Sifting apparatuses
AssigneeSnoby Separation Systems, LLC
InventorsRichard Snoby, Andrew C. Snoby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Sifting apparatuses for stratifying raw material including a material feed-in device, a material support unit, a gas plenum, a discharge control mechanism, and a reservoir are described. The material support unit receives material from the material feed-in device and has a surface with a plurality of openings for a gaseous medium introduced from underneath the material support unit, thereby effecting loosening and stratification of the material into a layer of relatively heavier material, and a layer of relatively lighter material atop the relatively heavier material. The introduced gaseous medium originates in a pump, is collected in a pressurized reservoir, and is controlled by a metered valve prior to introduction to the material support unit.
Claims18
An apparatus, comprising:
- a material support unit;
- a plenum coupled to an underside of the material support unit;
- a metering valve coupled to the plenum and in fluidic communication with the material support unit, the metering valve providing a pulsating gaseous medium flow to the material support unit;
- a reservoir coupled to the metering valve and in fluidic communication with the material support unit;
- a pump coupled to the reservoir, the pump maintaining a gaseous medium within the reservoir at a substantially constant pressure, wherein the reservoir is positioned between the pump and the metering device;
- an interface level detector coupled to the material support unit, the interface level detector measuring a depth of a density layer between relatively heavy and relatively light materials located on the material support unit;
- and
- a discharge control mechanism coupled to the material support unit and operable to control discharge of a relatively heavy material.
A apparatus, comprising:
- a material support unit having apertures located therethrough;
- a plenum coupled to the material support unit;
- an metering valve coupled to the plenum and in fluidic communication with the material support unit, the metering valve being located vertically below the material support unit, the metering valve providing a pulsating gaseous medium flow to materials in the material support unit via the apertures;
- a reservoir in fluidic communication with an adjustable orifice;
- wherein the reservoir is positioned between the pump and the metering device;
- an interface level detector coupled to the material support unit, the interface level detector measuring a depth of a density layer between relatively heavy and relatively light materials located on the material support unit;
- and
- a pump in fluidic communication with the reservoir, the pump maintaining a gaseous medium within the reservoir at a substantially constant pressure.
A apparatus, comprising:
- a material support unit;
- a first plenum coupled to an underside of the material support unit;
- a first metering valve coupled to the plenum and in fluidic communication with the material support unit, the first metering valve being located vertically below the material support unit, the first metering valve providing a pulsating gaseous medium flow to the material support unit;
- a reservoir in fluidic communication with the first metering valve wherein the reservoir is positioned between the pump and the metering device, the reservoir dispensing gaseous material to the first metering valve in a substantially constant flow, the substantially constant flow causing the first plenum to experience minimal pressure drop after each pulse of the pulsating gaseous medium flow;
- an interface level detector coupled to the material support unit, the interface level detector measuring a depth of a density layer between relatively heavy and relatively light materials located on the material support unit;
- and
- a pump in fluidic communication with the reservoir, wherein the pump provides a pressurized medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.