Catalyst screening unit

Claim 1

A catalyst screening unit for separating incoming feed catalyst into whole catalyst, broken catalyst, fines, and dust therein for use with a catalytic reactor, comprising: a housing including a catalyst receiving chamber separated from a lower, waste chamber by an inclined screen, said housing including a positive pressure means mounted with an inlet for delivering incoming feed catalyst into said catalyst receiving chamber under positive pressure and an outlet chamber for discharging whole catalyst therefrom; a vibrating means mounted with said housing for vibrating said housing and said screen, said inclined screen having properly sized openings therein to allow broken catalyst, fines and dust to pass through said screen with vibration thereof; said lower, waste chamber including a first vacuum means for substantially removing the dust from said catalyst receiving chamber, from said waste chamber and from the broken catalyst and the fines within said waste chamber; a second vacuum means for vacuuming the fines from said lower, waste chamber, said second vacuum means mounted with said lower, waste chamber; said lower, waste chamber further including trough means formed therewith for promoting effective collection of broken catalyst and fines within said lower, waste chamber; said lower, waste chamber further including a broken catalyst-fines outlet mounted with said lower, waste chamber adjacent said trough means at substantially the lowermost portion of said waste chamber; said inlet mounted with said catalyst receiving chamber; and, said outlet chamber mounted with said lower, waste chamber.