Apparatus and system for a towed device powered by a tow vehicle
An apparatus and a system directed to a towed device powered by a tow vehicle. The apparatus and system include a woodchipper configured to be mounted on a towed vehicle, with the towed vehicle configured to be towed behind the tow vehicle. Additionally, a motor may be coupled to the woodchipper to provide power to the woodchipper. A power converter obtains power from the tow vehicle from a power takeoff coupled to the tow vehicle. Further, one or more power transfer lines connect the power converter with the motor to communicate motor-operating power from the power converter to the motor.
1. An engineless woodchipper system for powering a woodchipper with a tow vehicle, comprising:
a woodchipper having a cutting mechanism and configured to be mounted on a towed vehicle, wherein the towed vehicle is configured to be towed behind the tow vehicle,
wherein the tow vehicle and the towed vehicle are configured to operate on a highway at highway speeds;
a hydraulic motor coupled to the woodchipper and operable to provide power to the cutting mechanism of the woodchipper;
a power takeoff coupled to the tow vehicle and operable to obtain mechanical power from the tow vehicle;
a hydraulic pump engaged with the power takeoff, wherein the hydraulic pump is configured to convert the mechanical power obtained by the power takeoff into hydraulic power operable to power the hydraulic motor attached to the woodchipper; and
one or more hydraulic fluid lines connecting the hydraulic pump with the hydraulic motor and operable to communicate the hydraulic power from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor.
2. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more hydraulic fluid lines is coupled to the hydraulic motor via a quick-connect connector operable to allow a user to quickly couple the one or more hydraulic fluid lines to the hydraulic motor using only one or more of the user's hands.
3. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic motor is further operable to power auxiliary components of the woodchipper, including one or more of the following: a feed roller, a lift cylinder, and a discharge chute.
4. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic motor is selected from a variable output motor or a fixed output motor.
5. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic pump is selected from a variable displacement pump or a fixed displacement pump.
6. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic motor is a variable output hydraulic motor, and the hydraulic pump is a variable displacement hydraulic pump.
7. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 6 , wherein the variable output hydraulic motor is configured to operate according to a speed control algorithm.
8. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 7 , wherein the speed control algorithm maintains a rotational speed of the cutting mechanism of the woodchipper.
9. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic pump is a variable displacement hydraulic pump with a power limitation control.
10. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 9 , wherein the hydraulic motor is a constant output hydraulic motor.
11. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 1 , wherein either of the hydraulic pump or the hydraulic motor is configured to operate an automated de-stroking feature that senses a pressure of the hydraulic fluid over a pre-defined threshold level and de-strokes.
12. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 11 , wherein the automated de-stroking feature is an emergency stop switch operable by a user to shut down operation of the woodchipper.
13. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 1 , wherein the power takeoff is configured to be coupled to one of a transmission or an engine of the tow vehicle.
14. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 13 , wherein the power takeoff is coupled to the one of the transmission or the engine of the tow vehicle via at least one of pneumatic, hydraulic, or electrical linkages.
15. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 1 , wherein the power takeoff is configured to be coupled with the transmission of the tow vehicle, the system further including a gear assembly configured to engage with one or more gears of the transmission of the tow vehicle.
16. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 1 , further including a hydraulic accumulator configured to store energy and provide the stored energy to the cutting mechanism of the woodchipper on an as-needed basis.
17. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 1 , further including at least one hydraulic reservoir and at least one cooling system, and wherein the at least one hydraulic reservoir and the at least one cooling system are carried by the towed vehicle.
18. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic pump is a first hydraulic pump, the system further including a second hydraulic pump.
19. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 18 , wherein the second hydraulic pump powers one or more auxiliary components associated with the woodchipper.
20. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 18 , wherein the second hydraulic pump is mounted in tandem with the first hydraulic pump, such that the second hydraulic pump is driven by the power takeoff.