US 5,735,471 A · Cryogenic tire disintegration process and apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for disintegration of thermoplastic elastomeric materials containing fibres, wires or the like. This method comprises the following two steps: subjecting segments of the elastomeric materials to temperatures able to bring the segments into a brittle glass-like state (by means of a freezing chamber), and gradual disintegrating of the frozen segments by disintegrating means provided to separate the segments from the wires and fibres. This disintegration is effected by means of a bending force applied to the frozen segments causing them to break into small particles while the wires and fibres remain substantially intact. After the disintegration, separation of the small particles, wires and fibres takes place by separating means. The disintegrating means comprises a roll means, where the roll means is provided with mating bending surfaces spaced apart from each other at predetermined distances and facilitating maximum bending and breaking of the frozen segments being advanced between the roll means. The roll means may comprise two sets of rolls, where distance between the first set of rolls is bigger than the distance between the second set of rolls to facilitate gradual breaking of the frozen segments. The mating bending surfaces are a plurality of semi-spherical heads, where the heads are spaced from each other in such a way that heads on the mating surface of one roll are mating with a space between heads on the mating surface of another roll.

Claims25

Dependent claims

Method for disintegration of thermoplastic elastomeric materials containing fibres and wires comprising:

subjecting segments of said elastomeric materials to temperatures able to bring only thermoplastic elastomeric component of said segments into a brittle glass-like state;
gradual fracturing of said frozen segments provided to separate and release said elastomeric component from said wires and fibres,
wherein said fracturing is effected by means of a bending force applied to said frozen segments causing said elastomeric component to be broken into small particles at a natural fracture planes without exertion of any compression force to said segments, and wherein said wires and fibres become released from said elastomeric component and remain substantially intact;
separating said small particles and said intact wires and fibres.

1 more element

Apparatus for disintegration of thermoplastic elastomeric material containing wires and fibres comprising:

a freezing chamber provided to subject segments of said thermoplastic material to a temperature able to bring into a brittle glass-like state only the thermoplastic elastomeric component of said segment;
fracturing means having mating bending surfaces which are shaped to gradually fracture said frozen segments and allowing to completely separate and release said thermoplastic elastomeric component of said segments from said wires and fibres,
said fracturing is effected by a bending force applied to said frozen segments being advanced between said bending surfaces, thus causing said segments to be bent and said elastomeric component to be broken into small particles at a natural fracture planes without exertion of any compression force to said segments, and wherein said wires and fibres are released from said small particles and remain substantially intact;
wherein said fracturing means comprise a roll means, said roll means provided with mating bending surfaces spaced apart from each other at predetermined distance and facilitating maximum bending and breaking of said frozen segments being advanced between said roll means;
separation means adapted to completely separate said small particles of thermoplastic elastomeric component, said intact wires and said fibres.

2 more elements

Apparatus for disintegration of thermoplastic elastomeric material containing wires and fibres comprising:

a freezing chamber provided to subject segments of said thermoplastic material to a temperature able to bring into a brittle glass-like state only thermoplastic elastomeric component of said segment;
fracturing means having mating bending surfaces which are configured to gradually fracture said frozen segments and allowing to completely separate and release said thermoplastic elastomeric component of said segments from said wires and fibres,
said fracturing is effected by a bending force applied to said frozen segments being advanced between said bending surfaces, thus causing said segments to be bent and said elastomeric component to be broken into small particles at a natural fracture planes without exertion of any compression force to said segments, and wherein said wire and fibres are released from said small particles and remain substantially intact;
wherein said fracturing means comprises a jaw means, said jaw means are provided with mating bending surfaces spaced apart from each other at predetermined distance and facilitating maximum bending and breaking of said frozen segments being advanced between said jaw means;
separation means adapted to completely separate said small particles of thermoplastic elastomeric component, said intact wires and said fibres.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cryogenic tire disintegration process and apparatus

Life of this patent

Cryogenic tire disintegration process and apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25