Abstract:
A brush chipper with feed rollers and a winch has an interlock control with feed roller disabled position and a feed roller enabled position, spring loaded to the feed roller disabled position to encourage or require the use of the winch line to move it into a feed roller enable position. A winch control is provided that selects between a winch freewheel condition and winch drive condition. A connection is provided between the interlock control and winch control such that the interlock control automatically moves to the feed roller disabled position whenever the winch control is moved to the freewheel position.

Description:
FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY 
   The present invention relates generally to coordination of controls for a winch and a brush chipper. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system that promotes safer operation of a winch for pulling large branches to a brush chipper used to grind the branches. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Brush chippers are well known machines for grinding brush, branches and limbs, to chips. It is also known to use a winch to pull bigger limbs to the machine, so that an operator does not need to move the branches entirely manually. Examples can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,932 to Moore, U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,889 to Moore and U.S. Pat. No. 7,044,409 to Stelter, et al., all three of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
   Brush chippers use a feed mechanism to pull brush relatively slowly, and at a controlled rate into a high speed cutter mechanism that acts on the material, cutting and grinding it into small chips. The brush being processed by these machines is typically not preprocessed, other than having been cut into small enough pieces to fit into the feed mechanism, and is often contains many branches at various angles. This brush can snag the winch line. If the winch line is snagged by the brush and pulled into contact with the cutter mechanism, it will be damaged, and possibly the machine will be damaged, or the winch line itself may become a hazard. Thus, there is a need for a system that promotes coordinated used of the winch and the feed mechanism, to avoid this situation. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention relates to a brush chipper with feed rollers and a winch has an interlock control with feed roller disabled position and a feed roller enabled position, spring loaded to the feed roller disabled position to encourage or require the use of the winch line to move it into a feed roller enable position. A winch control is provided that selects between a winch freewheel condition and winch drive condition. A connection is provided between the interlock control and winch control such that the interlock control automatically moves to the feed roller disabled position whenever the winch control is moved to the freewheel position. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the winch and interlock system of the present invention in a position that will allow a main control system to operate feed rollers and showing a hydraulic motor for turning the winch with a forward and reverse valve and a winch clutch and clutch handle in an engaged position; 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the winch and interlock system in the position shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3A  is a side elevational view of the winch and interlock system in the position of  FIG. 4  except that  FIG. 3A  is sort of a combination of  FIGS. 3 and 4  wherein the winch clutch is engaged like in  FIG. 3 , but the interlock is winch engaged so that the winch with the rope can be used, as shown in  FIG. 4  and the feed rollers are disengaged; 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the winch and interlock system of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 2  except that the interlock is released to a position wherein the main control system will not allow the feed rollers to operate (except with a hold to run button), wherein the winch motor is enabled but the winch clutch is disengaged; 
       FIG. 5  is a is a side elevational view of the winch and interlock system in the position shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view showing the winch, the interlock and the winch line connected to a log; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged top view of the interlock lever and switch shown in the position of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged top view of the interlock lever and switch shown in the position of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic view of the control system and interlock of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10A  shows in more detail portions of the schematic of  FIG. 9  in the feed roller engaged mode with the winch control valve in the extended (reverse) position thereof; 
       FIG. 10B  shows in more detail portions of the schematic of  FIG. 9 , like in  FIG. 10A , in the feed roller engaged mode but with the winch control valve in the neutral position thereof; 
       FIG. 10C  shows in more detail portions of the schematic of  FIG. 9 , like in  FIG. 10A , in the feed roller engaged mode but with the winch control valve in the retract (forward) position thereof; 
       FIG. 11A  shows in more detail portions of the schematic of  FIG. 9 , with the winch selector valve energized to the winch enabled mode and with the winch control valve in the extended (reverse) position thereof; 
       FIG. 11B  shows in more detail portions of the schematic of  FIG. 9 , like  FIG. 11A  with the winch selector valve energized to the winch enabled mode but with the winch control valve in the neutral position thereof; 
       FIG. 11C  shows in more detail portions of the schematic of  FIG. 9 , like  FIG. 11A  with the winch selector valve energized to the winch enabled mode but with the winch control valve in the retract (forward) position thereof; 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic view of a battery and an interlock switch that connects power to either a winch solenoid valve or to a controller that controls the operation of the feed rollers. 
       FIG. 13  is a flow chart explaining the operation of the present invention; 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention showing a winch boom, winch line and interlock mechanism; 
       FIG. 15A  is a top plan view of the interlock of  FIG. 9 , and further showing in dashed lines and words the various positions of the interlock mechanism, shown in solid lines in the winch engaged position thereof; 
       FIG. 15B  is a top plan view of the interlock of  FIG. 9 , and further showing in dashed lines and words the various positions of the interlock mechanism, shown in solid lines in the feed roller engaged position thereof; 
       FIG. 16  is perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the present invention showing a winch boom, winch line and interlock mechanism; 
       FIG. 17A  is a top plan view of the interlock of  FIG. 16 , shown in solid lines in the winch engaged position thereof; and 
       FIG. 17B  is a top plan view of the interlock of  FIG. 16 , shown in solid lines in the feed roller engaged position thereof, and in dashed lines in a release position that allows the interlock lever to move back to the  FIG. 17A  position, similar to the way that the  FIGS. 14 ,  15 A and  15 B embodiment works. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  shows a brush chipper  1  constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a wood chipper  1  constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The wood chipper  1  includes a frame (e.g., a trailer structure), a cutter housing supported on the frame with a cutter mechanism  3  positioned within the cutter housing. A feed housing  4  is also supported on the frame. The feed housing encloses a feed mechanism  5  adapted for feeding a log  41  into the cutter mechanism  3 . The feed housing  4  is located between the cutter mechanism  3  and a feed table  6  that extends outward from the feed housing  4 . The feed table  6  is elevated above ground level and is positioned for supporting the log  41  as the log  41  is fed into the feed mechanism  5 . The feed table  6  includes an outer edge located at a position distant or opposite from the feed housing  4 . The wood chipper  1  also includes an elongated boom  7  that is mounted on the feed housing  4  and that extends over the feed table  6 . The boom  7  works in combination with a winch  13 . The winch  13  includes a flexible member  15  (e.g., a cable, rope, chain or other type of cable-like structure) that is supported over the feed table  6  by the boom  7 . An end guide  8  is positioned adjacent to a free end of the boom  7 . The flexible member  15  passes over the end guide  8  and separates from the boom  7  at a location directly adjacent to the end guide  8 . By connecting the flexible member  15  to the log  41 , the winch  13  can be used to drag the log  41  toward the feed table  6 . The end guide  8  is preferably positioned such that when the winch  13  drags the log  41  toward the feed table  6 , the boom  7  causes an end of the log  41  to be lifted by the flexible member  15  past the outer edge of the feed table  6  and onto a top surface (e.g., a platform or deck) of the feed table  6 . 
   In  FIG. 1 , the cutter mechanism  3  is shown as a chipping or cutting drum. However, it will be appreciated that any type of cutting or chipping mechanism (e.g., a disk cutter) could also be used. Also, the feed mechanism  5  shown in  FIG. 1  includes two vertical feed rollers  50  (only one shown). However, similar to the cutter mechanism  3 , any type of feed mechanism  5  could be used. For example, a single feed roller, horizontal feed rollers, belts, or any other type of conveying mechanism could also be used. The feed mechanism  5  is controlled by a control bar  9  located adjacent to the feed table  6 . 
   The feed table  6  is shown pivotally connected to the feed housing at a horizontal pivot axis, but it can also be fixed. The feed table  6  is typically pivoted up during transport of the wood chipper  1 . The top surface of the feed table  6  is adapted for supporting the log  41  as the log  41  is fed into the feed mechanism  5 . 
