WO2010125393A1

WO2010125393A1 - Aerosol container disposal or recycling

Info

Publication number: WO2010125393A1
Application number: PCT/GB2010/050704
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brian Richard Watson; Edwina Margaret Watson
Original assignee: MIL-TEK Ltd
Current assignee: MIL-TEK Ltd
Priority date: 2009-04-29
Filing date: 2010-04-29
Publication date: 2010-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 2011-10-29
Also published as: GB0907349D0; GB2469834A

Abstract

An aerosol container compacting device (1) for crushing a plurality of aerosol containers in a controlled manner. The device (1) includes an enclosure (2) with an inlet (3), a compacting unit (5) for crushing the aerosol containers within the enclosure (2) and an extraction system (6) for extracting gas discharged from aerosol containers crushed by the compacting unit (5). The extraction system (6) maintains a negative pressure within the enclosure (2) while aerosol containers are introduced through the inlet. The device (1) includes a collection tray (7) with an associated flushing system (70), the tray (7) being located beneath the compacting unit (5) for collecting residual product released from the aerosol containers as they are crushed by the compacting unit (5). The device (1) also includes a fire containment unit (8), an air conditioning unit (9) and a control unit (10) electrically connected to each of the elements for controlling their operation.

Description

AEROSOL CONTAINER DISPOSAL OR RECYCLING

This invention relates generally to aerosol container disposal or recycling and more specifically, although not exclusively, to a device and method for preparing aerosol containers for disposal or recycling.

Known aerosol container disposal or recycling devices which meet applicable safety regulations are designed for single container preparation. These devices generally include a puncturing member for piercing the container and a containment portion or housing for directing the discharged gas, which includes the propellant and particles or droplets of product that remain within the container, through a filtering means. The filtering means generally includes carbon filters for absorbing hydrocarbons and odour before releasing the filtered gas into the environment.

However, this arrangement is limited in that it is only able to cope with a single aerosol container at any one time. Some attempts have been made to accommodate two or three aerosol containers by simply reconfiguring the housing and adding further puncturing members but these arrangements are not conducive to high volume requirements. When large quantities of aerosol containers are to be disposed of, the most cost effective solution usually involves the use of a dedicated disposal or recycling company.

US4356981 discloses an aerosol disposal unit that incorporates an enclosure, a shredder for destroying aerosol containers and an exhaust means that draws a stream of air through the enclosure. The shredded container parts are then transported out of the enclosure on a conveyor.

It is therefore a general object of the invention to provide an improved device for preparing aerosol containers for disposal or recycling. It is a further non-exclusive object of this invention to provide a device which can be used to prepare simultaneously a plurality of aerosol containers for disposal or recycling.

A first aspect of the invention provides an aerosol container compacting device comprising an enclosure with an inlet, a compacting unit for crushing aerosol containers within the enclosure and an extraction means for extracting gas discharged from aerosol containers crushed by the compacting unit, wherein the extraction means is operable to maintain, in use, a negative pressure within the enclosure while aerosol containers are introduced or fed into or through the inlet. This arrangement facilitates continuous or at least semi-continuous operation of the device, which is particularly advantageous for high volume requirements. It is particularly advantageous in that the containers are crushed rather than being shredded, thereby facilitating their transportation.

For the avoidance of doubt, the term negative pressure as used herein refers to the average pressure within the enclosure being less than the average pressure outside the enclosure. Moreover, whilst the extraction system is operable to maintain, in use, a negative pressure within the enclosure while aerosol containers are introduced or fed into or through the inlet, the device may optionally include a disabling means for disabling the extraction system when it is not required. This allows the device to be used for general crushing and baling of containers that do not require extraction of potentially harmful gasses.

The compacting unit may be configured to crush, in use, a plurality of aerosol containers to form a bale.

Preferably, the device includes an inlet flap, curtain or hinged member, which may act as a valve, for at least partially inhibiting the ingress of air into the enclosure, e.g. whilst allowing aerosol containers to be introduced or fed, in use, through the inlet. More preferably, the device includes an outlet, e.g. for discharging crushed aerosol containers, for example in the form of one or more bales, from the enclosure. The device may include an outlet flap, curtain or hinged member, for example to act as a valve, for at least partially inhibiting the ingress of air into the enclosure, e.g. whilst allowing aerosol containers to be discharged, in use, through the outlet.

By using a flap, curtain or hinged member, the rate at which the gases within the enclosure are evacuated can be optimised almost regardless of the size of the inlet and/or outlet. This also permits the use of a large inlet and/or outlet without the need for upgrading the extraction means.

The extraction means is preferably configured to replace the air within the enclosure every two to ten minutes, for example every three to eight minutes, more preferably every four to seven minutes and most preferably every five minutes. Preferably, the extraction means comprises one or more extraction inlets, which may be located in a lower portion of the enclosure, e.g. adjacent to a floor of the enclosure. The extraction means may therefore extract the propellants quickly since they are generally heavier than air and therefore tend to stagnate in a lower portion of the enclosure.

More preferably, the extraction means comprises a filtering means, for example which includes carbon filters, to filter the discharged gas and/or to absorb hydrocarbons and/or odour therefrom. Additionally or alternatively, the device may comprise a recovery means or unit which may be connected to the extraction means. The recovery means is preferably arranged to recover discharged gases, for example discharged propellants.

The extraction means may also comprise a vacuum pump, which may be connected to the one or more inlets by tubing, which tubing may include one or more openings that may taper outwardly to provide enlarged inlets, e.g. suckers. The extraction means may advantageously include a plurality of inlets, e.g. in different locations within the enclosure, such as to improve the effectiveness of the extraction means. The vacuum pump and/or filter may be located externally of the enclosure, e.g. wherein the tubing extends from the vacuum pump and/or filter into the enclosure, e.g. through a hole. Preferably, the tubing is sealingly engaged within the hole, e.g. by a fireproof joint.

The extraction means may further comprise one or more fire dampers, e.g. in case of a fire.

The device may further comprise a reservoir or tray, which may be removable, e.g. below the compacting unit, for collecting residual product such as mixed liquid released from the containers as they are crushed by the compacting unit. The device may include a flushing means for flushing the contents of the reservoir or tray. For example, the device may comprise a flushing unit with one or more nozzles above, in or adjacent to an outlet ramp and/or an inlet or inlet hopper of the compacting unit and/or the reservoir or tray. The device may also include a feed tank which contains water, a solvent, a washing liquid or an anti-foaming agent and the flushing unit may be configured to introduce the water, solvent, washing liquid or anti-foaming agent thereon or therein. The reservoir or tray preferably has an outlet, which may be fluidly connected, e.g. piped, to a discharge or storage tank, solvent recovery unit or waste water filtration unit, e.g. such that the water, solvent, washing liquid or anti-foaming agent may be reused. The device may also include a discharge pump, wherein the discharge pump may be configured to pump, in use, contents from the outlet of the tray into the discharge or storage tank. Preferably, the waste water filtration unit pumps, in use, contents from the discharge or storage tank through a filter and into the feed tank.

The device preferably comprises a control unit, which may be housed within a compartment, e.g. located within, adjacent or spaced from to the enclosure. The compartment is preferably fireproof and/or explosion proof. The control unit is preferably electrically connected to and/or controls the operation of the compacting unit and/or the extraction means and/or the flushing means and it may be programmable. The control unit may comprise a modem or Ethernet card for connection to a remote monitoring system. The device preferably includes one or more safety stop means, e.g. a button or switch, within and/or outside the enclosure, which safety stop means is preferably electrically connected to the control unit and/or controls power to the device.

The device may further comprise a containment unit, e.g. for introducing a means for neutralising the enclosure against a safety risk, which containment unit may be electrically connected to and/or controlled by the control unit. For example, the device may comprise a fire containment unit, which may be arranged to introduce a containment medium such as a fire extinguishing medium, preferably comprising a chemical composition, configured to extinguish a fire and/or neutralise the propellant and/or residual product and/or which may be introduced via one or more nozzles. The device may comprise one or more temperature sensors which may be connected to the control unit, wherein the fire containment unit is preferably configured to be activated when a predetermined temperature is measured by the one or more temperature sensors. Preferably, the control unit is programmable, in use, to set the predetermined temperature.

The device may also comprise an air conditioning unit, for example which may be located externally of the enclosure and may introduce chilled air into the enclosure, e.g. via tubing which may extend from the air conditioning unit into the enclosure, e.g. through a hole. Preferably, the tubing is sealingly engaged within the hole, e.g. by a fireproof joint. More preferably, the air conditioning unit is configured to maintain a predetermined temperature, e.g. a predetermined average temperature, of say twenty to seventy degrees, preferably thirty to sixty, more preferably under fifty degrees and most preferably under 40 degrees centrigrade, within the enclosure.

The device may further comprise an infeed conveyor, e.g. electrically connected to and/or controlled by the control unit, which infeed conveyor may extend through the inlet of the enclosure to an inlet of the compacting unit. Additionally or alternatively, the device may comprise a feed chute, which may be positioned at the end of the infeed conveyor and/or may extend through or inwardly from the inlet of the enclosure. This arrangement is advantageous since the moving parts of the conveyor would remain outside the enclosure, thereby reducing the likelihood of sparks which could result in a fire within the enclosure.

The compacting unit may comprise an inlet hopper for receiving aerosol containers from the infeed conveyor. The compacting unit preferably comprises a ram, e.g. a hydraulically or electrically operated ram, configured to compress one or more, e.g. a plurality, of aerosol containers against a platen, for example to produce a bale of crushed containers. The platen may be movable, e.g. pivotable, between a compacting position, e.g. for crushing aerosol containers between the ram and the platen, and a non-compacting position, e.g. for allowing the ram to push one or more compacted containers or bales of crushed containers or bales through the outlet, e.g. via a ramp.

The device preferably comprises an automatic shutoff means, which may be configured to stop the machine from operating, e.g. if the predetermined temperature is measured and/or if a jam is detected. The floor of the enclosure may comprise a rubber or metal coating. The enclosure may comprise a container, for example a shipping container. Preferably, all components contained within the enclosure are explosion proof.

A second aspect of the invention provides a method of preparing aerosol containers for disposal or recycling, e.g. using the aforementioned device, the method comprising the steps of introducing a plurality of aerosol containers through an inlet of an enclosure and into a compacting unit within the enclosure, crushing the plurality of aerosol containers using the compacting unit and extracting gas discharged from aerosol containers crushed by the compacting unit using an extraction means, wherein the extraction means maintains, in use, a negative pressure within the enclosure while aerosol containers are introduced or fed into the inlet.

A third aspect of the invention provides a method of retrofitting a shipping container to produce the aforementioned device, the method comprising the steps of making an inlet in the container, placing a compacting unit within the container and installing an extraction means for extracting gas discharged from aerosol containers crushed by the compacting unit, the extraction means being installed such that it is able to maintain, in use, a negative pressure within the container while aerosol containers are introduced through the inlet. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an end view of an aerosol container compacting device according to one embodiment of the invention with the end doors open; and

Figure 2 is a section view of the device of Figure 1 along line A-A and with the infeed conveyor omitted.

Referring now to the Figures, there is shown an aerosol container compacting device 1 which includes an enclosure 2 with an inlet 3, an outlet 4, a compacting unit 5 within the enclosure 2, an extraction system 6 configured to maintain a negative pressure within the enclosure 2 and a collection tray 7 beneath the compacting unit 5 for collecting residual product released from the aerosol containers (not shown) as they are crushed by the compacting unit 5. The device 1 also includes a fire containment unit 8, an air conditioning unit 9 and a control unit 10 electrically connected to each of the elements for controlling their operation. The control unit 10 is housed within a fireproof and explosion proof compartment.

The enclosure 2 in this embodiment is a twenty foot transport container with a sealed sprayed rubber floor floor and doors 20 at one end to sealingly close and selectively open the end to permit access to the interior of the enclosure 2, the outlet 4 being located at the other end thereof and the inlet 3 is located on one of the longitudinal sides of thereof. The inlet 3 and outlet 4 are both square in shape, approximately 40cm x 40cm in size and each includes a respective hinged flap member 30, 40 formed of a flexible plastics material. This arrangement partially inhibits ingress of air into the enclosure 2 which would otherwise result when aerosol containers (not shown) are introduced or fed into the inlet 3 and/or discharged through the outlet 4.

The compacting unit 5 includes an inlet hopper 50 with a lid pivotably mounted thereto, a hydraulic ram 51 with a movable platen (not shown) at its front end which is pivotable along its upper edge and is actuated by a hydraulic cylinder (not shown).

The extraction system 6 in this embodiment is configured for propellants which are heavier than air and therefore would tend to stagnate in a lower portion of the enclosure 2. Accordingly, the extraction system 6 includes six evenly distributed extraction inlets 60 located in a lower portion of the enclosure 2, i.e. adjacent to the floor thereof, to extract the propellants. The inlets 60 are connected to an outlet 61 via a piping network 62 with an integral filtration unit 63 and through a vacuum pump 64. The filtration unit 63 includes carbon filters (not shown) to filter the discharged gas and to absorb hydrocarbons and odour therefrom. The vacuum pump 64 and filtration unit 63 are located externally of the enclosure 2, wherein the piping 62 extends from the filtration unit 63 into the enclosure 2 through a hole (not shown) within which it is sealingly engaged within the hole (not shown) by a fireproof joint.

The device 1 includes a collection tray flushing system 70 which includes a plurality of nozzles 71 above the outlet ramp 41 and under the lid of the inlet hopper 50 of the compacting unit 5. The flushing system 70 in this embodiment includes a 1200 litre wash feed tank 72 which contains a water and solvent mix and a 1200 litre discharge tank 73 for contaminated fluids. The wash feed tank 72 includes a wash pump 74 configured to supply the water and solvent mix from the tank 72 through the nozzles 71 over the uncrushed containers within the inlet hopper 50 and onto the crushed bales on the outlet ramp 41. The water solvent mix, together with the residual product discharged from the containers as they are crushed, falls into the collection tray 7. The discharge tank 73 is piped to an outlet (not shown) in the base of the collection tray 7 through a discharge pipe 74 with an integral discharge pump 75. The device 1 also includes a waste water filtration unit (not shown) configured to pump the waste water from the discharge tank 73 through a filter (not shown) and back into the wash feed tank 72 for reuse.

The fire containment unit 8 includes a plurality of nozzles 80 arranged to introduce a fire extinguishing medium which includes a chemical composition configured to extinguish a fire and neutralise the propellant and residual product. The device 1 also includes a plurality of temperature sensors (not shown) connected to the control unit 10. The fire containment unit 8 is configured to be activated when a predetermined temperature is measured by the temperature sensors (not shown). The control unit 10 is programmable to set the predetermined temperature.

The air conditioning unit 9 is located externally of the enclosure and introduces chilled air into the enclosure 2 to control the temperature therein via tubing (not shown) such that it does not exceed 40 degrees centrigrade. The tubing (not shown) extends from the air conditioning unit 9 into the enclosure 2 through a hole (not shown) within which the tubing (not shown) is sealingly engaged by a fireproof joint (not shown). The control unit 10 includes a modem or Ethernet card (not shown) for connection to a remote monitoring system. The device 1 includes a plurality of safety stop buttons (not shown) within the enclosure 2 and electrically connected to the control unit 10 and controls power to the device 1.

In use, aerosol containers (not shown) are loaded into an infeed hopper 31 and introduced into the enclosure 2 through the inlet 3 by an infeed conveyor 32 to inlet hopper 50 of the compacting unit 5. The ram 51 of the compacting unit 5 is configured to compress a plurality aerosol containers (not shown) against the platen (not shown). The platen (not shown) pivots between a compacting position for crushing aerosol containers between the ram 51 and the platen and a non-compacting or open position for allowing the ram 51 to push the compacted containers through the outlet 4 via the outlet ramp 41.

The device 1 is used for preparing aerosol containers for disposal or recycling by introducing a plurality of aerosol containers through an inlet 3 and into the compacting unit

5, crushing the plurality of aerosol containers between the hydraulic ram and the platen with the platen in the compacting position. As the containers are crushed, the extraction system 6 extracts gas discharged from the aerosol containers. The platen is then moved to a non-compacting or open position and the hydraulic ram is operated a second time to push the crushed or compacted bale of containers up the ramp 41. The extraction system

6 maintains a negative pressure within the enclosure while aerosol containers are introduced into the inlet 3 and discharged through the outlet 4.

The apparatus advantageously includes a relatively small number of moving parts, thereby reducing the likelihood of sparks, which could ignite the volatile gases and products released when the containers are crushed. The device also includes an automatic shutoff means (not shown) incorporated within the control unit. The shutoff means is configured to stop the machine from operating if the predetermined temperature is measured and/or if a jam is detected.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that several variations to the above described embodiment are envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the size and/or shape of the enclosure 2, the inlet 3, the outlet 4 or any other of the components or elements of the device may be varied. The flaps 30, 40 may be omitted, they need not be formed of a flexible plastics material and/or may comprise solid members which are hinged to the enclosure 2 or may take any other form capable of achieving the desired result. Moreover, the configuration of any or all of the elements of the device may be varied, provided they are capable of achieving the desired result. For example, any suitable compacting unit 5 may be used, e.g. it need not comprise a hydraulic ram 51 or an infeed hopper 50 or movable platen (not shown). The extraction unit 6 need not comprise inlets 60 positioned as shown, the collection tray 7 may be omitted or take a different size or shape, the flushing system 70 may comprise further nozzles, e.g. directed toward the collection tray 7 to introduce further water, a solvent, a washing liquid or an anti-foaming agent therein. The fire containment unit 8 may be omitted or may be configured to contain or neutralise something other than a fire, e.g. toxic chemicals. Preferably, the containment unit 8 is positioned strategically in the most advantageous position, for example it may be wholly contained within the enclosure, e.g. where the containment medium is contained within elongate cylinders that must be kept upright and/or at a predetermined temperature. The air conditioning unit 9 may be omitted or replaced with a heating unit, e.g. in applications where releasing the propellants results in an endothermic reaction.

Advantageously, the device may include a feed chute in addition to or in place of the infeed conveyor so as to minimise the chances of sparking. The infeed conveyor may be entirely outside the enclosure and adjacent to the inlet thereof. The feed chute may be positioned at the end of the infeed conveyor and/or may extend through or inwardly from the inlet of the enclosure.

The device may comprise a recovery unit connected to the extraction unit in place of or in addition to the filtering unit. The recovery unit may be arranged to recover discharged gases, for example discharged propellant. The device may also include a solvent recovery unit in addition to or in place of the waste water filtration unit (not shown).

It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any number of combinations of the above features and/or those shown in the drawings provide clear advantages over the prior art and are therefore within the scope of the invention described herein.

Claims

1. An aerosol container compacting device comprising an enclosure with an inlet, a compacting unit for crushing aerosol containers within the enclosure and an extraction means for extracting gas discharged from aerosol containers crushed by the compacting unit, wherein the extraction means is operable to maintain, in use, a negative pressure within the enclosure while aerosol containers are introduced through the inlet.

2. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the compacting unit is configured to crush, in use, a plurality of aerosol containers to form a bale.

3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the compacting unit comprises a ram configured to compress a plurality, of aerosol containers against a platen.

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the platen is movable, between a compacting position for crushing aerosol containers between the ram and the platen and a non-compacting position for allowing the ram to push one or more compacted containers through the outlet.

5. Device according to any preceding claim further comprising an inlet flap or curtain for partially inhibiting the ingress of air into the enclosure but allowing aerosol containers to be introduced, in use, through the inlet.

6. Device according to any preceding claim further comprising an outlet for discharging crushed aerosol containers from the enclosure and an outlet flap or curtain for partially inhibiting the ingress of air into the enclosure but allowing crushed aerosol containers to be discharged, in use, through the outlet.

7. Device according to any preceding claim, wherein the extraction means comprises a plurality of extraction inlets located in a lower portion of the enclosure.

8. Device according to any preceding claim, wherein the extraction means comprises a filtering means to filter the discharged gas.

9. Device according to any preceding claim further comprising a collection tray below the compacting unit.

10. Device according to claim 9 further comprising a flushing unit with one or more nozzles above, in or adjacent to the compacting unit and/or the collection tray for flushing contents discharged from the crushed containers into the collection tray.

1 1. Device according to claim 10, wherein the flushing means further comprises a feed pump and a feed tank which contains water, a solvent, a washing liquid or an anti-foaming agent to be introduced through the nozzles by the pump.

12. Device according to any one of claims 9 to 1 1 , wherein the reservoir or tray has an outlet fluidly connected to a waste water filtration unit configured to pump and filter, in use, contents from the outlet of the tray and into the flushing unit.

13. Device according to any preceding claim further comprising a containment unit configured to introduce, in use, a containment medium to extinguish a fire and/or neutralise the propellant and/or residual product.

14. Device according to any preceding claim further comprising a control unit for controlling the device.

15. Device according to any one of claims 14, wherein the control unit comprises a modem or Ethernet card for connection to a remote monitoring system.

16. Device according to any preceding claim further comprising an air conditioning unit to introduce chilled air, in use, into the enclosure.

17. Device according to any preceding claim further comprising one or more safety stops within the enclosure.

18. A method of preparing aerosol containers for disposal or recycling the method comprising the steps of introducing a plurality of aerosol containers through an inlet of an enclosure and into a compacting unit within the enclosure, crushing the plurality of aerosol containers using the compacting unit and extracting gas discharged from aerosol containers crushed by the compacting unit using an extraction means, wherein the extraction means maintains, in use, a negative pressure within the enclosure while aerosol containers are introduced or fed into the inlet.

19. A method of retrofitting a shipping container to produce a device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, the method comprising the steps of making an inlet in the container, placing a compacting unit within the container and installing an extraction means for extracting gas discharged from aerosol containers crushed by the compacting unit, the extraction means being installed such that it is able to maintain, in use, a negative pressure within the container while aerosol containers are introduced through the inlet.