With Temperature Modification Of Material Patents (Class 241/65)
  • Publication number: 20020092939
    Abstract: An apparatus for decontaminating and destroying hypodermic syringes and needles includes a waste compression cylinder having a cylinder side wall and a closed cylinder abutment end wall, and having a cylinder waste receiving port in the cylinder side wall and a waste releasing port in the cylinder side wall; a waste compression piston slidably retained within the waste compression cylinder; a piston drive mechanism drivably connected to the waste compression piston for driving the piston away from the abutment end wall to open space for receiving waste within the compression cylinder and for driving the piston toward and into close proximity with the cylinder abutment end wall to crush needles; a decontaminating air blowing mechanism oriented to blow decontaminating air into the compression cylinder; and an air heating mechanism for heating the decontaminating air to a decontaminating temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: David A. Sowers, Sandra Sowers
  • Patent number: 6397492
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for separating and processing solid waste, often but not necessarily from municipalities (and so will be generically referred to herein as municipal solid waste or “MSW”), into useful products, and for reducing biohazards and putrid odors derived from MSW. The MSW is loaded into an elongated, generally cylindrically shaped rotating pressure vessel and is subjected to heat and pressure by the application of steam in specified amounts to break down the organic portion of the MSW into a cellulose feedstock, or a de-manufactured paper product, of uniform particle size and density. This product is then easily separable from other constituents of MSW, such as glass, aluminum and other metals, and plastics. The recyclables are recovered and sold in the market. The waste water from the process is reduced by processing through a water vamping apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: MSW Patents, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Malley
  • Patent number: 6391930
    Abstract: A device for destroying tires with metallic cords using electric discharges, which comprises an arrangement for cutting off tire sidewalls, an arrangement for delivering the tires with cut sidewalls for destruction, a tire destruction system in the shape of a pulse-discharge unit based on capacitors, which system is provided with an axially symmetrical means for connection to metallic cords in the form of two current conducting fixing members having the shape of truncated cones on the side of their working surfaces and means for discharging the products of destruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Inventors: Aleksandr Radiyevich Bedjukh, Tatyana Vasilyevna Parubochaya, Valeri Grigoryevich Butko
  • Publication number: 20010048041
    Abstract: A supplying inlet is placed at a position where materials to be crushed supplying direction is out of position on the forward direction side of a rotating direction against the rotating center of the rotation wing on the supplying side and
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Applicant: SHINWA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. and FRONTIER CO., LTD
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Nakazato
  • Patent number: 6325307
    Abstract: The method for producing powder from polymeric material includes its heating and subsequent grinding by action of pressure and shearing at values from 0.5 to 50 at simultaneous cooling. The distinction of the method is that heating is carried out up to 30-250° C. in two stages: firstly, at a pressure increasing from 0.1-0.5 MPa to 3-100 MPa and, secondly, under isobaric conditions at shearing 0.3-10 during 0.3-5 sec, and said grinding is performed as the pressure is decreased down to 0.1-0.5 MPa. The device for producing powder from polymeric material comprises a grinding chamber having a casing (2) and a grinding rotor (3) in a shape of a body of revolution with an annular clearance (4) towards the inner surface of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Gaia International, LLC
    Inventors: Vadim Gennadjevich Nikolskii, Dmitrii Alekseevich Gorkov, Vladimir Nikolaevich Baliberdin, Mikhail Rafailovich Rubinshtein, Igor Ivanovich Khaliavin, Liudmila Borisovna Aleksandrova, Galina Pavlovna Mashinskaya, Valerii Arkadjevich Rudoy
  • Patent number: 6325306
    Abstract: A size reduction apparatus and process for reducing the size of a heterogeneous or homogeneous article or articles using variable and interchangeable interior parts for varying article output size and an air handling system for introducing air and/or fluid into the process of size-reduction. The components of a heterogeneous article are separated and used to aid in the size-reduction process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignees: Material Recovery of North America, Inc., Southwest Tire Processors
    Inventors: Jeanne M. Gacanich, Moises E. Romero, Fabian M. Romero, Jr., Yu Ping Tang, Edward C. Hensel
  • Patent number: 6325311
    Abstract: A concrete reclaimer having a single meshed cylinder for separating concrete into its individual components. The reclaimer includes a hopper with a feed screw for feeding concrete aggregate into the reclaimer at a constant rate, a water spraying system for washing the concrete as it is being separated and flushing separated sand/cement components, heated inclined dewatering screws for separating the sand/cement slurry into its components, and settling ponds for removing cement from the water. The cylinder is made from coarse mesh which allows sand and cement to pass through, but not gravel, which is deposited onto an inclined conveyor adjacent the outlet the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: BFK Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Preisser
  • Patent number: 6325310
    Abstract: An immersion-type dispersing apparatus comprises a body, a tubular outer stator connected to the body, and a tubular inner stator disposed in the tubular outer stator and forming with the tubular outer stator an annular treatment gap for containing a dispersion medium. A rotor extends into the annular treatment gap and separates the annular treatment gap into an outer gap portion and an inner gap portion. A drive shaft is mounted for rotation to rotate the rotor. An axial flow shaft extends into the inner stator for rotation therein. Axial flow blades are mounted on the axial flow shaft for rotation therewith to generate a circulation flow for circulating a material to be treated into and out of the treatment gap. A circulation port is formed in the rotor and communicates the inner gap portion and the outer gap portion of the treatment gap to permit the material to be treated and the dispersing medium to flow to and from the inner and outer gap portions of the treatment gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Inoue Mfg., Inc.
    Inventor: Masakazu Inoue
  • Patent number: 6318650
    Abstract: A process for the continuous production of solid, particulate preparations of bioactive substances, in which the bioactive substances are homogeneously dispersed in a matrix of thermoplastic auxiliaries, in a screw extruder divided into a plurality of zones, wherein there is firstly melting of the matrix auxiliaries and mixing of the bioactive components with the matrix auxiliaries in a heatable zone, after which the mixture is cooled, precomminuted and finely ground in a cooling zone, the screw geometry in the cooling zone being selected so that the cooling zone consists of a conveying zone, a mixing zone and a kneading zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jörg Breitenbach, Hans Dieter Zettler
  • Patent number: 6316508
    Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber composition containing a reclaimed rubber and a method for producing the same. A rubber molded article having excellent rubber properties can be obtaining and the recycling of a used rubber product can be promoted by the present invention. A rubber composition of the present invention is a blend comprising a reclaimed rubber obtained by applying a heat and a shear stress to a vulcanized rubber, a non-vulcanized virgin rubber or/and a thermoplastic resin, wherein the reclaimed rubber contains 40% by weight or more of a residual toluene-insoluble gel component and the network chain density of the rubber in the component is 1/20 to 1/4 based on the network chain density of the rubber of the vulcanized rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsumasa Matsushita, Makoto Mouri, Hirotaka Okamoto, Norio Sato, Yasuyuki Suzuki, Masao Owaki, Noriyuki Suzuki, Katsumi Nakashima, Hidenobu Honda, Toru Yoshida, Katsumasa Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6308903
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for processing used vehicle tires that separates the steel metal from the rubber and other non-metallic materials for recycling. The tire is rotated at sufficient speed to force the materials outwardly by centrifugal force. Heated blades move centripetally to melt and cut through the non-metallic materials, dividing the tire into at least two arcs that are held together by the steel reinforcement that is not easily cut through. Electric heating apparatus heats the steel more than the rubber so that the forces binding the rubber are released, enabling the rubber and other non-metallic materials to be flung outwardly away from the steel. The steel is then collected separately. The differential heating apparatus may be inductive or resistive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Inventors: Domenic Mucciacciaro, Alvin S. Blum
  • Patent number: 6290154
    Abstract: A strand cutting apparatus includes a fixed blade having a blade edge extending perpendicularly with respect to the traveling direction of a strand, a rotation blade which is fixed to the tip portion of a rotation shaft disposed in parallel to the traveling direction of the strand and has a plurality of plate-shaped blades disposed radially at a front surface opposing to the fixed blade, and a cover for receiving pellets thus cut and exhausting the pellets out of the apparatus. The cover is formed by a lower casing of almost funnel-shape and an upper casing of a semi-cylindrical shape covering the opened portion of the lower casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: The Japan Steel Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Yoshida, Yoshihito Tamaki, Minori Takata
  • Patent number: 6207723
    Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber composition containing a reclaimed rubber and a method for producing the same. A rubber molded article having excellent rubber properties can be obtained and the recycling of a used rubber product can be promoted by the present invention. A rubber composition of the present invention is a blend comprising a claimed rubber obtained by applying a heat and a shear stress to a vulcanized rubber, a non-vulcanized virgin rubber or/and a thermoplastic resin, wherein the reclaimed rubber contains 40% by weight or more of a residual toluene-insoluble gel component and the network chain density of the rubber in the gel component is 1/20 to 1/4 based on the network chain density of the rubber of the vulcanized rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsumasa Matsushita, Makoto Mouri, Hirotaka Okamoto, Norio Sato, Yasuyuki Suzuki, Masao Owaki, Noriyuki Suzuki, Katsumi Nakashima, Hidenobu Honda, Toru Yoshida, Katsumasa Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6199778
    Abstract: Systems and processes of the present invention for recycling glass fiber waste into glass fiber product include a supply of scrap glass fibers having a mean average length of less than about 5 millimeters; a crusher having at least one pair of rotatable rollers which rotate at essentially the same speed, the rollers having intermeshing protuberances for crushing scrap glass fibers passing therebetween; and an air separating device for separating a first portion of crushed glass fibers having a mean average length of less than about 3 millimeters from a second portion of oversize glass fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventor: Curtis L. Hanvey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6196480
    Abstract: There is provided a ball mill having a milling chamber into which metal powder is fed. The ball mill is also provided with milling means for milling metal powder into fine metal powder having a particle size less than a predetermined size. When the ball mill operates, a quantity of heat (Q0) is generated in the milling chamber. The milling chamber is cooled by liquid cooling means and gas cooling means according to the present invention. The liquid cooling means causes cooling liquid to flow along the outside wall of the milling chamber to remove a quantity of heat (Q1) during the ball mill operation. The gas cooling means causes cooling gas to flow through the milling chamber to remove a quantity of heat (Q2) during the ball mill operation. The generated quantity of heat (Q0) can be counterbalanced with the sum of the removed quantities of heat (Q1) and (Q2) so as to prevent the inside of the milling chamber from overheating, so that the ball mill can operate in the condition of Q0/V≧0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Fukuda Metal Foil & Powder Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Fukuda, Kensuke Hidaka, Tamiho Mizutani, Motonori Nishida, Yoshio Kohira
  • Patent number: 6196479
    Abstract: In a method for granulating and comminuting liquid slags, especially metal-oxide-containing slags, coal, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide (CO2) and/or coal/water mixtures or coal slurries are driven into the slag or the slag jet. The liquid slag is transferred into an expansion and granulation chamber and subsequently into a mill, especially a jet or impact mill. In the device for carrying out the method provided with a slag tundish and a lance arranged coaxially to the axis of the tundish tube the tundish tube is designed as a hole-type nozzle. Devices for applying carbon carriers and/or water nozzles are arranged radially outside of the mouth of the tundish tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: “HolderBank”Financiere Glarus AG
    Inventor: Alfred Edlinger
  • Patent number: 6190618
    Abstract: A garbage processor has a vessel for receiving garbage, a rotary pulverizer/stirrer for crushing and stirring the garbage in the vessel and a first heater for drying the garbage in the vessel. A steam is generated upon heating and drying of the garbage. An air blower feeds a high pressure an ambient air into the vessel to force the steam out of the vessel. A steam separator is provided for separating the steam into a water and a gas. A second heater is provided downstream of the steam separator for oxidizing the gas emanating from the steam separator to reduce a smell of the gas. The gas is deodorized before it is discharged to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Jidosha Buhin Kogyo Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tadaaki Nekozuka, Kiyoshi Fukushima, Hirohide Nakao, Tomio Terayama, Akihiro Shirata, Sinichiro Fujita, Kenichi Ueda, Masami Hatayama, Hiroshi Ohdate
  • Patent number: 6186428
    Abstract: A bio-hazardous waste processor and optional encasement is described that uses a coolant such as liquid nitrogen to make the waste brittle in the hopper before crushing, keep the waste brittle in the down chute after crushing and also during shredding in the demolition chamber. After shredding, a fog of sterilant is used to disinfect the waste. The apparatus comprises an input hopper with a crushing wheel and dead plate towards its base to reduce the size of large particles, and a down chute which leads the crushed waste from the crushing wheel to a demolition chamber. In the demolition chamber, shredding is implemented by: one or more hammers and one or more commercially available off-the-shelf saw blades, the hammer(s) and saw blade(s) rotating in the same or opposite directions; or, one or more commercially available off-the-shelf dado saw blades, adjacent dados rotating in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Steriwaste, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley L. Robinson, Michael A. Gerber, Bernard F. Sarlo, Stanley VanClair
  • Patent number: 6186424
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for manufacturing chips for a thixomolding-process injection molding machine, primary crushed pieces obtained by fragmenting and crushing metal alloy wastes are cut and fragmented by a chip manufacturing apparatus having fixed blades, rotating blades, and a screen so as to obtain chips, with the result that the surfaces are polished, and a powder is eliminated by forced exhaust air, thereby making it possible to manufacture the chips while preventing ignition and explosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignees: The Japan Steel Works, Ltd., Nippon Thermochemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Uno, Kazuo Kitamura
  • Patent number: 6182913
    Abstract: A system for reclaiming carpet components such as yarn, tufting primary, binder, and secondary backing wherein the carpet is sprayed with a high velocity water spray so as to disjoint the components from one another, and thereafter, separating the secondary backing from the yarn and tufting primary. Desirably, water is removed from the disjointed carpet after spraying the carpet with high pressure water spray. This system is useful for reclaiming components of broadloom carpet and carpet tiles and cleanly and efficiently separates tie components of carpet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Interface, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Howe, Samuel H. White, Samuel G. Locklear
  • Patent number: 6180685
    Abstract: A method of making polymeric particulates wherein polymeric scrap material, virgin polymeric material and mixtures thereof are supplied to intermeshing extruder screws which are rotated to transport the polymeric material along their length and subject the polymeric material to solid state shear pulverization and in-situ polymer compatibilization, if two or more incompatible polymers are present. Uniform pulverized particulates are produced without addition of a compatibilizing agent. The pulverized particulates are directly melt processable (as powder feedstock) and surprisingly yield a substantially homogeneous light color product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventor: Klementina Khait
  • Patent number: 6158680
    Abstract: A multiple barrel chamber for a media mill where the media mill is used to grind and disperse pigments for paint, coating, ink products, and other pigment-vehicle fluids, as well as grinding and dispersing other particulate matter. More particularly, a three barrel grinding chamber including a lengthwise rotatable shaft in each barrel portion is disclosed. Each shaft includes a disc array overlapping an adjacent disc array. Utilization of variable speed bi-directional motors, preferable independently controlled, to rotate each shaft allows impact, tack-shear, and slurry grinding to be accomplished with one media mill. The grinding efficiencies achieved far exceed those of conventional media mills. Media mill grinding discs are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Bill H. Ranne
  • Patent number: 6145323
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the cleaning of residue from the surface of a container where the method comprises cooling the container and residue adhered to the container surface to a low temperature, substantially embrittling the residue, fragmenting the residue, separating the residue from the surface of the container and removing the residue from the container. The container is placed in an enclosure with an opening in the top of the enclosure to permit access to the interior of the container when a container lid is removed. The system includes a rotating base to turn the container to facilitate freezing and removal of the residue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignees: James L. Popp, Carolyn Popp
    Inventors: James L. Popp, Carolyn Popp, James Dean, Robert E. Clark
  • Patent number: 6073866
    Abstract: A pulverizing pass having at one side an adjustable crushing plate which forces the material entering to pass between the plate and variable speed replaceable rotating hammers which are substantially open causing the material to be pulverized. The chamber is lined with plates which can be repeatedly replaced. In addition, heat is applied to the material throughout the process by two open flame furnaces whereby the material exits dry. Further a means for removing contaminants from the glass is accomplished by three blower devices which suck the contaminants into three collection bags whereby the finished product exits 99.9 plus % clean.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Inventors: James S. Silver, Fred Bunke, Richard J. Leonard, Stewart L. Grow
  • Patent number: 6073867
    Abstract: The invention concerns a versatile mill, particularly the construction of its drive, central and clamping part with the fitting of knives, and the cooling of the milling part. The versatile mill is intended for processing food products and other organic and inorganic substances in the sense of milling, chopping, grinding, mixing or disintegrating the parts inserted into it in an enclosed processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Inventor: Karel Ferlez
  • Patent number: 6070815
    Abstract: In a grain milling machine, a milling chamber 25 is defined by a gap between a cylindrical body 24 and a rotating body 23, and grinding plates 27 and 28 are arranged on both facing surfaces of the milling chamber 25. On the surface of at least one of the grinding plates 27 and 28, polyhedral hard diamond abrasive grains are deposited. The grinding plate 27 provided on the side of the cylindrical body 24 is fixed, and the grinding plate 28 provided on the side of the rotating body 24 moves with respect to the grinding plate 27, so that the surfaces of grains fed into the milling chamber 25 are ground by the grinding function applied between the grinding plates 27 and 28. Thus, it is possible to maintain sufficient grinding force and to carry out efficient and high-quality grain milling without the need of any complicated maintenance of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Shizuoka Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshikuni Miyatake
  • Patent number: 6065695
    Abstract: A dry and crush treating apparatus using a jet burner, includes: a jet burner drying an oil-containing or/and water-containing raw material; a dry treating tank; and a recovering unit recovering a dried fine particles made of the raw material. In the construction, the recovering unit is installed within the dry treating tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Inventor: Tatsuaki Shimasaki
  • Patent number: 6056216
    Abstract: The method for shredding wornout tire cases comprises exposing wornout tire cases to the effect of an explosion exerted thereon in a closed circular system so as to establish a directional circulating flow of explosion products. The device for carrying the method into effect comprises a chamber (1, 2) and a piping (3, 4) which forms, together with the chamber, a circular closed system, the chamber has a portion shaped as a cone-frustum shell (1), wherein shredding members (7) and a fixing unit of the explosive (13) are accommodated; a the smaller-diameter portion of the cone-shaped shell (1) communicates with one end of the piping (4) through a valve appearing as, e.g., a grid established by plates (7) in the area of the smaller base of the shell (1), while the other end of the piping (3) communicates with the chamber (1, 2) from the side of the larger-diameter portion of the cone-shaped shell (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Obschestvo S Ogranichennoi Otvetstvennostju "Explotekh"
    Inventor: Alexandr Andreevich Nabok
  • Patent number: 6053439
    Abstract: A system and method for treating a waxed fiber paper product with a high wax content to remove a substantial portion of the wax content includes the pulping of the wax paper fiber at an elevated temperature in excess of the melting temperature of the wax to separate a pulp fraction and to form an emulsion of water and molten wax. The pulp fraction is separated from the emulsion by filtering in a reverse pressure screen in which a finely perforated screen defines a high pressure side and a low pressure side, and a major portion of the water/emulsion is removed from the suspension through the screen perforations leading from the high pressure side to the low pressure side, in which a rotor and foil arrangement within the reverse screen is operated under such conditions that the suspension at the high pressure side of the screen is maintained in a constant fluidized condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignees: Inland Paperboard and Packaging, Inc., Thermo Black Clawson Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph E. Locke, Gary N. Prentice, Christopher M. Vitori
  • Patent number: 6047911
    Abstract: A method for reclaiming rubber comprising the steps of (a) producing scrap from used rubber materials; (b) milling said scrap to produce rubber crumbs characterised in that the crumbs of said milling step (b) are continuously fed to the milling machine at compression force preferably 100 metric tonnes and the temperature of the crumb feed being milled is maintained at a suitable temperature so as to obtain the reclaimed rubber. The preferred embodiment of the invention provides for a cooling system to keep the temperature of the milling process below 100.degree. C., the pressure being exerted by the mill rolls at close to zero nip with roll speeds at a 1:1.6 ratio, and the surfaces of the rolls are smoothen. Most preferably, the compression force is equivalent to 200 metric tonnes in weight and the crumb feed is continuously milled for about 30 revolutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Inventor: Choo Kiat Yap
  • Patent number: 6036124
    Abstract: A system for gasifying styrofoam and liquefying the resulting gas to a liquid styrofoam. This system is particularly useful for disposition of the styrofoam onto which non-meltable substances adhere. The system includes a pulverizing mechanism for pulverizing a lump of styrofoam and a melting vessel for melting the pulverized styrofoam. The resulting melt is filtered by a strainer to remove the non-meltable substances. The filtered styrofoam melt is transferred to a gasifying vessel for vaporization. The styrofoam gas (combustible gas) is then condensed by a gas cooler. A gas leaking from the melting vessel to the pulverizing mechanism through the constant volume feeder is discharged by a discharge line. The styrofoam gas is a combustible gas so that it may be used as a fuel gas for a gas burner. Part or all of the styrofoam gas is condensed by the gas cooler and recovered as a fuel oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Takamo Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenzo Takahashi, Kazukuni Shibata, Masaya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6029915
    Abstract: A grinding and dispersing apparatus comprises a tank for storing a liquid containing a material to be treated and a container disposed in the tank for containing grinding media. The container has an inlet for receiving the liquid containing the material and a discharge outlet for discharging the liquid containing the material. A feeding mechanism is disposed at the inlet of the container for feeding the liquid containing the material into the container. A stirring mechanism extends into the container for stirring the grinding media and the liquid containing the material fed into the container to disperse the material in the liquid. A separating device is disposed at the discharge outlet of the container for separating the grinding media from the liquid containing the dispersed material and permitting the liquid containing the dispersed material but not the grinding media to be discharged from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Inoue Mfg., Inc.
