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

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the recycling of bituminous or tar containing materials, more in particular for the recycling of roofing materials made up of bitumen or tar 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 bituminuos or tar containing materials into a vessel and melting the bitumen or tar component in the materials in the vessel, characterized in that the bituminous or tar containing materials in the vessel are placed into a separate container for bituminous or tar containing materials, while the bitumen or tar and the other components forming the bituminous or tar containing materials are seperated from each in the container by means of the application of a force onto the bituminous or tar containing materials, such as a pressure force or a centrifugal force which is brought to bear on the materials.

Description: Method and apparatus for the recycling of bituminous materials , more in particular bituminous roofcovering materials. The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the recycling of bituminous materials, more in particular bituminous roofcovering materials . It is known to recycle the waste of bituminous roofing materials, which are comprised of bitumen or tar 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 reducing the bituminous or tar containing materials, heating and sorting these, 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 seperated from each other. After sorting, reducing and melting the material is sieved and sorted. The known applied 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 the 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 bituminous materials in the vessel are placed in a seperate container for bituminous materials, while the bitumen and the other components forming the bituminous materials are seperated from each other in the container by means of the application of a force onto the bituminous materials, such as a pressure force or a centrifugal force which is brought to bear on the materials. According to a further characteristic of the method according to the invention the bitumen and the other components forming the bituminous materials are seperated from each other by pressing or pushing the materials together in the container. 5 According to another characteristic of the method according to the invention the bitumen and the other components forming the bituminous materials are seperated from each other in the container by centrifugation of the materials. According to yet another characteristic of the method according to the invention 10 the container with the pressed or pressed together or centrifuged components is 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 15 for the feeding into and 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 a seperate container for receiving the bituminous materials is provided in the vessel, while further means are provided by means of which a pressure can be applied or exerted onto the bituminous materials in the container, 20 such as a pressure force or a centrifugal force, such that the bitumen and the other components forming the bituminous material are seperated from each other. According to a characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention the container is provided with means for pressing or pushing the bituminous or tar 25 containing materials together in the container, while these means according to another charateristic are formed by a press or pressure plate, which is movable in the container in the direction of a part of the container. According to another characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention the 30 container is formed by a base plate, onto which the bituminous materials can be placed, and a press or pressure plate provided at a distance from the base plate, which press or pressure plate is movable in a direction towards and away from the •«- base plate, such, that when the press plate moves towards the base plate the bituminous materials are pressed together between the base plate and the press plate. According to a further characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention the container is formed by a centrifuge. With the method and apparatus according to the invention it is possible to recycle in a simple manner bituminous materials and to seperate the bitumen or tar from possible aids such as polyester fleece or glass fleece or -fabric and such like, slate chippings and such like and possible other components forming the roofing material, such as adhering or not adhering insulation materials formed by polyurethane, polystyrene, mineral wool and such like. It is thereby not necessary to reduce the materials beforehand. The invention will hereafter be described with reference to the drawings of two examples of an embodiment. The figures 1 to 4 show partly in section a front view of an example of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention. Figure 5 shows partly in section a front view of another example of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention. In the figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 is shown a vessel according to the invention for the recycling of bituminous roofcovering material. As can be seen in figure 1, in a vessel 1 for bituminous materials bituminous bands or rolls 2 are placed including the slate chippings, the inlaid and any insulation material possibly adhered to these. In this example of an embodiment the container 1 is formed by a base plate 3, onto which the bituminous rolls 2 are placed. Above the base plate 3 and at a distance therefrom a press or pressure plate 4 is provided which is movable along guiding elements 5 in a direction towards and away from the base plate 3 by means of a drive means 6 not further shown in the drawing * The base plate 3 and the press plate 4 can be provided with perforations or openings 17. The diameter of the openings may vary. In this example of an embodiment the diameter of the openings is about 1 mm. The diameter of the base plate 3 and the press plate 4 is such that these plates 3, 4 fit more or less closely in the vessel 7, while in between the outer circumference 18 of the plates 3, 4 and the inner wall 19 of the vessel a play 20 is present. The dimension of this play 20 can vary and it is about 1 mm in this example of an embodiment. As can be seen in figure 2 the container 1 is lowered down into a vessel 7. The vessel 7 is filled with a melting medium 8. As a melting medium liquid hot bitumen 8 or hot fuel oil or another hot melting medium is used of about 200 °C. The bitumen 8 is brought into circulation by means of a propeller 21 and is led alongside the bituminous rolls or roof bands 2 which are to be recycled. After a time the rolls of waste material will have molten and the other components forming the roofcovering material remain left, such as the inlaids, the cases, the slate chippings, the insulation and such like, and the bitumen from the roof bands will have molten away in the melting medium. After the melting of the bitumen in the bituminous materials the press or pressure plate 4 is moved slowly to the base plate 3 as can be seen in figure 3. The bituminous rolls 2 are pressed together between the base plate 3 and the press plate 4, whereby the bitumen is pressed out of the remaining materials 2. The molten bitumen in de space 22 in between the plates 3, 4 passes through the perforations 17 in the plates 3, 4 into the space 24 in the vessel 7, while further the tight or close fit of the plates 3, 4 in the vessel prevents that rest materials can pass from out of the space 22 in between the plates through the play 20 outside into the space 24 in the vessel 7, so that it is achieved to a large extent that the rest materials stay behind in between the plates 3, 4. As can be seen in figure 4 the container 1 , with in it the rest materials that are pressed together in the form of a block 11, is thereafter raised and lifted out of the vessel and this block can thereafter be handled as waste, for instance burnt. With the method and apparatus according to the invention it is possible to place the bituminous waste materials such as the rolls in a very simple manner in a melting vessel and to melt these and to remove the bitumen to a large extent and practically completely from the residue by the pressing together, while the removal of the residue and the handling of the residue can also take place in a very- simple manner. With a favourable embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention the plates are exchangeable, so that, depending on on the nature of the materials to be recycled, plates with a smaller respectively larger diameter can be chosen to create a larger respectively smaller play in between the outer circumference of the plates and the inner wall of the vessel, while further plates can be exchanged with smaller or larger perforations. In this way the sieve or filter function established by the perforations and the play can be adapted to the dimensions or roughness of the rest materials. Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention. In this example of an embodiment the container 1 is carried out as a cilinder 12 the wall of which is in the form of a perforated plate 13. The cilinder 12 is filled, as can be seen in figure 5, from above with the rolls 2, after which the cilinder 12 is lowered in the vessel 7, as is schematically shown in the drawing. The vessel 7 is filled with hot bitumen as described above with respect to figures 1-4. After the melting of the bitumen in the rolls 2 the vessel is pumped empty after which the cilinder 13 is rotated by means of a drive means 6 not further shown in the drawing, and the material is centrifuged. The cilinder 13 is supported by support wheels 14 and lateral support wheels 15. The bitumen is seperated from the other components by means of centrifugation. The residu 16 rests against the wall 13 of the cilinder and can be removed from the vessel in a very simple manner. Earlier it has been noted that with the method and apparatus according to the invention the vessel is heated and that as a melting medium is used liquid hot bitumen 8 or hot fuel oil or another hot melting medium of about 200 °C. Its is however also possible with the method and apparatus to do away with a heating of the content of the vessel and to use instead of a melting medium one or another kind of cold solvent (for instance diesel oil). Earlier it has been noted that the diameter of the base plate 3 and the press plate 4 is such that these plates 3, 4 fit more or less closely in the vessel 7, whereby in between the outer circumference 18 of the plates 3, 4 and the inner wall 19 of the vessel a play 20 is present. The dimension of this play can vary and is about 1 mm in this example of an embodiment. This play is so small that it functions as a sealing between the inner wall of the vessel and the outer circumference of the plates. In an embodiment on a larger scale of the apparatus the problem may come up that this lateral sealing between the plates and the wall poses a problem due to the circumstance that the wall runs out of line or is corrugated. It is for instance possible that in between a plate and the wall a space or slot is present of 10 mm, of which the size may vary in the vertical direction. Extra sealing means can then be required, for instance springy sealing means, for instance brushes or segments which are spring-mounted at the outer circumference of the plates.

Claims: C l a i m s 1. Method for the recycling of bituminous or tar containing materials, more in particular for the recycling of roofing materials made up of bitumen or tar 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 or tar containing materials into a vessel and melting the bitumen or tar component in the materials in the vessel, characterized in that the bituminous or tar containing materials in the vessel are placed into a seperate container for bituminous or tar containing materials, while the bitumen or tar and the other components forming the bituminous or tar containing materials are seperated from each in the container by means of the application of a force onto the bituminous or tar containing materials, such as a pressure force or a centrifugal force which is brought to bear on the materials. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the bitumen or tar and the other components forming the bituminous or tar containing materials are seperated from each other by pressing or pushing the materials together in the container. 3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the bitumen or tar and the other components forming the bituminous or tar containing materials are seperated from each other in the container by centrifugation of the materials. 4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container with the pressed or pressed together or centrifuged components is lifted or hoisted out of the vessel. 5. Apparatus for applying the method according to one of the preceding claims, formed by a vessel for receiving the bituminous or tar containing materials, with means for the feeding of bitumen or tar into and 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 a separate container for receiving the bituminous or tar containing materials, while further means are provided by means of which a pressure can be applied or exerted onto the bituminous or tar containing materials in the container, such as a pressure force or a centrifugal force, such that the bitumen or tar and the other components forming the bituminous or tar containing materials are seperated from each other. 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the container is provided with means for pressing or pushing the bituminous or tar containing materials together in the container. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the means are formed by a press or pressure plate, which is movable in the container in the direction of a part of the container. 8. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the means are formed by a base plate present in the container, and a press or pressure plate which is movable in the direction of the base plate. 9. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the container is formed by a base plate, onto which the bituminous materials can be placed, and a press or pressure plate mounted at a distance from the base plate, which press or pressure plate is movable in a direction towards the base plate and in a direction away from the base plate, such, that when the press plate is moved towards the base plate the bituminous or tar containing materials are pressed together between the base plate and the press plate. 10. Apparatus according to one of the claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the base plate or the press or pressure plate or both plates are provided with perforations. 11. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the diameter of the perforations is about 1 mm. 12. Apparatus according to one of the claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the diameter of the base plate and/or the press plate is such that these fit more or less closely in the vessel, while in between the outer circumference of the plates and the inner wall of the vessel only a small amount of play is present. 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the play between the outer circumference of the plates and the inner wall of the vessel is about 1 mm. 14. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the container is formed by a centrifuge. 15. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means are present for lifting or hoisting the container out of the vessel. 16. Apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the means are formed by an apparatus which is adapted to lift or hoist the container out of the vessel.

Inventors: MUELBECK MARTIN, MUELBECK, MARTIN
Applicants: MODIGLASS MODIFIED ASPHALT, MUELBECK MARTIN, VEEN ELLEN, MODIGLASS MODIFIED ASPHALT- AND GLASSMAT- MACHINES LTD., MUELBECK, MARTIN, VEEN, ELLEN
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B29B17
IPC codes: B03B9, B29B17, C10C3