Abstrict Crusher has a housing with a cylindrical crushing chamber defined
by a tubular wall. Opposed side plates are secured to respective
ends of the wall. A drive shaft rotates impact tools within the
chamber. An intake aperture and a discharge aperture are in communication
with the chamber. An inlet door, having an inner face with a curvature
of similar radius to the cylindrical chamber, may be pivoted over
the intake aperture such that the inner face is flush with the inner
surface of the chamber, whereby impact tools strike and remove material
adhering to the inner face. An arcuately shaped screen, having a
curvature of similar radius to the cylindrical chamber, may be pivoted
over the discharge aperture such that the screen is flush with the
inner surface of the chamber. The screen may be pivoted away from
the discharge aperture for the service thereof.
Claims 1. A crusher for crushing material comprising: (a) a housing, said
housing comprising: (i) a substantially cylindrical crushing chamber
comprising and being defined by a substantially tubular wall having
an inner circumferential surface; (ii) first and second opposed
side plates, each of said first and second side plates being attached
to a corresponding end of said substantially tubular wall, said
first and second side plates being substantially perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis of said tubular wall; (iii) an intake aperture
in said tubular wall, said intake aperture being in communication
with said cylindrical chamber; (iv) a discharge aperture in said
tubular wall, said discharge aperture being in communication with
said cylindrical chamber; and (v) an inlet door having an arcuate
inner face, said inlet door pivotally secured to said wall, said
arcuate inner face having a curvature of substantially similar radius
of said inner circumferential surface of said cylindrical chamber,
wherein said inlet door may be selectively pivoted between a first
position away from said intake aperture and a second position over
said intake aperture such that when said inlet door is pivoted to
said first position away from said intake aperture said arcuate
inner face of said inlet door may guide material towards said intake
aperture, and such that when said inlet door is pivoted to said
second position over said intake aperture said arcuate inner face
is substantially flush with said inner circumferential surface of
said cylindrical chamber; (b) a rotary drive shaft supported by
at least one of said side plates such that at least a portion of
said drive shaft is disposed within said cylindrical chamber wherein
said at least a portion of said drive shaft is disposed within said
cylindrical chamber substantially coaxially with said longitudinal
axis of said cylindrical chamber; and (c) one or more impact tools
for crushing received material, each said impact tool being coupled
to said at least a portion of said rotary drive shaft disposed within
said cylindrical chamber, each said impact tool further being arranged
for rotary movement by said rotary drive shaft along a path of travel
substantially concentric with said inner circumferential surface
of said cylindrical chamber; wherein when said inlet door is pivoted
to said second position over said intake aperture, said one or more
impact tools may impact material adhering to said arcuate inner
face of said inlet door thereby removing said adhered material from
said arcuate inner face and into said chamber.
2. The crusher of claim 1 further comprising an arcuately shaped
screen pivotally secured to said wall, said arcuately shaped screen
having a curvature of substantially similar radius of said inner
circumferential surface of said cylindrical chamber, wherein said
screen may be selectively pivoted between a first position over
said discharge aperture and a second position away from said discharge
aperture, such that when said screen is pivoted to said first position
over said discharge aperture said screen is substantially flush
with said inner circumferential surface of said cylindrical chamber,
and such that when said screen is pivoted to said second position
away from said discharge aperture said screen may be accessible
for service.
3. A crusher for crushing material comprising: (a) a housing, said
housing comprising: (i) a substantially cylindrical crushing chamber
comprising and being defined by a substantially tubular wall having
an inner circumferential surface; (ii) first and second opposed
side plates, each of said first and second side plates being attached
to a corresponding end of said substantially tubular wall, said
first and second side plates being substantially perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis of said tubular wall; (iii) an intake aperture
in said tubular wall, said intake aperture being in communication
with said cylindrical chamber; (iv) a discharge aperture in said
tubular wall, said discharge aperture being in communication with
said cylindrical chamber; and (v) an arcuately shaped screen pivotally
secured to said wall, said arcuately shaped screen having a curvature
of substantially similar radius of said inner circumferential surface
of said cylindrical chamber, wherein said screen may be selectively
pivoted between a first position over said discharge aperture and
a second position away from said discharge aperture, such that when
said screen is pivoted to said first position over said discharge
aperture said screen is substantially flush with said inner circumferential
surface of said cylindrical chamber, and such that when said screen
is pivoted to said second position away from said discharge aperture
said screen may be accessible for service; (b) a rotary drive shaft
supported by at least one of said side plates such that at least
a portion of said drive shaft is disposed within said cylindrical
chamber wherein said at least a portion of said drive shaft is disposed
within said cylindrical chamber substantially coaxially with said
longitudinal axis of said cylindrical chamber; and (c) one or more
impact tools for crushing received material, each said impact tool
being coupled to said at least a portion of said rotary drive shaft
disposed within said cylindrical chamber, each said impact tool
further being arranged for rotary movement by said rotary drive
shaft along a path of travel substantially concentric with said
inner circumferential surface of said cylindrical chamber.
4. The crusher of claim 3 further comprising an inlet door having
an arcuate inner face, said inlet door pivotally secured to said
wall, said arcuate inner face having a curvature of substantially
similar radius of said inner circumferential surface of said cylindrical
chamber, wherein said inlet door may be selectively pivoted between
a first position away from said intake aperture and a second position
over said intake aperture such that when said inlet door is pivoted
to said first position away from said intake aperture said arcuate
inner face of said inlet door may guide material towards said intake
aperture, and such that when said inlet door is pivoted to said
second position over said intake aperture said arcuate inner face
is substantially flush with said inner circumferential surface of
said cylindrical chamber, wherein when said inlet door is pivoted
to said second position over said intake aperture, said one or more
impact tools may impact material adhering to said arcuate inner
face of said inlet door thereby removing said adhered material from
said arcuate inner face and into said chamber.
5. A crusher for crushing material comprising: (a) a housing, said
housing comprising: (i) a substantially cylindrical crushing chamber
comprising and being defined by a substantially tubular wall having
an inner circumferential surface; (ii) first and second opposed
side plates, each of said first and second side plates being attached
to a corresponding end of said substantially tubular wall, said
first and second side plates being substantially perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis of said tubular wall; (iii) an intake aperture
in said tubular wall, said intake aperture being in communication
with said cylindrical chamber; (iv) a discharge aperture in said
tubular wall, said discharge aperture being in communication with
said cylindrical chamber; (v) an inlet door having an arcuate inner
face, said inlet door pivotally secured to said wall, said arcuate
inner face having a curvature of substantially similar radius of
said inner circumferential surface of said cylindrical chamber,
wherein said inlet door may be selectively pivoted between a first
position away from said intake aperture and a second position over
said intake aperture such that when said inlet door is pivoted to
said first position away from said intake aperture said arcuate
inner face of said inlet door may guide material towards said intake
aperture, and such that when said inlet door is pivoted to said
second position over said intake aperture said arcuate inner face
is substantially flush with said inner circumferential surface of
said cylindrical chamber; and (vi) an arcuately shaped screen pivotally
secured to said wall, said arcuately shaped screen having a curvature
of substantially similar radius of said inner circumferential surface
of said cylindrical chamber, wherein said screen may be selectively
pivoted between a first position over said discharge aperture and
a second position away from said discharge aperture, such that when
said screen is pivoted to said first position over said discharge
aperture said screen is substantially flush with said inner circumferential
surface of said cylindrical chamber, and such that when said screen
is pivoted to said second position away from said discharge aperture
said screen may be accessible for service; (b) a rotary drive shaft
supported by at least one of said side plates such that at least
a portion of said drive shaft is disposed within said cylindrical
chamber wherein said at least a portion of said drive shaft is disposed
within said cylindrical chamber substantially coaxially with said
longitudinal axis of said cylindrical chamber; and (c) one or more
impact tools for crushing received material, each said impact tool
being coupled to said at least a portion of said rotary drive shaft
disposed within said cylindrical chamber, each said impact tool
further being arranged for rotary movement by said rotary drive
shaft along a path of travel substantially concentric with said
inner circumferential surface of said cylindrical chamber; wherein
when said inlet door is pivoted to said second position over said
intake aperture, said one or more impact tools may impact material
adhering to said arcuate inner face of said inlet door thereby removing
said adhered material from said arcuate inner face and into said
chamber.
Description [0001] This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional
Patent Application entitled "Self Cleaning Granular Materials
Crusher", U.S. Application Ser. No. 60/605685 filed on Aug.
31 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Material crushers are generally used to crush and reduce
the size of material and are employed in a variety of fields, including
but not limited to, mining, ceramics, recycling, iron and steel
industries, etc. These material crushers may be used as primary
crushers or as secondary or tertiary crushers in the processing
of material requiring reduced size. The prior art fails to teach
or suggest a crusher or method of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] While the specification concludes with claims which particularly
point out and distinctly claim the invention, it is believed the
present invention will be better understood from the following accompanying
drawings, in which like reference numerals identify the same elements
and which:
[0004] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the crusher of the
present invention;
[0005] FIG. 2 depicts a second perspective view of the crusher
of FIG. 1;
[0006] FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevational view of the crusher
with the inlet door pivoted away from the intake aperture;
[0007] FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevational view of the crusher
with the inlet door pivoted over the intake aperture;
[0008] FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevational view of the crusher
with the screen pivoted over the discharge aperture; and
[0009] FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevational view of the crusher
with the screen pivoted away from the discharge aperture.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Referring now to FIGS. 1-6 the crusher 10 comprises a housing
15 having a substantially cylindrical crushing chamber 20. The crushing
chamber 20 comprises and is defined by a substantially tubular wall
30 having an inner circumferential surface 35. The inner diameter
of the chamber 20 may be between about 10 inches to 30 inches, more
preferably about between 15 inches and 20 inches, and even more
preferably about 161/2 inches. While the chamber 20 and tubular
wall 30 are shown as substantially tubular or cylindrical in shape
and as having substantially circular cross-sections, it should be
appreciated that the chamber 20 and wall 30 may be of any shape
or cross-section suitable for receiving material to be crushed and
containing such material until the material is reduced to a desired
size. For example, the chamber and wall may have oval cross-sections.
The chamber 20 may also include impact elements known in the art
to assist in the crushing of material, such as breaker bars, breaker
plates, impact aprons, and the like. Such impact elements may be
integral or coupled to the inner circumferential surface 35 and/or
one or both side plates 40 45.
[0011] A first side plate 40 and a second side plate 45 may each
be attached to corresponding end of the wall 30 by welding, mechanical
fasteners, a high strength epoxy or the like. The side plates 40
45 may be arranged to be substantially parallel to one another and
preferably substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis
of the chamber 20. The side plates 40 45 are preferably between
about 5 inches and 15 inches apart, and more preferable about 91/4
inches apart. The wall 30 and side plates 40 45 may be of any suitably
durable material known in the art, such as iron, steel, or the like.
[0012] The wall 30 may also include an intake aperture 50 therein
for receiving material to be crushed into the chamber 20 for crushing.
The intake aperture 50 may be of any dimension known in the art
and suitable for receiving uncrushed material into the chamber 20.
An inlet door 60 may pivot between a position away from the intake
aperture 50 as shown in FIG. 3 and a position over the intake
aperture 50 as shown in FIG. 4. The inlet door 60 may be pivotally
secured to the wall 30 by way of one or more hinge assemblies. Alternatively,
the inlet door 60 may pivot about a bar extending between one or
both side plates 40 45. The inlet door 60 may be of any suitably
durable material known in the art, such as iron, steel, or the like.
The inlet door 60 may be pivoted by a double acting piston assembly
62 preferably mounted on the housing 15. Alternatively, the inlet
door 60 may be pivoted by a motor, such as an electric motor or
the like, or manually by an operator.
[0013] The inlet door 60 preferably includes an arcuate inner face
65. The curvature of the arcuate inner face 65 preferably has a
radius similar to the radius of inner circumferential surface 35
such that when the inlet door 60 is in a position over the intake
aperture 50 the arcuate inner face 65 is substantially flush with
the inner circumferential surface 35 of the chamber 20. Also, when
the inlet door 60 is in a position away from the intake aperture
50 this configuration advantageously provides for the guiding of
material by the inner face 65 towards the intake aperture 50.
[0014] One or both of the side plates 40 45 may rotationally support
a rotary drive shaft 70 extending into the chamber 20. In one embodiment,
a portion of the drive shaft 70 within the chamber 20 may be substantially
coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the chamber 20. The rotary
drive shaft 70 may be driven by any suitable drive mechanism known
in the art, such as an electronic motor, a gas engine, or the like.
[0015] One or more impact tools 80 may be secured to the drive
shaft 70 within the chamber 20. The impact tools 80 may be of any
type known in the art suitable for impacting and crushing the desired
material, such as, hammers, chains, blow bars, or the like. The
rotary drive shaft 70 may rotate the tools 80 along a path of travel
substantially concentric with the inner circumferential surface
35 of the chamber 20. The tools 80 are preferably arranged on the
drive shaft 70 such that there is clearance between the end of each
tool 70 and the inner circumferential surface 35 of up to about
1/2 inch and preferably about 1/8 inch.
[0016] In use, the inlet door 60 may initially be positioned away
from the intake aperture 50. Material to be crushed may be directed
towards the intake aperture 50 and into the chamber 20. At least
a portion of such material may contact the inner face 65 of the
inlet door 60 thereby being guided towards the intake aperture 50.
Over time, material may adhere to and build up on the inner face
65 such that the intake aperture 50 may be partially to fully blocked
thereby. When such build up occurs, the inlet door 60 may be pivoted
to a position above the intake aperture 50 such that the inner face
65 of the inlet door 60 is substantially flush with the inner surface
35 of the chamber 20 such that the impact tools 80 may strike the
adhered material and remove such material from the inner face 65
whereby the material then enters the chamber 20 to be crushed.
[0017] The inlet door 60 may be pivoted over the intake aperture
50 by an operator when the operator observes a build up. Alternatively,
the inlet door 60 may be pivoted over the intake aperture 50 automatically
at regular time intervals. The inlet door 60 may be positioned over
the intake aperture 50 for up to about 30 seconds, more preferably
about 10 seconds, and even more preferably about 1 second; after
which, the inlet door 60 may be automatically pivoted away from
the intake aperture 50. Alternatively, the inlet door 60 may be
pivoted over the intake aperture 50 and subsequently pivoted away
at the discretion of an operator. Additionally, the flow of material
to the crusher 10 may be temporarily ceased when the inlet door
60 is over the intake aperture 50 and the flow of material resumed
when the inlet door 60 is pivoted away from the intake aperture
50.
[0018] The tubular wall 30 may also include a discharge aperture
55 therein for discharging crushed material from the chamber 20.
An arcuately shaped screen 90 may pivot between a position over
the discharge aperture 55 where the reduced or crushed material
mall fall through the screen 90 as shown in FIG. 5 and a position
away from the discharge aperture 55 as shown in FIG. 6.
[0019] The screen 90 may be pivotally secured to the wall 30 by
way of one or more hinge assemblies. Alternatively, the screen 90
may pivot about a bar extending between one or both side plates
40 45. Also, in one embodiment, the screen is secured to a frame
95 which may be pivotally secured to the wall 30 and/or one or both
side plates 40 45. The curvature of the screen 90 may have a radius
similar to the radius of inner circumferential surface 35 such that
when the screen 90 is in a position over the discharge aperture
55 the screen 90 is substantially flush with the inner circumferential
surface 35 of the chamber 20. The screen 90 and/or frame 95 may
be secured to the wall 30 and/or one or more side plates 40 45
during operation of the crusher 10 by mechanical fasteners and the
like. For service or replacement of the screen 90 the screen 90
and/or frame 95 may be pivoted away from the discharge aperture
55 thereby providing an operator easy access to repair, replace
or otherwise service the screen 90.
[0020] The screen 90 may be any suitable screen known in the art.
The screen 90 may be pivoted manually by an operator, or by a mechanism
such as double acting piston assembly, a motor, such as an electric
motor, or the like.
[0021] While the present invention has been illustrated by the
description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments
have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention
of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the
appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications
may readily appear to those skilled in the art. |