US2255213A - Apparatus for the disintegration of materials - Google Patents

Description

,. S pt- 9&1941. F. (2. GOOD 2,255,213

APPARATUS FOR THE DISINTEGRATION OF MATERIALS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 V Filed Feb 15, 1939 Z5 lw -i) w Sept. 9, 1941. F. c. soon 2,255,213

APPARATUS FOR THE DISiNTEGRATION 0F MATEhIALS Filed Feb. 15, 1939 3 Sheets-Shet 2 fizz/@2220) EEdEIfZ CZ G OOJ p 2-1941,- -F. c. GOOD 7 2,255,213

*Ai'nnxrus FOR THE DISINTEGRATIONIOF MATERIALS Filed Feb. 15, 1939 a Sheets-Sfiet s v [nverztaf filiarw Patented Sept. 9, 1941 Frederick 0. GM, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application February 15, 1939, Serial No. 256,803

1 Claim. (01. sgi-ss) The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating materials or substances, particularly insoluble or immiscible materials or substances, whereby they are disintegrated and worked upon in a novel manner to assure an adequate and effective breaking down of particles and the proper mixing and homogenization thereof.

Heretofore, two methods have been generally known, followed, and utilized in the art to treat materialsand substances for the disintegration and homogenization thereof. According to one of said known methods, the materials or substances are subjected to a rubbing or grinding action which results in crushing the treated materials or substances into minute fragments or particles and more or less intermixing them into a homogeneous mass. This particular known method is realized-by passing the materials 'or substances as a film through so-called plate mills wherein are arranged or grinding surfaces set Justment.

aralleling opposed plates in close micrometer ad- According to the other of said known methods,, the materials or substances are subjected to a,

high pressure and thereby forced through mediums acting to reduce thetreated materials or substances to particles which then become more or less agglomerated into a homogeneous mass. This second known method is usually realized by introducing the materials or substances into so-called hydraulic 'mills provided with hydraulic or like high pressure pumps adapted to force said materials or substances through valves having fine apertures.

Whereas, in theory, either or both of the methods and the apparatus used in the performance thereof should produce the desired results, it has been found, in practice, that in the treatment of a wide variety of insoluble and immiscible materials or substances, they are impractical be- 40 cause in plate mills where a film of material is ground between two opposed surfaces, the friction of many types of materials, by their rubbing action in passing between the plates, heats up the latter, causing expansion to such an extent apertures of the valves clogs and deforms the latter, requiring their frequent removal, re-

the cost of upkeep, operation, and labor, with the accompanying consequences of loss of time and production.

vention to provide apparatus for treating materials or substances in an improved and novel manner, whereby the disintegration and homogenization of such materials or substances may 5 be accomplished effectively and economically with a minimum of time and labor.

Another equally important object of the invention resides in the provision of an apparatus for treating materials or substances to afford maximum reduction and complete disintegration and homogenization, the apparatus being devised so that its use is not restricted to any particular substance, but may be employed to treat any substance or material that can be caused to pass or flow through the apparatus.

The invention is moreover characterized in that it provides an apparatus of the-type stated which may be easily installed and operated, which is .positive in action, requiring no watching or attention, and is of compact, rugged coninvention will be in part obvious and in part ,1 pointed out hereinafter.

struction an apparatus which may be put to the widest possible range ofe use, and capable of treating materialsat both relatively high and-i low temperatures, without impairing its efliciency 25 of operation; and an apparatus which may be thoroughly cleaned without dismantling or opening the same and thus capable of being put to use immediately after cleaning.

Other important objects and advantages of the In accordance with the present invention, the materials or substances to be treated are fed and allowed to pass or flow continuously through a series of passageways without rubbing or grinding action, and without being subjected to any peatedly cut or shreaded or beaten up and, in that condition, flung or hurled with great force against impact walls or surfaces until the materials or substances are reduced to the desired fineness, to assure proper disintegration and tion, is obtained by means of repeated impacts -which may be had by providing high speed rotors surrounded by walls, the materials or substances grinding, or replacement, all of which increase to be treated being flung. or hurled against said walls from the periphery of said high speed rotors which, in actuality, travel at a rate of approximately five thousand peripherial feet per It is, therefore, theprimary purpose of the inmin p to peripherial Speeds 9 Six l s Per aforesaid, the materials or substances are rescription based thereupon, wherein is set forth an apparatus particularly constructed and adaptable to accomplish the results abovementioned.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation embodying the present invention; I Figure 2 is a plan view of the upper end of the main or body portion of the apparatus shown i Fi e 1:

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1:

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in section vertically through the main or body portion of said apparatus, illustrating the details of construction and arrangement of the essential parts thereof; Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of one of the stationary members of the apparatus.

Figure 6 is a view in perspective illustrating the construction of one of the rotor elements of the apparatus;

Figure '7 is a view Figure 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

in section on line 'I-'| of wherein like characters of reference will desiB- nate corresponding parts throughout, the apparatus essentially comprises one or more annular stationary members I cooperatively .assbciated with one or more rotor elements 2. As shown particularly in Figure 5, the annular stationary members I are formed to include an impact wall portion 3 and an overhanging inwardly projecting flange portion 3a whichis provided with a series of openings 4 of predetermined size and shape extending substantially vertically therethrough and having their upper ends preferably countersunk as indicated at '5. These annular stationary members I form in effect the wall of the main or body portion of the apparatus and a plurality of them are secured against rotation in properly centered superimposed relation as shown in Figures 1 and 4 by means of one or more dowel pins 6 (Figure 5) which engage correspondingly formed recesses inthe adjacent upper member l.

The rotor elements 2 are arranged in spaced relation upon a shaft 1 by means of spacing disks 8 which, together with said rotor elements 2, are secured to said shaft I by means of a spline or of an apparatus 2,ass,a1s minute or more, depending upon the iin'd'of ma ubstances and assure their continuous feed in passing through the apparatus. Top and bottom end or cover members I! and I6 are similarly positioned above the casing member II and below the casing member I2, and the entire assembly comprising the stationary members I, casings II and I2 and cover members I5 and I8, is secured together by meansof'bolts I1 and supported by or upon a standard I! which is bolted or otherwise secured to the lower cover member II, as shown at Ila. The shaft 1 which carries the rotor elements 2, spacing disks 8 and feedelements I3 and I4, extends through sleeves I8 threaded in the end members I! and I6 respectively and has itsupper and lower end portions iournalled in suitable bearings "and 2I respectively mounted in suitable supporting structures 22 and 23 which are secured to the outer faces of the upper andlower end members I! and I6. The lower end of the shaft 1 is coupled as indicated at 24 to the shaft of an electric motor M which is supported in a suitable bracket 25 secured to the standard I8 when assembled to form a channel or channels C in which a suitable heating or cooling medium may be circulated through pipes 21 and 28 and in order that the bearings 20 and 2| in which the shaft I is journalled may be maintained relatively cool during operation of the apparatus at high temperatures a channel 29 is formed in each supporting structure 22 and 23 through which water or other substance may be circulated by means of pipes 30 and 3|. To further assist in keeping the shaft I and bearing assembly relatively cool, said shaft is provided with an axial bore 1a therein which extends from the upper key member 9. Asshown, the rotor elements 2 are of greater'diameter than the diameter of the "opening in the stationary members I as defined by their flange portion 3a and the peripherial portions thereof, which are provided with a series of teeth III, are disposed beneath or at the underside of said flange portions 30 and openings 4 I therein between adjacent stationary members I. Annular housing or casing members II and I2 are disposed respectively immediately above and below the succession or series of stationary memhers I, and material feed elements II and I4 having threads In and Ila respectively are secured upon the shaft I within each casing II and I2 by meansof the aforementioned spline or key 9. At this point, attention is called to,

; the fact that the feed elements are not for the purpose of forcing the materials-or substances through the apparatus under high pressure, but are merely intended to assist said materials or the apparatus is running end of the shaft to a point adjacent the lower end thereof where a plurality of angularly arranged ports 22 communicate outwardly therefrom. These ports 32 extend rearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation of the shaft 1 as shown in Figure 3 with the result that upon rotation of said shaft suction is created at said ports 32' which operates to draw cool air downwardly through the bore 1a of said shaft while It will be clear that difierent substances depending upon their various physical properties will require different clearances between the flanges 3a of the stationary members I, and-the adjacent faces of the rotor elements 2 in order that most efllcient results may be obtained, especially since the present invention films to eliminate the-rubbing or grinding action of theapparatus parts on the materials being treated, and to this end a particular feature of the invention consists im providing for vertical adjustment of the rotor elements 2 with respect to the station Vary members; In the present instance this is accomplished by mounting the lower shaft bearing 2| in a sleeve or collar member 33 which is supported in the lower supporting structure 23 and adjustable vertically by means of two rings 34 and 35 which threadably engage said collar 33 above and below said structure 23. These rings 34 and 35 are each provided with a number of suitably located recesses 36 forthe reception of 35 to lower the sleeve 33, its bearing 2| and the shaft I and its rotor elements 2; or to first loosen the lower ring 35 and then tighten the upper ring 34 to raise the shaft and rotor assembly.

Vertical adjustment of the rotor elements 2 and shaft I is, of course, confined to micrometer adjustments of the clearance between said rotor elements and the adjacent surface of the flange portion 3a of its associated stationary member I and in order to facilitate and permit accurate adjustments f such clearances, the upper adjusting ring 34 is suitably marked and graduated as indicated at 31 with respect to an arrow or pointer 38, the threads on .the sleeve or collar 33 and rings 34 and 35 being formed ata predetermined pitch with respect to the scale markings 31 so that a single revolution of saidring 34 will effect adjustment of the rotor elements within normal operating limits to accurately set said rotor elements at the indicated clearance below the overhangingflange portions 3a of the corresponding stationary members I. When either ring 34 or 35- is first loosened to permit adjustment of the rotor elements as above set forth by the other ring, the ring first loosened may be subsequently tightened to lock the rotor elements and shaft assembly securely in the position to which adjusted.

As shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the material to be treated, which may comprise one or more different substances, is fed inwardly of the apparatus from one Or more suitable tanks or receptacles connected to a pipe or tube 42 which connects or leads to an inlet port 43 provided in the top cover member IS. The pipe or tube 42 may be provided with a suitable valve 44 for controlling the feed of material into the apparatus.

In the operation of the apparatus, asthe material to be treated enters through the inlet port 43 at the upper end thereof, it is fed downwardly through the openings 4 in the flange of the upperthe lower end of the apparatus where the material which is reduced to particles of desired fineness is forced outwardly or discharged from the apparatus, through an outlet 48 and discharge pipe 50, by the lower feed member l4.

An apparatus made according to this invention is characterized by its high degree of selectivity and control over the material being treated. For example, the number of stationary members I and consequently rotor elements 2 employed in any given instance may depend upon the nature and properties of the material to be treated as well as the degree of fineness of the reduction desired and one or more sections comprising a stationary member I and rotor element 2 may be added to or removed from the apparatus as desired with little labor and loss of time.

suitable cleaning solution through the apparatus.

most stationary member I by means of the screw thread I311 on the feed member I3, the openings 4 inthe stationary member I acting to divide the of said material emerge'from' the lower ends of said openings 4, they are engaged and cutor sheared or beaten up into'fine particles by the teeth ID at the periphery of the uppermost rotor element 2 which, because of the high speed as hereinbefore specified, also function to fling or fed material in portions. As the divided portions hurl the material wlth' substantial impact. and

great force against the surrounding wall portion 3 of the stationary member I, reducing the particles to a further degree of fineness. As the particles progress through the apparatus by the continuous feeding of the material, they flow inwardly along the upper surface of the flange 3 of the next or succeeding stationary member I and then downwardlythroughthe'openlngs 4 in that flange where they are again out or sheared or' beaten and picked up and impacted against the wall por-- Thus the apparatus may be thoroughly cleansed without dismantling or opening the same.

From the foregoing, it will Ice/understood that I have provided anapparatus capable of disintegratingand homogenizing materials ,or sub- I stances in a characteristic manner, that is, by first cutting or shearing or beating up the fed materials or substances into particles, then hurling the latter against impact walls or surfaces, theseoperations being repeated in continuous sequences to produce the desired results.

Of course, it is to be understood that the particular construction of the machine herein shown An apparatus for the homogenizationof material, comprising: a plurality of annular mem bersn'igidly locked axially together in adjoining relationship to form a unitary body, each of said members consisting of .an inner cylindrical impact wall portion-and a radially inwardly projecting fiangeportion, said wall and flange portions being relatively disposed at substantially right angles to each other; a row of longitudinally oriented openings with countersunk inlets formed in the flange portion of each of said members; .a rotor within the unitary body comprising rotor plates contacting andinterspersed with round spacer disks, each plate having peripherially extending teeth arranged in radial alignment with respect to the impact wall portion' of the annular member and disp sed to closely sweep past the row of openings in the flange portion of the annular member, the spacer disks having a diameter only slightly less than tion of that member by the teeth I0 of the next or succeeding rotorelement .2 resulting in, further reduction of the particles of material. This operation continues until the particles of material have traversed the 'entirelength of the tortuous path provided by the several stationary and rotating members I and'l. respectively and arrive at the internal diameter of the radially projecting flanges of the, annular members; the spacing betweenthe disks and annular members substanzany confining the fiow of material treated to sheared material against the impact wall pora tions.

' FREDERICK C. GOOD.

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