DEVICE FOR THE COMMINUTION OF MATERIALS

A device for the comminution of moisture-containing materials includes a housing that forms an impact chamber having a rotating striking means driven therein via a shaft. The housing includes a bottom plate, a cover, a wall connecting the bottom plate and the cover, an inlet opening and an outlet opening. A tub including at least one layer of plastic is arranged at least along the bottom plate. A wear plate is arranged on an other side of the layer of plastic. Objects of the invention include increasing the wear resistance of the device, realizing self-cleaning effects and enabling simple and safe cleaning, in particular, at a standstill.

The invention relates to a device for the comminution of materials according to the preamble of claim1.

For the comminution of components of mixtures of substances, or of articles composed of various materials, such as metal parts, glass, rubber, wood, polymers, fibrous materials, composites or the like, in particular for the purpose of economic recycling, it has been known in the prior art to use impact reactors, in which the components are crushed by an impact stress by means of impact elements. Thus, for example, document EP 0 859 693 B1 discloses a vertical mill which has a cylindrical main body as a housing for an impact chamber and a rotatable rotor therein, wherein the rotor is adjustable in height in the main body and comprises exchangeable impact elements as an impact body, which elements are releasably received at its wing-shaped ends. From EP 1 721 674 B1 a vertical mill is known in which it is proposed to attach at least one discharge flap to the cylindrical side or to the bottom of the vertical mill. Preferably, an external screen is to be replaced by a discharge flap in this case. The drive is arranged outside of the impact chamber.

The definition as a vertical mill results from the vertically rotatably driven shaft for the striking means.

The above devices and methods have fundamentally proven their worth, wherein the starting materials to be comminuted usually have no or only a slight moisture, usually occurring as surface moisture due to storage under the open sky.

For the comminution of expired foods or materials which have a higher basic or own moisture content and partly free water, the above devices are only partially suitable. In particular, in a mixed comminution of various materials in packaging, the previously separated contents can contribute together and/or with the packaging itself to the formation of health-endangering, galvanic or even explosive mixtures.

For such an extreme application, the above methods and devices are only partially or not at all suitable.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a device with which material flows, preferably with high moisture content and/or metallic content, can be comminuted, wherein the wear resistance and any optional safety requirements can be met.

The invention is based on a device for the comminution of preferably moisture-containing materials, comprising a housing to form an impact chamber having a rotating striking means driven therein by means of a preferably vertically oriented shaft, wherein a bottom plate, a cover, a wall connecting the bottom plate and cover, and an inlet and an outlet opening are arranged as the housing of the impact chamber.

The materials may contain mixed plastics and metals with biogenic components. These may consist, for example, of expired foods which are to be separated from their packaging and, for example, supplied for recycling to a biogas plant.

The solution to the problem for the device is that in the impact chamber a tub consisting of at least one layer of plastic is arranged at least along the bottom plate and, on the other side of the layer of plastic, a wear plate is arranged.

The invention thus provides the following advantages:Simple steel construction of the bodyProtection of steel structure from tribological effects, especially against acid and corrosionSimplified cleaningSelf-cleaning effectSecure avoidance of the formation of a galvanic element between main body, wear layer and/or the input material streams.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the tub and/or the wear plate can be designed in several parts. The junction points are preferably materially bonded and sealed. Thus, especially in the case of a material stream with a metallic content or liquids which could trigger a galvanic reaction, it is ensured that the housing is separated from the impact chamber. It is preferably provided that the tub encloses the entire impact chamber. Depending on the application, it may be sufficient to use the bottom plate and proportionately the wall toward the lid for the formation of the tub.

In a multi-part tub and a multi-part wear plate, the junction points of the tub segments and the wear plates can be arranged substantially spaced from each other. This increases the sealing effect and minimizes wear on the junction points, seams or welds.

It may preferably be provided that, in the region of the outlet opening on the bottom plate, the tub and/or the wear plate are made integrally and arranged as an orifice plate. This orifice plate may preferably almost include the opening angle of the outlet opening and is thus is easy to replace in a simple way.

Preferably, a harder material than the material of the housing can be arranged for the wear plate, for example Hardox 400 or Hardox 600. Hardox is the manufacturer's designation of a wear plate.

Alternatively or in combination, in the region of the outlet opening, the wear plate and/or the tub may be arranged with a gradient to the outside. This allows a liquid to emerge from the impact chamber without difficulty.

Alternatively or in combination, at least partially the tub, the wear plate and/or the orifice plate may be arranged in the region of the bottom plate with a gradient in the direction of the outlet opening. Again, a self-cleaning effect is to be made possible in that the existing fluids, especially at standstill of the device, can automatically escape from the device. In conjunction with manual or automated flushing, it is thus possible to prevent residual material in the device from causing odors, gases or other chemical reactions when the device is not in operation.

Alternatively or in combination, the tub and/or the wear plate may be arranged in the region of the bottom plate from the wall with a gradient in the direction of the shaft. This embodiment also serves the self-cleaning effect and also prevents deposits at the transition between the bottom plate and the wall.

Alternatively or in combination, at least one depression in the wear plate and/or in the plastic material can be arranged on the impact chamber side in the region of the bottom plate to form a channel, wherein the channel is preferably in operative connection with the outlet opening by a gradient. By implementing a channel, the features described above can be enhanced or the self-cleaning effect can be introduced.

Alternatively or in combination, the shaft may be arranged inclined relative to the bottom plate and/or the axis substantially perpendicular to the orientation of the gradient in the direction of the outlet opening.

It can obviously also be provided that the invention finds application in a comparable impact device with a horizontally arranged shaft. Of course, the invention can also be used in cutting devices according to the teaching and protect the impact chamber or the outer shell in a useful way.

Alternatively or in combination, compensating pieces can be arranged between the wear plate of the wall and the wear plate of the bottom plate, preferably made of the same material. This is particularly advantageous if a gradient is arranged in the region of the bottom plate. In this case, the wear plates can still be made uniformly and only the easily manageable or producible compensating pieces require a special geometry.

Alternatively or in combination, an elevation, preferably in the form of a cone, may be arranged in the region of the passage of the shaft through the bottom plate, the tub and/or the wear plate in the direction of the impact chamber. The elevation causes a seal against a liquid in the impact chamber or supports in its effect an existing seal between the shaft and the bottom plate.

In this context, it is preferably provided that the surface of the elevation or of the cone in the region of the striking means is arranged plane-parallel to the plane of the rotational movement of the striking means. This prevents pinching of the materials between the rotary impact tool and the bottom plate.

Alternatively or in combination, it may be provided that the junction points between the wear plates are used as a channel.

Alternatively or in combination, overlaps or tongue-and-groove connections may be arranged at the junction points between the wear plates to prevent the ingress of moisture or other substances between the wear plates, respectively between the wear plates.

FIG. 1schematically shows a section through a device with a vertically arranged shaft12driven by a drive14for rotating a striking means13in an impact chamber11defined by a housing1. The housing consists essentially of a base plate2, a cover10and a wall3connecting them. It is preferably provided that an inlet opening15for the material flow is arranged in the cover10and an outlet opening16between bottom plate2and wall3for the comminuted material. The wall3can be formed in a cylindrical or polygonal manner. In the interior of the impact chamber11, a layer of plastic for forming a tub4is arranged on the bottom plate2and adjacent to the bottom plate2at least on the lower parts of the wall3. To illustrate a preferred gradient, the tub is drawn obliquely in the direction of the outlet opening16in the region of the bottom plate2. In the outlet opening16, an adjustable slide (not shown) is provided, which regulates the throughput or the amount of exiting material from the impact chamber11.

InFIG. 2, the proposed structure of the layers attached within the housing1can be found on the example of the tub4enclosing the entire impact chamber11. Here, it is formed from a layer of plastic, which is arranged on the cover10, the bottom plate2and the wall3. To protect the tub4and to minimize wear, a wear plate5is arranged on the tub4on the impact chamber side. The wear plate5is configured in the interior of the impact chamber11only according to the requirements, wherein the dashed line indicates the more optional range.

The production is preferably as follows. First, the impact chamber is lined from the inside with matching fittings (tub segments) made of plastic, which are welded together. The tub segments17are selected as required and according to the design of the tub (seeFIG. 1) and comprise junction points19. Particularly preferably, the tub segments17made of plastic already have the necessary gradient, as proposed in the various features according to the invention. At the junction points between the fittings, the material is preferably welded or glued. On the fittings made of plastic, the wear plates5are then also introduced as segments into the impact chamber11and arranged there at their corresponding position. Particularly preferably, the geometry of the segments of the wear plates will hold them in place. Particularly preferably, these can also be glued at certain points with the plastic or otherwise fixed.

FIG. 3shows a plan view of the wear plates5arranged on the bottom plate2and two associated sections through the structure of the first layer of plastic and the wear plates5arranged thereon. The reference numeral for the wear plate5is not shown for each wear plate in order to maintain clarity of the illustration. In the region of the outlet opening16, which has an opening angle21, a preferably integral orifice plate8is arranged, via which the material and, above all, residual liquid can escape without difficulty. This orifice plate is preferably suitable to form a gradient G as a result of bearing on the tub or its geometry, which is shown with arrows and should correspond to the flow direction of a liquid. This embodiment further shows an outer ring of wear plates5, which are arranged on the wall3. In the section on the left side above, it can be seen that these wear plates5form a gradient G away from the wall3through the tub4and/or through their geometry5. Next, there is an inner ring of wear plates5. Between the outer and inner ring on wear plates5, a channel7may be arranged, which is formed circumferentially all the way to the outlet opening16and/or the orifice plate8and especially guides residual liquid at a standstill or during cleaning out of the impact chamber11in the direction of outlet opening16. As can be seen on the left in the section, the tub4preferably has a basic gradient of 1° for example in the direction of the outlet opening. As described, the inclination or the gradient of the wear plates5can vary for this purpose. Thus, the inner rim of the wear plates as shown has a gradient in the direction of the channel7.

In the middle of the bottom plate2, the shaft12is disposed, which is preferably guided in the region of the passage through an elevation in the tub. This elevation can be formed as a cone6and is shown more clearly in the lower sectional view. The cone6can be covered with wear plates5(not shown). Preferably, the surface18of the cone is plane-parallel to the plane of rotation of the impact tool to prevent clamping of materials between the cone and the impact tool.

By way of example, concealed junction points19between tub segments17of the tub4are shown at the top left with dashed lines. These are preferably located differently than the junction points18of the wear plates5.

In the lower sectional view, the compensating pieces20are still shown, which can be arranged between the wear plates5of the wall3and the wear plates5of the bottom plate2, to compensate for any angle or gradient specifications of the tub. Advantageously, it is then possible to use uniform and thus simpler wear plates5which are easier to produce.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS