WO1991009677A1

WO1991009677A1 - Shredder for vacuum removal system

Info

Publication number: WO1991009677A1
Application number: PCT/CA1991/000002
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Pittman
Original assignee: Future Air Technologies Inc.
Priority date: 1990-01-05
Filing date: 1991-01-04
Publication date: 1991-07-11
Also published as: AU7067391A; GB9000274D0

Abstract

A shredder is disclosed, for use with a system for removal of material such as asbestos insulation, where the material once shredded is to be conveyed to collection apparatus via a suction or vacuum hose. The shredder has a housing (3) with an upper opening (10) for receiving materials to be shredded, and an outlet (7) at the bottom of the housing (3) near one side thereof. The outlet (7) is connectable to a suction hose for removal of the materials once shredded. Two counterrotating shafts (4) are arranged horizontally in parallel to each other across the interior of the housing (3), each shaft (4) bearing a plurality of blades (5) projecting outwardly therefrom for impacting materials fed through the upper opening (10). Preferably, the blades (5) are pivotally mounted on the shafts (4) for pivoting about axes parallel to the axes of the shafts (4). Preferably, an auger (20) is mounted across the bottom of the housing, rotatable to deliver shredded material to the area of the outlet (17).

Description

SHREDDER FOR VACUUM REMOVAL SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to equipment used in the removal of particulate and fibrous matter. The equipment is particularly intended for use with a system for the removal of asbestos insulation, but may have broader applications.

The obvious way to deal with the collection of asbestos and asbestos fibers is with, in effect, a large vacuum cleaner equipped with suitable filters. The present invention is intended primarily for use in such a system. In the system, the blower, filters and collection apparatus may be housed in a trailer, remote from the removal site, with a suction or vacuum hose leading from the trailer to the removal site.

BACKGROUND ART

Shredders of various configurations are of course well known in the prior art. Generally, however, such shredders release their output into a bin or cart or the like, for subsequent manual removal, or onto a conveyor.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

There is a need for a shredder suitable for applications such as asbestos insulation removal, where the material once shredded is to be conveyed to collection apparatus via a suction or vacuum hose.

In the invention, the shredder has a housing with an upper opening for receiving materials to be shredded, and an outlet at the bottom of the housing near one side thereof. The outlet is connectable to a suction hose for removal of the materials once shredded. Two counterrotating shafts are arranged horizontally in parallel to each other across the interior of the housing, each shaft bearing a plurality of blades projecting outwardly therefrom for impacting materials fed through the upper opening. Preferably, the blades are pivotally mounted on the shafts for pivoting about axes parallel to the axes of the shafts.

Preferably, an auger is mounted across the bottom of the housing, rotatable to deliver shredded material to the area of the outlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in greater detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment by way of example only, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the shredder;

Fig. 2 is a top view with the inlet chute removed;

Fig. 3 is a side sectional elevation; Fig. 4 is another perspective view, showing an alternative inlet chute;

Fig. 5 is another perspective view;

Fig. 6 is an external side view, showing the drive belt routing in schematic fashion; and Fig. 7 is another perspective view, showing a motorized feeder as an alternative inlet chute.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the shredder or "muncher" 1 is mounted on a platform with wheels 2. The main housing 3 has an upper opening 10 and a bottom opening 6. Across the main housing are two counter-rotating shafts 4, on which are mounted blades 5 for breaking up debris such as ceiling tiles, boiler insulation, pipe insulation and the like into smaller pieces capable of being transported through the suction hose of the vacuum removal system. Preferably, the blades are pivotally mounted on the shafts for pivoting about axes parallel to the axes of the shafts. The advantages of the blades being so mounted include that they are readily replaceable, and that their pivotable nature aids in impact absorption, for longer wear.

The bottom opening 6 from the main housing communicates with the 7.6 cm. (three inches) diameter outlet pipe 7, through which the shredded debris is drawn by suction to the filtration apparatus (not shown). A large-aperture screen 8 prevents excessively large pieces from entering the auger and outlet. On top of the main housing 3 may be mounted a large chute 14 to facilitate loading, as shown in Fig. 1. Alternatively, a smaller slotted hood 16 may be used, as shown in Fig. 4. Such a slotted hood is useful for feeding in ceiling tiles and the like. A hood or chute of some kind is essential for safety, to prevent the operator from being able to accidentally get his or her arms into the area of the blades, and also to prevent the material being shredded from escaping back into the environment. The hood or chute acts as a physical barrier to prevent escape, and also provides a confined route for air flow down through the shredder, ensuring that no reverse flow is possible.

Referring now to Fig. 7, a special feeder 40 for ceiling tiles and the like is illustrated. In the feeder, horizontally oriented parallel spaced-apart counter-rotating splined rolls 42 are driven by a separate variable-speed motor 44 via a conventional sprocket and chain mechanism (not illustrated) or by other suitable means. The rolls pull the ceiling tiles into the shredder, and feed them downwardly towards the blades at a desired rate, that rate being variable so that the rate may be optimized for maximum effectiveness. The distance between the rolls is preferably adjustable, to facilitate adapting the feeder to use with ceiling tiles or the like of different thicknesses.

As seen in Figs. 2 and 3, an auger 20 is located across the bottom opening 6 of the housing. It is rotated as described below to deliver shredded material to the area of the outlet 7. A main purpose of the auger is to meter the flow of shredded material to the outlet 7, a controlled feed rate being highly desirable for optimum conveying through the suction hose.

The shafts 4 are driven by a motor and pulley arrangement, as can be seen in Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 5 shows the motor 30, which drives the various shafts via a drivebelt 31 (not shown in Fig. 5, but shown schematically in Fig. 6). The drivebelt is routed from the motor driveshaft 32 to an idler and tensioner 33, thence to the shafts 4, and then up to a transfer shaft 22. The transfer shaft extends across to the opposite side of the housing, where it drives the auger driveshaft 21 via a belt 23, as seen in Fig. 2.

The various drive belts, gears and motor drive shaft are provided with protective covers 18 for operator safety.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

This invention is particularly intended for use with a system for the removal of asbestos insulation, but may have broader applications to any field involving suction or vacuum removal of debris, where there is a need to reduce the size of the debris before removal.

Claims

CLAIMS ;

1. A shredder for use with a vacuum removal system comprising a housing (3) having an upper opening (10) for receiving materials to be shredded and an outlet (7) at the bottom of said housing near one side thereof, connectable to a vacuum hose for removal of said materials once shredded, characterized by two counterrotating shafts (4) arranged horizontally in parallel to each other across the interior of said housing, each said shaft bearing a plurality of blades (5) projecting outwardly therefrom for impacting materials fed through said upper opening.

2. A shredder as recited in claim 1, further characterized by said blades being pivotally mounted on said shafts for pivoting about axes parallel to the axes of said shafts.

3. A shredder as recited in claim 1, further characterized by an auger (20) mounted across the bottom of said housing, rotatable to deliver shredded material to said outlet.

4. A shredder as recited in claim 1, further characterized by a feeder (40) positioned above said upper opening and having a narrow inlet area (41), said feeder including two horizontally oriented parallel counter-rotating rolls (42) spaced apart on either side of said inlet area, and associated drive means (44) for producing counter-rotation of said rolls in a direction so as to pull matter downwardly from said inlet area to said upper opening.