US3480213A

US3480213A - Vertical shredders

Info

Publication number: US3480213A
Application number: US471480A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry J Shelton Jr
Original assignee: Grundler Crusher and Pulverizer Co
Current assignee: Lukens General Industries Inc; General Steel Industries Inc
Priority date: 1965-07-12
Filing date: 1965-07-12
Publication date: 1969-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 1986-11-25

Description

Nov. 25, 1969 J, s L'roN, JR 3,480,213

VERTICAL SHREDDERS .5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 12, 1965 INVENTOR HARRY J. SHELTONJR FIG.3.

A T TQRMEY Nov. 25, 1969 H. J. SHELTON, JR

VERTICAL SHREDDERS .5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 12, 1965 mvmron HARRY J. SHELYON, JR. W

A7'TORNEY Nov. 25, 1969 H J. SHELTON, JR 3,480,213

VERTICAL SHREDDERS Filed July 12, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR HARRY J. $HELTON,JR.

ATTORNEY Nov. 25, 1969 H. J. SHELTON, JR

VERTICAL SHREDDERS .5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 12, 1965 mvENroR HARM a. sHELTomR.

ATTORNEY Nov. 25, 1969 H. J. SHELTON, JR 3,430,213

VERTICAL SHREDDERS Filed July 12, 1965 -.5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR HARRY J. SHELTON, JR. BY

AT TQRNEY United States Patent 3,480,213 VERTICAL SHREDDERS Harry J. Shelton, Jr., Latlue, Mo., assignor to Gruentller Crusher & Pulverizer Co., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed July 12, 1965, Ser. No. 471,480 Int. Cl. B02c 17/02, 1/08; B07b 13/00 US. Cl. 241-92 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shredder having a vertical cylindrical housing in which a disk-like rotor is journaled. Upwardly projecting cutters are on the disk for shredding refuse as it falls onto the upper surface of the disk. Sweeper blades depend from the rotor disk for sweeping shredded refuse out an outlet formed in the housing. Vertically extending baffies are aflixed to the interior surface of the housing above the rotor disk to impede rotation of the mass of refuse with the disk. A dispersion cone projects upwardly from the center of the rotor disk for directing refuse outwardly on the disk, and notches are formed along the outer periphery of the disk so that the shredded refuse will fall into the path of the sweeper blades. Alternative embodiments include fingers projecting inwardly below the disk for further shredding the refuse and a laminated rotor disk which permits altering the size of the notches along the periphery of the disk.

This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in shredders and, more particularly, to vertical refuse shredders.

The manufacturing processes of many large industrial firms ultimately result in a considerable amount of refuse which must be disposed of in one way or another. Many firms have found it desirable and economical to reduce their refuse into shredded bits, The reduced refuse is often compressed into conveniently sized bales which are bound and transported away from the plant to a disposal area. The firm thereby reduces the bulk or size of its refuse, and achieves a considerable cost saving in the removal thereof.

Heretofore, shredders for reducing refuse have generally comprised a housing provided with an inlet opening and having a horizontal rotor operatively journaled in communication with the inlet. The rotor, of course, is provided on its periphery with a plurality of shredder knives which pass within close proximity to a plurality of bars whereby, in effect, to shred the refuse between the bars and knives. Existing types of refuse shredders, however, do not operate well under overload conditions, and a large load will usually cause the machine to stall or jam. These limitations also require the presence of an attendant who must continuously control the quantity of input being fed into the shredder at any particular time. Immediately after a load of refuse is placed in such a machine the knives tear into it with great force requiring the sudden expenditure of a large amount of energy or power. As the refuse passes through the machine the power consumption tapers off until the load is completely reduced whereupon the power consumed is nominal. The same sequence ensues with each incremental charge of refuse dumped into the machine. Thus, it is readily apparent that the shredder alternates momentarily between periods of high power consumption and lower power consumption, and must be constructed for the maximums which, of course, increases the cost of the electrical components and subjects the mechanical elements of the machine to undue stresses. Moreover, these fluctuations limit the capacity of the machine. Finally, these machines often ice jam when relatively large or dense materials such as twoby-fours or rolls of asphalt roofing are inserted therein. Similarly, steel strapping and wire and polyethylene sheets often become entangled in the rotor, thereby clogging it and rendering its knives ineffective.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a shredder which is capable of accepting a great variety of materials.

