# US 2014/0151475 A1 · Hammer for shredding machines > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151475 A1 - Document ID: US20140151475A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/897,340 - Filed: 2013-05-17 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-05-18 - Assignees: ESCO Corporation - Applicants: ESCO Corporation - Inventors: David M. Graf; Michael R. Weeks; John P. Hoice; Daniel R. Morrow; Terry L. Briscoe; Christopher M. Carpenter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151475A1 ## CPC - B02C 13/28: Shape or construction of beater elements - B02C 13/04: with beaters hinged to the rotor; Hammer mills - B02C 13/284: Built-in screens - B02C 2013/2808: {the beater elements are attached to disks mounted on a shaft} - B02C: CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN ({household tools and machines for pulverising foodstuffs, e.g. coffee and spice mills A47J42/00; pharmaceutical mortars A61J3/02; mechanical processing of refuse and garbage B03B9/06; dressing mould materials by grinding B22C5/04}; obtaining metallic powder by crushing, grinding or milling B22F9/04; {recovery of plastics by disintegrating B29B17/00; crushing raw materials in starch making C08B30/02; beaters for papermaking D21D1/02; crushing devices specially for transport in mines E21F13/002; slag crushing devices F23J1/00; fuel milling devices in combustion apparatus F23K1/00; household devices for crushing coal F24B15/02; ice disintegrating devices F25C5/02}) ## Abstract Shredder hammers having first and second major surfaces on opposing sides, and a circumferential edge. A mounting portion includes a mounting hole that extends from the first major surface to the second major surface, and is configured to receive a hammer mounting pin for mounting in a reducing system. The circumferential edge includes a primary impact face to initially impact materials to be reduced and a wear edge to subsequently crush and shear the material against a wall of the equipment. The hammer is biased forward on the pin to admit more material to be crushed between the wear edge and the grates. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hammer for a shredding machine comprising a mounting hole for mounting the hammer in the shredding machine, a center of gravity, a center of gravity axis extending through a center of the mounting hole and the center of gravity, a leading portion on one side of the center of gravity axis including a leading surface that faces in the direction of hammer rotation in an unloaded condition, and a trailing portion on the other side of the center of gravity axis that extends laterally farther from the center of gravity axis than the leading portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hammer of claim 1 including a wear edge that faces outward in an unloaded operating condition and opposite side surfaces that diverge toward the wear edge outward of the center of gravity. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hammer of claim 1 including an arcuate wear edge that faces outward in an unloaded operating condition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hammer of claim 1 including a wear edge that faces outward in an unloaded operating condition and that is longer on the trailing side of the center of gravity axis than on the leading side of the center of gravity axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hammer of claim 1 where the hammer is of one piece. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hammer of claim 1 including opposite major surfaces interconnected and spaced apart by a circumferential rim surface, wherein the rim surface includes a wear edge that faces outward in an unloaded operating condition, a leading surface facing forward to define a primary impact surface, and a trailing surface facing rearward to define a secondary impact surface for reverse mounting. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The hammer of claim 6 wherein the rim surface includes a leading side surface extending between the mounting hole and the leading surface, and a trailing side surface extending between the mounting hole and the trailing surface, and wherein the leading side surface and the trailing side surface diverge toward the wear edge outward of the center of gravity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The hammer of claim 7 wherein a leading axis extends from the center of the mounting hole to an intersection of the leading surface and the wear edge, a trailing axis extends from the center of the mounting hole to an intersection of the trailing surface and the wear edge, and a trailing angle between the trailing axis and the center of gravity axis is greater than a leading angle between the leading axis and the center of gravity axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The hammer of claim 6 wherein a leading axis extends from the center of the mounting hole to an intersection of the leading surface and the wear edge, a trailing axis extends from the center of the mounting hole to an intersection of the trailing surface and the wear edge, and a trailing angle between the trailing axis and the center of gravity axis is greater than a leading angle between the leading axis and the center of gravity axis. ### Claim 10 A hammer for a shredding machine comprising a mounting hole for mounting the hammer in the shredding machine, a center of gravity, a center of gravity axis extending through a center of the mounting hole and the center of gravity, a leading impact face, and a wear edge facing outward in an unloaded operating condition, the wear edge being longer rearward of the center of gravity axis than toward the leading impact face forward of the center of gravity axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The hammer of claim 10 including opposite side surfaces that diverge toward the wear edge outward of the center of gravity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The hammer of claim 10 including opposite major surfaces interconnected and spaced apart by a circumferential rim surface, wherein the mounting hole opens in each of the major surfaces. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The hammer of claim 10 wherein a leading axis extends from the center of the mounting hole to a leading end of the wear edge, a trailing axis extends from the center of the mounting hole to a trailing end of the wear edge, and the trailing angle between the trailing axis and the center of gravity axis is greater than the leading angle between the leading axis and the center of gravity axis. ### Claim 14 A hammer for a shredding machine comprising a mounting hole for mounting the hammer in the shredding machine, a center of gravity, a center of gravity axis extending through a center of the mounting hole and the center of gravity, a leading impact face, and a wear edge having a leading end and a trailing end and facing outward in an unloaded operating condition, a leading axis extending from the center of the mounting hole to the leading end of the wear edge, and a trailing axis extending from the center of the mounting hole to the trailing end of the wear edge, wherein a trailing angle between the trailing axis and the center of gravity axis is greater than a leading angle between the leading axis and the center of gravity axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The hammer of claim 14 including opposite side surfaces that diverge toward the wear edge outward of the center of gravity. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The hammer of claim 14 including opposite major surfaces interconnected and spaced apart by a circumferential rim surface, wherein the mounting hole opens in each of the major surfaces. ### Claim 17 A hammer for a shredding machine comprising a mounting hole for mounting the hammer in the shredding machine, a wear edge having a leading end and a trailing end and a midpoint, the wear edge facing outward in an unloaded operating condition, a longitudinal axis extending through a center of the mounting hole and the midpoint of the wear edge, a leading section on one side of the longitudinal axis including a leading surface that faces in the direction of hammer rotation in an unloaded condition, and a trailing section on the other side of the longitudinal axis that has more mass than the leading section. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The hammer of claim 17 including opposite side surfaces that diverge toward the wear edge outward of the center of gravity. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The hammer of claim 17 including opposite major surfaces interconnected and spaced apart by a circumferential rim surface, wherein the mounting hole opens in each of the major surfaces. ### Claim 20 A hammer for a shredding machine comprising a mounting hole for mounting the hammer in the shredding machine, a center of gravity, a center of gravity axis extending through a center of the mounting hole and the center of gravity, a leading portion on one side of the center of gravity axis having a leading center of mass, a trailing portion on the other side of the center of gravity axis having a trailing center of mass, a leading impact face, a wear edge having a leading end and a trailing end and facing outward in an unloaded operating condition, a leading axis extending from the center of the mounting hole to the leading end of the wear edge, and a trailing axis extending from the center of the mounting hole to the trailing end of the wear edge, wherein the leading center of mass and the trailing center of mass is within an angle defined between the leading axis and the trailing axis. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The hammer of claim 20 wherein the trailing portion extends laterally farther from the center of gravity axis than the leading portion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The hammer of claim 20 wherein the wear edge is longer on the trailing portion than on the leading portion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The hammer of claim 20 wherein the hammer is cast as a single piece. ### Claim 24 A hammer for a shredding machine comprising a mounting hole for mounting the hammer in the shredding machine, a center of gravity, a center of gravity axis extending through a center of the mounting hole and the center of gravity, a wear edge remote from the mounting hole, facing outward in an unloaded operating condition and having a length and a height defined as the distance from the center of the mounting hole to the wear edge along the center of gravity axis, wherein the ratio of the height to the length of the wear edge is less than 0.75. ### Claim 25 A hammer comprising two opposite surfaces, a mounting hole extending through the hammer and opening in each of the opposite surfaces to receive a support pin for mounting the shredder hammer in a shredding machine, a peripheral rim connecting the two opposite surfaces and including a wear edge, the wear edge being remote from the mounting hole terminates at a leading face at a first end and a trailing face at a second end, a center of gravity and a center of gravity axis passing through the center of gravity and through the center of the hole defining a trailing portion including the trailing face and a leading portion including the leading face and a leading periphery, wherein the trailing face extends beyond a leading periphery of the leading portion when the leading portion is projected as a mirror image across the center of gravity axis over the trailing portion. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The hammer of claim 25 where at least a portion of the wear edge defines an arc defined by a center of curvature in the hole. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The hammer of claim 25 including a transverse axis perpendicular to the center of gravity axis and passing through the center of gravity to define a mounting portion with the mounting hole and a working portion with the wear edge, wherein the working portion is wider than the mounting portion. ### Claim 28 A hammer comprising two major surfaces, a mounting hole extending through the hammer and opening in each of the major surfaces to receive a support pin for mounting the shredder hammer in a shredding machine, a peripheral rim connecting the two major surfaces and including a wear edge, the wear edge being remote from the hole and including a leading end and a trailing end, a center of gravity, a center of gravity axis passing through the center of gravity and the center of the hole, a leading axis extending from the center of the hole to the leading end of the wear edge and a trailing axis extending from the center of the hole to the trailing end of the wear edge, wherein the trailing angle between the center of gravity axis and the trailing axis is greater than the leading angle between the center of gravity axis and the leading axis. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The hammer of claim 28 including a transverse axis perpendicular to the center of gravity axis and extending through the center of gravity to define a working portion with the wear edge and a mounting portion with the mounting hole, wherein the working portion is wider than the mounting portion. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The hammer of claim 28 where the leading angle defined between the leading axis and the center of gravity axis 38 degrees or more. ### Claim 31 A hammer comprising a pair of major surfaces, a circumferential edge connecting the major surfaces and including a wear edge, a center of gravity, a mounting portion including a mounting hole extending through the hammer and opening in each of the major surfaces to receive a support pin for mounting the hammer in a shredding machine, a center of gravity axis extending through the center of the hole and the center of gravity, a working portion remote from the mounting hole and including the wear edge, a leading impact face, and a trailing face, the wear edge terminating at the leading impact face and the trailing face,an outer datum perpendicular to the center of gravity axis and extending from the intersection of the center of gravity axis with the wear edge toward the leading impact face, and an acceptance gap defined by the distance between the wear edge at the leading impact face and the outer datum that is at least 21 percent of a leading axis distance from the center of the mounting hole to the wear edge at the leading impact face. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The hammer of claim 31 wherein the working portion is wider than the mounting portion. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The hammer of claim 31 which is substantially bell shaped with a wide working portion and a narrower convex arcuate shape at the mounting portion. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The hammer of claim 33 wherein the circumferential edge substantially diverges from the mounting portion toward the working portion in a direction along the center of gravity axis. ### Claim 35 A hammer comprising a first surface and a second surface, a circumferential edge connecting the first surface and the second surface and including a wear edge describing an arc terminating at a leading face and a trailing face, a center of gravity, a mounting hole extending through the hammer and opening in the first surface and the second surface to receive a support pin for mounting the shredder hammer in a shredding machine, a center of gravity axis passing through the center of gravity and through the center of the hole defining a trailing portion with the trailing face and a leading portion with the leading face, a transverse line perpendicular to the center of gravity axis and extending from the intersection of center of gravity axis and the wear edge and an acceptance gap angle defined by the transverse line and a gap line extending through the intersection of the transverse line and the wear edge and through the intersection of the arc and the leading face, wherein the acceptance gap angle is greater than 19 degrees. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The hammer of claim 35 wherein the working portion is wider than the mounting portion. ### Claim 37 A hammer comprising two opposite surfaces, a mounting hole extending through the hammer and opening in each of the major surfaces to receive a support pin for mounting the shredder hammer in a shredding machine, a center of gravity, a center of gravity axis passing through the center of gravity and through the center of the hole defining a trailing portion including a trailing face and a leading portion including a leading face and a peripheral rim connecting the two opposite surfaces including a wear edge, the wear edge being remote from the mounting hole and describing an arc that terminates at a leading face and a trailing face, wherein a line between the center of the hole and the terminus of the wear edge at the leading face is inclined to the center of gravity axis by at least 38 degrees. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The hammer of claim 37 wherein the working portion is wider than the mounting portion. ### Claim 39 A shredding machine comprising a rotary head within a shredding chamber, a plurality of hammers each including a mounting hole for mounting the hammer to the rotary head, a center of gravity, a center of gravity axis extending through a center of the mounting hole and the center of gravity, a leading portion on one side of the center of gravity axis including a leading surface that faces in the direction of hammer rotation in an unloaded steady state condition, and a trailing portion on the other side of the center of gravity axis that extends laterally farther from the center of gravity axis than the leading portion. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The shredding machine of claim 39 wherein the hammer includes a wear edge that faces outward in an unloaded operating condition and opposite side surfaces that diverge toward the wear edge outward of the center of gravity. ### Claim 41 (depends on 39) The shredding machine of claim 39 wherein the hammer includes a wear edge that faces outward in an unloaded operating condition and that is longer on the trailing side of the center of gravity axis than on the leading side of the center of gravity axis. ### Claim 42 (depends on 39) The shredding machine of claim 39 wherein the hammer is of one piece. ### Claim 43 A method of operating shredding machine comprising mounting a hammer on a rotary head mill by a support pin through a mounting hole of the hammer, the hammer having a center of gravity, a center of gravity axis extending through a center of the mounting hole and the center of gravity, a leading portion on one side of the center of gravity axis including a leading surface that faces in the direction of hammer rotation in an unloaded steady state condition, and a trailing portion on the other side of the center of gravity axis that extends laterally farther from the center of gravity axis than the leading portion, rotating the rotary head such that the leading surface faces in the direction of rotation and feeding material into the shredding machine so that the leading surface impacts the target material fed into the shredding machine. ### Claim 44 A method of operating shredding machine comprising mounting a hammer on a rotary head mill by a support pin through a mounting hole of the hammer, the hammer having a center of gravity, a center of gravity axis extending through a center of the mounting hole and the center of gravity, a leading impact face, and a wear edge facing outward in an unloaded operating condition, the wear edge being longer rearward of the center of gravity axis than toward the leading impact face forward of the center of gravity axis, rotating the rotary head such that the leading surface faces in the direction of rotation and feeding material into the shredding machine so that the leading surface impacts the target material fed into the shredding machine. ### Claim 45 A method of operating shredding machine comprising mounting a hammer on a rotary head mill by a support pin through a mounting hole of the hammer, the hammer having a center of gravity, a center of gravity axis extending through a center of the mounting hole and the center of gravity, a leading impact face, and a wear edge having a leading end and a trailing end and facing outward in an unloaded operating condition, a leading axis extending from the center of the mounting hole to the leading end of the wear edge, and a trailing axis extending from the center of the mounting hole to the trailing end of the wear edge, wherein a trailing angle between the trailing axis and the center of gravity axis is greater than a leading angle between the leading axis and the center of gravity axis, rotating the rotary head such that the leading surface faces in the direction of rotation and feeding material into the shredding machine so that the leading surface impacts the target material fed into the shredding machine. ### Claim 46 A method of operating shredding machine comprising mounting a hammer on a rotary head mill by a support pin through a mounting hole of the hammer, a wear edge having a leading end and facing outward in an unloaded operating condition, a longitudinal axis extending through a center of the mounting hole and a midpoint of the wear edge, a leading section on one side of the longitudinal axis including a leading surface at the leading end that faces in the direction of hammer rotation in an unloaded condition, and a trailing section on the other side of the longitudinal axis that has more mass than the leading section, rotating the rotary head such that the leading surface faces in the direction of rotation, and feeding material into the shredding machine so that the leading surface impacts the target material fed into the shredding machine. ### Claim 47 A method of operating shredding machine comprising: mounting a hammer on a rotary head mill by a support pin through a mounting hole of the hammer, the hammer having a center of gravity, a center of gravity axis extending through a center of the mounting hole and the center of gravity, a leading portion on one side of the center of gravity axis having a leading center of mass, a trailing portion on the other side of the center of gravity axis having a trailing center of mass, a leading impact face, a wear edge having a leading end and a trailing end and facing outward in an unloaded operating condition, a leading axis extending from the center of the mounting hole to the leading end of the wear edge, and a trailing axis extending from the center of the mounting hole to the trailing end of the wear edge, wherein the leading center of mass and the trailing center of mass is within an angle defined between the leading axis and the trailing axis; rotating the rotary head such that the leading surface faces in the direction of rotation; and feeding material into the shredding machine so that the leading surface impacts the target material fed into the shredding machine. ### Claim 48 A method of operating shredding machine comprising mounting a hammer on a rotary head mill by a support pin through a mounting hole of the hammer, the hammer having a center of gravity, a center of gravity axis extending through a center of the mounting hole and the center of gravity, a wear edge remote from the mounting hole, facing outward in an unloaded operating condition and having a length, and a height defined as the distance from the center of the mounting hole to the wear edge along the center of gravity axis, wherein the ratio of the height to the length of the wear edge is less than 0.75, rotating the rotary head such that the leading surface faces in the direction of rotation; and feeding material into the shredding machine so that the leading surface impacts the target material fed into the shredding machine.\ ### Claim 49 A hammer for a shredding machine comprising a mounting hole for mounting the hammer in the shredding machine, a center of gravity, a center of gravity axis extending through a center of the mounting hole and the center of gravity, a leading portion on one side of the center of gravity axis having a leading center of mass, a trailing portion on the other side of the center of gravity axis having a trailing center of mass, wherein the trailing center of mass is spaced farther from the center of the mounting hole than the leading center of mass. ### Claim 50 (depends on 49) The hammer of claim 49 wherein the hammer includes a wear edge having a leading end and a trailing end and facing outward in an unloaded operating condition, a working portion that includes the wear edge and a mounting portion that includes the mounting hole and the working portion is wider than the mounting portion. ### Claim 51 A hammer for a shredding machine comprising a mounting hole for mounting the hammer in the shredding machine, a wear edge having a leading end and a trailing end, the wear edge facing outward in an unloaded operating condition, a longitudinal axis extending through a center of the mounting hole and the midpoint of the working end width between the leading end and the trailing end, a leading section on one side of the longitudinal axis including a leading surface that faces in the direction of hammer rotation in an unloaded condition, and a trailing section on the other side of the longitudinal axis that has more mass than the leading section.