inclined and offset with respect to the axis of said disk with the end of said chute terminating adjacent said front face of said disk, and a housing having front and rear portions extending in spaced relationship to said disk front and rear faces and a peripheral portion enclosing said disk, the improvement comprising: a. means for separating attached chips of wood into discrete chips, b. said separating means comprising a series of elongated bars mounted on the interior of said rear and peripheral portions of said housing behind said rear face of said disk and defining a pair of angularly disposed portions, c. said bars in each portion extending in spaced parallel relationship to each other and perpendicularly to a plane containing said axis of said disk.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising: a. a base member having a pair of angularly disposed portions, b. means mounting said bars on said base member, and c. means mounting said base member in said housing with said angularly disposed portions overlying said rear and peripheral portions of said housing.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: a. each of said bars are angularly disposed with respect to the portion of the base member on which it is mounted, and b. the degree of angular disposition of said bars with respect to said base member portions is nonuniform.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: a. said bars are of sawtooth configuration.

10. In chipping apparatus including a rotating disk having a series of radially disposed slots extending therethrough from a front to a rear face thereof, a plurality of chipper blades mounted on said disk adjacent said slots, a chute inclined and offset with respect to the axis of said disk with the end of said chute terminating adjacent said front face of said disk, and a housing enclosing said front and rear faces of said disk, the improvement comprising: a. means for separating attached chips of wood into discrete chips, b. said separating means comprising a series of elongated bars mounted on the interior of said housing behind and in closely spaced relationship to said rear face of said disk, c. said bars extending in spaced parallel relationship to each other and perpendicularly to a plane containing said axis of said disk whereby cards passing through said slots in said disk impinge directly on said bars for reduction to chip size segments, and d. said bars are spaced apart a distance equal to three to six times the width of a chip formed by said chipper blades.