Elutriator
AssigneeHambra Machinery Limited
InventorsDerrick W. Brooks, Christopher P. Morris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An elutriator (1) for separating different grades of leaf vegetable material comprises an elutriation zone (17) disposed above a flow distributor, and gaseous supply means (13) for supplying a gaseous medium to the elutriation zone (17) through the flow distributor. The flow distributor is adapted to provide a substantially uniform flow of gaseous medium to the elutriation zone (17), and the velocity of air delivered to the zone is greater than the terminal velocity of at least one grade of the material to be separated.
Claims20
An elutriator for separating different grades of leaf vegetable material, comprising:
- means defining an elutriation zone of predetermined area for receiving the material;
- fluid distribution means disposed below said elutriation zone for providing a flow of gaseous medium upwardly into said zone;
- gaseous supply means operative to supply a gaseous medium to said fluid distribution means;
- and
- said fluid distribution means providing a flow of gaseous medium to said zone at a velocity greater than the terminal velocity of at least one grade of the material to be separated, and substantially uniform throughout the area of said zone,
- so that the average velocity throughout said zone is substantially the same as the minimum and maximum velocities, permitting elutriation at relatively reduced velocities and thereby improving the efficiency of the separation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.