Patent ID: 6880265

Claim:
A method of drying metallic waste likely to catch fire and/or explode, said dried waste being for compacting, the method comprising: loading said waste into a compacting canister; said canister of cylindrical or prismatic shape having one or more axial walls, a bottom, and a cover, and being fitted with means respectively for enabling a drying inert gas to be introduced and evacuated so as to dry said waste loaded in said canister, said means for introducing and evacuating said drying inert gas being arranged relative to each other in such a manner that said drying inert gas introduced into the canister flows significantly through said waste prior to being evacuated from the canister, said canister being closed by its cover after being loaded; said canister, prior to said loading, having previously been positioned empty in the cavity of a moving enclosure, said cavity being formed in the body of said moving enclosure and being open on top, or otherwise said loaded canister closed by its cover is positioned in the cavity of a moving enclosure, said cavity being provided in the body of said moving enclosure and being open on top; then: docking said moving enclosure loaded with said canister itself loaded with said waste to a stationary docking station; said stationary docking station presenting a configuration adapted to confine said canister in a hermetically closed volume once said moving enclosure has docked; and being fitted with means respectively for delivering said drying gas into said canister and for evacuating said drying gas from said canister; said means of said docking station being suitable respectively for co-operating with the means for introducing and evacuating said gas that are fitted to said canister, either directly or via means for circulating said gas formed in the body of said moving enclosure; and setting said drying inert gas into circulation through said canister confined in said docked moving enclosure.