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US 4,647,213 AGranted
Waste disposal apparatus
AssigneeThe Dow Chemical Company
InventorRobert A. Hay, II
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A waste disposal mixer is shown suitable for the encapsulation of radioactive wastes in synthetic resins. The mixer permits the selective discarding of the agitator member and of a drip pan selectively positionable to receive dripping material from the agitator. The agitator can be selectively replaced, all movements being controlled remotely.
Claims12
A mixing apparatus, the mixing apparatus having in cooperative combination
- a frame,
- a conveyor adapted to convey an open-topped container to receive resin and waste,
- a container positioning means adapted to locate an open-topped container at a predetermined location on the conveyor,
- an agitator assembly reciprocally mounted on the frame, the agitator assembly comprising
- agitator drive means,
- an agitator demountably affixed to the drive means, the agitator being selectively positionable so
- (1) that the agitator extends at least partially into a container held by the container-locating means,
- (2) that the agitator is external to the container means to connect and disconnect the agitator from the agitator drive means,
- a splash guard generally disposed about the agitator and adapted to cover a waste-receiving container when the agitator extends at least partially into a container,
- means to selectively position a replacement agitator adjacent the agitator drive means,
- a drip-receiving assembly, the drip-receiving assembly comprising
- a drip pan support means positionable beneath the agitator assembly when the agitator assembly is disposed externally to a container, the drip pan support means being adapted to carry
- a discardable drip-receiving member and to selectively discard the drip-receiving member into an open-topped container positioned by the container-positioning means and
- a means to repetitively supply discardable drip-receiving members to the pan supporting means.
11 more elements
A mixing apparatus, the mixing apparatus having in cooperative combination
- a frame,
- a conveyor adapted to convey an open-topped waste-receiving container suitable to contain resin and radioactive waste,
- a container positioning means adapted to locate an open-topped container at a predetermined location on the conveyor,
- an agitator assembly reciprocally mounted on the frame, the agitator assembly comprising
- agitator drive means,
- an agitator demountably affixed to the drive means, the agitator being selectively positionable so that the agitator extends at least partially into a container held by the container-positioning means,
- a splash guard generally disposed about the agitator and adapted to cover a waste-receiving container when the agitator extends at least partially into a container,
- the splash guard comprising
- a first generally planar splash guard portion affixed to the agitator assembly,
- a second splash portion demountably affixed to the first generally planar portion,
- means to selectively connect and disconnect the first and second splash guard portions to thereby cause the second splash guard portion to fall into a waste-receiving container at the predetermined location on the conveyor,
- means to connect and disconnect the agitator from the agitator drive means,
- means to selectively position a replacement agitator adjacent the agitator drive means and connect said agitator to the drive means,
- a drip-receiving assembly, the drip-receiving assembly having
- a drip pan support means selectively positionable beneath the agitator assembly when the agitator assembly is disposed external to a container, the drip-receiving means being selectively positionable beneath the agitator assembly and remote therefrom, the drip-receiving assembly being adapted to carry a drip-receiving member and selectively discarding the drip-receiving member into an open-topped container positioned by a container-positioning means,
- the drip pan support being pivotally attached to the drip pan positioner means and means to pivot the drip pan support to a position where a drip-receiving member supported thereon falls into a container at the predetermined location on the conveyor,
- the means to supply a drip-receiving member being a generally horizontally-disposed fork having two tines, the fork pivotally supported remote from the tines, the tines being generally parallel and spaced apert to receive the drip pan support means therebetween when the drip pan support means is remote from the agitator, the fork being pivotable to at least two positions:
- (1) a first position for receiving a drip-receiving member and (2) a second position for delivering a drip-receiving means to the drip pan support means when the drip pan support means is remote from the agitator, and
- means to supply a drip-receiving member and position said drip-receiving member on said drip-receiving means.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.