DEVICE AND METHOD FOR REMOVING OF UNWANTED MATERIAL

Abstract

A collection kit for the removal of unwanted material from a surface, said kit comprising: iv) ferromagnetic material to absorb and/or adsorb the unwanted material when spread across the unwanted material creating an area of operation; v) an apparatus having a magnetic source operable to attract the ferromagnetic material together with absorbed and/or adsorbed unwanted material when the magnetic source is touching or in the vicinity of the area of operation; and vi) means to dislodge the ferromagnetic material and absorbed and/or adsorbed unwanted material from the apparatus once the ferromagnetic material has been removed from the area of operation.

Claims

1. A collection kit for the removal of unwanted material from a hard surface or a solid surface, said collection kit comprising: i) ferromagnetic material to at least one of absorb or adsorb the unwanted material when spread across the unwanted material creating an area of operation; ii) an apparatus having a drum and a magnetic source arrangement including a plurality of magnets within the drum and operable to attract the ferromagnetic material together with the at least one of absorbed or adsorbed unwanted material to an outer surface of the drum when the magnetic source is in a vicinity of the area of operation; and iii) the plurality of magnets within the drum are arranged to have a stronger magnetic influence on the ferromagnetic material at an area near the area of operation and operable to attract the ferromagnetic material to the outer surface of the drum, and a lesser magnetic influence on the ferromagnetic material as the ferromagnetic material is rotated away from the area of operation.

2. A collection kit according to claim 1 wherein at least one magnet of the plurality of magnets is positioned closer to the area of operation at a first distance from the inner surface of the drum and at least one magnet is positioned at an area removed from the area of operation at a second distance from the inner surface of the drum greater than the first distance, the magnets configured to provide a progressive weakening of a magnetic influence of the plurality of magnets as the ferromagnetic material that is attracted to the outer surface of the drum is rotated away from the area of operation.

3. A collection kit according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of magnets is in a fixed position and includes one or more lifter magnets having a first magnetic strength near the area of operation and one or more carrier magnets having a second magnetic strength less than the first magnetic strength positioned at a distance removed from the area of operation.

4. A collection kit according to claim 3 wherein the one or more lifter magnets are rare earth magnets and the one or more carrier magnets are ferrite ceramic magnets.

5. A collection kit according to claim 1 further comprising a gearing mechanism operatively coupled to the drum and the magnetic source arrangement and configured to control rotation of the drum and the magnetic source arrangement, wherein the drum or the magnetic source arrangement housed within the drum is configured to rotate while the other is stationary; or the drum and the magnetic source arrangement are configured to rotate in a same direction or a different direction and at a same rate or a different rate.

6. A collection kit according to claim wherein the ferromagnetic material is a zero valent iron particle material or a composite of zero valent iron powder with gamma-iron oxide particles and is blended with a non-magnetic absorbent material that has been subsequently magnetized or imparted with an electric charge.

7. A collection kit according to claim 6 wherein the nonmagnetic absorbent material is selected from at least one of zeolites, absorbent clay, adsorbent clay, aluminium silicates and minerals, recycled waste wood, paper products, grain by-products, plastic particles or other naturally occurring absorbent and/or material or adsorbent material.

8. A collection kit according to claim 1 wherein the ferromagnetic material is housed in a container that is able to maintain a temperature of the ferromagnetic material at or above 14 C., and a device to aid in spreading the material.

9. A collection kit according to claim 4 wherein the one or more lifter magnets have a magnetic strength of from 1,000 Gauss to 15,000 Gauss at a surface of the one or more lifter magnets and the one or more carrier magnets have a magnetic strength of 100 Gauss to 5,000 Gauss at a surface of the one or more carrier magnets.

10. A collection kit according to claim 1 wherein the drum is positioned to operate at a distance of 5 mm to 50 mm above the surface of the area of operation and includes a plurality of cups or a plurality of fins on the outer surface of the drum to assist in lifting and carrying the ferromagnetic material.

11. A collection kit according to claim 1 further comprising a trolley having driving wheels to move the trolley in a forward direction or a backward direction, and including a gearing mechanism to control a rotation of the drum such that the drum rotates in an opposite direction to the driving wheels when the collection kit is moved in a forward direction and remains stationary when the trolley is moved backwards or is geared such that the drum will continue to rotate in the opposite direction to the forward motion of the driving wheels regardless of whether the driving wheels are moved in the forward direction or the backward direction.

