Classifying separator for unpoured, flowable rock-gravel, sand and cement slurry mixture from concrete mixer

Claim 2

A classifying separator comprising a conveyor housing and a receiving and settling tank adapted to receive unpoured rockgravel, sand and cement slurry in unhardened flowable mixture thereinto, said conveyor housing comprising a lower portion of said tank and extending upwardly from a rear end of said settling tank in inclined position and having therein rotatable helix conveyor means with the lower extremity thereof extending into said settling tank, outlet means provided at the upper end of said conveyor housing for the delivery of sand and rock-gravel from said conveyor housing, screen means extending across said settling tank intermediate the length of said conveyor housing for inhibiting the settling into the rearward end of said settling tank of rock-gravel started upwardly by said conveyor means, classifying means for separating sand and rock-gravel, means transporting the separated sand and rock-gravel to storage facilities therefor, washing means for flushing cement slurry from the sand and rock-gravel being conveyed upwardly and to wash said cement slurry into said settling tank, said screen means defining a barrier to allow cement slurry to flow rearwardly into said settling tank while simultaneously inhibiting the flow of rock-gravel thereinto, said settling tank having an overflow provided in said rear end and an overflow receptacle means disposed to receive the overflow of cement flurry therefrom.

Claim 3

A classifying separator as claimed in claim 1, said conveyor means further comprising shaft means, bearing means disposed at the lower extremity of said shaft means and being received within bearing housing means, said bearing means cooperating with said bearing housing means to define a plurality of lubrication passages, water inlet means formed in said bearing housing means and circulating water through said lubrication passages.

Claim 4

A classifying separator as claimed in claim 1, said washing means comprising conduit means through which water is injected, said conduit means being disposed adjacent said conveyor means, and having spray opening means formed therein, water being injected through said conduit means to be sprayed in evenly distributed manner on said sand, rock-gravel and cement slurry mixture as it is conveyed upwardly thus to flush the cement slurry downwardly into said settling tank while the sand and rock-gravel mixture continues to be conveyed upwardly toward said outlet means.

Claim 5

A classifying separator as claimed in claim 1, said means for removing cement slurry from said settling tank comprising, a trOugh disposed to receive cement slurry mixture overflowing from said settling tank, a partition member connected at one extremity thereof to said settling tank and extending freely thereinto to define a tortuous path for cement slurry flowing toward said trough, means vibrating said partition to provide for agitation of said cement slurry for final settling of small particles of said mixture.

Claim 6

A classifying separator as claimed in claim 1, said conveyor means further comprising shaft means, a plurality of brackets fixed to said shaft means in normal relation therewith, said rotatable helix means comprising a plurality of helix segments fixed to said brackets and forming continuous helix means about said shaft means, alternate layers of resilient and fibrous material removably fixed to said helix means and defining wear surfaces for said helix means.

Claim 7

A classifying separator as claimed in claim 1, a plurality of settling basins receiving cement slurry overflowing from said settling tank, said basins being disposed in series relation with the cement slurry flowing into the first of said plurality of basins and then flowing serially into the remainder of said basins where degrees of settling of the cement takes place in each of said settling basins.

Claim 8

A classifying separator comprising a conveyor housing and a vessel for receiving rock-gravel, sand and cement slurry in unhardened, flowable mixture thereinto, said conveyor housing comprising a lower portion of said vessel and being inclined to extend upwardly from a rear end of said vessel, conveyor means in said housing for conveying said mixture upwardly from said receiving vessel, outlet means provided at the upper end of said conveyor housing for the delivery of sand and rock-gravel from said conveyor housing, screen means extending across said vessel intermediate the length of said conveyor housing for inhibiting the settling into the rearward end of said vessel of rock-gravel started upwardly by said conveyor means, classifying means for separating sand and rock-gravel, means flushing the cement slurry from the sand and rock-gravel with water while the same are being conveyed upwardly and thereby washing the slurry back downwardly into said receiving vessel, said vessel having an overflow outlet provided in said rear end and an overflow receptacle means disposed to receive overflow cement slurry from said overflow outlet, and means conveying separated rock-gravel and sand from said separator and depositing the same, a vessel mounted agitator to extend within said vessel and connected to an agitating plate extending across said vessel with lower end free whereby to agitate said mixture flowing into said vessel, thus stepping up the separation of the components settling out from said mixture.

Claim 9

A classifying separator comprising a conveyor housing and a vessel for receiving rock-gravel, sand and cement slurry in unhardened, flowable mixture thereinto, said conveyor housing comprising a lower portion of said vessel and being inclined to extend upwardly from a rear end of said vessel, conveyor means in said housing for conveying said mixture upwardly from said receiving vessel, outlet means provided at the upper end of said conveyor housing for the delivery of sand and rock-gravel from said conveyor housing, screen means extending across said vessel intermediate the length of said conveyor housing for inhibiting the settling into the rearward end of said vessel of rock-gravel started upwardly by said conveyor means, classifying means for separating sand and rock-gravel, means flushing the cement slurry from the sand and rock-gravel with water while the same are being conveyed upwardly and thereby washing the slurry back downwardly into said receiving vessel, said vessel having an overflow outlet provided in said rear end and an overflow receptacle means disposed to receive overflow cement slurry from said overflow outlet, and means conveying separated rock-gravel and sand from said separator and depositing the same, a vessel mounted agitator to extend within said vessel and connected to an agitating plate extending across said vessel with lower end free whereby to agitate said mixture flowing into said vessel, thus stepping up the separation of the components settling out from said mixture.