Apparatus and a method for recycling of structural materials

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are for separating a plastic-based insulation material from a concrete-based constructional element, to which the insulation material is attached. The apparatus has at least one fluid-jetting device which is in fluid communication with a pressure-generating device to produce a fluid jet with a pressure sufficient to release the insulation material from the constructional element. The apparatus is configured to allow relative motion between the fluid-jetting device and the constructional element.

Claims

1. A method of separating a plastic-based insulation material from a concrete-based constructional element to which the insulation material is attached, the method comprising: providing an apparatus for separating the insulation material from the constructional element to which the insulation material is attached, the apparatus comprising at least one fluid jetting device which is in fluid communication with a pressure-generating device to produce a fluid jet with a pressure sufficient to release the insulation material from the constructional element; motion means for providing relative motion between the at least one fluid-jetting device and the constructional element, wherein the at least one fluid-jetting device is connected to a chamber arranged to at least partially enclose a portion of the constructional element, and wherein a jetting direction of the at least one fluid-jetting device is directed inwards in the chamber; bringing at least the portion of the constructional element with the insulation material into the chamber comprising the at least one fluid-jetting device; generating a relative movement between the apparatus and the constructional element via the motion means and bringing fluid under pressure from the at least one fluid-jetting device against the insulation material so that the insulation material is released from the constructional element; and collecting the released insulation material by a collecting means connected to the chamber, and bringing the constructional element out of the chamber separately from the released insulation material.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a spread angle and a jetting direction of the at least one fluid-jetting device is arranged to be adjustable.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises providing the apparatus with a supporting structure for carrying the constructional element while the at least one fluid-jetting device is directed against the insulation material.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein bringing at least the portion of the constructional element with the insulation material into the chamber comprises moving the chamber relative to the supporting structure.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the supporting structure includes a plurality of rollers, wherein rotation of at least one of the plurality of rollers is driven by a motor.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein bringing at least the portion of the constructional element with the insulation material into the chamber comprises rotating at least one of the plurality of rollers to drive the constructional element with the insulation material into the chamber.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid-jetting device comprises at least two fluid-jetting devices.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the method further comprises arranging the at least two fluid-jetting devices to have substantially mutually opposite jetting directions.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid under pressure is selected from a group consisting of: a gas, a liquid, and a combination thereof, with or without solid particles.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In what follows, an example of a preferred embodiment is described, which is visualized in the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a view in perspective of an apparatus according to the present invention, in which a constructional element is placed on a supporting structure;

(3) FIG. 2a shows the apparatus of FIG. 1, but viewed from a different angle;

(4) FIG. 2b shows the apparatus of FIG. 2a, but the constructional element has been partially cleaned of insulation material;

(5) FIG. 3a shows the apparatus of FIG. 1, viewed from above;

(6) FIG. 3b shows the apparatus of FIG. 1, viewed from a bottom side; and

(7) FIG. 3c shows a detail of a portion of the apparatus in a side view on a larger scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(8) Positional indications such as right, left, upper, lower, bottom side and top side refer to the positions appearing from the figures.

(9) The relative proportions of individual elements shown in the figures may be somewhat distorted.

(10) In some of the figures, some of the elements may be shown without reference numerals.

(11) In the figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates an apparatus according to the present invention. In the embodiment shown, the apparatus 1 comprises a supporting structure 3, shown here as a roller conveyor 3.

(12) The apparatus 1 comprises a plurality of fluid-jetting devices 5 (a total of four shown; three in FIGS. 1, 2a, 2b and 3a; one shown in FIG. 3b). In what follows, the fluid-jetting devices 5 will also be referred to as jet nozzles 5 or just nozzles 5. Each jet nozzle 5 is in fluid communication, by means of fluid lines 5, with a pressure-generating device 6 which is configured to produce a fluid pressure sufficient to accomplish the object of the present invention. The pressure-generating device 6 will also be referred to, in what follows, as an HPU (High Pressure Unit) which is a term commonly used in the trade. The HPU 6 is in fluid communication with a fluid source, not shown.

(13) The jet nozzles 5 are arranged for a chamber 7 which has an entrance portion 9 and an exit portion 11. The chamber 7 is configured to enclose a portion of a concrete-based constructional element 13 which is provided with a plastic-based insulation material 15. In the figures, the constructional element 13 and the insulation material 15 are shown as a sandwich structure 13, 15 in which the insulation material 15 is placed between two constructional elements 13.

(14) The jet nozzles 5 are displaceably arranged on nozzle carriers 8 so that the nozzles can be displaced transversely to a longitudinal axis of the supporting structure 3, sideways between the constructional elements 13, that is. Such a displacement is especially used in cases in which the insulation material is relatively thick, for example in the order of 20-35 cm. In a case like that, a displacement of the nozzles 5 will typically take place at a reversal of direction in connection with reciprocating motion as discussed above.

(15) The supporting structure or roller conveyor 3 is provided with a plurality of rollers 30 which are rotatably attached to two cheeks 32. The rollers facilitate a movement of the sandwich structure 13, 15 along the roller conveyor 3 so that the sandwich structure 13, 15 may be carried through the chamber 7. At least one of the rollers 30, but preferably two or more, may be provided with a driving means in the form of a motor arranged to produce rotation of the roller(s). Such a driving device will be well known to a person skilled in the art and is therefore not shown. With the solution described here, the sandwich structure 13, 15 can thus be moved relative to the chamber 7.

(16) Alternatively, or in addition, to moving the sandwich structure 13, 15 relative to the chamber 7, the chamber 7 may be moved relative to the supporting structure 3. Such a movement may be provided by means of a carrier means 34 (indicated in broken lines in FIG. 1) arranged in internal side portions of the chamber 7 and slidably attached to the cheeks 32 of the supporting structure 3. By providing the chamber 7 with a rotating driving means which is in engagement with the cheeks 32 of the supporting structure 3, the chamber 7 may be moved relative to the supporting structure 3. An example of a rotating driving means is a rubber roller which is set into rotation by a motor. Another example of a rotating driving means is a toothed wheel which is set into rotation by a motor, the toothed wheel being in engagement with a complementary element such as a pitch rack (not shown), for example, attached along at least one of the cheeks 32.

(17) In the embodiment shown, the apparatus 1 is further provided with a control unit 17 which communicates with the HPU 6 and the motor(s), not shown, for the rollers of the supporting structure 3 and/or for the rubber roller or toothed wheel of the chamber. Such a control unit can be made by a person skilled in the art and is thus not described any further in this document.

(18) As shown best in FIG. 1, the apparatus 1 comprises a means 19 arranged to collect at least the insulation material 15 that is detached from the constructional element 13 when the sandwich structure 13, 15 is carried through the chamber 7 and subjected to fluid jets. The means 19 is shown in FIG. 1 as a receptacle 19. The receptacle 19, also referred to as the insulation receptacle 19 in what follows, is connected to a fluid receptacle 21 arranged to receive fluid in the form of a liquid, typically water, that is jetted from the nozzles 5 into the chamber 7. The fluid receptacle 21 is arranged just below the supporting structure 3, whereas the insulation receptacle 19 is arranged below and to one side of the supporting structure 3 as shown best in FIGS. 2a and 3a. Fluid from the nozzles 5 will be carried together with released insulation material 15 towards the fluid receptacle 21.

(19) A slanted filter element 23 is placed in a top portion of the fluid receptacle 21. The filter element 23 has a mesh size adapted for retaining released insulation material 15 and directing it on to a top portion of the insulation receptacle 19.

(20) A drain 21 is arranged in a lower portion of the fluid receptacle 21 to allow draining thereof. The drain 21 may be in fluid communication with the fluid source, not shown, or with the HPU 6, so that the fluid, typically water, is recycled.

(21) The insulation receptacle 19 is provided with a connecting device 19 (indicated in FIG. 3b) for the insulation receptacle 19 to be connectable to an external receiving device (not shown) for released insulation material 15. In its simplest form, the receiving device may be a so-called big bag, but may alternatively be a container. Such a container may include a suction device which produces a negative pressure in said external container and thereby in the insulation receptacle 19 as well. Released insulation material 15 may thereby be sucked out of the insulation receptacle 19 either continuously or whenever required.

(22) In FIGS. 1, 2a, 3a and 3b, the sandwich structure 13, 15 is shown placed on the supporting structure 3, but before it has been carried into the chamber 7 with nozzles 5, that is to say before the insulation material 15 has been separated from the constructional element 13.

