WO1996003213A1 - Waste handling apparatus - Google Patents

Waste handling apparatus Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1996003213A1
WO1996003213A1 PCT/GB1994/001595 GB9401595W WO9603213A1 WO 1996003213 A1 WO1996003213 A1 WO 1996003213A1 GB 9401595 W GB9401595 W GB 9401595W WO 9603213 A1 WO9603213 A1 WO 9603213A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tubes
comminuting
storage means
receiving
enclosure
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1994/001595
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Alan David Petty
Original Assignee
Wistech Plc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB9303656A external-priority patent/GB9303656D0/en
Priority to GB9402290A priority Critical patent/GB2275214B/en
Application filed by Wistech Plc filed Critical Wistech Plc
Priority to PCT/GB1994/001595 priority patent/WO1996003213A1/en
Priority to AU72323/94A priority patent/AU7232394A/en
Publication of WO1996003213A1 publication Critical patent/WO1996003213A1/en

Links

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
    • B02C19/0068—Other disintegrating devices or methods specially adapted for specific materials not otherwise provided for specially adapted for breaking-up fluorescent tubes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J9/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture, installation, removal, maintenance of electric discharge tubes, discharge lamps, or parts thereof; Recovery of material from discharge tubes or lamps
    • H01J9/52—Recovery of material from discharge tubes or lamps
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
    • Y02W30/00—Technologies for solid waste management
    • Y02W30/50—Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies
    • Y02W30/82—Recycling of waste of electrical or electronic equipment [WEEE]

Definitions

  • This invention concerns waste handling apparatus, and more particularly apparatus for use in the disposal of used or unwanted flourescent light tubes.
  • the present invention is based upon an appreciation of the possibility of comminuting or the waste tubes at local sites (eg:- re-lighting contractors and production plants with sub-standard product), storing the comminuted tubes and collecting same at periodic intervals for transport to a central facility.
  • local sites eg:- re-lighting contractors and production plants with sub-standard product
  • apparatus for comminuting waste flourescent light tubes comprising : (i) comminuting means for receiving the tubes and located within an enclosure; (ii) storage means for receiving the comminuted tubes; (iii) means for exhausting air from said enclosure and said storage means and discharging to atmosphere through a filter system including an absorption filter for mercury vapour; and (iv) a port to the storage means through which its contents may be extracted by vacuum suction.
  • the apparatus may include a conveyor means for receiving tubes and delivering same to the comminuting means.
  • the comminuting means may comprise separate crushing and shredding means.
  • the crushing and shredding means may operate at low speeds to inhibit the generation of aerosols.
  • the apparatus comprises comminuting means consisting of a crushing unit 10 and a shredding unit 11 both driven from a common drive motor 12 by means of V-belts 13 and 14 respectively.
  • the units 10 and 11 are located within an enclosure 15 which connects by way of a duct 16 with a sealed storage hopper 17.
  • a chute 18 connects with the upper end of the enclosure 15 for delivery of waste flourescent tubes to be comminuted by crushing of their glass and shredding of their metal end caps.
  • Air is exhausted from the interior of the chute 18, enclosure 15 and storage hopper 17 by suction lines 19 depending from a manifold 20 connected with an air extraction pump 21 which exhausts to atmosphere through a filter system 22 including an absorption filter for mercury vapour.
  • the pump 21 is driven by the motor 12 which ensures that it is operating whenever tubes are being comminuted by the crushing unit 10 and shredding unit 11,
  • a vertical chain feed conveyor 23 provided with tube supporting and lifting fingers 24 is provided and driven by a drive motor 25 by means of a V-belt 26.
  • Tubes to be comminuted are fed manually to the conveyor 23 by way of an opening 27 and guide fingers 28.
  • the tubes are conveyed upwardly and tipped into the upper end of the chute 18 for transfer by gravity to the crushing unit 10 and shredding unit 11.
  • the units 10 and 11 operate at a low speed to inhibit the generation of aerosols.
  • Such air borne materials as are released are collected by the exhaust air stream and captured by the filter system 22.
  • the comminuted waste falls through duct 16 into the storage hopper 17 which might typically have a capacity of about 5 cubic metres.
  • Any tubes which arrive at the site in an already broken condition may be fed through a chute 40 into a further shredder unit 41 driven by the motor 12 and discharging by a duct 42 into the hopper 17.
  • a user will comminute waste tubes at a local site and arrange for collection of the comminuted waste as his storage hopper 17 becomes full.
  • a specialised collection vehicle will transfer the contents of the hopper 17 by vacuum suction through a hose connected to the hopper 17 by way of a port 30.
  • the filter (preferably of loose carbon) from the system 22, when saturated may be replaced, the removed one being fed through chute 40 for comminution and disposal.
  • the collected waste is transported to a central facility where is it treated by chemical fixation.

Abstract

There is disclosed apparatus for comminuting waste fluorescent light tubes comprising: (i) comminuting means (10, 11) for receiving the tubes and located within an enclosure (15); (ii) storage means (17) for receiving the comminuted tubes; (iii) means (19) for exhausting air from said enclosure (15) and said storage means (17) and discharging to atmosphere through a filter system (22) including an absorption filter for mercury vapour; and (iv) a port (30) to the storage means (17) through which its contents may be extracted by vacuum suction.

Description

WASTE HANDLINGAPPARATUS
This invention concerns waste handling apparatus, and more particularly apparatus for use in the disposal of used or unwanted flourescent light tubes.
Disposal of waste flourescent tubes presents serious problems because of the contained mercury, and prohibitions against disposal to landfill sites are increasing.
It is therefore becoming common practice to transport the waste tubes to a central facility where the mercury is chemically recovered. However, because flourescent tubes have a high volume to weight ratio, their transport is inefficient and can account for up to two thirds of the disposal cost.
The magnitude of the problem will be appreciated when it is understood that some forty million flourescent light tubes are produced in the United Kingdom alone each year.
The present invention is based upon an appreciation of the possibility of comminuting or the waste tubes at local sites (eg:- re-lighting contractors and production plants with sub-standard product), storing the comminuted tubes and collecting same at periodic intervals for transport to a central facility.
According to the invention there is provided apparatus for comminuting waste flourescent light tubes comprising : (i) comminuting means for receiving the tubes and located within an enclosure; (ii) storage means for receiving the comminuted tubes; (iii) means for exhausting air from said enclosure and said storage means and discharging to atmosphere through a filter system including an absorption filter for mercury vapour; and (iv) a port to the storage means through which its contents may be extracted by vacuum suction.
The apparatus may include a conveyor means for receiving tubes and delivering same to the comminuting means.
The comminuting means may comprise separate crushing and shredding means.
The crushing and shredding means may operate at low speeds to inhibit the generation of aerosols.
The invention will be further apparent from the following description, with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawing, which shows, by way of example only, a cross-section through one form of apparatus embodying same.
Referring now to the drawing, it will be seen that the apparatus comprises comminuting means consisting of a crushing unit 10 and a shredding unit 11 both driven from a common drive motor 12 by means of V-belts 13 and 14 respectively.
The units 10 and 11 are located within an enclosure 15 which connects by way of a duct 16 with a sealed storage hopper 17.
A chute 18 connects with the upper end of the enclosure 15 for delivery of waste flourescent tubes to be comminuted by crushing of their glass and shredding of their metal end caps.
Air is exhausted from the interior of the chute 18, enclosure 15 and storage hopper 17 by suction lines 19 depending from a manifold 20 connected with an air extraction pump 21 which exhausts to atmosphere through a filter system 22 including an absorption filter for mercury vapour. The pump 21 is driven by the motor 12 which ensures that it is operating whenever tubes are being comminuted by the crushing unit 10 and shredding unit 11,
A vertical chain feed conveyor 23 provided with tube supporting and lifting fingers 24 is provided and driven by a drive motor 25 by means of a V-belt 26.
Tubes to be comminuted are fed manually to the conveyor 23 by way of an opening 27 and guide fingers 28. The tubes are conveyed upwardly and tipped into the upper end of the chute 18 for transfer by gravity to the crushing unit 10 and shredding unit 11.
The units 10 and 11 operate at a low speed to inhibit the generation of aerosols. Such air borne materials as are released are collected by the exhaust air stream and captured by the filter system 22.
The comminuted waste falls through duct 16 into the storage hopper 17 which might typically have a capacity of about 5 cubic metres.
Any tubes which arrive at the site in an already broken condition, may be fed through a chute 40 into a further shredder unit 41 driven by the motor 12 and discharging by a duct 42 into the hopper 17. In use, a user will comminute waste tubes at a local site and arrange for collection of the comminuted waste as his storage hopper 17 becomes full.
A specialised collection vehicle will transfer the contents of the hopper 17 by vacuum suction through a hose connected to the hopper 17 by way of a port 30.
The filter (preferably of loose carbon) from the system 22, when saturated may be replaced, the removed one being fed through chute 40 for comminution and disposal.
The collected waste is transported to a central facility where is it treated by chemical fixation.
It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAI S
1. Apparatus for comminuting waste flourescent light tubes comprising :
(i) comminuting means for receiving the tubes and located within an enclosure; (ii) storage means for receiving the comminuted tubes; (iii) means for exhausting air from said enclosure and said storage means and discharging to atmosphere through a filter system including an absorption filter for mercury vapour; and (iv) a port to the storage means through which its contents may be extracted by vacuum suction.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a conveyor means for receiving tubes and delivering same to the comminuting means.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the comminuting means comprises separate crushing and shredding means.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the crushing and shredding means operate at low speeds to inhibit the generation of aerosols.
5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim including further comminuting means for receipt of already broken tubes for commination and discharge of the storage means.
PCT/GB1994/001595 1993-02-23 1994-07-25 Waste handling apparatus WO1996003213A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9402290A GB2275214B (en) 1993-02-23 1994-02-07 Waste handling apparatus
PCT/GB1994/001595 WO1996003213A1 (en) 1993-02-23 1994-07-25 Waste handling apparatus
AU72323/94A AU7232394A (en) 1993-02-23 1994-07-25 Waste handling apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9303656A GB9303656D0 (en) 1993-02-23 1993-02-23 Waste handling apparatus
PCT/GB1994/001595 WO1996003213A1 (en) 1993-02-23 1994-07-25 Waste handling apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1996003213A1 true WO1996003213A1 (en) 1996-02-08

Family

ID=26302496

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1994/001595 WO1996003213A1 (en) 1993-02-23 1994-07-25 Waste handling apparatus

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1996003213A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR100438684B1 (en) * 1999-05-03 2004-07-02 주식회사 광신기공 Harmonic drive
KR100931621B1 (en) 2009-08-12 2009-12-14 (주)에이씨아이케미칼아시아 Disposal apparatus for waste fluorescent lamp having automatic rotation type collect-box lift

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1983001396A1 (en) * 1981-10-16 1983-04-28 Deklerow, Joseph, W. Improved fluorescent lamp crusher
FR2532564A1 (en) * 1982-09-08 1984-03-09 Nakamura Akira APPARATUS FOR STORING USED PRODUCTS CONTAINING MERCURY
FR2560166A1 (en) * 1984-02-28 1985-08-30 Vieville Michel Installation for the public collection of bottles with automatic processing
DE4030732A1 (en) * 1990-06-01 1991-12-05 Narva Licht Gmbh Processing fluorescent lamp scrap - for recycling of glass, mercury phosphor, and metals avoiding waste and pollution
WO1993001888A1 (en) * 1991-07-17 1993-02-04 Perry Timothy J Improved crushed fluorescent tube particulate separation and recovery method and apparatus
WO1994012281A1 (en) * 1992-11-20 1994-06-09 Ekoteho Oy Process and apparatus for processing glass objects containing hazardous materials

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1983001396A1 (en) * 1981-10-16 1983-04-28 Deklerow, Joseph, W. Improved fluorescent lamp crusher
FR2532564A1 (en) * 1982-09-08 1984-03-09 Nakamura Akira APPARATUS FOR STORING USED PRODUCTS CONTAINING MERCURY
FR2560166A1 (en) * 1984-02-28 1985-08-30 Vieville Michel Installation for the public collection of bottles with automatic processing
DE4030732A1 (en) * 1990-06-01 1991-12-05 Narva Licht Gmbh Processing fluorescent lamp scrap - for recycling of glass, mercury phosphor, and metals avoiding waste and pollution
WO1993001888A1 (en) * 1991-07-17 1993-02-04 Perry Timothy J Improved crushed fluorescent tube particulate separation and recovery method and apparatus
WO1994012281A1 (en) * 1992-11-20 1994-06-09 Ekoteho Oy Process and apparatus for processing glass objects containing hazardous materials

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR100438684B1 (en) * 1999-05-03 2004-07-02 주식회사 광신기공 Harmonic drive
KR100931621B1 (en) 2009-08-12 2009-12-14 (주)에이씨아이케미칼아시아 Disposal apparatus for waste fluorescent lamp having automatic rotation type collect-box lift

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