Abstract: An apparatus for separating usable crop from intermixed debris, the apparatus having: a movable support; a conveying system on the movable support to convey usable crop in a processing path from an upstream input location to a downstream output location; at least a first separating system on the movable support to cause separation of debris intermixed with usable crop in a first manner as usable crop is conveyed; a vacuum system on the movable support downstream of the first separating system to generate a low pressure volume which causes additional debris intermixed with the usable crop to be drawn away from the usable crop; and a collection container on the movable support configured to accumulate debris drawn away from the conveying usable crop. The movable support, conveying system, at least first separating system, vacuum system, and collection container define a unit that can be moved to relocate the apparatus.

Abstract: A solid particle flow distribution controller includes an extension skirt configured to be mounted to a discharge skirt at a division between an upstream solid particle conveyance pipe and a plurality of downstream pipes. The extension skirt includes a plurality of circumferential segments. Each segment is movably mounted to the discharge skirt for movement in an upstream and downstream direction with respect to the discharge skirt. The segments of the extension skirt are configured and adapted for motion in the upstream and downstream direction independent of one another to extend upstream of the discharge skirt as needed to improve solid particle distribution among the downstream pipes.

Abstract: Separating a mixture comprising at least two solid materials comprises transporting the mixture into a plenum, introducing air into the plenum, removing a heavier fraction of the solid materials from the plenum, removing air having a lighter fraction of the solid materials entrained therein from the plenum, removing the lighter fraction of the solid materials from the air that is removed from the plenum, filtering the remaining air, and re-circulating the air back to the plenum. Valves at the locations where material is introduced to and removed from the system can prevent air flow therethrough while allowing the materials to pass. The air can be introduced into the plenum at an angle with respect to the pathway in which the heavier fraction of the materials falls through the plenum, thereby avoiding damage to a screen that diffuses the air being introduced into the plenum.

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: The invention relates to an air separator for sifting material suspended in a flow of gas having course material and fine material by using a sifting wheel which rotates in a sifting chamber and which has blades fixed on the external periphery thereof. The blade channels are cross-flown radially from the outside by gas containing the suspended fine particles. The oversized particles are rejected before reaching he internal end of the blade canal. The flow of fine particles is guided through the blade channels in a forced manner in a plurality of consecutive layers in the direction of the axis of rotation. The arrangement in layers of the flow of fine particles after it leaves the blade channels remains in place until it leaves the sifting chamber.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for removing sediment from a liquid are provided. Pulses of pressurized air are directed into a conduit having an inlet disposed within a first liquid-containing vessel adjacent to (or within) the sediment to cause a slurry of liquid and sediment to flow through the conduit into a second vessel elevated above the first vessel. The slurry of liquid and sediment is allowed to drain from the second vessel into a third vessel that is positioned at an elevation lower than the second vessel. Liquid is drained from the third vessel (to another vessel or elsewhere) as sediment accumulates within the third vessel. The third vessel may be removed when accumulation of sediment therewithin reaches a predetermined amount. The accumulated sediment within the third vessel is removed and the third vessel is returned to service, or another empty vessel may be substituted therefor.

Abstract: A cyclone separator (1) has an elongated vertical housing (2), whose upper section (3) is equipped with a carrier gas/product inlet (4), a separating wheel (6), and a carrier gas/fine product discharge (7). A lower section (9) of the housing defines an oversized product discharge (11). The housing (2) has a central axially extending built-in unit (12), which separates the cyclone carrier gas/particle flow stream, downwardly in a peripheral region, and upwardly in a central region. A lower built-in unit section (14) is joined to a cylindrical middle built-in unit section (15). An entry area of the middle section (15) is equipped with a constrictor (19) which with the built-in body forms a Venturi. Finally, a secondary air supply (24) enters into a lower inlet opening (9) of the lower built-in unit section (14) facing the constrictor (19). An injector effect is achieved which increases the suction, resulting in further improvement of the separating and sorting properties.

Abstract: An assembly for abrasive agent recovery in water jet cutting units including a separator (4) for separating usable abrasive agent from sludge and water and a drying oven (9). A conveyor (6) follows the separator (4) for transporting the overwhelmingly usable abrasive agent separated in portions by the separator (4) and compression rollers (30) adjacent the conveyors press remaining water out of the portions located on the conveyor. The portions on the conveyor are blown by a compressed air unit (8) and a spraying nozzle into the drying oven (9), through which warmed exhaust air, further heated in the drying oven (9), flows. The drying oven (9) consists of a climbing shaft (12), closed via a heater (10) with a screen (11), an eddy chamber (16) connected to a funnel (17) to the lower end the eddy chamber (16), a line (18) from the eddy chamber (16) to a catching tank (19), and a suction connection (20).

Abstract: An apparatus for separating tramp particles from comparatively lighter particles of product being conveyed, both entrained in a fluid stream within a pipeline of a pneumatic conveying system, generally comprising a passageway through which the fluid stream with the entrained particles is conducted, the fluid passageway including a section having a progressively increasing cross-sectional area whereby the velocity of the fluid stream is caused to decrease as it traverses through the passageway, a baffle disposed in the path of the fluid stream traversing through the passageway for laterally deflecting the fluid stream flowing at a reduced velocity whereby the tramp particles are caused to gravity fall from the fluid stream while the product particles remain entrained therein, and a receptacle for receiving the tramp particles discharged from the fluid stream.

Abstract: A chamber has an aperture which opens downwardly to the atmosphere and an upwardly opening air return passage. A nozzle-forming duct is inclined upwardly at approximately sixty degrees to the horizontal, and a fan mounted therein directs moving air into the chamber. An upwardly inclined ramp is positioned within the duct, and communicates between the chamber and a downwardly opening hole in the floor of the duct. A metered supply of wood chips is fed down a sixty degree incline onto the ramp through the air stream which is moving through the duct. Lightweight chips become entrained in the air and are separated from the rocks, tramp metal and knots which slide down the inclined surface and exit through a hole in the duct. The entrained wood chips, together with the air from the fan, are directed into a curved baffle spaced within the chamber. By forcing the air and chips to move in a curved path, the curved baffle uses centrifugal force to separate the chips from the air stream.

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: 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: 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: In accordance with the present invention, entrained, dense particulate materials are removed from an elongated body of less dense fibrous materials being transported by a moving fluid stream by reducing the velocity of said fluid stream by an amount and for a time sufficient to release a substantial portion of said dense particulate materials, but insufficient to stop the transport of the elongated body of less dense fibrous material by the moving fluid stream.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for separating a pellet-like product from fines mixed therewith. The apparatus includes a housing having a fines outlet and a product outlet disposed at a lower portion of the housing. An inlet conduit extends into the housing and terminates in a nozzle. The inlet conduit receives quantities of the product and fines entrained in a propellant fluid such as pressurized air. An imperforate baffle having an impact surface is disposed within the housing so that the impact surface faces the nozzle to intercept the product issuing from the nozzle. Apparatus is provided for generating an electric charge neutralizing magnetic field to envelop the entrained product and fines before the product impinges upon the impact surface of the baffle.

Abstract: A coaxial feed system for fluidized bed coal gasification processes including an inner tube for injecting particulate combustibles into a transport gas, an inner annulus about the inner tube for injecting an oxidizing gas, and an outer annulus about the inner annulus for transporting a fluidizing and cooling gas. The combustibles and oxidizing gas are discharged vertically upward directly into the combustion jet, and the fluidizing and cooling gas is discharged in a downward radial direction into the bed below the combustion jet.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for separating a pellet-like product from fines (e.g., dust) mixed therewith. The apparatus includes a vertically disposed housing having an upper fines outlet and a lower product outlet. An inlet conduit passes through the housing intermediate the fines outlet and the product outlet and terminates in an upwardly facing inlet nozzle. The inlet conduit receives quantities of product and fines along with a propellant fluid (e.g., pressurized air). An impact baffle is supported within the housing having a concave impact surface that faces the inlet nozzle and that is positioned to intercept the product pellets issuing from the inlet nozzle. The impact baffle is sized and supported to provide an annular flow oriface for the propellant fluid (and fines mixed therewith) between the impact baffle and the housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for separating heavier particulate material from a mixture of light particulate material, heavy particulate material and gas. The apparatus includes a vessel having an outlet at a lower portion thereof wherein particulate material flows toward the outlet and is contacted by countercurrent flow of gas for uplifting of lighter particles of particulate material. Heavy particulate material and some light particulate material is then collected in a chamber of a valve wherein sequential injections of gas in a lower portion of the chamber further separates light particulate material from the heavy particulate material with the remaining particulate material in the chamber being discharged by sequential operation of the valve.

Abstract: A harvester pick-up particularly for retrieving fallen nuts and fruits, such as almonds, oranges and the like, from the ground includes a mobile frame preferably self-propelled or tractor drawn and having a primary rotary brush generally in contact with the ground and mounted on the frame for rotation transversely at the leading end thereof. Also disposed on the frame is a power driven secondary brush parallel to and behind the primary brush and arranged so that the tines on the brushes interdigitate or interrelate and operate in such a direction that they pick up materials from the ground between them and toss the picked-up materials onto a reflecting panel from which the materials are deposited onto a primary conveyor belt leading rearwardly. A stream of air is impelled to flow along the primary conveyor and assists in lifting lighter waste materials therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for removal of grit from a finely dispersed solid containing gas stream serving for the pneumatic conveyance of this material, the apparatus comprising a closed separator housing having a funnel shaped lower portion, a supply tube for the conveying gas stream opening laterally in the upper part of the housing, an outlet tube (in a given case connected to a vacuum source) for purified finely dispersed solid disposed opposite the supply tube in the upper part of the housing, a vertically disposed connecting piece between the lower end of the funnel shaped lower portion and a discharge valve, an axially disposed cap shaped displacement member open at its lower end in said connecting piece and of lesser diameter whereby an annular gap is formed between the displacement member and the connecting piece and a supply tube for furnishing a secondary gas stream to the interior of said displacement member.