Abstract: An electric motor operated rotary drum type grinding mill is operated at optimal efficiency by detecting and analyzing the motor current. The power signals are converted by signal processing equipment for presentation as pictorial display representations of mill operating conditions at a variety of motor current levels to permit unskilled operators to understand the current operating conditions. Instantaneous on line current signals are derived from the mill by a transformer coupling without rewiring or modification. Analytical equipment processes the detected current signals for mill control, storage of historical performance and pictorial display. Mill operation is accordingly controlled in semi-automatic or fully automatic modes that maintain optimum mill efficiency.

Abstract: Surplus concrete or return concrete to be processed is poured into a high-capacity receiving bin and is transferred at a metered rate from said bin by means of a screw conveyor to a washing apparatus, in which fine components are separated from very fine components. The transfer at the metered rate is effected in dependence on the driving power of rotary motors of the rotary washing apparatus. When the driving power of the motors exceeds a predetermined value, then the motor of the screw conveyor is deenergized. When the driving power decreases below that value or below another value, the supply at the metered rate is resumed. The plant operates fully automatically and when the receiving bin has been emptied the plant is automatically cleaned and automatically shut down.

Abstract: Wooden logs are chipped by alternating forward feed of the log towards a cutting device, to obtain cutting and retracting the log from the cutting device, either as instigated manually or when the cutter speed drops below a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method of regulating the operation of a material-crusher (1) in which the noise emitted by the crusher, the power absorbed thereby and the supply and removal flow rates of the material therein are detected. The flow rate (2) of the material fed into the crusher is regulated so as to maintain the quantity of material therein at a high and constant value close to that at which the efficiency of the crusher is at its best.

Abstract: A self-clearing shredding apparatus for disposal of waste material which includes hard to crush or shred objects, in which the apparatus is provided with individually driven pair of cutter shafts in a common horizontal plane for reducing the waste material or for converting the cutter shaft operation to one in which they perform the duty of a conveyor to transport the objects which are objectionable through a side opening. The apparatus which performs the above activity is connected up to a programmable controller which causes the apparatus to operate in a prescribed method.

Abstract: The speed of feed movement of a piston is controlled to an essentially constant value by direct digital measurement of the actual speed, by comparing the actual value to a preset value and by compensating for differences therebetween. Variations in the piston feed pressure and in the grinding power are taken into account by means of additional signals related to these factors and added to or subtracted from the signal representing the actual value of the speed of the piston.

Abstract: A forage harvester adapted to be drawn by and powered from a tractor includes a feed roll mechanism for receiving and feeding crop material to a cutterhead mechanism which then supplies cut-up crop material to a blower for transfer to a forage wagon. A main drive shaft on the harvester is driven by the tractor PTO and drives the cutterhead mechanism and the blower. A drive mechanism supplies motive power from the main drive shaft to drive the feed roll mechanism and any harvester attachments in forward or reverse and includes a single normally disengaged electrically engageable electric clutch and a solenoid-operated forward/reverse transmission normally spring-biased in forward and shiftable into reverse when its solenoid is energized. Torque sensor devices are provided to mechanically disconnect the feed roll mechanism and any harvester attachment from being driven by the transmission when an overload occurs.

Abstract: A materials handling or processing system which includes at least two processing devices such as shredders, for example, which are subject to unexpected and relatively sudden discontinuance of operation as by clogging or other breakdown condition, and transporting apparatus for conveying materials being processed to the processing devices, the invention comprising means for detecting such breakdown in one of the devices and for consequently directing to the second device the flow of materials normally directed to the broken down device, thereby maintaining continued processing of materials without interrupting their flow through the system.

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: In an insulated mixing and cooling chamber having a feed auger to deliver cooled particles to a grinder and an intromitter auger rotatable around the feed auger to mix the particles within the chamber, independent variable speed, reversible motors operate the intromitter and feed augers, whereby the relative rotation of the augers may be precisely adjusted even while the mixing apparatus and associated grinding apparatus are operating. Electronic and or pneumatic control of cryogenic liquid inflow, as well as electronic control of the auger drive motors, may be used to optimize cooling and mixing conditions.

Abstract: A material shredder (20) includes a cutting chamber (40) having a pair of counterrotatable cutter units (42, 44) for shredding material fed therebetween. A hopper (30) leads to the cutting chamber for directing material to be shredded thereto. A gate structure (130) includes a barrier plate (138) movable from a first position adjacent one wall of the hopper to a second position at least partially blocking the passageway between the hopper and the cutting chamber. Control structure is provided for exerting a selectable pressure on the barrier plate (138) urging the plate into its second position against any material in its path of movement from its first position to its second position. The plate acts to support the material thereabove, as well as compress the material in its path causing a head of material to be supported above the plate.

Abstract: A mill is described for progressively shredding material such as garbage, tires, aluminum cans, waste paper, etc. into loose particulate material. The mill includes a hopper that is movably mounted to a shredding wheel frame. The hopper includes an open bottom end into which the shredding wheel projects. The hopper is driven to reciprocate along a straight path over the wheel to bring the contained material into wheel contact. Provision is made to vary the depth of cut taken by the wheel in response to loading conditions of the associated drive motor by automatically adjusting a feed grate mechanism relative to the wheel.

Abstract: At a fiberizer of a waste paper processing installation the rotational moment or torque is determined, for instance by measuring the drive output of a drive motor. In the presence of an increase of the rotational resistance of the rotor of the fiberizer there is brought about an intensification of the separation of rejects through a reject line and vice versa. For this purpose there are arranged in either the reject line or the good stock line, or at the same time in both such lines, throttle elements which are activated by a regulator. The regulator is controlled by a measuring signal of a measuring device which determines the electrical drive output of the rotor.

Abstract: A device for the homogenization of material to be crushed particularly for crushing coal to uniform grain size comprises a first conveyor for feeding the material to be crushed which has an upper section and a lower section which extends downwardly away from and below the upper section. A coarse material conveyor overlies the lower section and is disposed at the level of the upper section and between it and the upper section there is a grading device which permits deflection of the fine material so that it is fed downwardly with the lower section and the transfer of the coarse material over the lower section onto a perforated crusher plate. A crushing roll is disposed above the crusher plate in a position to crush the coarse material which is fed thereon to a side operable to the material carried by the lower section and to deposit this material onto the lower section by passage through the openings of the crusher plate.

Abstract: A method of comminuting a mineral involves introducing into a grinding chamber which has an internal, rotatable impeller driven by an electric motor, water, a dispersing agent and pieces of said mineral not larger than 20 mm to form a slurry. The slurry is agitated in the grinding chamber and a slurry of comminuted minerals is continuously withdrawn from the grinding chamber. The rates of introducing the water, the dispersing agent and the pieces of mineral into the grinding chamber and the rate of withdrawing the slurry of comminuted mineral from the grinding chamber are such that the slurry of comminuted mineral withdrawn from the grinding chamber contains at least 50% by weight of solids. The volume of material in the grinding chamber is maintained substantially constant, and the power consumed by the electric motor driving the impeller is maintained between upper and lower limits.

Abstract: An agitator mill for treating a liquid containing material particles for example for dispersing paint pigment in a mixture of solvent and binder basically comprises a milling vessel containing freely movable milling bodies and with an inlet and outlet for said liquid, stirrer mechanism within the milling vessel and an electric stirrer motor for driving the stirrer mechanism. The mill features, for the purpose of obtaining optimum operating efficiency, a control circuit which regulates the stirrer motor current to a constant value by adjustment of a pump supplying the liquid to the milling vessel and/or a volume controller for controlling the volume of milling bodies within the milling vessel or the volume of the milling vessel and a temperature control circuit which controls the operating temperature in the milling vessel to lie at a constant value. Various variants and control possibilities including the use of a computer are set forth together with methods of controlling the agitator mill.

Abstract: A grinding system and method for grinding mineral ore which is adapted for use where ore is required to be fed for grinding from a supply source at a substantially constant rate of feed, and in which the grinding characteristics of the ore and the power required to grind a predetermined weight of the ore vary unpredictably during the grinding operation, comprising a primary semi-autogenous grinding mill and a primary fully autogenous grinding mill connected in parallel relation with each other to the ore supply source, first drive means for driving the semi-autogenous grinding mill, power sensing means for measuring the input power required to drive the semi-autogenous grinding mill, and means for varying the ore feed rate to the semi-autogenous grinding mill whereby to maintain the input power to the semi-autogenous grinding mill at a substantially constant value or set point.

Abstract: A tub grinder suitable for comminuting forage crops as feed for livestock comprising a rotating circular tub having a floor with an opening therein through which a hammermill communicates for chopping the forage. When the forage is fed too quickly and overloads the hammermill, a governor senses that the rotational speed of the hammermill has been reduced and operatively signals the tub driving mechanism to slow the speed thereof, thus feeding forage at a lesser rate and allowing the hammermill to recover. A similar but opposite process occurs when the hammermill increases in speed to the extent that it is able to handle additional forage. A dampening mechanism is used in conjunction with the governor and functions to allow the tub rotation to slow immediately upon the hammermill being overloaded, but somewhat delays the increase of the tub rotation when the hammermill can receive additional forage.

Abstract: The flow of preheated and ambient air to a processor, such as a coal pulverizer, are controlled in a manner whereby the preheated air flow will be varied as a function of pulverizer discharge temperature air while "cold" ambient air flow will be varied as a function of pulverizer inlet air mass flow rate. Flow error signals are caused to vary as a function of temperature error to enhance system response to temperature errors, and flow error will be caused to take precedence over temperature error should pulverizer inlet flow fall below a predetermined minimum.

Abstract: In a crop feed grinding and mixing apparatus having a mixing means mounted to a mobile frame, a grinding means fixed to the frame, material transfer means extending at least between the grinding means and the mixing means, material infeed means in material flow communication with the grinding means and drive means including a rotatable shaft operably connected to the mixing, grinding, material infeed and material transfer means, there is provided a speed responsive overload protective device mounted to the rotatable shaft so that when the drive means is slowed in operation below a predetermined speed by excessive crop feed accumulation in the grinding means the protective device automatically disengages the material infeed means from the drive means.

Abstract: A feed control grate to control the engagement of waste paper with a grinding cylinder in a tub type waste paper grinder, which can be raised to lift the paper away from the cylinder during start up or when excessive loads are encountered.

Abstract: A comminution machine has a comminution rotor and a crushing edge between which is formed a crushing gap for breaking a charge of material. An adjustable rocker arm is provided which has an adjustable spacing from the comminution rotor which is independent of the crushing gap.

Abstract: A machine adapted to be towed by a tractor and powered by the PTO and hydraulic power system of the tractor for loading, transporting, shredding and feeding a module (bale or stack) of hay of substantial size and weight. The machine includes a frame and a load bed thereon. The frame mechanically supported on a pair of ground wheels which are swingable relative to the frame to tilt the load bed rearwardly into ground engagement. A module pickup ramp or fork is pivotally mounted on the load bed for lifting a module onto the load bed. A conveyor on the load bed moves the module forwardly against a plurality of vertically spaced rotary shredders. The shredded hay falls upon an auger conveyor which feeds the hay from the machine into a feed bunk or onto the ground for livestock feeding. The load bed conveyor is hydraulically driven and the shredders are mechnically driven.