Abstract: A one-step thermal treatment process for liquefaction of solid wastes selected from the group consisting of printed circuit board wastes, plastic wastes, rubber wastes, scrap fires, used cables/wires, auto shredder residues, contaminated soils, and waste lubricating oils to recover valuable oil products. Apparatus is provided and includes a means for continuous feeding, an inclined screw liquefaction reactor(ISLR), and means for handling oils and gas products. Wastes are liquefied in used lubricating oils or recycled heavy oil product at relatively low temperatures, and the unliquefied inorganic materials are recovered.

Abstract: A method of making polymeric particulates wherein polymeric scrap material, virgin polymeric material and mixtures thereof are supplied to intermeshing extruder screws which are rotated to transport the polymeric material along their length and subject the polymeric material to solid state shear pulverization and in-situ polymer compatibilization, if two or more incompatible polymers are present. Uniform pulverized particulates are produced without addition of a compatibilizing agent. The pulverized particulates are directly melt processable (as powder feedstock) and surprisingly yield a substantially homogeneous light color product.

Abstract: Containerized medical waste is treated by a process in which the materials are carried by a conveyor under a negative pressure to a multiple-stage shredder. Sodium hypochlorite is added at several points in the shredder section of the apparatus. The output of the shredder is compressed and the liquid component which is separated out is recirculated. The compressed solid is conveyed through a conveyor in which the temperature is maintained at a level just under 212.degree. F. by the introduction of steam. The pressure is maintained at or below atmospheric pressure at all points in the system to prevent release of contaminated materials into the atmosphere. By using the combination of sodium hypochlorite and steam, it is possible to eliminate live microorganisms entirely while still taking advantage of low pressure to avoid accidental release of contaminated materials.

Abstract: The apparatus for separating plastic from paper fibers includes conveying means for initially passing contaminated paper while removing waste, adding water to the flow of plastic contaminated paper for converting the paper to a pulp condition, agitating the water and paper pulp to release plastic material so that the paper pulp will more easily release the plastic material, directing the paper pulp to a dewatering step before grinding in a hammer mill while grinding the released plastic material to be used as a fuel for creating a drying atmosphere in the hammer mill, and packaging the paper from the hammer mill in bales.

Abstract: A garbage decomposing mechanism includes a vessel having an inlet channel into which garbage is deposited, and a rotary stirrer for stirring the garbage within the vessel. Deposited garbage falls upon a vertically movable member which is initially at an upper position in the inlet channel to enable water in the garbage to gravitate down a water discharge channel. When the weight of garbage on the member exceeds a predetermined value, the member is automatically lowered to bring the garbage into alignment with a garbage in infeed channel to enable to garbage to gravitate to the stirrer. The stirrer comprises a spiral wing which is hollow and has air discharge holes. Heated air is forced through the wing and out the discharge holes to heat the garbage being stirred.

Abstract: In essence, my design for cryogenic grinding and controlling the temperature of grinding makes use of liquid nitrogen, heated in thin-walled metal containers by the room temperature air. The nitrogen gas (or liquid) is conveyed by tubes to a cylinder cover fixed on top of the grinder's grinding chamber. The cover allows sufficient heat transfer and prevents producing static electricity by the spinning particles, and also prevents nitrogen from forming a liquid layer on the bottom of the cover. In my design: 1. The driving force of gas or liquid nitrogen is provided from the heat transferred between the liquid nitrogen in the containers and room temperature air, which creates pressure; 2. The temperature of grinding can be controlled by changing the flow rate of the room temperature air and by putting on or removing the rubber safety plug of one container; 3. Circulating the cold nitrogen by gas natural convection to cool down the motor allows continuous grinding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultra-high energy impact system for reducing the particle size of materials to an average diameter as small as about 40 .mu.m. The system includes a cooling station for cooling the materials to a temperature within the range of from about -40.degree. F. to about -450.degree. F. by direct contact with refrigerant, preferably liquid refrigerant; a milling station for reducing the particle size of the cooled materials which does not require direct cooling by refrigerant and which includes a rotor or rotors each operating at a tip speed within the range of from about 500 to about 1500 feet per second; and an atmosphere modifier for reducing the pressure of the gaseous atmosphere within the milling station to less than 20 inches of mercury absolute.

Abstract: The waste material processing system of the present invention includes a (1) waste material supply; (2) shredder; (3) moisture reducing device; (4) crusher having a rotatable screw auger positioned within a cavity of the crusher for crushing and conveying waste material and a pressurizing device such as a conduit attached to the discharge end of the cavity for exerting a backpressure upon a portion of the waste material positioned about the second end of the auger such that a portion of the scrap glass fibers in the waste material is crushed; (5) dryer; and (6) separating device for separating waste material having a mean average length of less than about 5 millimeters from oversized dried waste material. Also provided by the present invention is a process for recycling waste material using the system.

Abstract: A recycling method and apparatus that almost completely removes paints and pigments on the surfaces of empty aluminum cans to recover aluminum with very few impurities. Pressed blocks of aluminum cans are shredded into small aluminum pieces (a) by shredding means (1, 2, and 3), and foreign matter mixed in the aggregate of aluminum pieces obtained is removed. The aggregate of small aluminum pieces (a) free from foreign matter is agitated by a paint removing device (20) using a rotating body (36) that rotates at a high speed, in order to remove paints and pigments coated on the surfaces of the aluminum pieces (a) employing frictional force caused by the difference in speed as well as adhesion. The small aluminum pieces (a) free from paints and pigments are molded again into aluminum compacts (b) by a compression molding machine.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for comminuting cryogenic feedstock particles, the process comprising the steps of embrittling the particles with a cryogenic medium, positioning the cryogenically embrittled particles in a comminutor having a cavity, the comminutor having means for generating a high-voltage electrical discharge in the cavity, comminuting the particles in the cavity with forces created by the high-voltage electrical discharge pulse, and transferring the comminuted particles from the comminutor and wherein the positioning includes continuously transporting the particles through the comminutor. Transporting of the particles may be accomplished by entraining the particles in the cryogenic medium. The means for generating the forces for comminuting the particles includes generating the high-voltage electrical dischargeacross at least two electrodes.

Abstract: A waste tire treating apparatus is disclosed. It includes a grinding device for grinding the waste tire into blocks with smaller volume, a washing device for washing the ground waste tire, a drying device for drying the washed waste tire, a granulating device for cutting and granulating the dried waste tire into granules with predetermined volume, a heating device for heating and melting the waste tire granules and a sorting device disposed under the heating device for receiving the molten rubber and nylon fibers and the steel filaments of the waste tire. The sorting device includes a channel with circulated water flow, whereby the mixture of the rubber and nylon fibers float on the water, while the steel filaments precipitate onto the bottom of the channel to be separately recovered.

Abstract: An apparatus for solid state shear extrusion pulverization of a polymeric material comprising an elongated hollow barrel having a feed zone, a heating zone adjacent to the feed zone, a powder formation zone adjacent to the heating zone, and a powder discharge zone adjacent to the powder formation zone. At least one screw is housed within the elongated hollow barrel. A hopper is provided for feeding the polymeric material into the feed zone of the elongated hollow barrel. Barrel heaters and coolers are provided for heating the polymeric material to a temperature less than its decomposition temperature in the heating zone and for maintaining the polymeric material below its melting point in the powder formation zone. The screw comprises a high shear screw section for applying normal and shear forces within the powder formation zone to form a powder of the solid state polymeric material.

Abstract: A method for the production of granules by the use of a high speed agitated granulating machine provided with agitating means for rolling and agitating a substance for granulation, spray means for spraying a binding liquid on the substance, disintegrating means for disintegrating particles arising from granulation, and drying means for drying the particles, characterized by effecting the production by causing the means to act on the substance for granulation simultaneously thereby performing the agitating, granulating, disintegrating, and drying operations simultaneously. An apparatus for automatically implementing the method is also disclosed. The method for high speed agitating sterilization according to this invention is capable of producing granules which are extremely homogeneous in contents of components and excellent in flowability and compression moldability. The granules in process of formation do not easily form coarse lumps as by cohesion and the produced granules possess stable quality.

Abstract: A garbage handling system (10) including a plurality of garbage collector bins (12) each provided with a reciprocating floor conveyor (50) and a movable, suspended chain assembly (30) at an outlet end (16) of a garbage collector bin for the purpose of breaking up accumulated garbage as the garbage is transferred out of the collector bin to a subsequent processing station, such as an incinerator. The size of each collector bin is large enough to hold several loads of garbage. The chain assembly is movable up and down, as well as laterally, to assist in breaking up garbage that has bound together while in the collector bin. The sidewalls (36) of collector bins (12) are angled inwardly to prevent garbage from becoming lodged between the sidewalls, preventing the reciprocating floor conveyor from moving the garbage.

Abstract: A fine powder heat treating apparatus which includes a container rotated by an electric motor, a quantity of rolling media disposed in the container and a heater provided for heating the container and the rolling media, wherein the rolling media are mixed with each other as the container is rotated and a finely powdered raw material in a fluid state containing fine powder and a liquid component is supplied from a raw material discharge pipe.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for separation of relatively volatile from non-volatile material, typically an organic component of agglomerate waste material from an inorganic solid component of the waste. The process includes milling material in a container partially immersed or floating in a bath of molten material to break up the material, typically an agglomerate, and thermally releasing the relatively volatile component as vapor therefrom. The apparatus relates to a desorption vessel at least partially immersed in a molten tin bath for heat transfer from the bath to the interior of the vessel for desorption of the relatively volatile component from such material.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for single screw solid state shear extrusion pulverization of polymeric materials in which the polymeric materials are heated to a temperature suitable for forming a continuous thin film of said polymeric material, and then cooled, and normal and shear forces sufficient to form powder of the polymeric material are applied by a single cylindrical or conical mesh screw. The resulting powder is fluidized upon its discharge.

Abstract: A medical waste handling device in which the medical waste material, including syringes, are ground and crushed in a grinding unit while being sanitized and subjected to a cold temperature of about -50.degree. F. to make the waste material brittle, passing the fragmented waste material into a removable receptacle in a housing and in which the receptacle is further provided with a disinfectant to secondarily sanitize the medical waste material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process and apparatus for the continuous milling of aerosol pharmaceutical formulations which contain solids by milling in the aerosol propellant.

Abstract: A garbage disposal for decomposing garbage with microorganisms. The garbage disposal has a tank containing a mixture of garbage, a medium having microorganisms, stirring means for stirring the mixture in the tank in order to supply air into the mixture, and control means for controlling water content percentage of the mixture. The control means controls a stirring of the mixture and/or a temperature of the mixture and/or an air volume blown on the mixture in order to keep water content percentage in a proper value at which the microorganisms are active and a lifetime of the medium is extended.

Abstract: An oscillating screen (13) is positioned between a grate system (11) of a grate cooler and a crusher (16) to separate the fines from the material discharged by the grate cooler prior to feeding the remaining clinkers to the crusher (16). This arrangement of equipment greatly increases production and markedly reduces wear of crusher components.

Abstract: A continuous pulp digester having an elongate horizontally aligned pressure vessel through which the wood chips and digesting fluid flow in a forward direction. In a first and second embodiments within the pressure vessel there is an inner container defining an elongate chamber or passageway having a square cross sectional configuration. In a third embodiment the digesting chamber is cylindrical. At locations along the digester, there are several pair of liquid flow inlets and liquid flow outlets which enable filtrate from a pulp washer and a digesting agent to be moved into and across the digesting chamber to flow out the flow outlets. These are recirculated in a net upstream flow pattern toward the outlet end of the digester, and discharged as black liquor at different locations in the digester.

Abstract: A process for collecting waste plastics as separated comprises the steps of presorting out waste plastics from separated municipal refuse, crushing the waste plastics, reducing the volume of expanded polystyrene included in the waste plastics by heating the waste plastics at a predetermined temperature, finely dividing the waste plastics, washing the waste plastics to remove salt, etc. therefrom, separating the finely divided waste plastics in a liquid utilizing the difference between the plastics in specific gravity and collecting the separated fractions, and drying the useful one of the separated fractions.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for recycling scrapped POLYLON which mainly includes a scrap crashing and feeding unit, a scrap melting unit and a waste gas treatment unit. The scrap crashing and feeding unit includes a top, a left, and a right rollers with toothed cutter to break the scraps into smaller pieces which are pushed onto a feeding roller located below the above three rollers and having spiral grooves to automatically carry and feed the small scrap pieces into the melting unit. The scrap melting unit has a plurality of rod-shaped electric heaters wrapped with thermo-conductive material and squarely arranged in a furnace around the feeding roller to evenly heat the furnace and quickly melt the scrapped POLYLON pieces.

Abstract: Organic wastes such as raw refuses discharged from general households are easily liquefied at every home so as to decrease the amounts of refuses and to be able to utilize these refuses as liquefied fertilizer and the like. With these purposes, an inner vessel, in the bottom of which through-holes of the desirable shape are formed, is housed in a bottomed outer vessel in such a manner that the bottom of the inner vessel is spaced apart from the bottom of the outer vessel, a quefied matter take-out valve Is provided on the outer surface of the outer vessel, and raw refuses are placed in the inner vessel, and liquefield, so that solid matters are reduced in amount and the substance is taken out as liquefied fertilizer and the like for use.

Abstract: A soap chip recycler presents a housing having inner and outer walls surrounding an interior, vertical compartment. The compartment presents a lower dissolution zone having a motor-driven blade assembly and a dispenser zone above the dissolution zone. A pump assembly extends through a lid, the latter engaging a rim surrounding an aperture in the top wall of the housing. The pump assembly includes a depending conduit extending into the compartment and terminating above the dissolution zone. The energized coil heats the compartment to a temperature consistent with soap liquefaction. The over/under zone relationship directs any soap particles approaching a solidified state to the bottom of the compartment for pulverization by the blade assembly so as to preclude interference with the pump assembly.

Abstract: The refuse processing machine of the invention reduces the bulk of the waste by heating and drying the waste in the waste container by heating means. The grinding and stirring means is operated while heating and drying, and the waste is ground and stirred. The waste is ground into small pieces by the grinding and stirring means, and heat of the heating means is hence smoothly transmitted to the inside of the waste, so that the moisture in the waste may be removed efficiently.

Abstract: In a method for recycling heterogeneous mixtures of materials resulting from size-reduction processes the heterogeneous mixture of materials is comminuted to form a comminuted intermediate product from which in a subsequent step comminuted particles of a preset size are separated. The selected comminuted particles are subjected to an agglomeration treatment for producing agglomerate particle product of a preset degree of agglomeration having an upper limit with respect to agglomerate particle size.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for disinfection and reclamation of materials contained in contaminated disposable products worn by infants and adults containing human feces and/or urine. The process and apparatus disinfect, mechanically and biologically break down and separates these materials by the use of a pressurized steam digester, mechanical chopper and a screening process. The steam digester process is carried on in a sealed system utilizing a fume scrubber for controlling disposition of ammonia and methane gasses. Effluent and waste are controlled to maintain safe discharges and all recyclable materials are disinfected and reduced to a form suitable for remanufacture of like products or as raw materials for other manufactured products. Polymer particles are exposed to ultraviolet light for molecular breakdown and ion exchange between polymer chains, resulting in further reduction in mass of each particle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ultra-high energy impact systems and processes for reducing the particle size of materials to an average diameter as small as about 40 .mu.m. The systems include a cooling station for cooling the materials to a temperature within the range of from about -40.degree. F. to about -450.degree. F.; a milling station for reducing the particle size of the cooled materials, which station includes a rotor operating at a tip speed within the range of from about 600 to about 1500 feet per second; and an atmosphere modifier for modifying the gaseous atmosphere within the milling station.

Abstract: A continuous flow, rotary processing apparatus for horizontal transport of material at a predetermined rate. Material from an infeed conveyor enters a continuous system including at least one rotary drum operating about a horizontal axis. Each drum has a perforated circumferential wall with lateral lifters to induce flow and tumbling motion to the enclosed material. A flow control mechanism at the discharge end of each drum controls residence time of the material being processed. Material is fed and discharges from each drum through axial openings in which the flow control devices are mounted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a comminution device suitable for use in a cooling apparatus for cooling crushable material. The device is located at a source for such crushable material and typically comprises at least two rolls in series, which are crushing rolls wherein material is crushed in a material crushing area located between said two crushing rolls. It is a advantageous feature of the device of the present invention in that the position of at least one of the crushing rolls is adjustable relative to the other crushing roll to thereby change the dimension of the material crushing area.

Abstract: A system for producing a suitable fuel from waste material including a dispersion tank in which is located a rotary dispersion and agitation system comprising external vanes, rotary and stationary plates having opposing faces fitted with intermeshing shear blocks, forming an attrition zone therebetween for grinding and dispersing solids in a liquid blend stock. A method is provided for varying the displacement between the shear blocks to control the fineness of the grinding of the waste material. A method is provided for discharging metal from the dispersion tank and a pump is provided for circulating liquid from the dispersion tank to an accumulation tank and for recirculating the liquid from the accumulation tank to the dispersion tank. Feeding systems are provided for delivering solid waste material to the dispersion tank and include systems for grinding drums containing waste material, expressing waste material from the drums and auguring waste material from the drums.

