This patent is directed to methods and systems for asbestos treatment, and, in particular, to methods and systems for asbestos treatment utilizing vibratory equipment.
According to an aspect, vibratory system for asbestos treatment includes a trough having a wall with an inner surface, a heat-resistant liner disposed on the inner surface of the wall to limit heat transfer to the wall, the trough having a longitudinal axis, an opening aligned along the longitudinal axis, and a discharge end disposed at one end of the trough along the longitudinal axis. The system also includes a transportation sub-system including a frame coupled to the trough during at least a transportation phase, a vibration generator coupled to the frame for producing a vibratory force to cause the asbestos material to be moved within the trough in the transportation phase, and resilient members coupled to the frame to support the frame above a base. Further, the system includes a heating sub-system including a furnace coupled to the trough across the opening during at least a heating phase
According to a further aspect, method of asbestos treatment including disposing the asbestos in a trough having an opening, disposing a furnace across the opening, and heating the asbestos in the trough to render the asbestos inert. The method also includes vibrating the trough to move the inert asbestos along the trough to an open end, and collecting the inert asbestos from the trough.
Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of different embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention.
It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term “______” is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term be limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph.
Referring first to
According to the system 40, the troughs 42, 44 are cycled through a series of phases. During certain phases, the troughs 42, 44 are coupled to the furnaces 50. During other phases, the troughs are coupled to the covers 52. The troughs 42, 44 may also be coupled to the frames 60 to define vibratory conveyors, as will be explained in greater detail below.
To begin, as illustrated in the upper, left-hand corner of
As can be seen in
A heat-resistant liner 100 is disposed on the inner surfaces 86, 88 of the side walls 82 and deck 84. The heat-resistant liner 100 is made of a material that will limit the heat transfer to the wall 80 of the trough 42. For example, the liner 100 may be made of a ceramic material. The ceramic material selected should be able to withstand repeated cycles of heating and cooling, as well as vibration of the trough. In regard to these cycles of heating and cooling, it may be that the asbestos material disposed in the trough will be heated to approximately 1000 C over a time period of twenty-four hours, with approximately eight hours spent at approximately 1000 C.
It will be recognized that the trough 42 has an opening 110 opposite its deck 84. The opening 110 is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the trough 42 from one end 112 to the other end 114 (see
The trough 42 may be closed at the ends 112, 114 by a wall, similar to the side walls 82 in that it may be at an angle to the deck 84 and covered with the liner 100. At least one of the end walls may be moveable relative to the remainder of the trough 42, at least to permit material to be discharged from the trough 42 through the then open end. The moveable end wall may be coupled to the trough 42 so that it remains with the trough 42 even when material is passing through the open end; alternatively, the moveable end wall may be separable from the trough 42 to open the closed end. As illustrated, the end 114 of the trough 42 may be opened to permit material to pass therethrough.
As noted, the troughs 42 are coupled to the furnaces 50 as illustrated in
In addition, a seal 140 may be disposed on the upper edges 130 of the side walls 82 and end walls and the rim 128, in between the trough 42 and the furnace 50. The seal 140 may be a woven ceramic material that is capable of withstanding the same environmental conditions as the liner 100. In addition, the seal 140 should be sufficiently flexible to limit the escape of heat, gases and material from inside the combination of the trough 42 and furnace 50.
Moving now to the lower, left-hand corner of
To proceed to discharge, however, the trough 44 is first coupled to one of the covers 52, which covers 52 are disposed in the lower, right-hand portion of
Referring then to
As perhaps best seen in
As also is visible in
Coupled between the frame 60 and the counterbalance 162 is a vibration generator 190. The vibratory generator 190 may include a motor 192 with a shaft 194. The motor shaft 194 may be coupled to a driven shaft 196 by a drive belt. The driven shaft 196 may be an eccentric shaft. Attached to the drive shaft 196 via a flange cartridge bearing is a first end 200 of a link 202. A second end 204 of the link 202 is attached via a resilient member 206 to the frame 60; that is, a first end 208 of the resilient member 206 is fixedly secured to the second end 204 of the link 202, while a second end 210 of the resilient member 206 is fixedly secured to the frame 60.
