Patent Publication Number: US-10780441-B2

Title: Production plus hammer tip

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/993,335 filed May 15, 2014, titled “Production Plus Hammer Tip”, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein, both bodily and by reference. 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
     Not Applicable 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a hammer tip for releasable integration with a hammer, used in a size reducing machine. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Size reducing machines include rotary hammer mills, tub grinders, vertical and horizontal feed machines and the like. These machines include a plurality of hammers with replaceable hammer tips. Common design practice is for the hammer tips to be symmetrical with two top working edges. It is also common for the hammer tip to be attached to the hammer with two bolts and two nuts. U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,173 granted to Balvantz shows the symmetrical hammer tip and two bolt attachment. 
     One of the two hammer tip top working edges will encounter the brunt of the action and exhibit the most wear (the up position). The other symmetrical working edge is mostly out the action (the down position) and will exhibit only some wear. 
     Depending on the location of the hammer tip within the machine, it will exhibit more or less wear than other hammer tips. 
     During hammermill operation, it is important that the hammer tips are not too worn. Excessively worn hammer tips will reduce the mill operation throughput and increase the machine power consumption. Typically, the hammermill operator will inspect the hammermill tips for wear every 4 hours or as scheduled. 
     If a hammermill tip top working edge is observed to be worn, the two attachment bolts are removed. Typically in extreme conditions, both bolt heads are also worn and the bolts will be replaced. If both working edges of the hammermill tip are worn, the hammermill tip is replaced. If only one of the hammermill tips is worn, the hammermill tip is rotated end for end and reinstalled. 
     Because there are twice as many working edges (both ends of each hammer tip) compared to the number of hammers, the operator may try to overly optimize the position of the working edges. This repositioning of the working edges causes excessive downtime. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a hammer tip comprised of two sections. The production block is the upper portion of the hammer tip and includes the top working edge. The spacer block fills the space below the production block and secures the production block positioning. The spacer block also provides additional side working edges and flat front surface with carbide facing. 
     The maximum amount of working edge (top and side) and flat impact face is desireable for grinding throughput. 
     One of the objects of the invention is to have a single top working edge for each hammer tip. This simplifies the replacement procedure and eliminates downtime due to excessive repositioning of hammer tips. Replacement of production blocks requires 50% less downtime due to only a single bolt removal. For reassembly, the production block is placed on top of the spacer block. This positioning guide decreases the downtime in lining up the production block and bolt. 
     Another object of the invention is to increase the throughput of the size reducing machine by increasing the amount of working edge. In addition to the top working edge, there are also side working edges. The spacer block includes two full length side working edges. This is substantially more side working edge compared to a symmetrical hammer tip with two top working edges. The spacer block provides a full flat face that could be fully covered with a wear resistant coating such as Caden Edge. This increase in carbide covered flat face also increases throughput. 
     Another object of the invention is to reduce the amount of high grade steel material. It is anticipated that the production block would need replacing approximately 10 times before the spacer block would need replacement. By replacing only the worn production block most of the time, a large savings in total usage of high grade steel material is realized. Two production blocks will last substantially longer in machine use than one symmetrical hammer tip. This is because the lower half of the symmetrical hammer tip is partially worn before it is inverted and reinstalled. 
     Another object of the invention is to reduce the number of replacement bolts and nuts. In one configuration of the invention, the nuts are eliminated with internal threads on the production block or spacer block. In another configuration, the bolt head is protected in the production block or spacer block with a wear resistant coating. 
     In another configuration of the invention, a saddle back shoulder is used to resist movement of the production block or spacer block relative to the hammer. This saddle back is important for secure attachment of these parts with a single bolt. 
     In another configuration of the invention, a locking ledge is used between the production plus block and support block. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a prior art side view of a grinding machine assembly. 
         FIG. 2 a    is a prior art side view of a hammer assembly. 
         FIG. 2 b    is a prior art front view of a hammer assembly. 
         FIG. 3 a    is a side view of a production plus hammer assembly with bolts. 
         FIG. 3 b    is a front view of a production plus hammer assembly with bolts. 
         FIG. 3 c    is a top view of a production plus hammer assembly with bolts. 
         FIG. 4 a    is a front view of a production block with saddle back. 
         FIG. 4 b    is a side view of a production block with saddle back. 
         FIG. 4 c    is a bottom view of a production block with saddle back. 
         FIG. 5 a    is a front view of a spacer block with saddle back. 
         FIG. 5 b    is a side view of a spacer block with saddle back. 
         FIG. 5 c    is a top view of a spacer block with saddle back. 
         FIG. 6 a    is a side view of a production plus hammer assembly with nuts. 
         FIG. 6 b    is a front view of a production plus hammer assembly with nuts. 
         FIG. 6 c    is a top view of a production plus hammer assembly nuts. 
         FIG. 7 a    is a side view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with bolts. 
         FIG. 7 b    is a front view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with bolts. 
         FIG. 7 c    is a top view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with bolts. 
         FIG. 8 a    is a side view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with nuts. 
         FIG. 8 b    is a front view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with nuts. 
         FIG. 8 c    is a top view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with nuts. 
         FIG. 9 a    is a side view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with side saddle. 
         FIG. 9 b    is a front view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with side saddle. 
         FIG. 9 c    is a top view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with side saddle. 
         FIG. 10 a    is a side view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with lock ledge. 
         FIG. 10 b    is a front view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with lock ledge. 
         FIG. 10 c    is a top view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with lock ledge. 
         FIG. 11 a    is a front view of a production block with lock pocket. 
         FIG. 11 b    is a side view of a production block with lock pocket. 
         FIG. 11 c    is a bottom view of a production block with lock pocket. 
         FIG. 12 a    is a front view of a spacer block with lock ledge. 
         FIG. 12 b    is a side view of a spacer block with lock ledge. 
         FIG. 12 c    is a top view of a spacer block with lock ledge. 
         FIG. 13 a    is a side view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with Caden Edge bolt head. 
         FIG. 13 b    is a front view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with Caden Edge bolt head. 
         FIG. 13 c    is a top view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with Caden Edge bolt head. 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with worn production spacer. 
         FIG. 15 a    is a side view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with sharp edge. 
         FIG. 15 b    is a front view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with sharp edge. 
         FIG. 15 c    is a top view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with sharp edge. 
         FIG. 16 a    is a front view of a production block with side Caden Edge. 
         FIG. 16 b    is a side view of a production block with side Caden Edge. 
         FIG. 16 c    is a bottom view of a production block with side Caden Edge. 
         FIG. 17 a    is a top view of a sweep with nose point Caden Edge. 
         FIG. 17 b    is a bottom view of a sweep with nose point Caden Edge. 
         FIG. 18 a    is a top view of a sweep with nose point and heel Caden Edge. 
         FIG. 18 b    is a side view of a sweep with nose point and heel Caden Edge. 
         FIG. 18 c    is a bottom view of a sweep with nose point and heel Caden Edge. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 10 
                 grinder housing 
                 11 
                 drum 
               
