Abstract: A feeder for comminuting equipment which combines inlet air and feed in lamina flow to minimize turbulent mixing by minimizing the air and feed convergence angles within the feeder.

Abstract: A regrind deflector for an apertured screen in a hammermill has a plate extending along substantially the entire length of the screen and having a straight surface smoothly blending to a curved surface, the straight surface beginning at an inner surface of the screen and substantially tangent thereto and extending outwardly to the curved surface which curves back inwardly to the inner surface of the screen and intersects therewith at an angle of less than 90 degrees. The number of deflectors required depends on hammermill size and operating conditions as well as characteristics of the feed material to be processed.

Abstract: A steam injection device for a vertical steam conditioning chamber for particulate material has one or more hollow modules having substantially conical tops and open bottoms arrayed along a support column extending from below the conditioning chamber to a point above the chamber. Steam for conditioning is supplied preferably through the support column in such a way that it uniformly permeates the particles along the height of the conditioning chamber as well as across its cross section. Additionally, by employing modules having other than symmetrically conical tops, it is possible to impart an irregular flow path to the particles being conditioned in the chamber. This permits uniform exposure of the particles to the steam in the conditioning chamber and, thus, promotes uniform conditioning.

Abstract: A steam injection device for a vertical steam conditioning chamber for particulate material has one or more hollow modules having substantially conical tops and open bottoms arrayed along the vertical centerline of the chamber, each supported by at least one hollow leg attached to the chamber wall. Steam for conditioning is supplied to the modules through the support legs by means of a manifold which distributes steam to steam ports in the chamber wall. Additionally, by employing modules having other than symmetrically conical tops, it is possible to impart an irregular flow path to the particles being conditioned in the chamber. This permits uniform exposure of the particles to the steam in the conditioning chamber and, thus, promotes uniform conditioning.

Abstract: A horizontal cylindrical sifter is provided, including a housing with an inlet for feed material of mixed size at a first end, an outlet for coarse material at a second end, a cylindrical screen for sifting the mixed feed material to separate the coarse material from fine material mixed therewith, the screen extending from the inlet to the outlet of the housing and having a rotatably driven shaft extending along an axial centerline of the cylindrical screen, agitator arms extending substantially radially outwardly from the rotatably driven shaft and having mounted at outer radial extremities of the arms agitator blades for rabbling the mixed feed material on the screen, and the improvement, in combination with the sifter, which provides for adjusting the agitator arms to alter an angular orientation of the agitator blades.

Abstract: A vertical steam conditioning chamber, for feed grains and other steam conditioned particles, has a circular cross section and is formed from a plurality of stackable modules, each such module having a larger diameter than the module next above. A flange like member permits stacking and joining of the cylindrical modules and prevents the upper modules from telescoping downward into the modules below. This permits generation of a stepwise diametric expansion or even a variable stepwise diametric expansion in a conditioning chamber to accommodate different conditioning responses of different particulate materials. The ratio of cylindrical module height to diameter and the change thereto from one module to the next succeeding module provides the versatility and the variability of the stepwise diametric expansion.

Abstract: A stationary scalper removes coarse trash, from feed material entering a roll mill grinder, by diverting the trash across an adjustable inclined grate to a trash discharge chute. The grate is fitted with parallel grate bars extending in the direction of inclination for easy trash transport. A flow director spreads the feed material over the full length of the grate below the feed inlet and an adjustable rigid door defines a gap above the grate which controls the flow rate of trash toward the discharge chute. By controlling flow rate, the efficiency of trash separation may be maximized for a given production rate.