US4332677A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process for reclaiming composite materials
Assignee: Nassau Recycle Corp
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Filing: 1980-10-30
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Granted: 1982-06-01
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Expires: 2000-10-30
Abstract
Abstract A process for reclaiming composite materials that includes viscous and non-viscous constituents is described. The process comprises the steps of submerging the materials in a bath of liquid having a specific gravity greater than the viscous constituent but less than the non-viscous constituent, blasting the submerged materials with a gas or vapor heated to a temperature in excess of the melting temperature of the viscous constituent whereupon the viscous constituent is liberated from the non-viscous constituent and rises to the surface of the bath, skimming the viscous constituent from the surface of the bath, and emerging the non-viscous constituent from the bath.
Inventors
- 👤 Mieczyslaw Budzich
- 👤 Forest G. Fitz, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:03
CPC Classifications
B; B03; B03B; B03B9/00; B03B9/06; B03B9/061; B01; B01D; B01D43/00; B03B1/00; B03B1/02; H; H01; H01B; H01B15/00; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/50; Y02W30/52; Y02W30/82
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A process for reclaiming jelly filled telecommunications cable comprising the steps of: a. segmenting the cable into jelly bearing segments of insulation covered wires; b. submerging the segments in a bath of liquid having a specific gravity greater than the jelly but less than the wires; c. blasting the submerged segments with a gas or vapor heated to a temperature in excess of the melting temperature of the jelly which gas or vapor blasting directly agitates the segments and melts the jelly whereupon jelly is liberated from the segments and rises to the surface of the bath; and d. skimming the jelly from the bath surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process for reclaiming telecommunications cable in accordance with claim 1 wherein step (a) the cable is chopped into segments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process for reclaiming telecommunications cable in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein step (a) at least some of the insulation is liberated from the wires.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A process for reclaiming telecommunications cable in accordance with claim 3 wherein the liquid has a specific gravity greater than the insulation, and wherein insulation liberated from the wires in step (a) is gravity fed into the bath then to float on the bath surface, and wherein step (d) the liberated insulation is also skimmed from the bath surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process for reclaiming telecomunications cable in accordance with claim 1 wherein step (c) the submerged segments are conveyed through the bath while being repeatedly blasted with a gas or vapor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process for reclaiming telecommunications cable in accordance with claim 1 wherein said liquid is aqueous and wherein step (c) the submerged segments are blasted with steam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process for reclaiming telecommunications cable in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the steps of (e) removing the cable segments from the bath.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
A process for reclaiming jelly filled telecommunications cable comprising the steps of: a. chopping the cable into jelly bearing segments of insulation covered wires; b. feeding the segments into a bath of liquid having a specific gravity greater than the jelly but less than the wires and onto a conveyer submerged within the bath; c. conveying the segments along a submerged path through a succession of steam jets that agitate the segments and melt the jelly and thereby liberate jelly from the segments whereupon the liberated jelly rises to the surface of the bath; d. skimming the surface of the bath to remove the jelly therefrom; and e. removing the segments from the bath.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A process for reclaiming jelly filled telecommunications cable in accordance with claim 8 wherein the bath liquid has a specific gravity greater than the insulation, wherein step (a) some of the insulation is liberated from the wires, in step (b) the liberated insulation is also fed into the bath, and in step (d) the liberated insulation is also skimmed from the bath surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus for reclaiming composite materials that include relatively viscous and non-viscous constituents which apparatus comprising a bath of liquid having a specific gravity greater than the viscous constituent but less than the non-viscous constituent; means for conveying the materials along a path submerged in said bath; means for blasting materials being conveyed by said conveying means along said submerged path with gas or vapor heated to a temperature in excess of the melting temperature of the viscous constituent sufficiently to agitate and thereby liberate the viscous constituent from the non-viscous constituent and enable the viscous constituent to rise to the liquid body surface; and means for skimming the liberated viscous constituent from the surface of the bath.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus for reclaiming composite materials in accordance with claim 10 wherein said conveying means includes a conveyor belt mounted for movement along said path, and wherein said blasting means includes a manifold having a succession of outlets located to each side of said path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus for reclaiming composite materials in accordance with claims 10 or 11 wherein said skimming means includes a plurality of mutually spaced paddles coupled together for movement along a circuitious path passing above said conveyor means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus for reclaiming composite materials in accordance with claim 10 or 11 wherein said skimming means includes a paddle wheel mounted for rotation about an axis located above said path adjacent said surface level.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus for reclaiming composite materials in accordance with claim 10 further comprising means for removing materials blasted along said path out of the body of liquid.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-05-31 | 1985-11-30 | 1986-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-05-31 | 1989-11-30 | 1990-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-05-31 | 1993-11-30 | 1994-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |