Abstract: An extractor may include an extractor housing extending from an inlet to an outlet. The housing may define an airflow channel for directing debris through the extractor from the inlet to the outlet, with the housing forming an outer perimeter of the extractor. The extractor may also include at least one flow-generating device configured to generate an airflow directed through the airflow channel that creates a negative pressure at the inlet to draw debris into the housing. In addition, the flow-generating device(s) may be positioned adjacent to the housing along the outer perimeter of the extractor such that a central flow region is defined within the airflow channel at the location of the flow-generating device(s) that extends from a center of the housing radially outwardly towards the outer perimeter of the extractor, with the central flow region defining an unobstructed flow path for the debris through the housing.

Abstract: A separator for separating trash into its constituents. An inlet conduit accelerates the trash mixture into an expansion chamber allowing the lighter weight materials to move apart from heavier materials. An air fan applies air pressure to the lighter weight materials drawing off the lighter weight materials while the heavier materials fall towards a collecting conveyor by the force of gravity.

Abstract: A method of separating unburned Carbon, as particulate matter, from the flyash produced as a result of the combustion process occurring in a pulverized-coal fired steam generating power plant is disclosed. More particularly the invention separates the flyash into a coarse product group and a fine product group by utilizing the differences in specific gravity between the Carbon particles and remaining flyash as well as utilization of the dynamic classification characteristics of a rotary classifier to effect the separation whereby at least one of the two product groups comprises a relatively low weight percentage of unburned Carbon while yet comprising a relatively high percentage of the total mass of product recovered after separation.

Abstract: A separating device precipitates solid particles from a gas flow of a circulating fluidized-bed or CFB reactor, wherein the particles are carried along in the gas flow. A device is provided which influences the gas flow in such a way that centrifugal and gravitational forces that are greater than entraining forces of the gas flow act on the solid particles and thus permit particles of a specific minimum size to be separated from the gas flow. A particularly compact construction of a CFB system is achieved when the gas flow emerging from the CFB reactor reaches a flow channel which directs it from top to bottom along a circular arc around a horizontally disposed cyclone axis. The gas flow is fed from there to a take-over channel suitable for passing it on. The flow channel merges in a vertical direction and correspondingly expands downward into a separating chamber in which the precipitated solid particles sink down to a floor.

Abstract: A chamber has upwardly diverging walls so that an upward airstream has different air speeds at different heights in the chamber. When particles such as seeds are put into the chamber, they reach equilibrium at different heights depending on their weights. A horizontal conveyor airstream, much less in magnitude than the upward airstream, directs the classified-by-height particles to a side wall of the chamber, where they are removed.

Abstract: An apparatus for recovering and cleaning contaminated abrasive blast media. The blast media is transported in a vacuum airstream to a rotatable drum. Within the rotatable drum is a blocking assembly which selectively channels high-velosity air through an upper region of the rotatable drum and restricts the flow of air through a lower region of the drum. The blast media is repeatedly scooped up and dropped to the high-velocity airstream, thus subjecting it to repeated air-washing. The blocking member includes a flexible member which provides both the open channel region and the restriction to the airflow under the force of gravity as the drum rotates. The abrasive blast media is thus assured of being adequately washed even if the air velocity varies randomly during the cleaning of the blast media.

Abstract: A process and a device are used to process granulated materials such as abrasives for centrifugal wheel cleaning systems or welding powder for welding machines. Operation is based on the suction principle; an adjustable amount of ambient air is drawn in to be used as the conveying air for the granulated material and takes the latter to the processing device. A part of this conveying air is also used to separate foreign bodies from the granulated material. Granulated material and conveying air flow in a stream of material which gradually grows wider and thinner, to an accumulation point from which they trickle in the form of a screen to a hopper. In the process the other portion of conveying air flows through them. The ambient air that is drawn in may also be used to remove dust from an operating compartment before it is used as conveying air. Negative pressure prevails throughout the system to prevent particulate escape into the environment.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting lightweight from heavy material in mixtures of solid materials containing lumpy, granular, and pulverous constituents substantially comprises an upright slim container having a lower portion into which material for sorting is introduced. Pulsating air flows are introduced from the exterior into the container, resulting in an upward flow of pulsating air which loosens the material for sorting and produces a fluidized bed. Simultaneously, the apparatus is vibrated up and down in a linear manner by vibrators to assist in loosening the material. The lightweight material floating in the air stream is conveyed to a discharge channel at the top end of the container, whereas heavy material rapidly sinks down to a tubular member into which a second pulsating air flow is introduced in order additionally to sort the heavy material in a last treatment stage inside the tubular member.

Abstract: Particulate material is discharged continuously from fluidized bed reactors by passing the material emerging at the lowest point of the fluidized bed through a zone which is narrower than the fluidized bed and in which a gas stream flows counter-current to the material, the pressure of the gas stream being above the pressure of the fluidized zone.

Abstract: Method and apparatus (10) are provided for separating and classifying particles (48,50,56) by dispersing the particles within a fluid (52) that is upwardly flowing within a cone-shaped pipe (12) that has its large end (20) above its small end (18). Particles of similar size and shape (48,50) migrate to individual levels (A,B) within the flowing fluid. As the fluid is deflected by a plate (42) at the top end of the pipe (12), the smallest particles are collected on a shelf-like flange (40). Ever larger particles are collected as the flow rate of the fluid is increased. To prevent particle sticking on the walls (14) of the pipe (12), additional fluid is caused to flow into the pipe (12) through holes (68) that are specifically provided for that purpose. Sticking is further prevented by high frequency vibrators (70) that are positioned on the apparatus (10).

Abstract: A foreign object removal system is disclosed including a removal chamber projecting laterally from the combustion chamber of a fluid bed reactor and connected via a downwardly directed pipe to a material flow control plenum chamber, which includes means for fluidizing the mixture of inert bed particles and foreign objects at the bottom of the pipe for lateral movement into an air classifier, wherein the foreign objects are dropped to a collection tank and the fluid bed particles are carried upwardly by a stream of classifying air to a deentrainment chamber where their velocity is reduced and they are returned to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for separating silicon seed particles from silicon dust and large, heavy silicon particles. A classifier apparatus is a vertically oriented column having an inert gas flowing upwardly therethrough. A mixture of various size particles is dispensed into the central portion of the tube such that small dust particles and product size particles are entrained in the flowing gas and heavier particles fall to a receiver at the bottom of the tube. The small dust particles are separated from the product size particles near the top of the tube by providing an enlarged cross-sectional area flow path which continues to entrain the small particles but not the product size particles. The product size particles are then captured in a receptacle near the top of the tube.

Abstract: A fluidized bed apparatus comprises a chamber having a perforated floor, a spray nozzle located in the chamber above the perforated floor, whereby material to be granulated is introduced into the chamber in the form of a solution or dispersion, means for passing heated gas upward through said perforated floor, whereby solid particles of said material are formed in said chamber, particle size-reducing means outside of said chamber, whereby particles larger than a first predetermined size are reduced in size, a screw shaft located above said perforated floor and communicating with said size-reducing means, whereby particles are withdrawn from said chamber and conveyed to said size-reducing means, a pipe having one end located downstream of said size-reducing means and its other end communicating with said chamber, and means for generating a flow of air whereby particles smaller than a second predetermined size exiting from said size-reducing means are returned through said pipe to said chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating fine dust particles from coarse dust particles, such as are present in hot filling powders for pit furnaces for the production of electrodes by aluminium fusion electrolysis, comprises a first separator with an adjustable separation gap, arranged inside a bin on an intermediate bottom, which is preferably slanted, dividing the bin into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The air flow is sustained by a fan connected with its discharge side to the lower chamber. The suction side of the fan is connected to the upper chamber through a further separator for the fine particles and through respective pipes. Preferably the suction return path through the pipes and the further separator leads through a further collector.

Abstract: A pneumatic material separator having adjacent generally vertical sorting ducts and a generally vertical discharge duct communicating with the tops of the sorting ducts is disclosed. Particulate material introduced into a first sorting duct is separated by an upwardly moving column of gas into an upwardly moving lighter fraction and a downwardly moving heavy fraction. The light fraction is carried to a position over a second sorting duct where the gas velocity is reduced. The heaviest particles of the lighter fraction fall into the second sorting duct while the remainder of the lighter fraction is discharged through the discharge duct.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for separating lighter and heavier portions of threshed tobacco by creating two adjacent vortices circulating in opposite directions the turbulence of which separates the threshed tobacco; the vortices coacting to form rising column of high velocity air for carrying off lighter portions of tobacco while heavier portions of tobacco drop to a pneumatic take-off.

Abstract: An air classifier for the separation of refuse by density into homogeneous fractions. A waste bin discharges non-homogeneous waste which is dispersed within a mixing chamber whereat a pressurized airflow, moving upwardly therethrough, carries lighter particles upwardly into a main duct structure. Subjacent the mixing chamber, is a crossflow zone through which a secondary airflow moves transversely to waste gravitating from the mixing chamber. The classifier air duct is of irregular shape having enlarged portions, spaced therealong, each constituting a waste separating station whereat waste of like density gravitates into a discharge chute associated with the station. Air inlet means at each station directs a crossflow of air onto the gravitating waste matter to remove lighter density particles comingled therewith and reentrain same in the main duct airflow.

Abstract: Apparatus for and method of separating elongated articles having certain aerodynamic properties from a mixture containing contaminating particles of random shape is disclosed wherein a housing is diagonally divided into upper and lower chambers with a separation apparatus communicating between the chambers. The separation apparatus includes a funnel disposed within the upper chamber, a diffuser tube disposed within the lower chamber and a tubular neck connecting the funnel to the diffuser tube. A hopper is disposed above the funnel for dispensing the mixture to the funnel. A fluid, such as air, is forced into the lower chamber at a sufficient pressure to establish a predetermined flow rate through the diffuser tube and tubular neck to the base of the funnel. This flow rate is adequate to create a "fluidized bed" in the mixture, at the base of the funnel, permitting the articles and contaminating particles to move relative to each other.