Wood chip flinger and method of densely packing wood chips

Abstract

A handling device allows wood chips to be packed with a density greater than that achieved using conventional free-fall techniques by 20%-35% or more. The device includes a drum rotating about a generally horizontal axis that includes a plurality of outwardly extending blades that act to fling the wood chips so as to land with a substantially uniform orientation. The device may be attached to a movable boom and form a pile on the ground. The device may be used to pack a wood chip digestion chamber more densely. The device may also include a feed chute assembly that allows for adjustment of the ratio of the input stream that is delivered to the middle and side portions of the spinning drum. In some of these embodiments, this adjustment may be made while the device is operating, thereby allowing for on-the-fly adjustments by the operator.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of handling wood chips, comprising: 
 supporting a redirecting device with a distal end of a movable boom, said redirecting device comprising a drum having a plurality of outwardly extending blades;    rotating said drum under power about a generally horizontal axis at a rate of 50 rpm or more;    feeding a stream of incoming wood chips to said redirection device and moving said boom in a first direction while rotating said drum;    forming an output stream of wood chips flung by said drum, said output stream forming a pile on the ground having a packing density factor of at least 1.20.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said feeding said stream of incoming wood chips to said redirection device comprises moving said wood chips upward towards said distal end of said boom.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said forming said pile on the ground comprises forming a non-linear elongate pile on the ground.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein forming said output stream of wood chips comprises forming said output stream in a direction generally opposite said first direction.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein moving said boom comprises rotating said boom in said first direction, and wherein forming said output stream of wood chips comprises forming said output stream in a direction generally opposite said first direction.  
     
     
         6 . An assembly for handling wood chips, comprising: 
 a movable boom having a distal end;    a redirecting device supported by said distal end of said movable boom, said redirecting device comprising a drum having a plurality of outwardly extending blades and a motor, said motor coupled to said drum so as to rotate said drum;    wherein a stream of incoming wood chips fed to said redirection device while said drum is rotating about a generally horizontal axis at a rate of 50 rpm or more is redirected to form an output stream of wood chips flung by said drum that land with a preferential orientation.    
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein said boom moves in a first direction, and wherein said output stream is directed in a direction generally opposite said first direction.  
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7  wherein said boom rotates in said first direction.  
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein said output stream forms a pile on the ground having a packing density factor of at least 1.20.  
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9  wherein said output stream forms a pile on the ground having a packing density factor of at least 1.3.  
     
     
         11 . A method of processing wood chips, comprising: 
 feeding a stream of incoming wood chips to a drum disposed so as to rotate about a generally horizontal axis and spinning under power at a rate of about 50 rpm or more, said drum including a plurality of outwardly extending blades;    directing wood chips output from said drum into a wood chip digestion chamber;    packing said wood chips in said wood chip digestion chamber to a density greater than a free-fall density; and    digesting said wood chips in said digestion chamber for a period of time.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said packing said wood chips in said wood chip digestion chamber comprises packing said wood chips in said wood chip digestion chamber with a packing density factor of at least 1.20.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising adding chemicals to said chamber prior to said digesting.