(23) FIG. 2b shows the sandwich structure 13, 15 while it is being carried through the chamber 7. The part of the sandwich structure 13, 15 that is upstream of the chamber 7, accordingly to the left of the entrance portion 9 of the chamber 7, is intact, whereas the part that is near the exit portion 11 of the chamber 7 and downstream, accordingly to the right of the exit portion, has been freed of insulation material 15 and thus comprises only the constructional element 13. The two portions of the constructional element 13 are kept spaced apart by means of embedded spacers or so-called struts (not shown) which will be well known to a person skilled in the art.

(24) To ensure correct alignment of the sandwich structure 13, 15 and the constructional element 13 on the roller conveyor 3, and at the same time reduce the risk of it tilting sideways, the roller conveyor 3 is provided with supporting elements or guides 36 arranged in a spaced-apart manner along the roller conveyor 3. In the embodiment shown, the guides 36 are attached to a top portion of the cheeks 32. In one embodiment, the guides 36 are provided with adjustable attachment means (not shown) of a kind known per se, to allow a displacement of the guides in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the roller conveyor 3. The spacing of opposite guides 36 may thereby be adjusted to the thickness of the sandwich structure 13, 15 which is the distance between the external side faces of the constructional element 13.

(25) In FIGS. 2a and 2b, the exit portion 11 of the chamber 7 is provided with a number of elastic fingers 38. The purpose of the fingers 38 is to provide a flexible gate in the chamber 7 so that fluid from the nozzles 5, solid particles, if any in the fluid, and released insulation material 15 will, to the smallest possible extent, flow out through the exit portion 11 of the chamber. Even though it is not shown in the figures, corresponding elastic fingers may, with advantage, be placed in the entrance portion 9 of the chamber 7 as well. In a prototype of the apparatus 1, the elastic fingers are made of a rubber material.

(26) FIG. 3c shows a principle drawing, on a larger scale, of the chamber 7 (shown transparently), in which the nozzles 5 have been adjusted to have different effective ranges of action. For the sake of clarity, a portion of the fluid lines 5 extending between the HPU 6 and the nozzles 5 are not shown. The upper left-hand nozzle 5, which the sandwich structure 13, 15 meets first when being carried in through the entrance portion 9 of the chamber 7, has an effective range of action against an upper portion of the insulation material 15. The upper middle nozzle 5 has an effective range of action against a middle portion of the insulation material 15, whereas the upper right-hand nozzle 5 has an effective range of action against a lower portion of the insulation material 15.

(27) As the sandwich structure 13, 15 is being carried through the chamber 7, the fluid jets from the nozzles 5 will release the insulation material 15 from the constructional element 13. A border face 15 will form between non-released and released insulation material 15. Below and to the left of the insulation border face 15, the insulation material 15 is intact, whereas the insulation material has been removed to the right and above the insulation border face 15.

(28) In the embodiment shown, the lower nozzle, shown in FIG. 3b, has not been activated, as the sandwich structure 13, 15 shown does not have any cut-out that will represent an obstruction to the upper nozzles. The lower nozzle 5 may for example have an effective range of action against a middle portion of the insulation material 15, as the purpose of the lower nozzle is primarily to ensure release of any insulation material 15 present on the leeward side of a possible cut-out as discussed earlier. It should be underlined that the chamber 7 may be provided with a different number of nozzles 5 from that shown, both in the upper portion and in the lower portion of the chamber 7.

(29) From the description above it will be understood that the apparatus 1 according to the present invention provides an apparatus 1 which may be used efficiently and reliably to arrange for recycling of insulated constructional elements. The apparatus 1 is particularly effective for constructional elements of the sandwich type 13, 15 in which access to the insulation material 15 is only through the edge faces of the constructional element. The nozzles 5 of the apparatus 1 release the insulation material 15 from the constructional element 13 without the integrity of the constructional element 13 being deteriorated. This is because the struts of the constructional element 13 are not cut by the fluid jet(s). Any risk of injury to personnel in consequence of uncontrolled separation of the two constructional elements 13 of the sandwich structure 13, 15 will thereby be practically eliminated.

(30) It should be noted that all the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate the invention, but do not limit it, and persons skilled in the art may construct many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the attached claims. In the claims, reference numbers in parentheses are not to be regarded as restrictive.

(31) The use of the verb to comprise and its different forms does not exclude the presence of elements or steps that are not mentioned in the claims. The indefinite article a or an before an element does not exclude the presence of several such elements.

(32) The fact that some features are indicated in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these features cannot be used with advantage.