US3907670A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air classifier for municipal refuse
Assignee: Combustion Engineering Inc
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Filing: 1974-06-20
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Granted: 1975-09-23
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Expires: 1994-06-20
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus comprising an elutriation column for classifying a heterogeneous mixture of particulate solids material is provided with means for improving the classification of the material fractions primarily on a density basis. The material to be classified is impacted with sweep air upstream of the elutriation column for reducing the size of any bundles of agglomerated particles admitted to the apparatus thereby reducing the affect of sail area on the classification process. Additional means are provided downstream of the elutriation column for dispersing reagglomerated particles whereby the same can be returned to the elutriation column for reprocessing.
Inventors
- 👤 John Henry Fernandes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:01
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07B; B07B7/00; B07B7/01; B07B4/00; B07B4/02; B07B4/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
APPARATUS FOR PNEUMATICALLY CLASSIFYING A HETEROGENEOUS MIXTURE OF PARTICULATE SOLIDS MATERIAL ACCORDING TO RELATIVE DENSITIES AND/OR AERODYNAMIC PROPERTIES INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED CASING STRUCTURE COMPRISING: A. DISTRIBUTION CHAMBER HAVING A GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED BOTTOM DECK FOR DEPOSITION THEREON OF THE MATERIAL TO BE PROCESSED THEREIN, B. MEANS COMMUNICTING WITH SID DISTRIBUTION CHAMBER ADJACENT ONE LONGITUDINAL END THEREOF FOR SUPPLYING MATERIAL TO BE PROCESSED THERETO, C. A GENERALLY UPSTANDING ELUTRIATION COLUMN COMMUNICATING AT ITS TOP WITH THE OTHER LONGITUDINAL END OF SID DISTRIBUTION CHAMBER, THHE BOTTOM OF SAID COLUMN BEING OPEN FOR THE DISCHARGE OF THE MORE DENSE MATERIAL FRACTION, D. MEANS FOR SUPPLYING ELUTRIATION AIR TO SAID COLUMN AT A HIGH VELOCITY SUFFICIENT TO LIFT SOME OF SAID MATERIAL WHILE ALLOWING THE REMAINDER THEREOF TO FALL FOR UPWARD FLOW THERETHROUGH, E. MEANS FOR DIRECTING HIGHER VELOCITY SWEEP AIR AGAINST THE MATERIAL CONTAINED THEREIN LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID DISTRIBUTION CHAMBER IN THE DIRECTION OF THE POINT OF COMMUNICATION OF SAID ELUTRIATION CLOUMN, AND F. AN OBLIQUELY UPWARDLY EXTENDING DUCT COMMUNICTING AT ONE END WITH SAID DISTRIBUTION CHAMBER ADJACENT THE JUNCTURE OF SAID ELUTRIATION COLUMN AD HAVING ITS OTHER END OPEN FOR THE DISCHARGE OF THE LESS DENSE MATERIAL FRACTION THEREFROM.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
APPARATUS FOR PNEUMATICALLY CLASSIFYING A HETEROGENEOUS MIXTURE OF PARTICULATE SOLIDS MATERIAL ACCORDING TO RELATIVE DENSITIES AND/OR AERODYNAMIC PROPERTIES INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED CASING STRUCTURE COMPRISING: A. DISTRIBUTION CHAMBER HAVING A GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED BOTTOM DECK FOR DEPOSITION THEREON OF THE MATERIAL TO BE PROCESSED THEREIN, B. MEANS COMMUNICTING WITH SID DISTRIBUTION CHAMBER ADJACENT ONE LONGITUDINAL END THEREOF FOR SUPPLYING MATERIAL TO BE PROCESSED THERETO, C. A GENERALLY UPSTANDING ELUTRIATION COLUMN COMMUNICATING AT ITS TOP WITH THE OTHER LONGITUDINAL END OF SID DISTRIBUTION CHAMBER, THHE BOTTOM OF SAID COLUMN BEING OPEN FOR THE DISCHARGE OF THE MORE DENSE MATERIAL FRACTION, D. MEANS FOR SUPPLYING ELUTRIATION AIR TO SAID COLUMN AT A HIGH VELOCITY SUFFICIENT TO LIFT SOME OF SAID MATERIAL WHILE ALLOWING THE REMAINDER THEREOF TO FALL FOR UPWARD FLOW THERETHROUGH, E. MEANS FOR DIRECTING HIGHER VELOCITY SWEEP AIR AGAINST THE MATERIAL CONTAINED THEREIN LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID DISTRIBUTION CHAMBER IN THE DIRECTION OF THE POINT OF COMMUNICATION OF SAID ELUTRIATION CLOUMN, AND F. AN OBLIQUELY UPWARDLY EXTENDING DUCT COMMUNICTING AT ONE END WITH SAID DISTRIBUTION CHAMBER ADJACENT THE JUNCTURE OF SAID ELUTRIATION COLUMN AD HAVING ITS OTHER END OPEN FOR THE DISCHARGE OF THE LESS DENSE MATERIAL FRACTION THEREFROM.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which said bottom deck is slightly inclined downwardly away from said sweep air directing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 2 in which said bottom deck is inclined between 5* and 15* with respect to the horizontal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 3 in which said bottom deck is inclined about 8* with respect to the horizontal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 4 including means for vibrating said bottom deck.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 including means for independently controlling the admission of sweep air and elutriation air to said casing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 including means for maintaining a flow velocity in said duct to no less than that in said elutriation column.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which said distribution chamber and said elutriation column are generally normally disposed with respect to one another and said duct is inclined at about 45* with respect to the horizontal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 8 including a generally vertically disposed outlet leg communicating with said other end of said duct.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 including an exhauster fan operatively connected to said duct for inducing fluid flow through said casing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which said means for supplying elutriation air includes means for supplying a greater quantity of air through said elutriation column than through said distribution chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which said distribution chamber comprises a casing having rectangularly disposed, oppositely spaced side walls and an end wall at said one longitudinal end and said sweep air directing means comprises air nozzle means operatively disposed in said end wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 12 in which said air nozzle means is disposed in said end wall closely adjacent the bottom side wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 13 in which said air nozzle means is operative across substantially the full width of said distribution chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US1945771A
Cited
US2000181A
Cited
US2203959A
Cited
US3441131A
Cited
US3836085A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-22 | 1979-03-24 | 1979-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-22 | 1983-03-24 | 1983-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-22 | 1987-03-24 | 1987-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |