Electrical device and method for separating electrical device

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical device having electronic components which are surrounded by a housing of the electrical device, the housing being provided with an identification for detaching the electrical device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an electrical device and a method for separating an electrical device. Background Art

[0002] The efficient use of resources is one of the key challenges facing our society. Therefore, all manufacturers of products, such as electrical equipment, are required to develop strategies and methods to make their products more sustainable. A starting point here is to increase the recycling rate of products, such as electrical equipment, by separating recyclable materials into the purest possible types at the end of their service life or to enable the reuse of components where possible.

[0003] Product development is a process with many complex challenges and requirements. Innovations must be developed under considerable time and cost pressure. Currently, the focus in this regard is on function and cost optimization. "Design for Disassembly" is an additional requirement for which there has been little room so far in current product development processes. This results in typical products that are often very difficult to disassemble or not at all after their service life, and the separation of pure species is so complex that it has been abandoned for economic or technical reasons.

[0004] Currently, the most common method of disassembling products in Germany is shredding at the end of their life. After shredding, the fragments are sorted in multiple stages. These sorting methods are very complex. Once the product has been shredded, the separation of pure species is difficult or even technically impossible to achieve.

[0005] Valuable components, such as permanent magnets, are destroyed during the shredding process. Shredding releases toxic substances, such as those from electrolytic capacitors or batteries. The particles are therefore already contaminated with various harmful substances. The risk of fire and explosion in shredding plants or sorting plants increases. Legislators attempt to counteract this by requiring a continuous reduction in the permissible limit concentrations of harmful substances in the shredded waste, which in turn leads to increased sorting costs.

[0006] Typical methods such as magnetic separators, eddy current separators, sensor sorting, various dry and wet separation methods, electrohydraulic shredding, manual sorting, all occur when recyclability has been significantly reduced irreversibly. In this case, the technical expenditure or energy expenditure for increasing the recycling rate is already very high. This suggests that breaking the product into its components is preferable to shredding.

[0007] In developing countries, to which old electrical equipment is currently often exported, relevant recyclable materials and raw materials, such as copper and aluminum, are extracted from defective equipment by burning or dissolving in acid baths. The residues are often incinerated or landfilled, causing great damage to people and the environment. Summary of the invention

[0008] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an electrical device and a method which can be easily disassembled and broken down into parts without special tools or expertise.

[0009] According to the invention, the above-mentioned technical problem is solved by an electrical device according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention are given in dependent claims 2 to 7. According to the invention, the above-mentioned technical problem is also solved by a method for separating an electrical device according to claim 8. Advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention are given in dependent claim 9.

[0010] The electrical device according to claim 1 comprises electronic components, which are surrounded by a housing of the electrical device, wherein a mark for disassembling the electrical device is provided on the housing.

[0011] The advantage here is that the identification enables an efficient disassembly method which leads to a higher recycling rate. This can be a universal, economical and technically simple method. Disassembly can be carried out by trained personnel. No special knowledge of the design and function of the electrical device is required. A simple, symbolic identification provides relevant information regardless of language boundaries.

[0012] In one embodiment of the electrical device, the identifier includes a first symbol representing the tool and a second symbol describing a path of the tool.

[0013] In another embodiment of the electrical device, the first symbol is provided with a number which indicates the penetration depth of the tool.

[0014] In one embodiment of the electrical device according to the invention, the first symbol is a saw blade.

[0015] In another embodiment of the electrical device, a third symbol is additionally provided on the housing at a distance from the second symbol, and the third symbol indicates the cutting thickness of the tool to be used. Alternatively, the second symbol of the electrical device according to the present invention is formed as a line, the thickness of which indicates the cutting thickness of the tool.

[0016] In another embodiment of the electrical device, after the electrical device is separated into the first part and the second part, at least one part is provided with an identification for separating the part.

[0017] The method according to claim 8 for separating an electrical device according to the invention comprises the following steps:

[0018] - read the identification;

[0019] - selecting a tool according to the first symbol identified;

[0020] - Use the selected tool to split the electrical device along the second symbol.

[0021] The method according to the invention can be applied repeatedly to at least one part of an electrical device, thereby decomposing the part. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The above-mentioned characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention and the manner in which these characteristics, features and advantages are achieved will become more apparent and more clearly understood in conjunction with the following description of embodiments, which are explained in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0023] Here, in the accompanying drawings:

[0024] 1A and 1B show a logo and an electrical device having the logo;

[0025] FIG2 shows the disassembled electrical device;

[0026] Figure 3 shows a split cascade of electrical equipment; and

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a method for isolating an electrical device according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] 1B shows an electric device 1000 having electronic components, which are surrounded by a housing 1010 of the electric device 1000. On the housing 1010 of the electric device 1000, there are provided markings 100; 151, 152 for disassembling the electric device 1000.

[0029] In this case, the identifier 100; 151, 152 includes a first symbol 100; 110, 120, which represents the tool (500), and a second symbol 151, which indicates the path of the tool (500). The first symbol 100 is shown in detail in FIG. 1A. The first symbol 100 can represent a saw blade 110, for example. In addition, the first symbol 100 can be provided with a number 120, which indicates the penetration depth of the tool (500). For the saw blade 110, as shown in FIG. 1A, the number can indicate the penetration depth in mm, corresponding to the illustration in FIG. 1A, the penetration depth is 8 mm.

[0030] Therefore, the electrical device 1000 should be cut along the second symbol 151 by means of a saw blade, for example a saw blade on a circular saw, with a penetration depth of 8 mm in order to disassemble the electrical device 1000 .

[0031] The electrical device 1000 may additionally be provided with a third symbol 152, which is arranged on the housing 1010 at a distance from the second symbol 151 and thereby indicates the cutting thickness of the tool (500) to be used. For example, in the illustration of FIG. 1B , a saw blade with a cutting thickness corresponding to the distance between the second symbol 151 and the third symbol 152 is to be used.

[0032] Alternatively, the second symbol 151 can also be formed as a line, wherein the thickness of the line indicates the cutting thickness of the tool ( 500 ).

[0033] FIG2 shows an electrical device 1000 according to the present invention, which is disassembled by means of a circular saw according to the markings 100; 151, 152. After disassembling the electrical device 1000, a first part 1101 and a second part 1102 are obtained, which also have the markings 100; 151, 152. In addition, electronic components 1103; 1104; 1105 are removed from the electrical device 1000 from the interior of the housing 1010 after disassembly.

[0034] FIG3 shows a possible cascade structure of an electrical device 1000, wherein after the first decomposition of the electrical device 1000, the electrical device is decomposed into electrical devices 1101; 1102; 1103; 1104; 1105. The electrical device 1101 can be provided with identifications 100; 151, 152, and based on this information, it is decomposed into electrical devices 1201; 1202. The same applies to the electrical device 1102, which also has identifications 100; 151, 152 and is therefore decomposed into electrical devices 1301; 1302.

[0035] A method 2000 for separating an electrical device 1000 according to the present invention is shown in Fig. 4. Between start 2901 and end 2999, the method 2000 comprises the following steps:

[0036] - Read 2100 identification 100; 151, 152;

[0037] - selecting 2200 a tool (500) according to the first symbol 100; 110, 120 of the identification 100; 151, 152; and

[0038] The electrical device 1000 is disassembled 2300 along the second symbol 151 by means of the selected tool ( 500 ).

[0039] The method 200 according to the invention can be repeatedly applied to at least one part 1101; 1102; 1103; 1104; 1105 of the electrical device 1000 and these parts 1101; 1102; 1103; 1104; 1105 are likewise split.

[0040] The electrical device 1000 according to the invention is marked on the outside of the housing 1010 with identification 100; 151, 152, which contains information for disassembly. Only a little information is sufficient. The manufacturer's instructions ensure that potentially dangerous objects or valuable parts are not within the scope of disassembly or sawing. For example, the first symbol 100, i.e. the saw blade 110, can be provided with the number 120, which signals that it is a "DA Cut (disassembly cut)" product and the number 120 indicates the recommended sawing depth in mm. The surrounding identification 151 on the housing 1010 indicates the direction of the sawing. In addition, the maximum recommended saw blade width can also be indicated or this maximum recommended saw blade width is indicated by the third symbol 152. The first symbols 100; 110, 120 can remain in a typical eye-catching color, such as yellow.

[0041] The disassembly of the electrical device 1000 is carried out by targeted sawing. This can be achieved, for example, by a simple table circular saw or by a hand saw. After the sawing process, the housing parts, covers and structural components are broken down into parts that can be easily processed. The individual components and other components to be disassembled are now exposed undamaged and can be further disassembled by further sawing if necessary. The process continues until all components with the identification 100; 151, 152 are disassembled.

Claims

1. An electrical device (1000; 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105; 1201, 1202; 1301, 1302) having an electronic component, the electronic component being surrounded by a housing (1010) of the electrical device (1000; 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105; 1201, 1202; 1301, 1302), It is characterized in that The housing (1010) is provided with a mark (100; 151, 152) for disassembling the electrical device (1000; 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105; 1201, 1202; 1301, 1302).

2. The electrical device (1000; 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105; 1201, 1202; 1301, 1302) according to claim 1, wherein: The identification (100; 151, 152) includes a first symbol (100; 110, 120) representing a tool (500) and a second symbol (151) describing a path of the tool.

3. The electrical device (1000; 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105; 1201, 1202; 1301, 1302) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The first symbol (100; 110, 120) is provided with a number (120) which indicates the penetration depth of the tool.

4. The electrical device (1000; 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105; 1201, 1202; 1301, 1302) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The first symbol (100; 110, 120) is a saw blade.

5. The electrical device (1000; 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105; 1201, 1202; 1301, 1302) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: A third symbol (152) is additionally provided on the housing (1010) at a distance from the second symbol (151) and thereby indicates the cutting thickness of the tool (500) to be used.

6. The electrical device (1000; 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105; 1201, 1202; 1301, 1302) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The second symbol (151) is formed as a line, the thickness of which indicates the cutting thickness of the tool.

7. The electrical device (1000; 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105; 1201, 1202; 1301, 1302) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: After the electrical device (1000; 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105; 1201, 1202; 1301, 1302) is separated into a first part (1101) and a second part (1102), at least one part (1101, 1102) is provided with an identification (100; 151, 152) for separating the part (1101, 1102).

8. A method (2000) for separating an electrical device (1000; 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105; 1201, 1202; 1301, 1302) according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the following steps: - read (2100) ID (100; 151, 152); - selecting (2200) a tool (500) according to a first symbol (100; 110, 120) of said identification (100; 151, 152); and - disassembling (2300) the electrical device (1000; 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105; 1201, 1202; 1301, 1302) along the second symbol (151, 152) by means of the selected tool (500).

9. The method (2000) of claim 8, wherein: By repeatedly applying the steps to at least one part (1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105) of the electrical device (1000; 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105; 1201, 1202; 1301, 1302), the part is separated.

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