Abstract: An apparatus for sorting recyclable materials including an inlet conveyor with a magnetic pulleys that directs magnetic objects out of the flow of recyclable materials. A vacuum inlet is positioned adjacent a stepped region of the conveyor so as to pull lighter weight materials out of the material flow. A size sorting conveyor separates larger objects from the smaller lighter weight objects, and heavier objects such as glass are conveyed to still another collecting region.

Abstract: Intermixed light leaf and heavy stem tobacco particles are fed or propelled inwardly and across a vertical separator chamber of the classifier while forced air is directed upwardly through the intermixed particles and at varying velocities across the length of the separator chamber to gently separate the leaf particles from the heavier stem particles. The stream of intermixed particles is projected across the separator chamber at a variable initial velocity and the varying velocities of the upwardly directed forced air streams are correlated with the velocity of the stream of particles being fed across the separator chamber to gently separate the light leaf particles from the heavier stem particles. An adjustable deflector plate is supported adjacent the inlet feed for varying the angular position of the feeding of the stream of intermixed particles across the separator chamber to thereby vary the classifying plane in which the particles are projected across the separator chamber.

Abstract: An aspirator and method for separating fines and foreign matter from dry, free-flowing granular material, characterized by a vertical drop of the unclean granular material in a separation plenum into an opposing upward air stream and a plurality of vertically-spaced, horizontally-extending transverse air streams. Suspended fines and foreign matter are conducted from the granular material in the separation plenum through a plurality of vertically-spaced outlets into a manifold for discharge from the aspirator. The apparatus and method avoid bunching, recompaction and congregating of the granular material during the separation process, to thereby increase throughput and optimize separation efficiency.

Abstract: Product, such as grain, is cleansed of particulate, such as dust, as it is being conveyed in the normal receiving, storage, and shipping processes. The particulate is sucked from the product by large volumes of low velocity air. The particulate is sucked from the product at a time that the product is near a port in the side of a discharge transition of the conveyor. It is sucked at the discharge transition because at that point, the grain is in motion and agitated, as well as being near the walls of the conveyor. Furthermore, the conveying of product will create a wind or movement of air which airs the sucking of the particlate from the product. The fan causing the suction is placed as near as possible to the conveyor so that the air and particulate, once removed, is moved through the particulate pipes under pressure rather than under suction. Also, all of the particulate pipes carrying the particulate and air are at an angle greater than 55.degree.

Abstract: Waste material classifying apparatus for applying forced air streams to the waste material discharged off the end of a rotary disc screen conveyor, directing the forced air streams into an enclosure at the discharge end of the conveyor, and forming separate passages in the enclosure so that the waste material fractions are classified by the response of the fractions to the forced air or lack of response to forced air streams, whereby the forced air streams tumble and flip the waste material for augmenting the separation of the fractions.

Abstract: A mixture of cooling liquids and solid pieces of waste from machine tools drop onto an inclined bottom wall of the upper, generally vertically disposed section of an inverted, generally Y-shaped feed chute. One of the two lower, diverging chute sections extends downwardly and rearwardly beneath the upper chute section to a chip wringer, and has its upper end positioned beneath the lower edge of the inclined bottom wall of the upper section to receive the liquids and lighter pieces of waste which tend to drop by gravity into this one lower section. The other lower section of the chute is in general alignment with the inclined bottom wall of the upper section to receive the larger pieces of waste which, because of their momentum or size pass beyond the one lower section and into the other lower section. A stream of air which is directed transversely across the lower end of the upper section blows the remaining liquids and light waste into the one lower section.

Abstract: In separating a mixture of solid material particles including non-magnetic electrically conductive metals into a light fraction and a heavy fraction, where the light fraction includes the non-magnetic particles, the mixture is directed into an upwardly extending airflow passageway from an inlet channel extending laterally from the passageway. The inlet channel is spaced between the inlet and outlet ends of the passageway. An alternating magnetic field is provided adjacent the entrance of the mixture into the airflow passageway for accelerating the particles in the desired direction. The mixture is fed through the inlet channel into the airflow passageway in layer form, preferably as a single layer. A main flow of air passes upwardly through the airflow passageway from the lower inlet end and develops a highly turbulent vortex-like airflow. The airflow, in combination with the magnetic field, effects separation of the light and heavy fractions of the material.

Abstract: A catalyst loading hopper suitable for positioning in vertical position above a reactor vessel, having an inlet at its upper end, a catalyst outlet at its lower end and a diagonally-disposed baffle extending downwardly across the hopper but terminating short of one of the walls of the hopper and a weir adjustably arranged so as to control the flow of catalysts through the hopper. There is a dust outlet at the top of the hopper, which may be connected to a conduit so as to draw dust away from the upper end of the hopper and a screen at the bottom of the hopper to separate the catalyst from any fines or undersized catalyst particles. The screen feeds into a catalyst outlet which, in turn, feeds into a conduit, which extends into the reactor vessel so as to allow arrangement of the cleaned catalyst pellets in layers in the vessel. A gas nozzle opens in the wall of the hopper and allows dust to be blown from the catalyst pellets and through the dust outlet to be collected in a suitable filter.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing dust from particulate material, utilizing a tower or column having a passage with a series of baffles on opposite sides over which the particulate material cascades while air is drawn across the flow path of the material to remove the dust dispersed in the material and adhering to the surface of the particles of material. Air is drawn across the passage from one side to the other by vacuum or suction from a vacuum pump or the like. In performing the method using the apparatus, the particulate material is introduced at the top of the column and permitted to cascade down through the vertical passage therein from one baffle to the next, and air is drawn inwardly between the baffles on one side and outwardly between the baffles on the opposite side of the column, and, as the air flows through the material cascading between the baffles, it removes the dust from the material.

Abstract: An air stream separator for separating heavier and lighter fractions from a mixture, includes a first vibrating conveyor which conveys the mixture of materials into an upwardly directed air stream at the output end of the conveyor, and a second vibrating conveyor positioned at or below the level of the first conveyor; the second vibrating conveyor includes an input end defined by an upwardly inclined portion onto which a heavier fraction of mixture drops from the output of the first conveyor so that the heavier fraction is separated from the lighter fraction which is impelled by the air stream onto a main, horizontal portion of the second conveyor for conveyance thereon.

Abstract: In a grader device grain is fed down a slide which ejects the grain outwardly and forwardly into an airstream. The slide is provided by a resilient flexible sheet, the contour and inclination of which is adjusted by a plurality of support rods against which the sheet presses and the positions of which are adjustable. A plurality of transverse collecting troughs with adjustable baffles, receive the separated grains according to the weight thereof with the top quality grain being heaviest, collecting in the forward trough. A suction fan extracts dust before it reaches the main airstream and diverts it into a cyclone or the like. Accurate airstream control is achieved by a plurality of adjustable wind boards strategically situated within the grader device.

Abstract: In the mechanism for supplying waste metal cuttings from machine operations to a centrifuge having air suction means for separation and recovery of the cutting oils, a driven paddle-wheel type feed gate is provided in an inclined, gravity operated feed conduit for both maintaining a generally uniform rate of feed to the centrifuge and for serving as a barrier against the entry of air through the infeed end of the conduit. An air aspiration port is provided adjacent to and on the centrifuge side of the paddle wheel through which large metal chunks are discharged by gravity while smaller cuttings are entrained by the incoming air stream and transported past the port to the centrifuge. The bottom of the conduit at the feed gate is movably mounted to permit the passage of large, chunky material and means are provided to assure discharge of long pieces of material.

Abstract: A grain cleaning device is provided which separates foreign material from grain by aspiration. The aspiration force is developed by a fan which is attached to the grain cleaning device. The device includes a housing, a grain inlet in said housing, a louvered grain slide located within said housing, an opening within the housing which is compatible with the fan, air intake holes within the housing and adjustable covers for said air intake holes. The grain enters the grain cleaning device through the grain inlet and travels down the louvered grain slide. The fan which is located above the louvered grain slide acts as an aspirator and removes the foreign material from the grain which has a density less than the density of the grain. The foreign materials are drawn up through the fan and out an exhaust vent. The housing includes a grain slide housing and a chimney, the chimney being attached to the top of the grain slide housing.

Abstract: Self-cleaning separator apparatus is used in combination with a vertical settling chamber for extracting fiber product from a moving air stream. The separator apparatus includes a housing forming an air stream inlet, a product discharge outlet and a clean air outlet. A rotatable screen is interposed between the air stream inlet and the clean air outlet for collecting the fiber product on the screen as the air stream flows through the screen for discharge into the atmosphere. An air flow gradient is induced in the settling chamber whereby the air flow rate through the rotating screen is substantially smaller near the bottom of the settling chamber than it is near the top of the settling chamber. The gradient is produced in part by a transversely extending baffle plate mounted in the annular flow region near the product discharge outlet, and in part by the off-center placement of the rotary screen closely adjacent the sidewalls of the settling chamber which converge toward the product discharge outlet.

Abstract: A harvester for beans and like crop includes a pick-up reel having a width equal to the overall width of the harvester and leading to a first, cleaning, conveyor which terminates at an air passage incorporating a fan for generating a generally vertical air flow. Where the vertical air passage meets the cleaning conveyor, a rotary valve is provided which permits the passage of the beans and other parts of the crop but prevents or at least restricts the passage of the air flow into the space above the upper run of the conveyor.The rotary valve may take the form of a rotary vaned assembly having six vanes each of which is secured to one face of a hexagonal shaft and various forms of rotary valve are also described.

Abstract: In a dust collecting suction system for a rock drilling apparatus, the air rushing out of the borehole is collected in a hood and sucked through a coarse dust separator and a filter unit. The coarse dust from the separator is cleaned by an air currrent to remove remaining fine particles and then it is dumped on the ground whereas the finer dust from the filter unit is collected in plastic bags.

Abstract: A fluid, such as air or water, carrying suspended solids is directed between a pair of oppositely charged, corrugated surfaces in order to subject the flow to an undulating action that increases the frequency with which the solid particles impinge against one another, thereby increasing the rate of flocculation of the solids. In the case of airborne particles, the corrugated surfaces are arranged in an upright condition so that the flocculated particles attracted to one or the other of such surfaces gravitate therefrom into a conveying mechanism that delivers such particles to a collecting receptacle. In the case of liquid-borne particles, the flow is forced to travel upwardly against the force of gravity after passing between the surfaces, thereby encouraging the flocculated particles to settle out into a sump that is associated with the uphill flow passage.

Abstract: A harvester for beans and like crop includes a pick-up reel having a width equal to the overall width of the harvester and leading to a first, cleaning, conveyor which terminates at an air passage incorporating a fan for generating a generally vertical air flow. Where the vertical air passage meets the cleaning conveyor, a rotary valve is provided which permits the passage of the beans and other parts of the crop but prevents or at least restricts the passage of the air flow into the space above the upper run of the conveyor. The rotary valve may take the form of a rotary vaned assembly having six vanes each of which is secured to one face of a hexagonal shaft and various forms of rotary valve are also described.

Abstract: A fume extraction assembly comprises an elevated canopy adapted to collect fume; and elongated outlet means offset from an apex of the canopy and having gas flow characteristics compensating for a tendency to uncontrolled extraction rates along said outlet means.

Abstract: An air classifier for separating a heterogeneous mixture of particles into heavier and lighter fractions includes an air passageway through which a horizontal primary air stream is flowing, a pair of air deck sections extending along the bottom of the passageway through which deck air is flowing upwardly within and downstream of the passageway, air nozzles located between the air deck sections through which a primary vertical air stream is flowing, the latter also preferably flowing with a horizontal component moving downstream of the passageway, a heavy particle deflector and remover downstream of the second air deck section, and a light particle trapping and removal arrangement downstream of the heavy particle deflector.

Abstract: Refuse, particularly of the household type, is sorted according to density by the following consecutive operations: Sifting the refuse; comminuting the oversize obtained; separating the comminuted material by a gas stream into light and heavy material fractions; separating the heavy material fraction by a liquid stream into two fractions of different density; and separating the two fractions of different density into basic components.

Abstract: A hopper into which loosened pieces of the paper collection are fed. A conveyor for transporting the loosened pieces of paper to a higher elevation. A fan for generating a stream of air to blow through the pieces of paper as they leave the conveyor at the higher elevation. A chamber into which the pieces of paper are gently floated by the stream of air generated by the fan. A vertical tube through which the pieces of paper can flutter downwardly due to the force of gravity. A divider separating the bottom of the vertical tube into a number of parts so that the pieces of paper which flutter down the tube can be separated into desired proportions.

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.