US3635336A — Dry cane cleaning and spreading

Claim 1

Independent Claim 223 words

Apparatus for spreading harvested sugar cane pieces and for dry separating the associated extraneous matter from the cane, said apparatus comprising: a. means for spreading the harvested cane and thereby frictionally effecting a slight dissociation of the extraneous matter from the cane; b. means for forming the cane after said spreading into a first falling curtain having a width greater than its thickness; c. low velocity air jet means for directing a current of air to transversely intercept the cane in said first falling curtain and separate therefrom a first low density fraction of extraneous matter and to impart preferentially to said first fraction a horizontal component of velocity; d. means for forming the cane, after separation of said first fraction, into a second falling curtain having a width greater than its thickness, and for imparting to said second falling curtain a horizontal component of velocity in a given direction; e. high velocity air jet means for directing a current of air to transversely intercept the cane in said second falling curtain, separate therefrom a second generally higher density fraction of said extraneous matter, and impart preferentially to said second fraction an additional horizontal component of velocity in said given direction; and f. means for removing the separated first and second fractions of extraneous matter to prevent the reassociation thereof with said cane.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 223 words

Apparatus for spreading harvested sugar cane pieces and for dry separating the associated extraneous matter from the cane, said apparatus comprising: a. means for spreading the harvested cane and thereby frictionally effecting a slight dissociation of the extraneous matter from the cane; b. means for forming the cane after said spreading into a first falling curtain having a width greater than its thickness; c. low velocity air jet means for directing a current of air to transversely intercept the cane in said first falling curtain and separate therefrom a first low density fraction of extraneous matter and to impart preferentially to said first fraction a horizontal component of velocity; d. means for forming the cane, after separation of said first fraction, into a second falling curtain having a width greater than its thickness, and for imparting to said second falling curtain a horizontal component of velocity in a given direction; e. high velocity air jet means for directing a current of air to transversely intercept the cane in said second falling curtain, separate therefrom a second generally higher density fraction of said extraneous matter, and impart preferentially to said second fraction an additional horizontal component of velocity in said given direction; and f. means for removing the separated first and second fractions of extraneous matter to prevent the reassociation thereof with said cane.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 41 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means (d) for forming the cane into a second falling curtain having a horizontal component of velocity include a deflector sheet, said deflector sheet curving progressively toward the horizontal at its lower end.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 82 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means (f) for removing separated extraneous matter comprise a horizontally disposed rotating drum having a surface of coarse wire mesh, said drum being so positioned with respect to a said air jet means that extraneous matter separated by an air jet therefrom can be pinned to said surface by the said air jet, the direction of rotation of said drum being such that said pinned extraneous matter is then carried upwardly away for discharge.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 220 words

Apparatus for spreading harvested sugar cane pieces and for dry separating the associated extraneous matter from the cane, comprising: a. means for forming the cane into a first falling curtain, the width of which is greater than its thickness; b. low velocity air jet means for transversely intercepting the cane in said first falling curtain, whereby to separate therefrom a first (low density) fraction of extraneous matter and to impart preferentially to said first fraction a horizontal component of velocity; c. means for spreading the cane after separation of said first fraction, whereby also effecting frictionally a slight further dissociation of extraneous matter from the cane; d. means firstly for forming the cane after spreading into a second falling curtain, the width of which is greater than its thickness, and secondly for imparting to said second falling curtain a horizontal component of velocity in a given direction; e. high velocity air jet means for directing a current of air to transversely intercept the cane in said second falling curtain, separate therefrom a second generally higher density fraction of said extraneous matter, and impart preferentially to said second fraction an additional horizontal component of velocity in said given direction; and f. means for removing the separated first and second fraction of extraneous matter to prevent the reassociation thereof with said cane.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 220 words

Apparatus for spreading harvested sugar cane pieces and for dry separating the associated extraneous matter from the cane, comprising: a. means for forming the cane into a first falling curtain, the width of which is greater than its thickness; b. low velocity air jet means for transversely intercepting the cane in said first falling curtain, whereby to separate therefrom a first (low density) fraction of extraneous matter and to impart preferentially to said first fraction a horizontal component of velocity; c. means for spreading the cane after separation of said first fraction, whereby also effecting frictionally a slight further dissociation of extraneous matter from the cane; d. means firstly for forming the cane after spreading into a second falling curtain, the width of which is greater than its thickness, and secondly for imparting to said second falling curtain a horizontal component of velocity in a given direction; e. high velocity air jet means for directing a current of air to transversely intercept the cane in said second falling curtain, separate therefrom a second generally higher density fraction of said extraneous matter, and impart preferentially to said second fraction an additional horizontal component of velocity in said given direction; and f. means for removing the separated first and second fraction of extraneous matter to prevent the reassociation thereof with said cane.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 139 words

Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said means (c) for spreading the harvested cane comprise a pair of vertically spaced horizontally disposed rollers having a nip therebetween, the axes of said rollers being transversely spaced and parallel, said rollers being adapted for rotation in the same direction about said axes, said direction being such that the lower rolleR tends to assist the passage of pieces of cane through said nip but the upper roller tends to prevent such passage, and at least the lower roller having a flangelike left-hand helix extending lengthwise from the middle thereof toward one end and a flangelike right-hand helix extending lengthwise from the middle thereof toward its other end, said helices being adapted to function as a nonpositive auger feed for spreading the cane lengthwise and horizontally in opposite directions from said middle.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 58 words

Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said means (d) for forming the cane into a second falling curtain having a horizontal component of velocity include a horizontally disposed throwing roller, the surface thereof being equipped with a series of longitudinal vanes for making impact with the pieces of cane and imparting thereto a horizontal component of velocity.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-01-17	1975-07-19	1976-01-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-01-17	1979-07-19	1980-01-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-01-17	1983-07-19	1984-01-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Dry cane cleaning and spreading

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