Shredding and bagging device for yard usage

Claim 2

In a shredding and bagging machine for yard usage, the combination comprising a base of shallow cup shape having a bottom wall and a circular sidewall presenting an upper edge, transport means for supporting the base in horizontal position slightly upraised above the ground, a circular cover plate fitted to the base and having a downwardly turned lip about its periphery enclosing the upper edge of the base, an engine mounted on the cover plate and having a drive shaft which extends therethrough into the base, a rotor mounted on the engine shaft and including a diametrically extending blade having tips extending to the region of the sidewall, a plurality of breaker members secured at spaced positions within the sidewall and having horizontal notches formed therein registering with the tip portions of the blade, the breaker members being arranged vertically on the wall and projecting slightly above the upper edge thereof to define a reference surface for seating the cover plate thereby to insure precise registry between the blade and the notches in the breaker members, means for clamping the cover plate in position against the upper ends of the breaker members, means providing an opening in the plate for feeding material therethrough to the region of the blade, and means providing a discharge opening in the sidewall for forcible discharge of the shredded material.

Claim 3

In a shredding and bagging machine for yard usage, the combination comprising the base of shallow cup shape having a bottom wall and a circular sidewall presenting an upper edge, transport means for supporting the base in horizontal position slightly upraised above the ground, a circular cover plate fitted to the base and having a downwardly turned lip about its periphery enclosing the upper edge of the base, an engine mounted on the cover plate and Having a drive shaft which extends therethrough into the base, a cylindrical sleeve surrounding and keyed to the shaft and providing a reference shoulder at its upper end, a rotor having a hub and a diametrically arranged blade with the hub being snugly telescoped over the sleeve, means including a nut threaded onto the lower end of the sleeve for clamping the hub in position against the shoulder so that the blade occupies a predetermined reference position with respect to the cover plate, a plurality of breaker members secured at spaced positions within the sidewall and having horizontal notches formed therein registering with the tip portions of the blade, the breaker members being arranged vertically on the wall and having supporting surfaces at the upper ends thereof defining a reference surface for the cover plate, land surfaces on the underside of the cover plate for engaging the supporting surfaces on the breaker members and for establishing a gap between the cover plate and the upper edge of the base when the land surfaces are seated, means for clamping the cover plate with respect to the base, means providing an opening in the cover plate for feeding material therethrough to the region of the blade, and means providing a discharge opening in the sidewall of the base for forcible discharge of the shredded material.

Claim 4

In a shredding and bagging machine for yard usage, the combination comprising the base of shallow cup shape having a bottom wall and a circular sidewall presenting an upper edge, transport means for supporting the base in horizontal position slightly upraised above the ground, a circular cover plate fitted to the base and having a downwardly turned lip about its periphery enclosing the upper edge of the base, an engine mounted on the cover plate and Having a drive shaft which extends therethrough into the base, a cylindrical sleeve surrounding and keyed to the shaft and providing a reference shoulder at its upper end, a rotor having a hub and a diametrically arranged blade with the hub being snugly telescoped over the sleeve, means including a nut threaded onto the lower end of the sleeve for clamping the hub in position against the shoulder so that the blade occupies a predetermined reference position with respect to the cover plate, a plurality of breaker members secured at spaced positions within the sidewall and having horizontal notches formed therein registering with the tip portions of the blade, the breaker members being arranged vertically on the wall and having supporting surfaces at the upper ends thereof defining a reference surface for the cover plate, land surfaces on the underside of the cover plate for engaging the supporting surfaces on the breaker members and for establishing a gap between the cover plate and the upper edge of the base when the land surfaces are seated, means for clamping the cover plate with respect to the base, means providing an opening in the cover plate for feeding material therethrough to the region of the blade, and means providing a discharge opening in the sidewall of the base for forcible discharge of the shredded material.

Claim 5

The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the clamping means is in the form of a plurality of threaded members for clamping the downwardly turned lip of the cover plate against the sidewall of the base.

Claim 6

The combination as claimed in claim 2 in which a frictional element is interposed between the cylindrical sleeve and the hub for normal driving of the hub but for permitting momentary relative slippage of the hub on the sleeve when the blade strikes an obstruction.

Claim 7

The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the tip portions of the blade have sharpened leading edges.

Claim 8

In a shredding and bagging machine for yard usage, the combination comprising a base of shallow cup shape having a bottom wall and a circular sidewall presenting an upper edge, transport means for supporting the base in horizontal position slightly upraised above the ground, a cover plate having provision for clamping to the base for enclosing the same, an engine mounted on the cover plate and having a drive shaft which extends therethrough into the base, a rotor having a blade and dimensioned to telescope over the engine shaft, means for holding the rotor on the shaft in a predetermined axial position with respect to the cover plate, the blade having tip portions extending to the region of the sidewall, a plurality of breaker members at spaced positions on the sidewall and having horizontal notches formed therein for registering with the tip portions of the blade, the breaker members having reference surfaces at their upper ends engagable with land surfaces on the cover plate for holding the cover plate in a predetermined position relative to the notches thereby to insure precise registry between the blade and the notches when the cover plate is clamped to the base, means providing an opening in the cover plate for feeding material therethrough to the region of the blade, means including a discharge conduit penetrating the sidewall for generally tangential discharge of the shredded material, and means for supporting the neck of a bag at the discharge end of the conduit for receiving the material discharged therefrom.

