U.S. patent number RE37,349 [Application Number 09/055,229] was granted by the patent office on 2001-09-04 for integrated diverter and waste comminutor.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Chambers, Boyd and Associates. Invention is credited to Joseph W. Chambers, Sr., Craig J. Fennessy, Robert T. Sabol.
United States Patent |
RE37,349 |
Chambers, Sr. , et
al. |
September 4, 2001 |
Integrated diverter and waste comminutor
Abstract
An integrated system for diverting and reducing the size of
waste materials in an effluent stream comprising a frame having a
bottom housing and a top housing and mountable in the stream. A
grinder unit is mounted to the frame bottom housing and comprises a
cutter assembly positioned in the stream and a drive mechanism
coupled to the cutter assembly to rotate the cutter assembly. The
drive mechanism may be electric or hydraulic. A screen unit is
mounted to the frame. It may be a single screen or dual screens.
The screen unit comprises a cylindrical screen rotating on a screen
shaft having a screen shaft mounted on bottom housing of the frame
and supporting the cylindrical screen. A drive assembly operable
couples the drive mechanism to the screen shaft to rotate the
cylindrical screen as the cutter assembly rotates. In operation
with the screen unit positioned adjacent to the grinder unit it
diverts solids in the effluent stream toward the grinder unit for
size reduction. An auger-screen may be placed downstream for
removal of large solids after size reduction.
Inventors: |
Chambers, Sr.; Joseph W.
(Rancho Mirage, CA), Fennessy; Craig J. (Huntington Beach,
CA), Sabol; Robert T. (Aliso Viejo, CA) |
Assignee: |
Chambers, Boyd and Associates
(Santa Ana, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
23221417 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/055,229 |
Filed: |
April 6, 1998 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
314781 |
Sep 29, 1994 |
05505388 |
Apr 9, 1996 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
241/46.02;
241/236; 241/46.06 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B02C
18/0092 (20130101); B02C 23/08 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B02C
23/18 (20060101); B02C 23/36 (20060101); B02C
018/40 (); B02C 023/36 () |
Field of
Search: |
;198/608,780
;210/161,173,174,297,386
;241/46.02,46.06,77,79,79.3,81,235,236 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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298514 |
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Jul 1954 |
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CH |
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0512177 |
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Nov 1992 |
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EP |
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Other References
Brochure entitled "Dimminutor--Specifications and Dimensions", 1
page, date unknown (see IDS). .
Instruction manual for Type "A" Barminutor Screening and
Comminuting Machine, Chicago Pump, 20 pages, date unknown (see
IDS). .
Brochure for Ecodyne Comminutors, 2 pages, date unknown (see IDS).
.
Chicago Pump Comminutor Brochure, 3 pages, date unknown (see IDS).
.
Epco Comminutor Brochure, 4 pages, date unknown (see IDS). .
Brochure by TLB Corporation, Comminutors--Treatment Plants, Lift
Stations, Boost Systems, 2 pages, date unknown (see IDS). .
Brochure entitled "Dimminutor--Open Channel Comminutor", 3 pages,
date unknown (see IDS). .
Robbins Myers Brochure entitled "Moyno Pipeliner--Effective
Solution to Tough Conditioning Problems", 2 pages, date unknown
(see IDS). .
Brochure entitled "Fallova Shredder Co., Inc.", 3 pages, date
unknown (see IDS). .
"Screening Equipment Handbook", by Tom M. Pankratz, 1995, Chapters
8 and 9, one misc. page, and pages 178, 179, 183-196,
200-203..
|
Primary Examiner: Eley; Timothy V.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sughrue, Mion, Zinn, Macpeak &
Seas, PLLC
Claims
We claim:
1. A system for diverting and reducing the size of waste materials
in an effluent stream comprising:
a frame mountable in said stream;
a grinder unit mounted to said frame, said grinder unit comprising
a cutter assembly positionable in said stream and a drive mechanism
on said frame coupled to said cutter assembly to rotate said cutter
assembly; and
a diverter unit mounted to said frame, said diverter unit
comprising a waste material diverter rotatable on a shaft, said
shaft mounted to said frame and positioned generally perpendicular
to a direction of flow of said stream, and a drive assembly
operably coupled to said drive mechanism to rotate said diverter
unit as said cutler assembly rotates, wherein said diverter unit is
positioned adjacent to said grinder unit to divert solids in said
effluent stream toward said grinder unit for size reduction.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a side rail mounted in
said frame adjacent said grinder unit, said side rail stabilizing
said grinder unit in said frame and enhancing flow of liquid
through said grinder unit.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said drive mechanism comprises a
power source producing a rotary output, a power transfer mechanism
to rotate and cutler assembly and wherein said drive assembly
comprises a first sprocket mounted to said shaft and a chain
coupling said sprocket and said power transfer mechanism to rotate
said .[.screen.]. .Iadd.diverter unit.Iaddend..
4. The system of claim 3 wherein said grinder unit comprises a pair
of cutter shafts having an array of interleaved cutter elements,
said power transfer mechanism comprising a pinion on one of said
shafts which is driven by said power source, the other of said
shafts having a gear driven by said pinion and a second sprocket
mounted on said other shaft.
5. The system of claim 3 wherein said power source is an electric
motor.
6. The system of claim 3 wherein said power source is a hydraulic
drive.
7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second diverter unit
mounted to said frame and driven by said drive mechanism, both of
said diverter units positioned on adjacent sides of said grinder
unit to divert solids in said effluent stream into said grinder
unit.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein said diverter unit comprises a
screen, said screen having a cylinder with an open grid, a series
of spaces to hold said cylinder to said shaft and wherein said
cylinder and said cutter assembly have a common tangent defining
the orientation of said diverter unit relative to said grinder
unit.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein said shaft is journalled for
rotation in said frame and a bearing assembly supporting said
shaft.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein said grinder unit is journalled
for rotation in said frame and a removable bearing and seal
assembly supporting said grinder unit on said frame.
11. The system of claim 1 further comprising an auger-screen
positioned immediately downstream of said grinder unit.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein said auger-screen comprises an
elongated tapered housing having a screen section and a trough at
an upper end of said housing.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein said diverter unit comprises a
cylindrical unit having flow paths to permit fluid from said stream
to pass therethrough as said cylindrical unit rotates, the
periphery of said cylindrical unit having a series of diverting
elements to contact and urge waste materials toward said grinder
unit and not pass in said effluent stream.
14. An integrated system for diverting and reducing the size of
waste materials in an effluent stream comprising:
a frame having a bottom housing and a top housing and mountable in
said stream;
a grinder unit mounted to said frame bottom housing, said grinder
unit comprising a cutter assembly positionable in said stream and a
drive mechanism mounted on said frame and coupled to said cutter
assembly to rotate said cutter assembly; and
a diverter unit mounted to said frame, said diverter unit
comprising a cylindrical waste material diverter rotatable on a
shaft, said shaft mounted on said bottom housing of said frame and
supporting said cylindrical waste material diverter, and a drive
assembly operably coupling said drive mechanism to said shaft to
rotate said cylindrical waste material diverter as said cutter
assembly rotates, wherein said diverter unit is positioned adjacent
to said grinder unit to divert solids in said effluent stream
toward said grinder unit for size reduction.
15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a side rail mounted
in said frame adjacent said grinder unit and coupled to both said
top and bottom housings, said side rail stabilizing said grinder
unit in said frame and enhancing flow of liquid through said
grinder unit.
16. The system of claim 14 wherein said drive mechanism comprises a
power source producing a rotary output, a power transfer mechanism
to rotate said cutter assembly and wherein said drive assembly
comprises a first sprocket mounted to said shaft and a chain
coupling said sprocket and said power transfer mechanism to rotate
and diverter unit.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein said grinder unit comprises a
pair of cutter shafts having an array of interleaved cutter
elements, said power transfer mechanism comprising a pinion on one
of said shafts which is driven by said power source, the other of
said shafts having a gear driven by said pinion and a second
sprocket mounted on said other shaft.
18. The system of claim 16 wherein said power source is an electric
motor.
19. The system of claim 16 wherein said power source is a hydraulic
drive.
20. The system of claim 14 further comprising a second diverter
unit mounted to said frame and driven by said drive mechanism, both
of said diverter units positioned on adjacent sides of said grinder
unit to divert solids in said effluent stream into said grinder
unit.
21. The system of claim .[.11.]. .Iadd.14.Iaddend., wherein said
diverter unit comprises a cylindrical screen with an open grid, a
series of spaces to hold said cylindrical screen to said shaft and
wherein said cylindrical screen and said cutter assembly have a
common tangent defining the orientation of said diverter unit
relative to said grinder unit.
22. The system of claim 14 wherein said shaft is journalled for
rotation in said bottom housing and a bearing assembly supporting
said shaft.
23. The system of claim 14, wherein said grinder unit is journalled
for rotation in said bottom housing.Iadd., .Iaddend.and a removable
bearing and seal assembly .[.position.]. .Iadd.is positioned
.Iaddend.in said bottom housing for supporting said grinder unit on
said frame.
24. The system of claim 14 further comprising a guide plate mounted
to said frame to channel materials in said effluent .[.flow.].
.Iadd.stream .Iaddend.towards said screen unit.
25. The system of claim 14 further comprising an auger-screen
positioned immediately downstream of said grinder unit.
26. The system of claim 25, wherein said auger-screen comprises an
elongated tapered housing .[.have.]. .Iadd.having .Iaddend.a screen
section and a trough at an upper end of said housing.
27. The system of claim 14, wherein said cylindrical waste material
diverter comprises a screening element having openings to allow
liquid from said effluent stream to pass through and, on the
periphery of said screening element a series of diverting elements
to contact and urge waste materials towards said grinder unit and
not pass in said effluent stream..Iadd.
28. A system for diverting and reducing the size of solid waste
materials in a liquid stream comprising:
a grinder unit positionable in the stream and comprising a cutter
assembly for reduction in size of solid waste in the stream, said
cutter assembly having dual shafts, and a motor operably coupled to
said cutter assembly to rotate said dual shafts of said cutter
assembly for counter-rotation,
a diverter unit positionable along side said grinder unit so that
both said diverter unit and said grinder unit are positioned
substantially transverse to the flow of fluid in said stream to
independently block said solid waste material in the stream, said
diverter unit having a moving diverter element, wherein solid waste
in said stream contacting said diverter unit is diverted by
movement of said diverter element transversely towards said grinder
unit for size reduction while liquid in said stream passes through
said diverter unit and solid waste in said stream directly
contacting said grinder unit is also reduced in
size..Iaddend..Iadd.
29. The system of claim 28 further comprising a drive mechanism
coupling said motor to said dual shafts of said cutter assembly,
and a drive assembly for moving said diverter element, said drive
assembly operably coupled to said drive mechanism to rotate said
diverter element in the same direction as an adjacent shaft of said
cutter assembly..Iaddend..Iadd.
30. The system of claim 28 wherein said grinder unit comprises an
array of interleaved cutter elements, said drive mechanism
comprising a pinion mounted to one of said cutter shafts which is
driven by said motor and the other of said cutter shafts having a
gear driven by said pinion, whereby said cutter shafts
counter-rotate..Iaddend..Iadd.
31. The system of claim 28 further comprising a frame positioning
said diverter unit and said grinder unit in said stream as an
integral unit and a fixed flow path guide mounted to one side of
said frame..Iaddend..Iadd.
32. The system of claim 28 wherein said moving diverter element
comprises a cylindrical screen..Iaddend..Iadd.
33. The system of claim 28 further comprising a frame positionable
in said stream, wherein said diverter unit and said grinder unit
are mounted on said frame to form an integral assembly such that
the axes of rotation of each shaft of said dual shaft cutter
assembly lie in a plane substantially perpendicular to said flow in
said stream..Iaddend..Iadd.
34. The system of claim 28 further comprising another diverter unit
having a diverter element for diverting solid waste towards said
grinder unit, said grinder unit positioned between said diverter
units and, a drive assembly to move respective diverter elements to
divert solid waste transversely across said liquid stream toward
said grinder unit..Iaddend..Iadd.
35. The system of claim 34 further comprising a frame to mount said
diverter units and said grinder unit and orient said diverter units
and said grinder unit in a symmetrical arrangement with respect to
the direction of fluid flow in said stream..Iaddend..Iadd.
36. The system of claim 34 wherein each of said diverter units
comprises a rotating screen..Iaddend..Iadd.
37. A system for diverting and reducing the size of waste materials
in a liquid stream comprising:
a frame positionable in the liquid stream,
a grinder unit mounted to said frame and comprising a cutter
assembly and a drive mechanism coupled to said cutter assembly to
rotate said cutter assembly;
a waste diverter mounted to said frame so that both said waste
diverter and said grinder unit are positioned substantially
transverse to the flow of liquid in said stream to independently
block waste materials in said stream, said waste diverter having a
moving element wherein solids in said stream contacting said waste
diverter are directed by movement of said moving element towards
said grinder unit for size reduction and solids in said stream
directly contacting said grinder unit are also reduced in
size..Iaddend..Iadd.
38. The system of claim 37 further comprising a drive assembly for
moving said moving element of said waste diverter and a motor for
supplying power to said drive mechanism and said drive
assembly..Iaddend..Iadd.
39. The system of claim 38 wherein said grinder unit comprises dual
shafts, an array of interleaved cutter elements on said shafts,
said drive mechanism comprising a pinion mounted to one of said
shafts which is driven by said motor and the other of said shafts
having a gear driven by said pinion, whereby said shafts
counter-rotate..Iaddend..Iadd.
40. The system of claim 37 wherein said frame positioning said
waste diverter and said grinder unit in said stream further
comprises a flow diverter positioned adjacent said waste diverter
such that solid waste may contact and be reduced in size by direct
contact with said grinder unit and, solid waste in said stream
contacts said flow diverter and is deflected across said flow of
liquid towards said waste diverter..Iaddend..Iadd.
41. The system of claim 40 wherein said flow diverter overlaps said
waste diverter..Iaddend..Iadd.
42. The system of claim 37 wherein said moving element comprises a
cylindrical screen..Iaddend..Iadd.
43. The system of claim 37 wherein said waste diverter and said
grinder unit are mounted on said frame and a single motive source
is mounted on said frame to power both said grinder unit and said
waste diverter..Iaddend..Iadd.
44. The system of claim 37 further comprising another waste
diverter mounted on said frame, said another waste diverter having
a moving element for directing solid waste towards said grinder
unit, said grinder unit positioned between said waste diverters
and, a drive assembly to move respective moving elements in a
manner such that solid waste is diverted laterally inward toward
said grinder unit..Iaddend..Iadd.
45. The system of claim 44 wherein said waste diverters are mounted
to said frame such that the moving elements are in alignment with
each other and lie in a plane that extends substantially transverse
to the flow of liquid in said stream..Iaddend..Iadd.
46. The system of claim 44 wherein said grinder unit is aligned
with said diverter units, and said grinder unit and said diverter
units are arranged symmetrically in a direction transverse to the
flow of liquid in said stream..Iaddend..Iadd.
47. A system for diverting and reducing the size of solid waste
materials in a liquid stream, comprising:
a frame positionable in the stream,
a cutter assembly mounted on said frame and having at least two
shafts and a motor operably coupled to said cutter assembly to
rotate said shafts in opposite directions; and
a diverter unit mounted on said frame and positioned to one side of
said cutter assembly in a direction substantially transverse to a
direction of flow of said stream, said diverter unit having a motor
diverter element, wherein solid waste in the stream contacting said
diverter unit is diverted by movement of said diverter element
transversely across said stream towards said cutter assembly while
liquid in said stream passes through said diverter
unit..Iaddend..Iadd.
48. The system of claim 47 wherein said diverter element comprises
a rotating member..Iaddend..Iadd.
