US4360423A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for separating materials of lighter and heavier specific gravities and cleaning the material of lighter specific gravity
Assignee: RIVER PROCESSING Inc A CORPOF KY
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Filing: 1981-04-08
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Granted: 1982-11-23
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Expires: 2001-04-08
Abstract
Abstract Raw coal, which contains coal and waste, is introduced into a sizing box having vertically spaced screens inclined rearwardly with the screens being vibrated to separate particles below a selected size from the raw coal. Raw coal is introduced into a washer box, which has a medium therein of a selected specific gravity to cause coal below a specific gravity to float to the top of the medium so as to be separated from the waste with the waste, which is of heavier specific gravity, falling to the bottom of the washer box. The medium and the separated coal therein flow along an inclined trough to a vibrating shaker, which has a plurality of vertically spaced screens inclined rearwardly. When flowing along the trough, at least half of the medium returns to a sump from which it is supplied by a pump to the washer box to maintain a desired level of the medium so that the medium will continuously flow from the washer box along the trough to the shaker. Compressed air is supplied above each of the screens in both the sizing box and the shaker with the compressed air in the sizing box helping to separate the particles from the raw coal. In the shaker, the compressed air removes some of the medium from the particles of coal. Pressurized water also is supplied to the shaker to aid in removing the remaining medium from the coal particles, which are discharged to a conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 Kidd S. Fugate
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:12
CPC Classifications
B; B03; B03B; B03B9/00; B03B9/005; B03B5/00; B03B5/28; B03B5/30; B03B5/36; B03B5/44; B03B5/447
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
359 words
A method for separating and cleaning a material of lighter specific gravity from a material of heavier specific gravity including: receiving materials of lighter specific gravity and heavier specific gravity; separating particles of the materials from each other by vibrating the received materials; removing separated particles below a selected size from the received materials; directing the remaining materials initially to the top of a bath of a medium having a selected specific gravity to cause the material of lighter specific gravity to float to the top of the medium while the material of heavier specific gravity falls to the bottom of the bath of the medium; supplying medium to the bath from a reservoir; directing the material of lighter specific gravity floating on top of the bath of the medium to receiving means; collecting some of the medium during travel of the medium and the material of lighter specific gravity to the receiving means from the bath of the medium; returning the collected medium to the reservoir; vibrating the receiving means to vibrate the particles of material therein to separate the particles of material from each other; applying compressed air at spaced longitudinal portions of the receiving means to the vibrating particles of material in the receiving means to remove medium therefrom; applying a spray of water at spaced longitudinal portions of the receiving means to the vibrating particles of material to remove medium therefrom in the receiving means after the compressed air has been initially applied thereto; collecting medium removed from the vibrating particles of material in the receiving means at at least the first spaced longitudinal portion of the receiving means to which the compressed air is applied; returning the collected medium removed from the vibrating particles of material in the receiving means to the reservoir; removing from the bottom of the bath of the medium the material of heavier specific gravity that falls to the bottom of the bath of the medium; and applying compressed air to the bath of the medium above its bottom to create turbulence therein to aid in separating the material of lighter specific gravity from the material of heavier specific gravity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
359 words
A method for separating and cleaning a material of lighter specific gravity from a material of heavier specific gravity including: receiving materials of lighter specific gravity and heavier specific gravity; separating particles of the materials from each other by vibrating the received materials; removing separated particles below a selected size from the received materials; directing the remaining materials initially to the top of a bath of a medium having a selected specific gravity to cause the material of lighter specific gravity to float to the top of the medium while the material of heavier specific gravity falls to the bottom of the bath of the medium; supplying medium to the bath from a reservoir; directing the material of lighter specific gravity floating on top of the bath of the medium to receiving means; collecting some of the medium during travel of the medium and the material of lighter specific gravity to the receiving means from the bath of the medium; returning the collected medium to the reservoir; vibrating the receiving means to vibrate the particles of material therein to separate the particles of material from each other; applying compressed air at spaced longitudinal portions of the receiving means to the vibrating particles of material in the receiving means to remove medium therefrom; applying a spray of water at spaced longitudinal portions of the receiving means to the vibrating particles of material to remove medium therefrom in the receiving means after the compressed air has been initially applied thereto; collecting medium removed from the vibrating particles of material in the receiving means at at least the first spaced longitudinal portion of the receiving means to which the compressed air is applied; returning the collected medium removed from the vibrating particles of material in the receiving means to the reservoir; removing from the bottom of the bath of the medium the material of heavier specific gravity that falls to the bottom of the bath of the medium; and applying compressed air to the bath of the medium above its bottom to create turbulence therein to aid in separating the material of lighter specific gravity from the material of heavier specific gravity.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
454 words
An apparatus for separating and cleaning a material of lighter specific gravity from a material of heavier specific gravity including: first receiving means to receive materials of lighter specific gravity and heavier specific gravity; first vibrating means to vibrate said first receiving means to separate particles of the materials from each other; said first receiving means including sizing means to allow separated particles below a selected size to be removed from the materials; fluid containing means including a medium therein to receive the remaining materials from said first receiving means initially in the top of the medium, the medium having a selected specific gravity to cause the material of lighter specific gravity to float to the top of the medium while the material of heavier specific gravity falls to the bottom of the medium; a reservoir for the medium; means to supply the medium to said fluid containing means from said reservoir to maintain the level of the medium in said fluid containing means at a selected level; second receiving means to receive the material of lighter specific gravity and medium from the upper portion of said fluid containing means; first removal means to remove a portion of the medium moving through said second receiving means with the material for return to said reservoir; third receiving means to receive the material of lighter specific gravity and the remaining medium from said second receiving means; second vibrating means to vibrate said third receiving means to separate the particles of material in said third receiving means from each other; compressed air applying means to apply compressed air to spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means to remove medium from the particles of material in said third receiving means for return to said reservoir; water applying means to apply a spray of water to spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means for application to the particles of material in said third receiving means to remove medium therefrom after the compressed air has been applied to at least the first of said spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means by said compressed air applying means; first return means to return to said reservoir at least the medium removed from the particles of material in said third receiving means by said compressed air applying means at the first of said spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means; second removal means to remove from the bottom of said fluid containing means the material of heavier specific gravity that sinks to the bottom of the medium in said fluid containing means; and means to supply medium from said reservoir to said second removal means to agitate the material of heavier specific gravity within said second removal means.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
454 words
An apparatus for separating and cleaning a material of lighter specific gravity from a material of heavier specific gravity including: first receiving means to receive materials of lighter specific gravity and heavier specific gravity; first vibrating means to vibrate said first receiving means to separate particles of the materials from each other; said first receiving means including sizing means to allow separated particles below a selected size to be removed from the materials; fluid containing means including a medium therein to receive the remaining materials from said first receiving means initially in the top of the medium, the medium having a selected specific gravity to cause the material of lighter specific gravity to float to the top of the medium while the material of heavier specific gravity falls to the bottom of the medium; a reservoir for the medium; means to supply the medium to said fluid containing means from said reservoir to maintain the level of the medium in said fluid containing means at a selected level; second receiving means to receive the material of lighter specific gravity and medium from the upper portion of said fluid containing means; first removal means to remove a portion of the medium moving through said second receiving means with the material for return to said reservoir; third receiving means to receive the material of lighter specific gravity and the remaining medium from said second receiving means; second vibrating means to vibrate said third receiving means to separate the particles of material in said third receiving means from each other; compressed air applying means to apply compressed air to spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means to remove medium from the particles of material in said third receiving means for return to said reservoir; water applying means to apply a spray of water to spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means for application to the particles of material in said third receiving means to remove medium therefrom after the compressed air has been applied to at least the first of said spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means by said compressed air applying means; first return means to return to said reservoir at least the medium removed from the particles of material in said third receiving means by said compressed air applying means at the first of said spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means; second removal means to remove from the bottom of said fluid containing means the material of heavier specific gravity that sinks to the bottom of the medium in said fluid containing means; and means to supply medium from said reservoir to said second removal means to agitate the material of heavier specific gravity within said second removal means.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
488 words
An apparatus for separating and cleaning a material of lighter specific gravity from a material of heavier specific gravity including: first receiving means to receive materials of lighter specific gravity and heavier specific gravity; first vibrating means to vibrate said first receiving means to separate particles of the materials from each other; said first receiving means including sizing means to allow separated particles below a selected size to be removed from the materials; fluid containing means including a medium therein to receive the remaining materials from said first receiving means initially in the top of the medium, the medium having a selected specific gravity to cause the material of lighter specific gravity to float to the top of the medium while the material of heavier specific gravity falls to the bottom of the medium; a reservoir for the medium; means to supply the medium to said fluid containing means from said reservoir to maintain the level of the medium in said fluid containing means at a selected level; second receiving means to receive the material of lighter specific gravity and medium from the upper portion of said fluid containing means; first removal means to remove a portion of the medium moving through said second receiving means with the material for return to said reservoir; third receiving means to receive the material of lighter specific gravity and the remaining medium from said second receiving means; second vibrating means to vibrate said third receiving means to separate the particles of material in said third receiving means from each other; compressed air applying means to apply compressed air to spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means to remove medium from the particles of material in said third receiving means for return to said reservoir; water applying means to apply a spray of water to spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means for application to the particles of material in said third receiving means to remove medium therefrom after the compressed air has been applied to at least the first of said spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means by said compressed air applying means; first return means to return to said reservoir at least the medium removed from the particles of material in said third receiving means by said compressed air applying means at the first of said spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means; second removal means to remove from the bottom of said fluid containing means the material of heavier specific gravity that sinks to the bottom of the medium in said fluid containing means; means to apply compressed air to spaced longitudinal portions of said first receiving means to aid in separating the particles below the selected size from the materials in said first receiving means; and means to apply compressed air to the medium within said fluid containing means above its bottom to create turbulence within the medium in said fluid containing means.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
488 words
An apparatus for separating and cleaning a material of lighter specific gravity from a material of heavier specific gravity including: first receiving means to receive materials of lighter specific gravity and heavier specific gravity; first vibrating means to vibrate said first receiving means to separate particles of the materials from each other; said first receiving means including sizing means to allow separated particles below a selected size to be removed from the materials; fluid containing means including a medium therein to receive the remaining materials from said first receiving means initially in the top of the medium, the medium having a selected specific gravity to cause the material of lighter specific gravity to float to the top of the medium while the material of heavier specific gravity falls to the bottom of the medium; a reservoir for the medium; means to supply the medium to said fluid containing means from said reservoir to maintain the level of the medium in said fluid containing means at a selected level; second receiving means to receive the material of lighter specific gravity and medium from the upper portion of said fluid containing means; first removal means to remove a portion of the medium moving through said second receiving means with the material for return to said reservoir; third receiving means to receive the material of lighter specific gravity and the remaining medium from said second receiving means; second vibrating means to vibrate said third receiving means to separate the particles of material in said third receiving means from each other; compressed air applying means to apply compressed air to spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means to remove medium from the particles of material in said third receiving means for return to said reservoir; water applying means to apply a spray of water to spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means for application to the particles of material in said third receiving means to remove medium therefrom after the compressed air has been applied to at least the first of said spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means by said compressed air applying means; first return means to return to said reservoir at least the medium removed from the particles of material in said third receiving means by said compressed air applying means at the first of said spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means; second removal means to remove from the bottom of said fluid containing means the material of heavier specific gravity that sinks to the bottom of the medium in said fluid containing means; means to apply compressed air to spaced longitudinal portions of said first receiving means to aid in separating the particles below the selected size from the materials in said first receiving means; and means to apply compressed air to the medium within said fluid containing means above its bottom to create turbulence within the medium in said fluid containing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
166 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 in which: said third receiving means has a plurality of screens spaced vertically from each other, each of said screens is inclined from its front end rearwardly to the discharge end of said third receiving means; said screens are substantially parallel to each other; said third receiving means has the uppermost of said screens receive the material of lighter specific gravity and the remaining medium from said second receiving means adjacent its front end; each of said screens is of smaller mesh in vertically descending order; and said compressed air applying means includes means introducing compressed air above each of said screens to remove medium from the particles of material, said introducing means introducing compressed air above the uppermost of said screens only forwardly of the introducing of compressed air above any of the other of said screens and introducing compressed air in rearwardly descending order above each of the other of said screens to the lowermost of said screens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
