US3897330A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Refuse sorting with separation of glass and metals
Assignee: Sortex Company of North America Inc
•
Filing: 1973-05-24
•
Granted: 1975-07-29
•
Expires: 1993-05-24
Abstract
Abstract Sorting of refuse into its components wherein the refuse is comminuted into a particulate mass, and a glass concentrate fraction consisting substantially of glass particles and a minor portion of residual non-glass particles, including metal particles, is sorted from a substantially non-glass fraction and is electrostatically sorted to remove the metal particles therefrom. The resulting glass concentrate fraction is then sorted according to color. In the electrostatic sorting process, the glass concentrate fraction is deposited onto an upper surface of a slowly moving grounded drum and a high tension electrostatic field is applied to the particles as they rotate from the upper portion to the lower portion of the drum. Further, a discharge of electricity is applied to the particles on the drum and the particles are separated in accordance with their conductivities. The high tension electrostatic field is applied from a side of the drum slightly above the horizontal centerline by a high tension electrode, and the current is discharged from substantially behind the electrode. The particles have an average mean diameter in the range of one-fourth to three-fourth inch and the ratio of largest to smallest particle size is about 2 to 1.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugh R Rhys
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:55
CPC Classifications
B; B03; B03C; B03C7/00; B03B; B03B9/00; B03B9/06; B03B9/061; B03B9/062; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/50; Y02W30/52; Y02W30/60; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/93; Y10S241/00; Y10S241/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
IN A METHOD OF SORTING REFUSE INTO ITS COMPONENTS WHEREIN SAID REFUSE IS COMMINUTED INTO A PARTICULATE MASS, AND A GLASS CONCENTRATE FRACTION CONSISTING SUBSTANTIALLY OF GLASS PARTICLES AND A MINOR PORTION OF RESIDUAL NON-GLASS PARTICLES, INCLUDING METAL PARTICLES, ARE SORTED FROM A SUBSTANTIAL NON-GLASS FRACTION AND SAID GLASS CONCENTRATE FRACTION IS PHOTOELECTRICALLY SORTED ACCORDING TO COLOR, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: PASSING SAID GLASS CONCENTRATE FRACTION THROUGH A HIGH-TENSION ELECTROSTATIC SORTING ZONE PRIOR TO SAID PHOTOELECTRIC SORTING STEP, AND IN SAID ELECTROSTATIC SORTING ZONE, ELECTROSTATICALLY SORTING SAID PARTICLES ACCORDING TO THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITIES
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
IN A METHOD OF SORTING REFUSE INTO ITS COMPONENTS WHEREIN SAID REFUSE IS COMMINUTED INTO A PARTICULATE MASS, AND A GLASS CONCENTRATE FRACTION CONSISTING SUBSTANTIALLY OF GLASS PARTICLES AND A MINOR PORTION OF RESIDUAL NON-GLASS PARTICLES, INCLUDING METAL PARTICLES, ARE SORTED FROM A SUBSTANTIAL NON-GLASS FRACTION AND SAID GLASS CONCENTRATE FRACTION IS PHOTOELECTRICALLY SORTED ACCORDING TO COLOR, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: PASSING SAID GLASS CONCENTRATE FRACTION THROUGH A HIGH-TENSION ELECTROSTATIC SORTING ZONE PRIOR TO SAID PHOTOELECTRIC SORTING STEP, AND IN SAID ELECTROSTATIC SORTING ZONE, ELECTROSTATICALLY SORTING SAID PARTICLES ACCORDING TO THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITIES
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of sorting refuse according to claim 1 wherein said particles have a size in the range of one-fourth to three-fourth inch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method of sorting refuse according to claim 2 wherein said particles are deposited onto the surface of a rotating drum in said electrostatic sorting zone and said electrostatic sorting step comprises applying an electrical potential of at least 20 kilovolts to said particles on said rotating drum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of sorting refuse according to claim 3 wherein said drum rotates at a speed of about 10 rpm. or slower.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of sorting refuse according to claim 2 wherein said electrostatic potential is applied at an angle to said drum slightly above the horizontal centerline thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of sorting refuse according to claim 5 and further comprising the step of applying a discharge of electricity to said particles on said drum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of sOrting refuse according to claim 6 wherein said discharge of electricity is applied to said particles at an angle to said drum slightly above the centerline thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of sorting refuse according to claim 1 wherein said less conductive fraction is further sorted according to the transparency thereof prior to said color sorting step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
116 words
In a system for sorting refuse wherein said refuse is comminuted into a particulate mass and a glass concentrate fraction consisting substantially of glass particles and a small portion of residual non-glass particles including metals is sorted from a substantially non-glass fraction, and said glass concentrate fraction is sorted according to color, the improvement which comprises: means for sorting particles according to the conductivities and/or affinity for surface charge thereof, means for passing said glass concentrate fraction to said conductivity/surface charge affinity sorting means wherein conductive particles in said glass concentrate fraction are removed therefrom, leaving a substantially metal-free glass concentrate fraction; and means for recovering said metal-free glass concentrate fraction for sorting according to color.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
116 words
In a system for sorting refuse wherein said refuse is comminuted into a particulate mass and a glass concentrate fraction consisting substantially of glass particles and a small portion of residual non-glass particles including metals is sorted from a substantially non-glass fraction, and said glass concentrate fraction is sorted according to color, the improvement which comprises: means for sorting particles according to the conductivities and/or affinity for surface charge thereof, means for passing said glass concentrate fraction to said conductivity/surface charge affinity sorting means wherein conductive particles in said glass concentrate fraction are removed therefrom, leaving a substantially metal-free glass concentrate fraction; and means for recovering said metal-free glass concentrate fraction for sorting according to color.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
A system for sorting refuse according to claim 9 wherein said conductivity sorting means includes: an electrically grounded drum; means for rotating said drum about its axis; a high tension electrode spaced from said drum; means for applying a potential to said electrode; and an electrical discharge electrode in electrical contact with said high-tension electrode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system for sorting refuse according to claim 10 and further comprising means mounting said high-tension electrode and said electrical discharge electrode so that said high-tension electrode assumes a position slightly above the horizontal centerline of said drum and said electrical discharge electrode is substantially behind said high-tension electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system for sorting refuse according to claim 11 and further comprising means for separating from said glass concentrate fraction those particles having a mean average diameter greater than three-fourth inch and less than one-fourth inch upstream of said conductivity/surface charge sorting means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system for sorting refuse according to claim 9 and further comprising means for sorting from said glass concentrate fraction those particles having a mean average diameter greater than three-fourth inch and less than one-fourth inch upstream of said conductivity/surface charge sorting means.
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) | 1978-07-28 | 1979-01-27 | 1979-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-28 | 1983-01-27 | 1983-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-28 | 1987-01-27 | 1987-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |