US3720312A — Separation of particulate material by the applica…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 177 words

A method of separating fine particulate material of which a portion of said material is attracted to an electrical field to a different degree than the remainder of said material, said method comprising the steps of providing an electrical field which extends in a generally vertical plane by applying an electric potential between a pair of spaced electrodes, moving said material along a path at least a component of which lies in the horizontal direction and into and out of said electrical field, said electrodes being spaced above and below said path and electrically insulated from said path and which electrodes extend transversely to said path, and moving that material which does not pass through said electrical field along said electrical field in a direction generally parallel to the electrodes, whereby a portion of said material is caused to move laterally of said path in a direction parallel to said electrical field without moving across said field while the remainder of said material will be moved across said electrical field generally in the direction of said path.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 177 words

A method of separating fine particulate material of which a portion of said material is attracted to an electrical field to a different degree than the remainder of said material, said method comprising the steps of providing an electrical field which extends in a generally vertical plane by applying an electric potential between a pair of spaced electrodes, moving said material along a path at least a component of which lies in the horizontal direction and into and out of said electrical field, said electrodes being spaced above and below said path and electrically insulated from said path and which electrodes extend transversely to said path, and moving that material which does not pass through said electrical field along said electrical field in a direction generally parallel to the electrodes, whereby a portion of said material is caused to move laterally of said path in a direction parallel to said electrical field without moving across said field while the remainder of said material will be moved across said electrical field generally in the direction of said path.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 177 words

A method of separating fine particulate material of which a portion of said material is attracted to an electrical field to a different degree than the remainder of said material, said method comprising the steps of providing an electrical field which extends in a generally vertical plane by applying an electric potential between a pair of spaced electrodes, moving said material along a path at least a component of which lies in the horizontal direction and into and out of said electrical field, said electrodes being spaced above and below said path and electrically insulated from said path and which electrodes extend transversely to said path, and moving that material which does not pass through said electrical field along said electrical field in a direction generally parallel to the electrodes, whereby a portion of said material is caused to move laterally of said path in a direction parallel to said electrical field without moving across said field while the remainder of said material will be moved across said electrical field generally in the direction of said path.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 177 words

A method of separating fine particulate material of which a portion of said material is attracted to an electrical field to a different degree than the remainder of said material, said method comprising the steps of providing an electrical field which extends in a generally vertical plane by applying an electric potential between a pair of spaced electrodes, moving said material along a path at least a component of which lies in the horizontal direction and into and out of said electrical field, said electrodes being spaced above and below said path and electrically insulated from said path and which electrodes extend transversely to said path, and moving that material which does not pass through said electrical field along said electrical field in a direction generally parallel to the electrodes, whereby a portion of said material is caused to move laterally of said path in a direction parallel to said electrical field without moving across said field while the remainder of said material will be moved across said electrical field generally in the direction of said path.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 37 words

A method of separating fine particulate material according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of parallel electrical fields are provided with said fields extending laterally of said path and being spaced in the direction of said path.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 54 words

A method of sepaRating fine particulate material according to claim 1 including the step of providing a second electrical field aligned end to end with the first electrical field in the direction of movement of said portion of said material, said second electrical field being of a lower intensity than the first electrical field.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 33 words

A method of separating fine particulate material according to claim 3 including the step of redirecting material toward the center of said path in the area between said first and second electrical fields.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 49 words

A method of separating fine particulate material according to claim 2 including the step of further separating said remainder of said material at the downstream end of said path by separating the material at a side of the path from the material in the central portion of the path.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 143 words

A separator for separating fine particulate material comprising a material conveyor having a conveying surface at least a component of which lies in a horizontal plane, means for conveying said material in a first direction along said conveying surface, a pair of electrodes extending in generally parallel planes and in a second direction transversely to said first direction, said electrodes being spaced above and below said conveying surface and being electrically insulated from said conveying surface, and means for applying a voltage between said electrodes to provide an electrical field across said conveying surface with the conveying surface extending both upstream and downstream of said electrical field whereby a portion of said material will be deflected by said electrical field and caused to move in said second direction while the remainder of said material moves through said electrical field in said first direction.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 143 words

A separator for separating fine particulate material comprising a material conveyor having a conveying surface at least a component of which lies in a horizontal plane, means for conveying said material in a first direction along said conveying surface, a pair of electrodes extending in generally parallel planes and in a second direction transversely to said first direction, said electrodes being spaced above and below said conveying surface and being electrically insulated from said conveying surface, and means for applying a voltage between said electrodes to provide an electrical field across said conveying surface with the conveying surface extending both upstream and downstream of said electrical field whereby a portion of said material will be deflected by said electrical field and caused to move in said second direction while the remainder of said material moves through said electrical field in said first direction.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

A separator for separating fine particulate material as set forth in claim 6 wherein said second direction has a component thereof parallel to said first direction.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 52 words

A separator for separating fine particulate material as set forth in claim 7 including a pair of sets of electrodes spaced above and below said conveying surface, each of said sets of electrodes comprising a plurality of parallel electrodes extending in said second direction and being spaced apart in said first direction.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 35 words

A separator for separating fine particulate material as set forth in claim 8 wherein said conveying surface lies in a horizontal plane and wherein said means for conveying said material comprises a vibratory conveying means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

A separator for separating fine particulate material as set forth in claim 8 wherein said voltage is an AC voltage of a predetermined frequency.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

A separator for separating fine particulate material as set forth in claim 10 including means for varying the frequency of said AC voltage.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 77 words

A separator for separating fine particulate material as set forth in claim 8 wherein said material conveyor comprises a first flat plate of dielectric material having one of said sets of electrodes provided on the undersurface thereof and said conveying surface being provided on the flat top surface thereof and a second flat plate of dielectric material spaced above said first plate and having the other of said sets of electrodes provided on the top surface thereof.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 127 words

A separator for separating fine particulate material as set forth in claim 12 including a second pair of sets of electrodes with one set of said second pair being provided on the undersurface of said first flat plate adjacent to and in alignment with the electrodes of the first set but spaced therefrom in said second direction and with the other set of said second pair being provided on the top surface of said second flat plate adjacent to and in alignment with the electrodes of the first set but spaced therefrom in said second direction, and means for providing a voltage between the electrodes of said second pair of sets of electrodes which voltage is lower than that between said first pair of sets of electrodes.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 56 words

A separator for separating fine particulatE material as set forth in claim 13 including a plurality of deflector means provided between said flat plates in positions overlying the space between said first and second sets of electrodes for deflecting a certain portion of said material generally in said first direction and away from said second direction.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 64 words

A separator for separating fine particulate material as set forth in claim 13 including a plurality of barrier means provided upon the top surface of said first flat plate in positions overlying the outermost ends of said second set of electrodes, and means positioned outwardly of said barriers for collecting that portion of said material which is caused to move over said barrier means.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 184 words

A separator for separating fine particulate material comprising a conveying member having a conveying surface with at least a component thereof extending in a horizontal direction, means for moving said material in incremental movements in a longitudinal direction along said conveying surface, a first electrode grid structure positioned below said conveying surface, said grid structure being electrically insulated from said conveying surface and including a V-shaped grid member with the legs extending from the apex of the V in said longitudinal direction of movement of said material and being equiangularly located with respect to said longitudinal direction, a second electrode grid structure similar to said first electrode grid structure, said second electrode grid structure being positioned above said conveying surface in alignment with said first electrode grid structure, and means for applying a voltage between said electrode grid structures to create an electrical field with the conveying surface extending both upstream and downstream of said electrical field whereby a portion of said material will be deflected and caused to move laterally of said longitudinal direction and along the upstream edges of said electrical field.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 184 words

A separator for separating fine particulate material comprising a conveying member having a conveying surface with at least a component thereof extending in a horizontal direction, means for moving said material in incremental movements in a longitudinal direction along said conveying surface, a first electrode grid structure positioned below said conveying surface, said grid structure being electrically insulated from said conveying surface and including a V-shaped grid member with the legs extending from the apex of the V in said longitudinal direction of movement of said material and being equiangularly located with respect to said longitudinal direction, a second electrode grid structure similar to said first electrode grid structure, said second electrode grid structure being positioned above said conveying surface in alignment with said first electrode grid structure, and means for applying a voltage between said electrode grid structures to create an electrical field with the conveying surface extending both upstream and downstream of said electrical field whereby a portion of said material will be deflected and caused to move laterally of said longitudinal direction and along the upstream edges of said electrical field.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 90 words

A separator for separating fine particulate material as set forth in claim 16 wherein each of said electrode grid structures comprises a plurality of parallel V-shaped grid members spaced in said longitudinal direction and with the legs thereof extending from the apices of the Vs in said longitudinal direction of movement of said material, the apices of said grid members being interconnected by a further grid member extending in said longitudinal direction with the legs of said V-shaped grid members being equiangularly positioned with respect to said further grid member.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 35 words

A separator for separating fine particulate material as set forth in claim 16 wherein said voltage is an AC voltage with a variable frequency range of from about 30 to about 400 cycles per second.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 48 words

A separator for separating fine particulate material as set forth in claim 17 including adjustment means for moving the electrode grid structures relative to one another in said longitudinal direction so as to alter the inclination of the electrical fields provided thereby with respect to a horizontal plane.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 67 words

A separator for separating fine particulate material as set forth in claim 18 wherein said conveying member comprises a flat plate of dielectric material having said first electrode grid structure provided upon the undersurface thereof, and a second flat plate of dielectric material overlying said conveying member in parallel relationship thereto, said second flat plate having said second electrode grid structure provided upon the upper surface thereof.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 120 words

A separator for separating fine particulate material as set forth in claim 17 including third electrode grid structures provided adjacent to the lateral edges of said first electrode grid structure, said third electrode grid structures including a plurality of interconnected grid members aligned end to end with but spaced from the grid members of said first electrode grid structure, fourth electrode grid structures similar to said third electrode grid structures provided adjacEnt to but spaced from the lateral edges of said second electrode grid structure and in alignment with said third electrode grid structures, and means for providing a voltage between said third and fourth electrode grid structures independent of the voltage between said first and second electrode grid structures.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 69 words

A separator for separating fine particulate material as set forth in claim 21 including a plurality of deflector means provided upon said conveying member in positions generally overlying the space between the grid members of said first and said third electrode grid structures for deflecting a certain portion of said material generally toward a position between said further grid members of said first and said second electrode grid structures.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 64 words

A separator for separating fine particulate material as set forth in claim 21 including a plurality of barrier means provided upon said conveying member in positions overlying the outer ends of the grid members of said third electrode grid structures, and means positioned outwardly of said barrier means for collecting that portion of said material which is caused to move over said barrier means.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 68 words

A separator for separating fine particulate material as set forth in claim 20 including a pair of splitter bars pivotally mounted upon the downstream edge of said conveying member adjacent the side edges thereof for separating the material conveyed along said conveying member into a first portion moving along the central section of the conveying member and a second portion moving along the sides of the conveying member.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 157 words

A separator for the separation of fine particulate material comprising a pair of flat plates of dielectric material arranged in parallel spaced relationship in a generally horizontal plane, means for conveying said material between said plates in incremental movements along the upper surface of the lowermost plate in a longitudinal direction, a first electrode provided above the uppermost plate, a second electrode provided below the lowermost plate, said electrodes being mounted in parallel relationship to each other and extending transversely of said plates but inclined in said longitudinal direction, said conveying means being effective to move said material up to and over said second electrode, and means for providing a voltage between said electrodes for providing an electrical field across said plates of an intensity whereby a portion of said material is prevented from passing through said electrical field in said longitudinal direction and is caused to move laterally along the upstream edge of said electrical field.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 157 words

A separator for the separation of fine particulate material comprising a pair of flat plates of dielectric material arranged in parallel spaced relationship in a generally horizontal plane, means for conveying said material between said plates in incremental movements along the upper surface of the lowermost plate in a longitudinal direction, a first electrode provided above the uppermost plate, a second electrode provided below the lowermost plate, said electrodes being mounted in parallel relationship to each other and extending transversely of said plates but inclined in said longitudinal direction, said conveying means being effective to move said material up to and over said second electrode, and means for providing a voltage between said electrodes for providing an electrical field across said plates of an intensity whereby a portion of said material is prevented from passing through said electrical field in said longitudinal direction and is caused to move laterally along the upstream edge of said electrical field.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 78 words

A separator for the separation of fine particulate material as set forth in claim 25 including a plurality of said first and said second electrodes with said first electrodes being arranged in parallel relationship in a generally horizontal plane and with said second electrodes being similarly arranged in parallel relationship in a generally horizontal plane in alignment with the said first electrodes whereby a plurality of spaced parallel electrical fields are provided between said plates extending transversely thereof.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 26 words

A separator for the separation of fine particulate material as set forth in claim 25 wherein said voltage is an AC voltage of a predetermined frequency.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-03-12	1976-09-11	1977-03-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-03-12	1980-09-11	1981-03-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-03-12	1984-09-11	1985-03-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Separation of particulate material by the application of electric fields

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