US3612416A

US3612416A - Comminuting apparatus with comminuting member

Info

Publication number: US3612416A
Application number: US811322A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ernst Frei
Original assignee: Meto Bau AG
Current assignee: Meto Bau AG
Priority date: 1969-03-28
Filing date: 1969-03-28
Publication date: 1971-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-12

Abstract

A comminuting apparatus. A receptacle is provided for liquids which contain solids. The receptacle has a bottom wall on which rests at least one and, if desired, more than one comminuting member slidable thereon. A drive is associated with the member and serves to slidably advance it on the bottom wall in a substantially circular path while permitting the member to perform independent movements in direction radially and/or tangentially with respect to the path.

Description

Inventor Ernst Frei Wurenlingen, Switzerland Appl. No. 811,322 Filed Mar. 28, 1969 Patented Oct. 12, 1971 Assignee Meto-Bau AG Wurenlingen, Switzerland COMMINUTING APPARATUS WITH [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 43,589 7/1864 Kenyon 241/ 123 349,458 9/ 1886 Scoville 341/4606 Primary ExaminerDonald G. Kelly AttorneyMichael S. Striker ABSTRACT: A comminuting apparatus. A receptacle is provided for liquids which contain solids. The receptacle has a bottom wall on which rests at least one and, if desired, more than one comminuting member slidable thereon. A drive is associated with the member and serves to slidably advance it on the bottom wall in a substantially circular path while permitting the member to perform independent movements in direction radially and/or tangentially with respect to the path.

COMMINUTING MEMBER 10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 241/90, 24l/46.06, 241/110, 241/114, 241/123 Int. Cl 1302c 19/00 Field of Search 241/46.06, 79.2, 90, 109-110, 114, 123-124, 127, 132-133, 199, 203, 220

m F////////xy AMMMH-MWV//////A// COMMINUTING APPARATUS WITH COMMINUTING MEMBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the comminuting field, and more particularly to a comminuting apparatus.

Hereafter the invention will be described with respect to its employment in conjunction with sewage clarifiers, but I wish it to be understood that the invention is operative and applicable in a much wider field of applications and that its employment in conjunction with sewage clarification apparatus represents merely a particularly advantageous possibility of use which is being discussed herein for explanatory purposes.

In sewage or waste water clarifiers which operate on the so called total oxidation principle well known to those skilled in the art and therefore not in need of explanation herein, proper operation is largely dependent upon the particle size of solids contained in the waste water to be clarified. Unless the particle size is very small, this type of clarifying apparatus will not operate properly. Conventionally it is known in clarifiers of this type to pass the raw sewage, that is the untreated waste water with its solids content, first through a grid which retains a certain portion of the solids. These are then advanced to a coarse-comminutor and subsequently into a settling tank where the solids settle at the bottom of the tank whereas the floatable particles remain floating near the surface of the liquid in the tank and are withdrawn and conveyed via suitable pumps to the decomposition tanks. Here, again, the lighter floatable solids again rise to the surface and there from a blanket or layer which constitutes an impediment to the sludgedrying process. All of this is of course known to those skilled in the art and requires no detailed discussion. It is necessary, however, to point out that the aforementioned problems, and in particular the fact that the various different types of sludge which form in the apparatus do not constitute a homogenous mass but instead contain quantities of solids, are disadvantages which prevent sewage treating apparatus of the type under discussion from operating in proper manner and efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages.

More particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus far effecting the comminution of solids.

In accordance with the above objects, and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of my invention resides in the provision of a comminuting apparatus which comprises a receptacle having a bottom wall on which at least one comminuting member slidably rests in the interior of the receptacle. Drive means is associated with the member and is operative for slidably advancing the same in a substantially circular path while enabling this member to have concomitant components of movement at least in direction radially of the path.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a section taken on the line II of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a top plane view of FIG. 1 with the cover of the vessel removed for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration analogous to FIG. 2 but showing three comminuting members rather than a single one as In FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a different type of comminuting member with the drive therefor being fragmentarily shown;

FIG. 5 is an end elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG.

4; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing in detail, and firstly to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, it will be seen that a vessel is generally identified with reference numeral 1. The vessel is stationary and comprises a bottom wall 3 and a circumferential wall 7 whose inner surface may be provided, as illustrated, with one or more ribs 9 extending inwardly into the interior of the vessel. The bottom wall of the vessel I is provided with a plurality of openings 5 which may be, as shown, of constant cross section or of a cross section which continuously or stepwise diverges in direction from the inner side towards the outer side of the bottom wall 3. It will be appreciated, of course, that the bottom wall may be provided with openings which are all of identical cross-sectional configuration or with openings of various different cross-sectional configurations, the latter case being shown in FIG. 1. It will be further appreciated that the bottom wall may be provided with such openings only at one or certain locations, with the former possibility illustrated in FIG. I, or that it may also be provided with the openings 5 over its entire area. The purpose of having the openings diverge in direction from the inner towards the outer side of the bottom wall 3 is to prevent clogging of the openings by jamming of solid particles in them.

The exemplary illustrated vessel is of the type into which waste water having a solids content is introduced through the inlet 11. A cover 13 is provided overlying the upper open side of the vessel I (and omitted in FIG. 2 for clarity of illustration) and this cover 13 is secured to the circumferential wall 7 of the vessel by one or more hinge arrangements 15 and may be locked in closed position illustrated in FIG. 1, by one or more closure devices 17 which cooperate with a flange provided on the circumferential wall 7. The construction of the hinges l5 and the closure devices 17 is immaterial and will be well known to those skilled in the art. The purpose of having the cover 13 hingedly connected with the vessel 1 is to facilitate access to the interior of the vessel 1 for inspection and/or servicrng.

The cover 13 is provided with an aperture 19 through which a rotatable shaft 21 extends into the interior of the vessel 1. It is to be understood that while the shaft 21 is shown only as ex tending slightly above the cover 13, it will actually extend farther above than what is shown and will be coupled in suitable manner with a suitable drive, neither of which features constitutes a part of the invention. The important feature is the fact that the shaft 21 is tumable about its own axis. Its lower end received in the interior of the receptacle I carries a laterally extending arm, disc 23 as shown in FIG. 1, starshaped member analogous to the disc 23, or the like, and the disc analogous member is provided with one or more coupling pins 25 as illustrated. The reason why I have specified one or more of the pins 25 will be found in FIG. 3 where it is illustrated, as still to be discussed, that more than one comminuting member may be provided which then requires the provision of an individual pin 25 for each such comminuting member.

A helix 27 is provided on and surrounds the shaft 21 for the purpose of downwardly advancing solids for comminution by the comminuting member. The helix may, however, also be omitted or replaced with another construction serving the same purpose.

Corning now to the comminuting member it will be seen that this is generally identified with reference numeral 29 and rests on the inner side of the bottom wall 3. It is slidable on this inner side. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 the comminuting member 29 is provided with a central opening 31 into which the pin 25 extends with lateral clearance, as illustrated. In other words, the opening 31 is considerably larger than the diameter of the pin 25.

As visible in FIG. 1, the comminuting member 29 is pro vided with a plurality of cutting and crushing edges 33 on its underside which faces the inner side of the bottom wall 3, as

well as with an additional plurality of analogous edges 35 provided at its circumference. Channels 37 provided in the underside of the comminuting member 29 make possible sloshing and flowing of the matter to be treated underneath the comminuting member 29 as the same moves.

In operation of the device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shaft 21 is rotated about its longitudinal axis and thereby compels the comminuting member 29-by virtue of the connection via the disc 23 and the pin 25to perform movement in a substantially circular path on the inner side of the bottom wall 3. However, because of the difference in the diameters of the pin 25 and the opening 31 in the comminuting member 29, the latter is capable of simultaneously shifting radially and tangentially with reference to the path and the shaft 21. The centrifugal force resulting from the movement of the member 29 in its substantially circular path attempts to press the member 29 against the inner side of the circumferencial wall 7. This contact, which is either direct or indirect through the intermediary of solids which are entrapped between the circumferential roll 7 and the comminuting member 29 and are being crushed and comminuted, imparts an independent rotational movement to the member 29. This means that in operation of the device the member 29 performs intermittent precessing movements combined with shifting in the distance of the member 29 from the axis of the shaft 21. Thus, the member 29 provides a combined crushing, cutting, rubbing, hammering, and grinding action against the solids and is enabled to finely comminute the solids.

lt will be appreciated that the pressure of the member 29 against the bottom wall 3, and thereby a part of the force acting against the solids to be comminuted, depends upon the weight of the member 29.

Comminuted material flows out of the openings in the bottom wall 3. To the extent that solids are not immediately comminuted to their requisite extent, they constantly move back into engagement with the member 29 and the bottom wall 3 and circumferential wall 7 of the vessel during operation of the device so that after a certain period of time all solids are comminuted to such an extent that they will flow through the openings 5 as a mixture which for practical purposes is homogenous.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 in diagrammatic form, the single comminuting member 29 may be replaced with several of which three are illustrated in FIG. 3. In this case the disc 23, the arm or analogous member will be provided with a number of pins 25 corresponding to the number of members 29. In the embodiment of FIG. 3 where three of the members 29 are provided, it is advantageous to oonfigurate the number 23 in a star-shaped outline as shown.

