DK168657B1 - Device for comminution of containers - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Device for crushing containers, especially metal cans which contain propellants and/or product residues, with - a working chamber (2) in which motor-driven crushing tools (3) are arranged, characterised in that - the working chamber (2) is air-tightly closed ; - an inlet opening (4) for protective gas opens into the working chamber (2) ; - an air-tightly closable lock (12) is arranged over the working chamber (2) ; - a collecting device for the components of the crushed containers (18) is provided which air-tightly adjoins the working chamber (2) ; - a waste gas conduit (27) is connected with the working chamber (2).

Description

- i - DK 168657 B1

The present invention relates to an apparatus for comminuting containers, in particular metal cans containing propellant and / or residual products and of the kind specified in the preamble of claim 1.

5 Pressurized containers from a propellant have wide application, for example in the form of metal spray cans. Often the cans contain flammable or toxic, but at least environmentally harmful products in liquid form or as gases. Such containers can therefore not only be disposed of with ordinary household waste, but must be disposed of through special waste management. In this way, the containers must be comminuted, partly so that residual propellants and any residual products can be collected and partly so that the metal from which the containers are most often manufactured can be recycled.

15 There is a risk of explosion in the mechanical comminution of not completely empty containers, especially when the residual contents are easily contaminated. Particularly problematic is the handling of filled, high-pressure containers, for example superimposed products.

U.S. Patent No. 4,356,981 discloses an apparatus for handling containers containing aerosols or propellants combustible gases or toxic chemicals. The containers are chopped into pieces and the residual components fall onto a conveyor with a perforated conveyor belt. The conveyor is disposed within a substantially dense housing against the surroundings through which an air flow is conducted.

The liquid residues are dripped through the holes in the conveyor belt and trapped in an underlying gutter and discharged through a liquid outlet. The gaseous components 30 are discharged together with the air introduced into the housing through a suction opening by means of a vacuum blower. The mechanical comminution of the containers itself takes place in an atmosphere containing oxygen. In particular, containers containing easily flammable components cannot be handled / comminuted without risk in this known apparatus.

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for risk-free and environmentally friendly comminution and handling of containers, especially pressurized metal cans containing propellant and / or residual products.

This is achieved according to the invention in the embodiment of claim 1.

5 During operation, there is an inert protective gas atmosphere in the working chamber of the appliance with a slight overpressure relative to the surroundings. Therefore, even metal cans with high internal pressure and combustible content can be comminuted mechanically without risk, despite inevitable sparking.

10 The inert protective gas atmosphere certainly prevents self-ignition. Nitrogen, carbon dioxide or other inert gas may be used as protective gas.

The small amount of protective gas that escapes when new containers are introduced into the sluice is constantly replaced through the opening opening in the work chamber.

The solid constituents formed during the comminution fall into the collecting device where any liquid constituents also accumulate. Gaseous components are passed through the vent line for separate treatment. Thus, the 20 apparatus enabling completely risk-free and environmentally friendly handling of containers with critical content.

In the embodiment according to claim 2, the protective gas escaping through the sluice is replaced very quickly.

According to the invention, it is convenient for the apparatus to be designed as a newspaper in claim 3. Controlled by the solenoid valve, large quantities of protective gas can be quickly passed through the annulus and the supply opening into the working chamber. Before the comminution of containers begins, it is necessary that oxygen-containing air is forced out of the chamber. Only when the lower explosion limit is reached in the chamber can the comminution begin.

During normal operation, the main solenoid valve in the main supply line remains closed. However, in order to escape the protective gas, gas can be replaced through the shunt line. The flow of gas is regulated so that a small excess pressure is maintained in the chamber.

- 3 - DK 168657 B1

Conveniently, the lock positioned in front of the work chamber comprises an upper and a lower lock slider defining a lock container. The end positions of the lock sliders can be monitored by means of end position switches. If the lock 5 is not closed properly the appliance can be switched off. It is advantageous that the lock also has inlet for protective gas.

To increase reliability, the apparatus is suitably designed as described in claim 5.

Even at longer standstill, for example during a week-end, the appliance's protective gas atmosphere must be maintained in order to avoid incandescent fire with certainty. It is therefore appropriate that the apparatus is designed as claimed in claim 6.

For the protection gas supply to be maintained as well

in the event of a power failure, the emergency supply line 1 R is advantageous

built-in a hand operated valve.

The collection device for the constituents of the finely divided containers may be a waste container located below the working chamber. It is therefore appropriate that the apparatus is designed as claimed in claim 7. The additional inlets in the container ensure a rapid and complete flushing of the apparatus with protective gas before starting the comminution operation. The wall of the standpipe retains the solid components while the gaseous residual products are sucked through the holes of the pipe wall into the suction line.

25

Alternatively, the collecting device from the constituents of the finely divided containers may comprise a pipe chain conveyor having an inlet shaft connected to the work chamber, a conveyor tube having at least one sibond element, in the conveyor pipe of a circular chain fixed feeding discs, a sub-base element arranged with a socket end, and an outlet socket connected therewith. a liquid container from the liquid residual products and a solid container for solid components is connected to the outlet shaft. It is thus convenient that the invention 35 is embodied as described in claim 8.

Instead of the circular chain with guide discs, a transport screw fitted with bores can be used.

- 4 - DK 168657 B1

It is convenient for the invention to be designed as claimed in claim 9 so that also pendant liquid components can drip off at the upper six-bottom element.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which: 1 is a schematic and partially cut-away view of a comminution apparatus according to the invention; FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 2, incoming feed disc.

The FIG. 1, with all the auxiliary units required for operation, mounted on a base 1. The most important part of the apparatus is an airtight closed work chamber 2 in which comminution tools 3 are arranged. The comminution tools are powered by an electric motor and here include two about their longitudinal axis rotary, interlocking cutting drums.

Above the comminution tools 3 are several supply openings 4 which open into the working chamber 2. All 20 supply openings 4 are connected to a common ring conductor 5, which is also connected to a main supply line 6. The main supply line 6 can be opened and closed by means of a main solenoid valve 7. The valve 7 is shunted by a conduit 8 in which is disposed a second solenoid valve 9.

The main supply line 6 communicates with a protective gas container 10, which contains nitrogen here. Upon opening one of the solenoid valves 7 or 9, protective gas flows from the container via the lines 6.5 and the supply openings 4 into the working chamber 2.

30 Both the drive means for the comminution tools 3 and the solenoid valves 7 and 9 are connected by means of electrical wires to an electronic control and control unit 11.

Above the work chamber 2 is a lock 12. Between 35 an upper lock slider 13 and a lower lock slider 14 is defined an airtight closable lock container 15. The two sliders 13 and 14 are hydraulically actuated and opened and closed alternately - 5 - DK 168657 B1 11. The end positions of the lock sliders are monitored by means of electrical end position switches 37 and 38.

A funnel 16 of stainless steel is attached to the lock 12. A conveyor 17 also mounted on the base 1 serves to guide containers 18, which are metal pressure cans here, from a storage container 19 to the filling hopper 16.

Below, the working chamber 2 enters a waste shaft 20. As a collecting device for the liquid and solid 10 components of the finely divided containers 18, a waste container 21 which under the waste shaft 20 stands on the socket 1 serves.

As an airtight connection between the waste container 21 and the waste shaft 20 or the working chamber 2, respectively, a hydraulically up and down movable gasket 22. serves in the drawing, the gasket 22 is shown in its upper position. In the lock 12 there are additional inlets 23 for nitrogen. These inlets 23 are connected to another annulus 24, which is connected to the nitrogen container 10 via a second supply line 25 with a solenoid valve 26. When the valve 26 20 is opened, controlled by the unit 11, nitrogen flows from the container 11 into the lock 12.

To the side of the waste container 21 is a suction line 27 which is extended inside the container and passes into a vertical, perforated standpipe 28. In the wall of the container 21 there is further inlet 29. These are over a third ring line 30 and a third supply line. 31 with a solenoid valve 32 connected to the nitrogen container 10.

In the suction line 27 is arranged an explosion-protected suction fan 33, whose electric drive motor, like the magnetic valve 32 in the third supply line 31, is connected to the control and control unit 11. The suction line 27 is led up and ends in a firing station 34.

35 A pressure gauge 35 is provided in the working chamber 2 for measuring the overpressure prevailing in the chamber. Just after the container 21, an oxygen meter 36 is built into the suction line 27 just after the container 21. The two meters 35,36 are electrically connected to the control and control unit 11.

The apparatus is further provided with an emergency supply of 5 nitrogen, which is independent of the main solenoid valve 7. This consists of an emergency supply line 39 connected to the nitrogen container 10 of relatively large cross-section and opening into the main supply line 6 behind the main solenoid valve 7 immediately in front of the ring line 4. A 10 hand-operated ball valve 40 is arranged in the emergency supply line 39.

The apparatus described works as follows:

Before comminution of containers 18 begins, with working comminution tools 3, closed lock slider 13 and closed gasket 22 between the waste container 21 and waste 15 shaft 20, sufficient nitrogen is blown from the container 10 via the supply openings 4 into the working chamber 2, via the inlets 23 into the lock 12 and via the additional inlets 25 into the waste container 21. This removes oxygen-containing air in the apparatus via the suction line 27 to render the whole apparatus inactive. During this preparatory rinsing operation, the residual oxygen content of the suction tube 27 is measured by the meter 36. When the oxygen content reaches below a predetermined limit value which depends on the lower explosion limit of the fuel and any residual products in the containers 18, the apparatus is ready for operation.

With closed solenoid valve 7, a small excess pressure is then maintained in the working chamber 2 by supplying a relatively smaller amount of nitrogen through the shunt line 8 whose valve 30 is opened. The overpressure is monitored by the pressure gauge 35.

At the same time, an inert amount of nitrogen is passed through the solenoid valve 26, the second supply line 25 and the second ring line 24 to the lock 12. The upper locking slider 13 is thus closed so that an inert nitrogen atmosphere is also maintained in the lock container 15.

Containers 18 are now conveyed by the conveyor 17 from the storage container 19 into the filling hopper 16. The containers 18 collect on the closed upper lock slider 13. When a predetermined amount of containers 18 are assembled, the upper lock slider 13 and the containers 18 are opened. falls on the closed lower lock slider 14. Then the upper slider 13 is closed so that the lock container is closed tightly. While the containers 18 are being fed from the hopper to the sluice, the conveyor 17 is stopped.

Then, the lock container 15 is emptied by opening the lower 10 lock slider 14 so that the containers 18 fall into the working chamber 2 of the working comminution tools 3.

The small amount of nitrogen thereby avoiding in the above closed sluice 12 is immediately replaced by the supply openings 4 and the additional inlets 23. The solid components, in the form of metal chips, which fall into the container 18, fall into the waste container through the shaft 20 into the waste container 21. Any liquid container contents collect in a sump at the bottom of the waste container 18. Evacuating propellants and gaseous residual products from the damaged containers 18 are sucked off by the fan 33 in the suction line 27 from the perforated standpipe 28 in the waste container to the station 34 and incinerated.

Meanwhile, the conveyor 17 has brought a new portion of containers 18 to the filling hopper 16 and the work process described 25 is cyclically repeated. The temporally aligned openings and closures of the lock sliders 13 and 14 and the constant supply of nitrogen to maintain a small overpressure in the working chamber 2 ensure that the destruction of the containers 18 by means of the tools 3 always takes place in an inert nitrogen atmosphere. Any risk of explosion is thereby excluded. When the waste container 21 is filled with solid components, the machining process is interrupted, the tools 3 are stopped and the packing 22 is lifted so that the filled container 21 can be replaced with an empty one.

When the gasket 22 is lowered and the previously mentioned nitrogen rinsing operation is again performed, the processing can be resumed.

- 8 - DK 168657 B1

For longer periods of downtime, the entire apparatus is supplied with nitrogen via the emergency supply line 39.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the apparatus. The FIG. 1, the waste container 21 shown in Fig. 1 has been replaced by another collection device consisting essentially of a pipe chain conveyor 41, a liquid container 42 and a solid container 43. The pipe chain conveyor 41 has an upwardly extending conveyor 44 with an inlet shaft 45 connected to the working chamber 2 and a 10. outlet shaft 46 at the opposite end. Inside the tube 44 runs a chain 47 to which feed discs 48 are fixed at regular intervals.

In FIG. 3, one of these feed discs 48 is shown in perspective. At its periphery, the disc 48 is provided with notches 49 such that larger solid portions are conveyed obliquely upwardly through the tube 44 while the dripping liquid flows the opposite way in the notches 49.

The tube 44 is connected to the working chamber 2 via the inlet shaft 45 and has an oval cross-section at the inlet shaft. Against the outlet shaft 46, the height of the tube 44 is reduced and it transitions into a circular cross-section corresponding to the feed discs 48. On the inside of the tube 44, several flexible scrapers 59 are disposed over the feed discs 48. Under the inlet shaft 45, the conveyor tube 44 has a lower 25 sib base element through which holes flowing components from the finely divided containers 18 can flow into a collecting duct 53. Immediately before the outlet shaft 46, a substantially similar upper sib floor member 54.

Between the lower side bottom member 52 and the upper side bottom member 54, a drainage channel 55 extends below and parallel to the transport tube 44. The lower end of the drainage channel 55 opens into the collecting channel 53. This is connected to the liquid container 42 via a hand operated valve 56.

35 The solid and liquid constituents of the container 18 in the working chamber 2 of finely divided containers 18 fall through the inlet shaft 45 into the transport tube 44 between the feed discs 48. The majority of the liquid immediately flows through the lower sibling element 52 and the collecting duct 53 The solid components, on the other hand, are carried by the washers 48 obliquely up through the conveyor tube 44. Any pending liquid residues are reached through the upper sill bottom member 54 and the drain gutter 55 also the liquid container 42. The dry solid components fall through the outlet shaft 46 into the solid container 43. Thus, liquid and solid constituents from the finely divided containers 18 are discharged continuously by the tube chain conveyor 41, at which time solid liquid constituents are separated. When valve 56 is closed, a filled liquid container 42 can be replaced with a blank. Also, the solid container 43 connected to the outlet shaft 46, which is in operation air-tight during operation, can be easily replaced.

Apart from the continuous draining of the constituents of the finely divided containers 18 by means of the conveyor 41, it works in FIG. 2 in the same way as in connection with FIG. 1.

20 The working chamber 2, the interior of the pipe chain conveyor 41, the liquid container 42 and the solid container 43 during the comminution process constitute an air tight unit against the environment so that no harmful substances can escape. The lower part of the working chamber 2, the inner 25 of the conveyor 41 as well as the two containers 42 and 43 are connected to a connecting line 57 leading to the suction line 27.

Already in connection with FIG. 1, it was discussed how the entire apparatus before comminution of containers 18 should be rinsed again with nitrogen from the container 30 10. From here, both the conveyor 41 and the solid container 43 are connected to a further nitrogen supply line 58 with a solenoid valve 32.

35

Claims (10)

1. Apparatus for comminution of containers (18), in particular, metal cans containing propellant and / or residual products and having a working chamber (2) in which motor-driven comminution tools (3) are arranged, characterized in that the working chamber (2) is airtightly closed, that at least one protective gas supply opening (4) opens into the working chamber (2), that an airtight sealing lock (12) is arranged above the working chamber (2), that a collecting device for the finely divided containers (18) Ingredients 10 are air tightly connected to the working chamber (2) and the working chamber (2) is connected to a suction line (27). Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the protective gas supply openings (4) are located above the comminution tools (3). Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the supply openings (4) are connected to a ring line (5) which is connected to a main supply line (6) with a main solenoid valve (7), characterized in that it comprises a main solenoid valve ( 7) immediate shunt line 20 (8) with another solenoid valve (9). Apparatus according to claims 1-3, wherein the lock (12) comprises an upper (13) and a lower (14) pneumatic, hydraulically or electrically actuated lock slider defining a lock container (15) characterized in that the lock 25 (12) has inlet (23) for protective gas. Apparatus according to claims 1-4, characterized in that it comprises a pressure gauge (35) arranged in the working chamber (2) and / or an oxygen meter (36) arranged in the suction line (27). Apparatus according to claims 1-5, characterized in that it comprises an independent protective gas emergency supply line (39), which line (39) opens behind the main solenoid valve (7) in the main supply line (6). Apparatus according to claims 1-6, wherein the collecting device for the constituents of the finely divided containers (18) is disposed beneath the working chamber (2) k in the waste container (21) k, characterized in that between the working chamber (2) and the container (21) is provided with a pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically controlled vertically movable gasket 5 (22) that additional waste gas inlet (29) can be found in the waste container (29) and a waste container (21) can be provided perforated standpipe (28) connected to the suction line (27). Apparatus according to claims 1-6, wherein the collecting device for the constituents of the finely divided containers (18) comprises a pipe chain conveyor (41) with an inlet shaft (45) connected to the working chamber (2), a transport pipe (44) having at least one side bottom element. (52), in the conveying tube (44) of a circular chain (-47) fixed feed discs 15 (48), a collection channel (53) arranged below the sibond element (52), and an outlet shaft (46), whereby with the collection channel (53) ) is connected to a liquid container (42) for the liquid residual products and there is connected to the outlet shaft (46) a solid container (43) for solid 20, characterized in that the conveyor tube (44) slopes upwards with reduced height towards the outlet shaft (46) and the tube on the underside has scrapers (59), the feed discs (48) of which may have notches (49) along their circumference. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the conveyor tube (44) at the outlet shaft (46) has a further side bottom element (54) and that a drainage channel (55) which opens into the collecting duct is arranged beneath and parallel to the conveyor tube (44). (53). Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the pipe chain conveyor (41) and the solid container (43) are connected to the protective gas line (58) and the feeder tube (44), the liquid container (42) and the solid container (43) can also be connected to the the suction line (27). 35