JP2007510544A - Grinding and moisture extraction system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

In the venturi (18), incoming material is received via the inlet tube (12) and the material is subjected to grinding. Once the material is ground, it is further subjected to moisture extraction and drying. An airflow generator (32) is coupled to the venturi tube (18) to generate a high-speed airflow and draw material through the venturi tube to the inlet opening of the airflow generator. The airflow generator directs the crushed material received to the outlet where the material may then be separated from the air.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a material processing technique for pulverization and moisture extraction.

Many industries require labor intensive work to reduce materials to finer particles and to fine powders.
For example, in the utility industry, coal must be reduced from a lump to powder and then burned in a power furnace. Limestone, chalk or many other minerals must also be reduced to a powder form for most applications. It is a process with a high mechanical load to break up the solids and grind them into powder. Although ball mills, hammer mills, and other mechanical structures impact and crush material debris, such systems, while functional, are inefficient and relatively time consuming to process.

  Many industries require moisture extraction from a wider variety of materials. Water extraction is required in food processing, sewage waste treatment, crop harvesting, mining, and many other industries. In some industries, materials are discarded because moisture extraction cannot be performed efficiently. Such waste materials could provide commercial benefits if they can be efficiently dried. In other industries, water extraction is a current concern, such as waste treatment and processing, and there is a tremendous demand for improved methods. There are several techniques for material dehydration, but there is a growing need for improved moisture extraction efficiency.

  Therefore, providing a more efficient process for material grinding and moisture extraction from material would be an advance in the art. Such techniques are described in the disclosure and claims herein.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 in the drawings, a pulverizing and moisture extracting pulverizer 10 is shown, which includes an inlet tube 12. The inlet tube 12 includes a first end 14 that communicates with free space and an opposite second end 16 that connects to a venturi tube 18.

  Some distance is provided by the inlet tube 12 to the venturi tube 18 so that the material can be accelerated to the required speed. A filter (not shown) may be arranged to cover the first end 14 and prevent foreign matter from entering the grinder 10. The inlet pipe 12 further includes an elongated opening 20 in its upper portion so that it can communicate with the opened lower end of the hopper 22. The hopper 22 is opened at its upper end 24 to receive the material. In another embodiment, the crusher 10 does not include the hopper 10 and the material is simply inserted into the elongated opening 20 by various known conventional methods.

  Venturi tube 18 includes a converging portion 26 that connects to inlet tube 12. The diameter of the converging portion 26 is gradually reduced from the diameter of the inlet tube 12 to be smaller than the inlet tube 12. Venturi tube 18 further includes a throat portion 28 that maintains a constant diameter equal to the small diameter of inlet tube 12.

  The venturi 18 further includes an expanded portion 30 that is connected to the throat portion 28 and gradually increases in diameter in the airflow direction. The widened portion 30 may be coupled to the throat portion 28 by casting, threading, or other known methods. As shown, the converging portion 26 is longer in the longitudinal direction than the spreading portion 30.

  The venturi pipe 18 is communicated with the airflow generation device 32, and the airflow generation device 32 generates an airflow that flows from the first end portion 14 through the inlet pipe 12, through the venturi pipe 18, and to the airflow generation device 32. The generated air velocity may range from 350 mph to supersonic speed. The air velocity is higher at the inlet tube 12 in the venturi tube 18.

  The airflow generation device 32 is driven by the drive motor 34. The drive shaft 33 is driven by the drive motor 34. The power of the selected drive motor 34 varies and depends on the material being processed, the material flow rate, and the size of the airflow generator. Larger crushers 10 may be used in municipal waste treatment facilities, while smaller crushers 10 may be used to process sewage waste on ocean-going vessels. .

  The airflow generation device 32 includes a plurality of radially extending blades, and the blades are rotated by a drive shaft 33 to generate a high-speed airflow. An airflow generator 32 is disposed in a housing 35 that includes air and material outlets 36. The housing 35 is connected to the venturi pipe 18 and has a housing inflow opening (not shown). The opening allows communication between the venturi pipe 18 and the inside of the housing 35. A blade extending radially is defined by a blade, and air reaches the outlet 36 via the passage, and the pulverized material and air are discharged along the periphery of the outlet. One embodiment of an airflow generator 32 suitable for use with the present invention is described in further detail below with reference to FIGS.

  Referring now to FIG. 3, the operation of the venturi 18 during the grinding event is described. In operation, material 38 is introduced into the inlet tube 12. Material 38 may be solid or semi-solid. The airflow generator 32 generates an air flow in the range of 350 mph to supersonic speed, and the air flows through the inlet pipe 12 and the venturi pipe 18. In the venturi tube 18, the airflow speed is greatly accelerated, and the material 38 is propelled to the venturi tube 18 by the high-speed airflow. The diameter of the material 38 is made smaller than the inner diameter of the inlet tube 12, and a gap exists between the inner surface of the inlet tube 12 and the material 38.

  When the material 38 enters the converging portion 26, the gap becomes narrow, and finally, the area in the converging portion 26 through which air can flow is greatly reduced by the material 38. A recompressed shock wave 40 tails backward from the material and an arcuate shock wave 42 is formed in front of the material 38. A standing shock wave 44 exists where the convergent portion 26 is coupled to the throat portion 28. The material 38 is decomposed by the action of the shock waves 40, 42, and 44, and as a result, pulverization and moisture extraction from the material are performed. The ground material 45 then enters the airflow generator 32 via the venturi 18.

  The material size reduction depends on the material to be pulverized and the size of the pulverizer 10. By increasing the air velocity, grinding and particle size reduction are enhanced for certain materials. Therefore, the pulverizer 10 allows the user to change the desired particle size by changing the air velocity.

  System 10 has a special use for grinding solid materials into fine dust. The system 10 further has applications for extracting moisture from semi-solid materials such as municipal waste, papermaking sludge, animal by-product waste, pulp.

  Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, one embodiment of the system 100 of the present invention is shown, where the material is ground and moisture extracted from the material. The illustrated system 100 includes a blender 102 for blending materials in a pre-processing stage. The raw material may include a polymer that tends to agglomerate the material into granules. When the granular material becomes large, it may be difficult to decompose into a desired powder shape because it is a polymer.

  The presence of the polymer is typical in municipal waste, because it introduces the polymer during sewage treatment and collects the waste particles. The waste is processed with a belt press so that the material is almost semi-solid. Depending on the processing, the material may be about 15-20% solids and residual moisture.

  In the pre-treatment stage, the drying accelerator is mixed with the raw material, the polymer is decomposed, and the material is granulated. Non-polymer products may be processed without mixing. The raw material is introduced into the blender 102 where the material is blended with a certain amount of drying accelerator. The drying accelerator may be selected from a variety of accelerators such as coal, lime and the like. The drying accelerator may be a pulverized and dried raw material. The blender 102 mixes the material with a drying accelerator to produce an appropriate moisture content and granule size.

  The raw material is transferred from the blender 102 to the hopper 22 by any one of a number of methods, including the use of a conveying device 104 such as a belt conveyor, screw conveyor, extruder, or other electric device. . In the illustrated embodiment, the conveying device 104 is an inclined path using gravity, and the raw material is supplied to the hopper 22. The conveying device 104 is disposed under the flow control valve 106 located in the lower part of the blender 102.

  In another embodiment, the hopper 22 is omitted and material is fed directly into the elongated opening 20 of the inlet tube 12.

  One or more sensors 108 monitor the flow rate of material passing from the blender 102 to the inlet tube 12. The sensor 108 is communicated with the central processing unit 110 to adjust the flow rate. Sensors 108 may be disposed near the transport device 104, near the hopper 22, in the hopper 22, or even between the hopper 22 and the elongated opening 20, to monitor the material flow rate. The central processing unit 110 is communicated with the flow control valve 106, and the flow rate is adjusted as necessary. Other methods of monitoring and controlling the flow rate may be used, including visual inspection and manual adjustment of the flow control valve 106.

  The hopper 22 receives material and supplies the material to the elongated opening 20 of the inlet tube 12.

  The material is drawn from the inlet pipe 12 via the venturi pipe 18 by the air flow. In the illustrated embodiment, the first end portion 14 is formed in a flange shape, and converges from a diameter larger than the inlet pipe 12 to the inlet pipe diameter.

In the illustrated embodiment, the spreading portion 30 is connected to the housing 35 and communicates directly with the housing 35.
The large diameter of the expanded portion 30 is not necessarily the same as the diameter of the inlet tube 12. In another embodiment, the flared portion 30 may be coupled to an intermediate component such as a cylinder, tube, or pipe prior to coupling with the housing 35.

  One or more vent valves 111 are disposed on the spreading portion 30 to provide an additional amount of air to the housing 35 and to the airflow generator 32. In one embodiment, two vent valves 111 are disposed on the spreading portion 30. System 100 may be operated with vent valve 111 partially or fully open. If material begins to clog the airflow generator 32, the vent valve is closed to provide additional wind power and allow the material to pass the airflow generator 18. The vent valve 111 is adjustable and is shown in electrical communication with the central processing unit 110 for control. Manual operation of the vent valve 111 does this within the scope of the present invention, but processing by the computer is much easier.

  The Venturi tube 18 provides a collision point between a high speed shock wave and a low speed shock wave. A crushing and moisture extraction event is provided in the venturi 18 by the shock wave. During operation, no moisture is visible inside the venturi 18 or at the housing outlet 36. The amount of water removed is a fully complete amount, but a residual amount may also remain. The material size is further reduced by the milling event. Experimental studies have shown that certain materials with a diameter of 2 inches (50 mm) enter the venturi tube 18 and reduce to a fine powder with a diameter of 20 μm in a single grinding event. The size reduction depends on the material being processed and the number of grinding events. The separation of water from materials has many uses such as material dehydration, which can greatly reduce the number of pathogenic bacteria.

  The present invention has particular application with respect to municipal waste processing. The pre-treatment stage of blending the drying accelerator provides a waste material that can be easily processed by the system 100. By grinding and moisture extraction processing, it is believed that the amount of pathogenic bacteria causing disease in waste materials is greatly reduced by disrupting the cell membrane of pathogenic bacteria. As a second cause of reducing pathogenic bacteria, there is water extraction that reduces pathogenic bacteria. From analytical data from municipal waste treatment, it is known that the present invention excludes all coliforms, fecal coliforms, E. coli, and most other pathogenic bacteria.

  The present invention has particular application with respect to moisture extraction from fruit and vegetable products. In one application, the system 100 may be used to dehydrate fruit and vegetable products such as apples, oranges, carrots, nectarines, peaches, melons, tomatoes and the like. The extracted moisture is relatively hygienic and may be concentrated and reduced to provide a pure juice product.

  In another application, the present invention may be used to grind and extract certain agricultural products such as banana stalks, coconut trees, sugar cane, and big yellow. When pulverizing banana stem fibers, the fibers are separated and moisture is extracted.

  Material, moisture, and air flows exit the housing outlet 36 through the airflow generator 32. The housing outlet 36 is connected to a discharge pipe 112 through which material is supplied to the material and air separation cyclone 114.

  The diameter size of the discharge pipe 112 affects the amount of drying that occurs in the discharge pipe 112. High air volume is required for further material drying. In the discharge pipe 112, air is advanced faster in the discharge pipe 112 to allow the material to pass therethrough, and moisture remaining in the material is removed. Air and steam move to the cyclone 114, where the cyclone separates air or steam from the solid material.

  The milling event generates heat that helps dry the material. In addition to the pulverization, heat is also generated by the rotation of the airflow generator 32. The dimension between the housing 35 and the airflow generator 32 is set so that heat is generated by friction during rotation. This heat is discharged through the housing outlet 36 and the discharge pipe 112 to move the material to the cyclone 114 and further dehydrate the material. This generated heat may sufficiently sterilize the material in certain applications.

  The diameter of the housing outlet 36 may be increased or decreased to adjust the resistance and the amount of heat moving through the housing outlet 36 and the exhaust pipe 112. The diameters of the discharge pipe 112 and the housing outlet 36 affect the water removal of the crushed material. The adjustment of the outlet diameter is further described below.

  For heavy materials that contain a small amount of water, such as rock materials, moisture extraction is less necessary. With such materials, the diameter of the housing outlet 36 and the exhaust pipe 112 may be increased because less drying is required. Thus, the wet material reduces the diameter of the housing outlet 36 and the exhaust pipe 112, increases the amount of air and heat, and achieves proper dewatering of the material.

  The inclination angle of the discharge pipe 112 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the venturi 18 and the airflow generator 32 also affects the dehydrating function. The drain pipe angle relative to the horizontal may be about 25 degrees to about 90 degrees, thereby facilitating moisture extraction. The upward movement of the material is pulled back by gravity, whereas air is not so limited by gravity. For this reason, air travels faster than the material and moisture removal is enhanced. The moisture extraction effect may be increased or decreased by adjusting this angle.

  Cyclone 114 is a well-known device for separating particles from an air stream. The cyclone 114 typically includes a vertical cylindrical shaped settling chamber 116. The cyclone can be comprised of a tangential inlet, an axial inlet, a circumferential outlet, and an axial outlet. Airflow and particles enter the cylinder 116 via the inlet 118 and rotate in a vortex as the airflow descends the cylinder 116. The cone portion 120 causes the vortex diameter to decrease until the gas counter-rotates by itself and rotates up to the outlet 122 along the center. The particles are centrifuged towards the inner wall and collected by inertial impact. Collected particles flow down the gas boundary layer to the conical tip 124 where they are discharged from the airlock 126 to the collection hopper 128.

  For certain applications, the system 100 further includes a liquefaction device 130 to receive airflow from the cyclone 114. In the liquefaction device 130, the vapor in the air stream is liquefied into a liquid, and the liquid is then stored in the tank 132. The outlet 134 is connected to the liquefier 130 and an air outlet is provided. The liquefaction device 130 has a special use for food processing. In another embodiment, the liquefaction device 130 is replaced with another processing device such as an activated carbon filter. Whether it is liquefied or filtered depends on the material and application. Outlet 134 includes or is connected to a filter (not shown) to filter out residues, particles, vapors, and the like.

  By passing the material through the system 100 multiple times, the material can be further dehydrated and the particle size can be further reduced. For municipal waste applications, it may be necessary to run the system 100 through multiple cycles to achieve the desired dewatering outcome. The present invention provides a plurality of venturi tubes 18 and a plurality of crushing events with the intention of using a plurality of systems 100 in succession. In this way, a desired result can be obtained by a plurality of systems 100 consecutive from a single cycle. Alternatively, the material may be processed and reworked by the same system 100 until the desired particle size and dryness are obtained.

  In one implementation, the resulting product exiting the system 100 is analyzed to determine the size and / or moisture content of the powder granulate. If the product does not meet the size and / or moisture threshold, it is subjected to one or more cycles until the product meets the desired parameters.

  The system 100 can homogenize different materials. During operation, different materials are simultaneously placed in the inlet tube 12 and processed through the venturi tube 18 for grinding. The resulting product is blended and homogenized and dewatered and reduced in size.

  Special applications of the present invention include homogenization of sewage waste with coal. After milling and moisture extraction, the combined homogenized waste and coal product can be used in a coal burner to obtain an optimal combustion rate for steam generation at a power plant. Waste is used for energy generation rather than normal disposal.

  If desired, the material may be mixed in the blender 102 before grinding or at an intermediate stage between grinding events. Mixing the materials may facilitate homogenization with specific materials. If desired, the material may be mixed in the blender 102 before milling or at an intermediate stage between milling events.

  The material blended in the pretreatment stage is circulated through multiple grinding stages to homogenize as desired. The first material may be processed through multiple grinding steps and then homogenized with the second material. During the grinding stage, the second material may be blended with the material processed in the pretreatment stage. The first and second materials may then be homogenized through one or more grinding steps to produce the final product.

  As an additional example, the first material may be circulated through three grinding stages. After the third grinding stage, the second material may be blended together in the blender 102. Prior to mixing, the second material may be passed through the venturi tube 18 and ground to reduce the desired particle size. Both the first and second materials may then be passed through one or more additional milling steps to the desired moisture content, size, homogenized and utilized in the industry.

  Referring to FIG. 6, a perspective view of the housing 200 is shown, which includes a housing outlet 202. A housing 200 surrounds the operating components of the airflow generator 32. The housing 200 is shown with a part cut away, and the airflow generation device 32 therein is shown. A restrictor 204 may be introduced into the housing outlet 202 to change the effluent flow. The restrictor 204 not only increases resistance to the airflow, but also increases heat. The amount of resistance and the change in airflow vary depending on the material to be processed.

  The restrictor 204 includes a neck 206 that nests within the housing outlet 202 and the restrictor opening 208. The cross section of the restrictor opening 208 is made smaller than the cross section of the housing outlet 202. The restrictor opening 208 may have a rectangular shape, a circular shape, or another suitable shape. The neck 206 provides a flow path that converges from the cross section of the outlet 202 toward the restrictor opening 208, which is the final cross section. A number of restrictors 204 with different opening sizes may be used to manipulate the effluent stream and thereby adjust the system 100 to accommodate the material to be ground.

  Referring to FIG. 7, a cross-sectional view of the airflow generator 32 in the housing 200 is shown. The airflow generator 32 is not necessarily aligned coaxially within the housing 200. In one implementation, the airflow generator 32 includes a diverter plate 250 that has a cutting edge 252 near the airflow generator 32. The crushed material is guided to the housing outlet 202 by the cutting edge 252 of the flow dividing plate 250. The flow dividing plate 250 may be connected to the inside of the housing 200 and to the inside of the housing outlet 202.

  The shunt plate 250 prevents the crushed material from rotating further within the housing 200. Thus, the flow dividing plate 250 serves to first separate the pulverized material from the air that continuously rotates in the housing 200. Subsequent separation of the pulverized material from the air is performed by the cyclone 114. If the pulverized material is continuously rotated in the housing 200, the pulverized material accumulates and eventually the airflow generator 32 is clogged. The air flow rate traveling through the housing 200 is changed by the cutting edge 252.

  The position of the flow dividing plate 250 may be adjustable, and the gap between the flow dividing plate 250 and the airflow generation device 32 may be increased or decreased. Adjustment may be required depending on the material being processed or may be required to manipulate airflow. The adjustment may be controlled by the central processor 110, which communicates with an electromechanical or pneumatic device to move the flow divider 250. The cutting edge 252 has a chamfered end that matches the shape of the airflow generation device 32.

  Referring to FIG. 8, a cross-sectional view of a venturi tube 18 with an associated throat resizer 300 is shown. The throat resizer 300 is a removable component and is nested within the throat 28 when inserted. The throat resizer 300 reduces the effective diameter of the throat portion 28 and increases the air velocity. Changing the throat diameter may be necessary depending on the material and desired dehydration and particle reduction. Therefore, although the airflow may be changed by the airflow generator 32, it is more desirable to manipulate the throat diameter of the venturi tube 18.

  A shelf 302 is formed in the throat portion 28 and a collar 304 of the throat resizer 300 is nested on the shelf 302. The crown member 306 is connected to the collar 304 and coincides with the inner surface of the converging portion 26. The throat resizer 300 includes a sleeve 308 that conforms to the inner surface of the throat portion 28 and extends within the main portion of the throat length of the venturi tube to resize the venturi tube 18.

  Referring to FIG. 9, a system 400 is shown that incorporates two grinding stages 402, 404. Each time material passes through the Venturi tube 18, grinding occurs, moisture is extracted, and particle shrinkage occurs. As described above, this process may be repeated until a single venturi tube 18 or a plurality of venturi tubes 18 is continued to extract a desired amount of water or to obtain a desired product size. This processing may be continued until about 100 percent water extraction is achieved.

  Although two grinding stages are shown in system 400, it should be understood that the system may include 3, 4, 5, or more stages. The first grinding step 402 is the same as described above with reference to FIGS. The first crushing stage 402 includes the hopper 22, the blender 102, the conveying device 104, the flow control valve 106, the venturi pipe 18, the housing 35 (having the airflow generating device 32 therein), and the discharge pipe 112. The system 400 may further include a flow control valve 405 in the exhaust pipe 112 to regulate airflow.

  As in the previous embodiment, exhaust pipe 112 is connected to cyclone 114 to separate the processed product from the air. The system 400 further includes a second cyclone 406 that receives air from the outlet 122 of the first cyclone 114. Air is further separated from residual particles by the second cyclone 406, and purified air is supplied to the liquefier 130. The first tank 132 is communicated with the second cyclone 406 to receive the liquefied liquid from the liquefier 130. The outlet 134 provides an outlet for air transmitted from the liquefier 130 and the second cyclone 406. A residue hopper 408 is disposed to receive residual particles from the second cyclone 406.

  The particles separated by the first cyclone 114 are supplied to the hopper 410 using any number of conventional techniques including gravity. Although not shown, particles from both the first and second cyclones 114 and 406 may be supplied to the hopper 410. The particles are received by the hopper 410 and the particles are then subjected to a second grinding stage 404. Particles are supplied to the second inlet tube 412 by the hopper 410, and the second inlet tube is connected to the second venturi tube 414 in the same manner as the first grinding stage 402.

  One or more flow control valves 416 are installed on the second venturi 414 and are in electrical communication with the central processing unit 110. The flow valve 416 functions in a manner similar to that described above and marked with reference numeral 111.

  The second venturi tube 414 communicates with a second airflow generator (not shown) in the housing 418. A high-speed airflow passing through the venturi tube 414 is generated by the second airflow generation device. The second housing 418 is connected to the second discharge pipe 420, and air and processed material are supplied to the third cyclone 422 through the second discharge pipe 420. The second discharge pipe 420 is inclined at an angle of about 25 degrees to about 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the second venturi pipe 414. The second flow control valve 424 is present in the second discharge pipe 420 to adjust the airflow therein. Similar to the first flow control valve 404, the second flow control valve 424 is electrically connected to the central processing unit 110 for adjustment.

  The third cyclone 422 separates the particles from the air to produce a product that is fed to another transport device 425. The fourth cyclone 426 receives air from the third cyclone 422, further purifies the air, and removes residual particles. Residual particles from the fourth cyclone 426 are stored in a residue hopper 428. Air is supplied to the second liquefaction device by the fourth cyclone 426, where the vapor is liquefied into a liquid and received by the second tank 432. The outlet 434 is connected to the second liquefaction device 430 to allow air to be discharged.

  The system 400 further includes a heat generator 436 that provides heat through the inlet tubes 12, 412 and the venturi tubes 18, 414 to facilitate material drying. Heating is not required for water extraction and is simply used to further increase the drying rate. The heat generator 436 may be in communication with the hoppers 22, 438 or the inlet tubes 12, 412. The heat generator 436 may also be used in a similar manner in the structure illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5.

  In FIG. 9, the heat generator 436 communicates with the first heat control valve 440 to supply heat to the first hopper 22. The first heat control valve 440 is in electrical communication with the central processing unit 110 to adjust the heat supply. Alternatively, the heat control valve 440 may be manually operated. The heat generating device 436 is further communicated with the second heat control valve 442, and the heat flow to the hopper 438 is adjusted by the second heat control valve. It may be desirable to heat the material during the second grinding stage 404, depending on the material or application. If heating is required, the hopper 438 receives particles from the first cyclone 114. Otherwise, the material is fed to the hopper 410 as illustrated in FIG.

  System 400 may include one or more grinding steps for further dehydration and particle reduction. The product may be circulated through the grinding stages 402, 404 by feeding it back to the blender 102 or hopper 22 by means of the transport device 425. Additional air purification is provided by the second and fourth cyclones 406,426. For certain applications, the liquefaction devices 130, 430 may be removed, or another type of processing device such as a filter may be used.

  Referring to FIG. 10, another example grinding and moisture extraction system 450 is shown. The system 450 is similar to the system of FIGS. 4 and 5 and further includes a second cyclone 406 communicating with the first cyclone 114, a residue hopper 408 for collecting particles from the second cyclone 406, a second cyclone 406, It includes a liquefier 130 that communicates, a tank 132 that communicates with liquefier 130, and an outlet 134 that communicates with liquefier 130. The system 450 further includes a switching valve 452 that connects to the first cyclone 114.

  The particles received from the first cyclone 114 are guided to the first outlet 454 or the second outlet 456 by the switching valve 452. The first outlet 454 is connected to a collector 458 such as a bag, a hopper, or a tank. The second outlet 456 is connected to the recirculation tube 460 to introduce the crushed material into the system 450 again, which is connected to the recirculation tube 460 at the end opposite the first end 14 of the tube. Alternatively, the recirculation tube 460 may direct the pulverized material to the hopper 22 or directly to the elongated opening 20.

  During operation, the material is crushed as it passes through the system 450, and the direction is switched under the control of the switching valve 452 to pass the system 450 again for the next grinding event. This may be repeated if desired until the final product is obtained, after which the product may be directed to the collector 458 by a switching valve 452.

  Referring to FIG. 11, an embodiment of the airflow generation device 500 is shown. Various metals are suitable for the airflow generator depending on the material to be processed. A harder alloy may be used as the abrasive. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the material chosen should be a balance between strength and expected wear. The heat generation apparatus 500 by casting is advantageous because an irregularly shaped weld is generated by a region affected by heat in the molding process.

  The airflow generator 500 is received in a housing as illustrated in FIG. The housing 200 at least partially surrounds the airflow generator 500 and preferably completely surrounds the airflow generator 500 so that the only outlet is the housing outlet 36. The airflow generator 500 may have a clearance close to the housing 200 to generate additional friction and heat. This heat is preferably used to further dry the material that passes through the airflow generator 500 and enters the exhaust pipe 112.

  The airflow generator 500 includes a front plate 502 having inlet openings 504 that are concentrically arranged to receive incoming material. The diameter of the inlet opening 504 is variable according to the material size being processed and the amount of air expected. The rear plate 506 is parallel to the front plate 502 and includes a shaft opening 508 disposed concentrically. The shaft opening 508 receives and positions the drive shaft of the airflow generator 500. Another airflow generator 500 may be used in the present invention, and may include a generator having a single rear plate connected to the blade or a generator having only a radially extending blade.

  The rear plate 506 may further include a bolt opening 509 that is disposed around the concentric circle of the opening 508. Respective bolts (not shown) are received in the bolt openings 509, and each bolt is fixed to the drive shaft. Bolts are secured to the rear plate 506 with nuts or other conventional devices.

  A plurality of blades 510 are disposed between the front plate 502 and the rear plate 506. The number of blades 510 may vary, and the number depends to some extent on the material being processed. The thickness of the blade 510 may also be changed depending on the material to be processed.

  In one embodiment, blade 510 extends across front plate 502 and rear plate 506 to form blade fins 511 on the outer surfaces of front plate 502 and rear plate 506. The blade fins 511 may extend approximately 12 mm from either the front plate 502 or the rear plate 506. A blade fin 511 generates an air cushion between the heat generating device 500 and the inside of the housing 200. The blade fins 511 further serve to sweep away material that may enter between the airflow generator 200 and the housing 500.

  Referring to FIG. 12, a cross-sectional view of the opening 508 is shown. The drive shaft for rotating the airflow generation device 500 is received through the opening 508. Each bolt opening 509 receives a bolt and secures the rear plate 506. In this embodiment, the drive shaft is shifted from the first diameter to the second diameter suitable for insertion into the opening 508 by extending both bolts. Each bolt opening 509 may be provided with a hole 515 to receive a nut that engages the bolt.

  Referring to FIG. 13, a plan view of the inside of the airflow generation device 500 is shown with one blade 510. By showing a single blade 510, the unique features of the blade 510 assembled to the airflow generator 500 are illustrated. The remaining blades 510 are configured similarly.

  The blade 510 extends from a rear edge 512 at the periphery 513 of the front plate 502 and rear plate 506 to a front edge 514 adjacent to the opening 508. The blade 510 includes a wedge-shaped portion 516 adjacent to the edge 512. The wedge-shaped portion 516 has a thicker cross section to increase pressure and airflow. The wedge-shaped portion 516 improves wear resistance, which is advantageous depending on the material.

  Referring to FIG. 14A, a plan view illustrating the wedge-shaped portion 516 in more detail is shown. The shape of the wedge-shaped portion 516 affects the airflow, airflow velocity, and material flow through the airflow generator 500. The wedge-shaped portion 516 may be changed in the circumferential direction and the longitudinal direction to change the air flow rate, the air velocity, and the material flow rate. The casting method has the advantage that it can be varied in three dimensions and that any circumferential and longitudinal contours with respect to the wedge-shaped portion 516 are possible.

  Increasing the thickness of the wedge-shaped portion 516 can increase the life of the airflow generator 500 because that portion is typically where the blade 510 is most worn. The material and hardness used for the wedge-shaped portion 516 may be different from the rest of the blade 510.

  Referring to FIG. 14B, another example of a wedge-shaped portion 518 is shown, including a replaceable wear tip 520. In the airflow generator 500 rotating in the clockwise direction, the replaceable wear tip 520 receives the most physical contact. Even thicker to increase wear resistance, the wedge-shaped portion 518 may wear more than the other components of the airflow generator 500 and wear out quickly. By replacing the replaceable wear tip 520, the replacement of the entire air flow generation device 500 can be postponed. The replaceable wear tip 520 is secured to the remaining portion of the wedge-shaped portion 518 through any known fastening device including locking nuts and bolts 522. The replaceable wear tip 520 may be a harder material than the rest of the blade 510. The replaceable wear tip 520 may be replaced with a replaceable wear tip 520 having a different circumference and longitudinal profile. In yet another embodiment, the entire wedge-shaped portion 518 is replaceable.

  Referring to FIG. 15A, a perspective view of the airflow generator 500 is shown, showing a wedge-shaped portion 516, a front plate 502, and a rear plate 506. Blade fins 511 are further shown extending from the outer surfaces of front plate 502 and rear plate 506. As shown, the wedge-shaped portion 516 is significantly thicker than the corresponding blade fin 511. The blade fins 511 are not subject to the same wear and do not have the same thickness as the wedge-shaped portion 516.

  Referring to FIG. 15B, a perspective view of the airflow generator 500 is shown using another embodiment of the wedge-shaped portion 516. As the wedge-shaped portion 516 extends from the front plate 502 to the rear plate 506 in the longitudinal direction, its thickness and circumferential contour increase. As the wedge-shaped portion 516 extends radially toward the periphery, its thickness increases.

  The pulverized material entering the airflow generator 500 tends to accumulate near the rear plate 506. Increasing the thickness in the longitudinal direction encourages the crushed material to remain concentrated between the front plate 502 and the back plate 506 rather than accumulate along the back plate 506. The casting method makes it possible to produce a wedge-shaped portion 516 that can change in three-dimensional directions. The replaceable wear tip 520 may include and be defined by a longitudinally increasing thickness. If another wedge-shaped portion 516 shape is desired, another replaceable wear tip 520 is used that does not have a longitudinally increased thickness or a more pronounced longitudinally increased thickness. Also good. Thus, the flow direction of the crushed material may be manipulated in the longitudinal direction by using wedge-shaped portions 516 with different circumferences and longitudinal shapes.

  Referring to FIG. 13 again, the blade 510 has shifted from a position perpendicular to the rear plate 506 to an inclined position. The blade 510 transitions from the wedge-shaped portion 516 to the front edge 514 position as it progresses. The blade 510 is tilted in the airflow direction by the tilt position.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the trailing portion 524 of the blade 510 includes a wedge-shaped portion 516 that extends vertically from the rear plate 506. The trailing portion 524 may be about a quarter to a half of the blade 510 when the blade 510 extends from the trailing edge 512 to the leading edge 514. Leading portion 526 is the remaining amount of blade 510 from trailing portion 524 to leading edge 514. The leading portion 526 shown has a transition that slopes from a vertical position to an inclined position with respect to the rear plate 506.

  The tilted position has an angle referred to herein as the angle of attack, which is referred to as it cuts into the incoming airflow by the leading edge 514. In FIG. 13, the final angle of attack of the blade 510 at the leading edge 514 is about 25 degrees. The transition from the vertical position to the inclined position may be extended over the entire blade 510 or any portion thereof. The angle of attack may be selected from a wide range of angles based on expected air velocity, material flow rate, and material. The tilt position may have a range of about 20-60 degrees.

  Alternatively, the blade 510 may remain vertical along its entire length. The blade 510 may also have an angle of attack along its entire length. The angle of attack may be further varied as the blade 510 extends from the trailing edge 512 to the leading edge 514, even if it extends along the entire length.

  Referring to FIG. 16, a diagram relating to the leading edge 514 is shown. Typically, the edges may be relatively upright with respect to the rear plate 506 and travel at an angle. In the shape shown, the leading edge 514 begins at the rear plate 506 and has an outwardly curved portion 528 and then transitions to the inwardly curved portion 530. The outwardly curved portion 528 helps capture air moving to the inlet opening 504 of the airflow generator 500. The leading edge 514 having such a contour can be cut into the air.

  Referring to FIG. 17, a cross-sectional view of leading edge 514 along section 17-17 is shown. The leading edge 514 has an elliptical cross-sectional view, which facilitates incision into the incoming airflow.

  Referring to FIG. 18, a perspective view of the airflow generator 500 is shown with the front plate 502 removed to illustrate the blade 510. The illustrated embodiment includes nine blades 510, but the number is variable. Each blade 510 includes a wedge-shaped portion 516 to provide additional wear resistance and increase pressure and airflow. Each blade 510 further moves from a vertical position to an angle of attack.

  During operation, a rotating blade 510 causes a high velocity air stream to be generated in the venturi 18 to a range of 350 mph or more, and air and crushed material are drawn into the inlet opening 504. The leading edge 514 of the blade 510 cuts into the air and the material to be crushed, leading both the air and the material to be crushed into the flow path 532, which is defined by the blade 510 and from the inflow opening 504 through the front plate 502 and the rear plate 506. Extends to the peripheral portion 513. The wedge-shaped portion 516 pushes air and crushed material to the housing outlet 202 located within the housing 200.

  The systems 10, 100, 400, 450 disclosed herein may be a fixed structure. Alternatively, the system may be mounted in or on a vehicle such as a truck, trailer, rail car, boat, or fence. Any vehicle that provides a sufficient planar footprint may be used. Having a mobile system is effective for certain applications such as crop harvesting, remote processing, demonstrations and the like.

  Referring to FIG. 19, a mobile system 600 is schematically shown. System 600 includes the aforementioned components such as inlet tube 12, venturi tube 18, airflow generator 32, housing 35, motor 34, exhaust pipe 112, and first and second cyclones 114,406. System 600 may include blender 102, central processing unit 110, liquefaction unit 130, etc. as additional elements. A system having multiple crushing stages may be mounted on a vehicle in a similar manner.

  System 600 includes a vehicle, represented generally as 602, with sufficient footprint to support the components being assembled. System 600 further includes a plurality of supports 604. The system 600 may further include a housing 606 that encloses the components of the system. A housing 606 protects the components and reduces noise during operation.

  One or more components of the system 600 may be removable to facilitate transportation. For example, the first and second cyclones 116, 406 may need to extend outside the housing 606 and be moved during transport. The cyclones 116, 406 may be completely removed or partially hidden prior to shipping. Similarly, the blender 102 may be removable and transported. The need to remove components depends on the size of the system 600, the vehicle 602, and other design constraints.

  The housing 606 may be housed in a control room and the user may operate the system 600. The housing 606 may be provided with windows to observe the components and to approach for inserting materials to be observed, operated and processed.

It is a side view explaining a material grinder. It is a top view explaining the grinder of FIG. It is a section side view explaining a venturi pipe of a crusher when a venturi pipe receives material. It is a side view explaining the Example of the grinding | pulverization system of this invention. It is a top view of the crushing system of FIG. It is a perspective view explaining the housing for air generators, and an outlet restrictor. It is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a housing for an air generator. It is a cross-sectional view of a venturi pipe and a throat resizer. It is a schematic painting figure explaining the component of another Example of a grinding | pulverization system. It is a schematic painting figure explaining another Example of the grinding | pulverization system of this invention. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an airflow generator suitable for use in the system of the present invention. It is a cross-sectional view of a part of the airflow generation device of FIG. It is a top view inside the airflow generator of FIG. It is a top view of the braid | blade rear edge part of the airflow generation apparatus of FIG. It is a top view of another Example of the braid | blade rear edge part of the airflow generator of FIG. It is a perspective view of a part of the airflow generation device of FIG. It is a one part perspective view of another Example of the airflow generator of FIG. It is a side view of the braid | blade of the airflow generation apparatus of FIG. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the blade of FIG. 16 taken along line 17-17 of FIG. It is a perspective view of a part of the airflow generation device of FIG. FIG. 6 is a side view of a further embodiment of the grinding system of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Crusher 12, 412 Inlet pipe 18 Venturi pipe 22, 128, 408, 410, 428, 438 Hopper 32, 500 Airflow generator 33 Drive shaft 34 Drive motor 35, 200, 418 Housing 38 Material 100, 400, 450, 600 System 102 Blender 104, 425 Transport device 106, 416, 405 Flow control valve 108 Sensor 110 Central processing unit 111 Vent valve 112, 420 Discharge pipe 114, 406, 422, 426 Cyclone 116 Sedimentation chamber 126 Air lock 130, 430 Liquefaction device 132 432 tank 204 restrictor 250 flow dividing plate 300 throat resizer 436 heat generator 458 collector 460 recirculation pipe 502 front plate 506 rear plate 510 blade 511 blade fin

Claims (30)

Providing an airflow generator in communication with the venturi;
Generating an air flow through the venturi to the air flow generating device;
Introducing the material into the air stream; and passing the material through a venturi to extract moisture and grind the material;
A method for crushing a material and extracting moisture from the material, comprising:   The method of claim 1, comprising passing the ground material through a discharge pipe inclined at an angle in the range of 25 degrees to 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the venturi tube. Method.   The method of claim 2, further comprising controlling the flow rate at the discharge pipe. The method of claim 2, comprising:
Passing the crushed material from the discharge pipe to the cyclone to separate the crushed material from the air;
The method of further comprising.   5. The method of claim 4, further comprising passing air from a first cyclone to a second cyclone to remove residual particles from the air.   6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising liquefying moisture that evaporates by passing air through a liquefier.   The method of claim 1, further comprising heating air upstream of the venturi.   The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling a material flow rate upstream of the venturi.   The method of claim 1, wherein the venturi includes a diverging portion, and the method comprises introducing a controlled air flow into the diverging portion from outside the diverging portion. Providing an airflow generator in communication with the venturi;
Causing the air flow generator to generate an air flow through the venturi tube toward the air flow generator;
Introducing the first and second materials into the air stream; and passing the first and second materials through a venturi to pulverize and homogenize the materials;
A method for homogenizing a material, comprising:   The method of claim 10, further comprising heating the airflow.   12. The method of claim 10 or 11, further comprising crushing the first material by passing the first material through a venturi tube before introducing the first and second materials into the air stream. Feature method. Inlet pipe;
A venturi pipe upstream of the inlet pipe; and an airflow generator for generating an airflow,
The air flow generator communicates with the venturi tube outlet end, passes through the inlet tube, sucks the air flow through the venturi tube, and passes the material introduced into the air flow through the venturi tube for pulverization and moisture extraction. An apparatus for crushing a material characterized by the above and extracting moisture from the material.   14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a heat generator in communication with the inlet pipe to heat the air flowing toward the venturi pipe.   15. A device according to claim 13 or 14, comprising a discharge pipe connected to the outlet of the air flow generator, wherein the pipe is angled in the range of 25 to 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the venturi tube. A device characterized by tilting.   16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a cyclone coupled to the discharge pipe for separating air from crushed material.   The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a second cyclone in communication with the first cyclone to receive air and separate residual particles.   18. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein an air flow is disposed on the expanded portion of the venturi tube to allow air to flow from outside the venturi tube to the expanded portion. The apparatus further comprising a control valve. Inlet pipe;
A venturi pipe connected to the inlet pipe; and an airflow generating device for generating an airflow; both the front plate, the inflow opening provided in the front plate, the rear plate, and the rear plate and the front plate; An airflow generating device including a plurality of blades connected to the airflow generating device; and a housing partially surrounding the airflow generating device, the housing including an outlet communicating with an inflow opening of the airflow generating device;
Let the air flow generator communicate with the venturi pipe, pass the air stream through the venturi pipe and guide it toward the inflow opening, pass the material introduced into the air stream through the venturi pipe, and subject it to crushing and moisture extraction;
A device that crushes the material and extracts moisture from the material.   20. Each blade includes a wedge-shaped portion disposed proximate to the periphery of the front and rear plates, the wedge-shaped portion having a greater thickness than the remaining portion of the corresponding blade. The device described in 1.   21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each wedge-shaped portion increases in thickness as it extends longitudinally from the front plate to the back plate to control longitudinal material flow in the air stream. .   21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each wedge-shaped portion includes a removable wear tip.   21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each wedge-shaped portion is removable and replaceable.   21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each blade transitions from a position perpendicular to the rear plate to an inclined position as the blade advances into the inflow opening.   25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the angle of the blade tilt position is about 20-60 degrees from a position perpendicular to the back plate.   Each blade includes a front edge proximate to the inflow opening and a rear edge proximate to the periphery of the front plate and the rear plate, wherein the front edge includes an outward curved portion proximate to the rear plate and a front edge. The apparatus of claim 19, comprising an inwardly curved portion proximate to the plate.   27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the leading edge includes an elliptical cross section.   20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a plurality of fins disposed on the outer surface of the front plate and the rear plate.   The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the housing further includes a flow diverting plate coupled to the interior of the housing near the outlet and having a cutting edge proximate to the airflow generator. 30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the flow diverting plate is adjustably connected to the interior of the housing to change the distance from the cutting edge to the airflow generating device.

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