Material classifier having a scoop wheel
AssigneeThor Global Enterprises Ltd.
InventorThor Johannsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A material classifier for classifying a liquid-solid mixture containing solid material to be separated is provided. The material classifier includes a tank defining a reservoir for receiving the liquid-solid mixture, and a scoop wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart scoops for scooping material from the tank and subsequently discharging the scooped material from the tank during rotation of the scoop wheel. A classification system and method of classifying material is also provided.
Claims34
A material classifier for classifying a liquid-solid mixture containing solid material to be separated, comprising:
- a tank defining a reservoir for receiving the liquid-solid mixture;
- and
- a scoop wheel rotatably positioned within the tank to rotate about a wheel axis that is tilted relative to a horizontal reference, the scoop wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart scoops for scooping material from the tank and subsequently discharging the scooped material from the tank during rotation of the scoop wheel about its wheel axis.
A material classifier for classifying a liquid-solid mixture containing solid material to be separated, comprising:
- a tank defining a reservoir for receiving the liquid-solid mixture;
- a drive belt;
- and
- a scoop wheel suspended from the drive belt at least partially within the tank to rotate about a wheel axis, the scoop wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart scoops for scooping material from the tank and subsequently discharging the scooped material from the tank during rotation of the scoop wheel.
A classification system for classifying a liquid-solid mixture containing solid material to be separated, comprising:
- a tank defining a reservoir for receiving the liquid-solid mixture;
- a first scoop wheel rotatably positioned within the tank to rotate about a wheel axis, the first scoop wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart scoops for scooping material from the tank and subsequently discharging the scooped material from the tank during rotation of the first scoop wheel about its wheel axis;
- and
- a second scoop wheel rotatably positioned within the tank to rotate about a wheel axis, the second scoop wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart scoops for scooping material from the tank and subsequently discharging the scooped material from the tank during rotation of the second scoop wheel about its wheel axis.
A method of classifying material, comprising the steps of:
- introducing a liquid-solid mixture into a tank to a predetermined fill level;
- rotating a scoop wheel about a wheel axis to scoop settled solid material from a bottom of the tank, the wheel axis being positioned at an acute angle relative to a vertical reference;
- and
- rotating the scoop wheel further to discharge the scooped material from the scoop wheel when the scooped material is above an upper edge of the tank.
A material classifier for classifying aggregate material, comprising:
- a support frame;
- a tank mounted to the support frame for receiving a mixture of aggregate material and fluid, the tank having a sidewall with a slanting, upward facing surface;
- a scoop wheel having a plurality of radially extending scoops for scooping aggregate material from the tank, the scoop wheel being located adjacent the upward facing surface and having a plate substantially parallel to and facing the upward facing surface;
- a suspension drive system for driving the scoop wheel, the suspension drive system including a pair of spaced apart belt guides secured to the support frame and an endless belt passing through the guides, the scoop wheel being suspended from the belt between the guides for rotation in a direction substantially parallel to the upward facing surface;
- and
- a pressurized fluid source for applying pressurized fluid to the plate of the scoop wheel to bias the wheel away from the upward facing surface;
- the scoop wheel and sidewall being arranged such that in use the scoops discharge aggregate material scoped from the tank over an edge of the sidewall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.