US2022135A - Crusher - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 26, 1935. R. c. NEwHousE 2,022,135

CRUSHER I Filed May 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 26, 1935. R. c. NEwHousE 2,022,135

' oRUsHER- Filed May 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet v2 Patented Nov. :26, 19351v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE [1s claims. (ci. ca -1o) The present invention relates in general to improvements in the art of reducing material, and relates more specically to improvements in the construction and mode of operating crushers for disintegrating variable sized lumps of relatively hard substances such asrock, ore, coal and the like, and for reducing such materials to a product comprising small pieces of relatively uniform size.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved crusher which is simple, compact and-- rigid in construction, and which will quickly and effectively reduce material to relatively uniform size.

It has 4heretofore been proposed to operate a vgyratory crusher at relatively high speed in order to enhance the capacity thereof and to produce more uniform final product, than was obtainable with the old slow speed crushers of the gyratory type. In order to secure the desired capacity and uniformity of final product, a definite 'relationship must exist between the relative angularity i of the vcrushing surface, the throw of the ecthe subject of said patents. The novel lubricatcentric and the speed of 'rotation of the eccentric. This relationship must be such that all of the material advancing downwardly through the crushing zone between the receding cooperating portions of the crushing members, can contact only with one of the members and remains either free to drop by gravity, or freely slidable along Crushers of this high speed type, whereby better reduction of the material results. Still another object of the invention is to provide a crusher of the gyratory rtype, having a wide range of reduc-v tion, and especially'adapted for nereduction purposes. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved high speed gyratory crusher which is operable at 'capacity feed to produce maximum quantities of relatively uniform prod- 'uct devoid of undesirable quantities of fines.

' Another specific object of the invention is/to provide improved supporting means for the movable member of the crusher. A further specific object of the invention is to provide means for readily effecting relative adjustment of the crushing members so as-to vary the size of the final product. Still another specic object ofthe invention is to provide an improved safety release for-per mitting separation of the crushing members so as .tov avoid damage to the crusher in case an abnorcrushing chamber, and means foreiecting automatic return of the crushing members to normal operating position without shock to the crusher. Another specific object of the invention is to provide improved means for notifying attendants 5 of abnormal conditions of operation, and for automatically stopping the crusher when dangerous conditions of operation are reached. A furv' ther specic object of the invention is to provide improved driving mechanism especially applicable to crushersof the gyratory type, and means for permitting convenient assembly and dismantling of such crushers. These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

Crushers operable in accordance with the foregoing new principle, have been disclosed in co- ,pending applications now Patent No, 1,799,476,

April 7, 1931 and Patent No. 1,799,477, April 7, 1931,- and some of the novel features pertaining to the construction and operation of such high speed crushers, shown and described herein, form ing system disclosed and not specifically claimed herein, likewise forms the subject of a copending application now Patent No'. 1,956,584, May 1, 1934, and the pressure relieving means including the main and auxiliary'pistons disclosed herein but not specifically claimed, forms the subject matter of a copending application now Patent No. 1,961, 3 0 811, June 5, 1934.

A clear conception of embodiments of the various novel features constituting the present invention, in a crusher, andl of the method of voperating such machines, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a central vertical-section through an 49 I improved high speed gyratory crusher.

Fig. 2 is a side elevationv of the improved gyratory crusher shown in Fig. 1;

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the improved gyratory Crusher forming the subject of the present'in- 45 ventionycomprises in general an inner conical gyratory crushing member or head 3; an outer crushing member or concave 4 surrounding the head 3 and cooperating therewith to form an an- 4nular crushing chamber 45, a relatively massive 50 'main shaft 5 rigidly attached to the head- 3, a

rotary eccentric 1 cooperating with the lower end ofthe shaft 5 and rotatable at high speed so as to impart rapid gyratory motion to the head 3; an electric motor I8 or the like'above the crusher for v rotating the eccentric 1 at high speed; and suitable supporting structure for the various crushing and driving elements.

