BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION According to a known technique the movement of a stream of material can be accelerated with the aid of centrifugal force. With this technique the material is brought onto the central surface of a rotor and then accelerated with an accelerator unit that consists of one or more accelerator members that are arranged around said central surface and are carried by said rotor.

The material is accelerated with the aid of said accelerator members, under the influence of centrifugal forces, and propelled outwards at high velocity and at a specific take-off angle. The acceleration usually takes place by means of guiding along a metal guide surface that is oriented radially outwards. Such a guide surface is disclosed in US 5 184 784. The velocity that the material acquires during this acceleration is made up of a radial velocity component and a velocity component that is oriented perpendicularly to the radial component, i. e. a transverse velocity component. Viewed from a stationary position, after it leaves the accelerator member the material moves at virtually constant velocity along a virtually straight stream. This straight stream is directed forwards, viewed in the direction of rotation.

Viewed from a standpoint moving with the guide member, after it leaves the guide member, the material moves along a spiral stream that is directed backwards, viewed in the direction of rotation, and is in the extension of the release end of the guide member. During this movement the relative velocity increases along said spiral path. It is now possible to allow the material to impinge on the impact surface of a co-rotating impact member that is carried by said rotor and the impact surface of which is arranged transversely in said spiral path. In this way the material is accelerated in two steps, that is to say by means of guiding and impact. The guide member then acts as first accelerator member and the co-rotating impact member then acts as second accelerator member. A rotor of this type is disclosed in PCT/NL/97/00565, which was drawn up in the name of the Applicant. The known rotor can also be of symmetrical construction (EP 1 084 751, which was drawn up in the name of the Applicant) and with an autogenous impact surface (PCT/NLO1/00785, which was drawn up in the name of the Applicant).

The known rotor has the advantage that the construction is very simple and, in particular, the rotor with co-rotating impact member is particularly effective because during the impact on the co- rotating impact surface the material is loaded and accelerated at the same time, which loading, moreover, takes place completely free from disturbance. The known rotor consequently has a high comminution intensity.

However, the known rotor also has disadvantages. For instance, the accelerator members must be of fairly heavyweight construction so that they have a sufficiently long tool life. These heavy accelerator members exert a greater centrifugal force on the support member by means of which the accelerator member is carried by said rotor. For the crusher for gravel having a grain size of 100 mm consideration can be given in this context to an accelerator member having a weight of 50 kg, which can yield a centrifugal force of 1000 kN and more. The accelerator members (guide members and impact members) therefore have to be mounted on support members that must be of very robust construction and must be very firmly fixed to the rotor, so that these are able to absorb the enormous centrifugal forces; in addition to the centrifugal force that is generated by the accelerator member, it is, of course, also necessary here to take account of the centrifugal force that is generated by the intrinsic weight of the support member. In the case of an open rotor where the support members are positioned on the rotor blade, the support members are therefore usually welded to the rotor. A support member of this type is disclosed in US 6 149 086 (Young et al. ). If the support members are positioned between two rotor blades (in a so-called closed rotor) the flexural moment is much lower and the support members can even be fixed to the rotor blades by means of a simple screw fixing. A support member of this type that is bolted between two rotor blades is disclosed in UK 827 624 (Safety Industries) and a similar support member is disclosed in US 3 767 127 (Wood). If they are not changed in good time, said accelerator members can wear through, as a result of which wear on the support members can occur which is rapidly so severe that these have to be replaced. This is in particular a problem with co-rotating impact members. To replace the known support member the rotor has to be taken out, the support member has to be removed and a new support member has to be welded on and the rotor often has to be re-balanced.

This takes a great deal of time, results in lost production and is therefore very expensive.

Another disadvantage of the known rotor is that-in a specific embodiment-this rotor can be used for only one-or at least a limited number of-applications, that is, with a specific configuration it is possible to set the co-rotating impact velocity accurately but not the intensity behaviour of the impact. For other applications, for which a different configuration (intensity behaviour) is necessary or is more effective, it is therefore often necessary to install a completely new rotor, or necessary to employ another (additional) crusher. For example when it is desired to make the co-rotating impact an autogenous impact (that is on a bed of own material) instead of on a metal impact surface because the latter yields an intensity behaviour that is too intensive.

AIM OF THE INVENTION The aim of the invention is therefore to provide a simple rotor-a so-called open rotor where the accelerator members are positioned on the rotor blade-as described above, which does not have said disadvantages or at least display these to a lesser extent, that is to say that the support member for the accelerator member is fixed in a simple manner by means of a screw member, such that the support member can easily be exchanged for replacement by a similar support member or a different type of support member by means of which a different type of accelerator member can be supported. Furthermore, the invention provides the option that different types of support members can be supported individually by the removable support member, which support members are provided with a universal fixing member for this purpose.

To this end the invention provides a rotor construction that is provided with a rotor and a shaft, which rotor can be rotated about an axis of rotation in at least one direction of rotation and is supported on the shaft, the shaft axis of which is coincident with the axis of rotation, which rotor is provided on the top with a rotor blade, at least one accelerator unit that is carried by the rotor and is provided with at least one accelerator member for accelerating material in at least one phase with the aid of centrifugal force, which material is fed, with the aid of a feed member, onto the rotor blade at a location close to the axis of rotation, which accelerator member is carried by the rotor with the aid of a support member, such that the accelerator member can be removed for replacement. The rotor is characterised in that the support member is provided with a support part, a bearing part, at least one bearing surface and a screw member, which support part is located at least partially above the rotor blade, which bearing part is located at least partially in an opening in the rotor blade, which bearing surface extends along at least part of the outside surface of the support member and is not parallel to the axis of rotation, such that the support member bears on the rotor with the aid of the bearing surface, with the aid of which screw member the support member is fixed to the rotor such that the support member can be removed for replacement.

The rotor is further described in the claims, to which reference is made here.

In all cases a part-the bearing part-of the support member extends at least partially into an opening in the rotor and fits very precisely in this, that is with a very accurate fit so that the forces can be transferred well. The opening can be parallel to the axis of rotation, but can also be arranged somewhat-obliquely backwards-in the direction of the axis of rotation so that the support member is able to anchor itself even better in the rotor under the influence of centrifugal force. With this arrangement the support member transfers the forces to the rotor with the aid of the bearing part and the bearing surface. The forces that are generated in an essentially horizontal direction under the influence of centrifugal force are transferred to the rotor with the aid of the

support part and the forces that are generated in an essentially vertical direction (partly) under the influence of centrifugal force are transferred to the rotor by the bearing surface.

A further aim of the invention is to construct the support member as slim as possible-and thus as lightweight as possible. This is achieved by tightening the support member very firmly with the aid of the screw member, such that a high compressive stress is generated in the part of the support member that bears on the rotor, as a result of which the support member is locally pretensioned. This makes it possible partially to absorb, with the aid of this pretensioning, the flexural moment that arises under the influence of centrifugal force, which makes a slim construction possible.

The invention thus provides the options that-as far as both the impact member and the guide member are concerned-the support member is removable [I] for replacement because of damage or wear and [II] for replacement by a support member that can support a different type of impact member or guide member. For example an autogenous member instead of a metal member, or a self-rotating member instead of an autogenous member or a symmetrical member instead of a non- symmetrical member or member that is symmetrical in some other way, what is achieved by this means being that the rotor is universal and suitable for carrying several different types of members.

The invention furthermore provides the option of [III] a universal support member that can support different types of impact members or guide members. To this end the support members are provided with the same fitting system (connector member) for fixing to the rotor and the support members are so constructed that when a different type of impact member or guide member is fitted the impact part of the impact surface or the guide surface (in particular the release end) of the guide member are in the same position with respect to the rotor.

To prevent or eliminate (cancel out) vibration that results from imbalance of the rotor the invention provides the option of a rotor construction that carries at least one annular, hollow balancing member, which balancing member is provided with a circular closed hollow tube, the circle axis of which is coincident with the axis of rotation, which tube has an identical radial section all round, viewed from the direction of rotation, is at least partially filled with a fluid and contains at least three solid bodies that are able to move around freely in the tube, for reducing vibration of said rotor when this becomes unbalanced. The radial section of the cavity in the tube can be made circular, but also square or rectangular. The solid bodies can have both different dimensions and different shapes. The solid body can describe a spherical shape or a disc shape.

The shape of the solid bodies does not have to be identical and the dimensions of said solid bodies also do not have to be identical. The solid bodies can be made of a metal alloy, but also of a hard metal alloy or of ceramic material. The hollow balancing member is usually at least 75% filled with fluid, but can also be filled with a greater or smaller quantity of fluid, said fluid usually consisting of an oil-like substance, such that the solid bodies are not attacked or damaged or at

least are attacked or damaged as little as possible. The hollow balancing member does not have to be carried (directly) by said rotor but can also be carried by the shaft, which can be provided with a flange for this purpose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For better understanding, the aims, characteristics and advantages of the device of the invention which have been discussed, and other aims, characteristics and advantages of the device of the invention, are explained in the following detailed description of the device of the invention in relation to accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

Figure 1 shows, diagrammatically, a plan view of a first embodiment of a rotor according to the invention that is provided with removable support members, according to Figure 2.

Figure 2 shows, diagrammatically, a cross-sectional section A-A of a first embodiment of the rotor according to the invention, according to Figure 8.

Figure 3 shows, diagrammatically, the pretension in the support member.

Figure 4 shows, diagrammatically, the distribution of the stresses in the support member.

Figure 5 shows, diagrammatically, a first embodiment of the support member.

Figure 6 shows, diagrammatically, a second embodiment of the support member.

Figure 7 shows, diagrammatically, a third embodiment of the support member.

Figure 8 shows, diagrammatically, a fourth embodiment of the support member.

Figure 9 shows, diagrammatically, a fifth embodiment of the support member.

Figure 10 shows, diagrammatically, a sixth embodiment of the support member.

Figure 12 shows, diagrammatically, a seventh embodiment of the support member.

Figure 13 shows, diagrammatically, an eighth embodiment of the support member.

Figure 14 shows, diagrammatically, a ninth embodiment of the support member.

Figure 15 shows, diagrammatically, a tenth embodiment of the support member.

Figure 16 shows, diagrammatically, a side view of an eleventh embodiment of the support member according to Figure 17.

Figure 17 shows, diagrammatically, a plan view section B-B of an eleventh embodiment of the support member according to Figure 16.

Figure 18 shows, diagrammatically, a plan view of a second embodiment of the rotor according to the invention, according to Figure 19.

Figure 19 shows, diagrammatically, a cross-sectional section C-C of a second embodiment of the rotor according to the invention, according to Figure 18.

Figure 20 shows, diagrammatically, a plan view of a third embodiment of the rotor according to the invention, according to Figure 21.

Figure 21 shows, diagrammatically, a cross-sectional section D-D of a second embodiment of the rotor according to the invention, according to Figure 20.

Figure 22, shows, diagrammatically, a fourth embodiment of a rotor according to the invention.

The drawings are not structural drawings but indicate diagrammatically-in sketch form-a number of possible embodiments and characteristics which are important or of essential importance for the description, the characterisation and the use of the rotor according to the invention. In the case of sections, shading is not always indicated and only the most important details are indicated by broken lines. Moreover, in sections only the components which are located on or close to these sections, i. e. of a section, are indicated and no items and members located further towards the rear.

BEST WAY OF IMPLEMENTING THE DEVICE OF THE INVENTION A detailed reference to the preferred embodiments of the invention is given below. Examples thereof are shown in the appended drawings. Although the invention will be described together with the preferred embodiments, it must be clear that the embodiments described are not intended to restrict the invention to those specific embodiments. On the contrary, the intention of the invention is to comprise alternatives, modifications and equivalents which fit within the nature and scope of the invention as defined by appended claims.

Figures 1 and 2 show, diagrammatically, a first embodiment of a rotor (1) according to the invention that is provided with removable support members (2) (3) according to the invention. The rotor is provided with a rotor (1) and a shaft (4) with flange (5), which rotor (1) can be rotated about a vertical axis of rotation (6) in at least one direction of rotation (7) and is supported on the shaft (4) and flange (5), the shaft axis of which is coincident with the axis of rotation (6). Material is fed with the aid of a feed member (not shown here) onto the central part (8) of the rotor (1) at a location close to the axis of rotation (6). The rotor (1) is provided with an acceleration unit (9), which here is made up of two accelerator members, specifically a guide member and an impact member. The guide member (10) is provided with a guide surface (11) that extends in the direction of the outer edge (12) of the rotor (1), with the aid of which guide member (10) the material is brought, with the aid of centrifugal force, into a spiral path (13) directed backwards, viewed from a standpoint moving with the guide member (10), which guide member (10) is associated with an impact member (14) that is provided with an impact surface (15) that is arranged transversely in the spiral path (13) for accelerating the material in two steps (guiding and impact). Both the guide member (10) and the (co-rotating) impact member (14) are carried by the rotor (1) with the aid of support members ( (2) and (3) respectively); a first support member (2) for the guide member (10)

and a second support member (3) for the impact member (14). Both support members (2) (3) are provided with a support part (15) (17) and a bearing part (16) (18), which support part (15) (17) here is located above the rotor blade (19), which bearing part (16) (18) is located at least partially in an opening (20) (21) in the rotor blade (19). Here the support member (2) (3) is provided with a projecting collar edge (22) (23) which is located at the transition between the support part (15) (17) and the bearing part (16) (18), which collar edge is provided on the underside with a bearing surface by means of which the support member (2) (3) bears on the rotor (1). The bearing part (16) (18) is furthermore provided at the bottom with a screw member (24) (25), with the aid of which screw member (24) (25) the support member (2) (3) can be screwed to the rotor (1). The screw member (24) of the first support member (2) is made up of a threaded end at the bottom of the bearing part (16), an edge plate (26) that bears on the underside of the rotor (1) and a bolt (27) that fits through the edge plate (26) into a threaded end. The screw member (25) of the second support member (3) is made up of part of the bearing part (18) that is of cylindrical construction at the bottom that protrudes from the rotor blade (1) and the screw member (25) is provided with a threaded end (28) on the cylinder shape, an edge plate (29) that can be pushed over the threaded end (28) and bears on the underside of the rotor (1) and a nut (30) that fits on the threaded end (28). Here the rotor construction (1) is also provided with one annular balancing member (31), the circle axis of which is coincident with the axis of rotation (6), which balancing member (31) here is carried by the flange (5) of the shaft (4) and is provided with a circular closed tube (32), the circle axis of which is coincident with the axis of rotation (6), which tube (32) has an identical radial section all round, is at least partially filled with an oil-like substance and contains at least three solid bodies (33) that are able to move around freely in the tube (32), for reducing vibration of said rotor (1) when this becomes unbalanced.

Figure 3 shows, diagrammatically, the pretension (34) that is generated in the section (35) of the support member (36) that bears on the rotor (37) when the screw member (38) is tightened.

Figure 4 shows, diagrammatically, the distribution of the stresses (39) when the rotor (37) rotates and a flexural moment (40) is generated in said support member (36) by the centrifugal force, and the compressive stress (34) partially absorbs the tensile stress that is generated by the flexural moment (40).

Figure 5 shows, diagrammatically, a first embodiment of the support member (41) where, at the transition (42) between the support part (43) and the bearing part (44) the outer edge (45) of the support part (43) at least partially extends to beyond the outer edge (46) of the bearing part (44), the downward facing outer surface (48) of which projecting section (47) at least partially acts as bearing surface (49). The rotor (50) is provided with a support opening (51) passing through it, such that the underside (52) of the bearing part (44) is at a level above the bottom edge (53) of the support opening (51) and the screw member (54) is provided with at least one vertical screw

opening (55) in the underside (52) of the bearing part (44), which screw opening (55) is provided with screw thread (56), a clamping plate (57) that at least partially extends to beyond the support opening (51) in the bottom of the rotor (50) and at least one bolt (58) that fits through an opening (59) in the clamping plate (57) into the screw opening (55).

Figure 6 shows, diagrammatically, a second embodiment of the support member (60), where, at the transition (61) between the support part (62) and the bearing part (63), the support member (60) is at least partially provided all round with a projecting collar edge (64), the outer edge (65) of which extends to beyond the outer edge (66) of the bearing part (63), the downward facing outer surface of which projecting collar edge (64) acts as bearing surface (66), such that the support member (60) can be pushed from above into the support opening (68) for fixing to the rotor (67).

The support member is also provided with a vertical screw opening (69), a bolt (71) and a clamping plate (70), essentially the same as in the first embodiment in Figure 5.

Figure 7 shows, diagrammatically, a third embodiment of the support member (72), essentially the same at the second embodiment in Figure 6, where the screw member (73) is provided with multiple screw openings (74) and associated bolts (75).

Figure 8 shows, diagrammatically, a fourth embodiment of the support member (76), where the bearing part (77) is at least partially constructed as a truncated cone (78) widening towards the top, such that the conical surface (79) of the bearing part (77) at least partially acts as bearing surface. The support member (76) is furthermore provided with a vertical screw opening (80), a bolt (81) and a clamping plate (82), essentially the same as in the first embodiment in Figure 5.

Figure 9 shows, diagrammatically, a fifth embodiment of the support member (83), where the rotor (84) is provided with a support opening (85) passing through it and the support member (83), which bears on the rotor (84) with the aid of a welded collar edge (88), in such a way that the lower part (86) of the bearing part (87) protrudes from the bottom of the support opening (85), which protruding section (86) (= lower part) is of cylindrical construction, with a screw member (88) that is provided with screw thread (89) around the outer periphery of the protruding section (86) and a nut (90) that fits on the screw thread (89).

The invention provides the option (not indicated here) where the rotor is provided with a support opening that does not pass right through and the support member bears on the rotor, such that the bottom of the bearing part is at a level above the bottom of the support opening and the screw member is provided with at least one vertical screw opening in the underside of the bearing part, which screw opening is provided with screw thread, and at least one bolt that fits through a screw opening in the bottom of the support opening into the screw opening in the bearing part.

Figure 10 shows, diagrammatically, a sixth embodiment of the support member (100), essentially the same as the fifth embodiment in Figure 9, where the protruding cylindrical section

(101) with a nut (102) and clamping plate (105) are recessed in the underside (103) of the rotor (104).

Figure 11 shows, diagrammatically, a sixth embodiment of the support member (91) that bears against the rotor (93) with the aid of a bearing part (94) that is provided with a conical bearing surface (92), which bearing part (95) is provided over the underside (95) with a protruding cylindrical section (96) that is provided with screw thread (97) around the outside, over which screw thread (97) a nut construction (98) fits that is provided with a clamping edge (99) that bears on the rotor (93) at the bottom, such that the nut construction (98) is recessed in the rotor (93).

Figure 12 shows, diagrammatically, a seventh embodiment of the support member (106), where the screw member is provided with a bearing part (108) that is of cylindrical construction and is at least partially provided with screw thread (110) around the outer surface (109) and the support opening (111) that is of cylindrical construction and is at least partially provided with screw thread (112) around the inner surface, such that the support member (106) as a whole can be screwed into the support opening (111) with the aid of the bearing part (108), such that the support member (106) bears on the rotor blade (113) with the aid of a flange (107) that is welded to the support member (106).

Figure 13 shows, diagrammatically, an eighth embodiment of the support member (114), essentially the same as the eighth embodiment in Figure 12, where the bearing part (115) is provided at the bottom with a cylindrical protruding section (116), the outer edge (117) of which lies within the outer edge (118) of the bearing part (115), such that a horizontal bearing surface (119) is formed between the outer edges (117) (118), which cylindrical protruding section (116) is provided with screw thread (120) around the outside, by means of which the support member can be screwed into a screw opening (121) in the bottom of the support opening (122).

