Tower extractor for municipal wastes

Abstract

Abstract A tower extractor and method to continuously and coarsely or roughly separate paper, film plastic products and like, lighter materials from the heavier materials in a relatively large volume conglomerate of mixed solid municipal wastes or refuse. The separation occurs as the result of an airstream being directed into the conglomerate of mixed solid wastes as the mixed solid wastes begin to slide down a chute at least 30 feet long disposed at an angle of about 60* to 80* from vertical in a separation chamber. The volume and pressure of the airstream are selected so as to cause an initial separation and suspension of at least a portion of the lighter materials from the heavier materials as the waste descends down the chute. While a portion of the lighter materials is air suspended, the heavy materials and the remaining portions of the waste mixture flow down the chute and the mixture is further separated into a light fraction and a heavy fraction. The separation occurs because the components in the light fraction move at a slower rate than the components in the heavy fraction. As a result, the light components stratify above the heavy component and are drawn out of the separation chamber as a light fraction, preferably by suction. The heavier materials remain in contact with the chute and are separately discharged out of the separation chamber.

Inventors

• 👤 V Brown

Bibliographic Details