Apparatus and Method for Separating Materials Using Air
First Claim
1. An apparatus for separating a mixture comprising at least two solid materials, comprising:
- a separation chamber in which the solid materials are separated from each other, the separation chamber comprising an air intake and an air exit, wherein air flows through the separation chamber from the air intake to the air exit; and
a passageway in which air flows from the air exit of the separation chamber to the air intake of the separation chamber.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Separating a mixture comprising at least two solid materials comprises transporting the mixture into a plenum, introducing air into the plenum, removing a heavier fraction of the solid materials from the plenum, removing air having a lighter fraction of the solid materials entrained therein from the plenum, removing the lighter fraction of the solid materials from the air that is removed from the plenum, filtering the remaining air, and re-circulating the air back to the plenum. Valves at the locations where material is introduced to and removed from the system can prevent air flow therethrough while allowing the materials to pass. The air can be introduced into the plenum at an angle with respect to the pathway in which the heavier fraction of the materials falls through the plenum, thereby avoiding damage to a screen that diffuses the air being introduced into the plenum.
106 Citations
41 Claims
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1. An apparatus for separating a mixture comprising at least two solid materials, comprising:
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a separation chamber in which the solid materials are separated from each other, the separation chamber comprising an air intake and an air exit, wherein air flows through the separation chamber from the air intake to the air exit; and a passageway in which air flows from the air exit of the separation chamber to the air intake of the separation chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for separating a mixture comprising at least two solid materials, comprising the steps of:
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transporting the mixture into a plenum; introducing air into the plenum; removing a first one of the solid materials from a first exit of the plenum; removing air and a second one of the solid materials from a second exit of the plenum; preventing air from exiting the plenum via the first exit of the plenum; and returning air that exits the plenum via the second exit of the plenum to the plenum. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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15. The method of claim 15, wherein the mixture falls through the plenum via the force of gravity,
wherein the first one of the solid materials falls through the air that is introduced into the plenum, and wherein the first exit of the plenum is disposed directly below a pathway in which the first one of the solid materials falls through the plenum.
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16. The method of claim 16, wherein the air is introduced into the plenum at an angle with respect to the pathway in which the first one of the solid materials falls through the plenum.
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21. A system for separating a mixture comprising at least two solid materials, comprising:
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a separation chamber in which at least a portion of the solid materials are separated from each other; a first valve coupled to the separation chamber, wherein the mixture passes through the first valve and enters the separation chamber; a fan that forces air into the separation chamber, wherein air flowing through the separation chamber interacts with the mixture therein and forces a first one of the solid materials out of the separation chamber while allowing a second one of the solid materials to remain in the separation chamber; a second valve through which the second one of the solid materials is removed from the separation chamber; and an enclosed passageway via which the air that forces the first one of the solid materials out of the separation chamber is returned to the fan, wherein the first and second valves prevent air from exiting the system therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A plenum for separating a mixture comprising at least two solid materials, comprising:
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a separation chamber in which the mixture is placed and at least a portion of the solid materials are separated from each other; and an air intake through which air enters the separation chamber, the air intake being disposed offset from a pathway in which a first one of the solid materials passes through the separation chamber. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A system for separating a mixture comprising at least two solid materials, comprising:
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a separation chamber in which at least a portion of the solid materials are separated from each other; a first valve coupled to the separation chamber, wherein the mixture passes through the first valve and enters the separation chamber; a fan that forces air into the separation chamber, wherein air flowing through the separation chamber interacts with the mixture therein and forces a first one of the solid materials out of the separation chamber while allowing a second one of the solid materials to pass through the separation chamber; a second valve through which the second one of the solid materials is removed from the system; a secondary chamber in which the air that forces the first one of the solid materials out of the separation chamber is directed, wherein at least a portion of the first one of the solid materials is separated from the air in the secondary chamber, and wherein the fan draws the air from the secondary chamber back to the fan; and a filter that removes matter from the air as the air is returned to the fan, wherein the first and second valves prevent air from exiting the system therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification