Abstract: A method for grinding fine elastomeric particles between opposed rotating grinding wheels in which a flow rate of carrier liquid is first established through the stones when closed to a desired grinding pressure, establishing a maximum flow rate of carrier liquid. A slurry to be ground is then fed into the grinding wheels at a flow rate equal to that established for the carrier liquid alone. It is found that the gap between the two grinding wheels will remain substantially constant, and the throughput rate of ground material will be optimized.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for delivering materials such as comminuted rubber tires as a secondary fuel to a combustion chamber of a furnace or kiln. A hopper includes a variable speed electric motor-driven screw conveyor, and a control system provides a variable frequency alternating current to the motor of the screw conveyor to deliver a metered amount of fuel from the hopper. A blower and a nozzle assembly may be used to entrain the fuel in a stream of air and carry the fuel to the combustion chamber where it is required. The fuel is delivered in metered quantities in response to the required firing rate of the furnace or kiln. A second metering device provides metered quantities of material which can be carried by the fuel to be taken into a high temperature environment to be decomposed or burned. The apparatus is mounted on a transportable platform.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating rubber tires from discarded metal wheels and for breaking large pieces of wood and the like into smaller pieces has a linear motor which drives a ram to crush a wheel rim, permitting it to fall free from a tire originally mounted thereon. A punch punctures inflated tires. A transverse arm structure includes sockets which hold vertical pins used to support long pieces of wood and the like while the ram is used to break them into smaller lengths. A blade which may be attached to the ram is usable to cut very large tires along radial planes to reduce such tires into smaller sections preparatory to further processing.

Abstract: A method for disposing of waste materials including wastes generated by residential neighborhoods and business districts of a municipal area, by collecting waste materials centrally, sorting out and removing non-combustible materials from the collected wastes, and shredding the combustible materials coarsely. The coarsely shredded materials are then transported, if necessary, to the location of an incinerator or other furnace into which the materials are fed as fuel at a rate controlled in accordance with the requirements of the burner for complete and clean combustion, by feeding the coarsely shredded materials into a further shredder, shredding the materials to a final size, and immediately conveying the reshredded materials into the burner. Transportation and measurement of the coarsely shredded materials is thus accomplished with the waste materials at an optimum density for convenient handling and transportation at an economical cost.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for its use for reducing discarded pneumatic tires and other large articles of tough, resilient, material into pieces of greatly reduced size, including a series of machines which successively shear and granulate tough, resilient articles into smaller and smaller pieces. In one embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention two successive rotary shear machines are followed by a granulator. Pieces are sorted before being sent to the granulator, and oversize pieces are sent a second time through the two shears. In another embodiment of the invention a single rotary shear apparatus is followed by a pair of granulators which successively reduce the size of pieces of material to smaller and smaller sizes.

Abstract: A valve assembly including three separate gate valves aligned serially with one another and a mechanical linkage for operating the three separate gates in coordination with one another to permit small pieces of lumpy or granular and particulate solid materials to flow under influence of gravity through the three valves from a low pressure zone into a high pressure zone, without reverse flow of material from the high pressure zone to the low pressure zone. Each gate is biased to a closed condition and provides a substantially airtight seal when it is closed to prevent reverse flow from the high pressure zone to the low pressure zone. A mechanical linkage opens the first and last gates simultaneously and alternatingly opens the middle gate when the first and last gates are closed.

Abstract: Apparatus for comminuting scrap materials, particularly fiber-reinforced resilient materials such as scrap tires, includes a pair of generally cylindrical cutter rolls mounted for rotation with parallel cutter discs of each roll intermeshed closely between cutter discs of the cutter roll. The cutter discs on each cutter roll are of a series of thicknesses, and each cutter disc includes a plurality of cutter segments attached about its periphery. Cutter segments are reversible end-for-end to present a sharp edge for drawing scrap material between the intermeshed cutter rolls. A method of sharpening the apparatus includes removing worn cutter segments from the cutter discs, grinding lateral surfaces of each cutter segment, and thereafter fastening the cutter segments on a next thinner one of the cutter discs. Annular clearing rings surround the shaft of each cutter roll between neighboring cutter discs of that cutter roll.

Abstract: Material feeding and clearing apparatus for use in a material comminuting apparatus includes a plurality of elongate guide-clearer finger members which extend through the spaces between spaced apart cutting discs or similar elements of each of a pair of intermeshed cutter rolls, from an infeed side of the apparatus to an outlet side to the pair of rolls. The finger members are preferably resilient and extend through a space defined between the shaft or central spacer between spaced apart cutter discs or similar rotating elements of one of the pair of rolls and the peripheral surface or edge of a rotating cutting element of the intermeshed rotatable cutting roll. Similar guide-clearer fingers are associated with each rotatable roll and extend upwardly above the infeed side of the pair of rolls, defining an infeed chute on the infeed side.

Abstract: Portable apparatus for shredding waste materials, particularly reinforced resilient materials such as used pneumatic tire casings, in which generally cylindrical cutter rolls, each comprising a plurality of cutter discs, are intermeshed with one another to shear scrap material into smaller pieces, and feeder-stripper rolls, each comprising a plurality of feeder-stripper discs, are intermeshed with the cutter rolls but spaced apart from one another. The cutter rolls are rotated in opposite directions, and each feeder-stripper roll is rotated in the same direction as the cutter roll with which it is intermeshed, thereby feeding scrap material between the two feeder-stripper rolls toward the cutter rolls. The feeder-stripper discs extend deeply between the cutter discs to eliminate clogging. The feeder-stripper rolls may be movable to provide greater separation for receiving and feeding larger pieces of scrap material into the casting mechanism.