Abstract: Improved shredding machine shredding mechanism having elongated wall and gate structure defining a chamber. The chamber walls have margins defining a material entryway at one common end and margins defining a material discharge aperture at the remote end of the chamber from the entryway. An electrically driven rotatable shredder journaled in the wall structure intermediate the entryway and discharge aperture. The gate pivotally mounted externally of the chamber for movement within the chamber at the entryway and extending from a point adjacent to one of the walls divergingly relative to the wall and terminating remote from the pivotal mounting and from the wall defining a progressively constricting chamber as to area of the chamber in latitudinal cross-sectional dimension from entryway to discharge aperture in a selected position of the gate.

Abstract: Apparatus for opening compressed bales of fiber includes means for supporting one or more of said compressed bales of fiber in a row. A reciprocating tower is provided and supported for reciprocating alongside the row of said bales of fiber and has a cantilevered portion which extends over the row of bales of fiber at a height which is adjustable. Reducing means is supported by the cantilevered portion over the top surface of the bales for removing fiber therefrom. A horizontal channel is disposed adjacent to and above the reducing means for receiving fiber removed from the bale by the reducing means. The horizontal channel is connected to a telescoping vertical channel within the tower means for delivering fiber from the reducing means to the discharge channel in the tower when a suction force is created therein.

Abstract: A meat comminuting machine has a cutting unit which includes at least one stationary perforated plate and a mobile associated cutter head arranged on a driving shaft, which is driven by a driving motor, and a device for an axial displacement of the driving shaft which supports the cutter head in dependence of the loading of the driving motor.

Abstract: A crushing apparatus has an hydraulic cylinder for actuating a toggle mechanism connected to a moveable jaw. The apparatus may have a main frame with an opening near the top of the frame for admitting material to be crushed. There is a first jaw connected to the frame on one side of the opening by a first pivotal connection near the top of the jaw. A first toggle mechanism is operatively associated with the first jaw. There may also be a second jaw connected to the frame on a side of the opening opposite the first jaw by a second pivotal connection near the bottom of the second jaw. A second toggle mechanism is operatively associated with the bottom mounted jaw. The crushing apparatus may have a toggle mount which is movable towards or away from the associated jaw.

Abstract: A control system (40) particularly suited for effecting control over the fineness of the particles that are gound, i.e., pulverized, in a bowl mill (10) of the type that is designed to be employed for purposes of pulverizing coal. The subject control system (40) is operatively connected in circuit relation with the conveying means (64) by means of which the particles are conveyed from the bowl mill (10) after being ground therewithin. In addition, the subject control system (40) is also operatively connected with the controls (58, 60) of the bowl mill (10). Accordingly, the subject control system (40) is operative to make measurements of the particles being discharged from the bowl mill (10) and based on the information obtained from such measurements effect the changes in the control settings of the bowl mill (10) as required.

Abstract: A control method for crushing massive furnace slag using a swingable type crushing apparatus in which a crushing clearance is increased or decreased in a stepwise manner by a hydraulic mechanism depending on crushing conditions of the massive furnace slag, which may be blast furnace slag, convertor slag, and electric furnace slag. A hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic mechanism is detected as a variable of the crushing conditions and is compared with a set value so as to adjust the crushing clearance.

Abstract: The two feed rolls of a roll refiner comprising at least four rolls for processing viscous materials, such as chocolate masses, are regulated with respect to their rotational speeds by means of a suitable regulating system. The two feed rolls rotate in a fixed speed ratio to each other at speeds determined by the prevailing operating conditions. The particle size and/or the output quantity of the processed material may be held constant by this regulation.

Abstract: An annular gap-type mill for continuously pulverizing in particular hard mineral substances comprises a grinding container (15) which accommodates an axially symmetrical inner body (13) whose outer surface defines with the inner surface of the grinding container (15) a grindimg gap (23). It is essential that the upper and lower region of the inner body (13) are tapered in opposite directions and adjoined to a common equatorial zone (24) of maxi diameter and that the outer surface of at least one of the regions is curved convexly. The grinding container (15) and/or the inner body (13) may be driven rotatingly. The annular gap-type mill is suited for wet and dry grinding and its quantitative and qualitative output is high.

Abstract: The amplitude of the variations in the power drawn by a crusher motor is dependent on the crushing gap in the crusher, other parameters such as ore feed rate etc. remaining constant. In accordance with the invention, this phenomenon is used to set the crushing gap. The power drawn by the motor is monitored and the amplitude of the variations of the power drawn is used as a basis for determining whether the existing crushing gap is too great or too small.

Abstract: A paper pulp refiner for refining high consistency stock characterized by two virtually identical refining zones connected in series which have an interstage device to remove excess steam and whose axial loads can be varied independently thus producing two stage pump from a single refiner.

Abstract: Two rolls which carry roll teeth rotate, as seen from their top side, in directions away from their common roll nip or gap towards adjacent hopper wall sections which carry hopper teeth. The refuse is thus loosened instead of being compacted in the common roll nip or gap, as in the prior art. The loosened material is more readily cut than the material which hitherto was compacted in the common roll gap. At a predetermined limiting load between the roll teeth and the hopper teeth, at least the hopper wall section which carries the affected hopper teeth, is retracted from the associated roll by a drive and from its operative position depicted on the right in FIG. 2 into an inoperative position depicted on the left in FIG. 2. The interfering material can fall through downwardly, whereupon the hopper wall section returns towards the associated roll into its operative position. No hopper blockage can occur.

Abstract: A particle refining process is controlled in response to detected electron transfer phenomena. Pulses of electromagnetic radiation emanating from a refiner during a refining process are detected. The detected radiation is produced by dissociation and recombination phenomena in the particles being refined. The detected pulses are processed to obtain data indicative of the performance of the refining process. In particular, the mean pulse duration and mean energy per unit time of the detected pulses are computed. A process control signal is produced in response to the data, and the operation of the refiner is controlled with the process control signal to optimize the refining process.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the gap between pairs of relatively rotating refiner discs is disclosed, including a transmitter incorporated into the face of a rotating refiner disc for producing a measurement signal in response to changes in reluctance corresponding to changes in the gap, a circuit for supplying the current to the transmitter, including a transformer for contact-free transfer of the current to the transmitter, a stationary receiver for receiving the measurement signal generated by the transmitter, and a signal transmitter for contact-free transfer of the measurement signal to the stationary receiver.

Abstract: In a cone crusher comprising a breaking cone (1) arranged for being driven to effect a tumbler movement or pendulum movement within the interior of a hollow-conical breaking surface (2) of a stator (3), the gap width (16, 16') is adjustable by axial displacement of the breaking cone (1) and determinable by measuring the lifted position of the breaking cone (1) by means of a displacement pickup (21) acting on the breaking cone (1). An axle extension (6) is connected with the tapered end of the breaking cone (1) and is bearingly supported within a bearing (7) fixed on the stator (3) and allowing the tumbler movement or the pendulum movement, respectively, noting that the displacement pickup (21) acts on the axle extension (6).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for maintaining a constant refining intensity under varying tonnage rate and applied power conditions to a slurry of paper stock being passed through a disk type refiner. The system utilizes a control strategy and several unique control algorithms which combine to provide a result which relates the speed of rotation of the refiner elements to the power consumed by the drive motor. The present invention is based on intensity which is defined as the net refining power applied divided by the number of bar crossings (refining elements) per unit time. The system is an adaptive control system which operates on the basis of real time measurements of the refiner process.

Abstract: A roller mill, in which the milling rollers are pressed together with high pressures, has a fluidic device for imparting the respective pressure. This fluidic device comprises piston-cylinder units and a pressure line for the fluid. In order to obtain a skewing of at least one roller in dependency upon the pressure exerted by the fluidic device, pressure sensitive means are interposed between the pressure line and a displacing device for the skewing angle. In this way, a pressure signal may be transferred to a converter for converting the pressure into a corresponding displacement stroke. Preferably, at least one roller has a basic camber or crown which corresponds to a pressure within a lower range of the occurring pressures.

Abstract: A knife feed system in a rotary drum cutter having a rotary drum disposed in proximity to a raw material shredding port and a plurality of knives arranged at predetermined intervals on the rotary drum, in which the knives are each ejected by a predetermined length to keep constant the spacing between the knife edge and the shredding port. The knife feed system includes a knife feed mechanism provided for each of the knives, a drive unit for driving the knife feed mechanism, the driven unit being provided separately from the rotary drum a transmission mechanism disposed between the knife feed mechanism and the drive unit to transmit power from the latter to the former, and a control unit connected to the drive unit to control the latter, the control unit having a function capable of setting and changing the number of times of operation per unit time of the drive unit. The feed of knife can be set appropriately according to the kind of raw material to be shredded.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting and/or preventing the clashing of refiner plates which comprises sensing decreases in vibrations of the refiner plates due to a reduction in the quantity of material flowing between the refiner plates and includes controlling the distance between the refiner plates.

Abstract: A slurry feeding assembly (A) feeds a mixture of water and rubber pellets to a comminuting region defined between a rotor (74) and a stator (66). As an electric rotor motor (70) rotates the rotor relative to the stator, a power monitor (114) monitors of a control circuit (D) the amount of electrical power drawn thereby. The control circuit controls a pressure regulator (C) to increase and decrease the pressure between the rotor and stator in such a manner that the power drawn by the electric rotor motor remains substantially constant. The control circuit further initiates operation of various components of the comminuting apparatus in a preselected order. Specifically, the control circuit first starts the feed of water or other fluid to the rotor and stator. Thereafter, the electric rotor motor is started, followed by enabling of the pressure regulator assembly.

Abstract: A mill for grinding farinaceous seeds into flour comprises a pair of counterrotating cylinders to which seeds to be ground are fed from a hopper with the aid of a transport roller driven by a variable-speed motor. A sensor inside the hopper measures, e.g. capacitively, the level of a supply of seeds present therein and controls the speed of that motor to vary the feed rate substantially in proportion to the measured level. When the sensor detects a drop of that level below a minimum threshold, it stops the transport roller and causes the cylinders to be separated from each other.

Abstract: The crusher of this invention has a conical crushing head that gyrates in an annular lower frame member. An upper frame member that seats on the lower frame member in a normal operative position comprises a bowl that cooperates with the head to define a crushing gap. Upright, circumferentially spaced double-acting hydraulic jacks are connected between the lower frame member and a tie ring surrounding it; and upright, circumferentially spaced tie rods connect the tie ring with the upper frame member. Preferably the piston rods of the jacks project downward. The upper jack chambers are normally communicated with a fluid pressure system that maintains fluid in them at a predetermined pressure and comprises an accumulator charged by a hydraulic pump that is controlled by a pressure responsive switch. A relief valve near each jack vents fluid from its upper chamber to its lower one when pressure in said upper chamber exceeds said predetermined value by a predetermined amount, as when tramp iron lifts the bowl.

Abstract: A pellet feeder (A) feeds pellets of vulcanized rubber or other materials and water or another fluid at controlled rates into a mixing tank (30). An agitator (32) mixes the pellets and fluid into a slurry. The slurry is pumped from the mixing tank to a mill (C) by a pump (34). The mill has a receiving region (70) defined between a stator (48) and a rotor (68) for receiving the slurry. The stator and rotor define a peripheral grinding zone (72) around the slurry receiving region. An impeller (74) has vanes which extend from the upper surface of the rotor to an abrasive surface (82) of the stator such that the impeller vanes are ground at the same rate as the stator and rotor wear to maintain a fluid seal around the impeller blades. Fluid cylinders (50, 52) maintain a constant pressure between the stator and rotor. The stator has a plurality of recesses (86, 86') which preferably have downstream extending relief areas (214).

Abstract: A system for mixing and refining pulp in which the raw material is conveyed into a cylindrical drum and propelled therethrough in linear/spiral direction by a co-axial rotor comprising a plurality of mixing/refining elements. The raw material is mixed and refined during the relative rotation between the rotor and the drum in a plurality of co-axially extending grinding areas defined between rotatable grinding elements on the rotor and a facing grinding surface on the interior of the drum while being simultaneously compressed therein and alternately decompressed in areas between the grinding areas. The rotatable elements are adjustably mounted to the rotor so as to vary the spacing between the grinding surface on the interior of the drum and a rotatable grinding surface on the grinding elements, while simultaneously adjusting the material feeding angle of the grinding areas.

Abstract: A refiner for mixtures and suspensions having a non-Newtonian rheological characteristic, such as chocolate, which comprises a plurality of power driven refining rollers, and a means of changing the pressure thereof on the respective supports, wherein a means is also provided which is effective to change the actual crowning of the rollers, or the effect of an equivalent crowning, as well as a means of changing the speed of said refining rollers. The crown change is achieved by having the individual rollers supported on an oscillating support adapted to oscillate its respective roller relatively to the associated roller by rotation about an orthogonal midaxis with respect to the roller longitudinal axes, thereby a contact point is established at the roller middle area or circumference while their ends are offset. The speed of the refining rollers is changed through independent and individually operated controls, such as a DC motor.

Abstract: A refiner control continuously calculates required gearmotor output speed in opposition to the main motor drive power such that an increase in main power causes a decrease in gearmotor output speed and therefore provides a variable resolution over the entire power range of the main drive for stable refiner operation at various setpoint levels.

Abstract: The object of the invention is a cone crusher comprising a shaft mounted in a frame for oscillating movement, and a rotor which is rotatably mounted on the shaft and adapted to be rotated on the shaft by means of a drive and which has an out-of-balance weight so that the rotation of the rotor in conjunction with centrifugal force sets the shaft in gyratory oscillating motion, while a conical crusher head carried by the shaft is caused to roll on the inner side of a crushing mantle carried by the frame. Characteristic of the invention is that the cone crusher is equipped with a movable counterweight which is caused by the drive to perform a circular movement about the shaft at an angular displacement of substantially 180.degree.

Abstract: A device for controlling and monitoring the thickness of a chocolate film delivered by chocolate refiners. The chocolate film thickness is controlled by operation of a roller bearing pressure adjustment system of the refiner by way of cut-in signals from an indirect measurement of the instantaneous chocolate film thickness effected by processing representative colorimetric signals for a given mass of chocolate stock of corresponding thickness values emitted by a readout head. The readout head is arranged to reciprocate to measure the film across its entire width. The readout head also enables the integrity of the chocolate film being delivered to be monitored, that is to detect the appearance on the output roller of dry band areas.In the presence of potential causes of refiner roller seizure, the device, after a presettable time delay, will automatically stop the machine.

Abstract: A programmable refiner controller which is an improvement over the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,204 and allows the appropriate ratio to be selected for calculating the correct values of factors P1 and P2 to obtain the proper controller gain while maintaining the transfer function for the consistency range utilized. The maximum energy per ton limit can be established to protect the refining system for over-refining or possibly breaking the disk elements inside the refiner. The controller-ratio or remote set point resolution can be increased in the instrument set point. The invention provides the operator with a control tuned so that the dial on the remote set point module indicates not only the ratio and arbitrary net horsepower days per ton, but the exact energy used per ton of material paper stock.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vertical roller mill including a grinding roller which is urged against a grinding path on a grinding table by a hydraulic cylinder. The loading on the roller is measured by a transducer and the acceleration of the roller by an accelerometer. Resulting signals are combined at a controller which controls a valve through which hydraulic fluid is supplied to the hydraulic cylinder, so that the loading is compensated for the influence of the instantaneous velocity and acceleration of the roller.

Abstract: An electrically operated automatic adjustment system for a reel blade lawn mower to provide the proper contact pressure and cutting clearance between the reel blade and the bedknife at all times. An electrical signal is generated across the bedknife and reel blade that functionally represents the contact pressure. One or more measurable parameters of the signal define an optimum contact pressure. A control circuit uses signal values to continuous monitor and drive (if necessary) a motor or other control device connected to either the bedknife or the reel blade to maintain the optimum spatial relationship between the bedknife and the reel blade for optimum cutting.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dynamically monitoring the gap between the refining surfaces of first and second relatively rotating metallic refining members. At least one of the refining members is mounted to a first rotatable shaft which is supported in a housing by lubricated bearing means. When the refining members are in rotating relation, an electrical impedance exists across the gap. The value of the impedance is dependent on the size of the gap. An alternating electrical current is passed through the gap and the voltage across the gap is monitored to provide an indication of the size of the gap. The voltage across the gap can also be used as one input to a circuit which controls the size of the gap by driving an electro/hydraulic system.

Abstract: A disc type refiner, for paper pulp processing and the like, is provided with an automatic control mechanism to prevent contact-clashing of the refiner plates on short term losses of feed and to sense the long term losses of feed so as to open the refiner plates before contact-clashing occurs. The control mechanism includes a counter-force-producing means acting in opposition to the refining or attrition force-producing means such that, on either short or long term loss of feed, resistance to plate clashing is provided. Moreover, the counter-force-producing means is monitored and the monitor provides signals to actuate, in cooperation with other control devices, a desired sequence of operative steps to effectuate either the continuation or the discontinuation of the refining operation.

Abstract: A jaw crusher for bulky waste and like matter, comprising two groups of jaws or shanks movable towards and away from each other, the jaws or shanks within each group being spaced at an interval corresponding to the width of the jaws or shanks of the opposite group. The jaws or shanks of one group are adapted, as they move towards the other group, to travel at least partly into the interspaces between the jaws or shanks of the opposite group, and include driving units actuating at least one group of jaws or shanks in order to move them towards the opposite group. At least one of the jaws included in at least one group of jaws is movable relative to the remaining jaws of the same group, the jaws are individually movable by individually actuable driving units, and the driving units are provided with sensors for sensing exerted power and actuating a programmable central unit which controls the relative position of the jaws so that it will vary during the cutting-up operation.

Abstract: A housing is equipped with a set of grinding tools and a rotor equipped with a second set of grinding tools. One of the parts carrying the grinding tool set is moveable in relation to the other part, which may be constituted by the rotor, in axial direction of the rotor and can be adjusted by a piston-and-cylinder unit impingeable with a pressurized fluid medium, preferably compressed air. The compressed air infeed into the piston-and-cylinder unit is accomplished by a compensation force regulator controlled as a function of the pressure of the stock suspension within the internal compartment of the housing and a grinding force regulator controlled independently of the compensation force regulator in accordance with a set value signal infed by a control line.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for regulating a grinding installation using four automatic control systems, of which one control system keeps the material level of the storage silo for the ground material constant by altering the grinding force of the roller mill. In this way, the mill throughput is altered in the event of variations in consumption in such a way that the differential mill pressure and hence the quality of the end product are kept constant.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a roller mill of the type having a rotating grinding path upon which one or more grinding rollers are disposed for rotatably grinding the material to be ground. In particular, a method is disclosed for maintaining a constant predetermined thickness of the grinding cushion between the grinding roller or rollers and the grinding path. More particularly, according to the invention the mean grinding pressure increases within fixed limits when the mean thickness of the grinding cushion is larger than predetermined, and decreases when the mean thickness of the grinding cushion is smaller than predetermined. The invention also pertains to an improved roller mill of the type described, for practicing the inventive method.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating hulls from unhulled rice having a fixed rotating roll and a movable rotatable roll located in pressure contact with the fixed roll. A control rod connected to a biasing spring holds the movable roll in pressure contact with the fixed roll. An automatically operated control senses the biasing force of the biasing means and adjusts the biasing force to maintain substantially constant contact pressure between the fixed and movable rolls.

Abstract: An electronic system particularly suited for effecting control over the pressure of the hydraulic fluid through which the journal loading is established on the grinding rolls (20) of a bowl mill (10) of the type that is employed to pulverize coal. The subject electronic system is operatively connected in circuit relation to the belt feeder means (12), located externally of the bowl mill (10), that supplies to the bowl mill (10) the coal that is to be pulverized therein. In addition, the subject electronic system is also operatively connected in circuit relation to the hydraulic power unit (22) of the bowl mill (10) that provides hydraulic fluid under pressure to the grinding rolls (20).

Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for milling cereal in a milling plant having a control device, such as a computer device, for controlling various process elements of the plant and the operative parameters of those process elements, in which the characteristics of the material to be milled are established together with the characteristics of the required finished product and from those characteristics desired operating parameter values for one or more selected process elements are determined bearing in mind the characteristics of the process elements of the plant, and those parameter values are stored in the control device to be used as control signals for the process elements, and in which such control signals are determined and stored in groups associated with required combinations of material and finished product characteristics, and an appropriate group of parameter values is selected by means of the control device to provide process control signals for controlling the operative parameters of said pro

Abstract: A pulp refining apparatus of the type in which two intermeshing rotary screws are driven synchronously within a housing provided with a material inlet and a material outlet, the treated material passing from the inlet to the outlet while being compressively treated at a high dry-matter concentration between the intermeshing screw threads, has at least one of the screws arranged for pivotal swinging movement in relation to the other in a way permitting selective adjustment of the width of the treating gap between the intermeshing screw threads and selective control of the treating conditions to which the material is exposed.

Abstract: Apparatus for grinding cereal grain involving the controlling of grinding forces between a pair of cooperating grinding rolls, by determining the actual grain receiving gap between the rolls during rotation thereof and regulating the gap in accordance with a preset desired dimension. A pair of parallel grinding rolls are mounted for movement of one roll relative to the other in a generally radial direction. One of the rolls is yieldingly biased toward engagement with the other roll. Adjustment mechanism is operative to limit movement of the bias roll toward said other roll and to establish said preset dimension or gap between the rolls.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gyratory crusher having a breaking head resting on the piston of a hydraulic adjustment ram. This crusher is characterized in that the piston of the ram carries a rack arranged parallel to its axis and a pinion meshing with this rack is fixed to the end of a shaft going through the wall of the ram cylinder, the other end of this shaft being coupled to a sensor delivering an electric signal according to the angular position of the shaft. The invention is applicable to gyratory or cone crushers or breakers.

Abstract: For use in a grain feed system at a grain processing plant, the preferred and illustrated embodiment discloses a pneumatically powered control system connected to a gate in the grain processing apparatus to open the gate and further discloses a pneumatically operated grain processing apparatus. The control system responds to the presence of grain. As the grain flows through the processing equipment, the gate and processing apparatus are maintained in an operative state. On sensing the absence of grain, the sensor triggers signals which close the hopper supply system for grain and disables the grain processing equipment.

Abstract: An automatic control system for a hulling machine including a fixed rotary hulling roll, a movable rotary hulling roll, means for moving the movable rotary hulling roll toward and away from the fixed rotary hulling roll to adjust the gap between the two hulling rolls and a main electric motor for driving the two hulling rolls. The system includes load detecting means for detecting the load applied to the main electric motor, and control means for connecting the load detecting means to the means for controlling the movement of the auxiliary shaft whereby the gap between the two hulling rolls can be automatically adjusted in accordance with the load applied to the main electric motor.

Abstract: A method for operating a crushing and grinding facility is disclosed in which crushing of mine-run material is controlled to always match grinding feed requirements while both crusher(s) (10) and grinding mills (16) operate full time and draw full power during the hours of what may be unequal length working days. The grinding mill (16) is also operated to produce the maximum output of final product that is within its existing capabilities. At each of a succession of measurement times (e.g., every 1/2 hour during a 22-hour working day of the mill), the rate of production of final product by the grinding mill (6) is ascertained (as by 21, 22, 23) and projected to the end of the mill working day.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the refining of fibrous lignocellulosic pulp in a drum refiner in which the pulp stock, or grist, is conveyed into a cylindrical stationary drum and propelled therein in a linear direction in a pulsating fashion by a co-axial rotor comprising a plurality of wings which attack the grist in a wedging action as it is pushed ahead of the leading faces of the wings and which induce in the grist internal frictional shear forces while it is forced through a gap defined between the leading edges of the wings and a series of shear means arranged axially along the interior surface of the stationary drum. The process is controlled by coordinating the angle of attack on the grist by the wings and corresponding variations in the gap clearance with the energy demands or mechanical power input.

Abstract: A device for adjusting an inertia cone crusher discharge gap comprises an angle sensor responsive to deflection of the breaking head axis from the vertical and generating a signal used to control an actuator providing vertical displacement of a crushing bowl of the crusher with respect to the breaking head thereof to change the size of the discharge gap. The sensor is an induction-type sensor including inductance coils connected electrically in parallel, and mounted fixedly around the breaking head and uniformly distributed along a circle having the center on the vertical axis of the crusher, and at least one permanent magnet coupled mechanically with an out-of-balance weight inducing electrical signals in said inductance coils as the out-of-balance weight is rotating.

Abstract: A position indicator for monitoring movement of one part of an assembly relative to another--e.g., for monitoring the relative positions of the movable and fixed jaws of a gyratory crusher. The position indicator has a body which is fixed to a probe suitable support and a variable capacitor which responds to movement of the member to be monitored to adopt a capacitance value which is characteristic of each position of that member relative to the support. The capacitor is connected into an electrical circuit operative to generate a signal which varies according to the capacitance value and therefore provides an indication of the position of the member being monitored. The probe body includes at least two telescopic tubes arranged so that the body extends and contracts in accordance with movement of the member being monitored and conductive parts of the variable capacitor are connected to the tubes, so that their relative positions change with extension and contraction of the probe body.

Abstract: A refiner plate clash detection system and method for plate clash detection is provided herein. The system includes a receiver for a first signal having a significant increase in level at at least one distinct predetermined frequency related to the clash and the characteristics of the discs of the refiner. A filter is provided having a passband matched to pass the distinct frequency of the signal to provide a filtered output signal in which the center frequency of the passband of the filter is determined by the formulaf.sub.o =n.SIGMA..sub.Rwhereinf.sub.o is the center frequency (expressed in Hertz) of said passbandn=the number of segments at a given radius, per single disc and.SIGMA..sub.R =the sum of the rotational rates (expressed in Hertz) of the two discs enclosing a given refining volume.The filtered signal is then smoothed. A threshold level is established.

Abstract: A cone crusher characterized by a frame having a completely fabricated construction, an anti-spin mechanism and an improved crusher setting indicator is disclosed. The frame of the structure, which is composed solely of pre-formed and/or forged members, includes a number of tubular members, a number of annular members and a number of ribs, all of which are welded together to provide a rigid, strong frame. The anti-spin mechanism is characterized by the use of a unidirectional valve and a spring loaded ball valve, thereby permitting the rotation of the mantle of the crusher in one direction while barring rotation of the mantle in the opposite direction unless a force exceeding a pre-selected magnitude is applied to the mantle.