An impact crusher reduces the size of materials such as rock and concrete. Horizontal shaft crushers use hammers to break material, while vertical shaft crushers hurl material against a drum. They are used in mining and recycling, but can be dangerous and require protective gear.
An impact crusher is heavy construction equipment that people can use to reduce the size of objects such as rock, scrap concrete, and similar materials. The operator feeds chunks of material into the machine’s hopper and crushes them, turning the chunks into smaller pieces of a more uniform size. They can be passed through another crusher to make them even smaller or used as is, depending on the setting. A number of companies manufacture impact crushers, including large stationary models, as well as portable construction site equipment.
In a horizontal shaft impact crusher, material is poured into a hopper with a rotating shaft. The shaft beats the material with a series of hammers to break it into smaller pieces and the crushed product comes out the bottom. A mesh only lets particles of a certain size through, keeping the output uniform. Vertical shaft impact crushers work by hurling materials against the size of a drum to fragment them. Depending on the speed of the particles, they will break into pieces of various sizes. A screen allows materials of small enough size to escape from the drum.
One use for an impact crusher is in the processing of raw materials such as those associated with mining. Smaller pieces can be made more compact and are easier and more efficient to transport. The smaller size can also facilitate the separation of materials by type, allowing people to remove useful material and discard the rest. An impact crusher can be placed on site, allowing for rapid processing of materials before transportation away from the facility.
These machines are also useful for preparing material for recycling or disposal. Materials such as chunks of concrete can pass through an impact crusher to produce a variety of pieces available for use in recycled aggregate. Similarly, rocks can be crushed to break them into smaller pieces, making them easier to discard. Impact crushers can also prepare materials such as gravels for use, making sure they are approximately uniform in size so that they perform as desired.
Like other heavy equipment, an impact crusher can be very dangerous. These machines operate at high speeds and can break very strong materials, making them potentially hazardous to people. People usually need to wear eye and ear protection to prevent injury and should be careful around equipment. The machine usually features an emergency stop for situations where people fall into the crusher, allowing personnel to quickly shut down operations for a rescue or recovery operation.
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