Hammer mill hammer
A method of avoiding hammer rod-hole deformation in a hammer mill. Conventional hammers are fitted with a bearing structure that reduces wear while permitting the hammer to pivot about multiple axes. An optional, integral spacer provides spacing between adjacent hammers.
1. A method of improving a life of a hammer mill hammer blade assembly, the hammer mill hammer blade assembly comprising a hammer blade body, the method comprising:
(a) providing an inner bearing race separate from a rod about which the hammer blade body rotates, wherein the inner bearing race remains stationary with respect to the rod;
(b) providing an outer bearing race stationary with respect to the hammer blade body;
(c) disposing the inner bearing race concentric to the outer bearing race;
(d) disposing a spacer concentric to the inner bearing race;
(e) disposing the inner bearing race over and concentric with the rod about which the hammer blade body rotates; and
(f) providing space between the hammer blade body and a second hammer blade body by virtue of the spacer disposed between the first hammer mill hammer bearing and the second hammer mill hammer bearing.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein providing an outer bearing race comprises forming the hammer blade body to comprise the outer bearing race.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein disposing the inner bearing race concentric to the outer bearing race comprises:
(a) forming an inner, cylindrical surface in the hammer blade body;
(b) disposing the inner bearing race within said inner, cylindrical surface; and
(c) shaping the hammer blade body to produce the outer bearing race mated with the inner bearing race.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein shaping the hammer blade body comprises forging the hammer blade body.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein disposing a spacer concentric to the inner bearing race comprises forming the spacer integral with the inner bearing race.
6. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising:
(a) shaping an outer surface of the inner bearing race to a predetermined curvature;
(b) shaping an inner surface of the outer bearing race to a predetermined curvature; and
(c) permitting the inner bearing race to pivot in the outer bearing race about an axis of pivot not parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rod about which the hammer blade body rotates.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein disposing a spacer concentric to the inner bearing race comprises:
(a) producing a hollow, cylindrical spacer; and
(b) disposing said hollow, cylindrical spacer over and concentric with the rod about which the hammer blade body rotates.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein disposing the inner bearing race concentric to the outer bearing race comprises:
(a) forming a hole in the hammer blade body;
(b) heating the hammer blade body;
(c) disposing the inner bearing race inside the hole;
(d) moving excess material around the hole in contact with the inner bearing race;
(e) making the hammer blade body form a cup around the outer bearing race;
(f) heating the hammer blade body;
(g) rolling a material of the hammer blade body utilizing a forging process;
(h) matching a curvature of the outer bearing race to a curvature of the inner bearing race;
(i) heat treating the hammer blade body; and
(j) loading the hammer mill hammer blade assembly to increase a pivot angle about an axis not parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rod about which the hammer blade body rotates.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the inner bearing race comprises shaping an outer surface of the inner bearing race as a segment of an ellipse.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the inner bearing race comprises shaping an outer surface of the inner bearing race as a segment of a circular arc.