System for detecting conductive contaminants and method of use

Abstract

The present invention provides a system to detect conductive contaminants interspersed within unconsolidated materials. By using the system described herein, voluminous amounts of unconsolidated materials such as soils, waste streams, hay, and similar non-conductive materials may be processed such that conductive contaminants, namely metal objects, may be identified and removed from the processed material. In general, the present invention utilizes the conductive property of these contaminants to alert the system such that the contaminant may be removed. By passing the unconsolidated materials across an arrangement of different contacts placed in close proximity, metal or similar conductive contaminants will complete an electrical circuit that signals a sensor within the circuit and initiates a partial shut down procedure. Though this sensor is preferably at least one programmable voltage sensor, the sensor may comprise a current transformer or light incorporated into the electrical circuit that detects each conductive contaminant. A light sensor that may trigger at least one relay to halt the processing of material as described herein may detect this emission. This system and its method of use may be adapted to detect conductive contaminants in voluminous, unconsolidated materials in a variety of applications.