Abstract:
A shredding apparatus utilizes a cylindrical drum adapted for quickly and effectively clearing large tracts of land. Several blocks are positioned in two spiral rows on the periphery of the drum and are secured to the drum by welding. The blocks in each row are spaced from one another an axial distance that provides a complete sweep of the land as the drum rotates. Each of the blocks includes a replaceable cutter tooth. The teeth each include a shank that is anchored in a hole in each block. At least one block is mounted along each edge of the drum at a slight outward angle between about 2°, and about 15°, and is tilted outwardly between about 2° and about 5° so that its corresponding tooth provides protection of the drum edge. All of the remaining blocks are mounted so that the teeth are parallel with the drum axis.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/207,494 filed Aug. 19, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,281,676 B2 issued Oct. 16, 2007 and entitled SHREDDING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CLEARING LAND. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to the field of cutting drums useful for shredding small trees, shrubs and undergrowth. More specifically, it relates to a shredder assembly, the component parts thereof, and the use of a shredder in land clearance. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Typically, powered devices useful for clearing debris from land may vary in size from small hand held weed trimmers to large rotatable shredding drums capable of rapidly clearing vast tracts of land. These large shredding drums typically have a plurality of cutting teeth disposed circumferentially on their outer surface. A large shredder can be powered by a chain drive, by gears or belts, or by direct drive. It may be mounted at the end of a movable boom that is driven by a diesel or gasoline engine. The shredding drum commonly encounters more than just weeds, shrubs and trees when performing its tasks. The drum may contact all manner of surface debris, such as rocks and boulders, re-bar, wire, cinder block and other materials of construction. Accordingly, the shredding operation places tremendous radial and axial stress loads on the drum, the cutting teeth, the drive shaft, and other component parts associated with the drum assembly and its operation. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an objective of the present invention to increase the length of the in-service time intervals for a land-clearing shredder. 
   Another objective is to reduce the time and expense for maintenance of a shredder. 
   Yet another objective is to provide a shredder capable of quickly and effectively clearing large areas of land. 
   These and other objectives and advantages will become apparent upon a reading of the description that follows. 
   The present invention relates to a drum assembly for a shredder. The assembly comprises a cylindrical drum having first and second edges, and includes a plurality of blocks mounted in two rows spirally around the circumference thereof and secured thereto by welding or similar process. Each block has a leading or front surface and a trailing or back surface with the imaginary center line between the two surfaces defining a principal axis of the block, two parallel sides, a top surface, and a bottom surface in contact with the drum surface. The block has a V-shaped notch machined into the top surface, but otherwise is in the shape of a parallelepiped. Each of the blocks holds a cutting tooth having a cutting face parallel to the leading surface of the block. The blocks are oriented on the drum so that the two sides of the block are generally collinear with the sides of the drum. However the blocks mounted at the edges of the drum are oriented at an angle of between about between about 2° and about 15° so that the cutting face of that tooth is angled away from the other teeth at an angle between about 2° and about 15° from the drum axis. Furthermore, these edge mounted blocks preferably are tilted outwardly at an angle of between about 2° and about 5° around their principal axis which extends between the leading and the trailing surfaces of the block. With the edge mounted block positioned so that a front corner edge of the block is flush with the edge of the drum, a portion of the cutting tooth extends axially beyond the drum edge a slight distance of between about ⅛″ and about ⅜″ 
   Each of the cutting teeth has a hard, typically carbide, cutting surface. The tooth includes a shank that is removably inserted into a hole in the V-shaped notch in the block. Each shank has a free end and an abutment end, the abutment end terminating in a rearwardly extending shoulder that cooperates with the block to serve as a stop to limit linear and rotational movement of the shank in the block. An extension on the tooth projects rearwardly of the tooth face and rests against the adjacent surface of a block to provide additional support for the tooth to resist shock and bending moments. With the exception of the edge mounted blocks, each block is aligned with the rotational direction of the drum so that the cutting surface of the tooth faces at right angle to the rotational direction of the drum and parallel to the drum axis. As previously noted, the cutting faces of the teeth in the edge mounted blocks are at a slight outward angle to the face of the next adjacent teeth. Furthermore, these edge mounted blocks preferably are tilted outwardly at an angle of between about 2° and about 5° on their principal axis extending between the leading and the trailing surfaces. The shank on each tooth includes a circumferential groove, and a spring clip, cotter pin, or spring pin engages the groove to anchor the tooth in a corresponding hole in the block. 
   The invention further comprises a shredder drum having a cylindrical surface and 2 edges. A cutting tooth and block assembly is adapted to be removably mounted on the drum surface. The block is generally in the shape of a parallelepiped with a leading surface and a trailing surface, two coplanar sides, a top surface, and a base. The top surface of the block includes a V-shaped notch with a front surface and a rear surface of the notch meeting at an angle of about 90°. A hole extends into the rear surface of the notch at a right angle to the surface. The tooth comprises a planar cutting surface adapted to form an angle generally orthogonal to the top of said block when the tooth is engaged therewith. It also includes a shank to be inserted into the hole in the rear surface of the notch, said shank having a free end and an abutment end. The abutment end terminates in a shoulder formed at right angles to the shank. The shoulder abuts the rear notch surface where it cooperates with the block to limit the linear and rotational movement of the shank within the block. An extension projects rearwardly of the tooth face and is adapted to rest against the planar top surface of a block when the tooth is inserted into the block, said extension serving to provide reinforcing support for the tooth when the shredding drum is in use. The shank typically includes a circumferentially extending groove and a lock pin engaging the groove for the purpose of providing a compressive fit of the tooth in the corresponding hole in a block. The shank forms an interior or acute angle between about 30° and about 60°, preferably about 45°, with respect to the rearward extension of the tooth. The shank forms an obtuse angle between about 120° and about 150°, preferably about 135°, with respect to the cutting face of the tooth. The angle serves to provide the proper pitch for the cutting face when the shank of the tooth is mounted in the block. The blocks are mounted spirally around the drum surface in a plurality of rows, the blocks in each row extending from and edge mounted block on one edge of the drum to an edge mounted block on the other edge. The blocks at the edges of the drum are mounted on the drum at an outward angle of between about 2° and about 15° with respect to the other blocks. In addition, the edge-mounted blocks preferably are tilted between about 2° and about 5° about their principal axis. This causes a portion of the teeth of these edge-mounted blocks to extend axially beyond the edge of the drum a distance of between about 1/16″ and about ⅜″. 
   The invention also relates to a method of clearing brush and debris from land. The method comprises providing a shredding drum assembly having a cylindrical surface terminating in two edges. A plurality of replaceable blocks are secured on the drum surface, preferably by welding. The blocks form a first row and a second row extending spirally around the drum from one edge to the other. A plurality of cutting teeth are provided, each tooth having a shank with a free end and an abutment end, the abutment end terminating in a shoulder, and an extension projecting rearward of the tooth face. The shank of each cutting tooth is inserted into a first hole in a block whereby the shoulder cooperates with the block to serve as a stop to limit movement of the shank into the block, and the rearward projecting extension rests against the adjacent surface of a block to provide additional support for the tooth against shock and bending moment. The drum assembly is mounted on a powered shaft to provide rotational movement to the drum. Each block is provided with a first hole to receive the cutting tooth. The tooth has a cutting surface that, when inserted into the hole, is parallel to the drum axis and faces the direction of rotation of the drum. Each block is generally in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having two sides, a top surface and a bottom surface generally orthogonal to the axis of the drum, and a front surface and a rear surface parallel to the axis of the drum. The blocks are mounted on the cylindrical drum surface so that the blocks at either edge of the drum surface are mounted at an outward angle of between about 2° and about 15° with respect to the rotational direction of the drum. A V-shaped notch is provided in the top surface and a first hole extends into the block from the notch at right angles to one side of the notch to receive the shank of the tooth. A second hole extends into the block at right angles from one side of the block, said hole intercepting the first hole that receives a cutting tooth. Each cutting tooth is provided with a circumferentially extending groove, and an insert in the second hole intercepts the circumferentially extending groove to prevent removal of the shank of the cutting tooth from the first hole. Each tooth has a cutter face typically having a width of about 1 inch. The teeth in each row are spaced, for example, about 1¾ inches apart, and the teeth in adjacent rows are axially offset by about ⅞ inch. The cutting surface of each tooth is parallel to the drum axis except for the teeth engaging the edge mounted blocks. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a view of the overall assembly showing the shredding drum of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing an arrangement of blocks and teeth on the surface of the shredding drum; 
       FIG. 3  shows an assembly of a cutter tooth and a block; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a tooth and cutter block useful in the present invention; and 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of one side of the drum showing the positioning of an edge-mounted block. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a boom end shredding drum mounted on a shaft driven by a suitable power source. For purposes of illustration, the shredder may comprise a 10 inch to 20 inch diameter cutter drum between 40 inches and 80 inches in length, with between 35 and 110 cutter teeth mounted in blocks on the drum surface. The drum is mounted on a shaft driven by an internal combustion engine, such as a 200 or 275 horsepower Cummins diesel engine. The engine is directly coupled to the shaft onto which the drum is mounted, or it is joined to the shaft through a series of belts and/or gears. The engine is capable of driving the shredding drum at a rotational speed typically between about 1000 rpm and about 1400 rpm. 
   Shredders of this type are manufactured by Sneller Machine Co., Cleveland, Ohio, and are referred to as the Sneller Shredder 275. The drive shaft rotates in two sets of roller bearings. Because of the encounters with miscellaneous debris during shredding, the bearings are subject to tremendous lateral and axial stress. The bearings and grease seals are exposed to entanglement with wire that can become wrapped around the shaft possibly damaging or destroying the grease seals around the bearings, causing premature failure of the bearings. Furthermore, with improper tolerances and clearances between the rotating and non-rotating parts of the assembly, bearing wear can be substantial, thus necessitating shutdown and repair of the shredder. Because of the costs associated with the disassembly and repair of the equipment, and the associated non-productive time, ways are constantly being sought for reducing downtime. 
   The bearings used in the Sneller Shredder typically are non-adjustable, two row, tapered roller bearings having a one-piece double outer race, and two inner races. Bearings of this type are available from various manufacturers, such as The Timken Company of Canton, Ohio. To function properly, these bearings require proper lubrication. Details relating to the sealing and lubrication of the bearings are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,851 B1 entitled SHAFT ASSEMBLY FOR STUMP CUTTER, issued Nov. 4, 2003 to the inventor hereof. The contents of this patent are incorporated herein. 
   According to this patent, each bearing is lubricated by grease supplied from two separate reservoirs, each of which is designed to avoid leakage and to protect from ingress of dirt and debris. Accordingly, it is believed that the shredder can be used for 5000 hours or more without bearing failure or before fatigue spall develops. At 1000-1400 revolutions per minute, this is equivalent to at least five million revolutions. 
   The overall shaft assembly may be mounted within a pair of arms of a frame of the shredder. The arms in turn extend out from a boom. The frame arm and the boom also are not part of the present invention but are identified as representative of the environment in which the present invention is used. 
   The shaft assembly includes a shaft having a drive end connected through belts and gears to the output of the engine (none of which is shown). Next to the drive end, the shaft includes a first threaded surface that receives a nut and a lock washer. The nut and washer abut a ring on which a grease seal runs. An inboard, tapered roller bearing is pressed onto the shaft until the inner race abuts a shoulder on the shaft. An end cap is bolted or otherwise secured to a flange of an inboard cast iron shell and serves to limit any axial movement of the outer race of the bearing. The nut is threaded onto the shaft to prevent axial movement of the inner race. The outer race of the bearing is fitted into a recess formed by and between the cast iron shell and the outer plate. 
   The shredder drum is mounted on a rim of the inboard hub. An outboard shell made of cast iron abuts a shoulder on the shaft. The shell is supported in the second arm of the frame. An outboard hub slips around a bolt ring that abuts a shoulder of the shaft. The bolt ring is secured to the inboard hub by a plurality of bolts which draw the left-hand hub against the tapered portion of the shaft to insure a tight fit between the hub and the shaft. A slotted keyway (not shown) in the outboard hub and the shaft engages a key in a manner that is well known in the art, serving to prevent relative rotation of the outer hub with respect to the shaft. Obviously, with the two hubs bolted together, the inner hub is prevented from slippage as well. A plurality of bolts and nuts serve to secure the cutter drum between the two hubs. 
   The use of cast iron instead of steel for the annular inboard and outboard shells serves to prevent freeze welding of the stationary shells to the rotating steel shaft. 
   The outer end of the shaft receives a sleeve having a flange which abuts the shoulder on the shaft. The sleeve is prevented from relative rotation with respect to the shaft by the key engaging slots that form a keyway in the shaft and sleeve. The outer end of the sleeve is threaded on the exterior surface to receive a nut and lock washer. The outboard bearing is press fit onto the sleeve and is secured in place by the nut threaded onto the sleeve. The lock washer prevents the nut from coming loose. The use of the threaded sleeve has been found to minimize maintenance problems by reducing the likelihood of the outboard bearing becoming loose on the shaft. A loose outer bearing has been found to place a substantial additional strain on the inboard bearings and on the shaft. This can cause breakage of the shaft at the inboard end. Furthermore, any lateral forces applied through the grinder drum or hub to the shaft when the shaft is suspended only in the inboard bearing can cause serious misalignment of the shaft and damage to the drive train. 
   A flanged outer cap is secured to the outer shell, preferably with the use of bolts passing through the flange to protect the shaft from dirt and debris. In like manner, the cap and shell are secured to the outboard arm of the frame of the shredder using suitable fastening means, such as bolts (not shown). 
   Permanent lubrication is provided between the hubs and the shells by a labyrinth filled with grease. The labyrinth includes a first layer of grease in the narrow gap between the shaft and the cast iron sleeve. This gap has a radial width less than about 0.10 inch and preferably less than 0.08 inch, and is filled with grease from the labyrinth. Grease from the labyrinth also fills a gap between the shell and the axial flange of the inboard hub. This gap is less than about 0.15 inch and preferably is less than 0.125 inch. A grease seal forms the separation between the labyrinth and a grease reservoir. A double seal separates the bearing from the reservoir. 
   The inboard hub and the outboard hub each have an axially extending flange portion that has a width that extends at least about one inch along the axis of the shaft. This extended flange has been found to prevent cable or wire, often encountered at a construction site, from winding around the shaft and working its way into a labyrinth. It also serves to provide an improved seal to prevent the leakage of grease between the steel hubs and the cast iron shells. Maintaining a preferred clearance of 0.125 inch or less between the relatively moving parts further reduces the likelihood of leakage of grease or the ingress of dirt and debris into the labyrinth. 
   Turning now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a self powered brush shredder  110  comprising a shredder drum  112  mounted between the arms  114  of frame  116 . The drum is driven by a self contained diesel engine  120 . The frame  116  is mounted at the end of a hydraulic boom  122  under the control of an operator stationed in an enclosed cab  130  sitting atop a diesel engine  134  driving a pair of track treads  132 . 
     FIG. 2  shows one edge  252  of the drum  212  and one end of the shaft  242  adapted to be mounted within the frame arms  114  (not shown) through a set of lubricated and sealed bearings as previously described. On the circumference  238  of the drum  212  are several blocks  244  that are secured to the drum, preferably by welds  246 . Each of the blocks is provided with a cutting tooth  250 . 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  show the details of a block and tooth according to the present invention. For simplicity, the same numbers will be used in both figures. The block  310  is generally rectangular with a front surface  352 , two coplanar sides  354   a ,  354   b , a base  356 , a rear surface  358  and a top  370 . Although the base is seen as being flat, it can also be slightly curved to conform to the contour of the cylindrical drum surface. Near the front surface  352 , the top  370  of the block includes a V-shaped notch  372  with the front surface  374  and the rear surface  376  of the notch forming an angle of 90°. The intersection between the two surfaces forms a line that extends in a direction that is parallel to the axis of the drum. An exception to this relates to the edge-mounted blocks, where this intersection forms an angle of between about 2° and about 15° with respect to the axis. This feature is shown more clearly in  FIG. 5 . The front surface  374  of the notch is joined to the front surface  352  of the block  310  by a bevel  378 . This bevel provides positive relief on the chip angle to permit the chips and debris to slide away from the tooth. The bevel is at an angle of between about 30° and about 60°, more typically about 45° with respect to the front surface  352  of the block  310 . It has been found that a beveled surface of between about ⅛″ and about ⅜″ is satisfactory for this purpose. A hole  380  extends into the block at an angle of 90° with respect to the rear surface  376  of the notch. A second hole  398  extends between the two sides of the block, intercepting a segment of the first hole  380 . This second hole  398  receives a lock pin (not shown) which is used to secure the shank of a tooth in the block. 
   Each tooth  350  includes a planar cutting face  382 , a tooth body  384 , and a cylindrical shank  386  having a free end  388  and an abutment end  390  which forms a generally rectangular shoulder  392  where it intersects the body  384  of the tooth. The shank  386  typically forms an angle between about 120° and 150°, preferably about 135°, with respect to the cutting face  382  of the tooth, and forms an interior or acute angle between about 30° and about 60°, preferably about 45°, with respect to the rearward extension of the tooth. The shank typically includes a groove  390 , which cooperates with a spring clip, cotter pin, or a lock pin  400 . The tooth  350  includes an extension  394  projecting rearward from the tooth face  382 . This extension includes a planar surface  396  that rests against the top  370  of the block when the tooth shank  386  is inserted into the tooth hole  380 . This gives support to the tooth and also keeps the tooth from turning in the hole  380  when the drum is rotating. A pin is driven in to the hole  398  and intercepts the groove  390  of the shank to hold the tooth securely in the block. Accurate placement of the hole  398  is achieved by machining at least the one surface  376  of the notch to provide a precise registry for drilling the hole. The tooth can be removed from the block using a punch and hammer to remove the lock pin from the hole  398  in the block. The tooth can be loosened by striking the free end  388  of the shank, accessible from the back surface of the block. A block can be changed or replaced as needed by removing the block using a chisel, saw or blow torch followed by grinding of the drum face if necessary to remove residual traces of the block left on the drum. 
   A tooth of the general description is shown and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,477 B1, the subject matter of which is incorporated by reference herein. The patent was issued on Mar. 2, 2004 to one of the instant inventors. 
   The blocks are mounted on the drum in a spiral generally in accordance with the arrangement shown in  FIG. 2  so that a 100% sweep or coverage of the terrain is obtained with each revolution of the drum. This coverage is achieved, for example, on a 20 inch diameter by 60 inch wide drum by placing the blocks and teeth in two rows of 33 blocks each. Starting with one edge block, the 33 blocks in the first row are spaced between about 21° and about 25° spirally around the drum circumference. The first block in the second row is positioned diametrically opposite the edge block of the first row. The spacing between the two rows is between about 10″ and about 14″, thereby allowing adequate room between rows to facilitate removal of the lock pins from the holes  398  using a hammer and punch. A total sweep is achieved if each tooth has a face with a width of about 1 inch, mounted in a block having a width of 1¼ inches. The teeth in each row are axially spaced 1¾ inches apart. The teeth in alternate rows are axially offset by ⅞ inches to provide the complete coverage. Each row extends across the perimeter of the drum from one side to the other at an axial angle between about 4° and about 10°, preferably about 7°. This facilitates the removal and replacement of a tooth in a block, and also serves to sweep debris to the side of the shredder drum as the debris is dislodged or cut. 
     FIG. 5  shows the placement of an edge-mounted block  310  at an edge  252  of a drum  212 . The edge-mounted block is angled away from the next adjacent block so that the front surface  352  of the block is not parallel to the drum shaft  242 , but instead forms an outward angle of between about 2° and about 15° with respect to the shaft. This angle is determined from an imaginary plane passing through the drum at right angles to the shaft. In other words, the front of the edge-mounted block is angled away from the next adjacent block. Furthermore, the block is tilted outwardly on its principal axis approximately 2° to 5°. This principal block axis passes through the front and back surfaces of the block. By angling and tilting the edge mounted block, a portion of the cutting surface  382  of the tooth  350  in the block  310  projects beyond the edge  252  of the drum  212  a distance of about 1/16″ to ⅜″. This serves to protect the edge of the drum from damage by diverting debris away from the edge. It also serves to protect the weldment between the block and the drum. 
   There are many variations that can be made in the size, number, and placement of the blocks and teeth on the drum surface without departing from the teachings of the present invention For example, the blocks and teeth can be aligned in a V-configuration across the drum. When using two rows, each row is started 180° from one another around the face of the drum with each row parallel to one another. Obviously, with a larger or smaller diameter drum, the number of blocks can be increased or decreased as appropriate, with suitable adjustments being made in the size of the blocks and the cutting face of each tooth, as well as the spacing between blocks so as to obtain complete coverage with each revolution of the drum. 
   The tooth is typically fabricated by suitable means, such as forging or casting. The face of the tooth preferably is made from a hard, impact resistant material, such as carbide steel brazed onto the body of the tooth. The block is generally made from steel by forging. The thickness of the wall of the drum is between about ⅜ inch and about ¾″. The drum may be made from hot rolled steel pipe. 
   Typically, the number and the placement of teeth in the cutter block, as well as the angles and height of the cutting teeth with respect to the rotational direction of the cutting drum, can be altered in accordance with established practices. For example, a wider block could accommodate more than one tooth, arranged in a staggered arrangement in the top of the block. 
   The shredder of the present invention may be assembled typically in the same manner as described in the aforementioned patents. The inboard hub is slipped into place around the tapered portion of the shaft. The cutter drum is slipped onto the rim of the hub. The outboard hub is placed around the outboard end of the shaft until it abuts the shoulder of the shaft. The hubs are then drawn together with a plurality of bolts that extend through holes aligned in the outboard hub and the drum, and that are threaded into tapped holes in the inboard hub. The shaft sub-assembly is mounted in the arms of the frame. The inboard shell is placed around the shaft. The grease seal is inserted into place and the second grease seal is placed over the shaft. The inboard bearing is pressed onto the shaft until it abuts the shoulder on the shaft, after which the ring is threaded onto the shaft. The outer grease seal is placed there around and the inboard end plate is bolted through the flange of the inboard sleeve into the frame arm. The lock washer is placed around the shaft and a nut is threaded onto the shaft and is tightened to anchor the inboard bearing securely in position. 
   In like manner, the outboard shell is placed around the shaft. The grease seal is inserted into place and an additional grease seal is placed over the shaft. The sleeve is pressed onto the outboard end of the shaft and is prevented from slipping on the shaft by a key inserted into a slotted keyway in the shaft and the sleeve. The sleeve includes a flange. The outboard bearing is pressed on the sleeve until the bearing abuts the flange and the flange on the outboard shell. A nut and lock washer secure the outboard bearing in place. This arrangement of the external threads on the sleeve and the nut to secure the outboard bearing in place unexpectedly reduces the likelihood of damage to the inboard end of the shaft. 
   The end cap includes a flange having a plurality of holes that match up with corresponding holes in the flange of the outboard shell and the arm of the frame. A plurality of bolts are used to secure the outboard end of the shaft assembly to the frame. 
   After the components have been assembled, the grease reservoir and labyrinth are filled with grease by providing grease fittings and passages extending through the bearing housings and into the reservoirs. The grease is then forced into each of the reservoirs, and from there passes through the grease seals into the labyrinths. As part of the routine maintenance of the assembly, it should be regreased on a regular basis after a few hours of operation. 
   While the invention has been described in combination with embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, instead of the blocks being secured to the drum surface by welding or brazing, suitable threaded fasteners may be used to secure the blocks to the drum.