Abstract: A shredder having a substantially tubular casing, which is closed upward by a cover and downward by a base. The shredder also includes a rotating shaft, which is internal and coaxial to the casing, with multiple supporting elements being keyed on the shaft, each element for supporting a number of shredding elements. The shredding elements have circular trajectories with a circumference that at least partially increases from the upper part toward the lower part of the shredder.

Abstract: A crusher having a substantially tubular casing, closed in an upper region by a cover and in a lower region by a base. The crusher also includes a rotating shaft, which is internal and coaxial to the casing, with multiple supporting elements, each element for supporting a number of crushing elements, being keyed to the shaft. The crushing elements have circular trajectories with a circumference that at least partially increases from the upper region toward the lower region of the crusher.

Abstract: A pin mill includes a rotor plate mounted on a shaft and having concentrically spaced-apart circular arrays of pins arise from an end face. The rotor pins interdigitate with complementary concentric arrays of pins arising from a face of a stator mounted on a door. The door swings open on a hinge mounted on two translator pins so that the door can translate the interdigitated pins before swinging open so that the pins arrays do not collide with each other while the door is opening. The rotor operates within a cylindrical screen which retains particles being broken up until they are small enough to exit. The rotor also includes a circular array of vane knives which sweep closely within the screen and also entrain cooling air into the macerating volume of the mill. Oversized particles trapped in the screen also get cleared and split apart by the passing vane knives.

Abstract: An electronic grinder powered by a smartphone has an electronics housing removably attached to a container section. The electronics housing has a motor and a microcontroller powered by a smartphone connected by a universal serial bus connector. The container section is sealed at the top by an openable, swivel-mounted cap. The motor has a blade that extends into the container section. The blade connected to the motor by a magnetic connection and the blade is configured to grind material disposed in the container section when the container section is closed.

Abstract: An electronic grinder powered by a smartphone has an electronics housing removably attached to a container section. The electronics housing has a motor and a microcontroller powered by a smartphone connected by a universal serial bus connector. The container section is sealed at the top by an openable, swivel-mounted cap. The motor has a blade that extends into the container section. The blade connected to the motor by a magnetic connection and the blade is configured to grind material disposed in the container section when the container section is closed.

Abstract: A grinder having a rotor and fan assembly mounted in a housing having one or more of the following features: a cutting shaft and a fan shaft which are concentric and are rotated by separate motors; a housing formed in two sections with a line of division passing through the axis of rotation of the shafts and mounted on rollers; ping pong shaped cutting hammers; and deflectors attached to the inside of the housing and to a deflector assembly on the outside of the housing. The deflectors are movable vertically and horizontally with first and second motion controllers for adjusting the spacing between the cutting hammers and the deflectors. A programmable logic controller is used for independently controlling the speed at which the cutting shaft and fan shaft are rotated and the spacing between the cutting hammers and the deflectors to produce a desired particle size reduction for a selected material.

Abstract: A device for the comminution of free-flowing feed material is provided that includes a housing enclosing a comminution chamber which contains a rotor that rotates around an axis, and has comminution tools over its circumference. A feeding device to transport the feed material to the comminution chamber in form of a gas-solid matter mixture, wherein the feeding device features a pneumatic sieve passage which uses the effect of gravity for removal of foreign particles from the feed material. In order to operate both the sieve passage and the device under optimal process parameters, the device features at least one inlet port for the supply of secondary air, wherein the at least one inlet port flows into the gas-solid matter mixture downstream of the sieve passage.

Abstract: A grinder having a rotor and fan assembly mounted in a housing having one or more of the following features: a cutting shaft and a fan shaft which are concentric and are rotated by separate motors; a housing formed in two sections, with a line of division passing through the axis of rotation of the shafts and mounted on rollers; ping pong shaped cutting hammers; and deflectors attached to the inside of the housing and to a deflector assembly on the outside of the housing. The deflectors are movable vertically and horizontally with first and second motion controllers for adjusting the spacing between the cutting hammers and the deflectors. A programmable logic controller is used for independently controlling the speed at which the cutting shaft and fan shaft are rotated and the spacing between the cutting hammers and the deflectors to produce a desired particle size reduction for a selected material.

Abstract: A wood chipper with an air entrainment system. The wood chipper includes a chipping drum in a drum chamber and a discharge fan in a fan chamber. The chipping drum and fan are conjointly driven by a common shaft. The discharge fan draws air from the drum chamber through a chamber air inlet and potentially also from the ambient atmosphere through an external air inlet. The volume of air drawn from the drum chamber is sufficient to offset or overcome the negative air flow created by the spinning drum in the drum chamber to reduce blowback. Air entrained with the chipped material moves toward the discharge chute and away from the material inlet. A deflector may be include near the mouth of the discharge chute to further guide air flow from the fan chamber toward the discharge chute and prevent the backflow of air into the chipping chamber.

Abstract: A particle separator comprises: a driving shaft and two support rings, mounted on the driving shaft, having a plurality of mounting holes, a plurality of blades, having far ends to which two holding rods are attached to be inserted in the plurality of mounting holes, so that the plurality of blades are allowed to sway while being mounted on the support rings, wherein the mounting holes of the support rings are arranged in a quantity that is a divisible number, so that, when the blades are installed, any divisor of said quantity of mounting holes serves as a guide for a number of mounting holes between mounted blades.

Abstract: To avoid sandwiching of a sucked object in a gap between an inner wall of a fan case and a fan of a hand-held suction apparatus, an entering regulation part is positioned to extend into the air intake opening to return sucked objects back into the air intake opening and prevent sandwiching in the gap.

Abstract: A debris vacuum having one or more rotating shearing edges and at least one supplemental shearing edge in close proximity to the rotating shearing edges. The supplemental shearing edge may be stationary and attached, for example, to a housing containing the rotating shearing edge, or to a vacuum tube that is itself attachable to the housing.

Abstract: A grinder includes a generally vertical, rotatable shaft having at least one set of cutter blades driven thereby and a fan assembly mounted on the shaft below the cutter blades in position to receive output therefrom. The fan assembly includes a fan disc secured to the shaft and rotatable therewith. Fan blades are secured to the fan disc in a generally radial orientation. Each fan blade includes a bottom flange secured to a top surface of the fan disc, a web extending upwardly from the bottom flange and a top flange extending outwardly from the web in a direction of rotation of the fan disc. The fan blades are preferably moveably mounted to the fan disc such that the angle of the fan blades relative to a true radial orientation can be adjusted.

Abstract: A seashell collecting and crushing apparatus includes a collection device having a hollow body and an inlet for introducing seashells into the hollow body. A fan assembly is operable to provide a suction airstream for drawing seashells into the hollow body. A crusher is positioned to receive seashells from an outlet of the collection device and pulverize the seashells received from the collection device into a fine particulate matter releasable through an outlet of the crusher. The fan assembly and the crusher are driven by a common driving arrangement. A method includes using the apparatus for removing seashells from the beach using the suction airstream to introduce seashells through the inlet into the hollow body, separating the seashells entering the hollow body from the suction airstream, pulverizing the seashells into a fine particulate matter using the crusher and exhausting the fine particulate matter through the outlet of the crusher.

Abstract: A grinder includes a generally vertical, rotatable shaft having at least one set of cutter blades driven thereby and a fan assembly mounted on the shaft below the cutter blades in position to receive output therefrom. The fan assembly includes a fan disc secured to the shaft and rotatable therewith. A plurality of fan blades are secured to the fan disc in a generally radial orientation. Each fan blade includes a bottom flange secured to a top surface of the fan disc, a web extending upwardly from the bottom flange and a top flange extending outwardly from the web in a direction of rotation of the fan disc. The fan blades are preferably moveably mounted to the fan disc such that the angle of the fan blades relative to a true radial orientation can be adjusted.

Abstract: A pulverized material producing system capable of producing a pulverized material dried sufficiently from a raw material, while at the same time suppressing production costs, even in the case where the raw material has a high moisture content and viscosity, is provided. A pulverized material producing system that includes a pulverizer 2, a container 3, and a heated air supplier 4 that supplies heated air is used. The container 3 includes a first inlet 10, second inlets 11a and 11b, a first outlet 12, and a second outlet 13, and is configured so that a swirl flow 35 is created within the container. The heated air is supplied by the heated air supplier 4 to the interior of the container 3 via the second inlets 11a and 11b. The pulverizer 2 includes a casing 20 provided with a suction port 22 and a discharge port 23, an impeller, and a screen 24 that has many pores, and has blower functionality.

Abstract: The disclosed mulcher has a base unit and a shredding blade in a removable assembly. Two different embodiments are disclosed. In both embodiments, shredded material is removed from air exiting the shredding blade before it reaches an exhaust port. In one embodiment, the material is removed by a filter. In the other embodiment, walls are arranged so that debris must double back against high-speed airflow leaving the shredding blade before exiting the unit. The shredding blade can be mounted in front of and on the same shaft as an air impeller, with the back surface of the shredding blade being supported by the impeller. In another embodiment, the air impeller and the shredding blade are carried in assemblies that are separable from each other and are each separately attachable to a base unit. A detachable power module and a detachable blower are also shown. The power module has a safety switch that disables the power module when it is removed.

Abstract: A method for the disintegration and tribochemical activation of especially inorganic materials having a crystalline structure, wherein the starting materials are comminuted (disintegrated) to a particle size of less than 1 ?m by the effect of impacting pressure fronts at a pulse duration of less that 10 ?s and a sequence frequency of more than 8 kHz. A conglomerate of activated mixed crystals is then obtained having an increased aptitude for the formation of modified crystals when water is added. The duration of the effect of the impacting pressure fronts continues until the crystal lattice structure of the particles is destroyed. A device for the disintegration and tribochemical activation of said materials is based on rotating disks whereon molded bodies with aerodynamic profiles are arranged, the molded bodies being continuously displaced in a transonic speed range and impacting pressure fronts being produced on the outflow surfaces thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a crusher. A material is sucked in an upper part on one side of a case part which is formed by horizontally coupling a plurality of cases. The sucked material is horizontally moved and discharged to a lower part on other side. A driving force of a motor is transferred to a side of a rotary shaft which passes through the center from one side to other side of the case part. The crusher includes: a rotary blade part for maintaining an interval from an internal peripheral surface of a central part of the case part and being fixed to a central part of the rotary shaft and rotated in one direction to generate a turbulence in multiple stages; a ring gear part being fixed to an internal peripheral surface of the center of the case part and maintaining a gap from a circumference of the rotary blade part to form a crushing zone in multiple stages; and a discharging fan being fixed to other end part of the rotary shaft and rotated in one direction to discharge a completely crushed grain.

Abstract: A yard vacuum unit includes a deck including upper and lower housing members that form a discharge outlet and a nozzle operatively connected to the deck. An engine is mounted to the deck and includes a drive shaft. An impeller assembly is used to draw yard debris in through the nozzle and out through the discharge outlet and is positioned between the upper and lower housing members. The impeller assembly includes an impeller plate, a hub fixedly connected to the impeller plate, and a plurality of fan blades each having first and second ends and first and second sides. Each fan blade first end is fixedly connected to the hub all along the first end and each fan blade first side is fixedly connected to the impeller plate all along the first side. In this way, a continuous airtight seal is formed along the entire first end of each fan blade with the hub and along the entire first side with the impeller plate. Each second end extends to the outer periphery of the impeller plate.

Abstract: A drum shredder including a fan aggression adjustment system provides easy-to-use control for the speed of processing bales and the cut length of the material removed from the bale as a result of the processing. Additionally, a loading frame, which preferably has forks and includes a conveyance system, assists in the loading of bales into the processing tub without the use of external loading machinery.

Abstract: Disclosed is a crusher. A material is sucked in an upper part on one side of a case part which is formed by horizontally coupling a plurality of cases. The sucked material is horizontally moved and discharged to a lower part on other side. A driving force of a motor is transferred to a side of a rotary shaft which passes through the center from one side to other side of the case part. The crusher includes: a rotary blade part for maintaining an interval from an internal peripheral surface of a central part of the case part and being fixed to a central part of the rotary shaft and rotated in one direction to generate a turbulence in multiple stages; a ring gear part being fixed to an internal peripheral surface of the center of the case part and maintaining a gap from a circumference of the rotary blade part to form a crushing zone in multiple stages; and a discharging fan being fixed to other end part of the rotary shaft and rotated in one direction to discharge a completely crushed grain.

Abstract: A comminuting mechanism is disclosed that includes a rotatable drive shaft which supports a plurality of blades, each blade having both straight arms and arms having angled tip portions. The shaft and blades are supported on a frame within a hood, and the frame is pulled along a ground surface by a tractor or other vehicle. Debris is pulled into the housing by the combined action of the forward motion of the vehicle and an inward airflow generated by fan members on the rotating blades, pulverized by the action of the blades, and discharged through an outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving wood scraps from a work area and reducing the scraps to wood chips having a saleable consistency and size. The apparatus includes a combined chipper and a blower section, the chipper section being mounted on the intake side of the blower section so that the blower section draws the wood scraps into the chipper section, and then draws the resulting chips from the chipper section and discharges them to a predetermined collection area. The chipper section includes a grate having a plurality of through openings, and a rotating chipper blade that is positioned in front of the grate. The blower fan is mounted behind the grate so as to receive the chips passing therethrough, and discharges the chips through an opening in the surrounding housing. A flexible hose or other conduit may be mounted to the intake opening of the chipper section for vacuuming up and collecting wood scraps from the work area.

Abstract: The apparatus has a holder having inner grip elements disposed at a periphery of the holder. A bearing assembly is rotatably attached to the holder so that it is co-axial with a first axis. A driving source is rotatable engaging the bearing assembly. A wheel is eccentrically mounted on the bearing assembly and the wheel has outer grip elements that cooperate with the inner grip elements. The wheel is rotatable about a second axis that is not co-axial with the first axis. A first knife member is attached to the wheel and coaxial therewith and a second knife member is eccentrically mounted on the wheel so that the second knife member is rotatable about the first axis.

Abstract: The invention relates a pulverizer equipped with a free air purging mechanical seal/classifier design that provides free air purging of the seal gap between the mechanical seal assembly and the classifier. The invention also provides a coarse particle extraction assembly wherein the coarse particles rejected by the classifier can be reliably discharged from the pulverizer or recirculated to the inlet. Furthermore, the rejected coarse particles can be subjected to jet milling and then recirculated. The invention also provides a free air cooling arrangement for cooling both the lower bearing member and the area of the vertical drive shaft where it meets the lower bearing member. The invention also provides an improved feed nozzle for use of the pulverizer in drying applications.

Abstract: A single cylindrical chamber has a drive shaft rotatably mounted therein and extending along substantially the entire length thereof. This drive shaft is rotatably driven by a motor at a speed of 2000-5000 rpm, this speed being chosen so that the natural resonant frequency of the various components of the system is at least three times this rotation speed. Solid dry coarse particles to be comminuted which may be of coal, limestone/dolomite, cement or lime are fed into the chamber. Pressurized air is fed into the bottom of the chamber which in conjunction with a stationary velocity head provides uplifting pressure for driving the air and particles upwardly in the chamber. The upwardly driven particles are first driven through a plurality of rotors which are driven by the shaft and provide a centrifugal force which forms them into a vertical toroidal fluid bed that allows increased tonnage production and comminutes the particles.

Abstract: A cylindrical chamber has a drive shaft rotatably mounted therein and extending along substantially the entire longitudinal extent thereof. This drive shaft is rotatably driven by a motor at a speed of 1,500-10,000 rpm. Solid particles to be comminuted which may be of coal, limestone/dolomite, cement or lime are fed into the chamber. Pressurized air is fed into the bottom of the chamber. Uplifting pressure for driving the gas and particles upwardly in the chamber may be provided by pressurized gas fed in through a tangential inlet in conjunction with a stationary velocity head. The upwardly driven particles are first driven through a plurality of short arm rotors which are driven by the shaft and provide a centrifugal force which comminutes the particles. The particles are then driven through a plurality of semi-permeable screens which are rotatably driven by the shaft and further comminute the particles. High apex flow enhancers are installed along the walls of the chamber to enhance the fluid flow.

Abstract: A wood chipping apparatus includes a housing having a chipping chamber and an air chamber isolated by a fixed partition wall of the housing. A chipping drum is supported for rotation in the chipping chamber. A fan is supported for rotation in the fan chamber. The chambers have adjacent outlets that communicate with a discharge chute. Wood chips exiting the chipping chamber are received in the chute and are entrained by air issuing from the fan chamber to carry the chips along the chute. A baffle separates the outlets of the chambers and ensures that the air from the fan chamber does not backflow into the chipping chamber through its material outlet.

Abstract: A cylindrical chamber has a drive shaft rotatably mounted therein and extending along substantially the entire longitudinal extent thereof. This drive shaft is rotatably driven by a motor preferably at a speed of about 3600 rpm. Solid particles to be comminuted which may be of coal, limestone/dolomite, or hydrated lime are fed into the chamber. Pressurized air is fed into the bottom of the chamber. Uplifting pressure for driving the air and particles upwardly in the chamber may be provided by pressurized gas in conjunction with a stationary velocity head. The upwardly driven particles are first driven through a plurality of rotors which are driven by the shaft and provide a centrifugal force which comminutes the particles. The particles are then driven through a plurality of semi-permeable screens which are rotatably driven by the shaft and further comminute the particles to a micronized state. To lower NO.sub.x and SO.sub.

Abstract: A shredder for brushwood and the like (FIG. 1) has at least one shaft carrying a helically arranged array of cutting discs surrounding the shaft. The discs are individually fixed on lugs which are generally radial to the shaft. As the brushwood is fed along generally parallel to the shaft axis it is impacted by the cutter discs, acting against one another where two parallel shafts are employed, or between the discs and a surrounding chamber wall if only a single shaft is employed. The shredded material is further fed and exhausted through a delivery passage by a current of air induced both by the discs and also by fan vanes carried by the shaft. The advantage of the discs as cutters is that if and when worn or blunted, each can be adjusted angularly on its lug to present a fresh portion of its periphery for action, without it being necessary to immediately replace or re-sharpen it.

Abstract: The invention concerns a versatile mill, particularly the construction of its drive, central and clamping part with the fitting of knives, and the cooling of the milling part. The versatile mill is intended for processing food products and other organic and inorganic substances in the sense of milling, chopping, grinding, mixing or disintegrating the parts inserted into it in an enclosed processing system.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating composite elements for the recovery of valuable substances therefrom, including providing a flow path for a transport fluid carrying solid particles from the composite elements, an array of mutually successive acceleration tools which are moved relative to a stator and which each form in the flow direction a break-away edge for producing turbulence from the transport fluid and its solid particle load, wherein the accretion tools are arranged at a spacing relative to each other on a structural circle in a plurality of mutually superposed acceleration planes above a housing bottom on plates about a central shaft of a rotor and within a cylindrical wall of a housing as said stator.

Abstract: A comminuting and distribution device for recycling yard waste is provided. The device includes a mixing tank mounted on an upper surface of a movable support structure. The mixing tank includes a slurry preparation structure therein for creating a slurry from yard waste and fluid deposited within the mixing tank. A distribution structure draws the slurry from a mixing tank and distributes the same to a desired location outside the mixing tank for fertilizing a lawn, garden or the like.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating the surfaces of solid particles has at least a first cylindrical treating chamber and a rotary shaft and a first rotor having two or more blades on its front face, contained in the first cylindrical treating chamber. A powder charging aperture for introducing the solid particles into the first cylindrical treating chamber together with gas is provided at the center of the front wall of the first cylindrical treating chamber, opposed to the front face of the first rotor. A first powder discharging aperture for discharging the treated solid particles is provided at the center of the rear wall of the first cylindrical treating chamber, opposed to the rear face of the first rotor. The first rotor is connected with the rotary shaft and rotated by the rotation of the rotary shaft. The height H.sub.a of the blades, the gap L.sub.1a between the tip of each of the blades and the front wall, the largest diameter R.sub.1a of the first rotor and the gap L.sub.

Abstract: A cylindrical vessel has a drive shaft rotatably mounted therein and extending along substantially the entire longitudinal extent thereof. This drive shaft is rotatably driven by a motor at a speed of 1,500-10,000. Solid particles to be comminuted which may be of coal and limestone/dolomite or lime are fed into the vessel. Connected to the shaft and rotatably driven therewith is a centrifugal compressor fan which forms an uplifting air curtain which suspends the particles. Mounted above the compressor and rotatably driven by the drive shaft are a plurality of rotors, screens, and a disc mounted in an aperture formed in a fixed plate which forms a circular vortex in the space between the disc and the plate. The particles are comminuted by the successive action of the rotors, screens and the circular vortex, larger particles being repelled for further comminution while the finer particles are fed from the vessel to cyclonic classifiers.

Abstract: A cylindrical vessel has a drive shaft rotatably mounted therein and extending along substantially the entire longitudinal extent thereof. This drive shaft is rotatably driven by a motor at a speed of 3,000-10,000 rpm. The output of a roller mill or the like having particles of the order of -200 mesh to be further comminuted, which may be of coal or other minerals, are fed into the vessel. Connected to the shaft and rotatably driven therewith is a centrifugal compressor fan. This fan with additional air intake to the vessel provides a high velocity air curtain which suspends the particles and drives them upwardly. Mounted above the compressor and rotatably driven by the drive shaft are a plurality of semipermeable screens which comminute the particles to bring them to a superfine state. Particles which are not comminuted to a superfine state are repelled by the screens for further comminution.

Abstract: The invention provides for a portable apparatus for shredding yard and garden waste. Particularly shaped blades are used for better shredding and mulching performance.

Abstract: An apparatus for vacuuming up and chopping material such as leaves has a housing having a main chamber centered on an axis, an inlet port opening axially into the chamber, and an outlet port opening tangentially of the chamber. A rotor disk in the chamber centered on the axis has a hub at the axis and having an axially directed face provided with a predetermined number of radially and axially extending and angularly spaced vanes having outer edges. At least two and at most half of the vanes are provided on their outer edges with axially outwardly projecting chopper blades. A motor in the housing connected to the rotor disk at the hub rotates the disk about the axis and thereby draws the material in through the inlet, coarsely chops the material with the blades, and expels the coarsely chopped material with the vanes through the outlet port.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for recycling synthetic leather. The primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for recycling synthetic leather which can effectively separate out the resin from the synthetic leather.

Abstract: A micronizer includes a housing having a chamber in which a vertical array of impeller discs is disposed. Impact members are disposed on the impeller discs. One, or more, of the impellers have impact members that overhang circular peripheral edges of the impeller discs. The rotational speed of the array of impeller discs may be varied by adjusting the speed of a variable drive motor. The rate of air flow through the array of impeller discs may be varied by adjusting the speed of a fan, which is independent of the speed of the array drive. A plurality of air deflector plates mechanically cause downward force vectors to deflect a combined pulverulent air-material mixture downwardly toward said rotating impact members.

Abstract: Material reducing rotary mill for receiving paper material, or the like, from a first chamber and forcibly delivering the reduced material into a second chamber for discharge at an outlet, a bypass passage interconnecting the first and second chamber, and an air moving fan as an integral portion of the mill rotor that creates a closed air circulation loop to assure the movement of material from the first chamber through the rotary mill to the second chamber and the outlet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the dry grinding of solids, comprises initial coarse grinding of the solids in a controlled vortexing of a fluidized bed and directing the solid fine particles generally upwardly into a vortex grinding zone and grinding the upwardly directed solid particles in the vortex grinding zone by passing a portion of the particles through the vortex grinding zone. The vortex grinding zone comprises at least one successively vertically disposed grinding stage comprising passing particles upwardly through at least one horizontal vortex zone of an annular gap, defined by a stationary plate with a circular aperture, hereafter cleaning up the upward moving product mix by eliminating coarser particles by gravity separation with a centrifugal expelling fan and subjecting the remaining part of the upwardly particles to the vertical vortexing of a rotating semipermeable means, defined by a rotating assembly containing a broad mesh screen therein.

Abstract: A chopper fan for destroying and then recycling items formed of plastic material. The fan includes saw blades and a toothed disk downstream of the saw blades.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for collecting debris including grass cuttings, vegetation, fallen leaves and other rubbish frequently encountered on gardens, public highways and parklands. In particular, the apparatus for collecting debris from a surface includes a collection duct having a mouth for receiving debris and an outlet through which debris is discharged into a receptacle, an impeller for establishing a flow of pressure air along the duct for collecting and conveying entrained debris therealong from the mouth to the outlet of the collection duct to the receptacle, and a cutting chamber including a cutting blade or cutting line disposed within the cutting chamber for reducing the size of at least a portion of the collected debris to be discharged into the receptacle.

Abstract: A foliage compactor includes an impeller assembly supported on a frame and including an enclosure having an inlet and an outlet, and an impeller supported for rotation within the enclosure to produce suction at the inlet and positive pressure at the outlet. An elongated hose is connected to the inlet so that foliage is drawn into the impeller assembly through the hose. A cyclone separator is supported on the frame beside the impeller assembly, and presents an upper inlet connected to the outlet of the impeller assembly so that air and foliage under positive pressure are introduced into the cyclone separator by the impeller assembly. The cyclone separator includes an outlet disposed lower than the inlet, and an exhaust vent located higher than the outlet for exhausting air from the housing.

Abstract: A new chipper-shredder machine has a number of features selected with the user in mind. Such machine includes a laminated lightweight fan and comminuting assembly to accommodate the characteristics of an electric drive motor. The assembly drive shaft has exposed wrench "flats" for reverse-rotating such assembly to remove clogging obstructions. In recognition of the possibility of user abuse or negligence which might cause breakage of grinding rotor parts, such rotor is arranged and configured to direct broken parts away from the machine prime mover and toward the fan chamber. And the machine fan discharge port has increased area for improved air flow and reduced clogging.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an impeller for use in a centrifugal fan that also includes a housing and a drive shaft. The impeller is mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith within the housing. The impeller further includes a disk-shaped back plate and an axis of rotation extending through the center of the circular back plate. A plurality of circumferentially spaced fins or blades extend generally radially of the axis of rotation, selected blades including mulching parts and the remainder of the blades being devoid of the mulching parts. The mulching parts are adjacent the radially inner portions of the selected blades and the mulching parts extend substantially axially of the impeller and into an air intake opening of the housing. The selected blades having the mulching parts are circumferentially spaced and are separated by at least one remaining blade which is devoid of a mulching part.

Abstract: An improved composting apparatus is provided which is particularly suited for use with straw-like materials. The composting apparatus includes a counter-rotating drum and paddle assembly which generates a plurality of air streams in which the composting material is entrained. The air streams rotate in a vortex like pattern within a chamber to mix and aerate the composting material. The composting apparatus is configurable for being driven sideways through fence gates and the like, and has an additional configuration for being towed without requiring a trailer.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner that includes a stationary blade that acts also as a bearing in a suction pipe connected with a fan in the axial line of rotation shaft of the fan. A transmission shaft supported by the bearing extends from the fan rotation shaft of the fan and through the bearing. A rotary blade is mounted at the end of the transmission shaft that extends through the bearing and cooperates with the stationary blade to chop the sucked material finely.