161 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 in which: said sizing means of said first receiving means has a plurality of screens spaced vertically from each other, each of said screens is inclined from its front end rearwardly to the discharge end of said first receiving means; said screens are substantially parallel to each other; said sizing means of said first receiving means has the uppermost of said screens receive the materials of lighter specific gravity and heavier specific gravity adjacent its front end; each of said screens is of smaller mesh in vertically descending order; and said compressed air applying means includes means introducing compressed air above each of said screens, said introducing means introducing compressed air above the uppermost of said screens only forwardly of the introducing of compresed air above any of the other of said screens and introducing compressed air in rearwardly descending order above each of the other of said screens to the lowermost of said screens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 in which: said water applying means applies a spray of water above each of said inclined screens of said third receiving means; and said water applying means applies a spray of water above the uppermost of said screens rearwardly of said introducing means of said compressed air applying means introducing the compressed air above the uppermost of said screens.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 including: medium collecting means to collect the medium from the material of heavier specific gravity in said second removal means for return to said reservoir; and second return means to return the medium from said medium collecting means to said reservoir.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 including a platform base supporting said first receiving means, said fluid containing means, said second receiving means, said first removal means, said third receiving means, and said reservoir.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 including: first conveying means to receive the cleaned material from said third receiving means; and second conveying means supported by said platform base to convey the separated particles below a predetermined size from said first receiving means to said first conveying means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
109 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 in which: said first return means includes: hopper means disposed beneath said third receiving means from its front end to a position rearwardly of where said compressed air applying means applies the compressed air to the first of said spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means and said water applying means first applies a spray of water to said third receiving means to collect the medium from said third receiving means; and means to communicate said hopper means with said reservoir to return the medium to said reservoir from said hopper means; and said hopper means is supported by said platform base.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 including: a first group of support posts extending upwardly from said platform base and disposed exterior and adjacent said first receiving means; means to resiliently mount said first receiving means on said first group of support posts; a second group of support posts extending upwardly from said platform base and disposed exterior and adjacent said third receiving means; and means to resiliently mount said third receiving means on said second group of support posts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
121 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 including: said fluid containing means having an opening in its bottom through which the material of heavier specific gravity and medium flow; said second removal means including an inclined housing communicating with said opening in the bottom of said fluid containing means to receive the material of heavier specific gravity and medium from said fluid containing means, said inclined housing having an open upper end; means within said inclined housing to convey the material of heavier specific gravity upwardly for discharge through the open upper end of said inclined housing; and said medium collecting means collecting the medium from the material of heavier specific gravity in said inclined housing at the open upper end thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 12 including means to introduce medium from said reservoir into said inclined housing adjacent its lower end to agitate the material of heavier specific gravity therein.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 in which: said water applying means applies a spray of water above each of said inclined screens of said third receiving means; and said water applying means applies a spray of water above the uppermost of said screens rearwardly of said introducing means of said compressed air applying means introducing the compressed air above the uppermost of said screens.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
113 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 in which: said water applying means includes spray means to apply a spray of water above each of said inclined screens of said third receiving means; said spray means of said water applying means applies a spray of water above the uppermost of said screens rearwardly of said introducing means of said compressed air applying means introducing the compressed air above the uppermost of said screens; and said spray means of said water applying means applies a spray of water above any of the other of said screens forwardly of said introducing means of said compressed air applying means introducing the compressed air above the same screen.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
456 words
