GB2168625A

GB2168625A - Material separators

Info

Publication number: GB2168625A
Application number: GB08432429A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Victor Lawson; John Henry Toule; Raymond Hugh Eldridge; Richard Anthony Evans
Original assignee: WMC RESOURCE RECOVERY Ltd
Current assignee: WMC RESOURCE RECOVERY Ltd
Priority date: 1984-12-21
Filing date: 1984-12-21
Publication date: 1986-06-25
Also published as: GB8432429D0

Abstract

A separator for separating heavy constituents from lighter constituents of dry or semi-dry composite material, comprises an inclined conveyor (1A) for moving material upwardly, feed means (2) for feeding material to be separated to the conveyor (1A), retaining means (4) on the conveyor (1A) for retaining 8 lighter material on the conveyor (1A) to be conveyed upwardly thereby whilst permitting heavier material to fall back down the conveyor (1A), and receiving means (8) for receiving heavy material that has fallen back down the conveyor (1A) and hence has been separated from lighter material retained on the conveyor (1A) for delivery, separated from the heavy material, at a zone higher than the receiving means (8). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Material separators This invention relates to separators for separating heavy constituents from lighter constituents of dry or semi-dry composite material.

According to the present invention there is provided a separator for separating heavy constituents from lighter constituents of dry or semi-dry composite material, the separator comprising an inclined conveyor for moving material upwardly, feed means for feeding material to be separated to the conveyor, retaining means on the conveyor for retaining lighter material on the conveyor to be conveyed upwardly thereby whilst permitting heavier material to fall back down the conveyor, and receiving means for receiving heavy material that has fallen back down the conveyor and hence has been separated from ligher material retained on the conveyor for delivery, separated from the heavy material, at a zone higher than the receiving means.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried Into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a separator; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the separator of Fig. 1, and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side view of a detail of a modified form of separator.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the separator has an inclined endless belt 1, the upper run 1A of which moves from bottom to top to serve as an inclined conveyor for dry or semi-dry composite material fed to drop onto the lower end of this upper run 1 A by a horizontal feed conveyor 2, or by any other continuous feeding equipment.

The belt 3 carries upstanding ribs 4 which extend across the belt in a chevron formation, apices trailing as viewed in plan (Fig. 2).

Intermediate the ends of the run 1 A, at about two thirds of the way along the run from the lower end thereof, there is a support roller 5 for the run which is adjustable for altering the angle of inclination of the lower two thirds of the run. This angle of inclination is from 45" to 55" to the horizontal. In alternative forms, this roller 5 is non-adjustable so that the angle of inclination is fixed, or all the supports for the run 1 A are such that this run has a substantially constant angle of inclination throughout its whole length.

In the separator illustrated there is a variable frequency vibrator 6 for vibrating the support roller 5.

A guard 7 above the run 1 A has its lower end formed as a scoop 7A open upwardly and inclined at substantially the same angle as the run 1A, this scoop being disposed above the run 1A with sufficient clearance to allow material when first deposited on the run 1 A to pass beneath the scoop. A delivery chute 8 associated with the scoop 7A co-operates with a collecting bin 9 (Fig. 2), or with a further conveyor.

In the separator of Figs. 1 and 2, the scoop 7A and chute 8 are upstream (with respect to material being conveyed upwardly by the run 1 A) of the delivery point of material fed to the run 1 A from the feed conveyor or 2. In the modified form of separator shown in Fig. 3, the scoop 7A' and the chute 8' are below this point, that is they are downstream thereof.

In operation, dry or semi-dry composite material is fed continuously by the feed conveyor 2 to the lower end of the run 1A at a rate of 3000-4000 kg/hr where the belt 3 has an effective material-carrying width of 0.5m and the run 1A moves at a speed of 1.25-1.75 m/sec. In the form of Figs. 1 and 2 the material fed to the run 1A is first carried upwards under the scoop 7A. In the form of Fig. 3 the material reaches the run 1A at a zone just above the open mouth of the scoop 7A'.

At first all the material fed to the run 1A is conveyed thereby upwardly but because of the inclination of the run 1 A, heavy material starts to bounce back down the run 1 A as the material is carried upwardly. Lighter material is retained on the belt 3 by the ribs 4, the height of which affects what material falls back and what material continues to be carried upwardly. As a minimum the ribs are 250mm high. Falling-back of the heavy material can be promoted by operating the vibrator 6 to vibrate the support roller 5. It is further promoted when the material being carried upwardly reaches the slight change in inclination that is achieved (as illustrated in Fig.

1) by setting the roller 5 to deflect the run 1A out of a substantially constant angle of inclination throughout its length. However, separation will occur with substantially no variation in the inclination of the run 1A, and without vibration of the run 1 A.

The heavy material bouncing back down the run 1 A is caught by the scoop 7A, passes into the chute 8 and is fed to the collecting bin 9. The lighter material that is conveyed to the top of the run 1A is fed therefrom to another collecting bin or conveyor (neither shown). Operation is similar in the form of Fig. 3, where the heavy material has to drop relatively further before being caught by the scoop 7A' to pass into the chute 8.

1. A separator for separating heavy constituents from lighter constituents of dry or semi-dry composite material, the separator comprising an inclined conveyor for moving material upwardly, feed means for feeding material to be separated to the conveyor, retain

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Material separators This invention relates to separators for separating heavy constituents from lighter constituents of dry or semi-dry composite material. According to the present invention there is provided a separator for separating heavy constituents from lighter constituents of dry or semi-dry composite material, the separator comprising an inclined conveyor for moving material upwardly, feed means for feeding material to be separated to the conveyor, retaining means on the conveyor for retaining lighter material on the conveyor to be conveyed upwardly thereby whilst permitting heavier material to fall back down the conveyor, and receiving means for receiving heavy material that has fallen back down the conveyor and hence has been separated from ligher material retained on the conveyor for delivery, separated from the heavy material, at a zone higher than the receiving means. For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried Into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a separator; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the separator of Fig. 1, and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side view of a detail of a modified form of separator. Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the separator has an inclined endless belt 1, the upper run 1A of which moves from bottom to top to serve as an inclined conveyor for dry or semi-dry composite material fed to drop onto the lower end of this upper run 1 A by a horizontal feed conveyor 2, or by any other continuous feeding equipment. The belt 3 carries upstanding ribs 4 which extend across the belt in a chevron formation, apices trailing as viewed in plan (Fig. 2). Intermediate the ends of the run 1 A, at about two thirds of the way along the run from the lower end thereof, there is a support roller 5 for the run which is adjustable for altering the angle of inclination of the lower two thirds of the run. This angle of inclination is from 45" to 55" to the horizontal. In alternative forms, this roller 5 is non-adjustable so that the angle of inclination is fixed, or all the supports for the run 1 A are such that this run has a substantially constant angle of inclination throughout its whole length. In the separator illustrated there is a variable frequency vibrator 6 for vibrating the support roller 5. A guard 7 above the run 1 A has its lower end formed as a scoop 7A open upwardly and inclined at substantially the same angle as the run 1A, this scoop being disposed above the run 1A with sufficient clearance to allow material when first deposited on the run 1 A to pass beneath the scoop. A delivery chute 8 associated with the scoop 7A co-operates with a collecting bin 9 (Fig. 2), or with a further conveyor. In the separator of Figs. 1 and 2, the scoop 7A and chute 8 are upstream (with respect to material being conveyed upwardly by the run 1 A) of the delivery point of material fed to the run 1 A from the feed conveyor or 2. In the modified form of separator shown in Fig. 3, the scoop 7A' and the chute 8' are below this point, that is they are downstream thereof. In operation, dry or semi-dry composite material is fed continuously by the feed conveyor 2 to the lower end of the run 1A at a rate of 3000-4000 kg/hr where the belt 3 has an effective material-carrying width of 0.5m and the run 1A moves at a speed of 1.25-1.75 m/sec. In the form of Figs. 1 and 2 the material fed to the run 1A is first carried upwards under the scoop 7A. In the form of Fig. 3 the material reaches the run 1A at a zone just above the open mouth of the scoop 7A'. At first all the material fed to the run 1A is conveyed thereby upwardly but because of the inclination of the run 1 A, heavy material starts to bounce back down the run 1 A as the material is carried upwardly. Lighter material is retained on the belt 3 by the ribs 4, the height of which affects what material falls back and what material continues to be carried upwardly. As a minimum the ribs are 250mm high. Falling-back of the heavy material can be promoted by operating the vibrator 6 to vibrate the support roller 5. It is further promoted when the material being carried upwardly reaches the slight change in inclination that is achieved (as illustrated in Fig. 1) by setting the roller 5 to deflect the run 1A out of a substantially constant angle of inclination throughout its length. However, separation will occur with substantially no variation in the inclination of the run 1A, and without vibration of the run 1 A. The heavy material bouncing back down the run 1 A is caught by the scoop 7A, passes into the chute 8 and is fed to the collecting bin 9. The lighter material that is conveyed to the top of the run 1A is fed therefrom to another collecting bin or conveyor (neither shown). Operation is similar in the form of Fig. 3, where the heavy material has to drop relatively further before being caught by the scoop 7A' to pass into the chute 8. CLAIMS

1. A separator for separating heavy constituents from lighter constituents of dry or semi-dry composite material, the separator comprising an inclined conveyor for moving material upwardly, feed means for feeding material to be separated to the conveyor, retain ing means on the conveyor for retaining lighter material on the conveyor to be conveyed upwardly thereby whilst permitting heavier material to fall back down the conveyor, and receiving means for receiving heavy material that has fallen back down the conveyor and hence has been separated from ligher material retained on the conveyor for delivery, separated from the heavy material, at a zone higher than the receiving means.

2. A separator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conveyor is inclined at an angle of from 45" to 55" to the horizontal.

3. A separator as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the angle of inclination of the conveyor is variable.

4. A separator as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the angle of inclination of the conveyor changes at a point intermediate the upper and lower ends of the conveyor.

5. A separator as claimed in claim 4, wherein said point is substantially two thirds of the way along the conveyor from the lower end of the conveyor.

6. A separator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and comprising means for vibrating the conveyor to vibrate material carried by the conveyor.

7. A separator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveyor is the upper run of an endless belt.

8. A separator as claimed in claim 7 as appendant to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the upper run is supported by a support that is moveable to vary said angle of inclination.

9. A separator as claimed in claim 8 as appendant to claim 5 or to claims 5 and 6, wherein said support is at said point.

10. A separator as claimed in claim 8 or 9 each as appendant to claim 6, wherein said means for vibrating the conveyor vibrates said support.

11. A separator aa claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein said retaining means are ribs upstanding from the endless belt.

12. A separator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving means is a scoop upwardly open to receive the heavy material falling back down the convenyor.

13. A separator for separating heavy constituents from lighter constituents of dry or semi-dry material, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, or Fig. 3, of the accompanying drawing.