Method and apparatus for fiberizing
AssigneeAdvanced Fiber Technology, Inc.
InventorMilton Gerber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for communicating feed stock in the form of shreds or the like to form a low density particulate product. The shredded feed stock is fed to a material handling rotor that functions as a centrifugal blower. The apparatus includes a housing that defines a cylindrical rotor chamber formed about a horizontal axis and a volute-shaped internal passage having at least one convolution formed around the rotor chamber. Located within the housing is a cylindrical screen with perforations that open into the rotor chamber. The centrifugal blower rotor is mounted in the rotor chamber and has a plurality of radial vanes with rakers attached to the outer ends closely spaced from the inner surface of the screen so that they continuously wipe pass the perforations to prevent clogging or blinding.
Claims26
Apparatus for comminuting feed stock to form a low density fibrous product comprising:
- a housing defining:
- a cylindrical rotor chamber,
- a passage formed around said rotor chamber,
- an outlet from said passage, and,
- axial inlet means for feeding said feed stock
- into the central portion of said rotor chamber;
- means for delivering said feed stock to said axial inlet means entrained in a flowing fluid stream;
- a perforate cylindrical screen mounted in said housing about said axis between said rotor chamber and said passage;
- a centrifugal blower mounted in said rotor chamber for rotation about said axis and having a plurality of radial vanes with rakers mounted at the outer ends thereof, said rakers being closely spaced from the inner surface of said screen to prevent clogging of the openings in said screen;
- drive means for said rotor;
- and
- grate means disposed generally parallel to the path of said fluid flowing stream prior to said central portion of said rotor chamber for separating undesirably heavy components of said feed stock therefrom prior to said feed stock being delivered to said axial inlet means.
Apparatus for comminuting feed stock to form a low density fibrous product comprising:
- a housing defining:
- a cylindrical rotor chamber,
- a passage formed around said rotor chamber,
- an outlet from said passage, and
- axial inlet means for feeding said feed stock
- into the central portion of said rotor chamber;
- means for delivering said feed stock to said axial inlet means entrained in a fluid stream;
- a perforate screen mounted in said housing about said axis between said rotor chamber and said volute-shaped passage;
- a rotor mounted in said rotor chamber for rotation about said axis and having a plurality of radial vanes with rakers mounted at the outer ends thereof, said rakers being closely spaced from the inner surface of said screen to prevent clogging of the openings in said screen;
- drive means for said rotor;
- means including said rotor for generating a fluid stream velocity of at least 1,000 feet per minute through the perforations in said screen and
- means disposed generally parallel to said fluid stream and associated with said feed stock delivery means for separating undesirable, relatively heavy components from said feed stock prior to delivery of said feed stock to said axial inlet means.
A method for comminuting feed stock to form a low density, product comprising:
- feeding said feed stock entrained in a fluid stream to a central portion of a cylindrical rotor chamber;
- separating undesirably heavy components of said fed stock via grate means disposed generally parallel to the path of said fluid stream prior to said components reaching a centrifugal rotor having radial vanes;
- driving said centrifugal rotor at relatively high speed in said chamber to generate a high velocity air flow with said feed stock entrained therein to force said organic material radially outward in said rotor chamber at relatively high velocity;
- forcing said resulting fluid flow radially outward through perforations in a cylindrical screen surrounding said rotor at a fluid stream velocity of at least 1,000 feet per minute through the perforations in said screen to comminute said feed stock;
- and
- discharging the comminuted product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.