MXPA99010061A - Apparatus and method for handling mercury containing lamps - Google Patents

Abstract

An mobile apparatus for handling mercury containing lamps while protecting the environment against release of mercury vapors into the atmosphere. The apparatus is confined within a housing (16) transportable to a facility or site where the mercury containing lamps to be destroyed are located and may include a crusher (20) or other mechanism for receiving and destroying the lamps, an air conditioner (92), a filter (74) for filtering any escaping vapors or mercury, a sensor (86) for determining the presence of mercury vapor, a storage (28, 120) for crushed or uncrushed lamps and atmospheric pressure reducing means (72).

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING LAMPS CONTAINING MERCURY FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to lamps containing mercury and bulbs and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for economically and efficiently managing lamps and bulbs containing mercury in an environmentally acceptable process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Lamps that contain mercury, such as fluorescent lamps, are widely used in schools, factories, office buildings, shopping centers, and other large buildings. These buildings usually have a bulb replacement program as part of their normal maintenance. As will be appreciated, such programs usually involve replacing all the lamps in a particular area of the building or, in some cases, throughout the entire building or complex. Both state and federal governments are very concerned about the disposal of spent lamps that contain mercury. Current lamp crushing techniques allow the mercury vapor contained in used lamps to be released into the atmosphere, thus causing significant environmental damage. When the lamps are discarded on land or the like, the residual mercury usually leaches into the soil. In light of the foregoing, the United States Environmental Protection Agency recently enacted legislation to prevent used mercury-containing lamps from being disposed of on the land. Substantial penalties have been enacted to prevent the illegal disposal of mercury-containing lamps such as fluorescent lamps. If in a field it is discovered that there are lamps that contain mercury as waste, any user of that land is considered a potential responsible party (PRP). Under the current rules, any potential manager (no matter how big or how small) could be responsible for closing the ground with the fault. This liability can be matched to hundreds of thousands of dollars to an individual generator of potentially hazardous material. As will be appreciated, the disposal of used mercury-containing lamps has a significant program for those buildings or facilities that tend to be large users of lamps containing mercury. Until now, the disposal of lamps has been treated like any other waste. That is, it has been necessary for these large facilities to hire an organization that could manifest the lamps used in the place where they are generated, followed by packing and transporting them to a central processing facility where the lamps used can be destroyed in a controlled environment. The costs of paperwork, as well as the processing required to be used to properly dispose mercury-containing lamps in a controlled environment, have a significant economic disadvantage associated with them. As will be appreciated, transporting a large volume of used lamps to a central processing facility essentially represents air transportation of several hundred thousand in many cases. Since mercury-containing lamps come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, the need and ability to transport used lamps to a central processing facility also involves significant handling costs and equipment to insure against lamp rupture during the transportation process. The transportation of the lamps used, sometimes several hundred thousand, inevitably leads to the rupture of some of the lamps along the way and, therefore, the release of potentially toxic mercury vapors into the atmosphere. In addition, some states require a carrier with a hazardous waste license to ship the bulbs used from the facility where the lamps are removed to the central processing facility. The requirement of a hazardous waste transporter to move what is essentially by air is sometimes thousands of miles can lead to a significant economic problem. In this way, there is a need for a method and apparatus to destroy lamps that contain mercury, which is efficient and economical and, in addition, satisfies the environmental aspects when the used lamps are destroyed creating a product instead of a waste.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, one aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus for economically managing lamps containing mercury in an efficient manner, while protecting the environment against the release of mercury vapors into the atmosphere. In one form, the apparatus of the present invention includes a mobile vehicle which is transportable to an installation or site where lamps containing mercury that are to be recirculated are located, a mechanism mounted within an enclosure on the mobile vehicle to receive and destroy the lamps that contain mercury inside it, and an apparatus to perceive the levels of mercury vapor inside the vehicle's enclosure. The terms "destroy" or "destruction", as used herein, mean that the lamps containing used mercury are harmless and create reusable materials. In accordance with the present invention, the vehicle on which the mechanism for destroying lamps containing mercury is mounted is moved to a site or facility where used or burned-out lamps are located. The used lamps are accumulated in a place in the installation as the burned lamps are replaced reducing the paperwork and the handling of the lamps used. In addition, bringing the lamp destruction mechanism to the site where the lamps are generated and stored eliminates many, if not all, of the transportation problems discussed above. In a preferred form of the invention, the enclosure on the vehicle includes a multi-walled structure arranged in a surrounding relationship relative to the lamp destruction apparatus. The enclosure also includes a movable door between the open and closed positions. When the door is closed, the lamp destruction apparatus is operably separated from the atmosphere outside the enclosure on the vehicle. The lamp destruction mechanism preferably includes a housing wherein lamps containing mercury are received and destroyed, a filter apparatus for trapping mercury vapors from gases passing therethrough, and an air handling unit. In a most preferred form, the lamp destruction apparatus of the present invention operates under the influence of a negative pressure or vacuum. The search has revealed that anything carried by the air will be expelled to and within a negative source of air. Therefore, when the lamps are crushed within the vacuum chamber of the destruction apparatus, the mercury vapors are positively expelled or introduced into a negative air stream thus preventing their escape from the lamp destruction or crushing apparatus thus preventing their escape of the apparatus of destruction or crushing of lamps and thus avoiding any potential emission into the atmosphere. In a very preferred form of the invention, the door towards the enclosure is locked in a position so that it remains slightly open during a process of destruction of lamps, so that the ambient air from the outside of the enclosure is expelled towards the enclosure for improve the air quality inside the enclosure on the vehicle. The housing of the destruction apparatus, wherein the lamps containing mercury are destroyed, preferably includes a first chamber where a vacuum is created during the lamp destruction process and a second chamber disposed in a material receiving relationship with respect to the first camera. As such, the processed glass particles and the metal end caps resulting from the destruction of mercury-containing lamps pass from the first chamber to the second chamber of the housing, where they are maintained as a non-hazardous starting material. Door is provided on the housing to promote access to the interior of the housing. The broken glass is collected inside the receptacle and subsequently re-welded for use in other applications. For example, the crushed glass can be used in asphalt batch facilities to be added in road beds. Alternatively, the crushed glass can be used in the sand spraying industry in the form of glass beads. Similarly, aluminum end caps are captured for additional handling. Suffice it to say that the end caps of aluminum are collected and likewise they are soldered again for their re-circulation value. In a highly preferred form of the invention, the housing wherein mercury-containing lamps are destroyed includes a tray, which is slidably mounted on the housing to move between the loading and operating positions. In a loading position, the tray is placed to facilitate the loading of lamps containing mercury on it, thus reducing the rupture of fragile tubes. In an operational position, the tray is placed inside the housing to allow the lamps carried therein to be destroyed. The lamp destruction apparatus further preferably includes a ram installed for reciprocal movement within the housing of the lamp destroying apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the ram is hydraulically operated to effect controlled destruction of mercury-containing lamps within the housing. The ram is operated at a controlled rate to allow the negative air flow to the housing to effectively handle the emission of mercury vapors from the lamps that are being destroyed. Unlike other devices known hitherto, which tend to shred the elongated lamps into pieces, the ram of the lamp destroying apparatus operates at a controlled speed to cause the lamps to explode as a result of ram compression on them. As will be appreciated from the understanding of this aspect of the present invention, lamps containing mercury are minimally treated during the lamp destruction process in order to create a minimum of dust and particulate matter. In an alternative form of the present invention, the housing includes a first chamber, wherein a vacuum is created and the lamps are destroyed and a plenum dependent or extending downward leading from the first chamber. In addition, the vehicle on which the destruction apparatus is mounted includes two laterally separate chambers or reservoirs disposed on opposite side sides of the housing preferably below a floor of the vehicle enclosure. Each chamber or reservoir on the underside of the vehicle has an increased capacity to accommodate broken glass and end caps as non-hazardous materials resulting from the process of lamp destruction. In addition, each of the lamps or tanks are arranged in relation to the reception of material relative to the first chamber on the housing. A manually operated flap is arranged in the plenum to direct in the chamber or deposit the materials or deposits that pass in this way effecting a distribution of beneficial weight for the vehicle. In one form of the lamp destruction mechanism, the filter apparatus includes a redundant mercury filter * system. That is, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the filter apparatus includes a primary mercury filter and a secondary mercury filter operably arranged in series relative to each other. Accordingly, nothing from inside the enclosure in the vehicle will be discharged directly into the ambient air outside the enclosure without passing through the dual filter system of the present invention. Each mercury filter of the redundant system preferably includes a replaceable activated carbon filter for trapping mercury vapors at a very high level therein. The filter device of the destruction mechanism The lamp also includes a particle filter to trap material or material other than mercury inside it. Said particulate filter is operably disposed between the outlet from the lamp destruction mechanism housing and the mercury filter primed to trap dust particles and phosphorous material therein. In a preferred form the filter apparatus of the lamp destruction mechanism further includes a particulate filter disposed between an outlet from the air handling unit and the exterior of the enclosure to allow only filtered air to be expelled from the vehicle enclosure .

An outstanding aspect of the present invention relates to the provision of an apparatus for sensing vapor levels within the vehicle enclosure. The sensing apparatus preferably includes a sensor for detecting the level of mercury within the vehicle enclosure and an apparatus, arranged in operable combination with the sensor, for recording the level of mercury vapors within the vehicle enclosure. Preferably, the recording apparatus operates automatically thereby producing a recording of the perceived value of mercury levels within the enclosure as a function of the operation of the lamp destruction apparatus. In addition, when the sensor detects a level of mercury vapors within the enclosure beyond a predetermined value, the sensor, in a preferred form of the invention, is capable of producing a signal to alert the operator that a high level of mercury is present. Mercury vapors inside the vehicle's enclosure. In a most preferred form, the sensing apparatus is operably arranged between the primary and secondary mercury filters of the redundant filter system. The enclosure on the vehicle surrounding the lamp destruction apparatus preferably has temperature controlled. That is, mercury tends to change the state depending on the temperature. At a temperature below 15.5 C, the mercury assumes a solid state. At a temperature above 26.6 ° C, the mercury assumes a liquid state. Between 15.5 ° C and 26.6 ° C, the mercury remains in vapor form. The vehicle compartment or enclosure where the vacuum operated lamp destruction apparatus is mounted is maintained at a controlled temperature ranging from 15.5 ° C to 26.6 ° C. In addition, a generator is preferably mounted on the vehicle to provide the necessary source of energy to operate the various lamp destruction components mounted in the vehicle enclosure. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a process for destroying lamps containing mercury. The process according to the present invention comprises the steps of: transporting a lamp destruction apparatus on a mobile vehicle to a site where lamps containing mercury are used and collected; destroy mercury-containing lamps inside an enclosure on the vehicle; and verify the level of mercury inside said enclosure. The step of destroying mercury-containing lamps also preferably involves the step of placing lamps containing mercury in a housing carried by the vehicle, where the lamps are crushed by a ram. In addition, the step of destroying lamps containing mercury preferably includes the step of collecting the glass and metal particles after the lamps are crushed. Preferably, the process for destroying lamps containing mercury further includes the step of creating a reduced pressure or vacuum within the housing, so that air is expelled into the housing during the lamp grinding process. Preferably, the reduced pressure or vacuum is sufficient to prevent the escape of gases from the housing during the process of crushing or destroying lamps. To reduce the likelihood of contamination, the lamp destruction process also includes the step of expelling the mercury vapors created as a result of the lamp destruction process towards a filter apparatus. In one form, the filter system involves a double filter including primary and secondary mercury filters. The step of verifying the mercury levels within the enclosure is preferably carried out between the primary and secondary filters as well as continuously checking the air inside the enclosure. The process also preferably includes recording the mercury levels perceived within the enclosure. The step of registering is achieved as a function of the step of destroying mercury-containing lamps and is preferably carried out automatically. The apparatus for destroying lamps containing mercury carried or transported on the vehicle has two phases. First, the bulbs or lamps containing mercury used are destroyed in a vacuum chamber thus inhibiting any potential emission of mercury into the atmosphere. Second, three distinct and separate by-products are harvested for secondary uses. With the present invention, the destruction of used mercury-containing lamps can be effected quickly and efficiently with a minimum of dust creation. Since the lamps explode and the pieces of glass are not ground into smaller pieces, the powder is kept to a minimum and easily handled by the filter apparatus for the lamp destruction mechanism. In addition, since the end caps of the crushed lamps and other products produced during the crushing process neither pass through a grinder nor are subjected to a grinding operation, the possibility of creating other potentially dangerous emissions such as lead dust is substantially eliminated with the present invention. The use of a vacuum to expel mercury vapors to a common source facilitates the collection of mercury. Once collected in the filter, the mercury can be collected by a licensed recirculator to recapture and reuse in the industry. Notably, no element or apparatus of the present invention resides or is located outside the enclosure with walls in the vehicle. The output of the primary mercury filter, through which the mercury vapors initially pass, is continuously verified and recorded. The present invention aims to eliminate the costly handling and bulky paperwork of systems hitherto known, while providing an efficient and economical process for disposing of used mercury-containing lamps in an environmentally acceptable manner. The checking ability of the present invention protects against the potential emission of mercury vapors from the lamp destruction apparatus. In effect, the present invention creates a transparency for the generation of used lamps. The present invention creates market facilities, which will not be placed on land and, thus, the potential for environmental involvement does not exist. As will be appreciated, lamps containing mercury and / or fluorescent used do not have to be repacked and sometimes transported hundreds of thousands to a central disposal facility. Rather, a used lamp processing facility and the advantages offered by it are taken to the site where the used lamps are generated and stored and where the used lamp processing apparatus can be placed for better use. As will be appreciated, not all used lamp generators create a sufficient volume of mercury-containing lamps by ensuring the destruction of all lamps at the particular site where lamps containing mercury are generated or actually stored. Accordingly, an aspect of the following invention involves the handling of lamps containing mercury in an efficient and effective manner. More particularly, this aspect of the present invention contemplates a satellite vehicle capable of traveling to facilities where smaller volumes of mercury-containing lamps are generated or stored. In such facilities or locations, the mercury-containing lamps used are loaded into the satellite vehicle and then transported to another site or a second site, where the mercury-containing lamps used recirculated as described above. As will be appreciated, said satellite vehicle may make several stops at generators where smaller volumes are stored or generated than from mercury-containing lamps used prior to the final recirculation of used mercury-containing lamps. According to this aspect of the invention, the mobile vehicle includes a mobile frame on which an enclosure is mountedThe enclosure on the vehicle is sized to receive a plurality of lamps containing mercury therein. The enclosure on the vehicle further includes a movable door between the open and closed positions to separate an interior of the enclosure from the ambient atmosphere on the outside of the enclosure where the door is in a closed position, and to allow access to the interior of the enclosure. enclosure when the door is in the open position. The vehicle further includes an apparatus for creating reduced pressure within the enclosure when the door is in its closed position. Since said mercury-containing lamps are extremely brittle, a filter is arranged in operable combination with the apparatus to recover any and all mercury vapors that are created within the vehicle enclosure as a result of the rupture of one or more lamps containing mercury during transport. The enclosure on the vehicle further includes a sealed port to allow a sensing probe to be inserted through said port and into the enclosure to allow verification of the potential reserve of mercury vapors within the enclosure. In a highly preferred form of the invention, the filter through which the mercury vapors pass includes a housing containing a filter medium having an affinity for mercury vapors. In addition, the apparatus for creating reduced pressure within the vehicle enclosure includes an air handling unit. An inlet for the air handling unit is operably connected downstream with the filter apparatus and has an outlet leading to the outside of the enclosure on the vehicle. Preferably, a replaceable filter is disposed between the outlet of the air handling unit and the exterior of the enclosure on the vehicle. To better handle any and all mercury vapors created as a result of the rupture of lamps used, the temperature within the vehicle enclosure is preferably maintained within a predetermined range of temperatures. In addition, a generator is provided in combination with the mobile vehicle frame to operate the various components associated with this aspect of the invention. According to another aspect of the invention, a process for transporting lamps containing mercury between locations is described. Without considering this aspect of the invention, said process comprises the steps of: providing a mobile vehicle having an enclosure capable of maintaining and storing a plurality of mercury-containing lamps therewith, the enclosure having a door that can be moved between the open and closed positions thus allowing an interior of the vehicle enclosure to be separated from the ambient atmospheric conditions on the outside of the enclosure as a function of the position of the door, the vehicle furthermore includes a filter apparatus for trapping mercury vapors of the gases that pass through it; charging a plurality of mercury-containing lamps within the enclosure in a first location; move the vehicle between the first and second locations; causing the air inside the enclosure to be positively recirculated through the filter apparatus, so that the mercury vapors, which result from the rupture of any one or more of the mercury-containing lamps maintained or stored within the enclosure, are captured within from and by the filter apparatus as the apparatus is transported between the first and second locations; and waiting for a predetermined period after the vehicle reaches its second location before the door of the enclosure is moved to an open position, so that the mercury vapors, if any, within the vehicle enclosure are captured by the vehicle. filter apparatus. This process of handling lamps containing mercury preferably further includes the step of controlling the temperature levels within the enclosure on the vehicle within a predetermined range of temperatures. According to this process, the predetermined period for waiting before the door is opened on the enclosure after the vehicle arrives at the second site is determined as a function of the size of the vehicle enclosure. Further, in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the process for handling lamps containing mercury further includes the step of creating a reduced pressure inside the recirculation on the vehicle after the door is moved to a closed position to cause the vapors of mercury are trapped in a predetermined direction of air flow. These other objects, points and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a vehicle form used in combination with the present invention with various parts shown in section to illustrate the various details of the present invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the vehicle shown in Figure 1 with several parts shown in section to illustrate the various details of the present invention; Figure 3 is a front elevation view of a housing, wherein the lamps of mercury are placed and destroyed: Figure 4 is an extreme elevation view of the housing shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 3; Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a form of the control system of the following invention; Figure 8 is an elevation view of a filter apparatus forming part of the following invention; Figure 9 is a top plan view of the filter apparatus illustrated in Figure 8; Figure 10 is an end view similar to Figure 4 but showing an alternative form of the present invention; Figure 11 is an enlarged sectional view of that portion enclosed in Figure 10; Figure 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of Figure 2; Figure 13 is a side elevational view of a sealed port shape illustrated in Figure 12; Figure 14 is a sectional view similar to Figure 12 illustrating an alternative form of sealed port; Figure 15 is similar to Figure 13 but illustrating a side elevational view of the sealed port shown in Figure 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Although the present invention is susceptible to modality in multiple forms, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in the drawings and will be described below with the understanding that the present disclosure should be considered as set forth in the illustrations of the invention that they do not intend to limit it to the specific modalities illustrated and described. Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference numerals indicate similar parts through the views, in Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a destruction apparatus for lamps containing mercury according to the present invention and which is generally indicated with the reference number 10. The lamp destruction apparatus 10 is schematically shown as being mounted on a moving vehicle 12. Accordingly, and as will be readily appreciated, the lamp destroying apparatus 10 of the present invention can be easily operated. and placed in the facility that generates used or spent mercury-containing lamps such as fluorescent bulbs 11 (Figure 1). The vehicle 12 is schematically shown as being a self-propelled truck having a movable frame 13 with a conventional truck body 14 including a wall enclosure 16 including a floor 18 mounted on the frame 13. As is conventional and well known in the art. Technically, access to the truck enclosure 16 is easily provided through a sliding or folding door 19. When the door 19 is closed, the enclosure 16 is substantially insulated from the external ambient atmosphere. Although polished in combination with a self-propelled truck 12, it will readily be appreciated that alternative mobile structures, i.e., trailers or railway wagons, could equally be sufficient to transport the lamp destroying apparatus of the present invention near the site or facility. which generates lamps that contain spent mercury that are or will be collected for disposal. As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the lamp destroying apparatus 10 of the present invention includes an elongate housing 20 defined by a multi-walled enclosure 22 sized to receive and maintain multiple numbers of lamps containing mercury or bulbs. fluorescent The walls of the multi-walled enclosure 22 are fabricated from a material impervious to gas and fluid such as steel or the like, and they are sealed at their joining ends. In the illustrated form of the invention, the multi-walled enclosure 22 is supported above the floor 18 of the enclosure 16 through a series of supports or limbs 24. In a highly preferred form of the invention, the enclosure 20 has a length approximately 256.5 cm, a width of approximately 91.44 cm and a height of approximately 104.14 cm, so that a large volume of mercury-containing lamps can simultaneously be destroyed. As shown in Figures 1, 5 and 6, the elongate housing 20 defines a first chamber or upper chamber 26, and one or more secondary or lower chambers 28. Notably, the secondary chambers 28 of the housing 20 are arranged in a ratio of receiving material in relation to the first chamber 26. It is also important to note that the glass receiving chamber 28 is sealed to the enclosure with walls 22 and to the destruction chamber 26 to prevent gases or vapors from escaping into the surrounding atmospheric air . Preferably, and as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the housing 20 further includes a permeable floor 30 disposed between the first and second chambers 26 and 28, respectively, as such, the broken glass and metal ends resulting from a The lamp destruction process is allowed to fall by gravity through the floor 30 and into the receptacles or chambers 28 of the housing 20. In the illustrated form of the invention in Figures 4 and 6, the bottom wall or panel 29 of each Lower chamber 28 is inclined downward toward the front of housing 20. As such, glass and metal materials received therein will tend to slide forward toward the front of housing 20 to promote its removal or removal therefrom. In the illustrated form of the invention, and as shown in Figure 4, the housing 20 further includes a hinged door 32, preferably provided at one end of the wall enclosure 22, to allow the elongated mercury-containing bulbs or the Fluorescent lamps are charged at the ends towards the chamber 26 and towards the position that will be destroyed. As will be appreciated, suitable seals (not shown) can be provided around the door 32 to improve the sealing ability of the door 32 towards the housing 20. In a preferred form of the invention, and to improve the loading of the lamps that contain mercury in the mechanism 10 for destruction, the housing 20 of the mechanism 10 further contains an elongated and rigid tray 34. The rigid tray 34 includes opposite sides 35 and 37 (Figure 6) and is mounted on the housing 20 for sliding movement a along a predetermined path of travel between a loading position, illustrated schematically in Figure 1, and an operational position (Figure 5). To promote its sliding movement, the tray 34 preferably includes a series of annularly grooved wheels 36, which travel on rails 38 secured to the housing 20. Notably, the tray 34 further includes a series of spaced bars 40 extending between the opposite sides 35, 37 of the tray 34 to define the floor 30 and that serve to support the lamps containing mercury therein. As shown in Figure 1, an auxiliary support 42 is disposed relative to the housing 20 to support the tray 34 when moving relative to the housing 20 to a discharge position. Returning to Figures 3 and 4, the housing 20 of the mechanism 10 further includes a series of doors 44 preferably hinged to allow access to the first and second chambers 26 and 28, respectively, of the housing 20. As will be appreciated from the understanding of the present invention, the doors 44 allow access to the lower or secondary chambers 28 thus allowing glass particles and metal ends, that result from the process of destruction of the lamp, are harvested and removed from them. The doors 44, arranged in combination with the bottom or bottom chambers 28 of the housing 20 are preferably arranged on their front side. In a preferred form of the invention, an air intake valve of a conventional direction 46 (Figure 3) is formed as part of the wall enclosure 22. As will be appreciated, the valve 46 allows air to be expelled into the housing 20. from the ambient air surrounding the enclosure with walls 22 and prevents air or vapors inside the housing 20 from passing out from the housing 20. Preferably, the air consumption 46 for the housing 20 is disposed towards a lower side of the housing 20 As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the lamp destroying apparatus 10 of the present invention further includes a ram 50 arranged for reciprocal movement and at a controlled speed within the chamber 26 of the housing 20. The ram 50 preferably is operates through a suitable form of impeller 52 mounted in the housing with walls 20. In the illustrated form of the invention, the impeller 52 is in the shape of a cylinder. Hydraulically operated droplet used to move the ram 50 at a controlled speed between the retracted and extended positions. A suitable hydraulic bandage (not shown) is provided in combination with the lamp destroying apparatus 10 to supply the required fluid under pressure to operate the cylinder 52. Suffice it to say that the scale of reciprocal movement of the piston or ram 50 within the housing 20 is sufficient to burst or rupture the mercury-containing lamps charged in the chamber 26 of the housing 20 at a controlled rate. In a highly preferred form of the invention, the ram 50 is mounted for generally vertical movement within the housing 20. Furthermore, and in a highly preferred form of the invention, a double ram structure 50 and 50 'is provided in combination with the housing 20 of the destruction apparatus 10 for destroying used lamps containing mercury, which are placed to be destroyed within the housing 20. As shown in Figure 7, a suitable control system 60 controls the operation of the grinding apparatus 10. That is, during operation, the control system 60 controls and regulates the movement of the impellers 52 and thus of the rams 50, 50 'within the destruction chamber 26 of the housing with walls 20. A suitable controller 62 is arranged in combination with each impeller 52 to control the speed or rate of movement of the crushing rams 50, 50 '. As the rams 50.50 'move to destroy the used lamps, the used lamps tend to explode inside the destruction chamber 26 of the housing 20. Since the lamps tend to explode within the housing 20, the amount of dust The phosphorus created during the process of lamp destruction is reduced to a minimum compared to other lamp destruction processes, which crush glass pieces broken between rollers or pass between them along auger-type conveyors. To control the mercury vapors created as a result of the lamp destruction process, a salient aspect of the present invention involves using a negative pressure or vacuum instead of blowing the mercury vapors through the system. The search has revealed that even a slight vacuum will tend to eject anything carried by the air to the source of negative air. Accordingly, the negative pressure or vacuum created in the destruction chamber 26 of the housing 20 does not have to be significantly less than that of the surrounding atmospheric conditions. In the illustrated form of the invention, a negative pressure on the scale of about 4,921 kg / cm 2, inside the vacuum chamber 26 seems to work well to expel vapors from the housing 20. As schematically illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the outlet body 66 is defined by an enclosure with walls 22 of the housing 20 and through which the mercury vapors from the destruction chamber 26 are removed from the housing 20. As can be seen in Figure 5, in the illustrated manner of the invention, the outlet port 66 is disposed in high relation to the inlet port 46 (Figure 3), so that an advantageous directional air flow is created within the destruction chamber 26 of the housing 20. A conduit or vacuum tube 68 is connected and sealed to the outlet 66 and to a vacuum pressure source such as a suitable air handling unit 70. In the illustrated form of the invention, the air handling unit 70 includes a fan 72 preferably mounted within the enclosure 16. An inlet 71 towards the fan 72 is connected to an exhaust end 73 and to a filter apparatus 74. An exhaust end 75 of the fan 72 directs air to the exterior of the enclosure 16. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, intermediate the housing 20 and the air handling unit 70, the gases passing from the destruction chamber 26 of the housing 20 are directed through a filter apparatus 74. The purpose of the filter apparatus 74 is to trap and filter mercury vapors passing therethrough so that the free air of any mercury vapor is presented at the outlet end 73 of the filter apparatus 74 and presented in the unit. of air handling 70 which will be ejected from the enclosure 16. The filter apparatus 74 is a conventional activated carbon filter capable of absorbing toxic mercury vapors. The filter apparatus 74 preferably includes a primary mercury filter 76 and a secondary mercury filter 78, which are substantially identical to each other. Suffice it to say that each filter 76, 78 preferably includes in housing 77 made of a non-permeable material, such as steel or the like, and which contains a suitable filter medium having an affinity for the mercury to pass therein. In a highly preferred form of the invention, the primary mercury filter 76 and the secondary mercury filter 78 are operably arranged in series relative to each other. In addition, and in a preferred form of the invention, the inlet 79 to each filter 76, 78 is disposed toward an upper end of the respective filter housing, while the exhaust or outlet end 79 'of each filter 76, 78 is disposed to a bottom of the respective filter housing to obtain an advantageous gas flow through the filter. An activated carbon filter of the type sold by CETCO Industrial Services of Arlington Heights, Illinois, is an example of a filter apparatus that could work well with the present invention.

