Aluminum dust collection and compacting apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10259184-B2
Application number	US-201715477480-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2017
Priority date	Apr 3, 2017
Publication date	Apr 16, 2019
Grant date	Apr 16, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus for collecting dust from a cutting unit is provided. The apparatus includes a rotary valve operatively connected to the cutting unit, a conduit in fluid communication with the rotary valve, and a compacting machine disposed downstream from the conduit and configured to receive dust from the conduit. A blower is configured to pull air downstream to carry the dust into the compacting machine. The compacting machine produces a compact from the dust.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for collecting dust from a cutting unit comprising:
a rotary valve operatively connected to the cutting unit;
a conduit in fluid communication with the rotary valve;
a primary dust collection unit and a back-up dust collection unit that are disposed downstream from the conduit:
a compacting machine disposed downstream from the primary dust collection unit and configured to receive dust from the conduit;
a plurality of slide gates for operatively selectively controlling movement of the dust from the conduit to either one of the primary dust collection unit and the back-up dust collection unit; and
a blower configured to pull air downstream to carry the dust into the compacting machine, and the compacting machine produces a compact from the dust.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the primary dust collection unit is disposed downstream from the conduit and upstream from the compacting machine, the apparatus further comprising
a first rotary air lock operatively connected to a downstream end portion of the primary dust collection unit.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the primary dust collection unit is a cyclone.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein at least one of the slide gates is air operated and operatively connected to the primary dust collection unit.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the back-up dust collection unit is disposed adjacent the primary dust collection unit, the apparatus further comprising
a second rotary air lock operatively connected to a downstream end portion of the back-up dust collection unit.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a Y conduit connecting the blower to the primary dust collection unit and the back-up dust collection unit.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the slide gates is air operated and operatively connected to the back-up dust collection unit.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an explosion isolation valve disposed along the conduit and upstream from the compacting machine.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the compacting machine is a briquetter.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a manual drum vacuum line operatively connected to the conduit upstream from the compacting machine.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the dust is an aluminum material.

12. An apparatus for collecting aluminum dust from a cutting unit comprising:
a rotary valve operatively connected to the cutting unit;
a conduit in fluid communication with the rotary valve;
a primary aluminum dust collection unit and a back-up aluminum dust collection unit that are disposed downstream from the conduit:
a compacting machine disposed downstream from the primary aluminum dust collection unit and configured to receive aluminum dust from the conduit and to produce an aluminum compact;
a plurality of slide gates for operatively selectively controlling movement of the aluminum dust from the conduit to either one of the primary aluminum dust collection unit and the back-up aluminum dust collection unit; and
an explosion isolation valve disposed along the conduit and upstream from the compacting machine.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
the primary aluminum dust collection unit is disposed downstream from the conduit and upstream from the compacting machine, the apparatus further comprising a first rotary air lock operatively connected to a downstream end portion of the primary aluminum dust collection unit.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising a blower operatively connected to the primary and back-up aluminum dust collection units.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein at least one of the slide gates is air operated and operatively connected to the primary aluminum dust collection unit.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
the back-up aluminum dust collection unit is disposed adjacent the primary aluminum dust collection unit, the apparatus further comprising
a second rotary air lock operatively connected to a downstream end portion of the back-up aluminum dust collection unit.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising a manual drum vacuum line operatively connected to the conduit upstream from the compacting machine.

18. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the compacting machine is a briquetter.

Assignees

• Ford Motor Co

Inventors

• Bishop Frank

Classifications

• B30B9/327 Primary

  for briquetting scrap metal · CPC title

• B23Q11/0046

  by sucking · CPC title

• C22B1/2406

  pelletizing · CPC title

• B23K26/0093

  combined with mechanical machining or metal-working covered by other subclasses than B23K · CPC title

• Y10T409/304088

  with means to remove chip · CPC title