Apparatus and methods for processing scrap tires

Apparatus for processing at least portions of scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground into other useful forms comprising, in combination:

• a first tank for holding a slurry of liquified rubber and fiber;
• means for immersing scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground in the slurry of liquified rubber and fiber of the first tank;
• means for heating the slurry in the first tank to a temperature to liquify the rubber and fiber from the scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground immersed in the first tank;
• wherein the immersing means comprises a tire handler module for holding the scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground;
• and means for vibrating the tire handler module in the first tank for vibrating the scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground in the slurry of liquified rubber and fiber of the first tank.

Apparatus for processing scrap tires into other useful forms comprising, in combination:

• a first tank for holding a slurry of liquified rubber and fiber;
• means for immersing scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground in the slurry of liquified rubber and fiber of the first tank;
• and means for heating the slurry in the first tank to a temperature to liquify the rubber and fiber of the scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground immersed in the first tank;
• wherein the heating means comprises, in combination:
• a burner capable of burning the slurry of liquified rubber;
• and means for passing the slurry of liquid rubber from the first tank to the burner.

Apparatus for processing at least portions of scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground into other useful forms comprising, in combination:

• a first tank for holding a slurry of liquified rubber and fiber;
• means for immersing scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground in the slurry of liquified rubber and fiber of the first tank;
• and means for heating the slurry in the first tank to a temperature to liquify the rubber and fiber of the scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground immersed in the first tank;
• wherein the heating means comprises, in combination:
• a fluid circulation loop including a first heat exchanger outside of the first tank and a second heat exchanger located in the slurry of the first tank;
• and a source of heat for exposure to the first heat exchanger.

Method for processing at least portions of scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground into other useful forms comprising the steps of:

• providing a first tank of a slurry of liquified rubber and fiber;
• heating the slurry of the first tank to a temperature to liquify the rubber and fiber of scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground;
• providing a second tank for holding-the slurry;
• overflowing the slurry from the first tank to the second tank;
• immersing the scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground in the slurry of the second tank;
• and immersing the scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground in the heated slurry of the first tank, with the scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground being immersed in the second tank prior to immersing the scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground in the slurry of the first tank to preheat the scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground.

Method for processing at least portions of scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground into other useful forms comprising the steps of:

• providing a first tank of a slurry of liquified rubber and fiber;
• heating the slurry of the first tank to a temperature to liquify the rubber and fiber of scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground;
• providing a tire handler module;
• placing the scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground on the tire handler module;
• immersing the tire handler module with the scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground placed thereon in the heated slurry of the first tank to liquify the rubber and fiber of the scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground;
• and vibrating the tire handler module for vibrating the scrap tires which have not been shredded or ground in the heated slurry of the first tank.