Material reduction machine with silenced chute

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12194473-B2
Application number	US-202217893557-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 23, 2022
Priority date	Aug 27, 2021
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

Abstract

A material reduction machine includes an infeed portion operable to receive material to be reduced, and a cutting mechanism operable to reduce material fed in from the infeed portion. An outlet chute has a first end operable to receive the material reduced by the cutting mechanism and a second end operable to discharge the reduced material from the machine, wherein the outlet chute extends along a curved path. The outlet chute includes, along a radially-inner side of the curved path, a foraminous interior wall providing communication with a sound attenuation layer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A material reduction machine comprising:
an infeed portion operable to receive material to be reduced;
a cutting mechanism operable to reduce material fed in from the infeed portion; and
an outlet chute having a first end operable to receive the material reduced by the cutting mechanism and a second end operable to discharge the reduced material from the machine, wherein the outlet chute extends upwardly from the first end to the second end along a curved path,
wherein the cutting mechanism has vanes or paddles configured to forcibly blow reduced material upward and outward into the outlet chute, and
wherein the outlet chute includes, along a radially-inner side of the curved path, a foraminous interior wall providing communication with a sound attenuation layer, and wherein the foraminous interior wall is opposite an outer wall of the outlet chute that defines a primary impact area for reduced material blown from the cutting mechanism along a radially-outer side of the curved path.

2. The material reduction machine of claim 1 , wherein the outer wall of the outlet chute includes a continuous, solid wall.

3. The material reduction machine of claim 1 , wherein at least one lateral side of the outlet chute includes a further sound attenuation layer.

4. The material reduction machine of claim 1 , wherein the material reduction machine is a brush chipper having a plurality of comminution knives.

5. The material reduction machine of claim 1 , further comprising a discharge deflector positionable at a plurality of angles at the second end of the outlet chute.

6. The material reduction machine of claim 1 , further comprising one or both of: a vibration and noise reduction coating and a liner applied to at least a portion of the outlet chute.

7. The material reduction machine of claim 1 , wherein the cutting mechanism includes a rotatable drum having a plurality of knives for reducing the material fed in from the infeed portion.

8. The material reduction machine of claim 1 , wherein the foraminous interior wall is provided by a perforated or louvered metal sheet.

9. The material reduction machine of claim 1 , wherein the foraminous interior wall is removable from the outlet chute without destructive means for the purpose of servicing, cleaning, or outright replacement.

10. The material reduction machine of claim 1 , wherein the sound attenuation layer is removable from the outlet chute without destructive means for the purpose of servicing, cleaning, or outright replacement.

11. The material reduction machine of claim 1 , wherein at least one lateral side of the outlet chute provides communication with a further sound attenuation layer, and wherein no openings in the at least one lateral side to provide the communication with the further sound attenuation layer are within 2 inches from the outer wall.

12. A material reduction machine comprising:
an infeed portion operable to receive material to be reduced;
a cutting mechanism operable to reduce material fed in from the infeed portion; and
an outlet chute having a first end operable to receive the material reduced by the cutting mechanism and a second end operable to discharge the reduced material from the machine, wherein the outlet chute extends upwardly from the first end to the second end along a curved path,
wherein the cutting mechanism has vanes or paddles configured to forcibly blow reduced material upward and outward into the outlet chute, and
wherein at least one lateral side of the outlet chute includes a foraminous interior wall providing communication with a sound attenuation layer, and wherein the foraminous interior wall is adjacent an outer wall of the outlet chute that defines a primary impact area for reduced material blown from the cutting mechanism along a radially-outer side of the curved path.

13. The material reduction machine of claim 12 , wherein the outer wall of the outlet chute includes a continuous, solid wall.

14. The material reduction machine of claim 12 , wherein, along a radially-inner side of the curved path, the outlet chute includes a further sound attenuation layer.

15. The material reduction machine of claim 12 , wherein the material reduction machine is a brush chipper having a plurality of comminution knives.

16. The material reduction machine of claim 12 , further comprising a discharge deflector positionable at a plurality of angles at the second end of the outlet chute.

17. The material reduction machine of claim 12 , further comprising one or both of: a vibration and noise reduction coating and a liner applied to at least a portion of the outlet chute.

18. The material reduction machine of claim 12 , wherein the cutting mechanism includes a rotatable drum having a plurality of knives for reducing the material fed in from the infeed portion.

19. The material reduction machine of claim 12 , wherein the foraminous interior wall is provided by a perforated or louvered metal sheet.

20. The material reduction machine of claim 12 , wherein the foraminous interior wall is removable from the outlet chute without destructive means for the purpose of servicing, cleaning, or outright replacement.

21. The material reduction machine of claim 12 , wherein the sound attenuation layer is removable from the outlet chute without destructive means for the purpose of servicing, cleaning, or outright replacement.

22. The material reduction machine of claim 12 , wherein no openings in the at least one lateral side to provide the communication with the sound attenuation layer are within 2 inches from the outer wall.

23. A material reduction machine comprising:
an infeed portion operable to receive material to be reduced;
a cutting mechanism operable to reduce material fed in from the infeed portion; and
an outlet chute having a first end provided by a base portion of the outlet chute and operable to receive the material reduced by the cutting mechanism and a second end operable to discharge the reduced material from the machine, wherein the outlet chute extends along a curved path,
wherein the cutting mechanism has vanes or paddles configured to forcibly blow reduced material upward and outward into the outlet chute,
wherein at the second end, the outlet chute includes a discharge deflector that is angle-adjustable with respect to the base portion to adjust the trajectory of the reduced material discharged therefrom, and
wherein the discharge deflector includes an integrated silencer.

Assignees

• Vermeer Mfg Co

Inventors

• Gangel Scott Edward
• Prieksat Mason Carl
• Daining Stephen
• Parker Adam James

Classifications

• B27L11/08

  of wood fibres, e.g. produced by tearing · CPC title

• G10K11/162

  Selection of materials · CPC title

• A01G3/002

  for comminuting plant waste · CPC title

• B02C18/2216 Primary

  Discharge means · CPC title