METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR CLASSIFICATION OF HETEROGENEOUS SHREDDED REFUSE MATERIALS

• US 3,738,483 A
• Filed: 11/08/1971
• Issued: 06/12/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harold B. Mackenzie
• Original Assignee: Harold B. Mackenzie
• Inventors: MacKenzie, Harold B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lutter, Frank W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hill, Ralph J.
• Application Number:
  US05/196,383
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 209/115,117,12,120,134-139,142,153
• US Class Current: 209/44.1
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 9/06 specially adapted for refuse
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 4/02 while the mixtures fall
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 7/01 using gravity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/52 Mechanical processing of waste for the recovery of materials, e.g. crushing, shredding, separation or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/93 Municipal solid waste sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 241/38 Solid waste disposal

Abstract

Heterogeneous shredded refuse materials, municipal wastes in particular, are conveyed to a delivery release point at a substantial height in the upper portion at one side of a classifying chamber, as in a tower, and dropped or projected from such point into the chamber to travel by free fall or ballistically through a substantial space. Beyond the release point separating, flushing air is driven in generally the direction of input and through the downwardly gravitating materials to carry off the fractions capable of being airborne. Separation of the materials into classifications by weight or size may be effected by simultaneous gravitational and pneumatic forces after free fall drop into the chamber or by simultaneous ballistic and pneumatic forces after projection of the materials into the chamber. Vertical, and/or horizontal stratification of the materials during classification are provided for. To assist in separation and stratification, mechanical agitating or beater means may be provided. Classification as to those materials which are airborne and those which are not airborne, and their reclassification of materials in each of those two classes according to weight and/or size is achieved, and then collection of the materials according to weight and/or size is effected in receptacles spaced at varying distances from the release point and properly located with respect to each other to attain a significant number of classifications.

Claims

1. In a method of classifying heterogeneous shredded refuse materials:

delivering said materials to a delivery release point at a substantial height in the upper portion of a classifying chamber;

releasing said materials from said point;

projecting said materials forwardly at a velocity effecting substantially ballistic separation of the fractions of nonairborne materials;

after the materials have been thus projected in the chamber pneumatically separating airborne fractions from non-airborne fractions of the materials; and

collecting the airborne fractions separately from the nonairborne fractions.

2. In a method according to claim 1, heating air for the pneumatic separation to facilitate drying of moist materials.

3. In a method according to claim 1, receiving the lightest and softest fractions of the non-airborne materials in a receptacle nearest said point, and receiving successively heavier and harder fractions of the non-airborne materials in respective receptacles farther spaced from said point.

4. In a method according to claim 1, effecting ballistic generally stratification of the fractions of non-airborne materials in said chamber and collecting the stratified fractions in classification receptacles at the bottom of said chamber.

5. In a method according to claim 1, separating and effecting the collecting of the airborne fractions in respective vertically spaced receptacles at the far side of said chamber from said point.

6. In a method according to claim 1, driving air for separating and classifying the airborne fractions into the gravitationally descending materials at a plurality of spaced classifying zones below said point.

7. In a method according to claim 1, wherein said projecting comprises mechanically agitating and propelling the non-airborne materials below said point.

8. In a method according to claim 1, effecting suction removal of the airborne fractions from said chamber.

9. In a method according to claim 1, removing the airborne fractions from said chamber pneumatically, and classifying the respective airborne fractions in a connected series of cyclone separators.

10. In a method according to claim 1, said pneumatic separating of the airborne fractions from the non-airborne fractions comprising driving air through the gravitating materials and across said chamber, and simultaneously effecting negative pressure through duct means leading from said chamber, and thereby drawing off said airborne fractions of the materials for collecting the same.

11. In apparatus for classifying heterogeneous shredded refuse materials:

means defining a classifying chamber providing substantial space within which the materials can descend therein;

means for conveying said materials to a delivery-release point located at a substantial height in the upper portion of said chamber and operative to release the materials from said point into the chamber;

means for pneumatically supporting airborne fractions from non-airborne fractions of the materials after the materials have been released in the chamber;

means for projecting said materials through said space at a velocity to effect substantially ballistic separation of the fractions of non-airborne materials; and

means for collecting the airborne fractions separately from the non-airborne fractions.

12. In apparatus according to claim 11, a receptacle nearest said point for receiving the lightest non-airborne materials, and respective receptacles spaced farther from said point to receive successively heavier fractions of the non-airborne materials.

13. In apparatus according to claim 11, said conveying means being operative to project said materials forwardly from said point at a velocity to effect substantially ballistic separation of the fractions of non-airborne materials.

14. In apparatus according to claim 13, classification receptacles at the bottom of said chamber for collecting respective fractions of non-airborne materials from stratifications effected by said ballistic projection thereof.

15. In apparatus according to claim 11, said means for collecting the airborne fractions comprising respective vertically spaced receptacles at the far side of said chamber from said point.

16. In apparatus according to claim 11, said pneumatic means including means for driving air for separating and classifying the airborne fractions into the gravitationally descending materials at a plurality of spaced classifying zones below said point.

17. In apparatus according to claim 11, said means for projecting comprising means for mechanically agitating and propelling the non-airborne materials below said point.

18. In apparatus according to claim 11, means for effecting suction removal of the airborne fractions from said chamber.

19. In apparatus according to claim 11, means for removing the airborne fractions from said chamber pneumatically including a connected series of cyclone separators for classifying the respective airborne fractions.

20. In apparatus according to claim 11, said means for pneumatic separation being operative to drive air through the gravitating materials and across said chamber, and means for simultaneously effecting a negative pressure through said duct means to draw off the airborne fractions and collect the same.

21. In apparatus according to claim 17, said mechanical agitating and propelling means comprising beaters movable in generally up and down direction on respective horizontal axes in generally vertically spaced relation.

22. In apparatus according to claim 11, receptacles in the bottom of said chamber for receiving respective non-airborne fractions of the materials and including conveyor means to remove the fractions collected in said receptacles.

23. In apparatus according to claim 11, said cOnveying means comprising a shaker including a screen for separating finely particulate particles from the materials before releasing the materials from said point.

24. In apparatus according to claim 11, means enclosing said chamber including a tower-like structure supporting said conveying means from adjacent the top of one side of the chamber, said enclosing means including wall structure at the opposite side of said chamber, duct means leading from said wall structure, and means effecting suction into said duct means to draw off said airborne fractions from said chamber.