Apparatus and method of separating and concentrating organic and/or non-organic material
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for segregating particulate by density and/or size including a fluidizing bed having a particulate receiving inlet for receiving particulate to be fluidized. The fluidized bed also includes an opening for receiving a first fluidizing stream, an exit for fluidized particulate and at least one exit for non-fluidized particulate. A conveyor is operatively disposed in the fluidized bed for conveying the non-fluidized particulate to the non-fluidized particulate exit. A collector box is in operative communication with the fluidized bed to receive the non-fluidized particulate. There is a means for directing a second fluidizing stream through the non-fluidized particulate as while it is in the collector box to separate fluidizable particulate therefrom.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. An apparatus for segregating particulate material by density and/or size to concentrate a contaminant for separation from the particulate material feed stream, comprising:
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(a) a fluidizing bed having a receiving inlet for receiving the particulate material feed, an inlet opening for receiving a fluidizing stream, a heat emitting means, a discharge outlet for discharging a fluidized particulate material product stream, and a discharge outlet for discharging a non-fluidized particulate material stream containing the contaminant;
(b) a collector box positioned to receive the non-fluidized particulate material stream discharged from the fluidizing bed, the collector box including means for directing a second fluidizing stream through the non-fluidized particulate material as it is transported through the collector box to separate a second non-fluidized particulate material stream containing an increased concentration of the contaminant from the first non-fluidized particulate material stream;
(c) a first source of fluidizing stream operatively connected to the inlet opening for introducing the first fluidizing stream into the fluidizing bed to achieve separation of the fluidized particulate material product stream from the non-fluidized particulate material stream;
(d) a second source of the fluidizing stream operatively connected to the collector box for introducing the second fluidizing stream into the collector box to achieve separation of the second non-fluidized material stream from the first non-fluidized material stream;
(e) a heat source operatively connected to the heat emitting means;
(f) reception means for receiving the fluidized particulate material product stream discharged from the fluidizing bed; and
(g) reception means for receiving the second non-fluidized particulate material stream discharged from the collector box containing the enhanced concentration of the contaminant. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. An apparatus for segregating particulate material including:
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(a) a fluidizing bed having an interior for receiving the particulate material to be fluidized;
(b) a first fluid in communication with the fluidizing bed that is capable of fluidizing the particulate material into fluidized and non-fluidized particulate material;
(c) a collector box positioned to receive the non-fluidized particulate material; and
(d) a second fluid in communication with the collector box that is capable of fluidizing at least a portion of the non-fluidized particulate material to create a secondary fluidized particulate material. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification