With Deflection Patents (Class 209/143)
  • Publication number: 20020021987
    Abstract: A classifier is proposed which includes a dispersion chamber for dispersing a powder material therein, a classification chamber connected to the dispersion chamber, and a conical member disposed between the dispersion chamber and the classification chamber, wherein the dispersion chamber includes a particle residence prevention member for preventing the powder material from residing within the dispersion chamber by charging the speed of the cyclonic flow of the powder material in the dispersion chamber so as to be decreased in the direction of the feed inlet within the dispersion chamber, and a method of preparing toner by use of the classifier is also proposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Tetsuya Tanaka, Yoshihiro Saitoh, Eisuke Sugisawa, Kazuyoshi Morii
  • Patent number: 6347707
    Abstract: In order to create a sifting device with integrated static sifter member and dynamic sifter member having at least one rotatably disposed rod basket such that the two sifter members are optimally coordinated so as to operate efficiently, particularly with moist sifting material to be dried, it is proposed in accordance with the invention to have a bypass line leave from the intermediate area between the static member and the dynamic member of the sifting device for drawing off a partial flow of the sifting air flow/sifting gas flow and to supply only the remaining outgoing sifting air of the static sifter member (static cascade sifter or V-sifter) to the dynamic sifter member with the at least one rotatably disposed rod basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: KHD Humboldt Wedag AG
    Inventors: Albert Süssegger, Siegfried Strasser
  • Publication number: 20010037962
    Abstract: A diffuser system for multi-outlet pipe structures of the type found in coal pulverizer classifier skirts and in the piping between such classifiers and combustion chambers in coal-fired power plant delivery systems. A plurality of vertical and horizontal diffuser elements comprising toothed bars and rings are arranged in the “skirt” or plenum just prior to the multiple pipe outlets so as to effectively diffuse both axial and radial components of uneven flow distributions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: Rickey E. Wark
  • Patent number: 6290065
    Abstract: A separation plate separates a major flow of fluid from a minor flow of fluid. The major flow includes a minor portion of particles greater than a “cut size,” while the minor flow includes a major portion of particles greater than the cut size. Plates define a laterally extending passage between a front of the separation plate and its rear. The passage telescopes or converges from an initial height at its inlet, to a substantially smaller height at its outlet. A slot extends transversely into the plates from within a minor flow portion of the passage and connect into major flow outlet ports. The flow of fluid into the outlet is thus divided into the major flow, which flows from the major flow outlet ports and the minor flow that exits the outlet of the passage. To accommodate a desired flow of fluid, the width of the passage can be changed, or an array of stacked separation plates can be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: MesoSystems Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vanessa M. Kenning, Christopher L. Moler, Joseph G. Birmingham, Patrick T. Call
  • Patent number: 6283301
    Abstract: A device and method for its use for separating particulate matter into fractional components. The device is characterized as being in the shape of a substantially vertical column having a feed port for feeding the particulate matter thereto. A top is provided for removing a light fraction of the particulate matter and a bottom for collecting a heavy fraction of the particulate matter and a longitudinal axis between the top and bottom portions of the column. Provision is made for drawing current of fluid such as air through the column which contains a channel characterized as having a series of angular bends with respect to the longitudinal axis, the bends being more acute to the longitudinal axis as the distance increases from the feed port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Dantec Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Leo Pedersen
  • Patent number: 6276534
    Abstract: A powder classifier which includes a classifier rotor fixedly secured to a rotatable shaft and having (i) an interior portion defined by upper and lower plates and (ii) an impeller wheel having upper and lower surfaces and a plurality of vanes therethrough. The upper plate has a rounded outer edge along its outer circumference, and the interior portion is in communication with a fine particle discharge outlet. First and second annular rings are concentrically disposed about the outer circumference of the classifier rotor, with the first annular ring being positioned so that a preclassification of a feed powder stream occurs at the first gap such that a fraction of fine particles is separated from the feed stream and flows through the first gap and into the interior portion of the classifier rotor for primary classification, A dispersion disk which rotates independently from the classifier rotor is provided to produce various degrees of dispersion intensities and disperses feed powders prior to classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Hosokawa Micron Powder Systems
    Inventors: Ching-Chung Huang, Joseph M. Pavlosky
  • Patent number: 6269955
    Abstract: The object of the classifier of the present invention is to reduce the classification point for classifying powder. The classifier includes a classifying cover having a conical bottom surface, a classifying plate provided under the classifying cover and having a conical top surface opposite the conical bottom surface of the classifying cover, and a plurality of louvers provided annularly around a classifying chamber defined between the conical bottom surface and the conical top surface to define passages for secondary air therebween. The conical bottom surface is inclined at a larger angle than the conical top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Nippon Pneumatic Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Morimoto, Nozomu Oda, Hiromu Terada
  • Patent number: 6257415
    Abstract: An apparatus for preventing uneven distributions of coal fines in the upper, outlet end of a coal mill classifier. A plurality of static diffuser elements is positioned in the upper end of the classifier, preferably within the classifier skirt if the classifier includes such structure, adjacent the inlets of multiple coal discharge pipes leading from the upper end of the classifier to a combustion chamber. In a preferred form the diffuser elements comprise vertically-arranged toothed bars mounted on the inside wall surfaces of the skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Sure Alloy Steel Corporation
    Inventor: Rickey E. Wark
  • Patent number: 6216876
    Abstract: The invention is an adjustable portable vacuum assisted device for collecting dense matter, such as nuts, while separating and ingesting less dense matter in the same original environment as the nuts, such as leaves or other lawn refuse. The source of vacuum may be the inlet side of a lawn blower. In the invention, ambient forces, such as gravity and turbulence disengage dense solids in a gaseous stream from less dense matter in the gaseous stream induced by the vacuum means without operational malfunction caused by clogging or jamming of the device. Disengaged dense matter is collected within a collection chamber while less dense matter is ingested through and discharged by the vacuum means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventor: Henry M. Quillian, III
  • Patent number: 6212736
    Abstract: A tube density separator and method for use in a cotton gin to separate cotton from a pneumatically conveyed mixture of cotton and foreign materials has a generally vertical tube for receiving the mixture and separating out the foreign material from the cotton. The bottom of the tube is larger than the outlet of the pipe transporting the mixture so the velocity of the flow will be reduced and turbulence created. This action causes the heavier foreign matter to separate from and drop out of the cotton/foreign matter mixture. One or more dispersal rods are placed inside the tube to interact with the flow of material up the tube. The dispersal rods further break apart the clumps and wads of cotton and foreign matter to facilitate the separation action. The separated out foreign matter is collected at the inlet area of the tube. A supply of air, which can be skimmed from the air flow up the tube, conveys away the foreign matter from the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Vandergriff, Inc.
    Inventor: Arvel L. Vandergriff
  • Patent number: 6202854
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for removing fine particles from sand and other particulate material. The apparatus is generally an air classifier (10) that combines gravitational and aerodynamic forces to classify sand at 10 mesh and finer. According to this invention, the classifier (10) is configured to have a vertical passage (16) centrally located at the vertical axis of an annular-shaped passage (12). The vertical passage (16) is defined by a plurality of inclined vanes (20) that are vertically separated by gaps (28). The sand or other particulate matter is introduced through an inlet (18) at or near the top of the annular-shaped passage (12), and then flows downwardly through the annular-shaped passage (12) around the vertical passage (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Marsulex Environmental Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Clarence Krieser, James Miller
  • Patent number: 6156212
    Abstract: An opposed-flow virtual cyclone for aerosol collation which can accurately collect, classify, and concentrate (enrich) particles in a specific size range. The opposed-flow virtual cyclone is a variation on the virtual cyclone and has its inherent advantages (no-impact particle separation in a simple geometry), while providing a more robust design for concentrating particles in a flow-through type system. The opposed-flow virtual cyclone consists of two geometrically similar virtual cyclones arranged such that their inlet jets are inwardly directed and symmetrically opposed relative to a plane of symmetry located between the two inlet slits. A top plate bounds both jets on the "top" side of the inlets, while the other or lower wall curves "down" and away from each inlet jet. Each inlet jet will follow the adjacent lower wall as it turns away, and that particles will be transferred away from the wall and towards the symmetry plane by centrifugal action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Rader, John R. Torczynski
  • Patent number: 6152310
    Abstract: A powder supply system including a powder replenishment device as a powder source, a suction device and a plurality of powder supply units connected in series. Each of the powder supply units sprinkles powders toward an object mounted on each processing device. An upstream end powder supply unit is fluidly connected to the powder replenishment device, and a downstream end powder supply unit is fluidly connected to the suction device. A suction force generated by the suction device sucks powders from the powder replenishment device through the powder supply units, and powders are successively accumulated in the powder supply units in the order from the upstream end powder supply unit to the downstream end powder supply unit. A powder sensor is provided between the rearmost powder supply unit and the suction device. If all powder supply units are filled with powders, residual powders are discharged out of the downstream end powder supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Rheon Automatic Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sakai, Masao Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 6109448
    Abstract: A vertical-axis air classifier having a central product feed, a drive shaft, a tangential classifying air supply inlet located on a level with the rotor, a stationary guide vane ring arranged at a radial distance around the periphery of the rotor, a deflector-wheel rotor with one-sided bearing as well as a housing with fine material and coarse material discharge. The drive shaft, an annular-shaped fines discharge chamber arranged coaxially to the drive shaft, an annular-shaped coarse material discharge chamber arranged coaxially to the drive shaft and the bearing for the rotor are arranged on the same side and beneath the rotor to permit ease of cleaning and dismantling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Hosokawa Alpine Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Georg Konetzka, Marcus Alex Heinrich Adam, Stefano Zampini
  • Patent number: 6089378
    Abstract: A device and process for separating impurities from textile fibers during horizontal pneumatic transport is provided. The device includes a hollow parallelepiped separator of rectangular cross-section for the passage of transport fluids, such as air, therethrough. The passage section is subdivided into an upper part, for the cleaned fluid, and a lower part, for the separation of the impurities (i.e., foreign materials) in a hopper intercepted by an extractor having a seal. This subdivision is regulated by a deflector knife which induces an S-shaped motion of the transport fluid 4 and separates the impurities (i.e., foreign materials) by centrifugal force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Marzoli S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario Mascheretti, Giovanni Battista Pasini
  • Patent number: 6062392
    Abstract: A separation plate (10) includes a first surface and an opposing second surface. Plural pairs of a nozzle (14) and a virtual impactor (16) are provided on the first surface. Each nozzle tapers from an inlet end (14a) to an outlet end (14b). Each virtual impactor comprises a pair of generally fin-shaped projections (24). Each fin-shaped projection includes an inner wall (26) and a convex outer wall (28). The inner walls of the fin-shaped projections of a virtual impactor face each other to define a minor flow passage (30) therebetween. The convex outer walls of the fin-shaped projections of a virtual impactor cooperatively present a convex surface including a virtual impact void therethrough. The virtual impact void defines an inlet end of the minor flow passage. A virtual impactor body (33) is provided between adjacent virtual impactors (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: MesoSystems Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Birmingham, Patrick T. Call, Vanessa M. Kenning, Alireza Shekarriz, Charles J. Call
  • Patent number: 6032804
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting and removing dust from dust laden air has a housing defining a chamber having an inlet for the dust laden air, a first outlet for dust free air and a second outlet for the collected dust, the inlet and second outlet being connected by a curved wall. A filter cartridge is mounted in the chamber at the axis of the curved wall and is at least partially enclosed within and inner wall which, together with the outer wall forms a cyclonic passage for the air passing therethrough. High velocity air flow is directed into the chamber wherein at least some of the dust will strike the chamber wall at high velocity causing a rapid change in kinetic energy and detraining the dust from the air, this dust then falling from the air stream and removed from the chamber through an air lock or similar device. The air then revolves around and is drawn through the filter removing the remaining dust therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Inventor: Jerome I Paulson
  • Patent number: 6015048
    Abstract: A gas current classifier which comprises a classifying chamber, a material feed nozzle for introducing a material powder into the classification zone of the classifying chamber, and a Coanda block for classifying the material powder thus introduced by the Coanda effect to separate the powder into at least a fraction of fine powder and a fraction of coarse powder, wherein the material feed nozzle has a material receiving opening for introducing the material powder into the material feed nozzle the material powder is introduced into the classification zone from an orifice of the material feed nozzle while its flow is accelerated by the gas stream within the material feed nozzle and the Coanda block is provided at a position higher than the orifice of the material feed nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Inventors: Satoshi Mitsumura, Yoshinori Tsuji
  • Patent number: 6015648
    Abstract: A gas stream classifier has a gas stream classifying means for classifying a feed powder supplied from a feed supply nozzle, into at least a coarse powder fraction, a median powder fraction and a fine powder fraction by an inertia force acting on particles and a centrifugal force acting on a curved gas stream due to Coanda effect in a classification zone, wherein the classification zone is defined by at least a Coanda block and a plurality of classifying edges, the feed supply nozzle is attached at the top of the gas stream classifier, the Coanda block is attached on one side of the feed supply nozzle, and the feed supply nozzle has at its rear end a feed powder intake portion for supplying the feed powder, and a high-pressure air intake portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Mitsumura, Toshinobu Ohnishi, Yoshinori Tsuji
  • Patent number: 5957300
    Abstract: An improved vane of the type adapted for use in the classifier cage of a bowl mill type coal pulverizer. The improved vane is designed such that its lower end extends below the classifier cage inlet when the vane is mounted in the inlet. In a preferred form, the vane has a generally trapezoidal shape with a longer lower edge. The vane is additionally bent or curved over a major portion to direct coal tangentially toward the surface of the classifier cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Sure Alloy Steel Corporation
    Inventors: John Anthony Nardi, Rickey E. Wark
  • Patent number: 5938045
    Abstract: A classifying device including an upper, dispersing chamber for dispersing solid particles supplied thereto together with a carrier gas, and a lower, classifying chamber directly connected to a lower end of the dispersing chamber for centrifugally classifying the solid particles, supplied from the dispersing chamber to the classifying chamber, into relatively fine particles and relatively coarse particles. The dispersing chamber is provided with a rotor for swirling the solid particles in the dispersing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyasu Makino, Kenichi Uehara, Keiko Watanabe, Satoshi Okano, Kazuyuki Matsui, Eisuke Sugisawa
  • Patent number: 5938046
    Abstract: The invention relates to a grader which employs an air separation principle. The grader includes a rotor rotatably supported in a housing. The rotor includes a pair of rotor disks on its outer boundaries extending radially substantially to the housing. A plurality of blades are disposed on the rotor between the rotor disks. A circumferential channel is formed by the rotor disks, the housing and the plurality of blades. The bladed rotor functions as a vertical sink in order to grade a solid which is fed into the circumferential channel via a tangential passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Hosokawa MikroPul GmbH
    Inventor: Galk Joachim
  • Patent number: 5934476
    Abstract: A rotor assembly includes a shaft and a plurality of radially outwardly extending vanes surrounded by a circular cylinder. A truncated conical segment screen is in each compartment formed by the vanes dividing each compartment into inner and outer subcompartments. Apertured top and bottom face plates are respectively above and below the vanes. A housing includes top and a bottom plates to which the rotor assembly shaft is rotatably secured. A material inlet hose and dust exhaust pipe are attached to the top plate and are in simultaneous successive fluid communication with each outer and inner subcompartments respectively as they rotate. A discharge port is in the bottom plate for discharging separated material in an outer subcompartment downstream from the outer subcompartment then receiving material from the inlet hose. The top and bottom plates are spaced a small gap from the rotor face plates to provide fluid seals therebetween to fluid isolate the compartments from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventor: Philippe Roe
  • Patent number: 5934478
    Abstract: A gas stream classifier has a gas stream classifier for classifying a feed powder supplied from a feed supply nozzle, into at least a coarse powder fraction, a median powder fraction and a fine powder fraction by an inertia force acting on particles and a centrifugal force acting on a curved gas stream due to Coanda effect in a classification zone, wherein the classification zone is defined by at least a Coanda block and a plurality of classifying edges, the feed supply nozzle is attached at the top of the gas stream classifier, the Coanda block is attached on one side of the feed supply nozzle, and the feed supply nozzle has at its rear end a feed powder intake portion for supplying the feed powder, and a high-pressure air intake portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Mitsumura, Toshinobu Ohnishi, Yoshinori Tsuji
  • Patent number: 5931306
    Abstract: A gas current classifier has a material feed nozzle, a Coanda block, a classifying wedge and a classifying wedge block having the classifying wedge. The Coanda block and the classifying wedge define a classification zone, and the classifying wedge block is set up in the manner that its location is changeable so that the form of the classification zone can be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Mitsumura, Hitoshi Kanda, Masayoshi Kato, Yoko Goka, Yoshinori Tsuji
  • Patent number: 5878892
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Wladyslaw Lewandowski, Henrik Schirner, Frank Steege, Axel Schulle
  • Patent number: 5788727
    Abstract: A centrifugal air separator with a housing provided with inlets for material to be separated and separating air or a combined material and air inlet, and outlets for air-and-fines mixture and coarse material, in which at least one wheel formed essentially of a crown of buckets is journal ed. The invention addresses the problem of reducing the distance of the bearings of the wheel shaft from one another, in a centrifugal air separator of this type, preferably a separator with fines-and-air aspiration at both ends. According to the invention, the fan wheel is journal ed on a central, fixed axle which is held in the housing and machine frame by arms, struts or other such supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: OMYA GmbH
    Inventor: Ulrich Barthelmess
  • Patent number: 5740917
    Abstract: The present invention entails a device for separating liquid and entrained solids from a vapor stream traveling under pressure within a conduit by inducement of the annular boundary layer within the pipe wall, to a stratified region flowing along the bottom of the pipe, for removal by way of a condensate drain pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Inventor: Douglas B. Jung
  • Patent number: 5735403
    Abstract: A particle separator for use in a material flow system having an airflow generator to generate a flow of air to provide supply material having coarse and fine particulate material to the particle separator. The particle separator includes a housing having a top portion and a bottom portion and a longitudinal axis extending from a center of the top portion to a center of the bottom portion and a chamber defined within the housing. An inlet disposed towards the top portion of the housing is in communication with the flow of air and the supply material and is in further communication with the chamber. It is adapted to direct the flow of air and the supply material into the chamber. The chamber is adapted to facilitate swirling of the airflow and the supply material within the chamber. A cone-shaped air rotation circulator is in communication with the chamber and is configured to facilitate the flow of air directed into the chamber in a circular motion within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventor: Michael L. Stiglianese
  • Patent number: 5725102
    Abstract: In a method for separating heavy particles from a particulate material containing such heavy particles, use is made of a device having a Coanda sifter, which is adapted to receive a flow of the particulate material and which has a downwardly-facing, convexly single-curved surface (9), and a zigzag sifter (13) arranged after the Coanda sifter and having a plurality of zig-zag-shaped vertical walls (14) which are perpendicular to the axis of curvature of the single-curved surface (9) and define between them channels (15) extending upwards in zig-zag fashion. The particulate material is transported to the Coanda sifter and is conducted over its convexly single-curved surface (9) to have imparted to it a direction of motion (P1, P2) which is dependent on the weight of the particles and in which the particles are guided into the zigzag sifter (13). The particles are guided into the channels (15) of the zigzag sifter (13) in the lower portions thereof and from the side parallel to the channel walls (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: ABB Flakt AB
