Separation tank
AssigneeAdvanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc.
InventorJoe G. Brooks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A separation tank adapted for use in washing and separating recycled polymeric material from contaminants, the separation tank comprising a centrally disposed baffle and being adapted to receive and circulate an aqueous medium around the baffle; transversely mounted, rotatable members adapted to submerge floating material within the aqueous medium; transversely mounted, rotatable members adapted to aggressively agitate the surface of the aqueous medium; and longitudinally spaced sumps disposed in the floor of the tank on the side of the baffle opposite the agitation members to collect contaminants settling out of the aqueous medium; and members adapted to divide the aqueous medium into surface and subsurface portions for the respective recovery of the polymeric material and recirculation of the aqueous medium.
Claims11
A separation tank for use in separating polymeric materials from contaminants in a dilute aqueous medium, said tank comprising:
- first and second side walls, first and second end walls and a floor;
- a longitudinally extending baffle disposed between said first and second side walls, at least a portion of each end of said baffle being spaced apart from the nearest respective end wall of said tank to permit the circulation of said aqueous medium around said baffle;
- inlet means for said aqueous medium, said inlet means being disposed in said first end wall of said tank in a position transversely disposed between said first side wall of said tank and said baffle;
- at least one rotatable means mounted transversely between said first side wall and said baffle for submerging polymeric material beneath the surface of the aqueous medium within said tank;
- at least one rotatable means transversely mounted between said first side wall and said baffle for to aggressively agitating the surface of said aqueous medium;
- means for directing said aqueous medium around said baffle in such manner that the direction of flow between said second side wall and said baffle will be generally countercurrent to the direction of flow of said aqueous medium between said first side wall and said baffle in an area near said second end wall;
- rotatable means transversely mounted between said second wall of said tank and said baffle for submerging said polymeric material beneath the surface of said aqueous medium;
- means disposed in the floor of said tank between said second side wall and said baffle for collecting contaminants that settle out of said aqueous medium;
- means proximal to said first end wall between said second side wall and said baffle for dividing said aqueous medium into a surface portion and a subsurface portion;
- means for recovering polymeric material from said surface portion of said aqueous medium;
- and
- means for recirculating said subsurface portion of said aqueous medium around said baffle near said first end wall of said tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.