AU733229B2 - Separation apparatus - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO:

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NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR(S): ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: NUFAB INDUSTRIES PTY LTD PETER BRADFORD NUNN LORD COMPANY, Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, of 4 Douro Place, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, AUSTRALIA.

"SEPARATION APPARATUS" INVENTION TITLE: DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S: P05226 filed on February 21, 1997.

The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 The present invention relates to a separation apparatus.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a separation apparatus including a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, and an air permeable mesh screen in communication with the inlet and oriented so that, in use, unseparated particulate material being fed into the inlet traverses the screen and travels in a-direction towards the outlet, and means being provided for creating a partial vacuum in the chamber so that, in use, air is drawn into the chamber through the screen and the unseparated particulate material traversing the screen is separated into a distribution of particulate material, the average particle weight of material in a first portion of the distribution adjacent the screen being greater than the average particle weight of material in a second portion of the distribution spaced from the screen, and a dividing vane being located adjacent the screen so as, in use, to separate the first and second portions from each other.The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to SOo the accompanying drawing which is a schematic sectional view through a separation 15 apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

"Sg"" In the drawing, there is shown a separation apparatus for separating lightweight materials S.from a mixture of materials such as grain containing lightweight components. The apparatus 10 includes a chamber 12 having an inlet 14 and a first hopper 16. The inlet 14 is connected to a second hopper 18. Further, the inlet 14 is provided with an inlet 20 flow control door 20 which is operable by means of a linkage 22 connected to a Jeo.

reciprocable handle 24.

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The chamber 10 also has a wall portion containing an air permeable mesh screen 26. The screen 26 is pivotable about a hinge 28. Thus the angle of the screen 26 may be varied under control of a linkage 30 connected to a pivotable handle 32. The screen 26 has an end 34 remote from the hinge 28 which end 34 is adjacent an outer aperture 36 connected to a chute 37.

The chamber 12 is connected to a duct 38 in which is mounted a fan 40. The fan 40 may be a propeller fan.

10 Baffle members 42 are located in the chamber 12 to prevent very lightweight material being carried directly to the fan 42. There is also provided adjacent and below the left hand baffle 42 an aperture 44.

The hopper 16 has a slow rotating air lock 46 which allows light weight material to be released from the chamber 12 and prevents air entering chamber 12.

Further, there is provided a dividing vane 48 adjacent the outlet aperture 36. The dividing vane 48 is pivotally connected about a hinge 50 under control of a lever 52 which is arranged to be moved reciprocally.

The chamber 12 has a lid 54 which provides for service access.

In operation, the fan 40 is energised and creates a partial vacuum in the chamber 12.

Material to be separated, such as grain, is then placed in the hopper 18. The door 20 is opened by means of the linkage 22 and the handle 24. Grain enters the chamber 12 through the inlet 14 and falls down the screen 26 under the influence of gravity. Air is drawn through the screen 26 by the vacuum in the chamber 12 and this induces lighter material in the grain to move towards the top of the distribution of grain on the screen 26.

The lighter material is then parted from the lower, heavier material by the vane 48.

The heavier material then falls through the outlet aperture 36 into the chute 37. The S. lightweight material falls into the chute 16.

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10 As mentioned above, very light material could get carried into the fan 40. This material is intercepted in the baffles 42 which have a pressure drop to one side. Thus, the lightweight material falls into the hopper 16. Some of this material falls through the aperture 44 into the hopper 16.

The airlock 46 allows the lightweight material to leave the apparatus The chamber 12 acts as a cyclone in which the air velocity through the chamber 12 is much less than the air velocity through the mesh screen 26. Any dust or fine particles are directed downwardly through the duct 38.

The position of the vane 48 may be varied to suit different types of material such as different types of grain. Also the angle of the screen 26 may also be altered to suit different materials.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (9)

1. A separation apparatus including a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, and an air permeable mesh screen in communication with the inlet and oriented so that, in use, unseparated particulate material being fed into the inlet traverses the screen and travels in a direction towards the outlet, and means being provided for creating a partial vacuum in the chamber so that, in use, air is drawn into the chamber through the screen and the unseparated particulate material traversing the screen is separated into a distribution of particulate material, the average particle weight of material in a first portion of the distribution adjacent the screen being greater than the average particle weight of material in a second portion of the distribution spaced from the screen, and a dividing vane being located adjacent the screen so as, in use, to separate the first and second portions from each other.

2. A separation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet includes a first .and a second outlet adapted to cooperate with the vane such that material in the first ooo portion is directed towards the first outlet and material in the second portion is directed towards the second outlet.

3. A separation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the position of eooeo .the dividing vane is adjustable.

S4. A separation apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the dividing vane is movable C e about a pivot, the dividing vane being provided with a lever for effecting pivotal movement of the dividing vane about the pivot.

5. A separation apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet includes means for controlling flow of unseparated material into the chamber. 7

6. A separation apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the controlling means is a flow control door.

7. A separation apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the screen is movable about a pivot, the angle of inclination of the screen relative to the inlet and the outlet being selectable by a user.

8. A separation apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including at least one baffle member located in the path of the air transversing the chamber.

9. A separation apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outlet includes a hopper having an air lock provided with a rotating member for effecting removal of material from the chamber. A separation apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawing. *15 DATED THIS 14TH DAY OF MARCH 2001. 0 i NUFAB INDUSTRIES PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys LORD COMPANY S PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA oo l