US2647548A - Short wood chain barker - Google Patents

Description

All@ 4, 1953 H. w. GUETTLER 2,647,548

SHORT woon CHAIN BARKER 'Filed oct. 8, 1949 2 sheets-sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Aug. 4, 1953 H. w, GUETTLER SHORT woon CHAIN BARKER 2 Sheets-Sheetl 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1949 Patented Aug. 4, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHORT WOOD CHAIN BAKKER Herbert W. Guettler, San Francisco, Calif.

Application October 8, 1949, Serial No. 120,304

7 Claims. (Cl. 14d- 208) My invention is concerned with a device for removing the bark from relatively short pulp wood logs or the like.

More particularly my invention is directed to a novel type of barking machine in which the barking process is largely accomplished by the attritional action between the logs themselves.

The presently employed method of barking short logs employs a system of feeding logs into a large open ended cylindrical drum where they are tumbled against the interior of the drum by revolving action thereof. The drum is normally lled about half way and as the drum revolves the logs cascade down the surface of the wood piled therein. Under this system the majority of the logs in the Wood pile fail to move relative to one another, only the top layer of logs moving as a rule. Such la method is slow, expensive and requires large cumbersome machinery.

Another method in present use in the industry is one in which the logs are corded parallel to one another in a stationary vat; cams, wheels or chains in the bottom of the vat causing the logs to move one against the other.

Briefly my invention accomplishes the bark removal process through the use of a large stationary vat having a specially formed bottom and .a plurality of chain-s moving thereacross for tearing the bottom layer of logs piled in the vat away from one another to cause a constant turbulation effect. Such a churning action causes most of the logs to move relative to one another so that the bark is speedily removed by the attrtional or frictional action between the moving logs.

The main object of my invention is to provide a new and improved log barking machine in which the bark removal process is accomplished by attritional action between the logs.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and cheaper bark removal machine in which the logs are piled hit and miss with no fixed pattern, to increase the bark removing attritional action of the logs.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved bark removing apparatus which is adapted to yaccomplish continuous and quick bark removal.

These and other objects will appear from time to time as the following specification and description proceed. In order to acquaint those familiar with this art with the mode of constructing and utilizing my invention, I shall describe a certain preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in side elevation of a machine embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a front View of the machine shown in Figure l, with the log moving chains removed;

Figure 3 is an enlarged partial top plan view of the bottom of the vat showing the arrangement of the bark removal openings in the V- shaped ribs running therealong;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 4-5 of Figure l and Figurek 5 is a fragmentary side view on an enlarged scale, of one of the log agitating chains.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the barking machine I0 shown therein comprises a feed conveyor II which dumps logs I2 into a barking vat I3. The vat I3 is supported by .a suitable upright frame structure I4 and has a guide chain assembly I5 along an inclined bottom It thereof and means for agitating the logs and guiding them upwardly to a discharge apron Il from whence they sli-de downwardly to a discharge conveyor I8, to be carried away from the barking machine. The removed bark may be received in a hopper I9 positioned below the vat I3 and is carried away by a bark conveyor 20, as will appear more fully later.

With particular reference to Figure 2 of the drawings the feeding conveyor II shown therein is comprised generally of a link chain 25 threaded over suitable sprockets 26 mounted on shafts 21 which in turn are carried by suitable side platev framing members 28 secured at one end to the upright frame I4 of the machine. The chain 25 may have suitable engaging lugs 29 secured thereto at spaced intervals for engaging logs I2 to move them upwardly into the vat of the machine. V-'shaped guide chute 3l] having side members 3l may be mounted on the side plate members 28 to maintain the logs in contact with the conveyor chain 25.

The barking vat I3 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises generally infeed and outfeed side plates 34 and 34 of materially different heights and operatively connected with a long upright end plate 35 positioned at the forward end of the machine and with a shorter but higher back end plate 36 positioned at the rear of the machine. The bottom I6 extends between and joins the two end plates 35 and 35, and slopes upwardly from front to back as seen clearly in Figure l. In construction the end plates are formed as a continuf ous part of the bottom plate structure to form an enclosed vat construction. The vat itself with the several plates and bottom referred to above is suitably supported by the upright framing I4 which comprises generally a series of four upright beams 38 cross connected at the forward and back sides of the machine by suitable cross beams 39 and at the sides of the machine by I beams 49, all joined together to form a rigid framing.

The bottom construction is composed, as shown herein infFigure' 3, vof a plurality of V-plates 4l having their apeXes 42 extended upwardly and their lower edges secured to a plurality of bed plates 43 which are relatively narrow. The bed plates 43 are suitably separated leaving channeled openings 44 below which chain guides 45 may be mounted. The V-plates 4l are provided with a plurality of bark removal openings 45 positioned at various alternating positions along the entire bottom construction.

The chain guides lll are herein shown as comprising aA pairof channel beam members 4l mounted below the'bediplates-in separated relation with one another and having L-shaped angle irons dlsecured'thereto, for purposes of re'ceiving'the guide chain-assembly i5 thereon for rolling movement, as will appear presently. AQ chain guide return assembly 49 is mounted belowfandiseoured to the chain guide l5 and is composed oi` similar channel and L shaped angle' irons as clearly appears inFigure 4 of the drawings. One such set or chain guides d5. and it isimountedin registering relation below each of the openings or separations is created by the spaced-be'd'plates43. in the bottom of the vat, fori receiving thereinthe-guide chain assembly E5.

'I'.heguidey chain. assembly i5 is comprised of aplurality. off individual link type chains 52 threaded; over driving sprockets 53 mounted atthea-upperl back .side ofthe machine on the framingllgby means ofl a shaftv 54 housed in bearing supports? 55 for rotational movement therein. Suitablev rotative means, such as a motor (not shown); may beemployed to drivethe drive sprockets 53. to-cause/movement of the guide chainsv 5E. Idler. sprockets-t6 may be mounted at the' lower end of the guide chain assembly near the lower frontend of the machine. lThe idlerfsprockets maybe rotatably mounted on suitable shafts El carried bybearing support members 58y and secured to suitable standards 58 similar to* the drive sprocket assembly described above. As-'herein shown Figure 2, three such linkchains 52 are utilised in the bottom or" the vat forr moving the logs upwardly along thevats bottom, as will appear later herein under the use andoperational description. It isy obvious that a greater orlesser .number of such guide .chains may beutilized inthe chain assembly i5, depending on the;size of vatstructure used. rThe guide chains .52--niesh with therdriving and idler sprock-4 ets andfiit into the separations 44, as explained above, .and vmay comprise, as shown herein, a link construction having a series of triangular shaped lugs 60- in which the iront face ESI.- thereof is formed ata relieving angle,V so rthat when .a lug comesout of the wood pile, logs i2 will not be carried.. upwardly out of the vat. pairs .oflinks 62 are spaced at oneend by a sleeve 64,. andare connected. to spaced arms ill' on each lugitby means of .a pivot pin (i3 passing through thesleeve and the spaced links and arms, the pin. 63.. having guide rollers 65 mounted at its outer ends, as is shown in Figure fi, and the rollers {i5-being located outside of the spaced arms 5l. The.intermediate-linksmay be interconnected by additional :pivot pins tt similar to pins t3 to com- Intermediate.

plete the link assembly of the chain 52. il/hen the guide chains 52 are moved along the bottom i6 of the vat with the lugs fit proj ect-ing upwardly through the openings lll between the bed plate 43, the logs will be carried upwardly along the bottom to a position opposite a suitable discharge apron il. To aid in pushing the logs up the inclinedbottom structure, the chain lugs Sli may be provided optionally with a pair of scraper blades 69 projecting laterally therefrom and positioned at the lower end or the relieved face El thereof in a position so that their lower edges contact the upper surfaces of the bed plates 43 to insurea .scraping action thereacros's.

The discharge apron il is herein shown in Figure 1 as an angularly disposed metal plate extending laterally from one lower side plate meinber'il of the vat ill, at a point diagonally opposite the -leed conveyor i i, and adapted to 'eceivethe logs, conveyed upwardly by the link ChainsbZ, forsliding'inoveinent therealongin a downward direction to be loaded onto a conventional belt type discharge conveyor iS. A side board member. l@ may be positioned angularly along the discharge. conveyor lil opposite the lowerfend ofthe apron El to prevent the logs from spilling ofi of the conveyor.

The'discharge conveyor i3, as herein shown, isa conventional belt type conveyor comprising a continuousr'lexible belt i2 mounted over a series of drums rotatably supported on suitable shafts '14 carried by bearing members l5 which are secured to upright standards "it mounted on an anguiar supporting frame construction llextending laterally from the side platell of the vat, and positioned below the discharge apron il'. Other supporting means (not shown) may be employed to support the discharge conveyor at various points removerk from the machine.

Removal of the bark from the bottoni interior of the vat is permitted by the slots or openings 41E-formed in the y`\l-plates il of the vat bottom. As the bark is removed by the attritional action of the. many logs with one another it falls downwardly through the openings lli to be received by acone shaped hopper i9 having side members 8! disposed angularly downward in conical or pyramidal relation. The top and bottom of the hopper I9 rof course areopen to allow free passage of the falling bark tothe bark conve-yor 20.

The .bark conveyor is herein shown as a conventional belt conveyor, similar to the discharge conveyor i8, and has a plurality of drums .8! rotatably supported on shafts 82`carried by bearing members 83. which are supported by suitable standards 84. A hanger construction 85 supports the bark conveyor below the hopper i9 and may comprise, as shown herein, .side members 3E and. a supporting bottom plate 3l all preferably of metal suitably secured together, as by welding, to forma rigid structure.

Use and operation In utilizing the machine such as I have described above, the logs, preferably siX feet in length or under, are brought to the barking vat by thefeed conveyor and dumped hit or miss into the vat where they are engaged by the guide chain lugs projecting upwardly from the bottom of the vat. The guide chains are moved constantly upwardly along the inclinedsurface o the bottom of thevatby means of the drive sprockets andreturn outside of the vat bottomto roll around theidler sprockets positioned at the front of the machine. Such movement of the guide chains causes the bottom layer of the logs dumped into the vat to be torn away from the pile thus causing a turbulation and tumbling movement of the logs in the pile which brings about attritional barking action therebetween. It should be noted that the vat bottom comprises a plurality of V-shaped plates between which the guide chains and the projecting lugs move. Such a V-shape bottom construction eliminates dead spots between the chains and causes the logs to roll down the sloping sides of the V-shaped plates to be engaged by the lugs on the guide chains whereby they may be conveyed upwardly along the sloping bottom of the vat. Due to the insured movement of the logs relative to one another, under my system of barking, the bark is removed speedily and the logs come out of the top of the vat cleaned and ready to be dumped over the lower side plate 34 onto the apron from whence they roll downwardly to be engaged by the discharge conveyor and carried. away from the machine. It should be noted that the forward face 6i of each triangular lug 60 is relieved or disposed angularly inward so that as the chain moves out of the vats interior and over the driving sprockets, the logs are not carried out of the vat but are allowed to slide off of the engaging lugs and back into the pile. The bark removed from the logs within the vat falls through the openings it into the bark receiving hopper I9, and then moves downwardly onto the bark conveyor which carries it away from the machine. If any of the logs are not properly barked they may be picked olf of the discharge conveyor by inspectors and placed on a return conveyor, not shown, to be loaded again on the feeding chain conveyor l l, and the barking process, repeated.

Thus, it may be seen that I have provided a new and useful type of short wood barking machine in which the bark is readily removed by the turbulation and erratic movement of the logs causing attritional removal of the bark. Also, my machine is of a cheaper construction than presently employed in the field and has been found to be a successful and rapid bark remover.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be employed, it will be readily understood that substitution of' equivalents, modifications and various changes may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope hereof, and, therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the specic embodiment displayed herein, except as may appear in the following appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a wood barking device for removing bark from pulp wood logs or the like by attritional movement of the logs against one another, a stationary barking vat having parallel, spaced apart end and side walls, an upwardly sloping bottom and an open top, log feeding means for dropping logs into said vat and over the lower end of said inclined bottom thereof, a plurality of continuous looped chains mounted in parallel spaced relation in channeled openings in said vats bottom, said chains entering said vat through the bottom thereof adjacent the foot of its slope; driving means for causing said chains to move upwardly along the slope of said bottom and thence vertically upward over one of the end walls, a plurality of triangular cross sectioned ribs positioned in parallel spaced relation and constituting said sloping vat bottom between said chains and channeled openings, and said triangular ribs having their apexual top edges projecting upwardly into said vats interior whereby said logs piled in said vat will be guided down the sloping sides thereof and onto said log engaging chains to be carried to the upper end of said sloping bottom for their eventual discharge from said vat over one of said side walls thereof.

2. In a wood barking device for removing bark from pulp wood logs or the like by attrtional movement of the logs against one another, a stationary barking vat having an upwardly sloping bottom, two end walls and first and second side walls of which said rst side wall is of greater height than said second side wall, log feeding means above the lower end of said sloping bottom for maintaining said vat substantially full of logs, a plurality of continuous looped chains mounted in parallel spaced relation in channeled openings in said vats bottom, a plurality of upwardly projecting lugs mounted on said chains, driving means for causing said chains and said lugs to move upwardly along the slope of said bottom and one of said end walls, an apron mounted along said second side wall of said vat, extending outwardly and downwardly from an upper edge thereof, over which said logs will slide after they have been carried upwardly along said bottoms incline and said one end wall by said chains and lugs and brought opposite the upper edge of said apron, with said movement of said logs in contact With said lugs and said chains causing abrasive relative movement of said logs piled in said vat whereby said bark is removed therefrom.

3. In a log barkena vat substantially rectangular in plan having two parallel spaced side walls, one of which is of materially greater height than the other, and having a bottom wall inclined upwardly from one end wall and merging into the opposite end wall, a plurality of log engaging lugs projecting above said bot-l tom wall and traveling upwardly therealong and along said opposite end wall, means for delivering logs to said vat over said one higher side wall adjacent said one end wall thereof, and means for discharging logs from the vat over said other side wall and adjacent said other end wall.

4. In a log barker for removing bark from pulp wood logs or the like by attritional movement of the logs against one another, a stationary barking vat comprising opposite side and end walls, and a bottom wall extending between the side walls and sloping upwardly from one end wall toward, and merging into, said other end wall, one of said side walls being of materially greater height than said other side wall; log feeding means for discharging logs into said vat in hit or miss relation over said one higher side wall adjacent said one end wall, a plurality of parallel spaced log propelling and agitating chains traveling over said bottom wall toward and upwardly along said other end wall, and a discharge apron adjacent said other end wall, and sloping outwardly and downwardly from Y said other lower side wall, said vat and chains co-operating to turbulently agitate said logs and discharge them in a cleaned condition over said apron.

5. In a log barker, a stationary vat, substantially rectangular in plan, having a bottom wall inclined upwardly from one end wall and merging into a second oppositel end wall, and having a pair of spaced and opposed side walls interconnecting said two end walls, one of said side walls being of materially greater height than 'gf'. thefot-her; means for.: delivering :logs :toxsaid vat over'saidhigher sidef'walland adjacent saidy one end' wall, andaplurality of logengaging` lugs :entering said vat .at the foot of said'k inclined bottom thereof` and projecting above said bottom wall; said lugs traveling inparallel paths upwardly along the slope of said'bottom wall romsaid `one end Wall to said second end wall andi thence vertically upwardly along the latter endlwall, the leading edges of said lugs being so. disposed as to. incline downwardlyv and in- Wardly` of `saidlvat in the vertical 'travel thereof alongisaidsecond end wall; said lugs servingrto constantly agitatesaid logs in said vat to cause attritional removal of the blarkrtherefrom and to, move logs lyingadjacent' said bottom wall fromsaid one end wall toward andfupwardly along:` said second end wall with said-logs dis-v engaging from saidlugs and falling away from said second end wall back into saidvat during said upward travel thereof due to said downward incline of said lugs, barked logs being discharged .from the top of the pile of logs withinlsaid vat over said lower side wall adjacent saidlsecond end wall.

6. Ina log barker, a stationary open top vat comprising side and end walls and a bottom wall extending from one end wall at an upward inclination toward and merging into the other and opposite end wall, and log propelling and agitating chain means entering said vat through the bottom thereof and traveling along said bottom wall toward and upward along said other end wall,` said chain'means having upwardly projecting substantially triangular lugs effective forengaging logs and moving them along said bottom and said'other endwall and directing them from the latter wall back into --said Vat, one'of said side wallsv being of materially less height than the other side wall and said other g end wall adjacentthelatter for discharge of barked logs over said one side.

7. In alog barker, a stationary open top Vat comprising side and end walls and a bottom wall extending from one end wall at an upward inclination toward and merging into the other and opposite end wall, and log propelling and agitating chain means entering said vat through the bottom thereof and traveling along said bottom wall toward and upward along said other end wall, said chain means having upwardly projecting substantially triangular lugs effective for engaging logs and moving them along said bottom and said other end walland directing them from the latter wall backinto said vat, one of said side walls being of materially less height than said other end wall adjacent the latter for discharge of barked logs over said one side wall.

HERBERT W. GUET'ILER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,148,136 Alfsen July 27, 1915 1,281,155 Guettler Oct. 8, 1918 1,319,935 Thorne Oct. 28, 1919 1,463,887 Guettler Aug. 7, 1923 1,932,250 Paulson Oct. 24, 1933 2,137,451 Hillbom Nov. 22, 1938 FGREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 43,646 Sweden 1918 60,713 Norway Apr. 11, 1939 87,449 Sweden 1936 93,506 Sweden 1938 121,642 Sweden May 11, 1948

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