US3885744A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for crushing and separating scrap material
Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Inc
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Filing: 1974-05-20
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1994-05-20
Abstract
Abstract Scrap material, having components which are rendered brittle by freezing, is passed through a freezing zone at cryogenic temperatures to make said components temporarily non-ductile. The scrap is then crushed in a first comminution zone to a relatively small size. Thereafter, the scrap is sorted by a first air separator into streams (a) ''''dust'''' or fines, (b) a light fraction and (c) a heavy fraction. The heavy fraction is magnetically separated into magnetic and non-magnetic fractions. The non-magnetic and light fractions are combined and then crushed together in a second comminution zone to a smaller size. The discharge of this zone is sorted by a second air separator into streams (a) ''''dust'''' or fines, (b) a light fraction and (c) a heavy fraction. The second heavy fraction is magnetically separated into magnetic and non-magnetic fractions and the nonmagnetic fraction is recycled through the second comminution zone. The second light fraction is fed to a third comminution zone for still further size reduction. After magnetic separation and further size reduction, which steps may be repeated as deemed desirable, based on the characteristics of the scrap and the size range of the desired products, non-magnetic metal values are recovered. The various magnetic fractions are recovered and the collected ''''dusts'''' or fines may also be subject to recovery of the metallic and non-metallic components thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 David J Drage
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 05:25
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B7/00; C22B7/005; B; B02; B02C; B02C23/00; B02C23/08; B02C23/14; B03; B03B; B03B9/00; B03B9/06; B03B9/061; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20; Y02W; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/50; Y02W30/52; Y10; Y10S; Y10S241/00; Y10S241/37; Y10S241/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A METHOD FOR THE RECOVERY OF COMPONENTS OF SCRAP MATERIAL HAVING MECHANICALLY INTERMINGLED FERROUS METALS, NONFEROUS METALS AND NON-METALLIC MATERIALS COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. PASSING THE TOTALLITY OF SAID SCRAP THROUGH A FREEZING ZONE WHERE IT IS COOLED TO CRYOGENIC TEMPERATURES BELOW THE TRANSITION TEMPERATURE OF THE FERROUS MATRIX OF THE SCRAP; B. CRUSHING SAID SCRAP, WHILE IT IS IN CRYOGENICALLY EMBRITTLED CONDITION, IN A FIRST CRUSHING ZONE, TO EFFECT A FIRST SIZ REDUCTION THEREOF; C. EPARATING THE DISCHARGE FROM SAID FIRST CRUSHING ZONE, IN A FIRST SEPARATING ZONE, INTO A DUST, A FIRST LIGHT FRACTION, AND A FIRST HEAVY FRACTION; D. MAGNETICALLY SEPARATING SAID FIRST HEAVY FRACTION INTO A FIRST MAGNETIC FRACTION AND A FIRST NON-MAGNETIC FRACTION AND SAID MAGNETIC FRACTION BEING RECOVERED AS A FERROUS PRODUCT; E. COMBINING SAID FIRST NON-MAGNETIC FRACTION WITH SAID FIRST LIGHT FRACTION AND FEEDING SAID COMBINED FRACTIONS, AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, TO A SECOND CRUSHING ZONE WITHIN WHICH A SECOND SIZE REDUCTION IS EFFECTED; F. SEPARATING THE DISCHARGE FROM SAID SECOND CRUSHING ZONE, LIGHT FRACTION AND FEEDING SAID COMBINED FRACTIONS, AT LIGHT FRACTION AND SAID FEEDING SAID COMBINED FRACTIONS, AT F. MAGNETICALLY SEPARATING SAID SECOND HEAVY FRACTION INTO A SECOND MAGNETIC FRACTION AND A SECOND NON-MAGNETIC FRACTION, SAID SECOND MAGNETIC FRACTION BEING RECOVERED AS A FERROUS PRODUCT;
Claim 2
Independent Claim
214 words
A METHOD FOR THE RECOVERY OF COMPONENTS OF SCRAP MATERIAL HAVING MECHANICALLY INTERMINGLED FERROUS METALS, NONFEROUS METALS AND NON-METALLIC MATERIALS COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. PASSING THE TOTALLITY OF SAID SCRAP THROUGH A FREEZING ZONE WHERE IT IS COOLED TO CRYOGENIC TEMPERATURES BELOW THE TRANSITION TEMPERATURE OF THE FERROUS MATRIX OF THE SCRAP; B. CRUSHING SAID SCRAP, WHILE IT IS IN CRYOGENICALLY EMBRITTLED CONDITION, IN A FIRST CRUSHING ZONE, TO EFFECT A FIRST SIZ REDUCTION THEREOF; C. EPARATING THE DISCHARGE FROM SAID FIRST CRUSHING ZONE, IN A FIRST SEPARATING ZONE, INTO A DUST, A FIRST LIGHT FRACTION, AND A FIRST HEAVY FRACTION; D. MAGNETICALLY SEPARATING SAID FIRST HEAVY FRACTION INTO A FIRST MAGNETIC FRACTION AND A FIRST NON-MAGNETIC FRACTION AND SAID MAGNETIC FRACTION BEING RECOVERED AS A FERROUS PRODUCT; E. COMBINING SAID FIRST NON-MAGNETIC FRACTION WITH SAID FIRST LIGHT FRACTION AND FEEDING SAID COMBINED FRACTIONS, AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, TO A SECOND CRUSHING ZONE WITHIN WHICH A SECOND SIZE REDUCTION IS EFFECTED; F. SEPARATING THE DISCHARGE FROM SAID SECOND CRUSHING ZONE, LIGHT FRACTION AND FEEDING SAID COMBINED FRACTIONS, AT LIGHT FRACTION AND SAID FEEDING SAID COMBINED FRACTIONS, AT F. MAGNETICALLY SEPARATING SAID SECOND HEAVY FRACTION INTO A SECOND MAGNETIC FRACTION AND A SECOND NON-MAGNETIC FRACTION, SAID SECOND MAGNETIC FRACTION BEING RECOVERED AS A FERROUS PRODUCT;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein dust is collected from each of said crushing zones and from said first and second separating zones.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the cooling in said freezing zone is achieved using at least one cryogenic fluid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the separation in said first and second separating zones is effected by having the comminuted scrap fall through a generally transverse air stream.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 4 wherein non-ferrous metals are recovered from said non-ferrous product stream by (a) chopping said product stream to obtain a finely divided intermediate product (b) screening the entirety of said intermediate product to obtain a plurality of uniformly sized streams ranging in size from fine to coarse and (c) subjecting each of said sized streams to a separation by specific gravity to thus obtain individual non-ferrous products, each having its own characteristic specific gravity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
370 words
Apparatus for the recovery of components of scrap material having mechanically intermingled ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals and non-metallic materials comprising: a. a freezer for rEducing the temperature of materials to cryogenic temperatures below the transition temperature of the ferrous matrix of said scrap; b. a first crusher for effecting a first size reduction of said scrap, while it is cryogenically embrittled; c. means for conveying the totality of said scrap through said freezer and to said first crusher; d. a first air separator which utilizes a stream of air to separate scrap from said first crusher into a dust, a first light fraction and a first heavy fraction; e. means for conveying the comminuted material from the first crusher to the first air separator; f. a magnetic separator for separating said first heavy fraction into a first magnetic ferrous product fraction and a first non-magnetic fraction; g. means for conveying said first heavy fraction to said magnetic separator; h. a second crusher for crushing said first light fraction and said first non-magnetic fraction to reduce their size; i. means for conveying said first light fraction and said first non-magnetic fraction to said second crusher as a feed therefor; j. a second air separator which utilizes a stream of air to separate effluent from said second crusher into a dust, a second light fraction and a second heavy fraction; k. means for conveying the discharge of said second crusher to said second air separator; l. a magnetic separator for separating said second heavy fraction into a second magnetic ferrous product fraction and a second non-magnetic fraction; m. means for conveying said second heavy fraction to separator (l); n. means for conveying said second non-magnetic fraction to said second crusher as part of the feed therefor; o. a third crusher for crushing said second light fraction to reduce the size thereof; p. means for conveying said second light fraction to said third crusher; q. a magnetic separator for separating the effluent of said third crusher into a third magnetic ferrous product fraction and a third non-magnetic fraction which fraction is an intermediate product consisting essentially of non-ferrous metals, and r. means for conveying the discharge of said third crusher to separator (q).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
370 words
Apparatus for the recovery of components of scrap material having mechanically intermingled ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals and non-metallic materials comprising: a. a freezer for rEducing the temperature of materials to cryogenic temperatures below the transition temperature of the ferrous matrix of said scrap; b. a first crusher for effecting a first size reduction of said scrap, while it is cryogenically embrittled; c. means for conveying the totality of said scrap through said freezer and to said first crusher; d. a first air separator which utilizes a stream of air to separate scrap from said first crusher into a dust, a first light fraction and a first heavy fraction; e. means for conveying the comminuted material from the first crusher to the first air separator; f. a magnetic separator for separating said first heavy fraction into a first magnetic ferrous product fraction and a first non-magnetic fraction; g. means for conveying said first heavy fraction to said magnetic separator; h. a second crusher for crushing said first light fraction and said first non-magnetic fraction to reduce their size; i. means for conveying said first light fraction and said first non-magnetic fraction to said second crusher as a feed therefor; j. a second air separator which utilizes a stream of air to separate effluent from said second crusher into a dust, a second light fraction and a second heavy fraction; k. means for conveying the discharge of said second crusher to said second air separator; l. a magnetic separator for separating said second heavy fraction into a second magnetic ferrous product fraction and a second non-magnetic fraction; m. means for conveying said second heavy fraction to separator (l); n. means for conveying said second non-magnetic fraction to said second crusher as part of the feed therefor; o. a third crusher for crushing said second light fraction to reduce the size thereof; p. means for conveying said second light fraction to said third crusher; q. a magnetic separator for separating the effluent of said third crusher into a third magnetic ferrous product fraction and a third non-magnetic fraction which fraction is an intermediate product consisting essentially of non-ferrous metals, and r. means for conveying the discharge of said third crusher to separator (q).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 6 which further includes dust collecting means operatively associated with each of said crushers and each of said air separators.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein means are provided for eliminating magnetic separator (l), said means comprising a conveyor for taking all of the said second heavy fraction to magnetic separator (f).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 8 which further includes dust collecting means operatively linked to each of said crushers and each of said air separators.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |