# US 11,297,782 B1 · Stump cutter and wood chipper with novel braking mechanism

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- Number: US 11,297,782 B1
- Document ID: US11297782B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/134,218
- Filed: 2018-09-18
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-18
- Assignees: D.A.F., Inc.
- Applicants: D.A.F., Inc.
- Inventors: Daniel R. Falatok; Mark D. Thompson; Hugo Whetsell Hayden; Robert Wyatt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11297782B1

## CPC

- A01G 23/067: {by comminuting the tree stumps}
- B27L 11/02: of wood shavings or the like
- F16D 51/48: with two linked or directly-interacting brake shoes
- F16D 65/22: adapted for pressing members apart {, e.g. for drum brakes}
- F16D 2121/22: for releasing a normally applied brake
- A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12)
- B27L: REMOVING BARK OR VESTIGES OF BRANCHES (forestry A01G); SPLITTING WOOD; MANUFACTURE OF VENEER, WOODEN STICKS, WOOD SHAVINGS, WOOD FIBRES OR WOOD POWDER
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES

## Abstract

A stump cutter includes an engine and a cutting wheel. A drive assembly is disposed between the engine and the cutting wheel. The drive assembly comprises at least one pulley. The at least one pulley defines a cylindrical recess therein. A drum brake assembly is configured to engage the cylindrical recess of the at least one pulley.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A stump cutter comprising:
an engine having an output shaft;
a cutting wheel;
a drive assembly between the engine and the cutting wheel, wherein the drive assembly comprises a first pulley and a second pulley and a first belt engaging an outer surface of said second pulley so as to be in driving relationship therewith, and wherein the second pulley defines a cylindrical recess therein having a cylindrical interior surface that is radially inward of the outer surface engaged by the first belt and wherein the first pulley is attached to the output shaft of the engine by a clutch and wherein said second pulley being connected to said first pulley by said first belt so as to be rotatably driven by the first pulley; and
a drum brake assembly configured to engage the cylindrical interior surface of the cylindrical recess of the at least one pulley.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The stump cutter of claim 1, further comprising: a third pulley mounted on a common shaft with said second pulley; a fourth pulley mounted on a common shaft with the cutting wheel; and a second belt interconnecting said third pulley and fourth pulley so that said second pulley will rotatably drive said fourth pulley.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The stump cutter of claim 1, wherein the drum brake assembly is electrically actuated.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The stump cutter of claim 3, further comprising a switch and wherein the drum brake assembly includes an electromagnet and further wherein at least one brake shoe is configured to engage the circumferential surface of the cylindrical recess upon a closing of the switch that provides an electrical current to the electromagnet in the drum brake assembly.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The stump cutter of claim 4, further comprising a resistance in series with the switch and the electromagnet, wherein the resistance is selected to reduce a braking force of the drum brake assembly from the braking force absent a voltage drop across the resistor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The stump cutter of claim 3, wherein at least one brake shoe comprises a pair of brake shoes.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The drive assembly of claim 1, further comprising a spring-loaded switch that is configured to actuate the drum brake assembly brake when the spring-loaded switch is released by an operator.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The stump cutter of claim 1, wherein said engine comprises an internal combustion engine.