METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE RECYCLING OF BITUMINOUS MATERIALS, MORE IN PARTICULAR OF BITUMINOUS ROOFING MATERIALS

Abstract: Method for the recycling of bituminous materials, more in particular for the recycling of bituminous roofing materials made up of bitumen and any possible inlaids such as polyester fleece of glass fleece or -fabric and such like, and of slate chippings and such like and of possible other components forming roofing materials, such as adhering or not adhering insulation materials made up of polyurethane, polystyrene, mineral wool and such like, comprising bringing the bituminous materials (2) into a vessel (1) and melting the bitumen component in the butiminous materials in the vessel, characterized in that the bitumen and the other components forming the bituminous material are separated from each other by pressing or pushing the said other components forming the roofing material together in the vessel (1).

Description: Method and apparatus for the recycling of bituminous materials , more in particular of bituminous roofing materials. The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the recycling of bituminous materials, more in particular of bituminous roofing materials . It is known to recycle the waste of bituminous roofing materials, which are comprised of bitumen with possible inlaids such as polyester fleece or glass fleece or -fabric and such like, with slate chippings and such like, and with possible other components forming roofing materials such as adhering or not adhering insulation materials formed by polyurethane, polystyrene, mineral wool and such like, by heating the bituminous materials, in such a way that the bitumen component in the bituminous materials melts, after which the bitumen and the other components forming the roofing materials are separated from each other. After sorting, reducing and melting the material is sieved and sorted. The known methods require much energy and are rather cumbrous. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for the recycling of bituminous materials. The method according to the invention, which comprises bringing the bituminous materials into a vessel and melting the bitumen component in the bituminous materials in the vessel, is characterized in that the bitumen component and the other components forming the bituminous materials are separated from each other by pressing or pushing the other components forming the roofing materials together in the vessel. According to a further characteristic of the method according to the invention the components that are pressed or pushed together are removed from the vessel, while these according to another characteristic of the method according to the invention are lifted or hoisted out of the vessel. The invention further relates to an apparatus for applying the method, which apparatus is formed by a vessel for receiving the bituminous materials, with means for the feeding into the vessel and the feeding out of the vessel of bitumen, with means for bringing the content into a flow, and with means for heating the content, and which is characterized in that the vessel is provided with means for pushing or pressing the bituminous materials together in the vessel. Aaccording to a further characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention the press means are formed by a plate which is movable in the vessel over the bottom in the direction of a wall of the vessel, which plate fits vertically in cross section in the vessel. According to a further characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention means are present for removing the pressed together components from the material out of the vessel, while according to yet another characteristic these are formed by a device which is suitable for lifting or hoisting the components out of the vessel. With the method and apparatus according to the invention it is possible to recycle bituminous materials in a simple manner and to separate the bitumen from any possible inlaids such as polyester fleece or glass fleece or -fabric and such like, slate chippings and such like, and any possible other components forming roofcovering materials such as adhering or not adhering insulation materials formed by polyurethane, polystyrene, mineral wool and such like. It is thereby not necessary to first reduce or make the materials smaller. The invention will hereafter be described with reference to the drawing of an example of an embodiment. In the figure a vessel for the recycling of bituminous roofing materials according to the invention is shown. As can be seen in the figure, in a vessel 1 bituminous bands or rolls 2 are brought in, including the slate chippings, the inlaid and any possible adhering insulation materials. As melting medium a hot liquid bitumen 3 or hot fuel oil is used of circa 200 °C. The vessel is filled up to above the material. The bitumen 3 is pumped round by means of the pump 4 and is lead at high speed along the bituminous rolls or roof bands that are to be recycled, whereby the bitumen of the roofcovering melts away in the melting medium. A filter 10 purifies the bitumen from any possible loosening slate chippings and roof dirt. After some time the rolls of waste material will be melted and the other components forming the roofcovering material, such as the inlaids, the tubes, the slate chippings, the insulation and such like, remain left. By means of a double walled construction of the vessel or of the piping system extra energy may or has to be supplied by means of a hot oil circulation system 5. In the vessel 1 further a plate 8 is present, which is movable over the bottom 6 in the vessel in the direction of a wall 7 of the vessel, which plate fits vertically in the cross section in the vessel. After the rolls 2 are put into the vessel 1 and after the melting of the bitumen component in the rolls the vessel is pumped empty. The residue of the rolls is pressed or pushed by the plate 8 in the direction of a wall 7 and is pressed to a block, practically without bitumen, of the tubes, the inlaids and the slate chippings. This block can thereafter be hoisted out of the vessel and removed by means of a suitable device 9. With the method and apparatus according to the invention it is possible to melt in one single step the bituminous waste materials such as the rolls and to strip the residue by means of the pressing together to a large extent and almost completely from adhering bitumen. This residue can be discharged and can for instance be burned in a waste processing plant because it contains little bitumen. The measurements of the vessel can vary. The vessel can for instance have a measurement of 50 by 3 by 2 meters whereby the processing capacity is 50.000 tons of bituminous scrap waste per year. The capacity can be increased relatively cheap and simple by increasing the length of the vessel.

Claims: C l a i m s 1. Method for the recycling of bituminous materials, more in particular for the recycling of bituminous roofing materials made up of bitumen and any possible inlaids such as polyester fleece of glass fleece or -fabric and such like, and of slate chippings and such like and of possible other components forming roofing materials, such as adhering or not adhering insulation materials made up of polyurethane, polystyrene, mineral wool and such like, comprising bringing the bituminous materials into a vessel and melting the bitumen component in the butiminous materials in the vessel, characterized in that the bitumen and the other components forming the bituminous material are separated from each other by pressing or pushing the said other components forming the roofing material together in the vessel. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the pushed or pressed together components are removed out of the vessel. 3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the pushed or pressed together components are lifted or hoisted out of the vessel. 4. Apparatus for applying the method according to one of the preceding claims, formed by a vessel for receiving the bituminous materials, with means for the feeding of bitumen into and the feeding of bitumen out of the vessel, with means for bringing the content into a flow, and with means for heating the content, characterized in that the vessel is provided with means for pushing or pressing the bituminous materials in the vessel together. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the press means are formed by a plate which is movable in the vessel over the bottom in the direction of a wall of the vessel, which plate fits in cross section vertically in the vessel. 6. Apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that means are present for removing the components from the material that are pressed together out of the vessel. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the means are formed by a device which is suitable for lifting or hoisting the components out of the vessel.

Inventors: MUELBECK MARTIN, MUELBECK, MARTIN
Applicants: MODIGLASS MODIFIED ASPHALT UND, MUELBECK MARTIN, MODIGLASS MODIFIED ASPHALT- UND GLASSMATMACHINES LTD., MUELBECK, MARTIN
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B29B17
IPC codes: B29B17, C10C3