               
                 12 
                 rotation direction 
                 13 
                 hammer 
               
               
                 15 
                 hammer tip 
                 16 
                 distal working edge 
               
               
                 17 
                 distal working edge 
                 18 
                 nose 
               
               
                 20 
                 bolt 
                 21 
                 bolt 
               
               
                 22 
                 proximal working edge 
                 23 
                 bolt pocket 
               
               
                 25 
                 nut 
                 26 
                 nut 
               
               
                 28 
                 wear resistant surface 
                 29 
                 proximal working edge 
               
               
                 30 
                 hammer 
                 31 
                 production block 
               
               
                 32 
                 support block 
                 33 
                 bolt 
               
               
                 34 
                 side working edge 
                 35 
                 top working edge 
               
               
                 37 
                 side working edge 
                 38 
                 side working edge 
               
               
                 39 
                 side working edge 
                 42 
                 internal thread 
               
               
                 44 
                 saddle back 
                 45 
                 saddle back 
               
               
                 46 
                 wear resistant surface 
                 52 
                 internal thread 
               
               
                 53 
                 saddle back 
                 54 
                 saddle back 
               
               
                 61 
                 production block 
                 62 
                 spacer block 
               
               
                 63 
                 bolt 
                 64 
                 bolt 
               
               
                 65 
                 nut 
                 66 
                 nut 
               
               
                 70 
                 bar hammer 
                 71 
                 production block 
               
               
                 72 
                 spacer block 
                 73 
                 bolt 
               
               
                 74 
                 bolt 
                 75 
                 internal thread 
               
               
                 76 
                 saddle back 
                 81 
                 production block 
               
               
                 82 
                 spacer block 
                 83 
                 bolt 
               
               
                 85 
                 nut 
                 86 
                 nut 
               
               
                 87 
                 saddle back 
                 90 
                 production block 
               
               
                 91 
                 spacer block 
                 92 
                 top working edge 
               
               
                 93 
                 side saddle back 
                 94 
                 saddle 
               
               
                 101 
                 production block 
                 102 
                 spacer block 
               
               
                 103 
                 lock ledge 
                 104 
                 lock pocket 
               
               
                 111 
                 saddle back 
                 126 
                 saddle back 
               
               
                 131 
                 bolt 
                 132 
                 bolt 
               
               
                 141 
                 worn production block 
                 143 
                 worn top working edge 
               
               
                 145 
                 top working edge 
                 151 
                 sharp edge production block 
               
               
                 153 
                 sharp edge spacer block 
                 155 
                 top working edge 
               
               
                 156 
                 side working edge 
                 157 
                 side working edge 
               
               
                 160 
                 production block 
                 161 
                 side working edge 
               
               
                 163 
                 top working edge 
                 171 
                 sweep 
               
               
                 172 
                 sweep attachment 
                 173 
                 bottom Caden Edge 
               
               
                 174 
                 nose 
                 175 
                 nose Caden Edge 
               
               
                 181 
                 sweep 
                 182 
                 sweep attachement 
               
               
                 183 
                 nose Caden Edge 
                 184 
                 shank Caden Edge 
               
