Apparatus and method for collecting and treating waste

Abstract

Devices and methods for collecting and treating waste materials. One implementation of the present invention includes a mobile apparatus that continuously collects a waste material and continuously treats the waste material so that it is suitable for disposal, transportation, or reuse at a desired location. Such an apparatus may include a delivery mechanism that delivers a waste material to a motor driven mixing unit at a selectable rate. This delivery mechanism may include a pump or a motor driven blower and separator. The mixing unit may be configured to receive a treating material and to mix the waste material with the treating material. Advantageously, the delivery mechanism and the mixing unit are positioned together on a portable unit (e.g., a trailer, a barge, a railroad car, etc.) so that the apparatus is mobile and portable.

1 . A mobile and integrated apparatus for continuously collecting and treating a waste material, the apparatus comprising:
 a delivery mechanism configured to continuously move a waste material at a selectable rate through a conduit from a waste site to a motor driven mixing unit; wherein:
 the motor driven mixing unit is configured to mix the waste material with a treating material that can be introduced to the mixing unit at a selectable rate; and 
 the delivery mechanism and the motor driven mixing unit being positioned together on a portable unit so that the mobile and integrated apparatus can be portably stationed at a desired site. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the delivery mechanism comprises either a pump or a motor driven blower and separator. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a motor that is positioned on the portable unit and that is configured to provide power to the mixing unit. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a crane that is positioned on and secured to the portable unit. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a container that is positioned on the portable unit and in fluid communication with the mixing unit, the container being configured to hold the treating material. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 4  further comprising a metering auger having internal blades, the metering auger being positioned on the portable unit and further being configured to continuously receive the treating material from the container and to continuously deliver the treating material into the mixing unit at a selectable rate. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 5  wherein the mixing unit is a mixing auger, positioned at an adjustable incline, such that the waste material and treating material travel uphill and at a desired angle as they are mixed together by the mixing auger. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 6  wherein the mixing auger includes internal blades that are slotted or serrated. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 7  further comprising a control panel for controlling the speed at which blades within the metering auger and the mixing auger rotate. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 8  wherein the control panel further controls the angle of inclination of the mixing auger. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 9  further comprising a conveyor belt configured to receive a mixture of waste material and treating material from the mixing auger and remove the mixture of waste material and treating material off of the portable unit. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the portable unit comprises a trailer or barge that is transportable by a vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . A mobile and integrated apparatus for continuously collecting and treating a waste material, the apparatus comprising:
 a motor driven blower in fluid communication with a conduit, the blower being configured to decrease the air pressure within the conduit;   a separator in fluid communication with the conduit, the separator being configured to receive a combination of a waste material and air from the conduit and separate the waste material from the air; and   a motor driven mixing unit in fluid communication with the separator, the mixing unit being configured to continuously receive the waste material from the separator at a selectable rate, the mixing unit also being configured to mix the waste material with a treating material that can be introduced to the mixing unit at a selectable rate;   wherein the motor driven blower, the separator, and the motor driven mixing unit are positioned together on a portable unit so that the mobile and integrated apparatus can be portably stationed at a desired site.   
     
     
         14 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 13  wherein the separator uses cyclonic separation to separate the waste material from the air. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 13  further comprising a secondary separator that is positioned on the portable unit and that is configured to remove any residual waste material from the conduit prior to returning air from within the conduit to the blower. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 13  further comprising a first motor that is positioned on the portable unit and that is configured to provide power to the blower. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 13  further comprising a second motor that is positioned on the portable unit and that is configured to provide power to the mixing unit. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 13  further comprising a crane that is positioned on and secured to the portable unit. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 13  further comprising a container that is positioned on the portable unit and in fluid communication with the mixing unit, the container being configured to hold the treating material. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 19  further comprising:
 a first metering auger having internal blades, the first metering auger being positioned on the portable unit and further being configured to continuously receive the waste material from the separator and to continuously deliver the waste material into the mixing unit at a selectable rate; and 
 a second metering auger having internal blades, the second metering auger being positioned on the portable unit and further being configured to continuously receive the treating material from the container and to continuously deliver the treating material into the mixing unit at a selectable rate. 
 
     
     
         21 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 20  wherein the mixing unit is a mixing auger, positioned at an adjustable incline, such that the waste material and treating material travel uphill and at a desired angle as they are mixed together by the mixing auger. 
     
     
         22 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 21  wherein the mixing auger includes internal blades that are slotted or serrated. 
     
