Abstract: A tooth is made from a casting of one material. The tooth includes a working surface having a first edge and a second edge. The first edge has at least three teeth. The second edge also has at least three teeth. The working surface is provided with a welded overlay or a hardfaced welded overlay. The tooth can be attached to a mount on a rotating drum. The tooth is removably attached to the drum so that when it wears it can be replaced with another tooth. The rotating drum is part of a fragmenting machine.

Abstract: A system of providing a mechanical soft start of a load driven by an electrical motor is provided. The system includes, in addition to the rotor driven by the electric motor during normal operation, a drive belt coupled to both the electric motor and the rotor for communicating mechanical power from the electric motor to the rotor. The system further includes a secondary motor, and a primary roller coupled to the secondary motor, wherein the roller is selectively engaged with the drive belt during a mechanical soft-start to communicate mechanical power from the secondary motor to the rotor without requiring mechanical power from primary motor.

Abstract: Advantageously, certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system that allows easy replacement of one or more worn rotor teeth and/or rotor tooth mount(s) mounted on a waste fragmenting machine. The present invention may further provide a system that allows minimization of stress during fragmentation on the attachment mechanisms between the mount and the rotor.

Abstract: An auxiliary powerfeed is disclosed, which is designed to work in conjunction with other feeding devices found on a horizontal grinder, which typically include a horizontal feed conveyor and a powerfeed drum. The auxiliary powerfeed features a rotating drum on which are mounted rigid tines (or teeth) arranged in a staggered pattern. The drum is rotationally mounted within a pivotally mounted lift arm. The lift arm holds the axial shaft of the drum at each end. A set of hydraulic cylinders is mounted to the lift arm, one on each end of the drum. During operation, as a bale or other object comes into contact with the auxiliary powerfeed, the drum automatically lifts until it reaches the top of the object, the limit of its lift path, or a predetermined height that optimizes efficacy for a particular application. In some cases, the auxiliary powerfeed automatically operates differently with different feedstock consistencies.

Abstract: A method for reducing impact damage to a waste fragmentation machine is provided in various embodiments. In general, material that is potentially ungrindable, e.g., unacceptably dense, may be inadvertently allowed to enter into the grinding chamber within the machine where it encounters a high-speed rotor. The high-speed rotor comprises rotor teeth that impact the material to fragment or comminute it to an acceptable size. A vibration detector is placed in proximity with the rotor's bearing(s) and, after taking a daily baseline sample, monitors the fragmentation process. If the vibration level goes beyond an alert upper limit, the operator may be alerted via visual and/or audible annunciation that potentially ungrindable material may be in the grinding or fragmenting chamber. The operator may then examine the waste material and, if necessary, remove any potentially ungrindable material.