In a preferred form of the invention, and as shown in Figures 8 and 9, an additional filter 80 is disposed between the outlet 66 of the vacuum chamber 26 of the housing 20 and the filter apparatus 74 to remove matter, that is, dust particles, different from the mercury of the gases passing between them. For example, the filter 80 is capable of removing phosphorus powder from gases passing between the outlet 66 of the housing 20 and the primary mercury filter 76. The filter 80 preferably includes any conventional, high efficiency particulate absorber. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, a most preferred form of the filter apparatus 74 further includes an additional filter 82 disposed between the outlet 75 of the air handling unit 70 and the exterior of the enclosure 16. As will be appreciated, the The purpose of the filter 82 of the filter apparatus 74 is to remove material, ie dust particles, other than mercury from the gases passing from the secondary mercury filter 78. For example, the filter 82 is capable of removing phosphorus powder from the gases passing between the outlet 75 of the air handling unit 70 and the exterior of the enclosure 16. The filter 82 preferably includes any conventional, high efficiency particulate absorber. An outstanding aspect of the present invention relates to the provision of a sensor apparatus 84. The sensor apparatus 84 serves as a dual function. First, in a preferred form of the invention, the sensor apparatus 84 continuously perceives the level of mercury vapors within the enclosure 16. Second, and in accordance with a preferred form of the invention, the sensor apparatus 84 serves to continuously check the mercury vapor levels passing through the gases leaving the primary mercury filter 76. In this respect, and in those embodiments of the invention using a redundant mercury filter system, the sensor apparatus 84 is disposed between the primary mercury filter 76 and the secondary mercury filter 78. The sensor apparatus 84 includes a sensor 84 having a detection scale of 0.001 to 0.99 mg / m3 Hg. Suffice it to say that the sensor 86 of the apparatus 84 is stable and selective to the mercury, eliminating interferences common to ultraviolet analyzers, such as water vapor and hydrocarbons. The sensor 86 is connected to the software that programs a data logger 88. The software used with the present invention is of the type sold by Arizona Instrument under the name of Jerome Communications Software No. of part SS-103. The data recorder initiates automatic sampling of the output of the filter apparatus 74, and activates alarms to alert the operator in the event that mercury levels are detected beyond a predetermined limit by the sensor 86. The sensor 86 is of the type sold by Arizona Instrument under the model of Jerome 431-X Mercury Vapor Analyzer.

A recorder 90 is further provided in combination with sensor apparatus 84 for automatically and continuously recording and maintaining a mercury level entry register within enclosure 16. Accordingly, mercury vapor levels within enclosure 16 and mercury levels detected at the output of the primary mercury filter 76 are recorded during the lamp destruction operation. As such, the operation of the destruction apparatus 10 at any particular time of any particular date may be reviewed if and when necessary to be in accordance with federal and state regulations. In a very preferred form of the invention, a manual record is also maintained in relation to the operation of the destruction apparatus of lamps containing mercury 10. As illustrated in Figure 1, and since mercury is a volatile or exchange element , the enclosure 16 wherein the destruction apparatus 10 of the present invention is assembled includes an air conditioning assembly 92. The air conditioning assembly 92 is configured to maintain the ambient air temperature within the enclosure 16 on the vehicle 12. within a predetermined temperature range. That is to say, the air conditioning apparatus 92 is configured to maintain the temperature inside the enclosure 16 between 15.5 ° C and 26.6 ° C. In a highly preferred embodiment of the invention, the air conditioning apparatus 92 serves to maintain the temperature in the room at 21.2 ° C. A thermostat 94 (Figure 1) is arranged in the enclosure 16 to check the ambient temperature in the enclosure 16 of the vehicle 12. During the operation of the destruction apparatus 16, if the temperature inside the enclosure is outside the acceptable range, the thermostat 94 signals the air conditioning unit 92 to operate until the ambient temperature within the enclosure 16 is in the predetermined range. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the thermostat 94 is connected to and automatically operates the air conditioning unit 92. In the preferred form of the invention, and in order to maintain the appropriate scale of temperatures within the enclosure 16, the apparatus of air conditioning 92 includes a heating unit 96 and a cooling unit 98. As mentioned above. a schematic representation for the electrohydraulic control system 60 is illustrated in Figure 7. As shown, the control system 60 includes a manually operated master switch 100, which is connected to a suitable power source B + such as the battery on the vehicle. The master switch 100 is preferably disposed at a convenient location relative to the destruction apparatus 10 to allow operation thereof. As will be appreciated, manual operation of the master switch 100 enables the control system 60 thereby enabling the destruction apparatus 10 of the present invention to operate. As shown in Figure 7, the master switch 100 is connected to the conventional and well-known controller 62. The purpose of the controller 62 is to operate the various components of the destruction apparatus 10 in either an operational service mode or an operational mode. of operation. The operation service mode allows various components of the destruction apparatus 10 to be operated in a conductive manner to serve the components of the destruction apparatus 10. Suffice it to say that the operational mode of operation of the destruction apparatus 10 involves the grinding operation of normal bulb for which the destruction apparatus was designed for it to operate. As shown, the controller 62 of the control system 60 is connected to a conventional control relay 102 used to control the impeller or hydraulic cylinder 52 used to move the ram 50 in a manner that destroys bulbs or lamps containing mercury within the destruction apparatus 10. As is known in the art, the control relay 102 controls the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the impeller 52 used to operate the ram 50. In the illustrated form of the invention, the impeller 52 operates under a spring return so that when it reaches its extended position, the fluid flow to the cylinder 52 is cut off and the spring operates to return the ram 50 to its retracted position. In the illustrated form of the invention, a manually adjustable controller 104 is preferably provided to adjust the operation of the relay 102 so that the movement speed of the ram 50, during the operational mode of operation of the destruction apparatus, can be selected depending of the operating conditions of the destruction apparatus 10. That is, the volume of the mercury vapor that is being expelled through the port 66 of the destruction apparatus 10 can be regulated by adjusting the speed at which the ram 50 continues to crush the lamps fluorescents used in the destruction chamber 26 of the housing 20. In the illustrated form of the invention, the housing 20 of the lamp destroying apparatus 10 is disposed towards one side of and extends generally longitudinally within the enclosure 16. As shown in FIG. shows in Figure 2, a plurality of containers 120 is preferably arranged along an opposite side of the enclosure. The purpose of the containers 120 is to allow the glass particles to be removed from the chambers 28 of the housing 20 therein for storage.

Alternatively, some of the containers 120 are used to store the metal ends that result from the destroyed lamps. Returning to Figure 1, the lamp destruction apparatus of the present invention further includes a generator 170 carried on the vehicle 12 to provide the energy necessary to operate the various components of the lamp destruction system 10. The generator 170 is of any type. suitable type and preferably is self-impulse. An alternative form of mercury-containing lamp destruction apparatus that modalizes the aspects of the present invention is illustrated schematically in Figure 10. This alternative form of mercury-containing lamp destruction apparatus is generally designated with the reference number 210. The elements of this lamp destruction apparatus that are identical or functionally analogous to those components discussed above with respect to the destruction apparatus 10 are designated with reference numbers identical to those previously used with the exception that this mode uses reference numbers in the series of 200. The destruction apparatus 210 includes a housing 220 mounted within a multi-walled enclosure 216 on a vehicle 212. The enclosure 216 is provided with a door 210 to allow access to the interior of the enclosure 216. The housing 220 has a configuration to argada to adapt and longitudinally hold a series of lamps containing mercury or fluorescent bulbs. The multi-walled enclosure or housing 220 is supported above the floor 218 of the enclosure 216 through a series of limbs 224. In this form of the invention, the housing 220 is generally and centrally located and extends along the length of the enclosure. longitudinal center line of the enclosure 216. In this illustrated form of the invention, the vehicle 212 is provided with a raised floor 218 'arranged vertically in a spaced relationship relative to the floor 218. As shown, the elongate housing 220 defines a top chamber 226, wherein a reduced pressure or vacuum is created in the manner described in detail above. The vehicle 212 further defines a pair of elongated secondary chambers or reservoirs 228 and 228 'disposed on opposite side sides of the housing 220. Due to their arrangement relative to the vehicle, the reservoirs 228, 228' can be enlarged to improve the carrying capacity of each tank 228, 228 'as compared to the chambers 28 of the first embodiment of this invention. Each chamber 228, 228 'further includes a door 245 to promote access to the interior and to allow broken glass and metal ends to be easily removed therefrom. As in the first embodiment of the lamp destroying apparatus, both the chambers and reservoirs 228, 228 'are disposed in a material receiving ratio relative to the first chamber 226 of the housing 220. As shown in Figure 10, in FIG. this embodiment of the invention, the housing 220 defines a plenum 240 that extends or depends downwards which is conducted from the chamber 226. A divider 242 is generally arranged centrally within the plenum 240 below the destruction chamber 226 defined by the housing 220 for directing the particulate glass and the metal ends resulting from the destruction of mercury-containing lamps within the destruction chamber to any of the tanks or chambers 228, 228 '. As shown, the divider 242 defines lateral surfaces 244, 246 that slope downward, which are joined together at their upper end. In addition, a manually operated flap 250 is disposed in the plenum chamber 240 between the destruction chamber 226 and the divider 242. The flap 240 can move about a generally horizontal axis 242 extending generally parallel with the floor 218 to allow the fin 250 is manually moved to any of the dotted line positions shown in Figure 10 or any suitable position therebetween. Returning to the enlarged schematic form shown in the Figure 11, the floor 218 of the enclosure 216 is provided with openings 260 (only with one opening shown) at the lower end of each lateral surface 244, 246 of the divider 242. The openings 260 allow communication between the dependent plenum 240 and the reservoirs 228, 228 'on the vehicle 210. As will be appreciated, the openings 260 are sized to allow the glass particles and metal ends of the destroyed lamps to pass through the floor 218 of the enclosure 216 and into the selected reservoir 228, 228. The flap 250 advantageously allows a generally uniform distribution of the materials towards the reservoirs 228, 228 ', ie, during a recirculation process, the flap 250 can be disposed at an angular disposition thus allowing the broken glass and the Metal ends of the mercury-containing lamps destroyed in housing 228 pass into reservoir 228. During the next recirculation process In this case, the fin 250 can be easily displaced, so that the broken glass and the metal ends resulting from the destruction of the mercury-containing lamps during this particular destruction process are directed to the reservoir 228 '. In this way, a more uniform load distribution can be advantageously effected on the vehicle 212. Another aspect of the present invention involves a process for destroying lamps containing mercury. The process according to the present invention comprises the steps of: transporting a lamp destruction apparatus on a mobile vehicle to a site where lamps containing mercury are used and collected; destroy mercury-containing lamps inside an enclosure on the vehicle; and verify the level of mercury inside said enclosure. The step of destroying mercury-containing lamps also preferably involves the step of placing lamps containing mercury in a housing carried by the vehicle, where the lamps are crushed by a ram. In addition, the step of destroying lamps containing mercury preferably includes the step of collecting the glass and metal particles after the lamps are crushed. Preferably, the process for destroying lamps containing mercury further includes the step of creating a reduced pressure or vacuum within the housing, so that air is expelled into the housing during the lamp grinding process. Preferably, the reduced pressure or vacuum is sufficient to prevent the escape of the gases from the housing during the process of crushing or destroying lamps. To reduce the likelihood of contamination, the lamp destruction process also includes the step of expelling the mercury vapors created as a result of the lamp destruction process towards a filter apparatus. Preferably, the filter system involves a double filter having primary and secondary mercury filters. The step of checking the mercury levels inside the enclosure is preferably carried out between the primary and secondary filters, as well as continuously checking the air inside the enclosure. The process also preferably includes recording the mercury levels perceived within the enclosure. The registering step is accomplished as a function of destroying lamps containing mercury and is preferably performed automatically.

According to one aspect of the invention, the mercury-containing lamp destruction apparatus of the present invention has two objectives. First, the bulbs or lamps containing mercury used are handled in a vacuum chamber thus inhibiting any potential emission of mercury into the atmosphere. Secondly, according to this aspect of the invention, three separate and separate by-products are harvested and recirculated for secondary uses. As will be appreciated, and as mentioned above, not all generators of used lamps create a sufficient volume of mercury-containing lamps guaranteeing the destruction of all the lamps in the particular site where lamps containing mercury are generated or actually stored. Accordingly, another aspect of the present invention involves handling or transporting mercury-containing lamps in an efficient and effective manner from a first location, where a smaller number or volume of used lamps containing mercury are stored or generated, towards a second location, where the lamps can be recirculated in the manner debed above. More particularly this aspect of the present invention contemplates a satellite vehicle traveling to facilities where smaller volumes of lamps containing mercury are generated or stored. In such facilities or locations, the lamps used lamps containing mercury are charged to the satellite vehicle and then transported to another secondary location or location where the mercury-containing lamps used are recirculated as debed above. As will be appreciated, said satellite vehicle may make several stops in generators where smaller volumes of used mercury-containing lamps are stored or generated before the final recirculation of the spent mercury-containing lamps. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the mobile vehicle of the satellite similar to that discussed above. Suffice it to say that the satellite vehicle includes the mobile frame 13 on which the enclosure 16 is mounted. As discussed above, and in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the enclosure 16 on the vehicle is sized to receive and maintain a plurality of lamps containing mercury on it. In the manner debed above, the enclosure 16 on the satellite vehicle further includes a door 19 movable between the open and closed positions to separate an interior of the enclosure from the ambient atmosphere on an exterior of the enclosure 16 when the door 19 is in the position closed and to allow access to the inside of the enclosure 16 when the door 19 is in the open position. As discussed above, and in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the satellite vehicle further includes an apparatus 70 for creating a reduced pressure within the enclosure 16 when the door 19 is in its closed position. Since mercury-containing lamps are extremely fragile a filter 74 is arranged in operable combination with the apparatus 70 to recover any and all mercury vapors that are created within the vehicle enclosure 16 as a result of the rupture of one or more of the mercury vapors. lamps that contain mercury during transport. As shown in FIGURE 2, the enclosure 16 on the satellite vehicle further includes a sealed port 190. As shown in FIGURES 12 and 13, the sealed port 190 includes an opening 191 in one of the walls of the enclosure 16. The opening 191 is dimensioned to allow a sensor probe 192 to be inserted through said opening 191 and into the interior of enclosure 16 and to allow verification of the potential presence of mercury vapors within enclosure 16. In the illustrated form of The invention, an enclosure member 193 on the interior of the enclosure 16 extends through and completely covers the port 191 and acts as a tab valve to seal the opening 191 in a closed manner thus inhibiting the mercury vapors from escaping from the satellite vehicle enclosure through the opening 191. As will be appreciated, the closure member 193 is formed from any suitable material, which will inhibit the passage of vapors of mercury through it. In the illustrated form of the invention, a fastener 194 secures the closure member 193 relative to the opening 191, while easily allowing the sensor probe 192 to be inserted into the enclosure 16 through the opening 191. An alternative embodiment of a sealed port is illustrated in FIGURES 14 and 15 and is generally indicated with the reference numeral 190 '. . As discussed above, the enclosure 16 of the satellite vehicle is provided with an opening 191 'in one of the multi-wall enclosure walls 16 of the satellite vehicle. A seal 193 'formed of a resilient material impervious to mercury vapors passing through it, is inserted into and is in a sealed relationship with the opening 190'. As shown in FIGURE 15 the seal 193 'includes a plurality of openings 194' extending radially from the center of the seal 193 'out toward its peripheral edge. As sensor probe 192 pushes through seal 193 '. the tabs of the seal 193 'surround the sensor probes 192 and prevent the mercury vapors from escaping out through the opening 191'. In the same manner as discussed with respect to the vehicle 10, the satellite vehicle will include an air handling unit 70 preferably in the form of a fan 72 to create a reduced pressure inside the enclosure 16. In addition, a filtering device, similar to that described above with the reference numeral 82, will be operably arranged through the outlet end of the air handling unit so that the satellite vehicle filters the air that passes outside the enclosure 16 of the satellite vehicle from the air handling unit. air handling 70. In addition, the satellite vehicle will include an air conditioning unit such as that generally referred to above with reference numeral 92 for controlling and maintaining temperatures within the satellite vehicle enclosures within a predetermined range. Preferably, the temperature scale that will be maintained from the satellite vehicle enclosure 16 approaches between 15.5 ° C and approximately 26.6 ° C. In addition, the satellite vehicle will include a generator such as that identified with the reference number 170 to generate sufficient energy within the enclosure 16 during the operation of the satellite vehicle. As will be appreciated from the foregoing, the satellite vehicle of preference is substantially similar to that described above with the exception that no destructive device is disposed within the enclosure. However, the satellite vehicle will include a filter apparatus similar to that described above, with reference number 74. Suffice it to say that the filter apparatus 74 for the satellite vehicle will include a mercury filter having a housing 75, the which maintains the filter media having an affinity to the mercury vapors expelled beyond or moving over it. Notably, the inlet to the air handling unit 70 is operably connected to the filter apparatus 74 to establish a predetermined quota of gases through the filter apparatus 74. The inlet to the filter apparatus 74 is opened into the enclosure 16. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a process for transporting lamps containing mercury between the first and second locations is provided. Without considering this aspect of the invention, said process comprises the steps of: providing a mobile vehicle having an enclosure capable of maintaining and storing a plurality of lamps containing mercury therein, the enclosure having a door that can be moved between a open position and a closed one thus allowing a vehicle enclosure interior to be separated from ambient atmospheric conditions on an exterior of the enclosure as a function of the position of the door, the vehicle furthermore includes a filter apparatus for trapping mercury vapors from gases that pass through it; charging a plurality of lamps containing mercury within the enclosure at the first location; move the vehicle between the first and second locations; causing the air inside the enclosure to be positively circulated through the filter apparatus so that the mercury vapors, which result from the breakdown of any one or more of the lamps containing mercury, are maintained or stored within the enclosure, are captured within of and by the filter apparatus as the vehicle is transported through the first locations; and, waiting for a predetermined period after the vehicle arrives at its second location before the door is moved to an open position so that the mercury vapors, if any inside the vehicle enclosure, are captured by the filter apparatus . This process of handling lamps containing mercury preferably further includes the step of controlling the temperature levels within the enclosure on the vehicle on a predetermined scale of temperatures. According to this process, the predetermined period for waiting before the door is opened in the enclosure after the vehicle arrives at the second location is determined as a function of the size of the vehicle enclosure. Further, in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the process of handling lamps containing mercury further includes the step of creating a reduced pressure within the enclosure on the vehicle after the door is moved to a closed position to cause the vapors of mercury are trapped in a predetermined direction of air flow. From the foregoing, it will be noted that numerous modifications and variations may be made without departing from or withdrawing from the true spirit and scope of the true concept of the novel concept of the present invention. It will be appreciated that the present description is intended to establish the illustrations of the invention, which are not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. The description is intended to cover all the modifications that fall within the spirit of scope of the appended claims.

Claims (46)

1. - A mobile lamp destruction apparatus, comprising: a mobile vehicle that can be transported to a facility where the lamps, which contain mercury that are to be destroyed, are located; a mechanism mounted within an enclosure on the mobile vehicle, to receive and destroy lamps containing mercury therewith; an apparatus to perceive mercury vapor levels inside the enclosure.

2 - The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a truck.

3 - The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism includes a housing defining a first chamber, wherein the lamps containing mercury are placed for destruction, and a second chamber arranged in relation to the first chamber. chamber to receive glass and metal particles.

4 - The destruction apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the housing includes doors to allow access to the first and second chambers.

5. The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure on the vehicle has a door that can be closed and open, the enclosure being mounted in a surrounding relationship relative to the mechanism, so that when the door closes said mechanism is operatively separated from the atmosphere outside the enclosure.

6. The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism includes a housing in which lamps containing mercury are received and destroyed and where a reduced pressure is established, a filter apparatus for trapping vapors of mercury from the gases passing through it, the filter apparatus including an air inlet connected to the housing and an outlet connected to a vacuum source to establish a reduced pressure within the enclosure.

The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the housing defines a lower air inlet allowing the air to be expelled into the housing and a raised outlet to allow gases to pass from the housing towards the filter apparatus.

8. The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the filter apparatus includes a replaceable activated carbon filter for trapping mercury vapors therein.

9 - The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the filter apparatus includes a redundant mercury filter system.

10. The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the vacuum source is mounted on the vehicle and includes an air handling unit having an inlet connected to the filter apparatus and an exhaust outlet towards the outside of the enclosure.

11. The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 1, further including a replaceable filter operably disposed between the outlet of the air handling unit and the exterior of the enclosure.

12. The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensing apparatus comprises a sensor for detecting the level of mercury vapor inside the enclosure and an apparatus operating in combination with the sensor for recording the level of mercury vapors inside the enclosure.

13. The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a generator mounted thereon to generate electricity used within the enclosure.

14. - The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the filter apparatus further includes a filter for trapping particulate matter other than mercury therein.

15. The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensing apparatus includes a sensor, and wherein, when the sensor detects a level of mercury within the enclosure beyond a predetermined value, the sensor provides a signal to indicate the level of mercury vapor in the enclosure that is beyond the predetermined limit.

16. The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism includes a housing defining a first chamber, wherein the lamps containing mercury are placed for destruction, and second and third chambers disposed on the opposite lateral sides of the housing in a material receiving relationship with respect to the first chamber to receive glass and metal particles.

17. A lamp destruction apparatus, comprising: a transportable vehicle to a site where the mercury-containing lamps to be destroyed are located; a vacuum operated mechanism is carried within a defined enclosure on the vehicle to destroy lamps containing mercury; and an apparatus to perceive the levels of mercury inside the enclosure.

18 - The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the enclosure defined on the vehicle includes a multi-walled structure disposed in a surrounding relationship relative to the vacuum operated mechanism, the multi-walled structure, including a mobile door between the open and closed positions, so that when the door is in the closed position the vacuum operated mechanism is separated from the atmosphere outside the enclosure.

19. The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the vacuum operated mechanism includes a housing defining a chamber, wherein the lamps containing mercury are received and destroyed, and a second chamber arranged in a of reception of material in relation to the first chamber to keep the glass in particles and the metal ends of the lamps destroyed.

20. The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the housing includes doors to promote access to interiors of the first and second chambers.

21 - The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 19, wherein a portion of the housing is arranged for generally horizontal sliding movements along a defined path of travel and relative to a remaining portion of the housing between a position of cargo and an operational position.

22. The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the vacuum operated mechanism includes a housing having an interior and a door mounted for movement between the open and closed positions, wherein in said closed position the door is positioned to allow lamps containing mercury to be placed within the interior of the housing, and where in the closed position, the door closes the interior of the housing thereby inhibiting the escape of mercury vapors from the housing.

23. The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the vacuum operated mechanism further includes a ram reciprocatingly movable within the interior of the housing between an extended position and a retracted position.

24 - The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 22, further including an activation circuit for operating the ram in an operation mode of operation or a manual mode of operation.

25 - The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the sensor apparatus includes a sensor for verifying the level of mercury vapors within the enclosure and an apparatus for recording the level of mercury vapors within the enclosure.

26. The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the mechanism operated with vacuum includes a housing in which lamps containing mercury are received and destroyed, a filter apparatus for trapping mercury vapors from the gases passing through it, the filter apparatus having an inlet connected to the housing and an outlet connected to a vacuum source.

27. The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the filter apparatus includes an activated carbon filter replaceable with an affinity to mercury vapors.

28. The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the filter apparatus includes a redundant mercury filter system.

29. The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the filter apparatus includes a primary mercury filter and a secondary mercury filter operatively arranged in series in relation to each other.

30.- The destruction apparatus of lamp according to claim 29, wherein the sensor apparatus is operatively arranged to check gases passing from the primary mercury filter to the secondary mercury filter.

31.- The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the vacuum source includes an air handling unit mounted within the enclosure and having an inlet connected to the filter apparatus and an exhaust outlet towards the outside of the enclosure.

32. The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 31, further including a particulate filter for filtering particulate matter other than mercury from gases passing between the outlet of the filter apparatus and the inlet to said unit of air handling.

33. The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 31, further including a particulate filter for filtering particulate matter other than mercury from the gases passing between the outlet of the air handling unit and the outside of the enclosure.

34. The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the sensing apparatus comprises a sensor for verifying the level of mercury vapor within the enclosure and an apparatus arranged in combination with the sensor for recording the level of mercury. mercury vapors inside the enclosure.

35 - The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a power generator is mounted on and carried by the vehicle to activate the housing and the mechanism operated under vacuum within the enclosure.

36 - The lamp destruction apparatus according to claim 17, further including an air conditioning apparatus for controlling the temperature levels within the enclosure in the vehicle.

37 - A process for destroying lamps containing mercury, comprising the steps of: transporting a lamp destruction device on a mobile vehicle to a site, where lamps containing mercury are used and collected; destroy mercury-containing lamps inside an enclosure on the vehicle; and verify the level of mercury inside the enclosure.

38.- The process for destroying lamps according to claim 37, wherein the step of destroying lamps containing mercury also involves the step of placing the lamps inside a housing carried by the vehicle and where the lamps are crushed by a battering ram

39. The process for destroying lamps according to claim 38, which further includes the step of collecting glass and metal particles after the lamps are crushed.

40.- The process for destroying lamps according to claim 38, which also includes the step of creating a reduced pressure inside the housing, so that air is expelled into the housing during the lamp grinding process.

41. The process for destroying lamps according to claim 38, further including the step of expelling mercury vapors from the housing to a filter apparatus during the process of crushing lamps.

The process for destroying lamps according to claim 38, wherein the filter apparatus includes a primary mercury filter and a secondary mercury filter.

43. The process for destroying lamps according to claim 38, wherein the step of verifying mercury levels within the enclosure is operatively effected between the primary and secondary filters.

44. The process for destroying lamps according to claim 38, wherein the step of verifying levels of mercury vapors inside the enclosure continuously involves perceiving the air inside the enclosure.

45.- The process for destroying lamps according to claim 38, which also includes the step of recording the levels of mercury vapors within the enclosure.

46. The process for destroying lamps according to claim 38, which further includes the step of recording the levels of mercury vapors within the enclosure as a function of the step of destroying mercury-containing lamps within the "enclosure. process for destroying lamps according to claim 46, wherein the registration step is achieved automatically 48.- A mobile vehicle for transporting lamps containing mercury between first and second locations, comprising: an enclosure mounted on a mobile frame, the enclosure being sized to receive and maintain a plurality of lamps containing mercury therein, the enclosure further includes a movable door between the open and closed positions to separate an interior of the enclosure from the ambient atmosphere on an exterior of the enclosure when the door is in the closed position and to allow access to the interior of the enclosure when the door is in the open position: an apparatus for creating a reduced pressure inside the enclosure when the door is in the closed position; an operable filter in combination with the apparatus for recovering mercury vapors, if any, within the enclosure; and wherein the enclosure further defines a sealed port to allow a sensor probe to be inserted through the port inside the enclosure to verify the potential presence of mercury vapors within the enclosure. 49 - The mobile vehicle according to claim 48, wherein the filter includes a housing having replaceable filter means thereon, said filter means having an affinity for the mercury vapors passing over it. 50.- The mobile vehicle according to claim 48, wherein the apparatus for creating a reduced pressure is mounted within the enclosure and includes an air handling unit having an inlet connected to the filter and an exhaust outlet to the outside of the enclosure. 51.- The mobile vehicle according to claim 50, which further includes a filtering apparatus, operably arranged between the outlet of the air handling unit from the outside of the enclosure to trap particulate powder material other than mercury therein. . 52. The mobile vehicle according to claim 48, wherein the apparatus for creating a reduced pressure within the enclosure includes an air handling unit having an inlet connected to the filter and an exhaust outlet to the outside of the enclosure. 53. The mobile vehicle according to claim 48, further including a generator mounted on the mobile frame to provide the energy to operate the apparatus to create a reduced pressure within the enclosure. 54 -. 54 - The mobile vehicle according to claim 48, further including an operable mechanism for effecting the temperature levels within the enclosure. 55.- The mobile vehicle according to claim 48, further including an air conditioning apparatus for maintaining the temperature levels within the enclosure within a predetermined scale. 56.- A process for transporting mercury-containing lamps between first and second locations, the process comprises the steps of: providing a mobile vehicle having an enclosure capable of maintaining and storing a plurality of mercury-containing lamps therein, the enclosure having a movable door between the open and closed positions thus allowing an interior of the enclosure to be separated from the ambient atmospheric conditions on the outside of the enclosure as a function of the position of the door, the vehicle furthermore includes a filter apparatus for trapping vapors of mercury from the gases that pass through it; charging a plurality of lamps containing mercury within the enclosure at the first location; move the vehicle between the first and second locations; causing the air inside the enclosure to be positively circulated through the filter apparatus, so that the mercury vapors, which result from the rupture of any or more mercury-containing lamps maintained or stored within the registry, are captured within and by the filter apparatus as the vehicle is transported between the first and second locations; and waiting a predetermined period of time after said vehicle arrives at the second location before the door is moved to an open position so that the mercury vapors, if any, within the enclosure are captured by the filter apparatus . 57 - The process according to claim 56, further including the step of controlling the temperature levels within the enclosure with a predetermined temperature range. 58 - The process according to claim 56, wherein the predetermined period is determined as a function of the size of the enclosure. 59. The process according to claim 56, further including the step of creating a reduced pressure within the enclosure after the door is moved to a closed position to cause the mercury vapors to be trapped in a predetermined direction of the air flow.