Patent US4405451A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4405451A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Air separation apparatus and system
Assignee: ULTIMATE RESOURCES Inc A CORP OF OH
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Filing: 1981-10-20
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Granted: 1983-09-20
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Expires: 2001-10-20
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and system for carrying out the air separation of waste wherein the waste is transported by conveyor to the input location of the housing of the apparatus, whereupon it is dropped. A fan having a selectively directed dual airstream is positioned to provide airstream interception of the material stream falling to a confrontation region. Baffling is provided to substantially eliminate turbulence as may be caused by the fan. Separation is developed at three outlets beneath a plenum of the apparatus and a deflector is positioned between that outet receiving organic and that outlet receiving plastic categorized materials. To improve separation, deflectors are mounted vertically on the housing walls to increase airstream velocity. Airstream guidance, deflection and baffling are made adjustable to tune the system to accommodate for variations in the consistency of waste.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter C. Roman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:57
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07B; B07B11/00; B07B11/02; B03; B03B; B03B1/00; B03B1/02; B03B9/00; B03B9/06; B07B11/04; B07B4/00; B07B4/02; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/50; Y02W30/52; Y02W30/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
324 words
Apparatus for carrying out the air separation of waste having plastic categorized materials, biodegradable categorized materials and metal and glass categorized materials said waste being continuously transported by a conveyor to a terminus thereof at an elevated location to fall therefrom as a particle stream, comprising: a housing having an input top wall portion extending over said conveyor terminus and a pair of mutually spaced first sidewall portions extending from said input top wall portion substantially adjacent said falling particle stream, said housing having plenum wall components and including an arcuate top wall portion extending from said input top wall portion substantially at said terminus level and coupled with a spaced pair of second sidewall portions to define a plenum; fan means for producing a stream of air at an outlet thereof, said outlet being positioned within said housing intermediate said first sidewall portions and spaced from and below said terminus; airstream guidance means for directing said fan means stream of air along a select direction toward said plenum substantially upwardly into lifting confrontation with said particle stream and toward said plenum arcuate top wall portion; means positioned intermediate said fan means outlet and said conveyor for restricting air flow therebetween; first outlet means positioned below the said level of said fan means and in substantial alignment with said terminus for receiving said metal and glass categorized materials; second outlet means located against said first outlet means and beneath said plenum for receiving said biodegradable categorized materials; third outlet means located adjacent said second outlet means and beneath said plenum for receiving said plastic categorized material; deflector means mounted within said housing plenum intermediate said second and third outlet means and extending toward said arcuate top wall portion for selectively adjusting the flow of air within said plenum and deflecting said biodegradable categorized material toward said second outlet means; and means defining openings within said plenum wall components for effecting air back pressure dissipation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
324 words
Apparatus for carrying out the air separation of waste having plastic categorized materials, biodegradable categorized materials and metal and glass categorized materials said waste being continuously transported by a conveyor to a terminus thereof at an elevated location to fall therefrom as a particle stream, comprising: a housing having an input top wall portion extending over said conveyor terminus and a pair of mutually spaced first sidewall portions extending from said input top wall portion substantially adjacent said falling particle stream, said housing having plenum wall components and including an arcuate top wall portion extending from said input top wall portion substantially at said terminus level and coupled with a spaced pair of second sidewall portions to define a plenum; fan means for producing a stream of air at an outlet thereof, said outlet being positioned within said housing intermediate said first sidewall portions and spaced from and below said terminus; airstream guidance means for directing said fan means stream of air along a select direction toward said plenum substantially upwardly into lifting confrontation with said particle stream and toward said plenum arcuate top wall portion; means positioned intermediate said fan means outlet and said conveyor for restricting air flow therebetween; first outlet means positioned below the said level of said fan means and in substantial alignment with said terminus for receiving said metal and glass categorized materials; second outlet means located against said first outlet means and beneath said plenum for receiving said biodegradable categorized materials; third outlet means located adjacent said second outlet means and beneath said plenum for receiving said plastic categorized material; deflector means mounted within said housing plenum intermediate said second and third outlet means and extending toward said arcuate top wall portion for selectively adjusting the flow of air within said plenum and deflecting said biodegradable categorized material toward said second outlet means; and means defining openings within said plenum wall components for effecting air back pressure dissipation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including conduit means coupled with said housing for providing a selective flow of aqueous liquid upon said material in the vicinity of said terminus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said airstream guidance means is provided as a plurality of thin blades mounted at said fan means opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 3 in which said blades are configured to provide a first airstream confronting said particle stream and directed upwardly into said plenum, and a second airstream confronting said particle stream and directed upwardly into said plenum beneath said first airstream.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 3 including first adjusting means coupled with said blades for establishing the angle of attack of said blades with respect to said stream of air.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including material flow directing means extending substantially between said terminus and said fan means outlet and being provided as a chute pivotally mounted to said housing adjacent said terminus, said chute having an outlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 6 including conduit means adjacent said input location for selectively flowing aqueous liquid along said chute to moisten and promote the passage of said material therealong.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 6 including second adjusting means coupled with said chute for selectively varying the position of the outlet thereof with respect to said particle stream.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said second adjusting means is configured for positioning said chute outlet to effect the movement of all said material particles through said second outlet means in the absence of a fan means generated airstream.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said airstream guidance means is configured to provide a first airstream confronting said particle stream and directed upwardly into said plenum, and a second air stream confronting said particle stream and directed upwardly into said plenum beneath said first airstream.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which said deflector means is configured to provide a flat planar surface substantially confronting said second airstream.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including restricting means within said housing intermediate said plenum and said particle stream for imposing a passageway of restricted opening to said airstream to effect a select increase in the velocity thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said restricting means comprises at least one elongate deflector mounted upon a said housing second sidewall portions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein one elongate edge of said deflector is pivotally mounted upon said second sidewall portion and selectively adjustable with respect thereto to vary said restricted opening.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including third adjusting means coupled with said deflector means for selectively altering the angular orientation thereof within said plenum.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
364 words
A system for carrying out the air separation of waste having plastic categorized material, biodegradable categorized material and inorganic categorized material, comprising: conveyor means for receiving said waste material at a tail region thereof and continuously transporting said material forwardly and upwardly to a head region thereof, said material falling downwardly as a particle stream from the terminus of said conveyor at said head region; a housing having an input top wall portion extending over said conveyor terminus and a pair of mutually spaced first sidewall portions extending from said input top wall portion substantially adjacent said falling particle stream, said housing having plenum wall components and including an arcuate top wall portion extending from said input top wall portion substantially at said terminus level and coupled with a spaced pair of second sidewall portions to define a plenum; fan means for producing a stream of air at an outlet thereof, said outlet being positioned within said housing intermediate said first sidewall portions and spaced from and below said terminus; airstream guidance means for directing said fan means stream of air along a select direction toward said plenum substantially upwardly into lifting confrontation with said particle stream and toward said plenum arcuate top wall portion; means positioned intermediate said fan means outlet and said conveyor for restricting air flow therebetween; first outlet means positioned below the said level of said fan means and in substantial alignment with said terminus for receiving said inorganic categorized materials; second outlet means located adjacent said first outlet means and beneath said plenum for receiving said biodegradable categorized materials; third outlet means located adjacent said second outlet means and beneath said plenum for receiving said plastic categorized material; deflector means mounted within said housing plenum intermediate said second and third outlet means and extending toward said arcuate top wall portion for selectively adjusting the flow of air within said plenum and deflecting said biodegradable categorized material toward said second outlet means; means mounted upon said conveyor means for substantially removing static electrical charge from said material as is developed thereon by said conveyor means; and means defining openings within said plenum wall components for effecting air back pressure dissipation.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
364 words
A system for carrying out the air separation of waste having plastic categorized material, biodegradable categorized material and inorganic categorized material, comprising: conveyor means for receiving said waste material at a tail region thereof and continuously transporting said material forwardly and upwardly to a head region thereof, said material falling downwardly as a particle stream from the terminus of said conveyor at said head region; a housing having an input top wall portion extending over said conveyor terminus and a pair of mutually spaced first sidewall portions extending from said input top wall portion substantially adjacent said falling particle stream, said housing having plenum wall components and including an arcuate top wall portion extending from said input top wall portion substantially at said terminus level and coupled with a spaced pair of second sidewall portions to define a plenum; fan means for producing a stream of air at an outlet thereof, said outlet being positioned within said housing intermediate said first sidewall portions and spaced from and below said terminus; airstream guidance means for directing said fan means stream of air along a select direction toward said plenum substantially upwardly into lifting confrontation with said particle stream and toward said plenum arcuate top wall portion; means positioned intermediate said fan means outlet and said conveyor for restricting air flow therebetween; first outlet means positioned below the said level of said fan means and in substantial alignment with said terminus for receiving said inorganic categorized materials; second outlet means located adjacent said first outlet means and beneath said plenum for receiving said biodegradable categorized materials; third outlet means located adjacent said second outlet means and beneath said plenum for receiving said plastic categorized material; deflector means mounted within said housing plenum intermediate said second and third outlet means and extending toward said arcuate top wall portion for selectively adjusting the flow of air within said plenum and deflecting said biodegradable categorized material toward said second outlet means; means mounted upon said conveyor means for substantially removing static electrical charge from said material as is developed thereon by said conveyor means; and means defining openings within said plenum wall components for effecting air back pressure dissipation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 16 including conduit means coupled with said housing for providing a selective flow of aqueous liquid upon said material in the vicinity of said conveyor means terminus.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 16 including means for applying aqueous liquid to said waste material when transported by said conveyor means in an amount effective to substantially remove static electrical charge from said material as is developed thereon by said conveyor means and effective to carry out separation of said plastic categorized material from said biodegradable categorized material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 16 including means for applying aqueous liquid to said material in the vicinity of said conveyor means tail region in an amount substantially effective to effect an avoidance of static charge development thereon.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 16 in which said airstream guidance means is provided as a plurality of thin blades mounted at said fan means opening.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 20 in which said airstream guidance means is configured to provide a first airstream confronting said particle stream and directed upwardly into said plenum, and a second air stream confronting said material and directed upwardly into said plenum beneath said first airstream.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 20 including first adjusting means coupled with said blades and extending outwardly of said housing for establishing the angle of attack of said blades with respect to said stream of air.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 16 including material flow directing means extending substantially between said terminus and said fan means outlet and being provided as a chute attached to said housing adjacent said terminus, said chute having an outlet.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 23 including conduit means adjacent said input location for selectively flowing aqueous liquid along said chute to promote the passage of said material therealong.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 23 including second adjusting means coupled with said chute for selectively varying the position of the outlet thereof with respect to said particle stream.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 25 wherein said second adjusting means is configured for positioning said chute outlet to effect the movement of all said material particles through said second outlet means in the absence of a fan means generated airstream.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 16 in which said airstream guidance means is configured to provide a first airstream confronting said particle stream and directed upwardly into said plenum, and a second air stream confronting said particle stream and directed upwardly into said plenum beneath said first airstream.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 27 in which said deflector means is configured to provide a flat planar surface substantially confronting said second airstream.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 16 including restricting means within said housing intermediate said plenum and said particle stream for imposing a passageway of restricted opening to said airstream to effect a select increase in the velocity thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 29 wherein said restricting means comprises at least one elongate deflector mounted upon a said housing sidewall.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 30 wherein one elongate edge of said deflector is pivotally mounted upon said sidewall and selectively adjustable with respect thereto to vary said restricted opening.
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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) | 1986-09-19 | 1987-03-21 | 1987-09-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-09-19 | 1991-03-21 | 1991-09-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-09-19 | 1995-03-21 | 1995-09-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |