US4534856A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrodynamic method for separating components
Assignee: United States Department of Agriculture
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Filing: 1983-08-30
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Granted: 1985-08-13
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Expires: 2003-08-30
Abstract
Abstract A method of separating the components contained in agricultural by-products is disclosed. A set of parallel electrodes encased in a plastic panel and energized by an A.C. power supply is used to create an undulating traveling wave electric field. A voltage charge is first applied to the individual components. The voltage is then increased to effect levitation and movement of the components in opposite directions which results in separation. The voltage is cycled between charging and separating voltages to move the components over a distance for collection and recovery.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis C. Weiss
- 👤 Devron P. Thibodeaux
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:42
CPC Classifications
B; B03; B03C; B03C7/00; B03C7/02; B03C7/023; B03C7/026; B65; B65G; B65G54/00; B65G54/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
An electrodynamic method for separating components of agricultural by-products comprising: (a) feeding onto a horizontal electric undulating traveling wave contact panel an agricultural by-product mixture comprising individual components that can be differentially charged; (b) energizing the panel with sufficient charging voltage for sufficient time to impart different charge to mass ratios to the individual components; (c) increasing the voltage to a separation voltage for sufficient time to effect separation of the components, said separation voltage being that which is sufficient to move said components, in opposite directions but less than that voltage which is necessary to transport all of the components in the same direction; (d) separating the individual components by cyclically repeating steps (b) and (c) until all of the components are moved off of the panel for recovery.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
An electrodynamic method for separating components of agricultural by-products comprising: (a) feeding onto a horizontal electric undulating traveling wave contact panel an agricultural by-product mixture comprising individual components that can be differentially charged; (b) energizing the panel with sufficient charging voltage for sufficient time to impart different charge to mass ratios to the individual components; (c) increasing the voltage to a separation voltage for sufficient time to effect separation of the components, said separation voltage being that which is sufficient to move said components, in opposite directions but less than that voltage which is necessary to transport all of the components in the same direction; (d) separating the individual components by cyclically repeating steps (b) and (c) until all of the components are moved off of the panel for recovery.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the agricultural by-products are mixtures selected from the group consisting of: sunflower seed, cottonseed flour, and a multicomponent mixture of grain, dust, hull and chaff from wheat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the charging time is from about 20 to 120 seconds and the separation time is from about 5 to 40 seconds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the agricultural by-product is sunflower seed, the charging voltage is from about 2 to 4 kV and the separation voltage is from about 4 to 6 kV.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the agricultural by-product is cottonseed, the charging voltage is from about 3 to 5 kV and the separation voltage is from about 4 to 6 kV.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the agricultural by-product is grain dust, the charging voltage is from about 2 to 4 kV and the separation voltage is from about 4 to 7 kV.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the agricultural by-products are a multicomponent mixture of grain, dust, hull and chaff from wheat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 7 including flowing air perpendicular to the components to effect additional separation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-08-12 | 1989-02-11 | 1989-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-08-12 | 1993-02-11 | 1993-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-08-12 | 1997-02-11 | 1997-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |