GB2322313A

GB2322313A - Separating particulate material

Info

Publication number: GB2322313A
Application number: GB9803329A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Bradford Nunn
Original assignee: NUFAB IND Pty Ltd
Current assignee: NUFAB IND Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1997-02-21
Filing date: 1998-02-18
Publication date: 1998-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 2018-02-18
Also published as: AUPO522697A0; GB2322313B; GB9803329D0; ZA981329B; CA2229853A1

Abstract

A separation apparatus has a chamber 12 having inlet means 18 outlet means 16, 36 and an air permeable mesh screen 26 in communication with the inlet 18 and oriented so that unseparated particulate material being fed into the inlet 18 traverses the screen 26 and travels in a direction towards the outlet. The apparatus also includes means 40 for creating a partial vacuum in the chamber 12 to draw air into the chamber 12 through the screen 26 and the unseparated material traversing the screen is separated into a distribution of particulate material, the average particle weight of material in a first portion of the said distribution adjacent the said screen being greater than the average particle weight of material in a second portion of the said distribution spaced from the said screen.

Description

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 inlet means, outlet means, an air permeable mesh screen in communication with the inlet means and oriented so that, in use, unseparated particulate material being fed into the inlet means traverses the said screen and travels in a direction towards the outlet means, and means for creating a partial vacuum in the chamber so that, in use, air is drawn into the chamber through the said screen and the said unseparated material traversing the said screen is separated into a distribution of particulate material, the average particle weight of material in a first portion of the said distribution adjacent the said screen being greater than the average particle weight of a second portion of the said distribution spaced from the said screen.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic sectional view through a separation apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

In the drawing, there is shown a separation apparatus for separating lightweight materials 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 flow control door 20 which is operable by means of a linkage 22 connected to a reciprocable handle 24.

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.

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 ofthe 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 lightweight material falls into the chute 16.

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 10.

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.

Claims

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

2. A separation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including a dividing vane movable relative to the said screen such that an end of the said vane adjacent the said screen is positionable, in use, intermediate the said first and second portions so as to thereby separate the said first and second portions from each other.

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

4. A separation apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the dividing vane is movable 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 claims 1 to 4, wherein the inlet means includes means for controlling flow of unseparated material into the chamber.

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

7. A separation apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the said screen is movable about a pivot, the angle of inclination of the said screen relative to the input means and the output means 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 means includes a hopper having an air lock provided with a rotating member for effecting removal of material from the chamber.

10. A separation apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawing.