CA1089396A - Universally adjustable feed conveyor for rotary drum materials separator - Google Patents
Universally adjustable feed conveyor for rotary drum materials separatorInfo
- Publication number
- CA1089396A CA1089396A CA307,561A CA307561A CA1089396A CA 1089396 A CA1089396 A CA 1089396A CA 307561 A CA307561 A CA 307561A CA 1089396 A CA1089396 A CA 1089396A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- conveyor
- axis
- support
- drum
- rails
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
- B07B—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS BY SIEVING, SCREENING, SIFTING OR BY USING GAS CURRENTS; SEPARATING BY OTHER DRY METHODS APPLICABLE TO BULK MATERIAL, e.g. LOOSE ARTICLES FIT TO BE HANDLED LIKE BULK MATERIAL
- B07B4/00—Separating solids from solids by subjecting their mixture to gas currents
- B07B4/02—Separating solids from solids by subjecting their mixture to gas currents while the mixtures fall
- B07B4/06—Separating solids from solids by subjecting their mixture to gas currents while the mixtures fall using revolving drums
Landscapes
- Combined Means For Separation Of Solids (AREA)
- Framework For Endless Conveyors (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract A rotary drum air classifier system which includes a con-veyor positioned to feed unclassified materials of various densities and weights into one end of a drum, and supporting means for the conveyor having means for moving the conveyor in any of three directions axially, vertically and laterally of the drum's axis so as to position its discharge end in desired position depending upon the density of the mixture of materials being fed into the drum, thereby obtaining maximum efficiency of the classification procedure.
Description
1~?~393~6 Background of the Invention In known air classification systems unclassified mi~ed materials may be deposited by a suitable feed conveyor into the lower inlet end of an inclined rotating air classifier drum. As the drum rotates, a stream of air is forcefully directed through the drum and entrains light weight, light density materials which comprise part of the mi~ture and carries them out the raised dis-charge end of the drum into a suitable storage area such as a ple-num, cyclone or silo. The materials which are too heavy or too dense to be entrained are tumbled by the rotation of the drum and eventually work their way back out the lower inlet end of the drum onto suitable conveyor means which removes them for subsequent processing or storage.
Such air classification systems are becoming popular in municipal waste handling installations where a great variety of materials are mixed together. For example, paper fabric, plastic, glass and wood are mixed with metal which may compTise small items such as coins to large items such as iron castings, for examples.
Sometimes the mixture is predominantly comprised of the heavy items and at other times the light items predominate.
When heavy items are predominant, they tend to clog the drum unless the feed rate is reduced since heavy items must work their ; way gradually down the inclined drum. When light items predomi-nate, separation is difficult unless the velocity of the air stream passing through the drum is increased.
One known attempt to solve this problem has been disclosed in U. S. patent No. 3,970,547~which teaches a system wherein the ~g feed conveyor is movable a~iaily within ~,:he drum to adjust ~he longitudinal position within the dTum at which the materials are deposited. However, while this has provided some improvement, it has not been entirely success~ul.
# ~ Th c ~J o Y ~ o J o n ~ ~ L~ 19 7 .
89~96 Summary of the Invention The above and other objections to and disadvantages of ~<nown rotary drum air classifier systems are overcome by the present invention wherein there is employed a feed conveyor means which is adjustable axially of a rotary drum and also adjustable laterally and vertically of the drum. This is accom-plished by mounting the conveyor and feed hopper upon a suitable undercarriage which is itself vertically movable and is comprised of portions which are slidable whereby lateral and axial movement are accomplished. ~ovement of the various adjustable parts of the undercarriage is accomplished by a number of hydraulic actua-tors or other devices so that adjustments in the three directions are performed independently. In one embodiment the conveyor is preferably fixed to a first section which is movable laterally of the drum upon a second section. A third section carries the first and second sections and is movable axially of the drum together theTewith and with the conveyor. The third section forms a part of a vertically adjustable carriage whereby, when such veTtical adjustment is effected, it will move up or down together with the first and second sections and the conveyor.
Since the mixture of materials being classified is usually predominantly comprised of either heavy or light materials, the conveyoT will rarely be located on the axis of the drum. If the materials comprise predominantly heavy items, the conveyor will preferably be withdrawn toward the inlet end of the drum so as to discharge usually within the first third of its length, and will be preferably located slightly nearer the rising side wall of the drum. This will effectively facilitate the removal of the relatively large amounts of heavy materials.
~f the mixture of materials comprises predominantly light items, the conveyor will be positioned preferably farther inwardly of the drum and above the drum's longitudinal axis. This enables the light materials to be more effectively engaged by the air stream as they fall a greater distance from the conveyor toward the bottom of the drum.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided an adjustable conveyor-supporting apparatus including a conveyor operably extending parallel with a known axis, and means for adjusting said conveyor with respect to said known axis comprising the combination of a base comprised of a pair of spaced parallel base members located parallel with said axis, a first support comprising a base frame mounted on the base members and movable longitudinally thereon in a direction parallel to said axis, a second support comprising a pair of spaced parallel lateral rails mounted on said base frame and extending laterally in a direction perpendicular to said axis, said lateral rails being movable vertically with respect to said axis indepen-dent of said first support, and conveyor support means mounted on said lateral rails and movable thereon in a direction transverse to said axis, said conveyor being mounted on said conveyor support means and movable there-with and extending in a direction parallel to said axis.
In accordance with the present inYention there is also provided in a rotary drum classifier system, adjustable conveyor-supporting apparatus including a conveyor operably extending parallel with a ~nown longitudinal axis of a rotary drum, and means for adjusting said conveyor with respect to said axis comprising the combination of a base comprised of a pair of spaced paTallel base members extending in a direction parallel to said axis, a fiTst support comprising a base frame mounted on the base members and movable longitudinally thereon in a direction parallel to said axis, a second support comprising a pair of spaced parallel lateral rails mounted on said base frame and extending laterally in a direction perpendicular to said - 3 ~
~ 93~6 axis, said lateral ~ails being movable vertically with respect to said axis independent of said first support, and conveyor support means mounted on said lateral rails and movable thereon in a direction transverse to ~id axis, said conveyor being mounted on said support means and extending in a direction parallel to said axis and movable with said support means toward and away from one end of said drum. .:
- 3a -.~, ~
.,~. ;~ ~ ., ~ 9 ~ ~ 6 Brief Description of the Dra~ings The above and other objectives and advantages of this lnvention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a rotary drum air classifier system embodying the invention;
Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the system shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the adjustable conveyor-supporting structure;
Fig. 4 is an end view of the structure shown in Fig. 3 showing a modi~ied supporting carriage; and Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the x-y-z adjustability of the conveyor system of the invention.
.
16~89396 Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 includes a number of cooperating devices arranged to process and separate materials automatically, these pieces of apparatus being parts of a complete waste resource separating and recovery system.
A feed hopper 10 receives unclassified waste or other mixture of materials from one end of an adjacent supply conveyor 12. The hopper 10 is mounted as by brackets 14 on a first frame 16 which comprises a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending rails 18 secured together by suitable cross members 19. The hopper 10 is raised sufficiently above the frame 16 to permit a longitudi-nally extending feed conveyor 20 to be disposed beneath the hopper and preferably between the rails 18. The conveyor 20, as shown in Fig. 1, may be suitably supported on the rails 18 as by mounting its drums 22 on a shaft which is journaled at its opposite ends in the rails 18. A motor 24 with conventional belt and pulley drive mechanism 25 is utilized for moving the conveyor belt in a well-known manner.
The feed conveyor 20 projects into the interior of a horizon-tally disposed rotary air classifier drum 26 and is adapted to receive mixed materials to be classified from the bottom OI the hopper and propel them into the drum. The materials have prefer-ably been shredded to a size not exceeding about twelve inches, and the drum classifier separates the shredded materials in the known fashion of apparatus of this character. The drum 26 is angled at a selected inclination, such as 10, for example, and air is caused to flow through it at high velocity by means of a fan or blower 28 which may be suitably mounted on a plenum, cyclone or similar collecting chamber 30 into the higher end of l~B~3~6 which the drum projects.
As raw mixed materials drop from the end of the feed convey-or 20 onto the bottom of the drum wall, the heavy materials in the mixture will be rotated upwardly with the drum to a point where they will fall to a lower point within the drum. Such tum-bling action is repeated until eventually the heavy materials fall out of the lower end of the drum through a chute 32 onto another conveyor 33 which will carry them away for further pro-cessing or disposal. The light materials will be entrained with-in the high velocity air stream and will be carried out the upper end of the drum 26 into the collection chamber 30 from which they may be subsequently removed by a conveyor 31 to a remote location for further processing, such as being converted into a refuse derived fuel, for example.
It is to be understood that the feed conveyor 20, which is illustrated herein as a belt-type device, may take other forms such as, for example, a screw feed as disclosed in aforementioned U. S. patent 3,970,547 which is owned by the same assignee as the present invention.
Any suitable means may be used to rotate the drum 25. In Figs. 1 and 2 this means comprises a circumferential sprocket wheel 34 which is fixed around the drum at a point midway of its length and which meshes with a small sprocket wheel 36 rotatably mounted on one end of a reduction gear box 38. The gear box 38 is interconnected with a drive motor 40 whereby rotation of the drum is accomplished.
The drum 26 is supported upon a plal:form 42 by means such as a pair of rollers 44 which each engage a respective restraining ring or collar 46, the rings being fixed to and extending around the circumference of the drum near opposite ends thereof. The rollers 44 have flanges on their sides which engage opposite sides 1/t~8~3~6 ~f the respective ring 46 to prevent longitudinal movement of the drum as it is rotated.
The platform 42 is pivotally supported at one end beneath the conveyor by vertically adjustable support means 48 and at its opposite end it is pivotally mounted by a bearing 50 on the upper end of a fixed support 52. The platform 42 and consequently the drum 26, together with the conveyor apparatus may be angled to a selected inclination, such as 10, for example, by raising or lowering about the axis of the bearing 50.
