Stump Grinder Chip Collection System with Integrated Duct and Blower
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stump grinders generate large piles of wood chips that require significant cleanup efforts, especially in large projects, as the existing systems do not efficiently collect and manage the chips during the grinding process.
Innovation Solution
A chip collection system comprising a wheeled chassis with a stump grinding unit, a chip collector adjacent to the grinding wheel, a duct for fluid communication, and a collection bin positioned below, which utilizes a blower for air flow to assist in chip movement and a specially designed stump grinding wheel with cut out regions and curved vanes to push chips towards the collector, allowing for efficient chip collection and retrofitting on existing equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional stump grinder is used, then the grinding function is achieved, but large piles of wood chips accumulate requiring significant cleanup efforts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the stump grinding function with a chip collection system into a single integrated unit. The collection bin is mounted on the grinder chassis, and the duct system is integrated with the grinding wheel assembly, allowing simultaneous grinding and chip collection without requiring separate cleanup operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a duct system with blowers as an intermediary mechanism between the grinding wheel and the collection bin. This intermediary system captures chips at the source and transports them through the duct to the collection bin, eliminating the need for manual or separate mechanical chip removal.
2Ease of operation
If chips are collected using a duct system, then chip movement is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grinding wheel assembly serves multiple functions: it grinds the stump and simultaneously acts as part of the chip collection system through its integrated duct connection. The blower system serves dual purposes by both moving chips through the duct and potentially clearing the duct of blockages.
Solution Approach 2:
The duct system is nested within or integrated with the grinder chassis structure. The collection bin is mounted on the chassis, and the duct routing is designed to follow the existing structural framework, minimizing additional components and simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Productivity
If a collection bin is positioned below the duct, then chip discharge is improved, but the chassis design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The collection bin is positioned at a lower elevation than the duct discharge point, utilizing gravity to facilitate chip discharge from the duct into the bin. This gravitational assist reduces the need for additional mechanical discharge mechanisms and simplifies the overall chip transfer process.
Solution Approach 2:
The collection bin is mounted on the chassis in a spaced relation below the duct, utilizing the vertical dimension of the chassis structure. This three-dimensional arrangement allows efficient chip collection without interfering with the horizontal movement or operational clearance of the grinder.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively collects and manages wood chips by utilizing the energy of the cutting process, reducing cleanup efforts and allowing for efficient chip movement into a collection bin, thereby streamlining the stump grinding process and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A blower may be positioned within the duct to produce a rearwardly directed air flow to assist in the chip movement towards the collection bin
Implementation Method 2
a series of curved vanes extending from the sidewalls of the wheel proximate to where teeth would be mounted to the wheel. The vanes will catch the chips as they are cut from a stump and will push them towards the chute
Data Source
AI summary
A wheeled chassis to which a stump grinding unit is securely attached that includes a chip collector attached to either the stump grinder or the wheeled chassis and positioned adjacent the trailing edge of the stump grinding wheel. The wheeled chassis includes a duct in fluid communication with the chip collector, and a collection bin positioned adjacent the trailing end and in spaced relation below the duct. The wheeled chassis is adapted for hitched connection to a vehicle. A blower can be positioned within the duct to produce a rearwardly directed air flow to assist in the chip movement towards the collection bin. The collection bin can be positioned on the wheeled chassis or on a vehicle to which the wheeled chassis is attached.