Patent ID: 7614433

Claim:
A control system for a wood chip reducing apparatus, said apparatus having a saw assembly configured to be driven in a first rotational direction under a normal operating condition, a feeder assembly configured to be driven in a direction generally opposing said first rotational direction under a normal operating condition, a topper assembly configured to be driven in a direction generally opposing said first rotational direction under a normal operating condition, a chute disposed in an engaged position to guide a flow of wood chips toward said feeder assembly, and a chute actuator configured to move said chute relative to said feeder assembly between said engaged position and a disengaged position, said system comprising: a saw load sensor operably connected to said saw assembly and configured to sense a saw load; a feeder load sensor operably connected to said feeder assembly and configured to sense a feeder load; a topper load sensor operably connected to said topper assembly and configured to sense a topper load; a chute load sensor operably connected to said chute and configured to sense a chute load; and a master controller operably connected to each of said respective sensors, each of said respective sensors capable of transmitting at least a normal signal and a fault signal.