Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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(a) TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Environmentally-Safe Portable Apparatus For Disposing of Cylindrical Light
Bulbs
(b) TECHNICAL FIELD TO WHICH THE INVENTION RELATES
This invention relates to an apparatus for disintegrating light bulbs, more
particularly, cylindrical fluorescent bulbs and for simultaneously providing a
holding unit
to contain such disintegrated cylindrical fluorescent lamps in an
environmentally-safe
manner.
(c) BACKGROUND ART
Fluorescent bulbs are mercury-vapour electric-discharge lamps, in which the
inside of the bulb or tube is coated with fluorescent material so that ultra-
violet radiation
from the discharge is converted to light of an acceptable colour. Such lamps
take
advantage of fluorescence, which is the production of visible light (white or
coloured)
or other radiation by a substance as the result of exposure to, and absorption
of, other
radiations of different wave length, such as ultraviolet light, or electric
discharge in a
vacuum tube. Those substances having this property are known as phosphors, the
term
usually being restricted to those solids that absorb ultraviolet and emit
visible light. In
ordinary fluorescent lighting, the tube contains mercury vapour and argon, and
the inside
walls of the tube are coated with the fluorescent substance, often a zinc or
cadmium
compound. The passage of an electric current through the mercury vapour-argon
mixture
produces invisible ultraviolet light which is absorbed by the phosphor and re-
emitted as
visible light. The whole process occurs at a relatively low temperature (hence
called a
"cold light" process).
Among the numerous substances which are known to exhibit phenomenon of
fluorescence may be mentioned fluorite, uranium glass, petroleum, solutions of
certain
organic dyestuffs, eosin, fluorescein, quinine sulphate chlorophyll, and the
vapour of
sodium, mercury, iodine, and acetone.
Because of the contents of such fluorescent lamps, their disposal brings about
environmental concerns, particularly where such fluorescent tubes are commonly
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disposed of with the everyday trash. It would therefore be desirable to
provide a system
for safely disintegrating such fluorescent lamps.
Various patented arrangements have been proposed for breaking up fluorescent
tubes, bottles or the like into small pieces. Most of these however,
particularly the
arrangements therein for preventing escape of phosphorus and mercury which are
present
in fluorescent tubes, are complicated, requiring vacuum or pressure pumps and
the like
for their operation.
U.S. Patent No. 4,655,404 discloses a fluorescent lamp crusher device which
includes a replaceable filter cartridge for capturing or otherwise removing
mercury
vapours which are released upon the crushing of fluorescent lamps. Replaceable
cartridges of the type described above include activated carbon, which is very
effective
in removing objectionable mercury vapours from the air during operation of the
crusher,
provided that the charcoal or carbon particles be replaced or replenished
whenever they
become saturated with mercury.
U.S. Patent No. 3,623,672 patented November 1971 by W. de Frank purported
to provide an apparatus for breaking up and disposing of burned-out and
defective glass
fluorescent lamp bulb tubes. That fluorescent tube disposing apparatus was
entirely
mounted on a lid of a mating, open-top, standard 20-gallon trash can. The
patented
disposal apparatus included an inlet chute to receive the fluorescent tubes,
and a motor
mounted underneath the lid for rotating a tube-breaking chain. A stop was
positioned a
predetermined distance below the outlet end of the inlet chute to hold a
fluorescent tube
in a position where it can be acted upon by the rotating breaking means. The
means for
breaking the fluorescent tube was a breaking chain which includes metal chain
links
connected by connectors to the motor driving shaft. Each metal chain was
provided with
a terminal metal washer. As the tube was broken, it automatically fed itself
into the can.
The inlet chute included a telescoping protective tube substantially entirely
to enclose the
fluorescent tube. A safety switch was also included, which prevented the motor
from
being energized unless the telescoping protective tube was raised or lifted to
its upwardly
extended position.
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U.S. Patent No. 3,913,849 patented October 31, 1975 by I.M. Atanasoff et al
purported to provide a tube digester which served to prevent the escape of
phosphorus
and mercury vapours without requiring the provision of pumps for either
pressure or
suction. That tube digester was formed of a container in the shape of a funnel
having
an open bottom, which was adapted to be inserted in a bunghole in a storage
drum. A
tube for receiving fluorescent tubes opened into the container at one side.
Within the
container was a rotating blade which passed beneath the opening of the tube
for breaking
up fluorescent tubes. The axis of the tube was arranged in a plane which was
tangential
with respect to the axis of rotation of the blade. The tube sloped downwardly
in the
direction of rotation of the blade. The blade had a rearwardly and downwardly
sloping
surface for creating a downward draft of air within the funnel to prevent
phosphorus and
mercury vapours from escaping outward. A slightly downwardly sloping shelf was
arranged beneath the tube and below the plane of rotation of the blade, by a
distance at
least equal to the length of the terminal prongs of a fluorescent tube. The
leading edge
of the blade formed an acute angle with the radius drawn from the axis of
rotation to the
top of the leading edge.
U.S. Patent No. 4,579,287 patented april 1, 1980 by W.E. Brown purported to
provide apparatus for breaking up and disposing of burned-out glass
fluorescent lamp
bulb tubes. Such apparatus utilized rapidly rotating chains to pulverize the
tubes. The
pulverizing mechanism was confined within an open-top container and was
suspended
from a lid that covered the top of the container. The pulverized debris
collected within
the container. A plastic bag may line the interior of the container to
facilitate disposal
of the pulverized debris. A safety electrical switch was associated with the
lid in a
manner to prevent rotation of the chains if the lid was not properly sealed
upon the top
of the container.
U.S. Patent No. 4,655,404 patented april 7, 1987 by J.W. Deklerow purported
to provide a fluorescent lamp crusher. That crusher comprised a cylindrical
crusher
housing mounted on a carriage above a removable waste bucket, which
communicated
with a funnel-shaped discharge formed in the lower end of the housing. The top
of the
housing was sealed by a cover which had a lamp inlet opening and an exhaust
opening.
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The shaft of an electric motor extended into the housing and had a plurality
of flails or
crusher elements secured thereto. The flails, adjacent the inlet opening,
rotated at high
speeds to strike and crush lamps entering the housing. The exhaust opening was
connected by a duct to a filter cartridge which was removably-mounted on the
exterior
of the crusher housing above an exhaust fan. The cartridge contained a porous
filter bag,
which was removably-attached to the exhaust duct, and an activated charcoal
filter
element, which was positioned in the cartridge beneath the bag and was in
communication with the fan inlet. The exhaust fan operated simultaneously with
the
crusher motor to develop a vacuum which served to draw exhaust air from within
the
housing successively through the filter bag and the charcoal filter element.
The filter
element was specially treated to remove mercury vapour from the exhaust air
that passed
through the element. The crusher elements were constituted by a metal plate
which was
secured to the motor drive shaft. Hooks which were secured to the ends of the
metal
plate were connected to flails.
U.S. Patent No. 5,205,497 patented April 27, 1993 by J.W. Deklerow purported
to provide a lamp crusher. That lamp crusher housing was mounted on the
removable
cover of a replaceable waste container to discharge crushed lamps into the
waste
container through an opening in the cover. An elongate, plastic sleeve was
removably
and sealingly secured at one end over the upper end of the waste container,
and at its
opposite end around the outlet of the housing from which crushed lamp
particles were
discharged. The sleeve had an excess portion folded into the waste container
so that
when the cover was lifted from the container, opposite ends of the sleeve bag
remained
sealingly connected to the waste container and housing outlet so that no toxic
gases were
allowed accidentally to escape into their surrounding atmosphere. The
apparatus included
a replaceable filter cartridge for filtering out mercury vapours, and the
like. Each
cartridge contained a fuse which was connected in the circuit that controlled
the motor
that drove the lamp crusher. When a new cartridge was placed in the apparatus
its fuse
was connected into the control circuit and permitted only a predetermined
number of
lamp crushing operations to occur. After such finite number of operations the
motor was
prevented from further operation until the saturated cartridge was replaced by
a new,
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clean cartridge. The crusher element included a cylindrical bar or flail which
was
connected to the shaft of the motor.
Canadian Patent No. 1,185,946 issued 85-04-23 to D.F. Green, provided a
shredding machine. The patented shredding machine included a housing with a
lower
5 shredding chamber located in an upper part of the housing, the lower chamber
being
provided with a discharge port communicating with a discharge duct from the
housing.
An upwardly extending trunk was mounted on the housing, the lower portion of
which
formed an upper shredding chamber which communicated with the lower shredding
chamber. A feed hopper was located on the free end of the trunk and had a
restricted
inlet to the trunk which was spaced from the upper shredding chamber. Power
means
were supported in the housing with the output shaft thereof extending into the
lower
shredding chamber. Upper and lower cutting means were fixed to the output
shaft, the
upper cutting means being adapted for rotating in the upper shredding chamber
and the
lower cutting means being adapted for rotation in the lower shredding chamber.
