Method and apparatus for reducing rubber tire material to a pulverulent form

摘要

A method and apparatus for processing discarded rubber tires and rubber tire material to reduce the same to a pulverulent form of sufficient quality fiber the manufacture of other articles. Principally the rubber tire is subjected to repeated compression against the metal strand component of the tires thus causing the metal stranding to cut into or chew the rubber into a pulverulent form. During the processing of the rubber tire material it is broken down to the point that its constituents such as metal fibers and polymer fibers are separated therefrom. The pulverized rubber, together with its separated constituents may then be classified and the constituents separated for further use. The rubber tire processing apparatus incorporates an external housing structure and a rubber processing drum that is rotatable therein. The drum and the housing define interrelated wedging surfaces that cause the rubber tire material to be continuously compressed and worked against itself and worked against the metal stranding of the tires to develop severe wedging, tearing and shearing forces that rapidly break it down to a pulverulent form. Both the housing and drum incorporate replaceable wedging and wearing structures that are preferably composed of very hard, wear resistant material that provide the rubber processing machine with an extensive service life.