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A material grinding apparatus (10) includes an annular upper enclosure (12) defining an upper chamber (34) into which material to be ground is introduced from above, a conical lower enclosure (14) defining a lower chamber (36) and supported in tandem with the upper enclosure (12), and one or more an

A material grinding apparatus (10) includes an annular upper enclosure (12) defining an upper chamber (34) into which material to be ground is introduced from above, a conical lower enclosure (14) defining a lower chamber (36) and supported in tandem with the upper enclosure (12), and one or more angled slots (56) defined in the sidewall of the upper enclosure (12) through which compressed air is introduced relatively circumferentially into the upper chamber (34) so as to generate a circular vortex flow of air and material in the upper enclosure (12) for grinding and drying to take place. The air flow is exhausted by a pipe (92) through an upper end of the upper enclosure (12) and the dried ground material is discharged through an open lower end of the lower enclosure (14). The lower enclosure (14) is a downward continuation and extension of the upper enclosure (12) so as not to extend upwardly into nor past the upper chamber (34) thereof.

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1. A material grinding apparatus, comprising:(a) an upper enclosure including an upper annular sidewall and having an upper end, open lower end and opposite exterior and interior sides, said upper annular sidewall defining an upper interior chamber at said interior side of said upper enclosure and h

1. A material grinding apparatus, comprising:(a) an upper enclosure including an upper annular sidewall and having an upper end, open lower end and opposite exterior and interior sides, said upper annular sidewall defining an upper interior chamber at said interior side of said upper enclosure and having at least one hole of a predetermined size formed through said upper annular sidewall between said exterior and interior sides of said upper enclosure so as to provide flow communication between said exterior side of said upper enclosure and said upper interior chamber thereof; (b) a lower enclosure disposed below and in a tandem arrangement with said upper enclosure, said lower enclosure including a lower annular sidewall having a substantially inverted conical configuration and open upper and lower ends and defining a lower interior chamber, said lower annular sidewall of said lower enclosure being mounted at said open upper end thereof to said upper annular sidewall at said open lower end of said upper enclosure such that said lower annular sidewall and lower interior chamber of said lower enclosure are substantially continuous and in flow communication with said upper annular sidewall and upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure; (c) means for delivering material to be ground into said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure through said upper end of said thereof; (d) means for supplying a flow of air through said hole in said upper annular sidewall of said upper enclosure into said upper interior chamber thereof to along a flow path extending about said interior side of said upper enclosure; (e) one or more deflection plates, mounted to said interior side of said upper enclosure adjacent to said one or more holes through said upper annular sidewall defining an angular configuration relative to said upper annular sidewall, for deflecting air circulating within the upper interior chamber away from said one or more holes so that air circulating withing the upper interior chamber does not disrupt air flowing from said one or more holes into said upper interior chamber; and (f) means for exhausting air from said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure through said upper end thereof such that said means for supplying air and said means for exhausting air coact with said hole in said upper annular sidewall and with said upper and interior chambers of said upper and lower enclosures to create a circular vortex flow of air within said upper and lower interior chambers of said upper and lower enclosures that causes grinding and drying of material substantially in said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure, upward discharge of air from said upper interior chamber through said upper end thereof, downward travel of ground material through said lower interior chamber of said lower enclosure and downward discharge of the ground material from said lower interior chamber through said open lower end of said lower enclosure, said lower interior chamber of said lower enclosure having an inverted conical shape which augments said circular vortex flow of air and material in said upper and lower interior chambers of said upper and lower enclosures. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:a support structure supporting said upper and lower enclosures in an upright orientation with said upper enclosure above said lower enclosure such that said upper and lower enclosures and said upper and lower interior chambers thereof are in a tandem orientation with one another. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hole through said upper annular sidewall of said upper enclosure is a slot having a height oriented so as to extend between and in a generally transverse relationship to said upper and lower ends of said upper enclosure.4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hole through said upper annular sidewall of said upper enclosure is a slot having a length oriented so as to extend between and at an acute angle relative to said exterior and interior sides of said upper enclosure.5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said upper enclosure further includes means for adjusting said size of said hole through said upper annular sidewall of said upper enclosure.6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for adjusting said size of said hole includes a plate and a releasable fastening arrangement mounting said plate to said upper annular sidewall at said exterior side of said upper enclosure adjacent to said hole through said upper annular sidewall for undergoing slidable movement in relation to said upper annular sidewall and said hole therethrough for varying the effective size of said hole through which said flow of air can pass.7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for supplying air provides the air in a compressed state.8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for supplying air includes:a manifold mounted to said upper annular sidewall of said upper enclosure on said exterior side thereof and defining an air collection cavity enclosing and disposed in flow communication with said hole through said upper annular sidewall, said manifold having an air supply inlet; and at least one tube extending from an external source of air and being connected to and in flow communication with said air supply inlet of said manifold such that the flow of air passes through said tube, through said air supply inlet of said manifold, into and through said air collection cavity of said manifold, through said hole of said upper enclosure and into said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure. 9. A material grinding apparatus, comprising:(a) an upper enclosure including an upper annular sidewall and having an upper end, open lower end and opposite exterior and interior sides, said upper annular sidewall defining an upper interior chamber at said interior side of said upper enclosure and having a plurality of slots each of a predetermined size formed through said upper annular sidewall between said exterior and interior sides of said upper enclosure and being circumferentially spaced apart from one another about said upper annular sidewall and being oriented so as to extend between and at an acute angle relative to said exterior and interior sides of said upper enclosure such that said slots provide flow communication between said exterior side of said upper enclosure and said upper interior chamber thereof at spaced apart locations on said upper enclosure; (b) a lower enclosure disposed below and in a tandem arrangement with said upper enclosure, said lower enclosure including a lower annular sidewall having a substantially inverted conical configuration and open upper and lower ends and defining a lower interior chamber, said lower annular sidewall of said lower enclosure being mounted at said open upper end thereof to said upper annular sidewall at said open lower end of said upper enclosure such that said lower annular sidewall and said lower interior chamber of said lower enclosure are substantially continuous and in flow communication with said upper annular sidewall and said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure; (c) means for delivering material to be ground into said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure through said upper end thereof; (d) means for supplying a flow of air through said slots in said upper annular sidewall of said upper enclosure into said upper interior chamber thereof to along a flow path extending about said upper annular sidewall at said interior side of said upper enclosure; (e) one or more deflection plates, mounted to said interior side of said upper enclosure adjacent to said one or more slots in said upper annular sidewall defining an angular configuration relative to said upper annular sidewall, for deflecting air circulating within the upper interior chamber away from said one or more slots so air circulating within the upper interior chamber does not disrupt air flowing from said one or more slots into said upper interior chamber; and (e) means for exhausting air from said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure through said upper end thereof such that said means for supplying air and said means for exhausting air coact with said slots in said upper annular sidewall and with said upper and interior chambers to create a circular vortex flow of air within said upper and lower interior chambers of said upper and lower enclosures that causes grinding and drying of material substantially in said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure, upward discharge of air from said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure through said upper end thereof, downward travel of ground material through said lower interior chamber of said lower enclosure and discharge of the ground material from said lower interior chamber through said open lower end of said lower enclosure, said lower interior chamber of said lower enclosure having an inverted conical shape which augments said circular vortex flow of air and material in said upper and lower interior chambers of said upper and lower enclosures. 10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:a support structure supporting said upper and lower enclosures in an upright orientation with said upper enclosure above said lower enclosure such that said upper and lower enclosures and said upper and lower interior chambers thereof are in a tandem orientation with one another. 11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each of said slots through said upper annular sidewall of said upper enclosure has a height oriented so as to extend between and in a generally transverse relationship to said upper and lower ends of said upper enclosure.12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said upper enclosure further includes means for adjusting said size of each of said slots through said upper annular sidewall of said upper enclosure.13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said slot size adjusting means includes a plate and a releasable fastening arrangement mounting said plate to said upper annular sidewall at said exterior side of said upper enclosure adjacent to each of said slots through said upper annular sidewall for undergoing slidable movement in relation to said upper annular sidewall and said slot therethrough for varying the effective width of said slot through which said flow of air can pass.14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for supplying air provides the air in a compressed state.15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for supplying air includes:a plurality of manifolds each mounted to said upper annular sidewall of said upper enclosure on said exterior side thereof and defining an air collection cavity enclosing and disposed in flow communication with one of said slots through said upper annular sidewall, each of said manifolds having an air supply inlet; and a plurality of tubes extending from an external source of compressed air and being connected to and in flow communication with said air supply inlets of said manifolds such that air in the compressed state passes through said tubes, through said air supply inlets of said manifolds, into and through said air collection cavities of said manifolds, through said slots of said upper enclosure and into said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means for exhausting air from said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure includes an exhaust pipe having an open upper end and an open lower end and being mounted to and disposed through said upper end of said upper enclosure such that said open upper end of said exhaust pipe is disposed externally of and above said upper enclosure and said open lower end of said exhaust pipe is disposed within and in flow communication with said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure, said open lower end of said exhaust pipe being located closer to said open lower end of said upper enclosure than to said upper end thereof.17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said upper end of said upper enclosure includes a top cover having a substantially central opening.18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein:said exhaust pipe also has an upper side opening disposed externally of and above said upper enclosure and a lower side opening disposed within and in flow communication with said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure; and said means for delivering material to be ground into said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure includes a feed tube having an open upper end and an open lower end and being mounted to and disposed through said upper and lower sides openings of said exhaust pipe such that said open upper end of said feed tube is disposed externally of said upper enclosure and adjacent to a side of said exhaust pipe and said open lower end of said feed tube is disposed internally of said upper enclosure and adjacent to an opposite side of said exhaust pipe and within and in flow communication with said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure such that material to be ground can be fed via said feed tube across said exhaust pipe from exteriorly of said upper enclosure into said circular vortex flow of air in said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure. 19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein each of said slots through said upper annular sidewall of said upper enclosure has a height oriented so as to extend between and in a generally transverse relationship to said upper and lower ends of said upper enclosure.20. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:a damper movably mounted to said exhaust pipe and being adjustable to regulate the flow of air from said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure through said exhaust pipe and thereby regulate the size to which the material is ground in said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure. 21. A material grinding apparatus, comprising:(a) an upper enclosure comprising an upper annular sidewall, an upper end, an open lower end an exterior and interior sides, said interior side of said upper enclosure defining an upper interior chamber, where one or more holes are formed through said upper annular sidewall; (b) a lower enclosure disposed below said upper enclosure, said lower enclosure comprising a lower annular sidewall having a substantially inverted conical configuration, exterior and interior sides and open upper and open lower ends, said interior side of said lower enclosure defining a lower interior chamber, said lower enclosure being mounted at its open upper end to said upper enclosure at its open lower end such that said lower interior chamber is substantially continuous with said upper interior chamber; (c) a feed tube for delivering material into said upper enclosure; (d) an air supply tube for supplying a flow of air through said one or more holes in said upper annular sidewall of said upper enclosure into said upper interior chamber; (e) one or more deflection plates, mounted to said interior side of said upper enclosure adjacent to said one or more holes in said upper annular sidewall and defining an angular configuration relative to said upper sidewall, for deflecting air circulating within the upper interior chamber away from said one or more holes so that air circulating within the upper interior chamber does not disrupt air flowing from said one or more holes into said upper interior chamber; and (f) an exhaust pipe for exhausting air from said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure through said upper end of said upper enclosure, wherein said air supply tube and said exhaust pipe coact with said one or more holes and with said upper and lower interior chambers to create a vortex flow of air within said upper and lower interior chambers sufficient to grind, dry and dehydrate materials, upwar discharge of air and downward travel and discharge of the ground material. 22. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:a support structure supporting said upper and lower enclosures in an upright orientation with said upper enclosure above said lower enclosure such that said upper and lower enclosures and said upper and lower interior chambers thereof are in a tandem orientation with one another. 23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein each hole through said upper annular sidewall of said upper enclosure is a slot having a height oriented so as to extend between and in a generally transverse relationship to said upper and lower ends of said upper enclosure.24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein each hole through said upper annualr sidewall of said upper enclosure is a slot having length oriented so as to extend between and at an acute angle relative to said exterior and interior sides of said upper enclosure.25. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said upper enclosure further comprises one or more adjustable plates, mounted on said exterior side of said upper enclosure adjacent to each hole in said upper annular sidewall, for varying the effective size of each hole.26. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said air supply tube provides air in a compressed state.27. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said air supply tube comprises the following components:a manifold mounted to said upper annular sidewall of said upper enclosure on said exterior side thereof and defining an air collection cavity enclosing said one or more holes through said upper annular sidewall, said manifold having an air supply inlet; and at least one tube extending from an external source of air and being connected to said air supply inlet of said manifold such that the flow of air passes through said tube, through said air supply inlet of said manifold, into and through said air collection cavity of said manifold, through at least one of said holes of said upper enclosure and into said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure. 28. A material grinding apparatus, comprising:(a) an upper enclosure comprising an upper annular sidewall, an upper end, an open lower end and exterior and interior sides, said interior side of said upper enclosure defining an upper interior chamber, where a plurality of slots are formed through said upper annular sidewall which are circumferentially spaced apart from one another about said upper annular sidewall and oriented to extend between and at an acute angle relative to said exterior and interior sides; (b) a lower enclosure disposed below said upper enclosure, said lower enclosure comprising a lower annular sidewall having a substantially inverted conical configuration, exterior and interior sides and open upper and open lower ends, said interior side of said lower enclosure defining a lower interior chamber, said lower enclosure being mounted at its open upper end to said upper enclosure at its open lower end such that said lower interior chamber is substantially continuous with said upper interior chamber; (c) a feed tube for delivering material into said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure; (d) an air supply tube for supplying a flow of air through said slots in said upper annular sidewall into said upper interior chamber; (e) one or more deflection plates, mounted to said interior side of said upper enclosure adjacent to said one or more slots in said upper annular sidewall and defining an angular configuration relative to said upper annular sidewall, for deflecting air circulating within the upper interior chamber away from said one or more slots so that air circulating within the upper chamber does not disrupt air flowing from said one or more slots into said upper interior chamber; and (f) an exhaust pipe for exhausting air from said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure through said upper end of said upper enclosure, wherein said air supply tube and said exhaust pipe coact with said slots and said upper and lower interior chambers to create a vortex flow of air within said upper and lower interior chambers that causes grinding, drying and dehydration of material, upward discharge of air and downward travel and discharge of the ground material. 29. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising:a support structure supporting said uper and lower enclosures in an upright orientation with said upper enclosure above said lower enclosure such that said upper and lower enclosures and said upper and lower interior chambers thereof are in a tandem orientation with one another. 30. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein each of said slots throug said upper annular sidewall of said upper enclosure has a height oriented so as to extend between and in a generally transverse relationship to said upper and lower ends of said upper enclosure.31. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said upper enclosure further comprises one or more adjustable plates, mounted on said exterior side of said upper enclosure adjacent to each slot in said upper annular sidewall, for varying the size of each slot.32. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said air supply tube provides the air in a compressed state.33. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said air supply tube comprises the following components:a plurality of manifolds each mounted to said upper annular sidewall of said upper enclosure on said exterior side thereof and defining an air colleciton cavity enclosing one of said slots through said upper annular sidewall, each of said manifolds having an air supply inlet; and a plurality of tubes extending from an external source of compressed air and being connected to said air supply inlets of said manifolds such that air in the compressed state passes through said tubes, through said air supply inlets of said manifolds, into and through said air collection cavities of said manifolds, through said slots of said upper enclosure and into said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure. 34. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said exhaust pipe has an open upper and an open lower end and is mounted to and disposed through said upper end of said upper enclosure such that said open upper end of said exhaust pipe is disposed externally of and above said upper enclosure and said open lower end of said exhaust pipe is disposed within said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure, said open lower end of said exhaust pipe being located closer to said open lower end of said upper enclosure than to said upper end thereof.35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said upper end of said upper enclosure includes a top cover having substantially central opening.36. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein:said exhaust pipe also has an upper side opening disposed externally of and above said upper enclosure and a lower side opening disposed within isaid upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure; and said feed tube has an open upper end and an open lower end and is mounted to and disposed through said upper and lower sides openings of said exhaust pipe such that said open upper end of said feed tube is disposed externally of said upper enclosure and adjacent to a side of said exhaust pipe and said open lower end of said feed tube is disposed internally of said upper enclosure and adjacent to an opposite side of said exhaust pipe and within said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure such that material to be ground can be fed via said feed tube across said exhaust pipe from exteriorly of said upper enclosure into said circular vortex flow of air in said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure. 37. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein each of said slots through said upper annular sidewall of said upper enclosure has a height oriented so as to extend between and in a generally transverse relationship to said upper and lower ends of said upper enclosure.38. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising;a damper movably mounted to said exhaust pipe and being adjustable to regulate the flow of air from said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure through said exhaust pipe and thereby regulate the size to which the material is ground in said upper interior chamber of said upper enclosure. 39. A material grinding method, comprising the steps of:(a) providing an upper enclosure with an interior side and an exterior side, said interior side defining an interior chamber, with one or more holes formed between the exterior and interior sides and oriented so as to extend between and at an acute angle relative to the exterior and interior sides; (b) providing a lower enclosure below and in tandem with the upper enclosure and having an inverted conical configuration such that lower interior chamber of the lower enclosure is substantially continuous with the upper interior chamber of the upper enclosure; (c) delivering material to be ground into the upper interior chamber of the upper enclosure through an upper end of the upper enclosure; (d) supplying a flow of air through the hole or holes in the upper enclosure into the upper interior chamber thereof; (e) deflecting the flow of air circulating within the upper enclosure away from said one or more holes so that air circulating within the upper enclosure does not disrupt air flowing from said one or more holes into said upper enclosure, using one or more deflection plates mounted to said interior side of said upper enclosure adjacent to said one or more holes and defining an angular configuration relative to said interior side of said upper enclosure; and (f) exhausting air from the upper interior chamber of the upper enclosure through the upper end thereof such that the supplying and the exhausting of air coact with said one or more holes and the upper and interior chambers to create a vortex flow of air within the upper and lower interior chambers that causes grinding, drying and dehydration of material and downward travel and discharge of ground material. 40. The method of claim 39 wherein the air being supplied is in a compressed state.41. The method of claim 39 wherein the air being supplied is at a temperature within the range of about 40° F. to about 900° F.42. The method of claim 39 wherein the air being supplied is at a pressure within the range of from about 10 psi to about 600 psi.43. The method of claim 39 wherein the air being supplied is at a velocity within the range of from about five cubic feet per minute to about 12,000 cubic feet per minute.44. The method of claim 39 wherein the air being supplied contains steam having a temperature within the range of from about 212° F. to about 2000° F..