The
lower cutting means was supported on a disc which was fixed to the output
shaft of the
motor, the disc having spaced diametrically-opposed slots therein. The lower
cutting
means comprised a body portion with four arms extending therefrom and
constituting
cutting blades, the body portion having a centrally-dispersed bore
therethrough with
diametrically-opposed slots positioned either side of the bore, the slots in
the body
member being adapted to register with the slots in the disc. The upper cutting
means
comprised a substantially "U"-shaped member having a bight portion with the
limbs of
the "U"-shaped upstanding therefrom and diverging from each other. A bore in
the bight
portion was adapted to register with the bore in the body member. A saddle
clamp was
positioned across the bight portion and had tongues which passed through the
slots in the
bight portion and engaged in the slots in the body member. The saddle clamp
had a bore
therethrough to receive a bolt engaged in a bore in the end of the output
shaft so that the
upper and lower cutting members were secured to the output shaft. A feed duct
in the
trunk extended through the upper shredding chamber and terminated above the
lower
shredding chamber. That portion of the feed duct in the shredding chamber
constituted
a shear plate which co-operated with the upper cutting means to reduce
material fed to
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the upper shredding chamber. The bulb crushing blade is described as a lower
cutting
means which includes four sharpened radial blades, and an upper cutting means
which
includes "U"-shaped, bight and two sharpened blades.
Canadian Patent No. 1,215,959 issued 86-12-30 to J. Mordstein et al, provided
a device for chopping up garden waste. The patented device included a
generally
uncovered, level base place with legs fixed at top ends thereof to the base
plate. A
support disk was adapted to turn about an upright axis, the disk being placed
under the
base plate and having at least one slot therein. At least one knife was fixed
on the disk
and was placed to the back of the slot in the direction of turning of the
disk. The knife
had a cutting edge which was placed at a higher level than a top face of the
disk. An
electric motor with a drive shaft was provided for driving the disk. The base
plate
functioned as a support frame for the device and had a downward reinforcing
skirt. A
filling passageway was supported on top of the base plate next to the motor
that was also
supported on the plate. An upright and downwardly-open ejection passageway was
fixed
on a lower side of the base plate and was coaxially-placed around the disk
that was fixed
on the motor drive shaft. The ejection passageway was disposed around the disk
with
a clearance therebetween sufficient to guard against stoppages of the device,
and a rim
extends upwards from an outer edge of the disk. The shredding device was an
impeller
with three identical knives fixed to the top surface of the rotatable
impeller.
Canadian Patent No. 1,293,234 issued 1987/06/08 to E. Karg, provided a device
for chopping up garden waste. The patented device included a housing including
at least
one ejector opening, the housing defining a chamber and having a floor which
defined
part of the chamber. A plurality of support legs mounted the housing. A motor
was
mounted to the floor of the housing, the motor having an output shaft which
extended
into the chamber. A carrier disk was mounted in the chamber to the output
shaft to
rotate in the chamber, the carrier disk having a deflector mounted at its
centre and at
least one slot formed therein, each slot defining a trailing edge. Means were
mounted
to the housing and defined a charging passage arranged over and extending
upward from
the carrier disk, the carrier disk shutting off the charging passage at one
end thereof.
The charging passage defined means having at least one inward protrusion,
extending
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transversely in relation to the direction of rotation of the carrier disk,
thereby defining
a stationary support bolster for supporting the material being chopped. At
least one knife
was mounted to the carrier disk and extended in a generally radial direction,
each knife
having an edge aligned with the trailing edge of an associated slot. The
number of
ejector openings was equal to the number of stationary support bolsters. An
axis of the
knife extended perpendicularly from the area of each ejector opening was
generally
perpendicular to the surface defining its respective stationary support
bolsters. The
chopping device is described as a carrier disk having a centrally-located
deflector
member mounted thereon. The deflector member is in the form of a spur-bearing
shape
with a number of spurs on its circumference. These spurs ensure a vigorous
stirring
action at the centre of the carrier disk so that material fed into the
charging passage is
reliably and systematically-flung radially outwards into the path of the
knife.
It is readily apparent that none of the above patents provided a machine of
exceptionally simple and inexpensive construction that could disintegrate
hazardous
material and retain such material in a convenient container for safe disposal.
Accordingly, the present applicant provided an improvement on the above-
identified prior
art patents in the form of two U.S. Patents.
One U.S. Patent is U.S. Patent 5,660,338 patented by Dana Emmerson on August
27, 1997. That patent provided an apparatus for disposing of light bulbs which
included
an open-topped container of circular cylindrical cross-section. A
substantially-flat lid was
adapted removably to mate with, and to cover, the top of the container, the
lid having
an upper surface, and a lower surface which was adapted to be directed toward
the
container. A hollow cylindrical light bulb feed chute was disposed along the
central
longitudinal axis of the lid and extended through the lid and was attached
thereto. The
feed chute had an inlet opening which was disposed above the upper surface of
the lid,
and an outlet opening which was disposed below the lower surface of the lid.
The inside
diameter of the hollow cylindrical chute was adapted closely to accommodate
the
cylindrical fluorescent tube. The feed chute extended perpendicularly through
the lid.
An electric motor was mounted upon the upper surface of the lid and was
clamped
thereto, the motor having a downwardly-extending rotatable shaft which
projected
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through the lid and which terminated below the lower surface of the lid. An on-
off
electrical switch was operatively associated with the electric motor. Means
were
provided for pulverizing the cylindrical light bulb as it emerged from the
outlet opening
of the hollow cylindrical feed chute. That means included a hub at the
terminal end of
the motor shaft, and at least two equi-angularly-disposed, rough, multi-
stranded, braided,
wire cables which were secured to the hub, each such multi-stranded, braided,
wire cable
being provided with a terminal weight. By this particular structure, when the
shaft was
rotating, each such rough, mufti-stranded, braided, wire cable extended by
centrifugal
force across the outlet opening of the hollow cylindrical chute, thereby to
pulverize the
cylindrical light bulb first by breaking the hollow cylindrical light bulb
into small
particles and then grinding the small particles by abrasion against the rough
surface of
each mufti-stranded, braided wire cable. This simultaneously generated a
pressure
ambient to prevent undesirable backup into the inlet of the hollow cylindrical
chute.
Each of the mufti-stranded braided wire cables struck the hollow cylindrical
light bulb
at an angle to the direction of feeding of the hollow cylindrical light bulb,
in turn, as the
shaft rotated.
The second U.S.Patent is U.S. Patent No. 5,769,336, patented June 23, 1998, by
Dana Emmerson. That patent provided a portable unitary device for disposing of
cylindrical light bulbs. Such portable unitary device included an open-topped,
multi-
compartmented container of circular cylindrical cross-section. The container
included
an upper operating compartment, an intermediate collection compartment, and a
lower
exhaust compartment having an axial inlet and a radial outlet port. A lid was
hingedly-
connected to, and was adapted to cover, the top of the container, the lid
having an upper
surface, and a lower surface which was adapted to be directed toward the upper
operating
compartment. The lower surface was connected to an enclosed reduction chamber,
the
reduction chamber having an axial inlet means for the cylindrical bulb to be
pulverized
and an axial outlet means leading directly to the collection compartment. An
electric
motor, which was provided with an on/off switch, was disposed within the upper
operating compartment, and was secured to the reduction chamber. A rigid
unitary
pulverizing blade secured the motor drive shaft. A cylindrical light bulb feed
chute
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extended through the lid and was attached thereto. The chute had an inlet
opening which
was disposed above the upper surface of the lid and an outlet opening which
led to the
axial inlet means of the reduction chamber. A disposable pulverized light bulb
collection
bag was selectively disposed within the collection compartment in air-sealed
relationship
to the axial outlet means of the reduction chamber. Finally, a vacuum motor
was
operatively-disposed within the lower exhaust chamber and had an axial inlet
which was
connected at sub-atmospheric pressure to an axial outlet from the intermediate
collection
compartment to draw gases and particulates from the collection compartment
into the
lower exhaust compartment. The vacuum motor expelled gases into the exhaust
compartment at an overpressure, for discharge to the environment.
Even with the two, above-identified patented improvements of a cylindrical
light
bulb disposal apparatus, it is still desirable to provide an even more
exceptionally simple
and inexpensive machine that could disintegrate hazardous light bulbs and
retain such
material in a convenient container for environmentally-safe disposal.
(d) DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of one aspect of this invention to provide a
portable
machine for the safe disintegration of cylindrical fluorescent lamps.
An object of another aspect of this invention is to provide a portable,
relatively
light-weight, easily-and-safely-operable such machine.
An object of yet another aspect of this invention is to provide a portable
such
disposal unit, which will effectively disintegrate cylindrical fluorescent
lamps.
An object of yet another aspect of this invention is to provide such a
portable
machine in which the exhausts therefrom satisfy environmental protection
concerns.
By a broad aspect of this invention, a wheeled portable apparatus is provided
for
disposing of light bulbs, comprising an open-topped, multi-compartmented
container of
circular cylindrical cross-section, the container including an upper
collection
compartment, and a lower exhaust compartment having an upper radial outlet
port and
a lower radial outlet port, the upper collection compartment being separated
from the
lower exhaust compartment by an air permeable disc, a lid which is hingedly-
connected
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to, and which is adapted to cover, the top of the container, the lid having an
upper
surface, and a lower surface which is adapted to be directed toward the upper
collection
compartment, the lower surface being connected to a reduction chamber, the
reduction
chamber having an axial inlet means for a cylindrical bulb to be pulverized
and an axial
5 outlet means leading to the collection compartment, an electric motor which
is provided
with an on/off switch, the electric motor being disposed within the reduction
chamber
and having a drive shaft within the reduction chamber, and a rigid unitary
pulverizing
blade which is secured to the drive shaft, the reduction chamber being bounded
by an
open bottom cylindrical protective guard, a cylindrical light bulb feed chute
extending
10 through the lid and attached thereto, the feed chute having an inlet
opening which is
disposed above the upper surface of the lid and an outlet opening which is
disposed
below the lower surface of the lid but within the reduction chamber, a
disposable
pulverized light bulb collection bag which is selectively disposed within the
upper
collection compartment in air-sealed relationship to the open bottom of the
cylindrical
protective guard, a vacuum generator which is operatively associated with the
lower
exhaust compartment to subject the lower exhaust compartment to sub-
atmospheric
pressure, the lower exhaust compartment also including a filter member
extending
transversely across the compartment to divide the compartment into an upper
vacuum
chamber and a lower chamber, the upper vacuum chamber including a hose
connected
between the upper radial outlet port and extending through the lid to
communicate with
the interior of the cylindrical protective guard to subject the reduction
chamber to sub-
atmospheric pressure in order to purge any noxious contaminants from the
reduction
chamber, the lower chamber including filter means across the lower radial
outlet port,
whereby the lower chamber discharges environmentally-clean gases to the
environment.
By one variant thereof, the apparatus includes a cylindrical plastic insert
covering
the open top of the upper collection compartment and having an automatically-
reclosable
central opening therethrough through which the open bottom of the cylindrical
protective
guard sealingly projects.
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By another variant of this aspect of the invention, and/or of the above
variant
thereof, the apparatus includes a pull-cord for sealingly-closing the
collection bag around
the open bottom of the cylindrical protective guard by means of a noose-type
knot.
By another variant of this aspect of the invention and/or the above variants
thereof, the light bulb feed chute is removably sealingly secured to the lid.
By yet another variant of this aspect of the invention, and/or the above
variants
thereof, the rigid, bulb-disintegration blade comprises a central hub portion
which is
secured to the motor shaft, and having at least two rigid blades extending
outwardly and
upwardly at an angle of 45 ° to the central hub portion.
By still another variant of this aspect of the invention, and/or the above
variants
thereof, the apparatus includes an electrical safety switch pendently
supported by the
lower surface of the lid and adapted to inactivate the motor switch when the
lid is raised
from the open-topped container.
By still another variant of this aspect of the invention, and/or the above
variants
thereof, the filter member comprises a carbon particle filter to trap mercury
vapour and
phosphor particles.
By yet still another variant of this aspect of the invention, and/or the above
variants thereof, the filter means includes HEPA filters. By a variation
thereof, the
HEPA filters lead to mercury filters, through which gases are discharged to
the
atmosphere.
By yet still a further variant of this aspect of the invention, and/or the
above
variants thereof, the apparatus includes a numeric counter atop the lid for
counting the
number of cylindrical light bulbs crushed.
(e) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal, cross-section through the light bulb
disposal
device of one embodiment of the invention disclosed and claimed in applicant's
U.S.
Patent No. 5,769,336;
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Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal, cross-section through the light bulb
disposal
device of a second embodiment of the invention disclosed and claimed in
applicant's U.S.
Patent No. 5,769,336;
Fig. 3 is a central, longitudinal cross-section through the light bulb
disposal
device of one embodiment of the present invention in its operative position;
and
Fig. 4 is a central, longitudinal cross-section through the light bulb
disposal
device of one embodiment of the present invention in its open (emptying)
position.
(fj DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
As seen in Fig. 1, that bulb crusher 10 of U.S. Patent No. 5,769,336, includes
a main container 11 which is a structurally rigid unit which may be either
cylindrical or
inverted, slightly frusto-conical. The main container 11 has a flat base 12
and an open-
top 13, which is closed by a cover, indicated generally as 14, which is hinged
to ear 15
at pin 16 and is sealingly locked in position by clasp 17.
The cover 14 is provided with a central aperture 18, which is surrounded by a
flexible sealing ring 19, by means of which is a cylindrical bulb feeder tube
20 is
removably attached to the cover 14. The cover 14 also includes a depending,
funnel-
shaped chamber 21 secured to the underface 22 of the cover 14. The chamber 21
includes an upper cylindrical portion 23, a mid frusto-conical portion 24, and
a lower
exhaust tube 25 having an oblique cut-off end to provide a peripheral point
26.
An electric motor 27 is secured to a lower face 28 of the frusto-conical
portion
23, the electric motor 27 including a drive shaft 29 projecting through face
28. Secured
to the drive shaft 29 is a rigid, bulb disintegration blade 30. Blade 30
includes a central
hub portion 31 secured to shaft 29 and at least two blades 32 which extends at
an angle
of about 45 ° to the central hub portion. A motor control switch 33 is
mounted on the
upper surface 34 of the cover 14. Thus, the cover 14, when raised by pivoting,
allows
free access to the interior of the main container 11.
The main container 11 is divided by an upper perforate or otherwise air
pervious
annular ring 35, and a lower imperforate annular ring 36 into an upper
operating
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compartment A, an intermediate collection compartment B and a lower exhaust
compartment C .
The upper operating compartment A accommodates the elements which have been
previously described depending from the cover 14. Thus, the upper operating
chamber
A accommodates the reduction chamber 21, which has an axial inlet 37 provided
by the
exit from tube 20 for a bulb to be pulverized. An axial outlet 38 leads to the
intermediate collection chamber B. The electric motor 27, which is provided
with an
on/off switch 33, is secured to the reduction chamber 21. Electric motor 27
has shaft
29 extending into reduction chamber 21. The rigid unitary pulverizing blade 30
is
secured to the shaft 29.
Thus, the light bulb feed chute 20 extends through the cover 14 and is
detachably
attached thereto. The chute 20 has an inlet opening 39 disposed above the
upper surface
of the cover. The outlet opening 37 is disposed below the lower surface of the
lid and
is within the reduction chamber 21.
Intermediate collector compartment B accommodates a pulverized bulb collection
facility 40. Such facility 40 is provided by a rigid imperforate, open-topped
cylindrical
vessel 41. A collection bag 42 is fitted within vessel 41. Collector bag 42 is
preferably
of the type which includes an upper cylindrical top member 43, which is
provided with
an aperture 44 defined by an elastically-deformable ring 43 provided with a
transverse
slit therethrough. Thus, the end 38 of exhaust tube 25 is inserted by means of
peripheral
point 26 through the slit in the ring 43. In this way there is an hermetic
seal between
the reduction chamber 21 and the interior of the collection bag 42.
Thus, the disposable pulverized light bulb collection bag 42 is disposed
within the
intermediate collector compartment B in air-sealed relationship to the axial
outlet 38 from
the reduction chamber 21.
The lower exhaust compartment C accommodates a vacuum motor 45 and a vent
system 46. Vacuum motor 45 includes an axial inlet 47, connected at sub-
atmospheric
pressure directly to the interior of the intermediate collector compartment B,
and a radial
outlet 48 communicating with the interior of lower exhaust compartment C to
expel gases
thereinto at an overpressure. Lower exhaust compartment C has a perforate
radial outlet
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49. The radial outlet 49 is covered by a screen plate 50, removably held
thereto by bolts
51. Thus, the vacuum motor 45 is operative-disposed within the lower exhaust
compartment C. It has an axial inlet 47 connected at sub-atmospheric pressure
to the
axial outlet from the intermediate collection chamber B.
The second embodiment shown in Fig. 2 is a bulb crusher 110 of U.S. Patent No.
5,769,336 which is identical in structure in its major elements. Where
identical elements
are present in Fig. 2, they will not be described further.
The major difference is that the lower exhaust compartment C is provided with
a perforated hollow cylinder 111 fitted to the radial outlet 48 (instead of
the screen plate
50). The perforated hollow cylinder 111 extends into the interior of the lower
exhaust
compartment C. A removable cylindrical charcoal filter element 112 is disposed
within
cylinder 111. This serves to absorb any (very minor) amount of pollutants
which may
be present.
Thus, a gas absorption filter 112 is disposed within the lower exhaust
compartment C, such gas absorption filter 112 having an inlet 113 through 111
communicating with the lower exhaust compartment C and has an outlet
communicating
with the radial outlet 46 from the lower exhaust compartment C. This enables
the
exhausting of filtered innocuous gases from the lower exhaust compartment C.
In use, the fluorescent tube is fed into the bulb crusher 10 through feeder
tube 20.
It is crushed by the disintegration blade 30, and is discharged directly into
the collection
bag 42. During operation, as the portion of a fluorescent tube exits from the
outlet 37
of inlet tube 20, it is broken and ground by the novel crushing blades 30 of
an aspect of
this invention. The unbroken portion of the fluorescent tube moves downwardly
through
the inlet chute 20 until the entire fluorescent tube is broken and deposited
in the
disposable collection bag 39.
The lower vacuum chamber serves to draw gases and particulates from the
intermediate collection compartment into the lower exhaust compartment and
clean
exhaust is discharged through the radial outlet.
In use, the fluorescent tube is fed into the bulb crusher 10 through feeder
tube 20.
It is crushed by the disintegration blade 30, and is discharged directly into
the collection
CA 02262216 1999-02-18
bag 42. Because the outlet from the disintegrating chamber 21 is hermetically
sealingly
secured to the inlet to the dispersible collection bag 42, no significant
amount of noxious
fumes escape to the radial outlet 46. However, to assure uniform flow of gases
within
the bulb crusher, a vacuum motor generates suction within the upper operating
S compartment A, the intermediate collection compartment B, and the lower
exhaust
compartment C. The suction created by the suction motor expels gases at an
overpressure to the lower exhaust compartment. This overpressure expels gases
through
the radial outlet 46.
A charcoal filter 112 is disposed in the lower exhaust chamber C to
communicate
10 with the radial outlet 46.
The lower vacuum chamber serves to draw gases and particulates from the
intermediate collection compartment into the lower exhaust compartment and
clean
exhaust is discharged through the radial outlet. In addition, the presence of
the charcoal
filter serves to expel filtered innocuous gases through the charcoal filter
and thence to
15 the environment.
(g) AT LEAST ONE MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
As seen in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, one embodiment of the present invention
comprises
a bulb crusher 310 which includes a main container 311 which is a structurally
rigid,
which may be either cylindrical or (as shown) inverted, slightly frusto-
conical. The main
container 311 has a flat base 312 and an open top 313, which is closed by a
lid, indicated
generally as 314, which is hinged to ear 315 at pin 316 and is sealingly
locked in
position by clasp 317. The main container 311 includes wheels 312a.
The lid 314 is provided with a central aperture 318, which is surrounded by a
flexible sealing ring 319, by means of which a cylindrical bulb feeder tube
320 is
removably attached to the lid 314. The lid 314 also includes a depending,
reduction
chamber 321, which is defined by an open-bottom cylindrical protective guard
323 which
is sealingly associated with an upper collection compartment in a manner to be
described
hereinafter.
16
An electric motor 327 is secured within the protective guard 323. The electric
motor 327 is provided with a rigid, bulb disintegration blade 330. A motor
control
switch is mounted on the upper surface on the cover. The construction of the
electric
motor 327 and its rigid bulb disintegration blade 330 was fully described with
reference
to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 and so need not be further described herein. Thus, the
cover 314,
when raised by pivoting, allows free access to the interior of the main
container 311.
The main container 311 is divided by a perforated or air porous disc 336 into
an upper
collection compartment B and a lower exhaust compartment C. The lid 314 also
includes
a numeric counter 314a to keep track of the spent tubes going in the unit for
crushing.
The upper collection compartment B includes a plastic insert 323a which rests
atop the open upper end of collection compartment B. Plastic insert 323a is
provided
with an automatically-reclosable central opening, through which the
cylindrical protective
guard 323 sealingly projects. Thus, when the lid 314 is raised, a seal is
automatically
provided, thereby minimizing exposure of the crushed component mixture which
may be
in upper collection compartment B to the environment.
The lid 314 accommodates the cylindrical protective guard 323, which also
simultaneously provides an upper operating compartment A which accommodates
the
elements which have been previously described depending from the cover 314.
Thus,
the upper operating compartment A provides the reduction chamber 321, which
has an
axial inlet 337 which is provided by the exit from the tube 320 for a
cylindrical bulb to
be pulverized. An axial outlet from the reduction chamber 321 is constituted
by the open
bottom 338 of the cylindrical protective guard 323. Such axial outlet 338
leads to the
upper collection compartment B.
The upper collector compartment B accommodates a pulverized bulb collection
facility 340. Such facility 340 is provided by a collection bag 342.
Collection bag 342
is preferably a plastic bag of 6 mil thickness. A pull cord 341 enables
collection bag 342
to be secured in sealed relationship to the open bottom 338 of the cylindrical
protective
guard 323. Pull cord 341 is used to pull the bag closed with a noose-style
knot, which
can be reopened to install a new bag on a continuous basis. This allows the
operator of
the unit to pull the bag closed before changing bags, eliminating the
possibility of any
CA 02262216 1999-02-18
17
exposure to the crushed components inside to the environment. In this way,
there is seal
between the reduction chamber 321 and the interior of the collection bag 342.
Thus, the disposable pulverized light bulb collection bag 341 is disposed
within
the upper collector compartment B in air-sealed relationship to the axial
outlet 338 from
the reduction chamber 321.
The lower exhaust compartment C is provided with a vacuum generator 395, an
internal exhaust system 346 and an internal vent system 350. The vacuum
generator 345
includes an outlet 347 which is connected at sub-atmospheric pressure directly
to the
interior of the lower exhaust compartment C. Lower exhaust compartment C is
divided
by filter 348 into an upper vacuum chamber 351 and a lower chamber 352. Filter
348
preferably is an 8 X 10 carbon particle filter to trap a maximum amount of
mercury
vapour and phosphor powder, giving substantial effectiveness in maintaining a
safe
operational unit.
The internal exhaust system 346 of the upper vacuum chamber 351 includes a
radial outlet 353 which is connected to a vacuum hose 354, whose end penetrate
the lid
314 and exits within the reduction chamber 321. This internal exhaust of any
possible
mercury vapour and phosphor dust from the reduction chamber 321 to the upper
vacuum
chamber 351 greatly reduces the risk of such products being accidently
discharged into
the environment.
The internal vent system 350 in the lower chamber 352 is provided with HEPA
filters 355 to filter any fme particles of phosphor, glass, etc. , and a
downstream mercury
filter 356 connected thereto, which leads to the exhaust 357. Thus, the unit
310
discharges environmentallly-clean gases to the environment.
As described above, the present invention includes, as an essential feature, a
particular bulb crusher means. In accordance with the present invention, the
crusher
means comprises at least two equi-angularly-disposed rigid blades projecting
at a 45°
angle from a cylindrical bulb. The improved crusher means tend to increase the
efficiency with which the lamps are crushed or shattered upon entering the
holding unit.
Because of the enhanced impact of the rigid, 45 ° angled blade
contacting the bulb at 90 °
to the downward movement of the tube, the tubes are broken rapidly into small
particles.
CA 02262216 1999-02-18
I8
As a side effect of such rapid breakup, any undesirable backup into an inlet
means is
minimized and the ground glass and other residue is impelled forcefully into
the
disposable collection bag. Moreover, the internal exhaust system greatly
minimizes any
discharge of hazardous materials undesirables into the environment. In
addition, the
upper plastic insert includes the automatically-reclosable central opening,
through which
the protective guard sealingly projects. When the protective guard is
withdrawn by
opening the lid, the plastic insert automatically seals the collection
compartment to
prevent escape of hazardous materials.
Variations can be made in the above-described preferred embodiment, as will be
understood by one skilled in the art. The motor, the inlet chute, and the
switch can, of
course, be mounted to the lid in other arrangements than that specifically
shown. The
motor can be other than electric, e.g., pneumatic or hydraulic. The inlet
chute can be
a single tube. Alternatively, the inlet chute can comprise two separate tubes,
if desired.
Other types of glass (or other material) tubes than fluorescent tubes can
also, of course,
be disposed of by the apparatus of the present invention, by suitable
modification tot he
tube inlet means.
The disposal apparatus of the present invention is preferably entirely mounted
on
the lid of a mating, open-top container. The term "mating" as used herein
means that
the lid fits on the container and completely and sealing covers the container
opening.
