Handling apparatus for particulate dry product

Claim 1

Pneumatic apparatus for classifying, cleaning, and reclaiming particulate dry product of the catalyst class comprising: a. a storage bin for product to be treated; b. a suction pump; c. reclaimed product collection receptacle means; d. a separator casing comprising at least one separator screen attached to and traversing said casing and inclined downwardly from a product inlet end to a product outlet end of said casing, inlet diffuser means disposed above said screen at said product inlet end of said casing, and means for agitating said casing; e. inlet carrier air and product piping means flexibly connected to said inlet diffuser means and communicating with said storage bin; f. product outlet means at said product outlet end of said casing and at the end of said screen for removing classified product retained on said screen, discharge piping means flexibly connected to said product outlet means and communicating with said collection receptacle means, said discharge piping means comprising air lock means preventing passage of air while permitting discharge of product; g. air outlet piping means for removing carrier air, dust and fines from said casing and flexibly connected to said casing beneath said screen and intermediate said product inlet end and said product outlet end; h. means for separating dust and fines from said carrier air connected in line between said air outlet piping means and said suction pump; i. said diffuser means being of greater cross-sectional area than said inlet piping means for causing expansion of air carrying said product from said inlet piping means with a resultant reduction of velocity of said product; j. horizontal baffle means for distributing said product along the inlet end of said screen.