FIREWORKS TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL UNIT
A mobile apparatus for treatment and disposal of fireworks which includes a conveyor belt, chopper, chute, burn chamber and a heavy-gauge screen cover, the conveyor belt delivering fireworks to be disposed of to the chopper where the fireworks are shredded, the shredded fireworks being fed through the chute into a burn chamber where the shredded fireworks are burned, the heavy-gauge screen cover covering the burn chamber to minimize the release of solid particles into the surrounding environment while also allowing steam, smoke and pressurized air to escape.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/981,289, filed Oct. 19, 2007, entitled “Fireworks Treatment and Disposal Unit” (Attorney Docket No. MPAS-01000USO), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to an apparatus for the treatment and/or disposal of fireworks.
BACKGROUNDEach year millions of people in the United States enjoy fireworks in the form of consumer fireworks and display/professional fireworks. While watching or setting off fireworks can be enjoyable, fireworks can also present substantial safety concerns to the public, not only in their use but also in their disposal. Each year massive qualities of fireworks that are illegal in the jurisdictions where they are possessed are seized by law enforcement agencies and must be properly disposed of in compliance with applicable environmental and explosive safety laws and regulations. Because no mobile fireworks treatment units currently exist, these fireworks must be transported to central storage locations, which can be dangerous given the unpredictable nature of the material being handled. Both the firework items and the treatment residuals from the fireworks (ash and debris) may contain hazardous by-products which can contaminate the soil as well as groundwater and any nearby water supplies. Consequently, numerous state and federal agencies strictly regulate the handling, storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal of firework wastes.
Historically, fireworks were disposed of through open burning of fireworks on the ground, and many law enforcement agencies still engage in this practice today. In this regard, the fireworks are simply piled on the ground, ignited and allowed to burn until they are consumed to ash. Typically, the residual ash is then shovelled into containers and placed in a land disposal unit such as a landfill. However, with increasingly stricter state and federal environmental laws and regulations being passed each year, there is a need for a safer and more environmentally friendly approach to firework disposal.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles and implementations of the invention. In the drawings:
Embodiments are described herein in the context of a fireworks treatment unit. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following detailed description is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same reference indicators will be used throughout the drawings and the following detailed description to refer to the same or like parts.
Referring to
In an embodiment, the fireworks treatment unit 100 and its individual elements can be made of steel. However, the unit 100, or any individual aspect of the unit 100 can be made of any material that would be obvious to one skilled in the art. In an embodiment, the rotation of the chopper 104 and/or the conveyor 102 can be accomplished by using any device for rotating including, but not limited to, motors, springs, servos, chain drives, pulleys, torsion bars, and any combination thereof.
Referring to
While embodiments and applications of this invention have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure, that many more modifications than mentioned above are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein.
Claims
1. A fireworks treatment unit for disposing fireworks comprising:
- a conveyor to deliver fireworks to a chopper housing;
- said chopper housing comprising a chopper to shred fireworks, wherein said chopper comprises a chopper shaft and a multiplicity of chopper blades, wherein the chopper shaft and the chopper blades are rotated about a longitudinal axis central to the chopper shaft; and
- a burn chamber adjacent to said chopper housing to receive shredded fireworks from the chopper housing, wherein the shredded fireworks are burned within the burn chamber.
2. The treatment unit of claim 1, wherein the conveyor comprises an endless belt.
3. The treatment unit of claim 1 wherein at least one motor drives the conveyor and the chopper.
4. The treatment unit of claim 1 further comprising a screen cover attached to the top of the burn chamber to minimize release of solid particles into a surrounding environment.
5. The treatment unit of claim 1 wherein the burn chamber further comprises an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein water is circulated between the inner wall and the outer wall.
6. The treatment unit of claim 1 wherein said chopper blades are hingedly attached to the chopper shaft.
7. The treatment unit of claim 1 wherein the treatment unit is incorporated into a mobile trailer.
8. The treatment unit of claim 1 further comprising a chute, the chute connecting the chopper housing and the burn chamber.
9. The treatment unit of claim 1 wherein the burn chamber includes a pyrotechnic ignition device.
10. The treatment unit of claim 1 further comprising a control panel, the control panel having switches to control the conveyor and the chopper.
11. The treatment unit of claim 10, the control panel having switches to control the conveyor, the chopper and the pyrotechnic ignition device.
12. The treatment unit of claim 1 wherein said chopper housing is elevated above a floor of said burn chamber.
13. A mobile fireworks treatment unit for disposing fireworks comprising:
- a conveyor to deliver fireworks to a chopper housing, said conveyor comprising an endless belt;
- said chopper housing comprising a chopper to shred fireworks, wherein said chopper comprises a chopper shaft and a multiplicity of chopper blades, wherein the chopper shaft and the chopper blades are rotated about a longitudinal axis central to the chopper shaft;
- a burn chamber having a screen cover, wherein said burn chamber is adjacent to said chopper housing to receive shredded fireworks from the chopper housing, wherein the shredded fireworks are burned within the burn chamber;
- wherein said burn chamber comprises an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein water is circulated between the inner wall and the outer wall; and
- wherein the treatment unit is incorporated into a mobile trailer.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 16, 2008
Publication Date: Apr 23, 2009
Inventors: Thaine M. Morris (Ione, CA), David J. Pier (Ione, CA)
Application Number: 12/252,590