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US 2012/0222986 A1Published application
Devices, systems, and methods for recycling plastic
AssigneeAgilyx Corporation
InventorsCraig W. Garrison, Kevin Clark DeWhitt, Lance Talley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems for recycling waste plastic can include cartridges that are selectively sealable. Some cartridges can have elongated receptacles that improve heat transfer to plastic feedstock within the cartridges.
Claims45
A system for recycling plastic, the system comprising:
- a sealable cartridge comprising a body and a plurality of receptacles that are in fluid communication with the body and that extend away from the body, the cartridge further comprising an evacuation port through which gases can be removed from the cartridge when the cartridge is sealed, wherein the cartridge is configured to be selectively opened so as to receive a plastic feedstock therein;
- and
- a heating plenum configured to receive at least a portion of the cartridge therein so as to heat the contents of the cartridge, the heating plenum comprising a first fluid port via which heated fluid is delivered into the plenum and further comprising a sidewall, wherein the first fluid port is spaced from the sidewall of the plenum and is configured to direct heated fluid in an outward direction and into contact with the plurality of receptacles when the cartridge is received within the heating plenum.
A cartridge for use in recycling plastic, the cartridge comprising:
- a selectively sealable opening through which plastic feedstock can be introduced into an interior of the cartridge;
- a body that comprises a sidewall that at least partially defines an upper cavity into which a plastic feedstock can be received, wherein the upper cavity defines a first volume;
- and
- a plurality of receptacles that extend away from the body, wherein each of the plurality of receptacles comprises a sidewall that at least partially defines a lower cavity that is in fluid communication with the upper cavity of the body, wherein the lower cavities of the plurality of receptacles together define a second volume,
- wherein a ratio of an external surface area of the sidewalls of the plurality of receptacles to the second volume of the plurality of receptacles is greater than a ratio of an external surface area of the sidewall of the body to the first volume of the upper cavity such that heat from a heated fluid external to the cartridge can be transferred more readily to the contents of the plurality of receptacles than to the contents of the body.
2 more elements
A cartridge for use in recycling plastic, the cartridge comprising:
- a selectively sealable opening through which plastic feedstock can be introduced into an interior of the cartridge;
- a body that defines an upper cavity into which a plastic feedstock can be received;
- an evacuation port in fluid communication with the upper cavity, wherein the evacuation port is configured to permit removal of gas from the cartridge when the opening is sealed;
- and
- a plurality of elongated receptacles that extend away from the body, wherein each of the receptacles defines a lower cavity that is in fluid communication with the upper cavity of the body such that heated gas can freely move from the lower cavities into the upper cavity.
2 more elements
A method of recycling plastic, the method comprising:
- providing a cartridge that comprises a plurality of elongated receptacles;
- inserting a plastic feedstock into the cartridge;
- sealing the cartridge;
- and
- applying heated fluid to an exterior of the elongated receptacles.
2 more elements
A method of recycling plastic, the method comprising:
- providing a first cartridge having a quantity of plastic feedstock therein;
- inserting the first cartridge into a heating plenum;
- applying heated fluid to an exterior of the first cartridge so as to convert the plastic feedstock into one or more gases;
- removing the one or more gases from the first cartridge while the first cartridge is in a sealed configuration;
- removing the first cartridge from the first heating plenum;
- providing a second cartridge having a quantity of plastic feedstock therein;
- and
- inserting the second cartridge into the heating plenum.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.