Abstract: A material reduction machine includes an infeed portion operable to receive material to be reduced, and a cutting mechanism operable to reduce material fed in from the infeed portion. An outlet chute has a first end operable to receive the material reduced by the cutting mechanism and a second end operable to discharge the reduced material from the machine, wherein the outlet chute extends along a curved path. The outlet chute includes, along a radially-inner side of the curved path, a foraminous interior wall providing communication with a sound attenuation layer.

Abstract: Work machines having an operator platform for standing operation of the work machine are disclosed. The work machines include a suspension system for suspending an operator station that includes an operator platform and a control station from a chassis of the work machine.

Abstract: A material reduction machine includes an infeed portion operable to receive material to be reduced, and a cutting mechanism operable to reduce material fed in from the infeed portion. An outlet chute has a first end operable to receive the material reduced by the cutting mechanism and a second end operable to discharge the reduced material from the machine, wherein the outlet chute extends along a curved path. The outlet chute includes, along a radially-inner side of the curved path, a foraminous interior wall providing communication with a sound attenuation layer.

Abstract: A material reduction machine includes a frame, an arm assembly coupled to the frame, and a bearing assembly coupled to the arm assembly adjacent a distal end. A shaft is rotatably coupled to the bearing assembly and has an axis. A comminution wheel is coupled to the shaft for rotation therewith. The comminution wheel is configured to be driven by a drive system and extends outward from the shaft in a radial direction that is perpendicular to the axis. A gap is defined between a portion of the shaft, the bearing assembly, and the comminution wheel, and a guard plate is attached to the bearing assembly or the arm assembly. The guard plate has an axial extent extending along the axis and a radial extent extending radially relative to the axis to at least partially fill the gap. The axial extent and the radial extent lie in a plane.

Abstract: An attachment for a tractor includes a rotary reducing component including a plurality of cutters; a hydraulic system having an activated state, a semi-activated state, and a deactivated state; an inlet, an outlet, a hydraulic motor positioned between the inlet and outlet and being mechanically coupled to the rotary reducing component; a first sensor positioned at the inlet for sensing parameters of the activated, semi-activated, or deactivated states; a hydraulic brake positioned downstream of the hydraulic motor configured to restrict flow from the motor to provide hydraulic motor braking only in the deactivated state; and a controller in communication with the first sensor and the hydraulic brake, wherein the controller triggers the hydraulic brake only when the controller determines the first sensor senses a parameter of the hydraulic system being in the deactivated state.

Abstract: A cutter wheel includes a drive plate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A wear plate is coupled to the first side of the drive plate for rotation with the drive plate. First and second cutters are coupled to the wear plate such that the wear plate is at least partially between the first side of the drive plate and the first and second cutters. Each cutter includes a cutter tip and a fastener-mounting aperture. A first fastener extends through the fastener-mounting aperture of the first cutter, through a first fastener-receiving aperture in the wear plate, and into a first aperture in the drive plate. A second fastener extends through the fastener-mounting aperture of the second cutter, through a respective fastener-receiving aperture in the wear plate, and into a respective aperture in the drive plate.

Abstract: A material reducing apparatus includes a reducing head that includes a rotary reducing component that carries a plurality of cutters. The reducing head includes a thrown object deflector positioned proximate the rotary reducing component. The thrown object deflector is configured to limit at least one of a distance and a direction that objects can be thrown by the rotary reducing component.

Abstract: A cutter includes a first end configured to engage an object along a dominant force vector, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side. The cutter further includes an outer side, an inner side, and an aperture extending from the outer side to the inner side along a fastener axis that is substantially perpendicular to the dominant force vector. The cutter also includes a cutter tip on the first end and having a first cutting edge, a second cutting edge, and a third cutting edge, the cutting edges defining therebetween a cutting face. The cutting face defines a cutting swath having a width between the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge as the cutter rotates with the apparatus. No portion of the first side or the second side extends outside the width of the cutting swath.

Abstract: A material reduction machine includes a frame, an arm assembly coupled to the frame, and a bearing assembly coupled to the arm assembly adjacent a distal end. A shaft is rotatably coupled to the bearing assembly and has an axis. A comminution wheel is coupled to the shaft for rotation therewith. The comminution wheel is configured to be driven by a drive system and extends outward from the shaft in a radial direction that is perpendicular to the axis. A gap is defined between a portion of the shaft, the bearing assembly, and the comminution wheel, and a guard plate is attached to the bearing assembly or the arm assembly. The guard plate has an axial extent extending along the axis and a radial extent extending radially relative to the axis to at least partially fill the gap. The axial extent and the radial extent lie in a plane.

Abstract: A reducing element system includes a reducing element having a main body defining a fastener opening, a leading face defined by the main body, and a trailing face defined by the main body. The trailing face includes a pair of mating features equally spaced from the fastener opening and having a generally arcuate cross-section perpendicular to a fastener axis. The system further includes a reducing element mount having a main body defining a fastener opening, a leading face defined by the main body, and a reducing element mount mating feature defined by the leading face. The mount mating feature has a generally arcuate cross-section perpendicular to the fastener axis. The reducing element mount mating feature of the reducing element mount is configured to mate with at least one of the mating features of the reducing element when the reducing element mount is mated with the reducing element.

Abstract: A cutter wheel includes a drive plate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A wear plate is coupled to the first side of the drive plate for rotation with the drive plate. First and second cutters are coupled to the wear plate such that the wear plate is at least partially between the first side of the drive plate and the first and second cutters. Each cutter includes a cutter tip and a fastener-mounting aperture. A first fastener extends through the fastener-mounting aperture of the first cutter, through a first fastener-receiving aperture in the wear plate, and into a first aperture in the drive plate. A second fastener extends through the fastener-mounting aperture of the second cutter, through a respective fastener-receiving aperture in the wear plate, and into a respective aperture in the drive plate.

Abstract: A cutter includes a first end configured to engage an object along a dominant force vector, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side. The cutter further includes an outer side, an inner side, and an aperture extending from the outer side to the inner side along a fastener axis that is substantially perpendicular to the dominant force vector. The cutter also includes a cutter tip on the first end and having a first cutting edge, a second cutting edge, and a third cutting edge, the cutting edges defining therebetween a cutting face. The cutting face defines a cutting swath having a width between the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge as the cutter rotates with the apparatus. No portion of the first side or the second side extends outside the width of the cutting swath.

Abstract: An attachment for a tractor is disclosed, the attachment includes a rotary reducing component that includes a plurality of cutters and a hydraulic system having an activated state and a deactivated state. The hydraulic system includes an inlet for receiving hydraulic fluid and an outlet for discharging hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic system also includes a hydraulic motor positioned between the inlet and the outlet. The hydraulic motor is mechanically coupled to the rotary reducing component. The hydraulic system includes a first sensor positioned at the inlet of the hydraulic system for sensing parameters representative of the activated or deactivated states of the hydraulic system. The hydraulic system also includes a selectively operable hydraulic brake positioned at the outlet of the hydraulic system. The hydraulic brake is configured to control the rotation of the rotary reducing component when triggered.

Abstract: A material reducing apparatus includes a rotary reducing component that has a central rotational axis. The material reducing apparatus includes a reducing element mount attached to the rotary reducing component and a reversible reducing element mounted to the reducing element mount. The reducing element includes a leading front side that has a first cutting edge and an opposite second cutting edge being radially inwardly positioned closer to the central rotational axis from the first cutting edge. The reducing element has a chip curl angle between about 79 degrees and 102 degrees. The reducing element has a radial height extending away from the rotary reducing component. The material reducing apparatus includes at least one chip evacuation arrangement that includes three depth control structures. The depth control structures that are axially adjacent the reducing element have radial heights less than or equal to 25% of the radial height of the reducing element.

Abstract: A material reducing apparatus includes a reducing head that includes a rotary reducing component that carries a plurality of cutters. The reducing head includes a thrown object deflector positioned proximate the rotary reducing component. The thrown object deflector is configured to limit at least one of a distance and a direction that objects can be thrown by the rotary reducing component.

Abstract: A direct drive system is provided for supporting and driving a rotor. The drive system includes a support body and a drive hub assembly, which are modularized respectively and assembled together to produce the drive system. The support body has a body wall extending between opposite ends. One of the ends has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The drive hub assembly is mounted onto the exterior surface of the end of the support body. The motor mounts so as to be position primarily in an interior of the support body.

Abstract: A material reducing apparatus may be provided. The material reducing apparatus may include a rotor structure for driving rotation of the rotary reducing component. The rotary reducing component includes a first set of reducing component elements and a second set of reducing component elements, each with distinct characteristics. The first set of reducing elements can be carried by the rotor structure within first mounting locations such that the first set of reducing elements is balanced as a set relative to the axis of rotation. The rotary reducing component further includes a second set of reducing elements carried by the rotor structure within second mounting locations such that the second set of reducing elements is balanced as a set relative to the axis of rotation. In certain examples, multiple sets of reducing elements may coexist within the rotary reducing component, each with distinct characteristics.