Patent ID: 7861956

Claim:
An apparatus for crushing anodes and for recovering carbon from the anodes comprising: a chamber for receiving anodes made primarily of carbon; at least some of the anodes being hard or having metal material embedded therein or associated therewith; first and second vertical walls located at opposing ends of the chamber prior to crushing the anodes; at least the first wall being a movable wall; the first wall having a plurality of cutting devices attached thereto; the first wall being able to move in a first direction toward the second wall for crushing the anodes received in the chamber and in a second direction away from the second wall and away from the anodes; the first wall remaining vertical while moving in the first direction and the second direction; an apparatus for applying pressure to the first wall for moving the first wall in the first direction; at least one pressure sensor associated with the apparatus for applying pressure whereby when at least one of the cutting devices comes into contact with a hard anode or with metal material and a predetermined pressure level is exceeded, the first wall ceases moving in the first direction and begins moving in the second direction; and an apparatus for regulating the velocity of the first wall in the first direction.