Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for classifying charge material, comprising a static classifier which has a ventilating base oriented obliquely to the vertical and traversed by classifying gas; an inlet opening for charging the charge material to the ventilating base; an outlet opening for the coarse material; a downstream dynamic classifier which comprises at least one rotor; and at least one outlet opening for the classifying gas laden with fine material. The ventilating base has a ratio of width to vertical height of at least 0.45, preferably of at least 0.6.

Abstract: A bed height of a fluidized bed is detected which influences reaction of a fluidized-bed equipment. In the fluidized-bed equipment in which a fluidized particle is put into the vessel, physical properties at a plurality of points within the vessel are measured in a height direction thereof. An interior of the vessel is divided into upper and lower two regions. Physical property distribution curves of the respective regions are found, to find an intersection between the two curves as a bed height. Thus, it is possible to find the bed height of the fluidized bed which influences the reaction of the fluidized-bed equipment. An operating quantity which influences the reaction can be adjusted or regulated accurately.

Abstract: A drum for separation of a bulk material into a heavier and a lighter fraction is arranged to be rotated around its central axis at a certain velocity and to be traversed by a flow of air at a certain flow velocity. The drum has at least one discharge aperture for the heavier fraction and at least one discharge aperture for the lighter fraction further on in the drum in the direction of the air flow.

Abstract: An air classifier comprising a rotatable open-ended drum disposed with its axis horizontal or substantially so, for receiving material to be classified, means for creating a stream of air through the drum, means for introducing material to be classified into the drum at or near the upstream end thereof, means in the drum for conveying materially axially of the drum during rotation thereof, the conveying means being in the form of helical vanes of mutually opposite hand arranged in an upstream part of the drum to convey "heavies" in counter-current to the stream of air through the drum and in a downstream part of the drum being arranged to convey "lights" in the direction of the air stream, the two helical vanes being separated by an annular member which projects radially inwards from the inner periphery of the drum.

Abstract: A centrifugal screening apparatus for scalping or sizing bulk materials in which an auger assembly conveys the bulk materials from an intake chamber into a cylindrical screening sleeve mounted within an enclosed screening chamber and subjects the bulk materials to centrifugal force for impingment against the screening sleeve, with the fines passing through the screen for gravity discharge from the screening chamber and the tailings being conveyed to a separate tailings chamber for separate gravity discharge therefrom. The auger assembly within the screening sleeve is equipped with a cylindrical shell integral with the auger assembly and extending the effective length of the screening sleeve that defines along the length of same uniformly spaced apertures thereabout that are separated by imperforate walling.

Abstract: An air classifier system for separating mixed materials and comprising the combination of a horizontal drum or tunnel having a feed screw therein at one end of which mixed materials are deposited for movement toward the discharge end of the drum, and means for directing a flow of air through the drum at relatively high velocity for entraining and removing light materials from the drum while permitting heavy materials to be independently moved out of the drum by the screw.

Abstract: A rotary drum air separation system separates mixed solid materials into a light fraction and a heavy fraction with substantially no stagnation of material in the air drum. It further provides for processing high volume urban solid waste without first size reducing the waste. The system separates such waste into a light fraction, substantially free of glass and ready for composting or for use as a source of energy in the form of heat or combustible gas from pyrolysis, a heavy fraction, and a glass-rich fraction from the heavy fraction, all in a high volume operation.

Abstract: Shredded scrap is conveyed from a heat generating automobile shredder to one end of a horizontal tumbling drum and is caused to move in one direction through the drum as it tumbles. An air stream which has aspirated heat generated by the shredder, and carrying particulate material removed from the scrap in the shredder, is directed by ductwork to the opposite end of the tumbling drum where the air and particulate matter move in counterflow through the tumbling scrap to remove additional particulate material therefrom as the shredded particles are being showered through the air stream. The particulate material in the air stream emerging from the tumbling drum is separated out by a cyclonic separator. A bypass air stream duct with an adjustable valve bypasses some of the air stream around the tumbling drum to control the velocity of the air stream through the tumbling drum and thus to control the size of the particulate material removed from the scrap by the counterflow air stream.