   Generally, here is how the interlock of the present invention works: There is an emergency stop that will be called an “e-stop” or “feedstop”. This e-stop system, which is built into controller  11  of  FIGS. 9 and 12 , is on Vermeer Brush Chippers, for example as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,044,409 to Stelter, et al., so an operator can either activate it by pulling the upper bar or control bar  9  into the most rear position and that activates the e-stop; or the operator pushes a lower bar  9   a  which activates the e-stop to stop the feed rollers. So these are two ways to activate the e-stop, which stops the feed rollers  5 . 
   The controller  11  shown in the schematic  10  shown in  FIG. 9  knows when either event mentioned in the paragraph above happens and it stops the feed rollers so that no feeding can happen until a reset button  12  or “hold to run button”  12  has been manually reset. In the schematic of  FIG. 9 , this new invention runs right inline with that same circuit. As soon as the operator releases the rope  15  off of stop hook or winch engage/disengage lever  14  and pulls the handle  16  out as seen in  FIG. 4 , the e-stop system is activated. 
   When this main stop hook  14  is moved from the  FIG. 2  to the  FIG. 4  position, that trips the main mechanism including spring  17 , pins  16  and slots  18  in stop hook  14  to the  FIG. 4  position and automatically slides back and this switch  19 , shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  15  cuts electricity to the e-stop circuit which activates the stop. That automatically stops the feed rollers  5 . There are also lights (not shown) that flash when the feed rollers are stopped. 
   When stop hook  14  is tripped from the  FIG. 8  to the  FIG. 7  position, stop hook  14  slides back to the  FIG. 7  position, activating the e-stop system. The way the electronics work is that the e-stop system always has power going through all circuits, so the way the controller finds a fault is if there is no voltage. Then it goes into an e-stop, i.e., everything stops. The voltage that is normally run to the controller  11  runs through the switch  19 . As soon as you trip stop hook  14 , that activates the switch  19  which cuts electricity to the e-stop circuit, which activates the stop. The lights turn off and there are blinking lights that turn on as the feed rollers stop. Also the other side of that switch  19  now provides power for a solenoid valve  65 . 
   In  FIG. 9  the system is providing power to the switch  19 , 12 volts, and the controller  11  is looking for that 12 volts. If it does not have it, the controller  11  automatically goes into a stop condition. In that case there would be no power going to the feed roller control valve  21  in  FIG. 9 . Also at that time there is a visible light that blinks, meaning that it is in a stop condition. The only time the operator can operate the winch  15  is when the light (not shown) is blinking indicating in a stop condition. 
   When the light is blinking the winch can be operated using handle  16  which operates a clutch  23  and control valve  23  controls the winch hydraulic motor  24 . Electrically what happens then is that there is no voltage going to the controller  11 , but on the other side of  FIG. 9  power is being provided to the solenoid  25  of winch selector valve  31 . What that does is it allows full function of the winch motor  24  to be able to turn in a pulling direction. The system is always running at full activation, whether there is a e-stop condition or not, i.e. there is always a reverse on the feed roller motors, and always a reverse on the winch motor, so that if something gets jammed, it can always be reversed out. There is always a reverse on both the feed roller motors and the winch motor  24 . The reason is, looking at  FIG. 2 , when the interlock mechanism  14 ,  17 ,  19  and  20  to be locked in place had to be pulled in by the winch  15 . When stop hook  14  is pulled in by the winch  13  that rope  15  gets taut. So, really there is no practical way to get that rope  15  off of hook  14 . But you can use the clutch  23  to release the drum  13  to a free-rolling drum to prevent it from get locked so it cannot be unlocked. But because hook  14  is biased by the spring  20  to the position in  FIG. 4 , the hook  14  stays in that position until hook  14  is pivoted again by pulling it with the winch  13  to the position of  FIGS. 2 and 8 . 
