US 12,226,781 B2
Flywheel for a wood chipper and process for making thereof
Kurt M. Schie, Akron, NY (US)
Filed by Kurt M. Schie, Akron, NY (US)
Filed on May 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/198,184.
Application 18/198,184 is a continuation of application No. 17/746,468, filed on May 17, 2022, granted, now 11,691,158.
Prior Publication US 2023/0372947 A1, Nov. 23, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B02C 18/08 (2006.01); B02C 18/14 (2006.01); B02C 18/16 (2006.01); B02C 18/18 (2006.01); B02C 18/24 (2006.01); B27L 11/00 (2006.01); B27L 11/02 (2006.01)
CPC B02C 18/083 (2013.01) [B02C 18/143 (2013.01); B02C 18/24 (2013.01); B27L 11/02 (2013.01); B02C 2018/166 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flywheel for a wood chipper, the flywheel having a thickness and comprising
a plurality of plates each having a plurality of apertures, wherein said plurality of plates are laminated together with fasteners received in respective ones of said apertures in said plurality of plates respectively,
a central opening in each of said plates for receiving a shaft in said central openings of said plates for effecting rotation of the flywheel,
at least one knife attached to the laminated plates for cutting wood material to form chips of the wood material as the flywheel is rotated, and
a cylindrical member configured to interact with the at least one knife such that a leading piece of the wood material and a trailing piece of the wood material remain attached to each other to cause the leading piece of the wood material to pull the trailing piece of the wood material into the flywheel during cutting of the wood material,
wherein said plates, including said apertures and said central openings, are each formed by laser cutting,
wherein a combined thickness of said plurality of plates laminated together is equal to said thickness of the flywheel, and
wherein each of said plates is of a type having a thickness of up to about ⅜ inch and composed of steel.
 
5. A wood chipper comprising
a flywheel having a thickness and including a plurality of plates each having a plurality of apertures, wherein said plurality of plates are laminated together with fasteners received in respective ones of said apertures in said plurality of plates respectively,
a central opening in each of said plates for receiving a shaft in said central openings of said plates for effecting rotation of said flywheel,
at least one knife attached to the laminated plates for cutting wood material to form chips of the wood material as said flywheel is rotated, and
a cylindrical member configured to interact with the at least one knife such that a leading piece of the wood material and a trailing piece of the wood material remain attached to each other to cause the leading piece of the wood material to pull the trailing piece of the wood material into the flywheel during cutting of the wood material,
wherein said plates, including said apertures and said central openings, are each formed by laser cutting,
wherein a combined thickness of said plurality of plates laminated together is equal to said thickness of said flywheel, and
wherein each of said plates is of a type having a thickness of up to about ⅜ inch and composed of steel.
 
9. A process for making a flywheel for a wood chipper comprising the steps of:
laser cutting a plurality of plates, including laser cutting a plurality of apertures in each of the plates and laser cutting a central opening in each of the plates for receiving a shaft for effecting rotation of the flywheel;
laminating the plurality of plates together by inserting fasteners in corresponding ones of the apertures in the plates;
attaching at least one knife to the laminated plates for cutting wood material to form chips of the wood material as the flywheel is rotated whereby the flywheel is made, wherein each of said plates is of a type having a thickness of up to about ⅜ inch and composed of steel; and
associating a cylindrical member with the at least one knife, wherein the cylindrical member is configured to interact with the at least one knife such that a leading piece of the wood material and a trailing piece of the wood material remain attached to each other to cause the leading piece of the wood material to pull the trailing piece of the wood material into the flywheel during cutting of the wood material.