Types of Crushers

A crusher is a multi-dimensional machine that is designed to reduce large-size materials into smaller-size materials. Crushers may be used to reduce the size, or change the form of waste materials so they can be more easily disposed of or recycled, or to reduce the size of a solid mix of raw materials (as in the case of ore) so that pieces of different composition can be differentiated for separation.

Crushers are normally low-speed machines that are designed for breaking large lumps of ores and stones, even having a size with a diameter of over one and a half meter. The purpose of crushers is to reduce the size of the materials for making them usable in construction or industrial use, or for extraction of valuable minerals trapped within an ore matrix.

Crushers may be used to reduce the size, or change the form of waste materials so they can be more easily disposed of or recycled, or to reduce the size of a solid mix of raw materials (as in the case of ore) so that pieces of different composition can be differentiated for separation.     

Crushing is the process of transferring a force amplified by mechanical advantage through a material made of molecules that bond together more strongly, and resist deformation more, than those in the material being crushed do. Crushing devices hold material between two parallel or tangent solid surfaces and apply sufficient force to bring the surfaces together to generate enough energy within the material being crushed so that its molecules separate from (fracturing), or change alignment in relation to (deformation), each other.

 Cone Crusher     

There are four basic ways to reduce a material, namely (i) impact, (ii) attrition, (iii) shear, and (iv) compression. Most crushers employ a combination of all these crushing methods.

• Impact – In crushing terminology, impact refers to the sharp, instantaneous collision of one moving object against another. Both objects may be moving, or one object may be motionless. There are two variations of impact, namely (i) gravity impact, and (ii) dynamic impact. Material dropped onto a hard surface such as a steel plate is an example of gravity impact. Gravity impact is most often used when it is necessary to separate two materials that have relatively different friability. The more friable material is broken, while the less friable material remains unbroken. 

Separation can then be done by screening. Material dropping in front of a moving hammer (both objects in motion), illustrates dynamic impact. When crushed by gravity impact, the free-falling material is momentarily stopped by the stationary object. But when crushed by dynamic impact, the material is unsupported and the force of impact accelerates the movement of the reduced particles toward breaker blocks and/or other hammers. Dynamic impact has definite advantages for the reduction of many materials.

 Jaw Crusher

• Attrition – It is a term applied to the reduction of materials by scrubbing it between two hard surfaces. Hammer mills operate with close clearances between the hammers and the screen bars and materials reduce by attrition combined with shear and impact reduction. Though attrition consumes more power and exacts heavier wear on hammers and screen bars, it is practical method for crushing the less abrasive materials such as limestone and coal.

• Shear – It consists of a trimming or cleaving action rather than the rubbing action associated with attrition. Shear is usually combined with other methods. For example, single roll crushers employ shear together with impact and compression. Shear crushing is normally called for under the conditions when the material is somewhat friable or when a relatively coarse product is desired. It is usually employed for primary crushing with a reduction ratio of 6 to 1.

• Compression – As the name implies, crushing by compression is done between two surfaces, with the work being done by one or both surfaces. Jaw crushers using this method of compression are suitable for reducing extremely hard and abrasive materials. However, some jaw crushers employ attrition as well as compression and are not as suitable for abrasive materials since the rubbing action accentuates the wear on crushing surfaces. As a mechanical reduction method, compression is to be used if the material is hard and tough if the material is abrasive if the material is not sticky, and where the finished product is to be relatively coarse.