    Inventor: Lennart Gustavsson
  • Patent number: 5712075
    Abstract: A gas current toner classifier has a material feed nozzle, a Coanda block, a classifying wedge and a classifying wedge block having the classifying wedge.The Coanda block and the classifying wedge define a classification zone, and the classifying wedge block is set up in the manner that its location is changeable so that the form of the classification zone can be changed. A method of producing toner using said classifier is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Mitsumura, Hitoshi Kanda, Masayoshi Kato, Yoko Goka, Yoshinori Tsuji
  • Patent number: 5498271
    Abstract: A diesel particle virtual impactor sampler provides for a total flow through a virtual impactor after the flow passes through a classifier that removes particles substantially larger than the cutoff point of the virtual impactor. The virtual impactor has two outlets, one for minor flow and one for major flow. In a preferred embodiment, filters are used for separately filtering the major and minor flows and collecting the particles carried thereby so that a determination of the concentration of particles above and below the cutoff point can be obtained. Alternately, the major and minor flows and the particles can be passed through particle analyzer instruments for a direct particle measurement of each of the flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: MSP Corporation
    Inventors: Virgil A. Marple, Bernard A. Olson, Kenneth L. Rubow
  • Patent number: 5458245
    Abstract: A device for cleaning a mixture of substantially granular grains containing differently sized particles comprises a housing (5) which has an inlet (11) for the mixture (1) on its upper side and an outlet (12) for the cleaned granules (18) on its lower side as well as a distributing plate (6). Cleaning gas flows through the granules falling down through the device against the direction of their fall. In the inlet area there is provided a guiding device (19) for the inflowing mixture (1) and a retention unit (2) for the larger particles (3). The distributing plate (6) is provided with a covering hood (16) having a recess (17) for the inflowing mixture. Between the distributing plate (6) and the covering hood (16) there is provided a slot (8), which preferably has a height of about 8 to 15 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Buhler GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Heckel, Dieter Muller, Uwe Schwanke, Volhard Sorgatz
  • Patent number: 5435442
    Abstract: A device which permits the conveyance of a dry fluid substance from one receptacle to another without the release of a significant amount of dust into the surrounding atmosphere is provided. The device is a housing with an interior volume divided into two sections and having an access opening and a discharge opening. A dry fluid substance is introduced into the device and into an inner chamber within the interior volume of the device which guides the substance from the access opening to the discharge opening and causes the separation of particulate matter from the substance. The particulate matter dispersed from the substance is drawn by a vacuum applied to the housing from the inner chamber into the filter chamber where the particulate matter is retained on a plurality of fine filter bag assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Carl A. Dengel
    Inventor: William A. Howell
  • Patent number: 5425802
    Abstract: A virtual impactor that can remove essentially all of the particles from an airstream is disclosed. Also disclosed are a method of separating particles from the airstream using this virtual impactor, a method of concentrating the particulate matter in an airstream, and the concentrated airstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignees: The United States of American as represented by the Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency, President and Fellows of Harvard
    Inventors: Robert M. Burton, Petros Koutrakis, Costas Sioutas
  • Patent number: 5421462
    Abstract: An arrangement for the dry reconditioning of used foundry sands in which used sand is fluidized with air or an air/gas mixture and flung against a precipitator to separate and remove substances covering sand particles. The precipitator has several planar baffle elements arranged in concentric circles around a conical deflector. A jet of used sand/air directed toward the deflector expands radially outwardly toward the baffle elements so that the jet is decelerated several times by the deflector and the baffle elements and, in a confined space, split into individual streams and swirled to provide heavy mechanical friction between sand particles and between sand particles and the baffle elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Kunkel-Wagner GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hermann Hofbauer, Erich Muller, Erhard Putzig, Ekart Schaarschmidt
  • Patent number: 5417330
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: The Young Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Heyl
  • Patent number: 5407079
    Abstract: A dry washer for separating small high density particles such as gold from a mixture of high and low density material. A rotatable impeller in a cylindrical chamber draws in air and mixed particles, such as sand, and fractures the larger particles. The mixture of air and particles passes to a helical conduit having a perforated partition spaced from the outer wall so that high density particles pass through the wall under centrifugal forces. The particles are passed from the helical conduit to an inclined upper trough including an air permeable floor and riffles or the like to retain the high density particles. Air flow from the helical conduit is directed to a lower trough below the trough. A damper at the end of the lower trough causes air to pass through the air permeable floor and blow away fine low density particles. Dust and air from the trough assembly is passed to an elongated cover to collect the fine, low density, particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Inventor: Victor Rancourt
  • Patent number: 5400908
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating constituents of a mixture of dry organic material having different weights or densities, such as pine straw and lawn debris, includes a cylindrical housing that is positioned horizontally with respect to a working surface. The housing has a hopper on its top side, an inlet end and an outlet end, and a fan is mounted at the inlet end. The fan pulls air into the housing and generates a stream of air flow inside the housing from the inlet end to the outlet end thereof. An air baffle structure is located immediately downstream of the fan to produce substantial turbulence in the air flow stream. The mixture of material to be separated is introduced into the housing through the hopper and is then carried from the housing and separated into constituent parts by the stream of air flow. Higher density constituents are deposited at shorter distances from the housing outlet end while lower density constituents are deposited at a greater distance from the housing outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Inventor: James R. Prestwood
  • Patent number: 5398813
    Abstract: A device which permits the conveyance of a dry fluid substance from one receptacle to another without the release of a significant amount of dust into the surrounding atmosphere is provided. The device is a housing with an interior volume divided into two sections and having an access opening and a discharge opening. A dry fluid substance is introduced into the device and impinges against an orifice wall having a plurality of orifices therethrough, each sized to slow conveyance of the substance through the housing. The contact with the orifice wall causes the separation of fine particulate matter from the substance. The fine particulate matter dispersed from the substance is drawn by a negative pressure applied to the housing from the inner chamber into the filter chamber where the particulate matter is retained on a plurality of fine filter bag assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Carl A. Dengel
    Inventor: William A. Howell
  • Patent number: 5392998
    Abstract: An energy-saving effective sifter used in interparticle crushing of brittle charging stock such as cement clinker in the nip of a high pressure roller press including a dynamic sifter having a rotating rod basket and laterally preceding the rotary rod basket sifter by a fluidized bed pre-sifting chamber having an admission opening at the top with a chamber defined between opposed porous walls to provide a pre-sifting zone with the walls formed by angularly adjustable baffles in one form, and passing air across the zone toward the rotary rod basket, removing a coarse grain fraction below the pre-sifting chamber, removing a medium grain fraction from beneath the rotary rod basket and removing fine material axially of the rotary rod basket passing the medium grain and coarse grain fraction into an interparticle crushing high pressure roller press having a nip pressure in excess of 2 t/cm of roller length, mixing the medium grain fraction and coarse grain fraction with a pre-comminuted pulverulent material such a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Kloeckner-Humboldt-Deutz AG
    Inventors: Albert Suessegger, Siegfried Strasser
  • Patent number: 5348163
    Abstract: A method for separating fine particles from contaminant particles suspended in a gaseous medium. The method includes introducing a particle suspension at a predetermined velocity into a vessel having a top and bottom portion, each portion having a discharge outlet. The particle suspension is then directed into an impingement plate, which is arranged within the vessel at a predetermined angle. The impingement plate is angled to achieve uniform distribution of the particle suspension within the vessel after impact with the plate. The fine particles will rise to the top portion of the vessel, and the contaminant, as well as residual fine particles, will settle to the bottom of the vessel. The fine particles and contaminant and residual fine particles are removed from the top and bottom discharge outlets respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Tunison, III, Stephanie E. Church, Gregory W. Leman, Carl L. Troike, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5290431
    Abstract: A multi-stage cyclone for fluidized catalytic cracking of heavy oils is disclosed. A low efficiency inertial separator concentrates solids, FCC catalyst and fines, by forcing gas and entrained solids to make from 1/2 to 3/4 turn. Gas, with most of the solids content removed, is charged directly into the inlet horn of a conventional high efficiency cyclone. The solids concentrator/cyclone device may be used in FCC regenerators or reactors to reduce particulate losses, reduce catalyst attrition, and reduce erosion of cyclones caused by high catalyst loadings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Brian A. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 5279466
    Abstract: Apparatus for grinding material which comprises a flow of ground material that contains both desirable fines and undesirable oversize particles in which a separator rotor is equipped with shaped blades that isokinetically separate out the oversize particles and centrifuges such particles out of the path of the flow of ground material and into a path for returning the oversize particles for further grinding. The centrifuging of the oversize particles reduces the drag in the flow of the ground material into the separator rotor, and that reduces the horsepower needed to establish the movement of the ground material at a rate that improves the efficiency of the apparatus. A variation of the foregoing develops pressurization of the material in the separator zone so that the oversize ground material is forced to return to be subjected to further grinding under the influence of a differential pressure in the apparatus while the acceptable material is subject to micron sizing in the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Inventor: Robert M. Williams
  • Patent number: 5201422
    Abstract: A classifier for powdery material has a cylindrical casing formed at an upper portion thereof with an inlet port for introducing the material to be classified into the casing in a tangential direction of an inner wall thereof. The casing has a conical portion formed in its bottom end with an opening connected to a discharge pipe for discharging coarse particles. Further, an outlet pipe protrudes into the casing through its top. The inlet port is located higher than the bottom end of the outlet port. An externally-driven vane wheel is provided under the outlet pipe in a concentric relationship with respect to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Ihara, Akira Ganse, Hidemasa Ishikawa, Takashi Katsurazako
  • Patent number: 5195640
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Inventor: Glenn A. Seaverns
  • Patent number: 5184730
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for blending a material feed and/or separating debris from a material feed is disclosed in which a feed separator is used with a blender and/or debris separator. The feed separator separates a feed from the conveying air flow which conveys the feed and the conveying air flow, devoid of feed, is then used to blend the conveyed feed and/or separate debris therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Fuller Company
    Inventor: Kermit D. Paul
  • Patent number: 5073252
    Abstract: A device for separating particles by size having a substantially vertical conduit. The vertical conduit has an open upper end and a closed lower end. A gas supply inlet is located between the upper end and the lower end to supply an upward flow of gas through the vertical conduit to the open end. The downwardly sloped conduit supplies a stream of various size particles to the vertical conduit. The downwardly sloped conduit has a lower side connected to the open end of the vertical conduit to form an opening in the lower side of the sloped pipe. The opening has an upstream edge and a downstream edge. The downwardly sloped conduit has a particle dam extending partially into the downwardly sloped conduit from the downstream edge of the opening. Coarser particles fall against the upward flow of gas falling down the vertical conduit to the closed end for collection. Finer particles are being lifted over the particle dam by the upward flow of gas and transported down the downwardly sloped conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: INCO Limited
    Inventor: Gary F. Ouig
  • Patent number: 5021149
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Aspa Zurich AG
    Inventor: Max Geisseler
  • Patent number: 5016823
    Abstract: A separator for classifying powder with air current, comprises a powder feed pipe and a classifying chamber, provided in said separator; a guide chamber provided at the upper part of said classifying chamber to communicate with said powder feed pipe; a plurality of introducing louvers provided between said guide chamber and said classifying chamber, at which the powder is flowed in from said guide chamber to said classifying chamber through the openings between said introducing louvers together with carrying air; an inclined classifying plate raised at its central part, provided at the bottom of said classifying chamber; classifying louvers provided along the side wall of said classifying chamber, through the openings of which the air is flowed to produce a whirling stream by which said powder fed into said classifying chamber together with carrying air is centrifugally separated into fine powder and coarse powder; a discharge opening provide at the central part of said classifying plate and from which the cl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayoshi Kato, Hitoshi Kanda