Patent ID: 11925937
Assignee: KOSTER GRAIN, INC.
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B  A | IPC A  B

Claim 17:
18. A method for producing granular wood material for animal bedding comprising:
providing a first hammermill having a first housing, a first hammer, and a first screen;
wherein the first screen defines a first plurality of openings having at least a first opening and wherein the first opening is no greater than 4.0 inches at its widest and no narrower than 2.0 inches at its narrowest;
wherein during operation of the first hammermill the first hammer passes no closer than 0.2 inches and no farther than 4.0 inches from a first portion of the first screen defining the first opening;
inserting a quantity of wood into the first housing;
heating the quantity of wood to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit after the quantity of wood enters the first hammermill and before the quantity of wood passes through the first screen;
operating the first hammermill at a speed of at least 2,000 revolutions per minute to pass the quantity of wood through the first screen to produce a quantity of large granular wood material having a plurality of particles no greater than 4.0 inches at their widest and no narrower than 2.0 inches at their narrowest;
providing a second hammermill having a second housing, a second hammer, and a second screen;
wherein the second screen defines a second plurality of openings having at least a second opening and wherein the second opening is no greater than 1.9 inches at its widest and no narrower than 0.2 inches at its narrowest;
wherein during operation of the second hammermill the second hammer passes no closer than 0.2 inches and no farther than 4.0 inches from a second portion of the second screen defining the second opening;
inserting the quantity of the large granular wood material into the second housing;
heating the quantity of the large granular wood material to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit after the quantity of the large granular wood material enters the second hammermill and before the quantity of the large granular wood material passes through the second screen;
operating the second hammermill at a speed of at least 2,000 revolutions per minute to pass the quantity of large granular wood material through the second screen to produce a quantity of small granular wood material having a plurality of particles no greater than 1.9 inches at their widest and no narrower than 0.2 inches at their narrowest; and
using the quantity of small granular wood material as animal bedding.