US4813614A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for treating waste products to recover the components thereof
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-08-10
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Granted: 1989-03-21
•
Expires: 2007-08-10
Abstract
Abstract Used products, which would otherwise be disposed of as waste, are subjected to low temperature lowering the temperature of the product to approximately the temperature of crystallization of the components thereof. The product at this lowered temperature is then crushed sufficiently to cause the components thereof to release sufficiently to be subsequently separated according to material. The separation steps can include subjecting the crushed material to magnetic or electrostatic fields, air flows caused by either pressurized air or vacuums, and mechanical separation with vibratory screens and rakes. The materials of the original product are sufficiently separated to enable them to be recycled into usable product. The particular example cited relates to vehicle tires with the materials recovered including rubber, fiber and metal bands.
Inventors
- 👤 David R. Moore
- 👤 Curry L. Aten
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 07:33
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29B; B29B17/00; B29B17/04; B29B17/0404; B29B17/0408; B02; B02C; B02C19/00; B02C19/18; B03; B03B; B03B9/00; B03B9/06; B03B9/061; B29B13/00; B29B13/10; B29B17/02; B29B2017/0213; B29B2017/0217; B29B2017/0224; B29B2017/0227; B29B2017/0237; B29B2017/0241; B29B2017/0262; B29B2017/0265; B29B2017/0268; B29B2017/0272; B29B2017/0416; B29B2017/0424; B29B2017/0476; B29K; B29K2021/00; B29K2705/00; B29K2705/08; B29K2705/12; B29L; B29L2030/00; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/50; Y02W30/52; Y02W30/62; Y10; Y10S; Y10S241/00; Y10S241/31; Y10S241/37
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for reclaiming components of used products, said apparatus comprising: a substantially closed chamber having an inlet port and an exit port, means to convey said products along a tortious path through said chamber from said entry port to said exit port including a plurality of conveyors forming said tortious path whereby the overall dimensions in the chamber can be kept to a minimum while maintaining a long path of travel of product through said chamber, and means to reduce the temperature of said products while on said path in said chamber to at least their temperature of crystalization to assure complete reduction of temperature of the product: means to crush said products while in their reduced temperature state; and at least one separating station receiving said crushed product to separate the components forming said product.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
11 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus is portable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means to reduce the temperature comprises: a source of liquid gas and means to introduce said gas to said chamber and recover the gas after it has warmed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said liquid gas is liquid nitrogen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means to introduce said liquid gas to said chamber comprises: a plurality of spray heads directed toward the path of travel of said product through said chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said crushing means comprises: at least a pair of rollers adapted to receive said product at reduced temperature and crush it sufficiently while at said reduced temperature to destroy the original shape causing the components thereof to release for subsequent separation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein at least one of said crushing means is located within said chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said rollers are intermeshing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said separating means comprises: magnetic means whereby magnetizable materials are removed from the crushed product.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said separating means is electrical in nature.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said separating means is electrostatic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said separating means comprises: means to separate the crushed product according to size.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said separating means is a vibratory table for sorting material by size.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said separating means comprises: a drag conveyor adapted to move the crushed product across a series of sieves thereby sorting the materials by size.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said separating means comprises: means to direct air flow towards the crushed product to remove the lighter materials.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus accoring to claim 15 wherein said air flow is caused by pressurized air.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said air flow is caused by a vacuum.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus accoding to claim 1 wherein said separating means comprises: means to remove strand-like material from said crushed product.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said means comprises at least one rake-like member extending into the path of said crushed product.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising gas flow restricting means at the entry and exit ports of said chamber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said chamber is insulated to maintain cold temperatures therein.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for recovering the materials forming a product, said method comprising the steps of: moving said product along a tortious path within a substantially closed chamber; lowering the temperature of said product while in said chamber to at least its temperature of crystalization as it travels along said tortious path; at least partially crushing said product while in its lowered temperature state and while still within said chamber to substantially free the components of said product; and separating the components forming said product from said crushed product.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for recovering the materials forming a product, said method comprising the steps of: moving said product along a tortious path within a substantially closed chamber; lowering the temperature of said product while in said chamber to at least its temperature of crystalization as it travels along said tortious path; at least partially crushing said product while in its lowered temperature state and while still within said chamber to substantially free the components of said product; and separating the components forming said product from said crushed product.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 22 wherein said step of lowering the temperature comprises: introducing said product into a chamber and subjecting said product to low temperatures created by admitting liquidfied gas into said chamber.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 23 wherein said product is at least partially crushed while in said chamber.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 22 wherein said liquified gas is sprayed directly at said product for a time period sufficient to crystalize the product completely through.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 22 wherein said crushing is accomplished by passing said product between at least one pair of rollers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 26 wherein at least some of said rollers are interfitting.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 22 wherein said separating step comprizes: passing said crushed product through a magnetic field whereby magnitizable materials are removed.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 22 wherein said separating step comprises: subjecting said crushed materials to an electrostatic field.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 22 wherein said separating step comprises: passing the crushed material through a sizing means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 30 wherein said sizing means is at least one vibratory seive.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 22 wherein said separating step comprises: passing a rake-like means through said crushed material to remove therefrom string-like material having greater length than cross sectional dimensions.
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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) | 1992-03-20 | 1992-09-19 | 1993-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-03-20 | 1996-09-19 | 1997-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-03-20 | 2000-09-19 | 2001-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |