US2951649A - Disintegrating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

ASept. 6, 1960 c. A. RIE-rz 2,951,549

.DISINTEGRATING APPARATUS Filed April l2, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 32 Z6 EL v i 29 N .E 3/ Z7 38 7. 5/

swg /6 h MTW:- "'g/ INVENTOR. Car/ Q/'e fz sept 6, 1960 c. A. RIETz 29951,649

DISINTEGRATING APPARATUS Filed April l2, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. Car/ A. /Q/'e fz;

Sem- 6, 1960 c. A. Rum 2,951,649

i DISINTEGRATING APPARATUS Filed April 12. 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 iz/Ly@ f Arme/VE Ys c. A. RIE-rz 2,951,649

DISINTEGRATING APPARATUS Sept. 6., 1960 Filed April 12, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIE 5 INVENTOR. Car/ A7. P/'ea United States Patent nrsiNTEGRAriNG APPARATUS Carl A. Rietz, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to Rietz Manufacturing Company, Santa Rosa, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Apr. 12, 1955, Ser. No. 500,808

9 Claims. (Cl. 241-185) This invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for reducing the particle size of various materials, and is applicable to both wet and dry disintegrating and grinding operations.

A wide variety of commercial equipment is available for various disintegrating and grinding operations. Particularly in the food processing and baking industries,

it is common to use so-called blendors for such operations as, for example, to disintegrate and inter-mix various ingredients to form a homogenous slurry or paste. Conventional blendors of this type employ a high-speed rotor provided with cutting Vblades and disposed at the lower end of a container. Succulent materials such as vegetables, meats or the like introduced into the container are progressively reduced to a desired particle iineness and inter-mixed to form a slurry or paste. The rotor may or may not be disposed eccentric with the vertical axis of the vessel. One of the principal diiculties with such apparatus is that unless rthe mixture is quite fluid, it will not circulate within the container to subject all portions of the solids to the disintegrating action of the rotor. In other Words channeling or pocketing occurs, thus requiring the contents to be scraped from the sides of the container and to be returned to a position where they are acted upon by the rotor. In addition to such diiculty, conventional blendors are not well adapted to a wide variety of materials, including dry or semi-dry materials such as bone, etc.

In general it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus and method which can be used to advantage in place of conventional disintegrators of the blendor type and which greatly facilitates disintegrating and mixing operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above character which has provision to facilitate charging and discharging operations.

Another object of the invention -is to provide apparatus of the above character having novel provision for carrying out classifying and separating operations in conjunction with disintegration.

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiments have been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is `a side elevational view partly in section illustrating apparatus incorporating the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View partly in section illustrating another embodiment of the invention.`

Figure 3 is a view like Figure 2 but illustrating the apparatus utilized in conjunction with means for carrying out a pneumatic separating and classifying operation.

Figure 4 is a Iside elevational view in section illustrating another embodiment of the invention, in which material is discharged through valve means.

Figure 4-A is a detail in section showing one of the cutting blades for the auxiliary rotor. i

lFigure 5 is a side elevational view in section illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Figure S-A is a cross sectional View taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 5.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view illustrating another embodiment of the invention in which the container can be altered with respect to its capacity.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view in section showing the embodiment of Figure 6 incorporated in a two part receptacle device.

The invention as illustrated in Figure 1 consists of a container 10 forming a chamber that is symmetrical about the normal vertical operating axis 11. In horizontal section the chamber is circular. In this instance the chamber is formed in two sections 10u and 10b having cooperating ilanges `12 and 13, and clamped together by means of the clamping ring 14. Suitable sealing means is provided between the sections, such as a resilient ring 16 of the O-ring type.

An operating shaft 17 is concentric with the axis 11 and extends upwardly through the bottom wall 18. Suitable sealing means i9 prevents leakage between these parts. A rotor 21 is xed to the shaft 17 and disposed in the lower portion of the container. This rotor consists of a wheel-like member 22, together with hammers 23 pivotally carried by the pins 24.

The shaping of the container is such that the material acted upon by the rotor 21 tends to be impelled upwardly along the side walls. Note that the container extends to a larger diameter for a substantial distance above the rotor, and then decreases in diameter toward the upper end of the container. In this particular embodiment the greatest diameter is along the parting plane between the sec-tions lila and 1Gb. It is desirable to provide the interior of section .10a with the vertically extending and circumferentially spaced ribs 26, which act upon the material, and tend to convert its rotary movement into a vertical velocity component. The upper section 10b can have similar spaced ribs 27, which in effect form continuations of the ribs 26. Both `sets of ribs are inclined at a small angle to the vertical. In the upper part of the container means is provided for directing the material inwardly toward the axis 1,1, and then downwardly toward the rotor. Thus the cover 28 for the container is formed to provide an inner surface Z9 which is a surface of revolution, concentric with the operating axis 11. ln vertical section the surfaces 29 are contoured to correspond with the arc of a circle drawn from `the center 31. The inner surfaces of sections 31a and 3117 (as viewed in vertical section) likewise are curved, and the curvature of the surfaces for section 31h merge with the -surfaces 29; Surfaces 29 are formed in part by the inner end surface of a plug 3-2, which is removably tted in the cover `28. This plug can be removed for inspection or for adding materials while the apparatus is in operation.

It is desirable to mount the container in such a manner as to permit the `apparatus to be tilted from its normal vertical position. Thus in the embodiment of Figure 1 the bottom wall 18 is mounted upon the arm 33 and this arm in turn is pivotally carried by the horizontal shaft 34 of the supporting standard 35. By means of removable dock-pin 36, the arm 33 can be either xed in horizontal position as illustrated, or swung to a generally upright position with the axis 11 extending horizontally. An electric driving motor 37 can likewise be mounted "upon the arm 33 with its shaft directly coupled to the shaft 17.

The apparatus `described above operates as follows: With the rotor stationary the cover 28 is removed and a quantity of material placed in the container 10. The

. cover 28 is then replaced, and may be attached by suitable locking means. The rotor 21 is started in operation by energizing the electric motor 37. Contrary to the manner in which conventional blendors are operated, the driving speed for the rotor need not be excessive.

For example the rotors about 5 inches Vin diameter the speed can be of the order of from 2500 to 4000 r.p.m. Material acted upon by the rotor is disintegrated by the impact action of the hammers 23 and is propelled outwardly and upwardly along the lower expanding sides of the container. The reaction of the rotating material on the ribs v26, 27 creates vertical velocity components whereby the material is delivered upwardly to be directed by the surface 29 inwardly and downwardly. In the region 38 below the surface 29 and in the region of the axis 11, the material commingles and interacts with extreme violence and turbulence, and then is delivered back to the rotor. In explanation of what occurs in the region 38, it can be pointed out that the material enters this zone with relatively high velocity, and that the velocity components are in a rotary direction, in a direction inwardly toward the axis 1l, and in a downward direction toward the rotor. The inter-mingling of materials having such velocity components necessarily causes intense turbulence together with a distintegrating action upon solids present. In addition thorough inter-mixing occurs in this area.

The length of time required for an operating cycle will be dependent upon the type of materials being treated, and the neness desired. After treatment has been carried out to the extent desired, the motor is stopped, and then the arm 33 swung upwardly to bring the axis 11 horizontal. In this position all of the disintegrated material can be discharged from the container, after which the apparatus is returned to its normal position for a new charge.

My apparatus has a number of -advantageous features. Even though the mixture resulting from the disintegrating operation is relatively thick or pasty inconsistency, it will continue to function to disintegrate the material, instead of the effective action being interrupted or impaired by the formation of channels or pockets. The apparatus has relatively high capacity for a given size of equipment, thus enhancing its usefulness where comparatively high capacity is desirable. Its distintegrating action is relatively intense compared to conventional blendors, and the apparatus can be used to advantage `on relatively hard materials, as for example, meat bone such as is desired in the manufacture of animal feeds, or the preparation of soup stocks. The progressive subdivision of solids which takes place is due to several actions, including impacting of the hammers with the material, discharge of the material from the rotor against the ribs 26, and the attrition eifect of the intense turbulence taking place in the zone 38. Thus a relatively hard material can be disintegrated as well as soft materials such as fresh or cooked succulent vegetables. Although in the food industry the materials being disintegrated will generally contain a certain amount of moisture resulting in a paste or slurry, the material being treated may be dry or have a negligible moisture content, whereby a powdered product or meal results, rather than the formation of a paste or slurry. Thus the apparatus does not depend for its action upon the formation of a fluid-like material which may flow back into the zone of operation of the rotor.

Figure 2 shows apparatus which in some respects is similar to that of Figure l, but which is intended for the disintegration of substantially dry materials. The container 40 in this instance corresponds to container 10, and its lower portion 40a is provided with parts corresponding to Figure 1, including the rotor 21, the rotor hammers 23, and the ribs 26. The upper container part 40b is lprovided, with concentric inlet and outlet passages. Thus a-cronduit 41 is disposed concentric with ,the operating axis 11, and extends downwardly through the container section 40b. Exterior of the container the conduit 41 connects with the outlet conduit 42. A smaller conduit 43 extends concentrically through the conduit 41, and its exterior end 44V forms an inlet. The inner end of conduit 43 is shown provided with the enlarged portion '45, which generally overlies the rotor 21. Curve portion 46 serves to direct the material downwardly about conduit 41, and is a surface of revolution having its axis coincident with axis 11.

Operation of the embodiment shown in Figure 2 is as follows: A dry product, which may be crushed in a preliminary operation, is suppliedthrough the inlet 44, together with a current `of air. Assuming that the rotor is being driven 'at a suitable speed, the material is rapidly disintegrated in the manner previously described, and the finer components are carried with the air current upwardly through the conduit 41 to be discharged through the outlet 42. It is an inherent feature that suction is developed to draw air downwardly through conduit 43, while a pressure is developed to discharge air through conduit 41. Assuming continuous flow of an aii stream through the apparatus, with continual feeding of material, the dry divided material may be continuously discharged through the outlet 42. When operated in this manner some classication takes place automatically within the apparatus, with conveyance and discharge. of the finer material as the desired degree of fneness is obtained. The classifying action can be adjusted by vertical adjustments of conduit 43. With the construction of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 2, the material is discharged upwardly along the sides of the container, and then is deflected by the curved surfaces 46 back upon the rotor. Thus there is a continual movement of material undergoing disintegration downwardly past the lower end Vof conduit 41, and across the air ilow occurring into this conduit. Instead of feeding the device of Figure 2 continuously, it will be evident that it can be batch fed, and the finer material discharged over an operating period while continuously supplying a stream of air through the inlet 44 and out of the outlet conduit 42. At the end of such an operation any remaining undisintegrated material can be discharged from the apparatus.

Figure 3 illustrates how the apparatus in Figure 2 can be incorporated with novel pneumatic separating means. Thus in this instance an inclined conduit 47 is connected with the outlet conduit 42, and the lower side of conduit 47 is provided with a plurality of spaced and downwardly extending outlet openings 48, 49, 50, 51 and 52. Assuming that the material being delivered through the outlet conduit 42 varies somewhat as to size, the` coarser fraction will be delivered through opening 48, and the iiner through the uppermost opening 52. Intermediate fractions are delivered through openings 49, 50 and 51.

Y The apparatus shown in Figure 3 can be used Where it is desirable to provide a plurality of classified fractions of finely divided material. Here again the apparatus can be operated continuously, or a hatch of material can be introduced into the apparatus and the disintegration and the discharge of classified fractions carried Vout over an operating cycle. With such apparatus it will be evident that a continuous stream of air or other gas must be sup*- plied to the apparatus by way of the inlet 44, thus providing a continuous pneumatic discharge. In some instances the gas may be an inert medium, such as nitrogen or may be a treatment medium having one or more active components.

The embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 is provided with side means for the discharge of material. In this instance the container 56 is somewhat modiiied as to shaping, and is mounted upon the arm 57. The rotor 58 is attached to a shaft driven by the motor 59. Arm

which the device 66 is fitted. A device 66 forms a hopper for receiving feed material, and for delivering such material into the interior container 56 through the opening 67. The lower face of the device 66 provides a curved surface 68, corresponding to the surface 46 of Figure 2. One side wall of the container 56 is interrupted by the opening 69, normally covered by the screen 71. A iitting 72 is attached to the container and forms a cylinder 73 extending outwardly from the screen 71. A piston or plunger 74 is fitted in cylinder 73, and attached to the operating rod 76. A discharge opening 77 communicates with the lower side of cylinder 73. By retracting rod 76 land piston 74, the piston can be made to clear the opening 77, thus permitting material from the container to pass through the screen 71 and out through the passage 77. Assuming that the piston 74 is in open position, and that the rotor is being driven, air is drawn in through the passage 67, and discharged through the screen 71. Thus at the end of an operating cycle, the opening of piston 74 results in rapid discharge of material. Suitable means such as a bayonet lock pin 78, can be provided for retaining the rod' 76 in the normal closed position shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4 also incorporates supplemental rotor means in the form of blades 79 which are mounted on the hub of the rotor. These blades serve to chop and cut material and may be inclined as shown in Figure 4-A, to urge material toward the main rotor. They also tend to prevent material from bridging or riding on top of the rotor.

