Patent ID: 6328234
Filing Date: 2001-12-11
Classification: B02C

Abstract:
An apparatus for the separation and recovery of recyclable material from solid waste, which apparatus comprises a cylindrical vessel that is capable of being rotated about its longitudinal axis and capable of withstanding elevated pressures, said vessel comprising:a. an exterior wall surface,c) an interior wall surface,d) a first axial end,e) a second axial end,f) a chamber for receiving waste material to be treated said chamber defined by said interior wall surface and said first axial end and said second axial end, said chamber being sealed against pressure loss within said vessel,g) an inlet at said first axial end and an outlet at said second axial end,h) a feed assembly sealingly connected to said cylindrical vessel at said inlet for feeding solid waste material into said chamber,i) a flight assembly comprised of one or more flights secured to said interior wall surface and projecting radially inwardly from said interior wall surface such that its radial inner edge projects radially inwardly no more than about 80% of the distance from said interior wall surface to said longitudinal axis of said vessel, said flight assembly extending along said interior wall surface in a helical pattern from about said first axial end to about said second axial end,j) one or more tubes secured to each of said one or more of said flights of said flight assembly along substantially the entire length of said flight, said one or more tubes being sealingly and rotatably connected to a source of high pressure fluid, said tube having a plurality of orifices disposed along its length, said orifices being of a predetermined sizes that are sufficient to allow for the injection of jets of high pressure fluid into said chamber.