COMPOST AND REFUSE SHREDDING AND SHIFTING APPARATUS

• US 3,733,033 A
• Filed: 03/22/1971
• Issued: 05/15/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Herbert T. Cobey
• Original Assignee: Herbert T. Cobey
• Inventors: Cobey, Herbert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Custer, Jr., Granville Y.
• Application Number:
  US05/126,417
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 241/25,27,29,30,63,64,11R,11M,152,154 259/28,183 214/5 56/344,345,346
• US Class Current: 241/30
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 9/06 specially adapted for refuse
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 17/943 Means for combined mixing and conveying
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/145 the feedstock being materials of biological origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/40 Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/52 Mechanical processing of waste for the recovery of materials, e.g. crushing, shredding, separation or disassembly

Abstract

An improved apparatus for shredding, shifting and aerating organic wastes, refuse and other material that includes an endless web carrying a plurality of outwardly projecting elements which is moved in an upwardly and forwardly extending orbital path as the working face of the web engages the material and also includes a rotatable drum having outwardly extending elements that is positioned forwardly of the web near the lower portion of the orbital path. The plane of the web is adjustable relative to both the longitudinal and vertical axis of the chassis and the drum is vertically adjustable in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the upwardly moving web. In the preferred embodiment, the web and drum are supported from a self-propelled chassis.

Claims

2. An improved apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said shredding means includes an elongated drum rotatably carried by said frame, said drum being substantially horizontally disposed forwardly of said web near said lower shaft and having a plurality of elements projecting outwardly therefrom, and means are provided for rotating said drum.

3. An improved apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said outwardly directed drum elements are comprised of radially directed teeth arranged in rows along the length of said drum, said rows being substantially equally spaced from adjacent rows around the circumference thereof, with the teeth in each row being disposed in staggered relation to the teeth in the two adjacent rows.

4. An improved apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said frame includes means for vertically adjusting said rotatable drum along a line generally parallel to a plane passing through said upper and lower shafts.

5. An improved apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said rotatable drum is journaled in movable bearing blocks normally biased to a neutral position by spring means and shiftable against said bias in the event said drum encounters an obstruction.

6. An improved apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said bearing blocks and spring means are mounted on said brackets and means are provided for selectively adjusting said slide brackets relative to said frame.

7. An improved apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said shredding means includes a generally flat plate spaced forwardly of the upwardly moving portion of said web, said plate extending substantially the width of said web and having a number of resiliently mounted restriction elements thereon extending rearwardly out of contact with said web for increasing the shredding and limiting the flight of material being moved by said moving web.

8. An improved apparatus as defined in Claim 7 wherein said restriction elements are plates hingedly mounted on said flat plate, said restriction plates having a spring means for normally biasing said hinged restriction plates outwardly from said flat plate when no material is passing between said web and flat plate.

9. An improved apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said restriction plates are resilient and deflectable such that said restriction plates will bend when struck by said moving material to thereby allow said material to escape while limiting the escape velocity.

10. An improved apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame includes an angularly adjustable contact plate mounted forwardly thereof for compressing a portion of said material as said apparatus moves forwardly.

11. An improved method for shredding, shifting and aerating organic waste, refuse and other material, comprising:

advancing a surface engaging chassis across a surface on which organic waste, refuse and other material is located, said chassis supporting a frame ahead of said chassis, said frame carrying upper and lower generally horizontal shafts;

orbiting an endless web having outwardly projecting elements thereon about said upper and lower shafts so that said elements present an upwardly and forwardly directed working face; and

engaging said material with said working face whereby said material is shredded, shifted and aerated as said chassis advances across said surface.

12. An improved method as defined in claim 11 including the step of angling said working face at an intermediate angle between 0* and 90* to either side of the line of relative movement between said working face and said material.

13. An improved method as defined in claim 12 wherein said angle is selected in the range of 30*-60*.

14. An improved method as defined in claim 11 and the step of subjecting said material to additional shredding action by engaging said material with shredding means positioned forwardly of said working face and in cooperative relationship thereto.

15. An improved method as defined in claim 14 wherein said material is initially subjected to the shredding action of a rotating drum, having outwardly projecting elements thereon, located forwardly and adjacent the lower edge of said working face.

16. An improved method as defined in claim 14 wherein said material passes upwardly between said working face and one or more restricting elements projecting substantially rearwardly toward said working face.

17. An improved method as defined in claim 11 wherein said material has been previously dumped at a landfill site and said orbiting web is progressively moved across said landfill site in engagement with said material.

18. An improved method as defined in claim 17 wherein said material is subjected to several engagements with said orbiting web at periodic intervals.

19. An improved method as defined in claim 17 wherein said orbiting web is laterally angled relative to its direction of movement across said landfill site so as to laterally shift said material upon engagement with said web.

20. An improved method for shredding, shifting and aerating material such as organic waste, refuse and other debris, comprising the steps of:

rotating a cylindrical drum having outwardly projecting elements thereon for engaging at least a portion of said material, said shredding means being operable to initially set said portion of material into motion and to partially shred it;

orbiting an endless web, having outwardly projecting elements thereon, about upper and lower generally horizontal shafts, to present a generally upwardly and forwardly directed working face for further shredding said material previously set in motion and for engaging other of said material not previously set in motion, said orbiting web being operable to shred and aerate said material and to throw it generally upwardly and forwardly of said web.