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 feeding device is disclosed for feeding cellulose material, such as wood chips to gas swept size reduction machines, and wherein the elimination of foreign particles from the material to be crushed is mainly achieved by pneumatic screening. The device includes a screening passage into which widely spread input material trickles slowly over a slide, having an angle of inclination .beta. which is slightly greater than a friction-angle whose value is determined from its surface roughness. The screening passage is impacted by an air current generated by a cross current fan and which is directed, along a channel, roughly tangentially onto a guiding wall. The guiding wall is arranged at an angle of inclination .gamma., selected so that the guiding wall functions as a pneumatic sorting table, and where it forms with the channel a discharge slit for the foreign particles.

Abstract: An improved roller grinding mill in which a material grinding chamber is supplied with air in a tangential flow path through a multiple array of tangentially directed passages, material grinding rollers operate in a direction counter to the tangential air flow into the grinding chamber, and plows rotating in the same direction with the grinding rollers and formed with sloped surfaces for imparting an upward lift on the material to be ground for improving the fluidization of the material and maintaining a substantially constant particle size for delivery through the mill outlet.

Abstract: A bowl mill has a vertical mechanism to drive a milling bowl and a hot-air supply to an air box positioned below the bowl. An evacuator is positioned in the air box to prevent the box from overflowing when the mill shuts down suddenly. The evacuator has a drive mechanism that is separate from and independent of the mechanism that drives the mill.

Abstract: Much better control of the grind of a rotary mill and much more uniformity of grind of the mill is achieved by better control of air flow through the mill, provided by making the milled product collecting pan of the mill air-tight and regulating the amount of in allowed to escape from the pan. The apparatus of the invention includes a housing in which are mounted two discs in spaced, confronting axial alignment, each disc having extending therefrom toward the other disc concentric rows of teeth. The rows of teeth overlap so that alternating rows of radially spaced, interposed teeth are formed. One of the discs is adapted to be rotated in relation to the other disc and grain to be milled, along with any air flow through the mill, is introduced through an inlet to the area between the discs inwardly of the innermost rows of teeth. An outlet into a substantially air tight collecting pan is provided for the milled material after it passes radially outwardly through the interposed row of teeth.

Abstract: A beater mill comprising a cylindrical housing which accomodates a rotor carrying at least two arcuately spaced groups of beaters, the beaters from group to group being axially offset, the cylindrical jacket of the housing being formed as a peripheral sectional screen, an axial inlet for material to be milled being provided adjacent the rotor axis, the rotor arms being formed as fan blades and the said inlet including a distributor means for the air and material taken in through the inlet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the safe preparation of pulverized coal comprises the steps of mixing coal with an inert gas in a pulverizing mill, separating dry coal dust from an exhaust gas bearing a residue of coal dust in a separator, mixing the exhaust gas with additional inert gas and filtering the coal dust from the gas mixture in a filter.

Abstract: In a waste disposal system (e.g. in a hospital) in which at least one shredding machine comminutes waste which is then drawn by air suction through a closed ducting system for destruction, each shredder has a discharge valve associated with its waste outlet, this valve being normally open but partially or wholly closed when the shredder is opened to receive waste; the shredder also has a vent opening in its waste inlet door to relieve pressure, and internal germicide sprays.

Abstract: An alfalfa separator is provided for separating the coarser stem and fiber portion of the alfalfa plant from the finer leaf portion. The separator includes a housing having a chamber therein. The bottom part of the chamber is defined by a screen which is sized to pass the finer portions of the alfalfa. A drum having a plurality of hammers located about the periphery of the drum is mounted for rotation within the chamber. The drum serves, by means of the hammers and the centrifugal forces generated during rotation, to grind up the alfalfa so that the finer portions pass through the screen. A passageway, located above the screen and including an inlet aperture in communication with the chamber, is disposed so that the coarser portions can pass out from the chamber under the influence of the forces referred to above. A gate controls opening and closing of the passage, and suction is used in drawing off and removing the coarser portions.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for the simultaneous crushing and drying of materials, such as coal with high moisture content, which includes a hammermill having parallel top inlets for the material and a rapid flow of hot air. The material drops into the impactor circle of the hammermill prior to any substantial mixing with the flow of hot air. The flow of hot air is selectively directed into the crushing chamber, behind the breaker plates or in parallel to both locations, to dry the material during crushing. A substantially unobstructed bottom outlet permits high flow rates through the apparatus. A method of crushing and drying high moisture content material is also disclosed.

Abstract: A mill for the reduction and classification of ore utilizing an impact rotor to obtain the reduction of large ore chunks and particles by impaction between shatter bars and hammers mounted on the rotor. The shatter bars are mounted on walls of an impact reduction chamber in a position to be impacted by the ore thrown from the impact rotor hammers. Particles are then carried by vertical air flow into vertically stacked classification chambers which are located directly above the impact reduction chamber. Gravity return of the heavier of these particles causes a secondary impact with the impact rotor producing a continuous interchange of particles and resulting in the autogenous attrition of the particles between the rotor and breaker bars. Another feature of the present invention is the utilization of "fluidizer" to maintain the flow of particles which accumulate at the bottom of the impact reduction chamber.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for the simultaneous crushing and drying of materials, such as coal with high moisture content, which includes a .[.hammermill.]. .Iadd.crusher .Iaddend.having parallel top inlets for the material and a rapid flow of hot air. The material drops into the .[.impactor.]. .Iadd.impact .Iaddend.circle of the .[.hammermill.]. .Iadd.crusher .Iaddend.prior to any substantial mixing with the flow of hot air. The flow of hot air is selectively directed into the crushing chamber, behind the breaker plates or in parallel to both locations, to dry the material during crushing. A substantially unobstructed bottom outlet permits high flow rates through the apparatus. A method of crushing and drying high moisture content material is also disclosed.