US2225171A

US2225171A - Garbage disposal apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2225171A
Application number: US172526A
Authority: US
Inventors: John W Hammes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-11-03
Filing date: 1937-11-03
Publication date: 1940-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 1957-12-17

Description

Dec. 17, 1940. w HAMMES 2,225,171

GARBAGE DISPOSAL APPARATUS Filed Nov; 5, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Y @Av'zu W, B

772 ,akzmmwwa ATTORNEYS Dec. 17, 1940. l w HAMMES 2,225,171

GARBAGE DI SPOSAL APPARATUS Filed NOV. 3, 1937 2 ShGGt S ShGGT 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY 5 Patented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

amass nrsrosan armaa'rus John w. Hammcl, Racine, wa. Application November 3, 1931, Serial No. 172,526

22 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in garbage disposal apparatuses, and more particularly to a garbage disposal device attached to a kitchen sink in registration with the drain thereof.

A general object of the present invention is to pipes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garbage disposal apparatus for kitchen sinks interposed in the sink drain pipe below the sink outlet, novel means being provided in the apparatus for expeditiously and effectively grinding, mashing and reducing all forms of garbage whereby the reduced garbage can be flushed through the drain connections and into the sewer by the flow of tap water.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garbage disposal apparatus of the character described having a novel form of rotary cutting member therein operable in reverse directions by a reversible electric motor, the apparatus being substantially automatic in operation whereby handling of garbage for disposal is reduced to a minimum.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garbage disposal apparatus of the character described equipped with a novel and effective form of drain stopper or valve for the sink to which the apparatus is applied.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garbage disposal attachment for kitchen sinks which is easy to operate, which is clean, sanitary and eflicient, which is stron'g and durable, which is compact, 'and which is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved garbage disposal apparatus, and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanyingdrawings in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts -'in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the improved garbage disposal apparatus incorporated with the drain outlet of a sink, said view being taken on line ll of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the garbage disposal (Cl. 8H)

apparatus incorporated with the drain outlet of a sink, the sink bottom being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 8-3 of Fig. 1 on a larger scale and showing the spacing arms of the drain stopper in pro- Jected position; I

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 with the spacing areas retracted:

Fig. 51s a horizontal sectional view taken on line 8- -5 of Fig. 1 with a portion of the drain pipe broken away;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side view of the upper portion of the apparatus showing the mounting fortthe motor switch, the sink bottom being in sec ion;

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the comminuting rotor;

\ ,Fig. 8 is a perspective view, partly broken away and in section, of the comminuting wall of the apparatus; and

Fig. 9 is a developed view of the member of Fig. 8 to illustrate the formation of the cutting grooves.

Referring now more partcularly to the drawof a refuse container of substantially cylindrical form having at its upper end an annular flange i8 secured to the nut It by bolts I! with an interposed fibrous material gasket 20. The heads of the bolts l9 are counter-sunk into recesses 2| therefor in the nut i6, while the lower ends of the bolts carry standard nuts 22. 4

Adapted for removable and adjustable seating within. the" drain neck l5 which is internally downwardly tapered, is a stopper member 23 which is generally in the form of an inverted basket of circular contour. Said stopper memberis imperforate and when sink drainage is to take place, it is intended that such fluid drainage be between the outer periphery of the stopper member and the inner wall of the drain neck It, retractable means being provided on the stopper member for holding it in a seated but spaced relationship for this purpose. Said means comprise a plurality of outwardly Projecting arms 26. A rotatable operating shaft 25 extending axially into said stopper member has a disc 25 fast on its inner end portion. The inner end of each arm 2 5 is bifurcated to embrace a peripheral portion of said disc to which it is attached by a pivot pin 21, and the inner surfaces of said bifurcated end are beveled as at 28 and shouldered as at 29 for the purpose of limiting -projection and retraction of the arms upon turning of the disc, it being evident that upon. turning of the disc to project the arms, as in- Figs. 1 and 3, movement is ultimately limited by the high portions of the beveled surfaces 28 binding against the disc, while upon turning movement of the disc to retract said arms, as in Fig. 4, movement is ultimately arrested by engagement of the arm shoulders 29 with said disc.

Manipulation and operation of the stopper is facilitated by a knob 30 fast on the outer, upper end portion of the shaft 25. The operation and use of said stopper in conjunction with the sink outlet opening and the drain neck is as follows: When the sink outlet is to function in its normal manner for the outflow of liquid, the stopper arms 24 are projected as in Figs. 1 and 3 to im-' pinge against inner surface portions of the drain neck l5, and holding said stopper member within a wider portion of said neck spacedly of the inner wall so that liquid may drain from the sink through the neck l5 and into the container H by passing around and over the exterior and periphery of said stopper member. When closure of the drain is desired to allow water to accumulate within the sink, the stopper arms 24 are retracted as in Fig. 4. Then the stopper member seats further downwardly in said drain neck and tightly closes the same. If larger refuse material is to be introduced into the container ll,

- tion 34.

the stopper 23 may be bodily removed from the drain neck to entirely expose the same.

Positions of adjustment of the stopper arms 24 are retained by a spring washer 3| which is mounted about the operating shaft 25 between the disc 26 and a hub 32 on the inner top portion of the stopper member. It should be noted that the discharge end of the drain neck, while within the upper portion of the container I1 is below the top of the container and in effect provides an annular baffle to prevent fluid and material from being splashed upwardly and out of the drain neck during milling operations and when said container 'is substantially filled with liquid and material.

From Fig. 2, it will be observedthat the lower portion of the container I! is slightly outwardly flared with spaced lateral ears 33 at its lower extremity. Said ears permit attachment of a lower casing section 34 which has registering upper cars 35, there beinga gasket or washer 36 be tween said

flanges

33 and 35 and the flanges being secured together by bolts 31. The mode of assembly of the composite casing or container I1, 34 permits the securement within the lower portion of the container of a hardened metal cutting or comminuting shell 38. This shell is fitted into an annular interior recess 39 in the container l1 and seats in a groove 40 in the sec- The lower portion of said shell is of cylindrical form while the upper portion thereof is slightly upwardly, inwardly reduced.

With special reference to the comminuting shell 38 which is shown in detail in Fig. 8, attention is-directed to the fact that the inner face of thelower cylindrical surface thereof is provided with two series of cutting groove The grooves of one series, designated 4|, extend spirally downwardly from a vertical line on one side of the shell to a position one hundred and eighty degrees removed, while the other series of grooves, designated 42, extend from the same starting point as the grooves 4| but in the opposite direction. The terminal of both series of grooves is at the triangular cutting shoulder or boss 43 which extends the full height of said shell 38. Fig. 9 is a schematic inner face view ofthe shell 38 developed longitudinally to show the development of the series of grooves 4| and 42 and their relation to the boss 43.

Integral with the lower portion of the casing section 34 and extending laterally outwardly thereof is a tubular drain elbow 44. The outer end of this elbow may connect with a conventional trap (not shown). The lower portion of the casing section 34 is closed and provides a top bell enclosure for a depended electric motor 45 confined within a motor casing 45 which is complementary to the casing 34 and which is removably secured thereto by elongated bolts 41. The electric motor is of a reversible type, as will be brought out hereinafter. The entire casing or container assembly comprising the members H, 34 and 45 is extremely compact and is susceptible of ready and convenient assembly and disassembly. The compact arrangement is highly desirable in an apparatus of this character as available space below a sink is often quite limited.

The motor shaft 48 extends vertically upwardly through the bottom of the container section 34 and into the interior thereof. The bottom of said section 34 is formed with an enlarged up'wardly projecting bored boss 49 and within the bore thereof and surrounding the enclosed portion of the motor shaft is a bushing 50. The uppermost extremity of the motor shaft 43, above the boss 49, is squared as at 5|. A comminuting rotor 52, generally in the form of a disc, is mounted fast on said squared portion 5| of the motor shaft. Said comminuting rotor is shown in detail in Fig. 5 and is formed of hardened steel. Its top surface is formed with a plurality of equally spaced apart radial ribs 53 and the sector-like areas between the ribs are inclined downwardly outwardlv from the apex. Depending from the bottom of the rotor 52 is an angularly shaped fin 54 which is adapted to turn as a paddle within the'lower portion of the container section 34 radially outwardly of the upstanding boss 49. The rotor 52 is mounted fast on the end portion 5| of the motor shaft by means of a squared opening 55 extending through the center portion of the rotor and of a size to snugly receive the said end por tion of the motor shaft. Said opening 55 is. however, extended through the rotor at an angle to the vertical axis thereof so that in the operative disposition oi the rotor on the motor shaft. the rotor is maintained at an oblique angle. The rotor is furthermore positioned relative to the interior of the container section 'II so that it substantially coincides with the comminuting grooves 4| and 42 within the shell 38, as most clearly shown in Fig. 1. When the rotor is revolved, its periphery produces a'wobbling effect relative to the comminuting surface of the shell 38. The rotor is of a diameter slightly less than the interior diameter of the cylindrical portion of the shell 38 so that slight clearance is" provided between the periphery of the rotor and the ad Jacent inner surface of the shell, whereby material, after being acted on, may pass between the upper end of the boss 4! and the bushing ll.

and has a thrust effect on these parts and thereby acts as a water seal, preventing the flow of liquid from the lower reservoir portion of the container section 34 into the motor casing. The

nnllrotating withinsaldreservolrportion of.

the casing, serves to direct fluid and material from said reservoir portion into the outlet or discharge elbow N. a

As before mentioned, the electric motor ll is of a type which may be reversed or rotated in either direction. For the purpose of operating and controlling the motor, a switch box I] is provided which switch box is depended from the upper portion of the container II. The moimting means for the switch box consists of an arc-shaped band or strap l engaging-an upper peripheral portion .of the casing section 11 and being arcuately and adiustably-secured thereto by means of bolts ll extended through elongated slots 59 in said strap or band 51.

Current-from a suitable source of supll ll (not shown) is led into the switch box through a cable 80. Within the switch box there are movable multi-contact make andbreak elements controlled by an operating knob II and said knob may be turned from an "off" position to' one 'fon position which will cause operation of the motor in one direction, or to another "on" position which will cause operation of. the motor in a reverse direction. Another cable .62 leads from the switch box and extends to the motor 45.

As before suggested, the improved garbage disposal apparatus is adapted to bemounted in connection with and below the normal drain outlet of a sink. when the sink is used for normal purposes and contains only water. and

only water and fine refuse is to be flushed therefrom, it is unnecessary to set the motor 48 into operation. The drain openlng of the sink can in this event be closed to enable the sink to temporarily retain water by manipulation of the stopper arms 24, as heretofore explained, permitting the stopper 23 to tightly seat within the drain neck ill. When the contents of the sink are to be drained. a simple manipulation of the knob 30 of the stopper, p ojects the arms 24 and raisesthe stopper, permitting liquid drainage around the periphery of the stopper and into the container ii. The liquid ultimately I passes around the periphery of the rotor 52 and thence outwardly to the trap and sewer via the elbow 44. When garbage is to be disposed of, the entire stopper member 23 may be. removed from the drain'neck l and this material is then introduced directly into the container II. It is also desirable to flush said material with water from the sink tap. Thereupon, the electric motor 45 is set into rotation by manipulation of the switch, and rotation of the motor in either direction will be eflective for accomplishing the desired purposes. Primarily, the material is milled and churned within the container l1 and is thrown forcibly against'the walls thereof. and as before mentioned, the depending neck It serves as an annular baille or splash plate. Ultimately, the harder solid material gravitates onto the top surface of the comminuting rotor 52. The ribs on said rotor are effective to initially start the contents of the container into rotation and the actionissuch astodrive thematerlal centrifugaliy outwardly against the wall of the shell 88. The wobble action of the rotor I! in turning, in conjunction with the cutting grooves it and 42 and the boss 43, accomplishu grinding, comminuting, and disintegration of v the solids to an extent where said material with the liquid may ultimately pass, in finely ground state, be tween the periphery of the rotor and the inner surface of the shell into the lower reservoir portion of-the container section 34, from whence it is pushed outwardly into the elbow M by the an I. Y

From time to time, it is desirable to operate the motor II in reverse directions, and this serves to clean and free the comminuting teeth and surfaces of material clinging thereto, and it also has a certain sharpening effect in relation to the efm fective edges of said members.

The specific formation of the stopper member 23 in the present apparatus is particularly advantageous. This stopper member may be elevated in the drain neck for fluid drainage purposes. and as the drainagetakes place around the periphery of said stopper member, the stopper member may be formed imperforate and hence there are no apertures therein to clog and to require cleaning.

From theforegoing description it will appear that the improved garbage disposal apparatus is of simple and novel construction, operates efficiently and expeditiously, is compact, and may be readily mounted below a standard sink, and is well adapted for the purposes described.

:What is claimed as the invention is:

1.'l'.n a garbage disposal apparatus for kitchen sinks having a drain outlet, a composite container adapted to be supported in fluid-tight relation and in registration with the sink drain outlet and including three vertically superimposed, detachably secured together casing sections, the intermediate section having a tubular liquid discharge pipe extending outwardly of a lower portion thereof, the intermediate and upper sections cooperating to form a refuse milling receptacle, and the intermediate and lower sections cooperating in the formation of a motor enclosure, a substantially cylindrical and tubular shell, the inner surface of which is serrated in cross section to form an annular'comminuting surface, clamped within one of said sections and lining substantial side wall portions thereof, a motor within said enclosure having a shaft extending into the milling receptacle, and a comminuting rotor carried by a portion of said shaft within said milling receptacle, there being means for preventing liquid leakage between said receptacle and said motor enclosure.

2. In a garba e disposal apparatus for kitchen sinks, a composite container depended from the sink in registration with the sink drain outlet, a drain neck depending from the sink outlet into the upper portion of the container and forming an annular baiiie therewithin, said container including three vertically superimposed, detachto form .an annular comminuting surface,

clamped within said intermediate section and lining a portion thereof above the reservoir, a

3. In a garbage disposal apparatus for kitchen sinks including a milling receptacle depended from the sink below .the outlet thereof, a flaring discharge connection extending from a lower portion of the receptacle, an inner surface portion of the receptacle having two series of oppositely disposed spiral cutting grooves, a motor associated with the receptacle and having a drive shaft extending thereinto, and a comminuting rotor carried by an extended portion of said shaft spacedely above the bottom wall of the receptacle,

said rotor being rotatable in either direction with its periphery in close adjacency to the grooves of the receptacle and cooperating with one or the other of said series of grooves, a lower surface portion of said rotor carrying a fin to act as an impeller within the lower portion of the receptacle to move refuse toward said discharge connection irrespective of the direction of rotation of said rotor.

4. In a garbage disposal apparatus for kitchen sinks including a milling receptacle depended from the sink below the outlet thereof, an inner surface portion of the receptacle having two series of oppositely directed splralcutting grooves, a discharge spout communicating with and extending laterally from a lower portion of the receptacle, said spout being relatively wide at its inner end and being outwardly reduced, and a reversible comminuting rotor revolubly mounted in the lower portion of the receptacle for rotation in either direction and cooperating with one or j the other of said series of grooves and adapted to comminute and direct material toward the inner end of the spout in either direction of rotation with equal effectiveness.

5. In a garbage disposal apparatus for kitchen sinks including a milling receptacle depended from the sink below the outlet thereof, a discharge spout communioating with and extending laterally from a lower portion of the receptacle,

said spout being relatively wide at its inner end and being outwardly reduced, wall portions of the spout being tangential to wall portions of the receptacle, and a reversible comminuting rotor revolubly mounted in the lower portion of the receptacle and adapted to direct material toward the inner end of the spout in either direction of rotation with equal effectiveness.

6. In a garbage disposal apparatus for kitchen sinks, a composite container adapted to be supported beneath the sink in registration with the sink drain outlet, a drain neck depending from the sink outlet into the upper portion of the container, said container including three vertically superimposed, detachably secured together casing sections, the intermediate section having a reservoir in the lower end with a discharge pipe extending outwardly ,thereof, the intermediate and upper sections cooperating to form a refuse milling receptacle, and the intermediate and lower sections cooperating in the formation of a motor enclosure, a shell, the inner surface of which is serrated in cross section to form an annular comminuting surface, lining a portion thereof above the reservoir, a motor having a shaft extended into the milling receptacle, and a comminuting rotor carried by said shaft within the receptacle adjacent the shell and movable thereadjacent in cutting relationship.

7. In a garbage disposal apparatus for kitchen sinks, a composite container adapted to be supported beneath the sink in registration with the sink drain outlet, or drain neck depending from the sink outlet into the upper portion of the container, said container including a plurality of vertically superimposed, detachably secured together casing sections, one section having a reservoir in the lower end with a discharge pipe extending outwardly thereof, an intermediate and an upper section cooperating to form a refuse milling receptacle, a shell, the inner surface of which is serrated in cross section to form an annular comminuting surface and lining a portion thereof above the reservoir, a motor having a shaft extending into the milling receptacle, and a comminuting rotor carried by said shaft within the receptacle adjacent the shell and movable for comminuting purposes relative to the serrations of the shell.

8. In a garbage disposal apparatus for kitchen sinks including a milling receptacleadapted to be supported beneath the sink. below the outlet thereof, a discharge outlet from a lower portion of the receptacle, an inner surface portion of the receptacle being formed with two series of relatively close cutting grooves, one of said series of grooves extending spirally downwardly from a vertical line on one side of the receptacle to a position removed therefrom a predetermined distance, and the other series of grooves extending from the same starting point as the first mentioned series of grooves but being directed spirally downwardly therefrom in the opposite direction and terminating a predetermined distance from the starting point, a motor associated with the receptacle and having a drive shaft extending thereinto, and a comminuting rotor carried by the extended portion of said shaft and revoluble in either direction in close proximity to the grooves in the receptacle and cooperating with one series of grooves in one direction of rotation and cooperating with the other series of grooves in the other direction of rotation with equal effectiveness, certain surface portions of the rotor being higher than other surface portions thereof, the rotor moving so that a vertical line on the grooved surface of the receptacleis alternately traversed by high and low portions of the rotor.

9. In a garbage disposal apparatus for kitchen sinks including-a milling receptacle adapted to be supported beneath the sink below the outlet thereof, a discharge outlet from a lower portion of the receptacle, an inner surface of the receptacle being formedwith two series of relatively close cutting grooves, one of said series of grooves extending spirally downwardly from a vertical line on one side of the receptacle to a position removed therefrom a predetermined distance, and the otl' 2r series of grooves extending from the same point as the first mentioned series of grooves but being directed spirally downwardly therefrom in the opposite direction and terminating a predetermined distance from the starting point, a reversible motor associated with the receptacle and having a drive shaft extending thereinto, a

disc-like comminuting rotor carried by the extended portion of said shaft and selectively revoluble in either direction in close proximity to the grooves in the receptacle and cooperating with one series of grooves in one direction of rotation and cooperating with the other series of grooves in the other direction of rotation with equal effectiveness, certain surface portions of the rotor being higher than other surface portionsthereof, the rotor moving so that a vertical 8 line on the grooved surface of the receptacle is alternately traversed by high and low portions of the rotor, and a motor control switch arcuately adjustably mounted on an exterior portion of the receptacle.

l 10. In a garbage disposal apparatus for kitchen sinks, a composite container adapted to be supported beneath the sink and having a tubular liquid discharge pipe extending outwardly of an intermediate portion thereof, the intermediate- 13 and upper portions of the container forming a milling receptacle, a motor housed within the lower portion of the container and having a shaft extending into said intermediate portion of the container, a rotor mounted on the extended portion of the shaft, said rotor having a hub on its under surface through which said portion of the shaft extends, and a single dividing partition within the container between the intermediate andlower portions thereof and having an upa standing boss portion through which the rotor shaft also extends, said partition jointly forming the bottom wall of themilling receptacle, the top wall of the motor, a continuation of a wall portion of the discharge pipe, a thrust bearing for so the hub of the rotor, and a water seal for the bottom portion of the milling receptacle.

11. In a garbage disposal apparatus for kitchen sinks, a. composite container adapted to be sup- 8 ported beneath the sink in registration with the sink drain outlet, a drain neck depending from the sink outlet into the upper portion of the container and forming an annular bailie therewithin, said container including a plurality of superimposed, detachably secured together casing 40 sections, an intermediate section having a reservoir in the lower end with a-discharge pipe extending outwardly thereof, said section and an upper section cooperating to form a refuse milling receptacle, said section and a lower section cooperating in the formation of a motor enclosure, an inner surface of a section forming the receptacle being provided with cutting grooves, a motor within said enclosure having a shaft ex- 50 tending into the milling receptacle, and a comminuting rotor carried by said shaft within the receptacle adjacent the cutting grooves and movable in cooperative relation thereto.

12. In a garbage disposal apparatus adapted 55 for use with a sink having an outlet, including a milling receptacle adapted to be supported in fluid-tight relation beneath the. sink and in register with the outlet thereof, a discharge connecti'on extending from a lower portion of the 6o receptacle, an inner surface portion of the receptacle having two series of oppositely directed spiral cutting grooves, a motor associated with the receptacle and having a drive shaft extending thereinto, and a comminuting rotor carried 5 by an extended portion 'of said drive shaft, said rotor having a plurality of radially disposed sectors and being mounted so that any of its radial sectors is oblique to the axis of the shaft, said rotor being rotatable equally effective in either :0 direction with its periphery in close adjacency to the grooves of the receptacle and cooperating with one or the other of said series of grooves depending on the direction of rotation to eliminate jamming of the material milled, the top 7 surface of said rotor being formed with radial ribs separating the sectors to carry the material around with the rotor.

13. In a garbage disposal apparatus adapted for use with a sink having an outlet, including a milling receptacle adapted to be supported be- 5 neath the sink outlet, a discharge connection extors and being mounted so that any of its radial intermediate sectors is oblique to the axis of the shaft, said rotor being rotatable equally effective in either direction with its periphery in close ad-v jacency to the groove of the receptacle and cooperating with said series of grooves, depending on the direction of rotation to vertically move the material being milled, the top surface of said rotor being formed with-radial ribs and the sectors being downwardly outwardly inclined between the ribs.

14. In a-g-arbage disposal apparatus adapted for use with a sink having an outlet, including a milling receptacle adapted to be positioned beneath .the sink and in line with the outlet thereof, a discharge connection extending from a lower portion of the receptacle, an inner surface portion of the receptacle having two series of oppositely directed spiral cutting grooves, a motor associated with the receptacle and having a drive shaftextending thereinto, and a plate-like comminuting 3g rotor carried by an extended portion of said shaft, said rotor having a plurality of radially disposed sectors of different levels and being mounted so that any of its radial intermediate sectors is oblique to the axis of the shaft, said 40 rotor being rotatable equally eflec-tively in either direction with its periphery in close adjacency to the grooves of the receptacle and cooperating with said series of grooves depending on the direction of rotation to vertically move the material being milled, the lower surface of said rotor having a fin to act as a paddle within the lower portion of the receptacle.

15. In a garbage disposal apparatus adapted for use with a kitchen sink having an outlet, ineluding a milling receptacle adapted to be supported beneath the sink and below the outlet theerof, aiiaring discharge connection extending from a lower portion of the receptacle, an inner surface portion of the receptacle having two series of oppositely directed spirally formed cutting grooves, a motor associated with the receptacle and having a drive shaft extending thereinto, and a plate-like comminuting rotor carried by an extended portion of said shaft, said rotor having a plurality of sectors at different levels and being mounted so that any of its sectors is oblique to the axis of the shaft, said rotor being rotatable equally effectively in either direction with its periphery in close adjacency to the grooves of the receptacle and cooperating with said series of grooves depending on the direction of rotation to vertically move. the material being milled, the lower surface of said rotor having a fin to act as a paddle within the lower portion of the receptacle and the top surface of said rotor being formed with substantially radially disposed ribs defining the sectors positioned between the ribs. 16. A refuse disposal apparatus adapted for use with the outlet of a sink or the like, com- 78 prising amilling receptacle adapted to be positioned beneath the sink outlet, a discharge spout communicating with and extending laterally from a lower portion of the receptacle, said spout being relatively wide at its inner end and reduced at its other end, the wall portions of the spout forming part of the wall portions of the receptacle, and a reversible comminuting rotor rotatably mounted in the lower portion of the recep-v tacle and adapted to direct the milled materialv towards the inner end of the spout with equal eflectiveness irrespective of the direction of rotation of said rotor.

17. An apparatus of the character set forth in claim 16 in which said rotor comprises a disk. the central transverse plane of which is disposed at an angle to the axis about which the rotor roabout which said rotor turns and has its upper surface divided intosectors at relatively diflerent levels thereby to carry the material towards the vdischarge spout equally eflectively irrespective of its direction of rotation. V

20. An apparatus of the character set forth in claim 16 in which the inner surface of the receptacle is provided with a milling surface adJacent the rotor, and in which the rotor comprises a disk with its transverse plane relatively disposed at an angle to the axis about which the rotor turns whereby any point in the periphery of the rotor is progressively carried into engagement with the milling surface on the receptacle. 21. An apparatus of the character set forth in claim 16 in which the sides of the discharge spout are substantially tangential to the walls of the receptacle whereby the material milled will be thrown into said discharge spout in part by the centrifugal action of the rotor irrespective of the direction in which said rotor turns.

22. An apparatus of the character set forth in claim 16 in which the milling receptacle is provided with an inserted annular milling member coacting with the periphery of said motor.

JOHN W. HANEMES.