Chipper knife clamp

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention relates to knife assemblies for disk-type chippers, and more particularly concerns an improved knife clamp which reduces the propensity for sawdust buildup behind the knife clamp.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

#For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the it invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing:

#FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of an embodiment of the improved knife clamping device of the present invention shown in association with a chipper cutting disk.

#FIG. 2 is an end view of the clamping device of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

#Referring to FIG. 1, a fragmentary view of a conventional chipper is shown comprised of large vertically rotating disk 10 having front and rear surfaces 11 and 12, respectively, a plurality of radially disposed cutting stations 14, and elongated chip passages 13 communicating between said front and rear surfaces between cutting stations. Each cutting station 14 is associated with a receiving groove 15 recessed into front surface 11, said groove 15 having bottom surface 16. The portion of disc 10 disposed between groove 15 and associated chip passage 13 constitutes an elongated shoulder 18.

#Each cutting station is further comprised of holder block 19 secured by bolt 41 to front surface 11 between successive chip passages 13, said block having sloping abutment surface 20 disposed at an angle of between 30 and 45 degrees with respect toil, front surface 11. Flat knife blade 21 is elongated between lateral extremities (not shown) and has upper surface 23 and lower surface 24 which lies in contact with abutment surface 20. Knife blade 21 has elongated rear and elongated sharpened front edges 25 and 26, respectively. Front edge 26, disposed upon upper surface 23, extends beyond said front disc surface and protrudes into chip passage 13.

#Elongated knife clamp 27, of monolithic construction, has a substantially right triangular cross section bounded in part by bifurcated hypotenuse holding surface 28 which lies in contact with upper surface 23 of knife blade 21, and is divided by longitudinal cutout 29. Surface 28 may thereby be characterized in having upper and lower surface portions 31 and 32, respectively, adapted to exert securing pressure upon upper knife blade surface 23. Clamp 27 has elongated upper face 33 exposed to chip passage 13. As best seen in FIGS. 2-4, back face 34 of clamp 27 has elongated depression 35 bounded by upper and lower projections 43 and 44, respectively, which slidably engage shoulder 18. Tensioning means in the form of threaded stud 36 is adapted to intercede between shoulder 18 and depression 35, thereby forcing clamp 27 toward knife 21. Restoring springs (not shown) associated with disc 10 serve to urge knife clamp 27 toward said shoulder.