Specialized metallurgical processes – compositions for use therei – Processes – Producing or treating free metal
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-15
2001-02-06
Andrews, Melvyn (Department: 1742)
Specialized metallurgical processes, compositions for use therei
Processes
Producing or treating free metal
C075S670000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06183533
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to the field of removing residual mercury from recycled lamp parts, and, in particular, lamp glass.
Currently, recyclers of mercury-containing lamps produce a glass bi-product with residual mercury at a level of between about 0.5 parts per million to 4 parts per million. A representative lamp recycling machine is disclosed by Sewill et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,041, issued Nov. 4, 1997, incorporated herein by reference. The amount of residual mercury can limit the options available for disposal or reuse of the lamp parts and, in particular, lamp glass. The reuse of the lamp glass is particularly limited by the residual mercury levels if the glass is to be reused without remelting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a device and method for lowering the residual mercury levels of recycled lamp parts. These parts can include, for example, metal end caps and/or lamp glass. Applicant's invention can be used to substantially reduce the residual mercury levels of the lamp glass below the approximately 0.5 parts per million to 4 parts per million levels after processing through a lamp glass recycler separator such as that disclosed by Sewill et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,041, issued Nov. 4, 1997. The device and method of the present invention can be used to remove substantially all of the residual mercury from the glass such that levels less than 50 parts per billion can be obtained.
The device in accordance with the present invention preferably includes a housing defining a heating chamber. A heater is connected to the heating chamber. A parts hoppers is preferably disposed adjacent to the heating chamber. The hopper can be disposed proximate the heating chamber such that heat from the chamber can be transferred to the parts in the hopper. The hopper is preferably connected to the heating chamber such that parts from the hopper can be fed into the chamber. A blower is fluidly connected to the heating chamber and the hopper such that air can be forced through the chamber and into the hopper as parts are fed into the chamber from the hopper. The heater preferably heats the interior of the heating chamber to between about 800°-1200° F. to vaporize the mercury such that it can be carried away from the lamp parts by the air forced through the heating chamber by the blower.
The hopper is preferably disposed above the chamber to gravity feed parts from the hopper into the chamber. The blower can assist the heat transfer from the chamber to the hopper by drawing air through the chamber and into the hopper to preheat parts therein. The blower simultaneously forces the air containing evaporated mercury through a filter prior to discharge to the atmosphere. This filter preferably includes a HEPA filter.
In addition to a heating chamber, the device preferably includes a cooling chamber disposed adjacent and below the heating chamber. By disposing the cooling chamber below the heating chamber, parts can be gravity fed from the heating chamber to the cooling chamber. Additionally, residual heat on the lamp parts can rise into the heating chamber to enhance heating efficiency.
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Andrews Melvyn
Crompton Seager & Tufte LLC
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