CA2262216A1 - Environmentally-safe portable apparatus for disposing of cylindrical light bulbs - Google Patents
Environmentally-safe portable apparatus for disposing of cylindrical light bulbs Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2262216A1 CA2262216A1 CA 2262216 CA2262216A CA2262216A1 CA 2262216 A1 CA2262216 A1 CA 2262216A1 CA 2262216 CA2262216 CA 2262216 CA 2262216 A CA2262216 A CA 2262216A CA 2262216 A1 CA2262216 A1 CA 2262216A1
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- compartment
- lid
- cylindrical
- chamber
- reduction chamber
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B02—CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING; PREPARATORY TREATMENT OF GRAIN FOR MILLING
- B02C—CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN
- B02C19/00—Other disintegrating devices or methods
- B02C19/0056—Other disintegrating devices or methods specially adapted for specific materials not otherwise provided for
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B02—CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING; PREPARATORY TREATMENT OF GRAIN FOR MILLING
- B02C—CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN
- B02C19/00—Other disintegrating devices or methods
- B02C19/0056—Other disintegrating devices or methods specially adapted for specific materials not otherwise provided for
- B02C19/0068—Other disintegrating devices or methods specially adapted for specific materials not otherwise provided for specially adapted for breaking-up fluorescent tubes
Abstract
A wheeled portable unitary apparatus is provided herein for disposing of hazardous light bulbs, e.g., fluorescent bulbs. The apparatus includes an open-topped, multi-compartmented container of cylindrical cross-section which are separated by an air permeable disc. The container includes an upper collection compartment, and a lower exhaust compartment. A lid is hingedly-connected to, and is adapted to cover, the top of the container. The lower surface of the lid is connected to a reduction chamber, the reduction chamber having an axial inlet means for a cylindrical bulb to be pulverized and an axial outlet means leading to the collection compartment. An electric motor which is provided with an on/off switch, is disposed within the reduction chamber and has a rigid unitary pulverizing blade secured to its drive shaft. The reduction chamber is bounded by an open bottom cylindrical protective guard. A cylindrical plastic insert covers the open top of the upper collection compartment and has an automatically-reclosable central opening therethrough through which the open bottom of the cylindrical protective guard sealingly projects. A cylindrical light bulb feed chute extends through the lid and is attached thereto, to feed cylindrical light bulbs to the reduction chamber.
A disposable pulverized light bulb collection bag is selectively disposed within the upper collection compartment in air-sealed relationship to the open bottom of the cylindrical protective guard. A vacuum generator is operatively associated with the lower exhaust compartment to subject the lower exhaust compartment to sub-atmospheric pressure. The lower exhaust compartment also includes a filter member extending transversely across the compartment to divide that compartment into an upper vacuum chamber and a lower chamber. The upper vacuum chamber includes a vacuum hose connected between an upper radial outlet port and extending through the lid to communicate with the reduction chamber to purge any hazardous materials which may be within the reduction chamber into the upper vacuum chamber. The lower chamber includes filters across the lower radial outlet port, whereby the lower vacuum chamber discharges environmentally-clean gases to the environment.
A disposable pulverized light bulb collection bag is selectively disposed within the upper collection compartment in air-sealed relationship to the open bottom of the cylindrical protective guard. A vacuum generator is operatively associated with the lower exhaust compartment to subject the lower exhaust compartment to sub-atmospheric pressure. The lower exhaust compartment also includes a filter member extending transversely across the compartment to divide that compartment into an upper vacuum chamber and a lower chamber. The upper vacuum chamber includes a vacuum hose connected between an upper radial outlet port and extending through the lid to communicate with the reduction chamber to purge any hazardous materials which may be within the reduction chamber into the upper vacuum chamber. The lower chamber includes filters across the lower radial outlet port, whereby the lower vacuum chamber discharges environmentally-clean gases to the environment.
Description
(a) TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Environmentally-Safe Portable Apparatus For Disposing of Cylindrical Light Bulbs (b) TECHNICAL FIELD TO WHICH THE INVENTION RELATES
This invention relates to an apparatus for disintegrating light bulbs, more particularly, cylindrical fluorescent bulbs and for simultaneously providing a holding unit to contain such disintegrated cylindrical fluorescent lamps in an environmentally-safe manner.
(c) BACKGROUND ART
Fluorescent bulbs are mercury-vapour electric-discharge lamps, in which the inside of the bulb or tube is coated with fluorescent material so that ultra-violet radiation from the discharge is converted to light of an acceptable colour. Such lamps take advantage of fluorescence, which is the production of visible light (white or coloured) or other radiation by a substance as the result of exposure to, and absorption of, other radiations of different wave length, such as ultraviolet light, or electric discharge in a vacuum tube. Those substances having this property are known as phosphors, the term usually being restricted to those solids that absorb ultraviolet and emit visible light. In ordinary fluorescent lighting, the tube contains mercury vapour and argon, and the inside walls of the tube are coated with the fluorescent substance, often a zinc or cadmium compound. The passage of an electric current through the mercury vapour-argon mixture produces invisible ultraviolet light which is absorbed by the phosphor and re-emitted as visible light. The whole process occurs at a relatively low temperature (hence called a "cold light" process).
Among the numerous substances which are known to exhibit phenomenon of fluorescence may be mentioned fluorite, uranium glass, petroleum, solutions of certain organic dyestuffs, eosin, fluorescein, quinine sulphate chlorophyll, and the vapour of sodium, mercury, iodine, and acetone.
Because of the contents of such fluorescent lamps, their disposal brings about environmental concerns, particularly where such fluorescent tubes are commonly disposed of with the everyday trash. It would therefore be desirable to provide a system for safely disintegrating such fluorescent lamps.
Various patented arrangements have been proposed for breaking up fluorescent tubes, bottles or the like into small pieces. Most of these however, particularly the arrangements therein for preventing escape of phosphorus and mercury which are present in fluorescent tubes, are complicated, requiring vacuum or pressure pumps and the like for their operation.
U.S. Patent No. 4,655,404 discloses a fluorescent lamp crusher device which includes a replaceable filter cartridge for capturing or otherwise removing mercury vapours which are released upon the crushing of fluorescent lamps. Replaceable cartridges of the type described above include activated carbon, which is very effective in removing objectionable mercury vapours from the air during operation of the crusher, provided that the charcoal or carbon particles be replaced or replenished whenever they become saturated with mercury.
U.S. Patent No. 3,623,672 patented November 1971 by W. de Frank purported to provide an apparatus for breaking up and disposing of burned-out and defective glass fluorescent lamp bulb tubes. That fluorescent tube disposing apparatus was entirely mounted on a lid of a mating, open-top, standard 20-gallon trash can. The patented disposal apparatus included an inlet chute to receive the fluorescent tubes, and a motor mounted underneath the lid for rotating a tube-breaking chain. A stop was positioned a predetermined distance below the outlet end of the inlet chute to hold a fluorescent tube in a position where it can be acted upon by the rotating breaking means. The means for breaking the fluorescent tube was a breaking chain which includes metal chain links connected by connectors to the motor driving shaft. Each metal chain was provided with a terminal metal washer. As the tube was broken, it automatically fed itself into the can.
The inlet chute included a telescoping protective tube substantially entirely to enclose the fluorescent tube. A safety switch was also included, which prevented the motor from being energized unless the telescoping protective tube was raised or lifted to its upwardly extended position.
Environmentally-Safe Portable Apparatus For Disposing of Cylindrical Light Bulbs (b) TECHNICAL FIELD TO WHICH THE INVENTION RELATES
This invention relates to an apparatus for disintegrating light bulbs, more particularly, cylindrical fluorescent bulbs and for simultaneously providing a holding unit to contain such disintegrated cylindrical fluorescent lamps in an environmentally-safe manner.
(c) BACKGROUND ART
Fluorescent bulbs are mercury-vapour electric-discharge lamps, in which the inside of the bulb or tube is coated with fluorescent material so that ultra-violet radiation from the discharge is converted to light of an acceptable colour. Such lamps take advantage of fluorescence, which is the production of visible light (white or coloured) or other radiation by a substance as the result of exposure to, and absorption of, other radiations of different wave length, such as ultraviolet light, or electric discharge in a vacuum tube. Those substances having this property are known as phosphors, the term usually being restricted to those solids that absorb ultraviolet and emit visible light. In ordinary fluorescent lighting, the tube contains mercury vapour and argon, and the inside walls of the tube are coated with the fluorescent substance, often a zinc or cadmium compound. The passage of an electric current through the mercury vapour-argon mixture produces invisible ultraviolet light which is absorbed by the phosphor and re-emitted as visible light. The whole process occurs at a relatively low temperature (hence called a "cold light" process).
Among the numerous substances which are known to exhibit phenomenon of fluorescence may be mentioned fluorite, uranium glass, petroleum, solutions of certain organic dyestuffs, eosin, fluorescein, quinine sulphate chlorophyll, and the vapour of sodium, mercury, iodine, and acetone.
Because of the contents of such fluorescent lamps, their disposal brings about environmental concerns, particularly where such fluorescent tubes are commonly disposed of with the everyday trash. It would therefore be desirable to provide a system for safely disintegrating such fluorescent lamps.
Various patented arrangements have been proposed for breaking up fluorescent tubes, bottles or the like into small pieces. Most of these however, particularly the arrangements therein for preventing escape of phosphorus and mercury which are present in fluorescent tubes, are complicated, requiring vacuum or pressure pumps and the like for their operation.
U.S. Patent No. 4,655,404 discloses a fluorescent lamp crusher device which includes a replaceable filter cartridge for capturing or otherwise removing mercury vapours which are released upon the crushing of fluorescent lamps. Replaceable cartridges of the type described above include activated carbon, which is very effective in removing objectionable mercury vapours from the air during operation of the crusher, provided that the charcoal or carbon particles be replaced or replenished whenever they become saturated with mercury.
U.S. Patent No. 3,623,672 patented November 1971 by W. de Frank purported to provide an apparatus for breaking up and disposing of burned-out and defective glass fluorescent lamp bulb tubes. That fluorescent tube disposing apparatus was entirely mounted on a lid of a mating, open-top, standard 20-gallon trash can. The patented disposal apparatus included an inlet chute to receive the fluorescent tubes, and a motor mounted underneath the lid for rotating a tube-breaking chain. A stop was positioned a predetermined distance below the outlet end of the inlet chute to hold a fluorescent tube in a position where it can be acted upon by the rotating breaking means. The means for breaking the fluorescent tube was a breaking chain which includes metal chain links connected by connectors to the motor driving shaft. Each metal chain was provided with a terminal metal washer. As the tube was broken, it automatically fed itself into the can.
The inlet chute included a telescoping protective tube substantially entirely to enclose the fluorescent tube. A safety switch was also included, which prevented the motor from being energized unless the telescoping protective tube was raised or lifted to its upwardly extended position.
U.S. Patent No. 3,913,849 patented October 31, 1975 by I.M. Atanasoff et al purported to provide a tube digester which served to prevent the escape of phosphorus and mercury vapours without requiring the provision of pumps for either pressure or suction. That tube digester was formed of a container in the shape of a funnel having an open bottom, which was adapted to be inserted in a bunghole in a storage drum. A
tube for receiving fluorescent tubes opened into the container at one side.
Within the container was a rotating blade which passed beneath the opening of the tube for breaking up fluorescent tubes. The axis of the tube was arranged in a plane which was tangential with respect to the axis of rotation of the blade. The tube sloped downwardly in the direction of rotation of the blade. The blade had a rearwardly and downwardly sloping surface for creating a downward draft of air within the funnel to prevent phosphorus and mercury vapours from escaping outward. A slightly downwardly sloping shelf was arranged beneath the tube and below the plane of rotation of the blade, by a distance at least equal to the length of the terminal prongs of a fluorescent tube. The leading edge of the blade formed an acute angle with the radius drawn from the axis of rotation to the top of the leading edge.
U.S. Patent No. 4,579,287 patented april 1, 1980 by W.E. Brown purported to provide apparatus for breaking up and disposing of burned-out glass fluorescent lamp bulb tubes. Such apparatus utilized rapidly rotating chains to pulverize the tubes. The pulverizing mechanism was confined within an open-top container and was suspended from a lid that covered the top of the container. The pulverized debris collected within the container. A plastic bag may line the interior of the container to facilitate disposal of the pulverized debris. A safety electrical switch was associated with the lid in a manner to prevent rotation of the chains if the lid was not properly sealed upon the top of the container.
U.S. Patent No. 4,655,404 patented april 7, 1987 by J.W. Deklerow purported to provide a fluorescent lamp crusher. That crusher comprised a cylindrical crusher housing mounted on a carriage above a removable waste bucket, which communicated with a funnel-shaped discharge formed in the lower end of the housing. The top of the housing was sealed by a cover which had a lamp inlet opening and an exhaust opening.
tube for receiving fluorescent tubes opened into the container at one side.
Within the container was a rotating blade which passed beneath the opening of the tube for breaking up fluorescent tubes. The axis of the tube was arranged in a plane which was tangential with respect to the axis of rotation of the blade. The tube sloped downwardly in the direction of rotation of the blade. The blade had a rearwardly and downwardly sloping surface for creating a downward draft of air within the funnel to prevent phosphorus and mercury vapours from escaping outward. A slightly downwardly sloping shelf was arranged beneath the tube and below the plane of rotation of the blade, by a distance at least equal to the length of the terminal prongs of a fluorescent tube. The leading edge of the blade formed an acute angle with the radius drawn from the axis of rotation to the top of the leading edge.
U.S. Patent No. 4,579,287 patented april 1, 1980 by W.E. Brown purported to provide apparatus for breaking up and disposing of burned-out glass fluorescent lamp bulb tubes. Such apparatus utilized rapidly rotating chains to pulverize the tubes. The pulverizing mechanism was confined within an open-top container and was suspended from a lid that covered the top of the container. The pulverized debris collected within the container. A plastic bag may line the interior of the container to facilitate disposal of the pulverized debris. A safety electrical switch was associated with the lid in a manner to prevent rotation of the chains if the lid was not properly sealed upon the top of the container.
U.S. Patent No. 4,655,404 patented april 7, 1987 by J.W. Deklerow purported to provide a fluorescent lamp crusher. That crusher comprised a cylindrical crusher housing mounted on a carriage above a removable waste bucket, which communicated with a funnel-shaped discharge formed in the lower end of the housing. The top of the housing was sealed by a cover which had a lamp inlet opening and an exhaust opening.
The shaft of an electric motor extended into the housing and had a plurality of flails or crusher elements secured thereto. The flails, adjacent the inlet opening, rotated at high speeds to strike and crush lamps entering the housing. The exhaust opening was connected by a duct to a filter cartridge which was removably-mounted on the exterior of the crusher housing above an exhaust fan. The cartridge contained a porous filter bag, which was removably-attached to the exhaust duct, and an activated charcoal filter element, which was positioned in the cartridge beneath the bag and was in communication with the fan inlet. The exhaust fan operated simultaneously with the crusher motor to develop a vacuum which served to draw exhaust air from within the housing successively through the filter bag and the charcoal filter element.
The filter element was specially treated to remove mercury vapour from the exhaust air that passed through the element. The crusher elements were constituted by a metal plate which was secured to the motor drive shaft. Hooks which were secured to the ends of the metal plate were connected to flails.
U.S. Patent No. 5,205,497 patented April 27, 1993 by J.W. Deklerow purported to provide a lamp crusher. That lamp crusher housing was mounted on the removable cover of a replaceable waste container to discharge crushed lamps into the waste container through an opening in the cover. An elongate, plastic sleeve was removably and sealingly secured at one end over the upper end of the waste container, and at its opposite end around the outlet of the housing from which crushed lamp particles were discharged. The sleeve had an excess portion folded into the waste container so that when the cover was lifted from the container, opposite ends of the sleeve bag remained sealingly connected to the waste container and housing outlet so that no toxic gases were allowed accidentally to escape into their surrounding atmosphere. The apparatus included a replaceable filter cartridge for filtering out mercury vapours, and the like. Each cartridge contained a fuse which was connected in the circuit that controlled the motor that drove the lamp crusher. When a new cartridge was placed in the apparatus its fuse was connected into the control circuit and permitted only a predetermined number of lamp crushing operations to occur. After such finite number of operations the motor was prevented from further operation until the saturated cartridge was replaced by a new, clean cartridge. The crusher element included a cylindrical bar or flail which was connected to the shaft of the motor.
Canadian Patent No. 1,185,946 issued 85-04-23 to D.F. Green, provided a shredding machine. The patented shredding machine included a housing with a lower 5 shredding chamber located in an upper part of the housing, the lower chamber being provided with a discharge port communicating with a discharge duct from the housing.
An upwardly extending trunk was mounted on the housing, the lower portion of which formed an upper shredding chamber which communicated with the lower shredding chamber. A feed hopper was located on the free end of the trunk and had a restricted inlet to the trunk which was spaced from the upper shredding chamber. Power means were supported in the housing with the output shaft thereof extending into the lower shredding chamber. Upper and lower cutting means were fixed to the output shaft, the upper cutting means being adapted for rotating in the upper shredding chamber and the lower cutting means being adapted for rotation in the lower shredding chamber.
The lower cutting means was supported on a disc which was fixed to the output shaft of the motor, the disc having spaced diametrically-opposed slots therein. The lower cutting means comprised a body portion with four arms extending therefrom and constituting cutting blades, the body portion having a centrally-dispersed bore therethrough with diametrically-opposed slots positioned either side of the bore, the slots in the body member being adapted to register with the slots in the disc. The upper cutting means comprised a substantially "U"-shaped member having a bight portion with the limbs of the "U"-shaped upstanding therefrom and diverging from each other. A bore in the bight portion was adapted to register with the bore in the body member. A saddle clamp was positioned across the bight portion and had tongues which passed through the slots in the bight portion and engaged in the slots in the body member. The saddle clamp had a bore therethrough to receive a bolt engaged in a bore in the end of the output shaft so that the upper and lower cutting members were secured to the output shaft. A feed duct in the trunk extended through the upper shredding chamber and terminated above the lower shredding chamber. That portion of the feed duct in the shredding chamber constituted a shear plate which co-operated with the upper cutting means to reduce material fed to the upper shredding chamber. The bulb crushing blade is described as a lower cutting means which includes four sharpened radial blades, and an upper cutting means which includes "U"-shaped, bight and two sharpened blades.
Canadian Patent No. 1,215,959 issued 86-12-30 to J. Mordstein et al, provided a device for chopping up garden waste. The patented device included a generally uncovered, level base place with legs fixed at top ends thereof to the base plate. A
support disk was adapted to turn about an upright axis, the disk being placed under the base plate and having at least one slot therein. At least one knife was fixed on the disk and was placed to the back of the slot in the direction of turning of the disk. The knife had a cutting edge which was placed at a higher level than a top face of the disk. An electric motor with a drive shaft was provided for driving the disk. The base plate functioned as a support frame for the device and had a downward reinforcing skirt. A
filling passageway was supported on top of the base plate next to the motor that was also supported on the plate. An upright and downwardly-open ejection passageway was fixed on a lower side of the base plate and was coaxially-placed around the disk that was fixed on the motor drive shaft. The ejection passageway was disposed around the disk with a clearance therebetween sufficient to guard against stoppages of the device, and a rim extends upwards from an outer edge of the disk. The shredding device was an impeller with three identical knives fixed to the top surface of the rotatable impeller.
Canadian Patent No. 1,293,234 issued 1987/06/08 to E. Karg, provided a device for chopping up garden waste. The patented device included a housing including at least one ejector opening, the housing defining a chamber and having a floor which defined part of the chamber. A plurality of support legs mounted the housing. A motor was mounted to the floor of the housing, the motor having an output shaft which extended into the chamber. A carrier disk was mounted in the chamber to the output shaft to rotate in the chamber, the carrier disk having a deflector mounted at its centre and at least one slot formed therein, each slot defining a trailing edge. Means were mounted to the housing and defined a charging passage arranged over and extending upward from the carrier disk, the carrier disk shutting off the charging passage at one end thereof.
The charging passage defined means having at least one inward protrusion, extending transversely in relation to the direction of rotation of the carrier disk, thereby defining a stationary support bolster for supporting the material being chopped. At least one knife was mounted to the carrier disk and extended in a generally radial direction, each knife having an edge aligned with the trailing edge of an associated slot. The number of ejector openings was equal to the number of stationary support bolsters. An axis of the knife extended perpendicularly from the area of each ejector opening was generally perpendicular to the surface defining its respective stationary support bolsters. The chopping device is described as a carrier disk having a centrally-located deflector member mounted thereon. The deflector member is in the form of a spur-bearing shape with a number of spurs on its circumference. These spurs ensure a vigorous stirring action at the centre of the carrier disk so that material fed into the charging passage is reliably and systematically-flung radially outwards into the path of the knife.
It is readily apparent that none of the above patents provided a machine of exceptionally simple and inexpensive construction that could disintegrate hazardous material and retain such material in a convenient container for safe disposal.
Accordingly, the present applicant provided an improvement on the above-identified prior art patents in the form of two U.S. Patents.
One U.S. Patent is U.S. Patent 5,660,338 patented by Dana Emmerson on August 27, 1997. That patent provided an apparatus for disposing of light bulbs which included an open-topped container of circular cylindrical cross-section. A
substantially-flat lid was adapted removably to mate with, and to cover, the top of the container, the lid having an upper surface, and a lower surface which was adapted to be directed toward the container. A hollow cylindrical light bulb feed chute was disposed along the central longitudinal axis of the lid and extended through the lid and was attached thereto. The feed chute had an inlet opening which was disposed above the upper surface of the lid, and an outlet opening which was disposed below the lower surface of the lid.
The inside diameter of the hollow cylindrical chute was adapted closely to accommodate the cylindrical fluorescent tube. The feed chute extended perpendicularly through the lid.
An electric motor was mounted upon the upper surface of the lid and was clamped thereto, the motor having a downwardly-extending rotatable shaft which projected through the lid and which terminated below the lower surface of the lid. An on-off electrical switch was operatively associated with the electric motor. Means were provided for pulverizing the cylindrical light bulb as it emerged from the outlet opening of the hollow cylindrical feed chute. That means included a hub at the terminal end of the motor shaft, and at least two equi-angularly-disposed, rough, multi-stranded, braided, wire cables which were secured to the hub, each such multi-stranded, braided, wire cable being provided with a terminal weight. By this particular structure, when the shaft was rotating, each such rough, mufti-stranded, braided, wire cable extended by centrifugal force across the outlet opening of the hollow cylindrical chute, thereby to pulverize the cylindrical light bulb first by breaking the hollow cylindrical light bulb into small particles and then grinding the small particles by abrasion against the rough surface of each mufti-stranded, braided wire cable. This simultaneously generated a pressure ambient to prevent undesirable backup into the inlet of the hollow cylindrical chute.
Each of the mufti-stranded braided wire cables struck the hollow cylindrical light bulb at an angle to the direction of feeding of the hollow cylindrical light bulb, in turn, as the shaft rotated.
The second U.S.Patent is U.S. Patent No. 5,769,336, patented June 23, 1998, by Dana Emmerson. That patent provided a portable unitary device for disposing of cylindrical light bulbs. Such portable unitary device included an open-topped, multi-compartmented container of circular cylindrical cross-section. The container included an upper operating compartment, an intermediate collection compartment, and a lower exhaust compartment having an axial inlet and a radial outlet port. A lid was hingedly-connected to, and was adapted to cover, the top of the container, the lid having an upper surface, and a lower surface which was adapted to be directed toward the upper operating compartment. The lower surface was connected to an enclosed reduction chamber, the reduction chamber having an axial inlet means for the cylindrical bulb to be pulverized and an axial outlet means leading directly to the collection compartment. An electric motor, which was provided with an on/off switch, was disposed within the upper operating compartment, and was secured to the reduction chamber. A rigid unitary pulverizing blade secured the motor drive shaft. A cylindrical light bulb feed chute extended through the lid and was attached thereto. The chute had an inlet opening which was disposed above the upper surface of the lid and an outlet opening which led to the axial inlet means of the reduction chamber. A disposable pulverized light bulb collection bag was selectively disposed within the collection compartment in air-sealed relationship to the axial outlet means of the reduction chamber. Finally, a vacuum motor was operatively-disposed within the lower exhaust chamber and had an axial inlet which was connected at sub-atmospheric pressure to an axial outlet from the intermediate collection compartment to draw gases and particulates from the collection compartment into the lower exhaust compartment. The vacuum motor expelled gases into the exhaust compartment at an overpressure, for discharge to the environment.
Even with the two, above-identified patented improvements of a cylindrical light bulb disposal apparatus, it is still desirable to provide an even more exceptionally simple and inexpensive machine that could disintegrate hazardous light bulbs and retain such material in a convenient container for environmentally-safe disposal.
(d) DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of one aspect of this invention to provide a portable machine for the safe disintegration of cylindrical fluorescent lamps.
An object of another aspect of this invention is to provide a portable, relatively light-weight, easily-and-safely-operable such machine.
An object of yet another aspect of this invention is to provide a portable such disposal unit, which will effectively disintegrate cylindrical fluorescent lamps.
An object of yet another aspect of this invention is to provide such a portable machine in which the exhausts therefrom satisfy environmental protection concerns.
By a broad aspect of this invention, a wheeled portable apparatus is provided for disposing of light bulbs, comprising an open-topped, multi-compartmented container of circular cylindrical cross-section, the container including an upper collection compartment, and a lower exhaust compartment having an upper radial outlet port and a lower radial outlet port, the upper collection compartment being separated from the lower exhaust compartment by an air permeable disc, a lid which is hingedly-connected to, and which is adapted to cover, the top of the container, the lid having an upper surface, and a lower surface which is adapted to be directed toward the upper collection compartment, the lower surface being connected to a reduction chamber, the reduction chamber having an axial inlet means for a cylindrical bulb to be pulverized and an axial 5 outlet means leading to the collection compartment, an electric motor which is provided with an on/off switch, the electric motor being disposed within the reduction chamber and having a drive shaft within the reduction chamber, and a rigid unitary pulverizing blade which is secured to the drive shaft, the reduction chamber being bounded by an open bottom cylindrical protective guard, a cylindrical light bulb feed chute extending 10 through the lid and attached thereto, the feed chute having an inlet opening which is disposed above the upper surface of the lid and an outlet opening which is disposed below the lower surface of the lid but within the reduction chamber, a disposable pulverized light bulb collection bag which is selectively disposed within the upper collection compartment in air-sealed relationship to the open bottom of the cylindrical protective guard, a vacuum generator which is operatively associated with the lower exhaust compartment to subject the lower exhaust compartment to sub-atmospheric pressure, the lower exhaust compartment also including a filter member extending transversely across the compartment to divide the compartment into an upper vacuum chamber and a lower chamber, the upper vacuum chamber including a hose connected between the upper radial outlet port and extending through the lid to communicate with the interior of the cylindrical protective guard to subject the reduction chamber to sub-atmospheric pressure in order to purge any noxious contaminants from the reduction chamber, the lower chamber including filter means across the lower radial outlet port, whereby the lower chamber discharges environmentally-clean gases to the environment.
By one variant thereof, the apparatus includes a cylindrical plastic insert covering the open top of the upper collection compartment and having an automatically-reclosable central opening therethrough through which the open bottom of the cylindrical protective guard sealingly projects.
The filter element was specially treated to remove mercury vapour from the exhaust air that passed through the element. The crusher elements were constituted by a metal plate which was secured to the motor drive shaft. Hooks which were secured to the ends of the metal plate were connected to flails.
U.S. Patent No. 5,205,497 patented April 27, 1993 by J.W. Deklerow purported to provide a lamp crusher. That lamp crusher housing was mounted on the removable cover of a replaceable waste container to discharge crushed lamps into the waste container through an opening in the cover. An elongate, plastic sleeve was removably and sealingly secured at one end over the upper end of the waste container, and at its opposite end around the outlet of the housing from which crushed lamp particles were discharged. The sleeve had an excess portion folded into the waste container so that when the cover was lifted from the container, opposite ends of the sleeve bag remained sealingly connected to the waste container and housing outlet so that no toxic gases were allowed accidentally to escape into their surrounding atmosphere. The apparatus included a replaceable filter cartridge for filtering out mercury vapours, and the like. Each cartridge contained a fuse which was connected in the circuit that controlled the motor that drove the lamp crusher. When a new cartridge was placed in the apparatus its fuse was connected into the control circuit and permitted only a predetermined number of lamp crushing operations to occur. After such finite number of operations the motor was prevented from further operation until the saturated cartridge was replaced by a new, clean cartridge. The crusher element included a cylindrical bar or flail which was connected to the shaft of the motor.
Canadian Patent No. 1,185,946 issued 85-04-23 to D.F. Green, provided a shredding machine. The patented shredding machine included a housing with a lower 5 shredding chamber located in an upper part of the housing, the lower chamber being provided with a discharge port communicating with a discharge duct from the housing.
An upwardly extending trunk was mounted on the housing, the lower portion of which formed an upper shredding chamber which communicated with the lower shredding chamber. A feed hopper was located on the free end of the trunk and had a restricted inlet to the trunk which was spaced from the upper shredding chamber. Power means were supported in the housing with the output shaft thereof extending into the lower shredding chamber. Upper and lower cutting means were fixed to the output shaft, the upper cutting means being adapted for rotating in the upper shredding chamber and the lower cutting means being adapted for rotation in the lower shredding chamber.
The lower cutting means was supported on a disc which was fixed to the output shaft of the motor, the disc having spaced diametrically-opposed slots therein. The lower cutting means comprised a body portion with four arms extending therefrom and constituting cutting blades, the body portion having a centrally-dispersed bore therethrough with diametrically-opposed slots positioned either side of the bore, the slots in the body member being adapted to register with the slots in the disc. The upper cutting means comprised a substantially "U"-shaped member having a bight portion with the limbs of the "U"-shaped upstanding therefrom and diverging from each other. A bore in the bight portion was adapted to register with the bore in the body member. A saddle clamp was positioned across the bight portion and had tongues which passed through the slots in the bight portion and engaged in the slots in the body member. The saddle clamp had a bore therethrough to receive a bolt engaged in a bore in the end of the output shaft so that the upper and lower cutting members were secured to the output shaft. A feed duct in the trunk extended through the upper shredding chamber and terminated above the lower shredding chamber. That portion of the feed duct in the shredding chamber constituted a shear plate which co-operated with the upper cutting means to reduce material fed to the upper shredding chamber. The bulb crushing blade is described as a lower cutting means which includes four sharpened radial blades, and an upper cutting means which includes "U"-shaped, bight and two sharpened blades.
Canadian Patent No. 1,215,959 issued 86-12-30 to J. Mordstein et al, provided a device for chopping up garden waste. The patented device included a generally uncovered, level base place with legs fixed at top ends thereof to the base plate. A
support disk was adapted to turn about an upright axis, the disk being placed under the base plate and having at least one slot therein. At least one knife was fixed on the disk and was placed to the back of the slot in the direction of turning of the disk. The knife had a cutting edge which was placed at a higher level than a top face of the disk. An electric motor with a drive shaft was provided for driving the disk. The base plate functioned as a support frame for the device and had a downward reinforcing skirt. A
filling passageway was supported on top of the base plate next to the motor that was also supported on the plate. An upright and downwardly-open ejection passageway was fixed on a lower side of the base plate and was coaxially-placed around the disk that was fixed on the motor drive shaft. The ejection passageway was disposed around the disk with a clearance therebetween sufficient to guard against stoppages of the device, and a rim extends upwards from an outer edge of the disk. The shredding device was an impeller with three identical knives fixed to the top surface of the rotatable impeller.
Canadian Patent No. 1,293,234 issued 1987/06/08 to E. Karg, provided a device for chopping up garden waste. The patented device included a housing including at least one ejector opening, the housing defining a chamber and having a floor which defined part of the chamber. A plurality of support legs mounted the housing. A motor was mounted to the floor of the housing, the motor having an output shaft which extended into the chamber. A carrier disk was mounted in the chamber to the output shaft to rotate in the chamber, the carrier disk having a deflector mounted at its centre and at least one slot formed therein, each slot defining a trailing edge. Means were mounted to the housing and defined a charging passage arranged over and extending upward from the carrier disk, the carrier disk shutting off the charging passage at one end thereof.
The charging passage defined means having at least one inward protrusion, extending transversely in relation to the direction of rotation of the carrier disk, thereby defining a stationary support bolster for supporting the material being chopped. At least one knife was mounted to the carrier disk and extended in a generally radial direction, each knife having an edge aligned with the trailing edge of an associated slot. The number of ejector openings was equal to the number of stationary support bolsters. An axis of the knife extended perpendicularly from the area of each ejector opening was generally perpendicular to the surface defining its respective stationary support bolsters. The chopping device is described as a carrier disk having a centrally-located deflector member mounted thereon. The deflector member is in the form of a spur-bearing shape with a number of spurs on its circumference. These spurs ensure a vigorous stirring action at the centre of the carrier disk so that material fed into the charging passage is reliably and systematically-flung radially outwards into the path of the knife.
It is readily apparent that none of the above patents provided a machine of exceptionally simple and inexpensive construction that could disintegrate hazardous material and retain such material in a convenient container for safe disposal.
Accordingly, the present applicant provided an improvement on the above-identified prior art patents in the form of two U.S. Patents.
One U.S. Patent is U.S. Patent 5,660,338 patented by Dana Emmerson on August 27, 1997. That patent provided an apparatus for disposing of light bulbs which included an open-topped container of circular cylindrical cross-section. A
substantially-flat lid was adapted removably to mate with, and to cover, the top of the container, the lid having an upper surface, and a lower surface which was adapted to be directed toward the container. A hollow cylindrical light bulb feed chute was disposed along the central longitudinal axis of the lid and extended through the lid and was attached thereto. The feed chute had an inlet opening which was disposed above the upper surface of the lid, and an outlet opening which was disposed below the lower surface of the lid.
The inside diameter of the hollow cylindrical chute was adapted closely to accommodate the cylindrical fluorescent tube. The feed chute extended perpendicularly through the lid.
An electric motor was mounted upon the upper surface of the lid and was clamped thereto, the motor having a downwardly-extending rotatable shaft which projected through the lid and which terminated below the lower surface of the lid. An on-off electrical switch was operatively associated with the electric motor. Means were provided for pulverizing the cylindrical light bulb as it emerged from the outlet opening of the hollow cylindrical feed chute. That means included a hub at the terminal end of the motor shaft, and at least two equi-angularly-disposed, rough, multi-stranded, braided, wire cables which were secured to the hub, each such multi-stranded, braided, wire cable being provided with a terminal weight. By this particular structure, when the shaft was rotating, each such rough, mufti-stranded, braided, wire cable extended by centrifugal force across the outlet opening of the hollow cylindrical chute, thereby to pulverize the cylindrical light bulb first by breaking the hollow cylindrical light bulb into small particles and then grinding the small particles by abrasion against the rough surface of each mufti-stranded, braided wire cable. This simultaneously generated a pressure ambient to prevent undesirable backup into the inlet of the hollow cylindrical chute.
Each of the mufti-stranded braided wire cables struck the hollow cylindrical light bulb at an angle to the direction of feeding of the hollow cylindrical light bulb, in turn, as the shaft rotated.
The second U.S.Patent is U.S. Patent No. 5,769,336, patented June 23, 1998, by Dana Emmerson. That patent provided a portable unitary device for disposing of cylindrical light bulbs. Such portable unitary device included an open-topped, multi-compartmented container of circular cylindrical cross-section. The container included an upper operating compartment, an intermediate collection compartment, and a lower exhaust compartment having an axial inlet and a radial outlet port. A lid was hingedly-connected to, and was adapted to cover, the top of the container, the lid having an upper surface, and a lower surface which was adapted to be directed toward the upper operating compartment. The lower surface was connected to an enclosed reduction chamber, the reduction chamber having an axial inlet means for the cylindrical bulb to be pulverized and an axial outlet means leading directly to the collection compartment. An electric motor, which was provided with an on/off switch, was disposed within the upper operating compartment, and was secured to the reduction chamber. A rigid unitary pulverizing blade secured the motor drive shaft. A cylindrical light bulb feed chute extended through the lid and was attached thereto. The chute had an inlet opening which was disposed above the upper surface of the lid and an outlet opening which led to the axial inlet means of the reduction chamber. A disposable pulverized light bulb collection bag was selectively disposed within the collection compartment in air-sealed relationship to the axial outlet means of the reduction chamber. Finally, a vacuum motor was operatively-disposed within the lower exhaust chamber and had an axial inlet which was connected at sub-atmospheric pressure to an axial outlet from the intermediate collection compartment to draw gases and particulates from the collection compartment into the lower exhaust compartment. The vacuum motor expelled gases into the exhaust compartment at an overpressure, for discharge to the environment.
Even with the two, above-identified patented improvements of a cylindrical light bulb disposal apparatus, it is still desirable to provide an even more exceptionally simple and inexpensive machine that could disintegrate hazardous light bulbs and retain such material in a convenient container for environmentally-safe disposal.
(d) DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of one aspect of this invention to provide a portable machine for the safe disintegration of cylindrical fluorescent lamps.
An object of another aspect of this invention is to provide a portable, relatively light-weight, easily-and-safely-operable such machine.
An object of yet another aspect of this invention is to provide a portable such disposal unit, which will effectively disintegrate cylindrical fluorescent lamps.
An object of yet another aspect of this invention is to provide such a portable machine in which the exhausts therefrom satisfy environmental protection concerns.
By a broad aspect of this invention, a wheeled portable apparatus is provided for disposing of light bulbs, comprising an open-topped, multi-compartmented container of circular cylindrical cross-section, the container including an upper collection compartment, and a lower exhaust compartment having an upper radial outlet port and a lower radial outlet port, the upper collection compartment being separated from the lower exhaust compartment by an air permeable disc, a lid which is hingedly-connected to, and which is adapted to cover, the top of the container, the lid having an upper surface, and a lower surface which is adapted to be directed toward the upper collection compartment, the lower surface being connected to a reduction chamber, the reduction chamber having an axial inlet means for a cylindrical bulb to be pulverized and an axial 5 outlet means leading to the collection compartment, an electric motor which is provided with an on/off switch, the electric motor being disposed within the reduction chamber and having a drive shaft within the reduction chamber, and a rigid unitary pulverizing blade which is secured to the drive shaft, the reduction chamber being bounded by an open bottom cylindrical protective guard, a cylindrical light bulb feed chute extending 10 through the lid and attached thereto, the feed chute having an inlet opening which is disposed above the upper surface of the lid and an outlet opening which is disposed below the lower surface of the lid but within the reduction chamber, a disposable pulverized light bulb collection bag which is selectively disposed within the upper collection compartment in air-sealed relationship to the open bottom of the cylindrical protective guard, a vacuum generator which is operatively associated with the lower exhaust compartment to subject the lower exhaust compartment to sub-atmospheric pressure, the lower exhaust compartment also including a filter member extending transversely across the compartment to divide the compartment into an upper vacuum chamber and a lower chamber, the upper vacuum chamber including a hose connected between the upper radial outlet port and extending through the lid to communicate with the interior of the cylindrical protective guard to subject the reduction chamber to sub-atmospheric pressure in order to purge any noxious contaminants from the reduction chamber, the lower chamber including filter means across the lower radial outlet port, whereby the lower chamber discharges environmentally-clean gases to the environment.
By one variant thereof, the apparatus includes a cylindrical plastic insert covering the open top of the upper collection compartment and having an automatically-reclosable central opening therethrough through which the open bottom of the cylindrical protective guard sealingly projects.
By another variant of this aspect of the invention, and/or of the above variant thereof, the apparatus includes a pull-cord for sealingly-closing the collection bag around the open bottom of the cylindrical protective guard by means of a noose-type knot.
By another variant of this aspect of the invention and/or the above variants thereof, the light bulb feed chute is removably sealingly secured to the lid.
By yet another variant of this aspect of the invention, and/or the above variants thereof, the rigid, bulb-disintegration blade comprises a central hub portion which is secured to the motor shaft, and having at least two rigid blades extending outwardly and upwardly at an angle of 45 ° to the central hub portion.
By still another variant of this aspect of the invention, and/or the above variants thereof, the apparatus includes an electrical safety switch pendently supported by the lower surface of the lid and adapted to inactivate the motor switch when the lid is raised from the open-topped container.
By still another variant of this aspect of the invention, and/or the above variants thereof, the filter member comprises a carbon particle filter to trap mercury vapour and phosphor particles.
By yet still another variant of this aspect of the invention, and/or the above variants thereof, the filter means includes HEPA filters. By a variation thereof, the HEPA filters lead to mercury filters, through which gases are discharged to the atmosphere.
By yet still a further variant of this aspect of the invention, and/or the above variants thereof, the apparatus includes a numeric counter atop the lid for counting the number of cylindrical light bulbs crushed.
(e) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal, cross-section through the light bulb disposal device of one embodiment of the invention disclosed and claimed in applicant's U.S.
Patent No. 5,769,336;
By another variant of this aspect of the invention and/or the above variants thereof, the light bulb feed chute is removably sealingly secured to the lid.
By yet another variant of this aspect of the invention, and/or the above variants thereof, the rigid, bulb-disintegration blade comprises a central hub portion which is secured to the motor shaft, and having at least two rigid blades extending outwardly and upwardly at an angle of 45 ° to the central hub portion.
By still another variant of this aspect of the invention, and/or the above variants thereof, the apparatus includes an electrical safety switch pendently supported by the lower surface of the lid and adapted to inactivate the motor switch when the lid is raised from the open-topped container.
By still another variant of this aspect of the invention, and/or the above variants thereof, the filter member comprises a carbon particle filter to trap mercury vapour and phosphor particles.
By yet still another variant of this aspect of the invention, and/or the above variants thereof, the filter means includes HEPA filters. By a variation thereof, the HEPA filters lead to mercury filters, through which gases are discharged to the atmosphere.
By yet still a further variant of this aspect of the invention, and/or the above variants thereof, the apparatus includes a numeric counter atop the lid for counting the number of cylindrical light bulbs crushed.
(e) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal, cross-section through the light bulb disposal device of one embodiment of the invention disclosed and claimed in applicant's U.S.
Patent No. 5,769,336;
Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal, cross-section through the light bulb disposal device of a second embodiment of the invention disclosed and claimed in applicant's U.S.
Patent No. 5,769,336;
Fig. 3 is a central, longitudinal cross-section through the light bulb disposal device of one embodiment of the present invention in its operative position;
and Fig. 4 is a central, longitudinal cross-section through the light bulb disposal device of one embodiment of the present invention in its open (emptying) position.
(fj DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
As seen in Fig. 1, that bulb crusher 10 of U.S. Patent No. 5,769,336, includes a main container 11 which is a structurally rigid unit which may be either cylindrical or inverted, slightly frusto-conical. The main container 11 has a flat base 12 and an open-top 13, which is closed by a cover, indicated generally as 14, which is hinged to ear 15 at pin 16 and is sealingly locked in position by clasp 17.
The cover 14 is provided with a central aperture 18, which is surrounded by a flexible sealing ring 19, by means of which is a cylindrical bulb feeder tube 20 is removably attached to the cover 14. The cover 14 also includes a depending, funnel-shaped chamber 21 secured to the underface 22 of the cover 14. The chamber 21 includes an upper cylindrical portion 23, a mid frusto-conical portion 24, and a lower exhaust tube 25 having an oblique cut-off end to provide a peripheral point 26.
An electric motor 27 is secured to a lower face 28 of the frusto-conical portion 23, the electric motor 27 including a drive shaft 29 projecting through face 28. Secured to the drive shaft 29 is a rigid, bulb disintegration blade 30. Blade 30 includes a central hub portion 31 secured to shaft 29 and at least two blades 32 which extends at an angle of about 45 ° to the central hub portion. A motor control switch 33 is mounted on the upper surface 34 of the cover 14. Thus, the cover 14, when raised by pivoting, allows free access to the interior of the main container 11.
The main container 11 is divided by an upper perforate or otherwise air pervious annular ring 35, and a lower imperforate annular ring 36 into an upper operating compartment A, an intermediate collection compartment B and a lower exhaust compartment C .
The upper operating compartment A accommodates the elements which have been previously described depending from the cover 14. Thus, the upper operating chamber A accommodates the reduction chamber 21, which has an axial inlet 37 provided by the exit from tube 20 for a bulb to be pulverized. An axial outlet 38 leads to the intermediate collection chamber B. The electric motor 27, which is provided with an on/off switch 33, is secured to the reduction chamber 21. Electric motor 27 has shaft 29 extending into reduction chamber 21. The rigid unitary pulverizing blade 30 is secured to the shaft 29.
Thus, the light bulb feed chute 20 extends through the cover 14 and is detachably attached thereto. The chute 20 has an inlet opening 39 disposed above the upper surface of the cover. The outlet opening 37 is disposed below the lower surface of the lid and is within the reduction chamber 21.
Intermediate collector compartment B accommodates a pulverized bulb collection facility 40. Such facility 40 is provided by a rigid imperforate, open-topped cylindrical vessel 41. A collection bag 42 is fitted within vessel 41. Collector bag 42 is preferably of the type which includes an upper cylindrical top member 43, which is provided with an aperture 44 defined by an elastically-deformable ring 43 provided with a transverse slit therethrough. Thus, the end 38 of exhaust tube 25 is inserted by means of peripheral point 26 through the slit in the ring 43. In this way there is an hermetic seal between the reduction chamber 21 and the interior of the collection bag 42.
Thus, the disposable pulverized light bulb collection bag 42 is disposed within the intermediate collector compartment B in air-sealed relationship to the axial outlet 38 from the reduction chamber 21.
The lower exhaust compartment C accommodates a vacuum motor 45 and a vent system 46. Vacuum motor 45 includes an axial inlet 47, connected at sub-atmospheric pressure directly to the interior of the intermediate collector compartment B, and a radial outlet 48 communicating with the interior of lower exhaust compartment C to expel gases thereinto at an overpressure. Lower exhaust compartment C has a perforate radial outlet 49. The radial outlet 49 is covered by a screen plate 50, removably held thereto by bolts 51. Thus, the vacuum motor 45 is operative-disposed within the lower exhaust compartment C. It has an axial inlet 47 connected at sub-atmospheric pressure to the axial outlet from the intermediate collection chamber B.
The second embodiment shown in Fig. 2 is a bulb crusher 110 of U.S. Patent No.
5,769,336 which is identical in structure in its major elements. Where identical elements are present in Fig. 2, they will not be described further.
The major difference is that the lower exhaust compartment C is provided with a perforated hollow cylinder 111 fitted to the radial outlet 48 (instead of the screen plate 50). The perforated hollow cylinder 111 extends into the interior of the lower exhaust compartment C. A removable cylindrical charcoal filter element 112 is disposed within cylinder 111. This serves to absorb any (very minor) amount of pollutants which may be present.
Thus, a gas absorption filter 112 is disposed within the lower exhaust compartment C, such gas absorption filter 112 having an inlet 113 through 111 communicating with the lower exhaust compartment C and has an outlet communicating with the radial outlet 46 from the lower exhaust compartment C. This enables the exhausting of filtered innocuous gases from the lower exhaust compartment C.
In use, the fluorescent tube is fed into the bulb crusher 10 through feeder tube 20.
It is crushed by the disintegration blade 30, and is discharged directly into the collection bag 42. During operation, as the portion of a fluorescent tube exits from the outlet 37 of inlet tube 20, it is broken and ground by the novel crushing blades 30 of an aspect of this invention. The unbroken portion of the fluorescent tube moves downwardly through the inlet chute 20 until the entire fluorescent tube is broken and deposited in the disposable collection bag 39.
The lower vacuum chamber serves to draw gases and particulates from the intermediate collection compartment into the lower exhaust compartment and clean exhaust is discharged through the radial outlet.
In use, the fluorescent tube is fed into the bulb crusher 10 through feeder tube 20.
It is crushed by the disintegration blade 30, and is discharged directly into the collection bag 42. Because the outlet from the disintegrating chamber 21 is hermetically sealingly secured to the inlet to the dispersible collection bag 42, no significant amount of noxious fumes escape to the radial outlet 46. However, to assure uniform flow of gases within the bulb crusher, a vacuum motor generates suction within the upper operating S compartment A, the intermediate collection compartment B, and the lower exhaust compartment C. The suction created by the suction motor expels gases at an overpressure to the lower exhaust compartment. This overpressure expels gases through the radial outlet 46.
A charcoal filter 112 is disposed in the lower exhaust chamber C to communicate 10 with the radial outlet 46.
The lower vacuum chamber serves to draw gases and particulates from the intermediate collection compartment into the lower exhaust compartment and clean exhaust is discharged through the radial outlet. In addition, the presence of the charcoal filter serves to expel filtered innocuous gases through the charcoal filter and thence to 15 the environment.
(g) AT LEAST ONE MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
As seen in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, one embodiment of the present invention comprises a bulb crusher 310 which includes a main container 311 which is a structurally rigid, which may be either cylindrical or (as shown) inverted, slightly frusto-conical. The main container 311 has a flat base 312 and an open top 313, which is closed by a lid, indicated generally as 314, which is hinged to ear 315 at pin 316 and is sealingly locked in position by clasp 317. The main container 311 includes wheels 312a.
The lid 314 is provided with a central aperture 318, which is surrounded by a flexible sealing ring 319, by means of which a cylindrical bulb feeder tube 320 is removably attached to the lid 314. The lid 314 also includes a depending, reduction chamber 321, which is defined by an open-bottom cylindrical protective guard 323 which is sealingly associated with an upper collection compartment in a manner to be described hereinafter.
Patent No. 5,769,336;
Fig. 3 is a central, longitudinal cross-section through the light bulb disposal device of one embodiment of the present invention in its operative position;
and Fig. 4 is a central, longitudinal cross-section through the light bulb disposal device of one embodiment of the present invention in its open (emptying) position.
(fj DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
As seen in Fig. 1, that bulb crusher 10 of U.S. Patent No. 5,769,336, includes a main container 11 which is a structurally rigid unit which may be either cylindrical or inverted, slightly frusto-conical. The main container 11 has a flat base 12 and an open-top 13, which is closed by a cover, indicated generally as 14, which is hinged to ear 15 at pin 16 and is sealingly locked in position by clasp 17.
The cover 14 is provided with a central aperture 18, which is surrounded by a flexible sealing ring 19, by means of which is a cylindrical bulb feeder tube 20 is removably attached to the cover 14. The cover 14 also includes a depending, funnel-shaped chamber 21 secured to the underface 22 of the cover 14. The chamber 21 includes an upper cylindrical portion 23, a mid frusto-conical portion 24, and a lower exhaust tube 25 having an oblique cut-off end to provide a peripheral point 26.
An electric motor 27 is secured to a lower face 28 of the frusto-conical portion 23, the electric motor 27 including a drive shaft 29 projecting through face 28. Secured to the drive shaft 29 is a rigid, bulb disintegration blade 30. Blade 30 includes a central hub portion 31 secured to shaft 29 and at least two blades 32 which extends at an angle of about 45 ° to the central hub portion. A motor control switch 33 is mounted on the upper surface 34 of the cover 14. Thus, the cover 14, when raised by pivoting, allows free access to the interior of the main container 11.
The main container 11 is divided by an upper perforate or otherwise air pervious annular ring 35, and a lower imperforate annular ring 36 into an upper operating compartment A, an intermediate collection compartment B and a lower exhaust compartment C .
The upper operating compartment A accommodates the elements which have been previously described depending from the cover 14. Thus, the upper operating chamber A accommodates the reduction chamber 21, which has an axial inlet 37 provided by the exit from tube 20 for a bulb to be pulverized. An axial outlet 38 leads to the intermediate collection chamber B. The electric motor 27, which is provided with an on/off switch 33, is secured to the reduction chamber 21. Electric motor 27 has shaft 29 extending into reduction chamber 21. The rigid unitary pulverizing blade 30 is secured to the shaft 29.
Thus, the light bulb feed chute 20 extends through the cover 14 and is detachably attached thereto. The chute 20 has an inlet opening 39 disposed above the upper surface of the cover. The outlet opening 37 is disposed below the lower surface of the lid and is within the reduction chamber 21.
Intermediate collector compartment B accommodates a pulverized bulb collection facility 40. Such facility 40 is provided by a rigid imperforate, open-topped cylindrical vessel 41. A collection bag 42 is fitted within vessel 41. Collector bag 42 is preferably of the type which includes an upper cylindrical top member 43, which is provided with an aperture 44 defined by an elastically-deformable ring 43 provided with a transverse slit therethrough. Thus, the end 38 of exhaust tube 25 is inserted by means of peripheral point 26 through the slit in the ring 43. In this way there is an hermetic seal between the reduction chamber 21 and the interior of the collection bag 42.
Thus, the disposable pulverized light bulb collection bag 42 is disposed within the intermediate collector compartment B in air-sealed relationship to the axial outlet 38 from the reduction chamber 21.
The lower exhaust compartment C accommodates a vacuum motor 45 and a vent system 46. Vacuum motor 45 includes an axial inlet 47, connected at sub-atmospheric pressure directly to the interior of the intermediate collector compartment B, and a radial outlet 48 communicating with the interior of lower exhaust compartment C to expel gases thereinto at an overpressure. Lower exhaust compartment C has a perforate radial outlet 49. The radial outlet 49 is covered by a screen plate 50, removably held thereto by bolts 51. Thus, the vacuum motor 45 is operative-disposed within the lower exhaust compartment C. It has an axial inlet 47 connected at sub-atmospheric pressure to the axial outlet from the intermediate collection chamber B.
The second embodiment shown in Fig. 2 is a bulb crusher 110 of U.S. Patent No.
5,769,336 which is identical in structure in its major elements. Where identical elements are present in Fig. 2, they will not be described further.
The major difference is that the lower exhaust compartment C is provided with a perforated hollow cylinder 111 fitted to the radial outlet 48 (instead of the screen plate 50). The perforated hollow cylinder 111 extends into the interior of the lower exhaust compartment C. A removable cylindrical charcoal filter element 112 is disposed within cylinder 111. This serves to absorb any (very minor) amount of pollutants which may be present.
Thus, a gas absorption filter 112 is disposed within the lower exhaust compartment C, such gas absorption filter 112 having an inlet 113 through 111 communicating with the lower exhaust compartment C and has an outlet communicating with the radial outlet 46 from the lower exhaust compartment C. This enables the exhausting of filtered innocuous gases from the lower exhaust compartment C.
In use, the fluorescent tube is fed into the bulb crusher 10 through feeder tube 20.
It is crushed by the disintegration blade 30, and is discharged directly into the collection bag 42. During operation, as the portion of a fluorescent tube exits from the outlet 37 of inlet tube 20, it is broken and ground by the novel crushing blades 30 of an aspect of this invention. The unbroken portion of the fluorescent tube moves downwardly through the inlet chute 20 until the entire fluorescent tube is broken and deposited in the disposable collection bag 39.
The lower vacuum chamber serves to draw gases and particulates from the intermediate collection compartment into the lower exhaust compartment and clean exhaust is discharged through the radial outlet.
In use, the fluorescent tube is fed into the bulb crusher 10 through feeder tube 20.
It is crushed by the disintegration blade 30, and is discharged directly into the collection bag 42. Because the outlet from the disintegrating chamber 21 is hermetically sealingly secured to the inlet to the dispersible collection bag 42, no significant amount of noxious fumes escape to the radial outlet 46. However, to assure uniform flow of gases within the bulb crusher, a vacuum motor generates suction within the upper operating S compartment A, the intermediate collection compartment B, and the lower exhaust compartment C. The suction created by the suction motor expels gases at an overpressure to the lower exhaust compartment. This overpressure expels gases through the radial outlet 46.
A charcoal filter 112 is disposed in the lower exhaust chamber C to communicate 10 with the radial outlet 46.
The lower vacuum chamber serves to draw gases and particulates from the intermediate collection compartment into the lower exhaust compartment and clean exhaust is discharged through the radial outlet. In addition, the presence of the charcoal filter serves to expel filtered innocuous gases through the charcoal filter and thence to 15 the environment.
(g) AT LEAST ONE MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
As seen in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, one embodiment of the present invention comprises a bulb crusher 310 which includes a main container 311 which is a structurally rigid, which may be either cylindrical or (as shown) inverted, slightly frusto-conical. The main container 311 has a flat base 312 and an open top 313, which is closed by a lid, indicated generally as 314, which is hinged to ear 315 at pin 316 and is sealingly locked in position by clasp 317. The main container 311 includes wheels 312a.
The lid 314 is provided with a central aperture 318, which is surrounded by a flexible sealing ring 319, by means of which a cylindrical bulb feeder tube 320 is removably attached to the lid 314. The lid 314 also includes a depending, reduction chamber 321, which is defined by an open-bottom cylindrical protective guard 323 which is sealingly associated with an upper collection compartment in a manner to be described hereinafter.
An electric motor 327 is secured within the protective guard 323. The electric motor 327 is provided with a rigid, bulb disintegration blade 330. A motor control switch is mounted on the upper surface on the cover. The construction of the electric motor 327 and its rigid bulb disintegration blade 330 was fully described with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 and so need not be further described herein. Thus, the cover 314, when raised by pivoting, allows free access to the interior of the main container 311.
The main container 311 is divided by a perforated or air porous disc 336 into an upper collection compartment B and a lower exhaust compartment C. The lid 314 also includes a numeric counter 314a to keep track of the spent tubes going in the unit for crushing.
The upper collection compartment B includes a plastic insert 323a which rests atop the open upper end of collection compartment B. Plastic insert 323a is provided with an automatically-reclosable central opening, through which the cylindrical protective guard 323 sealingly projects. Thus, when the lid 314 is raised, a seal is automatically provided, thereby minimizing exposure of the crushed component mixture which may be in upper collection compartment B to the environment.
The lid 314 accommodates the cylindrical protective guard 323, which also simultaneously provides an upper operating compartment A which accommodates the elements which have been previously described depending from the cover 314.
Thus, the upper operating compartment A provides the reduction chamber 321, which has an axial inlet 337 which is provided by the exit from the tube 320 for a cylindrical bulb to be pulverized. An axial outlet from the reduction chamber 321 is constituted by the open bottom 338 of the cylindrical protective guard 323. Such axial outlet 338 leads to the upper collection compartment B.
The upper collector compartment B accommodates a pulverized bulb collection facility 340. Such facility 340 is provided by a collection bag 342.
Collection bag 342 is preferably a plastic bag of 6 mil thickness. A pull cord 341 enables collection bag 342 to be secured in sealed relationship to the open bottom 338 of the cylindrical protective guard 323. Pull cord 341 is used to pull the bag closed with a noose-style knot, which can be reopened to install a new bag on a continuous basis. This allows the operator of the unit to pull the bag closed before changing bags, eliminating the possibility of any exposure to the crushed components inside to the environment. In this way, there is seal between the reduction chamber 321 and the interior of the collection bag 342.
Thus, the disposable pulverized light bulb collection bag 341 is disposed within the upper collector compartment B in air-sealed relationship to the axial outlet 338 from the reduction chamber 321.
The lower exhaust compartment C is provided with a vacuum generator 395, an internal exhaust system 346 and an internal vent system 350. The vacuum generator 345 includes an outlet 347 which is connected at sub-atmospheric pressure directly to the interior of the lower exhaust compartment C. Lower exhaust compartment C is divided by filter 348 into an upper vacuum chamber 351 and a lower chamber 352. Filter preferably is an 8 X 10 carbon particle filter to trap a maximum amount of mercury vapour and phosphor powder, giving substantial effectiveness in maintaining a safe operational unit.
The internal exhaust system 346 of the upper vacuum chamber 351 includes a radial outlet 353 which is connected to a vacuum hose 354, whose end penetrate the lid 314 and exits within the reduction chamber 321. This internal exhaust of any possible mercury vapour and phosphor dust from the reduction chamber 321 to the upper vacuum chamber 351 greatly reduces the risk of such products being accidently discharged into the environment.
The internal vent system 350 in the lower chamber 352 is provided with HEPA
filters 355 to filter any fme particles of phosphor, glass, etc. , and a downstream mercury filter 356 connected thereto, which leads to the exhaust 357. Thus, the unit discharges environmentallly-clean gases to the environment.
As described above, the present invention includes, as an essential feature, a particular bulb crusher means. In accordance with the present invention, the crusher means comprises at least two equi-angularly-disposed rigid blades projecting at a 45°
angle from a cylindrical bulb. The improved crusher means tend to increase the efficiency with which the lamps are crushed or shattered upon entering the holding unit.
Because of the enhanced impact of the rigid, 45 ° angled blade contacting the bulb at 90 °
to the downward movement of the tube, the tubes are broken rapidly into small particles.
As a side effect of such rapid breakup, any undesirable backup into an inlet means is minimized and the ground glass and other residue is impelled forcefully into the disposable collection bag. Moreover, the internal exhaust system greatly minimizes any discharge of hazardous materials undesirables into the environment. In addition, the upper plastic insert includes the automatically-reclosable central opening, through which the protective guard sealingly projects. When the protective guard is withdrawn by opening the lid, the plastic insert automatically seals the collection compartment to prevent escape of hazardous materials.
Variations can be made in the above-described preferred embodiment, as will be understood by one skilled in the art. The motor, the inlet chute, and the switch can, of course, be mounted to the lid in other arrangements than that specifically shown. The motor can be other than electric, e.g., pneumatic or hydraulic. The inlet chute can be a single tube. Alternatively, the inlet chute can comprise two separate tubes, if desired.
Other types of glass (or other material) tubes than fluorescent tubes can also, of course, be disposed of by the apparatus of the present invention, by suitable modification tot he tube inlet means.
The disposal apparatus of the present invention is preferably entirely mounted on the lid of a mating, open-top container. The term "mating" as used herein means that the lid fits on the container and completely and sealing covers the container opening.
The main container 311 is divided by a perforated or air porous disc 336 into an upper collection compartment B and a lower exhaust compartment C. The lid 314 also includes a numeric counter 314a to keep track of the spent tubes going in the unit for crushing.
The upper collection compartment B includes a plastic insert 323a which rests atop the open upper end of collection compartment B. Plastic insert 323a is provided with an automatically-reclosable central opening, through which the cylindrical protective guard 323 sealingly projects. Thus, when the lid 314 is raised, a seal is automatically provided, thereby minimizing exposure of the crushed component mixture which may be in upper collection compartment B to the environment.
The lid 314 accommodates the cylindrical protective guard 323, which also simultaneously provides an upper operating compartment A which accommodates the elements which have been previously described depending from the cover 314.
Thus, the upper operating compartment A provides the reduction chamber 321, which has an axial inlet 337 which is provided by the exit from the tube 320 for a cylindrical bulb to be pulverized. An axial outlet from the reduction chamber 321 is constituted by the open bottom 338 of the cylindrical protective guard 323. Such axial outlet 338 leads to the upper collection compartment B.
The upper collector compartment B accommodates a pulverized bulb collection facility 340. Such facility 340 is provided by a collection bag 342.
Collection bag 342 is preferably a plastic bag of 6 mil thickness. A pull cord 341 enables collection bag 342 to be secured in sealed relationship to the open bottom 338 of the cylindrical protective guard 323. Pull cord 341 is used to pull the bag closed with a noose-style knot, which can be reopened to install a new bag on a continuous basis. This allows the operator of the unit to pull the bag closed before changing bags, eliminating the possibility of any exposure to the crushed components inside to the environment. In this way, there is seal between the reduction chamber 321 and the interior of the collection bag 342.
Thus, the disposable pulverized light bulb collection bag 341 is disposed within the upper collector compartment B in air-sealed relationship to the axial outlet 338 from the reduction chamber 321.
The lower exhaust compartment C is provided with a vacuum generator 395, an internal exhaust system 346 and an internal vent system 350. The vacuum generator 345 includes an outlet 347 which is connected at sub-atmospheric pressure directly to the interior of the lower exhaust compartment C. Lower exhaust compartment C is divided by filter 348 into an upper vacuum chamber 351 and a lower chamber 352. Filter preferably is an 8 X 10 carbon particle filter to trap a maximum amount of mercury vapour and phosphor powder, giving substantial effectiveness in maintaining a safe operational unit.
The internal exhaust system 346 of the upper vacuum chamber 351 includes a radial outlet 353 which is connected to a vacuum hose 354, whose end penetrate the lid 314 and exits within the reduction chamber 321. This internal exhaust of any possible mercury vapour and phosphor dust from the reduction chamber 321 to the upper vacuum chamber 351 greatly reduces the risk of such products being accidently discharged into the environment.
The internal vent system 350 in the lower chamber 352 is provided with HEPA
filters 355 to filter any fme particles of phosphor, glass, etc. , and a downstream mercury filter 356 connected thereto, which leads to the exhaust 357. Thus, the unit discharges environmentallly-clean gases to the environment.
As described above, the present invention includes, as an essential feature, a particular bulb crusher means. In accordance with the present invention, the crusher means comprises at least two equi-angularly-disposed rigid blades projecting at a 45°
angle from a cylindrical bulb. The improved crusher means tend to increase the efficiency with which the lamps are crushed or shattered upon entering the holding unit.
Because of the enhanced impact of the rigid, 45 ° angled blade contacting the bulb at 90 °
to the downward movement of the tube, the tubes are broken rapidly into small particles.
As a side effect of such rapid breakup, any undesirable backup into an inlet means is minimized and the ground glass and other residue is impelled forcefully into the disposable collection bag. Moreover, the internal exhaust system greatly minimizes any discharge of hazardous materials undesirables into the environment. In addition, the upper plastic insert includes the automatically-reclosable central opening, through which the protective guard sealingly projects. When the protective guard is withdrawn by opening the lid, the plastic insert automatically seals the collection compartment to prevent escape of hazardous materials.
Variations can be made in the above-described preferred embodiment, as will be understood by one skilled in the art. The motor, the inlet chute, and the switch can, of course, be mounted to the lid in other arrangements than that specifically shown. The motor can be other than electric, e.g., pneumatic or hydraulic. The inlet chute can be a single tube. Alternatively, the inlet chute can comprise two separate tubes, if desired.
Other types of glass (or other material) tubes than fluorescent tubes can also, of course, be disposed of by the apparatus of the present invention, by suitable modification tot he tube inlet means.
The disposal apparatus of the present invention is preferably entirely mounted on the lid of a mating, open-top container. The term "mating" as used herein means that the lid fits on the container and completely and sealing covers the container opening.
Claims (11)
1. A wheeled portable unitary device for disposing of light bulbs, comprising:
(a) an open-topped, multi-compartmented container of circular cylindrical cross-section, said container including (i) an upper collection compartment, and (ii) a lower exhaust compartment having an upper radial outlet port and a lower radial outlet port, said upper collection compartment being separated from said lower exhaust compartment by an air pervious disc;
(b) a lid which is hingedly-connected to, and which is adapted to cover, the top of said container, said lid having an upper surface, and a lower surface which is adapted to be directed toward said upper operating compartment, said lower surface being connected to (iii) a depending reduction chamber, said reduction chamber having (iv) an axial inlet means for a cylindrical bulb to be pulverized and (v) an axial outlet means leading to said collection compartment, (vi) an electric motor which is provided with an on/off switch, said electric motor being disposed within said reduction chamber and having a drive shaft within said reduction chamber, and (vii) a rigid unitary pulverizing blade secured to said drive shaft, and said reduction chamber being bounded by (viii) an open bottom cylindrical protective guard;
(c) a cylindrical light bulb feed chute extending through said lid and attached thereto, said feed chute having an inlet opening which is disposed above the upper surface of said lid and an outlet opening which is disposed below the lower surface of said lid but within said reduction chamber;
(d) a disposable pulverized light bulb collection bag which is selectively disposed within said upper collection compartment in air-sealed relationship to said open bottom of said cylindrical protective guard;
(e) a vacuum generator which is operatively associated with said lower exhaust compartment to subject said lower exhaust compartment to sub-atmospheric pressure, said lower exhaust compartment also including (ix) a filter member extending transversely across said compartment to divide said compartment into an upper vacuum chamber and a lower chamber, said upper vacuum chamber including (x) a hose which is connected between said upper radial outlet port and extending through said lid to communicate with the interior of said reduction chamber to provide an internal exhaust system, said lower vacuum chamber including (xi) filter means across said lower radial outlet port, wherein said lower chamber discharges environmentally-clean gases to the environment.
(a) an open-topped, multi-compartmented container of circular cylindrical cross-section, said container including (i) an upper collection compartment, and (ii) a lower exhaust compartment having an upper radial outlet port and a lower radial outlet port, said upper collection compartment being separated from said lower exhaust compartment by an air pervious disc;
(b) a lid which is hingedly-connected to, and which is adapted to cover, the top of said container, said lid having an upper surface, and a lower surface which is adapted to be directed toward said upper operating compartment, said lower surface being connected to (iii) a depending reduction chamber, said reduction chamber having (iv) an axial inlet means for a cylindrical bulb to be pulverized and (v) an axial outlet means leading to said collection compartment, (vi) an electric motor which is provided with an on/off switch, said electric motor being disposed within said reduction chamber and having a drive shaft within said reduction chamber, and (vii) a rigid unitary pulverizing blade secured to said drive shaft, and said reduction chamber being bounded by (viii) an open bottom cylindrical protective guard;
(c) a cylindrical light bulb feed chute extending through said lid and attached thereto, said feed chute having an inlet opening which is disposed above the upper surface of said lid and an outlet opening which is disposed below the lower surface of said lid but within said reduction chamber;
(d) a disposable pulverized light bulb collection bag which is selectively disposed within said upper collection compartment in air-sealed relationship to said open bottom of said cylindrical protective guard;
(e) a vacuum generator which is operatively associated with said lower exhaust compartment to subject said lower exhaust compartment to sub-atmospheric pressure, said lower exhaust compartment also including (ix) a filter member extending transversely across said compartment to divide said compartment into an upper vacuum chamber and a lower chamber, said upper vacuum chamber including (x) a hose which is connected between said upper radial outlet port and extending through said lid to communicate with the interior of said reduction chamber to provide an internal exhaust system, said lower vacuum chamber including (xi) filter means across said lower radial outlet port, wherein said lower chamber discharges environmentally-clean gases to the environment.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a cylindrical plastic insert covering the open top of said upper collection compartment and having an automatically-reclosable central opening therethrough through which the open bottom of said cylindrical protective guard sealingly projects.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, including a pull-cord for sealingly-closing said collective bag around the open bottom of said cylindrical protective guard by means of a noose-type knot.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said noose-type knot is also for sealingly-closing said collection bag to prevent escape of hazardous contents therefrom.
5. The apparatus of claims 1 to 3, wherein said light bulb feed chute is removably sealingly secured to said lid.
6. The apparatus of claims 1 to 4, wherein said rigid, bulb-disintegration blade comprises a central hub portion which is secured to the motor shaft, and having at least two rigid blades extending outwardly and upwardly at an angle of 45° to the central hub portion.
7. The apparatus of claims 1 to 6 including an electrical safety switch pendently supported by the lower surface of the lid and adapted to inactivate the motor switch when the lid is raised from the open-topped container.
8. The apparatus of claims 1 to 7, wherein said filter member comprises a carbon particle filter to trap mercury vapour and phosphor.
9. The apparatus of claims 1 to 8, wherein said filter means includes HEPA
filters.
filters.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said filter means also includes a downstream mercury filter means.
11. The apparatus of claims 1 to 10, including a numeric counter atop said lid for counting the number of cylindrical light bulbs crushed.
Priority Applications (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2262216 CA2262216A1 (en) | 1999-02-18 | 1999-02-18 | Environmentally-safe portable apparatus for disposing of cylindrical light bulbs |
| JP15756499A JP2000237624A (en) | 1999-02-18 | 1999-06-04 | Environmeatally safe portable device for disposing of cylindrical electric bulb |
| EP19990402906 EP1029595A1 (en) | 1999-02-18 | 1999-11-23 | Environmentally-safe portable apparatus for disposing of cylindrical light bulbs |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2262216 CA2262216A1 (en) | 1999-02-18 | 1999-02-18 | Environmentally-safe portable apparatus for disposing of cylindrical light bulbs |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2262216A1 true CA2262216A1 (en) | 2000-08-18 |
Family
ID=4163309
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2262216 Abandoned CA2262216A1 (en) | 1999-02-18 | 1999-02-18 | Environmentally-safe portable apparatus for disposing of cylindrical light bulbs |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP1029595A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2000237624A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2262216A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8827194B2 (en) | 1999-04-01 | 2014-09-09 | Killgerm Group Limited | Fluorescent bulb compactor and mercury vapor recovery system |
| US7118056B2 (en) * | 1999-04-01 | 2006-10-10 | Killgerm Group Limited | Fluorescent lamp disposal system |
| CN103272670B (en) * | 2013-05-28 | 2016-03-16 | 哈尔滨益文鼎盛投资管理企业（有限合伙） | Pen type Chinese caterpillar fungus cooking machine |
| US10892132B2 (en) * | 2013-10-03 | 2021-01-12 | Versum Materials Us, Llc | System and method for xenon recovery |
| CN111544951B (en) * | 2020-05-07 | 2020-12-18 | 南昌大学 | Garbage collection system with grease recovery function |
| CN115193886B (en) * | 2022-07-15 | 2024-04-02 | 中建八局第一建设有限公司 | Waste concrete recycling and transferring mechanism for building construction |
Family Cites Families (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3623672A (en) | 1969-06-03 | 1971-11-30 | William De Frank | Disposing apparatus for burned-out or defective fluorescent tubes |
| US3913849A (en) | 1972-06-22 | 1975-10-21 | Irving M Atanasoff | Fluorescent tube digester |
| CA1185946A (en) | 1981-05-15 | 1985-04-23 | Douglas F. Green | Shredding machine |
| US4655404A (en) | 1981-10-16 | 1987-04-07 | Deklerow Joseph W | Fluorescent lamp crusher |
| US4579287A (en) | 1984-07-18 | 1986-04-01 | Brown Wilson E | Apparatus for disposing of fluorescent lamp tubes |
| US5205497A (en) | 1992-08-13 | 1993-04-27 | Dextrite, Inc. | Fluorescent lamp crusher |
| US5683041A (en) * | 1994-05-20 | 1997-11-04 | Sewill; Dennis | Lamp processing machine |
| CA2154225A1 (en) | 1995-07-19 | 1997-01-20 | Dana Emmerson | Apparatus for disposing of light bulbs |
| US5769336A (en) | 1995-11-06 | 1998-06-23 | Environmental Disposal Concepts Incorporated | Environmentally-safe apparatus for disposing of light bulbs |
-
1999
- 1999-02-18 CA CA 2262216 patent/CA2262216A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1999-06-04 JP JP15756499A patent/JP2000237624A/en active Pending
- 1999-11-23 EP EP19990402906 patent/EP1029595A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP1029595A1 (en) | 2000-08-23 |
| JP2000237624A (en) | 2000-09-05 |
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