-It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a shredder of the type stated which accepts large loads of refuse and requires little, if any, attention by an operator.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shredder of the type stated which draws a relatively constant amount of power when reducing a load of refuse.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shredder of the type stated which is highly eflicient by reason of the fact that the load is relatively large in proportion to power consumption.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a shredder of the type stated which is rugged and simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (5 sheets)- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shredder constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a shredder constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a shredder;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of shredder;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modified shredder; and

FIGS. 11 and 12 are sectional views taken along lines 11-11 and 12-12 of FIG. 10.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate practical embodiments of the present invention, A designates a vertical shredder including a base frame 1 having two spaced parallel I beams 2, 3 which are transversely connected at their ends by

cross-channels

4, 5, the latter being perpendicularly welded at their ends to the central webs of the former. The outwardly projecting lower flanges of the beams 2, 3 are provided with a plurality of apertures 6 which accept bolts or other conventional clamping devices for rigidly securing the shredder A to the floor of a building or other suitable supporting structure.

Bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the upper flanges of the beams 2, 3 in spaced parallel relation are support channels 7, 8 which are transversely connected by spaced

parallel cross channels

9, 10, the latter being welded to the inwardly presented vertical faces of the former, so as to form a square aperture 11, as best seen in FIG. 7. Centrally welded to the outwardly presented vertical faces of the channels 7, 8 are vertical gusset plates 12 having upper margins which are coplanar with the upwardly presented flange-like faces of the channels 7, 8.

Mounted on and supported by the channels 7, 8 is a shredder housing 13 including an annular base plate 14 which rests upon and is welded or bolted to the channels 7, 8, 9, and gusset plates 12. Welded within the central aperture of the annular base plate 14 and projecting beyond the upper and lower faces thereof is a sleeve 15 which fits snugly within the aperture 11 formed by the

channels

7, 8, 9, 10. Welded to the internal cylindrical faces of the sleeve 15 in spaced parallel relation to one another are annular disks 16, 17 having centrally disposed axially aligned circular apertures 18, 19, respectively. Welded to the inwardly presented and opposec" faces of disks 16, 17 in connecting relationship is a spacer sleeve 20 having an internal bore substantially identical to that of apertures 18, 19. Secured to the upper face of the disk 16 by bolts is a thrust bearing 23, and similarly fastened to the lower face of disk 17 is a conventional roller bearing 24. Since the

bearings

23, 24 are conventional in design and manufacture they are not illustrated or described herein in further detail.

Welded to the upper face of base plate 14 in inwardly spaced relation to the outer peripheral margin thereof and extending partially therearound is a substantially cylindrical side wall 25, having opposed

vertical margins

26, 27 which, in effect, form the side margins of a discharge aperture 28. Welded to the upper margin of cylindrical side wall and projecting horizontally outwardly therefrom so as to be diametrically equivalent to the base plate 14 is a continuous annular flange 29 which is provided with a plurality of apertures 30. Rigidly welded between the flange 29 and the outwardly projecting portion of plate 14 and to the outer cylindrical face of the side wall 25 are a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs 30' which lend rigidity to the structure. For convenience of reference, the inner cylindrical faces of the sleeve 15 and the side wall 25, and the base plate 14 define a lower annular discharge chamber 31.

Projecting horizontally outwardly from the aperture 28 is a discharge duct 32 for purposes presently more fully appearing. Duct 32 includes spaced parallel side walls 33, 34 which are transversely connected by top and

bottom walls

35, 36, whereby to form a conduit having a rectilinear cross-section. Side wall 33 is welded to the vertical margin 26 of cylindrical wall 25 and projects horizontally therefrom tangential to the cylindrical surface thereof. The side wall 34 is welded to the vertical margin 27 of wall 25 and projects outwardly therefrom paraliel to the wall 33. Additionally, the wall 34 projects inwardly into the chamber 31 in the provision of a vane 37 which terminates in a vertical edge presented in outwardly spaced relation to the sleeve 15. The lower margin of the vane 37 is cut away so as to provide clearance between the vane 37 and plate 14, all for purposes presently more fully appearing. The outwardly presented end margins of the

walls

33, 34, 35, 36 are mutually provided with a continuous flange 38 having a plurality of apertures 39 for accepting bolts or other conventional fastening devices whereby the discharge duct 32 can be connected to an exhaust pipe (not shown) or other conduit for conveying the shredded refuse away from the machine. As shown, the flange 38 is rectangular, but it should be understood that this flange may be of any shape necessary to fit the shape of the discharge duct 32.

Rigidly fastened to the flange 29 and also forming part of shredder housing 13 is a cylindrical upper housing 40 having upper and lower annular outwardly projecting

horizontal flanges

41, 42. Extending between the upper and

lower flanges

41, 42, respectively, and welded thereto and to the external cylindrical face of the upper housing 40, are a plurality of circumferentially spaced webs 43. The upper housing 40 is secured to the flange 29 by a plurality of bolts 44 which extend through the

flanges

29, 42. The cylindrical internal face of the upper housing 40 is diametrally equal to the inner face of the cylindrical side wall 25 and is provided with a plurality of vertically extending reinforced angles or baflles 45 which are held securely thereto by a plurality of bolts 46. The cylindrical wall of housing 40 is cut away in close proximity to the lower flange 42 in the provision of a rectilinear opening 47 which is covered by a removable cover plate 48, the latter being bolted to the outer face of the housing 40.

Mounted on and supported by the housing 40 is a cylindrical inlet stack 49 having a lower annular flange 50 which abuts against and is fastened to the flange 41 by bolts 51. It should be noted that the inlet stack 49 can be of any convenient design such as conical, or a round to square transition, a cylindrical stack 49 being described only for convenience of illustration.

Internally, the shredder housing 13 is provided with a rotor assembly 52 including a rotor shaft 53 which is journaled within the

bearings

23, 24 and is milled or otherwise grooved at its upper and lower ends in the provision of

keyways

54, 55, respectively.

Rigidly welded or otherwise fastened to the upper end of the shaft 53 is a circular support plate 56, the outer peripheral margin of which rotates in close proximity to the inner face of the sleeve 15. Welded to the underface of the support plate 56 is a downwardly extending cylindrical hub 57 which bears against and rotates on the thrust bearing 23. Support plate 56 and hub 57 are centrally bored to fit over the upper end of shaft 53 and are further grooved in the provisions of a keyway 58. Fitted within the keyways 54, 58 for purposes of locking the support plate 56 to the shaft 53 is a key 59. Near its outer periphery, the support plate 56 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced threaded apertures 60.

Fastened in face-wise abutment to the upper face of the support plate 56 by bolts 61 which fit within and engage the threads of apertures 60 is a rotor disk 62 which is centrally relieved in the provision of a circular recess 63, the base of which is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced threaded apertures 64. Operatively mounted in the recess 63 is a dispersion cone 65 including a circular base plate 66 which is bolted to the rotor disk 62 by a plurality of bolts 67, the bolts 67 being adapted to fit within and engage the threads of apertures 64. Welded to the upper face of plate 66, which is flush with the upper surface of rotor disk 62, is a diametrally extending member 68 shaped in the form of an isosceles triangle and having its apex above the center of plate 66. Further welded to the plate 66 and additionally to the side faces of the member 68 are radially extending triangular members 69, each of which is shaped in the form of a right triangle so as to provide additional ribs for the dispersion cone 65. The outer periphery of the rotor disk 62 rotates in close proximity to the inner cylindrical walls of the upper housing 40, and is relieved in the provision of a plurality of inwardly extending discharge slots 70.

Welded to the upper surface of the rotor disk 62 along equally spaced radii in outwardly spaced relation to the dispersion cone 65 are a plurality of upwardly projecting breaker tabs 71. Bolted to the upper face of rotor disk 62 along radii interposed between the tabs 71 in a series of rows are a plurality of cutters 72 which can easily be removed and replaced in the event of wear or damage thereto. Cutters 72 are provided with forwardly pro jecting cutter edges 72, reference being made to the direc tion of rotation indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5. As will be seen by reference to FIG. 6 the outermost of the cutters 72 pass beneath and within close proximity to the bottom margins of the baflles 45.

Welded to the underface of the rotor disk 62 and depending therefrom in outwardly spaced relation to the sleeve 15 are arms 73 and welded or otherwise rigidly fastened to each of the arms 73 for rotation within the discharge chamber 31 is a sweeper blade 74.

It should be noted at this juncture that the inwardly projecting vane 37 fits between the upper margins of the,

sweeper blades 74 and the underface of the rotor disk 62 whereby not to obstruct the rotation thereof. The sweeper blades 74 in effect operate as a centrifugal blower as will presently be described in greater detail.

At its downwardly presented end the rotor shaft 53 is fitted with a multigroove pulley 75 which is internally provided with a keyway 76, the pulley 75 being locked to the shaft 53 by a key 77 which engages the

keyways

55, 76.

Additionally welded to the central webs of I beams 2, 3 are

horizontal angles

78, 79, respectively, having inwardly projecting flanges which support a horizontal cross-plate 80, the cross-plate 80 being centrally provided with an aperture 81. Bolted to the upper face of the crossplate 80 and supported thereon is a conventional vertical type electric motor 82 having a power shaft 83 which fits through the aperature 81. Conventionally secured to the power shaft 83 is a multigroove pulley 84 which aligns with the pulley 75. Trained around the pulleys 75, 84 are a plurality of V-belts 85. Motor 82, of course, transmits power through the V-belts 85 to the shaft 53 and the rotor disk 62, which is rigidly aflixed thereto, thereby rotating the same.

In operation, the material to be shredded is dumped into the inlet stack 49 and falls on the revolving upper surface of the rotor disk 62. That material which falls onto the center of the disk 62 is engaged by the triangular ribs of the dispersion cone 65 and rotation is imparted thereto whereby to cause the material to move outwardly by virtue of centrifugal force. Some of the material upon initial impact with the rotor disk 62 is caught by the tabs 71 and cutters 72 and immediately shredded into fine pieces. The more durable pieces of refuse move outwardly on the disk 62 where they are shredded between the baflles 45 and the cutters 72. The shredded material, owing to the rotation and resultant centrifugal force imparted thereto, finds its way to the outer peripheral margin of the disk 62 where it falls downwardly beyond the margin and through the discharge slots 70 into the annular discharge chamber 31. It should be noted at this point that the draft created by the sweeper blades 74 aids in drawing the shredded material past the rotor disk and into the chamber 31. Upon entering the chamber 31 the material is picked up by the sweeper blades 74 and whirled around the chamber 31 until it finds its way out through the discharge duct 32. Of course, much of the shredded refuse is entrained within the airstream. The vane 37 aids in directing that refuse material entrained in the airstream toward the discharge duct 32.

It should be noted that no suction device is required to remove the shredded refuse from the shredder A for the rapidly revolving blades 74 direct the shredded refuse out through the duct 32 and keep the lower discharge chamber 31 free from refuse that might otherwise accumulate therein. However, it is possible to construct shredders A without the sweeper blades 74, in which case it would be desirable to use a suction system to withdraw the shredded refuse from the chamber 31.

Vertical shredder A is adapted to accept a large amount of refuse material at one dumping, the capacity of the machine being only limited by the volume enclosed within the upper housing 40 and the inlet stack 49. The tabs 71 and cutters 72 of the rotor disk 62, in effect, work on and shred only that refuse in contact therewith. When such refuse is shredded it passes between the tabs 71 and cutters 72, and downwardly past the peripheral margin of the disk 62 and through the slots 70, thereby allowing space for more refuse to fall onto the rotor disk 62 and into engagement with the tabs 71 and cutters 72, the operation being continuous in nature.

In practice it has been found particularly desirable to mount shredder A on one floor of a building, preferably the ground floor or basement, and extend a cylindrical inlet stack 49 upwardly to the floor above. Such a construction allows one to dump the refuse into shredder A at floor level thereby avoiding the necessity of lifting such refuse to the top of the machine to gain access to the inlet thereof. Of course, when cylindrical inlet stack 49 is extended upwardly to the floor above, it may be desirable, as a safety precaution, to provide some sort of closure for the inlet. Since the sweeper blades 74, in effect, act as a fan and necessarily draw air through the upper housing 40, it is in some installations necessary to provide some other source of air. Referring now to FIG. 1, this can be done by placing elongated air-inlet slots 86 in the cylindrical wall of the upper housing 40 behind the baffles 45, that is to say, the side of baffles 45 opposite the direction of rotation indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5. The slots will permit air to enter the housing while the baflies 45 in front of them will prevent the material awaiting shredding from being pushed out of the housing through the slots 86. Moreover, such a construction does not adversely affect the heating or air-conditioning balance for the building for no air is drawn from the floor above and discharged into the shredder room.

It should be noted that the upper housing 40 can be provided without baflles 45. In such instance, the resistance afforded by the material above and the frictional resistance of the walls of the upper housing 40 will permit the tabs 71 and cutters 72 to work effectively. Furthermore, the baflles 45 need not necessarily be angles as previously described, for plates contoured to conform to the inner surface of upper housing 40 and secured thereto may function just as well, if not better, in certain instances. The size and type of baflles 45 used, or whether or not such bars are used at all, depends on the nature of material fed into the shredder A.

Since the rotor 52 does not forceably draw the material into contact with the cutters, as do conventional shredders, the tendency to jam or stall is practically eliminated. Instead the material to be shredded bears against the upper face of the rotor disk 62 by virtue of its own weight. This construction permits shredder A to accept a great variety of loads such as two-by-fours, magazines tied in bundles, wooden crates, wire wound boxes, steel strapping and baling wire, asphalt roofing paper, and the like, all of which are either awkwardly handled by conventional shredders are not handled by them at all. In reducing the material, shredder A consumes much less energy and is, therefore, much more efficient. Moreover, the load on the motor is not only less, it is also relatively constant, thereby eliminating the need for expensive electrical circuitry and extending the life of the mechanical parts.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, it is possible to provide a modified shredder B which is very similar tolthe shredder A. Shredder B includes a base plate 87 having a cylindrical side wall 88 extending upwardly therefrom, the upper margin of the side wall 88 being provided with a continuous annular outwardly projecting flange 89 having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures 90. Welded within the centrally disposed aperture of the base plate 87 and projecting both upwardly and downwardly therefrom is a sleeve 91 which carries

