Method and System For Crushing and Disposing Fluorescent Lamp Bulbs
OwnerTroy W. Livingstoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved method and machine for safely and properly crushing fluorescent lamps or tubes of various types, various sizes and various configurations is described. The inventive system discloses a machine comprising a housing which can be placed in a building or facility such a hardware store or other retail establishment which is easily accessible to the public. Rewards may be provides to the party/person disposing the fluorescent tubes such as redeemable coupons, etc, The machine thus encourages the public to safety crush and dispose fluorescent lamp tubes and thereby tends to increase the rate of recycling of fluorescent tubes. the invention also proves heating means for more quickly and safely reducing the hazardous mercury vapor contained in the crushed tubes.
Claims15
A method of crushing fluorescent lamps which contain mercury and mercury vapors and collecting the glass and metal components as a residue thereof wherein in said lamps and said components include relatively light crushable materials, comprising
- a) inserting fluorescent lamps through a door in a crasher machine housing;
- b) providing a first wheel mounted on a stationary rotating axle and a second wheel on a pivotable axle;
- c) biasing said pivotable wheel to a closed position adjacent said first axle to crush said lamps between said wheels;
- d) feeding fluorescent lamps to be crushed to said wheels;
- e) crushing said fluorescent lamps to provide fluorescent lamp residue;
- f) pivoting said second:
- wheel outwardly in response to an object of a hard material, such as the ceramic objects in said fluorescent lamp that can not be crushed by said wheels and thus providing a passageway for the non crushable object to pass through said wheels;
- h) returning said pivoting wheel to said closed position.
An apparatus for crushing fluorescent lamps containing mercury and mercury vapors wherein said lamps include light crushable materials, said apparatus comprising
- a) a crusher housing having an opening for receiving lamps that are to be crushed;
- b) crushing wheels mounted to crushing lamps there between and including a first wheel mounted on a stationary axle and a second wheel mounted on a pivotable axle;
- c) frusto conical shaped teeth on said crushing wheel;
- d) said wheels being mounted relative to each other to be spaced from one another to crush said lamp into small pieces;
- e) spring means for biasing said pivotable wheel to a closed position adjacent said first axle to crash said lamps;
- f) said second wheel being moveable outwardly in response to an object of a material that can not be crushed by said wheels to form an opening through which said uncrushed object can pass;
- g) whereby said fluorescent lamps can be crushed but damage to said wheels is prevented when non crushable objects are fed thereto.
Apparatus as in claim wherein the teeth of said crushing wheels are in the form of gears formed on the periphery of a cylinder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.