Process and apparatus for separating components of fragmented vehicle tires
AssigneeD & R Recyclers, Inc.
InventorDarrel Rutherford, Sr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and equipment are described for the recycling of pieces of pre-fragmented scrap tires using high pressure water jets. The use of high pressure water provides for the production of fragmented rubber material in useful sizes and also provides for a separation of the fragmented rubber from the cording and bead material of the pieces of pre-fragmented tires. Recovery of metal cording material in a form suitable for reuse is also one feature of the present invention.
Claims27
A continuous process for producing crumb rubber from a plurality of pieces of pre-fragmented tire and separating said crumb rubber from the metal cording material of said pieces of pre-fragmented tire, said process comprising the steps of:
- a') placing said pieces of pre-fragmented tire onto a rotatable surface;
- and,
- a") rotating said pieces of pre-fragmented tire through at least one processing zone wherein high pressure fluid is directed onto said pieces;
- and,
- a) directing at least one stream of fluid at a sufficiently high pressure onto said pieces of pre-fragmented tire in said at least one processing zone for a sufficient duration to fragment said rubber of said pieces into crumb rubber and to separate said crumb rubber from said cording material of said pieces by washing said crumb rubber away from said cording material and into the flow of effluent fluid, leaving said cording material substantially separate from said effluent fluid and said crumb rubber in said effluent fluid;
- and
- b) separating and recovering said crumb rubber from said effluent fluid.
A continuous process for producing crumb rubber from a plurality of pieces of pre-fragmented tire and separating said crumb rubber from the metal cording material of said pieces of pre-fragmented tire, said process comprising the steps of:
- a') placing said pieces of pre-fragmented tire onto a rotatable surface;
- and,
- a") transporting said pieces of pre-fragmented tire through at least one processing zone wherein high pressure fluid is directed onto said pieces;
- and,
- a) directing at least one stream of fluid at a sufficiently high pressure onto said pieces of pre-fragmented tire in said at least one processing zone for a sufficient duration to fragment said rubber of said pieces into crumb rubber and to detach said crumb rubber from said cording material of said pieces;
- b) washing said crumb rubber and said cording material into the flow of effluent fluid.
An apparatus for producing crumb rubber from a plurality of pieces of pre-fragmented tire and detaching said crumb rubber from the metal cording material of said pieces of pre-fragmented tire, said apparatus comprising:
- a processing chamber to retain said pieces of pre-fragmented tire therein, said processing chamber having a plurality of holes through which crumb rubber and fragmented cording material exit following processing;
- and
- one or more fluid jets to direct at least one stream of fluid at a sufficiently high pressure onto said pieces of pre-fragmented tire in said processing chamber for a sufficient duration to fragment said rubber of said pieces into crumb rubber and to detach said crumb rubber from said cording material of said pieces, and washing said crumb rubber and said cording material into the flow of effluent fluid, leaving said cording material substantially detached from said crumb rubber.
An apparatus for producing crumb rubber from a plurality of pieces of pre-fragmented tire and separating said crumb rubber from the metal cording material of said pieces of pre-fragmented tire, said apparatus comprising:
- a processing chamber to retain said pieces of pre-fragmented tire therein, said processing chamber having a plurality of holes through which crumb rubber exits following processing;
- and
- one or more fluid jets to direct at least one stream of fluid at a sufficiently high pressure onto said pieces of pre-fragmented tire in said processing chamber for a sufficient duration to fragment said rubber of said pieces into crumb rubber and to separate said crumb rubber from said cording material of said pieces by washing said crumb rubber away from said cording material and into the flow of effluent fluid, leaving said cording material substantially separate from said effluent fluid and said crumb rubber in said effluent fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.