CA1046473A - Feed mill and mixer - Google Patents
Feed mill and mixerInfo
- Publication number
- CA1046473A CA1046473A CA205,293A CA205293A CA1046473A CA 1046473 A CA1046473 A CA 1046473A CA 205293 A CA205293 A CA 205293A CA 1046473 A CA1046473 A CA 1046473A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- mill
- hammer mill
- mixer
- feed
- hammer
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Abstract
FEED MILL AND MIXER
Abstract of Disclosure An improved hammer mill and mixer combination employing a positive ventilation system which reduces pressure on the outlet side of the hammer mill to increase inflow thereto with improved hammer and knife configuration within the hammer mill together with a se-parating screen at the outlet side thereof for more efficient shred-ding of material at the hammer mill. The mixer and mill includes an improved shredder knife configuration and a drive for the input table of the same to prevent overloading of the hammer mill.
Abstract of Disclosure An improved hammer mill and mixer combination employing a positive ventilation system which reduces pressure on the outlet side of the hammer mill to increase inflow thereto with improved hammer and knife configuration within the hammer mill together with a se-parating screen at the outlet side thereof for more efficient shred-ding of material at the hammer mill. The mixer and mill includes an improved shredder knife configuration and a drive for the input table of the same to prevent overloading of the hammer mill.
Description
109~6~73 This invention relates generally to improvements to feed mills and mixers of the type conttonly used in the preparation of animal feed and the like and more particularly to improvements in the construction and an operation of the parts of the same including a shredder attachment, the ha~mer mill and the conveying means for conveying material through the hammer mill~and to a mixing chamber.
Feed mills of this type which include various infeed stations together with a hammer mill for shredding materials, introducing materials including shredded material to the hammer mill and convey-ing the same to a mixing tank wherein it can be oombined with other feeds and suitably mixed before removal of the same through an auger . . ~
type transport to a place of usage are generally old and in use.
In the mixer mill and shredder ccmbination it is known to combine with the shredder and the hammer mill, a bl~er and centrifugal type se-~- parator for either transporting material from the hammer mill to the mixing tank wherein it is lifted by an auger and mixed with addi-`- tional materials.through a mixing arm and dispensed through an un-loader. It is also kncwn to *ti~lize a direct conveying syst~m from ~ a ha~mer mill to the mixing tank with a p æ allel passage taking air-'~ borne material from the interior ~ the hammer mill through a blower and cyclone ~bparator and depositing such materials either directly -~ to the mixing tank or to the conveying a~paratus so that the solids rentoved from the hammer mill are included in the material mixed in -~
the tank. In both instances, the efficiency of the hammer mill is ... . .
- dependent upon the capability of mill to recelve materials in the hammer section for shredding and the ability to remove shredded and chopped material at a rate proportional to the inp~tt so that it could be efficiently conveyed to the mixing chamber or mixing -tank . .;~ .i .
for mixing therein with other fee~s or materials introduced to the tank.
~; Plugging in the hammer mill and relatively slow transfer of material ~; through the hammer mill to the conveying system have limited the-capacity .'': ~.
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.~ of existing systems and increased the work in operatiny and maintanance :: -~ of the same.
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~ m e present invention is di:rected to an improved feed `.: mill and mixer combination which improved the ~ficiency of the feed ;: ..
~ ; mill and mixer by providing for an increased capacity of feed materials , ... .
introduced thereto and mixed therein due to an improved ventilationsystem included in the hammer mill and CQnYey~ng structure. T~e ~mproyed sys.tem creates yreater transfer of material, a smaller cr.eation of dust to be d~scharged from the mill through its opera~tion, an effective col-lection of material fr~n the hanrner mill to in3ure against loss of valuable feed therefrcm, and an improved operation in the ha~mer mill to efficiently shred various types of feed materials ar~ chop but not pulverize the same for more efficient feeding purposes.¦ln the~nproved eed mill and mixer co~bination, the hammer mill was provided with an .,- i ;.... Improved knife arrangement along with the pivoted hammers to effectively chop materia~l therein and the inle-t shredder thereto is providea with an improved knife arrangement to effectively shred and ..eed material to the hammer mill for the greatest efficiency without plugging. An auger . is positioned in the outlet of the ha~mer mill as the conveying system .. ~ and an irnproved ventilation system is provided which creates a lcw . ., ~ pressure area in the outlet side of the hammer mill causing an intro-:, duction of greater amount of-air in the inlet side of the hammer mill . and hence a greater int~roduction of mate.rial thereto. The ventilation system includes a blower driven in conjunction with the ha~mer mill and forcing material ~den air through a cyclone separator with a discharge ,~,.~ .
.-~ of the separated material back to the interior of the hammer mill at ~ .
... , a low pressure point therein to provide for a uniform airflow system i- ' , , i which will increase the airflcw through the inlet b~ the halrmer mill .~ and effectively aid the transfer of the material therefrom to the mixing tank. A suitable screen str~lcture with knives thereon cooperate with the knives on the ha~mer mill to effectively shred and not pulverize ':~ the material to improve the efficiency of the hc~mer mill struc-ture.
A suita~le vent connected to the mixing tar~ and through to the ... . .
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ventilating system equalizes pressure in the closed mixing tank to which material from the hammer mill is conveyed by auger with the hammer mill and the mixing tank having alternate or auxiliary auger driven inlet passages for the introduction of auxiliary materials or addi-tional materials either to the hammer mill or to the mixing tank for effective mixing or a change over in the type of material being chopped and mixed. m e hammer mill may be selec~ively fed from a separate auxiliary feed or a shredder with the separating gate to isolate one or the other tcgether with a separate drive which is tied to the opera-tion of the hammer mill so that overloading of the hammer mill will effectively slcw down ~he infeed to prevent plugging of the hammer mill.
mis is accomplished by providing a separate hydraulic ;drlve through a centrifugal clutch corresponding to the operation of the hammer mill to provide for operation of hydraulic motors operating either-anuauxiliary auger feed or the shredder to insure proportiona~ inflow to the hammer mill in accord with the rotational operation of the same.
It is therefore, the principle c~ject of this invention to provide an improved feed mill and mixer combination. ;
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Another object of this invention is to provide in an improved ~;
feed mill and mixer co~bination, provisions for a larger capacity of i~
~, processing of material in the feed mill through the use of improved hammer mill construction and ventilation system for controlling the inlet of the same.
, Another object of this invention is to provide an improved hammer mill configuration including chopping knives thereon in addition to the hammers, the chopping knives cooperating with fixed knives on the cutlet of the ha~mer mill in the event the solid materials are not to be sufficiently shredded by the hammers.
A further object of this invention is to provide an improved feed mill and mixer cQ~bination a ventilation system which employs a partial vacuum at the outlet of the hamme~mill to increase airflow and ~ hence material flow into the !hammer mill with the vacuum having means .,. . "~
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for ventilating the air drawr, therefram with provisions for sep æ ating any entrained material in the air and returning the same to the hammer mill.
A further object of this invention is to provide in an i-~mproved ccmbination of a blcwer and centrlfugal separator ~hich increases the airflow efficiency through the ha~mer mill and to the conveying ~ -system without loss of material being processed and fed to the mixing chamber minimizing dust outlet therefrom.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved shredder attachment for a feed mill and mlxer combination in which the shredder and/or auxiliary feed is driven in conjunction with and in proportion to the speed of the hammer mill to insure uniform flow of ~ ,, .
material therethrough. -A still further object of this invention is to provide in an improved feed mill and mixer combination, a hydraulic drive con-~ trolled fram a centrifugal clutch operating from the hammer mill drive - ~ and controlling a hydraulic system to provide for proportional control ~ -. ~ , - to a shredder or auxiliary infeed drive to the hammer ~--mill to ~;insure ,:, i . .
un~form flcw of material thereto with operation of the hamner mill.
These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from reading the attached description together with the ' drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable feed mill , , and mixer shch7ing one input side of the same, namely a shredder attach-ment.
~, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portable feed mill and muxer of Figure 1 fram the opposite side of the,same and including - the material discharged auger from removing materials therefrom.
