A revolutionary and totally unique apparatus relatively quickly and easily configurable and reconfigurable into more than 829,440 different combinations reduces the particle size of organic and inorganic materials, including components of hemp cultivars and kenaf stalks, from inches to microns in less than one second by gently pulling the structures apart along natural fracture planes and lines of cleavage rather than compressing the material to failure, while simultaneously liberating particles of complex multiphase materials one from the other using selective differential fragmentation, all without agglomeration. Strong shearing forces induced by thousands of incrementally-stepped, pulsed shock waves, vortexes of air, rapid pulsatile pressure changes, and piezoelectric effects at different levels in the apparatus combine to cause the material's elastic limits to be exceeded flowing through user-definable processing chambers characterized by alternating processing rotors and segmented divider plates embedded in hinged outer doors.

The invention relates to a device (10; 50) for mechanically comminuting materials, including a vertically extending comminuting chamber (14) having an upwardly extending supply side (15) and a downwardly extending discharge side. The comminuting chamber is enclosed by an circular cylindrical and/or conical downwardly expanded comminuting chamber wall (12), and in which at least one rotor (16, 18) rotating about a vertical rotor axis (R) is arranged, which is provided with striking tools (38) that extend radially into the comminuting chamber, at least during operation. The rotors (16, 18) are held in a stationary manner with respect to a support base (20) of the device, and the comminuting chamber wall is supported on the support base. According to the invention, the comminuting chamber wall is held in place by way of a lifting device in the direction of the rotor axis (R) in a height adjustable manner relative to the support base (20). The lifting device (36) has a working position, in which the lower edge of the comminuting chamber wall (12) is arranged close to the support base (20) or to a part connected thereto, and a maintenance position, in which the lower edge (32) of the comminuting chamber wall (12) is vertically raised above at least one of the striking tools (22, 24). The invention allows easy maintenance and an uncomplicated exchange of the striking tools of the comminuting device.

The invention relates to a device (10; 50) for mechanically comminuting materials, including a vertically extending comminuting chamber (14) having an upwardly extending supply side (15) and a downwardly extending discharge side. The comminuting chamber is enclosed by an circular cylindrical and/or conical downwardly expanded comminuting chamber wall (12), and in which at least one rotor (16, 18) rotating about a vertical rotor axis (R) is arranged, which is provided with striking tools (38) that extend radially into the comminuting chamber, at least during operation. The rotors (16, 18) are held in a stationary manner with respect to a support base (20) of the device, and the comminuting chamber wall is supported on the support base. According to the invention, the comminuting chamber wall is held in place by way of a lifting device in the direction of the rotor axis (R) in a height adjustable manner relative to the support base (20). The lifting device (36) has a working position, in which the lower edge of the comminuting chamber wall (12) is arranged close to the support base (20) or to a part connected thereto, and a maintenance position, in which the lower edge (32) of the comminuting chamber wall (12) is vertically raised above at least one of the striking tools (22, 24). The invention allows easy maintenance and an uncomplicated exchange of the striking tools of the comminuting device.

An impact mill using hammers to strike particles and reduce their size as the material progresses through a grinding chamber. Baffles are provided in the grinding chamber, adjacent the interior wall thereof, concentrically about the drive shaft of the mill. The baffles are adjacent to the hammers in the area of hammer sweep and form a path for the material using the flow of air through the mill and the swing of hammers to keep material from falling within the mill and remaining in the hammer sweep area. A variable speed motor varies the rate of movement of the hammers to increase or decrease the rate of strike of hammers to more efficiently and effectively reduce the material passing therethrough. The baffles can be retrofit into existing mills and can be created in angular sections with the lining of the grinding chamber for modular installation and removal.

An impact mill using hammers to strike particles and reduce their size as the material progresses through a grinding chamber. Baffles are provided in the grinding chamber, adjacent the interior wall thereof, concentrically about the drive shaft of the mill. The baffles are adjacent to the hammers in the area of hammer sweep and form a path for the material using the flow of air through the mill and the swing of hammers to keep material from falling within the mill and remaining in the hammer sweep area. A variable speed motor varies the rate of movement of the hammers to increase or decrease the rate of strike of hammers to more efficiently and effectively reduce the material passing therethrough. The baffles can be retrofit into existing mills and can be created in angular sections with the lining of the grinding chamber for modular installation and removal.

A device and a method for processing feed material that has a housing, a material supply channel and a material discharge. The housing is axially divided into a first processing zone in which a rotor rotating around an axis is situated, and a second processing zone which adjoins the first processing zone in the flow direction of the feed material. In order to perform different processing procedures in one device the feed material is subject to a process gas by arranging a hollow body in the housing, coaxially to the axis for the formation of the second processing zone, which outer circumference is radially situated opposite the inner circumference of the housing, and which features at least one port at the end that is facing the rotor. A process gas, which can be fed to the feed material through at least one port, is applied to the hollow body.

A device and a method for processing feed material that has a housing, a material supply channel and a material discharge. The housing is axially divided into a first processing zone in which a rotor rotating around an axis is situated, and a second processing zone which adjoins the first processing zone in the flow direction of the feed material. In order to perform different processing procedures in one device the feed material is subject to a process gas by arranging a hollow body in the housing, coaxially to the axis for the formation of the second processing zone, which outer circumference is radially situated opposite the inner circumference of the housing, and which features at least one port at the end that is facing the rotor. A process gas, which can be fed to the feed material through at least one port, is applied to the hollow body.

A grinder having a rotor and fan assembly mounted in a housing having one or more of the following features: a cutting shaft and a fan shaft which are concentric and are rotated by separate motors; a housing formed in two sections with a line of division passing through the axis of rotation of the shafts and mounted on rollers; ping pong shaped cutting hammers; and deflectors attached to the inside of the housing and to a deflector assembly on the outside of the housing. The deflectors are movable vertically and horizontally with first and second motion controllers for adjusting the spacing between the cutting hammers and the deflectors. A programmable logic controller is used for independently controlling the speed at which the cutting shaft and fan shaft are rotated and the spacing between the cutting hammers and the deflectors to produce a desired particle size reduction for a selected material.

A grinder having a rotor and fan assembly mounted in a housing having one or more of the following features: a cutting shaft and a fan shaft which are concentric and are rotated by separate motors; a housing formed in two sections with a line of division passing through the axis of rotation of the shafts and mounted on rollers; ping pong shaped cutting hammers; and deflectors attached to the inside of the housing and to a deflector assembly on the outside of the housing. The deflectors are movable vertically and horizontally with first and second motion controllers for adjusting the spacing between the cutting hammers and the deflectors. A programmable logic controller is used for independently controlling the speed at which the cutting shaft and fan shaft are rotated and the spacing between the cutting hammers and the deflectors to produce a desired particle size reduction for a selected material.

A mulching apparatus including: a housing including a front opening and an inner wall; a rotor mounted in the front opening of the housing adjacent to the inner wall; and a liner mounting system for mounting a replaceable wear liner between the rotor and the inner wall, the liner mounting system including: an upper mounting provided at an upper edge of the inner wall, the upper mounting configured to releasably connect with the wear liner; and a lower mounting provided at a lower edge of the inner wall, the lower mounting configured to support the wear liner against the upper mounting and secure the wear liner to the inner wall.