Abstract: A dedusting apparatus is provided with movable inlet deflectors that are positionally controlled by actuators to vary the rate of flow of particulate material over the wash decks. The inlet deflectors are formed with a fixed member that extends between the front and rear walls of the dedusting apparatus and extends downwardly from the top wall to terminate in a spaced relationship to the surface of the wash decks. A movable member is operatively coupled to an actuator to overlie the fixed member and be movable to be adjacent the surface of the wash deck to terminate flow of material past the deflectors. Particulate material can accumulate above the wash decks and between the deflectors to fill the volume to the inlet opening to permit a full loading of flow over the full width of the wash decks when the deflectors are raised by the actuators.

Abstract: A dedusting apparatus has a product outlet offset laterally with respect to a vertical line passing through the product inlet. The dedusting apparatus has a primary wash deck structure with a flow of air passing therethrough into the flow of product. Product discharged off the lower end of the wash deck passes into a Venture zone fed by a flow of air passing through openings in the support leg for the wash deck. The offset dedusting apparatus allows installation of a dedusting apparatus onto a diagonally oriented product discharge conduit without requiring the reconfiguration of the angle of repose for the discharge conduit. The wash deck is formed with reverse slots having deflectors raised upwardly from the top surface of the wash deck to orient the slot to direct the air flow downwardly with the flow of product and to create turbulence in the product flow to facilitate cleaning.

Abstract: A dedusting apparatus is formed with back-to-back wash decks sloped downwardly and outwardly from a central inlet opening through which contaminated particulate material in directed onto the wash decks. The wash decks terminate at discharge edges from which particulate material enters a Venturi zone outwardly from each wash deck. The housing for the dedusting apparatus includes a pair of laterally spaced outlet ports located below the respective Venturi zones for the collection of cleaned particulate material simultaneously with identical or different collection devices such that the discharge outlets are offset laterally from the central inlet opening. The discharge ends of the wash decks are supported by an angularly disposed support leg. The air manifold directs air into the apparatus through a central opening from which the air passes through openings in the two sloped wash decks and past the discharge edges of the wash decks to create the Venturi zones.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for post-threshing inspection and sorting of tobacco lamina is described and which includes a separation conduit which receives a source of post-threshed tobacco lamina and other contaminants for inspection and sorting, and wherein a source of pressurized air causes the tobacco lamina to move along the separation conduit past an inspection station where it is optically inspected to identify undesirable tobacco lamina or other contaminants; and a downstream reject station is provided which responds to a sorting signal provided by the inspection station and which removes unwanted or undesirable tobacco lamina and other contaminants from an air stream so as to provide a resulting product which is substantially free from contaminants or other defects.

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 apparatus for separating residues from a thermal waste treatment into one fine fraction and one coarse fraction comprises a housing (1) abutting on swinging elements (2), said housing having a plurality of diagonally offset plates (3.1-3.5) that are disposed one beneath the other and are connected to said housing (1) by their side edges, and being equipped with means (5) for generating a vibration component oriented in the direction of the plates (3.1-3.5) disposed diagonally offset downward. The apparatus further comprises one suction line (6) as well as an inlet opening for a gas that may be passed between the plates for wind sieving. Residues or slag from a waste treatment plant or an incineration plant are supplied to this apparatus in order to separate them into at least one fine fraction and one coarse fraction.

Abstract: A concrete processing apparatus (10) including at least one chute (14) along which crushed concrete and impurities is to pass. The chute (14) is downwardly inclined and has an air outlet to which air is delivered from a blower (29). An air stream issuing from the air outlet is directed across the interior of the chute (14) to deliver impurities to an impurities outlet (23).

Abstract: A compact housing for a dedusting apparatus utilizes a magnetic flux field to disrupt the static charge attracting dust particles to product particles, which along with fluidization and counter current airflow principles that are proven to dislodge dust particles from the product, provides a highly efficient, compact deduster. The housing supports a double wash deck with product flow separated between the back-to-back primary wash decks. A deflector directing the flow of product onto the primary wash decks is provided with an extension that extends parallel to the wash deck to eliminated product bouncing off of the wash deck. The lower air outlets are eliminated, while the upper air outlets are positioned in extensions to the main housing above the product inlet opening. Air flow through the Venturi zones is enhanced by directing clean air through slots formed in the lower deck members into the Venturi zones.

Abstract: A stopper debris separator useful for removing unwanted debris from stoppers utilized to seal bottles of IV pharmaceutical compositions at the manufacturing process. Debris-containing stopper in the stopper injection hopper are drawn through the stopper duct into the cyclone separator tube by the vacuum wherein the debris on the stoppers is separated therefrom and drawn through the vacuum duct into the vacuum filter.

Abstract: A stopper debris separator useful for removing unwanted debris from stoppers utilized to seal bottles of IV pharmaceutical compositions at the manufacturing process. Debris-containing stopper in the stopper injection hopper are drawn through the stopper duct into the cyclone separator tube by the vacuum wherein the debris on the stoppers is separated therefrom and drawn through the vacuum duct into the vacuum filter.

Abstract: A compact dedusting apparatus is mounted on the machine utilizing particulate material requiring contaminant cleansing to provide an economical and effective decontamination of particulate material immediately before utilization of the material. The dedusting apparatus includes a downwardly sloped infeed chute having an opening at the bottom thereof. A metering device in the form of a rotatable finned hub blocks the opening to constantly meter the flow of particulate material through the dedusting apparatus. The metering device is formed with flexible blades oriented at a slight angle to the slope of the infeed chute to provide a constant flow of material through the opening. A flow of air is directed through a wash deck positioned below the infeed chute to cleanse the particulate material. The air flow is directed along multiple paths including a path defining an air knife associated with the wash deck to facilitate the cleansing of the material.

Abstract: A parts separator is provided for separating undesired heavy material from wet chips. The parts separator is adapted to be attached to a centrifugal separator, and includes a first chute member having a top portion and a bottom portion and including spaced open first and second chute ends. The first end is adapted to receive wet chips to be centrifuged and the second end is adapted to be connected to a centrifugal parts separator. The parts separator also includes a heavy material drop out opening disposed in the first chute member bottom portion. The first chute member top has at least one opening disposed therein. The parts separator also includes a second chute member having spaced open first and second ends. The first end of the second chute member is adapted to receive wet chips to be separated and the second chute member end is attached to the first chute member at the location of the opening in the first chute top portion.

Abstract: A birdseed mixture separator includes an upright shell separation chamber in which shells are separated from shelled and unshelled seeds. The seed mixture is supplied to the chamber from a hopper by a supply line configured to reduce the density of the mixture as it flows to the chamber. The seed mixture is introduced into the chamber above an air inlet opening through which airflow is forced by a blower. The airflow is directed upwardly through the mixture causing the shells to be suspended in the airflow, and the seeds drop downwardly through the chamber as gravity predominates over any lifting force provided by the airflow. The seeds fall through a seed outlet and into an open top seed collection drawer, while the shells are directed through an upwardly spaced shell outlet. The airflow is vented through an air outlet spaced horizontally from the shell outlet and configured to prevent shells from passing therethrough.

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).

Abstract: A bulk material separator having an at least substantially coaxial arrangement, includes an essentially rotationally symmetric, vertically oriented separator jacket (1) having in the upper section (11) an exit port (12) for air and light bulk material fractions and a narrowing section (15) followed by an expanding guide funnel (14), a downwardly oriented bulk material feed tube (2) extending into the top of the separator jacket (1) and ending in the region of the narrowing section (13), a displacement body (5) arranged coaxial with the bulk material feed tube (2) and arranged at least in the region of the guide funnel (14) and having an upwardly pointing conical tip (51), a container (6) having a separator air inlet port (61) and surrounding the guide funnel (14) and the displacement body (5). The bulk material feed tube (2) has a conically expanding mouth region (23), and the conical tip (51) of the displacement body (5) is immersed at least partially in this mouth region (23).

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a mixed granular material into granules of different specific gravities or ranges of specific gravity using a powered air flow is described. A divider plate is located below the air flow path within the apparatus to separate the two material flows from each other. The divider plate can be rotated about an axis and can also be translated or displaced within the apparatus in order to precisely define the separation point between the material flows. Hoppers are used to collect and discharge the separated granular materials, and a conveyor belt is provided within the apparatus to transport one of the separated granular materials to the corresponding hopper. The conveyor belt reduces clogging of the separated granular material and also allows a greater degree of separation to be maintained between the hoppers, thereby allowing standard conveyors to be placed beneath the hopper discharge openings.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vertical drop, multi-pass cleaner comprising a housing and first and second panels defining a separation plenum therebetween through which the product drops substantially vertically through an upwardly directed air flow and a plurality of cross air flows. The panels are mounted on tracks within the housing and are separately removable from the housing as desired by the operator for cleaning or repair. The present invention may also includes a velocity control module having metering vanes to control the air flow through individual ones of the plurality of cross flow air passages, the vanes being either manually or automatically adjusted.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting a plurality of seeds or other objects includes a plurality of separate vertically oriented collection chambers arranged side-by-side. A vacuum source induces an airflow through a vertical column disposed at one side of the plurality of collection chambers and over the open tops of the collection chambers. Discrete objects entrained in the airflow will be apportioned based on one or more characteristics thereof by falling into the collection chambers under the influence of gravity.

Abstract: An air cleaning machine (2) separates a flowable product (28) into first and second components (60, 61) using an air leg (4) having upper and lower ends (6, 8). A vacuum source (10) is coupled to the upper end of the air leg to create a vacuum air flow (62) up through the air leg and into the vacuum chamber (12). The product, such as raisins, almonds or dates, is introduced into the air leg through a product entrance (42) and onto a downwardly sloping screen (44) by a product delivery unit (24). An air knife (50) directs a sharp stream of air (56) upwardly into the air leg and through the product as the product enters the air leg but before the product contacts the screen.

Abstract: Fine particles which electrostatically adhere to synthetic resin pellets are separated from the pellets by bringing the pellets/fine particles mixture into contact with an ionized gas. The ionized gas eliminates the electrostatic adhesion between the synthetic resin pellets and the fine particles. The resulting fine particles may thereafter be readily separated from the pellets and the freed fine particles may be withdrawn in a gas stream. Removal of the fine particles to less than 40 ppm is possible. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also described as is a system for stocking synthetic resin pellets using the described apparatus.

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.

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.

Abstract: An improved article separator in which the particles are separated through the use of an vertical air-flow permitting heavier particles to fall while entraining the lighter particles and storing them in a hopper. The air flow is automatically controlled using a microprocessor or similar apparatus which checks the air-flow/speed within the vertical channel or tubing. Using this data, the controller adjusts a dampener at the end of the channel. The dampener, restricts the flow of air through it so that the overall air-flow within the channel is adjusted. Using a dust collector to create the air-flow, a plurality of vertical columns are used to separate varying sizes of particles. In this manner, the debris is simply swept or shoveled into a hopper and the particles are automatically separated.

Abstract: A separator includes two concentric pipe sections, with the inner pipe section enclosing a displacement body with cone-shaped tip. In order to improve separation of angel hair, the displacement body has evenly spaced circumferential ribs to provide the displacement body with a cross section of star-shaped configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separation and cleaning of fibers for papermaking machines for the removal of reject material such as tramp iron and knots, delivering a flow of fibers with mixed reject material and releasing the flow to descend gravitationally downwardly, splitting the flow into plural streams and deflecting the streams with an adjustable panel to control the angle, directing jets of air across the descending streams so that heavier reject materials falls downwardly and the fibers are carried laterally outwardly of each of the streams with a plate at the base of the streams adjustable to vary the zones for the rejects and for the acceptable fibers.

Abstract: A separator device for separating out heavy materials from metal chips and lubricant, in which the separaton may be viewed by an operator while the separation process is in operation at a drop-out opening in the separator. The invention further permits heavy, undesired objects to be separated in an open chute first member whereas second stage separation is accomplished by a substantial fluid pressure sufficient to entrain chips and lubricant and transport the entrained chips and lubricant along the length of a second chute member to a centrifuge where the lubricant is separated from the chips.

Abstract: A particle separator which separates particles based upon their relative densities or weights. The mixture of particles is deposited within a gas channel while a flow of gas, created by a gas flow amplifier, separates the material. The gas flow is sufficient to entrain the lighter/less dense particles; but is insufficient to entrain the heavier particles which are allowed to fall into a receptacle. The lighter entrained particles are directed to another receptacle or container.

Abstract: A mixture of an oil sludge and an oil-contained waste water is first separated into a first oil-contained water and an oily dust containing metal-contained dust, fine metal powder and small fragments. Secondly, the oily dust is washed and separated into a harmless oil-free dust and a second oil-contained water containing the metal. Finally, both the first and second oil-contained water are separated into oil, harmless water and metal hydroxide by electrolysis. Thus, the mixture of the oil sludge and the oil-contained waste water is separated into components, which are in turn recovered, recycled, or converted into new materials, and the purification of the waste water can be realized.

Abstract: An axial flow-type pump for separating immiscible fluids having different specific gravities and a discharge manifold fluid connected to the fluid pump for drawing of the fluid having the heavier specific gravity. The fluid pump employs a rotatable impeller mechanism having a hollow core and a decreasing axial pitch in the direction of fluid flow. The fluid interface between the pump and the discharge manifold is adjustable, so that the discharge of the fluid having the heavier specific gravity can be adjusted. The fluids are introduced into the inlet end of the rotatable impeller to produce a high velocity swirling action in the fluids and a low pressure area along the longitudinal axis of the flow line, to generate a high centrifugal force as the fluids move axially and cause the fluid having the heavier specific gravity to migrate to the perimeter. The discharge manifold is then used to draw off the fluid having a heavier specific gravity.

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.

Abstract: A mixture of an oil sludge and an oil-contained waste water is first separated into a first oil-contained water and an oily dust containing metal-contained dust, fine metal powder and small fragments. Secondly, the oily dust is washed and separated into a harmless oil-free dust and a second oil-contained water containing the metal. Finally, both the first and second oil-contained water are separated into oil, harmless water and metal hydroxide by electrolysis. Thus, the mixture of the oil sludge and the oil-contained waste water is separated into components, which are in turn recovered, recycled, or converted into new materials, and the purification of the waste water can be realized.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic separator for separating relatively coarse and relatively fine particles and in which a material distributor plate is arranged below the rotor and guide unit in such a way that the material thrown off by the rotor passes into the stream of separating air flowing towards the guide unit.

Abstract: Rubber articles subjected to ozone while under dynamic flexing conditions are protected using a novel triazine class of materials, specifically tris-(N-alkyl-p-phenylenediamino)-1,3,5-triazines. Belts, hose, air springs, roofing membranes, etc. are preferred articles of the invention.

Abstract: An elongated, horizontal and at least partially closed air jet dispersion and air jet entrained material deceleration zone is provided and one end of the zone includes at least skewed velocity distribution nozzle of the circular Coanda surface-type opening inwardly along the zone toward the other end thereof. The zone includes discharge structure defining a plurality of downwardly opening gravity-type outlets spaced longitudinally along the zone and duct structure for flowing air and airflow entrained solids therethrough at high velocity is provided. The duct structure includes an outlet end opening into the nozzle and an inlet end open to the ambient atmosphere and positioned to receive gravity discharged solid materials from the outlet spaced one outlet from the aforementioned one end of the zone.

Abstract: The zigzag classifier has a classifying space provided with air inlets which is subdivided into zigzag-shaped ducts, which are connected in parallel with respect to the flow, the lengths of which are greater than their widths. In this way a classifier package is formed with a plurality of small duct cross-sections. This design principle permits substantially lower overall heights for the same number of bends.

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: A classifier has a rotor, driven by a motor, mounted between two opposed walls of a housing. The housing also has a curved wall which extends between the walls and around the rotor to define therewith an annular zone. A fluid and finer particles outlet opening is provided in one of the walls. The curved wall has an inlet opening for at least fluid and a fluid and coarser particles outlet opening which is registered with the inlet opening of a receptacle from which the coarser particles can be removed. A plate is located immediately upstream of the outlet opening to divert particles adjacent to the curved wall away therefrom. Similar diverting means can be located remote from the plate such as plate or secondary air inlet openings. Baffle rings are provided concentrically with the rotor to restrain particles forced to the outer peripheries of the annular zone from moving inwardly towards the rotor.

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: 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 apparatus for classifying particulate material with air currents wherein the particulate material containing various kinds of particles of different sizes is conveyed with air currents and the particles are given with forces of inertia differing from one another depending on particle size, including a supply port for supplying the particulate material to be classified, an air current inlet port for introducing into the apparatus an air current of high flow velocity located in the vicinity of the particulate material supply port, air current inlet ports for introducing into the apparatus other air current of lower flow velocity than the air current of high flow velocity, a main passage formed in the apparatus communicated with the particulate material supply port and the air current inlet ports, and a subsidiary passage branching from the main passage located at the side of the apparatus at which one of the air currents of low flow velocity flows.

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: An apparatus for separating debris from spent abrasive in an abrasive blasting apparatus in which the debris and spent abrasive are recirculated from a blast zone at high velocity along a recirculation chamber includes means for receiving debris and spent abrasive from the recirculation chamber and allowing a quantity of the debris and spent abrasive to collect thereby forming a pile having a face exposed to incoming debris and spent abrasive. The pile has an angle of repose, whereby additional incoming debris and sent abrasive fall down the face to form a substantially unobstructed, vertical, uniform curtain of falling debris and spent abrasive. Means for providing a stream of fluid through the recirculation chamber are provided. Means having first and second openings are provided for drawing off the stream of fluid, which is divided into portions, from the recirculation chamber.

Abstract: In a device for separating a liquid, as a cutting oil, from a mixture of metal chips and larger pieces of metal, such as bar ends and scrap, there is provided structure for preliminarily separating larger pieces of metal from the entire mass prior to the separation of the oil from the chips by a centrifuge. The structure includes a chute for feeding the mixture to be separated into the centrifuge, and a strong stream of air is caused to flow through the chute into the centrifuge. An opening is provided in the bottom of the chute intermediate its ends such that bar ends and other large pieces of metal which may be included in said mixture will drop through the opening, while air being drawn by the centrifuge into the chute through the opening will entrain the metal chips to prevent their dropping out of the opening and carry them onward through the chute into the centrifuge.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating debris from spent abrasive in an abrasive blasting apparatus in which the debris and spent abrasive are recirculated from a blast zone at high velocity along a recirculating chamber includes means for receiving debris and spent abrasive from the recirculating chamber and allowing a quantity of the debris and spent abrasive to collect thereby forming a pile of debris and spent abrasive with a face of the pile exposed to incoming debris and spent abrasive. The pile has an angle of repose whereby additional incoming debris and spent abrasive fall down the face to form a substantially unobstructed, vertical, uniform curtain of falling debris and spent abrasive. The apparatus includes means for providing a stream of fluid through the recirculating chamber, and means disposed below the receiving means for drawing off the stream of fluid from the recirculating chamber.

Abstract: A portable batch type herb processing machine has a housing sized to fit on a counter top and is easily carried by a single person. Leafy portions of herbal material are separated from stems, seeds and twigs by introducing the herbal material into a selectively expandable stripping chamber where the leafy material is sheared from the stems, seeds and twigs. An upwardly directed air stream carries the light leafy material through a selectively expandable conduit into a collection chamber where the leaf material may be removed for further processing or use. The air stream can then be selectively increased to flush the stems, seeds and twigs through the conduit into the collection chamber for removal therefrom. The expandable stripping chamber and conduit may be selectively detached to provide access to the interior of the machine.

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 lighter 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: Particles are classified according to their terminal velocities, which in turn are determined by their size, shape and composition, by dropping a mass of such particles into an air stream flowing in a direction making a substantial angle with the vertical, and having a high degree of uniformity and low turbulence, so that the particles assume trajectories determined by their terminal velocities. The distance downstream travelled by a particle is inversely proportional to its terminal velocity. Receptacles are provided at different downstream distances from the location of introduction of the material, below the flowing air stream, into which particles of different terminal velocities are collected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pneumatically sorting products heterogeneous in nature, form and dimensions, in which the products, while freely falling are deviated by means of a transverse gaseous flux, the height of fall being adjusted before deviation of the products and before production of a second gaseous flux, characterized in that the deviations imparted to the products while freely falling are produced by compressed gases, and their trajectories are determined by the directing of the expansion of the bases between the ejection zone and the atmosphere by means of large panels formed with multiple openings.

Abstract: A system for confinement and removal of air-borne dust emitted during discharge delivery of particulate solids from an elevated supply source and through an enclosed descending column. The enclosed column has a delivery spout at the discharge end, the spout including a generally enclosed shroud with an open bottom wall defining the discharge opening. An arcuate lead-in flow diverter plate is coupled to the underside of the descending enclosed column and curves generally inwardly of the column. An abutment plate is disposed forwardly of the flow diverter plate at the opposed end of the discharge opening and is positioned along the normal flow path of particulate solids passing from the lead-in flow diverter plate so as to define a dynamic seal with the particulate solids moving across the discharge opening. A dust collecting duct is coupled through the spout shroud above the discharge opening so as to receive and remove a flow of dust laden air from the discharge spout to a solid-air separator means.

Abstract: A pneumatic bypass system for air wash separators is disclosed. The system detects a surge or overflow of sand passing into an air wash separator by means of a pressure probe located in the vicinity of the separator's swinging baffle. When a sand surge is detected, a pressure drop is produced in the probe tube operating a pressure switch and solenoid valve for actuating a pneumatic cylinder and piston assembly for opening the swinging baffle to permit the sand surge to pass the separator lip.