WO2003103844A2

WO2003103844A2 - Landscaping material reduction apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2003103844A2
Application number: PCT/US2003/018174
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anthony Hesse
Original assignee: Thi, International, Llc
Priority date: 2002-06-07
Filing date: 2003-06-09
Publication date: 2003-12-18
Also published as: WO2003103844A3

Abstract

A landscaping material reducing apparatus includes a landscaping material processing machine and a water jet system. The landscaping material process machine includes a grinding means.

Description

LANDSCAPING MATERIAL REDUCTION APPARATUS

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application serial number 60/386448, filed June 7, 2002, entitled "Hydrojet Recycling Machine".

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This application relates to machines for cutting, shredding or chipping landscaping materials, and more particularly to the use of high pressure streams of liquid in such machines to cut the landscaping materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Currently, certain landscaping materials, such as mulch, are produced from larger materials, such as whole trees, stumps, limbs, or recyclable materials such as pallets. In order to produce mulch from these materials, the materials are ground in a landscaping material processing machine such as a tub grinder or horizontal grinder. Very often the materials which have been ground have to be reground, sometimes several times, to obtain mulch of a particular desired size. This results in increased costs in the manufacture of the mulch.

[0004] A more efficient apparatus and method for producing landscaping materials is desired. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a landscaping material reducing apparatus is disclosed comprising a landscaping material processing machine and a water jet system. The landscaping material process machine includes a grinding means.

[0006] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is disclosed for reducing landscaping materials which comprises (a) grinding materials to be used for landscaping purposes in a landscaping material processing machine, (b) conveying the ground landscaping materials to a water jet system, and (c) further reducing the ground landscaping materials with the water jet system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIGURE 1 is a side view of an exemplary landscaping material reducing apparatus with the water jet system shown in cross section.

[0008] FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional side view of another exemplary landscaping material reducing apparatus.

[0009] FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a third exemplary landscaping material reducing apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] This application hereby incorporates by reference the entire disclosure in U.S. provisional application serial number 60/386448, filed June 7, 2002, entitled "Hydrojet Recycling Machine". [0011] This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description, relative terms such as "lower," "upper," "horizontal," "vertical," "above," "below," "up," "down," "top" and "bottom" as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., "horizontally," "downwardly," "upwardly," etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as "connected" and "interconnected," refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, a landscaping material reducing apparatus comprises a landscaping material processing machine having a grinding means and a water jet system. As will be described more fully below, the landscaping material processing machine may be, for example, a horizontal grinder, including whole tree chippers, a tub grinder, or a stump grinder. Other types of machines used to process landscaping materials, as would be known to one of skill in the art, are also meant to be included as landscaping material processing macliines. The addition of a water jet system to landscaping material processing machines allows a reduction in the number of times the material has to be placed through the machine to achieve the desired size. [0013] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, alternative exemplary embodiments of a landscaping material reducing apparatus 100, 150, 200 are shown. These apparatuses are preferably used for processing landscaping materials, but may also be used to grind or cut materials such as garbage.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, in one exemplary embodiment apparatus 100 comprises a tub grinder 110 and a water jet system 120. The tub grinder 110 includes grinding means (not shown) , such as a hammer mill. The tub grinder 110 may be any type of known tub grinder.

[0015] The water jet system 120 preferably includes an enclosure 122, an advancing means 124 and at least one nozzle 126 capable of emitting a high pressure stream of liquid.

[0016] The enclosure 122 includes an inside surface 128. The enclosure 122 preferably includes a top 130, two sidewalls (only one sidewall 132 shown in FIG. 1), and at least one end wall 134.

[0017] The advancing means 124 may be a conveyor belt (as shown in FIG. 1) or other type of advancing means, such as, for example, rollers. Preferably the advancing means is comprised of a material sufficient to withstand the high pressure liquid being emitted from the nozzles 126. The advancing means 124 may be a continuation of the advancing means of the tub grinder 110, as shown in FIG. 1, or may be separate from but acting in concert with the advancing means of the tub grinder 110. Preferably the advancing means 124 carries the landscaping materials through and out of the water jet system 120. [0018] At least one nozzle 126 is attached proximate to the inside surface 128 of one or more of the top 130 and sidewalls 132 or end walls 134 of the enclosure 122. The nozzles 126 may be pivotable about at least one axis to allow the stream of liquid to be adjusted to cover a larger surface area of the landscaping materials. Alternatively, or in addition, the nozzles 126 may be situated on a track wherein the nozzles are capable of sliding along the track. According to another alternative, a plurality of fixed nozzles may be connected to the inside surface of the enclosure 122 on one or more of the top 130, sidewalls 132 or end walls 134. The nozzles 126 may be located at any position along the top 130 and/or sidewalls 132 and/or end walls 134. The nozzles 130 maybe protected from the flying landscaping materials by a cover plate (not shown).

[0019] The nozzles 126 are fluidly attached to a pumping mechanism (not shown) for supplying a high pressure stream of liquid to and out of the nozzles 126. The technology for application of high pressure water, and the nozzles and delivery mechamsms therefore, are well known for applications such as pressurized water cleaning and water-jet cutting. Such known nozzles and mechanisms may be used in water jet system 120. Although water alone may be employed as the cutting vehicle, an abrasive may also be added to the liquid to enhance the cutting ability, especially where the landscaping materials include materials which are more difficult to cut. The liquid pressure flowing through the nozzles is preferably adjustable to allow the apparatus to be effectively and efficiently employed with various types of landscaping materials.

[0020] The water jet system 120 may further include a water retrieval return system (not shown) for collecting water that has been emitted from the nozzles 126 and returning the water to the nozzles where it can be reused. This system advantageously eliminates the need for a constant supply of water. The water jet system may further include a water filtration system (not shown) which will filter the water before it is recycled to the nozzles 126.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the water jet system 120 may be integral with the tub grinder 110. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2, the water jet system 120' maybe separate from the tub grinder 150. Preferably, where the water jet system 120' is separate from the tub grinder 150, an intermediate conveying means 152, such as a conveyor belt (as shown in FIG. 2), a series of rollers, or a chute, is disposed between the water jet system 120' and the tub grinder 150, which conveys the landscaping materials from the tub grinder 150 to the water jet system 120' to be further reduced. As stated above with respect to the embodiment in FIG. 1, the tub grinder 150 may be any type of tub grinder known in the art. The water jet system 120' includes the same features as described above with respect to water jet system 120, except that the advancing means 124' is separate from the tub grinder 150.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 3, in another exemplary embodiment apparatus 200 comprises a horizontal grinder 210 and a water jet system 220. The horizontal grinder 210 includes grinding means 202, such as a blade or hammer mill. The horizontal grinder 200 may be any type of known horizontal grinder, including a whole tree chipper.

[0023] The water jet system 220 preferably includes an enclosure 222, an advancing means 224 and at least one nozzle 226 capable of emitting a high pressure stream of liquid. [0024] The enclosure 222 includes an inside surface 228. The enclosure 222 preferably includes a top 230, two sidewalls (only one sidewall 232 shown in FIG. 3), and at least one end wall 234.

[0025] The advancing means 224 may be a conveyor belt (as shown in FIG. 3) or other type of advancing means, such as, for example, rollers. Preferably the advancing means is comprised of a material sufficient to withstand the high pressure liquid being emitted from the nozzles 226. The advancing means 224 may be a continuation of the advancing means of the horizontal grinder 210, as shown in FIG. 3, or may be separate from but acting in concert with the advancing means of the horizontal grinder 210. Preferably the advancing means 224 carries the landscaping materials through and out of the water jet system 220.

[0026] At least one nozzle 226 is attached proximate to the inside surface 228 of one or more of the top 230 and sidewalls 232 or end walls 234 of the enclosure 222. The nozzles 226 maybe pivotable about at least one axis to allow the stream of liquid to be adjusted to cover a larger surface area of the landscaping materials. Alternatively, or in addition, the nozzles 226 may be situated on a track wherein the nozzles are capable of sliding along the track. According to another alternative, a plurality of fixed nozzles may be connected to the inside surface of the enclosure 222 on one or more of the top 230, sidewalls 232 or end walls 234. The nozzles 226 may be located at any position along the top 230 and/or sidewalls 232 and/or end walls 234. The nozzles 226 may be protected from the flying landscaping materials by a cover plate (not shown).

[0027] The nozzles 226 are fluidly attached to a pumping mechanism (not shown) for supplying a high pressure stream of liquid to and out of the nozzles 226. Although water alone may be employed as the cutting veliicle, an abrasive may also be added to the liquid to enhance the cutting ability, especially where the landscaping materials include materials which are more difficult to cut. The liquid pressure flowing through the nozzles is preferably adjustable to allow the apparatus to be effectively and efficiently employed with various types of landscaping materials.

[0028] The water j et system 220 may further include a water retrieval/return system (not shown) for collecting water that has been emitted from the nozzles 226 and returning the water to the nozzles where it can be reused. This system advantageously eliminates the need for a constant supply of water. The water jet system may further include a water filtration system (not shown) which will filter the water before it is recycled to the nozzles 226.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, the water jet system 220 may be integral with the horizontal grinder 210. Alternatively, the water jet system may be separate from the horizontal grinder. Preferably, where the water jet system is separate from the horizontal grinder, an intermediate conveying means such as a conveyor belt, a series of rollers, or a chute, is disposed between the water jet system and the horizontal grinder, similar to that shown in FIG. 2, which conveys the landscaping materials from the horizontal grinder to the water jet system to be further reduced.

[0030] According to a further aspect, a method of reducing landscaping materials includes the steps of (a) grinding materials to be used for landscaping purposes in a landscaping material processing machine, (b) conveying the ground landscaping materials to a water jet system, and (c) further reducing the ground landscaping materials with the water jet system. [0031] The above described apparatus and method may be advantageously used to process ground landscaping materials, such as mulch, particularized rubber or other polymeric materials. The mulch may be comprised of one or more of wood chips, wood shavings or fibers, sawdust, pine needles, bark, paper, straw, bagasse, leaves, wheat, and oat hulls, rice waste product, palm tree waste, palmetto, and bamboo, for example.

[0032] Although the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A landscaping material reducing apparatus comprising:

a landscaping material processing machine having a grinding means; and

a water jet system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the landscaping material processing machine comprises a horizontal grinder or a tub grinder.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the water j et system comprises:

an enclosure,

an advancing means located within the enclosure, and

at least one nozzle located within the enclosure and capable of emitting a high pressure stream of liquid for cutting a landscaping apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the advancing means comprises a conveyor belt.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one nozzle is pivotable about at least one axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, further including at least one track located on an inside surface of the enclosure, and wherein at least one nozzle is slidably situated on a respective track.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water jet system is integral with the landscaping material processing machine.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an intermediate conveying means which is intermediate the water jet system and the landscaping material processing machine.

9. A method of reducing landscaping materials comprising:

grinding materials to be used for landscaping purposes in a landscaping material processing machine,

conveying the ground landscaping materials to a water jet system, and

further reducing the ground landscaping materials with the water jet system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the ground landscaping materials include one or more of mulch, particularized rubber or other polymeric material.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the mulch includes one or more of wood chips, wood shavings or fibers, sawdust, pine needles, bark, paper, straw, bagasse, leaves, wheat and oat hulls, rice waste product, palm tree waste, palmetto, or bamboo.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the landscaping material processing machine comprises a horizontal grinder or a tub grinder.