GB2449953A

GB2449953A - Self loading wood shredding attachment for excavator or crane

Info

Publication number: GB2449953A
Application number: GB0724851A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Mence
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-06-05
Filing date: 2007-12-20
Publication date: 2008-12-10
Also published as: GB0724851D0

Abstract

A self-loading timber shredding apparatus 1 attachable to an excavator or crane comprises a material gathering and containing means, shredding means and an outlet (11, fig 4) for the material gathering and containing means. The shredding means includes a rotor 8 mounted in the material gathering and containing means and a drive 7 associated with the said rotor, the rotor 8 being provided with a plurality of shredding elements 9. Shredding occurs by action of the shredding elements 9 of the rotor 8 acting upon material confined within the material gathering and containing means. The material gathering and containing means may be an excavator bucket, a clam shell grab (40, fig 6) or grapple (20, fig 5).

Description

SHREDDING APPARATUS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to apparatus fin shredding materials, in particular timber.

Further the shredding apparatus forms part of an attachment for an excavator or loading arm.

Background of the Invention

The processing of waste on sites and removal of waste from such sites is costly. Recent legislation requires that waste being stored on a site is contained. This is often accomplished by the provision of a number of skips, each skip being dedicated to one type of waste material. A skip dedicated to timber waste will t' pically be filled with pallets. When the skip is full ins taken to a land fill site, where the connts of the skip are dumped. Waste materials are usualh thrown or dumped into skips, as opposed to being stacked neatly. In the case of timber waste materials, such as pallets and boards, a skip is t picall3 filled to its volumetric capacits well before its payload capaciti in terms of weight is reached. For example, a skip which is capable of carrying 20 tonnes of material mai be removed because it is full volumetrically when onli carrying a pa load of 5 to 7 tonnes. The result of transporting such skips at only a fraction of their true pai load is significant additional cost, in that the fee paid to hire a skip is the same irrespective of the weight of the skip when volumetrically full.

Further, there is significant financial and environmental cost associated with transporting such skips, in that whilst the material containing in the skip weighs significantly less than the skip's true payload, this does not mean that a smaller lorry may be used to transport the skip. The size of the lorry required is determined hi both the weight of the skip and its phy sical dimensions. Still further, the dumping of such timber waste in land fill exacerbates the environmental problems associated with land fill.

It is known to reduce the volume of materials in order to increase their specific volume. In the case of timber, shredders are widely available for shredding branches of trees. In the case of concirte, crushers are known fir reducing large pieces of concrete to smaller pieces which ma) then be used as agregate.

Excavators, backhoes and cranes are typically equipped with hydraulic power services and are increasingly used as tool carriers for hvdraulicaiiy powered tools such as augers, breakers and cutters.

In the case of crushing conctt it is known to mount a crusher in the bucket of an excavator. Such buckets are used on building sites and allow concrete and other similar masonn materials to be crushed and either used on the site as aggregate or to be removed from the site in a state which alli)ws more efficient use of the capacity of transporting vehicles.

A bucket crusher is described in US 5,485,689 and comprises a bucket in the rear of which are mounted a number of crusher rolls. In front on the rolls is mounted a feeding plate. In use the feeding plate is raised and the bucket filled in the usual manner. The feeding plate is then caused to push the material in the bucket towards the crusher rolls. Crushed material falls between the crusher rolls. Uncrushed material is removed from the excavator bucket. In addition to crushing concrete, the bucket crusher is described as being suitable for crushing tree stumps.

Another bucket crusher is described in US 5,887,810 and comprises a pair of spaced apart crusher rolls mounted in a bucket towards the base thereof. The rolls include crushing elements which are mounted eccentricall on the rolls. Beneath the rolls there is an opening in the bucket which provides for crushed material to fall from the bucket.

In both US 5,485,689 and US 5,887,810 the crusher rolls, feed plate are driven hydraulically from the services of the vehicle to which the)? are attached for operation.

The bucket crushers of the prior art are configured to crush masonn waste material. Whilst the3 are effective in crushing concrete, the3 are not suitable for reducing timber waste to small particles.

As mentioned above, shredding of timber is known. However, such shredders are typically devices which are designed to shred branches of trees. Such machines are typically fed by a mechanical excavator or by hand, and are provided with a conveying means through which shredded timber may be directed to a heap, a skip or trailer.

Another known device for deahng with timber is the stump grinder. Such devices ma3 be mounted on the end of an arm of an excavator, or on a self propelled vehicle, for example. The stump grinder is moved from stump to stump, and protruding stumps are ground off to the level of the surrounding surface.