It should be pointed out that the member or members 29 may be provided without the

edges

33 and 35 and without the channels 37 and will still be operational.

Coming, finally, to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 it will be seen that the member 29 may be replaced with a crushing and cutting member 46 of block shape or beam shape, as shown for instance in FIG. 4. In this case the rotary drive shaft 40 is provided with a guide head 42 which is formed at its underside with a slot 44 embracing the comminuting member 46 in such a manner that the latter is free to slide in axial direction of the slot 44 as well as to perform movements transverse to the axial direction due to the lateral clearance shown in FIG. 5. Depending upon the amount of play provided between the member 46 and the head 42, the member 46 may in this embodiment also be capable of radial shifting with respect to the circumferential wall 7.

Resort to my novel apparatus enables uniform comminution of solids in continuously or intermittently supplied waste water. It is simple and inexpensive, it is astonishingly free from malfunction possibilities, and it can be used for comminuting all types of solids because it is equally effective with all such types. My apparatus is capable of comminuting floating as well as settling types of solids, hard and soft solids, fibrous solids whose fibers may be long or short, and it will provide comminuted particles whose size is determined substantially by the diameter of the openings 5 in the bottom wall 3 so that, by changing this diameter, the extent to which the solids are comminuted can be determined. Furthermore, I have found through tests conducted by me that my device in this type of construction is suitable also for dewatering purposes in that the comminuted sludgelike solids and a portion of the water is withdrawn either through the openings 5 or through suitable outlets in the bottom region of the receptacle, whereas the separated water and possibly small quantities of comminuted solids are withdrawn from the upper portion of the receptacle.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a comminuter for solids contained in waste water, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to the protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

I. A comminuting apparatus comprising, in combination, a receptacle having a bottom wall; at least one comminuting member in the interior of said receptacle and slidably resting on said bottom wall; and drive means associated with said member and operative for slidably advancing said member in a substantially circular path with concomitant performance of an orbital movement by said member.

2. A comminuting apparatus comprising, in combination, a receptacle having a bottom wall; at least one comminuting member in the interior of said receptacle slidably resting on said bottom wall; and drive means associated with said member and operative for slidably advancing the same in a substantially circular path with concomitant components of movement of said member at least in direction radially of said path, said drive means comprising a motion-imparting element operative for advancing said member in said path, and coupling means coupling said member to said element with freedom of independent rotational movement of the former relative to the latter and to said bottom wall.

3. A comminuting apparatus comprising, in combination, a receptacle having a bottom wall; at least least one comminuting member in the interior of said receptacle slidably resting on said bottom wall; and drive means associated with said member and operative for slidably advancing said member in a substantially circular path with concomitant components of movement of said member at least in direction radially of said path, said drive means comprising a motion-imparting element operative for advancing said member to said path, and coupling means coupling said member to said element with freedom of independent movement tangentially with reference to said path.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, said drive means comprising a motion-imparting element operative for advancing said member in said path, and coupling means coupling said member to said element.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, said coupling means coupling said member to said element in such a manner that said member is free to perform a said orbital movement during movement in said path.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, said vessel and said bottom wall being stationary.

7. A comminuting apparatus, comprising, in combination, a receptacle having a stationary bottom wall provided at least in part with a plurality of apertures which are bounded at the inner side of said bottom wall by cutting edges; at least one comminuting member in the interior of said receptacle and slidably resting on said bottom wall; and drive means associated with said member and operative for slidably advancing the same in a substantially circular path with concomitant components of movement of said member at least in direction radially of said path.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, said vessel further having a circumferential wall provided atthe inner side thereof with at least one inwardly extending projection cooperating with said member.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising additional members similar to the first-mentioned member spaced therefrom on said bottom wall and operatively associated with said drive means for performing movements analogous to those of said first-mentioned member.

Claims

1. A comminuting apparatus comprising, in combination, a receptacle having a bottom wall; at least one comminuting member in the interior of said receptacle and slidably resting on said bottom wall; and drive means associated with said member and operative for slidably advancing said member in a substantially circular path with concomitant performance of an orbital movement by said member.

8. A comminuting apparatus comprising, in combination, a receptacle having a bottom wall provided with a plurality of apertures whose cross section increases in direction from the inner towards the outer side of said bottom wall; at least one comminuting member in the interior of said receptacle and slidably resting on said bottom wall; and drive means associated with said member and operative for slidably advancing the same in a substantially circular path with concomitant components of movement of said member at least in direction radially of said path.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, said vessel further having a circumferential wall provided at the inner side thereof with at least one inwardly extending projection cooperating with said member.