Abstract: In a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed in which the bed particles continuously move transverse to the flow of the fluidizing fluid, the bed particles have increased fluidity when the bed is operated at or substantially near the locus of transition between the bubbling and stabilized regimes of said bed. More specifically, the particulate bed comprising a transverse flow magnetically stabilized fluidized bed process has greater fluidity when the bed is operated such that the ratio of the difference between the transition velocity and the operating velocity to the difference between the transition velocity and the normal minimum fluidization velocity ranges between -0.1 and +0.5. The increased fluidity facilitates the movement of solids within a vessel as well as the transfer of solids to other vessels.

Abstract: Rotary grain cleaning machines are well known. The present invention provides a grain cleaning machine comprising an aspirator unit and a screen unit. The screen unit has an inner frame assembly suspended from an outer frame assembly, inclined screen decks secured to the inner frame assembly and means for causing the inner frame assembly to rotate in a substantially circular path within the outer frame assembly.

Abstract: A device for separating fine articles as sand from a sludge containing ultrafine articles comprises a continuously rotated substantially horizontal drum having a helical web at the peripheral inside thereof. The mass flow to be separated is deposited in the drum at a place spaced from both ends of the drum. The drum moves the sand at the bottom of the drum to the discharge end thereof, where a water feeding system is arranged providing an oppositely directed fresh water flow which mixes with said ultrafine particles forming a sludge. The sand is elevated at the discharge end of the drum by a plurality of buckets and discharged via an inclined discharge chute through an outlet opening of the drum. The sludge is discharged through the opposite front wall opening through which the mass flow is fed within a feeding tube.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for screening pulp, or like suspensions, having a consistency of about 6-15 percent. The pulp is passed into a chamber having a flat plate screen, and the pulp is fluidized by rotation of a disk, with vanes, mounted adjacent the screen. The disk may be constructed to allow circulation of rejects within the chamber. The chamber may be in communication with a second chamber having a similar screen and disk arrangement, with the rejects outlet from the second chamber in communication with the suspension inlet to the first chamber.

Abstract: A chemical reagent is mixed with the mixture to form a resultant reaction mixture under substantially nonoxidizing or oxygen-free conditions. A continuous movement of the resultant reaction mixture is established through a flotation zone while maintaining substantially quiescent flow conditions during the continuous movement thereof. A first outlet is used to discharge a free or unimpeded flow of material collected at the upper surface of the liquid carrier medium within the flotation zone. A second outlet is used to discharge an impeded flow maintained at a lower flow rate than the free flow from said first discharging outlet. The chemical reagent is composed of a liquid hydrocarbon, a reducing material and an activator material. A trough shaped vessel has a discharge end with an upper outlet means and a lower outlet means. The vessel has a structural configuration effective to provide the continuous, substantially quiescent movement of the mixture through the vessel.

Abstract: A vibratory screen separator has cylindrical cleaner elements engaging the lower surface of a horizontal screen with the cleaner elements having a center of gravity offset from their longitudinal axis so that vibration imparted to a supporting perforated surface effects enhanced movement of the cleaner elements. Screen clamp means are pivotally mounted to swing to an external position with respect to a floating tub assembly in which the screen is positioned to permit removal of the screen and a subsequent removal for repair or replacement of a unitary vibrator unit mounted in a housing extending axially below the screen.

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.

Abstract: A teeter bed density control device is disclosed in a hindered-settling fluid classifier of the type having a teeter fluid supply system in a chamber with a fluidized teeter bed zone, an overflow zone and an underflow discharge outlet with the control device comprising an upper sensor for measuring average particle density from the upper boundary of the teeter bed zone to the top of the overflow zone, a lower sensor for measuring average particle density from the lower boundary of the teeter bed zone to the top of the overflow zone, a controller connected to the sensors for generating a compensating control signal based upon a preselected density standard and the average density of the teeter bed zone as determinable from the upper and lower average particle density measurements, and an actuable valve for regulating the discharge of the underflow discharge outlet with the controller being connected to the valve for actuation thereof responsive to the compensating control signal.

Abstract: A screening basket has one or more screen decks and has upright side walls integrated with cross beams. A side beam, at approximately the center of gravity of the basket, is integrated with each of the side walls as well as with the cross beams to provide a unitary, rugged basket capable of vibratory movement on a support frame. A pair of cross shafts extend transversely of the screening basket and project beyond the side walls. These shafts are journaled in the side beams and have one projecting end geared together for opposite rotation. These projecting ends carry eccentric weights of different mass to provide an oval vibratory stroke of the screening basket upon rotation of the shafts. Adjusting mechanism is provided to adjust the relative position of the weights on the shafts to vary the angle of stroke. These weights are arranged to receive auxiliary weights to vary the amplitude of vibratory stroke as well as the shape of the stroke.

Abstract: An air classifier having an upright housing open at both ends in which a pipe section is concentrically located to define a first annular passage closed at its upper end. A feed conduit attached to a pneumatic delivery system is concentrically located within the pipe section defining a second annular passage open at both ends. A cover is mounted over the upper end of the housing defining a dispersing chamber for bulk material. The dispersed material falls through the second passage, beyond the lower end of the pipe into an annular chamber where the components are separated by an air stream moving upwardly. The heavier particles falls and the lighter particle travel with the upward air.

Abstract: A mixture of low melting particles and high melting particles is heated to a temperature above the melting point of the low melting particles and below the melting point of the high melting particles thereby melting the low melting particles and forming a bond between the low melting particles and the high melting particles which bond is strengthened on cooling, the resulting agglomerate containing the low melting particles being separated from the unbonded high melting particles.

Abstract: A method of magnetically separating particles having different magnetic susceptibilities. A magnetic field is established in a colloidal suspension of magnetic particles which distribute to form a magnetic susceptibility gradient. The particles to be separated are introduced into the colloidal suspension. The introduced particles migrate along the magnetic susceptibility gradient to different regions having approximately the same magnetic susceptibilities as the introduced particles.

Abstract: Apparatus for classifying carrier gas borne particulates including a chamber having a classifying rotor suspended therewithin fed by a jet pump induced transport path of carrier gas in the periphery of said chamber.

Abstract: A mixture comprising non-magnetic solids is separated according to the density difference of its components by contact with a separating medium comprised of a fluidized bed of magnetizable particles which is stabilized by a magnetic means. The separating medium circulates in a closed loop within a contacting vessel or zone such that at least two portions of said separating medium flow in essentially opposite directions transverse to the flow of the fluidizing fluid exiting the medium. This invention is particularly effective for separating mixtures of coal or for separating coal from other solids.

Abstract: Method of removing slimes from slime-containing slurries in which the slurry is force fed at an acute angle onto a downwardly directed screen surface of a welded profile wire screen having fine screen openings at a pressure which for the slime content and impact angle of the slurry on the screening surface will project water and suspended slimes from the slurry through and beyond the screen a distance sufficient to cause gravity discharge of the slime suspension free of contact with the back of the screen below the impact area.

Abstract: A method for separating particulate material into coarse and fine fractions is disclosed by suspending the material in a conveying gas flow having a radially symmetrical flow pattern, radially surrounding the gas suspension with a band of clean gas containing substantially no particulate and directing the concentric gas flow past a vaned rotating rotor having an axis of rotation axially aligned with the concentric axis of the gases. The rotor vanes fling the coarse fraction in a radially outwardly direction while the remaining fine fraction remains in the conveying gas flow for subsequent separation from the gas. An apparatus in the form of a separator is disclosed for sorting particulate material suspended within a conveying gas into coarse and fine fractions is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for feeding and discharging air for pneumatic jigs, includes feeding and discharging pressure air to and from air chambers, which are opened at their respective lower ends, and which are formed in water-filled tanks, to vertically vibrate water in the water tanks, and separate a pulverulent body on the water. The air feeding and discharging steps are carried out repeatedly, and with having overlapping periods. The apparatus comprises an outer cylindrical casing, and an inner casing provided rotatably in the outer casing, the outer casing being provided in a circumferential wall thereof with a communication port communicated with air pipes opened into the air chambers. A plurality of air ports communicate with an air feeding unit which is capable of feeding air of a plurality of different pressures to the air chambers, and a discharge port is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and dry method for de-shotting shot-containing mineral wool fibers wherein the fibers are treated in a granulator to compact them into entangled nodules, and the nodules are passed through an air classifier to open up and de-shot them. In a preferred embodiment, a felted layer of mineral wool is subjected to a first granulation step to divide the layer into a multiplicity of lightly compacted nodules which are then partially de-shotted, and the partially de-shotted nodules are subjected to a second granulation step to more tightly compact the nodules before they are introduced into the air classifier.

Abstract: A sieve screen deck, the screen of which comprises a plurality of horizontal wedge wires connected to an array of backing bars running longitudinally of the screen parallel to its fall line. The screen is connected to a frame at its two ends, at least one end being connected by resilient means such that the screen may vibrate and flex under the influence of rapping or vibrating means. Side walls are provided along sides of the sieve screen, to prevent material flowing over sides of the screen, are also formed of a resilient material in order that they do not substantially impede the ability of the sieve screen to vibrate and flex under the influence of the rapping or vibrating means.

Abstract: A particle classifier apparatus and method for separating coarse particles from a mixture of particles carried in a gas stream, for preferred use in combination with a coal crushing mill. In the classifier, the gas-solids stream is passed through a plurality of internal upper angled fixed vanes for imparting a rotational motion to the particles. The rotating gas-solids stream then flows downwardly past 3-6 pivotable deflector vanes located entirely within the rotating gas-solids stream for effectively separating the larger size particles in the gas stream from the smaller particles. The smaller particles are then carried upwardly by the gas stream, such as coal particles carried by an air stream into a combustion zone of a boiler, while the larger size particles are returned downwardly, such as to a crusher for further size reduction and for recycling the particles through the classifier.