Abstract: A method is provided for the disposal and utilization of sorted-out gas cylinders filled with fillers. The method is characterized in that the gas cylinders, together with the fillers contained therein, are supplied as charge in the degasified, opened condition as a whole or comminuted into large pieces, to an iron melting furnace, in particular a cupola furnace, a blast furnace or a rotary drum type furnace.

Abstract: An apparatus for the cooling of objects comprises an upright cylindrical housing having thermally insulated walls and a helical ramp surrounding a column in the housing and along which the objects pass downwardly from an inlet to an outlet. During movement along the ramp, which may be vibrated or oscillated to promote the downward movement of the objects, the latter are chilled to embrittlement temperatures. When the objects are vehicle tires, the pitch of the helical ramp is slightly greater than the diameter of the largest tires to be processed. At the bottom of the ramp the objects may pass into a bath of liquified gas serving as the cooling medium and nozzles can be provided along the lower third of the column for directing jets of the liquefied gas at the objects to be cooled.