Method and apparatus for reclaiming used abrasives
OwnerJulius S. Csabai, Julius J. Csabaiinventors
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for reclaiming used abrasives. This is done by achieving a turbulent levitating fluidized bed in an elongated enclosure which is provided with a porous bottom through which air is blown at a desired velocity. In the upper portion of the enclosure there is provided a plurality of suction hoods to remove airborne contaminants and fines from the fluidized bed, leaving only re-usable abrasives. The elongated enclosure can be vibrated, if desired. Also air may be heated to remove moisture from the used abrasives.
Claims12
Method for reclaiming used abrasives, which comprises forming a turbulent levitating fluidized bed of said used abrasives in a substantially horizontal elongated enclosure having a charging end, a discharging end and a porous bottom, in which enclosure the fluidized used abrasives are made to move from the charging end to the discharging end, said turbulent levitating fluidized bed being formed by blowing fluidizing air through the porous bottom of the enclosure so as to produce vigorous agitation or scrubbing action adapted to liberate adhering contaminants from the used abrasives, heating said fluidizing air to remove moisture when such is present in the used abrasives, and removing said contaminants and fines from said fluidized used abrasives by means of a plurality of suction outlets positioned in a predetermined sequence and at predetermined levels along said elongated enclosure.
Apparatus for reclaiming used abrasives having contaminants and fines therein, which comprises an elongated enclosure with a charging end, a discharging end and a porous bottom;
- means for continuously or intermittently charging used abrasives at the charging end;
- means for blowing fluidizing air through the porous bottom of said elongated enclosure so as to form a turbulent levitating fluidized bed of said abrasives therein and to produce vigorous agitation or scrubbing action adapted to liberate adhering contaminants from the used abrasives;
- means for heating the fluidized air;
- means for moving said fluidized bed of abrasives along the elongated enclosure from said charging end to said discharging end;
- a plurality of suction outlets positioned in a predetermined sequence and at predetermined levels along said elongated enclosure adapted to sequentially remove the contaminants and the fines from said used abrasives as they travel in the form of the turbulent levitating fluidized bed from the charging end to the discharging end of said elongated enclosure, thereby producing reclaimed abrasives at said discharging end;
- and means for collecting said reclaimed abrasives as they exit the discharging end of the elongated enclosure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.