Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
Size reduction apparatus comprising, a chamber, a rotor mounted within said chamber for rotation about an axis, means for driving said rotor about said axis, cutting means affixed on said rotor, bed knife means situated for cooperative cutting relationship with said cutting means as said rotor is driven to effect size reduction of material fed into said chamber, screen means forming at least a portion of a boundary of said chamber, said screen means serving to permit discharge from said chamber of said material after reduction thereof to a predetermined size, and means positioned below the axis of rotation of said rotor for producing a positive fluid flow in said chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
Size reduction apparatus comprising, a chamber, a rotor mounted within said chamber for rotation about an axis, means for driving said rotor about said axis, cutting means affixed on said rotor, bed knife means situated for cooperative cutting relationship with said cutting means as said rotor is driven to effect size reduction of material fed into said chamber, screen means forming at least a portion of a boundary of said chamber, said screen means serving to permit discharge from said chamber of said material after reduction thereof to a predetermined size, and means positioned below the axis of rotation of said rotor for producing a positive fluid flow in said chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cutting means includes a plurality of knives positioned around the circumference of said rotor with a gap being provided between adjacent knives, said means for producing said positive flow being situated to direct said flow toward said knives.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotor is elongated and said cutting means includes a plurality of elongated knives positioned around the circumference of said rotor and extending generally from end to end of the rotor, and said means for producing said positive flow includes a plurality of fluid jets positioned at spaced apart locations to direct said flow toward said knives.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said screen means includes at least one screen forming at least a portion of the bottom of said chamber, said positive fluid flow being presented into said chamber and said screen and toward said rotor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cutting means includes a plurality of knives movable through a cutting path as said rotor is driven, said screen being disposed proximate to said cutting path, an said means for producing said positive flow being located closely adjacent to said cutting path whereby fluid delivered from said last mentioned means is caused to be pulsed by said knives as said fluid moves through said chamber and out through said screen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for producing said positive flow are fluid nozzles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein a first set of said jets is arranged to direct fluid toward said rotor in a first zone defined between a first of said bed knife means and a vertical line passing through the axis of rotation of said rotor, and a second set of said jets is arranged to deliver fluid toward said rotor in a second zone defined between a second of said bed knife means and said vertical line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 including suction means for creating a negative pressure below said screen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said fluid is air.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said fluid is introduced into said chamber in a steady stream.