US3635409A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integrated municipal waste processing system and method
Assignee: Garbalizer Corp of America
•
Filing: 1970-08-03
•
Granted: 1972-01-18
•
Expires: 1990-08-03
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a system and method for processing municipal waste into useable products. In a preferred form of the invention the same may be utilized as a composting plant having a rapid time cycle, requiring for batch or continuous feed through operation, a small fraction of the processing time required by conventional biochemical composting plants. Central in the invention is the concept of utilizing a ball-mill to pulverize incoming materials. Specifically usable as a unique combination for municipal waste processing is a wetgrind ball-mill stage followed by a dry-grind ball-mill stage, nonfloatables being reduced by the former and floatables being reduced by the latter. Preferably, both outputs are later combined prior to compacting to produce a usable end product. Heat is supplied in the dry-grind ball-mill stage to preclude layer build up on the interior walls of the ball-mill. In one form of the invention the system or method is used in conjunction with a municipal sewage treatment plant wherein the liquid and sludge phases thereof are utilized in the system and method for milling and also for enriching the materials developed in the system and method, for ultimate processing as a useable fertilizer product.
Inventors
- 👤 John C Brewer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:28
CPC Classifications
B; B03; B03B; B03B9/00; B03B9/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S241/00; Y10S241/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
In a municipal waste processing system, means for shredding municipal waste, first ball-mill means for reducing the soshredded municipal waste to powder; sewage treatment plant means for introducing a liquid output into said first ball-mill means to mix with said shredded municipal waste therein, said first ball-mill means thereby producing an output of ground nonfloatables, nonground floatables, and liquid; separating means for separating said nonground floatables from said ground nonfloatables and said liquid, and second ball-mill means for dry-grinding said nonground floatables therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a municipal waste processing system, means for shredding municipal waste, first ball-mill means for reducing the soshredded municipal waste to powder; sewage treatment plant means for introducing a liquid output into said first ball-mill means to mix with said shredded municipal waste therein, said first ball-mill means thereby producing an output of ground nonfloatables, nonground floatables, and liquid; separating means for separating said nonground floatables from said ground nonfloatables and said liquid, and second ball-mill means for dry-grinding said nonground floatables therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said municipal waste processing system also includes solids-liquid separator means coupled to said first ball-mill means for receiving and separating liquid and ground nonfloatables in the output therefrom, means returning the so-derived liquid back to said first ball-mill means, and means for mixing said ground nonfloatables with the output of said second ball-mill means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein sewage treatment plant means introduces a liquid, sewage-sludge slurry into said first ball-mill means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said municipal waste processing system comprises a composting plant and mixing means and constructed to receive the output therefrom for roasting without incinerating said contents, at a temperature under 600* F.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said system includes means for applying heat to the exterior of said second ball-mill means to raise the temperature of the interior thereof and thereby vaporize moisture from municipal waste contents therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said municipal waste processing system includes means for introducing chemical additives into said mixing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
144 words
In a municipal waste processing system, a first, wet-grind ball-mill stage, means for introducing into said first ball-mill stage a slurry comprised of sewage plant liquid sludge and shredded municipal waste, means coupled to said first ball-mill stage for receiving the output therefrom and separating nonground floatables from ground nonfloatables and liquid thereat, a second ball-mill stage coupled to said separating means and constructed to receive said nonground floatables for dry-grinding the same, solids-liquid separator means coupled to said separating means and constructed to separate liquid from solids thereat, mixer means for mixing said solids with the output of said second ball-mill stage, roasting means coupled to said mixing means constructed to receive the output therefrom for roasting to a temperature under 600* F. contents thereof, and compactor and pelletizing means for compacting and forming into pellets the resultant product from said roasting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
144 words
In a municipal waste processing system, a first, wet-grind ball-mill stage, means for introducing into said first ball-mill stage a slurry comprised of sewage plant liquid sludge and shredded municipal waste, means coupled to said first ball-mill stage for receiving the output therefrom and separating nonground floatables from ground nonfloatables and liquid thereat, a second ball-mill stage coupled to said separating means and constructed to receive said nonground floatables for dry-grinding the same, solids-liquid separator means coupled to said separating means and constructed to separate liquid from solids thereat, mixer means for mixing said solids with the output of said second ball-mill stage, roasting means coupled to said mixing means constructed to receive the output therefrom for roasting to a temperature under 600* F. contents thereof, and compactor and pelletizing means for compacting and forming into pellets the resultant product from said roasting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
84 words
A mechanical composting plant including, in combination, means for receiving municipal waste and reducing the size thereof, means for mixing liquid sewage sludge with said municipal waste, ball-mill means coupled to said receiving and reducing means for grinding into powder the output thereof in a fluid environment comprised of said liquid sewage sludge, means coupled to said ball-mill means, for separating solids from the liquid in said fluid environment and means for roasting the remaining solids to reduce bacteria count and dry said output.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
A mechanical composting plant including, in combination, means for receiving municipal waste and reducing the size thereof, means for mixing liquid sewage sludge with said municipal waste, ball-mill means coupled to said receiving and reducing means for grinding into powder the output thereof in a fluid environment comprised of said liquid sewage sludge, means coupled to said ball-mill means, for separating solids from the liquid in said fluid environment and means for roasting the remaining solids to reduce bacteria count and dry said output.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a municipal waste processing system, ball-mill means for receiving Municipal waste and reducing the same to a powdered form, and means for applying heat to the exterior of said ball-mill means to vaporize the moisture from the municipal waste during the operation of said ball-mill means, means for mixing dried sewage sludge with the output of said ball-mill means, and means for roasting without incinerating the resultant mixture at a temperature under 600* F.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a municipal waste processing system, ball-mill means for receiving Municipal waste and reducing the same to a powdered form, and means for applying heat to the exterior of said ball-mill means to vaporize the moisture from the municipal waste during the operation of said ball-mill means, means for mixing dried sewage sludge with the output of said ball-mill means, and means for roasting without incinerating the resultant mixture at a temperature under 600* F.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3335968A
Cited
US3283698A
Cited
US3477649A
Cited
US3549092A
Cited
US3565350A
Cited
US3524594A
Cited
US3579320A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-17 | 1975-07-19 | 1976-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-17 | 1979-07-19 | 1980-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-17 | 1983-07-19 | 1984-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |