Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
Demolishing apparauts comprising: a roughly flat, upwardly facing masticating bed adapted for gravity feeding of material to be processed; said masticating bed having a plurality of spaced parallel toothed demolition roller units; each of said roller units comprising a plurality of discrete cutting teeth projecting outward from spaced points along the surface of said roller unit and disposed collectively to cooperate in closely spaced relation with the corresponding plurality of teeth on adjacent roller units in the masticating of said material, and wherein the material is floatingly supported by the action of the rollers as portions thereof are chipped from the material and pass downwardly between the rollers; wall means extending upwardly from positions adjacent the opposed side edges of said bed for confining material thereon; and power means operatively connected to said demolition roller unit so as to rotatively drive said demolition roller units, whereby material exposed to said bed by gravity force is subject to the action of said demolition rollers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
Demolishing apparauts comprising: a roughly flat, upwardly facing masticating bed adapted for gravity feeding of material to be processed; said masticating bed having a plurality of spaced parallel toothed demolition roller units; each of said roller units comprising a plurality of discrete cutting teeth projecting outward from spaced points along the surface of said roller unit and disposed collectively to cooperate in closely spaced relation with the corresponding plurality of teeth on adjacent roller units in the masticating of said material, and wherein the material is floatingly supported by the action of the rollers as portions thereof are chipped from the material and pass downwardly between the rollers; wall means extending upwardly from positions adjacent the opposed side edges of said bed for confining material thereon; and power means operatively connected to said demolition roller unit so as to rotatively drive said demolition roller units, whereby material exposed to said bed by gravity force is subject to the action of said demolition rollers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said demolition roller units rotate substantially independently of each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said power means comprises prime mover means, and an independent drive connection from said prime mover means to each of said demolition roller units for providing each of said demolition roller units with sufficient power for its instantaneous load.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said power means comprises differential power means for providing each of said demolition roller units with sufficient power for its instantaneous load.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said differential power means comprises individual motor means for each of said demolition roller units.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said masticating bed comprises a plurality of said demolition rollEr units having a substantially flat relationship to each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said masticating bed comprises a plurality of said demolition roller units having a substantially arcuate relationship to each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said masticating bed comprises a plurality of said demolition roller units having a substantially sinuous relationship to each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said masticating bed is elongated and comprises a plurality of longitudinally oriented said demolition roller units.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said masticating bed is elongated and comprises a plurality of transversely oriented said demolition roller units.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said demolition roller units have replaceable teeth mounted thereon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said power means comprises a hydraulic power transmission system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 12, including heat exchanger means for cooling the hydraulic fluid of said hydraulic power transmission system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said power means comprises prime mover means, a plurality of hydraulic pumps driven by said prime mover means, and a like plurality of hydraulic motors driven by respective ones of said hydraulic pumps.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said power means comprises a mechanical power transmission system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said power means comprises an electric power transmission system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said demolition roller units comprises a single demolition roller.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said demolition roller units comprises a plurality of axially interconnected demolition rollers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, including reprocessing grate means disposed under said masticating bed adjacent to the periphery of at least one of said demolition roller units.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said reprocessing grate means comprises a plurality of generally parallel reprocessing blades.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said reprocessing blades are arranged generally parallel to the rotational axis of said one demolition roller unit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said reprocessing blades are angled opposite to the direction of movement of the adjacent demolition roller teeth.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said grate means comprises a grill-like structure including said reprocessing blades and a plurality of generally parallel blade supporting bars interconnecting said blades and arranged generally at right angles to said blades.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said grate means extends under at least a portion of said masticating bed including a plurality of substantially parallel said demolition roller units.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 19, which further includes elongated barrier means projecting upwardly from said grate means and arranged generally parallel to and laterally offset from the rotational axis of said one demolition roller unit to the side that is generally downstream as to adjacent tooth movement, said barrier means tending to retain rubble fragments in the region of said grate means for reprocessing thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said barrier means comprises an upstanding cutter blade having an upper edge arranged adjacent to the periphery of said one demolition roller unit for further reprocessing action in cooperation with the roller teeth.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 25, which includes a second said barrier means similar to said first-mentioned barrier means but laterally offset to the other side of said one demolition roller unit; said grate means and said first and second barrier means defining reprocessing chamber means associated with said one demolition roller unit.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
93 words
The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said grate means extends under at least a portion of said mastIcating bed including a plurality of substantially parallel said demolition roller units; and elongated barrier means projecting upwardly from said grate means and arranged generally parallel to the rotational axes of said demolition roller units; said barrier means comprising a plurality of elongated barriers arranged with a pair of said barriers located on opposite sides of each said demolition roller unit so as to define reprocessing chamber means associated with each of said demolition roller units.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said grate means comprises expanded metal structure.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said grate means comprises perforated pipe segment means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
74 words
Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said demolition roller units has a first set of cutting teeth thereon having a first cutting length; and a second set of cutting teeth on said one demolition roller unit having a second cutting length that is substantially shorter than said first cutting length; said first and second sets of cutting teeth being substantially uniformly distributed about said one demolition roller unit.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
94 words
Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 31, wherein each of said first and second sets of cutting teeth are generally helically arranged about the body of said demolition roller unit; each of said first and second sets of cutting teeth projecting substantially the same radial extent from the body of the demolition roller unit; said second set of cutting teeth being made effectively shorter than said first set of cutting teeth by helix rod means affixed to the body of the demolition roller unit generally in line with said second set of cutting teeth.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
61 words
Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 31, which also includes a third set of cutting teeth on said one demolition roller unit; said third set of cutting teeth having a third cutting length that is substantially shorter than said second cutting length; said first, second, and third sets of cutting teeth being substantially uniformly distributed about said one demolition roller unit.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
62 words
Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 33, which also includes a fourth set of cutting teeth on said one demolition roller unit; said fourth set of cutting teeth having a fourth cutting length that is substantially shorter than said third cutting length; said first, second, third, and fourth sets of cutting teeth being substantially uniformly distributed about said one demolition roller unit.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
74 words
Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said demolition roller units comprises a roller assembly including a shaft of irregular cross section; a series of apertured tooth support discs stacked along said shaft so as to define generally cylindrical roller surface means; and a multiplicity of cutter teeth supported by said tooth support discs and having cutting end portions projecting radially outwardly from said generally cylindrical roller surface means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein said irregular shaft cross section is generally square.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
112 words
Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein said tooth support discs are generally ring-shaped; adjacent pairs of said discs having tooth-receiving bores directed generally radially at their interfaces; said teeth each having head means engaged between the shaft and discs and shank means extending generally radially outwardly through respective said bores and terminating radially outwardly beyond said surface means. 38. Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 37, wherein said shaft cross section is generally square; said head means of said teeth being engaged against flat sides of said square shaft to provide rotational driving engagement between the shaft on the one hand and the teeth and discs on the other hand.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein said teeth are directly secured to the respective support discs so as to project radially outwardly from the perimeters thereof.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
33 words
Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 39, wherein the apertures in said discs are generally complementary to the cross-sectional configuration of said shaft for rotational driving engagement between the shaft and said discs.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 40, wherein said irregular shaft cross section is generally square.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
32 words
Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 39, which includes washer disc means disposed between adjacent said tooth support discs for spacing said tooth support discs apart from each other along said shaft.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
31 words
Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 39, wherein at least some of said tooth support discs have a plurality of teeth supported thereon and generally regularly space about the perimeter thereof.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
16 words
Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 43, wherein said plurality of teeth have different cutting lengths.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
31 words
Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 44, wherein said plurality of teeth are four in number ranging in succession about the disc periphery from a longest tooth to a shortest tooth.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
39 words
Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 44, wherein adjacent stacked discs with teeth of different cutting lengths are rotationally displaced on said shaft to provide adjacent teeth of different cutting lengths in the longitudinal direction of said roller assembly.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
75 words
Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said wall means defines a rubble chamber including a pair of elongated side walls; and a pair of elongated chip deflection wings connected to and extending longitudinally along said side walls adjacent the upper edges of said side walls; said chip deflection wings projecting generally laterally inwardly toward each other from their respective said side walls so as to overlie respective side portions of the rubble chamber.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
25 words
Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 47, wherein said chip deflection wings are inclined downwardly and inwardly generally toward the center of the rubble chamber.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
84 words
Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 47, wherein said chip deflection wings are hingedly connected to said side walls of the rubble chamber; said chip deflection wings being movable from an inoperative collapsed position wherein they hang downwardly against their respective said side walls and an operative extended position overlying respective side portions of the rubble chamber; and support means releasably engageable between said chip deflection wings and their respective said side walls for supporting said chip deflection wings in said operative extended position.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
36 words
Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 1, which includes conveyor means disposed beneath said masticating bed and extending outwardly therefrom so as to collect and transport demolished rubble which has passed downwardly through the masticating bed.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
17 words
Demolishing apparatus as defined in claim 50, wherein said conveyor means includes a laterally moving conveyor portion.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1, including secondary cutting and restraining means disposed adjacent to the periphery of at least one of said demolition roller units so as to cooperate with said teeth of said one demolition roller unit in the demolition action.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said secondary cutting and restraining means comprises reprocessing grate means disposed under said masticating bed adjacent to the periphery of said one demolition roller unit.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said secondary cutting and restraining means comprises an upstanding cutter blade having an upper edge arranged adjacent to the periphery of said one demolition roller unit.