An apparatus for separating and cleaning a material of lighter specific gravity from a material of heavier specific gravity including: first receiving means to receive materials of lighter specific gravity and heavier specific gravity; first vibrating means to vibrate said first receiving means to separate particles of the materials from each other; said first receiving means including sizing means to allow separated particles below a selected size to be removed from the materials; fluid containing means including a medium therein to receive the remaining materials from said first receiving means initially in the top of the medium, the medium having a selected specific gravity to cause the material of lighter specific gravity to float to the top of the medium while the material of heavier specific gravity falls to the bottom of the medium; a reservoir for the medium; means to supply the medium to said fluid containing means from said reservoir to maintain the level of the medium in said fluid containing means at a selected level; second receiving means to receive the material of lighter specific gravity and medium from the upper portion of said fluid containing means; first removal means to remove a portion of the medium moving through said second receiving means with the material for return to said reservoir; third receiving means to receive the material of lighter specific gravity and the remaining medium from said second receiving means; second vibrating means to vibrate said third receiving means to separate the particles of material in said third receiving means from each other; compressed air applying means to apply compressed air to spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means to remove medium from the particles of material in said third receiving means for return to said reservoir. water applying means to apply a spray of water to spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means for application to the particles of material in said third receiving means to remove medium therefrom after the compressed air has been applied to at least the first of said spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means by said compressed air applying means; first return means to return to said reservoir at least the medium removed from the particles of material in said third receiving means by said compressed air applying means at the first of said spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means; second removal means to remove from the bottom of said fluid containing means the material of heavier specific gravity that sinks to the bottom of the medium in said fluid containing means; and means to apply compressed air to the medium within said fluid containing means above its bottom to create turbulence within the medium in said fluid containing means.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
456 words
An apparatus for separating and cleaning a material of lighter specific gravity from a material of heavier specific gravity including: first receiving means to receive materials of lighter specific gravity and heavier specific gravity; first vibrating means to vibrate said first receiving means to separate particles of the materials from each other; said first receiving means including sizing means to allow separated particles below a selected size to be removed from the materials; fluid containing means including a medium therein to receive the remaining materials from said first receiving means initially in the top of the medium, the medium having a selected specific gravity to cause the material of lighter specific gravity to float to the top of the medium while the material of heavier specific gravity falls to the bottom of the medium; a reservoir for the medium; means to supply the medium to said fluid containing means from said reservoir to maintain the level of the medium in said fluid containing means at a selected level; second receiving means to receive the material of lighter specific gravity and medium from the upper portion of said fluid containing means; first removal means to remove a portion of the medium moving through said second receiving means with the material for return to said reservoir; third receiving means to receive the material of lighter specific gravity and the remaining medium from said second receiving means; second vibrating means to vibrate said third receiving means to separate the particles of material in said third receiving means from each other; compressed air applying means to apply compressed air to spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means to remove medium from the particles of material in said third receiving means for return to said reservoir. water applying means to apply a spray of water to spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means for application to the particles of material in said third receiving means to remove medium therefrom after the compressed air has been applied to at least the first of said spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means by said compressed air applying means; first return means to return to said reservoir at least the medium removed from the particles of material in said third receiving means by said compressed air applying means at the first of said spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means; second removal means to remove from the bottom of said fluid containing means the material of heavier specific gravity that sinks to the bottom of the medium in said fluid containing means; and means to apply compressed air to the medium within said fluid containing means above its bottom to create turbulence within the medium in said fluid containing means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
166 words
The apparatus according to claim 16 in which: said third receiving means has a plurality of screens spaced vertically from each other, each of said screens is inclined from its front end rearwardly to the discharge end of said third receiving means; said screens are substantially parallel to each other; said third receiving means has the uppermost of said screens receive the material of lighter specific gravity and the remaining medium from said second receiving means adjacent its front end; each of said screens is of smaller mesh in vertically descending order; and said compressed air applying means includes means introducing compressed air above each of said screens to remove medium from the particles of material, said introducing means introducing compressed air above the uppermost of said screens only forwardly of the introducing of compressed air above any of the other of said screens and introducing compressed air in rearwardly descending order above each of the other of said screens to the lowermost of said screens.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
161 words
