Method of extracting nylon fiber from a comminuter

Abstract

A process is disclosed for the separation and recovery of fractional components of used carpet. The nylon fiber component separated from the carpet pieces fed into the cyclonic comminuter are lighter than the other fractional. components and can be extracted from the comminuter chamber through an extraction valve located in the top wall of the comminuter chamber. The nylon extraction valve includes a valve body with an opening extending generally vertically therethrough and a shaft extending therefrom in a horizontal orientation. The valve body is moved to expose the opening to the interior of the comminuter chamber on an intermittent basis to extract accumulated nylon fibers without disrupting the air flow through the comminuter chamber and the associated comminuting operation. Preferably, the valve body is oscillated back and forth, instead of rotated, in order to minimize the trapping of nylon fibers at the valve opening. Preferably, the rasp bars on the interior wall of the comminuter chamber are oriented to deflect air upwardly toward the nylon extraction valve and facilitate the extraction of accumulated nylon fibers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.