MXPA06005175A

MXPA06005175A - Material classifier having a scoop wheel.

Info

Publication number: MXPA06005175A
Application number: MXPA06005175A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Thor J Johannsen
Original assignee: Thor Global Entpr Ltd
Priority date: 2003-11-10
Filing date: 2004-11-09
Publication date: 2006-08-25
Also published as: WO2005044458A1; AU2004286730A1; AU2004286730B2; AU2004286730A2; EP1687092A4; EP1687092A1; BRPI0416214A; KR20070001908A

Abstract

A material classifier for classifying a liquid-solid mixture containing solid material to be separated is provided. The material classifier includes a tank defining a reservoir for receiving the liquid-solid mixture, and a scoop wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart scoops for scooping material from the tank and subsequently discharging the scooped material from the tank during rotation of the scoop wheel. A classification system and method of classifying material is also provided.

Description

MATERIAL CLASSIFIER THAT HAS A NORIA FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to material classifiers, devices for washing and dehydrating material, and more particularly to material classifiers that have a wheel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The material classifiers are used for many different purposes, including the separation or classification of solids according to the particle size and / or density. Many different types of material sorters are known, including mechanical and non-mechanical types. In accordance with a type of material classifier, the solids to be separated are mixed in an appropriate liquid such as water, to create a liquid-solid mixture or pulp. The mixture is then introduced into a sorting tank. The larger particles settle to the bottom of the classifier tank while the fine particles remain suspended in the liquid medium (called the fines). A powered wheel is used that has harrows (flights), elevators, dredges, blades, buckets, scrapers or other means to lift the solid material that has settled to the bottom of the tank and discharge it on a discharge channel, conveyor belt or other means to collect and transport the sedimented material. The liquid is removed from the classifier or comes out as a leftover. Material sorters of this type also provide cleaning of solid particles. A classifier of known material of this first type, of which an example can be seen in the patent E.U.A. No. 1,107,472, issued on August 18, 1914, uses separate "buckets" or scraper blades around the circumference of a cylindrical classifying tank or container.The container is partially filled with water and rotated slowly. lighter than water, they float on the surface of the water and are discharged from the container through a waste discharge channel, the heavier materials sink to the bottom of the container and are lifted by the buckets as they turn. the buckets reach a specified height inside the container, the contents of the buckets are emptied onto an evacuation hopper which discharges the material from the container.

