USRE13613E - Charles s - Google Patents

Description

G. S. HELLER. Pnocnss FOB RECLAIMING VULGANIZED RUBBER WASTE APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1911. Reissued Sept. 9,1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CH RLES S. HELLER, or BARBERTON, OHIO, AssrGNon To run MOORE Ancm'rncrmmr, AND ENGINEERING COMPANY, or AKRON, 01110, A CORPORATION or OHIO.

PROCESS FOR BEGLAIMIN G V ULCAINIZED RUBBER WASTE.

Specification of I teissued Letters Patent. Reissued Sept. 9, 1913.

Original No. 978,584, dated December 13, 1910, Serial No. 545,960. Application for reissue filed September 29, 1911. Serial No. 652,010.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, CHARLES S. HELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Barbcrtom'in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for Be.- claiming Vulcanized-RubberWVaste, and it is hereby declared that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in processes for reclaiming rubber waste and the object thereof is to provide a new and improved process for removing from the rubber waste the materials which have been previously mixed with the gum to produce vulcanization thereof, andother materials added to the gum to increase the weight, reduce the cost, or improve the qualities of the vulcanized article and at the same time to eliminate as far as possible the fibrous material which has been incorporated therewith during the manufacture thereof, especially in the form of fabric. I

This improved process for reclaiming rubber waste, comprises the subjection of the rubber waste, preferably in a comminuted condition, to the action of a reclaiming solution in the presence of heat and simultaneously subjecting the same to an electrolytic action of a current of electricity of adetermined degree of intensity and quality, passed through the rcclaimin solution to assistin the disintegration the rubber waste and the removal 1 and elimination therefrom of foreign matters contained .therein and followed by subjecting the rubber to a thorough cleansing o ration to subsequentl remove from the .ru ber waste all traces 0. the reclaiming solution which in this process, is of such a. nature that its presence in the'finished rubber will be deleteri ous thereto.

In carrying into effect my improved process, I employ certain mechanical structures by which the subjecting of the rubber waste to the reclaimin process is carried out' and the subs uent e imination of the reclaiming solution rom the rubber waste is accomplished. i

A preferred form of apparatus for carrying out my improved process is shown in the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof, but it is to be understood that varlous changes and modifications may be employed for carrying out my rocess without departing from the scope 0 this invention.

The drawing presented is a vertical, central sectional view of an approved form of apparatus used in connection with my proc ess for reclaiming rubber waste.

Briefly describing the mechanical structure used in connection with this process,

the reference numeral' l denotes a metallic cylinder, preferably supported by one or more brackets 2 secured to the outer face of the cylinder 1 and resting upon I-beams 3. The upper end of the cylinder 1 is usually closed by means of a head 4 secured to the upper end of the cylinder 1 by rivets 5 and the head is further provided with a steam interior of the cylinder 1. Within the cylinder 1 and spaced therefrom to form between them a steam chamber is a tank 11 the upper end of which is closed by a head 12 and having at its lower end a comically formed-portion 13 approximately parallel with the 0011ical'end of the cylinder 1 and with a depending pipe at'the apex thereof communicating with, the u per end of the f ipe 10. The heads} an 12 of thee lin er 1 and tank 11 are provided with a ined openings and between said heads and surroundingsaid openings is an apertured collar 14, the aperture 15 in which constitutes an opening through which access may be had'to the interior of the tank 11, The 0 ening 15 is closed thro h the medium 0 I a swinging door 16, pro erably hinged to the inner face of the head 12 and normally held in a closed position by means of a threaded hookbolt 17 engaging said door and rotatably mounted in a brace 18 bridging said opening and .mounted. on the outer face of the head 4,

said bolt being drawn up to close said door by means of a hand nut 19. The side walls of the cylinder 1 and tank 11 are provided with laterally registering openings and between them and having an )pening in registering relation therewith is a collar 20. Secured to the outer face of the cylinder 1 by means of bolts 21 is the flanged end of a pipe 22 having an'elbow 23 from which depends a vertical portion connecting with a horizontal pipe 24 by an elbow. Extending through a lug 25 formed on the latter elbow at the lower end of the pipe 22 is a shaft-26 mounted in bearings 27 and provided at its inner end with a propeller 28. The lug 25 is provided with a stuffing box 29 to prevent leakage of liquid from the pi e 22 outwardly along the shaft 26. The sha t 26 is also provided'with a pulley 30 to receive a belt by which the propeller 28 is revolved.

On the'inner face of the tank 11 and oppositely disposed with respect to the flanged end of the pipe 22 is a pipe 31 having a portion thereof extending inwardly horizontally from which depends a portion 32 arranged vertically and centrally with respect The cylinder 1 is connected with the to the tan-k 11, the interior of the pipe 31 being in open communication with themterior of the pipe 22. Positioned centrally.

within the-tank 11 and supported by spacmg members 33 is an inverted, conically formed member 34 having an opening 35' at the apex thereof in alinement with the pipe 10. The inverted, conically formed portion 34 is provided with an upwardly extending cyhndrical portion 36. Supported by the cylindrical portion 36 is an annulus-37 preferably formed of zinc and insulated from the member 36 by a member 38 and preferably somewhat smaller in diameter than the member 36. with the zinc annulus 37 is a wire 39 pass mg through the wall of the tank 11 and cylinder 1 and protected therefrom by an insulating member 40 and connecting with one pole of an electric current-generatin device 41, from the opposite ole of 'whic extends another wire 42 to t e ground 43. ound by a wire 44. The ground 43 ispre erably employed to complete the circuit'between the wires 42 and 44, but of course any other means for uniting the outer ends of said wires may be employed which is deemed ermit passageof a .fluid through said open-' .The upper end of the valve-stem 45 passes upwardly through the heads 4 and 12 of the cylinder 1 and tank 11, .res ectively, and is connected with one cnd' 0 an Connected hering to the outer surface thereof.

operating lever 47 pivotally mounted on a post 48, which in turn is mounted on the upper face of the head 4 of the cylinder 1. The op osite end of the lever 47 is provided with a and grasp by which the valve-stem 45 and valve 46 are shifted.

The cylinder 1 and tank 11 are arranged to constitute a receptacle for a reclaiming solution and the comminuted rubber waste to be acted upon by said solution, and the space between the cylinder 1 and tank 11 constitutes a heatingchamber by which the contents of the receptacle are brought to a desired temperature to carry out the pro cess' to be hereinafter described.

' Communicating with the pipe 24 at any desired point is a discharge pipe 49 provided with a valve 50 and connected with the lower end of the pipe 49 and in open communication therewith is'a cleansing tank comprising a cylindrical medial portion 51, a conically formed cover 52, and an inverted conically formed bottom 53, the latter terminating in a discharge pipe 54 secured to i the latter at the apex thereof. The cover 52 is provided with a stuffing box 55 at its apex-to.receive a vertically shiftable up-. wardly extending pipe 56 having secured to the lower end thereof a drum-shaped member 57 formed of wire cloth from which depends a drain tube 58 extending into and telescoping the pipe 54. Mounted on the upper end of the pipe 56 is a cap 5-9 pro vided with an aperture through which extends a tube 60 held in position by nuts 61 placed above and below the cap 59. The pipe 60 extends downwardly into the mem-. ber 57 and terminatcsin a bent nozzle 62 provided with a plurality of minute openings so placed and shaped that jets of fluid issuing therefrom will impinge against the sides of the drum-shaped member 57 and tend to remove all particles of matter gid- T is nozzle conforms enerally in shape with the side walls of t e member 57 and is arranged to be revolved with the' ipe 60 as an. axle. Surrounding the cylin rical portion 51 of the cleansing tank is 'a steam pipe 63 from which extend inwardly through the wall 51 of the tank a plurality of steam pipes 64. These pipes 64 are preferably arranged radially to the cleansing tank and lie on the bottom thereof and each is pro-- vided with a plurality of openings 65. The

bottom 53 is provided near its apex with a discharge opening fifi closed by a gate 67.

In carrying out this. process a sufiicient quantit of reclaiming-solution and .com-

minute .rubber waste-is placed within the" receptacle to cover the pi e 31, previous to which the valve 46 is shifted to close the opening 35. The reclaiming solution which 1' preferably use for each one hundred pounds of oomminutcd 'rubber waste is six twenty-one (21) pounds of sodium h drat; an

(N aOH), or potassium hydrate (KO one 1) pound of ferric sulfate Fe,( The solution in the tank is kept constantly heated by live steam introduced to the steam chamber between the cylinder 1 and tank 11 from the-pipe 6. The efliciency of the action 4 vice '41,.which is connected rubber waste. in

cathode and the I 9- mode;-

of the reclaiming solution upon the com- 'minuted rubber waste during the carrying out of this process is increased by constantly maintaining the contents of the tank in the receptacle in a heated cdndition, preferably from 330 to 370 F., but experience has found that 360 is the preferred temperature which is accomplished by introducing steam to the steam chamber at a ressure of from ninety-five (95) to one hun red and sixty (160) pounds. During the time that the comminuted rubber waste and solution are, within the receptacle and subjected to the action of both heat and pressure, motion is communicated to the shaft 26 by means of a belt applied to the ulley 30 to produce sufficient revolution of the propeller 28, to

cause the solution and comminuted rubber waste to ass through the pipe 10 in the direction .0 the arrows, and asrapidlyas said solution passes through the pipe 10 it escapes through'the space between the conical portion 13 of the tank 11 and the conical member 34 and from thence upwardly around the zinc annulus 37 and from thence into the interior of the same. The action ,of the propeller in forcing the solution and comminuted rubber waste. through the pipe 10 Withdraws the solution and comminuted rubber waste contained in the conical member 34 u wardly through the pipes 32 and 31 into t ,e pipe 22 from whence it descends to the ipe 24 and is again forced upwardly through the pipe 10. During the passage of the solution. and comminuted rubber waste it is constantly agitated and isv brought into immediate contact with the wall of the tank 11,- especiallyits conical portion 13, so as to receive all ossible heat conducted through the wall of t e receptacle from the steam chamber and is thus conrature to which the solution is raised.

uring its movement with the solution, the assin between the zinc annulus'37 and t e w "of the tank 11 is subjected to' the actionofian electric curthe currentnerating deth with the zinc annulus by the wire 89 and'by other current-conducting means'with the receptacle containing the solution j and from which the-zinc annulus is insulated, the zinc annulus constituting to a certain extent a wall of the receptacle an rent generated by stantly maintained in a heated condition matter, especially sulfur, and the action of an electric current passing through the so-' lution which is rendered electropositive as far as possible by the inclusion" of a small percentage of ferric sulfate tends to disintegrate the rubber waste to remove metallic matters, etc., contained therein. The sulfur which is removed from the rubber 'waste is, through the influence of the chemical solution in which it is contained, together with the electrolytic action of the'current, converted into a soluble combination which is carried away in the form of a solution and .without going into a detailed description of the peculiar electrolytic action of the current passed through the solution and acting upon the rubber waste, it will be stated that remarkable results ,have been obtained by the ,use of an electric current in the eliminationof the deleterious matters carried by therewith previous to the vulcanization thereof and the removal of which condithe rubber which have been incorporated 9o tions the rubber and prepares it for use in as nearly as possible its original gummy condition which it possessed previous to its 'initial vulcanization.

- When the described process of comminuted rubber. in a reclaiming agent within a receptacle in'the presence of heat and under pressure and s'ubjectjo thejaction 1 of an electric current-has been carried on, a suflicient length of time, which is usually from ten to twenty-four hours, .the' valve 46- is raised to permit the matter contained in the conical member 34 to pass into thepipe 05 10 and from thenceto the pipe 24. The gate 50 is then opened allowing the solution and rubber waste'to discharge intothe cleansing tank 11 through the'pipe 49.

The cleansing tank may preferably e filled with pure hot water toremove' as far as possible all chemicals, especially the caustic alkalies used for reclaiming the rubber and separating the. deleterious matters therefrom. i

Inorder to increase the effectiveness of the water in the cleansing operation, live steam 1s turned in'to the annular pipe 63 .from whence it passes to the 'pipe 64"a'nd escapes through the orifices 65and the force of the no steam 1n jets issuing from the orifices 65 will tend to keep the solution in the cleansing tank centrall agitated. After the cleansing process has en carried on for a sufiicie'nt length of time the member 57 and pipe 58 are lowered sufiiciently to cause the member 57 to be submerged in the solution which passes through the foraminous wall thereof and escapes through theme'dium ofth'e pipe the comminuted rubber waste .130

as, les

within the cleansing tank. After the major portion of the liquid has been removed by the member 57, the latter is raised andfresh water turned in the pipe 60 from whence it escapes through the orifices in the nozzle 62; at the same time the nozzle is preferably rotated to cause the jets of water projected thereby to pass through the foramincus body of the member 57 and clean the same. After a suflicient quantity of Water has been placed onto suitable screens, after which the rubber Waste is dried and ready for use.

It will be apparent that the thorough cleansing of the rubber waste after the reclaiming process has taken place becomes ab-x so'iutely necessary in-order'to arrest disintegrating action of the caustic alkaliesemployed for removing the sulfur and other substances incorporated with the rubber gum previous to the vulcanization thereof, and

- at the same time a large percentage of the fabric contained in the rubber Waste is-also washed therefrom.

It will be especially noted that the agitation of the reclaiming solution. within the receptacle is of such a nature as to expose all particles of the comminuted rubber to the action of the electric current described, and experience has shown that a current of 4 6/10 volts and from 700 to 1,000 amperes in strength, is preferred in producing the disintegration necessary in the reclaimingprocess and to effectually remove the metal, and-mineral matter contained in the rubber.

Having thus described my invention, I claim v v i 1 1. The improved process for reclaiming vulcanized rubber waste, comprising subjecting the vulcanized rubber waste to the action of a reclaiming solution in the presence of heat and simultaneously subjecting the same to an electrolytic action of a cur.-

rent of electricity, followed by subjecting the rubber to a thorough cleansing operation to subsequently remove from the rubber wjaste all traces of the reclaiming solution.

2. The improved process for reclaiming vulcanized rubber waste, compi'ising the subjecting of the vulcanized rubber waste to the action of a reclaiming solution comprising caustic alkali-in the vpresence of heat and simultaneouslysubjecting the same to the electrolytic action of a current of elecalkali and ferric sulfate in the v heat and under pressure and sub ecting and tricity of a predetermined degree of intensity and quality passed through the reclaiming solution and followed by subjecting the rubber to a thoroughcleansing operation.

3. The improved process of reclaiming vulcanized rubber waste, comprising the subjecting of; the vulcanized rubber waste to the action of a reclaiming solution consistingof caustic alkali and a metal salt in the presence of heat, and simultaneously subjecting the same to the electrolytic action of a current of electricity of a. predetermined degree of intensity and ,quality passed throu h the reclaimin solution, 01-

lowed by su jecting the rub r to. a thorough cleansing operation to remove from the rubber waste all traces of the reclaim ing solution. 4. The herein described process of reclaiming vulcanized rubber waste, which consists in treating the vulcanized rubber wastewith an electric current while sub jecting it to the action of a reclaiming solution, and removing the reclaiming solution from .the reclaimed rubber.

5. The herein described process of reclaiming vulcanized rubber waste, which consists in treating the vulcanized rubber waste with an electric current while subjecting it to the action of caustic alkali, and removing the reclaiming solution from the reclaimed rubber.

' 6. The herein described process of re-.

claiming vulcanized rubber waste, which consists in treating the vulcanized rubber waste with an electric current while sub jectingit to the action of caustic alkali and a metal salt, and removing the reclaiming solution from the reclaimed rubber.

- 7. The herein described processof reclaiming rubber waste, which consists in treating the rubber waste with an electric current while subjecting it to the action ofcaustic alkali and an iron salt, and removing the reclaiming solution from the reclaimed rubbr;

8. That improvement in the art of reclaiming rubber which consists 1n subjecting thev vulcanized rubber. waste to the ac-' tion of a solution made up from a caustic resen'ce of wastesimultaneously *to agitation and the action of an electric current and afterward washing said waste to remove the reclaiming agents therefrom. I

9. That improvement in the art of re'- claimin rubber which consists in sub ecting canized rubber waste in a. comminuted condition to the action of a solution made up from a caustic alkali and ferric sulfate, continuously heating said solution and subjectingfthe same to pressure and agitation and simultaneously to'theaction trace of the rec aiming agents therefrom.

'10. That improvement in the art of reelaiming rubber, which consists in commingling vulcanized rubber waste in a comminuted condition with a solution made up from a caustic alkali and ferric sulfate, forcing said commingled waste and solu-- tion continuously through a heated receptacle to maintain said solutionand waste at a proper temperature to cause the separation of the wilcanizin the action of an electric current, and aftersaid-waste to remove the reclaiming agents therefrom. i

11. That improvement in the art of reagents therefrom and simultaneously Sub ecting said waste to claiming rubber, which consists in commingling vulcanized rubber waste in acomminuted condition witha solution made'up as, follows for --each one hundred (100-) pounds. of rubber waste twenty-one (21) pounds of caustic alkali, six hundred 600) pounds of water and one (1) pound 0 lie sulfate, maintaining said solution in a heated condition and under pressure and subject to agitation during the reclaiming process, and simultaneously passing an electric current through said rubber waste while contained in said solution and afterward washing said waste to remove the reclaiming agents therefrom. a e CHARLES S) HELLER.

Witnesses:

- .Erman F. CaoY, -Jomv Q'FRANK.

fer- I

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