   The clutch handle  16  would also have to be in to engage the winch  13  for the rope  15  to come in using the winch  13 . 
   With the clutch handle  16  out it allows the drum to run free as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The clutch  23  connects the hydraulic motor  24  and motor shaft  34  by plate  36  having two holes in it that receive pins  37 . This hydraulic motor  24  is connected to a shaft  34  that runs through the spool  13 . The reel of the winch  13  rotates on shaft  34  when the clutch is not engaged. When the plate  36  is in the  FIG. 5  position with the handle  16  out and the plate  36  is spaced from pins  37 , the shaft  34  rotates but it doesn&#39;t rotate the spool  13 . 
   But when you move the handle  16  in to the  FIG. 3  position, the pins  37  go into the plate  36  so that when the motor  24  is rotating it rotates the shaft  34  and the spool  13 , with the direction of rotation being dictated by the direction that control valve handle  23  is moved, either in forward or reverse. 
   It is all one assembly in  FIGS. 2-5  so the pins  37 , sometimes referred to as “dogs” get bound up because they are tight. The position in  FIG. 2  is called the “home position”, because when everything gets in that position the switch  19  ( FIG. 8 ) stops the hydraulic motion but the rope  15  is taut. The rope  15  will not come off the end of the hook  14  in the  FIG. 2  position. To get around this problem, the control valve  23  shown in  FIG. 2  can be reversed for a half second by using the hold to run button  12  shown in  FIG. 9 , and that will allow loosening of the rope  15  enough to pull it off the hook  14 . Once the rope  15  is pulled off the hook  14 , then the handle  16  can be pulled out. 
   Looking at  FIGS. 4 and 5 , as the handle  16  is pulled out, the interlock system including hook  14  slides back to the  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  7  position, because the spring  20  biases hook  14  to the position shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   In other words when rope  15  is removed from hook  14 , the hook  14  trips out of its little cam  39  position and hook  14  slides back to the  FIGS. 4 and 7  position. That allows the device to be in winch mode. As soon as that happens, the e-stop is activated and the winch  13  is enabled. Typically what happens, with the handle out  16 , the operator can free-wheel the rope  15  out. So an operator would free-wheel or free spool the amount of rope  15  needed, put it on a log  41  as shown in  FIG. 6  and then come back and slide the handle  16  back in. 
     FIG. 3  shows the winch mode in order to actually bring the log  41  in, i.e., with the handle in ( FIG. 3 ) the pins  39  would be engaged with plate  36  and it would look like  FIG. 4 , where the interlock is still biased by spring  20  to the  FIG. 4  position. The handle  16  can be used to trip it, via cam  39 , and that brings it back. When you slide the handle  16  back in it does not do anything with the interlock  14  itself. The interlock mechanism  14  stays in the winch enabled mode. 
     FIG. 3A  is kind of a combination of  FIGS. 3 and 4  where the clutch  23  is locked but the winch  13  with the rope  15  out. Then the operator comes back and puts the handle  16  in as shown in  FIG. 3 , and the interlock is going to look like  FIG. 4 , except the handle  16  is going to be in not like  FIG. 4 , showing the handle out. At that time that the winch selector valve  42  operates, because now, electrically, the selector valve  42  that is energized and enables operation of the winch  13  both in and out, however one pleases with the control valve  23  shown in  FIG. 2 . So you can get the tree  41  up on the machine and get it into the feed rollers by using the hold to run button  12 , because the hold or run button  12  will still activate the feed roller motors  43  and  44  shown in  FIG. 9  at all times irrespective of the position of the interlock lever  14 . 
   Using the hold to run button  12  is manually controlled, i.e. the operator has to be there to do that. First, the operator will get the wood  41  started into the feed rollers, then the operator will disconnect the rope  15 . Then the operator has to put the rope  15  on the end of the interlock mechanism hook  14  ( FIG. 2 ) and the operator has to continue to roll in the rope  15  until hook  14  slides into place or snaps into place as in  FIGS. 4 and 7 . Then the winch  13  is automatically disconnected electrically so one can start feeding brush using the feed rollers  5 . The reset or hold or run button  12  must be used first to get the log  41  to grab the log  41 . Then the controller  11  can be used again to operate the system of  FIG. 9  in the normal way that it is normally done, for example in the way explained in the aforementioned Moore patents. 
   During all of this time that the operator is using the winch  13  to pull wood  41  up onto the feed table, the feed rollers are stopped, but you can use the hold to run button  12  to grab the end of log  41  once it comes in contact with the feed rollers  5 . See  FIG. 3A , which is like  FIG. 3 , but also looks like the  FIG. 4  position, but with the clutch  23  in the engaged position. 
   Before the rope  15  is un-spooled and the drum  13  itself is disengaged from the hydraulic motor  24  and shaft  34  and the handle  16  is back in the pins  37  are re-engaged so at that time the operator can operate the control valve  23  to either pull in or re-tract the rope  15  using the winch  13  controlled by hydraulic valve  23 . At that particular time the winch interlock mechanism  14  is in a winched mode, which means it is biased back by the spring  29  to the  FIG. 4  position. 
   Now looking at cam  39 , in  FIG. 3 , the little ball  39   a  on top comes around and strikes this little small leg  14   a  on this interlock mechanism  14  and just trips hook  14  out of the position in  FIGS. 2 and 8  to the tripped position in  FIGS. 4 and 7 . 
   The cam  39  just flutters until the operator pulls the handle  16  out. When the handle  16  is pulled out  FIG. 3  shows that there is a piece  16   a  that will hit the bottom ball  39   b . Part  39   b  pushes the bottom of that lever  16  as seen in  FIG. 2  to the right and then the spring  20  pulls it down to this  FIG. 4  position. 
   This function can be done either by cam  39  or by a small lever or rod (not shown), the point being that there are many different ways this can be done other than the preferred way shown in the drawings. Tripping the interlock system, including lever  14 , means the system goes into the winch mode, i.e. going from the position in  FIG. 2  to the position in  FIG. 4 . The only time an operator can actually run the feed roller motors  43  and  44  when configured in  FIG. 2 , when it is in the home position with the rope  15  taut and locked in the interlock into the feed mode is by using the hold to run button of  FIG. 12  to pull the tree  41  to the feed rollers as shown in  FIG. 6  by using the feed control bar, not shown. 
   Previous winches on Vermeer® brand brush chippers had to have the feed control bar in neutral. In this invention, the operator can leave the feed control bar  9  in forward because as soon as it goes into the winch mode it goes into an e-stop mode, which stops the feed rollers, taking a step out of the previous way of operating such Vermeer® brand brush chippers, making it easier on the operator. When the operator gets done and puts the winch back into the  FIG. 2  home mode, the hook  14  is all snapped back in place. The operator then presses the hold or run button  12 , and does not have to change the feed control bar  9  at all. So the operator is off and feeding brush, making it simpler by not inconveniencing the operator. Even though there two new steps, one of which is that the operator has to reverse the winch  13  just slightly before he can start, that is the only additional burden, and the second additional step is that the operator has to put the rope back on the hook  14  and put it into the home position of  FIG. 2  before the operator can control the feed rollers  5  with the feed control bar  9 . 
   There is a winch control valve  23  that always has fluid and power going to it, but on the forward side, that is where this invention controls what happens to that oil, on the winch selector valve  42  of  FIG. 9 . So if the operator is not in winch mode, oil going from the winch control valve  31  doesn&#39;t go anywhere. When you use reverse (retract), the oil can go back through, it goes around then back down to the tank  51 , that is how an operator can reverse the winch under those circumstances. Normally the oil would go back through the winch control valve  31 , and then back to tank  51 . To allow that for reverse, it is actually allowed to free-flow back through a special line that goes back to tank  51 . Once the solenoid  25  is energized, the oil goes through the winch control valve  31  of  FIG. 9  and the winch selector valve  42  slides over, giving the operator full control of the winch  24 . 
   The cam  39  allows the operator to be able to start in a winch mode. The typical use of a brush chipper has always been that the operator has to pull the handle  16  out, to be able to pull the rope  15  out. That has not changed from previous models. That causes the system to automatically go into a winch mode. Then the interlock system including hook  14  moves back, like in  FIG. 4 , and the switch  17  is tripped so it is in winch mode. The handle portion  16  has not changed, it is still the same to the operator and the control valve  23  is still the same. The present invention is really just controlling where the end of that rope  15  is at in order to allow the feed rollers to operate when not using the hold to run button  12 . The hook  14  or engaged/disengaged lever  14  on the interlock can be moved manually if absolutely necessary, but it is designed intentionally to be difficult to move it manually. It is very inconvenient so that an operator is encouraged to use the interlock system as it was intended. But if the rope  15  were to break or the hydraulics or the winch were to fail, a person could move hook  14  over from the  FIG. 7  to the  FIG. 8  position manually to fix the problem. 
     FIGS. 14 ,  15 A and  15 B show an alternate embodiment  100  of an interlock control with a lever  114  with a hook post  114   a , a cam  139  and a spring  120   
   The winch  110  has rope  115  in  FIG. 14  in the winch  110  engaged position of  FIG. 10A . Because of the configuration of cam  139 , it is difficult to move the hook lever  114  from the solid line position of  FIGS. 14 and 15A  to the feed roller engaged position of  FIG. 15B . So the operator is encouraged to use the winch  110  to move the hook  114  from the  FIG. 15A  position to the  FIG. 15B  position to then be able to be in the feed roller engaged position with this embodiment  100 . 
   There are a couple of added steps that the operator has to do in order to engage the winch  110 . But the principle is still the same as the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-8 . It still controls the end of the rope  15 , by making sure the operator uses the  FIG. 15A  mechanism to be able to lock it in to get into the feed mode of  FIG. 15B  using the winch  110  that pulled the interlock system into the feed mode. The only added step the operator notices is to reverse the winch line  15  from position B to position C in  FIG. 15A .  FIG. 15A  shows that cam  139  is made in such a way that one can over-release it by pressing the lever/hook  114  a little further to position C to release the rope  115  and then, in  FIG. 15B , you could slide it back to the  FIG. 15A  position. So the  FIGS. 14 ,  15 A and  15 B system operate the switch  19  just as the switch  19  is operated in the schematic of  FIG. 15 . 
     FIGS. 16 ,  17 A and  17 B show another alternate interlock system. A rope  215  of winch  210  of  FIGS. 17A and 17B  would drape that over hook  214  which serves the same purpose as the interlock of  FIGS. 15A and 15B . Switch  19  would be actuated like the schematic system of  FIG. 9 . 
   The initial concept shown in  FIGS. 16 ,  17 A and  17 B was to provide an interlock control lever  214  that was difficult to move manually from a Winch Mode position to a Feed Mode position. It was configured to be moved with the winch line itself. This control lever  214  was configured with an over center spring mechanism (not shown) that provided that resistance, while also providing force to hold the lever in the Feed Mode position with a very low force. A similar, but more refined embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 14 ,  15 A and  15 B as described above. The operation for the embodiments of  FIGS. 14 ,  15 A,  15 B,  16 ,  17 A and  17 B thus include the steps of:
         Remove the winch line from the interlock control, move the Feed Control Bar to Neutral, move the Interlock Control lever to the Winch mode position, move the Winch Engage/Disengaged lever to disengage, and pull the winch line out to connect to a log;   Move the winch engage/disengage control to engaged and then pull the log to the chipper with the winch by moving the Winch Retract Lever to Retract;   Disengage the winch line from the log and connect it to the Interlock Control in order to move the Interlock Control to the Feed Mode Position by using the Winch Retract control (note a switch was envisioned to be placed on the Interlock control that would automatically stop the Winch Retract control when the Interlock Control lever reached the Feed Mode position to protect the mechanism from excessive force that the winch line could exert);   Then move the Feed Control Bar to Forward to chip the log;   Once the log is chipped, remove the winch line from the interlock control, move the feed control lever back to Neutral, move the interlock control lever back to the Winch mode position, move the Winch Engage/Disengaged lever to disengage, and pull the winch line out to the next log;   Move the winch engage/disenagage control to engaged and then pull that next log to the chipper.       

   The desired result of this control was to provide incentive for an operator to position the winch line in the desired location, on the interlock control lever, while brush was being fed. This basic control was intended to function in cooperation with the prior art interlock between the feed control bar and the winch that prevented simultaneous operation of the winch and the feed rollers. 
   The final configuration included the concept of having a mechanical connection between the interlock control and the clutch engage/disengage control. It was recognized that with this mechanical connection the need for the prior art interlock between winch retract and feed roller feed control could be eliminated. The operation of the final design, shown in  FIGS. 1-13  includes the steps of:
         Remove the winch line from the interlock control, move the Winch Engage/Disengaged lever to disengage which automatically moves the Interlock Control to the Winch Mode position, and disables the Feed Rollers, and pull the winch line out to connect to a log;   Move the winch engage/disengage control to engaged and then pull the log to the chipper with the winch by moving the Winch Retract Lever to Retract;   Disengage the winch line from the log and connect it to the Interlock Control in order to move the Interlock Control to the Feed Mode Position by using the Winch Retract control (the Interlock control is built strong enough to withstand the maximum retract force that the winch can generate);   Once the Interlock Control is in the Feed Mode position, then the Feed Rollers can be started, using the Hold to Run/Reset Control;   Once the log is chipped the winch line is removed from the interlock control and the Winch Engage/Disengage lever moved to disengage and the process starts over.       

   Referring now to  FIG. 13  it is noted that the winch reverse (extend) is always active. The operator always has reverse and the winch extend out or reverse is metered so that when you reverse it out it&#39;s very slow. This slowness is due to the restriction orifice  62  shown in  FIG. 9 . The very first step in using brush chipper  1  is to reverse the winch line  15 . But it is desired that the winch reel  12  not spin too fast. That is done with the hydraulics and restriction orifice  67  mentioned above. It also gives control of the log  41  when it is up top of the feed table. Still referring to the operation shown in  FIG. 13 ,  FIG. 2  shows that the rope  15  is tight on the hook; if no, the operator can take the rope  15  right off hook  14  and chip wood. If yes, then the operator will have to use the reverse on the control valve  23  to loosen the rope  15  to get the rope off the end of that hook  14 . Then the winch disengage-engage lever  14  ( FIG. 2 ) a clutch lever  16  is pulled out so that the operator can unspool the rope  15  ( FIG. 4 ). If the winch interlock hook  14  snaps out to  FIG. 7  or did it slide back into the winch mode of FIG.  8 ? And did the yellow light blink? If so it went into the feed stop mode. The fee rollers should be stopped at that time. When the yellow light blinks, that indicates that it is in the e-stop mode, meaning that the feed rollers are stopped. At that time the operator can remove the rope  15  from the storage hook  14  ( FIG. 7 ), pull the rope  15  out and secure it on the log  41  as in  FIG. 6 . With the winch engaged/disengaged lever in the position of  FIG. 3A , the operator will use the winch control valve  23  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) and pull the rope  15  in to move the log  41  up into the feed rollers  50  ( FIG. 1 ) and use the hold to run button  12  ( FIG. 9 ) to get the feed rollers  50  to grab and hold the forward end of the log  41 . 
   The hold or run reset switch  12  on this schematic of  FIG. 13  does two things. First, in a normal feeding mode the interlock  14  has been activated or tripped, it allows an operator to press that hold to run button  12  and reactivate the feed rollers. Second, in the winch mode, it will only allow an operator to operate the feed roller motors  43 ,  44  for a brief second. Pressing the hold or run button  12  allows the feed rollers to climb up on the log  41 . This corresponds to  FIG. 13 , in the middle where it says “move the log up to the feed rollers” and “use the hold or run button/re-set switch to make the feed rollers grab the log.” After that, reverse the winch  13  out, remove the shackle and put the rope back on the storage hook  14 , or an interlock hook  14 , and then use the winch  13 , using the forward control, pulling the rope  15  all the way in. At that time the operator decides: “did the storage hook snap in” i.e. did it snap back in place shown in FIGS.  2  and  8 ? Then the operator will press the hold to run button  12  and start feeding because that will de-activate the e-stop system to allow feeding using the feed rollers  5 . 
   Turning now to the hydraulic schematics of  FIGS. 10A ,  10 B and  10 C,  FIG. 10A  shows a feed mode, which means that the winch selector valve of  FIG. 9  is de-energized. When the operator goes to the winch reverse or rope extend condition there is always oil available, so the path goes up through the hydraulic motor  24  and back down through the winch selector valve and back down to tank  51 . In  FIG. 10B , the winch selector valve  42  is in neutral so the oil just goes through the winch control valve  31  from port A to port B. In  FIG. 10C  if an individual tries to use the winch control valve  31  in forward or pull the rope back in, he cannot because the winch selector valve  42  is de-energized and the oil dead heads. Because it dead heads, it goes up across the relief valve  22  from port A across relief valve down to port B, meaning there will be no motion at all and no winching. 
   In  FIGS. 11A ,  11 B and  11 C, in the winch mode, the winch selector valve  42  is energized in all three conditions. In  FIG. 11A  with the winch control valve  31  extended, oil goes in port A, up through the winch selector valve  42 , through the orifice  62 , through the motor  24 , then back through the winch selector valve  42 , back through the winch control valve  31 , and back out through port B. 
   In  FIG. 11B , with the winch control valve  31  in a neutral condition, the oil just goes through port A through the winch control valve  31  and out port B. 
   In  FIG. 11C , oil goes through port A, through the winch control valve  31 , through the winch selector valve  42 , through the hydraulic motor  24 , around the check valve  63 , free flows through the check valve  63 , back down through the winch control valve  31  and out port B. 
   In the  FIG. 12  schematic, switch  19  is either a normally open or a normally closed switch. Either provide power, e.g. 12 volts, to the controller  11  or to the winch selector valve solenoid  65 , which is either energized or de-energized to go either in a winch mode or feed control mode. Once the circuit has been broken, e.g. the 12-volts have been broken to the controller, then the machine automatically goes to the e-stop mode, the feed rollers  5  have stopped, the lights on the back of the machine  1  go into a blink mode telling the operator that it is e-stop condition. At that time electricity is allowed to go into the winch selector control valve to be able to operate the winch  13 . The solenoid  65 , shown in  FIGS. 11A ,  11 B,  11 C and  12 , that operates the winch selector valve  42  allows the oil either to allow the winch motor  24  to turn in a forward position or not. 
   On  FIGS. 2-5  the clutch handle  16  pulls straight out, or pushes straight in. On other models contemplated, the handle  16  actually rotates, and as it rotates it still disengages the clutch  13  and still trips the interlock mechanism  24  the same way. The point being that there are different ways to be able to do that. The handle  16  can pull out, the handle  16  can rotate or the handle  16  can push in or out. These are some of the ways that the disengagement of the clutch  23  and the interlock system including member  14  can be done at the same time. 
   The above disclosed embodiments are the preferred embodiments, but this invention is not limited thereto. It is apparent that many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.