CA1337686C - Feed and separation device ii - Google Patents
Feed and separation device iiInfo
- Publication number
- CA1337686C CA1337686C CA 548055 CA548055A CA1337686C CA 1337686 C CA1337686 C CA 1337686C CA 548055 CA548055 CA 548055 CA 548055 A CA548055 A CA 548055A CA 1337686 C CA1337686 C CA 1337686C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- air
- separator
- exit
- closure
- pick
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G53/00—Conveying materials in bulk through troughs, pipes or tubes by floating the materials or by flow of gas, liquid or foam
- B65G53/34—Details
- B65G53/60—Devices for separating the materials from propellant gas
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G53/00—Conveying materials in bulk through troughs, pipes or tubes by floating the materials or by flow of gas, liquid or foam
- B65G53/04—Conveying materials in bulk pneumatically through pipes or tubes; Air slides
- B65G53/24—Gas suction systems
- B65G53/26—Gas suction systems operating with fluidisation of the materials
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Cyclones (AREA)
- Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)
- Combined Means For Separation Of Solids (AREA)
Abstract
A separator is provided for use with apparatus for moving particulate material entrained in an airstream. In the embodiment described the apparatus includes a pick-up coupled in an air circulating loop and positioned in the material at a first level so that the material is entrained in the air loop, and the separator positioned above a second level, coupled in the air loop and operable to strip the material from the air.
The separator has an exit above which the material is collected and an actuator is operable periodically to collect batches of the material in the separator at the exit. A closure is coupled to the exit and operable to release a batch at the second level after each period of operation of the actuator.
The separator has an exit above which the material is collected and an actuator is operable periodically to collect batches of the material in the separator at the exit. A closure is coupled to the exit and operable to release a batch at the second level after each period of operation of the actuator.
Description
This invention relates to separators forming part of material transport systems of the type used to move particulate material entrained in an air stream from a first or a second location or commonly, from a lower to an upper level, where the material is required for storage or for use in a process. More particularly, the invention relates to a separator forming part of apparatus for feeding machines such as injection moulding machines which receive particulate synthetic material at a level where the material can flow into the machine for subsequent melting and injection into the mould, the separator serving the strip the particulate material from the air stream.
Although this invention will be described with particular reference to separators used with apparatus to elevate particulate material used in injection moulding machines, it will be clear that the invention is applicable to the separation from a carrier air stream of pulverulent and other materials generally, and the invention is not to be limited by the exemplary description. Further, the word ~particulate" is used to include granular as well as mixtures having a significant powder or dust content.
Particulate and granular materials are often moved by the use of an apparatus having an air system which entrains the material and causes it to move with the air along a duct, pipe and the like. When such apparatus is used in association with injection moulding machines, the entrained material is separated from the air at a level above the injection moulding machine and the exhaust then passes through a filter into air within the building containing the machine. Clearly, the exhaust must be `` ~ 1 337686 filtered aggressively in order to ensure that no fine particulates are sent into the building where they could become a health hazard. As a result the apparatus must include a replacable filter which requires periodic servicing to ensure that the pressure drop across the filter does not become excessive with resulting drop in efficiency and increase in energy requirements. The filters are usually placed high above the operator who has to use a ladder or other apparatus to position himself to service the filter and this is both time consuming and hazardous. As a result recycled scrap having a high dust content must be used sparingly otherwise the filters will be clogged repeatedly.
In view of the foregoing problems, among the objects of the present invention is the removal of the need for mechanical filters in such apparatus.
In accordance with one of the aspects of the invention, a separator is provided for use with operation periodically to move particulate material from a first level to a higher second level using air entrained to move in a loop. The apparatus includes a pick-up coupled in the loop and positioned in the material at the first level so that the material is entrained in the air loop. The separator is located above the second level, is coupled in the air loop and is operable to strip the material from the air. The separator has an exit above which the material is collected and an actuator is operable periodically to collect batches of the material in the separator at the exit. A closure is coupled to the exit and operable to release a batch at the second level after each period of operation of the actuator.
According to another aspect of the invention, a separator is provided for removing material from air in batches.
These and other aspects of the invention will be better understood with reference to drawings, in which:
Fig. l is a side-view showing an injection moulding machine diagrammatically and apparatus including a separator according to a preferred embodiment of a type for use with the injection moulding machine Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the separator of Fig. l and including a sectional view of a pick-up which forms part of the apparatus; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the separator of Fig. l.
Reference is made first to Fig. l which illustrates diagrammatically an injection moulding machine 20 to which elevating apparatus 22 is attached. The apparatus 22 includes a pick-up device 24 at a first level for receiving particulate material from a supply bin 26 having an outlet attachment 28 from which the pick-up device receives particulate material as will be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 2. The material in the bin 26 may be dry but quite often this bin is coupled to a drier to drive moisture from the material. The pick-up device 24 has a duplex connection 30 running between an inlet 32 of the pick-up device and an outlet 34 and, above the injection moulding machine 20, an inlet 36 and an outlet 38 of a separator 40 in accordance with preferred embodiment of the present invention. The separator sits above a bin 42 mounted on the injection moulding machine 20 to receive batches of material from the separator 40 as will be described. AS can be seen in Fig. 1 air is entrained in a loop to move between a lower first level at pick-up device 24 and the separator 40 which is above a second level defined by the top of the bin 42. A motor 44 and associated fan is mounted on the separator 40 for inspiring air movement in the loop.
In situations where the material in the supply bin 26 is dry, then the air loop will entrain air from this bin and supply it in batches to the bin 42 where it will retain its low moisture content.
Although the movement of the particulate material may cause breakdown of the particles due to their impact with one another as they move to the separator 40, small particles and dust origniate mainly from recycled materials which can be mixed with new material. The actual constituents of the particles will vary depending upon the injection moulding material being used and some will separate more readily than others. Recycled materials can be very powdery in form and can include particles of glass fibre, or other materials used in the injection moulding process. The fine particles or pulverulents must be separated in such a way that they cannot agglomerate and end up falling into the mix as enlarged particles of one of the components of the material. Such particles could find their way into the mix and show up in the end product making the product unacceptable.
The separator 40 will normally ensure that all of the material is fed into the injection moulding machine 20 regardlesss of separation of pulverulents from the particulates but can be used to separate the small pulverulents as will be described.
Reference is next made to Fig. 2 which illustrates the separator 40 to a larger scale.
It will be seen that the inlet 36 is tangetial to an upper portion of 46 of the top of outer funnel 48 which is of an inverted pear shape and is supported, around a lower portion 50, by a mounting flange 52 by which it is attached to the top of the bin 42. The upper and lower portions of the funnel 48 are joined by means of a annular rolled over seam 54.
Air entering the inlet 36 is inspired by a motor 56 and associated fan (not shown) which pumps air through outlet 38 into the loop. As will be described, the motor 56 is mounted on a lid 58 attached by a hinge or other mechanism to the outer funnel 48.
The internal details of the separator 40 will be described with reference to particle carrying air entering the separator through inlet 36 and leaving through outlet 38. The air initially enters via a tangential port 60 causing it to move around the cyrindrical upper portion 46 of the outer funnel in a swirling action and then, due to pressure differentials, the air moves around and down in an annular path contained by the outer funnel 48, the speed of the air decreasing as it approaches the widest part 62 of the funnel 48, below which the path is suddenly changed to flow upwardly through an annular passage 64 formed between an outer annular sleeve 66 and an inner annular sleeve 68 which forms the upper portion of a frustro-conical inner funnel 70. The upward movement of the air, which will continue to have a swirling action, and its sudden transition from downward extending annular air path to upwardly extending annular air path, combined with the drop in speed of the air and the lengthened flow path caused by the swirl, will result in the majority of the particles falling from the air in a primary separation and resting at the bottom of the funnel 48 adjacent an exit 72. Particles will build up above the exit 72 while air is circulating and will then be released as a batch as will be described. Continuing with the movement of the air, after passing upwardly through the passage 64 the air is drawn through louvres 74 lanced into the passage 64 from the inner sleeve 68.
The louvres 74 are shaped to continue the swirling action of the air in the interior of the funnel 70. On entering the funnel 70 the air tends to decelerate and circulate around and down the funnel 70, where a second separation takes place, before being drawn upwardly through a centrally mounted fan inlet 76 which depends from the lid 58 and leads, through the fan, to the outlet 38.
The frustro-conical funnel 70 is supported within the outer funnel 48 by an annular flange 78 which extends radially from the upper edge of the sleeve 70 and rests, through a resilient mounting 80, on a ledge 81 formed at the upper end of the outer funnel 48. The mounting 80 extends to the upper face of the flange 78 to form a sealing support for the lid 58. The lid itself is generally circular in plan view and has an outer rolled edge skirt 82 that extends a short distance from the mounting 80 down and around an indented portion 84 of the funnel 48. The central portion of the lid 58 features a raised edge 86, which receives mounting studs 88 that extend from three equally spaced flanges 90 provided on the motor casing, and a central dished portion 92. The fan inlet 76 depends from the dished portion 92 which is provided with an annular seal 94 for supporting the motor 44.
Continuing with the air movement, air from outlet 38 of the separator 40 passes through a duct 96 (Fig. 3) forming part of the duplex connection 30 which leads to the inlet 32 of the pick-up device 24. The air enters a larger outer tube 98 and is allowed to pass through this tube about a smaller and concentric inner tube 100 which passess through a spider support 102 the projects to engage particulate materials 104 contained in the outlet attachment 28. Inner tube 100 is supported within the outer tube 88 both by spider 102 and by an annular fitting 106 which is attahced to the outer sleeve and which is a friction fit about the inner tube 100. As a result the inner tube 100 can be adjusted to position an angled end 108 with reference to the end of the outer tube 98. This affects the flow pattern of the air as it entrains material between leaving the outer tube 98 and returning via the inner tube 100. It will be found that by varying the position of the inner tube, the fluidization of the particulate material will be optimized for better flow into the inner tube and hence through the system to the separator 40.
The inner tube 100 is attached at its outer extremity to the lower ends of a duct 110 which also forms part of the duplex connection 30 and is attahced at this upper extemity to the inlet 36 of the separator 40.
The movement of air continues as long as the motor 44 ~ 1 337686 .
is energized. Power is supplied to the motor via a timer 112 which can be set for particular consecutive periods of activation and rest. As soon as the timer disconnects the motor from power, the air movement will stop in the loop and then there is equalizaiton of pressure throughout the system. Prior to this the pressure inside the separator 40 is maintained at less than atmosphric due to the pressure drop created by the flow of air through the remainder of the loop, and in particular in fluidizing the particulate material within the outlet attachment 28.
The separator 40 has flexible closures 114 and 116 which are retained in a closed condition because of the pressure differential between the inside and outside of the closures.
Closure 114 is attached by a spring clamp 118 to a cylindrical extension 120 at the bottom of the funnel 48. Closure 114 is attached by a smaller spring clamp 122 to another cylindrical portion 124 at the bottom end of the inner funnel 70. The flexibility of the closures 114 and 116 is essential to the operation as when the motor 44 is switched off and the pressure equalized, the weight of particulate material 126 retained by closure 114 will open this closure and allow the particulate material from the primary separation to trickle down into the bin displacing dry air from the bin into the separator 40.
Similarily, a very flexible tube is used for the closure 116 and this operates in a similar manner.
The outer closure 114 is formed of a cylindrical piece of material which has seams 128 sewn at diametrically opposed portions to provide two areas of double thickness 130. Each area 130 is provided with an eyelet 132 to receive an end of a spring 134 which extends downwardly from the spring clamp 118 on the cylindrical extension 120. The arrangement is such that the closure 114 collapes laterally, between the seams 128, when drawn closed.
The closure 116 could be arranged to lead the material collated at the second separation to a container separate from the bin 42 if preferred, and as indicated at 136 in Fig. 1, by extending the tubular closure 116 down and out of the side of the bin 42.
The timer 112 permits the particulate materials to pass through the closures 114, 116 and then will commence the air movement again to elevate more material into the bin 42.
Clearly the flow of material must be related to the need for material from the injection moulding machine and to this end, a sensor indicated diagrammatically by the numeral 138 and activated by the level of material in bin 42, is coupled to the control timer 112 to isolate the timer should there be no need for material in the bin 42.
The embodiment described makes it possible for time particles to be separated from a carrier air stream without requiring mechanical filters.
It will now be clear that the embodiment described for use with apparatus in conjuction with injection moulding machines is exemplary of other embodiments for use in differnet situations. The typical particulate material particulate material is exemplary of materials such as grain, powders, etc.
These and other variations are within the scope of the invention as claimed.
Although this invention will be described with particular reference to separators used with apparatus to elevate particulate material used in injection moulding machines, it will be clear that the invention is applicable to the separation from a carrier air stream of pulverulent and other materials generally, and the invention is not to be limited by the exemplary description. Further, the word ~particulate" is used to include granular as well as mixtures having a significant powder or dust content.
Particulate and granular materials are often moved by the use of an apparatus having an air system which entrains the material and causes it to move with the air along a duct, pipe and the like. When such apparatus is used in association with injection moulding machines, the entrained material is separated from the air at a level above the injection moulding machine and the exhaust then passes through a filter into air within the building containing the machine. Clearly, the exhaust must be `` ~ 1 337686 filtered aggressively in order to ensure that no fine particulates are sent into the building where they could become a health hazard. As a result the apparatus must include a replacable filter which requires periodic servicing to ensure that the pressure drop across the filter does not become excessive with resulting drop in efficiency and increase in energy requirements. The filters are usually placed high above the operator who has to use a ladder or other apparatus to position himself to service the filter and this is both time consuming and hazardous. As a result recycled scrap having a high dust content must be used sparingly otherwise the filters will be clogged repeatedly.
In view of the foregoing problems, among the objects of the present invention is the removal of the need for mechanical filters in such apparatus.
In accordance with one of the aspects of the invention, a separator is provided for use with operation periodically to move particulate material from a first level to a higher second level using air entrained to move in a loop. The apparatus includes a pick-up coupled in the loop and positioned in the material at the first level so that the material is entrained in the air loop. The separator is located above the second level, is coupled in the air loop and is operable to strip the material from the air. The separator has an exit above which the material is collected and an actuator is operable periodically to collect batches of the material in the separator at the exit. A closure is coupled to the exit and operable to release a batch at the second level after each period of operation of the actuator.
According to another aspect of the invention, a separator is provided for removing material from air in batches.
These and other aspects of the invention will be better understood with reference to drawings, in which:
Fig. l is a side-view showing an injection moulding machine diagrammatically and apparatus including a separator according to a preferred embodiment of a type for use with the injection moulding machine Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the separator of Fig. l and including a sectional view of a pick-up which forms part of the apparatus; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the separator of Fig. l.
Reference is made first to Fig. l which illustrates diagrammatically an injection moulding machine 20 to which elevating apparatus 22 is attached. The apparatus 22 includes a pick-up device 24 at a first level for receiving particulate material from a supply bin 26 having an outlet attachment 28 from which the pick-up device receives particulate material as will be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 2. The material in the bin 26 may be dry but quite often this bin is coupled to a drier to drive moisture from the material. The pick-up device 24 has a duplex connection 30 running between an inlet 32 of the pick-up device and an outlet 34 and, above the injection moulding machine 20, an inlet 36 and an outlet 38 of a separator 40 in accordance with preferred embodiment of the present invention. The separator sits above a bin 42 mounted on the injection moulding machine 20 to receive batches of material from the separator 40 as will be described. AS can be seen in Fig. 1 air is entrained in a loop to move between a lower first level at pick-up device 24 and the separator 40 which is above a second level defined by the top of the bin 42. A motor 44 and associated fan is mounted on the separator 40 for inspiring air movement in the loop.
