Feed rolls with replaceable flute elements

Abstract: A fluted feed roll has inner replaceable flute inserts (26R,26L) which abut and are bolted to anchor pieces (28R,28L) welded in place on a cylindrical roll body (20). Part of the inner longitudinal edge (41a,41b) of the flute inserts (26R,26L) bears directly against the surface of the roll body (20). Traction elements (45) on the outer longitudinal edge of the flute inserts (26R,26L) protrude radially outwardly beyond the anchor pieces (28R,28L).

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to powered feed rolls of the type used, for example, in feeding and discharging logs to and from debarkers. Such rolls are known for example from US-A-5,944,078. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Commonly upper and lower spaced pairs of driven fluted rolls are used in conjunction with debarkers at the infeed and outfeed. The flutes on the rolls are arranged and shaped to provide a cradle for the logs and to grip and propel the logs forward responsive to powered rotation of the rolls. This is accomplished by having sets of right and left complementing flutes meeting at the center of each roll such that the ends of each flute are displaced circumferentially of the roll from the inner end and by gradually narrowing the height (width) of the complementing flutes along approximately the inner half of their length so that when viewed in elevation the complementing flutes have a generally "V" configuration. This central portion of the flutes normally provides most of the support and traction for advancing the log and is commonly provided with a serrated configuration to better grip the log. Accordingly, the central flute portion is subject to most of the wear and must be replaced from time to time. However, to accomplish this repair the roll must be removed in order for the worn flutes to be removed. The latter is relatively difficult task because the flutes are welded to the roll. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to greatly ease the repair operation for worn flutes. This has been accomplished by providing easily replaceable flute inserts which are bolted in position to anchoring elements welded to the roll and doing so in a manner whereby the bolts are not subjected to undue shear loads during operation. To avoid overloading the bolts, the flute inserts have part of the length of their inner edge bearing directly against the outer surface of the roll. To do this, the inserts have a central cutout portion along their roll engaging edge to accommodate a welding bead extending part way along the adjacent edge portion of the related anchoring element. The opposite edge portion of the anchoring element has a welding bead therealong for its entire length. The described arrangement adequately fixes the anchoring elements to the roll while permitting the flute inserts to be bolted to the anchoring elements in a position butting against a side face of the anchoring elements and seating against the roll. This arrangement makes repair of the rolls easy to perform without removing the rolls. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an end view of a feed roll incorporating the present invention and partly broken away; Figure 2 is a plan view of a feed roll illustrating a set of flute elements; Figures 3 and 4 are detail sectional views taken as indicated by lines 3-3 and 4-4 in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a view corresponding to claim 2 with the replaceable insert elements removed and part of the outer face of the roll broken away. Figure 6 is an enlarged top plan view of an anchor piece taken as shown in Figure 5 by numeral 6 and with welding beads shown. Figure 7 is a side view of an insert element to a scale enlarged relative to Figures 8 and 9; Figure 8 is a side view of left and right anchor pieces; and Figure 9 is a side view of left and right outer flute pieces. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, it is seen that the feed roll of the invention has a cylindrical body 20 which may consist of a length of steel pipe. An annular flange 21 is welded in place at the inside of the pipe at its longitudinal center, and has a set of holes 22 to receive bolts for securing a hub in place. The hub in turn receives a drive assembly projecting into one end of the feed roll. This is a standard drive arrangement for debarker feed rolls. Also standard has been providing the outer surface of the feed rolls with traction flutes. In accordance with the present invention, the flutes are provided by complementing right and left sets of fixed outer flutes 24R-24L together with replaceable inner flute insert elements 26R-26L which are bolted to fixed anchor pieces 28R-28L. In the illustrated example, the roll has 12 flutes in each right and left set which are equally spaced apart by 30°. As shown in Figure 9, the outer flutes 24R-24L are mirror images of one another and have inner and outer arcuate edges 28, 29 having different centers as well as different radii. For example, when the pipe 20 has an outside diameter of 35 cm [14 inches] and a length of 60 cm [24 inches], suitable radii and respective centers 28C-29C are indicated to scale in Figure 9. The outer ends 30 are preferably beveled at about 13°. The described outer flutes are positioned so that their inner and outer ends are displaced with respect to one another circumferentially of the roll as seen, for example, in Figure 1, and are welded in position. Referring to Figure 8, the anchor pieces 28R-28L on the right and left of the longitudinal center of the roll are shown, these being mirror images of one another. The inner and outer longitudinal edges 31-32 of the anchor pieces are arcuate and have different centers 31C-32C with radial dimensions scaled by way of example to correspond with those indicated for the example of outer flutes 24R-24L. It will be noted that the anchor pieces taper from their outer ends 33 to their inner ends 34. These ends 33-34 may be parallel to one another whereas in the instance of the outer flutes 24R-24L the outer beveled ends 30 are on lines which preferably intersect line extensions of the inner ends 35 by an acute angle 36 indicated in Figure 9. The anchor pieces 28R-28L are each provided with three holes 36 which are preferably centered between the inner and outer edges 31-32 and are substantially evenly spaced lengthwise of the anchor piece. Continuing to the replaceable insert elements 26R-26L, these too can be mirror images of one another and are shaped to butt face to face against the respective anchor pieces 28R-28L, i . e ., the trailing face of the insert elements abuts the leading face of the anchor pieces as viewed in Figure 2. The longitudinal edges of the insert elements are generally arcuate. The inner longitudinal edge has a central cutout 40 with a uniform depth of about 1,3 cm [0.5 inches] from two longitudinal edge portions 41 a-41 b at the opposite ends of the cutout 40. Like the anchor pieces 28R-28L, the insert elements 26R-26L taper in width from outer ends 42 to narrower inner ends 43. Three threaded holes 44 are provided to register with the holes 36 in the anchor pieces. The threads in the holes 44 in the insert elements 26R-26L are tapped from the trailing faces of the insert elements. Along its outer arcuate longitudinal edge, each insert element is preferably formed with teeth 45 which may have their leading and trailing edges beveled. The teeth are preferably progressively larger in depth and width from the inner end of 43 of each insert element to the wider outer end 42. Referring to Figure 6, the anchor pieces 28R-28L are each welded in position to the pipe 20 by two welding beads 46-47, one on each side. The bead 46 preferably extends the full length of the respective anchor piece at the trailing side whereas the other bead 47 only extends along a central portion of the anchor piece at the leading side. With this welding pattern, the insert elements 26R-26L can abut the leading face of the anchor pieces and have their bottom longitudinal edge portions 41a-41b in engagement with the outer face of the pipe 20 while the shorter welding bead 47 occupies the central cutout 40 as seen in Figure 4. Bolts 50 are inserted through the holes 36 in the anchor pieces and are screwed into the threaded holes 44 in the insert elements until the bolt heads bear snugly against the trailing faces of the anchor pieces. When this is accomplished, the bolts protrude slightly beyond the leading faces of the insert elements. Loctite® is initially applied to the bolts and the bolts are torqued when the insert elements are seated snugly against the rim of the pipe 20. This seating relieves the bolts from shearing loads. It will be noted that the anchor elements are so positioned relative to the outer flutes 24R-24L that the anchor pieces are generally aligned with the inner ends of the outer flutes. The insert elements are made sufficiently wider than the anchor pieces to expose the teeth radially outward beyond the outer longitudinal edge 32 of the related anchor piece. It is apparent that with the described arrangement, the insert elements 26R-26L can be speedily replaced without removing the rolls merely by removing the bolts 50 and mounting replacement insert elements as before. From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims: A feed roll comprising: a roll (20) having a rotary axis; at least two complementing sets of flutes (24R-24L) fixed on said roll (20) and spaced apart axially of the roll; at least two complementing sets of anchor sections (28R-28L) fixed on said roll between said sets of flutes (24R-24L) and each having a mounting face extending outwardly from the outer surface of said roll; and replaceable flute elements (26R-26L) detachably mounted on said anchor sections (28R-28L) butting relation to a said mounting face of a respective anchor section (28R-28L) and extending outward beyond the anchor sections (28R-28L). A feed roll according to claim 1 in which bolts (50) detachably connect said flute elements (26R-26L) to said anchor sections (28R-28L). A feed roll according to claim 2 in which each said flute element (26R-26L) has an edge portion seated against said roll (20). A feed roll according to claim 2 in which said flutes (24R-24L) and anchor sections (28R-28L) are welded to the outer surface of said roll (20). A feed roll according to claim 1 in which each said flute element (26R-26L) has two edge portions (41 a-41 b) seated against said roll and separated by a gap (40) in the flute element (26R-26L), and in which each said anchor section (28R-28L) is fixed to said roll by welds including a welding bead (47) extending into said gap (40). A feed roll according to claim 1 in which said replaceable flute elements (26R-26L) are formed with traction elements (45) which extend outward beyond the anchor sections (28R-28L). A fed roll according to claim 1 in which said roll (20) is cylindrical and said sets of flutes (24R-24L) and flute elements (26R-26L) jointly provide a generally V-shaped cradle around the roll (20). A feed roll according to claim 1 in which said sets of flutes (24R-24L) advance circumferentially of the roll (20) from opposite ends of said roll toward said anchor sections (28R-28L) and said anchor sections (28R-28L) further advance circumferentially from said flutes (24R-24L) toward the longitudinal centre of the roll (20). A feed roll according to claim 1 in which each of said flutes (24R-24L) advances circumferentially of said roll from an outer end (29) of the flute to an inner end (28) of the flute (24R-24L). A feed roll according to claim 9 in which each of said anchor sections (28R-28L) and the respective flute element (26R-26L) advance circumferentially of said roll from an outer end adjacent said inner end of a respective said flute to an inner end adjacent the longitudinal centre of said roll (20). A feed roll according to claim 1 in which said flutes (24R-24L) are wider than said anchor sections (28R-28L), and said flute elements (26R-26L) extend outwardly away from said roll (20) more than do said anchor elements (28R-28L). A feed roll according to claim 11 in which said flute elements (26R-26L) taper in width from an end (42) adjacent said flutes to an end (43) adjacent the longitudinal centre of the roll. A feed roll according to claim 1 in which said flute elements (26R-26L) are tapered to provide a generally V-shaped centre cradle around the roll. A feed roll according to claim 13 in which the outer longitudinal ends (32) of said anchor sections (28R-28L) and flute elements (26R-26L) are displaced circumferentially of the roll (20) from the longitudinal ends (31) of said anchor sections (28R-28L) and flute elements which are closer to the longitudinal centre of the roll (20). A feed roll according to claim 6 in which said traction elements are traction teeth (45) along an outer longitudinal edge which project outward beyond the anchor sections (28R-28L). A feed roll according to claim 5, wherein said welds include further a weld bead (46) which extends along the opposite side of each anchor section (28R-28L). A feed roll according to claim 12, wherein said roll (20) is cylindrical and has an internal hub flange (21) for a drive connection; said sets of flutes (24R-24L) extend toward the longitudinal centre of the roll (20) from opposite ends of the roll (20) each of said flutes (24R-24L) having an inner end offset circumferentially of the roll (20) from an outer end with respective flutes in each set having their inner ends directly opposite one another and spaced apart equally from said longitudinal centre; said anchor sections are mounted on the outer surface of the roll (20) and extend to said longitudinal centre from said inner ends of said flutes (24R-24L), said anchor sections (28R-28L) intersect one another in a general V configuration at said longitudinal centre. A feed roll according to claim 2 in which said bolts (50) pass from heads through said anchor sections (28R-28L) and are threaded into said flute elements (26R-26L), said heads bearing against said anchor sections (28R-28L). A replaceable flute insert element (26R-26L) for use on a fluted roll having an anchor section (28R-28L) according to claim 1 and being welded in position and having a set of bolt holes (36) therethrough, said insert element (26R-26L) comprising: an elongated plate body which is tapered from a wider end (42) to a narrower end (43) and has a curved inner longitudinal edge (41a-41b) and a curved outer longitudinal edge extending between said ends; said inner longitudinal edge (41a-41b) having a central elongated recess (40) for accommodating a welding bead (47) extending part way along said anchor section (28R-28L), and said outer longitudinal edge being formed with traction elements (45); and said plate body having a plurality of bolt holes (44) therethrough for registering with said set. A replaceable flute element according to claim 19 in which said inner longitudinal edge (41a-41b) has curved sections extending between the ends of said recess (40) and said ends (43, 42) of the plate body. A replaceable flute element according to claim 19 in which said traction elements (45) comprise teeth which are progressively longer from said narrower end (43) to said wider end (42).

Inventors: CHOLEWCZYNSKI MAREK S, KUBE BURK R, CHOLEWCZYNSKI, MAREK S., KUBE, BURK R.
Applicants: NICHOLSON MFG COMPANY, NICHOLSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B27B25
IPC codes: B27B25, B27B31