The opening 67 in Figure 4 can be provided with suitable sealing or closure means to seal the interior of the container. A simple device for this purpose is a ball 80 which may be attached to device 66 by a cord or chain 80a. When liquid is introduced into device 66 ball 80 can be readily lifted to permit the liquid to ow through the opening 67. When the apparatus is operating, the4 pressure below the ball may be subatmospheric, in which event the ball is urged and held in closed position. Should a pressure above atmospheric be developed, the ball is forced from its seat to provide a safety vent.

Under certain operating conditions it is desirable to tilt the apparatus of Figure 4. When there is a relatively small charge of liquid or uid material in container 56, the action desired may not take place. If under such circumstances the apparatus is tilted to an angle of say 45 the rotor operates more effectively and the disintegrating action proceeds as desired.

The embodiment of Figure 5 is suitable for use in restaurants and small food processing establishments. The container 81 in this instance is again somewhat modified in shaping, particularly in that it has been extended vertically. The upper opening of the container is normally covered by a closure consisting of a conical shaped ring 82 which serves to seat a conical member 83 formed of resilient material like synthetic rubber. The lower portion 83a is flattened to form an approximate seal. This ring 82 has an inner curved surface 84, corresponding generally to the curved surface 29 (and adjacent curved surfaces) of Figure l. The rotor 86 in this instance is provided with a single blade 87, together with one or more radial ribs 87a, and the side Walls of the container are provided with vertically extending ribs or vanes 88. The blade 87 in this instance is formed as a flexible spring strip attached to the hub of the rotor and capable of exing somewhat during operation.

In general the embodiment of Figure 5 operates in the same general manner as Figure l. During operation material can be introduced through the member 83, including objects or fragments of substantial size.

Figures 6 and 7 show another embodiment somewhat similar to Figure 5, but with means to facilitate a change in capacity. Referring rst to Figure 6 the container 91 has its upper end fitted with the closure 92. The inner 6 surface 93 of this closure is curved to correspond generally to the curved surface 84 of Figure 5. The rotor 94 is provided with the single ilexible blade 96, and with one or more ribs 97. The side walls of the container are provided with the vanes or ribs 98. Figure 7 shows the device of Figure 6 modified for greater capacity. The cover 92 has been removed and an extension 99 applied to the container 91. The extension 99 is in turn covered by closure 191 which is formed similar to the closure 83 of Figure 5, and which has =a lower curved surface 102. The flexible blade (as distinguished from a rigid hammer) is particularly desirable when operating upon the softer materials, such as succulent vegetables.

It will be evident that the apparatus of Figures 6 and 7 is adjustable with respect to capacity, and therefore is suitable for domestic use or small processing establishments. For example, if the capacity of Figure 6 is one pint, that for Figure 7 can be one quart.

l claim:

1. In apparatus for reducing the panticle size of material, a container formed symmetrical about an operating axis and circular in section, a disintegrating rotor disposed concentric With the said axis and adjacent one end of the container, said rotor serving to act upon a quanti-ty of material and to propel the same with rotary motion along the surfaces defining the sides of the container and towards the other end of the same, directing means at the other end of the container for directing material from the side surfaces toward the axis of the container and then back toward the rotor with predominant directional components that are rotary and parallel to the axis of the rotor, and valve means in the lower portion of the container for the discharge of the material, said valve means including a cylindrical member having one end of the same communicating through an opening in one wall of the container near the lower portion thereof, a screen covering said opening and conforming to the inner surface of the container, a discharge opening on one side of said member, and a piston movable from a closed position adjacent the screen to an open position beyond the discharge opening.

