Background of the Invention The present invention relates to oil palm trees shredding machine. Oil palm tree trunk shredders have been. developed for felling of oil palm trees to produce loose fibrous materials, which is called biomass. The biomass produced from oil palm trunk can be utilised in pulp and paper industry to make paper, particleboard and fibreboard, used in making cement composite, animal feed, fertiliser, thermal generation, chemical extraction, glucose production and etc.

Mobile oil palm trees shredder machine is the most important machinery been produced for land clearing operation and replanting. Almost all the old oil palm trees are usually buried or burn or left to decompose at site. Presently, old oil palm trees are left at the construction site or at the plantation, they will form a breeding ground for pests such as rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes), rats, the bark beetle and other insects, which require costly pesticides to control. By using shedder machine, acidification of the land soil by excessive quantities of rotting oil palm trees can also be prevented.

Conventional shredder for oil palm trees operates by direct cutting across the fibres of the oil palm tree trunk and the

cutters used mostly in all conventional shredders are unable for prolonged use. The method of cutting used by conventional shredder can caused the cutter prone to wear and tear due to high silica content in the oil palm tree trunk and at the same time consumes tremendous mechanical power from engines. Other than the frequent machine breakdowns, there was also an often need for cutter replacement after several operations due to heavy loading imparted to the associated mechanism and drive engines.

It is therefore desirable that such shredders having a long lasting blade system, which are designed for counter the problem of wear and tear. More particularly, the blade system using a different method of shredding process for tackling the special characteristics inherent to oil palm tree trunk fibres orientation, which is the longitudinal shredding along the entire length of the trunk to shred and tear the fibrous strands from the oil palm tree trunk.

The further object of the present invention is to provide an improved high. production rate machine, which is capable for long hour's operation and are designed to operate on soft soil condition and the harsh terrain of oil palm estates.

Still another object of the invention is to produce fine strands of oil palm trunk fibre and an effective output collection system to collect the fibrous material and send to factory as raw material.

Summary of the Invention According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the oil palm trees shredder is provided having housing with a drum assembly. A power source is mounted to drive the whole

shredding housing members. The drum assembly includes at least one drum mounted within the housing having a plurality of shredder assemblies, movable in a circumferential path. The drum is positioned for the knife to shred the oil palm trees provided on a ramp mean in the housing. Preferably the drum is positioned for longitudinal shredding of the oil palm trees trunk.

The said ramp mean having a plurality of parallel ribs whereby the ribs are positioned to support the precut oil palm tree trunk for shredding and the fibrous materials will fall down to a conveyor orientation. Preferably the said conveyor is connected to an outlet or discharge chute for allowing the strips or shreds from the drum assembly to exit the housing.

The drum assembly further includes clamp means positioned on the top of the housing opening for holding the trunk during the shredding processes. Preferably, the clamp means having an additional biasing force to push the trunk towards the drum assembly and creating the optimal cutting torque to be applied to the trunk..

The oil palm trees shredder having a slicer mechanism assembly to cut the oil palm tree to a predetermined length before entering the housing.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon inspection of the detailed description, drawings and appended claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a side elevation view of the oil palm trunk shredder according to the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of equipment of oil palm trees shredder according to the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 illustrates the main framework of the platform without assembly of rollers.

Figure 4 illustrates the second framework of the platform with the side wall to be mounted on the incline beam removed to expose interior elements.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the platform.

Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of slicer mechanism assembly.

Figure 7 depicts a sectional view of drum assembly and ramp mean.

Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the shredder assembly.

Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic system of the oil palm tree shredder.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring now to figure 1, an oil palm trees shredder in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The oil palm tree shredder (10) includes an elongated frame (20) supported on wheels (11). One end of the frame (20) is provided with a conventional hitch (12) for attachment to a

truck, tractor or can be self-driven. Supported on the frame (20) are a housing (30) having shredder drum assembly (31), a platform (60) having infeed conveyor means which are in the form of rollers (67) which leads logs or oil palm tree trunk to the said housing (30), a power source (22) which could be an internal combustion engine, hydraulic power or generating set and a discharge opening (21). The infeed conveyor means could also be in the form of a plate, chain link or others.

Spaced forwardly of the housing (30) on the elongated frame (20) is a slicer mechanism assembly (40) located on the said platform (60) to cut the oil palm trunk to a predetermined length before entering the housing (30).

A shredder drum assembly (31) is mounted within the housing (30) for rotation about an axis of rotation X-X (see figure 2). On top of the opening of housing (30), there is a clamp mean (34) to hold the trunk during the shredding processes.

Logs or tree trunk admitted the housing (30) would be grabbed and directed towards the drum assembly (31). With reference now to figure 3 to 5, a platform (60) located in front of the housing (30)-consists of a main framework (61) having horizontal base (63) and a vertical side base (64) extends upwardly at an angle at one side edge of the main framework (61); and a second framework (70). Secured to the side edge of horizontal base (63) of main framework (61), the edge where the vertical side base (64) is mounted, is main roller guide (65) having plurality of grooves (74) along the entire length of the said main roller guide (65).

The said second framework (70) having a plurality of incline beams (71) preferably the backward portion (71') of said incline beam (71) having higher angled incline surface than the forward portion (71") of said incline beam (71) (see figure 4). Secured to the lower edge of the second framework

(70) is a second roller guide (65') having a plurality of grooves (74') along its entire length. The outer grooves of the main roller guide (65) is provided with roller bearings (68) and the outer grooves of the second roller guide (65') are provided with roller bearings (68') to enable one side of roller shaft (66) of the rollers (67) to secure to the bearings (68) at said main roller guide (65) and the other side of said roller shaft (66) of the rollers (67) to secure to the bearings (68') at the said second roller guide (65').

The outer edge of each roller bearings (68') is provided with sprocket (not shown) which is connected with connection means such as chain link and drive by hydraulic motor or electric motor.

The rollers (67) in this securing arrangement creates a connection between the main framework (61) and the second framework (70). As seen in figure 5, a side wall (72) is mounted to the incline beam (71). The upper end of the backward portion (72') of the said side wall (72), the higher angled incline surface, having at least one extruding stopper means (73) to retain the oil palm tree trunks from rolling down to the rollers (67) on the horizontal base (63). This stopper means (73) extrude based to a control mean (not shown) to stop oil palm tree trunk from rolling down when it is in the rest mode and to allow oil palm tree trunk to roll down to the rollers (67) when it is in active mode. The control mean can be a preset timer, censor, limit switch or the like.

Extending from the said horizontal base (61) of platform (60) is a flipable protruded guide rollers (18) acts as an extension base for long oil palm tree trunks.

A side wall (69) secured to the vertical side base (64) of the main framework (60). Mounted at a predetermined distance from the frontmost of the said side wall (69) adjacent to the

infeed opening of the housing (30) is a slicer mechanism assembly (40) to precut oil palm trunk into a predetermined length. The slicer mechanism assembly (40) is preferably having two vertical side plates (41) as shown in figure 6. A slicer mechanism shaft (43) is mounted at the top of the two vertical side plates (41) and a transverse cutter (44) pivotally secured to the forward end of the said shaft (43) for cutting the oil palm tree trunks into predetermined length before entering into the housing (30). A hydraulic cylinder (45), angularly connected to the backward end of the slicer mechanism shaft (43) with the backward end of the beam (42). A slicer board (46) extending normally from the upper end of the vertical side plate (41) where the forward end of the slicer mechanism shaft (43) is mounted, having slot (47) at the backward end of the said slicer board (46) for receiving the cutter (44) edge when it is in downward position.

The drum assembly (31) includes a rotatable shaft (32) operatively connected to the drum barrel (80) of the drum assembly (31) (see figure 7). The said shaft (32) is rotatably mounted to the housing (30) by suitable means such as bearings (33) on the side walls of the housing (30) adjacent the forward side of said housing (30) as shown in figure 2. On the extended end of shaft (32) opposite where the platform (60) located is mounted a driven pulley (25). The pulley (25), shaft (32) and the drum assembly (31) are driven by the power source (22), through drive pulley (not shown) with drive mean such as belt or chain (26) extending around said drive pulley and driven pulley to cause rotation of the drum assembly (31) about axis of rotation X-X.

The discharge opening (21) having its open end at the forward side wall of said housing (30). A discharge chute (not shown) having discharge conveyor means (23), could be mounted to the

discharge opening (21). The discharge chute is generally rectangular and may be circular or any suitable cross- sectional shape. Shreds are discharge down through the space between the ramp mean (48) and the drum assembly (31), and accumulate beneath the drum assembly (31). The force of the rotating drum then expels the shreds radially outwardly toward the discharge chute and sheds will begin riding along the discharge conveyor means (23).

A ramp mean (48) is positioned within the housing (30) at a level which is parallel to the height of the rollers (67) at the horizontal base (63) of main framework (61). The said ramp mean (48) having a plurality of parallel ribs (49) whereby the ribs (49) are positioned to support the precut oil palm trunk for shredding and the fibrous materials will fall down to said discharge conveyor means (23).

The power unit (22) is adapted to drive a hydraulic pump with hydraulic fluid from a pumping reservoir (not shown) of conventional type which is secured to the elongated frame (12) as indicated in the schematic diagram of Figure 9. This power unit (22) is to be a diesel powered internal combustion engine. The flow of hydraulic fluid from pump is controlled by a plurality of valves (37). The outlet ports of valves (37) are connected by lines (37') to opposite ends of standard hydraulic cylinder respectively for stopper means (73), slicer mechanism (40) and clamp mean (34). While the outlet ports of valves (38) are connected by lines (38') to motors (39) respectively for controlling the rollers (67) and discharge conveyor (23) as shown in figure 9.

As illustrated in Figure 7, the drum assembly (31) includes a drum barrel (80) having a plurality of shredder assemblies (79) spaced equally about its circumference. Each shredder

assembly (79) includes a plurality of cutter mounts (81), cutter holder (90), a fitting (95) and a knife (97). A pair of end plates (82) is secured to and closes the opposite ends of the drum (31). The cutter mounts (81) includes a bottom wall (83) slope downwardly from the front edge securely mounted on the circumference wall of the drum barrel (80) by welding means ; a top wall (84) extending curvilinearly upwardly from the back edge of bottom wall (83) and a vertical plate (85) formed from the front edge of bottom wall (83) and the other end meets with the circumference of the top wall (84).

Substantially middle of the top wall (84) includes a channel generally elliptical in cross-section (see particular figure 8) having at least one counter-sunk bore (86) extends through the vertical wall (85).

The cutter holder (90) include a cutter slot (91) at the upper edge of the said cutter holder (90). The upper edge of the back cutter holder (90) defines a plurality of counter-sunk bores (92), probably three, extends through the bottom of the cutter slot (91). The middle of the lower portion of the cutter holder (90) defines one counter-sunk channel (93), through the entire thickness of the cutter holder (90). This counter-sunk channel (93) is generally elliptical in cross- section to accommodate the fitting (95). The fitting (95) is dimensioned to be closely received within the counter-sunk channel (93) in the cutter holder (90). At least one threaded bore (96) is positioned at the bottom of the fitting (95) and is aligned with the counter-sunk bore (86) in the cutter mount (81). Securing mean such as bolt, screw or fastener (not shown) extend through the counter-sunk bore (86) of the cutter mount (81) into the threaded bore (96) of the cutter holder (90) after the fitting (95) is attached within the counter- sunk channel (93) to secure the fitting (95) and the cutter holder (90) in position.

A generally rectangular knife (97) having a plurality of threaded bores (98), preferably three, at the back side of the knife, which is the side facing slot bottom wall (91) of the cutter holder (90) and are aligned with the counter-sunk bores (92) in the cutter holder (90). The upper edge of front of the knife (97) is the shredding edge (99) to tear and shred trunks. Securing means such as bolts, screws or fasteners (not shown) extend through the counter-sunk bores (92) in the upper edge of the cutter holder (90) into the threaded bores (98) of the knife (97) to secure the knife (97) in position.

With the structure thus described, as the power unit (22) is started and the drum assembly (31) is rotated in direction X-X (figure 2), oil palm tree trunks are placed on the forward portion (72'') of the side wall (72) at the platform (60) and are retained in place by the stopper means (73). One oil palm tree trunk (100) is allowed to roll down to the rollers (67) once the stopper means (73) is in active mode. The slicer mechanism cutter (44) then moves downwardly in respect of the shaft (43) through and along the trunk (100) to cut the said trunk (100) to a predetermined length (100'), which is able to feed within the housing (30). At the end of the cutting area, the cutter (44) engages the slot (47) at the slicer board (46) to complete the cutting action. The slicer mechanism cutter (44) then reverts to its original position.

The precut trunk (100') to be shredded is fed into the housing (30) through the infeed opening by the driven rollers (67).

The said rollers (67) at the same time move the trunk (100) towards the housing (30). The feed direction of the trunk (100) is indicated by the arrow (130). The precut trunk (100') is supported by the ramp mean (48) in the housing (30). This precut trunk (100') is then forced against the circumferential surface of the drum assembly (31) by clamp mean (34). The

knives (97) engage the trunk (100') to cause fibrous strands to be shred and tear off the trunk (100'). The fibrous strands are forced by the action of the rotating drum assembly (31) down to the bottom of the housing (30). The fibrous strands accumulated beneath the drum assembly are then expelled through the discharge opening (21) at the forward side of the housing (30) to the discharge chute and travel along the conveyor means (23) of said discharge chute.

The drum assembly (31) rotates to shred and tear the whole precut trunk (100') until all fibrous strands have been expelled therefrom. The clamp mean (34) then revert to its upward position to receive the next precut trunk to be shredded. ; It is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms and is not limited to the sole embodiment described above. However modification and equivalents of the disclosed concepts such as those which readily occur to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the claims which are appended thereto.