Impacting crusher with variable flow feed distributor

Abstract

An impacting crusher with a relatively wide rotor is adapted to receive its feed material from a relatively narrow conveyor, while establishing even distribution of wear across the rotor. Periods of operation between rotor overhaul and replacement are extended. Machines with adjustable cages may require less frequent cage adjustments, and are generally capable of a larger number of cage adjustments (with more favorable effect on machine performance). The relatively narrow conveyor feeds feed material to an enclosure which is adapted to maintain an inventory of such material and has an opening through which it discharges the material from the inventory to the rotor. The opening is elongated in a direction generally parallel to the rotor axis, is about as long as the width of the rotor, has its ends positioned substantially above the ends of the rotor, and is of substantially uniform width along its length. Means are provided to respectively increase and decrease the width of the elongated opening in response to increased and decreased inventory of material in the feeder, while retaining sufficient inventory to keep the entire length of the opening covered. Thus, although the width of the opening and the overall mass rate of material passing through it may fluctuate if the feed from the conveyor fluctuates, the mass flow through the opening is distributed substantially uniformly across its length. Thus, the material is distributed substantially uniformly across the width of the rotor, causing it to wear evenly across its width over an extended period of operation.