Material compaction apparatus
The material compactor in accordance with the present invention generally includes a feed apparatus, a preliminary compaction apparatus, and a final compaction apparatus. The final compaction apparatus generally includes a compaction chamber having an adjustably taperable choke tube. The area of the inner cavity of the final compaction chamber can be tapered to become measurably smaller or larger at the discharge or expelling end. Consequently, compacting movement of the material within the compaction chamber and through the tapered choke tube significantly subjects the material to restrictive compacting pressure which in turn compacts the material and performs liquid separation with each operationally continuous movement through the final compaction apparatus.
1. A method of compacting a comminuted metallic material and substantially separating liquid from the material in a material compaction apparatus, comprising the steps of:
directing comminuted metallic material into the material compaction apparatus by a feed apparatus having a bin and an auger;
performing a preliminary level of compaction on the comminuted metallic material in preparation for final compaction through a taperable compaction chamber having first and second ends;
repeatedly advancing a compaction ram through a continuously open inner cavity of the compaction chamber such that the comminuted metallic material in the chamber is continuously advanced and subjected to compacting resistance against at least two opposing adjustable plates defining at least a part of the inner cavity and a continuously open discharge port proximate the second end,
wherein the at least two opposing plates are selectively adjustable by an external force application proximate thereto and the comminuted metallic material is expelled out of the chamber through the continuously open discharge port; and
channeling liquid expelled from the comminuted metallic material under compaction from the compaction chamber by at least one channel extending from the inner cavity of the compaction chamber to an exterior thereof.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compaction chamber and the inner cavity are substantially rectangular in shape.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the opposing plates are rotatable such that resistance on the comminuted metallic material within the inner cavity is variable by selectively adjusting the rotatable plates proximate the discharge port about a pivot point to adjust the area of the inner cavity from the pivot point to the discharge port.