Drum shredder with flywheel or discharge assembly

• US 7,552,884 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2005
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barko Specialty Equipment LLC
• Original Assignee: Earl R. Smith, Thomas R. Gross
• Inventors: Smith, Earl R., Gross, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SELF, SHELLEY M
• Application Number:
  US11/266,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20060108463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 241/91, 241/101.75, 241/261.1, 241/277, 241/278.1, 241/293, 241/92, 241/93, 144/218, 144/220, 144/162.1, 144172-174
• US Class Current: 241/261.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 3/002 for comminuting plant waste comminuting by cutting implements in general B02C18/00
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 18/144 with axially elongated knives
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 18/186 Axially elongated knives
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 2201/066 for garden waste

Abstract

A machine for reducing material that includes a rotatable cutting drum. In a preferred embodiment there is disclosed a machine for reducing material which includes a rotatable, tapered cutting drum and a flywheel. In another preferred embodiment, there is disclosed a machine for reducing material which includes a rotatable, tapered cutting drum and a discharge assembly. In still another preferred embodiment there is disclosed a machine for reducing material which includes a rotatable, tapered cutting drum, a flywheel and a discharge assembly.

Claims

1. A shredder for reducing material comprising a support;

a tapered cutting drum rotatably mounted to the support, the tapered cutting drum having at least one channel or pocket for receiving reduced material, the at least one channel or pocket having a basin impervious to reduced material;

at least one cutting implement disposed about an outer surface of the cutting drum for reducing material;

a flywheel supported by the cutting drum;

a discharge assembly in material flow communication with the at least one channel or pocket; and

at least one impeller supported by the flywheel, the flywheel supported in the discharge assembly.

2. The shredder of claim 1, wherein the flywheel includes material extending past the outermost circumference of the cutting drum.

3. The shredder of claim 2, further comprising at least one impeller supported on the flywheel in the discharge assembly.

4. The shredder of claim 1, wherein the at least one channel or pocket is a plurality of channels or pockets that extend less than the length of the tapered cutting drum, the plurality of channels or pockets being staggered over the tapered cutting drum.

5. The shredder of claim 4, wherein the plurality of channels or pockets include at least one channel or pocket that is disposed over a smaller diameter section of the tapered cutting drum that is at least partially blocked at both ends.

6. The shredder of claim 5, wherein the plurality of channels or pockets include at least one channel or pocket that is disposed over a larger diameter section of the tapered cutting drum that is open at one end.

7. A shredder for reducing material comprising a support;

a tapered cutting drum rotatably mounted on the support;

the tapered cutting drum having at least one channel or pocket, the at least one channel or pocket being open at the surface of the drum, the at least one channel or pocket having a floor that is imperforate to reduced material;

at least one cutting implement disposed about an outer surface of the tapered cutting drum;

a chamber adjacent to the tapered cutting drum for receiving reduced material from the channel or pocket;

a flywheel joined integral with the tapered cutting drum;

at least one impeller joined with the tapered cutting drum, the at least one impeller extending into the chamber; and

a drive connected to the tapered cutting drum.

8. The shredder of claim 7, wherein the flywheel extends beyond the outermost circumference of the cutting drum.

9. The shredder of claim 7, wherein the flywheel is a plate with passages.

10. The shredder of claim 7, further comprising a bellyband at least partially wrapping the cutting drum.

11. The shredder of claim 7, further comprising a uniformly, curved anvil disposed adjacent to the cutting drum.

12. The shredder of claim 7, wherein the flywheel includes a passage for material to pass from the at least one channel to the chamber.

14. The shredder of claim 7, wherein the flywheel adds at least 10% to the momentum of the cutting drum.

15. The shredder of claim 7, wherein the tapered cutting drum has a smaller diameter section that includes a butt plate.

16. The shredder of claim 7, wherein the bellyband at least partially wrapping the tapered cutting drum partially defines a closed loop around the drum so that material can only escape to a side of the cutting drum.

13. A shredder for reducing material comprising a support;

a tapered cutting drum rotatably mounted on the support;

the tapered cutting drum having at least one channel or pocket, the at least one channel or pocket being open at the surface of the drum, the at least one channel or rocket having a floor that is imperforate to reduced material;

at least one cutting implement disposed about an outer surface of the tapered cutting drum;

a chamber adjacent to the tapered cutting drum for receiving reduced material from the channel or pocket;

a flywheel joined with the tapered cutting drum;

at least one impeller joined with the tapered cutting drum, the at least one impeller extending into the chamber; and

a drive connected to the tapered cutting drum, wherein the tapered cutting drum is conical and has a smaller diameter section and a larger diameter section, the at least one channel or pocket including at least two channels or pockets that do not extend the length of the tapered cutting drum and are staggered over the surface of the tapered cutting drum, the at least two channels or pockets include one that is at least partially blocked at both ends and the at least one channel or pocket that is at least partially blocked at both ends is disposed over a smaller diameter section of the tapered cutting drum.

17. A shredder for reducing material comprising a support;

a conical cutting drum rotatably mounted on the support, the conical cutting drum having a narrower end and a wider end, a flywheel joined with the cutting drum, the flywheel extending past the outer circumference of the drum;

the cutting drum having at least one channel, the channel being open at the surface of the drum and open to one end, the channel having a floor imperforate to shredded material;

at least one cutting implement disposed about an outer surface of the cutting drum;

a material flow chamber disposed to the side of the cutting drum and in material transfer communication with the at least one channel;

a plurality of impellers operatively disposed in the material flow chamber;

a discharge port in communication with the material flow chamber;

a bellyband at least partially wrapping the cutting drum and a drive connected to the cutting drum, wherein the flywheel has at least one passage for material transfer between the at least one channel of the drum and the material flow chamber.

18. The shredder of claim 17, wherein the drum includes a stop attached to the narrower end, the stop having a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the narrower end.

19. The shredder of claim 17, wherein the flywheel is supported by the drum.

20. The shredder of claim 17, wherein the flywheel is disposed within the material flow chamber.

21. The shredder of claim 17, wherein the flywheel is a plate attached to the drum, the plate having at least one passage for material transfer between the at least one channel of the drum and the material flow, the passage sized to not reduce the combined momentum and discharge effect of the flywheel extending past the outer circumference of the drum by more than 50%.

22. The shredder of claim 17, wherein the passage opens proximate and preceding the at least one cutting implement and tapers no more than 45 degrees radially to the outermost edge of the flywheel.