    Inventor: Masakazu Inoue
  • Patent number: 6003240
    Abstract: A vessel drier for producing a powder material, includes a cylindrical container, a heating source, and a plurality of heat conductive members. The cylindrical container has an inner space to contain a fluid raw material and is adapted to rotate along a rotation axis thereof. The heating source is provided outside the cylindrical container to heat the cylindrical container. The heat conductive members are provided at an outer surface of the cylindrical container so as to enlarge the area of the outer surface of the cylindrical container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Akimoto, Hiroshi Morii, Kenji Ueno, Masahiko Takami
  • Patent number: 6000644
    Abstract: Inefficiencies in reclaiming foundry sand from foundry cores made up of sand and an organic resin binder are reduced in a method of reclaiming such sand that includes the steps of reducing a foundry core made up of sand and an organic resin binder to small clumps or individual particles, placing the small clumps or individual particles in a bed and introducing a heated gaseous oxidant into the bed generally from the bottom thereof in sufficient volume to fluidize the bed and at sufficient temperature to oxidize the resin binder on the small clumps or individual particles. Also disclosed is an apparatus for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventor: Albert Musschoot
  • Patent number: 5992775
    Abstract: A grain mill is disclosed comprising a heat-dissipating, stainless steel housing that holds a pair of grinding stones, one of which rotates with a shaft turned by an electric motor. The shaft is journaled on self-aligning bearings. The bearings and the housing cooperate to keep heat buildup from the grinding operation low so as not to damage the grain, even at higher grinding speed. As an additional check on mill temperature, a thermometer is included to provide temperature information, and an ammeter is connected to the electrical motor to provide information about the electrical current being drawn when the motor rotates the shaft as an indication of the stress on the shaft. A small door near the exit spout permits a check of the uniformity and size of the ground product. Finally, magnets on the hopper attract metal particles and hold them so that they do not enter the space between the grind stones, where they could damage the stones and become part of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: New River Mills LLC
    Inventors: Edward C. Wingler, Charles E. Wingler, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5980823
    Abstract: A garbage processor has a vessel for receiving garbage, a rotary pulverizer/stirrer for crushing and stirring the garbage in the vessel and a first heater for drying the garbage in the vessel. Steam is generated upon heating and drying of the garbage. An air blower feeds high pressure ambient air into the vessel to force the steam out of the vessel. A steam separator is provided for separating the steam into water and a gas. A second heater is provided downstream of the steam separator for oxidizing the gas emanating from the steam separator to reduce the smell of the gas. The gas is deodorized before it is discharged to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Jidosha Buhin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadaaki Nekozuka, Kiyoshi Fukushima, Hirohide Nakao, Tomio Terayama, Akihiro Shirata, Sinichiro Fujita, Kenichi Ueda, Masami Hatayama, Hiroshi Ohdate
  • Patent number: 5975440
    Abstract: Batch mixing takes place in the gap (3) between grooved faces of counter-rotating discs (1,2) such that the spiral grooves (8) and lands (10) of each face traverse the grooves (8) and lands (10) of the other, to shear and split material drawn inwardly along the grooves (8) for distributive mixing. Modifications include plural-turn spiral, straight, and truncated spiral grooving (FIGS. 5 to 10), and batch mixing in which only one disc (28) rotates (FIG. 11). Continuous mixing involving shear is carried out within a cylindrical barrel (40 FIG. 12;57 FIG. 13) between its internal helical-grooving (43;590 and the helical grooving (44;60), of opposite hand, of a rotor (41;58). The shearing can produce mechanochemical reactions that break down the molecular structure of the material, notably in the context of mastication and solubilising of used rubber in reclaim from vehicle-tyres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: William Ferguson Watson
  • Patent number: 5971302
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for drying and grinding moist raw cement or other material wherein the moist material is introduced to a grinding zone at which it is ground to produce relatively fine and relatively coarse particles which are separated and delivered to separate outlets. Hot drying gas is delivered to the path of fresh material flowing to the grinding zone to pre-dry such material, and the ground particles flowing to the respective discharge outlets are further dried by hot gas. The further dried relatively coarse particles are delivered the fresh material inlet and mixed with fresh material therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Inventor: Joseph E. Doumet
  • Patent number: 5951712
    Abstract: A novel method for processing plastic waste and polyresin, particularly polyethylene, into usable plastic products is described. Plastic waste such as wire fluff generated as a by-product from wire-chopping operations can be used in the process. Also described are products obtained by the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Inventor: Jerome Campbell
  • Patent number: 5944266
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for processing the elastomeric component of a gum base or chewing gum product. Bulk blocks or slabs of elastomeric materials are conveyed to a housing with a rotary cutting mechanism. A feeding and metering mechanism controls the introduction of the blocks or slabs to the cutting mechanism. A lubricant feeding mechanism controls the introduction of lubricant to the housing for coating and lubricating the elastomeric materials. A cooling mechanism maintains the temperature of the housing and materials within a prespecified range. A screen or filtering mechanism controls the size of the ground-up pieces of material which are removed from the housing. Vacuum-conveyer systems convey the ground-up pieces of material to a storage hopper where excess lubricant is removed and then to a metering mechanism for selective introduction of the pieces of material to an extruder mechanism and/or gum or gum base manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventors: Marc Degady, James A. Duggan, Kevin R. Tebrinke, Joseph Bunkers, Arthur W. Upmann
  • Patent number: 5941468
    Abstract: Containerized medical waste is treated by shredding, and then passing the shredded material, by means of a screw conveyor, through a direct steam impingement stage and a dehydration stage in which the material is brought into contact with a hot surface to vaporize moisture and thereafter passed through a low pressure chamber in which the vapor is drawn off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Sterile Technology Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Lewis, Randall G. McKee
  • Patent number: 5938130
    Abstract: An asphalt based material recycling system and method is used to recycle asphalt materials, such as asphalt shingles and tar paper that include granules, fibers or other particles. The asphalt material is simultaneously heated and milled in a heated milling apparatus, such as a heated ball mill, to reduce the asphalt material including granules to a fine mesh in suspension in liquid asphalt. Excess moisture is removed from the asphalt material being recycled by continuously venting the heated milling apparatus. The heated milling apparatus preferably includes a rotatable milling vessel rotated at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal plane and having an opening that provides continuous venting. The shape of the milling vessel allows the liquid level inside the milling vessel to have a liquid head above the outlet region of the milling vessel, for facilitating milling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventor: Thomas J. Zickell
  • Patent number: 5934579
    Abstract: An apparatus designed for the batchwise treatment of suspensions comprises a cylindrical reaction vessel (1) which is rotationally symmetric with respect to an axis (4) and within which, in a coaxial arrangement with respect to said axis (4), an insertion member (28') is disposed which includes a grinding cage (31) and the grinding bed formed by grinding balls (25). By means of delivery elements and stirring elements (35, 37) a suspension stream is generated which passes through the grinding bed in the direction of the arrows (28), leaves the insertion member (28') in the upper region thereof via radially oriented orifices (13) and is circulated via the annular chamber (15) of the reaction vessel (1). The reaction vessel (1) is of pressure-tight design, and heterogenous reactions can proceed inside it in vacuum or pressurized mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Th. Goldschmidt AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hiersche, Wilfried Knott, Andreas Mehrwald
  • Patent number: 5908165
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for reprocessing mixed plastics, more particularly mixed plastics from household refuse. The material being reprocessed is shredded in a shredding stage, agglomerated in an agglomerator wherein volatile substances are sucked off by suction devices, and the agglomerated material is dried over a drying path. In order to reduce obstructive substances, such as paper and ash, the fine grain portion in particular of the plastics agglomerated is screened off. With the drying process it is possible to produce without wet processing steps which are high in energy consumption a plastics agglomerate of high quality which is suitable for industrial re-use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Der Gruene Punkt-Duales System Deutschland Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dietmar Guschall, Heiner Guschall, Axel Helmerth, Jorg Himmel, Gerhard Fahrbach, Heinz-Reiner Schnettler
  • Patent number: 5901912
    Abstract: A landplaster production method includes the steps of providing a supply of particulate gypsum material, drying the gypsum material by passing a stream of heated air thereby as the material is rotated, classifying and separating the dried particles into fines and coarse particles, collecting the suspended fines in a collector, passing the coarse particles to a grinder such as a roller mill for reducing the particles, and mixing the reduced particles with the collected fines for processing into landplaster. The elimination of fines from the feed to the grinder results in significantly greater production by increasing the efficiency of the grinder. Further, the dryer is modified to agitate the dried gypsum material so that it may be more easily introduced into the classifier/separator situated adjacent the drier discharge outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: United States Gypsum Co.
    Inventor: Dennis B. Voorberg
  • Patent number: 5887803
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for grinding and sifting a product, in which the product is embrittled by a coolant and is comminuted in a mill (8), the comminuted product being fed, after comminution while keeping away ambient air and the moisture this involves, to a sifter (14). With the process and the apparatus according to the invention, the product can be comminuted and sifted in a closed-loop process without separating agents having to be fed to the ground product prior to sifting to overcome electrostatic charging. The sifter (14) is preferably operated with the gaseous coolant which is used to operate the mill (8) so that any losses of sifter circuit gas occurring during sifting can be compensated by feeding in a gaseous coolant. The total duration of the process can be reduced considerably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Messer Griesheim GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Dietrich, Wilfried Duesberg, Manfred Stahl
  • Patent number: 5884853
    Abstract: A mobile system for processing raw ears of corn includes a first mobile processing trailer for receiving raw unhusked ears of corn, holding the ears and disbursing the ears to a first conveyor. The first conveyor transports the ears to a second mobile trailer for further processing. The second mobile trailer includes a husker for removing corn husks and corn silk from the ears, a cutting mechanism for removing kernels from the ears after the husks and silk are removed, and a second conveyor for transporting the corn husks, corn silk, and corn cobs from the second trailer. A third conveyor transports the kernels to a third mobile trailer for further processing. The third mobile trailer includes a cooling tank for chilling the kernels and a conveyor for transporting the kernels to transportation receptacles for transportation to a cannery for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Razorback Farms, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Higgins
  • Patent number: 5850977
    Abstract: A cylindrical vessel has a drive shaft rotatably mounted therein and extending along substantially the entire longitudinal extent thereof. This drive shaft is rotatably driven by a motor at a speed of 1,500-10,000. Solid particles to be comminuted which may be of coal and limestone/dolomite or lime are fed into the vessel. Connected to the shaft and rotatably driven therewith is a centrifugal compressor fan which forms an uplifting air curtain which suspends the particles. Mounted above the compressor and rotatably driven by the drive shaft are a plurality of rotors, screens, and a disc mounted in an aperture formed in a fixed plate which forms a circular vortex in the space between the disc and the plate. The particles are comminuted by the successive action of the rotors, screens and the circular vortex, larger particles being repelled for further comminution while the finer particles are fed from the vessel to cyclonic classifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Inventor: Ernest Csendes
  • Patent number: 5848755
    Abstract: An asphalt roofing material recycling system and method is used to recycle asphalt materials, such as asphalt shingles and tar paper that include granules, fibers or other particles. The asphalt material is simultaneously heated and milled in a heated milling apparatus, such as a heated ball mill, to reduce the asphalt material granules to a fine mesh in suspension in liquid asphalt. Excess moisture is removed from the asphalt material being recycled, either during heating and milling by continuously venting the heated milling apparatus, or before the heating and milling in a drying apparatus. The heated milling apparatus preferably includes a rotatable milling vessel rotated at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal plane and having an opening that provides continuous venting. The rotatable milling vessel includes a plurality of mixing members, such as rods or paddles, extending from an interior surface and preferably arranged in a helical pattern to force the asphalt material away from the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Environmental Reprocessing Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Zickell, Mat Bockh, Charles Diman
  • Patent number: 5842650
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement are provided for breaking up composite material comprised of elastic materials combined with metallic materials. The composite material is placed into an insulated vat holding liquid nitrogen via a transporting device and is positioned below a unipolar electrode arrangement. An energy source generates high-energy pulses that are applied to the composite material by the electrode arrangement. The composite material is torn apart by the high-energy pulses and is separated by a subsequently resulting pressure pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: TZN Forschungs - und Entwicklungszentrum Unterluss GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen Hofmann