Spring cutter-separator
AssigneeThe Board of Regents for Oklahoma State University
InventorsTimothy J. Bowser, Davey Joe Vadder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cutter-separator. Product is fluidized under pressure, forced through the bore of a spring and thence through the gaps between the coils of the spring while in its extended condition. When the spring returns to its compressed, or relaxed, condition the product which has been forced through the coils is reduced in size (i.e., cut, partially cut, or mashed, as desired) by the spring. Contaminants which are too large to pass between the coils are ultimately carried to the end of the spring, downstream from the product flow, where they are discharged.
Claims10
An apparatus for separating desirable matter from undesirable matter, comprising:
- a spring having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough and comprising a plurality of coils, at least one end of said spring being connected for linear reciprocation to an oscillator, wherein when said spring is in a compressed state said coils are in close proximity and when in an extended state there is created a plurality of gaps between said coils;
- and
- a feeder adjacent a first end of said bore to supply a mixture of desirable matter and undesirable matter into and through said bore at a predetermined pressure, the undesirable matter being of a size larger than the size of said gaps;
- whereby the desirable matter is extruded between said coils as said spring is extended while the undesirable matter is carried through said bore of said spring to be discharged at a second end thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.