US 5,860,606 AGranted

Chipper/shredder having rotatable feed chute

AssigneeMurray Outdoor Products, Inc.

InventorsDavid A. Tiedeman, Charles S. Henninger

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Abstract

A chipper/shredder for comminuting debris such as leaves, twigs, branches and the like, comprising a housing having at least one inlet for receiving such debris, cutting elements disposed within the housing, an engine operatively coupled to the cutting elements for selectively moving said cutting elements to comminute the debris, and a first feed chute attached to a first side of the housing and communicating with the inlet, wherein the feed chute is selectively rotatable between upright and lowered positions, rotation of the chute being about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the first side of the housing. The housing preferably includes a second inlet on the opposite side of the first feed chute, with a second feed chute fixedly secured thereto for introducing larger debris into the interior of the housing for comminuting. The first feed chute is normally locked in its upright position, but may be moved to its lowered position by pulling a knob which disengages a plunger from a plate rotatable with the chute mounted adjacent the inlet. With the first feed chute in its lowered position, leaves and other debris may be introduced into the comminuting chamber. In the preferred embodiment the engine is an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft extending into the housing and coupled to the cutting elements, and the first feed chute rotates about an axis co-linear with the drive shaft.

Apparatus for comminuting debris such as leaves, twigs, branches, and the like, comprising:

a housing, including first and second generally planar parallel sides bounded by a peripheral outer wall defining an open interior, said first side having an inlet formed therein for receiving debris into said interior, said outer wall having an outlet formed therein for discharging said debris;
cutting means disposed within said interior of said housing, operative to comminute said debris;
driving means operatively coupled to said cutting means for selectively moving at least a portion of said cutting means, thereby comminuting said debris placed within said housing;
and
a first feed chute attached to said first side of said housing and communicating with said inlet, providing a passageway through which said debris may be introduced into said interior for comminuting by said cutting means, said first feed chute comprising:
a. a cylindrical member defining said passageway into said inlet, said cylindrical member having longitudinally opposed first and second ends;
b. an annular plate fixedly secured to said first end of said cylindrical member, having an opening formed therein for providing communication between said cylindrical member and said inlet, said plate being rotatably secured to said first side of said housing, whereupon selective rotation of said plate relative to said housing effects rotation of said chute between said upright and lowered positions;
and
c. an enlarged receptacle secured to said second end of said cylindrical member for receiving said debris to be comminuted, said receptacle having an opening through which said debris is introduced into the receptacle, the opening being partially defined by an elongated edge portion, wherein
said cylindrical member extends upwardly at an acute angle relative to said plate when said chute is in said upright position, said receptacle being positioned to receive said debris vertically;
and
said cylindrical member extends substantially laterally at an acute angle relative to said plate when said chute is in said lowered position, said opening lying substantially in a vertical plane with said edge portion being located substantially at ground level whereby said receptacle is positioned to receive said debris horizontally;
and wherein
said feed chute is selectively rotatable between upright and lowered portions, rotation of said chute being about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by said first side of said housing.

11 more elements

Abstract

Claims11