Another classifier of known material of this first type, an example of which can be seen in the patent E.U.A. No. 2,226,750, issued December 31, 1940, utilizes a circular wheel with radially spaced blades. The heavier solids collected by the blades are pushed towards a discharge flange. The lighter solids are kept in suspension and leave the classifier at a point of drainage such as a gauging weir (eir). The sorter blades have a cam mechanism that allows the blades to retract as they move upward beyond the discharge flange. In the downward rotation the blades are lowered into the water by the shore to minimize the swell of the liquid caused by the blades entering the water. Another type of sorter typically used to classify sand and aggregate cleaning materials uses an endless screw mechanism to move the sand / aggregate along the finisher. These designs are commonly known as rotary drum sorters or screw type conveyor type, an example of which can be seen in the patent E.U.A. No. 4,151,074, issued April 24, 1979. Endless screw classifiers can be complex, prone to wear, and can be expensive, and their maintenance and installation can be very expensive. Another type of classifier uses a tank or elongated classifier channel. The liquid / solid mixture is introduced at a relatively high flow rate at one end of the classifier tank. A number of discharge tubes / outlets are provided near the bottom of the classifier tank along its length. Larger and heavier particles settle near the entrance of the classifier. Smaller, lighter particles remain suspended longer than heavier / larger particles and travel past the entrance before they settle. The liquid leaves the classifier tank using a drain or other device. By opening the appropriate discharge tubes, the solid material having the appropriate particle size / density can be extracted from the classifier. Typically, the extracted material is further processed using dehydration apparatuses, such as an endless screw conveyor, to remove the water therefrom. A common deficiency of existing classifier designs is that typically adequate classification power is achieved at the expense of capacity and vice versa. Typically, a material classifier may have either adequate classification power but low capacity and a complicated recovery system, or high capacity and a relatively simple recovery system but low classification power. In addition, material classifiers with adequate classification power typically offer a rating power much larger than that typically required because most fine grade materials have fewer uses. An additional deficiency of most material classifiers is that they are large and can not easily be carried between work sites. Some material classifiers, such as those in a quarry or mine of aggregate materials, are typically large facilities that require a support structure and therefore can not be transported. Other types of sorters, for example screw conveyors and augers, are susceptible to being transported. However, these types of material sorters typically have to be loaded onto a truck, for example a forklift, trailer or crane, transported to the desired site and unloaded from the truck. In addition to being a source of downtime, the loading and unloading of the classifier requires equipment at both the initial site and the final destination to perform the loading / unloading operation. In addition, these types of classifiers may require some disassembly for transport and reassembly once you arrive at the site.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a material classifier that has a wheel. The example modalities provide a classifier of material that performs the functions of cleaning, separation, and dehydration, and in some embodiments provides a material classifier that is easier and less expensive to manufacture, and that can be transported relatively easily. In some example modalities, the wheel rotates at an angle relative to the horizontal. In another example embodiment, the invention provides a sorting system having multiple wheels arranged in series which, in some embodiments, are driven independently so that each wheel can be rotated at a separate speed. Even in another example mode, the norias are out of phase with respect to the classification current. The present invention, in its various example modalities, seeks to provide an improved material classifier that is more cost effective, reliable, less prone to wear, requiring less maintenance, with greater capacity, and / or It is relatively compact and can be transported relatively easily. In addition, in various exemplary embodiments, the material classifier of the present invention can be used to classify sand and other materials, has a convenient lay-out for supply and discharge, can be used in series to increase capacity or performance or classification of solid material. In accordance with an example of the present invention, a material classifier is provided for classifying a liquid-solid mixture containing a solid material to be separated, comprising: a tank defining a reservoir for receiving the liquid-solid mixture; and a wheel placed rotatably inside the tank to rotate about an axis of the wheel that is inclined relative to a horizontal reference, the wheel includes a plurality of buckets separated in circumferential form to collect material from the tank and subsequently discharge the material collected from the tank during the rotation of the Ferris wheel around its Ferris wheel axis. According to another example of the present invention, a material classifier is provided for classifying a liquid-solid mixture containing solid material to be separated, comprising: a tank defining a reservoir for receiving the liquid-solid mixture; a conveyor belt; and a ferris wheel suspended from the conveyor belt at least partially inside the tank to rotate about a wheel axle, the wheel includes a plurality of circumferentially separated ladles to collect material from the tank and subsequently discharge the material collected from the tank during the rotation of the wheel. According to a further example of the present invention, there is provided a classification system for classifying a liquid-solid mixture having various grades of solid material therein, comprising: a tank defining a reservoir for receiving the liquid-mixture. solid; a first ferris wheel rotatably placed inside the tank to rotate about a ferris wheel axis, the first ferris wheel includes a plurality of circumferentially separated ladles to collect material from the tank and subsequently discharge the material collected from the tank during the rotation of the first Ferris wheel around its axis of Ferris wheel; and a second wheel placed rotatably inside the tank to rotate around a wheel axle, the second wheel includes a plurality of buckets separated in circumferential form to collect material from the tank and subsequently discharge the material collected from the tank during rotation of the second Ferris wheel around its axis of Ferris wheel. In accordance with even a further example of the present invention, a method for classifying a material is provided, comprising the steps of: introducing a liquid-solid mixture into a tank to a predetermined filling level; rotating a wheel around a wheel axle to collect the solid material sedimented from the bottom of the tank, the wheel axle is placed at an acute angle relative to a vertical reference; and do, rotate the wheel in an additional way to unload the material collected from the wheel when the material collected is above an upper edge of the tank. In accordance with even another example of the present invention, a material sorter is provided for classifying aggregate material, comprising: a support frame; a tank mounted to the support frame to receive a mixture of aggregate and fluid material, the tank has a side wall with an upwardly sloping surface; a wheel having a plurality of ladles extending radially to pick up aggregate material from the tank, the wheel is located adjacent to the upward facing surface and has a plate substantially parallel to and facing the upward facing surface; a suspension transmission system for driving the wheel, the suspension transmission system includes a pair of separate band guides secured to the support frame and an endless band passing through the guides, the wheel is suspended from the band between the guides so that it turns in a direction substantially parallel to the surface facing upward; and a fluid source for applying pressurized fluid to the wheel plate to deflect the wheel in the opposite direction to the upward facing surface; the wheel and the side wall are arranged in such a way that during use the buckets discharge the aggregate material collected from the tank on one edge of the side wall. Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after reviewing the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Reference is now made to the appended figures which show, by way of example, embodiments of the present invention, and in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a material classifier that is constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention with a separate portion showing a ladle. Figure 2 is a top view of the material sorter of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the material sorter of Figure 1. Figure 4 is an end view of the material sorter of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the wheel of the material classifier of Figure 1. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the material classifier of Figure 1 associated with a conveyor belt for transporting the discharged solid material. Figure 7 is a side view of a second embodiment of a material classifier constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a wheel for an increased material classifier in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 9A is a sectional end view of the material classifier of Figure 1 showing the water pipe in the tank during operation. Figure 9B is a sectional end view of a material classifier having the wheel of Figure 8 showing the water pipe in the tank during operation. Figure 10 is a sectional end view of another embodiment of a material classifier constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 11 is a sectional view of the wheel of Figure 10 taken along line 11-11. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a classification system constructed in accordance with the present invention having three wheels and a suspended transmission system. Figure 13 is a partial end view of a wheel having a U-shaped guide attached circumferentially thereto. Fig. 14 is a partial end view having an L-shaped guide attached circumferentially thereto. Figure 15 is a side view of a further embodiment of a material classifier constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 16 is a sectional view of the wheel of Figure 15 taken along line 16-16; and Figure 17 is an enlarged view of a section of the wheel of Figure 16 indicated by reference 17. Figure 18 is a schematic diagram of a material classifier in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 19 is an exploded view of the wheel of the material sorter of Figure 15 showing the inner and outer plates mounted to the inner hub. Figure 20 is an exploded view of the wheel of a classifier of material similar to that shown in Figure 19 except that a single plate is mounted to the inner hub. Figure 21 is a perspective view of the wheel of the material sorter of Figure 15. Figure 22A is a side view of a material sorter having a diverter for the collected material attached to its discharge channel; and Figure 22B is an end view of a material sorter having a deviator for the collected material attached to its discharge channel. Similar references are used in different figures to indicate similar components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference is first made to Figures 1 to 4, which show a system 12 for classifying a liquid-solid mixture implemented in accordance with the present invention. The system 12 comprises the material classifiers 14, indicated individually by the references 14a, 14b and 14c, a support frame 16, the norias 18, the hook (hitch) 20, and a mixing box 22. The material sorters 14 are coupled in succession to form a series of three sorter steps beginning with the first material sorter 14a. In other modalities, more or less stages may be used. If desired, a single material sorter 14 can be used. Each material sorter 14 comprises a tank or hopper 30, and an angularly mounted wheel 32 having a plurality of curved ladles or elevators 34, which extend radially. The norias 32 and their corresponding buckets 34 collect the sedimented material, take it out of the tanks 30 and deposit it on the ramps or discharge channels 36. Each discharge channel 36 directs the collected material on a corresponding conveyor belt 37 (figure 6) . The conveyor belt 37 that transports the material to some other part, for example, to a discharge stack (not shown) for open storage. In other embodiments, the discharge channels 36 can direct the collected material towards a common conveyor belt. Other means of transport can be used to transport the material from the discharge channels 36. Each of the wheels 32 is driven by a transmission mechanism 38 that can be controlled independently. For example, in one embodiment each wheel 38 mechanism is a hydrostatic transmission. An electric motor 39 drives three hydraulic pumps, each pump controls an independent hydrostatic transmission. In other embodiments, alternative transmission mechanisms are used, such as independent electric motors for each wheel, for example. In an exemplary embodiment, the rotation speed of the wheels 32 is different for each stage, in which the wheel 32 in the first stage has higher rpm than the wheel 32 in the second stage, which in turn has rpm higher than the Ferris wheel in the third stage. Generally speaking, a slower rotation results in less agitation and allows the lighter material to settle to the bottom of the tank 30 so that it can be collected by the buckets 34. However, slow rotation speeds reduce the speed at which the sedimented material is collected from the tanks. Therefore, the process requirements are taken into account when selecting the appropriate rotation speeds for the wheels 32. With reference now to Figures 6 and 9A, tanks 30 are described in greater detail. Tanks 30 have each a lower wall 55 and a side wall 54 adjacent to the ferris wheel 32 perspective. The side wall 54 includes a guard plate 53 on an upper portion thereof. In the upper portion of the side wall 54 is defined a discharge area or opening 51 adjacent to the guard plate 53. The discharge channels 36 are attached to an outer surface of the side wall 54 of each of the tanks 30 in an upper edge 33 of the side wall 54 in communication with the discharge opening 51. A drain 61 is provided in a lower portion of each side wall 54 for draining the respective tanks 30 during the cessation of operations. The angle of the side wall 54 corresponds to an angle T ° in which the wheel 32 is mounted in relation to a vertical reference "V", thus ensuring that substantially all of the solid material collected by the treads 32 remains in the buckets 34 until the ladles 34 reach their respective discharge channels 36. Alternatively, the inclination or angle of the side wall 54 can be defined in terms of the horizontal reference. In such cases, the side wall 54 is positioned at an angle? in relation to a horizontal reference such as, for example, the base of the support frame 16. When the ladles 34 arrive in the discharge channel 36, the collected material carried by the ladles 34 falls down to the channel 36 and on the conveyor belt corresponding 37. Tanks 30- may also include a dump dump or gate 40 between them. In some modalities, the gates 40 define an opening that allows water and suspended material to pass through them to the next stage in the classifier system. In other embodiments, gates are not present and tanks 30 open one in the other. Referring now to Figure 5, one embodiment of a treadmill 32 is described in more detail. Each tread 32 comprises buckets or lifts 34, an inner hub 44, spokes 46, transmission shaft 48, and an outer hub 50. As shown in FIG. shown in Figure 5, the inner hub 44 may comprise a substantially cylindrical wall or ring from which the buckets extend, at least some of the buckets have a width greater than that of the cylindrical wall. However, in other embodiments, the inner hub 44 may comprise two or more separate concentric rings interspersed from the respective end edges of the buckets 34. As shown in Figure 5, the outer hub 50 comprises the concentric support bars 52 , however, other configurations of the outer hub 50 are also possible. The transmission shaft 48 of each chain 32 is coupled to its corresponding transmission mechanism 38 (Figures 1-4). To facilitate the unloading of material from the buckets 34, the wheels 32 are mounted angularly so that they have at least one side facing downwards inside the material classifier 14 corresponding to an angle T ° relative to the vertical V (referred to as the Inclination angle) . Therefore, the axis of rotation of each wheel 32 is oriented at an angle T ° with respect to the horizontal H. In several embodiments, the angle of inclination is selected based on the classification application for which the system is used. 12. For example, in one embodiment, the angle of inclination is equal to or less than 50 degrees from the vertical. In another example embodiment, the angle of inclination is substantially 32 degrees from the vertical. However, said angles are only examples and the angle of inclination can vary in various modalities to achieve the desired results for the material being classified. The buckets 34 each include an outer bucket edge 35 which is inserted (engages) into the sedimented material at the bottom of the tanks 30. The buckets 34 are oriented such that the curvature of the buckets 34 opens in the direction of movement of the norias 32, thus allowing the buckets 34 to collect the sedimented material at the bottom of the tanks 30. Different shapes of the buckets 34 are possible. In an example embodiment, the buckets 34 can be peeled off for help in the transportation of the system 12 decreasing its total height. In such embodiments, the buckets 34 are attached to the inner hub 44 using bolts or other suitable removable fasteners. In other exemplary embodiments, the support bars 52 of the outer hub 50 are divided into sections with a plurality of buckets 34 attached to each of the sections. These sections can then be attached and detached to the inner hub 44 as required, allowing for easier transportation and repair of the system 12. In an exemplary embodiment, the inner hub 44 is narrower than the buckets 34 in such a manner that the inner hub 44 is separated from the side wall 54 which allows the water to flow out of the inner edge portions 42 of the buckets 34 that extend beyond the inner hub 44 during the rotation of the 32 wheel. shown in Figure 9A, in an example embodiment, the bottom wall 55 is perpendicular to the side wall 54, such that the bottom wall 55 is substantially parallel to the outer bucket edge 35 of the buckets 34, and such that the sedimented aggregate material is collected in the portion of the tank 30 in which the ferris wheel 32 is located. As the ferris wheel 32 rotates upwards with full 34 buckets, the buckets 34 rise out of the water with the material trapped in the buckets 34 and supported by the side wall 54. As the buckets emerge from the water, the water trapped by the buckets 34 flows outward and back into the tank 30 As the ladles 34 rotate further, the collected material undergoes dehydration whereupon the entrained water is drained from the collected material. Water removal continues until the buckets 34 reach the top of tank 30 and are unloaded. Referring now to Figures 1 and 6, the discharge of solid material collected by the system 12 is described. In the embodiment shown, the discharge channels 36 of each stage are associated with a corresponding conveyor belt 37, however it can also be use a single conveyor belt. The discharge channels 36 are oriented downward towards the conveyor belts 37 to facilitate unloading. Vertical guides 58 can be provided on one or both sides of the discharge channels 36 which direct and channel the collected material towards the lower end of the channels 36 and on the corresponding conveyor belts 37. In other embodiments, the discharge channels 36 can direct the collected material towards an individual conveyor belt. In some applications, an individual conveyor can be used that has separate channels for the material coming from each of the stages of the classifier. In other modalities, an individual conveyor belt can be used for all the wheels. The use of a common conveyor belt allows the collected material to be recombined to form a mixed aggregate having a particle size / density distribution within the tolerances of the product. For example, in some applications the amount of material collected from each stage of the classifier may be selected such that when recombined, the final product has a desired amount of material in each particle size / density range. Using this strategy, clean and dehydrated aggregate material having the desired characteristics can be produced for different applications. As shown in Figures 22A and 22B, a portion of the material collected by a wheel can be separated or removed. In the embodiment shown, the discharge channel 36 includes a diverter 270. The diverter 270 comprises a hollow conduit or tube communicating with an opening 271 in the discharge channel 36 at one end. Flexible tubing 272 can be attached at the other end of diverter 270. A portion of the collected material, discharged into channel 36, falls through diverter 270 and tubing 272. Tubing 272 discharges the diverter material onto a conveyor belt 274. to be transported to somewhere else, for example, to a separate discharge pile. The path of the material that avoids or surrounds the diverter 270 and enters the conveyor belts 37 so that it is collected as part of the final product is represented by reference "d". The use of a diverter 270 allows the required amount of collected material collected on a noria 32 to be obtained by eliminating or bypassing any excess portion in order to satisfy the specifications of the final product. In other embodiments, a rod or arm may be used for pivotal mounting instead of a diverter tube. In such cases, the bar can be pivotally mounted to rotate around its center. The pivotally mounted bar can be, for example, a finger gate. The adjustment of the position of the bar changes the portion of material collected that is diverted from the main portion of the discharge channel 36 which is discharged onto the conveyor 37 as part of the final product to increase or decrease the amount of material diverted. With reference now to figures 1 to 4, the operation of an example mode of the system 12 is described in more detail. The direction of movement of the norias 32 is indicated by the reference 56. In this embodiment, the norias 32 of each classifier 14 rotate in the direction of the box Mixing 22. The aggregate material is transported by a conveyor belt (not shown) or other means of transport to the interior of the mixing box 22. The aggregate material can be pre-sifted to remove particles that are larger than the tolerance of the application, such as rocks. The water is supplied continuously to the interior of the mixing box 22 through an inlet pipe (not shown). The water and the aggregate material form a liquid-solid mixture or pulp that passes through the mixing box 22. The liquid-solid mixture is fed to the tank of the first classifier 14a. A gate 40 provides an opening between the tank 30 of the first classifier 14a and the tank 30 of the second classifier 14b which allows the water and the suspended material to flow from the first stage to the second stage. Similarly, a gate 40 provides an opening between the tank 30 of the second classifier 14b and the tank 30 of the third classifier 14c which allows the water and the suspended material to flow from the second stage to the third stage. A gate 40 can also be provided at one discharge end of the tank 30 of the final stage 14c. In other embodiments, an outlet chamber 59 (Figure 2) is positioned opposite the mixing chamber or the supply tank 22. The liquid from the third tank overflows a gauge or weir gauging on the end wall of the tank and flows into the outlet chamber 59. An opening in the outlet chamber 59 is connected to a flexible hose or pipe whose flow exits towards a waste sink (not shown). The gates 40 include a control mechanism that allows the opening of the gate to be enlarged or contracted by raising or lowering the gates 40. Controlling the size of the gate openings allows the flow rate of the water to be controlled and controlled. of the suspended solids between the stages of the classifier, and consequently the level of water in each of the tanks 30. In an example embodiment, the water flowing through the system 12 is regulated in such a way that the water level fall from the first stage to the second stage, and then from the second stage to the third stage. In other modalities, the water level can be increased from the first stage to the last stage. Other means may be used to control the flow through the system 12 in addition to, or in place of the gates 40. In some embodiments, the water level in the tanks 30 is also controlled by pumping a certain amount of water from one or more of the later stages of returning to the initial stages. The flow of. water between tanks 30 can also be affected by the level of the classification system 12. If the classification system is not level, the water level in each of the tanks will be affected by the level of the system. Although the aspects of the present invention can be used to classify a number of different types of material, for example various types of aggregates and solids recovered from municipal waters or from wastewater treatment operations, hereinafter in the present invention describes the use of system 12 as a sand sorter.

In the first stage 14a of the sorting system, the speed of the wheel 32 is selected such that a desired degree or quantity of settled solids is collected in the first stage 14a. In some embodiments, the rotation of the wheel 32 contributes to the agitation of the water in the tank 30 of the first classifier 14a in such a way that the sand particles that are generally smaller than a pre-defined mass remain suspended, while the particles that are usually heavier than the pre-defined mass sink to the bottom of the tank 30 where they are collected by the buckets 34. As the wheel turns 32, the buckets 34 moving upward emerge of the water. As the buckets 34 emerge, the water captured by the buckets 34 is drained and returned to the tank 30. Some suspended particles are carried back with the water to the tank 30. As the wheel 32 rotates in an additional manner, the entrained water is drained from the collected materials until the buckets 34 arrive at the discharge opening 51. Once in the discharge opening, the collected material carried by the buckets 34 slides outwards and up to the discharge channel 36 towards a collection device such as a conveyor belt 37 (figure 7). The lighter particles that remain suspended in the water of the first stage then travel through the gate 40 and into the tank 30 of the second stage. In the second stage 14b, similar to the first stage, the wheel 32 rotates at a speed such that a desired amount or degree of settled solids are collected in the second stage 14b. In some embodiments, the rotation of the wheel 32 contributes to the agitation of the water in the tank 30 of the second classifier 14b in such a way that the particles which are generally below a certain mass are suspended in the water in the tank 30. , while the particles that are usually heavier than said mass sink to the bottom of tank 30 where they are collected by buckets 34 of wheel 32 of the second stage. As with the first stage, when the ladles 34 emerge from the water as the ferris wheel 32 rotates, the water captured by the ladles 34 is initially drained and returned to the tank 30. As the ferris wheel 32 rotates in an additional manner, the entrained water is drained from the collected materials until the buckets 34 reach the discharge opening 51. Once in the discharge opening, the collected material carried by the buckets 34 slides outwards and up to the discharge channel 36 towards the conveyor belt 37. The lighter particles that remain suspended in the water of the second stage then travel through the next gate 40 and into the tank 30 of the third stage. In the third stage 14c, very fine particles or mud are removed. The wheel 32 of the third classifier 14c moves at a sufficiently slow speed that at least some of the sludge particles can settle to the bottom of the tank 30, in which these are collected by the buckets 34 of the 32 wheel and are deposited in the discharge channel 36 of the third stage.

