Gravel washer and trash separator, process and apparatus

Claim 2

An improved gravel washer and trash separator comprising, a vessel serving to contain a liquid body and having therein first and second liquid compartments, conduit means in said vessel permitting a current of liquid to flow between said compartments, current creating and directing means cooperable with said conduit means serving to generate in said vessel a continuous current including an up-current in said first compartment and a downcurrent in said second compartment, means in said vessel defining a weir between said compartments, gravel transporting conveyor means arranged in said first compartment, trash transporting conveyor means arranged in said second compartment, each said conveyor means being arranged with respect to said liquid body in an inclined attitude with the lower end portions of the conveyors means submerged in the liquid body and with the lower end portions thereof being arranged adjacent to and below said weir means, the upper portions of said conveyor means extending above the level of said liquid body, each conveyor means including a conveyor belt of foraminous construction permitting liquid current to pass therethrough so that gravel and trash deposited in said liquid body on said gravel conveyor means are exposed to the liquid up-current serving to carry trash from the gravel over the weir, the current passing through the conveyor belt of said trash conveyor into the down-current stream, power means operabLy associated with said conveyor means for moving the upper run of said conveyor belts in the direction away from said weir.

Claim 3

The gravel washer and trash separator of claim 1 wherein said current creating and directing means includes impeller means mounted in said vessel adjacent one end of said conduit means, second power means for rotating said impeller means, and baffle means arranged in said vessel at the other end of said conduit means for directing the liquid current upwardly in said first compartment.

Claim 4

The gravel washer and trash separator of claim 1 wherein said vessel in said first compartment is provided with an open water discharge nozzle for conveying fines from said vessel.

Claim 5

The gravel washer and trash separator of claim 1 wherein a water spray apparatus is provided over said gravel transporting conveyor means and arranged to project a spray of water on the gravel after the same has emerged from said liquid body.

Claim 6

The gravel washer and trash separator of claim 4 wherein each said conveyor means is of a length with respect to said vessel permitting the conveyor belts to discharge materials outside of said vessel.

Claim 7

The gravel washer and trash operator of claim 1 wherein said current creating means includes motor means and an impeller arranged within said second compartment, and a bulkhead in said vessel dividing said second compartment into a fines settling chamber and an impeller suction chamber, precluding substantial ingestion of fines into the said impeller and motor means.

Claim 8

An improved gravel washer and trash separator comprising an upright vessel serving to contain a liquid body, bulkhead means extending between the side portions of said vessel to define therewith first and second compartments, liquid conduit means in said vessel communicating with said compartments to permit a current of liquid to flow therebetween, impeller means arranged in said second compartment adjacent to an end of said conduit means serving to generate in the liquid body a downward current in said second compartment and to circulate a current of liquid through said conduit to said first compartment, current directing means in said first compartment serving to direct the current of liquid upwardly therein, power means serving to drive said impeller means, the upper portions of said bulkhead means serving with the side portions of said vessel as a weir with respect to said liquid current, gravel conveyor means arranged on said vessel in an inclined attitude such that the lower end of said conveyor means is submerged in the liquid body, trash conveyor means arranged on said vessel such that the lower end thereof is submerged within said liquid body, the lower end portions of both said conveyor means being disposed adjacent to said weir, each conveyor being equipped with a conveyor belt of open, wire mesh construction permitting passage therethrough of the liquid current, second power means serving to drive each said conveyors such that the upper run of said conveyor belt moves upwardly out of the liquid body, and an array of water spray nozzles disposed above the gravel conveyor means to project a spray of water upon the gravel as the same is conveyed by the gravel conveyor means.

Claim 9

An improved gravel washer and trash separator comprising an upright vessel serving to contain a liquid body, bulkhead means extending between the side portions of said vessel to define therewith first and second compartments, liquid conduit means in said vessel communicating with said compartments to permit a current of liquid to flow therebetween, impeller means arranged in said second compartment adjacent to an end of said conduit means serving to generate in the liquid body a downward current in said second compartment and to circulate a current of liquid through said conduit to said first compartment, current directing means in said first compartment serving to direct the current of liquid upwardly therein, power means serving to drive said impeller means, the upper portions of said bulkhead means serving with the side portions of said vessel as a weir with respect to said liquid current, gravel conveyor means arranged on said vessel in an inclined attitude such that the lower end of said conveyor means is submerged in the liquid body, trash conveyor means arranged on said vessel such that the lower end thereof is submerged within said liquid body, the lower end portions of both said conveyor means being disposed adjacent to said weir, each conveyor being equipped with a conveyor belt of open, wire mesh construction permitting passage therethrough of the liquid current, second power means serving to drive each said conveyors such that the upper run of said conveyor belt moves upwardly out of the liquid body, and an array of water spray nozzles disposed above the gravel conveyor means to project a spray of water upon the gravel as the same is conveyed by the gravel conveyor means.