Machine for reducing the sound level of its operation

Claim 2

A machine of the kind described comprising; an assembly having a plurality of spaced elements substantially forming a cylinder and provided with cutting edges, an impeller mounted for rotation in said cylinder and having circumferentially spaced abutments provided with surfaces which are inclined in the direction of rotation for rotating and forcing a product introduced into the cylinder against said edges for cutting the product into pieces and flow of the latter outwardly through the spaces separating said elements.

Claim 3

The machine defined in claim 1, in which said assembly includes a pair of annular rings and said elements are in the form of circumferentially spaced axially extending members having ends which are joined to said rings.

Claim 4

The machine defined in claim 1, in which said elements are in the form of circumferentially spaced axially extending members and radially extending members which are fixedly secured in the spaces separating said first-mentioned members.

Claim 5

In combination: a substantially cylindrical cutter head having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending members respectively provided with cutting edges, and an impeller mounted in said cylinder for rotation in one direction provided with circumferentially spaced blades which are respectively provided with impact areas for directing a product against said edges for reducing its size and flow outwardly through the spaces between said members, said impact areas being inclined in the direction of rotation at an angle of substantially 30* with respect to said cutting edges.

Claim 6

In combination: a substantially cylindrical cutter head having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending members respectively provided with cutting edges, and an impeller mounted in said cylinder for rotation in one direction provided with circumferentially spaced blades which are respectively provided with impact areas for directing a product against said edges for reducing its size and flow outwardly through the spaces between said members, said impact areas being inclined in the direction of rotation at an angle of substantially 30* with respect to said cutting edges.

Claim 7

The combination defined in claim 4, in which each impact area may be disposed at any angle within a range between 20* and 40*.

Claim 8

The combination defined in claim 4, in which each impact area comprises a plurality of stepped surfaces.

Claim 9

The combination defined in claim 4, in which said blades are of tapered cross-section.

Claim 10

The combination defined in claim 4, in which said members are joined by a plurality of axially spaced circumferentially extending elements which are disposed substantially in the spaces between said members.

Claim 11

A machine of the kind described comprising; an assembly having a plurality of spaced elements substantially forming a cylinder and provided with cutting edges, an impeller mounted for rotation in Said cylinder and having circumferentially spaced abutments provided with surfaces which are inclined in a direction opposite to that of rotation for rotating and forcing a product introduced into the cylinder against said edges for cutting the product into pieces and flow of the latter outwardly through the spaces separating said elements.

Claim 12

A machine of the kind described comprising; an assembly having a plurality of spaced elements substantially forming a cylinder and provided with cutting edges, an impeller mounted for rotation in Said cylinder and having circumferentially spaced abutments provided with surfaces which are inclined in a direction opposite to that of rotation for rotating and forcing a product introduced into the cylinder against said edges for cutting the product into pieces and flow of the latter outwardly through the spaces separating said elements.

Claim 13

In combination: a substantially cylindrical cutter head having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending members respectively provided with cutting edges, and an impeller mounted in said cylinder for rotation in one direction provided with circumferentially spaced blades which are respectively provided with impact areas for directing a product against said edges for reducing its size and flow outwardly through the spaces between said members, said impact areas being inclined in a direction opposite to that of rotation at an angle of substantially 30* with respect to said cutting edges.

Claim 14

In combination: a substantially cylindrical cutter head having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending members respectively provided with cutting edges, and an impeller mounted in said cylinder for rotation in one direction provided with circumferentially spaced blades which are respectively provided with impact areas for directing a product against said edges for reducing its size and flow outwardly through the spaces between said members, said impact areas being inclined in a direction opposite to that of rotation at an angle of substantially 30* with respect to said cutting edges.

Claim 15

A machine of the kind described comprising: an assembly having a plurality of spaced elements substantially forming a cylinder and provided with cutting edges, an impeller mounted for rotation in said cylinder and having circumferentially spaced abutments provided with surfaces for forcing a product introduced into the cylinder against said edges for cutting the product into pieces and flow of the latter outwardly through the spaces separating said elements, and said surfaces being inclined in a direction sufficient to reduce the operating noise level of the machine below 90 decibels when said impeller is rotated within a range of between 500 and 9,500 R.P.M.

Claim 16

A machine of the kind described comprising: an assembly having a plurality of spaced elements substantially forming a cylinder and provided with cutting edges, an impeller mounted for rotation in said cylinder and having circumferentially spaced abutments provided with surfaces for forcing a product introduced into the cylinder against said edges for cutting the product into pieces and flow of the latter outwardly through the spaces separating said elements, and said surfaces being inclined in a direction sufficient to reduce the operating noise level of the machine below 90 decibels when said impeller is rotated within a range of between 500 and 9,500 R.P.M.

Claim 17

A machine of the kind described comprising: an assembly having a plurality of spaced elements substantially forming a cylinder and provided with cutting edges, an impeller mounted for rotation in said cylinder and having circumferentially spaced abutments for forcing a product introduced into the cylinder against said edges for cutting the product into pieces and flow of the latter outwardly through the spaces separating said elements, and said abutments being inclined in a direction sufficient to reduce the operating noise level of the machine below 90 decibels when said impeller is rotated at a predetermined speed.

Claim 18

A machine of the kind described comprising: an assembly having a plurality of spaced elements substantially forming a cylinder and provided with cutting edges, an impeller mounted for rotation in said cylinder and having circumferentially spaced abutments for forcing a product introduced into the cylinder against said edges for cutting the product into pieces and flow of the latter outwardly through the spaces separating said elements, and said abutments being inclined in a direction sufficient to reduce the operating noise level of the machine below 90 decibels when said impeller is rotated at a predetermined speed.

Claim 19

In combination: a cutter head having a cylindrical wall provided with openings and cutting edges, an impeller arranged in said head for rotation in one direction and having an annular base provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced abutments extending outwardly from one side thereof, and said abutments being respectively provided with surfaces which are inclined in the direction of rotation at an angle in the neighborhood of 60* for directing a product against said edges for reducing its size and flow through said openings.

Claim 20

In combination: a cutter head having a cylindrical wall provided with openings and cutting edges, an impeller arranged in said head for rotation in one direction and having an annular base provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced abutments extending outwardly from one side thereof, and said abutments being respectively provided with surfaces which are inclined in the direction of rotation at an angle in the neighborhood of 60* for directing a product against said edges for reducing its size and flow through said openings.

Claim 21

In Combination: a cutter head having a cylindrical wall provided with openings and cutting edges, an impeller disposed in said head for rotation in one direction and having an annular base provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced abutments extending upwardly from one side thereof, and said abutments being respectively provided with surfaces which are inclined in the direction of rotation at an angle of less than 70* for engaging, rotating and directing a product outwardly against said edges for reducing its size and flow through said openings.

Claim 22

In Combination: a cutter head having a cylindrical wall provided with openings and cutting edges, an impeller disposed in said head for rotation in one direction and having an annular base provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced abutments extending upwardly from one side thereof, and said abutments being respectively provided with surfaces which are inclined in the direction of rotation at an angle of less than 70* for engaging, rotating and directing a product outwardly against said edges for reducing its size and flow through said openings.

Claim 23

The combination defined in claim 14, in which said abutments have inner extremities which are integral with said base and also have outer free extremities, and said inner extremities have greater cross-sectional dimensions than said free extremities.

Claim 24

The combination defined in claim 14, in which said abutments are substantially triangular in cross-section.

Claim 25

The combination defined in claim 14, in which said surfaces are substantially triangular in shape.

Claim 26

In combination: a cutter head having a cylindrical wall provided with cutting edges and openings, an impeller mounted in said head, said impeller having a round base of substantially uniform thickness and provided with means whereby said impeller may be connected to means for rotating the impeller, a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades extending from one side of said base, and said blades being provided with surfaces which are sufficiently inclined in a direction relative to said base to reduce the noise level of the impeller below 90 decibels when it is rotated at a predetermined speed to cause a product to be directed against said edges whereby to reduce its size for flow through said openings.

Claim 27

In combination: a cutter head having a cylindrical wall provided with cutting edges and openings, an impeller mounted in said head, said impeller having a round base of substantially uniform thickness and provided with means whereby said impeller may be connected to means for rotating the impeller, a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades extending from one side of said base, and said blades being provided with surfaces which are sufficiently inclined in a direction relative to said base to reduce the noise level of the impeller below 90 decibels when it is rotated at a predetermined speed to cause a product to be directed against said edges whereby to reduce its size for flow through said openings.