US3917239A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle recycling plant
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-06-11
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Granted: 1975-11-04
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Expires: 1994-06-11
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle recycling plant wherein scrap vehicles are at least partially disassembled, processed and converted into suitable products. More particularly, the vehicle recycling plant is used for processing automobile bodies and automobile parts wherein the conversion of the vehicle body and vehicle parts into other products can be accomplished utilizing an inexpensive source of fuel and wherein the residual heat produced during the burning process can be effectively utilized to produce a number of functions. The vehicle processing plant makes maximum use of the heat generated during the melting down of the vehicle without measurably contributing to air pollution.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul E Rhinehart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:48
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23G; F23G7/00; F23G7/003; F23G7/005; C; C22; C22B; C22B7/00; C22B7/001; C22B7/003; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20; Y10; Y10S; Y10S266/00; Y10S266/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A vehicle recycling plant comprising a furnace, means for introducing a fuel into said furnace, a cupola disposed in close proximity to said furnace, and communicating therewith so that the hot gases discharged from the furnace are introduced into the cupola, means for conveying scrap vehicles above said furnace and into said cupola, substantially horizontal flue means communicating with both the cupola and the furnace for removing exhaust gases therefrom, a plurality of smelters disposed in said horizontal flue for melting down various components previously disassembled from the vehicles, a plurality of heat exchange means disposed in said horizontal flue for removing heat therefrom and converting it into various forms of energy, an enlarged horizontal flue portion disposed downstream of said heat exchange means, said enlarged flue portion containing a plurality of air vents for mixing ambient air with the flue gas and a scrubbing section for removing particulate material from the flue gas, vacuum pump means for drawing the flue gas through the horizontal stack and exhaust means for discharging the flue gas to the atmosphere.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A vehicle recycling plant comprising a furnace, means for introducing a fuel into said furnace, a cupola disposed in close proximity to said furnace, and communicating therewith so that the hot gases discharged from the furnace are introduced into the cupola, means for conveying scrap vehicles above said furnace and into said cupola, substantially horizontal flue means communicating with both the cupola and the furnace for removing exhaust gases therefrom, a plurality of smelters disposed in said horizontal flue for melting down various components previously disassembled from the vehicles, a plurality of heat exchange means disposed in said horizontal flue for removing heat therefrom and converting it into various forms of energy, an enlarged horizontal flue portion disposed downstream of said heat exchange means, said enlarged flue portion containing a plurality of air vents for mixing ambient air with the flue gas and a scrubbing section for removing particulate material from the flue gas, vacuum pump means for drawing the flue gas through the horizontal stack and exhaust means for discharging the flue gas to the atmosphere.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The vehicle recycling plant of claim 1, wherein the conveying means for conveying vehicles into the cupola is in close proximity to the top of the furnace so that the heat radiating from the furnace burns up the undesirable contaminates and initiates the melting down process of the vehicle bodies.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The vehicle recycling plant of claim 2 wherein the conveying means for conveying vehicles into the cupola is enclosed in a duct.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The vehicle recycling plant of claim 1, wherein burner means are associated with the furnace.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The vehicle recycling plant of claim 1, wherein carbon electrodes are associated with the cupola as a supplemental source of heat, said electrodes being movable in the vertical direction so that they can be brought into close proximity with the surface of the molten metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The vehicle recycling plant of claim 1, wherein means are provided for periodically tapping the cupola to draw off the molten metal into holding tanks disposed on conveying means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vehicle recycling plant of claim 1, wherein means are provided for periodically tapping the cupola to draw off the molten metal into pig or billet forming molds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The vehicle recycling plant of claim 1, wherein vibrating means are associated with the base of the furnace, said vibrating means facilitating the separation of various components of the ash.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The vehicle recycling plant of claim 1, wherein a copper smelter is disposed in the horizontal flue, said copper smelter utilizing the heat of the flue gas to smelt copper-containing components of a vehicle previously disassembled from said vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The vehicle recycling plant of claim 1, wherein a zinc smelter is disposed in the horizontal flue dowNstream of the copper smelter, said zinc smelter utilizing the heat of the flue gas to smelt zinc-containing components of a vehicle previously disassembled from said vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The vehicle recycling plant of claim 1, wherein a glass smelter is disposed in the horizontal flue downstream of the zinc smelter utilizing the heat of the flue gas to smelt glass previously disassembled from said vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicle recycling plant of claim 1, wherein heat exchange means are disposed in the horizontal flue for converting the heat disposed therein into steam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The vehicle recycling plant of claim 1, wherein the enlarged flue portion surrounds the smaller upstream flue portion defining an air gap therebetween for the introduction of air thereinto.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The vehicle recycling plant of claim 1, wherein the air vents are angled in the same direction as the flow of flue gases through the flue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The vehicle recycling plant of claim 1, wherein the vacuum pump is disposed in the end of the flue.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The vehicle recycling plant of claim 1, wherein the vacuum pump is disposed in the exhaust 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) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-05-05 | 1979-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-03 | 1983-05-05 | 1983-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-03 | 1987-05-05 | 1987-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |