Tethered Percussive Tool (e.g., Chain, Cable, Flail, Hammer) Patents (Class 144/208.7)
  • Patent number: 11292150
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Tigercat Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Anders Ragnarsson
  • Patent number: 11045972
    Abstract: A flail chain link comprises a plurality of adjacent link sections including a pair of oppositely disposed end link sections. Each end link section has an internal surface, and a first axis passes through the center point of the link and the center of each end link section. A second axis, which is not coincident with the first axis, passes through the center point and the center of at least two link sections. The first axis and the second axis together define a central plane through the center of each link section. An orthogonal plane passing through each of the end link sections is perpendicular to the central plane. A radius of the internal surface of each end link section that is measured in the central plane is equal to a radius of the internal surface of such end link section that is measured in the orthogonal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Astee Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Anderson, Arnold Neil Peterson
  • Patent number: 10421210
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a log positioning system configured to transport a log through one or more chipper/profiler modules to produce a cant with four chipped/profiled sides. In some embodiments, a log processing system may include an infeed, a positioning feed module downstream of the infeed, and one or more chipper/profiler modules disposed proximal to the positioning feed module. The positioning feed module may include a sharp chain coupled to one or more pairs of vertical positioning rolls. The positioning feed module may be selectively skewed, slewed, and/or tilted to match the vertical and angular orientation of the infeed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventors: Mike Dockter, Petri Saastamo
  • Patent number: 10052788
    Abstract: A debarking machine for removing the bark from a log includes a flail assembly having a flail shaft that is mounted for rotation about a flail shaft axis. A plurality of flail chains are provided, each of which has a fixed end that is attached to the flail shaft and a free end. The debarking machine is adapted to move a log to be debarked in a processing direction that is generally perpendicular to the flail shaft axis. A flail housing encloses a portion of the flail assembly and is configured and arranged to locate the flail shaft at any of a plurality of alternative vertical positions with respect to the log being moved in the processing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Astec Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm Angus Windrim, Nathan Anderson
  • Patent number: 9738008
    Abstract: A flail assembly for use in debarking logs moving in a processing direction includes a debarking assembly having a shaft that is mounted for rotation above the logs moving in the processing direction. A flail having a fixed end is attached to the shaft. The flail has a length that defines an arc of rotation of the free end of the flail as the shaft is rotated. A housing is positioned adjacent the flail. The housing has a center line that is generally aligned with the processing direction, and a deflector vane which extends inwardly towards the arc of rotation of the free end of the flail. The deflector vane serves to direct bark chips that are cast upwardly by the flail away from the center line of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Astec Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold Neil Peterson, Jason Duke Tift
  • Patent number: 9649671
    Abstract: This invention relates to a cleaning device for the internal cleaning of drainpipes, which cleaning device includes one or more chains having several links. According to the invention on one or more sides of one or more links is fastened one or more hard metal blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Inventor: Tommi Virtanen
  • Publication number: 20150076265
    Abstract: A flail assembly for use in debarking logs moving in a processing direction includes a debarking assembly having a shaft that is mounted for rotation above the logs moving in the processing direction. A flail having a fixed end is attached to the shaft. The flail has a length that defines an arc of rotation of the free end of the flail as the shaft is rotated. A housing is positioned adjacent the flail. The housing has a center line that is generally aligned with the processing direction, and a deflector vane which extends inwardly towards the arc of rotation of the free end of the flail. The deflector vane serves to direct bark chips that are cast upwardly by the flail away from the center line of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Arnold Neil Peterson, Jason Duke Tift
  • Publication number: 20120160371
    Abstract: A link for debarking trees comprising at least two linear sides, each linear side having an outer surface, an inner surface and a diameter; and at least two opposing deformed sides, each deformed side having an outer surface, an inner surface, an undeformed diameter, and a deformation having a diameter different than the undeformed diameter; the at least two opposing deformed sides connected to the at least two linear sides through convex corner sections, such that the inner surfaces of the at least two opposing deformed sides and the inner surfaces of the at least two linear sides together form an interior space. Multiple links may be arranged into a chain and the chain may be used in a flailing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: FUNCTION CHAIN PTY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jinhuan Huangfu, Phillip Morris Dohnt
  • Patent number: 7931056
    Abstract: A debarking apparatus includes a cutting body having a cutting surface and a first projection configured to cooperate with a fastener. The debarking apparatus also includes a holding body for removably holding the cutting body, the holding body having a trailing surface and defining a first recess generally complementary to the first projection to receive therein the first projection in a close surrounding fit, and a first opening sized to receive the fastener. The fastener is configurable to pass through the first opening and to cooperate with the first projection and with the holding body to hold the first projection in the first recess in a close surrounding fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Carmanah Design & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Durant, C. Todd Macey, Robert M. McNicol
  • Patent number: 7878227
    Abstract: A debarking chain having passing links; the passing links being substantially rounded in order to permit the passing links to pass through adjacent links such that the orientation of the passing link relative to its adjacent links can change at random in order to randomly distribute the wear and stress from the impact of adjacent or next to adjacent links on the passing links so that the overall wear life of the present debarking chain is extended over similar chain with elongated, oblong links of the prior art. The invention also includes a debarking drum having a plurality of debarking chains having at least one, preferably a plurality of passing links, as well as a debarking device having such a debarking drum. The debarking device preferably includes a chipping device and a method of using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Peerless Chain Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Jensen, John J. McCauley
  • Publication number: 20100212782
    Abstract: A linkage element for a flail chain comprising more than two shank portions and more than two angled portions connecting the shank portions. The shank portions and angled portions define an interior space of the linkage element. A flail chain comprising at least one such linkage element forms a part of a flailing apparatus used to debark trees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: FUNCTION CHAIN PTY, LTD
    Inventors: Jinhuan Huangfu, Phillip Morris Dohnt
  • Publication number: 20100212783
    Abstract: Flail chain including interlocking chain links, at least one chain link being a passing link, the passing link having first and second segments and outer and inner perimeters, wherein the first segment is generally semi-circular and includes a weld section and the second segment includes a stabilizing portion on the outer perimeter opposite the weld section. The first segment includes rounded portions on each side of the weld section and the second segment including two rounded ends on each side of the stabilizing portion and the two rounded ends being continuous with rounded ends of the first segment. The stabilizing portion including at least two spaced apart points on the outer perimeter that stabilize the link on a surface such that the link can slide on the surface without changing its orientation relative to the surface. The invention further includes debarking devices and methods of manufacturing flail chains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: John J. McCauley, Robert D. Jensen
  • Patent number: 7264029
    Abstract: A flail pan for use with a delimbing and debarking apparatus. The flail pan has a first section which extends from the first side opening of the apparatus beneath the first flail and a center section which is spaced vertically and horizontally between the first and second flails. A second section of the flail pan slopes away from the center section downward toward the second side opening of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Chambers Delimbinator, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric B. Chambers, Clifton K. Hudson
  • Patent number: 7128109
    Abstract: An essential oil reclaim method for use with a corresponding apparatus, comprising the following steps: the apparatus grabs the tree parts, the tree tops or the tree limbs, and shakes them with rotating drums provided with chains (under whiplash effect); the needles are segregated through a vibrating sieve; the needles are compressed for a first essential oil extraction under mechanical compression; the needles are then pushed into a sealed chamber comprising an endless screw which upwardly conveys the needles; steam is sprayed on the needles, so as to thermally extract essential oils from condensate; the needle residues, or “muka”, escapes from the top end of the thermal chamber. This essential oil reclaim apparatus also relates to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Inventor: Daniel Tardif
  • Publication number: 20030005977
    Abstract: An apparatus which delimbs and debarks one or multiple tree stems which are fed into the apparatus by a circle loader by its boom arm and claw. The tree stem(s) are pulled through the apparatus by the circle loader as the apparatus delimbs and debarks the tree stems with a flail means of various designs and configurations. The flail means if further designed to eject material striped from the tree stems in a controlled fashion from the apparatus. Other safety features contain and prevent uncontrolled ejection of material striped from the tree stems. The flail means is further designed to assist the tree stem feeding by frictionally moving the tree stems into the apparatus with the action of one of the flail drums; and thus reducing wear and tear on the circle loader. The expanse of the feeding opening is designed to accommodate larger diameter and more numerous tree stems resulting in more efficient, faster, and safer delimbing and debarking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventor: Charles Tapscott