Gradient-force comminuter/dehydrator apparatus and method

A gradient-force comminuter/dehydrator apparatus for comminuting and dehydrating material, comprising:

• (a) a cylindrical chamber having a partially closed planar top wall, a closed peripheral side wall, and an open bottom;
• said chamber having a diameter and a generally, vertically oriented axis;
• (b) a body having an inverted, conically shaped cavity with an open base upper end and an open truncated lower end;
• said cavity having a generally, vertically oriented axis;
• said base upper end having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said chamber;
• the open truncated lower end of said cavity encompassing an angle of approximately 36 degrees;
• the base upper end of said body connected to and positioned below said chamber such that said axis of said cavity is substantially colinear with said axis of said chamber;
• (c) a blower adapted to operably provide high volume, high velocity air to said chamber and said cavity;
• (d) a manifold connecting said blower to said chamber to duct said air from said blower to said chamber and said cavity;
• said manifold aligned with said chamber such that said ducted air is directed substantially tangentially into said chamber;
• (e) a material feeder value adapted to feed the material being comminuted and dehydrated into said apparatus;
• said valve having an output port connected to said manifold in close proximity to said chamber and an input port connected to said blower such that a portion of said air flowing from said blower to said chamber flows through said valve;
• (f) a cylindrically shaped sleeve having a generally, vertically oriented axis;
• said sleeve having an open upper end and an open lower end;
• said sleeve extending through said chamber and into said cavity;
• said sleeve having a pair of jacks such that said sleeve is vertically adjustable relative to said chamber such that said axis of said sleeve is substantially colinear with said axis of said chamber;
• (g) a damper having an inverted, conically shaped configuration;
• said damper having a generally, vertically oriented axis;
• said damper threadably connected to said sleeve such that the axis of said damper is substantially co-linear with said axis of said sleeve;
• said damper adapted to be threadably advanceable toward and away from said open upper end of said sleeve in order to interact with air operably exiting from said cavity into the ambient atmosphere through said sleeve;
• and
• (h) a venturi mechanism having an opposing pair of arcuately shaped sidewall plates such that the velocity of air flowing therebetween is enhanced;
• said venturi mechanism spaced internally to said manifold and in close proximity to said chamber.

A method for comminuting and dehydrating material, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an apparatus having:
• (1) a cylindrical chamber having a diameter and a generally vertically oriented axis;
• (2) a body having a inverted, conically shaped cavity with a generally vertically oriented axis and with an open truncated lower end;
• said body connected to, and suspended below, said chamber;
• said cavity having a base wherein at said connection, said base has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said chamber;
• (3) air flow means for causing air to flow through said apparatus;
• (4) first material introduction means for introducing material to be comminuted and dehydrated into said apparatus;
• (5) second material introducing means for introducing material to be comminuted and dehydrated into said apparatus including:
• (A) first controlling means for controlling the rate of comminuting the material, said first controlling means including a cylindrically shaped sleeve extending through said chamber;
• and
• (B) second controlling means for controlling the coarseness of the comminuted material, said second controlling means comprising dampening means located at least partially within said sleeve;
• and
• (6) gravitational discharge means for gravitationally discharging the comminuted material from said apparatus;
• (b) causing air from said air flow means to cyclonically flow through said chamber and said cavity;
• (c) introducing material into said apparatus and comminuting and dehydrating said material;
• (d) adjusting said first and second controlling means to select the desired rate of comminuting the material and to select the desired coarseness of the comminuted material, respectively;
• and
• (e) gravitationally discharging comminuted material from said apparatus.

An apparatus for comminuting and dehydrating material, comprising:

• (a) a cylindrical chamber having a diameter and a generally vertically oriented axis;
• (b) a body having an inverted, conically shaped cavity with a generally vertically oriented axis and with an open truncated lower end;
• said body connected to, and suspended below, said chamber;
• said cavity having a base which connects to said chamber wherein at said connection said base has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the chamber;
• (c) air flow means for causing air to flow through said apparatus;
• (d) first material introduction means for introducing material to be comminuted and dehydrated into said apparatus;
• (e) second material introducing means for introducing material being comminuted and dehydrated into said apparatus including first controlling means comprising a cylindrically shaped sleeve axially extending through said chamber and partially through said cavity and second controlling means comprising dampening means located at least partially within said sleeve for dampening air flowing through said sleeve, said dampening means being configured as an inverted cone;
• and
• (f) gravitational discharge means for gravitationally discharging the comminuted material from said apparatus.