Metal recovery system and method

Abstract

A method and apparatus to reclaim metals from scrap material such as automobile shredder residue (ASR) that, after separating out light density components, separates out friable material such as rock and glass by crushing and screening operations to generate a high metal content product.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . In combination, a system for reclaiming metal by separating friable and non-friable parts of a high density portion of a mixed component waste material of ASR or incinerator bottom ash with a first particle size or less comprising a vibratory rod mill and a screen arranged to receive material output of the rod mill and to separate particles of a second particle size substantially smaller than said first particle size from a concentrated metal content remainder of the output. 
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1 , including a second vibratory rod mill for receiving said remainder, and a second screen for receiving material processed in the second vibratory rod mill to separate particles of a certain size or less from larger particles constituting a further concentrated metal content remainder. 
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the vibratory rod mill comprises a vibrating housing. 
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 3 , wherein the housing is partially filled with steel rod. 
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 3 , wherein the housing is suspended on springs. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus for reclaiming metals from incinerator bottom ash or ASR comprising a first vibratory rod mill, a feeder for feeding ash or ASR to the first vibratory rod mill, a first screen for receiving ash or ASR material processed in the first vibratory rod mill, a second vibratory rod mill for receiving ash or ASR material not passing through the first screen and a second screen for receiving material processed in the second vibratory rod mill, the vibratory rod mills and the screens being effective to separate glass and rock waste from metal content in the ash or ASR. 
     
     
         7 . A method of reclaiming metal from ASR material or bottom ash material comprising feeding the material to a vibratory rod mill, operating the vibratory rod mill to crush friable parts of the material into particles of a predetermined size or less, directing material received from the vibratory rod mill to a screen with openings corresponding to said predetermined size, separating particles of said predetermined size or less from other parts of the material received from the vibratory rod mill with said screen to form a concentrated metal content remainder. 
     
     
         8 . A method as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said vibratory rod mill is operated by vibrating a housing of said vibratory rod mill. 
     
     
         9 . A method as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the housing is partially filled with steel rods. 
     
     
         10 . A method as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the housing is suspended on springs. 
     
     
         11 . A method as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the housing is provided as an elongated enclosure and is vibrated torsionally. 
     
     
         12 . A method as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the remainder is directed into a second vibratory rod mill, operating the second vibratory rod mill to crush friable parts of the remainder into particles of an associated predetermined size, directing material received from the second vibratory rod mill to a second screen with openings corresponding to said associated predetermined size, separating particles of said associated predetermined size or less from other parts of the remainder received from the first mentioned vibratory rod mill with the second screen to form a concentrated metal content second remainder.