PULVERIZER

• US 20040050562A1
• Filed: 08/28/2002
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timothy J. Stevens
• Original Assignee: Timothy J. Stevens
• Inventors: Stevens, Timothy J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,725,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 172/245
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 77/00 Machines for lifting and treating soil biocides, pest repellants or attractants, plant growth regulators A01N25/00 - A01N65/00; fertilisers C05; soil-conditioning or soil-stabilising materials C09K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/22 Revolving drums
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/407 with ejecting or other unloading device
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 7/06 Delivery chutes or screening plants or mixing plants mounted on dredgers or excavators for back-filling E02F5/226 takes precedence; separating equipment in general B03; delivery chutes in general B65G

Abstract

The present invention provides a pulverizer for reducing the clumpiness or aggregation of soil into clumps or clods and for screening materials, the pulverizer having a frame mounting a substantially cylindrically configured screening drum for rotation and a scoop for aiding the delivery of the material to be pulverized or screened to the screening drum. In an embodiment of the present invention, the pulverizer may be mounted as an attachment onto an appropriate power source such as a tractor or a skid-steer loader.

Claims

1. A pulverizer for reducing the size of aggregated soil clumps, said pulverizer comprising:

a frame, said frame including a scoop attached thereto; and

a screening drum mounted for rotation by said frame, said scoop being provided for scooping up soil and depositing it in said screening drum.

2. The pulverizer of claim 1 wherein said frame includes a semi-cylindrical housing for mounting said drum, said housing includes an opening in the lower portion thereof to allow pulverized soil to flow out of said pulverizer.

3. The pulverizer of claim 2 wherein said housing includes an opening adjacent to said scoop to allow soil to be placed into said screening drum.

4. The pulverizer of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a front surface, said surface including an opening in the lower portion thereof adjacent to said scoop to allow soil to be placed into said screening drum.

5. The pulverizer of claim 2 wherein said screening drum includes:

a circumferentially extending screen;

at least one circumferentially extending support ring for supporting said screen;

a shaft; and

a plurality of support ribs extending between said at least one support ring and said shaft for supporting said screen and said at least one support ring radially away from said shaft.

6. The pulverizer of claim 5 wherein:

said housing includes a front surface, said scoop being attached to said frame adjacent to said front surface, said front surface including an opening in the lower portion thereof adjacent to said scoop to allow soil to be scooped up by said scoop and deposited into said screening drum; and

said shaft includes front and rear ends, said shaft front end being rotationally mounted to said front surface.

7. The pulverizer of claim 6 and further including means for rotating said shaft and wherein said shaft rear end includes means for engaging said rotating means.

8. The pulverizer of claim 5 and further including means for rotating said shaft and wherein:

said housing includes a front surface, said scoop being attached to said frame adjacent to said front surface, said front surface including an opening in the lower portion thereof adjacent to said scoop to allow soil to be scooped up by said scoop and deposited into said screening drum; and

said shaft includes front and rear ends, said shaft rear end of said shaft including means for engaging said rotating means.

9. The pulverizer of claim 5 and further including an hydraulic motor for rotating said shaft, said hydraulic motor including a drive shaft having a non-circular cross-section, and wherein said shaft includes front and rear ends, said shaft rear end of said shaft including a socket for engaging said motor drive shaft.

10. The pulverizer of claim 1 wherein:

said frame includes a semi-cylindrical housing for mounting said drum, said housing includes an opening in the lower portion thereof to allow pulverized soil to flow out of said pulverizer and an opening adjacent to said scoop to allow soil to be deposited into said screening drum;

said housing includes a front surface, said surface including an opening in the lower portion thereof adjacent to said scoop to allow soil to be placed into said screening drum;

said screening drum includes;

a circumferentially extending screen;

at least one circumferentially extending support ring for supporting said screen;

a shaft; and

a plurality of support ribs extending between said at least one support ring and said shaft for supporting said screen and said at least one support ring radially away from said shaft.