Claim 9

In a shredding and bagging machine for yard usage, the combination comprising a base of shallow cup shape having a bottom wall and a circular sidewall presenting an upper edge, transport means for supporting the base in horizontal position slightly upraised above the ground, a cover plate having provision for clamping to the base for enclosing the same, an engine mounted on the cover plate and having a drive shaft which extends therethrough into the base, a rotor having a blade and dimensioned to telescope over the engine shaft, means for holding the rotor on the shaft in a predetermined axial position with respect to the cover plate, the blade having tip portions extending to the region of the sidewall, a plurality of breaker members at spaced positions on the sidewall and having horizontal notches formed therein for registering with the tip portions of the blade, the breaker members having reference surfaces at their upper ends engagable with land surfaces on the cover plate for holding the cover plate in a predetermined position relative to the notches thereby to insure precise registry between the blade and the notches when the cover plate is clamped to the base, means providing an opening in the cover plate for feeding material therethrough to the region of the blade, means including a discharge conduit penetrating the sidewall for generally tangential discharge of the shredded material, and means for supporting the neck of a bag at the discharge end of the conduit for receiving the material discharged therefrom.

Claim 10

The combination as claimed in claim 6 in which the conduit is angled outwardly for a true tangential position.

Claim 11

The combination as claimed in claim 6 in which the bag supporting means is in the form of a ring having a supporting bracket secured to the conduit for holding the ring in approximate axial alinement with respect to the conduit.

Claim 12

The combination as claimed in claim 6 in which the bag supporting means is in the form of a ring having a peripheral groove and in which the neck of the bag is encircled by an elastic member for hoLding the neck in the groove.

Claim 13

The combination as claimed in claim 6 in which the breakers are of ''''A'''' cross section having integral flanges at the feet of the ''''A'''' apertured to receive bolts for removable bolting of the breaker members inside the sidewall of the base.

Claim 14

The combination as claimed in claim 6 in which a deflector is secured to the discharge end of the conduit in the form of a shallow inverted channel which is horizontally pivoted to the conduit for slight downward angling and which extends to the region of the mouth of the bag to conduct material therein while applying a downward component to missiles ejected from the conduit.

Claim 15

The combination as claimed in claim 6 in which the breakers are three in number spaced clear of the conduit.

Claim 16

In a shredding and bagging machine for yard usage, the combination comprising a base of shallow cup shape having a bottom wall and a circular sidewall presenting an upper edge, transport means for supporting the base in horizontal position slightly upraised above the ground, a generally circular cover for enclosing the base, an engine mounted on the cover plate and having a drive shaft which extends therethrough into the base, a rotor having a hub with upper and lower vertically spaced blades welded thereto, with the hub being dimensioned to telescope over the engine shaft, means for holding the rotor on the shaft in a predetermined axial position with respect to the cover plate, the blade having tip portions extending to the region of the sidewall, a plurality of breaker members at spaced positions on the sidewall and having horizontal notches formed therein for registering with the tip portions of the blade, means including seating surfaces and clamping bolts for holding the cover plate in a predetermined position relative to the notches thereby to insure precise registry between the blade and the notches when the cover plate is clamped to the base, a hopper having a throat positioned over an opening in the cover plate for feeding material therethrough to the region of the blade, means including a discharge conduit penetrating the sidewall for generally tangential discharge of the shredded material, and means for supporting the neck of a bag at the discharge end of the conduit for receiving the material discharged therefrom.

Claim 17

In a shredding and bagging machine for yard usage, the combination comprising a base of shallow cup shape having a bottom wall and a circular sidewall presenting an upper edge, transport means for supporting the base in horizontal position slightly upraised above the ground, a generally circular cover for enclosing the base, an engine mounted on the cover plate and having a drive shaft which extends therethrough into the base, a rotor having a hub with upper and lower vertically spaced blades welded thereto, with the hub being dimensioned to telescope over the engine shaft, means for holding the rotor on the shaft in a predetermined axial position with respect to the cover plate, the blade having tip portions extending to the region of the sidewall, a plurality of breaker members at spaced positions on the sidewall and having horizontal notches formed therein for registering with the tip portions of the blade, means including seating surfaces and clamping bolts for holding the cover plate in a predetermined position relative to the notches thereby to insure precise registry between the blade and the notches when the cover plate is clamped to the base, a hopper having a throat positioned over an opening in the cover plate for feeding material therethrough to the region of the blade, means including a discharge conduit penetrating the sidewall for generally tangential discharge of the shredded material, and means for supporting the neck of a bag at the discharge end of the conduit for receiving the material discharged therefrom.

Claim 18

The combination as claimed in claim 13 in which the clamping bolts are in the form of bolts secured in vertical position to the sidewall of the base and penetrating the cover.

Claim 19

The combination as claimed in claim 13 in which the lower blade is fitted with generally radially extending fins on the underside spaced inwardly of the breaker members.