Abstract: A material drying apparatus for substantially eliminating the liquid content of a sludge, the apparatus including a first stage operating at ambient pressure for heating the sludge; a second stage operating with partial vacuum for receiving heated sludge from the first stage for further heating and for drying the sludge by evaporation of substantially all liquid therefrom leaving a dry particulate material; and an evacuated cyclonic stage for applying sufficient centrifugal force to the dry particulate material to render this material odorless.

Abstract: A comminuting striker assembly for mounting on a rotor of a comminuting apparatus comprising: a striker having first and second opposed faces, the first face defining at least one cutting edge, and the second face defining a pair of perpendicular slots; a striker retainer having a leading face for attachment to the striker, the leading face defining a pair of perpendicular keys to be received by the slots; and a single threaded fastener for joining the striker to the striker retainer.

Abstract: A comminuting striker assembly for mounting on a rotor of a comminuting apparatus comprising: a striker having first and second opposed faces, the first face defining at least one cutting edge, and the second face defining a pair of perpendicular slots; a striker retainer having a leading face for attachment to the striker, the leading face defining a pair of perpendicular keys to engage the slots; and a single threaded fastener for joining the striker to the striker retainer, whereby the slots of the striker mate closely with the keys of the striker retainer.

Abstract: A comminuting striker assembly for mounting on a rotor of a comminuting apparatus comprising: a striker having first and second opposed faces, the first face defining at least one cutting edge, and the second face defining a pair of perpendicular slots; a striker retainer having a leading face for attachment to the striker, the leading face defining a pair of perpendicular keys to be received by the slots; and a single threaded fastener for joining the striker to the striker retainer.

Abstract: A comminuting striker and retainer for mounting to a striker mounting face of a comminuting rotor by bolts in which the striker is located by a projection on the retainer which can be disengaged from the striker by loosening the bolts without removing the bolts and retainer from the rotor, the striker having a slot which then allows the striker to be slid laterally from the bolts for removal from the rotor.

Abstract: A comminutor for reducing large diameter wood products and stumps to size, comprised of a reduction chamber, with an impact rotor positioned concentrically therein, in combination with a housing, drive motor and infeed chute. The impact rotor is formed with a plurality of horizontally elongated impact hammers at its periphery. The impact hammers are arranged in sets of impact hammer rows oriented at an angle to the rotational axis of the impact rotor. Each set of impact hammers has one row of hammers having radial angles increasing along the rotor's longitudinal axis in the axial direction of the rotor and a second opposing row of hammers having radial angles decreasing along the rotor's longitudinal axis in the axial direction of the rotor.