US1517900A - Air separator - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 2, 1924. LSVQO@ R. M. GAY

AIR SEPARATOR Filed March 9, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l R. M. GAY

A1B sEPARAToR Filed March 9, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dee.. 2l, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca.

BUBERT M GAY, OF HANOVER TOWNSHIP, MORRIS COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

am sErAaA'roa Application led March 9, 1923. Serial No. 623,878.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RUnER'r M, GAY, a citizen of t ie United States, residing in Hanover T wnship, State of New Jersey,

county have i of Morris, and nvented certain tion.

This invention relates to improvements in air separators solid material to be wherein small particles of separated and gra-ded or classified are fed into a separating chamber and air is caused endless path and through chamber, and wherein fines are separated from eoarser particles or separating chamber,

to circulate through an the separating the fine particles or the heavier or tailings within the the fines being carried by the circulating air up through and out from `.the separating tailings settle within ,the chamber from the bottom thereof thr discharge opening.

chamber while the and pass ough a suitable The object of my invention is to provide a separator of novel, simple and efficient construction having provision: the air passing through lirst, whereby the separating chamber may be rotated in a manner to cause the rejection by centrifugal action of the finer particles of the tend to follow the wardly through and from chamber; second, whereby i tailings which fines as they pass upthe separating the finer particles of the tailings thus rejected may be collected and returned to the lower portion of the separating chamber in a manner to prevent them from being carried from the separating chamber with the iines; third, whereby the speed of the air as it passes from the exterior to the interior of the separating chamber may be governed and whereby the rotating air prevented and regulated, current may be from causing tailings to pass` out through the air passage leading from the exterior to the vinterior of chamber and to the the separating tailings assa e F* 7 fourth, whereby the speed of the air in its travel through the separating chamber may be varied by 4adjusting the means which causes the rotation of the air within the chamber and without changing the means which causes the air to circulate through lts endless path; and, fifth, whereby various novel and advantageous results are procured.

With the foregoing and related objects in view, the invention consists in the novel cona horizontal section through the separator, on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal, sectional detail, on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing part of the mechanism for adjusting the adjustable defleeting plates. l

Figure 4 is a vertical, sectional detail, on line 4--4 of Fig. 2, showing one of the fixed deiecting plates and the support therefor.

Referring to the drawings, 5' designates an outer casing comprising a cylindrical uppertportion and a tapered or conical lower portion. `Within the outer casing are upper and lower inner casings 6 and 7 supported in spaced relation to each other and to the outer casing 5 by suitable brackets 8 S0 and 9, respectively, which extend from the i outer casing. The upper, inner casing 6 comprises an upper cylindrical portion and a lower tapered or conical portion. The lower, inner casing 7 is conical in shape and 85 terminates at its lower end in a downwardly and outwardly inclined pipe or passage 10 which extends through the wall of the outer casing 5 for the discharge of the .talings from the machine; and the lower end of the outer casing 5iterminates in a downwardly extending pipe or passage 11 for the discharge of the fines from the machine.

The upper, inner casing 6 encloses the separating or classifying chamber 12, its open bottom providing van inlet for air and and outlet for tailings, and the central opening 13 in its top Wall 14, providingan outlet for air and for the lines carried by the air.

The space surrounding the upper, inner casing 6 between it and wthe outer casin 5, the space between the top walls 14 an 15 of the inner and outer casings 6 and 5, re-

spectively, the space between the upper and lower inner casings 6 and 7and the separating vchamber 12 form an endless passage through which air may be circulated` in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 1.

he material to be separated or classi tied is fed to the chamber 12 through a feed pipe 16 which extends centrally through the top wall 15 of the outer casing 5 and through a. hollow Shaft 17 which also extends through casing wall 15. The hollow shaft 17 is mount-v ed to turn in upper and lower bearings 18 and 19, respectively, carried by a hollow casting 20 which is mounted on the top wall 15 of the casing 5. The casting 2() extends down into the casing 5 to support the lower `-bearing 19 some distance below the top wall '15 of the casing, and it also extends above the top wall 15 to support the upper bearing 18 some distance above the top wall 15. This construction enables me to stabilize the lower free end portion of the sha-ft 17 and the parts carried thereby which are located a considerable distance below the top wall 15. The shaft 17 is supported by a collar 21 fixed thereon and resting upon a thrust bearing 22 carried by the casting 20; and the feed pipe 16 is supported above the top of the shaft 17 by the cap or cover 23 which closes the top of the hollow casting 20.

The hollow casting 2O provides a chamber 24 for housing co-acting bevel gear wheels 25 and 26 for driving the shaft 17. The gear wheel 25 .is fixed on the shaft 17 and the gear wheel 26 is fixed on the inner end of a horizontal shaft 27. The shaft 27 turns in a bearing 28 carried by the casting 2O and a bearing 29 carried by one of two horibontal beams 30 which support the entire separation by means of angle bars 31 secured to the top of the outer casing 5 and resting upon the beams 30. The outer end portion of the shaft 27 is provided with a pulley 32 by means of which power may be applied to the machine to drive the shaft 17.

The bottom of the shaft 17 carries two round, horizontally arranged discs or plates 33 and 34 which are spaced one above the other, the upper plate 33 being secured to the flange of a collar 35 carried by the shaft 17, and the lower plate 34 being' carried by spaced bolts extending between the two plates. The upper plate 33 has a central opening therein through which the lower end of the hollow shaft 17 extends to discharge material from the pipe 16 upon the central portion of the lower or distributing plate 34 which, during the rotation of the shaft 17, discharges the' material from the edge thereof. by centrifugal action and distributes it around the separating chamber 12 so that the particles of the material will fall from the edge of the plate 34 in an annular stream or shower,

"Larnaca A. fan 36 is arranged to rotate within that portion of the air passagewhich extends between the top Walls 14 and 15 of the outer and inner casings 5 and 6. The fan 36 com rises a hollow hub 37 secured to the shafi? 17 below the bearing 19, arms 38 extending radially from the upper portion of the hub 37 and blades 39 carried by the outer end portions of the arms. The fan blades 39 are set to cause air within the casing 5 to circulate throughthe endless air passage in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 1, during the rotation of the shaft 17. The upper portion of the hollow huh 37 surrounds the shaft bearing 19 in spaced relation thereto and is adapted to contain oil for lubricating the bearing 19.

A fan 40 is arranged within the separating chamber 12 above the ,plates 33 and 34. and it comprises a collar 41 secured to the shaft 17, arms 42 extending radially from the collar 41 and blades 43 carried by the outer end portions of the arms 42. The fan 4() is provided to rotate the circulating air current as it passes up through the separating chamber 12. The arms 42 are adjustable about their axes to permit the blades 43 to be set at different inclined positions to increase or decrease the speed at which the air moves upwardly through the chainber 12, so that the blades may, in addition to providing a means to rotate the air currcnt.\vitl1in the separating chamber, also provide a means for regulating the speed of the air current circulated by the fan 36.

Within the separating chamber 12 some distance below the top or air outlet opening 13 thereof and in close proximity to the fau 40 is a horizontal disc-like plate 44 forn'iing a baiile for the ascending air current` for a purpose hereinafter explained. The plate or baille 44 is carried by the collar 41 and it surrounds the shaft 17 and extends outwardly therefrom and has its outer edge spaced from the surrounding casing 6.

lVithin the lower portion of the upper, inner casing 6 is an annular partition 45 having an upper cylindrical portion and, a lower tapered or conical portion following the lines of cylindrical and conical portions of the casing 6. The partition 45 is supported within the casing 6 in spaced relation thereto to provide a central passage surrounded by itr` and to provide an annular passage between it and the casing 6 through which the material being separated may fall. The distributing plate 34 is located within the passage surrounded by the partition 45 so that the shower of the particles of inaterial from theiplate 34 will be .discharged within this passage.

The wall of the upper, inner casing 6 above the annular partition 45 is provided with inwardly projecting bailies 46 which extend upwardly and downwardly and rovide u wardly and downwardly exten ing channe s 47 between them for the reception of articles of the material being separated, and) the guidance thereof to the annular passage between the walls 6 and 45. These bafiles 46 may be formed in any suitable .inanner. As herein illustrated, they are formed of sheet metal suitably secured to the wall ofthe casing 6 and having vertically extending corrugations therein which form the baliles and interposed channels 47.

Arranged to intercept the currentof air as it enters and passes through the space between the upper and lower casings and 7 .is an inner, circular series of spaced deflectin plates 48 and an outer, circular series o spaced deflectingplates 49 which surrounds the inner series 48. The deecting plates 48 and 49 extend vertically between upper and lower flanges or supporting rings 50 and 51 connected to or formed on the bottom of the upper casing 6 and the top of the lower casing 7 and extending outwardly therefrom. The plates 49 are secured to the supporting rings 50 and 51 by bolts 52 which extend therethrough and throu h lugs 53 formed on the plates 49. The p ates 48 are carried by a` circular series of shafts 54 extending vertically between and mounted to turn in bearings in the supporting rings 50 and 51. The detlecting plates of each series thereof 48 and 49 are arranged tangentially and diverge from the plates of the other series in the same general direction around each series thereof, so that the air passing between the upper and lower casings 6'and 7 will be obliged to traverse a sinuous course, as shown by the arrows in Fi 2, for a purpose presently appearing.

he deiectin plates of the inner series 48 are adjusta le about the axes of the shafts 54 carrying them to change the angles thereof relatively to the plates of the outer series 54, and also to widen or narrow the air passages between the plates 48. The shafts 54 extend below the bottom supporting ring 51 and they are provided on their lower ends with pinions 55 in mesh with a gear ring 56 which is mounted to turn on suitable brackets 57 projecting from the lower casing 7, whereby, when the gear ring 56 is turned, the pinions 55 and their shafts 54 will be turned simultaneously to adjust the plates of the series 48, as previously described. As a suitable means to turn the gear ring for theadjustment of the plates 48, I provide a vertical shaft 58 which extends through the lower portion of the casing 5, and has a handle 59 fixed on the lower end portion thereof exteriorly of the outer casing 5. The shaft 58 is mounted to turn in a bearing 60 on the casing 5, and the upper end portion of the shaft is `the separating chamber 12 'the deiiecting plates `the upper end of the provided with a gear Wheel 61 which is in mesh with the gear ring 56 and which is adapted to turn the same of the plates 48 when the handle 59 is turned.

The operation of the machine isas follows:

Power is applied to the pulley 32 to rotate the shafts27 and 17 and therewith the fans 36 and 43 and the distributing plate 34. The fan 36 causes the air within the Outer casing 5 to circulate through the endless path indicatcd by the arrows in Fig. 1, and the fan 43 causes the circulating air to be rotated as it passes through the separating chamber 12 above the distributing plate 34 therein.

As the air is thus circulated it changes its velocity at a number of places in its path of travel due to expanded and contracted portions of the passage through which it travels. Its velocity is increased as it passes the bafi'e 44, which reduces the area of that portion of the air passage which extendsbetween the edge of the baffle 44 and the surrounding partition 45, and its velocity is decreased in the increased area of above the baftie 44 and beneath the top Wall 14 of the chamber 12. Its velocity is again increased as it passes through the contracted outlet opening 13 lof the separating chamber, and, thereafter, its velocity decreases and it ex'- pands as it passes down through the increased area of the passage surrounding the upper inner casing 6 from the fan 36 to 49. The velocity of the ascending air current passing through the annular passage surrounding the partition 45 is less than it is in the contracted portion of the central passage between the partition 45 and battle 44.

The material to be separated is fed into feed pipe 16 and it consists of particles of various sizes, which, for purposes of description, I shall divide into three classes, i. e. the heavy particles, the intermediate particles and the fine particles, it being desirable that the machine shall reject all particles;l over a predetermined size which constitute the tailings and which include what I shall refer to herein as the heavy and intermediate particles.

These particles of material being fed into the feed pipe 16 descend therein to the central portion of the distributing plate 34 and move outwardly thereon by centrifugal action, and are discharged from the edge thereof into the separating chamber 12 and into the ascending air current therein. The heavy and some of the intermediate particles of material descend from the plate 34 within the surrounding partition wall for the adjustment the machine by gravity through 45 and fall into the lower casing 7, while the fine particles and some of the lighter intermediate particles of the material are carried upwardly-.by the ascending air current into the upper portion of the separating chamber and above the baille 44 where the air current is rotated by the fan 43 and where the upwardly moving intermediate particles are rejected by the centrifugal action of the rotating air causing them to move outwardly to the outer portion of the chamber 12 and in close proximity to or in contact with the corrugated wall forming the batlles 46 where the ascending velocity of the air current is somewhat less than it is nearer to the central shaft 17, and where the intermediate particles descend by gravity, while the finer particles are carried on upwardly and out through the opening' 13 by the upwardly moving air. The intermediatel particles thus rejected by the rotating air current descend thrbugh the annular passage between the partition 45 and the wall of the casing 6 and on down into the lower casing 7 with the tailings which descendthrough the passage surrounded by the wall 45.

rIthe fine particles or fines by the circulating air current out through the opening 13 and outwardly over the top wall 14 and into that portion of the air passage which surrounds the upper inner casing 6 and which forms an expansion chamber for the air current, allowing it to slow down and permit the line particles of the material to descend by gravity to and through the lower or conical portion of the outer casing 5. Some of the tine particles will be carried by the air current toward the opening between the upper and lower inner casings 6 and 7, and upon meeting the battle formed by the deiecting plates 48 and 49, most or all of the desired tine particles will be thereby prevented from re-entering the separating chamber 12 and be permitted to descend exteriorly of the inner casings 6 and 7.

rThe fine particles or fines pass from the outlet passage 11, and the heavy and intermediate particles 'or tailings pass from the machine by gravity through the outlet passage 10.

The baiiles 46 are encountered by the intermediate particles during the rejection thereof as they are carried around the chamber 12 by the rotating and ascending air current therein, and they are collected within the channels 47 between the baffles 46 and descend therein to the annular passage surrounding the partition 45.

rllhe -centrally arranged, horizontal baille plate 44 above the fan 43 prevents the intermediate particles from being carried into the upper portion of the separating cham- 'of the separating chamber are carried.

ber 12 too close to the shaft 17 and ensures the rejection thereof by the rotating air current before they reach the outlet opening 13 The holes or openings in the .fan blades 43 permit some of the air being rotated thereby and some of the particles of material carried by the air to pass through the same, thereby distributing the e'ective area of the fan blades 43 over a wide range while presenting a relatively small area of fan blade surface to strike against the ascending particles of material and beat or throw them violently outward.

'lhe sinuous course for the air current formed between the deflecting plates 48 and 49 changes the direction of movement of the air and thereby assists in preventing any oi' the fines which have passed from the separat`ng chamber 12 from re-entering the same through the space between the upper and lower, inner casings 6 and 7; and the adjustable, inner deflecting plates 48 form a damper device which may be adjusted by turning the handle 59 to regulate the volume and velocity of the air current passing through the space between the upper and lower, inner cas'ngs 6 and 7. rlhe deflecting plates 48 also serve to prevent the centrifugal action which discharges the material from the distributing plate 34 from throwing any of the tailings out through the opening between the upper and lower, inner casings 6 and 7, and ensures their entrance into the lower casing 7 and their discharge from the machine through the passage 10.

l claim as my invention:

In an aix-,separator and in combination, a casing having a separating chamber provided with andiir outlet opening in the upper portion thereof and an air inlet opening 1n the lower portion thereof, means to cause a current of air to pass upwardly throughsaid chamber, means to rotate the upwardly moving air, and means to supply particles of solid material to be graded to said chamber, said casing having inwardly extending baffles forming upwardly and downwardly extending channels between them for the reception and guidance of the larger particles of said material.

In an air separator and in combination, a casing having a separating chamber provided with an air outlet opening in the up per portion thereof and an air inlet opening in the lower portion thereof, means to cause a current of air to pass upwardly through said chamber, means to rotate the upwardly moving air, an annular partition within the chamber in spaced relation to and surrounded by said casing and separating the chamber into a central passage enclosed by the partition and an annular passage surwardly extendin rounding the passage, and means to supply particles of solid material to be graded to said central passage, Said casing having inbafiles above said partition forming'upward y and downwardly extending channels between them for the reception and guidance of the larger particles of said material to said annular passage.

3. In an air separator and in combination, an outer casing, an upper casing enclosing a separating chamber and supported within the outer caslng in spaced relation thereto and having an open bottom and an open. top, a lower casing supported within the outer casing the upper casing and having an open top, means to cause air to circulate through the space between the up er and'lower casings, up through said cham er and down through the outer casing exteriorly of said chamber, means to rotate the upwardly moving air within the chamber, and means to supply particles of solid material to be graded to said chamber, said upper casing having bafiies extending into sa.d chamber and forming upwardly and downwardly extending channels between them for the reception and guidance of the larger particles of material.

4. In an air separator and in combination, a casing having a separating chamber provided with an air outlet opening in the upper portion thereof and an air inlet opening in the lower portion thereof, a vertically arranged, rotatable shaft extending centrally into the chamber, means to cause a current of air to pass upwardly through the chamber, a fan carried by the shaft for rotating the upwardly moving air, a horizontal bale surrounding the shaft and extending outwardly therefrom above the path of the fan a substantial distance below said outlet opening and having its Outer edge portion spaced from the surrounding casing, causing the ascending air to pass between said casing and said edge portion, and means `to supply particles of solid material to be graded to the chamber below the baille.

5. In an air separator and in combination, a casing having a separating chamber provided with an air outlet openmg in the` upper portion thereof and an air inlet opening in the lower portion thereof, a vertically arranged, rotatable shaft extending centrally into the chamber, means to cause a current of air to pass upwardly through the chamber, a fan carried by the shaft for rotating the upwardly moving air, a horizontal baiiie surrounding the shaft and extending outwardly therefrom above the path of the fan and having its outer edge portion spaced.' from the surrounding casing, an

means to supply particles ofsolid material to be graded to the chamber below the baffle, said casing having inwardl extending baffles above the horizontal ba e and formbelow and 1n spaced relation to ing upwardly and downwardly extendin channels between them for the reception an yguidance of the larger particles of said material.

6. In an air separator and in combination, a casing having a separating chamber provided with an air outlet opening in the upper portion thereof and an air inlet opening in the lower portion thereof, a vertically arranged rotatable shaft extending central- Iy into the chamber, means to cause a current of' air topass upwardly throu hl the chamber, a fan carried by the shaft or rotating the upwardly moving air, an annular partition Within the chamber in spaced relation to and surrounded by said casing and separating the chamber into a central pas' sage enclosed by the partition and an annular passage surrounding the passage, a horizontal baiiie surrounding the shaft and extending. outwardly therefrom above the path of the fan and having its outer edge portion spaced lfrom the surrounding casing, and means to supply particles of material to be raded to said central passage below the ba e, said casing having inwardly extending bailles above said partition and above the horizontal baffle and forming upwardly and downwardly extending channels between them for the reception and guidance of the larger particles of material to said annular passage. 7. In an air separator and in combination, a casing having a separating chamber provided with an air outlet opening in the upper portion thereof and an air inlet opening in the lower portion thereof, a vertically arranged, rotatable shaft extending centrally into the chamber, means to cause a current of air to pass upwardly through the chamber, a fan carried by the shaft for rotating the upwardly moving air, said fan having openings therein through which portions of the air may pass during the operation of the fan to reduce the eRectiveness thereof, and means to supply particles of solid material to be graded to said chamber. 8. In an air separator and in combination, a casing having a separating chamber provided with an air outlet opening in the upper portion thereof and an air inlet opening in the lower portion thereof, a vertically arranged, rotatable shaft extending centrally into the chamber, means to cause a current of air to pass upwardly through the chamber, a fan blade carried by said shaft within said chamber and adjustable on a radial axis to different inclined positions to rotate the upwardly moving air and to vary the speed 'thereof within said chamber as effected by said means, and means to supply particles of solid material' to be graded to said chamber. 9. In an air separator and in combination,

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an outer casing, an upper casing enclosing a separating chamber and supported within the outer casing in spaced relation thereto and having an open bottom and an open top, a lower casing supported within the outer casing below and in spaced relation to the upper casing and havin an open top, a vertically arranged, rotata le shalt extending centrally into the chamber, a tan carried by the shaft within the outer casing and above the upper casing to cause air to circulate through the space between the upper and lower casings, up through the chamber and down through the outer casing exteriorly of the chamber, a fan blade carried by the shaft within the chamber and adjustable on a radial axis to different 1nclined positions to rotate the upwardly moving air and to vary the speed thereof within said chamber as effected b f the first named fan, and means to supply particles of solid material to be graded to said chamber.

l0. In an air separator and in combination, an outer casing, -an upper casing enclosing a. separating chamber and supported within the outer casing inspaced relation the-reto and having an open bottom and an open top, a lower casing supported within the outer casing below and in spaced relation to the upper casing and having an open top, means to cause air to circulate through the space between the upper and lower casings, up through said chamber and down through the outer casing exteriorly of said chamber, an inner, circular series of spaced delecting plates extending vertically through the opening between the upper and lower casings, an outer circular series of spaced, vertically extending, j delecting plates surrounding the inner series, the plates of each series diverging from the plates of the outer series in the same general direction around each series, and means to supply particles of solid material to be graded to said chamber.

l1. lln an air separator and in combination, an outer casing, an upper casing enclosing a separating chamber and supported within the outer casing in spaced relation thereto and having an open bottom and an open top, a lower casing supported within the outer casing below and in spaced relation to the upper casing and having an open top, means to cause air to circulate through the space between the upper and lower casings, up through said chamber and down through the outer casing exteriorly of said chamber, an inner, circular series of Yspaced delecting plates extending vertically through the opening between the upper and lower casings, an outer circular series of spaced, vertically extending, deflecting plates surrounding the inner series, the plates of each series diverging from the plates of the other series in the same geniiimeoo eral direction around each series, the plates of one series being adjustable to change the angles thereof relatively to the plates of the other series, means opera-ble to simultaneously adjust the adjustable plates, and means lo supply particles of solid material to be graded to said chamber.

l2. ln an air separator and in combination, an outer casing, an upper casing enclosing a separating chamber and supported within the outer casing in spaced relation thereto and having an open bottom and an open top, a lower casing supported within' the outer casing below and in spaced relation to the upper casing and having an open to means to cause air to circulate-through the space between the upper and lower casings, up through said chamber and down through the outer casing exterior-ly of said chamber, a circular series ol spaced, tangentially arranged delle'cting plates controlling the air passage between the upper-and lower casings, the plates of the series being adjustableI relatively to each other to widen or narrow the air passages between them, means operable to simultaneously adjust the plates, and means'to supply particles of solid materials to be graded to said chamber.

13. ln an air separator and in combination, an outer casing, an upper casing enclosing a separating chamber and supported within the outer casing in spaced relation thereto and having an open bottom and an ope-n top, a lower casing supported within the outer casing below and in spaced relation to the upper casing and having an open top, vmeans to cause air to circulate through the space between the upper and lower casings, up through said chamber and down through the outer casing extcriorly of said chamber, a circular series of spaced, tan entially arranged deflecting plates control in the air passage between the upper and lower casings, a circular series of vertically arranged shafts supported by the upper and lower casings and carrying the deflecting plates, and means operable to simultaneously turn said shafts and thereby adjust the plates relatively to each other to widen or narrow the air passage between them, and means to supply particles of solid material to be graded to said chamber.

lst, ln an air separator and in combination, an outer casing, an upper casing enclosing a separating chamber and supported within the outer casing in spaced relation thereto and having an open bottom and an open top, a lower casing supported within the outer casing below and in spaced relation to the upper casing and having an open top, means to cause air to circulate through the space between the Lipper and lower casings, up through said chamber and down through the outer casing exteriorly of said chamber, a circular series of spaced, tangentially arranged deeeting plates controlling the air passage between the upper and lower easings, a circular series of vertically arranged shafts supported by the upper and lower casings and carrying the deflecting plates, pinions on said shafts, a gear ring rotatably supported by one of .said casings and in mesh with said pinions, means operable to turn said ring and thereby simultaneously turn adjust the plates relatively to each other to widen or narrow them, and means to supply particles of solid material to be graded to sald chamber.

In testimony whereof I affix my hereto. v

s HUBERT M. GAY.

said pinions and said shafts to l@ the air passages between.

signature 15

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