The apparatus according to claim 17 in which: said sizing means of said first receiving means has a plurality of screens spaced vertically from each other, each of said screens is inclined from its front end rearwardly to the discharge end of said first receiving means; said screens are substantially parallel to each other; said sizing means of said first receiving means has the uppermost of said screens receive the materials of lighter specific gravity and heavier specific gravity adjacent its front end; each of said screens is of smaller mesh in vertically descending order; and said compressed air applying means includes means introducing compressed air above each of said screens, said introducing means introducing compressed air above the uppermost of said screen only forwardly of the introducing of compressed air above any of the other of said screens and introducing compressed air in rearwardly descending order above each of the other of said screens to the lowermost of said screens.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus according to claim 18 in which: said water applying means applies a spray of water above each of said inclined screens of said third receiving means; and said water applying means applies a spray of water above the uppermost of said screens rearwardly of said introducing means of said compressed air applying means introducing the compressed air above the uppermost of said screens.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus according to claim 17 in which: said water applying means applies a spray of water above each of said inclined screens of said third receiving means; and said water applying means applies a spray of water above the uppermost of said screens rearwardly of said introducing means of said compressed air applying means introducing the compressed air above the uppermost of said screens.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
618 words
An apparatus for separating and cleaning a material of lighter specific gravity from a material of heavier specific gravity including: first receiving means to receive materials of lighter specific gravity and heavier specific gravity; first vibrating means to vibrate said first receiving means to separate particles of the materials from each other; said first receiving means including sizing means to allow separated particles below a selected size to be removed from the materials; fluid containing means including a medium therein to receive the remaining materials from said first receiving means initially in the top of the medium, the medium having a selected specific gravity to cause the material of lighter specific gravity to float to the top of the medium while the material of heavier specific gravity falls to the bottom of the medium; a reservoir for the medium; means to supply the medium to said fluid containing means from said reservoir to maintain the level of the medium to said fluid containing means at a selected level; second receiving means to receive the material of lighter specific gravity and medium from the upper portion of said fluid containing means; first removal means to remove a portion of the medium moving through said second receiving means with the material for return to said reservoir; third receiving means to receive the material of lighter specific gravity and the remaining medium from said second receiving means; second vibrating means to vibrate said third receiving means to separate the particles of material in said third receiving means from each other; compressed air applying means to apply compressed air to spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means to remove medium from the particles of material in said third receiving means for return to said reservoir; water applying means to apply a spray of water to spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means for application to the particles of material in said third receiving means to remove medium therefrom after the compressed air has been applied to at least the first of said spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means by said compressed air applying means; first return means to return to said reservoir at least the medium removed from the particles of material in said third receiving means by said compressed air applying means at the first of said spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means; second removal means to remove from the bottom of said fluid containing means the material of heavier specific gravity that sinks to the bottom of the medium in said fluid containing means; means to apply compressed air to spaced longitudinal portions of said first receiving means to aid in separating the particles below the selected size from the materials in said first receiving means; said third receiving means having a plurality of screens spaced vertically from each other, each of said screens being inclined from its front end rearwardly to the discharge end of said third receiving means; said screens being substantially parallel to each other; said third receiving means having the uppermost of said screens receive the material of lighter specific gravity and the remaining medium from said second receiving means adjacent its front end; each of said screens being of smaller mesh in vertically descending order; and said compressed air applying means including means introducing compressed air above each of said screens to remove medium from the particles of material, said introducing means introducing compressed air above the uppermost of said screens only forwardly of the introducing of compressed air above any of the other of said screens and introducing compressed air in rearwardly descending order above each of the other of said screens to the lowermost of said screens.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
618 words
