Classifier box with a removable trap

A classifier device for separating heavy materials from a stream of water and lighter materials, the classifier device comprising:

• an upper deck disposed above a lower deck, each deck configured for placement in the stream of water, each deck having an entrance side for receiving the stream of water and an exit side opposing the entrance side, each deck further having raised sides to channel the water therealong from the entrance side to the exit side, the exit side of the lower deck terminating in a plurality of apertures, each of the apertures of the exit side of the lower deck facing at least the entrance side of the lower deck, the upper deck being further configured for receiving the heavy materials and the lighter materials thereon such that the heavy materials and the lighter materials are capable of being washed by the stream of water along the upper deck to the exit side thereof;
• an exit plate disposed adjacent the exit side of the upper deck and elevated relative thereto;
• a trap compartment disposed below the exit plate and configured to receive and retain a removable trap slidably therein, the trap having an open top side and a plurality of pipes traversing from an entrance side of the trap to an exit side of the trap, each pipe having at least one fluidizing aperture on a bottom side thereof, each pipe further having an inlet opening facing and being aligned with one of the apertures of the exit side of the lower deck when the trap is retained within the trap compartment, each pipe configured for allowing the water from the exit side of the lower deck to traverse through the pipe under pressure when the trap is retained within the trap compartment, with some of the water exiting the at least one fluidizing aperture;
• a classification plate inclined between the exit side of the upper deck and the exit plate, the classification plate configured for directing larger lighter materials of the lighter materials up and over the exit plate and back into the stream of water, and for allowing smaller lighter materials of the lighter materials and smaller heavy materials of the heavy materials to drop through into the trap compartment and into the trap when the trap is retained within the trap compartment, with at least some of the smaller lighter materials and at least some of the smaller heavy materials in the trap being allowed to wash out and over the open top side of the trap to exit back into the stream of water.