METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING AND SEPARATING GRANULAR MIXTURE

• US 3,863,766 A
• Filed: 12/27/1973
• Issued: 02/04/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hans Oetiker
• Original Assignee: Hans Oetiker
• Inventors: Oetiker, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Lutter, Frank W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hill, Ralph J.
• Application Number:
  US05/428,890
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 209/466-469,504,485,498,486
• US Class Current: 209/469
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 4/005 the currents being pulsating, e.g. pneumatic jigs; combination of continuous and pulsating currents
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 4/02 using swinging or shaking tables

Abstract

A minority of grains, having a low suspension velocity, and a majority of grains, having a higher suspension velocity, are sorted and separated from mixtures of granular material under the influence of swinging-throw movements, of a plane inclined gaspermeable material support, on material charged at an inlet, and of an air current flowing upwardly through the support and placing the material conducted thereover in a state of suspension. The swinging-throw movement is used to conduct the majority grains from the inlet over a horizontal path to effect discharge thereof, and the minority grains, floating in a state of suspension, are discharged in a range defined by a material fall line, extending downwardly from the inlet, and a line having an inclination, relative to the inlet, which is half the fall line inclination relative to the inlet. The apparatus includes a gas-permeable support which is planar and comprises a fine mesh screen disposed above a perforated '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'scale'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' plate, and the support is compartmented. The support has an articulated mounting on rocker members which can be adjusted, in a universal manner, as to angle of inclination, with the material support being vibrated by an electric motor provided with ecccentric weights.

Claims

1. In apparatus for sorting and separating a minority of grains, having a low suspension velocity, and a majority of grains, having a higher suspension velocity, from mixtures of granular material, under the influence of swinging-throw movements of a plane inclined gas-permeable support and of an air current flowing upwardly through the support, and of the type including a feeding device extending to an inlet on the plane inclined gaspermeable material support, a swingable bearing carrying the material support, a swing drive operatively associated with the material support to produce the swinging-throw movements, means producing an air current flowing upwardly through the support, and outlets, for the minority grains and the majority grains, adjoining the material support:

the improvement comprising, in combination, the swinging movement of said support establishing a direction of conveyance, for the discharge of the majority grains, extending from said inlet horizontally and laterally;

the outlet for the majority grains being arranged in said horizontal region;

means providing a flow region on the material support, located downwardly from said horizontal region, for the floating evacuation of the minority grains on the material support extending between the material fall line on said support extending through the inlet with the steepest inclination and a line on said support having an inclination which is one-half the inclination of the fall line and intersecting the inlet;

the outlet for the minority grains being arranged in said lastmentioned flow region;

the direction of the swinging-throw movements produced by said swing drive being oriented at an acute angle to and in the direction of conveyance;

the bearing carrying said swingable material support being adjustable in height both in the direction of the swinging-throw movements and at a right angle thereto, to vary thE inclination of the material support with respect to a fixed base;

the bearing for said material support having three support members provided with swinging elements;

said three support members being connected, on one side of said swinging elements, to the swingable part of said apparatus and, on the other side of said swinging elements, to a first rocker;

a second rocker;

means pivotally mounting said first rocker on said second rocker;

a fixed base;

means pivotally mounting said second rocker on said fixed base;

the axis of said last-named pivotal mounting means extending horizontally and parallel to the direction of the swinging-throw movements, and the axis of said first mentioned pivotal mounting extending at a right angle thereto; and

means operatively associated with each rocker and operable to adjust the inclination thereof.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said three support elements constitute a three-point bearing around the center of gravity of the swingable part of said apparatus.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said rockers and their pivotal mountings constitute a universal mounting whose intersection is substantially vertically beneath the center of gravity of the swingable part of said apparatus.