An apparatus for separating and cleaning a material of lighter specific gravity from a material of heavier specific gravity including: first receiving means to receive materials of lighter specific gravity and heavier specific gravity; first vibrating means to vibrate said first receiving means to separate particles of the materials from each other; said first receiving means including sizing means to allow separated particles below a selected size to be removed from the materials; fluid containing means including a medium therein to receive the remaining materials from said first receiving means initially in the top of the medium, the medium having a selected specific gravity to cause the material of lighter specific gravity to float to the top of the medium while the material of heavier specific gravity falls to the bottom of the medium; a reservoir for the medium; means to supply the medium to said fluid containing means from said reservoir to maintain the level of the medium to said fluid containing means at a selected level; second receiving means to receive the material of lighter specific gravity and medium from the upper portion of said fluid containing means; first removal means to remove a portion of the medium moving through said second receiving means with the material for return to said reservoir; third receiving means to receive the material of lighter specific gravity and the remaining medium from said second receiving means; second vibrating means to vibrate said third receiving means to separate the particles of material in said third receiving means from each other; compressed air applying means to apply compressed air to spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means to remove medium from the particles of material in said third receiving means for return to said reservoir; water applying means to apply a spray of water to spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means for application to the particles of material in said third receiving means to remove medium therefrom after the compressed air has been applied to at least the first of said spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means by said compressed air applying means; first return means to return to said reservoir at least the medium removed from the particles of material in said third receiving means by said compressed air applying means at the first of said spaced longitudinal portions of said third receiving means; second removal means to remove from the bottom of said fluid containing means the material of heavier specific gravity that sinks to the bottom of the medium in said fluid containing means; means to apply compressed air to spaced longitudinal portions of said first receiving means to aid in separating the particles below the selected size from the materials in said first receiving means; said third receiving means having a plurality of screens spaced vertically from each other, each of said screens being inclined from its front end rearwardly to the discharge end of said third receiving means; said screens being substantially parallel to each other; said third receiving means having the uppermost of said screens receive the material of lighter specific gravity and the remaining medium from said second receiving means adjacent its front end; each of said screens being of smaller mesh in vertically descending order; and said compressed air applying means including means introducing compressed air above each of said screens to remove medium from the particles of material, said introducing means introducing compressed air above the uppermost of said screens only forwardly of the introducing of compressed air above any of the other of said screens and introducing compressed air in rearwardly descending order above each of the other of said screens to the lowermost of said screens.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
160 words
The apparatus according to claim 21 in which: said sizing means of said first receiving means has a plurality of screens spaced vertically from each other, each of said screens is inclined from its front end rearwardly to the discharge end of said first receiving means; said screens are substantially parallel to each other; said sizing means of said first receiving means has the uppermost of said screens receive the materials of lighter specific gravity and heavier specific adjacent its front end; each of said screens is of smaller mesh in vertically descending order; and said compressed air applying means includes means introducing compressed air above each of said screens, said introducing means introducing compressed air above the uppermost of said screens only forwardly of the introducing of compressed air above any of the other of said screens and introducing compressed air in rearwardly descending order above each of the other of said screens to the lowermost of said screens.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus according to claim 22 in which: said water applying means applies a spray of water above each of said inclined screens of said third receiving means; and said water applying means applies a spray of water above the uppermost of said screens rearwardly of said introducing means of said compressed air applying means introducing the compressed air above the uppermost of said screens.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus according to claim 21 in which: said water applying means applies a spray of water above each of said inclined screens of said third receiving means; and said water applying means applies a spray of water above the uppermost of said screens rearwardly of said introducing means of said compressed air applying means introducing the compressed air above the uppermost of said screens.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
394 words
A method for separating and cleaning a material of lighter specific gravity from a material of heavier specific gravity including: receiving materials of lighter specific gravity and heavier specific gravity; separating particles of the materials from each other by vibrating the received materials; removing separated particles below a selected size from the received materials; directing the remaining materials initially to the top of a bath of a medium having a selected specific gravity to cause the material of lighter specific gravity to float to the top of the medium while the material of heavier specific gravity falls to the bottom of the bath of the medium; supplying medium to the bath from a reservoir; directing the material of lighter specific gravity floating on top of the bath of the medium to receiving means; collecting some of the medium during travel of the medium and the material of lighter specific gravity to the receiving means from the bath of the medium; returning the collected medium to the reservoir; vibrating the receiving means to vibrate the particles of material therein to separate the particles of material from each other; applying compressed air at spaced longitudinal portions of the receiving means to the vibrating particles of material in the receiving means to remove medium therefrom; applying a spray of water at spaced longitudinal portions of the receiving means to the vibrating particles of material to remove medium therefrom in the receiving means after the compressed air has been initially applied thereto; collecting medium removed from the vibrating particles of material in the receiving means at at least the first spaced longitudinal portion of the receiving means to which the compressed air is applied; returning the collected medium recovered from the vibrating particles of material in the receiving means to the reservoir; removing from the bottom of the bath of the medium the material of heavier specific gravity that falls to the bottom of the bath of the medium; applying compressed air to the materials of lighter specific gravity and heavier specific gravity at spaced longitudinal portions thereof during vibration thereof to aid in separating the particles beneath the selected size from the materials; and applying compressed air to the bath of the medium above its bottom to create turbulence therein to aid in separating the material of lighter specific gravity from the material of heavier specific gravity.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
394 words
A method for separating and cleaning a material of lighter specific gravity from a material of heavier specific gravity including: receiving materials of lighter specific gravity and heavier specific gravity; separating particles of the materials from each other by vibrating the received materials; removing separated particles below a selected size from the received materials; directing the remaining materials initially to the top of a bath of a medium having a selected specific gravity to cause the material of lighter specific gravity to float to the top of the medium while the material of heavier specific gravity falls to the bottom of the bath of the medium; supplying medium to the bath from a reservoir; directing the material of lighter specific gravity floating on top of the bath of the medium to receiving means; collecting some of the medium during travel of the medium and the material of lighter specific gravity to the receiving means from the bath of the medium; returning the collected medium to the reservoir; vibrating the receiving means to vibrate the particles of material therein to separate the particles of material from each other; applying compressed air at spaced longitudinal portions of the receiving means to the vibrating particles of material in the receiving means to remove medium therefrom; applying a spray of water at spaced longitudinal portions of the receiving means to the vibrating particles of material to remove medium therefrom in the receiving means after the compressed air has been initially applied thereto; collecting medium removed from the vibrating particles of material in the receiving means at at least the first spaced longitudinal portion of the receiving means to which the compressed air is applied; returning the collected medium recovered from the vibrating particles of material in the receiving means to the reservoir; removing from the bottom of the bath of the medium the material of heavier specific gravity that falls to the bottom of the bath of the medium; applying compressed air to the materials of lighter specific gravity and heavier specific gravity at spaced longitudinal portions thereof during vibration thereof to aid in separating the particles beneath the selected size from the materials; and applying compressed air to the bath of the medium above its bottom to create turbulence therein to aid in separating the material of lighter specific gravity from the material of heavier specific gravity.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
110 words
The method according to claim 25 including: directing the particles of material in the receiving means initially to the uppermost of a plurality of vibrating screens inclined from its front end rearwardly to the discharge end of the receiving means, substantially parallel to each other, and of smaller mesh in vertically descending order; and applying the compressed air above each of the screens with the compressed air above the uppermost of the screens being introduced forwardly of the introduction of compressed air above any of the other screens and the compressed air being introduced rearwardly in descending order above each of the other screens to the lowermost of the screens.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
110 words
The method according to claim 26 including: separating the particles below the selected size from the materials by initially directing the materials to the uppermost of a plurality of vibrating screens inclined to the rear, substantially parallel to each other, and of smaller mesh in vertically descending order; and applying the compressed air above each of the vibrating screens with the compressed air above the uppermost of the vibrating screens being introduced forwardly of the introduction of compressed air above any of the other vibrating screens and the compressed air being introduced rearwardly in descending order above each of the other vibrating screens to the lowermost of the vibrating screens.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method according to claim 27 including: applying a spray of water above each of the vibrating screens in the receiving means; and applying the spray of water above the uppermost of the screens in the receiving means rearwardly of the initial introduction of compressed air.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 28 including applying the spray of water above any of the other of the vibrating screens in the receiving means forwardly of the introduction of compressed air above the same screen.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method according to claim 26 including: applying a spray of water above each of the vibrating screens in the receiving means; and applying the spray of water above the uppermost of the screens in the receiving means rearwadly of the initial introduction of compressed air.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 30 including applying the spray of water above any of the other of the vibrating screens in the receiving means forwardly of the introduction of compressed air above the same screen.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-11-22 | 1986-05-24 | 1986-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-11-22 | 1990-05-24 | 1990-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-11-22 | 1994-05-24 | 1994-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |