Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing discarded rubber tires and rubber tire material to reduce the same to a pulverulent form of sufficient quality fiber the manufacture of other articles. Principally the rubber tire is subjected to repeated compression against the metal strand component of the tires thus causing the metal stranding to cut into or chew the rubber into a pulverulent form. During the processing of the rubber tire material it is broken down to the point that its constituents such as metal fibers and polymer fibers are separated therefrom. The pulverized rubber, together with its separated constituents may then be classified and the constituents separated for further use. The rubber tire processing apparatus incorporates an external housing structure and a rubber processing drum that is rotatable therein.

Abstract: The raw material in used tire carcasses is reclaimed by cutting the tire into quarter segments and freezing the segments with liquid nitrogen in a controlled environment freezing chamber. Rotary air locks pass material to and from the chamber. Steel and fiber materials are removed in a stripping chamber where the frozen rubber both broken into smaller chunks. A robot arm with magnets and hooked fingers removes the fiber and steel. The rubber chunks are then pressed through dies to reduce the size to a uniform rubber crumb. The press consists of multiple pointed fingers in registration with multiple sized holes in a screen type die. The rubber crumb is removed with a suction device and dried using heat from a closed loop nitrogen cycle on the way to collection containers.

Abstract: A transportable machine reduces vehicle tires to a fine powder size suitable for incorporation into new articles of manufacture. An upper infeed assembly is mounted to a frame above a spring-loaded upwardly biased lower infeed assembly. A splayed tire is fed between guiderails on the upper and lower guide assembles and is driven along by upper drive sprockets and rides on lower idler sprockets. The tire is fed by a tire-feed positioned above a cutter bar and biased downwardly to clamp a cut splayed tire against the cutter bar and to feed the tire over the bar and into cutter blades mounted on a rotary blade assembly. The rotary blade assembly has a shaft mounted for rotation about an axis to the frame and has a plurality of cutter blades spaced about the shaft periphery. Each rotary cutter blade has a saw-toothed profile with triangular teeth. The tips or the moving blades are slightly spaced from the cutting edge formed on the fixed cutter bar.

Abstract: Apparatus for reducing to particles scrap rubber, consisting of an inclined pre-cooling tunnel (11) comprising a conveying means (27) and adapted to be charged via a feed shaft (13), a main cooling tunnel (12) filled, at least in part, with a cooling medium (38) and provided with a conveyor means (41) and a size reduction device (46) downstream of the main cooling tunnel (12). The main cooling tunnel (12) and the pre-cooling tunnel (11) are interlinked via at least one gasification pipe (48) conveying a cooling medium.

Abstract: Rubber scrap is pulverized by feeding it into a gap between a parti-cylindrical recess in a block and a cylinder rotating in the recess. A plurality of blocks are mounted one above another in a first frame, and a like plurality of cylinders are mounted in a second frame. The blocks are so arranged that rubber scrap pulverized in the recess of one block is fed into the recess of the next lower block for further pulverizing. All of the cylinders are driven in rotation by a single motor through a belt or chain drive. A hydraulic cylinder piston unit is provided for raising the first frame relative to the second frame and thereby varying the gaps between the cylinders and the respective recesses of the blocks.

Abstract: A heavy duty bead remover for vehicle passenger and heavy duty tires wherein the bead is hooked at a circumferential point and drawn through a narrow transversely slotted aperture, thereby to tear the bead from the tire and pull it through the aperture. Adjustable pressure jaws are provided to clamp the bead to the hook, and further a curved guide adjacent the slotted aperture is provided to reduce draw and tear forces. The tire is preferably specially cut prior to tear removal of the bead.

Abstract: The apparatus is for shredding and straining thermo plastic and rubber like materials to produce clear polymer pellets separated from oversize foreign materials, more particularly an apparatus provided with a hopper and forcing section adapted to feed hot or cold selected process materials into a shredding or granulating section which is adapted to granulate vulcanized rubber to pellets so small that they cannot harbor oversize materials or contaminates. The granulating section feeds warmed and under high pressure process material to the straining section which features multiple circumferential openings, adjustable in width in 0.0005 inch graduations, which lead off the fine and fluent phase materials and redirect the oversize and less fluent material to a separate discharge port. To avoid plugging the entrances to the circumferential openings of the straining section are composed of multiple plates, one set of which is stationary and secured to the barrel member.

Abstract: A rubber tire component reclamation technique which provides tire rubber fragments classified according to size. Preferred apparatus for rubber tire component reclamation includes a feed hopper for receiving pieces of discarded tires, a granulating chamber coupled to the feed hopper for cutting the received pieces into smaller fragments, and an exit chute providing an output from the granulating chamber through which tire fragments fall. An air flow is induced upwardly through the exit chute to urge the less dense components such as yarn and fabric upwardly against gravity and out of the upper portion of the chute. The air flow is of sufficient force to prevent commingling and compaction of the less dense components with the remaining components of the tire fragments. A magnetized drum is located near the lower end of the exit chute for segregating the ferromagnetic components of the tire fragments.

Abstract: A machine for cutting tires into a plurality of elongated strips includes parallel cutting shafts having a plurality of cutting wheels mounted for rotation therewith. The cutting wheels are separated by annular spacers on the cutting shafts. A spacer comber partially encircles each annular spacer and has a lower portion having a rounded surface to minimize surface contact between the elongated strips and the spacer comber. After the side cutting edges of each cutting wheel becomes worn, the cutting wheels can be sharpened by surface grinding which narrows the cutting wheel. Each annular spacer and spacer comber are also narrowed by respective corresponding surface grinding of the side surfaces thereof. The machine is overhauled, after the surface grinding and the corresponding surface grinding, by the addition of at least one of each cutting wheel, annular spacer and spacer comber on each cutting shaft.

Abstract: A method for reprocessing scrap rubber, which produces reclaimed rubber from comminuted scrap rubber after devulcanization, in a biotechnology-type of process, by holding the comminuted scrap rubber in a bacterial suspension of chemolithotropic microorganisms with a supply of air, until sulphur as an elementary sulphur and/or sulfuric acid is separated from the remaining replasticized reclaimed rubber. This biotechnological reprocessing obtains reclaimed rubber and sulphur in a simplified manner which products can be reused.

Abstract: A device for grinding tires and the scraps.

Abstract: A rotor shearing type crusher for crushing municipal waste and industrial waste whether it is bulky or not. If any foreign material, which is impossible to crush, is mixed with the municipal waste or industrial waste, the foreign material is promptly discriminated and discharged separately. The crusher includes a casing, a feed plate and a cutter respectively rotatably mounted to the casing obliquely above two rotatable knives. The inclination of the feed plate and cutter can be changed freely. Cutouts rae provided on the top end of the feed plate and cutter in a comb-like manner to dodge cutting edges of the rotatable knives intersecting each other. A discharge port is divided into two sections. The crusher of such a construction performs a function of tearing off soft waste twining itself around the rotatable knives. Rigid material impossible to be crushed is separately discharged. Even dangerous small waste such as cartridges, cylinders, etc. can be crushed and degassed inside without fail.

Abstract: A tire shredder having nozzles to introduce water to the shredding chamber.

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

Abstract: An installation for crushing vehicle tires and the like and for separating the metal parts from the nonmetal parts comprises in combination: a first crusher unit (1); a first screening assembly (27) associated with said first crusher unit (1), to divide the granules into at least two groups, depending on their size; a separation section (35) to separate the metallic material from the larger granules originating from said first screening assembly (27) and to recirculate the nonmetallic material; a second crusher unit (71) which receives the granules of smaller size originating from the first screening assembly and the granules of nonmetallic material originating from said separation section (35); and downstream from said second crusher unit, a first separator means (83) to separate the metal parts from the nonmetal parts.

Abstract: A tire splitting apparatus for splitting tire casings circumferentially into segments which includes a frame having a generally horizontal tire support table. Tire casing drive means are associated with the support table such that the drive means drivingly engages the outer crown of a tire casing and rotates the tire casing on the support table. Also included are at least two opposing guides for engaging the outer crown of a tire casing such that a tire casing situated on the support table rotates substantially over the center of the support table. A tire casing situated and rotated on the support table may be cut circumferentially with slicing means mounted on the support table generally opposite the drive means. Finally, adjustment means are provided for selectively engaging tire casings of varying diameters.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of processing rubber blocks with steel. The rubber blocks of irregular shape come from scrap material provided by tire production lines. The irregular blocks of rubber with wire and capillary strands of steel are cut into smaller blocks and then these smaller blocks are crushed until they turn into blankets of rubber and steel wire. The thickness of each of the rubber and steel wire blankets is made uniform. A plurality of rubber and steel wire blankets of uniform thickness are then joined together to make a single piece of rubber and steel wire having a uniform thickness. The single piece is then cut so as to form processed slabs ready to be used as raw material for other processing lines where rubber articles are manufactured.

Abstract: A granular material containing zinc oxide and precipitated silica which is readily dispersible in rubber mixtures.

Abstract: A tire shredder having a stripper plate to prevent feed from wrapping about a shaft on which feeder discs are mounted.

Abstract: An automatic apparatus for removing tread from beads of various sized tires is disclosed. The automatic apparatus includes a tire centering device for vertically orienting the tire so that the radial center axis of the tire is positioned along a horizontal reference axis. The tire centering device includes a catch box having movable side walls and movable bottom plates to accomplish this centering. After the tire is centered, the tire is moved to a tire gripping device which grips the rim of the tire. Thereafter, a tire cutter device is moved in position to cut the tread from the bead of the tire as the tire is turned one revolution. Finally, a tire ejecting device is actuated to eject the remaining bead of the tire from the tire gripping device so that the cycle can be repeated.

Abstract: A machine for reducing worn-out vehicle tires to small chip-like particles comprises a frame on which an elongated shaft is journaled for rotation, the shaft having a first and second plurality of rotary cutting blades, each of a different diameter affixed to the shaft so as to be rotatable therewith. Also affixed to the frame is a set of stationary cutter bars whose sharpened edges are disposed within a predetermined close tolerance to the periphery of the rotary cutting blades. A large, massive flywheel is attached to one end of the shaft and is driven by a suitable motor. Surrounding the rotary cutting blades is a shroud which, in turn, suppots an infeed hopper having a spiked drum journaled therein.

Abstract: A method is described for the recycling of scrap vehicle tires using high pressure water jets. The use of high pressure water provides for the production of shredded rubber material in useful sizes and also provides for a separation of the shredded rubber from the cording and beading material of the tire. Recovery of steel cording material in a form suitable for reuse is one feature of the present invention. Also, the present invention avoids mechanical shredding entirely and the attendant wear on shredders from differing tire sizes and compositions.

Abstract: A secondary waste apparatus for shearing waste material such as a discarded vehicle tire which has already been reduced in size by a primary shearing process. The apparatus includes a pair of counter-rotating shafts, each shaft having a plurality of generally annular shear members extending in a unitary construction from an abutting relationship with the shaft to an outside diameter which meshes with the shear members of the other shaft. The ratio of the diameter of each shaft to the maximum radial extent of the shear members abutting the shaft being greater than 3:5. Adjacent shear members on a shaft are spaced apart by a driving spacer and one or more grind-depreciable shims. Waste material from a primary shearing process is fed into the apparatus to further reduce the maximum size of the material. The apparatus is periodically sharpened by grinding of the shear members and the shims.

Abstract: Apparatus for crushing, grinding and shredding solid waste material in which two interacting stacks of cutting and shredding elements are positioned on two substantially parallel shafts and mounted transversely with respect to the directions of waste material fed into the apparatus. Cutting members on one stack interact with cutting members on the other stack. In each stack adjacent cutting members are spaced from each other by a spacer. The spacers in the apparatus differ from those used in prior comminutors of this type in that they also have cutter elements on their periphery and thereby serve as cutters or shredders as well as spacers. This double function of the spacers increases the efficiency of the comminuting apparatus. Most importantly there are cutting edges from the bottom to the top of each stack so that there are no intermediate elements on which strings or wires can be wrapped without encountering a cutting edge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for shredding tires comprises debeading the tire, cutting it diametrically into segments, and then spreading the sidewalls apart while flattening each segment and feeding the segment into a shredding cutter causing the shredding of the tire while the segment is held in a flattened condition.

Abstract: Feeding structure for tire shredding apparatus comprises a set of studded rollers defining a feed mouth opening into a feed throat that leads into the tire shredding mechanism. Forwardly placed lower and upper rolls rotate at different speeds, the upper faster than the lower and preferably having its studs configured to provide sharp points for penetrating into the tire and positively advancing it rearwardly toward the shredding mechanism. An endless conveyor carries individual tires sequentially into the feed mouth flatwise and the throat preferably slopes downwardly to present each tire to, but tilted backwardly from, the shredding mechanism. The rolls are mounted in a protective cover for the shredding mechanism, which cover is pivoted, so as to rise and fall in accordance with tire thickness, and is mounted on shock absorbers and preferably in supplemental, pivot supporting brackets.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a scrap rubber tire carcass having a circumferential crown and a pair of sidewalls extending generally radially inwardly from and generally perpendicular to the crown, each of the sidewalls having an inner circumferential edge. Included are tire holding apparatus for holding the tire carcass while cutter blades cut the held tire carcass through from the inner circumferential edge to the crown substantially along a single radius at one place. Pinch rollers advance the cut tire carcass longitudinally in a direction generally tangent to the circumference of the drown while a spreading channel receives the cut end and on a continuous basis flattens the sidewalls such that the sidewalls and crown lie substantially in a common plane. The flattened carcass is advanced by additional pinch rollers into a granulator which chops the received tire carcass to particles.

Abstract: Apparatus for quickly and effectively removing the bead wires from tires, and comprising first and second clamps which are movable toward and away from each other. A tire to be debeaded is positioned between the two clamps with the axis of the tire parallel with the direction of movement of the clamps. A harpoon is mounted for movement parallel to the axis of the tire and through openings of the clamps and the tire. The first and second clamps hold the tire between them, the clamps engaging the side walls of the tire. The harpoon is moves through the center opening of the tire, and barbs or hooks formed on the harpoon engage the beads and pull the bead wires out of the tire. The movement of the harpoon in one direction operates to center the tire, and movement in the opposite direction operates to remove the bead wires.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the low temperature comminution of tires includes the separation of the tires into tire portions including tread portions, sidewall portions and bead portions. The tire portions are cooled and crushed to form rubber granules and scrap material. The rubber granules are sorted from the scrap material in a process that includes the step of suspending the granules in a moving stream of low temperature gas. The stream of gas and rubber granules is impacted on a solid surface to grind the granules. The low temperature gas is preferably recycled and cooled by heat exchange with another circulating low temperature gas such as nitrogen.

Abstract: There is disclosed for use in a machine for shredding scrap automotive tires or the like of the type comprising a pair of oppositely rotating rotors having interdigitated tire cutting discs keyed thereon and replaceable abrasion resistant wearing plates at opposite sides of said disc, an improved means for locking said plates in operative positions on said discs, whereby worn plates may be replaced by new plates from externally of the rotors without requiring costly disassembly and reassembly thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for preparing fragments from tire casings in which an umbrelal type tire casing support is provided and an electric motor is utilized to rotate the tire casings so that a cutter can be utilized to convert the tire casing into fragment portions, the cutter being mounted for slidable movement towards and away from the tire casing.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing elsatomeric material, comprising two shafts mounted for rotation in a housing in end bearings and carrying therebetween two gear pairs in cavities in the housing. A channel connects the gear meshing side of the first gear pair with a space adjacent the second gear pair centrally opposite the gear meshing sides thereof. The elastomer is taken in through openings adjacent the first gear pair, and is pumped through two gear pumps connected in series, and discharged from the pressure side of the latter located at the gear meshing point thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing the rubber from the crown portion of a tire having a rotatably driven rasp and a linearly displaceable capture roller. The capture roller is moved from a load position distant the rasp to an engagement position closely adjacent the rasp. First and second tensioning rollers are biased to pinch a tire between each of the tensioning rollers and the capture roller. In forcing a captive tire into the area between the tensioning rollers, the capture roller presents to the rasp a work surface which is highly stressed. Traction-enhancement rollers further deform the tire by increasing the wrap angle around each of the tensioning rollers.

Abstract: Used products, which would otherwise be disposed of as waste, are subjected to low temperature lowering the temperature of the product to approximately the temperature of crystallization of the components thereof. The product at this lowered temperature is then crushed sufficiently to cause the components thereof to release sufficiently to be subsequently separated according to material. The separation steps can include subjecting the crushed material to magnetic or electrostatic fields, air flows caused by either pressurized air or vacuums, and mechanical separation with vibratory screens and rakes. The materials of the original product are sufficiently separated to enable them to be recycled into usable product. The particular example cited relates to vehicle tires with the materials recovered including rubber, fiber and metal bands.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compacting a scrap tire by removing the bead wires from the tire and coiling the debeaded tire casing. The debeading assembly includes a movable carriage in a plurality of rolls positioned to fit within the inside diameter of a tire. One of these rolls is a tensioning roll that is movable so as to stretch the tire and elongate the bead wires. Bead wire elongation permits accommodation of various sized tires, as elongation standardizes the arc against a bead guide roll. Compression forces provided to align the bead wires in a mutually proximate position against the bead guide roll. The carriage is advance until a pair of overlapping and counterrotating shearing members have made a first tire shear that is at least closely tangential to the bead wires, but which does not extend beyond the radius of the bead guide roll which is perpendicular to the direction of carriage movement.

Abstract: Upon transportation of synthetic rubber chips through a piping or by means of a conveyor, 2 wt. %-50 wt. % based on the weight of the synthetic rubber chips of steam of 160.degree. C. or lower, water or both steam of 160.degree. C. or lower and water is added to the synthetic rubber chips upon their transportation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the comminution of organic matters, the comminuting unit of which consists of at least one tool provided with axial and/or radial yielding holes and co-acting axially driven stamp. The essential feature of the invention is that a compacting unit (4) before the comminuting unit (5)--in respect of the direction of movement of the organic matter to be comminuted--and a feeding-precompacting unit (3) preceding the compacting unit (4) are arranged, furthermore the feeding-precompacting unit (3) is provided with driven worms (6, 7, 8), the discharge end of which is connected with the large cross sectional end of the bell-mouthed narrowing chambers (18, 19) while its reduced cross sectional end is joined to the pressure chamber (28) of the tools (20, 21).

Abstract: A shearing wheel, and a method of assembling the same, having an annular carrier and having a plurality of arcuate segments side mounted to a segment receiving surface of the annular carrier. The arcuate segments are laid in an end-to-end fashion to form an annulus with the outside diameter of the annulus having a radial extent greater than the radial extent of the annular carrier. A support shoulder extends axially outward from the annular carrier to contact the surface of the arcuate segments defined by the inside diameter of the annulus. The arcuate segments may be removed and sharpened, whereafter shims are inserted between the arcuate segments and the annular carrier to properly space the segments from an adjacent shearing wheel. Optionally, arcuate segments may be mounted to both side faces of the annular carrier.

Abstract: A tire shredder. A housing has a vertical passage therein leading to a series of transversely disposed cutter wheels on adjacent parallel shafts. The shafts are rotated at different speeds, such as at 28 r.p.m. for one shaft and 34 r.p.m. for the other. The cutter wheels have flat side walls that partially overlap, so that rotation results in a scissors action reducing the rubber tires into manageable and disposable pieces. Preferably each cutter wheel has at least one tooth for engaging tires and pulling them into the shredder.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing the bead wires from a scrap tire having a pair of overlapping and counterrotating shearing members and a movable carriage. The carriage includes a plurality of rolls positioned to fit within the inside diameter of a tire. One of these rolls is a tensioning roll that is movable so as to stretch the tire and elongate the bead wires. This elongation crowds the bead wires against a crowding bar. The crowding bar and a pair of compression rollers are mounted to a rod which is moved downwardly when the carriage is advanced toward the shearing members, said compression rollers being positioned to apply compression force to the side wall of the tire as the rollers descend. The compression force aligns the bead wires with a bead guide roll so that the crowding bar may be pivoted away from the subsequent shearing action, the bead wires then being crowded against the bead guide roll.

Abstract: A continuous process for reclaiming rubber, steel and fiber products from tires wherein the tires and tire material flow on conveyors throughout the various steps of the process, including the steps of shredding a flow of whole tires into pieces in a shear-type shredder, and screening the flow of tire pieces by size into a first flow containing pieces at least as large as a specified size, and a second flow containing pieces under a specified size. Reshredding and rescreening the pieces of the first flow is performed until they are smaller than the specified size. Granulating the pieces of the second flow occurs in a first granulator wherein the pieces remain in the granulator until they are reduced below a second specified size. Fiber materials are vacuumed from the flow of granulated material with an air separator after granulation and steel and steel-containing rubber pieces are removed from the flow of material via a magnetic separator after the fiber materials have been removed.

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

Abstract: A compactly unitized machine for shredding waste automotive vehicle tires or the like comprising a frame, a shredder, a shredded scrap receiving classifier, and an elevator for carrying oversized scraps rejected by the classfier back to the shredder; said frame, shredder, classifier and elevator are of such configurations and are so relatively arranged and supported upon said frame as to comprise a compactly unitized three-dimensionally minimally sized unit. The classifier per se is of improved construction and operating characteristics.

Abstract: There is disclosed in a unitized automotive vehicle tire shredding system a rotating drum type elevator for receiving from a screening device heterogeneously mixed scraps of shredded tires or the like which include components of curvilinear shape and resilient characteristics. The drum carries the scraps to an elevated point of discharge to fall therefrom by gravity into a shredding machine and from there down again upon the screening device. The drum includes an annular trough-like portion for carrying the scrap when deposited into a lower portion thereof upwardly to the point of discharge when the drum is rotated, and a material travel control device comprising a trough-shaped channeler of convergent sectional form having side walls peripherally configured to complement the curvatures of said rim and flange wall members.

Abstract: An apparatus for segmenting scrap tires having a compression conveyor and three rotary shears that make perpendicular cuts into the tire. The compression conveyor centers the tire and provides forces onto the treaded periphery to buckle the tire. The compression feeds the tire to a first rotary shear having overlapping counterrotating circular shears that make at least one cut about the circumferential periphery of the tire to produce annular tire segments. The annular tire segments fall by gravity into a conveyor having a pair of auger flights which position the segments for pickup by a conveyor chain. The conveyor chain includes a number of hooks which grasp the inner circumference of the annular tire segments, whereupon they are centered for entry into a second and third rotary shear.

Abstract: A slurry pump (40) pumps a slurry of vulcanized rubber pellets and water from a slurry mixing region (30) to a mill (B). The slurry passes through a comminuting zone (80) defined between an abrasive stator (66) and an abrasive rotor (76). As the slurry is comminuted in the comminuting zone, heat is generated, which heat is absorbed by at least the water. The comminuted rubber particles and water pass from the mill to a separator (C) which separates the rubber particles from the heated water. The heated water is conveyed to a hot water reservoir (24) from which it is recirculated to the slurry mixing region. Additional pellets from a pellet supply (10) are fed to the mixing region to be mixed with the recirculated heated water. In this manner, the slurry is preheated above room temperature prior to comminution. It has been found that increasing the water temperature to about 130.degree. F. rather than using city water of about 55.degree. F., increases the production rate of the mill by about 20 to 25 percent.

Abstract: A machine of modular construction having a framework onto which a plurality of removable stators is mounted. The stators are fixed relative to rotors which fit within openings in the stators. The rotors are keyed to a central axial shaft which provides rotary power so that the rotors can rotate within the fixed stators. Each rotor has a number of radially extending blades having a forward edge carrying a knife, while the stator has similar radially extending blades and knives confronting the rotor's knives in a material shearing relationship. A modular stator is jointed for disassembly allowing access to both rotor and stator knives while the apparatus is still mounted on the framework.

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: An apparatus for cutting scrap tires and other waste products is disclosed. The apparatus includes a frame having a cylindrical anvil roll rotatably mounted therein. A pair of blade rolls are also mounted in the frame for rotation about corresponding axes which are parallel to the rotational axis of the anvil roll, the blade rolls being angularly spaced from one another relative to the axis of the anvil roll and being positioned about the periphery of the anvil roll. The blade rolls are each provided with a plurality of blades of predetermined diameter fixed thereto and rotatable therewith, the blades of one blade roll being at a low angle to the axis of that roll and the blades of the other blade roll being at a high angle to the axis of that roll, so that a tire passing between both blade rolls and the anvil roll will be cut into rhomboidal pieces that are nearly rectangular in shape during a single pass through the apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided a method wherein the source material, rubber or vulcanization products is pulverized in an extruder wherein it is first compressed by a force of 0.2 to 0.7 MPa, then subjected simultaneously to a pressure ranging from 0.2 to 50 MPa and a shear force ranging from 0.03 to 5 N/mm.sup.2 while heating the material to a temperature ranging from 80.degree. to 250.degree. C. and then cooling said material to a temperature ranging from 15.degree. to 60.degree. C. The source materials can be used rubber goods, such as used tires and rejects of tire industry, footwear and industrial rubber production.