12. A collection kit according to claim 9 wherein the zero valent iron powder includes a plurality of spongy grade, atomized, or annealed particles having an average particle size of 5 microns to 100 microns.

Description

Brief Descriptions of the Drawings

[0072] FIG. 1 shows the device set up as a trolley showing the inner workings of the device.

[0073] FIG. 2 shows one arrangement of the magnet array.

[0074] FIG. 3 shows an alternative trolley type device arrangement.

[0075] FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of FIG. 3 from a front orientation.

[0076] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the Section A-A from FIG. 4.

[0077] FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment that includes a rotating drum. FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment where cups are included to assist with the transfer of the ferromagnetic material.

[0078] FIGS. 8 to 11 show a blend of the ferromagnetic material together with a modified zeolite demonstrating how the material absorbs and/or adsorbs oil and may be removed by a magnet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0079] The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that these drawings are merely illustrative of preferred embodiments, and the invention as described and claimed herein should not be considered to be limited thereto.

[0080] The present invention is described with reference to FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the drum (1), is housed within a trolley (2), having handles (3) to allow it to be moved. The trolley includes driving wheels (4), which are operable to move the trolley in a forward or reverse direction. The drum in this embodiment, includes fins (6) to assist in the pick-up of ferromagnetic material.

[0081] The trolley device includes gearing associated with the driving wheels and drum (not shown), which is operable to control the rotation of the drum so that it rotates in the direction opposite to the forward movement of the trolley. The gearing may be such that the drum continues in this reverse rotation even when the trolley is moved in a backward direction, or the drum will remain stationary if the trolley moves in a backward direction.

[0082] The trolley device includes a bucket (7) to catch the ferromagnetic material when it is ejected from the drum. It will sit within the trolley in use. The ferromagnetic material (not shown) will be ejected from the surface of the drum, mainly by centrifugal force following the rotation of the drum. The trolley also includes a lid (9) to assist in keeping the ferromagnetic material within the trolley when in use.

[0083] FIG. 2 illustrates the internal working of drum (1). An array of magnets is illustrated with stronger, usually rare earth magnets (10) placed near the inner surface of the drum and toward the bottom of the drum in use. This will be an area close to the area of operation when the device is in use. Magnets of a lesser strength, usually ferrite ceramic (11) are placed a distant from the area of operation. As an alternate to being of a lesser strength, the magnets may be placed such that they operate at a distance from the inner surface of the drum as show in this Figure. The purpose is to provide a graduation in the magnetic strength such that the drum can carry the ferromagnetic material up the side of the drum and eject the ferromagnetic material when the ferromagnetic material reaches the top.

[0084] In an alternative embodiment, FIG. 3 illustrates a collection kit with a trolley (2) with a handle (3) with driving wheels (4) to allow the trolley to be moved either in a forward or reverse direction. Ferromagnetic material (12) has been spread across a surface that is covered with unwanted material that creates the area of operation. The unwanted material may for example be oil but could be fats, paints, chemicals, abattoir wastes, wine, detergents or any other material able to be adsorbed and/or absorbed by the ferromagnetic material. Spreading the ferromagnetic material over the unwanted material allows for the ferromagnetic material to adsorb and/or absorb the unwanted material.

[0085] In this embodiment, the drum is replaced with an operable surface that is a collection belt (13) which is operated by belt wheels (14) (see FIG. 5) to drive and rotate the collection belt.

[0086] Ferromagnetic material (12) is placed over the spilled unwanted material to be absorbed and/or adsorbed by the ferromagnetic material. In use, the trolley type device will roll over the ferromagnetic material that has been spread over the unwanted material such that the collection belt operates just above the ferromagnetic material, while the driving wheels (4) run on the surface to be cleaned.

[0087] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the trolley type device with line A-A illustrating the cut through section which is illustrated in FIG. 5 and illustrating the collection belt (13) and driving wheels (4).

[0088] In the cut through illustration of FIG. 5, the magnets (10) can be seen and are affixed to a portion of the collection belt so that approximately a third of the collection belt is magnetically functional. The amount of the collection belt that becomes magnetically functional is simply a matter of design and can vary. The magnets may rotate with the collection belt or could be fixed in position.

[0089] When the magnets are in the lower position (15), they are able to attract the ferromagnetic material that has been spread over the unwanted material (not shown), such as oil, to the collection belt. The ferromagnetic material rotates with the collection belt as the belt wheels and magnets rotate. The ferromagnetic material remains on the belt wheel until it reaches point (16) where cleaning bristles (17) will remove the ferromagnetic material together with the absorbed and/or adsorbed unwanted material which then falls into the collection tray (7). The collection tray is removable for disposal of the ferromagnetic material and waste product.

[0090] The collection belt together with the magnets continues to be rotated and collect further ferromagnetic material together with the adsorbed and/or absorbed unwanted material.

[0091] Stability casters (19) may also be provided. There is also a gear box assembly (20) that allows rotation of the main driving wheels to translate the rotation of the belt wheels and hence the rotation of the collection belt.

[0092] FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment that includes a handle (3) together with a drum (1) and an inner fixed wheel of magnets (10 and 11). The rotating drum is able to rotate around axle point (21) while the fixed wheel of magnets remains fixed and so does not rotate with the drum. The strength of the magnets will transition from the stronger magnets which operate near the lower surface of the drum to weaker magnetic strength near the upper inner surface of the drum in operation. The magnets may alternatively be positioned further from the inner surface of the drum. The apparatus will usually include a trolley or chassis (not shown) to maintain the rotating drum at a height just above the surface to be cleaned. The trolley or chassis may have its own set of wheels to allow for the apparatus to be readily rolled over the surface to be cleaned.

[0093] The apparatus is able to be rolled over ferromagnetic material (12) such that the ferromagnetic material will be attracted to the magnets and will become fixed to the rotating outer surface of the drum when in the vicinity of the magnets. The rotating drum will rotate in the direction of arrow (22) while the wheel of magnets will remain in a fixed position.

[0094] The apparatus may include a motor and gearing mechanism (not shown) to control the direction and rate of rotation of the rotating drum. The ferromagnetic material will be dislodged from the rotating outer drum when it is no longer in the vicinity of the magnets and will fall into collection tray (7).

[0095] A further embodiment is shown in FIG. 7 where the rotating drum (1) includes cups (24) able to assist in collection of the ferromagnetic material (12). The ferromagnetic material is again dislodged from the rotating drum when no longer in the vicinity of the magnets (10) into collection tray (7). The magnets remain in a fixed position while the rotating drum is able to rotate in direction of arrow (25) providing a forward motion for the apparatus.

[0096] In a comparable arrangement, both the outer drum and inner magnetic source may be geared to rotate either in the same direction or in opposite directions and at the same or differing speeds. The apparatus may be designed to allow for variation in the set-up of the movement, both direction and speed, of the outer drum on the inner concentric magnetic source dependent on the need.

EXAMPLE 1

[0097] The zeolite used was commercial grade SpillZorbe.

[0098] The iron powder was supplied by Hgans AB Grade MH300.29 spongy 5 annealed superfine (average particle size 37 microns).

[0099] A quantity of the zeolite material was soaked in a saturated aqueous solution of ferric chloride, FeCl.sub.3, allowing several days for maximum absorption and/or adsorption of ions into the zeolite to occur. The resulting material was then dried in an oven (to constant weight) at around 60 C. This is referred to as the modified zeolite.

[0100] The modified zeolite was ground to a finer powder using a mortar and pestle and intimately mixed (with stirring) with an equivalent amount (by solid volume) of the iron powder.

[0101] A vigorous exothermic solid-state reaction ensued and appeared to be complete after several hours. This reaction appeared to produce two products: (1) a dark, rusty-brown product that is highly magnetic and around 26% lighter than the iron powder (on a solid volume basis) and (2) a dark yellow powder that is slightly magnetic and that is 65% lighter than the iron powder. Due to their differences in magnetic susceptibility, products (1) and (2) could be magnetically separated from one another.

EXAMPLE 2

[0102] To make a Mark II version that is 50% lighter than the iron powder, product (1) and product (2) from Example 1 were recombined in equivalent proportion by solid volume and the mixture was ground using a mortar and pestle to produce a grey-brown powder. This blend is 50% lighter than the original pure iron powder and appears to be equally effective.

[0103] The effectiveness of this blend is shown in FIGS. 8 to 11 where FIG. 8 is crude oil in a petri dish. FIG. 9 illustrates the Mark II blend spread across the crude oil. In time, the ferromagnetic material of Mark II will absorb and/or adsorb the crude oil, as shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 11 demonstrates how ferromagnetic material, with the absorbed and/or adsorbed oil will be attracted to a magnet and removed from the contaminated area.

[0104] The invention described herein is illustrative of the invention and provides examples of the best method of performing the invention. The invention described should be considered to be inclusive of minor modifications that may be made without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention described.