Variable size reduction apparatus and process
AssigneesMaterial Recovery of North America, Inc., Southwest Tire Processors
InventorsJeanne M. Gacanich, Moises E. Romero, Fabian M. Romero, Jr., Yu Ping Tang, Edward C. Hensel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A size reduction apparatus and process for reducing the size of a heterogeneous or homogeneous article or articles using variable and interchangeable interior parts for varying article output size and an air handling system for introducing air and/or fluid into the process of size-reduction. The components of a heterogeneous article are separated and used to aid in the size-reduction process.
Claims40
A variable size-reducing apparatus for reducing the size of an article, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- a shaft disposed within said housing;
- a drive mechanism for rotating said shaft;
- at least one interchangeable platform removably attachable to said shaft, at least one of said platforms having a plurality of holes through said platform for fluid transport through said platform;
- a plurality of spacers removably arrangeable along the length of and covering said shaft between said platforms to space said platforms apart by predetermined distances and to protect said shaft from damage, said shaft, said platforms, and said spacers comprising one integral unit removably disposed in said housing;
- and
- a plurality of cutting surfaces located within said housing.
A variable size-reducing apparatus for reducing the size of an article, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing comprising an interior wall and an exterior wall adjacent said interior wall such that a fluid-retaining enclosure is formed;
- a plurality of cutting surfaces located within said housing;
- and
- a wall surrounding said cutting surfaces and removably disposed within said housing, said wall comprising an interior surface, an exterior surface, a plurality of holes disposed in said wall, and a corresponding plurality of exterior surface enclosures to each of said holes to increase the interior surface area of said wall, to provide additional cutting surfaces, and to briefly trap the article for cutting by said cutting surfaces within said housing.
A method for separating components of a heterogeneous article, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a heterogeneous article having components of varying hardnesses;
- b) propelling the article about a housing;
- c) contacting the article with surfaces within the housing;
- d) compressing the article upon the contacting step;
- and
- e) ejecting harder components from softer components upon the compressing step.
A method for separating components and reducing size of a heterogeneous article, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a heterogeneous article having components of varying hardnesses to be reduced;
- b) propelling the article about a housing;
- c) contacting the article with surfaces in the housing;
- d) compressing the article upon said contacting step;
- e) ejecting harder components from softer components upon the compressing step;
- and,
- f) cutting the article with ejected harder components.
A method for reducing size of an article, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an article to be reduced;
- b) propelling the article about a housing;
- c) contacting the article with surfaces in the housing;
- d) compressing the article upon the contacting step;
- and
- e) cutting the compressed article with cutting surfaces within the housing.
A method for reducing size of an article, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an article to be reduced;
- b) feeding the article at a controlled rate into a housing;
- c) rotating a propulsion mechanism;
- d) propelling the article about the housing with the propulsion mechanism;
- e) cutting the article with cutting surfaces within the housing;
- and,
- f) controlling the rate of the feeding step by;
- i) sensing the load of the propulsion mechanism;
- and
- ii) changing the feeding rate according to the sensed load and predetermined control values.
A method for reducing size of an article, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an article to be reduced;
- b) feeding the article into a housing;
- c) rotating a propulsion mechanism within the housing;
- d) propelling the article about the housing with propulsion surfaces on the propulsion mechanism;
- e) cutting the article with cutting surfaces within the housing;
- f) providing fluid into the housing, wherein providing fluid comprises:
- i) controlling the amount of fluid in the housing to retain the article within the housing for a desired amount of time;
- and
- ii) producing an interior pressure in the housing slightly below ambient air pressure;
- g) varying the article output size, wherein the varying step comprises:
- i) altering the number of propulsion surfaces on the propulsion mechanism;
- ii) altering the number of cutting surfaces within the housing;
- and
- iii) controlling the amount of fluid flowing into the housing to retain the article within the housing for a desired amount of time;
- and
- h) controlling the article output temperature such that the structural integrity of the article is not compromised via the providing fluid step and by circulating coolant fluid around the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.