Figure 14 shows, diagrammatically, a ninth embodiment of the support member (123), that at the transition (124) between the support part (125) and the bearing part (126) is provided with a projecting collar edge (127) that is integral with the support member (123), which collar edge (127) is provided with screw openings (128) such that the support member (123) can be screwed to the rotor (130) with the aid of the collar edge (127) and screws (129).

Figure 15 shows, diagrammatically, a tenth embodiment of the support member (131) that is provided on the underside with a projecting collar edge (133) that is integral with the support member (131), which collar edge (133) is provided with screw openings (134) such that the support member (131) can be screwed to the rotor (132) with the aid of the collar edge (133) and screws (135).

Figures 16 and 17 show, diagrammatically, an eleventh embodiment of the support member (136), where, at the transition (137) between the support part (138) and the bearing part (139), the support member (136) is provided with a projecting collar edge (140) that is provided with a

cylindrical opening (141) in which the support member (136) is firmly fixed, which collar edge (140) has an elongated shape (142) and extends in the direction of the axis of rotation (143), which collar edge is provided, at a location close to the outer edge (144) of the collar edge (140) facing the axis of rotation (143), with screw openings (145) by means of which the support member (136) is screwed to the rotor (147) with the aid of screws (146).

Figures 18 and 19 show, diagrammatically, a second embodiment of a rotor (148) according to the invention that is provided with guide members (149) and impact members (150). Here the support members (151) of the impact members (150) are removable and are each provided with a cylindrical bearing part (152) that fits in a support opening (153) in the rotor (148), which cylindrical bearing part (152) is provided with a flattened face (154) so that this is not able to turn.

The support members (151) are fixed at the bottom to the rotor (148) with the aid of a clamping plate (155) and here with four bolts (156), essentially the same as the third embodiment in Figure 7. Here the support part (157) is in a position below the impact member (150) that is fixed to the support part (157) with the aid of a hook connection (158). This structural form has the advantage that the support member (151) is in a position away from the spiral path (159) and therefore cannot be damaged.

Figures 20 and 21 show, diagrammatically, a third embodiment of a rotor (160) according to the invention that is provided with guide members (161) and impact members (162). Here the support members (163) of the impact members (162) are removable and are each provided with a cylindrical bearing part (164) that fits in a support opening (165) in the rotor (160), which cylindrical bearing part (164) is provided with a flattened face (166) so that this is not able to turn.

The support members (163) are fixed at the bottom to the rotor (160) with the aid of a clamping plate (167) and here with four bolts (168), essentially the same as the third embodiment in Figure 7. Here the support part (169) is located behind the impact surface (170). The impact members (162) are joined to the support member (163), i. e. the support part (169), with the aid of a hook connection (171) and a projection (172), which hook connection (171) here is located behind the impact surface (170).

Finally, Figure 22 shows, diagrammatically, a fourth embodiment of a rotor (173) according to the invention. The rotor (173) is provided with various types of impact members and guide members, each of which is equipped with identical bearing parts (174), so that the various types of impact members and guide members can be exchanged. The connecting construction between the impact members and guide members with the support member is not indicated here. Here the various types of guide members are non-symmetrical (175), symmetrical (176), autogenous (177) and self-rotating (178) and here the various impact members are non-symmetrical (179), symmetrical (180), autogenous (181) and self-rotating (182). The invention furthermore provides the option that the support members are provided with a universal connector member so that at

least two different types of impact members or guide members can be mounted on the support member.

The above descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been given with a view to illustrative and descriptive purposes. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list or to restrict the invention to the precise forms given, and having due regard for the above explanation, many modifications and variations are, of course, possible. The embodiments have been selected and described in order to describe the principles of the invention and the practical application possibilities thereof in the best possible way in order thus to enable others skilled in the art to make use in an optimum manner of the invention and the diverse embodiments with the various modifications suitable for the specific intended use. The intention is that the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims according to reading and interpretation in accordance with generally accepted legal principles, such as the principle of equivalents and the revision of components.