Patent Publication Number: US-2021162424-A1

Title: Apparatus and method for a chipper assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/PATENTS 
     This application relates back to and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application for Patent Ser. No. 62/942,951 titled “Chipper Housing Having Increased Spout Angle” and filed on Dec. 3, 2019. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to apparatuses and methods for chipping machines, and particularly to apparatuses and methods for chipping machines having chipper hood assemblies. 
     BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Various methods and apparatuses are used to control the segregation and discharge of chips and trash from a chipping machine. Conventional apparatuses and methods, however, suffer from one or more disadvantages. 
     For example, with initial reference to  FIG. 1 , machine  10  is a combination debarker and disc-type log chipping machine that is adapted to process logs, such as log  12 . Machine  10  includes frame  13  on which the operating components of the machine are mounted. Frame  13  has a long axis F. Log  12  is carried through the machine  10  in processing direction D, which is substantially parallel to frame axis F, by a log advance system comprising a plurality of rotating feed rollers. Upper debarker feed assembly  14  is pivotally mounted on the frame  13  of the machine  10  above the log  12  and is adapted to rotate feed roller  15  in a clockwise direction (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). Similarly, upper chipping feed assembly  16  is pivotally mounted on the frame  13  of the machine  10  above the log  12  and is adapted to rotate feed roller  17  in a clockwise direction (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). Lower feed assemblies are mounted below the log  12  and include rollers  18  and  20  that are adapted to rotate in a counterclockwise direction (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). Upper feed roller  15  and lower feed roller  18  cooperate to move log  12  into contact with debarking assemblies  21 ,  22  and  23 . Each of the debarking assemblies includes a rotating shaft  24  to which are attached a plurality of flail chains  25 . Each rotating shaft  24  rotates about an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the plane of the page of  FIG. 1 . Each flail chain  25  has a fixed end  26  that is attached to a shaft  24  and a free end  27 . Each flail chain  25  has a length that defines an arc of rotation AR of the free end  27  of the flail chain. Rotation of the shafts  24  causes the chains  25  to flail the bark from the log  12 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the shaft  24  of first upper debarking assembly  21  rotates in a clockwise direction, while the shafts of lower debarking assembly  22  and second upper debarking assembly  23  rotate in a counterclockwise direction. Upper debarking assemblies  21  and  23  include housings  28  and  29  respectively that are pivotally mounted to the frame  13  of machine  10 . Much of the bark that is removed by the flail assemblies  21 ,  22  and  23  and other refuse or trash  31  (e.g., tramp metal) falls into bark removal discharge  30  for removal from the machine. A flailed log advance system comprising upper feed roller  17  and lower feed rollers  20  cooperate to advance the flailed log into a chipping mechanism comprising chipper disc  32 , which rotates in a clockwise direction (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) to reduce the log to chips that pass out of the machine through spout  34 , which routes chips formed by chipper disc  32  away from machine  10 . 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a conventional chipper disc  32  used in a chipping operation are shown. Chipper disc  32  is provided with four pockets  45  that are each provided a knife assembly  46 . Chipper disc  32  rotates about axis  47  in rotation direction R and logs are advanced towards an upstream side or front face  48  of the chipper disc formed by separate face plates  49  and into contact with the rotating knife assemblies, which creates chips from the logs. As chips are created, they pass the through chipper disc  32  via the pockets  45  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). Paddles  52  are bolted to a discharge or downstream side or rear face of  53  of the chipper disc  32  and rotate with the chipper disc. Paddles  52  function like fan blades to create an airflow and to direct chips out of the chipper via the spout  34  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). Before the chips are guided out of the spout  34  by paddles  52 , they are forcefully thrown into a back wall  50  of chipper disc housing  35  at a high velocity. Eventually, as chipping operations continue, a section  51  of the back wall  50  wears and requires replacement. This replacement is typically labor intensive, requiring at least a portion of the back wall  50 , which is often formed from steel, to be cut away and for a new steel section to be welded in its place. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a chipper disc  32  is shown in a conventional “clamshell” housing  35 , which covers chipper disc during chipping operations, and is formed by a base  36  and a hood  37 , formed by stationary portion  37 A and rotatable portion  37 B, that is typically welded to the base. A wear liner  43  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) is conventionally welded inside of the housing  35  to protect the hood  37  as chips are created. Similarly, a belly band  55  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) is a curved metallic liner that is welded into the base  36  of the housing  35  under the chipper disc  32  that helps to reinforce the housing and to direct chips out of the machine  10  via the spout  34 . Wear liner  43  and belly band  55  must be periodically removed from the housing  35  and replaced. In each case, replacement of these components is labor intensive. This is due, in part, to the construction of the housing  35 . Conventionally, portion  37 B is pivotally mounted to stationary portion  37 A by a hinged connection  38 , which enables the hood to be rotated upwards away from the base and held in place by hydraulic cylinder  44  in order to replace and maintain chipper disc  32 , including knives on the disc, and wear liner  43 . When rotated upwards, hood  37  separates from base  36  along parting line  39  (on plane  40 ), which is located at a centerline of the chipper disc between the top end  41  and bottom end  42  of chipper disc  32 . Replacing the wear liner  43  requires the hood  37  to be removed entirely from the housing  35 . The wear liner  43  is then cut out of hood  37  and is replaced by welding a new wear liner into the hood. Alternatively, the entire hood  37  may require replacement when the wear liner  43  is worn and needs replacement. Replacing the belly band  55  sometimes requires the entire hood  37  as well as the chipper disc to be removed. 
     As shown above, conventional chipper hoods are undesirably complex and expensive to manufacture, repair, and maintain. The clamshell method for opening conventional chipper hoods also results in insufficiently safe access to chipper knives for removal, replacement, and maintenance and requires a weld-in wear component that is undesirably heavy and difficult to remove and replace. 
     Next, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the spout  34  is conventionally joined to the base  36  of the housing  35  and directs chips created by chipper disc  32  away from machine  10 . The height of the base  36  impacts the size of the inlet of the spout (i.e., the inlet is joined to the base  36  of the housing  35  to enable chips to pass from the housing into the spout) and also the exit angle of the spout. Conventional chipper hoods produce an undesirably low chip exit angle and undesirably low volume. When the spout  34  has a small opening or the exit angle is shallow, chips tend to follow the motion of the chipper disc  32 , bypassing the spout and traveling from the base  36  upwards into the hood  37  and then back to the base. This causes chips to remain in the housing longer than necessary, which makes the chipping operation slower, hotter, and generally less efficient. This also causes increased wear on the hood  37  and further reduces the size of the chips to create unwanted pins and fines. Therefore, a larger opening and a steeper exit angle would enable chips to be more efficiently directed away from the machine  10 . 
     Additionally, in many conventional chipping machine, a second discharge opening, sometimes called an overs chute  54 , is often located immediately adjacent the spout  34 . The overs chute  54  enables trash, including limbs, tramp metal, and other materials that are not easily formed into chips, to be discharged via the side of machine  10 . However, unchippable material ejected from the machine  10  via overs chute  54  can travel long distances at high velocities and, therefore, can be a hazard. Additionally, ejecting unchippable material via overs chute  54  and bark and other trash via bark removal discharge  30  ( FIG. 1 ) creates at least two piles of refuse that must be collected. 
     Advantages of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention 
     Accordingly, it is an advantage of the preferred embodiments of the invention claimed herein to provide an apparatus and method for a chipper hood that utilizes a pivoting access door that does not require an actuator such as a hydraulic cylinder to be moved between an open and a closed position and provides safe and easy access to chipper knives for removal, replacement, and maintenance. It is also an advantage of the preferred embodiments of the invention claimed herein to provide an apparatus and method for a chipper hood that is not complex and expensive to manufacture, repair, and maintain. It is another advantage of the preferred embodiments of the invention claimed herein to provide an apparatus and method for a chipper hood that does not require a weld-in wear component that is undesirably heavy and difficult to remove and replace. It is still another advantage of the preferred embodiments of the invention claimed herein to provide an apparatus and method for a chipper hood that has a parting line, i.e., the junction of the chipper hood and the chipping machine housing, that is above the centerline of the rotating chipper disk, resulting in a higher chip exit angle and volume and reduced heat, pins, fines, and wear in the hood and the chipping machine components contained therein. It is yet another advantage of the preferred embodiments of the invention claimed herein to provide an apparatus and method for a chipper hood that requires less frequent repair and replacement and has improved durability, efficiency, and speed and a longer lifespan. 
     It is an advantage of the preferred embodiments of the invention claimed herein to provide an apparatus and method for a trash discharge chute assembly that discharges trash from a chipping machine in the same area as other debris, such as bark, is discharged. It is also an advantage of the preferred embodiments of the invention claimed herein to provide an apparatus and method for a trash discharge chute assembly that does not discharge trash from the side of a chipping machine in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of a log through the chipping machine. It is another advantage of the preferred embodiments of the invention claimed herein to provide an apparatus and method for a trash discharge chute assembly that does not discharge trash from a chipping machine at a distance spaced far apart from the chipping machine or at a high velocity. It is still another advantage of the preferred embodiments of the invention claimed herein to provide an apparatus and method for a trash discharge chute assembly that does not expose individuals in the area of the chipping machine to hazards or is unnecessarily labor-intensive. 
     Additional advantages of the preferred embodiments of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the drawings and the ensuing description. 
     Explanation of the Technical Terms 
     The use of the terms “a,” “an,” “the,” and similar terms in the context of describing the invention are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The terms “substantially,” “generally,” and other words of degree are relative modifiers intended to indicate permissible variation from the characteristic so modified. The use of such terms in describing a physical or functional characteristic of the invention is not intended to limit such characteristic to the absolute value which the term modifies, but rather to provide an approximation of the value of such physical or functional characteristic. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise specified herein or clearly indicated by context. 
     Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “attached,” “connected,” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both moveable and rigid attachments or relationships, unless specified herein or clearly indicated by context. The term “operatively connected” is such an attachment, coupling or connection that allows the pertinent structures to operate as intended by virtue of that relationship. 
     The use of any and all examples or exemplary language (e.g., “such as,” “preferred,” and “preferably”) herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and the preferred embodiments thereof, and not to place a limitation on the scope of the invention. Nothing in the specification should be construed as indicating any element as essential to the practice of the invention unless so stated with specificity. Several terms are specifically defined herein. 
     As used herein, the term “trash” means any material that is not practicably capable of being chipped by a chipping machine. The term “trash” includes without limitation tramp iron and other similar metal materials, limbs, branches, and the like. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above and other needs are met by a chipping machine that is adapted to be placed on an operating surface. The chipping machine includes frame having a long axis. A debarking assembly for removing bark from log and a chipper assembly for reducing a log to chips are mounted to the frame. The chipper assembly includes a chipper disk adapted to rotate about a chipper disk axis in a plane of rotation that is angled with respect to the long axis of the frame of the chipping machine in order to cut chips from the log that is presented to the chipper disk in a processing direction. The chipper disk axis defines a processing plane. The log approaches an upstream side of the chipper disk and chips depart from a downstream side of the chipper disk. The chipper assembly includes a first path having a first inlet configured to collect bark removed from the log and an outlet that directs collected bark out of the machine. A housing encloses at least a portion of the chipper disc. The housing includes a spout located on a downstream side of the chipper disk that is adapted to provide an exit path for chips cut by the chipper disk from said log out of housing. Additionally, a second path having a second inlet that is separate from the first inlet of the first path and that is located in the housing on the upstream side of the chipper disk is configured to collect trash. An outlet of the second path directs the collected trash to the outlet of the first path and out of the machine with the collected bark. In certain embodiments, the second inlet is an opening formed in the base of the housing and the second path comprises a chute onto which trash falls and then slides under the force of gravity to the first path. A log advance system conveys the log through the chipping machine in the processing direction and into contact with the debarking assembly and chipper assembly. 
     In certain embodiments, the chipper disk includes a plurality of knife assemblies and the plane of rotation is disposed at an acute angle to the long axis. Additionally, the processing direction is parallel to the long axis. Finally, the processing plane is substantially parallel to the operating surface on which the chipping machine is placed. In certain embodiments, the housing includes a base that is mounted to the frame of the chipping machine, a hood that is removably mounted to the base along a parting line that is raised above the processing plane, and a spout that is attached to and extends upwardly from the base. The parting line may define a hood mounting plane that is substantially parallel to and is spaced vertically above the processing plane with respect to the operating surface. In certain embodiments, the chipper disk has a chipper disk diameter and the hood mounting plane is placed at least about 2.5% of the chipper disk diameter above the processing plane. In certain embodiments, the frame of the chipping machine has a top surface to which the base of the housing is mounted and the spout is partially defined by a straight portion of a belly band located within the housing, where the straight portion of the belly band is disposed at an exit angle that is measured from the top surface of the frame to be within the range of 20° and 45°. 
     The present disclosure also provides a housing assembly that adapted for use on a chipping machine having a base for surrounding a lower portion of a rotating chipper disk with a chipper disk upper portion, a chipper disk lower portion, at least one chipper knife assembly, and a centerline. The housing assembly includes a hood having a stationary portion configured for removable attachment to the base to form a housing for substantially enclosing the chipper disk. Additionally, an access opening is formed in the stationary portion for providing access to an inside of the housing. An access door covers the access opening and is adapted to be moved between an open position where the access door is uncovered and a closed position where the access door is covered. A parting line is located at a junction of the base with the hood. The hood and the access door are adapted to substantially surround the chipper disk upper portion while the base substantially surrounds the chipper disk lower portion. In certain embodiments, the housing assembly includes the base and a chute having an inlet formed in the base of the housing assembly on an upstream side of the chipper disk and an outlet. The inlet is preferably sized and configured to collect trash within the housing assembly and the chute is configured to automatically carry the trash out of the housing assembly under the force of gravity. In certain embodiments, the stationary portion comprises a first side, a second side opposite and spaced apart from said first side, and a third side connecting the first side and the second side, and wherein the stationary portion is sized such that the parting line is disposed vertically higher than the centerline of the rotating chipper disk. 
     The present disclosure also provides a wear component adapted for use on a chipping machine that includes a rotating chipper disk and that is adapted to be placed on an operating surface and operated to reduce a log to chips, where the chipping machine has a housing for enclosing the rotating chipper disk that is formed by a hood that is removably connected to a base along a parting line. The wear component includes a mounting component for removably mounting the wear component to a mounting surface inside of the housing. Additionally, the wear component includes a sacrificial chip contact surface that is sized and configured to be contacted by chips traveling within the housing at a high speed, to reduce the speed of the chips that contact the contact surface, and to be worn away by such contact with said chips. 
     In certain embodiments, the wear component is located entirely below the parting line throughout the operation of the chipping machine. In certain embodiments, the wear component extends across the parting line during the operation of the chipping machine. In certain embodiments, the wear component moves with the chipper disk during the operation of the chipping machine. In certain embodiments, the wear component remains stationary during the operation of the chipping machine. In certain embodiments, the wear component includes a belly band that is located in the base and that has a curved portion having an end joined to an end of a straight portion. During the operation of the chipping machine, the curved portion of the belly band at least partially surrounds a lower portion of the chipper disk and the straight portion of the belly band is disposed in a spout through which chips exit the housing. In certain embodiments, paddles are located on a downstream side of the chipper disk and the wear component is mounted to the paddles to provide a space between the downstream side of the chipper disk and the wear component through which chips travel prior to contacting the sacrificial chip contact surface. In certain embodiments, a first wear component is located entirely below the parting line and remains stationary throughout the operation of the chipping machine. At the same time, a second wear component that extends across the parting line and that moves with the chipper disk during the operation of the chipping machine. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The presently preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation view, partially in section, of a conventional combination debarking and chipping machine; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a conventional chipper disc; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a log being chipped using the chipper disc of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a portion of a chipping machine that includes a chipper disc and a conventional “clamshell” housing; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a hood for a conventional chipper housing; 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevation view, partially in section, of a combination debarking and disc-type chipping machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, where certain components are removed for viewing clarity; 
         FIG. 7  is a front perspective view illustrating the chipping machine of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view illustrating the chipping machine of  FIG. 6  in use to process a log; 
         FIG. 9  is a rear perspective view of a portion of the chipping machine shown in  FIG. 8  with a portion of a housing removed to illustrate an internal chipper disc and a spout; 
         FIG. 10A  is a side elevation view showing a base of the chipping machine of  FIG. 6  and a chipping disc mounted to the base; 
         FIG. 10B  is a sectional view of the base and chipping disc shown along line “A-A” and also depicting a log being processed by the chipping disc; 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevation view depicting a base of a housing mounted to a top surface of a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the chipper disc of  FIG. 9  with a single wear plate removed; and 
         FIG. 13  is an elevation view depicting three wear plate sections mounted to a discharge side of a chipper disc via paddles according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     This description of the preferred embodiments of the invention is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description of this invention. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and certain features of the invention may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. 
     Cover with Access Door 
     With reference now to  FIG. 6 , a portion of a disc-type chipping machine  100  for chipping logs according to an embodiment of the present invention and where certain components are removed for viewing clarity is illustrated. With further reference to  FIGS. 7-9 , chipping machine  100  includes a chipper assembly  103  for chipping logs  111  that includes a housing  102  for covering rotating chipper disk  130 . Chipper disk  130  is substantially similar to chipper disk  32  and, thus, comprises at least one or more knife assemblies  148  and has a diameter that is essentially identical to diameter D of chipper disk  32 . With further reference to  FIGS. 10A and 10B , chipper disk  130  rotates about chipper disk axis  118  (shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 ) in a plane of rotation that is defined by its front face  144 , as log  111  is advanced towards the front face of the chipper disk at an acute angle Φ to the long axis F (shown in  FIG. 8 ) of the frame  106  of chipping machine  100  in order to cut chips from log  111  that is presented to the chipper disk in a processing direction P that is parallel to the long axis F of the frame (as shown in  FIG. 8 ). 
     Housing  102  includes a base  104  that is preferably mounted to the frame  106  of the chipping machine  100  and a hood  108  that is removably mounted to the base. Preferably, hood  108  comprises first side  108 A ( FIG. 7 ), second side  108 B ( FIG. 8 ) opposite and spaced apart from the first side, and third side  108 C ( FIG. 8 ) disposed between the first side and the second side. The first side  108 A of the hood  108  is preferably substantially parallel to second side  108 B of the hood, and third side  108 C of the hood is arcuate and is connected between the first and second sides. Hood  108  is preferably removably attached to the base  104 , such as by a bolt connection. Thus, in combination, sides  108 A- 108 C form hood  108  and are adapted to substantially surround an upper portion of the chipper disk  132 . The base  104 , which is detailed more below, surrounds a bottom portion of the chipper disk  132 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , in preferred embodiments, housing  102  further includes one or more access doors  126 , which are preferably pivotally connected to the hood  108 , such as by hinges, and are positioned along one of the sides  108 A,  108 B of the hood. In the illustrated embodiment, only a single access door  126  is utilized. Access doors  126  are preferably adapted to move about a vertical axis  160  between an open position, where an opening (not shown) in one of the sides  108 A,  108 B of the hood  108  is uncovered for providing access to the inside of the housing  102 , and a closed position, where the opening in the side of the hood is covered by the access door. Preferably, each access door  126  is provided with a locking mechanism  162  for securing the door in the closed position. The access doors  126  are sized and configured to allow a user located outside of the housing  108  along one of the sides  108 A,  108 B to remove knife assemblies  148  from the chipper disc  130  and to then extract the removed knife assembly from the housing via the open access door and then replaced with a new knife assembly. This exchange process occurs frequently (e.g., daily) and enabling the process to occur without removing the hood  108  from the base  104  will significantly speed up the process. Additionally, the knife assembly exchange process is much safer since the housing is not opened. 
     Use of the machine  100  may result in chips contacting the hood  108  at high velocities, which can wear away the surface of the hood. As such, in preferred embodiments, the hood  108 , itself, is formed as a single, easily replaceable wear (i.e., sacrificial) component (with a separate access door  126  attached to the hood) that is mounted to base  104 , such as by a bolt connection, and that may be removed as a unit by unbolting and lifting it away from the base. 
     Base with Increased Spout Angle 
     Referring again to  FIG. 8  and with further reference to  FIG. 11 , base  104  abuts and is preferably removably connected to the hood  108  along parting line  110 . In certain embodiments, parting line  110  defines a hood mounting plane  112  that is substantially parallel to and spaced vertically above processing plane  114  that is defined by chipper disk axis  118  and is substantially parallel to the operating surface on which chipping machine  100  is placed. Processing plane  114  passes through a centerline  116  of the chipper disc, which centerline is located between a bottom and a top of the chipping disc, and is coincident with chipper disk axis  118 . However, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the parting line  110  does not always extend parallel with the hood mounting plane  112  along its entire length. Instead, in certain preferred embodiments, the hood mounting plane  112  is positioned at least a distance L 1  from a top surface  122  of the frame  106  along its entire length, where L 1  represents the minimum distance separating the top surface of the frame from the parting line  110 . Additionally, L 1  is preferably equal to or, more preferably, greater than distance L 2 , which is the maximum distance separating the top surface  122  of the frame  106  from the processing plane  114 . As such, parting line  110  is at least as far away from the top surface of the frame  106  as the processing plane  114  along its entire length. However, more preferably, parting line  110  is further away from the top surface  122  of the frame  106  than the processing plane  114  along its entire length. 
     A spout  120  is joined to and extends upwardly away from base  104  at a high chip exit angle Θ. In this particular embodiment, exit angle Θ is measured from the top surface  122  of the frame  106  to which the base  104  is mounted and straight portion  128 B of bolt-in belly band  128 , which will be detailed further below. Preferably, the high chip exit angle Θ is within the range of 20° and 45°. In certain preferred embodiments, the high chip exit angle Θ is approximately 35°. Placing parting line  110  and hood mounting plane  112  vertically above chipper disk axis  118  and processing plane  114 , as described above, increases the relative height of the base  104  and decreases the relative height of the hood  106  of housing  102  when compared to the relative heights of the base  36  and hood  37  of conventional housing  35  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Preferably, hood mounting plane  112  is placed at least about 2.5% of the diameter D of chipper disk  130  above processing plane  114 . In certain preferred embodiments, hood mounting plane  112  is placed approximately 5% to 10% of the diameter D of chipper disk  130  above processing plane  114 . Increasing the height of the base  104  enables the size of the inlet of the spout  120  (i.e., the inlet is joined to the base  104  of the housing  102  to enable chips to pass from the housing into the spout) to be increased and also the exit angle Θ of the spout to be increased. In preferred embodiments, exit angle Θ is between 35 degrees and 75 degrees. By raising exit angle Θ and increasing the inlet size of the spout  120 , chips are more likely to enter the spout and exit the machine  100  without traveling around the housing  102  (i.e., travel into the hood  108  before exiting the spout). This reduces wear on the hood  108 , minimizes the production of unwanted pins and fines, and also reduces heat generated from the friction of chips passing through the hood. 
     Wear Components 
     As mentioned previously, use of the machine  100  may result in chips contacting and damaging (i.e., wearing away) various portions of the machine. More particularly, chips typically fly at high velocities into contact with an inner surface of the housing  130 , including the base  104  or hood  108 , which can wear away those surfaces and require them to be replaced. Conventionally, these worn components were cut out and then new components were welded in their place. The presently-disclosed machine  100  provides for a simpler method for maintaining the machine and replacing wear components. As discussed below, the present disclosure provides wear components that are adapted for use on a chipping machine that each preferably include a mounting component for removably mounting the wear component to a mounting surface inside of the housing a sacrificial chip contact surface that is sized and configured to be contacted by chips traveling within the housing at a high speed, to reduce the speed of the chips that contact the contact surface, and to be worn away by such contact with said chips. Advantageously, these wear components can be easily removed and repaired or replaced with new components once they become worn. 
     First, with reference to  FIGS. 8, 9 and 11 , removable and sacrificial belly band  128  may be used in place of the conventional welded-in belly band  55  shown in  FIG. 1 . Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 8 , base  104  comprises first side  104 A, second side  104 B opposite and spaced apart from the first side, and belly band  128  is disposed between the first side and the second side. The first side  104 A of the base  104  is preferably substantially parallel to second side  104 B of the base. The belly band  128  is removably connected between the first and second sides  104 A,  104 B, such as by a bolt connection. Thus, in combination, the sides  104 A,  104 B and the belly band  128  that form the base  104  are adapted to substantially surround a lower portion of the chipper disk  132 . 
     The belly band  128  preferably includes a curved portion  128 A that is placed below chipping disk  130  and a straight portion  128 B that extends towards and preferably forms a bottom of spout exit  132 . A plurality of bolts  134  (shown in  FIG. 9 ) mount belly band  128  to base  104 . Preferably, bolts  134  may be removed from housing  102  without accessing the interior of the housing (i.e., bolts are inserted into an externally accessible portion of the housing). Belly band  128  is an easily replaceable wear component that is configured to be unbolted and removed from the housing  102  without removing chipping disk  130 . In the illustrated embodiment, curved portion  128 B has a circular shape with a diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the chipping disk  130 . The curvature of curved portion  128 A, the length of straight portion  128 B, and the size of spout exit  132  are preferably configured to allow belly band  128  to be unbolted from housing  102  and then for the belly band to be removed from housing by rolling or sliding the belly band around the bottom of the chipping disk and out via the spout exit. As such, when belly band  128  becomes worn, it may be easily replaced without opening the housing  102  simply through unbolting and without requiring any cutting or welding. 
     Second, referring again to  FIGS. 9-10B  and with further reference to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , chipping machine  100  is also provided with a wear plate that is formed by one or more rotating wear plate sections  136  that are removably mounted to chipping disk  130 . Wear plate sections  136  are each preferably removably mounted to one end of paddles  138 , where the paddles each have another end that is attached to a discharge or rear face  140  of the chipper disk  130 . In certain embodiments, fasteners  135  are inserted through each of the wear plate sections  136  and are secured in threaded openings formed in plates  137  that are placed under a lip  138 A of the paddles  138 . The lip  138 A preferably extends laterally outwards from the outermost end of the paddle  138  and is parallel with the rear face  140  of the chipper disk  130 . In certain embodiments, a first end of each wear component section  136  is bolted to a first paddle  138 , a second end of each wear component section is bolted to a second paddle, and at least one third paddle is located between the first and second paddles such that at least two separate covered sections  164  are formed between the rear face  140  of the chipping disc  130  and the wear component section, where a paddle separates each adjacent covered section. In other embodiments, ends of each adjacent pair of wear component sections  136  are bolted to each paddle, as shown in  FIG. 10A , such that a single covered section  164  is formed between the rear face  140  of the chipping disc  130  and each wear component section. 
     Wear plate sections  136  and paddles  138  rotate together with the chipper disk  132 . When the chipping machine  100  is in operation, a log  111  is advanced towards a front face  144  of chipping disk  130  and comes into contact with knife assemblies  146 , which creates chips from the log. These chips are forcefully thrown towards a back wall  148  of chipper disk housing  102 , including towards wear section  150 , which would be worn away by the chips, as discussed above, in the absence of wear plate sections  136 . However, due to the presence of the wear plate sections  136 , chips are prevented from contacting and wearing the housing  102 . Additionally, because the wear plate sections  136  are rotating, the amount of wear caused by chips on the wear plates is reduced when compared to the amount of wear that would be caused to a stationary wear plate or the stationary housing  102 . 
     Trash Chute 
     With reference again to  FIG. 6 , in addition to the first path for expelling trash from the machine  100  provided by the bark removal discharge  30 , the machine is preferably provided with a second path that is further downstream for also expelling trash from the machine. This second path includes a trash chute  152  that is located at the bottom of the housing  102  on the upstream side of the chipper assembly  103  (i.e., prior to the chipper disc). This chute allows unchippable materials  154 , trash, tramp metal, etc. to fall into a bark removal conveyor  156 , which is structurally similar to bark removal discharge  30  shown in  FIG. 6 , for removal from the machine. In certain preferred embodiments, these materials  154  are carried down the chute  152  to the conveyor  156  by the force of gravity alone. By opening the bottom of the housing  102  and allowing this type of refuse to be carried out via the bark removal conveyor  154 , the danger of flying debris is eliminated. Additionally, advantageously, this refuse material is consolidated with the other refuse (i.e., bark) that falls onto the bark removal conveyor  156  from bark removal discharge  30  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
     Although this description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments thereof, as well as the best mode contemplated by the inventors of carrying out the invention. The invention, as described herein, is susceptible to various modifications and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.