The water leaves the third stage through the final 40 gate (figure 9A) and is sent to a waste pool (not shown). This water contains residual suspended solids that do not settle to the bottom of tank 30 of the third stage. The rotation speed of the wheel 32 in the third stage 14c is selected such that a predetermined percentage of sludge particles is removed. In one embodiment, the speed of the wheel 32 is selected to obtain 20 percent recovery of sludge particles. The recovery of the sludge particles reduces the need for, and the costs associated with, recovering the sludge from the waste pool. In other modalities, the finer particles are removed from the third stage of the classifier while the majority of the sludge particles, for example particles having a particular diameter less than 400 μm remain in suspension. The sludge particles leave the sorting system as a leftover and are sent to the waste pool. Therefore, it will be appreciated that in this example embodiment, the sand passing through the system 12 is cleaned, classified in different sizes, and dehydrated at least partially. The range of sizes that are extracted in each stage depends on a number of variables that include, for example, the speed at which the aggregate material is supplied and the water to the system 12, the agitation that occurs in the mixing box 22, the distance from the mixing box 22, the speeds at which the norias 32 rotate, the size and number of ladles 34 at the norias 32, and the location and sizes of the gate openings between the stages. A programmable logic controller (PLC) or other appropriate controller can be used to improve the control of the process in relation to the speed at which the aggregate material is fed into the system 12, the speed with which it is fed the water to the system 12, the rotation speed of the norias 32, and possibly the size of the gate openings between the stages. In the following, variations of the system 12 are described. In one embodiment, the 32 wheel in the first stage rotates between 8 and 12 rpm, the 32 wheel in the second stage rotates between 4 and 6 rpm, and the 32 wheel in the third stage rotates at less than 4 rpm. Said speeds are provided only as non-limiting examples and other speeds are possible for the wheels 32 in which the desired speed of the wheel depends on, among other things, the size of the wheel, the size of the tank, the number and size of the wheel. buckets, the angle of inclination and the material that is being classified. Also, the speed at which each of the wheels 32 rotates is a parameter susceptible of selection and a reduction between successive stages as in the present modality is not necessary. In some embodiments, each noria 32 rotates at the same speed. The speed of the wheel, the size of the wheel, the number of buckets, the size of the bucket, the shape and spacing, the angle of inclination, the size of the tank, the size and opening of the gate, among other things, are parameters which may be varied in different embodiments of the invention, and may vary between the stages of the classifier in some embodiments, in order to achieve the desired results for the material being classified. For example, in some embodiments, the 32 wheel in the third stage has 34 buckets narrower than those of the 32 wheels in the first and second stages. Shorter buckets 34 can be used in the third stage because the volume of aggregate material removed in this stage is smaller compared to the first and second stages in which most of the material is removed. Generally speaking, the speed of the wheel is adjusted to rotate as quickly as possible, but slow enough to allow a certain amount of water removal to occur. If the speed of the wheel is set too high, the collected material will retain too much water and, in some cases, the water trapped by the buckets 34 could not drain and will be collected from the tanks 30 with the material discharged. The number of buckets 34 per wheel is set so that the wheel 32 is filled, however, the buckets 34 can not be packed so closely that the operation of a bucket 34 interferes with the operation of the adjacent buckets 34. The length of the buckets 34 is typically set to achieve a capacity of a certain number of tons per hour. The diameter of the wheel is typically as large as possible to increase capacity, but small enough so that the system 12 can be transported (for example in a cargo transport container), and small enough so that it can be installed in a manageable manner by the end user. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, the system 12 is supported by the common frame 16 which has the wheels 18 at one end thereof, and a hook 20 at the opposite end thereof so that the classifier is can easily move, for example, by towing system 12 through the use of a cargo truck. In a non-limiting example embodiment, the system 12 is made to a size such that it can be easily transported in a standard cargo transport container (eg, a container having the approximate interior dimensions of 2.29 m x 12.01 m). In such cases, the system can be transported as a normal legal charge without special loading restrictions. In other embodiments, the system has a stationary configuration and can not be easily carried. Even in other embodiments, the classifiers 14 are separate units that do not share a common frame. Reference is now made to Figure 7, which shows a further example embodiment of a system 60 for classifying a liquid-solid mixture implemented in accordance with the present invention. The system 60 is similar to the system 12, except that the orientation of the wheels 32 is different. The system 60 comprises three material classifiers indicated individually by references 62, 64 and 66. The first and second classifiers 62 and 64 rotate in the direction of the hook 20, ie in a downstream direction, while the third classifier 66 rotates in the opposite direction towards the mixing box 22, ie in an upstream direction. The direction of movement of the norias 32 is indicated individually by references 72, 74, and 76 (figure 7). As with the system 12, the buckets 34 are curved in the direction of movement of the wheels 32 to collect the sedimented material at the bottom of the tanks 30. Even in other embodiments, the first and second classifiers rotate towards the box. mixed 22 and the third classifier rotates in the opposite direction to the mixing box 22. Reference is now made to Figures 8 and 9B, which show another embodiment of a material classifier 80 in accordance with the present invention. The material classifier 80 is similar to the material classifier 14, except that the shape of the buckets attached to the wheel is different. Each material classifier 80 comprises a tank or hopper 30 having a side wall 54, and a wheel 82 mounted in an angular manner having a plurality of buckets or elevators 84, curved, extending radially. Each bucket 84 has an outer bucket edge 85 which is inserted into the sedimented material at the bottom of the tanks 30. In the same manner as indicated above, the norias 82 and their corresponding buckets 84 serve the dual purpose of shaking the contents of the bucket 84. each of the tanks 30, and of collecting and removing the material from the tanks 30 and depositing it on the ramps or discharge channels 36. In a similar manner to that of the buckets 34 of the system 12, the buckets 84 are curved in the direction of movement of the norias 82 to collect sedimented material at the bottom of the tanks 30. However, the buckets 84 are inclined in the opposite direction to the side wall 54 so that the outer bucket edge 85 remains substantially parallel to the surface of the water in the tank 30. In this way, the inclination of each bucket 84 corresponds to the angle of inclination with which the norias 82 are mounted inside the tan 30. The inclination of the buckets 84 provides improved ejection of the water carried by the buckets 84 when they emerge from the water during the unloading operation. With reference now to Figures 9A and 9B, the inclion of the buckets 84 is explained in greater detail. Figure 9A illustrates a wheel 32 of a material classifier 14 with a liquid-solid mixture such as sand and water received therein. The water pipe in tank 30 is indicated by reference 86. For convenience, only one bucket 34 is shown. Similarly, Figure 9B illustrates a wheel 82 of material classifier 80 with a liquid-solid mixture such as sand and water received in it. The water pipe in the tank 30 is indicated by reference 86. Referring now to Fig. 9A, it will be appreciated that as the wheel 32 emerges from the water in the water pipe 86, the outer bucket edge 35 completes the bucket 34 does not emerge from the water at the same time, but an upper portion 88 of bucket 34 emerges first. Referring now to FIG. 9B, it will be appreciated that the tilt allows the outer bucket edge 85 full of ladle 84 to emerge from the water at the same time, thereby allowing the captured water to be expelled uniformly from the buckets 84 from both sides thereof. Other variations of the material classifier are also possible. Instead of using separate tanks for each ferris wheel 32, a single large tank can be used to accommodate all ferris wheels 32. Minor adjustments to the classifier may be required in the individual tank configuration, for example, divisions or deflectors may be necessary to provide certain separation between the stages of the classifier. In this mode, the lighter particles kept in suspension are allowed to flow towards the far end of the tank closest to the last ferris wheel 32. In other modalities, more or less classifier stages are used in which the remainder coming from the second stage contains very fine particles or sludge, which is sent to a waste pool. Even in other example modalities, only a single classifier stage and a single wheel are used. In another example embodiment, multiple stages of classifier are used, in which the norias 32 operate at different speeds, but the angle of inclion is substantially 0 ° from the vertical V, the wheels being phase-shifted in series to allow the download of material. For example, three vertically oriented material classifiers can be used in series. The person skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments of the present invention, the wheels 32 are offset to one side from the flow of the current to be sorted, ie the flow of the liquid-solid mixture, through the system 12 of such that in each tank, the flow to be sorted can flow from the inlet in the mixing box to the outlet at the opposite end of the classification system beyond the out-of-phase wheels. The lag of the norias 32 can isolate or partially or completely separate the norias 32 from the flow to be classified, depending on the specific modality. In such cases, the rotation of the wheels 32 contributes very little, if anything, to the agitation of the flow to be sorted, and the distance from the mixing box 22 becomes one of the domt factors affecting the rate of sedimentation and the size of the particles settled at a particular stage when the other variables remain constant. In these embodiments, the classification system may include a longitudly extending partition defining an inlet channel for receiving the liquid-solid mixture to additionally isolate the norias 32 from the flow to be sorted. The longitud division can be placed opposite the norias, and it can be aligned with the side wall 54 and / or the inner side of the norias 32. In some embodiments, the longitud division extends substantially parallel to the side wall 54. In some applications, the liquid-solid mixture can be introduced into the inlet channel at a high flow rate. In those applications, the entrance channel is relatively turbulent while the liquid-solid mixture that surrounds the wells is relatively calm which facilitates the sedimentation. Referring now to Figures 10 and 11, another embodiment of a sorting system 100 for classifying a liquid-solid mixture according to the present invention is described. The system 100 is similar in operation and function with the systems 12 and 60 previously described, except that the system 100 uses a suspended transmission system to rotate the wheel instead of a transmission system that is implemented using an arrow of transmission as used in systems 12 and 60. System 100 includes one or more material classifiers 102 for classifying a liquid-solid mixture containing solid material to be separated. The material classifier 102 includes a tank 104 having a side wall 106 and a bottom wall 108 that define a reservoir for receiving the liquid-solid mixture. Side wall 106 is positioned at an angle? in relation to a horizontal reference (for example the base of the support frame 16). A ferris wheel 110 is suspended at least partially within the tank 104 so that it rotates around a ferris wheel axis perpendicular to the side wall 106. In some example embodiments, the angle? of the side wall 106 relative to the horizontal reference is greater than 30 degrees and less than 90 degrees. In other modalities, the angle? of the side wall 106 relative to the horizontal reference is greater than 40 degrees and less than 70 degrees, and in some embodiments, the angle? of the side wall 106 relative to the horizontal reference is greater than 50 degrees and less than 60 degrees. In an example mode, the angle? of the side wall 106 relative to the horizontal reference is approximately 56 degrees. The above examples are illustrative only and other angles may be employed in different modalities. The wheel 110 includes an inner hub 112 and a plurality of separate ladles 114 that extend radially from the inner hub 112 to collect the solid material settled in the lower wall 108 and subsequently discharge the solid material collected from the tank 104 during the rotation of the the Ferris wheel 110 around its axis of Ferris wheel. The inner hub 112 may comprise a substantially cylindrical wall or ring from which the ladles extend, at least some of the ladles have a width greater than that of the cylindrical wall. However, in other embodiments, the inner hub 112 may comprise two or more separate concentric rings interspersed from the respective end edges of the buckets 114. The wheel 110 is suspended in the tank 104 and is driven by a transmission belt 118. The wheel 110 may also include a guide or circumferential track 116 to cooperate with the transmission belt 118 to rotate the wheel 110 about its axis of the wheel, the guide 116 is provided around an outer circumference of the wheel 110. As it will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art, the wheel 110 is not mounted rigidly. The suspension of the wheel 110 from the transmission belt 118 allows the wheel axle to float around a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the wheel, for example, the wheel 110 can float around the side wall 106. As shown in Figures 10 and 13, in an example embodiment the guide 116 has a U-shaped cross section for receiving the transmission belt 118. In some embodiments, the guide 116 may have an L-shaped cross section ( figure 14) and can be formed from angled iron. In the present embodiment, the guide 116 provides a smooth track on which the transmission belt 118 can roll, however, if desired, teeth may also be provided to engage the transmission belt 118. The guide 116 may also be used. from, or instead of, an outer hub 50 comprising concentric support rods 52 described above. In an exemplary embodiment, the guide 116 comprises a flat rail mounted around the outer circumference of the wheel 110 with a pair of spaced concentric bars attached to the outer surface of the flat rail. The support profiles are spaced apart so that the transmission belt 118 is at least partially received within the guide 116. A transmission 120 is provided to drive the transmission belt 118 to rotate the wheel 110 inside the tank 104. The transmission 120 engages and moves the transmission belt 118 so that it rotates the ferris wheel 110 about its norway axis. The discharge channels 36 for each ferris wheel 110 collect the solid material discharged and direct it to a corresponding conveyor belt (not shown) where it is transported to some other part, for example to a discharge stack for open storage. The transmission band 118 can be a transmission chain, cable, mesh, band, twisted cable or similar means. In some embodiments, the transmission belt 118 includes a transmission chain and the transmission 120 comprises a driven gear 121a and a passive gear 121b. The driven sprocket 121a can be driven by a motor 117. The driven sprocket 121a and the passive sprocket 121b are offset laterally with respect to each other at a distance greater than the outside diameter of the 110 wheel and are located at a greater height than the axis of the wheel to allow the wheel 110 to be suspended between them. The passive gear wheel 121b does not drive the drive chain, but allows the chain to pass over it as the belt is pulled by the driven gear 121a. In other embodiments in which the transmission band is a cable or band, the transmission may comprise a driven wheel or roller and a passive roller (guide), eg, pulley, to passively allow the transmission cable or band Pass on this one. The side wall 106 includes a lower portion 122 opposite the ferris wheel 110 to prevent the collected solid material from being discharged from the ladles 114 while rotating inside the tank 104, and an upper portion 124 on which the ladles 114 discharge the collected solid material. The upper portion 124 includes a guard plate 53 and defines a discharge area or opening 51 adjacent to the guard plate 53. The discharge channels are attached to an exterior surface of the side wall 106 of each of the tanks 104 in an upper edge 33 of the side wall 106 in communication with the discharge opening 51. The buckets 114 discharge the collected solid material as they rotate higher than the discharge opening 51. In the embodiment shown, the bottom wall 108 is substantially perpendicular to the side wall 106. As shown in Figure 10, the classifier may also include a longitudinally extending partition 144 that defines an inlet channel 146 for receiving the liquid-solid mixture and for helping to isolate the wheels 110 from the flow to classify. The longitudinal division 144 can be placed opposite the ferris wheels 110, and can be aligned with the side wall 106 and / or the inner side of the wheel llOs. In some embodiments, the longitudinal division 144 extends substantially parallel to the side wall 106. The longitudinal division 144 does not extend towards the bottom of the classification system which allows the liquid-solid mixture to enter and fill the tanks 104 as it passes through. below it. The longitudinal division 144 can also define openings along its length to allow the liquid-solid mixture to pass from one side to the other thereof. In some modalities, the system uses a central tank instead of separate tanks for each ferris wheel. In these modalities, the divisions or lateral deflectors (not shown) can be placed between the wheels. In some applications, the liquid-solid mixture can be introduced into the inlet channel at a high flow rate. In these applications, the inlet channel is relatively turbulent while the liquid-solid mixture surrounding the wells is relatively calm, which facilitates sedimentation.

As shown in Figure 11, the material sorter 102 in an exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of separate rollers 126 mounted rotatably at one end thereof to the inner hub 112 of the ferris wheel 110 and extend radially inwardly. from it. The rollers 126 extend radially inward from the inner hub 112 and are positioned to roll on the side wall 106 during the rotation of the wheel 110 about its norway axis. Each roller 126 has a roller surface 128 for rolling over the side wall 106. The surface of the roller 128 can be made from material having a low frictional resistance. In some embodiments, rollers 126 are urethane-containing rollers. The rollers 126 are mounted in such a way as to maintain a first operating distance between the wheel 110 and the side wall 106. In some embodiments, the first operating distance may be, for example, approximately 0.635 cm, however in other embodiments other distances are used. The side wall 106 is substantially flat and includes a central bearing portion having a bearing surface on which the rollers 126 are placed to roll. The rollers 126 and the bearing surface 130 reduce the friction associated with the rotation of the wheel 110.

The wheel 110 is suspended from the transmission 120 to maintain a second operating distance between the wheel 110 and the lower wall 108 which can be, for example, only about 2.54 cm. Suspending the wheel 110 from the transmission 120 allows the wheel 110 to float relative to the side wall 106 as the wheel 110 is rotated about its axis of the wheel, thereby reducing the possibility of the obstruction material is stuck between the wheel 110 and the side wall 106. The first operating distance created by the rollers 126, when placed against the bearing surface 130, ensures that the wheel 110 does not roll directly on the side wall 106 as it rotates, thereby reducing the friction that might otherwise occur. The rollers 126 and the bearing surface 130 also reduce the frictional resistance and the work required to rotate the wheel 110 about its axis of the wheel. Figure 12 shows a sorting system having three material classifiers 102, indicated individually by references 102a, 102b, and 102c. The three material sorters 102 are positioned between a driven sprocket 121a at one end and a passive sprocket 121b at the other end. A passive gear 140 is placed between the first material sorter 102a and the second material sorter 102b. A passive gear 142 is placed between the second material sorter 102b and the third material sorter 102c. Although the driven sprocket 121a and a passive sprocket 121b are positioned above the material sorters 102, it is not necessary that the passive sprockets 140 and 142 are placed above the sorters 102. In the embodiment shown, it is used a single driven gear 121a for driving a plurality of wheels 110 with passive gear wheels 140, 142 or other guide means interposed therebetween. In other embodiments, each material classifier 102 can have its own transmission band 118 and transmission 120. In such cases, each wheel 110 can be controlled independently and can be operated independently. System 100 can also apply processing parameters and operating conditions similar to those described above with respect to systems 12 and 60, for example the direction and rotation speeds of the wheels. In some applications, the suspension of the wheel 110 can provide improved performance, for example, with problematic material that is prone to agglomeration. Suspending the wheel 110 inside the tank 104 instead of fixing the wheel can reduce the likelihood of the material agglutinating or being caught between the buckets 114 and the side wall 106 because the wheel 110 can float on any obstructions in the side wall 106 as it rotates. Also, because the wheel 110 is not rigidly mounted, the wheel axle is allowed to float around a plane substantially perpendicular to the wheel axle, for example in the side wall 106. The use of a transmission belt 118 also it can reduce the work required to rotate the Ferris wheel 110 by creating a larger reduction ratio compared to the use of a transmission shaft. Therefore, it is relatively easy to drive and apply a torque to the wheel 110 and allows a smaller transmission motor to be used. In some modalities, a reduction ratio of 7: 1 can be used. System 100 may be coupled to a PLC or other appropriate controller as described above with reference to systems 12 and 60. Typically, a pressure load cell or strain gauge (not shown) measures the load applied to the wheel 110 and transmit this information to the PLC. The PLC then adjusts the rotation speed of the wheel 110 so that it increases at the speed of rotation as the load increases and so that the speed of rotation decreases as the load is reduced. In this way, the classification and dehydration of the solid material can be achieved. The PLC can also monitor and control other factors to improve the classification procedure. Referring now to Figures 15 to 19 and 21 another embodiment of a system 200 for classifying a liquid-solid mixture according to the present invention is described. The system 200 it has a suspended transmission system similar to that of system 100 previously described. The system 200 includes one or more material classifiers 202 for classifying a liquid-solid mixture containing solid material to be separated. The material classifier 202 includes a tank 204 having a side wall 206 and a bottom wall 208 defining a reservoir for receiving the liquid-solid mixture. Side wall 206 is positioned at an angle? in relation to a horizontal reference (for example the base of the support frame 16). A wheel 210 is suspended at least partially within the tank 204 so that it rotates about a wheel axis perpendicular to the side wall 206. In some example embodiments, the angle ? of the side wall 206 relative to the horizontal reference is greater than 30 degrees and less than 90 degrees. In other modalities, the angle? of the side wall 206 in relation to the horizontal reference is greater than 40 degrees and less than 70 degrees, and in some embodiments, the angle? of the side wall 206 relative to the horizontal reference is greater than 50 degrees and less than 60 degrees. In an example mode, the angle? of the side wall 206 relative to the horizontal reference is approximately 56 degrees. The above examples are illustrative only and other angles may be employed in different modalities. The wheel 210 includes an inner hub 212 and a plurality of separate ladles 214 extending radially from the inner hub 212 to collect the solid material settled in the lower wall 208 and subsequently discharge the solid material collected from the tank 204 during the rotation of the the ferris wheel 210 around its axis of ferris wheel. As shown in Figures 15-17, 19 and 21, the inner hub 212 may comprise two or more separate concentric rings 213 interspersed from the respective end edges of the 214 buckets. However, in other embodiments the inner hub 212 may comprise a substantially cylindrical wall or ring from which the ladles extend, at least some of the ladles have a width greater than that of the cylindrical wall. The wheel 210 is suspended in the tank 204 and is driven by a transmission belt 218. The suspension of the wheel 210 from the transmission band 218 allows the wheel axle to float around a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the wheel. the wheel, for example, the wheel 210 can float around the side wall 206. The wheel 210 can also include a circumferential track or track 216 to cooperate with the transmission belt 218 to rotate the wheel 210 about its axis of travel. noria. The guide 216 is provided around an outer circumference of the ferris wheel 210. The guide 216 may be similar to the guide 116 described above. The transmission band 218 is received at least partially within the guide 216. A transmission 220 is provided to drive the transmission belt 218 to rotate the wheel 210 within the tank 204. The transmission 220 engages and moves the belt. transmission 218 so that it turns the ferris wheel 210 around its axis of ferris wheel. The discharge channels (not shown) for each ferris wheel 210 collect the solid material discharged and direct it to a corresponding conveyor belt (not shown) where it is transported to some other part, for example to a discharge stack for storage in the sky. open. The transmission band 218 and the transmission 220 may be similar to the transmission band 118 and the transmission 120 described above.

The wheel 210 is suspended from the transmission belt 218 so as to maintain an operating distance between the wheel 210 and the lower wall 208. Suspending the wheel 210 from the transmission allows the wheel 210 to float relative to the side wall 206 to as the ferris wheel 210 is rotated about its noria axis, thereby reducing the possibility of the clogging material jamming between the ferris wheel 210 and the side wall 206. The side wall 206 includes a lower portion 222 opposite the ferris wheel 210 to prevent the collected solid material from being discharged from the ladles 214 while rotating inside the tank 204, and an upper portion 224 on which the ladles 214 discharge the collected solid material. The upper portion 224 defines an area or discharge opening 51 through which the collected solid material is discharged. The upper portion 224 may also include a guard plate 53 which prevents the collected solid material from being discharged from the ladles 214 before it reaches the discharge opening 51 in the upper portion of the bucket rotation. The discharge channels are attached to an outer surface of the side wall 206 of each of the tanks 204 on an upper edge 33 of the side wall 206 in communication with the discharge opening 51. The ladles 214 discharge the solid material collected when rotate higher than the discharge opening 51. In the embodiment shown, the bottom wall 208 is substantially perpendicular to the side wall 106. As shown in Figures 16 and 18, the material sorter may also include a division 244 that it extends longitudinally and defines an inlet channel 246 for receiving the liquid-solid mixture and for helping to isolate the ferris wheels 210 from the flow to be sorted. The longitudinal division 244 can be placed opposite the ferris wheel 210, and can be aligned with the side wall 206 and / or the inner side of the ferris wheel 210. In some embodiments, the longitudinal division 244 extends substantially parallel to the side wall 206. The longitudinal division 244 does not extend towards the bottom of the classification system which allows the liquid-solid mixture to enter and fill the tanks 204 when passing below it. The longitudinal partition 244 can also define openings along its length to allow the liquid-solid mixture to pass from one side to the other thereof. As shown in Figure 18, the sorting system 200 may include an elongated center tank 201 instead of separate tanks for each ferris wheel 210. In these embodiments, the side divisions or baffles 248 may be placed between the ferris wheels. The lateral divisions 248 extend partially through the central tank 201 and define the tanks 204 of the respective wheels. The side divisions 248 are spaced apart to define the tanks 204 in a series extending from a mixing box 22 at one end to an outlet on an opposite side thereof. The outlet can be located within an outlet chamber positioned opposite the mixing box 22. In some embodiments, the liquid coming from the tank 201 overflows a gaging lip or weir into the end wall of the tank and flows into the interior of the tank. exit chamber. An opening in the outlet chamber is connected to a flexible hose or pipe whose flow exits towards a waste basin (not shown). As shown in Figure 18, the ferrules 210 are offset from the input channel 246 by at least partially isolating the ferrules 210 from the flow to be sorted. In such applications, the distance from the mixing box 22 becomes one of the dominant factors that affect the sedimentation rate of the solid material. In some applications, the liquid-solid mixture to be separated can be introduced into the inlet channel 246 at a high flow rate. In those applications, the entrance channel is relatively turbulent while the liquid-solid mixture that surrounds the wells is relatively calm which facilitates the sedimentation. As will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art, the particular characteristics of the feed aggregate fed into the mixing box 22 may vary. As a result, the determination of the processing parameters that are required to obtain the necessary separation in each stage, typically requires adjustment between different batches of material to be separated. The wheel speed adjustments allow the operator to affect the particle size / density or grade of the material collected on each ferris wheel 210. For new lots of material to be sorted, the operator can collect a sample of the material discharged by the standards 210 The sample is then subjected to analysis to determine the particle size distribution using sieve trays or other appropriate analysis methodology. Based on the particle size distribution, the rotation speed of one or more of the wheels 210 can be increased or reduced to affect the size / density of the particle or grade of the material collected. The material that is collected using the new operating parameters can be analyzed later. Using an iterative process, the processing parameters required to obtain the desired particle size / density or grade of material in each wheel for a particulate aggregate supply material can be determined. As shown in Figures 15 and 16, the side wall 206 may include a housing 251 defining a reservoir 250. The housing 251 is received within the inner hub 212 of the ferris wheel 210. In the embodiment shown, the housing 251 comprises a generally cylindrical housing which is attached to the inner surface of the side wall 206, however other configurations may also be used. In other embodiments, the housing 251 may be formed by a slit in the side wall 206. An inlet tube 252 is coupled to the reservoir 250 through an opening 254 in the side wall 206. In the embodiment shown, the inlet tube 252 and the tank 250 are generally in line (coaxial) with the axis of the wheel. The inlet tube 252 is connected to a water source, such as a water pump (not shown), which supplies water to the interior of the reservoir 250. A pair of plates are positioned opposite the inlet tube 252 forming one end of the reservoir 250. The plates include an inner plate 262 and an outer plate 264. The inner plate 262 defines a plurality of openings or holes that allow water from the reservoir 250 to exit therethrough. The inner plate 262 can also include hollow ducts or nozzles 266 attached to the inner side thereof in communication with the openings in the inner plate 262. In other embodiments, the inner plate 262 has openings but does not include nozzles. In addition, the size and shape of the openings may vary through the inner plate 262. In some embodiments, the inlet tube 252 has a diameter of 2.54-5.08 cm and feeds a reservoir 250 having a diameter of 35.56 cm. In some exemplary embodiments, the inner plate 262 may be placed approximately 30.48 cm from the side wall 206 defining a depth of the reservoir 250 and the nozzles 266 may be 1.27 cm in diameter. The outer plate 264 is fixed to the inner hub 212 of the ferris wheel 210. As shown in figures 15 to 17, 19 and 21, in the embodiment shown the outer plate 264 is attached to the concentric rings 213 of the inner hub 212 The outer plate 264 includes a circumferential guide ring 268 that extends inward toward the side wall 206 when the wheel is suspended within the tank 204. The diameter of the guide ring 268 is larger than the diameter of the inner plate 262 which It provides some tolerance around it. When not in operation and when water is not flowing from the inlet tube 252, the outer plate 264 is positioned against, and partially supported by, the inner plate 262. As a result of the contact between the inner plate 262 and the outer plate 264, the solid material that is being sorted, such as sand, typically can not enter the tank 250. As shown in Figure 19, a transverse member 269 fixes the outer plate 264 to the outside of the concentric rings 213 of the inner hub. 212. Sufficient tolerance is provided between the guide ring 268 and the inner plate 262 to allow the ferris wheel 210 to float around it during its rotation about its norway axis. In some embodiments, the inner plate 262 defines 6 openings evenly distributed. The number, size and distribution of the openings in the inner plate 262 may vary depending on the water pressure to be applied against the ferris wheel 210 and the distribution required to create the water mattress and the balance of the ferris wheel 210. In some applications, the water distributed by the inner plate 262 must balance the wheel to facilitate its rotation. During operation, water from the inlet tube 252 fills the tank 250. As the water pressure inside the tank 250 increases, water is discharged through the nozzles 266 and finally through the openings in the tank. inner plate 262. Water discharged through the openings in the inner plate 262 presses against the outer plate 264, pushing the wheel 210 away from the side wall 206 and creating a cushion or small space between the wheel 210 and the side wall 206 The space created between the ferris wheel 210 and the side wall 206 is filled with water from the reservoir 250 creating a water cushion as the ferris wheel 210 rotates around its ferris wheel axis. This water mattress allows the wheel 210 to be rotated without it rolling directly on the side wall 206, thereby reducing the friction that could otherwise arise. Without being limited to the theory, the discharge of water through the inner plate 262 may provide, in some applications, a water cushion or hydroplaning effect that provides lubrication between the inner plate 262 and the outer plate 264 thereby reduces wear. Due to the tolerance between the inner plate 262 and the guide ring 268 on the outer plate 264, the wheel 210 may float around the inner plate 262 within the confines of the guide ring 268. In some applications, a benefit of this tolerance may be that the wheel 210 may be suspended and rotate about its wheel axis without very close tolerances. narrow, which simplifies the construction of material sorter 202 and makes it less expensive to manufacture. An additional advantage, in some applications, may be that the risk of clogging the material classifier 212 is reduced because very narrow tolerances are not used, for example, in the main moving parts such as the rotation points. The use of narrow tolerances can increase the risk of clogging because the sand or other solid material that is being classified can cause clogging or clumping. In some applications, clogging may require an operator to manually dig the sorting tank. An alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 20 in which the inner plate 262 is removed and an individual plate 26 similar to the outer plate 264 is positioned adjacent the opening 254 to receive pressurized water from the water source in the side wall so that the wheel can rotate around it when it is rotated around its noria axis. In this embodiment, the plate 265 does not include a guide ring 268 as does the outer plate 264. In this embodiment the transverse member 269 is used to secure the plate 265 to the interior of the concentric rings 213 of the inner hub 212. It is allowed that the ferris wheel 210 floats around the plate 265 during its rotation around its noria axis. Without a guide ring 268, the freedom of movement of the wheel 210 could be greater than that of the previously described mode shown in Figures 15 to 19. During operation, a water cushion is created between the outer plate 264 and the wall side 206 by the water coming from the inlet tube 252 pressing against the plate 265. In accordance with another example embodiment, a material sorter is provided to classify a liquid-solid mixture containing solid material to be separated, which comprises: a tank that defines a tank to receive the liquid-solid mixture; a transmission band; and a ferris wheel suspended from the transmission belt at least partially within the tank to rotate about a wheel axle, the wheel includes a plurality of circumferentially separated ladles to collect material from the tank and subsequently discharge the material collected from the tank. tank during the rotation of the wheel. In accordance with a further exemplary embodiment, a material sorter is provided for sorting aggregate material, comprising: a support frame; a tank mounted to the support frame to receive a mixture of aggregate and fluid material, the tank has a side wall with an upwardly sloping surface; a wheel having a plurality of ladles extending radially to collect aggregate material from the tank, the wheel is located adjacent to the upward facing surface and has a plate substantially parallel to and facing the upward facing surface; a suspension transmission system for driving the wheel, the suspension transmission system includes a pair of separate band guides secured to the support frame and an endless band passing through the guides, the wheel is suspended from the band between the guides so that it turns in a direction substantially parallel to the surface facing upward; and a pressurized fluid source for applying pressurized fluid to the ferris wheel plate to deflect the ferris wheel in the opposite direction to the upward facing surface; the wheel and the side wall are arranged in such a way that during use the buckets discharge the aggregate material collected from the tank on one sidewall edge. In some modalities, the wheels are arranged in series. In some modalities, the wheels can be controlled independently, which allows the wheels to be rotated at separate speeds and in separate directions. In some embodiments, the sorting system may comprise an inlet at a first end of the tank to feed the liquid-solid mixture into the inlet channel, and an outlet at a second opposite end of the tank to receive the excess from the tank. In some embodiments, the sorting system comprises angularly mounted discharge channels attached to an outer surface of the tank opposite each of the wheels, the discharge channels being joined on an upper edge of the tank. In another aspect of the present invention, a method for sorting material is provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method for classifying material is provided, comprising the steps of: introducing a liquid-solid mixture into a tank to a pre-determined fill level; rotating a wheel around a wheel axle to collect the solid material sedimented from a bottom of the tank, the wheel axle is placed at an acute angle relative to a vertical reference; and to further rotate the wheel to unload the material collected from the wheel when the collected material is above an upper edge of the tank. In some embodiments, the wheel is rotated at an angle greater than 30 degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to the vertical reference. In some embodiments, the wheel is rotated at an angle greater than 40 degrees and less than 70 degrees relative to the vertical reference. In some embodiments, the wheel is rotated at an angle greater than 50 degrees and less than 60 degrees relative to the vertical reference. The present invention can be modalized in other specific forms without departing from the scope or essential characteristics thereof. Certain adaptations and modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the modalities currently discussed are considered as illustrative and not restrictive, the field of the invention being indicated by the appended claims instead of the foregoing description, and therefore all changes that fall within the meaning of the invention are intended. equivalence interval of the claims are covered therein.

Claims

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and therefore the content of the following is claimed as property: CLAIMS

1. - A material classifier for classifying a liquid-solid mixture containing solid material to be separated, comprising: a tank defining a reservoir for receiving the liquid-solid mixture; and a wheel placed rotatably inside the tank to rotate about an axis of the wheel that is inclined relative to a horizontal reference, the wheel includes a plurality of buckets separated in circumferential form to collect material from the tank and subsequently discharge the material collected from the tank during the rotation of the Ferris wheel around its Ferris wheel axis.

2. The material classifier according to claim 1, characterized in that the wheel is mounted to allow the wheel axle to float around a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the wheel.

3. - The material classifier according to claim 1, further comprising: a transmission band from which the wheel is at least partially suspended; and a transmission operatively connected to the transmission belt to drive the transmission belt to rotate the wheel around its noria axis.

4. The material sorter according to claim 3, characterized in that the transmission belt comprises a transmission chain, the transmission comprises a driven gear wheel and a passive gear, the driven gear and the passive gear are out of phase laterally one with respect to the other at a distance greater than an outside diameter of the wheel and located higher than the axis of the wheel to allow the wheel to be suspended from them.

5. The material sorter according to claim 3, characterized in that the tank includes a side wall adjacent to a lower side of the wheel, the side wall extends substantially perpendicular to the axis of the wheel, the side wall includes an upper edge on which the ladles discharge the solid material collected when they rotate higher than the upper edge.

6. - The material sorter according to claim 5, characterized in that the side wall defines an opening for receiving water from a water source, the material classifier also comprises a plate mounted to the wheel and placed adjacent to the opening to receive water. pressurized water from the water source.

7. The material classifier according to claim 6, characterized in that the wheel includes an inner hub, the buckets extend radially from the inner hub, the plate is secured to the inner hub of the wheel.

8. The material sorter according to claim 3, further comprising: a housing defining a reservoir for receiving water, the housing having a first end in communication with an opening in the side wall; an inner plate attached to a second end of the housing forming a closed end thereof, the inner plate defines a plurality of openings from one side to the other thereof; and an outer plate fixed to the wheel and placed adjacent to the inner plate so that the wheel can rotate around it when it is rotated about its axis of the wheel.

9. - The material classifier according to claim 8, characterized in that the wheel includes an inner hub, the buckets extend radially from the inner hub, the outer plate is secured to the inner hub.

10. The material sorter according to claim 8 or 9, which also comprises hollow ducts attached to an inner surface of the inner plate in fluid communication with the openings in the inner plate.

11. The material classifier according to claim 3, which also comprises: a plurality of separate rollers mounted rotatably at one end thereof to the wheel and extending radially therefrom, the rollers being positioned to roll on a side wall of the tank during the rotation of the wheel around its Ferris wheel axis.

12. The material classifier according to claim 3, characterized in that an angle of the wheel axis relative to a vertical reference is greater than 30 degrees and less than 60 degrees.

13. A classification system for classifying a liquid-solid mixture containing solid material that is to be separated, comprising: a tank that defines a deposit to receive the liquid-solid mixture; a first ferris wheel rotatably placed inside the tank to rotate about a ferris wheel axis, the first ferris wheel includes a plurality of circumferentially separated ladles to collect material from the tank and subsequently discharge the material collected from the tank during the rotation of the first Ferris wheel around its axis of Ferris wheel; and a second wheel placed rotatably inside the tank to rotate around a wheel axle, the second wheel includes a plurality of buckets separated in circumferential form to collect material from the tank and subsequently discharge the material collected from the tank during rotation of the second Ferris wheel around its axis of Ferris wheel.

14. The classifier system according to claim 13, also comprising: a third wheel placed rotatably inside the tank to rotate about a wheel axis, the third wheel includes a plurality of buckets separated in circumferential shape to collect material from the tank and subsequently discharge the material collected from the tank during the rotation of the third wheel around its axis of the wheel.

15. - The classifier system according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the wheel axis of at least one of the wheels is placed at an acute angle relative to a horizontal reference.

16. The classification system according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the wheel axis of each of the wheels is placed at an acute angle relative to a horizontal reference.

17. The classification system according to any of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the tank includes a side wall adjacent to a lower side of the wheels, the side wall extends substantially perpendicular to the axis of the wheel of the wheels, the side wall includes an upper edge on which the scoops discharge the solid material collected when they rotate higher than the upper edge.

18. - The classification system according to claim 17, which also comprises a longitudinally extending division received inside the tank, the longitudinal division is placed opposite the norias and defines an inlet channel to receive the liquid-solid mixture .

19. The classification system according to claim 18, characterized in that the longitudinal division extends substantially parallel to the side wall.

20. A method for classifying material, comprising the steps of: introducing a liquid-solid mixture into a tank to a pre-determined level of filling; rotating a wheel around a wheel axle to collect the solid material sedimented from a bottom of the tank, the wheel axle is placed at an acute angle relative to a vertical reference; and to further rotate the wheel to unload the material collected from the wheel when the collected material is above an upper edge of the tank.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that the wheel is rotated at an angle greater than 30 degrees and less than 60 degrees relative to the vertical reference.