Alamo Group Inc.
WOOD CHIPPER WITH DRUM SPEED MONITORING SYSTEM AND CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCH

Abstract:

A wood chipper having a rotatable drum configured to reduce the size of wood fed into the wood chipper; a sensor configured to sense a speed of rotation of the rotatable drum; and a controller operably connected to the sensor. The controller is configured to cut power to the rotatable drum when the speed of rotation of the rotatable drum drops below a pre-set threshold value. The controller is operably engaged with a centrifugal clutch that is engaged to enable the rotatable drum to be rotated. When the speed of drum rotation drops below the threshold value because debris is slowing down rotation of the drum, the centrifugal clutch is disengaged by dropping engine speed. Disengagement of the centrifugal clutch cuts power to the drum and rotation thereof ceases so that the debris may be cleared.