               
                 185 
                 bottom Caden Edge 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a prior art side view of a grinding machine assembly. The grinder housing  10  is stationary. The drum  11  is powered and has rotation direction  12 . The hammer  13  is affixed to the drum  11 . 
       FIG. 2 a    is a prior art side view of a hammer assembly. The hammer tip  15  is affixed to the hammer  13  with bolt  21 , bolt  20 , nut  25  and nut  26 . A bolt pocket  23  is incorporated into the hammer tip  15 . The hammer tip  15  includes distal working edge  16 , distal working edge  17 , proximal working edge  22  and proximal working edge  29 . 
     The nose  18  incorporated into the hammer  13  is intended to protect the distal working edge  17  from wear while in this position. After several hours of grinder operation, the distal working edge  16  would experience wear to the point that the grinder throughput is decreased. Then bolt  20  and bolt  21  would be removed, the hammer tip  15  would be inverted and the bolts replaced. 
     A wear resistant surface  28  such as Caden Edge is shown on the nose  18 , hammer tip  15  and the top of the hammer  15 . 
       FIG. 2 b    is a prior art front view of a hammer assembly. The working surfaces are all the rotating edges that provide grinding action. Note that as shown in  FIG. 2 b   , the working surfaces include distal working edge  16  and approximately half of proximal working edge  22  and proximal working edge  29 . The nose  18  is blunt and provides little working surface. The nose  18  also shields distal working edge  17  and approximately half of the proximal working edges. 
       FIG. 3 a    is a side view of a production plus hammer assembly with bolts. The hammer  30  no longer includes the nose  18  feature. The production plus hammer tip includes the production block  31  and the spacer block  32 . The production plus hammer tip could be installed on the hammer  13 , however the nose  18  would be vestigial feature. 
     The production block  31  and spacer block  32  are affixed to the hammer  30  with bolt  33  and bolt  36 . The production block  31  and spacer block  32  include clearance holes for bolt  33  and bolt  36 . Note how the surface plane between the production block  31  and spacer block  32  allow each of the blocks to provide support for the other. 
       FIG. 3 b    is a front view of a production plus hammer assembly with bolts. The production block  31  includes working surfaces top working edge  35 , side working edge  37  and side working edge  39 . The spacer block includes working surfaces side working edge  34  and side working edge  38 . Note that all of side working edge  37  and side working edge  39  are working surfaces. Also note that a high percentage of side working edge  34  and side working edge  38  are working surfaces. 
       FIG. 4 a    is a front view of a production block with saddle back. A wear resistant surface  46  such as Caden Edge is shown on the top working edge  35 , side working edge  39 , side working edge  37  and all of the face except near the internal thread  42 . 
       FIG. 4 b    is a side view of a production block with saddle back. The internal thread  42  is used by the bolt  33  to attach the production block  31  to the hammer  30 . 
       FIG. 4 c    is a bottom view of a production block with saddle back. The saddle back  44  and saddle back  45  provide rotation resistance of the production block relative to the hammer  30 . 
       FIG. 5 a    is a front view of a spacer block with saddle back. A wear resistant surface  46  such as Caden Edge is shown on the side working edge  35 , side working edge  34  and all of the face except near the internal thread  52 . 
       FIG. 5 b    is a side view of a spacer block with saddle back. The internal thread  52  is used by the bolt  36  to attach the spacer block  32  to the hammer  30 . 
       FIG. 5 c    is a top view of a spacer block with saddle back. The saddle back  54  and saddle back  53  provide rotation resistance of the spacer block relative to the hammer  30 . 
       FIG. 6 a    is a side view of a production plus hammer assembly with nuts. The production plus hammer tip includes the production block  61  and the spacer block  62 . The production block  61  is affixed to the hammer  30  with bolt  63  and nut  65 . The spacer block  62  is affixed to the hammer  30  with bolt  64  and nut  66 . 
       FIG. 6 b    is a front view of a production plus hammer assembly with nuts. The production block would include a feature such as bolt pocket  23  to prevent rotation of bolt  63 . The spacer block  62  would include a feature such as bolt pocket  23  to prevent rotation of bolt  64 . 
       FIG. 7 a    is a side view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with bolts. The bar hammer  70  provides a similar function to the hammer  30 . The bar hammer  70  is affixed to a drum  11  and provides attachment means for the production plus hammer tip. The production block  71  and spacer block  72  are affixed to the bar hammer  70  with bolt  73  and bolt  74 . 
       FIG. 8 a    is a side view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with nuts. The production block  81  is affixed to the bar hammer  70  with bolt  83  and nut  85 . The spacer block  82  is affixed to the bar hammer  70  with bolt  84  and nut  86 . 
       FIG. 9 a    is a side view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with side saddle. The spacer block  91  includes a saddle back feature with the bar hammer  70  to resist rotational movement. The spacer block  91  also includes a saddle  94  feature which protrudes above the upper surface. 
       FIG. 9 b    is a front view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with side saddle. The production block  90  includes two side saddle  93  features. These mate with the saddle  94  and resist rotational movement of the production block  90 . As shown in  FIG. 9 a   , the production block  90  does not include a saddle back feature, since rotational movement is covered by the side saddle. 
       FIG. 10 a    is a side view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with lock ledge, and  FIGS. 10 b  and 10 c    are front and top views, respectively, of the production plus bar hammer assembly with lock ledge. In this configuration, both the production block  101  and spacer block  102  include saddle back features. In addition, the spacer block  102  includes a lock ledge  103 . The production block  101  includes a lock pocket  104 . The lock ledge  103  prevents tilting motion of the production block  101 . This tilting motion is caused by the impact of grinding material against the top working edge  106 . 
       FIG. 11 a    is a front view, and  FIG. 11 b    is a side view, of a production block with lock pocket. The lock pocket  104  is recessed into the front of the production block along the width of the front side of the production block. The lock pocket  104  and lock ledge  103  are precision machined to tightly fit. 
       FIG. 11 c    is a bottom view of a production block with lock pocket. Note the saddle back  111  on the back of the part. 
       FIG. 12 a    is a front view, and  FIG. 12 b    is a side view of a spacer block with lock ledge. The lock ledge  103  is formed as a ledge along the width of the back side of the spacer block and holds the bottom of the production block against the bar hammer  70 . 
       FIG. 12 c    is a top view of a spacer block with lock ledge. Note the saddle back  126  on the back of the part. 
       FIG. 13 a    is a side view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with Caden Edge bolt head. This is similar construction to  FIG. 8 a    with the exception of the bolts. 
       FIG. 13 b    is a front view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with Caden Edge bolt head. During operation, the impact of material on the production plus hammer tip causes wear on any forward facing surface. The high impact surfaces of the production block  81  and spacer block  82  are covered with a wear resistant coating. As shown in  FIG. 8 b   , the heads of bolt  83  and bolt  84  are subject to high wear. As shown in  FIG. 13 b   , the heads of bolt  131  and bolt  132  are covered with a wear resistant coating such as Caden Edge. 
     In configuration A of  FIG. 13 b    the head of bolt  131  would have the wear resistant coating applied before assembly to production block  81 . This would keep the most flexibility in assembly/disassembly of the production block  81  to the bar hammer  70 . 
     In configuration B of  FIG. 13 b    the head of bolt  131  would have the wear resistant coating applied after assembly to production block  81 . The application of the wear resistant coating such as Caden Edge would permanently capture the bolt  131  to the production block  81 . The head of the bolt  131  would be welded to the bolt pocket  23  of the production block  81 . It is important that the bolt  131  be accurately aligned with the production block  81  during the welding (Caden Edge) process to facility assembly to the bar hammer  70 . It is possible with this configuration for the entire face (all front surface of production block  81  and bolt  131  head) to be covered with the wear resistant coating such as Caden Edge. 
     Configurations A or B would also have applicability to spacer block  82  and bolt  132 . 
       FIG. 14  is a side view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with worn production spacer. A spacer block  62  will wear at about 1/10 the rate of the production block  81 . In a production environment, there will be an excess of worn production blocks  141 . With the correct geometry, it is possible to allow worn production blocks  141  to be used as replacement spacer blocks  62 . The worn production block  141  is rotated and placed with the worn top working edge  143  at the bottom. 
     The correct geometry includes: a. not having the lock ledge feature 
     b. not having the side saddle feature and 
     c. both blocks having the same distance from bolt centerline to production block/spacer block contact surface. 
       FIG. 15 a    is a side view of a production plus bar hammer assembly with sharp edge. The sharp edge production block  151  includes a top working edge  155  and two side working edges  156 . The sharp edge spacer block  153  includes two side working edges  157 . For good wear resistance, the working edges and front face of sharp edge production block  151  and sharp edge spacer block  153  could be hardened to approximately HRC  60 . These blocks could also have a thin wear resistant coating of carbide spray applied. 
       FIG. 16 a    is a front view of a production block with side Caden Edge. The production block  160  includes wear resistant coating such as Caden Edge on the top working edge  163  and two side working edges  161 . 
     U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 2013/0252023 Caden Edge Welding Process shows the Caden Edge weld being applied to the bottom surface of a plow sweep blade. In combination with this bottom surface Caden Edge weld, it also enhances the wear life of the plow sweep blade to apply a Caden Edge weld to the nose tip.  FIG. 17 a    is a top view of a sweep with nose point Caden Edge. The sweep  171  is affixed to the implement via the sweep attachment  172 . The bottom Caden Edge  173  is shown in  FIG. 15 b   . The wear improvement is the nose Caden Edge  175 . 
     A typical sweep  171  overall length is 7 to 24 inches from nose  174  to sweep attachment  172 . The nose Caden Edge would be approximately 1 to 3 inches in length from the nose  174  to the weld end. 
       FIG. 18 a    is a top view of a sweep with nose point and heel Caden Edge. The sweep  181  includes bottom caden edge  185 , nose Caden Edge  183  and one or more shank Caden Edges  184 . In this configuration, it is desired to reduce the wear on the sweep shank area. The shank Caden Edge  184  would be approximately 1 to 3 inches in length and positioned between the nose Caden Edge  183  and the sweep attachment  182 . 
     Although the invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments and applications, persons skilled in the art can, in light of this teaching, generate additional embodiments without exceeding the scope or departing from the spirit of the claimed invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawings and description in this disclosure are provided to help the reader understand the invention, and do not limit the scope of the claims.