Combination leaf and lawn debris comminuting vacuum and wood chipper

Claim 2

A reducing vacuum machine comprising: (a) a housing including a cylindrical wall, a first end wall and a second end wall, a first inlet opening in said first end wall and an outlet opening in said cylindrical wall; (b) a suction hose connected with said first inlet opening; (c) a disc revolvably mounted in said housing including a plurality of fan blades affixed to said disc; (d) a power means for rotating said disc, said power means mounted adjacent to said housing; (e) a plurality of circular bars mounted to said first end wall encircling said first inlet opening, said bars being in parallel spaced relationship to said first end wall; (f) a plurality of hammers pivotally connected to said disc, the outer end of said hammers being disposed closely adjacent to said circular bars, said hammers being in parallel spaced relationship to said first end wall; and (g) a discharge chute mounted to said outlet opening.

Claim 3

The reducing vacuum machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the outer end of said hammers extends into the space between adjacent circular bars.

Claim 4

The reducing vacuum machine as defined in claim 1 further comprising a mounting means wherein said machine can be swingably mounted to the rear bumper of a pickup truck.

Claim 5

The reducing vacuum machine as defined in claim 1 further comprising: (a) a second inlet opening in said second end wall; (b) a slot located on said disc in spaced relationship with said second inlet opening; and (c) a blade located on said disc adjacent to said slot wherein said blade chips limbs and branches.

Claim 6

The reducing vacuum as defined in claim 4 wherein the space between said disc and said second end wall does not exceed one inch.

Claim 7

The reducing vacuum machine as defined in claim 1 wherein a debris loading hopper is connected to said first inlet opening.

Claim 8

The reducing vacuum machine as defined in claim 1 and a chassis for supporting said machine, wheels attached to said chassis and a handle on said chassis to facilitate movement of the chassis along the surface of the ground.

Claim 9

The reducing vacuum machine as defined in claim 7 wherein a vacuum snout is connected to said first inlet opening.

Claim 10

The reducing vacuum machine as defined in claim 7 wherein a collection bag is attached to said outlet opening.

Claim 11

The reducing vacuum machine as defined in claim 1 wherein a feed mechanism is connected to said first inlet opening, said feed mechanism comprising: (a) a second housing; (b) a shaft connected to said disk; (c) a plurality of cutting bars pivotally mounted to said shaft; and (d) at least one baffle plate mounted to an inside surface of said second housing, said baffle plate being located before said cutting bars wherein said baffle plate cooperates with said cutting bars to pull feed material into said reducing vacuum machine.

Claim 12

The apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the trailing edge of said baffle plate is located 0.5 inches to 1.0 inches from said catting base.

Claim 13

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the trailing edge of said baffle plate is located 0.5 inches to 1.0 inches from said cutting bars.

Claim 14

A reducing vacuum machine comprising: (a) a housing including a cylindrical wall, a first end wall and a second end wall, a first inlet opening in said first end wall and an outlet opening in said cylindrical wall; (b) a suction hose connected with said first inlet opening; (c) a disc revolvably mounted in said housing including a plurality of fan blades affixed to said disc; (d) a power means for rotating said disc, said power means mounted adjacent to said housing; (e) a plurality of circular bars mounted to said first end wall encircling said first inlet opening, said bars being in parallel spaced relationship to said first end wall; (f) a plurality of hammers pivotally connected to said disc, the outer end of said hammers extending into the space between adjacent circular bars, said hammers being in parallel spaced relationship to said first end wall; and (g) a discharge chute mounted to said outlet opening.

Claim 15

A reducing vacuum machine comprising: (a) a housing including a cylindrical wall, a first end wall and a second end wall, a first inlet opening in said first end wall and an outlet opening in said cylindrical wall; (b) a suction hose connected with said first inlet opening; (c) a disc revolvably mounted in said housing including a plurality of fan blades affixed to said disc; (d) a power means for rotating said disc, said power means mounted adjacent to said housing; (e) a plurality of circular bars mounted to said first end wall encircling said first inlet opening, said bars being in parallel spaced relationship to said first end wall; (f) a plurality of hammers pivotally connected to said disc, the outer end of said hammers extending into the space between adjacent circular bars, said hammers being in parallel spaced relationship to said first end wall; and (g) a discharge chute mounted to said outlet opening.

Claim 16

The reducing vacuum machine as defined in claim 13 further comprising: (a) a second inlet opening in said second end wall; (b) a slot located on said disc in spaced relationship with said second inlet opening; and (c) a blade located on said disc adjacent to said slot wherein said blade chips limbs and branches.

Claim 17

The reducing vacuum as defined in claim 14 wherein the space between said disc and said second end wall does not exceed one inch.

Claim 18

The reducing vacuum machine as defined in claim 13 further comprising a mounting means wherein said machine can be swingably mounted to the rear bumper of a pickup truck.

Claim 19

The reducing vacuum machine as defined in claim 13 and a chassis for supporting said machine, wheels attached to said chassis and a handle on said chassis to facilitate movement of the chassis along the surface of the ground.

Claim 20

The reducing vacuum machine as defined in claim 17 wherein a vacuum snout is connected to said first inlet opening.

Claim 21

The reducing vacuum machine as defined in claim 17 wherein a collection bag is attached to said outlet opening.

Claim 22

The reducing vacuum machine as defined in claim 13 wherein a feed mechanism is connected to said first inlet opening, said feed mechanism comprising: (a) a second housing; (b) a shaft connected to said disk; (c) a plurality of cutting bars pivotally mounted to said shaft; and (d) at least one baffle plate mounted to an inside surface of said second housing, said baffle plate being located before said cutting bars wherein said baffle plate cooperates with said cutting bars to pull feed material into said reducing vacuum machine.

Claim 23

The apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the trailing edge of said baffle plate is located 0.5 inches to 1.0 inches from said cutting bars.

Claim 24

A reducing vacuum machine comprising: (a) a housing including a cylindrical wall, a first end wall and a second end wall, a first inlet opening in said first end wall, a second inlet opening in said second end wall and an outlet opening in said cylindrical wall; (b) a suction hose connected with said first inlet opening; (c) a flywheel revolvably mounted in said housing including a plurality of fan blades affixed to said flywheel, a slot located on said flywheel in spaced relationship with said second inlet opening and a blade located on said flywheel adjacent to said slot wherein said blade chips limbs and branches; (d) a power means for rotating said flywheel, said power means mounted adjacent to said housing; (e) a plurality of circular bars mounted to said first end wall encircling said first inlet opening, said bars being in parallel spaced relationship to said first end wall; (f) a plurality of hammers pivotally connected to said flywheel, the outer end of said hammers extending into the space between adjacent circular bars, said hammers being in parallel spaced relationship to said first end wall; and (g) a discharge chute mounted to said outlet opening.

Claim 25

A reducing vacuum machine comprising: (a) a housing including a cylindrical wall, a first end wall and a second end wall, a first inlet opening in said first end wall, a second inlet opening in said second end wall and an outlet opening in said cylindrical wall; (b) a suction hose connected with said first inlet opening; (c) a flywheel revolvably mounted in said housing including a plurality of fan blades affixed to said flywheel, a slot located on said flywheel in spaced relationship with said second inlet opening and a blade located on said flywheel adjacent to said slot wherein said blade chips limbs and branches; (d) a power means for rotating said flywheel, said power means mounted adjacent to said housing; (e) a plurality of circular bars mounted to said first end wall encircling said first inlet opening, said bars being in parallel spaced relationship to said first end wall; (f) a plurality of hammers pivotally connected to said flywheel, the outer end of said hammers extending into the space between adjacent circular bars, said hammers being in parallel spaced relationship to said first end wall; and (g) a discharge chute mounted to said outlet opening.

Claim 26

The reducing vacuum as defined in claim 22 wherein the space between said flywheel and said second end wall does not exceed one inch.

Claim 27

The reducing vacuum machine as defined in claim 22 wherein a debris loading hopper is connected to said first inlet opening.

Claim 28

The reducing vacuum machine as defined in claim 22 further comprising a mounting means wherein said machine can be swingably mounted to the rear bumper of a pickup truck.

Claim 29

The reducing vacuum machine as defined in claim 22 and a chassis for supporting said machine, wheels attached to said chassis and a handle on said chassis to facilitate movement of the chassis along the surface of the ground.

Claim 30

The reducing vacuum machine as defined in claim 26 wherein a vacuum snout is connected to said first inlet opening.

Claim 31

The reducing vacuum machine as defined in claim 26 wherein a collection bag is attached to said outlet opening.

Claim 32

The reducing vacuum machine as defined in claim 22 wherein a feed mechanism is connected to said first inlet opening, said feed mechanism comprising: (a) a second housing; (b) a shaft connected to said disk; (c) a plurality of cutting bars pivotally mounted to said shaft; and (d) at leat one baffle plate mounted to an inside surface of said second housing, said baffle plate being located before said cutting bars wherein said baffle plate cooperates with said cutting bars to pull feed material into said reducing vacuum machine.

Claim 33

A feeding apparatus in combination with a comminuting machine, comprising: (a) a comminuting machine having a power source; (b) a housing connected to said cominating machine; (c) a shaft revolvably mounted in said housing, said shaft aligned such that the axis of rotation is horizontal; (d) a plurality of cutting bars pivotally mounted to said shaft; (e) a transmission means connecting said shaft to said power source on said comminuting machine; and (f) at least one baffle plate mounted to an inside surface of said housing, said baffle plate being located before said cutting bars wherein said baffle plate cooperates with said cutting bars to pull feed material into said comminuting machine.

Claim 34

A feeding apparatus in combination with a comminuting machine, comprising: (a) a comminuting machine having a power source; (b) a housing connected to said cominating machine; (c) a shaft revolvably mounted in said housing, said shaft aligned such that the axis of rotation is horizontal; (d) a plurality of cutting bars pivotally mounted to said shaft; (e) a transmission means connecting said shaft to said power source on said comminuting machine; and (f) at least one baffle plate mounted to an inside surface of said housing, said baffle plate being located before said cutting bars wherein said baffle plate cooperates with said cutting bars to pull feed material into said comminuting machine.

Claim 35

A feeding apparatus as in claim 30 wherein said cutting bars are parallel to a trailing edge of said baffle plate.

Claim 36

A feeding apparatus as in claim 30 wherein said cutting bars are at a right angle to the direction that the feed material is being fed into said housing.

Claim 37

A feeding apparatus as in claim 30 wherein a trailing edge of said baffle plate is located 0.5 to 1.0 inches from said cutting bars.

Claim 38

A feeding apparatus as in claim 30 wherein said shaft is directly connected to a shaft on said comminuting machine.

Claim 39

A feeding apparatus as in claim 30 wherein said shaft is directly connected to a disc on said comminuting machine.