US3777993A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for comminuting
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-11-08
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Granted: 1973-12-11
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Expires: 1991-11-08
Abstract
Abstract A trash grinder has a chamber with a fixed cylindrical wall containing a rotatable abrasive cone with a water impeller under the base of the cone. Water is admitted to the impeller and to the grinding chamber along with trash. The trash forms a frustoconical mass which rotates about its own axis and about the axis of the cone and works its way down the chamber under the force of gravity. The inertia of the mass causes relative grinding motion of the mass and discrete grinding elements of the cone which reduces the mass into fine particles that form a slurry along with the water, which slurry is ejected by the impeller. The slurry can be used for disposal in a sewage system.
Inventors
- 👤 R Crandall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:14
CPC Classifications
B; B02; B02C; B02C18/00; B02C18/0084; B02C18/0092
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
Apparatus for grinding trash comprising: means defining an upwardly open grinding chamber of circular cross-section having a base portion and a fixed, vertically oriented and generally cylindrical chamber wall, said chamber wall being free of any inwardly directed projections that would prevent rotation of trash across the inner surface of said chamber wall; means for admitting water into said chamber; a cone mounted within said chamber for rotation about a vertical axis, the base of said cone being located adjacent said base portion whereby said cone defines with said chamber wall an annular trash grinding zone having a downwardly convergent cross-section, the conical surface of said cone including a multiplicity of discrete, outwardly projecting pointed teeth operative upon rotation of said cone to tear away and separate small size particles from trash in said grinding zone; slurry discharge means located adjacent said base portion for collecting and discharging a slurry of water and small size trash particles from said chamber; and means for rotating said cone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
Apparatus for grinding trash comprising: means defining an upwardly open grinding chamber of circular cross-section having a base portion and a fixed, vertically oriented and generally cylindrical chamber wall, said chamber wall being free of any inwardly directed projections that would prevent rotation of trash across the inner surface of said chamber wall; means for admitting water into said chamber; a cone mounted within said chamber for rotation about a vertical axis, the base of said cone being located adjacent said base portion whereby said cone defines with said chamber wall an annular trash grinding zone having a downwardly convergent cross-section, the conical surface of said cone including a multiplicity of discrete, outwardly projecting pointed teeth operative upon rotation of said cone to tear away and separate small size particles from trash in said grinding zone; slurry discharge means located adjacent said base portion for collecting and discharging a slurry of water and small size trash particles from said chamber; and means for rotating said cone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said slurry discharge means includes a slurry discharge conduit in communication with the bottom of said grinding zone for carrying away said slurry, and wherein said apparatus further includes means for admitting supplemental water into said slurry discharge conduit for dilution of said slurry.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said slurry discharge means includes a slurry discharge conduit in communication with the bottom of said grinding zone for carrying away said slurry, and further includes an impeller mounted to the base of said cone adjacent said base portion of said chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus according to clAim 3 and including first shear jaws carried upon the upper face of said impeller, and complemental second shear jaws carried by said means defining said chamber, said first and second shear jaws cooperating on rotation of said cone to further abrade any said small size trash particles engaged by said upper vanes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 and including means for admitting water to the underside of said impeller, and wherein said underside of said impeller includes downwardly projecting, radially outwardly extending lower vanes in communication with said slurry discharge conduit and operative upon rotation of said cone to thrust water from adjacent said underside of said impeller radially outwardly into said slurry discharge conduit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 and including means for admitting water to the underside of said impeller, and wherein said means for admitting water into said grinding chamber includes a conduit extending from the underside of said impeller to the upper portion of said grinding chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for admitting water into said grinding chamber empties into the upper portion of said chamber, and wherein said chamber wall includes surface irregularities operative to prevent water build-up on said chamber wall upon rotation of said cone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cone comprises a conical spindle, a complemental conical hardened steel sheath fitted over said cone and having punched out portions constituting said pointed teeth, and means detachably securing said sheath to said conical spindle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said last mentioned means comprises an externally ribbed conical cap member surmounting said sheath.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 and including a deflector wall superjacent the upper end of said chamber and an annular pocket adjacent said deflector wall and surrounding said upper end of said chamber for deflecting and collecting any trash ricocheting out of said chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said deflector wall is inclined relative to a horizontal plane to facilitate deflection of ricocheting trash.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inner surface of said chamber wall includes shallow vertical serrations.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
104 words
The method of grinding trash comprising the steps of mixing trash with water; forming said mixture into at least one generally downwardly tapering conical mass; rotating said mass about its own axis and also in planetary fashion about a vertical axis located externally of the mass; engaging said rotating mass with a conical body having discrete, discontinuous abrading elements to tear away small size particles from the bottom of said mass at a rate greater than the top of said mass whereby said mass sinks downwardly and is progressively converted into a slurry of water and finely ground particles; and pumping off said slurry.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
104 words
The method of grinding trash comprising the steps of mixing trash with water; forming said mixture into at least one generally downwardly tapering conical mass; rotating said mass about its own axis and also in planetary fashion about a vertical axis located externally of the mass; engaging said rotating mass with a conical body having discrete, discontinuous abrading elements to tear away small size particles from the bottom of said mass at a rate greater than the top of said mass whereby said mass sinks downwardly and is progressively converted into a slurry of water and finely ground particles; and pumping off said slurry.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 13 including the step of adding supplemental water to said slurry during the pumping step to facilitate passage of said slurry through conduits and the like.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-10 | 1977-06-11 | 1977-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-10 | 1981-06-11 | 1981-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-10 | 1985-06-11 | 1985-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |