US3990641A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cryogenic feed method and apparatus especially for wire
Assignee: Jeno's Inc
•
Filing: 1975-03-03
•
Granted: 1976-11-09
•
Expires: 1995-03-03
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for separating metallic conductor wire from its insulation for reclamation of the metal and secondarily the insulation material. Random-size, non-uniform masses and pieces of the insulated wire are conveyed to an entrance end of a shaftless rotatable drum having helically deployed baffles along the inner surface thereof. The masses and pieces introduced to the drum initially and continuously are exposed therein to cryogenic coolant to freeze the same and render them brittle. The baffles continuously turn the frozen masses and pieces to ensure that all surfaces and areas thereof are exposed to the coolant for thorough freezing. Simultaneously, the action of the baffles and drum move the masses and pieces from the entrance end to an exit end of the drum. The super-cooled brittle masses and pieces are delivered from the exit end to a grinding apparatus where the same are reduced to particles of metal and insulation material. Thereafter, the particles are moved to a separating apparatus for separate accumulation of ground metal and insulation. The drum is mounted in a cage formed by longitudinal rods extending the length thereof and transverse posts between the rods and the exterior surface of the drum such that physical connection between the drum and cage is minimal and present only at the post ends terminating on the drum surface. The minimal drum and cage connection permits drastic expansion and contraction of the drum during introduction of cryogenic material therein without hindering mechanical operation of the drum.
Inventors
- 👤 Billy J. Weston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 00:33
CPC Classifications
B; B02; B02C; B02C19/00; B02C19/18; B02C19/186; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S241/00; Y10S241/37
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of recovering metal from scrap of random shape and size which comprises: A. mechanically reducing the physical size of the scrap if required to feed the same into a generally horizontally arranged transport area including an elongate shaftless rotating drum, B. moving the scrap forward through the drum from the entrance end of said drum to the exit end of said drum while simultaneously 1. tumbling the scrap continuously, 2. subjecting said drum and the scrap to cryogenic material, and 3. substantially confining the drum including the entrance and exit ends thereof, whereby to embrittle the scrap, C. grinding the scrap after it leaves the exit end while it is still brittle and D. separating the metallic and non-metallic components after grinding.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of recovering metal from scrap of random shape and size which comprises: A. mechanically reducing the physical size of the scrap if required to feed the same into a generally horizontally arranged transport area including an elongate shaftless rotating drum, B. moving the scrap forward through the drum from the entrance end of said drum to the exit end of said drum while simultaneously 1. tumbling the scrap continuously, 2. subjecting said drum and the scrap to cryogenic material, and 3. substantially confining the drum including the entrance and exit ends thereof, whereby to embrittle the scrap, C. grinding the scrap after it leaves the exit end while it is still brittle and D. separating the metallic and non-metallic components after grinding.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the cryogenic material to which the scrap is subjected is nitrogen in a liquid atomized state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the scrap is at least casually broken-up during the step of moving.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
114 words
A system for recovering metal from scrap of random shape and size comprising: A. a shaftless rotable elongate drum having an entrance end for recipt of the scrap therein, means for introducing cryogenic material to the drum and the scrap therein, B. agitating means positioned along the inner-facing surface of the drum for continuously tumbling the scrap therein and moving it through the drum to an exit end thereof, C. drive means for imparting rotative movement to the drum, D. grinding means for receiving the scrap at the exit end and grinding the same to small-size elements, and E. separating means for receiving the ground scrap and separating the metallic and non-metallic components thereof.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
114 words
A system for recovering metal from scrap of random shape and size comprising: A. a shaftless rotable elongate drum having an entrance end for recipt of the scrap therein, means for introducing cryogenic material to the drum and the scrap therein, B. agitating means positioned along the inner-facing surface of the drum for continuously tumbling the scrap therein and moving it through the drum to an exit end thereof, C. drive means for imparting rotative movement to the drum, D. grinding means for receiving the scrap at the exit end and grinding the same to small-size elements, and E. separating means for receiving the ground scrap and separating the metallic and non-metallic components thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as claimed in claim 4 in which the drum includes a support cage for retaining the drum therein and the drive means are operative on the cage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus for moving and agitating random shaped and sized scrap in a system for recovering the metal therefrom comprising: A. a shaftless rotatable elongate generally horizontally arranged drum having an entrance end for receipt of the scrap therein, B. agitating means positioned along the inner-facing surface of the drum for continuously tumbling the scrap therein and moving it through the drum to an exit end thereof, C. a support cage for retaining the drum therein, and D. drive means for imparting rotative movement to the drum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus for moving and agitating random shaped and sized scrap in a system for recovering the metal therefrom comprising: A. a shaftless rotatable elongate generally horizontally arranged drum having an entrance end for receipt of the scrap therein, B. agitating means positioned along the inner-facing surface of the drum for continuously tumbling the scrap therein and moving it through the drum to an exit end thereof, C. a support cage for retaining the drum therein, and D. drive means for imparting rotative movement to the drum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which said cage comprises: A. a plurality of elongate rods positioned around the external surface of the drum and extending substantially the length thereof, B. at least one radially disposed post secured between each rod and the exterior surface of the drum, and C. a pair of circular webs concentric with the drum joining the rods, there being one such web positioned proximate the respective ends of the rods.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said posts are positioned proximate the mid-points of their respective rods, the cage including two additional posts radially diposed between each rod and the drum, there being one such post positioned proximate each respective end of the drum adjacent a respective web joining the rods.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 including a generally V-shaped bracket positioned between each post and its respective rod, the open ends of said brackets forming cradles for receipt of said respective rods, said rods being free to slidably move within said cradles relative to the drum longitudinally.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which each post is formed at its end in contact with the drum with a reduced area tip portion and the tip portion is spot welded to the drum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as claimed 7 in which the rods are four in number.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 including a cylindrical shell formed around the cage and drum, said shell defining a chamber between the shell and the drum, and insulation material disposed within the chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 including respective cap members covering the entrance and exit ends of the drum, the cap covering the entrance end having a circular collar forming an entrance mouth for the drum, each cap member having a circumferential flange extending over the drum and the ends of the rods.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 in which each cap is formed on the drum-facing side thereof with a plurality of generally V-shaped brackets, there being one bracket on each cap for each rod, and the open ends of said brackets form cradles for receipt of a respective rod.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which the rods are free to slidably move within said cradles relative to said drum longitudinally.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 including a pair of support rings circumferentially secured around the cage, there being one such ring positioned proximate the respective ends of the rods, each ring being of generally channel-shaped cross-sectional configuration with the open channel portions thereof facing radially outwardly of the drum, and a plurality of rollers engageable in said channel portions to support the drum but permit rotative movement thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 including a ring gear secured to one of said support rings, and a chain engaging the gear and a motor to drive the drum.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which the drum is formed of continuous stainless steel throughout its length.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which said agitating means comprise a plurality of radially inward extending baffles formed of arcuate rectangular cross-section members.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 in which the baffles are positioned along a generally helical line originating at the entrance end and terminating at the exit end.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 including means for introducing cryogenic material at the entrance end to freeze the scrap as it is introduced to the drum and render the same brittle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 21 in which the cryogenic material is nitrogen in a liquid atomized state.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2879005A
Cited
US2977255A
Cited
US2964184A
Cited
US3185192A
Cited
US3446030A
Cited
US3512581A
Cited
US3771729A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-11-09 | 1980-05-10 | 1980-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-11-09 | 1984-05-10 | 1984-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-11-09 | 1988-05-10 | 1988-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |