US2579400A - Garbage grinding device - Google Patents

Description

D 18, 1951 H. c, SCHINDLER 2,579,400

GARBAGE GRINDING DEVICE Original Filed May '7, 1946 3 SheeS--Shet-btl l A INVENTOR.

#Mom C. 5CH/no4 E@ #Tran/vs Ys Dec. 18, 1951 H, c. scHlNDLER 2,579,400

GARBAGE GRINDING DEVICE Original Filed May 7, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. Hnkam CH/NoLs/e Afro/ens ys Dec- 18, 1951 H. c. scHlNDLER GARBAGE GRINDING DEVICE Original Filed May 7, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 15 97 "'76'42 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 18, 1951 GARBAGE GRINDING DEVICE Harold C. Schindler,y Euclid, Ohio, assignor, by

mesne assignments,A to Lockley Machine Company, New Castle, Sylvania Pa., a corporationcf Penn- Original application May'7,l 1946, Serial No.

667,811. Divided 1947, Serial No. 755,903

This invention relates to comminuting kdevices forlthe disposal of kitchen waste material or garbage and, as one of its objects, aims to provide an improved device of this kind which is of arelatively simplified construction but which will be very efficient and reliable in operation.

Another object of the present inventionis to provide an improved comminuting device of this character, having a comminuting chamber and a motor-driven rotor and in which cooperating elements ofthe chamber and rotor are so constructed and arranged that they produce a rapid and thorough comminuting action on all types of kitchen waste material. n

A.v further object of the invention is to provide animproved comminuting device of this character,v in which the comminuting chamber has shredding elements mounted in slots of the wall thereof and disposed substantially in a spirally extending series.

- Still'another object of this invention is to provide an improved comminuting device of the character mentioned, wherein the wall of the comminuting chamber is dened by an insert or liner inwhich the slots for the series of shredding'elements are formed and the shredding elementsk are retained in-place Ain the slots byhavingseating engagement with the outer `wall of the device. v Vi Additionally, this-invention provides an improved y waste disposal device of this kind, in which the comminuting chamber 1 has spaced spiral shredding ridges on its inner surface and a series of spaced shredding blades is disposed among the shredding ridges and located substantially on a spiral' line having arreverse. slope or pitch with respect to the ridges. 1 f

I The invention can be further briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel combinations andwarrangements of parts hereinafter described in. greater detail and particularly set out in the appended claims. i L This application is a division of original applicationfSerial No. 667,811, filed May 7,1946, now Patent No. 2,476,630, granted July`19, 1949.

'Inthe accompanying sheets of drawings,

Fig.:1` is an elevational ViewL of a garbage dis. posaldevice embodying the present invention, the view V.being mainly inV vertical section as indicatedsby sectionline I-Iof Fig.2;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view ofthe device taken substantially on line 2-,-2 of Fig. 1 and showing the inlet guard in its open position;

1 Fig. 3 is a partial vertical sectional view showing the water valve and motor switchractuating 1i claims. (c1. ail- 251) and this application June 20,

means on a lar-ger scale, the view being taken on section line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial vertical sectional view taken through the water supply connection, as -indicated by section line `4 of Fig. 2;

Fig; 5 is a partial sectional plan view taken on lineV 5`5 of Fig. 1 and further illustrating the water supply connection;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken through the comminuting chamber and looking down toward the rotor, as indicated by section line` 6-6 of Fig. l;

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional view taken through the device mainly ata point below the comminuting chamber and looking upwardly toward the rotor, as represented by section line 1-1 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an upper end view of the liner of the comminuting chamber and showing the same in detached relation;

Fig. 9 is a perspective View showing one of the toothed shredding blades in detached relation;

Fig. 10 is a detail view further illustrating the shape of the teeth of the shredding blades;

Fig. 11'* is a detached detail view showing a modified form of shredding blade;

Fig. 12 is a partial vertical sectional view taken through the comminuting chamber and rotor of a modified form of the device; and

Fig. 13 is a vertical Sectional view taken through the liner for the comminuting chamber of the modified device and showing the liner in detached relation.

As indicated above, the improved comminuting device I0 is intended for use in disposing of kitchen waste material, such as garbage, by subjecting such material to a grinding or comminuting action so that it can be discharged into the plumbing system through the drain connecl tion of a kitchen sink, or the like. The discharge of the comminuted material through the drain connection is rfacilitated by supplying water to the device during the comminuting operation so that the ground material can be discharged from the device in the form of a sludge. The water thus supplied also serves a useful purpose in assisting the comminuting operation and in maintaining the interior of the device in a clean condition. i

YThe present embodiment of the comminuting device I0 is intended for operation in an upright position, as shown in Fig. l, and can be suitably supported in this position by being suspended from akitchen sink Il, or a similar plumbing fixture. The device l0 is provided with a housing 3 I2 which, as here shown, may comprise a plurality of connected sections I2a, I2b and I2C. The section I2a is an inlet section having an inlet opening or throat I3 at its upper end for admitting the material to be ground and a tapered feed passage I4 extending downwardly from the inlet opening. The housing section I2b is the comminuting section in which is located the com;- minuting or grinding chamber I5. The section I2C is the outlet or discharge section of the housing and having therein an annular outlet chamber I6 from which a discharge spout or nozzle I'I extends. The housing section I2 may also form part of the housing of an electric motor I8 which is located at the lower end of the device and to which further reference will be made hereinafter.

The comminuting chamber I is an annular chamber which may be formed directly by the wall of the housing section I2b, or preferably as here shown, is dened by an insert or sleeve liner I9 located in this housing section. The comminuting chamber forms a downward eX- tension of the feed passage I4 of the housing section I2a and also has a downwardly enlarging taper. A comminuting rotor ZIJ is located in the chamber I5 at or adjacent the lower end thereof so as to form a transverse bottom wall for this chamber. The rotor 20 is driven by the electric motor I8 whose shaft 2| extends axially of the device and is mounted on the upper end of such shaft by being keyed or otherwise connected thereto. The rotor carries one or more axial projections 29a which extend into the comminuting chamber at the sides thereof and are adapted to sweep around the wall of the chamber during rotation of the rotor. A clearance space between the outer edge or periphery of the rotor 29 and the liner I9 forms an annular'discharge opening 22 which connects the lower end of the comminuting chamber I5 with the discharge chamber I6.

The comminuting device Ill can be connected with the sink II by any suitable means, such as by the connecting sleeve 23 which extends downwardly through the sink opening I Ia. This connecting Vsleeve has a lateral flange 23a at its upper end which engages and overlies the bottom wall of the sink and, at its lower end, has a threaded connecting portion 23h. A mounting flange 24 is screwed onto the threaded lower end 23h and the housing I2 of the comminuted device is suspended from this ange 24 by annularly spaced screws 25. As shown in Fig. 1 the upper end of the housing section I2a has a lateral flange I2d through which the screws 25 extend and a cover flange 26 clamped between the mounting ange 24 and the housing ange I2d has a central opening which registersl with the inlet opening I3. The screws 25 are of a length such that their upper ends will bear against the sink structure II, or preferably as here shown against a leveling ring 21, and will cooperate with iiange 23a for holding the device in the desired vertical position.

The above mentioned housing sections I2a, I2b and I 2c are secured together by suitable bolts 26a and the `use of yieldable gaskets 21a and 2lb, made of soft rubber or other suitable material, provides a vibration-absorbing sealing means between the paired housing sections. A similar gasket 2'Ic is used between the mounting flange 24 and the cover flange 26. The gaskets 21a and 2lb also serve the important function of forming yieldable seats for positioning and retaining the liner I9 in the desired relation to the wall of the housing section I2b.

The mounting sleeve 23 has an axial passage 23e which forms the drain opening for the sink II Vand also forms theV upper. portion of the inlet' openingv I3 of the comminuting device. The passage 23e is controlled by a sink stopper 23v having a plug shaped body forming a closure for this opening and a knob or handle 28a by which the Vstopper can be manually lifted for either a complete removal from the inlet opening or for adjustment to a sink-draining position. v'lhe mounting sleeve 23 is provided with a tapered internal annular seat 29 adapted to be sea'lingly engaged by a corresponding tapered annular seat 28h formed on the rim of the stopper 28. TheA annular seat or shoulder 29 of the sleeve is provided with circumferentially spaced axial slots 3U in which corresponding axial lugs 28o of the stopper 28 engage when the stopper is in its closed or seated position, as shown in Fig. 1. When the stopper is in this closed position it will retain Water in the sink, but when the stopper is lifted and rotated to a position to enable the lugs 28C to rest on the annular seat 29 of the sleeve 2li, vthe stopper will be supported in an elevated position with its seat 28brspaced from the seat 29, and in this position will permit a drainage of water out of the sink and downwardly through the comminuting device II). Y

For controlling the inlet opening I3 of the housing I2, the device is provided with a movable guard or closure member 33 which is reciprocably movable transversely of the inlet open'- ing. As will be explained more fully hereinafter, this guard is in a closed position during the comminuting operation and serves to prevent a person from inserting his hand into the device while it is in operation and possibly sus-i taning personal injury as the result'of such act. The guard also serves as a closure for the inlet opening for preventing pieces of waste material from being thrown out of the device during the comminuting operation. I

As shown in the drawings, the guard,v 33 is in the form of a generally rectangular plate having a width somewhat less thanthe diameter of the inlet opening I3 so that when the guard is in its closed position, as indicated by the broken line position shown in Fig. 2, segment shaped openings 34 and 35 will be left 'at the sides and end of the guard to permit drainage of water downwardly from the sink. To accommodate the guard 33the upper end of the housing is constructed with a lateral projection 36 thereon which can be formed as an integral part of the ange I2d and which has a recess or guideway 31 therein in which the guard is slidably movable. At its outer or forward end, the guard is provided with an upstanding lug or handle V38 against which the operator can place his ngers for extending the guard to its closed .position or for retracting the same to the open position shown in full lines. The outer end of the guard also carries a tapered lug or cam element 39 which cooperates with a movable control-actuating member, as will be presently explained.

As mentioned above, water is supplied to the comminuting device and it is desirable that the iiow of waterinto the device be continuous during the lcomminuting operation and that the period during which the water is supplied be substantially concurrent with the comminuting operation. This supply of water is controlled by a valve mechanism 4I which, in this instance,

B 'is' located in an integral projection 42 of the housing section I2a. The projection 42^has a valve chamber 43 therein and also hasv inletl andoutlet passages 44 and 45 connected with suchvalve chamber on opposite sides of va valve seat which, inthis instance, isfformed by the outer end of the bushing 46. An available source of water under pressure, vsuch as the domestic water; supplyline, is connected with the inletA passage 44 as by means of the check valve iitting 41 and the hose 48 retained on the latter by the clamp 48a. The outlet passage 45 communicates with the feed passage I4 of the housing' I2 at a point just inwardly of the throat or inlet opening I3, as shown in Fig. 1.

The iiowv of Water through the valve chamber 43 and into the housing is controlled by a valve element 49 which cooperates with the valve seat 46 and is carried by an actuating stem or plunger 50. In the construction here shown this stem comprises two connected sections, these being an inner or upper section 59a and an outer or lower section 50h. The upper sectionr50ais slidable in an opening of the housing section I2a and, when the valve element 49 is in its closed position, the rounded upper end 5Ia. of the stem projects into the path of movement of the cam element 39 of the guard 33. The cover flange 26 of the housing is provided at this point with a slot or recess 52 which accommodates the cam element when the guard is in its closed position and into which the rounded upper end of the valve stem projects.

As shown in Fig. 3, two axially aligned inner and outer sections 50a and 50h of the valve stem 50 are screwed together by means of a threaded extension 53 ofreduced size formed on the outer end of the stem section 50a.. The valve element '49 may be inthe form of a conventional faucet washer whichl surrounds the stem extension 59 and is retained thereon by the outer stern section 59h. The outer stem section extends through and is slidable in a packing gland 54 and is of a length such that its rounded outer end 55 will extend beyond the gland. The outer end of the valve chamber 43.is closed by a nut or plug 55 in which the packing gland 54 is located. VA compression spring 51 disposed around the stem section 50h and seating against the inner end of the plug 56 acts on the valve 49 to normally urge the latter toward .engagement with the.

seat 46. In the construction just described for the water inletyalve, it will be observed that the valve element 49 and the valve seat 46 can be readily removed and replaced in substantially the same manner that. the corresponding valve and seat elements are renewed in conventional faucets. n

vThe electric motor I8, which drives the comminuting rotor 26, is provided with an energizing circuit by which it can be connected with an electric current supply line, suchas an available housing lighting circuit. This energizing circuit 'includes a control switch 59 which is suitably mounted on the wall of the housing I2 and is locatedadjacent the outer end of. the valve actuating' stem 59.' The switch 59 is preferably a so-called micro-switch having contacts adaptedto be closed by a relatively small amount of movement of the switch actuating button or plunger 6U. The switch 59 is located so that the switchbutton 6I) will be immediately adjacent the rounded outer end 55 of the valve actuating stem50 and when the inner end of the valve stem is engag d bythe 4cam lelement 39 of the guard 33,-the resulting of the stem which causes opening ofv the 4water inlet valve 49 will result in the rounded outer, end 55 engaging and actuating the switch but,- ton 60 to close the switch contacts ,and energize the motor I8. Likewise, when the; guard l33is returned to its open position, vthe-movement `im-V by the spring 51 to.

parted to the valve stem cause closing .of thevalve 49 also. causes lthe rounded outer end A to movey away from.;the switch button thereby permitting theswitch contacts to open and the electric motor I8.

If desired, the motor control switch 59 may-be shielded against damage by being located in an. which is attached to the.-

auxiliary housing 6l main housing I2 and has a'exible cover or dia-l phragm 62 extending over the switch' button .69. The flexible cover 62 may be made of metal, plastic or any othersuitable material, and has a ilexibility such that the switchbutton 60 lcan be readily actuated by the rounded end 55v offithe valve stem 50 byA thrust transmitted through the flexible cover. This place from the valve chamber 43 gland 54.

The `water `inlet connection to the housing oi the comminuting .device I0 Apreferably'also in through the cludes a check valve`64 located in the fitting 41 and engageable with a valve seat 65 to prevent-af the comminuting device. line in the event that the to a value which check valve 64 readily permits water toow to' ward the comminuting device but'preventsthe return `iiow, as rmentioned above, so that waten Wastelma'-y terial being ground, cannot enter thewaterpsup# contaminated by the garbage or other ply System.

As mentioned above, the comminuting chamberl I5 is an annular chamber which is defined by the -f' liner Aor insert |9located in the comminuting In this instance thez section I2b of the housing. liner I9 is provided with twosets of comminuting elements 65 and 61 for acting on the garba'geor other waste material which is to be ground. vThe comminuting elements 66 consist vof .continuousv ribs or ridges formed on the inner wall of the into the comminuting cham;

liner and projecting ber so as to constitute 'shredding' ridges. :These ridges extend spirally aroundthe inner wall ofthe chamber and are of a cross sectional shape such that one edge thereof presents a square or sharp cutting edge orshoulder 68 and the opposite edge has a bevel or taper 69 thereon. The spiral direction of the shredding ridges 66 is such that the cutting edges -68 will be presented to. ward the material which is being-rotatedy or whirled in the comminuting chamber by the rotor 29. The ridges 66 are very eiective in reducing or comminuting the vegetable matter or other relatively soft matter which usually forms a substantial part of the waste material to be treated;

The other set of shredding elements 61 are in the form of blades which are disposed in a sub-y stantially spirally extending series having a slope whichis opposite to, or the reverse of, the slope of the spiral ridges 66. The blades 61 are here shown yas being four in number and are inter-` posed circumierentially among thex shredding ridges 66. Any desired number of the bladesl can*A be employed and they can be substantially outwardV movement de-energize the. circuit .of

yiiexible cover also prevents water from dripping onto thecontrol switch in the eventvthat any leakage Aof -water should takel the valve .49 shoulduniformlyspacedalong their spiral line in which case one or more blades of the series will intersect or cut through the ridges .66. These blades can be located, if desired, so that they will lie between pairs ofthe ridges Sii. The blades 6l are very eiective in reducing or comminuting hard or tough pieces of waste material such as bones and thelike.

`As shown in Fig. 6, .the bladesl'l are mounted in slots 1D of the liner I9 yand have toothed or serrated arcuate inner edges Il which project into the comminuting chamber` .These blades are of a Snape such that they will be retained in the slots of the liner by seating engagement of their outer edges 12, which are here shown as being f. drow ate shape. with the inner surface of the outer wall of. the housing. The ends of the blades have tapered extensions 'I3 thereon which extend be youd the ends of. the slots and prevent the blades from passing entirely through the slots into the comminuting chamber.

Theshredding blades 6l can all be of identical size andrshape if this should be desirable but, this instance, only the blades 6`la61b and 61o are of an identical shape while the blade 51d of a slightly different shape. Fig. 6, the blade 61d is of substantially the same width, radially of the comminuting chamber, for the iullextent of its serrated portion so that the teeth 'Il all project into the chamber for substantially` the same distance which is here shown as being. approximately the height of the shredding ridges 66. The'blades 61a. ('lb and 61o are all somewhat wider at one end than at the other end so that the teeth 1| extend into the comminuting chamber for different distances at the two ends of the blades. .As can be readily seen in Fig. 6, the blades Bla, 61h and 'lc are relatively narrower at the end thereof which iS approached by the rotorjprojections 20a and at this end the width of the blade is such that the teeth 'Il project into the comminuting chamber approximately the same distance as the shredding ridges 66. At the Wide end of the blades 61d, SIb and 61o the teeth 1| project yinto the comminuting chamber a somewhat greater distance than the shredding ridges BS. The narrow end portion of these blades is designated 'Ha and. their wider ends are desig,l nated Hb. The effect of this shape and arrangement for the shredding blades 61a, 61h and 61o is tliatthe space 'M between the .rotor projection 20a and the serrated inner edge of the blades reducesin width as the rotor projectiontravels along the blades in the direction of rotation in? dicatedby the arrow 15.

Itfwill be noted also that the Vteeth or Serra.- tions .H are shaped so that they do not extend on a `true radial line of the comminuting chainber but are inclined. away from a radial line 'l5 so 'asvto point in substantially the direction from which the rotor projections 20a approach. In this instancethe tooth faces are inclined inoppcsite directions relative tothe intermediate ra dial line 75ct angles of approximately fifteen degrees and forty-ve degrees respectively. This inclined position for the teeth and the decreasing width ci the working spaces Y'i4 produces a very effective shredding action when the waste material is whirled or propelled'around the ccm-v minuting chamber' 4by the Vrotor 20. It will bs noted also that, as shown in Fig. 1,'the shredding blades .El cre located adjacent the lower end of the liner :i9 so that they will -be traversed or swept by the rotor projections 23a. Likewise it will beunderstood that when the material is being whirled around the yconnninuting chains.

As best seen ber by the rotor 20, centrifugal force will act to press the material against the outer wall, theres by causing the material to repeatedly pass over and be acted upon by the shredding blades G1 and'also by the sharp. cutting edges `Siof :the shredding ridgesBE. The fact that the. shred-f ding blades 6l are disposed on a reverse slope with respect to .the shredding ridges isffvery important,.because in this position these. blades prevent pieces of material from becoming grooved by the shredding ridges 66 which might otherwise result in. such pieces repeatedly follows ing. these ridges without being subjected to a complete comininuting action. It will also be observed that the pairs of ridges 66 dene chan? nels adjacent the wall of the comminuting chamber l5 which extend circumferentially and downwardly toward the annular outlet opening 22 and that the blades 6'1 extend across these channels such that the material which tends to follow these channels due to the whirling action imparted thereto by the rotor-2B will be acte. ed upon by the blades.

It is not necessary that the serrated inner edges of the blades be of arcuate shape because they vcan be straight as in the case of the sers rated inner edge '18a of the modied blade 'I8 shown in Fig4 il. The modified bladexl can be of the .saine width for .the full length of its serrated portion as in the case of the above-de.- scribed blade Gld or, similar to the above-da scribed blades Bla, Bib and Bic and for the same purpose, it can have a narrow end 18h and a wide end 78C as here shown. When one or more blades having such a straight inner edge are used, .the rotor projections 29a will be yshaped or located so that they will not strike the blades.

As indicated above, the rotor 20 forms the bottom oi the comminuting chamber l5 and is `here Shown as being a cone-shaped disk whose outer edge 'l' cooperates with the liner i9 in deiining the annular discharge opening or space 22 through which the comminuting material passes from the comminuting chamber I5 to the discharge chamber I6. The rotor 20 is here shown as being provided with two of the axially extending projections `20a, which are mounted in notches or recesses 'I9 formed in the outer edge of the rotor andare retained therein by means of the screws 80. The portions of thefpfrojeo` tions which overlap the shredding blades 61 are recessed, or cut away, as indicated at 8l.

As shown in Figs- 1 and 7, the spiral shreds ding ridges 66 extend substantially to thebottom or lower end of the liner I9. The lower end of the liner may also be provided with additional shredding ridges 82 (see Fig. 7) which are of a relatively short axial length and are located opposite the rim or edge Of the rotor 20. These auxiliary ridges 82 are provided in suisient number so that they will assist themain, shredding ridges 65 ,in dividing the annular discharge space or passage 22 into a plurality .0.f ennularly spaced slots 83. These slots function in the manner of strainer openings which per:- mit only the material which has been ground t0 a Smell size to pass into the discharge 'chamber I8 while larger particles will be retained the comminuting chamber for iurther treatment,

The ground material which ilows downwardly into the discharge chamber I6 passes out of this chamber through the delivery nozzle I1. This ground material is propelled toward the discharge opening l1 vby impeller blades 84 formed on the underside of the rotor.

f ing device, the sink stopper theinlet sleeve 23 and the wastematerial or Agarbage is dumped into the feed passage' or I disposed of, this operation can lof the connecting sleeve 23.

' device, and Waste material can inner isurface by reason ,Y abovedescribed spiral shredding ridges have been the ridges 6G.

Y pass from the comminuting chamber 9I In vthe use of the above described comminut- 28 is removed from chamber I4 through the inletiopening I3. Some vor the waste material will immediately drop down into the comminuting chamber I5. entire supply ofA Waste material hasl been charged When the into the device, or when the feed chamber 'I4 has been substantially lled, the guard 33 is slid toward the left, as seen inFig. l, to its closed `position and `this'movement of the yguard will cause-the cam element-39 thereof to actuate the .stemn50 so as to substantially simultaneously opeIr-:thewater supply rvalve Y motorenergizing switch 59;

Y.; `The guard 33 .tion until the entire charge of` waste material has been consumed and expelled through the is left or heldinits closed posidelivery nozzle I'I, whereupon the guard is moved to its" retracted or open position, This opening "movement of the guard results in a closing of lthe water valve 49 andY the opening of the switch 59,' as explained above, for stopping the motor -I 8,.'y If there is additional wastev material to be be "repeated and after all of the material has been consumed, the sink stopper 28 can be replaced in the opening The guard 33 is ynormally left in its open position, which corresponds with the inoperative condition of the be dropped into the chamber I4 from time to time by simply lifting the stopper 28.

Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings show a modied construction in which the liner 90 of the comminuting chamber9l has a plain orsmooth of the factfthat the omitted. The liner 99 is provided with a series of serrated shredding blades 92 which are similar Ato the blades 61 above described, but slope in the same direction relative to rotor rotation as In this instance, however,'there are five of the shredding blades 92 of which the lowermost blade 92a is disposed in a plane which issubstantially parallel to the plane of rotation of the rotor 93. The shredding blades 92 are mounted in slots 94 -of the liner in a manner ,similar to the mounting of the blades 61 in the v liner I9'and are located adjacent the lower end of the liner so that they will be traversed or swept by the axial projections 93a of the rotor. The liner 99 of this modified construction is also provided adjacent its lower end with an annular series of relatively inclined grooves or slots 95 which are provided in suflicient number such that the intervening portions of the wall of the liner form teeth 95 which cooperate with the edge or rim of the rotor 93 to form a strainer which permits only iinely ground material to into the discharge chamber 91.

From the -foregoing description and the accompanying drawings it will now be readily recognized that the present invention provides improved garbage disposal apparatus which is eicient, practical and rugged and which will produce a rapid and substantially complete comminution of all forms of kitchen waste material.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In comminuting apparatus, a housing having an annular wall dening a substantially vertical cornniinuting chamber and also having inlet andl outlet passages connected with said 49 andv close thechamber, a rotor operable in said chamber and having material impelling projections thereon, means for driving said rotor, said wall having circumferentially spaced and substantially circumferentially extending slots therein disposed substantially on a line extending spirally around said'annular wall, and shredding blades mounted in said vslots and having their inner edges projecting into said chamber', said. inner edges havingl teeth thereon which are inclined relative to a radial line of said chamber so as to point in a direction substantiallyopposite to the direction oi rotation of the rotor. v a

2. In comminuting apparatus, a housing having an annular wall defining a comminuting chamber and also having inletk and outlet passages connected with said chamber, a rotor operable in said chamber and having material impelling projections thereon, means for driving said rotor, said wall having circumferentially spaced and substantially circumferentially extending slots therein disposed substantially on a line extending spirally around said annular wall, and shredding blades mounted in said slots and having their inner edges projecting into said -chamber. one or more of said blades having the end thereof which is approached-by the rotor projections located at a greater distance from the rotor axis than the opposite end.

- 3, In comminuting apparatus, a housing having an annular wall dening a comminuting chamber and also having inlet and outlet passages connected with said chamber, a rotor operablev in said chamber and having material impelling projections thereon, means for driving said rotor, said wall having circumferentially Vspaced and substantially circumferentially extending jslots therein disposed substantially on a lineextending spirally around said annular wall, and shredding blades mounted in said slots and having their inner edges projecting into said chamber, said inner edges having teeth thereon which are inclined relative to a radial line of said chamber so as to point in a direction opposite to the direction of rotationy of the rotor, one or more of said blades having the end thereof which is approached by the rotor projections located at a greater distance from the rotor axis than the opposite end.

4. In comminuting apparatus, a housing having an annular wall dening a comminuting chamber and also having inlet and outlet passages connected with said chamber, shredding ridges extending spirally of said wall and projecting into said chamber, a rotor operable in said chamber and having impelling means thereon for whirling material against said ridges, means for driving said rotor, said wall having circumferentially spaced substantially circumerentially extending slots therein disposed substantially on a line having a reverse slope with respect to the ridges, and shredding blades mounted in said slots and having their inner edges projecting into said chamber.

5. In comminuting apparatus, a housing having an outer wall dening a comminuting chamber and also having inlet and outlet passages connected with said chamber, an annular liner in said chamber, a rotor operable in said chamber and having material impelling projections thereon, means for driving said rotor, said liner having ridges extending spirally of its inner surface and projecting into said chamber and also having circumferentially spaced and substantially circumferentiallyY extending slots therein disll posed substantially on a line having a reverse slope with respect to the ridges, and shredding blades seating against said outer Wall and projecting into said chamber through said slots.

6. In comminuting apparatus, a housing having an annular Wall deiining a comminuting chamber and also having inlet and outlet passages connected with said chamber, shredding ridges extending spirally of said wall and projecting into said chamber, a rotor operable in said chamber and having impelling means thereon for whirling material against Vsaid ridges, means for driving said rotor, said Wall having Vcircumferentially spaced and substantially circumferentially extending slots therein disposed substantially on a spiral line having ra reverse slope with respect to the ridges, and shredding blades mounted in said slots and having serrated inner edges projecting into said chamber.

7. In comminuting apparatus, a housing having an annular Wall defining a comminuting chamber and also having inlet and outlet passages connected With said chamber, shredding ridges extending spirally of said Wallrand projecting into said chamber, a rotor operable lin said chamber and having impelling means thereon for whirling material against said ridges, means for driving said rotor, said wall having circumferentially spaced and substantially circumferentially extending slots therein disposed substantially on a spiral line having a reverse slope with respect to the ridges, and shredding blades mounted in said slots and having their inner edges projecting into said chamber, said inner edges having a concave curvature extending in the direction of their length and having numerous small teeth thereon which are inclined relative to a radial line of said chamber so as to point in a direction opposite to the'direction of rotation of the rotor, one or more of said blades having the end thereof which is approached by the rotor projections located at a greater distance from the rotor axis than the opposite end.

8. In comminuting apparatusa housing having an outer Wall deiining a comminuting chamber and also having inlet and outlet passages connected with said chamber, an annular liner in said chamber, a rotor operable in said chamber and having material impelling projections thereon, means for driving said rotor, said liner having substantially circumterentially extending slots opening through the Wall thereof and disposed substantially on a line extending spirally of said chamber, and shredding blades seating against said outer wall and having their inner edges projecting into said chamber through said slots, said inner edges having teeth thereon which are inclined relative to a radial line of said chamber so as to point in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of rotation of the rotor.

9. In comminuting apparatus, a housing having an outer Wall dening a comminuting charnber and also having linlet and outlet passages connected with said chamber, a sleeve liner in said chamber, a rotor operable in said chamber and having material impelling projections thereon, means for driving said rotor, said liner having shredding ridges extending spirally of its inner surface and projecting into said chamber and also having circumierentially spaced and substantially circumferentially extending slots therein disposed substantially on a line having a reverse slope with respect to the ridges, and

shred-ding blades seating'against said outer `wall and projecting into said chamber Vvthrough said slots and having numerous teeth thereon which are inclined relative to a radial line of said chamber so as -to point in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of rotation of the rotor, one or .more of said blades .having the end thereof which is approached by the rotor projections located :at a greater :distance from the rotor axis than the opposite end.

ll). .In comminu'ting apparatus, .a housing having an annular Wall defining a comminuting chamber `and' also having inlet and outlet `,pa-svsages Vconnected with said-chamber, shredding ridgesvextending spirally :of said Wall andprojecting into said chamber, a rotor` operable in said chamber'and .having impelling means thereon Afor whirling material .against saidridges, means for driving said rotor, said wall having circumferentially spaced and substantially-cirycnnnerentially extending slots therein, said slots being located between pairs of said'ridges and disposed substantially on a spiral line having a reverse 'slope with respect to said ridges, and shredding blades vmounted in said slots `and having serrated inner edges projecting into said chamber.

fil. In -commiriuting apparatus, an upright housing having an annular wall dening la comminuting chamber and also having an inlet passagel above said chamber, a rotor operable in said housing adjacent the lower end of'said clfia'mberV and defining with lsaid Wall an annular outlet passage from the chamber, material iinpelling projections on said rotor, means Vfor driving saidf'rotor, axially spaced spirally lextending shredding ridges carried by said wall and 'projecting into said chamber, 'said Wall having a series of slots thereinY extending substantially zcircumferentally of said chamber and substantially across "the spaces between vsaid `ridges and disposed substantially on a spiral line having a reverse slope with respect to said ridges, and shredding blades mounted in said slots and having serrated inner edges projecting into said chamber, the lowermost blade of the series being substantially parallel to the plane of rotation vof said rotor.

l2. In comminuting apparatus, an upright housing having an annular Wall defining a comminuting chamber and also having an inlet passage above said chamber, a rotor operable in said housing adjacent the llovver end of said chamber and defining with said wall an annular outlet passage from the chamber, material impelling projections on said rotor adjacent the outer edge thereof and adapted t sweep around said Wall, means for driving said rotor, axially spaced spirally extending shredding ridges carried by said Wall and projecting into said chamber, said wall having a series of slots therein extending substantially circumferentially of said chamber and substantially across the spaces between saidridges and disposed substantially on a spiral line having a reverse slope with respect to said ridges, and shredding blades mounted in said slots and having serrated inner edges projecting into said chamber, the blades of the series being located in the annular portion of said wall which is swept by the rotor projections and the lowermost blade of the series being substantially parallel to the plane of rotation of said rotor.

13. In comminuting apparatus, an upright housing having an annular wall defining a com'- 13 minuting chamber andalso having an inlet passage above said chamber, a rotor operable in said housing adjacent the lower end of said chamber and defining with said wall an annular outlet passage from the chamber, material impelling projections on said rotor adjacent the outer edge thereof and adapted to sweep around said wall, means for driving said rotor, said wall having ridges extending spirally of its inner surface and projecting into said chamber and also having a series of slots therein extending circumferentially of said chamber and disposed substantially on a line having a reverse slope with respect to the ridges, and shredding blades mounted in said slots and having serrated inner` edges projecting into said chamber, the blades of the series being located in the annular portion of said wall which is swept by the rotor` projections.

14.' In comminuting apparatus, an upright housing having an annular wall defining a substantially vertical commlnuting chamber and also having an inlet passage above said chamber, a rotor operable in said housing adjacent the lower end 0f said chamber and dening with said wall an annular outlet passage from the chamber, shredding ridges carried by said wall and ex tending spirally around said chamber in inwardly-7 projecting relation, pairs of adjacent ridges defining channels adjacent said wall which extend circumferentially and downwardly toward said annular outlet passage, impelling means on said rotor ror whirling material against said ridges and advancing said material along said chan nels toward said annular outlet passage, said wall '.having substantially circumferentially ex tending slots therein, said slots being located between said pairs of said ridges and extending across said channels, and shredding blades mounted in said into-said chamber so as channels.

15.` Comminuting apparatus as defined in claim 14 in which the shredding blades have serrated inner edges and said inner edges have a concave curvature extending in the direction of the length of the blades.

16. In commnuting apparatus, an upright to extend across said slots and projecting therefrom housing having an outer wall denning a sub stantially vertical comminuting chamber and also having an inlet passage above said chamber,

a tapered downwardly enlarging annular liner in said chamber, a rotor operable in said housing adjacent the lower end of said chamber and defining with said liner an annular outlet passage from said chamber, shredding ridges carried by said liner and extending spirally around said chamber in inwardly projecting relation, pairs of said ridges defining channels adjacent said liner which extend circumferentially and downwardly toward said annular outlet passage, impelling means on said rotor for whirling material against said ridges and advancing said material along said channels toward said annular outlet passage, said liner having substantially circumferentially extending slots therein, said slots being located between pairs of said ridges and extending across said channels, and shredding blades mounted in said slots in seating engagement with said outer wall and having their inner edges projecting from the slots into said chamber so as to extend across said channels.

17. Comminuting apparatus as defined in claim 16 in which the shredding blades have serrated inner edges and said inner edges have a concave curvature extending in the direction oi' the length of the blades.

. HAROLD C. SCHINDLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Nuin'er Name Date 1,687,886 Philipp Oct. 16, 1928 2,012,680 Hammes Aug. 27, 1935 2,141,662 Ossing et al Dec. 27, 1938 2,156,075 Alexay Apr. 25, 1939 2,166,786 Alexay July 18, 1939 2,220,729 Powers Nov. 5, 1940 2,225,171 Han-unes Dec. 17, 1940 2,322,058 Powers June 15, 1943 2,428,420 Green Oct. 7, 1947 2,495,983 Richards Jan. 31, 1950

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