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Figure 3 is a perspective view taken of the shredder as ", ;
shcwn in Figure l;
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111~46;473 Figure 4 is a sectional elevation view of the shredder attachment. of the feed mill and mixer showing the cutting knife .~ arrangement and shield doors from the same;
- Figure 5 is an elevation view of the rotating element of the hammer mill with the hammer and knives therein, and the screen positioned across the outlet end of the hammer mill shch7ing the loca-. tion of the knives thereon;
. Figure 6 is a schematic circuit showing an airflow diagram of a ventilation system for the improved feed mlll and mixer;
Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of the mixer with the ;J enclosing cover remov~d~r and;
~` Figure 8 is a schematic mechani~al hydraulic control circu~t for the drive m~tor of the shredder in a drive circuit for .1 an l:auxiliar~ infeed to the hammer:.and mill~
.. An ~mproved mill and mixer structure is shcwn in Figure 1 and 2 as a por~a3le mill adapted to be connected to a draft vehicle, such as a tractor, for transport of the same between places of usage and being adapted to receive a source of power, such as a power take off fram the tractor for pcwering the same, m us, in Figure l-.~and 2, the . ~c~table mill and m~xer is sho~n mounted on a chassis type frame struc-" ture 10, the frame structure having support wheels mounted on axles and attached to the frame, as indicated at 12, near the rear end of the same and a coupling hitch 15 on the front end of the same. A suitable . adjustable support member 16 is attached near -the front end of the frame to support the mill in a generally horizontal position whenever it is disoonnected from the tractor~ Also journaled onto the frame . with a suitable universal coupling is the drive shaft 20 and coupling .: 21 which is adapted to be connected to the power take off of the . tractor to impart drive mcmentum to the various ccmponents of the mixer .~ and mill aq w~`ll be hereinafter identified. In Figures 1 and 2, the mill and mixer unit incorporates basically a hammer mill indicated ',;-: ' ,',: . , ~04~69~73 generally at 25 which hammer mill is adapted to receive input feeds from a shredder indicated generally at 30 or an auxiliary feed hopper 35 with the output of the mill ~eing directed to a mixing tank 40 wherein the material that has been processed by the ham~er mill will be fed and mixed with other materials introduced into the mixing chamber as will be hereinafter identified. In Figures 1, 2, 6 and 7, the auxiliary infeed chamber 45 for the mixing chamber is disclosed and the material outlet from the mixing tank is directed through an auger type unloader 50 and distributing pipe 55 to distribute feed mixed in the mill and mixer combination to sites of usage.
m e input of the mill will be understood from the per-spective and views of the shredder mill and of the auxiliary input - as shown in Figures 3 and 4. As indicated in Figures 2 and 3, the shredder attachment 30 provides one input to the hammer mill 25. The shredder attachment has a base structure or frame 60 which is mounted on the frame structure of the feed ~i11 with aninput table 62 pivotally connected thereto, such as is indicated at 63. Ihe shredder attachment includes a drive shaft or rotor 65 which is generally cylindrical in form and has a plurality of circular flange members distributed along the extent of the same, The flange members 66 project from the cylindri-cal surface of the rotor 65 and cutting knives 68 are attached to the sides of the same. The knives are arranged radially along the circum~
ferential extent of the cylindrical member or rotor 65 and are staggered such as to provide axially aligned rcws of knives in which alternate flange members have no knives thereon in that particular row but do so on adjacent rows. This provides a staggered arrangement of shredding knives distributed axially along the cylindrical rotor of the shredder and equidistantly spaced axially along the circumferential extent of the same. The input table 62 is pivotally connected to the frame at 63 and includes a suitable set of drive chains 70 for moving materials such as baled hay to the shredder. A group of stationary knives in a ; row, indicated generally at 75, are mounted on floor portion 76 of the shredder enclosure 77 which enclosure encloses all surfaces of the rotor.
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1046~L73 These knives are spaced to be posi-tioned to -'either side between the knives on the cylinder member or rotor of the shredder so that the knives thereon will pass to between the sta-tionary knives of the shredding -the shearing operation. A suitable cover member 78 pivoted on the enclo-sure 77 having pivoted doors which are biased and closed on the baled hay or against the sides of the same minimizes the spacing around the same and prevents dust from being discharged at the input of the shredder. m e floor portion 76 of the shre~der is downwardly inclined along the base of the same and material ias it is cut by the shredding knives is propelling along the surfaceto the ha~mer mill 25at a point a~l in a direction to be tangential to the rotor 90 thereof. It feeds material to the hammer mill such that it will engage the hammers and the floor of the same tangentially for an efficient feeding action.
The hammer mill 25 has an enclosing structure 110 positioned around the sa~m~e and between the hammer mill section 25 and the shredder 30 ~-has a slidable gate 95 which is positioned between the respective j-- cutlet and inlet to separate the same. The gate is opened by means of .,. . . ~
- a gearing 96 positioned outside the enclosure to permit ccmmunication i between the shredder and hammer mill and will be closed whenever the hammer mill is receiving material from the auxiliary feed to be later defined~
The hammer mill 25 construction includes a ro-tating ele- ~-ment or rotor 90 which is basically a series ofFlates 100 mounted and spaced in parallel relationship along a shaft 102 with each plate having a plurality of pivoted hammers 104 pivotally mounted thereon. The hammers being placed in diametrical relationship with respect to alternate ; hammers on the surface of the plates for rotor balance. Suitable cutting knives 105 are also positioned on the plates between adjacent hammers ; with complementary cutting knives being positioned in diametrical relationship with respect to the shafts for balance purposes. The ha~mer mill has an enclosing structure 110 which includes an outlet hopper sec-tion 115, as will be best seen in Figure 4 . The enclosing struc~ure :.' '~.
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~6~73 includes an internal support structure 118 which is adapted to mount a screen 116 positioned in spaced æ cuate relationship with the center of the rotor shaft 102 and the path of travel of the hammers. The screen 116 extends acr~ss the width of the hammer mill along the extent of the drive axis and has square apertures 119 therein which Lmproves the shearing action on the material and cooperates with the hammers 104 and knives 105 in the rotor of the hammer mill to shred the material being fed thereto. m e screen also m~unts ccoperative cutting knives 120 at spaced points along the same to cooperate with the knives 105 on the plates 100 of the hammer mill rotor whenever obstructions in terms of large am~unts of material are engaged by the ha~mers and the hammers pivot clear to expose the knife surfaces. This will effect a further shredding action of the material which will then be acted upon by the hammers as it is carried around the peripheral surface of the rotor and into engagement of the screen 116 again.
The enclosing housing structure 110 also includes a pivoted or movable gate 125 across the face of the housing for the hammer mill which may be removed to expose the screen and allow for interchange of the same. Positioned on the top of the enclosure 110 is a small grain hopper 130. This hopper may include a suitable feed c~ntrol gate therein, indicated at 135 for the purpose of introducing small grain into the hammer mill chamber to be acted upon by the hammer mill in place of input from the shredder. A fragmentary view of a conveying auger driven by a m~tor 260 to be later identified is shcwn in Figure 4 to indicate the introduction of small grain to the hopper 130, as an alternate to feed of the ha~mer mill from the shredder. At such times, the slide gate 95 separating the shredder and hammer mill will normally be closed. If desired, the gate 95 may be located at the inlet of the shr~dder to prevent discharge of m~iterial at this point. At the base of the mill housing is the outlet section thereof in which the transfer auger 140 is positioned. The transfer auger is driven through suitable chains from ~ _g_ ~ ~., ,~. . j . .
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~046473 the power take off and communicates with a tube 150 from the enclo-sure and to the base of the mixing mill as will be hereinafter iden-tified. The transfer auger will therefore extend through the enclosure of the hammer mill at the lowest point: thereof or the outlet side of the same, through the tube 150 and into communication with the entrance in the mixing cha~ber as will be hereinafter identified. The actual number of hammers on the ha~mer mill rotor or the plates making up the same together with the cutting knives may vary in configuration within the scope of the present invention. m e cutting knives 105 are so posi-tioned on the plates 100 as to cooperate with tlle knives 120 on the screen to provide the additional cutting action whenever impact of material with the hammers causes pivoting of the same. Under norm~l operation, the hammers will be extended radially from the supporting shaft due to centrifugal action or force thereon.
As will be seen in Figure 5, the screen has a plurality of square apertures 119 therein with the cutting knives 120 mounted on the screen being located in a special section having mounting surfaces for the same. m e use of the square apertures in the screen together with the action of the hammers rely for a shredding of staIk type materials, such as hay or the equivalent, to shred as distinguished from pulverize the material being fed through the hammer mill section for i;mproved quality of feed.
As will be evident in Figure 6, the mixing tank 40 receives at the base of the same material moved by the conveying tube 150 common to the outlet side of the hammer mill or the inlet side of the base of the mixing tank. Within the mixing tank, as will be eviden* in Figure 7, is elongated auger 170 positioned centrally therein. Material introduced into the mixing tank at the base thereof, may be raised by the auger 170 in the column 160 at the top of the same wherein the column is open and material is allowed to discharge to the outside of the same and to the , . i " -10-. . . .
~0~6~73 interior of the mixing tank 40. At t~le base of the mixing tank 40 is also another auger member, indicated at 175, which is oommon to an auxiliary feed tank 45 located adjacent the mixing tank at the rear extremity thereof. At this auxiliary :hopper and auger, additional con-centrate materials are introduced into the mixing tank to be blended with the materials transmitted from the hammer mill and through the tubular member into the column 160. ~he o~ncentrate material and the input conveyed from the hammRr mill are mixed within the tank and a suitable stirring arm 180 driven with the auger provides additional mixing for a mixing tank within the general interior of the mixing tank.. A suitable take out auger 50 also positioned within a housing attached to and opening into the base of the mixing tank transmits the mixed material up through an upstanding pipe wherein it is discharged through the tubular discharge spout 55 at a second auger which transmits and conveys the material through the discharge spout thr~ugh a point of usage.
The improved ha~mer mill and mixer structure employs a new ventila-tion system which will be best seen in Figure 6. mis shcws schematically the positive mill ventilation system by means of which input to the hammer mill is increased. m us, the hammer mill 25 at the outlet 115 is connected through the transfer tube 150 to the interior of the mi*ing chamber or tank 40 for the move~.ent of material thereto.
m e transfer tube 150 has connected thereto adjacent or near the outlet , ,: of the hammer mill a vacuum chamber indicated at 190. m is vacuum , chamber will be seen in Figure 2 is an enclosing housing ccmmunicating with the interior of t,he transfer tube and has an outlet pipe 192 ~- therefrcm leading to the housing 193 of the blower 195, the imFellor . . .
'~ 196 of which is connected on a shaft ccmmon with the shaft 102 of ,. a hammer mill. ~he inlet of the blower is at the center thereof or ',. at the lewer pressure section and the outlet side or outer peripheral of '' the housing is connected through a pipe or tube 198 to a tangential inlet 'i. 199 of the cyclone type separator 200. m e separator has a conical lower '~'.;
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10~6473 section 205 with the inner hollow discharge pipe indicated at 206 leading to a vent passage 207 and an adjustable valve or flap 208 at the top of the same. m e aggregate or collection section of the cyclone separator is connected by means of pipe 210 to the enclosure 110 of the hammer mill closely adjacent the shaft 102 portion thereof or the lower pressure point within the enclosure 110 of the hammer mill. Additionally, for equialization of pressure, the mixing chamber has an outlet pipe 215 connected to the top portion thereof and be-neath the cover of the same leading through the vacuum chamber 190 for the purpose of ventilating higher pressure within the mixing tank.
The operation of the blower 195 is to create a drop in pressure in the vacuum cha~ber 190 common to the outlet or transfer tube of the hammer ~ill increasing the air flcw into the same and increasing the amount of material introduced into the same from the shredder attachment as a tangential feed thereto. m e operation of the blower will be to increase the air flow through the hammer mill thereby increasing the material flow thereto. With the operation of the blower, finer material will be lifted from the transfer tube 150 and auger feed oonveyer 140 therein and directed into the interior housing of the blower 195 wherein it will be discharged under high pres-sure through the pipe 198 and into the centrifugal or cyclone separator 200. The feed thereto is tangential in a conventional manner as the separator will have no moving parts and the airflow will cause the se-paration of the air and particles allowing the air to be discharged through the internal pipe 206 while the particulate will be deposited in the particulate chamber 205 through the pipe 210 and in through the hammer mill. Air will be vented through the pipe 207 as controlled by the cap or valve 208 to minimize the discharge of dust. m e drop in pressure in the transfer tube 150 due to the operation of the blcwer will also modify the pressure within the mixing chamber and the vent passage by means of the pipe 215 of the top of the same back to the ,, . . , .
~! 12 10464~3 vacuum chamber l90 will equilize the pressure within the mixing tank 40 for more uniform handling of the material being mixed therein.
With this improved arrangement, a greater amount of feed material will be directed to the interior of the hammer mill 25 increasing the material handling capacity of the same. As an alternate (not shown) to this arrangement of the return of the separated material to the hammer mill, the return could be discharged into the mixing tank directly at the top of the mixing t~nk or it may be connected to the concentrate housing 45 to be introduced to the mixing tank at this point. In this improved arrangement, the operation of the blower i5 such as to take the airflow from the outlet side of the hammer mill rather than from the interior of the same as was previously done so as to increase the flow of material through the hammer mill past the hammers and screening thereof to the outlet side of the ha~mer mill.
The power supply for the improved feed mill and mixer for the most part is conventional. It receives its power from the power take off of the draught vehicle, a tractor, through the input shaft 21 leading into ~ gearing and drive chamber, indicated at 24, in Figures l and 2. Within the same, the shaft is coupled through pulleys and belts to the varying drive shafts driving the shafts for the shred-der 30, the hammer mill 25, the blower 195 and transfer al~ger 140 from the hammer mill to the mixer, the augers within the mixing including the lift auger, the auxiliary auger and the pipe arm, and further, to the augers rem~ving material fr~m the mixing chamber or tank. m ese details are basically conventional with similar mixer mill ccmbinations and their details are omitted here for simplicity.
In Figure 81 is~shown a m~dification or improvement in terms of the field input to the shredder rotor, in the form of the drive fo~ the feed table thereof and an alternate drive for the auxiliary auger feeding the hammer mill, to prevent overloading of the same. mus, in Figure 8, it will be noted that the hammer mill rotor shaft 102 has an extension or coupling thereto which is oonnected - i3 . .
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1~46~73 to the centrifugal clutch, indicated at 220, which clutch drive through a belt 221 to an input pulley 222 for a self-container re-servoir and pump unit 225 providing an hydraulic fluid source for ~-~
the orb~t motor 250 of the feed table for the shredderO m e output of the pump from the reservoir is fed through a supply conductor or line 227 with the return line 228 leading thereto. The line 227 is ., ~
directed to a variable control valve 230 which has a pair of outlet ports 231 and 232 at the sides of the same. m is valve is adjustable and in effedt is a three-way valve dividing inlet flow from the pipe 227 to the outlet ports 231 and 232. The outlet port 231 is connected to a pipe 234 leading to a selector valve 235 or the inlet side thereof.
ThTs selector valve is adapted to be manually operatedJby means of a hand shaft mRmber 240 to divideflow or select flow between two outlet ports 241 and 242. The port 241 leads through a pipe 244 to the orbit motor 250 of the infeed table for the shredder. This motor has a return line 245 which is co~mon to a line 246 leading ,. , !~. from the port 232 of the variable valve 230 and back to the return ,~ .
line 228 leading to the pump and reservoir~ m e outlet port 242 of J'' the selector port is coupled through a line 252 to an auger motor, ., .
indicated at 260, whose return or outlet line 261 is coupled back to -the return line 228 for the hydraulic system. With this arrangement, the speed of the orbit motor driving the chain on the input to the shredder or the bale drive will be controlled in accord with the speecl opera-tion or rotation of the rotor of the hammer mill. Whenever a hammer mill is overloaded due to the introduction of large amounts of material which cannot be effectively chopped or reduced in size and fed through the screening, the loading thereon will tend to cause the rotor shaft 102 thereof to slow dcwn. This ahaft when coupled through the clutch 220, will sense the speed of the rotation since the clutch is a centrifugal clutch shown schematically at 220 and conventional in form. When shaft ~02 reduces the speed of rotation of clutch 220, the clutch 220 will disengage at a predetermined lower speed which -!4 -;.
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stops flow of oil since the pump drive will be stopped in line 227.
Thus, the orbit motor or motors driven thereby will similarly be stopped in resp~nse to the overloading of the ha~mer mill relieve the overloading. The clutch 220 will re-engage when the overload is overcome and speed of shafts 102 increases greater than the pre-determined disengage setting. It will be noted that the varia`ole control valve 230 divides the flcw from the outlet pipe 227 of the pump so that the portion thereof used for driving the feed table of the shredder may be adjusted to any desired speed and through the clutch arrangement held to operation proportionally with the loading of the ha~mer mill. The remainder of the flow as evidenced by the outlet port 232 is returned to the return line 228 of the hydraulic system. The selector valve is two positioned valves which can select the operation of the feed ta~le motor 250 or the auger drive or motor 260 for the auxi-liary small grain feed auger which is an alternate infeed to the hammer mill through the hopper mounted thereon. The gate 9S or door positioned between the shredder and hammer mill may be closed And the va~ve 135 for the auxiliary or small hopper will be opened for such infeed. Thlts, one or the other of the motors 250 or 260 will be operated under the control of the variable valve 230 to be tied to the operation or of the rotation ofthe hamtter mill to prevent overloading of the same and to provide proportional infeed to the same. Whenever the shredder is not to be used the manual valve 235!1is adjusted by means of its ;~
handle 240 to select operation of the auger motor 260 which will re-ceive its fluid flow through the pipe 227 and select the passage 231 through the selector valve and pipe 252 with the return flow being through the pipe 261 to the pipe 228. Thus, the auxiliary auger motor 260 or the bale feed drive motor 250 will be operat~d in connection with the ha~mer mill and in proportional speed thereof so that conditions of overloading will be sensed and further overlo~ding will not be max-mized apart from the speed of rotation of the ha~mer mill.
In the improved hammer mill and mixer, we have provided an improved shredder configuration by means of which baled hay may --~S~ ,.
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~046~73 be introduced lnto the interior of the hammer mill through a tangential feed and through a cutting arrangement which provides for a uniform feed flow and a tangential feed flow to the hammer mill for greater efficiency and operation. The improved hammer mill not only includes hammers mounted on the supporting plates of the rotor but the individual cutting knives cooperating with the cutting knives on the screen having square holes therein for a more efficient cutting or shearing of the rnaterial and to insure uniformity in size of the material being cut through the screen to the outlet side~ thereof. In addition, the posi-tive ventilation scontrol system reduces the pressure on the ouklet side of the hammer mill to cinrease the infl~w thereto for improved and increased material handling capabilities. The positive ventilation system provides for a blower connected to the outlet side of the ham-mer mill or the conveyirlg pipe between the hammer ,ill and the mixing -tank to reduce the pressure in this line and provide for a disch æ ge therefrom through a cyclone type separator;~ to collect p æ ticulate included in theaairflow stream and sep æ ate the same therefrom dis-charging the air to atmosphere through a controllable spring biased cap or valve system which rninimizes dust discharges from the sep æ ator and blower and returning the previously entrained p æ ticulate to the hammer mill at the lcw pressure side thereof or introducing the same , directly to the mixing tank or to the concentrate hopper feeding the ' input side of the same. m e output of the hammer mill is fed to the base of the mixing ,hamber through an auger s~stem which is generally ~ . ~
?: conventional and this tank has an auxiliary feed hopper for introducing concentrate thereto in a conventional mixing operation. The details of ~ the tank are largely conventional and the tank is vented at its top ; ~ to the positive ven-tline or the low pressure side of the blower for .:
'~ equalization of pressure wi-thin the mlxing tank. The disch æge extremity ,,:. :
,, of the tank includes a conventinnal auger system and distribution pipes '~ for withdrawing material from the interior of the mixing tank and dis-'~ ch æ ging the same to the site of usage~ I~ the improved hammer mill -~ -16-10~473 and mixer, infeed -to the shredder or the auxlliary feed to the hammer mill is controlled by means of an hydraulic drive system operated fram a centrifugal clutch off of a hammer mill rotor to tie the infeed of speed to the auger or the shredder mill to a variable control valve and selector valve to the speed of the hammer mill to control feed rate of bales or grain feed and a clutch to prevent further overloading of the same in case loading reduces the speed of the hammer.
In considering the invention, it should be remembered that the present disclosure ls illustrative only and the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims.
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Feed mills of this type which include various infeed stations together with a hammer mill for shredding materials, introducing materials including shredded material to the hammer mill and convey-ing the same to a mixing tank wherein it can be oombined with other feeds and suitably mixed before removal of the same through an auger . . ~
type transport to a place of usage are generally old and in use.
In the mixer mill and shredder ccmbination it is known to combine with the shredder and the hammer mill, a bl~er and centrifugal type se-~- parator for either transporting material from the hammer mill to the mixing tank wherein it is lifted by an auger and mixed with addi-`- tional materials.through a mixing arm and dispensed through an un-loader. It is also kncwn to *ti~lize a direct conveying syst~m from ~ a ha~mer mill to the mixing tank with a p æ allel passage taking air-'~ borne material from the interior ~ the hammer mill through a blower and cyclone ~bparator and depositing such materials either directly -~ to the mixing tank or to the conveying a~paratus so that the solids rentoved from the hammer mill are included in the material mixed in -~
the tank. In both instances, the efficiency of the hammer mill is ... . .
- dependent upon the capability of mill to recelve materials in the hammer section for shredding and the ability to remove shredded and chopped material at a rate proportional to the inp~tt so that it could be efficiently conveyed to the mixing chamber or mixing -tank . .;~ .i .
for mixing therein with other fee~s or materials introduced to the tank.
~; Plugging in the hammer mill and relatively slow transfer of material ~; through the hammer mill to the conveying system have limited the-capacity .'': ~.
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.~ of existing systems and increased the work in operatiny and maintanance :: -~ of the same.
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~ m e present invention is di:rected to an improved feed `.: mill and mixer combination which improved the ~ficiency of the feed ;: ..
~ ; mill and mixer by providing for an increased capacity of feed materials , ... .
introduced thereto and mixed therein due to an improved ventilationsystem included in the hammer mill and CQnYey~ng structure. T~e ~mproyed sys.tem creates yreater transfer of material, a smaller cr.eation of dust to be d~scharged from the mill through its opera~tion, an effective col-lection of material fr~n the hanrner mill to in3ure against loss of valuable feed therefrcm, and an improved operation in the ha~mer mill to efficiently shred various types of feed materials ar~ chop but not pulverize the same for more efficient feeding purposes.¦ln the~nproved eed mill and mixer co~bination, the hammer mill was provided with an .,- i ;.... Improved knife arrangement along with the pivoted hammers to effectively chop materia~l therein and the inle-t shredder thereto is providea with an improved knife arrangement to effectively shred and ..eed material to the hammer mill for the greatest efficiency without plugging. An auger . is positioned in the outlet of the ha~mer mill as the conveying system .. ~ and an irnproved ventilation system is provided which creates a lcw . ., ~ pressure area in the outlet side of the hammer mill causing an intro-:, duction of greater amount of-air in the inlet side of the hammer mill . and hence a greater int~roduction of mate.rial thereto. The ventilation system includes a blower driven in conjunction with the ha~mer mill and forcing material ~den air through a cyclone separator with a discharge ,~,.~ .
.-~ of the separated material back to the interior of the hammer mill at ~ .
... , a low pressure point therein to provide for a uniform airflow system i- ' , , i which will increase the airflcw through the inlet b~ the halrmer mill .~ and effectively aid the transfer of the material therefrom to the mixing tank. A suitable screen str~lcture with knives thereon cooperate with the knives on the ha~mer mill to effectively shred and not pulverize ':~ the material to improve the efficiency of the hc~mer mill struc-ture.
A suita~le vent connected to the mixing tar~ and through to the ... . .
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6~L73 .
ventilating system equalizes pressure in the closed mixing tank to which material from the hammer mill is conveyed by auger with the hammer mill and the mixing tank having alternate or auxiliary auger driven inlet passages for the introduction of auxiliary materials or addi-tional materials either to the hammer mill or to the mixing tank for effective mixing or a change over in the type of material being chopped and mixed. m e hammer mill may be selec~ively fed from a separate auxiliary feed or a shredder with the separating gate to isolate one or the other tcgether with a separate drive which is tied to the opera-tion of the hammer mill so that overloading of the hammer mill will effectively slcw down ~he infeed to prevent plugging of the hammer mill.
mis is accomplished by providing a separate hydraulic ;drlve through a centrifugal clutch corresponding to the operation of the hammer mill to provide for operation of hydraulic motors operating either-anuauxiliary auger feed or the shredder to insure proportiona~ inflow to the hammer mill in accord with the rotational operation of the same.
It is therefore, the principle c~ject of this invention to provide an improved feed mill and mixer combination. ;
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Another object of this invention is to provide in an improved ~;
feed mill and mixer co~bination, provisions for a larger capacity of i~
~, processing of material in the feed mill through the use of improved hammer mill construction and ventilation system for controlling the inlet of the same.
, Another object of this invention is to provide an improved hammer mill configuration including chopping knives thereon in addition to the hammers, the chopping knives cooperating with fixed knives on the cutlet of the ha~mer mill in the event the solid materials are not to be sufficiently shredded by the hammers.
A further object of this invention is to provide an improved feed mill and mixer cQ~bination a ventilation system which employs a partial vacuum at the outlet of the hamme~mill to increase airflow and ~ hence material flow into the !hammer mill with the vacuum having means .,. . "~
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for ventilating the air drawr, therefram with provisions for sep æ ating any entrained material in the air and returning the same to the hammer mill.
A further object of this invention is to provide in an i-~mproved ccmbination of a blcwer and centrlfugal separator ~hich increases the airflow efficiency through the ha~mer mill and to the conveying ~ -system without loss of material being processed and fed to the mixing chamber minimizing dust outlet therefrom.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved shredder attachment for a feed mill and mlxer combination in which the shredder and/or auxiliary feed is driven in conjunction with and in proportion to the speed of the hammer mill to insure uniform flow of ~ ,, .
material therethrough. -A still further object of this invention is to provide in an improved feed mill and mixer combination, a hydraulic drive con-~ trolled fram a centrifugal clutch operating from the hammer mill drive - ~ and controlling a hydraulic system to provide for proportional control ~ -. ~ , - to a shredder or auxiliary infeed drive to the hammer ~--mill to ~;insure ,:, i . .
un~form flcw of material thereto with operation of the hamner mill.
These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from reading the attached description together with the ' drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable feed mill , , and mixer shch7ing one input side of the same, namely a shredder attach-ment.
~, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portable feed mill and muxer of Figure 1 fram the opposite side of the,same and including - the material discharged auger from removing materials therefrom.
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Figure 3 is a perspective view taken of the shredder as ", ;
shcwn in Figure l;
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111~46;473 Figure 4 is a sectional elevation view of the shredder attachment. of the feed mill and mixer showing the cutting knife .~ arrangement and shield doors from the same;
- Figure 5 is an elevation view of the rotating element of the hammer mill with the hammer and knives therein, and the screen positioned across the outlet end of the hammer mill shch7ing the loca-. tion of the knives thereon;
. Figure 6 is a schematic circuit showing an airflow diagram of a ventilation system for the improved feed mlll and mixer;
Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of the mixer with the ;J enclosing cover remov~d~r and;
~` Figure 8 is a schematic mechani~al hydraulic control circu~t for the drive m~tor of the shredder in a drive circuit for .1 an l:auxiliar~ infeed to the hammer:.and mill~
.. An ~mproved mill and mixer structure is shcwn in Figure 1 and 2 as a por~a3le mill adapted to be connected to a draft vehicle, such as a tractor, for transport of the same between places of usage and being adapted to receive a source of power, such as a power take off fram the tractor for pcwering the same, m us, in Figure l-.~and 2, the . ~c~table mill and m~xer is sho~n mounted on a chassis type frame struc-" ture 10, the frame structure having support wheels mounted on axles and attached to the frame, as indicated at 12, near the rear end of the same and a coupling hitch 15 on the front end of the same. A suitable . adjustable support member 16 is attached near -the front end of the frame to support the mill in a generally horizontal position whenever it is disoonnected from the tractor~ Also journaled onto the frame . with a suitable universal coupling is the drive shaft 20 and coupling .: 21 which is adapted to be connected to the power take off of the . tractor to impart drive mcmentum to the various ccmponents of the mixer .~ and mill aq w~`ll be hereinafter identified. In Figures 1 and 2, the mill and mixer unit incorporates basically a hammer mill indicated ',;-: ' ,',: . , ~04~69~73 generally at 25 which hammer mill is adapted to receive input feeds from a shredder indicated generally at 30 or an auxiliary feed hopper 35 with the output of the mill ~eing directed to a mixing tank 40 wherein the material that has been processed by the ham~er mill will be fed and mixed with other materials introduced into the mixing chamber as will be hereinafter identified. In Figures 1, 2, 6 and 7, the auxiliary infeed chamber 45 for the mixing chamber is disclosed and the material outlet from the mixing tank is directed through an auger type unloader 50 and distributing pipe 55 to distribute feed mixed in the mill and mixer combination to sites of usage.
m e input of the mill will be understood from the per-spective and views of the shredder mill and of the auxiliary input - as shown in Figures 3 and 4. As indicated in Figures 2 and 3, the shredder attachment 30 provides one input to the hammer mill 25. The shredder attachment has a base structure or frame 60 which is mounted on the frame structure of the feed ~i11 with aninput table 62 pivotally connected thereto, such as is indicated at 63. Ihe shredder attachment includes a drive shaft or rotor 65 which is generally cylindrical in form and has a plurality of circular flange members distributed along the extent of the same, The flange members 66 project from the cylindri-cal surface of the rotor 65 and cutting knives 68 are attached to the sides of the same. The knives are arranged radially along the circum~
ferential extent of the cylindrical member or rotor 65 and are staggered such as to provide axially aligned rcws of knives in which alternate flange members have no knives thereon in that particular row but do so on adjacent rows. This provides a staggered arrangement of shredding knives distributed axially along the cylindrical rotor of the shredder and equidistantly spaced axially along the circumferential extent of the same. The input table 62 is pivotally connected to the frame at 63 and includes a suitable set of drive chains 70 for moving materials such as baled hay to the shredder. A group of stationary knives in a ; row, indicated generally at 75, are mounted on floor portion 76 of the shredder enclosure 77 which enclosure encloses all surfaces of the rotor.
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1046~L73 These knives are spaced to be posi-tioned to -'either side between the knives on the cylinder member or rotor of the shredder so that the knives thereon will pass to between the sta-tionary knives of the shredding -the shearing operation. A suitable cover member 78 pivoted on the enclo-sure 77 having pivoted doors which are biased and closed on the baled hay or against the sides of the same minimizes the spacing around the same and prevents dust from being discharged at the input of the shredder. m e floor portion 76 of the shre~der is downwardly inclined along the base of the same and material ias it is cut by the shredding knives is propelling along the surfaceto the ha~mer mill 25at a point a~l in a direction to be tangential to the rotor 90 thereof. It feeds material to the hammer mill such that it will engage the hammers and the floor of the same tangentially for an efficient feeding action.
The hammer mill 25 has an enclosing structure 110 positioned around the sa~m~e and between the hammer mill section 25 and the shredder 30 ~-has a slidable gate 95 which is positioned between the respective j-- cutlet and inlet to separate the same. The gate is opened by means of .,. . . ~
- a gearing 96 positioned outside the enclosure to permit ccmmunication i between the shredder and hammer mill and will be closed whenever the hammer mill is receiving material from the auxiliary feed to be later defined~
The hammer mill 25 construction includes a ro-tating ele- ~-ment or rotor 90 which is basically a series ofFlates 100 mounted and spaced in parallel relationship along a shaft 102 with each plate having a plurality of pivoted hammers 104 pivotally mounted thereon. The hammers being placed in diametrical relationship with respect to alternate ; hammers on the surface of the plates for rotor balance. Suitable cutting knives 105 are also positioned on the plates between adjacent hammers ; with complementary cutting knives being positioned in diametrical relationship with respect to the shafts for balance purposes. The ha~mer mill has an enclosing structure 110 which includes an outlet hopper sec-tion 115, as will be best seen in Figure 4 . The enclosing struc~ure :.' '~.
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~6~73 includes an internal support structure 118 which is adapted to mount a screen 116 positioned in spaced æ cuate relationship with the center of the rotor shaft 102 and the path of travel of the hammers. The screen 116 extends acr~ss the width of the hammer mill along the extent of the drive axis and has square apertures 119 therein which Lmproves the shearing action on the material and cooperates with the hammers 104 and knives 105 in the rotor of the hammer mill to shred the material being fed thereto. m e screen also m~unts ccoperative cutting knives 120 at spaced points along the same to cooperate with the knives 105 on the plates 100 of the hammer mill rotor whenever obstructions in terms of large am~unts of material are engaged by the ha~mers and the hammers pivot clear to expose the knife surfaces. This will effect a further shredding action of the material which will then be acted upon by the hammers as it is carried around the peripheral surface of the rotor and into engagement of the screen 116 again.
