COIN RETRIEVAL FROM REFUSE
An apparatus and method for screening out coins from a non-ferrous residue throughput of a resource recovery facility, and including a trommel comprised of an open ended drum. The cylindrical portion of the drum is formed of spaced-apart elongate pipe members defining a screen extending between the inlet end and the outlet end of the drum. The drum is rotatable along its longitudinal axis and positioned such that the non-ferrous residue throughput moves from the inlet end to the outlet end as the drum rotates and tumbles the residue in a progressive helix pattern to cause the screening out of coins from the residue throughput, with the screened coins exiting through the space between the elongate pipe members and the remaining residue throughput being discharged through the outlet end of the drum.
1 . A trommel for screening out coins from a non-ferrous residue throughput comprising a cylindrical drum having an inlet end and an outlet end, spaced-apart elongate members forming a screen extending between the drum inlet and outlet ends, the elongate members being joined by transverse bracing members, the drum being rotatable along its longitudinal axis and positioned such that the residue throughput moves from the inlet end to the outlet end as the drum rotates and tumbles the residue in a progressive helix pattern to cause the screening out of coins from the residue, the screened coins falling through the space between the elongate members, with the remaining residue throughput being discharged through the outlet end of the drum.
2 . The trommel according to claim 1 , wherein the space between elongate members is about 3/16 inches.
3 . The trommel according to claim 1 , wherein the elongate members are in the form of pipes.
4 . The trommel according to claim 1 , wherein the bracing members are in the form of rings.
5 . The trommel according to claim 1 , wherein the elongate members are comprised of stainless steel.
6 . The trommel according to claim 1 wherein the bracing members are comprised of stainless steel.
7 . The trommel according to claim 1 , including drive means for causing and controlling the rotation of the drum.
8 . The trommel according to claim 7 wherein the drive means includes a variable frequency motor and gearbox combination.
9 . The trommel according to claim 8 , wherein the drive means includes at least one collar fixedly encircling the drum and at least one drive wheel frictionally engaged with the collar.
10 . The trommel according to claims 9 , wherein the drive means includes a drive shaft connecting the motor and gearbox combination to the drive wheel.
11 . The trommel according to claim 9 , wherein the collar is composed of stainless steel.
12 . The trommel according to claim 9 , wherein the drive wheel is composed of carbon steel and includes a coating of urethane.
13 . The trommel according to claim 9 , wherein the drive means includes an idler wheel contacting the collar on a side opposite the drive wheel.
14 . The trommel according to 13 , wherein the idler wheel is composed of carbon steel and includes a coating of urethane.
15 . The trommel according to claim 8 , wherein the drive means includes respective first and second collars fixedly encircling the drum, and corresponding drive wheels frictionally engaged with the collars.
16 . The trommel according to claim 15 , wherein the drive means includes a drive shaft connecting the motor and gearbox combination to the drive wheels.
17 . The trommel according to claim 15 , wherein the collars are composed of stainless steel.
18 . The trommel according to claim 15 , wherein the drive wheels are composed of carbon steel and include a coating of urethane.
19 . The trommel according to claim 15 , wherein the drive means includes respective idler wheels contacting the first and second collars on sides opposite the drive wheels.
20 . The trommel according to claim 19 , wherein the idler wheels are composed of carbon steel and include coating of urethane,
21 . The trommel according to claim 15 , including a corresponding thrust roller adjacently spaced from the inside edge of each of the collars.
22 . The trommel according to claim 15 , including a corresponding thrust roller positioned about ¼ inches from the inside edge of each of the collars.
23 . The trommel according to claim 1 , including tilting means for causing the drum to pivot downward in the direction of throughput discharge.
24 . The trommel according to claim 23 , including an air knife directing a relatively large volume of air at the spaced-apart elongate members to clean the space therebetween, and including means to cause the air knife to tilt in unison with the drum.
25 . The trommel according to claim 23 , including a drum support structure having an upper frame and a lower frame.
26 . The trommel according to claim 25 , wherein the tilting means includes having a proximal end of the upper frame pivotally mounted on the lower frame.
27 . The trommel according to claim 25 , wherein the tilting means includes the upper frame having a free distal end movable relative the lower frame.
28 . The trommel according to claim 25 , wherein at least one threaded adjustment bolt is threadably engaged with and extends through the lower frame for contacting and pressing against the free distal end of the upper frame to position and support the drum.
29 . The trommel according to claim 28 , wherein the adjustment bolt is vertically oriented with respect to the lower frame.
30 . The trommel according to claim 28 , including locking means for holding the drum in a selected position.
31 . The trommel according to claim 28 , wherein the locking means includes a locknut engaging the adjustment bolt and the lower support frame.
32 . The trommel according to claim 1 , including a compressed air supply line, an air knife receiving the compressed air from the supply line, the air knife positioned to direct a relatively large volume of air at the spaced-apart elongated members to remove residue lodged therebetween.
33 . The trommel according to claim 32 , wherein the air knife is formed with an elongated orifice.
34 . The trommel according to claim 33 , wherein the orifice is elongated in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum.
35 . The trommel according to claim 23 , wherein the tilting means comprise one of mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and electro mechanical actuator means.
36 . A method for screening out coins from a non-ferrous residue throughput including a cylindrical drum rotatable along its longitudinal axis and having an inlet end and an outlet end and spaced-apart elongate members forming a screen extending between the inlet and outlet ends, and comprising the steps of:
rotating the cylindrical drum;
passing the non-ferrous residue throughput through the inlet end of the drum;
screening out coins from the non-ferrous residue throughput as it flows through the interior of the drum;
dropping the screened coins through the space between the elongate members; and
discharging the remaining non-ferrous residue throughput through the outlet end of the drum.
37 . The method according to claim 36 , including the step of having the non-ferrous residue throughput forming a progressive helix flow pattern as it passes through the drum.
38 . The method according to claim 36 , including the step of adapting the drum to be variably tilted downward in the direction of throughput discharge.
39 . The method according to claim 38 , including the step of adjusting the drum rotation speed and tilt angle to control the progressive helix flow pattern.
40 . The method according to claim 38 , including the step of positioning the drum at a selected tilt angle.
41 . The method according to claim 38 , including the step of positioning the drum at a tilt angle of two degrees with respect to a horizontal plane.
42 . The method according to claim 40 or 41 , including the step of securing the drum in the selected position.
43 . The method according to claim 38 , including the step of directing a relatively high volume of air at the spaced-apart elongated members to remove residue lodged therebetween.
44 . The method according to claim 43 , wherein the relatively high volume of air directed at the spaced-apart elongated members is created by an air knife.
45 . The method according to claim 44 , including the step of tilting the drum and the air knife in unison.