System and method for size separating conveyor
OwnerOtis Waltoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for low gravity size sorting, conveying and delivery of regolith in flow rate-controlled streams that are movable and can function under terrestrial gravity conditions or at gravity levels as low as zero-G. Utilization if in-situ regolith and planetary, lunar or NEO surface ISRU operations involve selection or creation of size appropriate material for subsequent processing. Movable (articulated auger conveying lines deliver sorted feedstock to specific adjustable endpoints.
Claims17
A screw auger conveyor, said screw auger conveyor comprising:
- a conveyor pipe having a first axial length section of an outer wall of said conveyor pipe comprising a first fixed grid-size screen which allows particles of a first predetermined size to pass through said screen;
- at least one helical conveying screw auger inside said conveyor pipe;
- a first vessel that collects said first predetermined size particles that pass through said first fixed grid-size screen.
A method of conveying and separating feedstock in a selected gravity environment, said method comprising:
- introducing a feedstock into a cylindrical conveying pipe of a screw auger conveyor, conveying said feedstock along said screw auger conveyor via a helical conveying screw auger;
- collecting a first predetermined size particles in a first vessel wherein said first predetermined size particles pass through a first fixed grid size screen in an outer wall of said conveying pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.