Main shaft support for pellet mills

Claim 2

In a pellet mill comprising a base, a die housing mounted on said base, an annular die and die cover secured to said die housing, said die housing, die and die cover defining a pelleting chamber therewithin, a main shaft supported concentrically within said die housing and extending into said pelleting chamber, a roller support frame extending from said main shaft, a plurality of rollers rotatably supported on said roller support frame in contiguous cooperative relation with said die, means on said die housing and main shaft providing relative rotation of said die housing, die and die cover with respect to said main shaft, roller support frame and rollers, means adjacent said die cover for conveying material to be pelleted into said pelleting chamber, and means on said roller support frame for directing material to be pelleted into the nips of said rollers, the improvement comprising means for resolving the radial forces developed between said rollers and said die during pelleting operations, said latter means comprising an extension of said main shaft beyond said roller support frame, support means extending between said die cover and said main shaft extension and including bearing means permitting relative rotation of said die cover and said main shaft extension, said support means being apertured to permit the passage of material to be pelletized therethrough.

Claim 3

In a pellet mill comprising a base, a die housing mounted on said base, an annular die and die cover secured to said die housing, said die housing, die and die cover extending in cantilevered relation to said base and defining a pelleting chamber therewithin, a main shaft supported concentrically within said die housing and extending into said pelleting chamber, a roller support frame extending from said main shaft, a plurality of rollers rotatably supported on said roller support frame in contiguous cooperative relation with said die, means on said die housing and main shaft providing relative rotation of said die housing, die and die cover with respect to said main shaft, roller support frame and rollers, means adjacent said die cover for conveying material to be pelleted into said pelleting chamber, and means on said roller support frame for directing material to be pelleted into the nips of said rollers, the improvement comprising means for resolving the radial forces developed between said rollers and said die during pelleting operations, said latter means comprising an extension of said main shaft beyond said roller support frame, bearing means on said main shaft extension, and support means extending between said die cover and said main shaft extension bearing means, said support means being apertured to permit the passage of material to be pelletized therethrough.

Claim 4

In a pellet mill comprising a base, a die housing mounted on said base, an annular die and die cover secured to said die housing, said die housing, die and die cover extending in cantilevered relation to said base and defining a pelleting chamber therewithin, a main shaft supported concentrically within said die housing and extending into said pelleting chamber, a roller support frame extending from said main shaft, a plurality of rollers rotatably supported on said roller support frame in contiguous cooperative relation with said die, means on said die housing and main shaft providing relative rotation of said die housing, die and die cover with respect to said main shaft, roller support frame and rollers, means adjacent said die cover for conveying material to be pelleted into said pelleting chamber, and means on said roller support frame for directing material to be pelleted into the nips of said rollers, the improvement comprising means for resolving the radial forces developed between said rollers and said die during pelleting operations, said latter means comprising an extension of said main shaft beyond said roller support frame, bearing means on said main shaft extension, and support means extending between said die cover and said main shaft extension bearing means, said support means being apertured to permit the passage of material to be pelletized therethrough.

Claim 5

In a pellet mill comprising a base, a die housing rotatably mounted on said base, an annular die and die cover secured to said die housing for rotation therewith, said die housing, die and die cover extending in cantilevered relation to said base and defining a pelleting chamber therewithin, a stationary main shaft supported concentrically within said die housing and extending into said pelleting chamber, a roller support frame extending from said main shaft, a plurality of rollers rotatably supported on said roller support frame in contiguous cooperative relation with said die, means adjacent said die cover for conveying material to be pelleted into said pelleting chamber, and means on said roller support frame for directing material to be pelleted into the nips of said rollers, the improvement comprising means for resolving the radial forces developed between said rollers and said die during pelleting operations, said latter means comprising an extension of said main shaft beyond said roller support frame, bearing means on said main shaft extension, and support means extending between said die cover and said main shaft extension bearing means, said support means being apertured to permit the passage of material to be pelletized therethrough.

Claim 6

In a pellet mill comprising a base, a die housing rotatably mounted on said base, an annular die and die cover secured to said die housing for rotation therewith, said die housing, die and die cover extending in cantilevered relation to said base and defining a pelleting chamber therewithin, a stationary main shaft supported concentrically within said die housing and extending into said pelleting chamber, a roller support frame extending from said main shaft, a plurality of rollers rotatably supported on said roller support frame in contiguous cooperative relation with said die, means adjacent said die cover for conveying material to be pelleted into said pelleting chamber, and means on said roller support frame for directing material to be pelleted into the nips of said rollers, the improvement comprising means for resolving the radial forces developed between said rollers and said die during pelleting operations, said latter means comprising an extension of said main shaft beyond said roller support frame, bearing means on said main shaft extension, and support means extending between said die cover and said main shaft extension bearing means, said support means being apertured to permit the passage of material to be pelletized therethrough.

Claim 7

The invention as claimed in claim 3 wherein said support means comprises a spider having a hub journalled on said main shaft extension bearing means, and a plurality of legs extending between said hub and said die cover.

Claim 8

The invention as claimed in claim 4 wherein said spider legs are substantially elliptical in cross section.

Claim 9

The invention as claimed in claim 4 wherein said spider legs are angularly disposed in alignment with the direction of material infeed passing therebetween.

Claim 10

The invention as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for conveying material into said pelleting chamber comprises a feed conveyor concentrically aligned with said main shaft.

Claim 11

The invention as claimed in claim 7 wherein said feed conveyor comprises a paddle type conveyor having distributing paddles disposed adjacent said spider for directing material into said pelleting chamber.