US 5,881,959 A · Materials grinder with infeed conveyor and anvil

Abstract

A materials grinder includes a rotary grinding drum and a shear bar cooperating with the grinding drum to grind various types of materials. The shear bar is mounted on a pivotal structure adjacent the materials grinding drum. A displaceable biasing member biases the pivotal structure toward the grinding drum to maintain the shear bars in close cooperating relationship therewith. If ungrindable materials are encountered, the pivotal structure pivots away from the grinding drum against the bias force of the biasing member to permit the ungrindable materials to pass between the grinding drum and the shear bar. Once the ungrindable materials pass, the biasing member moves the pivotal structure back toward the grinding drum. Materials to be ground are fed to the grinding drum by means of an infeed conveyor and an overhead infeed roller. The infeed conveyor and roller are coupled to one or more overload sensors that can reverse the infeed conveyor and roller for a predetermined period of time if material jams the grinding drum or feed mechanisms. The infeed conveyor and roller enable the materials grinder to effectively process springy materials such a brush, live branches and other green waste. The materials grinder is thus well-suited to grind both green waste and more rigid materials that might contain ungrindable components.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A materials grinder comprising:

a rotary grinding drum;
a housing disposed adjacent said rotary grinding drum;
sealing structures disposed adjacent ends of said rotary grinding drum for preventing materials from lodging at said ends;
an anvil mounted adjacent said rotary grinding drum;
a pivotal structure adjacent said rotary grinding drum;
a shear bar on said pivotal structure adjacent said rotary grinding drum and in cooperating relationship therewith;
a displaceable biasing member for biasing said pivotal structure toward said rotary grinding drum;
said biasing member permitting limited displacement of said pivotal structure away from said rotary grinding drum to permit ungrindable materials to pass between said rotary grinding drum and said pivotal structure, the pivotal structure being displaced automatically by the ungrindable material being moved between the shear bar and the rotary grinding drum;
an infeed conveyor having an upper conveying surface and an end adjacent said rotary grinding drum for receiving materials to be ground on said upper conveying surface and for conveying said materials to said rotary grinding drum;
and
an infeed roller pivotally mounted over said infeed conveyor and cooperating with said rotary grinding drum.

8 more elements

A materials grinder comprising:

a rotary grinding drum;
a housing disposed adjacent said rotary grinding drum;
sealing structures disposed adjacent ends of said rotary grinding drum for preventing materials from lodging at said ends;
an anvil mounted adjacent said rotary grinding drum;
a pivotal structure adjacent said rotary grinding drum;
a shear bar on said pivotal structure adjacent said rotary grinding drum and in cooperating relationship therewith;
a displaceable biasing member for biasing said pivotal structure toward said rotary grinding drum;
said biasing member permitting limited displacement of said pivotal structure away from said rotary grinding drum to permit ungrindable materials to pass between said rotary grinding drum and said pivotal structure, the pivotal structure being displaced automatically by the ungrindable material being moved between the shear bar and the rotary grinding drum;
a displaceable support for supporting said pivotal structure so as to permit said pivotal structure to move away from said grinding drum when ungrindable said materials are encountered to permit passage of the ungrindable materials through said materials grinder without damaging or jamming said materials grinder;
an infeed conveyor having an upper conveying surface and an end adjacent said rotary grinding drum for receiving materials to be ground on said upper conveying surface and for conveying said materials to said rotary grinding drum;
and
an infeed roller pivotally mounted over said infeed conveyor and cooperating with said rotary grinding drum.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Materials grinder with infeed conveyor and anvil

Life of this patent

Materials grinder with infeed conveyor and anvil

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19