Abstract:
A method and apparatus for separating metal from dirt and other material based on heating the metal and dirt, cooling the metal to freeze the same and scraping the metal for collection and reuse.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present invention is a continuation of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/639,267 filed on Dec. 28, 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The primary function, broadly speaking, is to separate metal from dirt, refuse and the like in a simple fashion.  
         [0003]     The present invention is directed to this separation and includes an elongated cylindrical double-walled housing of suitable size for receiving the metal and dirt/refuse mix, spaced rollers on the bottom thereof to rotate the housing, conveyor means disposed on the front and rear thereof for receiving and removing the metal and dirt/refuse mix, a divider disc mounted between the center of the housing with the lower half being covered with chains and barbs to receive and pulverize the metal and dirt/refuse which is conveyed into the upper half, heating means in the double-walled cylinder extending to the disc, and cooling means in the double-walled cylinder extending from the disc to the end of the cylinder wherein the metal and dirt/refuse are heated in the front part of the cylinder as it rotates and dispenses and passes into the open disc where the metal is frozen in the second part, whereat the dirt/refuse drops to the bottom and collected, with the frozen metal scraped from the cylinder walls and collected. The metal is then collected for further use, and the dirt discarded. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIG. 1  shows a rotary housing supporting a mixture of metal, dirt, refuse and the like and means for separating the same;  
         [0005]      FIG. 1A  shows some of the details of the housing;  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  shows conveyor feed means entering the housing;  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  shows other details of the housing and collection means for the metal and dirt/refuse with vacuum means to facilitate the separation thereof,  
         [0008]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show other incidental details of the housing. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the means for collecting the metal from dirt/refuse and the like including a rotary double-walled cylindrical housing of suitable length A, conveyors B for introducing the metal and dirt/refuse into the front end thereof, and a conveyor C for disposing the separated metal and dirt/refuse at the rear end thereof, a disc D dividing the cylinder into different sections E, F, one section E having heat conveyed into the double-walled cylinder leading to the disc D, and section F having coolant conveyed therein, and support means SM within the cylinder and extending the length thereof to assist in holding the scraper SC and piping P for aiding in collecting the metal and dust.  
         [0010]     With continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , the mixed metal, dirt/refuse MR will be introduced into the double-walled cylinder  10 ,  11  and housing  12  of suitable length L, being rotated by rollers  13 ,  13  at the bottom of the housing, an inlet conveyor  14  and an outlet conveyor  15  disposed at the front  16  and rear  17  for conveying the material MR into and out of the housing  12 , a disc  18  dividing the housing  12  into separate parts  18 ,  19  with heat  20  conducted into the double-walled cylinder  10  of part  18  and coolant  21  conducted into the double-walled cylinder interior  19  with the disc  18  serving to separate the metal, dirt/refuse MR as it is processed through the housing  12 .  
         [0011]     Referring again to  FIG. 1  and to  FIG. 1A , the disc  18  fills the interior housing with the bottom half  26  covering the lower half of disc  18  and the top half  27  being open. The bottom half  26  has chains  27  ( FIG. 1 ) and tangs  28  filling the same to facilitate the breaking of the metal, dirt/refuse as the disc  18  rotates while pushing the same through the open half into the second part of the cylinder.  
         [0012]     Additional, in  FIG. 1A , the cylinder  12  is seen to include a secondary support  22  extending the length thereof and includes ground-engaging base triangular members  23 ,  23  positioned at the front and rear of the cylinder  12  with elongated support bars  24 ,  24  interconnecting the members  23 ,  23  with spaces triangular units  25 ,  25  disposed within the support bars  24 ,  24  to reinforce the same with other parts identified herein below.  
         [0013]     And, as seen in  FIG. 3 , the secondary support  22  at  FIG. 1A  shows a cut-out view showing a triangular unit  25  in dotted outline supporting a lower dust collector DC and a scraper SC with vacuum lines VL for conveying the removed metal and dirt/refuse to other collectors. The metal collector MC is disposed outwardly of the confines of the housing  12  (as seen in  FIG. 4 ) to accumulate the separated metal, and whereat the dirt/refuse is discarded.  
         [0014]     The inlet and outlet conveyors  14 ,  15  of  FIGS. 1, 1A  and  5  are included only to suggest the same and the location of each. Neither is critical to the details shown, the only necessity being that the material be fed into and out of the housing in a normal fashion.