2. In apparatus for reducing the particle size of material, a container symmetrical about an operating axis and circular in horizontal section, a disintegrating rotor disposed adjacent a lower end of the container so as to provide a free space thereabove, said rotor being provided with hammer means including a free end adjacent inner wall surfaces of the container and extending a substantial distance above peripheral portions of the rotor, said rotor and hammer means serving to act upon material and propel the same with rotary motion along the surfaces dening the sides of the container and toward the other end of the same, and material defiecting means adjacent the upper end of the container for directing material from the side surfaces toward thte axis of the container and downwardly toward the free space above said rotor, said material dellecting means defining a surface of revolution having a common point on the axis of said rotor and adjacent an upper region of said free space, said common point being spaced a substantial distance above said rotor, said other end of the container being provided with a closure including a member of resilient material having a normally closed opening, whereby upon operation of the apparatus the material being treated is directed along rotary paths in a zone of intense turbulence created in the free space region below said normally closed opening.

3. Apparatus for reducing the particle .size of solids, comprising: means defining a chamber having a circular bottom Wall lying perpendicular to a centrally disposed vertical operating axis; rotary disintegrating hammer means located in the lowermost portion of said chamber and being mounted immediately above said bottom wall on a drive shaft lying on said axis and extending downwardly through said wall, said drive shaft being connected to a source of power for imparting rotary motion to said disintegrating means and Acausing a zone of turbulence immediately thereabove; annular chamber side wall means inclined outwardly to lie in upwardly diverging relation for a substantial distance above the level of said bottom wall and above the level of said zone; a plurality of ribs formed on the inner surface of said side Wall means with the inner surfaces of each rib lying in substantiallyparallel relation with the adjacent side wall portion, said hammer means terminating invouter surfaces lying closely adjacent the inner surfaces of said ribs and substantially parallel thereto, said side wall means also including upper wall portions converging upwardly and inwardly toward said axis of rotation at the -top of said chamber and terminating in centrally disposed downwardly converging flow-guiding means lying in the area of said axis lof rotation at a substantial height above said disintegrating means and above said zone, whereby material acted upon by said vdisintegrating means is forced outwardly against said side wall means and moves upwardly therealong to a level above said zone and passes to said now-guiding means where it is turned downwardly directly into the'center of said zone along said axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said bottom and side wall means serve to define a chamber which is of inverted pear shape.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, including flexible blade means mounted on said drive shaft and extending outwardly therefrom above said hammer means.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said ribs are arranged in spiral relation along said inner surface of said side wall means.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the inner extremities of said how-guiding means dene an axially disposed opening.

8. lThe apparatus of claim 3, wherein said chamber is mounted for pivotal movement to permit said chamber to be pivoted from a vertical to an inclined position.

r9. In apparatus for reducing the particle size of material, a container symmetrical about an operating axis and circular in horizontal section, a disintegrating rotor disposed adjacent a lower end f the container so as to vprovide a free space `thereabove, said rotor being provided with 'hammer means including va free end adjacent vinner wall surfaces of the container and extending a substantial distance above peripheral portions of the rotor, saidro'tor and hammer means serving to act upon material andpropel the same with rotary motion along the surfaces dening the sides of the container andtoward the other endy of the same, and material deecting means adjacent the upper end ofthe container for directing material from the side surfaces toward thet axis of the container and downwardly toward the free space'above said rotor, said material deflecting means defining -a surface of revolution having a common point on 'thel axis of said rotor and adjacent an upper region of said freespace, said common point'being spaced a substantial distance above said rotor, the upper portion ofthe container also forming a hopper end and having a feed passage in alignment with the axis of the rotor, and in the vicini-ty of said common point, and a ball disposed in said hopper and adapted lto serve as valve means lfor closing said passage, whereby upon operation of the apparatus the material being treated is directed along rotary paths into a zone of intense turbulence created in the free space region below said feed passage.

References Cited in the le of this patentv UNITED STATES PATENTS 433,163 Crawford July 29, -1890 1,135,795 'Hiller Apr. 13, 1915 1,230,395l Fornander June 19, 1917 1,426,080 'Holt Aug. `15, 1922 1,637,678 Camilla et a1 Aug. 2, 1927 1,697,704 Wood June 1, 1929 1,874,079 Black Aug. 30, 1932 1,875,817 -London Sept. 6, 1932 1,984,619 Wright YDec. 18, 1934 2,428,420 Green Oct.' 7, -1947 2,434,449 Wells Jan. 13,1948 2,436,767 `Gerlicher Feb. 24, 1948 2,496,017 Newell et al Jan. 31, 1950 2,511,357 Marty June 13, 1950 2,594,250 Tranberger Apr. 22, 1952

Images