Apparatus for the separation of particulate materials containing components of differnt specific gravities

Claim 1

FLUIDISED BED APPARATUS FOR THE SEPARATION OF SMALL FINE COAL, OR OTHER PARTICULATE MATERIAL CONTAINING COMPONENTS OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIES, COMPRISING A VERTICAL SHELL HAVING AN INLET AT ITS UPPER PART FOR ENTRY OF MATERIAL TO BE SEPARATED INTO THE SHELL, AN OUTLET AT ITS LOWER PART THROUGH WHICH COMPONENTS OF RELATIVELY HIGH SPECIFIC GRAVITY EMANATING FROM THE SEPARATION ARE DISCHARGED FROM THE SHELL AND A FURTHER OUTLET THROUGH WHICH COMPONENTS OF RELATIVELY LOW SPECIFIC GRAVITY EMANATING FROM THE SEPARATION ARE DISCHARGED FROM THE SHELL, A FIRST PERFORATE SUPPORT MOUNTED WITHIN SAID SHELL AND DISPOSED TO RECEIVE THE MATERIAL FED THROUGH SAID INLET AND ENABLING SAID MATERIAL TO BE FORMED INTO A FLUIDISED BED, A SECOND PERFORATE SUPPORT MOUNTED WITHIN SAID SHELL AT A SITUATION BELOW SAID FIRST PERFORATE SUPPORT FOR CARRYING A FLUIDISED BED OF DISCRETE SOLID PARTICLES, TRANSFER MEANS OPERATIVE TO RECEIVE MATERIAL OVER-FLOWING FROM SAID FIRST PERFORATE SUPPORT AND DELIVER IT TO SAID SELECTED PERFORATE SUPPORT, GAS SUPPLY MEANS FOR SUPPLYING GASEOUS FLUIDISING MEDIUM UNDER PRESSURE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID SECOND PERFORATE SUPPORT WHEREBY TO FORM AND MAINTAIN THE FLUIDISING BEDS ON SAID FIRST AND SECOND PERFORATE SUPPORTS, A BY-PASS LINE EXTENDING FROM SAID GAS SUPPLY MEANS TO THE SHELL AT A POINT ABOVE SAID SECOND PERFORATE SUPPORT FOR ADMITTING GASEOUS MEDIUM IMMEDIATELY BELOW SAID FIRST PERFORATE SUPPORT AND CONTROL MEANS IN SAID BY-PASS LINE TO CONSTRAIN THE GASEOUS MEDIUM TO ENTER THE SHELL IN A CONTROLLED CYCLIC MANNER, THEREBY ESTABLISHING PULSATIONS IN THE FLOW OF GASEOUS MEDIUM TO BENEATH SAID SECOND PERFORATE SUPPORT.