Patent Publication Number: US-8528846-B2

Title: Vibratory crushing apparatus

Description:
The present application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/251,950, filed on Oct. 15, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This patent is directed to a vibratory apparatus, and, in particular, to a vibratory apparatus suitable for crushing materials. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a vibratory crushing apparatus includes at least one trough having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a wall defining a material-receiving space having a first cross-sectional area and at least one crusher disposed in the trough. The at least one crusher has an outer surface that conforms to an inner surface of the wall about a circumference of the crusher, and a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area so as to define a gap between the outer surface of the at least one crusher and the inner surface of the wall. The apparatus also includes a vibration generator coupled to the at least one trough to cause material to move between the inlet end and the outlet end and to cause the at least one crusher to move relative to the wall of the trough. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       It is believed that the disclosure will be more fully understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Some of the figures may have been simplified by the omission of selected elements for the purpose of more clearly showing other elements. Such omissions of elements in some figures are not necessarily indicative of the presence or absence of particular elements in any of the exemplary embodiments, except as may be explicitly delineated in the corresponding written description. None of the drawings are necessarily to scale. 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a vibratory crushing apparatus according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of the vibratory crushing apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vibratory crushing apparatus of  FIG. 1  taken about line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vibratory crushing apparatus of  FIG. 1  taken about line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS 
     Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of different embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention. 
     It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘ —————— ’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term be limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a vibratory crushing apparatus  100 . The apparatus  100  may include at least one trough  102 , at least one crusher  104  disposed in the trough  102 , and a vibration generator  106  coupled to the trough  102 . 
     The trough  102  may have an inlet end  108 , an outlet end  110 , a longitudinal axis  112  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) that runs from the inlet end  108  to the outlet end  110 , and a lateral axis  114  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) that runs orthongally to the longitudinal axis  112 . The trough  102  may also include a wall  116  defining a material-receiving space  118  having a first cross-sectional area (see  FIG. 3 ). While the wall  116  is illustrated as closed, i.e., the wall  116  extends about the entire circumference of the trough  102  in cross-section such as is illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the wall  116  may also be open instead. 
     The crusher  104  may have an outer surface  120  that conforms to an inner surface  122  of the wall  116  about a circumference of the crusher  104  (see  FIGS. 2 and 4 ). In this regard, the outer surface  120  conforms to the inner surface  122  such that the shape of the crusher  104  and the wall  116  in cross-section are substantially the same. The crusher  104  also may have a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area to define a gap  124  between the outer surface  120  of the crusher  104  and the inner surface  122  of the wall  116 . The material to be crushed moves between the crusher  104  and the wall  116  of the trough  102 , and movement of the opposing surfaces  120 ,  122  of the crusher  104  and the wall  116  relative to each other causes the material passing between these elements to be crushed. 
     The vibration generator  106  acts on the trough  102  to cause material to move between the inlet end  108  and the outlet end  110  of the trough  102 . In particular, the vibration generator  106  causes material disposed in the trough  102  to move along the axis  112  between the inlet end  108  and the outlet end  110 . The vibration generator  106  also causes the crusher  104  to move relative to the trough  102 . 
     Having discussed the vibratory crushing apparatus  100  in general terms, the subassemblies and elements of the apparatus  100  are now discussed in detail. In addition, variations and alternatives to the subassemblies and elements of the illustrated apparatus  100  are discussed. 
     Initially, it will be noted, in particular with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , that the vibratory crushing apparatus  100  according to the present disclosure may include a plurality of troughs  102 . In particular, the illustrated embodiment includes three troughs  102  disposed side-by-side with their lateral axes  114  aligned. It will be recognized that instead the vibratory apparatus  100  could include a single trough  102 . It will also be recognized that some number of troughs  102  other than three may be included, and their alignment need not be side-by-side with the lateral axes  114  aligned. 
     As illustrated, each trough  102  of the vibratory crushing apparatus  100  is identical. That is, each trough  102  may have an inlet end  108 , an outlet end  110 , and a wall  116  defining a material-receiving space  118  having a first cross-sectional area, and a plurality of crushers  104  may be disposed in each trough  102 , the plurality of crushers  104  each having an outer surface  120  that conforms to an inner surface  122  of the wall  116  about a circumference of the crusher  104 , and a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area so as to define a  124  gap between the outer surface  120  of the crusher  104  and the inner surface  122  of the wall  116 . It will be recognized, however, that each of the troughs  102  may vary in structure relative to the other troughs  102 . 
     The troughs  102  may or may not include one or more partitions to divide the trough  102  into two or more subspaces or chambers. As illustrated, the troughs  102  include at least two partitions that divide the material-receiving space into three chambers, but other embodiments may vary as to the number of partitions and chambers defined, as well as the placement of the partitions. Also, while the illustrated embodiment uses well-defined partitions to separate the chambers, it will be recognized that according to other embodiments the partitions may not be so well-defined. 
     Referring then to  FIG. 2 , the trough  102  includes a first partition in the form of a divider  140  disposed within the material-receiving space  118 . The divider  140  may be spaced from the inlet end  108  to define a preliminary crushing chamber  142  adjacent the inlet end  108  and a main crushing chamber  144  between the divider  140  and the outlet end  110  and downstream of the preliminary crushing chamber  142 . The preliminary crushing chamber  142  may be in communication with a hopper  146  that is disposed above the trough  102 , the hopper  146  communicating with the preliminary crushing chamber  142  through an opening  148  in the wall  116  of the trough  102 . 
     Media  150  may be disposed in the preliminary crushing chamber  142 , while the crushers  104  are disposed in the main crushing chamber  144 . The media  150  may have many different shapes, although as illustrated the media  150  may be in form of spheres or balls. The amount, size and shape of the media  150  used may vary according to the type of material being fed into the vibratory crushing apparatus  100 . 
     Comparing  FIGS. 2-4 , it will be recognized that the wall  116  in the main crushing chamber  144  defines an elongated hollow tube, while each of the crushers  104  disposed in the main crushing chamber  144  is defined by a solid cylindrical block. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the wall  116  has an annular cross-section that defines the first cross-sectional area, and the crushers  104  have a circular cross-section with the second cross-sectional area. According to certain embodiments, if the center of the crusher  104  were to be aligned with the center of the wall  116 , the gap  124  may be an order smaller than (i.e., a ratio of approximately 1:10 relative to) an inner diameter of the wall  116  defined by the inner surface  122 . According to particular embodiments, the gap  124  may not be more than an inch. 
     It will also be recognized that the inner surface  122  of the wall  116 , or an outer surface for that matter, may have various materials applied thereto, such as materials for sound deadening applied to the outer surface, for example. The surface may be coated with such materials, or the materials may be applied as a physically separate layer or layers to the surface. It will also be recognized that the surface may include these materials within the wall  116 . For that matter, the inner surface  122  may be formed with various textures, which may cause the thickness of the wall  116  to vary in different locations along the length of the chamber  144 . All of this is within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     While a generally cylindrical geometry has been used in the illustrated apparatus  100 , the disclosure is not so limited. For example, the wall  116  may have a square shape in cross-section, or the shape of some other multi-side polygon in cross-section. Moreover, while the wall  116  as illustrated appears to be formed as a single piece, it will be understood that it may be defined by a plurality of wall segments, both about the circumference of the wall  116 , as well as along its axial length (i.e., along the longitudinal axis  112  of the trough  102 ). Moreover, as mentioned above, the wall  116  need not be closed, but may have one or more sections that are open along the axial length of the trough  102 . 
     It will also be recognized that while the crushers  104  have been illustrated with a uniform outer surface  120  (i.e., without indentations or other surface variations), it is possible for the outer surface  120  to have indentations, grooves, dimples or other surface variations along sections of the outer surface  120  or over the entire outer surface  120 . Along similar lines, it may be possible for the outer surfaces  120  of different crushers  104  to have different surface variations. Moreover, the outer surface  120  of the crushers  104  may be defined by one or more layers that are secured to or coated on an inner core, with the layers and the core being made of a common material or of differing materials. 
     Further, while a solid crusher  104  has been illustrated and discussed, it will also be appreciated that the crusher  104  may be hollow instead. In this regard, the crusher  104  may have walls that give the crusher  104  a solid exterior shape, but the crusher  104  may be hollow at its center. As a further alternative, the crusher  104  may be designed to be hollow at its center, and then the hollow center may be filled, either partially or fully, with material dissimilar to that of the walls defining the exterior shape of the crusher  104 . 
     It will also be recognized in  FIG. 2  that the crushers  104  each have a first end  160  disposed in the direction of the inlet end  108  and a second end  162  disposed in the direction of the outlet end  110 . The opposing first and second ends  160 ,  162  of adjacent ones of the plurality of crushers  104  may have a spacing therebetween to define return paths  164 . To maintain the spacing and keep the return paths  164  open, each crusher  104  may have a spacer  166  attached to the second end  162  of the crusher  104  to maintain the spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of crushers  104 . It will be recognized, that the spacers  166  may instead be disposed between the crushers  104  without being attached to the crushers  104 . 
     As to the axial length of the crushers  104 , that is the distance between the first and second ends  160 ,  162  of the individual crushers  104  along the longitudinal axis  112  of the trough  102 , this may vary. That is, according to certain embodiments, all of the crushers  104  disposed in a particular trough  102  may have the same or substantially the same axial length. According to other embodiments, such as is illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the individual crushers  104  may have at least two different axial lengths, so that one or more of the crushers  104  of one axial length are separated by one or more of the crushers  104  of the other axial length or lengths. 
     The trough  102  may also include a second partition in the form of a holdback  180  disposed within the material-receiving space  118 . The holdback  180  is spaced from the outlet end  110  to define a screening chamber  182  adjacent the outlet end  110  and downstream of the main crushing chamber  144 . The wall  116  of the trough  102  includes a screen section  184  in communication with the screening chamber  182 . 
     As illustrated, the material exiting the main crushing chamber  144  passes over the screen section  184 . The larger materials pass completely over the screen section  184  and through the outlet end  110 . Smaller materials pass through the screen section  184  before they reach the outlet end  110 . In this sense, the vibratory crushing apparatus  100  may not only crush the material, but may also sort or separate the crushed material. A secondary trough (not shown) may be fixedly attached to the trough  102  below the screen section  184  to convey the material passing through the screen section  184 , rather than simply permitting the material to be deposited below the trough  102 . 
     While a single preliminary crushing chamber  142 , a single main crushing chamber  144 , and a single screening chamber  182  have been illustrated, a plurality of any or all of these chambers  142 ,  144 ,  182  may be included in a single vibratory crushing apparatus  100  according to the present disclosure. For example, the screening chamber  182  may be followed by a further length of trough, with partitions that divide the further length of trough into a further main crushing chamber and a further screening section. In this fashion, the smaller particles may be removed from the material moving through the apparatus  100  prior to entering the further main crushing chamber. The removal of the smaller particles may enhance the crushing of the larger particles in the further main crushing chamber, with a final screening (and separation) occurring in the further screening section. According to such an embodiment, the further length of trough would be fixedly attached to the trough  102  to be coupled to the vibration generator  106 . 
     Finally, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the vibratory crushing apparatus  100  may include a plurality of resilient members  200  having a first end  202  coupled to the trough  102 , and a second end  204  supported on a surface  206 . These resilient members  200 , which may be defined by a spring as illustrated, may be referred to isolation elements or isolators, in that they isolate the surrounding environment from the vibrations of the remainder of the apparatus  100 . While the trough  102  is supported above the surface  206  to be approximately level with the horizontal axis, it is also possible to tilt the axis  112  of the trough  102  to use gravity to enhance or retard the motion of the material along the axis  112  through the trough  102 . 
     As seen best in  FIG. 1 , the vibration generator  106  may include at least one shaft  210  having one or more eccentric weights  212  attached thereto. The shaft  210  may be disposed orthongally to the longitudinal axis  112  of the trough  102 . In particular, the shaft  210  may be defined by a shaft of a motor  214 . 
     As illustrated, the vibration generator comprises at least one resilient member  216  coupling at least one shaft  210  (of the motor  214 ) to the trough  102 , the resilient member  216  having a axis  218  disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis  112  of the trough  102 . Resilient member  216 , which may be defined by a spring as illustrated, may be referred to as an reactor element or reactor, is attached at a first end  220  to a mounting bracket  222  attached to all three troughs  102 , and at a second end  224  to a mounting plate  226  on which the motor  214  is mounted. 
     While a particular vibration generator  106  has been illustrated in the figures, it will be recognized that other generators may be used as well. For example, the illustrated vibration generator  106  is a two-mass system. It will be recognized that brute force and other type of generators may also be used with the apparatus  100  according to the present disclosure. 
     In operation, material is fed into the hopper  146 . The material exits the hopper  146  under a gravity feed into the preliminary crushing chamber  142 , where the media  150  acts on the material before the material moves, under the influence of the vibration generator  106 , along the longitudinal axis  112  of the trough  102 . Upon entering the main crushing chamber  144 , the crushers  104  act on the material as it continues to move along the longitudinal axis  112  of the trough  102 . Some of the material may find its way to the top of the crushers  104 , and then back down to the bottom of the trough  102  through the return paths  164 . The material then exits the main crushing chamber  144  into the screening chamber  182 , whereupon it passes over the screen section  184 . Certain materials may pass over the screen section  184  and out the outlet end  110 , while other materials pass through the screen section  184  and out of the trough  102 . 
     It is believed that the present disclosure may have several benefits, one or more of which may be present in a particular embodiment according to the present disclosure.