GB1492493A - High yield refuse separation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1492493 Pneumatic separation NEW LIFE FOUNDATION 22 May 1975 22115/75 Heading B2H An apparatus for the pneumatic separation of municiple refuse comprises a chamber 11 having an inlet 8 for the material to be separated, a spreader member 20 having conical upper and lower surfaces 21 and 23 which define an annular venturi throat 24 with the wall 12 of the chamber means 25 for drawing air and entrained light material upwardly through the chamber, and an outlet 13 for the heavier material at the bottom of the chamber. Clumps of adherent material are broken up by vanes 17, alternate adjacent pairs of which are connected by surfaces 33 and 34. The vanes 17 and spreader 20 are mounted on a rod 18 whose lower end may be attached to a horizontal bar 37 whose ends are attached to the wall 12. The bar 37 is covered by a pair of rotating sleeves 40. In the embodiment shown the spreader 20 has passages 32 through which some of the air flows. In other embodiments, Figs. 6 and 8 (not shown) the rod 18 is hollow and has air blown downwardly through it, the air issuing through ports (58) between the vanes 17 and through ports (62) in the upper surface of the spreader 20. A deflector ring 65", Fig. 12 may be located in the chamber 11 below the spreader 20. In the embodiment shown, the ring is formed of a plurality of segments 82, which are radially slidable in a channel shaped protrusion 90 in the wall 12. In another embodiment, Fig. 11 (not shown) the ring segments (75) are hinged to the wall 12 and are moved between extended and retracted positions by rods (79). Air may be blown into the chamber through ports (72) in the wall 12 just below the deflector ring. A funnel-like member (52) Fig. 5 (not shown) having walls covered with an elastomeric material may be located beneath the outlet 13. The material passing through the outlet 13 bounces off the member (52) and is deflected toward the centre so that air sweeping upwardly through the member (52) will carry away any remaining lightweight material. The heavy material falls onto a conveyor (31).