It will be apparent that variations in the angle of inclina-tion of the drum and variations in the velocity of the air flow through the drum will cause changes in the ratio of lights to heavies during a separation process. However, other factors also must necessarily be considered when attempting to achieve effi-cient desired classification of the mixed materials.
For example, the predominance of heavy materials in a mix-ture will sometimes cause the drum to become clogged or otherwise will prevent ready separation of light materials. Regulation of air flow has little ef-fect on most heavy items, and regulation of the drum's angle of inclination may decrease the separation efficiency. Slowing of the feed conveyor to overcome such a problem may cause undesirable backlogging of unclassified materials.
The predominance of light materials in a mixture will some-times produce unsatisfactory separation since incTease of air velocity may cause an undesirable amount of heavies to be entrained and removed with the lights.
The aforementioned patent 3,970,547 teaches that a conveyor is positioned on the axis of a rotary drum and may be moved axially thereof in order to select the longitudinal position within the drum at which material is deposited.
~n earlier U. S. patent, ~o. 3,804,249~ teaches that material should be deposited in the longitudinally central portion of the drum. ~either of these patented apparatus completely solve the problems enumerated above.
In accordance with the present invention the conveyor is mounted for universal, that is, for axial, lateral and vertical adjustment with respect to the axis of the drum, and when properly adjusted the conveyor will feed mixed waste materials into the drum at a location which achieves a selected ratio of lights to heavies separation without requiring variation in angle of drum inclination or in velocity of air flow. Such adjustment of the conveyor allows mixed materials to be fed into the drum at an optimum location depending upon the predominance of light or heavy materials in the mixture being classified.
It has been found that when a mixture is comprised predomi-nantly of heavy materials, the best separation is achieved when the discharge end of the conveyor is located relatively near the inlet end of the drum, below the drum's axis and somewhat nearer the rising side wall of the drum. In this position the heavy items will have a short path to follow in tumbling down and out the drum, thus preventing clogging which otherwise might occur.
Furthermore, the heavy items are more quickly lifted by the rising side wall of the drum than would occur if the conveyor was posi-tioned nearer the falling side wall. This also aids in the prevention of clogging.
When the mixture is comprised predominantly of light items, it has been found that the conveyor will be preferably located above the axis of the drum at almost any point along the length of the drum. This will enable the air stream to make most ~ (~G;~ s ~t- ai) issu-J on ~ bJ I 9qlt 1~15193~t6 effective contact with the mass of light materials, entraining ~hem and ef iciently conducting them into the collection chamber.
The platform 42 which carries the conveyor supporting and adjusting mechanism includes a pair of spaced base rails 54 which are interconnected by cross members 56 as best shown in Fig. 3.
An adjustable carriage 58 is mounted on the platform and includes an upper and a lower frame 60 and 62 respectively. Lower frame 62 comprises a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending I-beams 64 interconnected by cross members 66. The upper frame 60 similarly comprises a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally e~tending channel members 68 interconnected by cross members 70.
Extending upwardly between the frames 60 and 62 on either side thereof is a pair of cTossed arms 72 and 73 which are pivot-ally mounted at their crossover points on an interconnecting shaft 74. The I-beams 64 are positioned with channels therein opening upwardly, while the channels in upper channel members 68 open downwardly. The lower end of arms 72 are pivotally mounted within the channel near one end of one of the lower members 64 and has its upper end slidably mounted as by a pin and slot con-nection 76 in the channel near the opposite end of the uppermember 68. The other arm 73 is similarly mounted with its upper end pivoted to one end of upper member 68 and its lower end slidably connected by pin and slot connection 78 to the opposite end of lower member 64.
Thus, the upper frame 60 may move up and down toward and away from the lower frame 62 and the arms 72-73 will perform a scissoring action to retain the frames in the desired respective relations. Such movement of upper frame 60 may be accomplished by any suitable means such as a hydraulic piston 80 which is mounted on a cross member 56 of the lower frame 62 and has its 3g6 piston rod 82 connected to a cross member 70 of the upper frame 60. The piston 80 may be actuated by any suitable means (not shown) to raise and lower the upper frame 60.
The carriage 58 is adapted to slide toward and away from the drum 26 on the rails 54 which interfit into the bottom channels of the I-beams ~ for this purpose, as shown in Fig. 4. Thrust bearings 84 are provided as shown to locate the members 64 on rails 54. To move the carriage 58 along the rails 54 there is provided a hydraulic or other device 86, similar to lifting device 80 which is mounted on a plate 88 fixed to the ends of rails 54 as shown in Fig. 3. The piston rod 90 of device 86 is attached to one of the cross members 66 of the lower frame 62 so that when the hydraulic device 86 is operated, rod 90 will move to push or pull the frame 62 and consequently the entire carriage 58 and parts of the apparatus thereon.
Fixed to the upper end of the carriage 58, as by welding to members 68 of the upper frame 60, are a pair of spaced perpen-dicularly extending rails 92 which are provided on their upper suTfaces with a selected shape to accomodate rollers 94 which are carried by a pair of spaced parallel rails 96 which overlie and ride along the rails 92 in a direction laterally with respect to the drum's axis.
The hopper-and-conveyor-supporting frame 16 is fixedly mounted by its rails 18 on the rails 96 as by welding. Thus, by means of the rollers 94 the frames 96 and 16 may be moved lateral-ly of the structure together with the hopper 10 and conveyor 20.
Such lateral adjustment of the conveyor may be effected by any ~suitable means such as by a hydraulic device ~ which is fixed ~~upon a supporting plate 100 carried by frame 96, the piston rod 102 of the hydraulic device 98 being attached to a rail 18 for moving the frame 16 as desired.
.
`l39396 From the foregoing it will be understood that when the conveyor 20 is to be adjusted axially of the drum, device 80 will be operated to move the carriage 58 along the rails together with the structure thereon including the conveyor.
If the conveyor is to be moved vertically, device 80 is operated to move the frame 60 together with the structure thereon.
If lateTal adjustment of the conveyor is desired, device 98 will be operated to slide rails 18 and frame 96 along rails 92.
Such x-y-z adjustment of the conveyor is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 5 wherein item 26 represents the drum, A is the axis, and x,y, and z respectively indicate axial, vertical and lateral directions of adjustment. It will be apparent that such adjustments may be performed independently or simultaneously.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the scissor-type carriage has been replaced by four vertically extending corner posts 104 which are fixed to and extend upwardly from the lower frame 62, the posts 104 and slide vertically thereover. Thus, when the hydraulic device 80 is operated, the upper frame 60 will rise or fall together with posts 106. When the device is located at the desired level, the posts 106 and 104 are locked together by positioning pins within comating holes therein, in a well-known manner.
The foregoing description is believed to fully set forth sufficient details of the invention. However, it will be apparent that vaTious modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. For example, the described hydraulic actuating devices 80, 86, and 98 may be pneumatic devices or may be motor-operated, if desired. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter shown and described is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
Such air classification systems are becoming popular in municipal waste handling installations where a great variety of materials are mixed together. For example, paper fabric, plastic, glass and wood are mixed with metal which may compTise small items such as coins to large items such as iron castings, for examples.
Sometimes the mixture is predominantly comprised of the heavy items and at other times the light items predominate.
When heavy items are predominant, they tend to clog the drum unless the feed rate is reduced since heavy items must work their ; way gradually down the inclined drum. When light items predomi-nate, separation is difficult unless the velocity of the air stream passing through the drum is increased.
One known attempt to solve this problem has been disclosed in U. S. patent No. 3,970,547~which teaches a system wherein the ~g feed conveyor is movable a~iaily within ~,:he drum to adjust ~he longitudinal position within the dTum at which the materials are deposited. However, while this has provided some improvement, it has not been entirely success~ul.
# ~ Th c ~J o Y ~ o J o n ~ ~ L~ 19 7 .
89~96 Summary of the Invention The above and other objections to and disadvantages of ~<nown rotary drum air classifier systems are overcome by the present invention wherein there is employed a feed conveyor means which is adjustable axially of a rotary drum and also adjustable laterally and vertically of the drum. This is accom-plished by mounting the conveyor and feed hopper upon a suitable undercarriage which is itself vertically movable and is comprised of portions which are slidable whereby lateral and axial movement are accomplished. ~ovement of the various adjustable parts of the undercarriage is accomplished by a number of hydraulic actua-tors or other devices so that adjustments in the three directions are performed independently. In one embodiment the conveyor is preferably fixed to a first section which is movable laterally of the drum upon a second section. A third section carries the first and second sections and is movable axially of the drum together theTewith and with the conveyor. The third section forms a part of a vertically adjustable carriage whereby, when such veTtical adjustment is effected, it will move up or down together with the first and second sections and the conveyor.
Since the mixture of materials being classified is usually predominantly comprised of either heavy or light materials, the conveyoT will rarely be located on the axis of the drum. If the materials comprise predominantly heavy items, the conveyor will preferably be withdrawn toward the inlet end of the drum so as to discharge usually within the first third of its length, and will be preferably located slightly nearer the rising side wall of the drum. This will effectively facilitate the removal of the relatively large amounts of heavy materials.
~f the mixture of materials comprises predominantly light items, the conveyor will be positioned preferably farther inwardly of the drum and above the drum's longitudinal axis. This enables the light materials to be more effectively engaged by the air stream as they fall a greater distance from the conveyor toward the bottom of the drum.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided an adjustable conveyor-supporting apparatus including a conveyor operably extending parallel with a known axis, and means for adjusting said conveyor with respect to said known axis comprising the combination of a base comprised of a pair of spaced parallel base members located parallel with said axis, a first support comprising a base frame mounted on the base members and movable longitudinally thereon in a direction parallel to said axis, a second support comprising a pair of spaced parallel lateral rails mounted on said base frame and extending laterally in a direction perpendicular to said axis, said lateral rails being movable vertically with respect to said axis indepen-dent of said first support, and conveyor support means mounted on said lateral rails and movable thereon in a direction transverse to said axis, said conveyor being mounted on said conveyor support means and movable there-with and extending in a direction parallel to said axis.
In accordance with the present inYention there is also provided in a rotary drum classifier system, adjustable conveyor-supporting apparatus including a conveyor operably extending parallel with a ~nown longitudinal axis of a rotary drum, and means for adjusting said conveyor with respect to said axis comprising the combination of a base comprised of a pair of spaced paTallel base members extending in a direction parallel to said axis, a fiTst support comprising a base frame mounted on the base members and movable longitudinally thereon in a direction parallel to said axis, a second support comprising a pair of spaced parallel lateral rails mounted on said base frame and extending laterally in a direction perpendicular to said - 3 ~
~ 93~6 axis, said lateral ~ails being movable vertically with respect to said axis independent of said first support, and conveyor support means mounted on said lateral rails and movable thereon in a direction transverse to ~id axis, said conveyor being mounted on said support means and extending in a direction parallel to said axis and movable with said support means toward and away from one end of said drum. .:
- 3a -.~, ~
.,~. ;~ ~ ., ~ 9 ~ ~ 6 Brief Description of the Dra~ings The above and other objectives and advantages of this lnvention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a rotary drum air classifier system embodying the invention;
Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the system shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the adjustable conveyor-supporting structure;
Fig. 4 is an end view of the structure shown in Fig. 3 showing a modi~ied supporting carriage; and Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the x-y-z adjustability of the conveyor system of the invention.
.
16~89396 Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 includes a number of cooperating devices arranged to process and separate materials automatically, these pieces of apparatus being parts of a complete waste resource separating and recovery system.
A feed hopper 10 receives unclassified waste or other mixture of materials from one end of an adjacent supply conveyor 12. The hopper 10 is mounted as by brackets 14 on a first frame 16 which comprises a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending rails 18 secured together by suitable cross members 19. The hopper 10 is raised sufficiently above the frame 16 to permit a longitudi-nally extending feed conveyor 20 to be disposed beneath the hopper and preferably between the rails 18. The conveyor 20, as shown in Fig. 1, may be suitably supported on the rails 18 as by mounting its drums 22 on a shaft which is journaled at its opposite ends in the rails 18. A motor 24 with conventional belt and pulley drive mechanism 25 is utilized for moving the conveyor belt in a well-known manner.
The feed conveyor 20 projects into the interior of a horizon-tally disposed rotary air classifier drum 26 and is adapted to receive mixed materials to be classified from the bottom OI the hopper and propel them into the drum. The materials have prefer-ably been shredded to a size not exceeding about twelve inches, and the drum classifier separates the shredded materials in the known fashion of apparatus of this character. The drum 26 is angled at a selected inclination, such as 10, for example, and air is caused to flow through it at high velocity by means of a fan or blower 28 which may be suitably mounted on a plenum, cyclone or similar collecting chamber 30 into the higher end of l~B~3~6 which the drum projects.
As raw mixed materials drop from the end of the feed convey-or 20 onto the bottom of the drum wall, the heavy materials in the mixture will be rotated upwardly with the drum to a point where they will fall to a lower point within the drum. Such tum-bling action is repeated until eventually the heavy materials fall out of the lower end of the drum through a chute 32 onto another conveyor 33 which will carry them away for further pro-cessing or disposal. The light materials will be entrained with-in the high velocity air stream and will be carried out the upper end of the drum 26 into the collection chamber 30 from which they may be subsequently removed by a conveyor 31 to a remote location for further processing, such as being converted into a refuse derived fuel, for example.
It is to be understood that the feed conveyor 20, which is illustrated herein as a belt-type device, may take other forms such as, for example, a screw feed as disclosed in aforementioned U. S. patent 3,970,547 which is owned by the same assignee as the present invention.
Any suitable means may be used to rotate the drum 25. In Figs. 1 and 2 this means comprises a circumferential sprocket wheel 34 which is fixed around the drum at a point midway of its length and which meshes with a small sprocket wheel 36 rotatably mounted on one end of a reduction gear box 38. The gear box 38 is interconnected with a drive motor 40 whereby rotation of the drum is accomplished.
The drum 26 is supported upon a plal:form 42 by means such as a pair of rollers 44 which each engage a respective restraining ring or collar 46, the rings being fixed to and extending around the circumference of the drum near opposite ends thereof. The rollers 44 have flanges on their sides which engage opposite sides 1/t~8~3~6 ~f the respective ring 46 to prevent longitudinal movement of the drum as it is rotated.
The platform 42 is pivotally supported at one end beneath the conveyor by vertically adjustable support means 48 and at its opposite end it is pivotally mounted by a bearing 50 on the upper end of a fixed support 52. The platform 42 and consequently the drum 26, together with the conveyor apparatus may be angled to a selected inclination, such as 10, for example, by raising or lowering about the axis of the bearing 50.
It will be apparent that variations in the angle of inclina-tion of the drum and variations in the velocity of the air flow through the drum will cause changes in the ratio of lights to heavies during a separation process. However, other factors also must necessarily be considered when attempting to achieve effi-cient desired classification of the mixed materials.
For example, the predominance of heavy materials in a mix-ture will sometimes cause the drum to become clogged or otherwise will prevent ready separation of light materials. Regulation of air flow has little ef-fect on most heavy items, and regulation of the drum's angle of inclination may decrease the separation efficiency. Slowing of the feed conveyor to overcome such a problem may cause undesirable backlogging of unclassified materials.
The predominance of light materials in a mixture will some-times produce unsatisfactory separation since incTease of air velocity may cause an undesirable amount of heavies to be entrained and removed with the lights.
The aforementioned patent 3,970,547 teaches that a conveyor is positioned on the axis of a rotary drum and may be moved axially thereof in order to select the longitudinal position within the drum at which material is deposited.
~n earlier U. S. patent, ~o. 3,804,249~ teaches that material should be deposited in the longitudinally central portion of the drum. ~either of these patented apparatus completely solve the problems enumerated above.
In accordance with the present invention the conveyor is mounted for universal, that is, for axial, lateral and vertical adjustment with respect to the axis of the drum, and when properly adjusted the conveyor will feed mixed waste materials into the drum at a location which achieves a selected ratio of lights to heavies separation without requiring variation in angle of drum inclination or in velocity of air flow. Such adjustment of the conveyor allows mixed materials to be fed into the drum at an optimum location depending upon the predominance of light or heavy materials in the mixture being classified.
It has been found that when a mixture is comprised predomi-nantly of heavy materials, the best separation is achieved when the discharge end of the conveyor is located relatively near the inlet end of the drum, below the drum's axis and somewhat nearer the rising side wall of the drum. In this position the heavy items will have a short path to follow in tumbling down and out the drum, thus preventing clogging which otherwise might occur.
Furthermore, the heavy items are more quickly lifted by the rising side wall of the drum than would occur if the conveyor was posi-tioned nearer the falling side wall. This also aids in the prevention of clogging.
When the mixture is comprised predominantly of light items, it has been found that the conveyor will be preferably located above the axis of the drum at almost any point along the length of the drum. This will enable the air stream to make most ~ (~G;~ s ~t- ai) issu-J on ~ bJ I 9qlt 1~15193~t6 effective contact with the mass of light materials, entraining ~hem and ef iciently conducting them into the collection chamber.
The platform 42 which carries the conveyor supporting and adjusting mechanism includes a pair of spaced base rails 54 which are interconnected by cross members 56 as best shown in Fig. 3.
An adjustable carriage 58 is mounted on the platform and includes an upper and a lower frame 60 and 62 respectively. Lower frame 62 comprises a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending I-beams 64 interconnected by cross members 66. The upper frame 60 similarly comprises a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally e~tending channel members 68 interconnected by cross members 70.
Extending upwardly between the frames 60 and 62 on either side thereof is a pair of cTossed arms 72 and 73 which are pivot-ally mounted at their crossover points on an interconnecting shaft 74. The I-beams 64 are positioned with channels therein opening upwardly, while the channels in upper channel members 68 open downwardly. The lower end of arms 72 are pivotally mounted within the channel near one end of one of the lower members 64 and has its upper end slidably mounted as by a pin and slot con-nection 76 in the channel near the opposite end of the uppermember 68. The other arm 73 is similarly mounted with its upper end pivoted to one end of upper member 68 and its lower end slidably connected by pin and slot connection 78 to the opposite end of lower member 64.
Thus, the upper frame 60 may move up and down toward and away from the lower frame 62 and the arms 72-73 will perform a scissoring action to retain the frames in the desired respective relations. Such movement of upper frame 60 may be accomplished by any suitable means such as a hydraulic piston 80 which is mounted on a cross member 56 of the lower frame 62 and has its 3g6 piston rod 82 connected to a cross member 70 of the upper frame 60. The piston 80 may be actuated by any suitable means (not shown) to raise and lower the upper frame 60.
The carriage 58 is adapted to slide toward and away from the drum 26 on the rails 54 which interfit into the bottom channels of the I-beams ~ for this purpose, as shown in Fig. 4. Thrust bearings 84 are provided as shown to locate the members 64 on rails 54. To move the carriage 58 along the rails 54 there is provided a hydraulic or other device 86, similar to lifting device 80 which is mounted on a plate 88 fixed to the ends of rails 54 as shown in Fig. 3. The piston rod 90 of device 86 is attached to one of the cross members 66 of the lower frame 62 so that when the hydraulic device 86 is operated, rod 90 will move to push or pull the frame 62 and consequently the entire carriage 58 and parts of the apparatus thereon.
Fixed to the upper end of the carriage 58, as by welding to members 68 of the upper frame 60, are a pair of spaced perpen-dicularly extending rails 92 which are provided on their upper suTfaces with a selected shape to accomodate rollers 94 which are carried by a pair of spaced parallel rails 96 which overlie and ride along the rails 92 in a direction laterally with respect to the drum's axis.
The hopper-and-conveyor-supporting frame 16 is fixedly mounted by its rails 18 on the rails 96 as by welding. Thus, by means of the rollers 94 the frames 96 and 16 may be moved lateral-ly of the structure together with the hopper 10 and conveyor 20.
Such lateral adjustment of the conveyor may be effected by any ~suitable means such as by a hydraulic device ~ which is fixed ~~upon a supporting plate 100 carried by frame 96, the piston rod 102 of the hydraulic device 98 being attached to a rail 18 for moving the frame 16 as desired.
.
`l39396 From the foregoing it will be understood that when the conveyor 20 is to be adjusted axially of the drum, device 80 will be operated to move the carriage 58 along the rails together with the structure thereon including the conveyor.
If the conveyor is to be moved vertically, device 80 is operated to move the frame 60 together with the structure thereon.
If lateTal adjustment of the conveyor is desired, device 98 will be operated to slide rails 18 and frame 96 along rails 92.
Such x-y-z adjustment of the conveyor is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 5 wherein item 26 represents the drum, A is the axis, and x,y, and z respectively indicate axial, vertical and lateral directions of adjustment. It will be apparent that such adjustments may be performed independently or simultaneously.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the scissor-type carriage has been replaced by four vertically extending corner posts 104 which are fixed to and extend upwardly from the lower frame 62, the posts 104 and slide vertically thereover. Thus, when the hydraulic device 80 is operated, the upper frame 60 will rise or fall together with posts 106. When the device is located at the desired level, the posts 106 and 104 are locked together by positioning pins within comating holes therein, in a well-known manner.
The foregoing description is believed to fully set forth sufficient details of the invention. However, it will be apparent that vaTious modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. For example, the described hydraulic actuating devices 80, 86, and 98 may be pneumatic devices or may be motor-operated, if desired. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter shown and described is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
Claims (12)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Adjustable conveyor-supporting apparatus including a conveyor operably extending parallel with a known axis, and means for adjusting said conveyor with respect to said known axis comprising the combination of a base comprised of a pair of spaced parallel base members located parallel with said axis, a first support comprising a base frame mounted on the base members and movable longitudinally thereon in a direction parallel to said axis, a second support comprising a pair of spaced parallel lateral rails mounted on said base frame and extending laterally in a direction perpendicular to said axis, said lateral rails being movable vertically with respect to said axis independent of said first support, and conveyor support means mounted on said lateral rails and movable thereon in a direction transverse to said axis, said conveyor being mounted on said conveyor support means and movable therewith and extending in a direction parallel to said axis.
2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conveyor is a belt conveyor.
3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein activating means are connected respectively to said first support, said lateral rails and said conveyor support means for individual movements thereof.
4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said activating means is a hydraulic system.
5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second support comprises a scissor jack mounted at its lower end on the base frame, and a top frame mounted on its upper end, said lateral rails being fixed upon said top frame, and said top frame is movable vertically together with the lateral rails thereon.
6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said conveyor support means comprises a pair of spaced parallel third rails fixed to said lateral rails and extending in a direction parallel to said axis, and said conveyor is a belt conveyor supported by said third rails.
7. In a rotary drum classifier system, adjustable conveyor-supporting apparatus including a conveyor operably extending parallel with a known longitudinal axis of a rotary drum, and means for adjusting said conveyor with respect to said axis comprising the combination of a base comprised of a pair of spaced parallel base members extending in a direction parallel to said axis, a first support comprising a base frame mounted on the base members and movable longitudinally thereon in a direction parallel to said axis, a second support comprising a pair of spaced parallel lateral rails mounted on said base frame and extending laterally in a direction per-pendicular to said axis, said lateral rails being movable vertically with respect to said axis independent of said first support, and conveyor support means mounted on said lateral rails and movable thereon in a direction transverse to said axis, said conveyor being mounted on said support means and extending in a direction parallel to said axis and movable with said support means toward and away from one end of said drum.
8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said conveyor is a belt conveyor.
9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein activating means are connected respectively to said first support, said lateral rails and said conveyor support means for individual movements thereof.
10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said activating means is a hydraulic system.
11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second support comprises a scissor jack mounted at its lower end on the base frame, and a top frame mounted on its upper end, said lateral rails being fixed upon said top frame, and said top frame is movable vertically together with the lateral rails thereon.
12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said conveyor support means comprises a pair of spaced parallel third rails fixed to said lateral rails and extending in a direction parallel to said axis, and said conveyor is a belt conveyor supported by said third rails.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US83271977A | 1977-09-12 | 1977-09-12 | |
| US832,719 | 1992-02-07 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1089396A true CA1089396A (en) | 1980-11-11 |
Family
ID=25262438
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA307,561A Expired CA1089396A (en) | 1977-09-12 | 1978-07-17 | Universally adjustable feed conveyor for rotary drum materials separator |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5836633B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1089396A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2837037C2 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2402604A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2004240B (en) |
Families Citing this family (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4210527A (en) * | 1979-04-12 | 1980-07-01 | Raytheon Company | Twin air classifier system |
| JPH0218817Y2 (en) * | 1984-09-26 | 1990-05-25 | ||
| JPH0223860Y2 (en) * | 1984-10-04 | 1990-06-29 | ||
| DE4140584C2 (en) * | 1991-12-10 | 1995-01-26 | Hans Schmitt | Device for separating a mixture of materials from materials with different specific weights |
| DE29621228U1 (en) * | 1996-12-06 | 1997-02-13 | Hagemann, Andreas, Dipl.-Ing. (FH), 75196 Remchingen | Device for the continuous separation of a mixture of substances |
| DE102010045309A1 (en) * | 2010-09-14 | 2012-03-15 | Dirk Barnstedt | Process for separating sheet-like and body-shaped solids in a stream of bulk material |
| DE202016001079U1 (en) | 2016-02-19 | 2016-03-01 | Werner Neu | Separator for separating a material mixture |
| DE102018005205B4 (en) | 2018-06-29 | 2024-06-20 | Siempelkamp Maschinen- Und Anlagenbau Gmbh | Sifters and sifting methods |
| CN111871775B (en) * | 2020-07-30 | 2022-08-30 | 恒基利马格兰种业有限公司 | Corn seed's choice device |
| CN116715028B (en) * | 2023-08-09 | 2023-10-27 | 绵阳沃思测控技术有限公司 | Pneumatic conveying suction hopper |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2631715A (en) * | 1947-11-18 | 1953-03-17 | William F Vickers | Portable and extensible conveyer |
| US3970547A (en) * | 1975-05-22 | 1976-07-20 | Raytheon Company | Air classification apparatus |
| US3957630A (en) * | 1975-05-22 | 1976-05-18 | Raytheon Company | Adjustable materials feeding apparatus |
| GB1493774A (en) * | 1975-05-22 | 1977-11-30 | Raytheon Co | Materials separating apparatus |
| JPS5213272A (en) * | 1975-07-21 | 1977-02-01 | Central Conveyor Kk | Level adjusting device of a transfer conveyor in a conveyor apparatus |
-
1978
- 1978-07-17 CA CA307,561A patent/CA1089396A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-08-11 GB GB7833117A patent/GB2004240B/en not_active Expired
- 1978-08-24 DE DE19782837037 patent/DE2837037C2/en not_active Expired
- 1978-08-30 JP JP53106167A patent/JPS5836633B2/en not_active Expired
- 1978-08-31 FR FR7825131A patent/FR2402604A1/en active Granted
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2402604B1 (en) | 1984-01-13 |
| JPS5836633B2 (en) | 1983-08-10 |
| GB2004240A (en) | 1979-03-28 |
| DE2837037A1 (en) | 1979-03-22 |
| FR2402604A1 (en) | 1979-04-06 |
| GB2004240B (en) | 1982-01-13 |
| JPS5447291A (en) | 1979-04-13 |
| DE2837037C2 (en) | 1983-09-08 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4194633A (en) | Adjustable conveyor | |
| US7708145B2 (en) | Dry separating table, a separator and equipment for the compound dry separation with this table | |
| KR830002053B1 (en) | Air elutriation device for recovering char fines in discharge waste from iron oxido reclucing kiln | |
| CA1089396A (en) | Universally adjustable feed conveyor for rotary drum materials separator | |
| US5032256A (en) | Method and apparatus for air separation of material | |
| EP0479823B1 (en) | Method and apparatus for sorting articles with small density differences utilizing a flotation stream | |
| US3970547A (en) | Air classification apparatus | |
| EP0377563B1 (en) | Method and apparatus for separation using fluidized bed | |
| US11596168B2 (en) | Modular nut cleaning plant | |
| JPS62117645A (en) | Vertical type roller mill | |
| US4016071A (en) | Magnetic separation apparatus | |
| US4861464A (en) | Method and apparatus for separation using fluidized bed | |
| US4002559A (en) | Screw conveyor with dewatering means | |
| EP0170731B1 (en) | Method and apparatus for releasing cut tobacco from cigarette | |
| US5263589A (en) | Method of recovering tobacco from stemmery discard | |
| US3957629A (en) | Adjustable air classifier drum and conveyor | |
| US4052797A (en) | Rotary drum plenum seal | |
| CN213468577U (en) | Aggregate screening device | |
| CA1111381A (en) | Vertical current pneumatic classifier with air-seal maintaining conveyor exit | |
| US2302112A (en) | Seed cleaner | |
| JPH10216637A (en) | Grain-size wind composite classifier | |
| CN211463789U (en) | Roller screen sorting machine | |
| DE2434665A1 (en) | Grading freely flowing materials by particle weight - vibratory air cushion chute easily emptied for batch changing | |
| SU1153877A1 (en) | Machine for postharvesting treatment of onion | |
| AU661607B2 (en) | Sorting particulate material |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |