WO2010125528A2

WO2010125528A2 - Separator for sorting granules

Info

Publication number: WO2010125528A2
Application number: PCT/IB2010/051854
Authority: WO
Inventors: Toni Keil
Original assignee: Toni Keil
Priority date: 2009-04-29
Filing date: 2010-04-28
Publication date: 2010-11-04
Also published as: WO2010125528A9; DK200900554A; WO2010125528A3; WO2010125528A4

Abstract

A separator serves for sorting granules (13; 14) by length. The separator comprises a jacket (2) rotatably positioned on a support (19), which jacket delimits a chamber (8) and defines a horizontal or oblique sloping rotation axis (3), a feeder (21) for feeding the chamber (8) with a mixture of long granules (14) and short granules (13), a number of carriers (12) on the inner side of the jacket (2), which carriers during the rotation of the jacket (2) are arranged to carry mixed granules (13; 14) along and under influence bf gravity release the long granules (14) at one height and the short granules (13) at a larger height. The jacket 02) is divided into a number of sections (4), each section (25) has a front longitudinal edge (5) and a rear longitudinal edge (6) seen in the direction of rotation, whereby the front longitudinal edge (5) has a larger distance to the rotation axis (3) than the rear longitudinal edge (6).

Description

Separator for sorting granules

The present invention relates to a separator for sorting granules by length and which comprises a jacket rotatably positioned on a support, which jacket delimits a chamber and defines a horizontal or oblique sloping rotation axis, a feeder for feeding the chamber with a mixture of long granules and short granules, a number of carriers on the inner side of the jacket, which carriers are arranged for during the rotation of the jacket to carry mixed granules along and under influence of gravity release the long granules at one height and the short granules at a larger height, a tray for collection of short granules, a first transporter for removal of short granules from the tray and a second transporter for removal of long granules from the jacket.

Separators of this kind is used widely for separating a mixture of granules in short and long granules, for example grains of oats and barley from grains of wheat, and heavy and small weed seeds from grass seeds.

The inner side of the jackets of these known separators are for the purpose supplied with carriers for carrying the granules along some of the way during the rotation of the jacket, and these carriers are furthermore shaped in such a manner that they by influence of gravity release the long granules at one height and the short at a larger height .

Thereby the short granules drops into a tray and are removed by a first transporter, while the long granules drops back into the jacket and are removed by means of gravity and a slight inclination via an opening in one end of the jacket.

The granule mixture is fed into the jacket via an opening in the other end of the separator and is then distributed in the length direction by means of the gravity and the slight inclination.

Thereby the depth of the formed granulate layer on the inner side of the jacket will be significantly reduced in the direction from the separator's entrance end to its exit end, with the result that the granulate mixture will not be separated into short and long granules with the desired precision.

Furthermore, the efficiency of the jacket, and thereby the efficiency of the separator, is reduced, whereby the separator, even with a relatively large size, still only will reach a relatively small capacity.

Hereto is added that the known separator has a complex and expensive construction.

The disadvantages and shortcomings that the above mentioned separator thus has, is remedied by the invention by,

in a first aspect of the invention to provide a separator of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph, which is arranged for separating a mixture of short and long granules with a higher accuracy than hitherto known,

in a second aspect of the invention to provide a separator of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph, which at a given size has a larger capacity than hitherto known.

in a third aspect of the invention to provide a separator of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph, which has a simple construction, in a fourth aspect of the invention to provide a separator of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph, which is easy to operate .

The novel and unique whereby this is achieved by the invention consists in that the jacket is divided into a number of sections, that each section has a front longitudinal edge and a rear longitudinal edge, seen in the direction of rotation, and that the front longitudinal edge has a larger distance to the rotation axis than the rear longitudinal edge.

Thereby the sections are separated by spaces, which allows the granules, which are to be sorted, to be guided into the separator's chamber from the side and be 'arranged^' in a' granulate layer, which from one end of the jacket to the other end has a width and height which exactly matches the carrier capacity which the sectors are arranged to have.

According to the present invention a given separators capacity can be increased further by letting each section span an arch which is larger that 360° divided by the number of section, so that the total area of the sections becomes larger than the area of a conventional jacket.

The sections can according to the present invention be plane, whereby it is ensured that their carriers are all oriented the same way in the same height .

The invention will be further explained below, in that further features and technical effects will be mentioned arid, as an example an advantageous embodiment is described by reference to the drawing, wherein

Fig. 1 shows, seen in cross-section, an embodiment of a separator according to the invention for sorting granules by length, Fig. 2 shows a fragmentary, longitudinal section of the same, seen, and

Fig. 3 shows seen in cross section in a larger scale a segment of the jacket shown in fig. 1.

In the following it is assumed that the separator 1 shown in figs. 1 and fig. 2 is arranged for sorting a mixture of short and long grains in its components. For example it may be wheat which is to be cleaned for wild oat-grass.

The sorting is executed by means of a jacket 2, which in operation rotates about a rotation axis ^; 3 in the direction indicated by the arrow. According to the invention the jacket 2 consists of a number of sections 4 distributed along the periphery, which only is schematically shown in fig. 1.

Each section 4 has, seen in the direction of rotation, a front and rear longitudinal edge 5 and 6 respectively, and the front longitudinal edge 5 has a larger distance to the rotation axis 3 than the rear longitudinal edge 6, whereby a space 7 is formed between adjacent sections. The jacket further delimits a chamber 8.

In the shown case, the separator is equipped with a total of twelve sections. It is to be noted that the jacket may consist of any other suitable number of sections.

IN operation the sectors rotate in the direction indicated with the topmost arrow in fig. 1, i.e. counterclockwise, while the grain mixture (not shown) is fed into the chamber 8 of the separator in the direction indicated by the nethermost arrow in fig. 1 via the spaces 7 between the sections 9 and 10. To facilitate the feeding the front longitudinal edge 5 of the sectors is beveled. In fig. 3 are seen three of the schematically shown sections 9, 10 and 11 in fig. 1 in larger scale.

On the inner side of each section are formed pockets 12 for catching the grain, which are fed into the chamber of the separator and for carrying them some of the way during the rotation of the jacket. In the shown case each section has five pockets . In other cases more or fewer than five pockets can be present .

The pockets 12 are formed in such a way that they are better to keep the short grains 13 than the long grains 14, when the jacket rotates.

In the position, which section 9 is in, the pockets 12 have caught three long grains 14 and two short grains 13. The two lowermost long grains 14 are still in balance in their respective pockets, while the uppermost long grain 14 is loosing its balance due to the large inclination of this pocket. The two short grains 13 are lying in full balance in their pockets.

In the position, which section 10 is in, the pockets 12 have caught two long grains 14 and two short grains 13. The pocket in the middle did not manage to catch a grain. The pockets are now inclined so much that the lowermost long grain 14 is about to fall out of the pocket, while the uppermost long grain 14 has fallen out of the pocket. The lowermost short grain 13 is in full balance in the pocket, while the uppermost short grain no 13 longer is in full balance.

In the position, which section 11 is in, the long grains 14 in the two lowermost pockets have fallen out, while the short grains 13 in the three uppermost pockets successively falls out. As it is seen, the sections and their pockets are arranged for the long grains 14 first to fall out of their pockets, while the jacket must be rotated further for the short grains 13 to fall out of their pockets . Thereby it is possible to effectively sort the grain mixture in its components of short and long grains, with construction the shown in figs. 1 and fig. 2.

In figs. 1 and 3 the sections are curved, but they may¹ also be plane, whereby the advantage is obtained, that their carriers all are oriented in the same manner in the same height, whereby the precision of the sorting is enhanced.

As showed in figs. 1 and 2 the sectors 4 are fastened to an open ring 15 at each end with fastening means (not shown) . The sections and the rings together form a rotor 16, which can be reinforced by means of e.g. stay bolts (not shown) .

The rotor 16 's rings 15 are resting on four rollers 17, which are mounted on axels 18, journaled in supports 19 on each side of the rotor. The one axle 18 is connected to a driving engine 20.

By means of for example bars (not shown) the supports can be connected to each other, so that they together form a solid mount, which further can have an outer mantle (not shown) for securing against potential dangers that the rotating rotor otherwise would pose.

When the driving motor 20 is activated, the rollers 17 on the axle 18 are brought to rotate, whereby the rotor 16 resting on the rollers 17, simultaneously are brought to rotate. The rotation is performed in the direction shown with the uppermost arrow in fig. 1, i.e. counterclockwise. The grain mixture is fed by means of a feeder 21 into the jacket 2 's chamber 8 via the opening 7 between two sectors 4 in the direction shown with the nethermost arrow in fig. 1.

The feeder 21, which for example can be a vibration feeder, is extending along the jacket of the rotor and preferably in the full extent of this.

Thereby a uniform layer of grain mixture can deposit on the bottom of the jacket for the full length of the jacket, whereby the mixture is accurately sorted and a large yield is achieved compared to the size of the separator.

As described above by reference to fig. 3, the grain mixture is sorted due to the short grains dropping out of the pockets at a larger height than the long grains when the rotor rotates .

The short grains drop into an upper tray 22, which only are fragmentary seen in fig. 2, while the long grains drop back to the bottom of the jacket.

The upper tray 22 extends from the left support 19, seen in fig. 2, to an upper exit housing 23, which is secured in the right support 19, seen in fig. 2. The exit housing 23 is equipped with a downwards-facing spout 24 for successive emptying of the exit housing for grain.

An upper screw conveyer 4, which is driven by motor 26, extends from the tray 22 's bottom and continues therefrom into the exit housing 23.

During the sorting process the motor 26 is rotating the upper screw conveyer 25 which thereby is brought to transport, in the direction indicated with the horizontal arrow in fig. 2, the short grains in the upper tray 22 into the upper exit housing 23, wherefrom they runs out via the spout 24 in the direction indicated by the downwards turning arrow in fig. 2.

The long grains drop, as previously mentioned, back to the bottom of the jacket.

A lower screw conveyer 27, which is driven by a motor 28, extends along the bottom of the jacket 2 and continues therefrom into a lower exit housing 29 with a ' spout 30 in the left support 19, seen in fig. 2.

During the sorting process the motor 28 is rotating the lower screw conveyer 27 which thereby is brought to transport, in the direction indicated with the horizontal arrow in fig. 2, the long grains on the bottom of the jacket 2 in the nether exit housing 29, wherefrom they runs out via the spout 30 in the direction indicated by the downwards turning arrow in fig. 2.

A screen 31, which seen relatively to the direction of rotation of the rotor 16, is arranged behind the lower screw conveyer 27 extends from the right support 19, seen in fig. 2, to the lower exit housing 29.

The screen 31 serves to ensure that the long fibers, which during the sorting process drop back into the jacket, not entirely or partly pass the lower screw transporter, which' thus wouldn't be able to remove them from the jack'et.

The two screw conveyers 25 and 27 carries in the shown example the short and' long grains out through each their end of the rotor 16. Within the scope of the invention the two screw conveyers may just as well carry them out through the same end.

As shown in fig. 1, a lower tray 32 is positioned beneath the jacket 2 for collection of grains, which drop out of or past the j acket . If a too high layer of grain is formed in the lower tray, the sections 4 shovel the top part of the layer into the chamber of the jacket via the spaces 7 between the sections 4, where it will undergo the intended sorting process.

This function has the effect that the separator also can work if the grain mixture is poured directly into the lower tray from one or the other side.

According to the invention each section may span an arch, which is larger that 360° divided by the number of sections, so that they will overlap each other.

Thereby the significant advantage is achieved that grains, which are supplied to the chamber of the jacket, do not tend to drop out again via the spaces between the sections .

Another significant advantage consists in that the effective area of the jacket is increased relatively to the effective area of a conventional jacket by the size of the overlapping multiplied by the number of sections .

Thereby the separator according to the invention achieves a larger capacity than a conventional separator of same size. '

In a not shown variant of the separator shown in figs . 1 and 2 , the one end of the rotor, which is closed, is cantilevered suspended on a mount .

The to exit housings, screw conveyers, trays and the screen are mounted on a second mount and extends therefrom into the chamber of the rotor via an opening in the opposite end of the rotor. The two mounts can advantageously be coupled to each other and thereby form a solid and stable unit. The invention is described, above and shown in the drawing with screw conveyers for transporting the sorted short and long grain respectively out of the chamber of the rotor.

The separator according to the invention can furthermore be used for many other types of granules than grain.

Claims

1. Separator for sorting granules (13; 14) by length and which comprises a jacket (2) rotatably positioned, on a support (19), which jacket delimits a chamber (8) and defines a horizontal or oblique sloping rotation axis

(3) , a feeder (21) for feeding the chamber (8) with a mixture of long granules (14) and short granules (13), a number of carriers (12) on the inner side of the jacket (2) , which carriers during the rotation of the jacket (2) are arranged to carry mixed granules (13; 14) along and under influence of gravity release the long granules (14) at one height and the short granules (13) at a larger height, a tray (22) for collection of short granules (13), a first transporter (25) for removal of short granules (13) from the I tray, and a second transporter (27) for removal of long granules (14) from the jacket (2), characterized in that the jacket (2) is .divided into a number of sections (4) , that each section (25) has a front longitudinal ₍edge (5) and a rear longitudinal edge (6) , seen in the direction of rotation, and that the front longitudinal edge (5) has a larger distance to the rotation axis (3) than the rear longitudinal edge (6) .

2. Separator according to claim 2, characterized in that each section (4) spans an arch which is larger that 360° divided by the number of sections (4) . '

3. Separator according to claims 1 or 2 , characterized in that the feeder (21) is arranged for feeding the chamber

(8) with granules via the spaces (7) between the sections

(4) .

4. Separator according to any of the claims 1 - 3 , characterized in that the feeder (21) at least substantially has the same longitudinal extent as the jacket (2) .

5. Separator according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the sections (4) are curved or plane .

6. Separator according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 5 , characterized in that the first transporter (25) is positioned near the side of the jacket (2) which during rotation rotates upwards, and that the jacket (2) for collection of short granules (13) extends over the jackets (2) vertical centerline.

7. Separator according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 6, characterized in that the second transporter (27) is positioned close to the bottom of the jacket (2), and that behind this transporter (27) , seen in the direction of rotation of the jacket (2), a longitudinal screen (31) is arranged.

8. Separator according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 7, characterized in that a lower tray (32) is arranged below each of the sections (4) .

9. Separator according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 8 , characterized in that at least at one end the sections (4) are attached to a ring (15) .

10. Separator according to claim 9, characterized in that the ring (15) is supported by at least one rotatable roller (17) .