The enclosing housing structure 110 also includes a pivoted or movable gate 125 across the face of the housing for the hammer mill which may be removed to expose the screen and allow for interchange of the same. Positioned on the top of the enclosure 110 is a small grain hopper 130. This hopper may include a suitable feed c~ntrol gate therein, indicated at 135 for the purpose of introducing small grain into the hammer mill chamber to be acted upon by the hammer mill in place of input from the shredder. A fragmentary view of a conveying auger driven by a m~tor 260 to be later identified is shcwn in Figure 4 to indicate the introduction of small grain to the hopper 130, as an alternate to feed of the ha~mer mill from the shredder. At such times, the slide gate 95 separating the shredder and hammer mill will normally be closed. If desired, the gate 95 may be located at the inlet of the shr~dder to prevent discharge of m~iterial at this point. At the base of the mill housing is the outlet section thereof in which the transfer auger 140 is positioned. The transfer auger is driven through suitable chains from ~ _g_ ~ ~., ,~. . j . .
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~046473 the power take off and communicates with a tube 150 from the enclo-sure and to the base of the mixing mill as will be hereinafter iden-tified. The transfer auger will therefore extend through the enclosure of the hammer mill at the lowest point: thereof or the outlet side of the same, through the tube 150 and into communication with the entrance in the mixing cha~ber as will be hereinafter identified. The actual number of hammers on the ha~mer mill rotor or the plates making up the same together with the cutting knives may vary in configuration within the scope of the present invention. m e cutting knives 105 are so posi-tioned on the plates 100 as to cooperate with tlle knives 120 on the screen to provide the additional cutting action whenever impact of material with the hammers causes pivoting of the same. Under norm~l operation, the hammers will be extended radially from the supporting shaft due to centrifugal action or force thereon.
As will be seen in Figure 5, the screen has a plurality of square apertures 119 therein with the cutting knives 120 mounted on the screen being located in a special section having mounting surfaces for the same. m e use of the square apertures in the screen together with the action of the hammers rely for a shredding of staIk type materials, such as hay or the equivalent, to shred as distinguished from pulverize the material being fed through the hammer mill section for i;mproved quality of feed.
As will be evident in Figure 6, the mixing tank 40 receives at the base of the same material moved by the conveying tube 150 common to the outlet side of the hammer mill or the inlet side of the base of the mixing tank. Within the mixing tank, as will be eviden* in Figure 7, is elongated auger 170 positioned centrally therein. Material introduced into the mixing tank at the base thereof, may be raised by the auger 170 in the column 160 at the top of the same wherein the column is open and material is allowed to discharge to the outside of the same and to the , . i " -10-. . . .
~0~6~73 interior of the mixing tank 40. At t~le base of the mixing tank 40 is also another auger member, indicated at 175, which is oommon to an auxiliary feed tank 45 located adjacent the mixing tank at the rear extremity thereof. At this auxiliary :hopper and auger, additional con-centrate materials are introduced into the mixing tank to be blended with the materials transmitted from the hammer mill and through the tubular member into the column 160. ~he o~ncentrate material and the input conveyed from the hammRr mill are mixed within the tank and a suitable stirring arm 180 driven with the auger provides additional mixing for a mixing tank within the general interior of the mixing tank.. A suitable take out auger 50 also positioned within a housing attached to and opening into the base of the mixing tank transmits the mixed material up through an upstanding pipe wherein it is discharged through the tubular discharge spout 55 at a second auger which transmits and conveys the material through the discharge spout thr~ugh a point of usage.
The improved ha~mer mill and mixer structure employs a new ventila-tion system which will be best seen in Figure 6. mis shcws schematically the positive mill ventilation system by means of which input to the hammer mill is increased. m us, the hammer mill 25 at the outlet 115 is connected through the transfer tube 150 to the interior of the mi*ing chamber or tank 40 for the move~.ent of material thereto.
m e transfer tube 150 has connected thereto adjacent or near the outlet , ,: of the hammer mill a vacuum chamber indicated at 190. m is vacuum , chamber will be seen in Figure 2 is an enclosing housing ccmmunicating with the interior of t,he transfer tube and has an outlet pipe 192 ~- therefrcm leading to the housing 193 of the blower 195, the imFellor . . .
'~ 196 of which is connected on a shaft ccmmon with the shaft 102 of ,. a hammer mill. ~he inlet of the blower is at the center thereof or ',. at the lewer pressure section and the outlet side or outer peripheral of '' the housing is connected through a pipe or tube 198 to a tangential inlet 'i. 199 of the cyclone type separator 200. m e separator has a conical lower '~'.;
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10~6473 section 205 with the inner hollow discharge pipe indicated at 206 leading to a vent passage 207 and an adjustable valve or flap 208 at the top of the same. m e aggregate or collection section of the cyclone separator is connected by means of pipe 210 to the enclosure 110 of the hammer mill closely adjacent the shaft 102 portion thereof or the lower pressure point within the enclosure 110 of the hammer mill. Additionally, for equialization of pressure, the mixing chamber has an outlet pipe 215 connected to the top portion thereof and be-neath the cover of the same leading through the vacuum chamber 190 for the purpose of ventilating higher pressure within the mixing tank.
The operation of the blower 195 is to create a drop in pressure in the vacuum cha~ber 190 common to the outlet or transfer tube of the hammer ~ill increasing the air flcw into the same and increasing the amount of material introduced into the same from the shredder attachment as a tangential feed thereto. m e operation of the blower will be to increase the air flow through the hammer mill thereby increasing the material flow thereto. With the operation of the blower, finer material will be lifted from the transfer tube 150 and auger feed oonveyer 140 therein and directed into the interior housing of the blower 195 wherein it will be discharged under high pres-sure through the pipe 198 and into the centrifugal or cyclone separator 200. The feed thereto is tangential in a conventional manner as the separator will have no moving parts and the airflow will cause the se-paration of the air and particles allowing the air to be discharged through the internal pipe 206 while the particulate will be deposited in the particulate chamber 205 through the pipe 210 and in through the hammer mill. Air will be vented through the pipe 207 as controlled by the cap or valve 208 to minimize the discharge of dust. m e drop in pressure in the transfer tube 150 due to the operation of the blcwer will also modify the pressure within the mixing chamber and the vent passage by means of the pipe 215 of the top of the same back to the ,, . . , .
~! 12 10464~3 vacuum chamber l90 will equilize the pressure within the mixing tank 40 for more uniform handling of the material being mixed therein.
With this improved arrangement, a greater amount of feed material will be directed to the interior of the hammer mill 25 increasing the material handling capacity of the same. As an alternate (not shown) to this arrangement of the return of the separated material to the hammer mill, the return could be discharged into the mixing tank directly at the top of the mixing t~nk or it may be connected to the concentrate housing 45 to be introduced to the mixing tank at this point. In this improved arrangement, the operation of the blower i5 such as to take the airflow from the outlet side of the hammer mill rather than from the interior of the same as was previously done so as to increase the flow of material through the hammer mill past the hammers and screening thereof to the outlet side of the ha~mer mill.
The power supply for the improved feed mill and mixer for the most part is conventional. It receives its power from the power take off of the draught vehicle, a tractor, through the input shaft 21 leading into ~ gearing and drive chamber, indicated at 24, in Figures l and 2. Within the same, the shaft is coupled through pulleys and belts to the varying drive shafts driving the shafts for the shred-der 30, the hammer mill 25, the blower 195 and transfer al~ger 140 from the hammer mill to the mixer, the augers within the mixing including the lift auger, the auxiliary auger and the pipe arm, and further, to the augers rem~ving material fr~m the mixing chamber or tank. m ese details are basically conventional with similar mixer mill ccmbinations and their details are omitted here for simplicity.
In Figure 81 is~shown a m~dification or improvement in terms of the field input to the shredder rotor, in the form of the drive fo~ the feed table thereof and an alternate drive for the auxiliary auger feeding the hammer mill, to prevent overloading of the same. mus, in Figure 8, it will be noted that the hammer mill rotor shaft 102 has an extension or coupling thereto which is oonnected - i3 . .
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1~46~73 to the centrifugal clutch, indicated at 220, which clutch drive through a belt 221 to an input pulley 222 for a self-container re-servoir and pump unit 225 providing an hydraulic fluid source for ~-~
the orb~t motor 250 of the feed table for the shredderO m e output of the pump from the reservoir is fed through a supply conductor or line 227 with the return line 228 leading thereto. The line 227 is ., ~
directed to a variable control valve 230 which has a pair of outlet ports 231 and 232 at the sides of the same. m is valve is adjustable and in effedt is a three-way valve dividing inlet flow from the pipe 227 to the outlet ports 231 and 232. The outlet port 231 is connected to a pipe 234 leading to a selector valve 235 or the inlet side thereof.
ThTs selector valve is adapted to be manually operatedJby means of a hand shaft mRmber 240 to divideflow or select flow between two outlet ports 241 and 242. The port 241 leads through a pipe 244 to the orbit motor 250 of the infeed table for the shredder. This motor has a return line 245 which is co~mon to a line 246 leading ,. , !~. from the port 232 of the variable valve 230 and back to the return ,~ .
line 228 leading to the pump and reservoir~ m e outlet port 242 of J'' the selector port is coupled through a line 252 to an auger motor, ., .
indicated at 260, whose return or outlet line 261 is coupled back to -the return line 228 for the hydraulic system. With this arrangement, the speed of the orbit motor driving the chain on the input to the shredder or the bale drive will be controlled in accord with the speecl opera-tion or rotation of the rotor of the hammer mill. Whenever a hammer mill is overloaded due to the introduction of large amounts of material which cannot be effectively chopped or reduced in size and fed through the screening, the loading thereon will tend to cause the rotor shaft 102 thereof to slow dcwn. This ahaft when coupled through the clutch 220, will sense the speed of the rotation since the clutch is a centrifugal clutch shown schematically at 220 and conventional in form. When shaft ~02 reduces the speed of rotation of clutch 220, the clutch 220 will disengage at a predetermined lower speed which -!4 -;.
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stops flow of oil since the pump drive will be stopped in line 227.
Thus, the orbit motor or motors driven thereby will similarly be stopped in resp~nse to the overloading of the ha~mer mill relieve the overloading. The clutch 220 will re-engage when the overload is overcome and speed of shafts 102 increases greater than the pre-determined disengage setting. It will be noted that the varia`ole control valve 230 divides the flcw from the outlet pipe 227 of the pump so that the portion thereof used for driving the feed table of the shredder may be adjusted to any desired speed and through the clutch arrangement held to operation proportionally with the loading of the ha~mer mill. The remainder of the flow as evidenced by the outlet port 232 is returned to the return line 228 of the hydraulic system. The selector valve is two positioned valves which can select the operation of the feed ta~le motor 250 or the auger drive or motor 260 for the auxi-liary small grain feed auger which is an alternate infeed to the hammer mill through the hopper mounted thereon. The gate 9S or door positioned between the shredder and hammer mill may be closed And the va~ve 135 for the auxiliary or small hopper will be opened for such infeed. Thlts, one or the other of the motors 250 or 260 will be operated under the control of the variable valve 230 to be tied to the operation or of the rotation ofthe hamtter mill to prevent overloading of the same and to provide proportional infeed to the same. Whenever the shredder is not to be used the manual valve 235!1is adjusted by means of its ;~
handle 240 to select operation of the auger motor 260 which will re-ceive its fluid flow through the pipe 227 and select the passage 231 through the selector valve and pipe 252 with the return flow being through the pipe 261 to the pipe 228. Thus, the auxiliary auger motor 260 or the bale feed drive motor 250 will be operat~d in connection with the ha~mer mill and in proportional speed thereof so that conditions of overloading will be sensed and further overlo~ding will not be max-mized apart from the speed of rotation of the ha~mer mill.
In the improved hammer mill and mixer, we have provided an improved shredder configuration by means of which baled hay may --~S~ ,.
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~046~73 be introduced lnto the interior of the hammer mill through a tangential feed and through a cutting arrangement which provides for a uniform feed flow and a tangential feed flow to the hammer mill for greater efficiency and operation. The improved hammer mill not only includes hammers mounted on the supporting plates of the rotor but the individual cutting knives cooperating with the cutting knives on the screen having square holes therein for a more efficient cutting or shearing of the rnaterial and to insure uniformity in size of the material being cut through the screen to the outlet side~ thereof. In addition, the posi-tive ventilation scontrol system reduces the pressure on the ouklet side of the hammer mill to cinrease the infl~w thereto for improved and increased material handling capabilities. The positive ventilation system provides for a blower connected to the outlet side of the ham-mer mill or the conveyirlg pipe between the hammer ,ill and the mixing -tank to reduce the pressure in this line and provide for a disch æ ge therefrom through a cyclone type separator;~ to collect p æ ticulate included in theaairflow stream and sep æ ate the same therefrom dis-charging the air to atmosphere through a controllable spring biased cap or valve system which rninimizes dust discharges from the sep æ ator and blower and returning the previously entrained p æ ticulate to the hammer mill at the lcw pressure side thereof or introducing the same , directly to the mixing tank or to the concentrate hopper feeding the ' input side of the same. m e output of the hammer mill is fed to the base of the mixing ,hamber through an auger s~stem which is generally ~ . ~
?: conventional and this tank has an auxiliary feed hopper for introducing concentrate thereto in a conventional mixing operation. The details of ~ the tank are largely conventional and the tank is vented at its top ; ~ to the positive ven-tline or the low pressure side of the blower for .:
'~ equalization of pressure wi-thin the mlxing tank. The disch æge extremity ,,:. :
,, of the tank includes a conventinnal auger system and distribution pipes '~ for withdrawing material from the interior of the mixing tank and dis-'~ ch æ ging the same to the site of usage~ I~ the improved hammer mill -~ -16-10~473 and mixer, infeed -to the shredder or the auxlliary feed to the hammer mill is controlled by means of an hydraulic drive system operated fram a centrifugal clutch off of a hammer mill rotor to tie the infeed of speed to the auger or the shredder mill to a variable control valve and selector valve to the speed of the hammer mill to control feed rate of bales or grain feed and a clutch to prevent further overloading of the same in case loading reduces the speed of the hammer.
In considering the invention, it should be remembered that the present disclosure ls illustrative only and the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims.
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Claims (23)
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A feed mill and mixer comprising:
a frame structure with a hammer mill mounted on the frame structure including enclosing walls and a drive means for driving the same;
a mixing tank mounted on the frame structure adjacent said hammer mill;
a transfer tube connected through the base of the hammer mill and a base of the mixing tank and including conveying means therein to transfer material from the hammer mill to the mixing tank;
a blower carried by the frame structure and having an inlet connected to the transfer tube near the outlet of the hammer mill, said blower having an outlet therefrom and including an impellor driven by the drive means of the hammer mill for simultaneous and pro-portional operation with the hammer mill;
a separator means having an air inlet connected to the outlet of the blower means and including a material outlet for transferring the separated material from the blower means and the separator and including an exhaust means for venting air from the separator;
tube means connecting the material outlet of the separator means through the enclosing wall of the hammer mill at a low pressure point therein;
a drive means in the mixer tank for raising materials delivered from the transfer tube to the interior of the mixing tank, said blower being adapted to lower the pressure at the outlet side of the hammer mill to increase the flow of material in the mixing tank with operation of the conveying means; and, means for removing mixed material from the tank.
a frame structure with a hammer mill mounted on the frame structure including enclosing walls and a drive means for driving the same;
a mixing tank mounted on the frame structure adjacent said hammer mill;
a transfer tube connected through the base of the hammer mill and a base of the mixing tank and including conveying means therein to transfer material from the hammer mill to the mixing tank;
a blower carried by the frame structure and having an inlet connected to the transfer tube near the outlet of the hammer mill, said blower having an outlet therefrom and including an impellor driven by the drive means of the hammer mill for simultaneous and pro-portional operation with the hammer mill;
a separator means having an air inlet connected to the outlet of the blower means and including a material outlet for transferring the separated material from the blower means and the separator and including an exhaust means for venting air from the separator;
tube means connecting the material outlet of the separator means through the enclosing wall of the hammer mill at a low pressure point therein;
a drive means in the mixer tank for raising materials delivered from the transfer tube to the interior of the mixing tank, said blower being adapted to lower the pressure at the outlet side of the hammer mill to increase the flow of material in the mixing tank with operation of the conveying means; and, means for removing mixed material from the tank.
2. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 1 in which the separator means is a cyclone type separator.
3. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 1 in which the conveying means in the transfer tube is an auger type conveyor.
4. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 1 and including shred-der means positioned at the inlet of the hammer mill and adapted to receive and shred material fed to the hammer mill; said shredder means being driven by the drive means of the hammer mill.
5. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 1 in which the hammer mill includes plates with pivoted hammer members thereon and the outlet across the sane includes a curved screen with square apertures therein to cooperate with the hammers in shearing materials passed therethrough.
6. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 5 in which the plates of the hammer mill include knife means positioned on directly opposite points of the same and spaced from said pivoted hammers to cooperate with similar knives fixed to the screen when said hammers are deflected.
7. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 1 in which the material outlet of the separator is fed back to the hammer mill through the enclosure and adjacent the access of the rotation of the hammer mill.
8. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 1 in which the mixing tank includes an additional auger type inlet at the base of the same independent of the transfer tube for adding additional material to the base of the mixing tank to be moved by the drive means therein raised with the material from the transfer tube.
9. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 1 and including a vent passage means from the top of the mixing tank to the inlet of the blower.
10. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 9 in which the se-parator means is a cyclone type separator whose inlet is connected to the outlet of the blower means and with the air outlet of the cyclone including pivoted cover which is only opened with operation of the blower and air movement through the cyclone.
11. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 1 and including additional passage means through the enclosing walls of the hammer mill for the insertion of materials to the interior of the hammer mill independent of the shredder.
12. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 11 and including means to close the communication between the shredder and the hammer mill to seal the passage therebetween.
13. The feed mill and mixer comprising:
a frame structure with a rotary hammer mill mounted on the frame structure including enclosing walls and a drive means for driving the same;
a mixing tank mounted on the frame structure adjacent the hammer;
a transfer tube connected through the base of the hammer mill and a base in the mixing tank and including conveying means therein to transfer material from the hammer mill to the mixing tank;
ventilation means connected to said transfer tube at the base of the hammer mill and ventilation means including a blower carried by the frame structure and having an inlet connected to the transfer tube near the outlet of the hammer mill, said blower having an outlet therefrom and including an impellor driven by the drive means of the hammer mill for simultaneous and proportional operation with the hammer mill, a se-parator means having an air inlet connected to the outlet of the blower means and including a material outlet for transferring the separated ma-terial from the blower means and the separator and including an exhaust means for venting air from the separator, and tube means connecting the material outlet of the separator means through the enclosing wall of the hammer mill at a low pressure point therein;
a drive means in the mixer tank for raising materials de-livered from the transfer tube to the interior of the mixing tank, said blower being adapted to lower the pressure at the outlet side of the hammer mill to increase the flow of material in the mixing tank with operation of the conveying means;
shredder means positioned at the inlet of the hammer mill adapted to receive and shred material fed to said hammer mill, said shredder means being positioned so that the outlet therefrom is fed tangentially to the inlet of the hammer mill; and, means for removing mixed material from the tank.
a frame structure with a rotary hammer mill mounted on the frame structure including enclosing walls and a drive means for driving the same;
a mixing tank mounted on the frame structure adjacent the hammer;
a transfer tube connected through the base of the hammer mill and a base in the mixing tank and including conveying means therein to transfer material from the hammer mill to the mixing tank;
ventilation means connected to said transfer tube at the base of the hammer mill and ventilation means including a blower carried by the frame structure and having an inlet connected to the transfer tube near the outlet of the hammer mill, said blower having an outlet therefrom and including an impellor driven by the drive means of the hammer mill for simultaneous and proportional operation with the hammer mill, a se-parator means having an air inlet connected to the outlet of the blower means and including a material outlet for transferring the separated ma-terial from the blower means and the separator and including an exhaust means for venting air from the separator, and tube means connecting the material outlet of the separator means through the enclosing wall of the hammer mill at a low pressure point therein;
a drive means in the mixer tank for raising materials de-livered from the transfer tube to the interior of the mixing tank, said blower being adapted to lower the pressure at the outlet side of the hammer mill to increase the flow of material in the mixing tank with operation of the conveying means;
shredder means positioned at the inlet of the hammer mill adapted to receive and shred material fed to said hammer mill, said shredder means being positioned so that the outlet therefrom is fed tangentially to the inlet of the hammer mill; and, means for removing mixed material from the tank.
14. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 13 in which the shredder means includes a plurality of rows of knives mounted on a rotating element forming a part of said shredder means and cooperating with a single row of stationing knives positioned on the frame struc-ture and cooperating with the knives on the rotating element, said knives being distributed circumferentially about the rotating element of the shredder means to form a plurality of rows in spaced relationship cir-cumferentially about the rotating element with the positioning of knives on the adjacent rows being offset axially to provide a staggered rela-tionship and with the stationary knives being mounted in pairs to cooper-ate with and be positioned on each side of a knife mounted on the rotat-ing element as a rotating means of the shredder means is rotated.
15. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 13 in which the hammer mill includes a rotating element mounted on the shaft with a plurality of spaced-apart plates positioned axially along the extent of the shaft and with each plate having a plurality of hammers positioned radially from the shaft on the plate in diametrically disposed relationship from a corresponding hammer and with the hammers pivoted to move circumferentially between an extended position to a retracted position upon engaging solid material as the shaft is rotated, at least a pair of cutting knife blades positioned diametrically with respect to said shaft on each of said plates and between adjacent hammers with the hammers being capable of being pivoted on the plates clear of the knives to permit the exposure of the knives and cutting therefrom with delfection of the hammer means.
16. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 15 and including in said hammer mill a curved screen member and across the outlet of the same having a plurality of square apertures distributed along the same and at least one row of knives cooperating with the knives positioned on the rotating element of the hammer mill to provide a shearing action therebetween as material is passed around the rotating element and through the square apertures in the screen to the outlet of the hammer mill.
17. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 12 in which the drive means for the shredder means is coupled to the drive means for the hammer mill and includes a centrifugal clutch coupling and belt drive with a pump driven from the belt drive, said drive means including a self-contained hydraulic system with a reservoir and said pump with control valve means leading to an orbit motor driving the rotating ele-ment of the shredder means.
18. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 17 in which the con-trol valve means includes avvariable flow control valve to vary the flow of hydraulic fluid through the reservoir to the pump to the orbit motor of the shredder means to vary speeds thereof in proportion to the speed of the drive means of the hammer.
19. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 18 and including a slidable gate means positioned in the frame means common to the enclosures of the shredder means and the hammer mill and adapted to open and close the tangential feed from the shredder means to the inlet of the hammer mill, and additional passage means including an auger and an hydraulic orbit motor driving the same for providing an alternate passage to the interior of the hammer mill, said orbit motor being driven by said control valve means and coupled to the hydraulic system of the shredder motor.
20. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 19 and including selector valve means included in the hydraulic system with the control valve means and adapted to selectively connect the hydraulic pump to the shredder motor and to orbit the motor of the auxiliary feed means.
21. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 20 in which the drive means for the hammer mill includes a rotating shaft adapted to be connected to a power take off drive from a towing vehicle.
22. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 21 in which ventilation system includes a blower carried by the frame structure and having an inlet connected to the transfer tube near the outlet of the hammer mill with the blower having an impellor driven by the drive means to the hammer mill for operation therewith and including separator means having inlet connected to the blower to receive outlet air therefrom and separate ma-terial from the blower exhausting ventilated air from the blower and separating material therefrom returning the same through the coupling with the hammer mill to an area of low pressure therein.
23. The feed mill and mixer of Claim 22 and including drive means for said mixing tank, conveying means, hammer mill and the means for removing material from the tank, all being mechanically connected to the drive shaft and operated from the power take off.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA205,293A CA1046473A (en) | 1974-07-22 | 1974-07-22 | Feed mill and mixer |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA205,293A CA1046473A (en) | 1974-07-22 | 1974-07-22 | Feed mill and mixer |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1046473A true CA1046473A (en) | 1979-01-16 |
Family
ID=4100726
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA205,293A Expired CA1046473A (en) | 1974-07-22 | 1974-07-22 | Feed mill and mixer |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1046473A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4717081A (en) * | 1983-09-08 | 1988-01-05 | Canadian Patents And Development Limited | Tree residue processor |
| CN114452877A (en) * | 2021-12-27 | 2022-05-10 | 广州品悦生物科技有限公司 | Intelligent automatic production equipment for feed-grade natural lutein products |
-
1974
- 1974-07-22 CA CA205,293A patent/CA1046473A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4717081A (en) * | 1983-09-08 | 1988-01-05 | Canadian Patents And Development Limited | Tree residue processor |
| CN114452877A (en) * | 2021-12-27 | 2022-05-10 | 广州品悦生物科技有限公司 | Intelligent automatic production equipment for feed-grade natural lutein products |
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