bearings

92, 93 in the manner heretofore described in conjunction with shredder A. Similarly, the side wall 88 is provided with a discharge duct 94, which communicates with a lower annular discharge chamber 95, the latter being defined by the inwardly presented faces of the sleeve 91, the side wall 88, and the base plate 87.

Bolted to and supported on the flange 89 is an upper cylindrical housing 96 having a lower flange 97, the flange 97 being diametrally equivalent to the flange 89 and being further provided with a plurality of apertures 98 which registers with the apertures of flange 89. Internally the housing 96 is provided with a plurality of baflles 99.

Interposed between the flanges 89, 97 around the periphery thereof are a plurality of lower arcuate shredder segments 100 which are in endwise abutment with one another. Shredder segments 100 have substantial thickness to lend rigidity thereto and are each provided with at least two apertures 101 which register with

corresponding apertures

90, 98 in the flanges 89, 97, respectively. Fitted within the

apertures

90, 101, 98 are bolts 102 which rigidly fasten the upper housing 96 and lower shredder segments 100 to the cylindrical side wall 88 whereby to form a unitary structure. Shredder segments 100 integrally include inwardly projecting shredder fingers 103 which extend into the discharge chamber 95 for purposes presently more fully appearing.

Operatively journaled within the

bearings

92, 93 is a rotor 104 including a rotor disk 105 provided on its upper face with a dispersion cone 106, tabs 107, and cutters 108, and on its under face with sweeper blades 109. Dispersion cone 106 includes a plurality of radially extending triangular ribs 110, the upper margins of which are serrated in the provision of teeth 111, all for purposes presently more fully appearing.

The outer peripheral margin of the rotor disk 105, of course, rotates in close proximity to the internal cylindrical wall of the upper housing 96 and is relieved in the provision of inwardly extending discharge slots 112. The underface of rotor disk 105 revolves in close proximity to the upper faces of the fingers 103 of the lower shredder segments 100, the fingers 103 being exposed to the contents of the upper housing 96 through the discharge slots 112.

The rotor 104 is powered by an electric motor or other suitable prime mover in a manner identical to that heretofore described in conjunction with shredder A.

In operation, shredder B provides a finer shred than does shredder A. The material to be shredded is, of course, dumped into the upper housing 96 and falls onto the rotor disk 105, whereupon it is shredded by tabs 107 and cutters 108 in a manner similar to that previously described in conjunction with shredder A. Additionally, however, the teeth 111 on the dispersion cone 106 act on the material and provide further shredding. The material thus shredded on the upper face of the rotor disk 105 falls through the discharge slots 112 where it is caught between the margins thereof and the fingers 103, thereby experiencing further shredding which ultimately results in a finer end product. The sweeper blades 109 function identically to sweeper blades 74 as heretofore described and propel the shredded refuse out of the machine through the discharge duct 94.

Referring now to FIGS. 1O, 11, and 1 2, it is possible to provide still another modified shredder C, which functions similar to the shredder A. Shredder C includes a shredder housing 113 having a base plate 114, a sleeve 115, an upper housing 116 and a cylindrical side wall 117 provided with a discharge duct 118 which communicates with a lower discharge chamber 119.

Operatively journaled within the housing 113 is a rotor 120 including a laminated rotor disk 121. Rotor disk 121 includes upper and lower diametrally

equal disk segments

122, 123, respectively, which are in facewise abutment with one another. The lower disk segment 123 is bolted to a support plate 124 which, in turn, is rigidly fastened to a rotor shaft 125. Near its outer peripheral margin the lower disk segment 123 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced threaded holes 126 and interposed therebetween around the peripheral margin of the lower disks segment 123 are a plurality of inwardly extending notches 127. Centrally bolted to the upwardly presented face of the lower disk segment 123 is a dispersion cone 128 comprising a circular plate 128 provided on its upper face with radially extending triangular ribs 129.

Upper disk segment 122 is centrally relieved in the provision of an aperture 130 which fits snugly around the circular plate 128 of dispersion cone 128. Near its outer peripheral margin the upper disk segment 122 is provided with arcuate cut-outs 131 which register with the threaded holes 126 of lower disk segment 123. Fitted through the cut-outs 131 and threaded into the holes 126 are bolts 132 which, when tightened, hold the upper and

lower disk segments

122, 123 together and prevent relative rotation therebetween. However, when bolts 132 are loosened, upper segment 122 can move relative to lower segment 123 through an are a (FIG. 11) which is equal to the span of arcuate cut-outs 131. It should be noted that the same effect can be achieved by providing the upper disk 122 with a plurality of closely spaced apertures, the centers of which define an areuate line which corresponds to the center-line of the arcuate cut-outs 131. Upper disk segment 122 is similarly relieved along its outer peripheral marginin the provision of a plurality of notches 133 which are in marginal registration with the notches 127 when the upper disk segment 122 is shifted to one extreme of the are a. Notches 127, 133 of lower and

upper disk segments

122, 123, respectively, in combination form a plurality of discharge slots 134 which are similar to the discharge slots of shredders A and B previously described herein. By rotating the

disk segments

122, 123, relative to one another the size of the discharge slots 134 are varied. Bolted to the upper face disk segment 122 in a series of circular rows are cutters 135. The cutters 135 in the outermost row are placed so as to precede the arcuate cut-outs 131, reference being made to the direction of rotation as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 11. Thus, the cutters 135 afford protection to the heads of the bolts 132 and prevent them from becoming marred.

Shredder C functions similar to shredder A, but differs therefrom, in that the size of the shredded end product can be varied. As has previously been noted, the

disk segments

122, 123 can be rotated relative to one another through a limited arc a thereby changing the size of the discharge slots 134. The size of the pulverized product is, of course, dependent on the size of the discharge slots 134. In other words, when the discharge slots are large the shred will be coarse. However, when the size of the discharge slots 134 is reduced, the material must remain in the upper housing longer and undergo further shredding before it is small enough to pass through the slots 134.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the shredders may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A shredder for reducing material, such as refuse, to shredded bits, said shredder comprising a base frame, a cylindrical housing mounted on said frame with its axis presented vertically, a circular rotor disk operatively journaled within said housing for rotation about an axis coincident to the vertical axis of said housing, the peripheral margin of said disk being adapted to pass within close proximity to the inner cylindrical face of said housing, said disk being relieved along its peripheral margin in the provision of a plurality of discharge slots which are adjustable in size, said housing being provided in upwardly spaced relation to said rotor disk with an inlet port for accepting material to be shredded, said housing being provided in downwardly spaced relation to said rotor disk with an outlet port through which the shredded material can be discharged, cutter means disposed on the upper surface of said rotor disk for engaging the material inserted through said inlet port and for shredding the same, and motive means for rotating said disk.

2. A shredder for reducing material, such as refuse, to shredded bits, said shredder comprising a base frame, a cylindrical housing mounted on said frame with its axis presented vertically, a rotor disk operatively journaled within said housing for rotation about an axis coincident to the vertical axis of said cylindrical housing, a plurality of shredder fingers rigidly secured to said housing in close proximity to the underface of said rotor disk, said housing being provided in upwardly spaced relation to said rotor disk with an inlet port for accepting material to be shredded, said housing being provided in downwardly spaced relation to said rotor disk with an outlet port through which the shredded material can be discharged, cutter means disposed on the upper surface of said rotor disk for engaging the material inserted through said inlet port and shredding the same, and motive means for rotating said disk.

3. A shredder for reducing material, such as refuse, to shredded bits, said shredder comprising a base frame, a cylindrical housing mounted on said base frame with its axis presented vertically, a circular rotor disk operatively journaled within said housing for rotation about an axis coincident to the vertical axis of said housing, the peripheral margin of said disk being adapted to pass within close proximity to the inner cylindrical face of said housing, said disk being relieved along its peripheral margin in the provision of a plurality of discharge slots, a plurality of shredder fingers rigidly secured to the walls of said housing and projecting inwardly in close proximity to the underface of said rotor disk, said housing being provided in upwardly spaced relation to said rotor disk with an inlet port for accepting material to be shredded, said housing being provided in downwardly spaced relation to said rotor disk with an outlet port through which the shredded material can be discharged, cutter means disposed on the upper surface of said rotor disk for engaging the material inserted through said inlet port and shredding the same, and movitive means for rotating said disk.

4. A shredder for reducing material, such as refuse, to shredded bits, said shredder comprising a frame, a cylindrical housing mounted on said frame with its axis presented vertically, said housing having an annular base plate secured to the lower margins thereof, a sleeve coaxially mounted in said housing and extending upwardly from said base plate, a rotor disk operatively journaled in said housing for rotation above and in close proximity to the upper margin of said sleeve about an axis coincident to the axis of said cylindrical housing, said disk being relieved along its peripheral margin in the provision of a plurality of discharge slots, the opposed faces of said rotor disk and base plate and said sleeve and cylindrical housing defining an annular lower discharge chamber, a plurality of shredder fingers rigidly secured to the walls of said housing and projecting inwardly into said discharge chamber beyond the inner margins of said slots, said fingers being in close proximity to the underface of said rotor disk, said housing having an inlet port in upwardly spaced relation to said rotor for accepting material to be shredded, said housing having an outlet port in communication with said chamber through which the shredded material can be removed, cutter means disposed on the upper surface of said rotor disk for engaging the material and shredding the same, and motive means for rotating said rotor disk.

5. A shredder for reducing material, such as refuse, to shredded bits, said shredder comprising a base frame, a cylindrical housing mounted on said base frame with its axis presented vertically, a circular rotor disk operatively journaled within said housing for rotation about an axis coincident to the vertical axis of said housing, the peripheral margin of said disk being adapted to pass within close proximity to the inner cylindrical face of said housing, said rotor disk having upper and lower disk segments which are provided along their peripheral margins with inwardly extending upper and lower notches, respectively, said notches when in overlying relation to one another defining a plurality of discharge slots through said rotor disk, said upper disk being adapted to shift rotatably with respect to said lower disk whereby to change the size of said discharge slots, said housing being provided in upwardly spaced relation to said rotor disk with an inlet port for accepting material to be shredded, said housing being provided in downwardly spaced relation to said rotor disk with an outlet port through which the shredded material can be discharged, cutter means disposed on the upper surface of said rotor disk for engaging the material inserted through said inlet port and shredding the same, and motive means for rotating said disk.

6. A shredder for reducing material, such as refuse, to shredded bits, said shredder comprising a frame, a cylindrical housing mounted on said frame with its axis presented vertically, said housing having an annular base plate secured to the lower margins thereof, a sleeve co axially mounted in said housing and extending upwardly from said base plate whereby to define a lower annular discharge chamber, a rotor disk operatively journaled in said housing for rotation above and in close proximity to the upper margin of said sleeve about an axis coincident to the axis of said cylindrical housing, said rotor disk having upper and lower disk segments in facewise abutment with one another, said upper disk segment being provided along its outer peripheral margin with a plurality of inwardly extending upper notches, said lower disk segment being provided along its peripheral margin with a plurality of lower notches sized and adapted for registration with said upper notches whereby to define discharge slots for providing communication with said discharge chamber through said rotor disk, said upper segment being rotatably shiftable with respect to said lower segment whereby to change the size of said discharge slots, means for locking said upper disk segment to said lower disk segment for preventing relative rotation therebetween, said housing having an inlet port in upwardly spaced relation to said rotor for accepting material to be shredded, said housing having an outlet port in communication with said chamber through which the shredded material can be removed, cutter means disposed on the upper surface of said rotor disk for engaging the material and shredding the same, and motive means for rotating said rotor disk.

7. A shredder for reducing material, such as refuse, to shredded bits, said shredder comprising a base frame, a cylindrical housing mounted on said base frame with its axis presented vertically, a circular rotor disk operatively journaled within said housing for rotation about an axis coincident to the vertical axis of said housing, the peripheral margin of said disk being adapted to pass within close proximity to the inner cylindrical face of said housing, said rotor disk having upper and lower diametrally equal disk segments in facewise abutment with one another, said upper disk segment being shiftably mounted on said lower disk segment for rotation through a limited arc thereon, said lower segment being provided with lower notches, said upper disk segment being provided with upper notches adapted for marginal registration with said lower notches when said upper disk segment is at one extreme of said are whereby to define discharge slots through said rotor disk, said discharge slots being smaller when said upper segment is shifted wtih respect to said lower segment so that the margins of said notches are no longer in registration, means for locking said upper disk segment to said lower disk segment for preventing relative rotation therebetween, said housing being provided in upwardly spaced relation to said rotor disk with an inlet port for accepting material to be shredded, said housing being provided in downwardly spaced relation to said rotor disk with an outlet port through which the shredded material can be discharged, cutter means disposed on the upper surface of said rotor disk for engaging the material inserted through said inlet port and shredding the same, and motive means for rotating said disk.

8. A shredder comprising a substantially cylindrical housing, an inlet, an outlet located below the inlet, and a discharge chamber into which the outlet opens, a circular rotor disk journaled for rotation within the housing above the discharge chamber and about an axis coincident to the axis of the housing, cutter means on the rotor disk for engaging the material inserted through the inlet and shredding the same, and bafiie members carried by the housing and projecting inwardly from the inner face thereof above the rotor disk so as to engage the material and restrain it from being carried around by the rotor, the housing being provided with air slots in upwardly spaced relation to the rotor disk.

9. A shredder according to claim 8 wherein the air slots are located adjacent to and beyond the baffles, reference being made to the direction of rotation of the disk.

10. A shredder according to claim 9 wherein the rotor disk forms part of a rotor journaled for rotation within the housing and sweeper blades are carried by the rotor for rotation within the discharge chamber so as to generate an air flow through the housing and air slots and to propel shredded refuse out of the housing through the outlet.

11. A shredder for reducing material such as refuse to shredded bits, said shredder comprising a base frame; a cylindrical housing mounted on said base frame with its axis presented vertically; a circular rotor disk operatively journaled within said housing for rotation about an axis coincident to the vertical axis of said housing, the peripheral margin of said disk being adapted to pass within close proximity to the inner cylindrical face of said housing; a dispersion cone mounted centrally on said disk for directing such material as may fall thereon outwardly, said dispersion cone including a plurality of radially projecting ribs which are serrated in the provision of upwardly projecting teeth for further shredding of said material; said housing being provided in upwardly spaced relation to said rotor disk with an inlet port for accepting material to be shredded, and being provided in downwardly spaced relation to said rotor disk with an outlet port through which the shredded material can be discharged; cutter means disposed on the upper surface of said rotor disk for engaging the material inserted through said inlet port and shredding the same; and motive means for rotating said disk.

12. A shredder comprising an upstanding housing having an inlet; a circular rotor disk journaled for rotation within said housing below said inlet, said rotor disk having its peripheral edge located in close proximity to the inner face of the housing; a circular discharge chamber below said rotor disk and said inlet; a discharge duct in communication with said discharge chamber, said discharge duct having one of its walls tangential to the circular wall of said discharge chamber; cutter means on the rotor disk for engaging the material inserted through said inlet and shredding the same; and sweeper blades carried by said rotor for rotation within said discharge chamber so as to generate an airflow through said housing and to propel shredded refuse out of said housing through said discharge duct.

13. A shredder comprising an upstanding housing having an inlet; a circular rotor disk journalled for rotation within said housing below said inlet, said rotor disk having its peripheral edge located in close proximity to the inner face of said housing; a discharge chamber below said rotor disk and said inlet; a discharge duct in communication with said discharge chamber; cutter means on the rotor disk for engaging the material inserted through said inlet and shredding the same; and sweeper blades carried by said rotor for rotation within said discharge chamber so as to generate an airflow through said housing and to propel shredded refuse out of said housing through said discharge duct; said discharge duct being provided with a vane which projects inwardly into said discharge chamber between the upper margins of said sweeper blades and the undersurface of said rotor disk to aid in directing refuse material toward said discharge duct.

14. A shredder comprising an upstanding housing of circular cross-section having an inlet, an outlet located below said inlet, and a discharge chamber into which said outlet opens; a rotor including a rotor disk journaled for rotation within said housing above said discharge chamber and about an axis coincident to the axis of said housing; cutter means on said rotor disk for engaging the material inserted through said inlet and shredding the same; and sweeper blades carried by said rotor for rotation within said discharge chamber to generate airflow through said housing and propel shredded refuse out of said housing through said outlet; said sweeper blades being located in downwardly spaced relation from the underside of said rotor disk and being positioned adjacent the bottom of said discharge chamber.

15. A shredder comprising an upstanding housing having an inlet, an outlet located below said inlet, and a discharge chamber into which said outlet opens; a circular rotor disk journaled for rotation within said housing above said discharge chamber and having its peripheral edge located in close proximity to the inner face of said housing; said disk being provided with discharge notches which extend inwardly from its peripheral edge so as to permit the shredded material to pass beyond said rotor and into said discharge chamber; a dispersion cone centrally mounted on the upper surface of said disk for directing such material as may fall thereon outwardly; cutter means disposed on the upper surface of said rotor disk in outwardly spaced relation from said dispersion cone; and battle members carried by said housing and projecting inwardly from the inner face thereof above said rotor disk, the outermost of said cutter means passing beneath and within close proximity to the bottom margins of said baflles thereby shredding materials which pass between said cutter means an dsaid bottom margins of said baflies.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,852,l99 9/1958 Holzer 24183 X 2,947,486 8/1960 Higer 24183 X 2,995,310 8/1961 Barter 24l83 X 3,012,422 12/1961 Zimmerer 24146.1 X 3,083,922 4/1963 Enright et a1. 24146.1 X 2,138,716 11/1938 Truitt 241-278 X 3,014,671 12/1961 Thompson.

LESTER M. SWINGLE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 24l46, 278