Abstract: A high aspartame content product having round particles which are about twice as dense as aspartame powder but are surprisingly fast dissolving. The aspartame product is made by intense mechanical mixing a powder mix of aspartame and a binder with an critical amount of water and mixing time.

Abstract: A process and processing system are disclosed that provide for the processing of many forms of waste, such as medical waste, food waste disposable diapers or the like, that both reduces the volume of waste solids and neutralizes the biological activity of such waste, thereby facilitating the disposal of potentially unhealthy or hazardous materials. The process and system also provides for the removal of coating from the surfaces of plastic waste material or for the dissolution of water soluble polymeric or fibrous waste material. Biological neutralization or, alternatively, coating removal or dissolution of water soluble waste, is accomplished by chopping the waste material and mixing it with a circulating stream of fluid such as water that is heated to a temperature which effects disinfection or sterilization or, alternatively coating removal or waste dissolution, in accordance with the needs of the user.

Abstract: Arrangement for crushing and cooling the material passing out of a firing oven, wherein the crusher is arranged in the hot region, preferably immediately following the oven, in the path of the material upstream of the cooler. According to the invention the crusher comprises a plurality of roll-like crushing elements which are mounted overhung and which project into the path of the material from outside said path and for maintenance purposes are retractable therefrom.

Abstract: Hot gas is introduced into a fluidised bed of granular material, for example gypsum, contained in a vessel 10 having a grinding device or mill 11 in its lower region, which may comprise grinding rollers 15 cooperating with a table 17 on the base of the vessel. The gas may be supplied through a tube 20 passing down through the vessel, while raw material is fed into the bed, preferably by a feed screw 34. The ground product is discharged from the bed by an overflow 28 which determines the level of the bed.

Abstract: An agitating pulverizer which agitates an object and a binder charged into a tank and repeatedly granulates and pulverizes the object, thereby forming particulate matter with a desired particle size. The agitating pulverizer comprises a tank for allowing the object and the binder to be charged thereinto. A low-speed rotating member and a high-speed rotating member are provided at the central bottom portion of the tank and arranged to be rotatable in the directions opposite to each other. A lower agitating member is placed adjacent to the bottom of the tank and interconnected to the low-speed rotating member so as to push the object and the binder upward and also to draw them toward the center of the tank. An upper agitating member is interconnected to the high-speed rotating member and placed farther upward of the lower agitating member so as to push the object and the binder downward and upward, thereby applying shearing force and centrifugal force to the object.

Abstract: Containerized medical waste is treated by a process in which the materials are carried by a conveyor under a negative pressure to a multiple-stage shredder. Sodium hypochlorite is added at several points in the shredder section of the apparatus. The output of the shredder is compressed and the liquid component which is separated out is recirculated. The compressed solid is conveyed through a conveyor in which the temperature is maintained at a level just under 212.degree. F. by the introduction of steam. The pressure is maintained at or below atmospheric pressure at all points in the system to prevent release of contaminated materials into the atmosphere. By using the combination of sodium hypochlorite and steam, it is possible to eliminate live microorganisms entirely while still taking advantage of low pressure to avoid accidental release of contaminated materials.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the storing of thermoplastic material from a mixed stream which can contain objects of other thermoplastic materials or other objects. The targeted thermoplastic material has a softening temperature which is below that of other materials in the mixed stream which is fed by a transport device through a heating unit which heats the mixed stream to the softening temperature. In the softened rubbery state of the thermoplastic material it tends to adhere to cutter blades which comminute the thermoplastic material preferentially while the remaining materials are rejected by the blades and remain uncomminuted to accomplish the sorting.

Abstract: Grain is fed from a hopper to a horizontally oriented adjustable speed steam heated auger driven by a variable speed drive. The auger is long enough (approximately twenty inches) that temperature controlled steam fed to a plurality of inlets along the auger as related to the rate of grain movement through the auger heats the grain therein to approximately three hundred degrees fahrenheit. Then it is dropped through a grain outlet opening into a high velocity cold air stream temperature shocking the hot grain causing a sudden contraction of grain outer layers causing them to crack and loosen from the grain core. The grain is then fed through tubes to space between a rotatable internally rubber (or soft plastic) sheet layer sheathed inner surface outer mill member fitted to and rotatable about a truncated cone member having outer surface metal channel members angled approximately forty five degrees adjacent at the top and diverging at the bottom.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for safely and easily shredding a variety of material particularly material having a low melt temperature and/or containing material sensitive to high static electric charges, such as 1.1 and 1.3 class material. The method comprises applying a cloud of gas vapor onto the shredding means to cool the shredding means to a temperature below that of the melt temperature of the material being shredded and to also reduce the static electric charge on the resulting particles of material which may develop during the shredding process. Further described is an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Abstract: Dry ice snow is used to embrittle thermoset or thermoplastic materials for further treatment. The dry ice snow is formed from carbon dioxide gas directly obtained from naturally occurring carbon dioxide gas wells.

Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus for ceramics is adapted to heat treat a ceramic raw material such as a slurry for obtaining a pulverized ceramic material. The apparatus comprises a drum body (1) which is transversely supported and rotated about its axis, and a number of rolling media (2) which are stored and stirred in the drum body (1). The drum body (1) has a pyramidal inner surface, so that the rolling media (2) are strongly stirred following rotation of the drum body (1), whereby the ceramic raw material is heat treated and pulverized effectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for plasticizing thermoplastic synthetic plastics material, in particular scrap material, comprises a plasticizing screw (18) bearingly supported within a housing (21), to which screw the synthetic plastics material to be plasticized is supplied through a feed opening (16). At this feed opening (16) a comminuting means in the form of two shafts (3, 4) disposed parallel to each other and parallel to the axis of the screw (18) is provided, each of the shafts (3, 4) being provided with a plurality of pinned-up disk-shaped comminuting tools (8). Between each two neighboring comminuting tools (8) a circular spacer disk (9) is disposed and stationary knives (11) engage into the gaps between adjoining comminuting tools (8), the flanks (15) of which knives extend tangentially with respect to the periphery (13) of the spacer disks (9).

Abstract: For preparing plastic waste composed of different plastics, possibly combined with other materials, for further processing, for example, as additives for construction. A method of the invention comminutes the waste, metals are separated out, the plastic waste is agglomerated, and the agglomerated waste is comminuted further. A device according to the invention for performing the method uses comminution devices, metal separators, and at least one agglomerator. The entire device is completely mobile and equipped with its own power supply.

Abstract: To reliably sterilize hospital refuse in a quantities and configuration in which it occurs on its collection, the plant includes a refuse loading device, a shredder, a motorized screw for refuse conveying, a microwave oven and a device for removing the treated refuse upon its exit from the oven.

Abstract: Refuse containing stretched plastic is collected at each of a plurality of collection locations and is there comminuted and, before or after this comminution, is heated to a relaxation temperature of at least a portion of the stretched plastic thereby embrittling and reducing the volume of this portion. Then batches of the thus comminuted and at least partially embrittled and volume-reduced refuse are transported to a single treatment location. Here the batches of preprocessed refuse are mixed with each other and if desired with unprocessed refuse, and the mixture is sorted and comminuted again.

Abstract: A cryogenic vibratory mill designed to receive cooling fluid such as liquid nitrogen within a grinding chamber for grinding of feed material such as crumb rubber from vehicle tires for cryogenic comminution within a grinding chamber. Cooling within the grinding chamber is achieved by passing cooling fluid such as liquid nitrogen therethrough wherein most of the cooling fluid passes through longitudinal channels formed longitudinally in the cylindrically shaped grinding rods. The operating temperature is normally less than -120 degrees Fahrenheit. A vibrating drive is operative to vibrate the housing and the grinding rods therein to achieve comminution of the feed stock rubber passing therethrough. With this design most of the cooling is achieved by passing of the cooling fluid through the channels defined in the grinding rods with only a minimum amount of cooling achieved by cooling fluid passing through the grinding chamber between the rods.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for crushing clay to reduce the size of the clay to a uniform particle size distribution without generating a substantial percentage of undersized particles. Oversized clay particles are fed to a first roller mill between a first pair of counter-rotating, adjacent, grooved rollers. The particles exiting the first roller mill that have the desired particle size distribution are separated from the undersized and oversized clay particles exiting the first roller mill, prior to crushing the oversized particles in a second roller mill. The oversized particles from the first roller mill then are fed to the second roller mill between a second pair of counter-rotating, adjacent rollers that are separated by a roller gap that is smaller than a roller gap of the first roller mill.