The concave 4 is supported directly within an upper annular frame 8 which carries a spider 28 having a central upper guide bearing I6 within which the upper extremity of the hollow main shaft 5 -is journaled. 'I'he eccentric 1 gyrates the main shaft 5 about a fulcrum point 56 and is rotatably supported in a central guide bearing formed in the lower frame 9, this frame being rigidly associated with the upper frame 6, by means of an intermediate frame 35. A hopper 5| associated with the upper portion of the upper frame 8 andI with the spider 28, forms an inlet opening for admitting unrestricted quantities of material 44 to the upper vertically directed portion of the crushing chamber 45, and the discharge portion of the crushing chamber is flared outwardly, being adapted to deliver crushed material by gravity to a discharge spout 52 supported upon the lower and intermediate frames 9, 35.

The inner crushing member or head 3 rests directly upon a thrust bearing comprising a floating ring element I0 having a spherical upper surface coacting with a wearing ring fastened to the lower extremity of the headI 3, and also having a plane lower surface cooperable with and slidable upon an adjacent plane surface of an annular plunger II. 'Ihe plunger II is vertically movable to vary the discharge opening, between inner and outer annular walls 46, 42, the inner of which is of less height than the outer, and the walls 46, 42 cooperate to form an annular recess within which the plunger II is disposed. The thrust ring element I8 by virtue of its'lateral movability relative to the plunger II, functions to compensate for vertical adjustment of the head 3 relative to the fulcrum point 58, and always maintains a proper seating for the head upon the plunger II, regardless of the vertical position of the head relative to the concave 4. The chamber 22 within the bottom of the annular .recess and directly beneath the plunger I I, is lled with incompressible uid such as oil, this chamber being connected with a fluidl pressure source I2 by means of a conduit 2 I.

A check valve I9 having one or more relatively small fluid return openings therethrough, is interposed between the passage 2| and the uid pressure source I2. The iiuid is normally held in a xed position within the source I2 by means of a piston I3 which is held in uppermost position by a plurality of coil springs I 4. As long as the uid remains undisturbed the pressure within the source I2 may vary between that suflicient to support the head 3, the shaft 5 and the connecting parts, and a predetermined pressure established by the springs I4 sufficient to crush the material being actedl upon during normal operating conditions. cooperate to provide a fluid support for the floating thrust ring element I0, and the thrust element I8 is preferably located closely adjacent to the head 3 and above the eccentric 1. A'suitable stop 36 may be provided for limiting the downward movement of the plunger I I when the fluid pressure is released, and the outer wall 42 may be provided with a dust seal ring 24 cooperating with anvannular apron 23 carried by the head 3, as shown in Fig. 1, in order to protect the thrust bearing and the eccentric beneath the head 3 from dust or other foreign matter.

Located on each side of and laterally adjacent The source I2, conduit 2| and chamber 22 to the main piston I3, is an auxiliary piston 48, all of these pistons I3, 48 reacting against a common supporting block 31 which also carries a contact member 53 cooperable with switches 54, 55. When the contact member 53 has been moved downwardly by the block 31 suiciently to close the upper switch 54, an alarm such as a bell is automatically. sounded, and when the downward movement of the member continues to a sufficient extent to close the switch 55, the circuit of the motor I8 is broken and the motor stops. The springs I4 constantly urge the block 31 in anupward direction, and upon compression of these springs a predetermined amount due to excess pressure created in the source I2, the plunger I3 valve 20 serves to permit return of uid from the passage 41 when the plunger I3 has re-entered the source I2 and before the plungers 48 have been returned to normal uppermost position.

The driving motor I8 has upper and lower anti-friction bearings 30, 3| one or both of which, f

due to the vertical disposition of the motor, serve as thrust bearings. The motor shaft is direct connected to the upper extremity of a relatively light central drive shaft 8 by means of a coupling 32, and the lower extremity of the drive shaft 8 is secured to an eccentric driving plate 51 by means of an inner key 33. The drive shaft 8 extends downwardly through a bore in the main shaft 5 and has its lower extremity journaled in a guide bearing 34 formed directly in a removable'bottom plate or cap 4I. The eccentric 1 is drivingly connected directly to the plate 51 by means of an outer key 49, 'and the thrust plate 21 secured to the eccentric 1 bears directly upon the thrust bearing 50 which is attached to the bottom of the lower frame 9 bybolts independently-of the attachment of the cap 4I to this frame, thus permitting removal of the cap without disturbing the eccentric or its thrust bearing. The central opening in the thrust plate 21 is also sufficiently large to permit free downward removal of the driving plate 51 therethrough. l

The lower extremity of the drive shaft 8 is drivingly but detachably connected to a centrifugal pump 25 which is operable only when the crusher is in operation. This pump 25 is adapted to deliver lubricant from the lubricant collecting chamber 28 past a check valve 40 and through a pipe 38, to the upper portion of a lubricant purifying and storage device I5. A

' pipe 39 leading from the lower portion of the device I5 communicates with a conduit 43 which is adaptedto deliver lubricant to the top of the annular recess within which the thrust ring element I 0 is confined, above the plunger I I. The pipes 38, 39 are preferably formed lof considerable length and may be provided with flexible sections so as to-permit the'lubrcant cleansing and storage device I5 to be placed upon a stationary support, While permitting free vibration of the crusher upon the suspension cables I1, without imparting vibration to the device I5.

During normal operation of the improved Crusher, theelectric motor I8 rotates the eccentric 'I at the lower end of the crusher, at relatively high speed, thereby causing the head 3 to gyrate at a correspondingly high speed, within and relative to the concave 4. The raw material 44 includinglumps of various sizes which are to bereduced, is spouted into the hopper 5I and falls by gravity into the upper vertical portion of the crushing chamber 45, and there is no restriction whatever tothe quantity of material thus fed to the crusher. As the admitted material advances by .gravity through the successive vertical vand outwardly flared portions of the crushing chamber 45, it Areceives a rapid succession of blows from the gyrating head 3, the speed of gyration. of which is such as compared to the throw and to the relative inclination of the crushing surfaces, that all of the material remains free to fall or to slide in contact with one of the members only, under`the` influence of gravity, during the entire recession period of the head and also duringa considerable portion of the period of approach constituting each gyrationl Disregarding frictional resistance between the particles of material, and between these particles and one of the crushing members with which they may come in contact, the travel of the. material toward the discharge opening, is interrupted only during the impact period, and the particles are neverwedged by the influence of gravity between the opposed crushing surfaces. The vibration of the crusher structure as a unit, permitted bythe iiexiblev suspension thereof upon cables I1, and caused by the unbalanced masses gyrating about the central crusher axis, also enhances feeding of material through the crushing zone, by retaining the particles of the mass in a state of constant agitation. By thus depending solely upon impact and avoiding subsequent direct crushing by wedg'ing as in the old style slow speed gyratory crusher, production of excess quantities of finesand dust is eliminated,and maximum quantities of pieces of substantially cubical 'form and of size approximating the minimum width of the discharge opening, are produced and delivered from the discharge chute 52.

In case a piece 'of abnormally hard material such as a piece of steel or the like, is admitted to the crushing chamber 45, the downward pressure of the head 3 upon the thrust ring element Ill will become so great that the annular plunger II is forced downwardly, and if the piece 'is not too large, displaces suflicient iluid from the -chamber 22 to permit the obstruction to pass through the discharge opening without damaging the crusher. When the plunger II is thus forced downwardly, the uid which must escape from the chamber 22, is urged into the conduit 2| from which anequal quantity ofl uid is displaced past the check valve I 9 into the source I2, the valve I9 being raised from its seating to permit rapid transfer of the fluid into the source I2. By virtue of the increase in fluid content in the source I2, the piston I3 is forced downwardly and compresses the springs I4, and if the downward motion of the piston I3 and block 31 is sufficient the switch 54 will be closed thus sound-` ing the alarm and notifying the attendant to be v`on guard. If the downward motion of the piston I3 continues, the passage 41 is eventually brought into direct communication with the source I 2 and the iuid pressure established within the source I2 is communicated to the auxiliary' plungers 48 thereby causing the springs I4 to bequickly additionally compressed. When the obstruction has passed through the discharge opening, the springs I4 again become effective to raise the pistons I3, 48. Due to the additional length of the central piston I3, this piston will enter the pressure source I2 before the auxiliary 5 pistons 48 reach their normal uppermost position. The fluid confined within the passage 41 by entry ofthe piston I3 into the source I2, is forced by the auxiliary pistons 48 past the bypass valve and back into the source I2. The '.l pressure exerted by the springs I4 is such, that fluid from the source I2 will gradually be urged through the small holes in the valve I9, and normal pressure of uid within the chamber 22 and passage 2| will eventually be reestablished.` lo

IIi the abnormally hard piece of material is too large to pass through the discharge opening, fluid is displaced from the chamber 22 to the source I2 until the pistons I3, 48 are forced downwardly to a sufficient extent that the con- 20 tact member 53 also closes the switch 55, whereupon the motor circuit is automatically brokenv and the motor I8 is stopped before breakage of cruslrierv parts occurs. The obstruction must then be removed through the inlet opening 25 whereupon normal operating conditions are restored and the motor may again be started.

The stop 36 serves to support the plunger II, ring element I0, head I3 and main shaft 5 before uid has been admitted to the pressure system, 20 or when the pressure within said system has been entirely released. This stop 36 is so disposed that it will permit maximum dropping of the head 3 relative to the concave 4, before the stop becomes effective at all, and the stop serves to maintain a space beneath the plunger II` so that iluid may be readily admitted to the lower face of the plunger. If it becomes desirable to vary the size of the. crusher discharge opening, this opening may be 40 readily made smaller by merely actuating the pump 29 and introducing additional fluid under' pressure to the source I2, the passage 2|, and the chamber 22. In case it becomes desirable to increase the crusher discharge opening, some of the iluid may be withdrawn from the fluid pressure system. When oil is utilized, the uid thus admitted to and discharged from Athe pressure system, may be either withdrawn from or res turned to the crusher lubricating system. It will be apparent that by thus adjusting the quantity of fluid in the uid pressure system any ldesired fixed discharge opening can be established.

When the head3 is raised or lowered relative to the concave 4, the distance from the fulcrum point 58 to the thrust element I0 changes. Due

to the fact that the position of the bearing I6 in the spider 28 is xed, and that the eccentric 1 is rotatable in a fixed bearing in the lower frame, the position of the fulcrum point 56 can- 60 not change. 'Ihe spherical surface of the thrust element I0 has a fixed radius, so that when vertical adjustment of the head 3 is made, surface coaction could lnot be maintained between the head 3 and the spherical surface of the ring ele- 65 ment I0, if the ring element were fixed against lateral movement.4 By permitting the ring element I0 to float upon the plunger II, however, proper surface coaction is at all times maintained between the upper and lower surfaces of the thrust element I0 and the adjacent structure. If the spider 28 were omitted, the fulcrum point 5B would vary its position in accordance with 4variations due to vertical adjustment of the head i 3, and the spider 28 therefore functions to ma 75.

lfl

tain the shaft 5 in proper alinement with the eccentric 1 irrespective of the position of adjustment of the head 3. It will therefore be noted that the freely floating ring element I effectively compensates for variations in the length of the radius between the fulcrum point 56 and the spherical thrust surface, while maintaining surface coaction at this thrust surface.

While the crusher is in operation, the centrifugal pump 25 which is detachably secured to the lower extremity of the drive shaft 8, is operating at high speed to withdraw oil from the accumulating chamber 26 and to deliver the oil past the check valve 40 and through the pipe 38 to the purifier I5. In the purifier I5, the oil may be filtered and thus cleared of impurities, after which the clean oil is discharged from the purifier I through the pipe 39, .by gravity. The oil flows upwardly through a passage 43 formed in the inner wall 45 or' the main thrust bearing, and is discharged directly into the upper portion of the recess between the walls 4E, 42 within which the thrust ring element I0 is disposed. The excess oil flows over the top of the inner wall 46 and floods the eccentric 1 with lubricant. After serving to lubricate the inner and outer bearing surfaces of the eccentric 1, the oil ows downwardly over the thrust bearing 50 and is eventually discharged into the chamber 26 to be re-circulated by the pump 25. Any oil which succeeds in passing laterally beyond the bearing surfaces of the element I0, is drained back into the system before it can reach the dust seal ring 24. Delivery of oil to the discharged product i3 thereby avoided, and the dust seal ring 24 cooperating with the apron 23 serves to prevent dust from entering the lubricating system.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the thrust bearing located directly beneath the head and above the eccentric 1, is constantly flooded with lubricant and provides an efficient fluid pressure support capable of sustaining the vertic-al reactions due to normal crushing. The effective position of this support is conveniently adjustable to vary the characteristics of the finished product, and the relief mechanism associated with the fluid support acts quickly and effectively to prevent breakage of parts under abnormal conditions of operation. The dust seal directly beneath the head not only prevents dust from entering the lubricating system, but is also so disposed and constructed that it prevents oil from entering the4 final product, and the eccentric bearing surfaces are also abundantly supplied with clean oil.

The drive shaft 8 is suspended from the shaft of the motor I8 and i: supported in bearings located on opposite sides of the eccentric 1. The pump rotor 25 is accessible by merely removing a bottom plate from the lower cap 4I, andthe entire pump may be removed by detaching the cap 4I. The eccentric vthrust bearing 50 is not disturbed by removal of the cap 4I, but may be subsequently removed to effect downward removal of the eccentric 1 from the crusher. The driving plate 51 may also be removed without disturbing the thrust bearing5il or the eccentric 1, upon removal of the keys 33, 49, by slipping the plate downwardly through the central opening of the thrust ring 21.

The improved crusher has proven highly successful in commercial operation under the most severe tests, and produces extremely desirable product and has enormous capacity when oper- Patent: 10

l. In a crusher, the combination of a pair of annular crushing members, means for holding said crushing members in spaced apart relation so as to form a crushing chamber, said holding means comprising a frame and bearings therein, means for causing one of said crushing members to gyrate relative to the other of said crushing members to crush material, means for normally supporting said one of said crushing members a predetermined distance from said other of said crushing members, said supporting means comprising a fluid support having an annular plunger encircling :aid gyrating means, and means operable upon abnormal conditions within said crusher to increase the distance between said crushing members, said last mentioned means comprising an excess fluid pressure relieving mechanism in communication with said duid' support.

2. In a crusher having inner and outer crushing members arranged in spaced relation so as to form a crushing chamber having a discharge opening. the combination of means for gyrating said inner member relative to said outer member to crush material, means for sustaining the weight of said inner member and the normal crushing reaction thereon, said last mentioned means comprising a fluid spport located between said moving means and said crushing members, and a fluid pressure relieving mechanism responsive to excessive reaction thrust on said inner member for automatically increasing said discharge opening, and means vfor adjusting said sustaining means to vary the normal size ofv said discharge opening.

3. In a gyratory crusher, the combination of a stationary crushing member, a gyratory crushing member, means for holding said gyratory member in spaced apart relation with said stationary member so as toform a crushing chamber having a discharge opening, said holding means comprising bearings and a fluid support, said means also comprising a pressure Isupply source and a pump communicable with said support for .varying the quantity of fluid in said source to adjust said discharge opening, and means for gyrating said gyratory member relative to said stationary member to crush material.

4. In a gyratory crusher, the combination of a stationary crushing member, a gyratory crushing member, means for holding said gyratory member in spaced apart relation with said stationary member so as to form a crushing chamber having a discharge opening, said holding means comprising bearings constituting respectively a fulcrum support and a thrust reactio-n support, means for adjusting said thrust support to vary the size of said discharge opening, a floating ring element located between said thrust support and said gyratory member and arranged for limited lateral movement relative to said support, and means for gyrating said gyratory member to crush material.

5. In a gyratory crusher, the combination of a stationary crushing member having an axis, a

gyratory crushing member, means for holding said' gyratory member in spaced relation with said stationary member to form a crushing chamber having a discharge opening, said holding means comprising bearings constituting respectively a fulcrum point support and a reaction thrust support, means Afor adjusting sald thrust support bearing to vary the size of said discharge opening, a floating ring e'ement having a plane surface slidably carried by said thrust support bearing and arranged for lateral movement relative to said axis and having a spherical surface in sliding engagement with said gyratory member, and means for gyrating said gyratory member about said fulcrum point to crush material.

6. In combination, a pair of annular crushing members so arranged as to form a crushing chamber, a shaft fulcrumed at a fixed point and .supporting one of said members for gyration relative to the other about said point, a rotatable member having an eccentric bearing therein journaling said shaft, means for rotating said rotatable member to gyrate said shaft and said gyratory crushing member, and means for sustaining the weight of said shaft and said gyratory crushing member and the crushing reaction thereon, said sustaining means comprising a fluid pressure support arranged concentric of said rotatable eccentric member and having a floating thrust distributing ring in engagement with said gyratory crushing member.

'7. In combination, a pair of members cooperating to form a crushing chamber, means for relatively gyrating said members to crush material, means supporting one of said members and disposed to yield upon occurrence of abnormall conditions of operation within said crushing chamber, an alarm disposed to be operated upon predetermined yielding of said supporting means resultlng from abnormal conditions of operation to indicate said abnormal conditions, and means connected to subsequently stop said gyrating means upon further yielding of said supporting means resulting from more serious abnormal conditions of operation within said crushing chamber.

8. In a gyratory crusher comprising stationary A and gyratory crushing members mounted in a' frame, the combination of means for causing said gyratory crusher member to gyrate relative to said stationary crushing member, said means comprising an eccentric journaled in said frame, a member carried by said frame and having a pair of concentric cylindricalx wall portions forming an annular recess below said gyratory crushing member, means for supporting said gyratory crushing member, said supporting means comprising an annular piston within said annular recess, a dust seal member carried by said gyratory lcrusher member -and havinga cylindrical surface concentric of said gyratory crushing member, and an annular wiping member carried by one of said concentric cylindrical wall portions engaging said cylindrical surface.

9. In a crusher, the combination of a frame, a stationary crushing member mounted in said frame, an eccentric rotatably journaled in said frame, a gyratory crushing member having a shaft journaled in said frame and in said rotatable eccentric, a thrust bearing member mounted on said frame so as to surround said shaft and having a pair'of concentric cylindrical walls forming an annular recess, an annular piston movably disposed within said recess and arranged a body of liquid within the annular recess for sup"- porting said annular piston.

10. 'In a gyratory crusher having stationary and gyratory crushing members arranged in spaced relation so as to form a crushing chamber 5 having a discharge opening, the combination of a reaction support comprising a confined body of liquid and a plunger member arranged so as to support said gyratory crushing member, and means for varying said discharge opening by varying the quantity of liquid in said body.V

11. In a gyratory crusher having a concave, a crusher head mounted on a shaft, a stationery guide bearing and a rotatable eccentric bearing holding-said shaft and head within said concave, the combination of a thrust bearing supporting said shaft and head, uid pressure means for raising and lowering said thrust bearing relative to said stationary guide bearing to adjust the position of said head with respect to said concave, and means responsive to a force on 'said thrust bearing in excess of a predetermined amount for causing longitudinalmovement of said head and shaft.

12. A crushing mechanism comprising relatively fixed and movable crushing members disposed in cooperating crushingzrelationship, liquid pressure apparatus disposed to support said movable crushing member in predetermined relation to said fixed crushing member, resilient pressure exerting meansassociated with said liquid pressure apparatus and disposed to yield when the pressure in said liquid pressure apparatus exceeds 'a predetermined maximum lto permit said mov-l able crushing member to move away #from said fixed crushing member, means disposed to limit the movement of said resilient means in thev direction tending to move said movable crushing member toward said xed crushing member toV position said members in their normal predeter- 40 mined relation, and means for varying the quantity of liquid in said liquid pressure apparatusto adjust the normal position of said movable crushing member relative to said xed' crushing member. l5

13. A crusher comprising a fixed crushing member, a cooperating movable crushing member disposed in spaced crushing relationship with said fixed crushing member, a piston disposed tomove said movable crushing membe'r relative to said 50 stationary crushing member, a liquid pressure apparatus associated with said piston and having liquid disposed to exert pressure on said piston, a resilient pressure exerting device associated with said liquid pressure apparatus and adapted to yield upon the pressure in said liquid exceeding a predetermined. maximum, means for limiting the movement of Y said resilient pressure exerting device in the' direction tending to force said liquid against said piston to limit the movement 6C of said movable crushing member toward said fixed crushing member, and means for varying the volume of liquid in said liquid pressure apparatus to adjust the normal position of said movable crushing member relative tosaid fixed -crushing member.

14. A crusher comprising relatively movable cooperating crushing members disposed in spaced crushing relationship, means for actuating said crushing members to crush material therebetween, 0 a piston associated with one of said crushing members for moving it relative to its cooperating crushing member to adjust the crushing space therebetween, a closed liquid chamber including a cylinder disposed to receive said piston, a liq- 5 uidiilling said chamber, means for varying the quantity of said liquid in said chamber to change the position of said piston in said cylinder and thereby adjust the relative spacing of said cooperating crushing members, resilientl pressure responsive means connected to said chamber and adapted to yield and permitv rapid displacement of a portion of said liquid upon pressure in excess of a predetermined amount occurring in said liquid as the result of uncrushable material between said crushing members to permit relative displacement of one of said crushing members, means for limiting the rate of return flow of said liquid into said chamber to return said displaced crushing member gradually to its normal position, means limiting the action of said resilient pressure means to prevent it moving said piston beyond its normal adjusted position, and control means responsive to predetermined movement of said piston for sounding an alarm to indicate said abnormal operating conditions and for subsequently stopping the operation of the crusher upon dangerous operating conditions resulting from the presence of said uncrushable material in the crusher.