In situations where the material in the supply bin 26 is dry, then the air loop will entrain air from this bin and supply it in batches to the bin 42 where it will retain its low moisture content.
Although the movement of the particulate material may cause breakdown of the particles due to their impact with one another as they move to the separator 40, small particles and dust origniate mainly from recycled materials which can be mixed with new material. The actual constituents of the particles will vary depending upon the injection moulding material being used and some will separate more readily than others. Recycled materials can be very powdery in form and can include particles of glass fibre, or other materials used in the injection moulding process. The fine particles or pulverulents must be separated in such a way that they cannot agglomerate and end up falling into the mix as enlarged particles of one of the components of the material. Such particles could find their way into the mix and show up in the end product making the product unacceptable.
The separator 40 will normally ensure that all of the material is fed into the injection moulding machine 20 regardlesss of separation of pulverulents from the particulates but can be used to separate the small pulverulents as will be described.
Reference is next made to Fig. 2 which illustrates the separator 40 to a larger scale.
It will be seen that the inlet 36 is tangetial to an upper portion of 46 of the top of outer funnel 48 which is of an inverted pear shape and is supported, around a lower portion 50, by a mounting flange 52 by which it is attached to the top of the bin 42. The upper and lower portions of the funnel 48 are joined by means of a annular rolled over seam 54.
Air entering the inlet 36 is inspired by a motor 56 and associated fan (not shown) which pumps air through outlet 38 into the loop. As will be described, the motor 56 is mounted on a lid 58 attached by a hinge or other mechanism to the outer funnel 48.
The internal details of the separator 40 will be described with reference to particle carrying air entering the separator through inlet 36 and leaving through outlet 38. The air initially enters via a tangential port 60 causing it to move around the cyrindrical upper portion 46 of the outer funnel in a swirling action and then, due to pressure differentials, the air moves around and down in an annular path contained by the outer funnel 48, the speed of the air decreasing as it approaches the widest part 62 of the funnel 48, below which the path is suddenly changed to flow upwardly through an annular passage 64 formed between an outer annular sleeve 66 and an inner annular sleeve 68 which forms the upper portion of a frustro-conical inner funnel 70. The upward movement of the air, which will continue to have a swirling action, and its sudden transition from downward extending annular air path to upwardly extending annular air path, combined with the drop in speed of the air and the lengthened flow path caused by the swirl, will result in the majority of the particles falling from the air in a primary separation and resting at the bottom of the funnel 48 adjacent an exit 72. Particles will build up above the exit 72 while air is circulating and will then be released as a batch as will be described. Continuing with the movement of the air, after passing upwardly through the passage 64 the air is drawn through louvres 74 lanced into the passage 64 from the inner sleeve 68.
The louvres 74 are shaped to continue the swirling action of the air in the interior of the funnel 70. On entering the funnel 70 the air tends to decelerate and circulate around and down the funnel 70, where a second separation takes place, before being drawn upwardly through a centrally mounted fan inlet 76 which depends from the lid 58 and leads, through the fan, to the outlet 38.
The frustro-conical funnel 70 is supported within the outer funnel 48 by an annular flange 78 which extends radially from the upper edge of the sleeve 70 and rests, through a resilient mounting 80, on a ledge 81 formed at the upper end of the outer funnel 48. The mounting 80 extends to the upper face of the flange 78 to form a sealing support for the lid 58. The lid itself is generally circular in plan view and has an outer rolled edge skirt 82 that extends a short distance from the mounting 80 down and around an indented portion 84 of the funnel 48. The central portion of the lid 58 features a raised edge 86, which receives mounting studs 88 that extend from three equally spaced flanges 90 provided on the motor casing, and a central dished portion 92. The fan inlet 76 depends from the dished portion 92 which is provided with an annular seal 94 for supporting the motor 44.
Continuing with the air movement, air from outlet 38 of the separator 40 passes through a duct 96 (Fig. 3) forming part of the duplex connection 30 which leads to the inlet 32 of the pick-up device 24. The air enters a larger outer tube 98 and is allowed to pass through this tube about a smaller and concentric inner tube 100 which passess through a spider support 102 the projects to engage particulate materials 104 contained in the outlet attachment 28. Inner tube 100 is supported within the outer tube 88 both by spider 102 and by an annular fitting 106 which is attahced to the outer sleeve and which is a friction fit about the inner tube 100. As a result the inner tube 100 can be adjusted to position an angled end 108 with reference to the end of the outer tube 98. This affects the flow pattern of the air as it entrains material between leaving the outer tube 98 and returning via the inner tube 100. It will be found that by varying the position of the inner tube, the fluidization of the particulate material will be optimized for better flow into the inner tube and hence through the system to the separator 40.
The inner tube 100 is attached at its outer extremity to the lower ends of a duct 110 which also forms part of the duplex connection 30 and is attahced at this upper extemity to the inlet 36 of the separator 40.
The movement of air continues as long as the motor 44 ~ 1 337686 .
is energized. Power is supplied to the motor via a timer 112 which can be set for particular consecutive periods of activation and rest. As soon as the timer disconnects the motor from power, the air movement will stop in the loop and then there is equalizaiton of pressure throughout the system. Prior to this the pressure inside the separator 40 is maintained at less than atmosphric due to the pressure drop created by the flow of air through the remainder of the loop, and in particular in fluidizing the particulate material within the outlet attachment 28.
The separator 40 has flexible closures 114 and 116 which are retained in a closed condition because of the pressure differential between the inside and outside of the closures.
Closure 114 is attached by a spring clamp 118 to a cylindrical extension 120 at the bottom of the funnel 48. Closure 114 is attached by a smaller spring clamp 122 to another cylindrical portion 124 at the bottom end of the inner funnel 70. The flexibility of the closures 114 and 116 is essential to the operation as when the motor 44 is switched off and the pressure equalized, the weight of particulate material 126 retained by closure 114 will open this closure and allow the particulate material from the primary separation to trickle down into the bin displacing dry air from the bin into the separator 40.
Similarily, a very flexible tube is used for the closure 116 and this operates in a similar manner.
The outer closure 114 is formed of a cylindrical piece of material which has seams 128 sewn at diametrically opposed portions to provide two areas of double thickness 130. Each area 130 is provided with an eyelet 132 to receive an end of a spring 134 which extends downwardly from the spring clamp 118 on the cylindrical extension 120. The arrangement is such that the closure 114 collapes laterally, between the seams 128, when drawn closed.
The closure 116 could be arranged to lead the material collated at the second separation to a container separate from the bin 42 if preferred, and as indicated at 136 in Fig. 1, by extending the tubular closure 116 down and out of the side of the bin 42.
The timer 112 permits the particulate materials to pass through the closures 114, 116 and then will commence the air movement again to elevate more material into the bin 42.
Clearly the flow of material must be related to the need for material from the injection moulding machine and to this end, a sensor indicated diagrammatically by the numeral 138 and activated by the level of material in bin 42, is coupled to the control timer 112 to isolate the timer should there be no need for material in the bin 42.
The embodiment described makes it possible for time particles to be separated from a carrier air stream without requiring mechanical filters.
It will now be clear that the embodiment described for use with apparatus in conjuction with injection moulding machines is exemplary of other embodiments for use in differnet situations. The typical particulate material particulate material is exemplary of materials such as grain, powders, etc.
These and other variations are within the scope of the invention as claimed.
Claims (18)
1. A separator for use in stripping particulate material entrained in an air stream and comprising:
a bulbous tubular outer portion;
inlet means at the top of the tubular portion and angled tangentially to inspire a swirling action;
a first exit at the bottom of the tubular portion;
a first closure covering the first exit;
an inner sleeve concentric with the outer portion and combining with the outer portion to define an annular space, the space increasing to a maximum cross-sectional area below the inlet means and then decreasing in cross-sectional area towards the first exit; and an opening defined by the inner sleeve above said first exit;
whereby air entering the separator swirls downwardly through a first downwardly extending air path defined by the annular space and then flows through the opening in the inner sleeve and then upwardly through a first upwardly extending air path thereby causing primary separation of the material from the air before the air leaves through the outlet.
a bulbous tubular outer portion;
inlet means at the top of the tubular portion and angled tangentially to inspire a swirling action;
a first exit at the bottom of the tubular portion;
a first closure covering the first exit;
an inner sleeve concentric with the outer portion and combining with the outer portion to define an annular space, the space increasing to a maximum cross-sectional area below the inlet means and then decreasing in cross-sectional area towards the first exit; and an opening defined by the inner sleeve above said first exit;
whereby air entering the separator swirls downwardly through a first downwardly extending air path defined by the annular space and then flows through the opening in the inner sleeve and then upwardly through a first upwardly extending air path thereby causing primary separation of the material from the air before the air leaves through the outlet.
2. A separator as claimed in claim 1 in which the first upwardly extending air path leads to a second downwardly extending annular air path followed by a second upwardly extending air path for secondary separation of material from the air, the second air paths being defined by the inner sleeve and the outlet.
3. A separator as claimed in claim 1 in which the inner sleeve has a second exit, concentric with the first exit at the bottom of the tubular portion, and a secondary closure covering the second exit.
4. A separator as claimed in claim 3 in which the secondary closure projects through the primary closure.
5. A separator as claimed in claim 3 in which the closures are formed oftubular portions of flexible material.
6. A separator as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 in which the opening defined by the inner sleeve is located at an upper portion of the inner sleeve provided with inner sleeve inlet means angled tangentially with respect to the inner sleeve toinspire a swirling action in the air passing through the inner sleeve inlet means.
7. A separator as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 and further including actuator means to draw air through the separator.
8. Apparatus for elevating particulate material from one level to a higher second level and comprising:
pick-up means for insertion into the material at the lower level and having an outlet and an inlet;
a separator as claimed in claim 1 located above the second level, said first closure being responsive to negative pressure in the separator to retain the closure means in a closed position;
duct means coupling the separator and the pick-up means to form a loop;
actuator means operable to drive air around the loop so that air leaving the pick-up means outlet entrains the particulate material and then carries the material through the duct means and into the inlet means of the separator for flow through the separator whereby the material is substantially stripped from the air to fall into the closure before the air returns via the duct means to the pick-up means;
and control means operable to energize the actuator means to drive the air around the loop.
pick-up means for insertion into the material at the lower level and having an outlet and an inlet;
a separator as claimed in claim 1 located above the second level, said first closure being responsive to negative pressure in the separator to retain the closure means in a closed position;
duct means coupling the separator and the pick-up means to form a loop;
actuator means operable to drive air around the loop so that air leaving the pick-up means outlet entrains the particulate material and then carries the material through the duct means and into the inlet means of the separator for flow through the separator whereby the material is substantially stripped from the air to fall into the closure before the air returns via the duct means to the pick-up means;
and control means operable to energize the actuator means to drive the air around the loop.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which the pick-up means comprises inner and outer tubes, the inlet feeding air between the tubes to exit into the material and the inner tube receiving a mixture of air and material and carrying the air and material to the outlet of the pick-up means.
10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which the inner and outer tubes are adjustable longitudinally with reference to one another.
11. A separator as claimed in claim 8 in which the first upwardly extending air path leads to a second downwardly extending annular air path followed by a second upwardly extending air path for secondary separation of material from the air, the second air paths being defined by the inner sleeve and the outlet.
12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 and in which the closure means includes a first closure receiving material from the primary separation and a second receiving material from the secondary separation.
13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which the secondary closure projects through the primary closure.
14. Apparatus for operation periodically to remove particulate material from air entrained to move in a loop for moving the material from a first level in the loop to a higher second level, the apparatus comprising:
pick-up means coupled in the loop and positioned in the material so that the material is entrained in the air;
a separator as claimed in claim 1 above the second level;
actuator means operable periodically to collect batches of the material in the separator means at the first separator exit; and closure means coupled to the separator exit and operable to release a batch at the second level after each period of operation of the actuator means.
pick-up means coupled in the loop and positioned in the material so that the material is entrained in the air;
a separator as claimed in claim 1 above the second level;
actuator means operable periodically to collect batches of the material in the separator means at the first separator exit; and closure means coupled to the separator exit and operable to release a batch at the second level after each period of operation of the actuator means.
15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which the pick-up means comprises inner and outer tubes, the inlet feeding air between the tubes to exit into the material and the inner tube receiving air and material and conveying the air and material to the inlet means of the separator.
16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 in which the inner and outer tubes are adjustable longitudinally with reference to one another.
17. Apparatus for use with injection moulding machines to move particulate material from a lower bin to an upper bin, the material having a controlled humidity and the upper bin being coupled to the moulding machine for gravity feeding the material in response to a demand for material at the machine, the apparatus comprising:
a pick-up for engagement in the material contained in the lower bin;
a separator as claimed in claim 1 for attachment to the upper bin for batch delivery of material into the upper bin;
ducting connecting the separator and the pick-up to form an air loop;
actuator means in the air loop and operable to drive air around the loop so that material collected at the pick-up is deposited in the separator; and a timer operable to power the actuator means periodically to collect batches of material in the separator and to disconnect power from the actuator means so that the material in the separator falls into the upper bin thereby displacing air from this bin into the separator so that ambient air is not inspired into the separator by the movement of material into the upper bin.
a pick-up for engagement in the material contained in the lower bin;
a separator as claimed in claim 1 for attachment to the upper bin for batch delivery of material into the upper bin;
ducting connecting the separator and the pick-up to form an air loop;
actuator means in the air loop and operable to drive air around the loop so that material collected at the pick-up is deposited in the separator; and a timer operable to power the actuator means periodically to collect batches of material in the separator and to disconnect power from the actuator means so that the material in the separator falls into the upper bin thereby displacing air from this bin into the separator so that ambient air is not inspired into the separator by the movement of material into the upper bin.
18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 and further comprising limit means coupled to the separator to override the timer and disconnect power from the actuator means in the event that the level of material in the separator reaches a predetermined maximum level.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 548055 CA1337686C (en) | 1987-09-28 | 1987-09-28 | Feed and separation device ii |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 548055 CA1337686C (en) | 1987-09-28 | 1987-09-28 | Feed and separation device ii |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1337686C true CA1337686C (en) | 1995-12-05 |
Family
ID=4136540
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 548055 Expired - Fee Related CA1337686C (en) | 1987-09-28 | 1987-09-28 | Feed and separation device ii |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1337686C (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN104909170A (en) * | 2015-04-27 | 2015-09-16 | 福建龙净环保股份有限公司 | Fluidization bin pump |
-
1987
- 1987-09-28 CA CA 548055 patent/CA1337686C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN104909170A (en) * | 2015-04-27 | 2015-09-16 | 福建龙净环保股份有限公司 | Fluidization bin pump |
| CN104909170B (en) * | 2015-04-27 | 2017-08-08 | 福建龙净环保股份有限公司 | A kind of fluidization cone pump |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKLA | Lapsed |