It would be desirable to provide a self-loading shredder suitable for mounting on an arm of an excavator, a backhoe loader, or a crane for example.

It would also be desirable to provide a self-loading shredder which can deposit shredded material into skip or trailer.

It would also be desirable to produce processed waste products which may be used to fire power stations.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a self-loading shredding apparatus as specified in Claim I. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an excavator shredder bucket as specified in Claim 2.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a grab shredder bucket as specified in Claim 3.

Preferred feathres of the invention arc set out in the claims dependent on Claim 1, and in the

description and drawings of this application.

The shredding apparatus of the invention provides fir significant improvement in the handling of waste material, in particular timber waste. B3 reducing the volume of waste material lorries and skips can be loaded more closeh' to their capacities by weight than is presently possible without the need to hire in spedalist stand alone shredding equipment. Further, material which would otherwise be dumped in landfill sites, to which are attached both financial and environmental costs, ma be sold to power stations as a carbon neutral fuel.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and are by

was' of example:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a self-loading shredding apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic end elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic front elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 4is a schematic rear elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a self-loading shredding apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a variant of the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 6; Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a vehicle having a self-loading shredding apparatus mounted thereon; and Figure 8 is a schematic representation of an excavator having a self-loading shredding apparatus as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 mounted thereon.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Figures 1 and 2 illustrated a bucket shredder I fbr attachment to the arm of an excavator or backhoe loader b) means of brackets plates 5 which include bores 6 fbr the insertion of pins (not shown). The excavator bucket I comprises side walls 2, a back plate 3 and a base plate 4.

Mounted between the side walls 2 is a rotor 8 which is provided with teeth 9. The rotor is mounted on a shaft 12, the ends of which sit in suitable bearings (not shown). One end of the shaft extends through a side wall 2. Within a housing 7 there is mounted a hydraulic motor which is hydraulically connected to the hydraulic services of the vehicle to which the bucket shredder I is attached by means of hydraulic hoses 13. Preferably, power is delivered from the hydraulic motor to the shaft 12 by either a belt or chain drive, the output shaft of the hydraulic motor and the shaft 12 being provided with pulley wheels or sprockets accordingh.

Referring in particular to Figures 2 and 3, the base plate 4 is equipped with teeth 10 which are mounted on said base plate to be aligned lateralls with the gaps between the knives 9 of the rotor 8.

Referring in particular to Figure 4, the back plate 3 is provided with an opening 11.

Shredded waste material exits the bucket 1 via the opening II.

Operation of the bucket shredder I will now be described with reference to Figure 8. An excavator 50 has a bucket shredder I attached to its arm. The hdraulic motor of the bucket shredder I is connected to the hydraulic services of the excavator 50 b means of hdraulic hoses 13.

The operator of the excavator 50 positions the machine between a heap of waste material 51 and a skip 52. The bucket shredder I self-loads in the same manner as any excavator bucket. Using the controls of the excavator 50 the operator draws the bucket I towards and through the heap 51 resulting in the bucket I filling. The operator then rotates the excavator such that the bucket I is positioned over the skip 52. Drive to the rotor 8 is engaged causing the rotor 8 to rotate. The teeth 9 engage with the waste material gathered in the bucket resulting in shredding of the said waste material. Where teeth It) are provided on the base plate 4 of the bucket a finer degree of shredding is achieved. The resulting shredded waste material 53 falls through the opening 11 into the skip 52. It is the combination of the weight of the waste material bearing down on the rotor 8 and the confinement of the waste material in the bucket by the walls thereof which allows the single rotor 8 to achieve an acceptable degree of shredding.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown a grapple shredder 20 which is t) picallv attached to the free end of a crane arm (not shown) by means of bracket 31. The grapple indudes a pair of claws 23, each claw 23 including a number of spaced apart tines. Each claw 23 is attached to two spaced apart mounting plates 24 by pins 25 such that the claw 23 may pivot with respect to the said plates 24. Each claw 23 is provided with a bore 32 through which a pin 33 is passed to attach a hydraulic ram 26 to the plate 24. Contracting the ram 26 causes the claw 23 to move out-ward, thereby allowing the shredder 20 to be filled.

Depending downwardly from each plate 24 is a bracket 22. Between the two brackets 22 a rotor 27 is mounted, its central shaft 28 being mounted in suitable bearings attached to the brackets 22. A motor is provided at one end of the shaft 28 and sen-es to drive the rotor 27. In the present example the motor would be a hydraulic motor powered from the hydraulic services of the vehicle on which the crane arm is mounted. The rotor 27 is provided with a pluralit of teeth 29.

Figure 6 illustrates a clam-shell grab shredder 40 which is similar iii nature to the grapple shredder 20 illustrated in Figure 5. Components common with the grapple shredder 20 are given the same reference numerals.

The clam-shell shredder 40 comprises a pair of clam shells 41, the lower edges of each clam shell 41 being pmvided with a plurali of spaced apart teeth 42, which ma' inter-engage to provided a full) closed configuraon. Alternatively, the spaced apart teeth may be replaced by a continuous blade. Each clam shell 41 is attached to two spaced apart mounting plates 24 b3 pins 25 such that the clam shells 41 ma pivot with respect to the said plates 24.

Depending downwardly from each plate 24 is a bracket 22. Between the two brackets 22 a rotor 27 is mounted, its central shaft 28 being mounted in suitable bearings attached to the brackets 22. A motor is provided at one end of the shaft 28 and serves to drive the rotor 27. In the present example the motor would be a hydraulic motor powered from the hydraulic services of the vehicle on which the crane arm is mounted. The rotor 27 is provided with a plurality of teeth 29.

Use of the grapple shredder 20 will now be described with reference to Figure 7 in which a lorry having a crane arm and a tipping body mounted thereon is depicted. The lorry operator draws up along side a heap of waste timber material, such as a heap of pallets. He opens the claws 23 of the grapple shredder 20 and lowers the arm of the crane such that bringing closing the claws 23 will result in them being filled with the waste material. He doses the claws 23 and then re-posithrns the laden grapple shredder 21) over the tipper both. The operator then switches on the hydraulic motor driving the rotor 27. The claws 23 prevent the loaded waste material from falling from the grapple shredder 21) until the waste has been shredded to a particle size which will fall between the tines of the claws 23. It is the combination of the claws 23, which prevent release of unshredded waste and the actkm of the teeth 29 on the gathered waste material when the rotor 27 is rotated which causes the gathered waste to he shredded. As the waste is shredded its parncle size is reduced, with particles of a size sufficientl small to pass between the tines of the claws doing so, and falling into the tipper body of the lorry.

A clam-shell grab shredder 40 is used in a similar manner to the grapple shredder 20. In the case whert the body of each clam shell 40 is of solid construction (typically such clam shells are fabricated of steel plate), the degree of shredding of the gathered material is determined b3 the size of the gap between adjacent edges 41a of the clam shells 41, which size may be adjusted b3 operation of the actuators (not shown) which cause the clam shells 41 to pivot about pins 25.

Claims

Claims I. A self-loading timber shredding apparatus comprising a

material gathering and containing means, shredding means, an outlet for the material gathering and containing means, wherein the shredding means includes a rotor mounted in the material gathering and containing means and a drive associated with the said rotor, the rotor being provided with a pIuralit of shredding elements, wherein shredding occurs by action of the shredding elements of the rotor acting upon material confined within the material gathering and containing means.
2. A self-loading shredding apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the material gathering and containing means is an excavator bucket.
3. A self-loading shredding apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the material gathering and containing means comprises two elements, each element forming part of a grab, and wherein the rotor is mounted between the said two elements.
4. A self-loading shredding apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the grab is in the form of a clam shell or a grapple.
5. A self-loading shredding apparatus according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the outlet is formed b a gap formed between adjacent faces of the two elements of the grab.
6. A self-loading shredding apparatus according to any of Claims 3 to 5, wherein each element of the grab includes at least one opening, and the at least one opening forms part of the outlet.
7. A self-loading shredding apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the outlet is located downstream of the rotor.
8. A self-loading shredding apparatus according to an' preceding claim, wherein the shredding means further includes at least one set of shredding elements mounted on the material gathering a containing means, the shredding elements of each set being arranged to co-operate with the shredding elements of the rotor.
9. A self-loading shredding apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein the shredding elements of the at least one set are aligned with the spaces between the shredding elements of the rotor.
10. A self-loading shredding apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the shredding elements are selected from the group comprising: knives, teeth, chisels and blades.
11. An excavator including an arm, and a self-loading shredding apparatus as claimed in any of Claims I to 10.
12. A crane including a jib and a self-loading shredding apparatus as claimed in any of Claims I to 10.
13. A self-loading shredding apparatus substantially as shown in, and as described with reference to, the drawings.