15. A gyratory crusher comprising a frame carrying al stationary annular crushing element, a movable tapered crushing element disposed within said stationary crushing element in cooperating crushing relation therewith, a shaft disposed to support said movable crushing element in operating position, a bearing carried by said frame above said crushing elements and disposed to engage said shaft and to define a fulcrum point for said movable crushing element, means for gyrating said shaft and said movable crushing element about said fulcrum point, a spherical bearing'positioned below said movable crushing element and disposed to support it for gyration about said fulcrum point, means carried by said frame for moving said supporting bearing vertically to adjust the position of said tapered movable crushing element relative to said annular crushing element, and a plane bearing supporting said spherical bearing on said adjusting means to permit lateral movement thereof to compensate for the changes in position of said spherical bearing relative to said fulcrum ypoint resulting from said vertical adjustment thereof.

16. A crusher of the gyratory type, comprising an annular stationary crushing element, a movable crushing element of conical shape disposed within said annular stationary crushing element, means disposed to gyrate said conical crushing element within said stationary crushing element, an annular piston encircling said gyrating means, a universal bearing interposed between said piston and said gyrating conical crushing element to enable said piston to support said crushing element while it is gyrating, a cylinder disposed to engage said piston, a liquid within said cylinder and supporting said piston, and means for varying the quantity of said liquid to adjust the position of said gyrating crushing element rela tive to said stationary crushing element. t

17. A crusher of the gyratory type, comprising an annular stationary crushing element, a movable crushing element of conical shape disposed partly within said annular stationary crushing element, means disposed tol gyrate said conical tween said piston and said gyrating conical crushingelement within said stationary crushing element, an annular piston encircling said gyrating means, a universal bearing interposed between said piston and said gyrating conical crushing element to enable said piston to support said crushing element while it is gyrating, a cylinder disposed to engage said piston, a liquid within said cylinder and supporting said piston, means for varying the quantity of said liquid to adjust the position of said gyrating crushing ele- 10 ment relative to said stationary crushing element, and a pressure accumulator associated With said cylinder and adjusted to relieve said liquid therein of excessive pressure above a predetermined maximum to permit displacement of said piston and said movable crushing member.

18. A crusher of the gyratory type, comprising an annular stationary crushing element, a movable crushing element of conical shape disposed partly within said annular stationary crushing element, means disposed to gyrate said conical crushing element Within said stationary crushing element, an annular piston encircling said gyrating means, a universal bearing interposed becrushing element to enable said piston to support said crushing element while it is gyrating, a cylinder disposed to engage said piston, a liquid within said cylinder and supporting said piston, means for varying the quantity of said liquid to adjust the position of said gyrating crushing element relative to said stationary crushing element, a pressure accumulator associated with said cylinder and adjusted to relieve said liquid therein of excessive pressure above a predetermined maximum to permit displacement of said pistou and said movable crushing member, and alarm means associated with said accumulator and disposed to sound an alarm upon displacement of said piston a predetermined amount.

19. A crusher of the gyratory type, comprising an annular stationary crushing element, a movable crushing element of conical shape disposed partly within said annular stationary crushing element, means disposedto gyrate said conical crushing element within said stationary crushing element, an annular piston encircling said gyrating means, a universal bearing interposed between said piston and said gyrating conical crushing element to enable said piston to support said crushing element while it is gyrating, a cylinder disposed to engage said piston, a liquid within said cylinder and supporting said piston, means for varying the quantity of said liquid to adjust the position of said gyrating crushing ele- 5 ment relative to said stationary crushing element,

a pressure accumulator associated with said cylinder and adjusted to relieve said liquid therein of excessive pressure above a predetermined maximum to permit displacement of said piston and said movable crushing member, alarm means associated with said accumulator and disposed to sound' an alarm upon displacement of said piston a predetermined amount, and control means associated with said accumulator and connected to stop said gyrating means upon displacement of said piston a further predetermined amount upon the occurrence of dangerous operating conditions within said crusher.

RAY C. NEWHOUSE.

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