MULCHING APPARATUS AND RELATED COMPONENTS
A mulching apparatus including: a housing including a front opening and an inner wall; a rotor mounted in the front opening of the housing adjacent to the inner wall; and a drive train for driving the rotor, the drive train including: a drive shaft connected to the rotor; a motor comprising a motor shaft; and a removable wear gear connecting the motor shaft and the drive shaft, wherein the wear gear is formed from a material that is softer than a material of the drive shaft or motor shaft.
1 . A mulching apparatus comprising:
a housing comprising a front opening and an inner wall;
a rotor mounted in the front opening of the housing adjacent to the inner wall; and
a drive train for driving the rotor, the drive train comprising:
a drive shaft connected to the rotor;
a motor comprising a motor shaft;
a removable wear gear connecting the motor shaft and the drive shaft, wherein the wear gear is formed from a material that is softer than a material of the drive shaft or motor shaft.
2 . A mulching apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the drive shaft further comprises an axial bore in fluid communication with the wear gear for introducing a lubrication fluid thereto.
3 . A mulching apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the drive train further comprises a purge port in fluid communication with the axial bore.
4 . A mulching apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a wear liner, the wear liner comprising:
a body configured to fit around a rotor of the mulching apparatus;
a plurality of slots at an upper end of the body; and
a flange provided at a lower end of the body and extending rearward from the body, the flange provided with a plurality of fastening holes.
5 . A mulching apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a chain assembly, the chain assembly comprising:
a plurality of chains;
a chain mounting plate comprising a plurality of chain holders, each of the plurality of chain holders configured to support an individual chain; and
a chain support plate removably attached to the chain mounting plate to hold the plurality of chains on the chain holders of the chain mounting plate.
6 . A tooth assembly for a rotor of a mulching apparatus, the tooth assembly comprising:
a tooth mount mountable to the rotor, the tooth mount comprising one of a male or female T-connector; and
a tooth mountable to the tooth mount from said front side, wherein the tooth comprises:
the other of the male or female T-connector; and
a plough shaped extension protruding from a front side thereof toward the rotor surface and in front of the tooth mount,
wherein the T-connector is wedge-shaped for engaging the tooth on the tooth mount.
7 . A tooth assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the tooth assembly further comprises a support mechanism for supporting the tooth on the tooth mount when the tooth is not fully engaged with the tooth mount but otherwise not supporting the tooth.
8 . A tooth assembly according to claim 6 , wherein a width of the tooth assembly is tapered from front to back.
9 . A tooth assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the tooth assembly further comprises a stress relief feature at a forward end of the T-connector.
10 . A tooth assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the tooth comprises more than two carbide cutting elements.
11 . A chain assembly for a mulching apparatus, the chain assembly comprising:
a plurality of chains;
a chain mounting plate comprising a plurality of chain holders, each of the plurality of chain holders configured to support an individual chain; and
a chain support plate removably attached to the chain mounting plate to hold the plurality of chains on the chain holders of the chain mounting plate.
12 . A chain assembly according to claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of chain holders comprise a plurality of holes configured to receive one or more links of each of the plurality of chains and support the plurality of chains in place.