Hammermill

Abstract

Upper and lower rotors are offset in position, such as at an angle of 60.degree., between their centerlines, with the upper rotor having larger hammers and rotated at a lower speed than the lower rotor having smaller but a larger number of hammers. The feed is to the top of the upper rotor, and heavy interception bars extend perpendicularly to the centerline between the rotors and are disposed between the sets of hammers of the lower rotor, to prevent the entry of large objects into the lower rotor, to form an anvil against which objects on the bars are impacted by both the upper and lower hammers, with the lower hammers also "nibbling away" on the objects. A U-shaped corner formed of heavy armor plate is positioned next to the interception bars and extends between the circles of rotation of the hammer ends. A pivoted segment on the rear side of the upper rotor, having comminuting teeth on the inside, is held in closed position by heavy springs, but is adapted to be opened by the pressure of a large object, such as an automobile engine cylinder. Similar segments surround the remainder of both rotors, while the front segment opposite the pivoted segment for the upper rotor and the front, upper segment for the lower rotor are mounted in a pivoted housing panel, which may be moved hydraulically to pivot to a forward and downward position, for inspection and maintenance of the hammers. A screen at the bottom of the lower rotor may be removed for inspection by sliding in grooves in arcuate mounting blocks, to a position above the lower parting line between the main housing and the pivotal panel. Several variations in the screens and hammers, particularly of the lower rotor, are also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.