49. A system for diverting and reducing the size of waste materials
in a liquid stream comprising:
a frame positionable in the stream;
a grinder unit mounted to the frame and comprising a cutter
assembly having at least two shafts and a drive mechanism coupled
to said cutter assembly to rotate said shafts; and
a waste diverter mounted to said frame laterally of said grinder
unit so that both said waste diverter and said grinder unit
directly confront the flow of the stream and independently block
waste materials in said stream, said diverter unit having a moving
element that diverts solids in the stream laterally across said
stream toward said grinder unit..Iaddend..Iadd.
50. The system of claim 49 wherein said moving element comprises a
rotating screen..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the screening of an effluent having solid
matter and the divisions of that solid matter to a grinding unit
for purposes of size reduction. As is well known in waste water
treatment, there are many environments where large volumes of
liquid require initial processing for purposes of coarse screening
so that large solid objects are diverted from the effluent stream
and their size reduced by a grinding unit. The material, now of a
reduced size, is either removed at the point of reduction of
re-introduced into the stream for further processing
downstream.
This invention is an improvement over the technology disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,346. The '346 patent itself represented a
significant improvement over prior vertically oriented belt screens
which were typically used in waste water treatment plants for the
purposes of removing solids from a liquid flow. Those prior devices
thus utilized rakes, belts or the like which moved at an angle
generally vertical, and therefore perpendicular to the fluid flow
in a vertical plane. This resulted in undesirable hydrostatic
effects in addition to propensity of such systems to clog and
require a considerable amount of power for purposes of lifting
solid materials.
The '346 technology departed from this prior technique by placing a
horizontally moving screen directly in the effluent flow with an
adjacent macerator (grinder) disposed in that flow to receive
solids that were diverted by the screen. Consequently, the screen
allowed fluid to pass through it but at the same time presented a
barrier for solid matter that could not pass through the screening
elements. That solid matter was then diverted to one side of the
effluent flow where it was then ground into smaller particles and
then those particles placed back into the stream for substantive
downstream processing.
A variant of the screening technique utilizing interleaved discs is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,380. The '380 also utilizes a
solid grinder placed on one side of the screening unit.
A common deficiency with prior screening systems is that they were
powered separately, using drive units separate from that of the
grinding unit. In many installations the screen itself need not
have that independent source of power. However, in the prior art
the screening unit was considered to be a device separate from that
of the grinding unit although, once installed they operated as a
single system.
Another disadvantage in the prior art is that the placement of the
grinding unit relative to the screening unit becomes critical for
efficiency in the system. By having separate mounting frames,
positioning and proper orientation became difficult to maintain
across a matrix of different channel configurations. Prior systems
employed internal deflectors inside the screen cylinder to use
water flow for the purpose of removing debris from the screen
surface and into the cutter. The internal deflector, while
functional, added a degree of complication. Moreover, prior systems
generally required the use of side rails on the cylinder side of
the grinder. The use of the side rail tended to promote the passage
of waste material through the grinder without clogging but is an
expensive component to such systems.
Additionally, prior art systems tended to utilize screens mounted
in separate frames adding additional elements and complicated
geared/drive mechanisms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Given the deficiencies in the prior art it is an object of this
invention to provide an integrated diverter and grinder unit that
is of simple construction and easily maintained.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide an integrator
diverter and grinder unit which has a single drive motor for
rotating the diverter and driving the cutter unit.
A further object of this invention is to provide a combined
diverter and grinder unit which may be powered either electrically,
hydraulically or otherwise and has the ability to position the
cutter unit on either side of the diverter unit in an integrated
common mounting that, is affixed directly in the waste water
channel.
These and other objects of this invention are accomplished by means
of an integrated system which utilizes a common mounting structure
for both the diverter screen and the grinding unit. Both the
grinding unit and the screen are powered by a common drive source,
typically an electric motor or hydraulic unit. Preferably the
screen is in the form of a cylinder positioned so that its outer
circumferential surface is substantially tangential to a circle
drawn to circumscribe the elements of an adjacent cutter blade
assembly. The screen may be placed at either the right or the left
of the grinder unit. Alternatively, a pair of diverter cylinders
can be employed with the grinder unit positioned in the center,
again with both cylinders driven by a common drive source off the
grinding unit.
The preferred drive arrangement utilizes a sprocket set up between
the driven grinder shaft and the screen cylinder shaft by means of
a chain. An advantage of having a common drive system is that if
the grinder is reversed, direction of rotation of the screen will
also automatically reverse. This set up eliminates the requirement
existing in the prior art for separate motors, motor controls and
interfaces between the grinder and the diverter screen.
This invention will be described in greater detail by referring to
the drawings and the description of the preferred embodiment which
follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of
this invention;
FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating the alignment of the grinder unit
with the screen cylinder of the first preferred embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a side cut away view illustrating the essential
components of the first preferred embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of
this invention utilizing a pair of rotating screens with a grinder
unit centered therebetween;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the second preferred embodiment of this
invention;
FIG. 6 is a front view of a modification of the second preferred
embodiment employing an auger-screening separator; and
FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the modification illustrated in
FIG. 6.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring not to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 a first preferred embodiment of
this invention will be described. The preferred embodiment
comprises three major sub-components which are integrated together
to form a unitary system. These are the frame element 100, the
grinder element 200 and the single shaft rotating screen 300.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, the housing comprises a top cover
19 and a bottom cover 13. An end housing 17 is associated with the
top cover and an end housing 18 is associated with the bottom cover
13. The bottom end housing 18 is affixed to the bottom cover 13 by
means of a series of fasteners 25. Similarly, the top cover 19 is
coupled to the end housing associated with the top 17 by means of
appropriate fixing elements, typically the combination of a washer
26, a split lock washer 27 and a lock screw 30.
Positioned between the two end housings 17 and 18 is a slotted side
rail 35. The slotted side rail acts not only as a spacer between
the top and bottom end housing but also the manner by which flow
through the cutting unit is improved by purposes of channeling
fluid direction in a manner generally parallel to the cutter
elements. This is accomplished by slotting the side rail to have a
series of parallel flow paths extending in a spaced but staggered
arrangement relative to the adjacent cutter stack 33.
The grinder unit comprises a dual shaft system comprising a drive
shaft 4 and a driven shaft 5. On the driven Shaft 5 cutter elements
34 alternate with spacer elements 23. On the drive shaft 4 cutter
elements 33 also interleave with spacers, as illustrated in FIG. 3.
The result is that at the overlapped point between the two cutter
assemblies the cutter elements on one shaft interleave with the
cutter elements on the other shaft because of the staggered
relationship between spacer elements on the two shafts.
While the foregoing discusses rudimentary details of the grinder
element which will be disclosed in greater detail here, reference
is made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,324 for a more complete discussion
of a suitable system.
The cutter assembly is journalled for rotation in the bottom end
housing by means of a seal assembly 44. Hex nuts 41 are used to
lock the shafts into position. The hex nuts 41 when tightened, tend
to compress a compression disc 38 to provide the necessary degree
of resilience as the stack is tightened. An external O-ring
provides a seal for the seal assembly 44 and internal O-rings 39
about the respective shafts 4 and 5 isolate the interior of the
cutter assembly from liquid. The bearing assembly 44 may be a
separately removable cartridge having, as a replaceable unit,
bearings, stator and rotating race assemblies together with
associated internal O-ring assemblies.
At the upper end of the frame element 100, the side rail 35 is
fixed into position by means of locking elements 28 and 29. Shafts
4 and 5 are held relative to the top end housing 17 and bottom end
housing 18 by means of clamping elements 24 and 42, that is, a
series of washers and hexagonal bolts. Element 32 is a retaining
ring. As illustrated in FIG. 3, an upper seal assembly is provided
relative to each of the shafts. Drive shaft 4 is coupled to a motor
43 by means of a key 22. The motor 43 is illustrated in FIG. 3 as
an electric motor. However, as illustrated in FIG. 1 the motor may
be hydraulic. Thus in this embodiment, as in the case of the this
invention, the choice of motor drive for the system is not
important. It is understood then that the drive device of FIG. 3
could also be a hydraulic system having a rotary output suitably
keyed to the drive shaft 4.
An oil seal 40 is provided in the top cover 19 to isolate the drive
shaft 4. The drive shaft 4 has mounted to it a pinion 36, which in
turn drives the gear 37 mounted on the driven shaft 5. The driven
shaft also has mounted above the gear 37 a sprocket 6 to be
discussed herein. A retaining ring 31 is used to lock the sprocket
6 in position on the drive shaft 6. A retaining ring 32 is used to
position the gear 37 on the driven shaft 5. A similar retaining
ring is used on the drive shaft 4 relative to the pinion 36.
The rotating screen 300 is mounted on a shaft 1. The shaft is
journalled for rotation by a bearing assembly 11 held in place by a
retaining ring 12. An oil seat 10 isolates the bearing 11 so that
the shaft 1 can rotate on the mount as illustrated in FIG. 3, which
is a part of the bottom end housing 18.
The screen utilizes a belt 16 held in place on shaft 1 by means of
a series of spaced sprockets 8. Each of the sprockets is mounted on
the shaft 1 by means of an associated retaining ring 9. At the
upper portion of the shaft 1 a sprocket 7 is mounted for rotation
utilizing a retaining ring 15 and key 21. A chain 14 is driven by
the sprocket 6 and is mounted on the sprocket 7 so that for each
rotation of the driven shaft 5 there is corresponding rotation of
the screen 16. As appropriate, the housing is gasketed by means of
top gasket 2 and bottom gasket 3 to provide the necessary
resiliency and sealing between the housing members.
While this embodiment employs a sprocket and chain drive, it will
be appreciated that other drive mechanisms may be used as gears,
belts and the like. The relative rotational speed of the grinder
elements to that of the diverter screen is determined by the
diameters of the drive and driven sprockets. This may also be
accomplished by gearing arrangements, differential sprocket
geometries or other well known techniques to create different
rotational speeds between elements driven from a common source. It
will be appreciated that is preferable for the grinder to rotate at
one speed and the screen at another to promote the effective
transfer and grinding of debris. Also, to that end the diameter of
the screen diverted can be modified as a function of channel size
to increase flow characteristics of the system.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the relationship between the screen
300 and the cutting elements of the grinder unit 200 are depicted.
As illustrated in FIG. 2 the screen sprocket 8 has a series of
teeth 46 which engage vertical element 47 in the screen 16. The
outer circumference of the screen 16 defines a circle. Likewise,
the outer circumferential points of the cutter elements of each of
the cutters 34 defines a circle. The tangent common to those two
circles is illustrated by the line T--T in FIG. 2. Consequently, in
mounting the screen assembly 300, relative to the cutter assembly
200, this geometric orientation is satisfied by mounting those
elements on a frame element 100. The orientation is maintained as
illustrated in FIG. 3 by having the shafts 1, 4, and 5 mounted
ultimately on a common bottom end section 18.
It is also noted that while FIG. 1 shows the drive unit as being
hydraulic, FIG. 3 illustrates the interchangeable nature of the
system utilizing the electric motor 43. That is, a hydraulic unit
50 having input 51 and outlet 42 forming the hydraulic lines for
the system can be used in place of an electric motor 43.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 a second preferred embodiment of
this invention is depicted. In the first preferred embodiment a
single shaft rotating screen unit is illustrated. While
illustrating a "left hand model" with the screen placed to the left
of the cutter assembly, it is obvious that the system could be
reversed having a "right handed model" as illustrated in FIG. 2.
The modification in FIGS. 4 and 5 provides a pair of rotating
screen assemblies 300 and 400 together with a centrally disposed
cutter unit 200. FIG. 4 illustrates the alternative of using
hydraulic power.
FIGS. 4 and 5 thus illustrate a symmetrical condition with the
cutter unit 200 positioned between screens 300 and 400. The screens
300 and 400 are identical, driven off a centrally disposed drive
shaft having the same sprocket drives as illustrated in FIG. 3.
Since common elements are used, they have been given identical
labels in FIG. 5. It is also noted that the tangential alignment
between cutter stack and screen which exists with the single screen
cutter embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 is maintained in the dual screen
unit of FIGS. 4 and 5. The two tangential lines T--T and T--T are
illustrated in FIG. 5.
By comparing the components forming in top and bottom end housings
17 and 18, as illustrated in FIG. 1, it can be appreciated from
FIG. 4 that those same units are employed by simply having the unit
comprised as a second mirror image of that illustrated in FIG. 1.
That is, the top housing 17 together with the top cover 19 is
replicated in FIG. 4 so that it provides the necessary mounting and
fixing points for the second screen unit 400.
In both embodiments, the frame element 100 mounts directly into the
waste water channel. Preferably, the waste water channel has
concrete walls and the system is bolted into place. The grinding
unit of the first preferred embodiment has its rigidity maintained
by the use of the side rail 35 and the frame, especially the top
cover 19 and the top end housing 17 which, as illustrated in FIG.
2, mounts directly to the grinder unit. In the second preferred
embodiment, using a pair of diverter screens the side rail is
eliminated. Rigidity is accomplished by the inherent symmetry of
the system attached to the channel frame. If additional structural
rigidity is desired an input side guide plate may be installed (not
illustrated).
An important advantage of this system is that the grinder unit
while integrally mounted, can be separately removed from the
housing by removing the top cover 19, the top end housing 17 and
then simply dismantling the associated drive elements to the screen
assembly.
As is apparent from the drive elements illustrated in FIG. 2, the
rotational direction of the screen cylinder shaft 1 is accomplished
by means of a chain that is slaved to the driven shaft by means of
a sprocket assembly. Consequently, a reversal in the direction of
grinder rotation automatically reverses the direction of cylinder
rotation. This is done because the units rotate via a common
chain.
In the case of the second preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS.
4 and 5, the second screen unit 14 is driven off the pinion 36 by
means of a sprocket, not shown, but similar to sprocket 6 on the
driven shaft 5. This will permit the two screens 300 and 400 to
rotate in opposite direction thus diverting solids into the center
of the grinding unit 200. That is, the direction of rotation of
screen 300 is the same as that of the driven shaft 5 while the
direction of rotation of the screen 400 will be the same as that of
the drive shaft.
Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7 a modification of the second
preferred embodiment is illustrated. In this modification the same
numbers are used to denote corresponding elements as in the second
preferred embodiment. The prime modification is the use of an
auger-screen 500 positioned immediately behind the grinder 200. The
auger-screen 500 comprises an elongated tapered tubular housing 510
with the internal auger (not illustrated) powered by a motor 520.
In the larger diameter portion a screen 530 is placed. Thus,
entrained liquid from the grinder effluent is returned to the flow
path 600 while the coarse materials are lifted and removed via the
chute for off-line handling. A pair of deflectors, now shown, is
positioned immediately behind the grinder to deflect the effluent
to the auger 500.
In operation the flow path through the diverter screens is
substantially free of debris. Downstream of the unit that flow is
maintained. At the central grinder section, solids are reduced in
size and deposited in the auger screening separator 500 at a trough
540. The auger then transports the material upward where it is
screened at section 530 and the larger pieces ultimately removed at
the chute 540.
FIGS. 6 and 7 also illustrate the use of a front guide plate. The
frame element 100 comprises an open box frame having vertical
L-angle elements 110 to secure the frame to the channel walls (see
FIG. 6). The unit completely spans the channel. A guide plate 120
is mounted between the channel pieces 110 and has an opening
overlapping the diverter screens 300 and 400. By this technique
flow which tends to stagnate at the walls is channelled into the
central portions of the diverter screens.
In addition to the modifications specifically delineated herein, it
is apparent that other modifications may be made to this invention
without departing from the scope thereof. For example, while a dual
shaft grinder unit is disclosed, this invention will operate with a
single shaft grinder unit. Also, the auger-screen system can be
employed with the single screen embodiment.
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