     
         23 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 22  further comprising a control panel for controlling the speed at which blades within the first metering auger, the second metering auger, and the mixing auger rotate. 
     
     
         24 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 23  wherein the control panel further controls the angle of inclination of the mixing auger. 
     
     
         25 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 24  further comprising a conveyor belt configured to receive a mixture of waste material and treating material from the mixing auger and remove the mixture of waste material and treating material off of the portable unit. 
     
     
         26 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 13  wherein the portable unit comprises a trailer or barge that is transportable by a vehicle. 
     
     
         27 . A mobile and integrated apparatus for continuously collecting and treating a waste material, the apparatus comprising:
 a motor driven blower in fluid communication with a conduit, the blower being configured to decrease the air pressure within the conduit;   a separator in fluid communication with the conduit, the separator being configured to receive a combination of a waste material and air from the conduit and separate the waste material from the air; and   a motor driven mixing unit in fluid communication with the separator, the mixing unit being configured to continuously receive the waste material from the separator at a selectable rate, the mixing unit also being configured to mix the waste material with a treating material that can be introduced to the mixing unit at a selectable rate, wherein the mixing unit converts the waste material into a treated material;   wherein the total distance that the waste material travels between the separator and the point at which the waste material is deposited into the mixing unit is not more than about 30 feet.   
     
     
         28 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 27  further comprising a secondary separator that is configured to remove any residual waste material from the conduit prior to returning air from within the conduit to the blower. 
     
     
         29 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 27  further comprising a first motor that is configured to provide power to the blower. 
     
     
         30 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 27  further comprising a second motor that is configured to provide power to the mixing unit. 
     
     
         31 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 27  further comprising a container in fluid communication with the mixing unit, the container being configured to hold the treating material. 
     
     
         32 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 31  further comprising:
 a first metering auger having internal blades, the first metering auger being positioned on the portable unit and further being configured to continuously receive the waste material from the separator and to continuously deliver the waste material into the mixing unit at a selectable rate; and 
 a second metering auger having internal blades, the second metering auger being positioned on the portable unit and further being configured to continuously receive the treating material from the container and to continuously deliver the treating material into the mixing unit at a selectable rate. 
 
     
     
         33 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 32  wherein the mixing unit is a mixing auger, positioned at an adjustable incline, such that the waste material and treating material travel uphill and at a desired angle as they are mixed together by the mixing auger. 
     
     
         34 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 33  wherein the mixing auger comprises internal blades that are slotted or serrated. 
     
     
         35 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 34  further comprising a control panel for controlling the speed at which blades within the first metering auger, the second metering auger, and the mixing auger rotate. 
     
     
         36 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 35  wherein the control panel further controls the angle of inclination of the mixing auger. 
     
     
         37 . The mobile and integrated apparatus as recited in  claim 36  further comprising a conveyor belt configured to receive a mixture of waste material and treating material from the mixing auger and remove the mixture of waste material and treating material off of the portable unit. 
     
     
         38 . A method for continuously collecting and treating waste with an integrated and portable waste collection and treatment apparatus, comprising:
 delivering a combination of a waste material and air through a conduit to a separator that is positioned on a portable unit;   separating the waste material from the air;   continuously delivering the waste material at a selectable rate from the separator to a motor driven mixing unit that is also positioned on the portable unit;   continuously delivering a treating material at a selectable rate to the mixing unit;   mixing the waste material with the treating material such that the treating material treats the waste material so as to convert the waste material into a treated material that is suitable for disposal at a landfill or for use as a construction fill material; and   continuously removing the treated material from the mixing unit.   
     
     
         39 . The method for continuously collecting and treating waste with an integrated and portable waste collection and treatment apparatus as recited in  claim 38 , wherein:
 the waste material is continuously delivered to the mixing unit through a first metering auger; and   the treating material is continuously delivered to the mixing unit through a second metering auger.   
     
     
         40 . The method for continuously collecting and treating waste with an integrated and portable waste collection and treatment apparatus as recited in  claim 38 , wherein the mixing unit is a mixing auger that mixes the waste material with the treating material. 
     
     
         41 . The method for continuously collecting and treating waste with an integrated and portable waste collection and treatment apparatus as recited in  claim 38 , further comprising:
 towing the portable unit to a waste site with a towing vehicle and   detaching the portable unit from the towing vehicle at or near the waste site,   wherein the transporting and detaching steps precede the delivering step.