| CPC B02C 25/00 (2013.01) [B02C 18/24 (2013.01); B02C 21/026 (2013.01); B02C 2018/164 (2013.01)] | 31 Claims |
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1. A wood grinding machine for grinding wood material, comprising:
an engine;
a clutch configured for engagement and disengagement with respect to said engine;
a grinding rotor configured for rotation about a first axis to grind the wood material;
said grinding rotor being rotationally driven by said engine in a grinding direction of rotation when said clutch is engaged with said engine;
a feedwheel configured for rotation about a second axis in a forward rotational direction for moving the wood material into engagement with said grinding rotor and a reverse rotational direction for moving the wood material away from said grinding rotor;
a feedwheel motor configured for driving said feedwheel in said forward rotational direction and said reverse rotational direction;
an infeed comprising an infeed bed chain configured for moving the wood material in a forward direction toward said feedwheel and a reverse direction away from said feedwheel;
an infeed bed chain drive configured for driving said infeed bed chain in said forward direction and said reverse direction;
a processor in communication with said engine, said clutch, said feedwheel motor, and said infeed bed chain drive;
a memory comprising instructions executable by said processor;
a control panel in communication with said processor; and
at least one vibration sensor mounted proximate said grinding rotor and being in communication with said processor;
said at least one vibration sensor being configured for generating a vibration signal indicative of a level of vibration of said grinding rotor and sending said vibration signal to said processor;
wherein said instructions include instructions for:
allowing a user to select a grinding mode from a plurality of pre-defined grinding modes, wherein each pre-defined grinding mode defines a plurality of grinding parameters including a feed speed setting representative of a rate at which material is fed to the grinding rotor and a trip point representative of a maximum allowable level of vibration, and wherein a setting of at least one of the plurality of grinding parameters is different between a first said pre-defined grinding mode and a second said pre-defined grinding mode;
monitoring said vibration signal in relation to said trip point; and
if said vibration signal exceeds said trip point, activating a trip protocol comprising:
stopping and reversing said feedwheel and said infeed bed chain,
idling said engine,
disengaging said clutch from said engine, and
displaying an indication of a trip condition on said control panel.
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19. A method of operating a wood grinding machine to grind wood material, the wood grinding machine comprising an engine, a clutch engageable with and disengageable from the engine, a rotationally mounted grinding rotor configured for engagement with the wood material as the grinding rotor rotates in a grinding direction of rotation when the clutch is engaged with the engine, a feedwheel driven by a feedwheel motor and configured for forward rotation and reverse rotation, an infeed bed chain driven by an infeed bed chain drive and configured for moving the wood material in a forward direction toward the feedwheel and a reverse direction away from the feedwheel, and a vibration detection system comprising a processor in communication with the engine, the clutch, the feedwheel motor, and the infeed bed chain drive, a memory comprising instructions executable by the processor, a control panel in communication with the processor, and at least one vibration sensor in communication with the processor, the control panel comprising a display having an indication of a vibration signal generated by the at least one vibration sensor, the method comprising:
turning on the vibration detection system;
selecting a user-selected grinding mode from a plurality of pre-defined grinding modes, each pre-defined grinding mode comprising a plurality of grinding parameters including a feed speed setting and a trip point, wherein a setting of at least one of the plurality of grinding parameters is different between a first said pre-defined grinding mode and a second said pre-defined grinding mode;
activating the grinding rotor, the infeed bed chain, and the feedwheel;
feeding the wood material onto the infeed bed chain to begin a grinding process;
monitoring the vibration signal;
if the vibration signal exceeds the trip point, waiting for the vibration detection system to execute a trip protocol comprising
stopping and reversing the feedwheel and the infeed bed chain,
idling the engine,
disengaging the clutch from the engine, and
displaying an indication of a trip condition on the control panel;
removing any unwanted material from the wood grinding machine;
resetting the vibration detection system; and
resuming the grinding process.
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21. A wood grinding machine for grinding wood material, comprising:
an engine;
a clutch configured for engagement and disengagement with respect to said engine;
a grinding rotor configured for rotation about a first axis to grind the wood material;
said grinding rotor being rotationally driven by said engine in a grinding direction of rotation when said clutch is engaged with said engine;
a tub configured for rotation about a second axis in a forward rotational direction for moving the wood material into engagement with said grinding rotor and a reverse rotational direction for moving the wood material away from said grinding rotor;
a tub drive motor configured for driving said tub in said forward rotational direction and said reverse rotational direction;
a processor in communication with said engine, said clutch, and said tub drive motor;
a memory comprising instructions executable by said processor;
a control panel in communication with said processor; and
at least one vibration sensor mounted proximate said grinding rotor and being in communication with said processor;
said at least one vibration sensor being configured for generating a vibration signal indicative of a level of vibration of said grinding rotor and sending said vibration signal to said processor;
wherein said instructions include instructions for:
allowing a user to select a grinding mode that defines a plurality of grinding parameters including a feed setting and a trip point representative of a maximum allowable level of vibration;
monitoring said vibration signal in relation to said trip point; and
if said vibration signal exceeds said trip point, activating a trip protocol comprising:
stopping and reversing said tub,
idling said engine,
disengaging said clutch from said engine, and
displaying an indication of a trip condition on said control panel.
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22. A method of operating a wood grinding machine to grind wood material, the wood grinding machine comprising an engine, a clutch engageable with and disengageable from the engine, a rotationally mounted grinding rotor configured for engagement with the wood material as the grinding rotor rotates in a grinding direction of rotation when the clutch is engaged with the engine, a tub driven by a tub drive motor and configured for forward rotation for moving the wood material in a forward direction toward the grinding rotor and reverse rotation for moving the wood material in a reverse direction away from the grinding rotor, and a vibration detection system comprising a processor in communication with the engine, the clutch, and the tub drive motor, a memory comprising instructions executable by the processor, a control panel in communication with the processor, and at least one vibration sensor in communication with the processor, the control panel comprising a display having an indication of a vibration signal generated by the at least one vibration sensor, the method comprising:
turning on the vibration detection system;
selecting a user-selected grinding mode comprising a plurality of grinding parameters including a feed setting and a trip point;
activating the grinding rotor and the tub;
feeding the wood material into the tub to begin a grinding process;
monitoring the vibration signal;
if the vibration signal exceeds the trip point, waiting for the vibration detection system to execute a trip protocol comprising
stopping and reversing the tub,
idling the engine,
disengaging the clutch from the engine, and
displaying an indication of a trip condition on the control panel;
removing any unwanted material from the wood grinding machine;
resetting the vibration detection system; and
resuming the grinding process.
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23. A wood grinding machine for grinding wood material, comprising:
an engine;
a clutch configured for engagement and disengagement with respect to said engine;
a grinding rotor configured for rotation about a first axis to grind the wood material;
said grinding rotor being rotationally driven by said engine in a grinding direction of rotation when said clutch is engaged with said engine;
a feedworks configured for moving the wood material in a forward direction toward said grinding rotor and a reverse direction away from said grinding rotor;
a processor in communication with said engine, said clutch, and said feedworks;
a memory comprising instructions executable by said processor;
a control panel in communication with said processor; and
at least one vibration sensor mounted on said wood grinding machine and being in communication with said processor;
said at least one vibration sensor being configured for generating a vibration signal indicative of a level of vibration of said wood grinding machine and sending said vibration signal to said processor;
wherein said instructions include instructions for:
establishing a user-selected grinding mode that comprises a plurality of grinding parameters selected from a feed speed setting, an engine speed setting, a grinding rotor speed setting, a coarse signal adjustment setting, a fine signal adjustment setting, a feedworks backup setting, and a trip point representative of a maximum allowable level of vibration, wherein the coarse and fine signal adjustment settings control a level of signal amplification of the vibration signal used for providing a vibration reading,
monitoring said vibration signal in relation to said trip point;
displaying the vibration reading; and
if said vibration signal exceeds said trip point, activating a trip protocol comprising:
stopping and reversing said feedworks,
idling said engine,
disengaging said clutch from said engine, and
displaying an indication of a trip condition on said control panel.
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