US4384683A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of recovering lead and lead compounds from discarded lead storage batteries
Assignee: Salzgitter Maschinenbau GmbH
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Filing: 1981-03-11
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Granted: 1983-05-24
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Expires: 2001-03-11
Abstract
Abstract Scrapped storage batteries are first preliminarily crushed to discharge acid from individual cells, thereupon rinsed by alkaline water, crushed in a hammermill and simulataneously dried by a stream of hot air; noncrushed lead pieces are discharged separately from the hammermill and the remaining crushed material is discharged in dry condition from the mill and classified into two fractions, namely a coarse lead fraction and a second fraction consisting of fine particles of lead compounds mixed with coarser pieces of plastic material.
Inventors
- 👤 Eberhard Huwald
- 👤 Rolf Konig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:11
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B13/00; C01; C01G; C01G21/00; C22B7/00; C22B7/005; H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/54; B; B03; B03B; B03B9/00; B03B9/06; B03B2009/066; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20; Y02W; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/50; Y02W30/52; Y02W30/84
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of recovering lead and lead compounds from scrapped storage batteries, comprising the steps of preliminarily crushing the batteries to discharge acid therefrom; rinsing the crushed pieces by a minimum amount of a liquid preferably alkaline water; further crushing the coarsely crushed pieces while simultaneously drying the same at a relatively low temperature at which only a negligible amount of the residual acid is vaporized; and thereafter classifying the crushed dry material into the coarse lead fraction, a fraction of fine lead compounds and remaining materials of low specific weight, mostly plastics.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of recovering lead and lead compounds from scrapped storage batteries, comprising the steps of preliminarily crushing the batteries to discharge acid therefrom; rinsing the crushed pieces by a minimum amount of a liquid preferably alkaline water; further crushing the coarsely crushed pieces while simultaneously drying the same at a relatively low temperature at which only a negligible amount of the residual acid is vaporized; and thereafter classifying the crushed dry material into the coarse lead fraction, a fraction of fine lead compounds and remaining materials of low specific weight, mostly plastics.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said crushing and drying step is carried out in a two-rotor hammermill, the rotors of which are driven at a relatively low speed in the range of about 40 meters per second on their circumference, said hammermill having a top inlet and a bottom outlet, grates provided between said rotors and said outlet and having a slot at the end of the grate furthest away from the said inlet through which non-crushed-parts of the battery are discharged.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as defined in claim 2, wherein said step of crushing and drying includes the exposure of material in said hammermill to a stream of drying gases having temperature between 300° and 350° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as defined in claim 3, further including the step of discharging said stream of drying gases together with entrained finely pulverized particles of lead compounds into a separator and thereupon admixing the separated fine lead-compound particles to crushed and dry particles discharged from said outlet of the hammermill.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as defined in claim 4, wherein said classifying step includes the separation of crushed and dry material into two fractions, one fraction including coarse lead parts and the second fraction including a mixture of fine lead compounds and of plastic pieces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined in claim 5, wherein said two fractions are separated in an air sifter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined in claim 5, wherein said second fraction is fed on a screen for separating finely divided particles of lead compounds from coarser particles of plastics.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as defined in claim 7, wherein said plastic particles are washed in a washing device for removing adhering dust of lead compounds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as defined in claim 8, wherein sludges contained in the used washing water are recovered and the water is neutralized and purified.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as defined in claim 4, wherein used drying gases upon their discharge from the separator are purified in a washing device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA633236A
Cited
DE1224935B
Cited
US3493183A
Cited
US3777994A
Cited
DE2245196C3
Cited
US4113187A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-05-23 | 1986-11-22 | 1987-05-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-05-23 | 1990-11-22 | 1991-05-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-05-23 | 1994-11-22 | 1995-05-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |