Patent US37793A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4362276A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4362276A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process and apparatus for recovering metal and plastic from insulated wire
Assignee: Occidental Research Corp
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Filing: 1977-12-08
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Granted: 1982-12-07
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Expires: 1997-12-08
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for recovering metal and plastic from plastic insulated wire. Plastic insulated wire is first chopped or otherwise comminuted to reduce the wire size. The bare metal, typically copper or aluminum, is separated from the insulation and insulated wire by aspiration or electrostatic separation. The plastic insulation is then separated from the insulated wire and any remaining bare metal by eddy current separation, typically in a linear induction motor, resulting in three fractions, the bare metal, the pure plastic, and the remaining plastic insulated wire pieces. The latter may be further processed, as by impact milling to separate the plastic from the metal, and then recycled to separate bare metal, plastic insulation, and insulated wire.
Inventors
- 👤 Booker W. Morey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:36
CPC Classifications
B; B03; B03C; B03C1/00; B03C1/02; B03C1/23; B03C1/24; B03C1/253; B03B; B03B9/00; B03B9/06; B03B9/061; B07; B07B; B07B9/00; B29; B29B; B29B17/00; B29B17/02; H; H01; H01B; H01B15/00; B29B2017/0213; B29B2017/0268; B29K; B29K2705/00; B29K2705/02; B29K2705/04; B29K2705/08; B29K2705/10; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/34; B29L2031/3462; B29L2031/707; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/50; Y02W30/52; Y02W30/62; Y02W30/82; Y10; Y10S; Y10S241/00; Y10S241/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
In a process for separating plastic insulated, non-ferrous, electrical conducting wire into three fractions for recovering metal and plastic, the steps of: comminuting the plastic insulated, non-ferrous, electrical conducting wire to reduce the wire to small pieces; separating the small pieces into a first bare metal fraction and a second fraction containing plastic and plastic covered metal; and separating the plastic of said second fraction by eddy current separation from the plastic covered metal, providing a bare metal fraction, a plastic fraction, and a plastic covered metal fraction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
In a process for separating plastic insulated, non-ferrous, electrical conducting wire into three fractions for recovering metal and plastic, the steps of: comminuting the plastic insulated, non-ferrous, electrical conducting wire to reduce the wire to small pieces; separating the small pieces into a first bare metal fraction and a second fraction containing plastic and plastic covered metal; and separating the plastic of said second fraction by eddy current separation from the plastic covered metal, providing a bare metal fraction, a plastic fraction, and a plastic covered metal fraction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process as defined in claim 1 including performing the first separation step by aspiration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process as defined in claim 1 including performing the first separation step by electrostatic separation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process as defined in claim 1 including performing the first separation step by density separation in a fluid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process as defined in claim 1 including performing the first separation step by water elutriation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process as defined in claim 1 including the step of impact milling the plastic covered metal, and recycling the milled product through the first and second separation steps.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for separating plastic insulated, non-ferrous, electrical conducting wire into three fractions for recovering metal and plastic from plastic insulated wire, the combination of: comminution means for reducing said wire to small pieces; first separation means for separating bare metal from plastic and plastic covered metal; means for delivering said small pieces to said first separation means; second separation means of the eddy current type for separating plastic from plastic covered metal; and means for delivering said plastic and plastic covered metal from said first separation means to said second separation means, with said first separation means providing a bare metal fraction and with said second separation means providing a plastic fraction and a plastic covered metal fraction.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for separating plastic insulated, non-ferrous, electrical conducting wire into three fractions for recovering metal and plastic from plastic insulated wire, the combination of: comminution means for reducing said wire to small pieces; first separation means for separating bare metal from plastic and plastic covered metal; means for delivering said small pieces to said first separation means; second separation means of the eddy current type for separating plastic from plastic covered metal; and means for delivering said plastic and plastic covered metal from said first separation means to said second separation means, with said first separation means providing a bare metal fraction and with said second separation means providing a plastic fraction and a plastic covered metal fraction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said comminution means includes a wire chopper.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said first separation means includes an aspirator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said first separation means includes an air table.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said first separation means includes an electrostatic separator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said first separation means includes a density separator incorporating a fluid bath.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said first separation means includes a water elutriation separator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said second eddy current separation means includes a linear induction motor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 7 including: impact milling means; means for delivering said plastic covered wire from said second separation means to said impact milling means; and means for delivering the milled product to said first separation means.
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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) | 1985-12-06 | 1986-06-07 | 1986-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-12-06 | 1990-06-07 | 1990-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-12-06 | 1994-06-07 | 1994-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |