A chain flail debarking apparatus including a flail chamber accommodating at least first and second rotatable flail shafts being supported on a movable flail assembly framework, and both of the first and second rotatable flail shafts having a plurality of chains, a disc chipper for receiving the debarked logs and trees from the flail chamber and generating wood chips having a desired shape and size, and a single drive for driving both the disc chipper and at least the first and second rotatable flail shafts in the flail chamber. A pivotable feed roller is located adjacent an inlet to the flail chamber for sensing a diameter of the logs and trees to be debarked and moving the movable flail assembly framework, relative to the base frame, so as to maintain the logs and trees being debarked in the flail chamber, substantially centered with respect to both the first and second rotatable flail shafts so that both upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces of the logs and trees being debarked are substantially equally treated.

A chipping machine includes a debarking assembly, a chipper assembly, and a log advance system to conveys logs through the chipping machine and into contact with the debarking assembly and chipper assembly. A rotating chipper disk cuts chips from the log. A housing encloses the chipper disc and includes a spout that provides an exit path for chips out of the housing. The chipper assembly includes a first path for collecting bark and directing bark out of the machine. A second path that is separate from the first path collects trash and directs the collected trash to first path and out of the machine. An inlet of the second path is an opening formed in a base of the housing. The second path includes a chute onto which trash falls and then slides under the force of gravity to the first path.

A flywheel and paddle assembly for a chipping or shredding apparatus, including a wood chipper, a brush chipper, and a leaf shredder. The assembly has a flywheel attached coaxially to a drive shaft. The flywheel has at least one aperture extending from the front side to the back side, and carries at least one knife adjacent to the at least one aperture. The knife presents a knife edge on the front side of the flywheel. A paddle is rotatably mounted coaxially to the drive shaft adjacent to the back side of the flywheel. The paddle is configured to rotate on the drive shaft independently of the flywheel. A chipping or shredding apparatus incorporating the aforesaid flywheel and paddle assembly is also disclosed.

A wood chip collection system having a stump grinding wheel, a chip chute and a chip collection bin. The chute is positioned such that chips generated by the rotation of the wheel when engaged in a stump will be directed into the chute. The chute, in turn is sized and shaped to permit the energy in the chips to move the chips into a collection bin. The bin is positioned adjacent to and in alignment with the trailing edge of the chute in order to effectively receive the chips.

A material reduction machine includes a prime mover driving a cutting mechanism. An infeed portion engages a piece of material to feed it forward to the cutting mechanism. A sensor senses a machine load parameter via the cutting mechanism and/or prime mover and reports a signal to a controller operatively coupled to the infeed portion to control sequential cutting cycles on the piece of material. The controller utilizes a stored first stop threshold value for stopping a first cutting cycle and continues monitoring the signal as machine load increases momentarily after reaching the first stop threshold. The controller determines and adopts a second stop threshold value based on observation of the machine load parameter indicative of maximum load during the continued monitoring following attainment of the first stop threshold, and further being based on a stored correction factor. The second stop threshold value is used for a second cutting cycle.

A chipping machine includes a debarking assembly, a chipper assembly, and a log advance system to conveys logs through the chipping machine and into contact with the debarking assembly and chipper assembly. A rotating chipper disk cuts chips from the log. A housing encloses the chipper disc and includes a spout that provides an exit path for chips out of the housing. The chipper assembly includes a first path for collecting bark and directing bark out of the machine. A second path that is separate from the first path collects trash and directs the collected trash to first path and out of the machine. An inlet of the second path is an opening formed in a base of the housing. The second path includes a chute onto which trash falls and then slides under the force of gravity to the first path.

A flywheel and paddle assembly for a chipping or shredding apparatus, including a wood chipper, a brush chipper, and a leaf shredder. The assembly has a flywheel attached coaxially to a drive shaft. The flywheel has at least one aperture extending from the front side to the back side, and carries at least one knife adjacent to the at least one aperture. The knife presents a knife edge on the front side of the flywheel. A paddle is rotatably mounted coaxially to the drive shaft adjacent to the back side of the flywheel. The paddle is configured to rotate on the drive shaft independently of the flywheel. A chipping or shredding apparatus incorporating the aforesaid flywheel and paddle assembly is also disclosed.

A reduced size bark blower that incorporates the innovative concept of a centrifugal fan instead of an air lock thereby reducing the overall weight of the machine.

A chain flail debarking apparatus including a flail chamber accommodating at least first and second rotatable flail shafts being supported on a movable flail assembly framework, and both of the first and second rotatable flail shafts having a plurality of chains, a disc chipper for receiving the debarked logs and trees from the flail chamber and generating wood chips having a desired shape and size, and a single drive for driving both the disc chipper and at least the first and second rotatable flail shafts in the flail chamber. A pivotable feed roller is located adjacent an inlet to the flail chamber for sensing a diameter of the logs and trees to be debarked and moving the movable flail assembly framework, relative to the base frame, so as to maintain the logs and trees being debarked in the flail chamber, substantially centered with respect to both the first and second rotatable flail shafts so that both upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces of the logs and trees being debarked are substantially equally treated.

A mulching and chipping attachment includes a deck having a top plate. A cutting disk is attached to the deck. The top plate includes an opening that exposes a portion of the cutting disk. A guide chute is attached to the deck, and is disposed over the opening. The guide chute includes a feed system. The feed system includes a first roller, and a reactionary member operable to react against the first roller to secure a log therebetween. The first roller and the reactionary member cooperate together to grasp and controllably feed the log through the opening. The first roller or the reactionary member may be moveable relative to the other, to adjust a throat distance therebetween. An anvil may be disposed at a rearward edge of the opening, and extend downward to define a chip cutting height between the anvil and the cutting disk.