While one system of connections has been described relative to the embodiment of system 40, it will be recognized that other systems may be used. Similarly, while one generator 190 has thus been discussed, other generators may be used according to the knowledge of one skilled in the art, and may be, for example, a brute force vibratory generator or a two-mass vibratory generator according to another arrangement.
In coupling the furnace 50 or the cover 52 to the trough 42, 44 or in coupling the trough 42, 44 to the frame 60, a variety of mechanisms may be used, including mechanical or electromechanical clamps. One type of mechanism that may be particularly suitable for coupling the furnace 50 or cover 52 to the trough 42, 44 or the trough 42, 44 to the frame 60 in a selectively releasable fashion is illustrated in
The hydraulic clamp 220 includes a piston 222 and a cylinder 224. The piston 222 moves within the cylinder 224 according to the flow of hydraulic fluid in and out of the cylinder 224. The flow of hydraulic fluid in and out of the cylinder 224 may be controlled through the use of a control system (not shown) including, for example, one or more valves, a source of hydraulic fluid, and a programmable controller.
In general terms, the cylinder 224 is coupled to the structure B, while the piston 222 has mechanism for coupling to the structure A. As illustrated, the cylinder 224 has a first end 230 pivotally connected to the structure B through the use of a mounting bracket 232. The piston 222 has an extension 240 attached thereto, which extension 240 is coupled to a hook assembly 242. The hook assembly 242 has a surface 244 that cooperates with a surface 246 of the structure A to couple the structure A to the structure B. If the piston 222 is advanced out of the cylinder 224 (compare
To move the furnaces 50 and the trough/cover 44, 52 combinations, the system 40 may include one or more overhead cranes 260, as illustrated in
Each hoist 270 is in turn coupled to a beam 280. For example, the hoist 270 of the first crane 260 may be coupled at a first end 282 of the beam 280, while the hoist 270 of the second crane 260 may be coupled at a second end 284 of the beam 280. The beam 280 may support attachment sites (not shown) along their length for coupling the furnace 50, the cover 52, or the combination of the trough 42, 44 and cover 52 to the beam 280. The beam 280 may be raised or lowered, the hoists 270 moved right or left (relative to the page), and the cranes 260 moved up or down (relative to the page) to move the furnace 50, cover 52, and troughs 42, 44 about the system 40.
In addition to the troughs 42, 44, the furnaces 50, the covers 52, and the frames 60, the system 40 may include additional apparatuses which may be used to collect, process, and prepare the treated asbestos for shipment. For example, as seen in
As seen in
Returning to
Having described the structure of the system 40, reference is now made to the flowchart of
A method 450 according to the present disclosure may begin at block 460 with the disposing of the untreated asbestos material into one of the troughs 42, 44. According to the system 40, the asbestos material may be disposed into the troughs 42, 44 through the opening 110 while the trough 42, 44 is disposed on the floor of the facility. At this point, neither the furnace 50 nor the cover 52 is disposed over the opening 110.
The method 450 then passes to the block 462, and a furnace 50 is disposed across the opening 110 of the trough 42, 44. According to the system 40, a furnace 50 is then disposed across each of the troughs 42. The furnace 50 is then used to heat the asbestos in the troughs 42 to render the asbestos inert, as indicated in block 464. For example, the furnace 50 may be used to bring the temperature of the interior of the trough 42 to approximately 1000 C over a first approximately eight hour period, to hold the temperature of the interior of the trough 42 at approximately 1000 C over a second approximately eight hour period, and to bring the temperature of the interior of the trough 42 to approximately 100 C over a third eight hour period.
When the interior temperature of the trough 42 has returned to approximately 100 C, the furnace 50 is removed from the trough 42 in the embodiment according to system 40 at block 466. As indicated, this step may be considered to be an optional part of the method 450, for while this step is required for the system 40, it may not be required for all of the embodiments illustrated, as explained in greater detail below. To indicate that the step may be optional, the block is indicated in dashed line. Because the method 450 is being run in parallel with the troughs 44 at the same time as it is with the troughs 42, the furnaces may be transported from the troughs 42 from the troughs 44 at the block 468.
Again, with reference to the system 40, the method 450 may continue at block 470, where the cover 52 is disposed across the opening 110 of one of the troughs 42. Because the system 40 includes more than one trough 42, the step of block 470 may be repeated for the other trough 42. After the cover 52 is disposed across the opening 110, the cover 52 may be coupled to the trough 42 at block 472, by securing one or more hydraulic clamps 220 to the cover 52, for example.
With the cover 52 in place and coupled to the trough 42, the trough 42 and the cover 52 may be transported to one of the frames 60, through the use of the overhead cranes 260, for example, at block 474. With the trough 42 disposed on the frame 60, the trough 42 may be coupled to the frame 60 at block 476, by securing one or more hydraulic clamps 220 to the trough 42, for example. With the trough 42 in place and coupled to the frame 60, the vibration generator 190 may be activated at block 478 to vibrate the trough to move the treated (and thus inert) asbestos along the trough to the open end 114. As noted above, this end 114 would be aligned with one of the compartments 310, wherein the inert asbestos would be collected from the trough 42 (block 480).
Once the material in the trough 42 has been discharged, the method 450 may pass to block 482, where the hydraulic clamps are disengaged to decouple the trough 42 from the frame 60. The trough 42 and cover 52 are then removed from the frame 60 and returned to the floor at block 484. Additional hydraulic clamps are disengaged to decouple the cover 52 from the trough 42 at block 486, and the cover 52 is removed from the trough 42 at block 488, preparatory to beginning the method 450 again.
Having thus explained the method 450 relative to the system 40, reference is now made to the system 500 illustrated in
A still further system 600 is illustrated in
The trough 602, like the troughs 42, 44, includes a wall 620 with side walls 622 and a floor or deck 624. The walls 622 and the deck 624 have inner surfaces 626, 628, respectively. A liner 640 is disposed on these inner surfaces 626, 628.
However, between the trough 602 and the furnace 606 is a seal 660. The seal 660 permits the trough 602 to move relative to the furnace 606 during the activities of blocks 460 and 478, for example, while limiting the escape of heat and material during the activities of block 464 or treated material during the activity of block 478. As seen in
The inner region 662 includes a passage 670 in fluid communication with at least one blower (which may be a fan) 672, 674, the at least one blower 672, 674 causing air to move through the passage 670. While according to the disclosed embodiment, the blower 672 forces air along the passage 670 from one end of the passage 670, and the blower 674 draws air along the passage 670 from the other end, it will be recognized that either blower may be omitted according to other embodiments.
As illustrated, the passage 670 includes three chambers 676, 678, 680. Air enters the passage 670 through chamber 676, moves along to chamber 678, and exits through chamber 680. As will be recognized, the chamber 678 also is open to the interior of the trough 602 and the furnace 606 via a gap 682 between a lower edge 684 of the furnace 606 and an upper edge 686 of the liner 640. The gap 682 may expand and contract so as to accommodate movement of the trough 602 when the vibration generator associated with the trough 602 is activated.
As mentioned above, the seal 660 also includes an outer region 664. The outer region 664 of the seal 660 is defined by a heat-resistant curtain 690. The heat resistant curtain 690 is attached at a first end 692 to an outer wall 694 of the passage 670 and at a second end 696 to the side wall 622 of the trough 602. Similar to the gap 682, the distance between the first and second ends 692, 696 of the curtain 690 changes as the trough 602 moves. However, unlike the gap 682, the curtain 690 limits further passage of air, gases, material and heat beyond that point.
It is believed that the air flowing through the passage 670 will provide a barrier between the interior of the trough 602/furnace 606 combination and the curtain 690 during the heating of the asbestos. In particular, it is believed that while the temperatures within the interior of the trough 602/furnace 606 may be on the order of approximately 1000 C, the temperatures that the curtain 690 will experience will be significantly less. As a consequence, a wider range of material options are available for the material to be used for the curtain 690.
It is believed that the present disclosure may have several benefits, one or more of which may be present in a particular embodiment according to the present disclosure.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 60/982,639, filed Oct. 25, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety in the present application.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60982639 | Oct 2007 | US |