Patent US4119453A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4119453A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for reclaiming and upgrading thin-walled malleable waste material
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-11-26
•
Granted: 1978-10-10
•
Expires: 1996-11-26
Abstract
Abstract Recovery of industrial or sorted collector's waste containing at least one malleable, thin sectioned material such as copper, tin, lead, silver, aluminum or malleable alloys and/or plastic materials which are malleable at selected temperatures, such as thermoplastics and thermoplastic rubbers, is accomplished in a dry process by first cutting and/or grinding to a suitable size and thereafter impacting in a manner to form the malleable materials into spheroids having apparent densities in proportion to their malleabilities. Thereafter, the spheroids are more easily and effectively separated by conventional means, such as gravity tables. The resultant polished spherized or shotted material is more effectively re-used and constitutes an upgraded product.
Inventors
- 👤 Mike Knezevich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:56
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07B; B07B13/00; B07B13/003; B02; B02C; B02C13/00; B02C13/13; C; C22; C22B; C22B1/00; C22B1/005; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12014; Y10T428/12021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
The method for making spheroidal pellets of malleable material comprising the steps of: reducing a feed material to a desired particulate size, in a spherizing zone spherizing the material by repetitively and successively impactively accelerating, impactively decelerating, and impactively reaccelerating the feed material by means of at least one moving surface which throws the material through an air space against a contained target surface which does not contact the moving surface, the minimum distance between the moving surface and target surface being greater than the maximum dimension of the feed material particles, moving the material being processed along a generally spiral path, controlling the residence time in the spherizing zone by controlling the volume of conveying air, continuously removing the spherized material through a sizing grating, and separating the spherized material from the conveying air in a collection device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
139 words
The method for making spheroidal pellets of malleable material comprising the steps of: reducing a feed material to a desired particulate size, in a spherizing zone spherizing the material by repetitively and successively impactively accelerating, impactively decelerating, and impactively reaccelerating the feed material by means of at least one moving surface which throws the material through an air space against a contained target surface which does not contact the moving surface, the minimum distance between the moving surface and target surface being greater than the maximum dimension of the feed material particles, moving the material being processed along a generally spiral path, controlling the residence time in the spherizing zone by controlling the volume of conveying air, continuously removing the spherized material through a sizing grating, and separating the spherized material from the conveying air in a collection device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the successive operations are carried out on a continuous basis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the impacting is carried out under controlled temperature conditions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the impacting is carried out in a controlled atmosphere.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the impact and target surfaces move from 5,000 to 20,000 surface feet per minute with respect to each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the moving and target surfaces are separated from each other by from greater than one to ten times the maximum dimension of the average particle of feed material.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
118 words
The method for separating mixtures of dissimilar materials, at least one of which is malleable, comprising the steps of: reducing the mixed materials to feedable particulate size, impacting the particles to deform them into spheroid shapes by striking them with one surface thereby projecting them in free flight fashion at high velocity against another surface, the respective surfaces being non-contacting relative to each other and separated by a minimum distance greater than the maximum dimension of the feed material particles, withdrawing the spheroidal particles, conveying and collecting the spheroidal particles, grading the spheroidal particles by size, separating similarly sized spheroidal particles having differing apparent specific gravities by use of specific gravity table means, and collecting the separated fractions.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
118 words
The method for separating mixtures of dissimilar materials, at least one of which is malleable, comprising the steps of: reducing the mixed materials to feedable particulate size, impacting the particles to deform them into spheroid shapes by striking them with one surface thereby projecting them in free flight fashion at high velocity against another surface, the respective surfaces being non-contacting relative to each other and separated by a minimum distance greater than the maximum dimension of the feed material particles, withdrawing the spheroidal particles, conveying and collecting the spheroidal particles, grading the spheroidal particles by size, separating similarly sized spheroidal particles having differing apparent specific gravities by use of specific gravity table means, and collecting the separated fractions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the successive operations are carried out on a continuous basis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the impacting is carried out under controlled temperature conditions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the impacting is carried out in a controlled atmosphere.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the surfaces comprise impact and target surfaces, respectively, which move from 5,000 to 20,000 surface feet per minute relative to each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the surfaces comprise impact and target surfaces, respectively, which are separated from each other by from greater than 1 to 10 times the maximum dimension of the average particle of feedable particulate size.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for separating mixtures of particulate metallic materials having differing degrees of malleability, which consists of feeding the material and uniformly, repeatedly and successively: accelerating all the particles, throwing the particles through an unsupported trajectory by means of a moving impact surface, impinging and decelerating the particles against at least one contained target surface in a manner which results in forming the malleable particles into spheroidal particles having differing apparent densities, said moving and target surfaces being separated by a minimum distance greater than the maximum dimension of the feed material particles, withdrawing the spheroidal particles through a size controlling outlet, separating the spheroidal particles from their conveying air, grading the spheroidal particles according to size, and separating similarly sized spheroidal particles of malleable metals from more malleable material on conventional specific gravity tables.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for separating mixtures of particulate metallic materials having differing degrees of malleability, which consists of feeding the material and uniformly, repeatedly and successively: accelerating all the particles, throwing the particles through an unsupported trajectory by means of a moving impact surface, impinging and decelerating the particles against at least one contained target surface in a manner which results in forming the malleable particles into spheroidal particles having differing apparent densities, said moving and target surfaces being separated by a minimum distance greater than the maximum dimension of the feed material particles, withdrawing the spheroidal particles through a size controlling outlet, separating the spheroidal particles from their conveying air, grading the spheroidal particles according to size, and separating similarly sized spheroidal particles of malleable metals from more malleable material on conventional specific gravity tables.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the throwing, impinging and decelerating is carried out under controlled temperature conditions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the throwing, impinging and decelerating is carried out in a controlled atmosphere.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the particles are thrown by a moving impact surface, and wherein the impact and target surfaces move from 5,000 to 20,000 surface feet per minute relative to each other.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the impact and target surfaces are separated from each other by from greater than one to ten times the maximum dimension of the average particle of feed material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
97 words
A mass of spheroidal particles each having a hammered surface texture and an interior less dense than its exterior produced by the process of successively and repetitively impactively accelerating a particulate feed material, impactively decelerating the material and impactively reaccelerating the material by means of at least one moving surface which throws the material through an air space against a contained target surface which is spaced from the moving surface by a minimum distance greater than the maximum individual dimensions of the feed material, said spheroidal particles having relative apparent densities varying in proportion to their malleability.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
97 words
A mass of spheroidal particles each having a hammered surface texture and an interior less dense than its exterior produced by the process of successively and repetitively impactively accelerating a particulate feed material, impactively decelerating the material and impactively reaccelerating the material by means of at least one moving surface which throws the material through an air space against a contained target surface which is spaced from the moving surface by a minimum distance greater than the maximum individual dimensions of the feed material, said spheroidal particles having relative apparent densities varying in proportion to their malleability.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The spheroidal particle of claim 18 wherein its diameter does not exceed one-half inch.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A metal spheroidal particle according to claim 18 wherein the apparent specific gravity thereof is less than the specific gravity of the contained metal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A metal spheroidal particle according to claim 18 which has been heated and annealed while being impacted so as to be a completely annealed spheroid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
A metal spheroidal particle according to claim 18 which has been heated and impacted in a non-oxidizing gaseous fluid to give the resultant spheroid an impact textured, unoxidized surface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The spheroidal particle of claim 18 which is formed from a fragment of malleable wire.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for converting irregularly shaped malleable feed material into spheroidal shape comprising: a retaining case, means for feeding particles and a gaseous conveying fluid at a controllable and constant feed rate and ratio into said case, impacting means for continuously and repetitively projecting the particles in free flight and at a high velocity against target surfaces, said impacting means including a driven rotary impeller having abrasion resisting blade tips rotating at 5,000 to 20,000 surface feet per minute in spaced relationship with a substantially enclosed circularly sectioned liner in said case, said target surfaces comprising abrasion resisting transverse rib members on said liner, said blade tips being spaced from said rib members by a distance greater than the maximum dimension of the feed material, and said liner being provided with one or more exit ports enabling the particles to be withdrawn from said case.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for converting irregularly shaped malleable feed material into spheroidal shape comprising: a retaining case, means for feeding particles and a gaseous conveying fluid at a controllable and constant feed rate and ratio into said case, impacting means for continuously and repetitively projecting the particles in free flight and at a high velocity against target surfaces, said impacting means including a driven rotary impeller having abrasion resisting blade tips rotating at 5,000 to 20,000 surface feet per minute in spaced relationship with a substantially enclosed circularly sectioned liner in said case, said target surfaces comprising abrasion resisting transverse rib members on said liner, said blade tips being spaced from said rib members by a distance greater than the maximum dimension of the feed material, and said liner being provided with one or more exit ports enabling the particles to be withdrawn from said case.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the space between said rotary blade tips and said liner ribs is from 1/2 inch to 2 inches.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 24 including temperature control ducts affixed to said case.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the temperature control ducts are contained within an outer portion of said case and include means for supplying secondary gaseous fluid which joins and assists the gaseous conveying fluid in carrying said particles from said apparatus.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said sectioned liners are replaceable.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said abrasion resistant tips are replaceable.
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) | 1981-10-09 | 1982-04-10 | 1982-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-10-09 | 1986-04-10 | 1986-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-10-09 | 1990-04-10 | 1990-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |