US1385846A - Air-separator - Google Patents

Description

J. STUHTEVANT:

AIR SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7. 1919.

Patented. July 26, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEE'I' ITIT GJZI OI U IZM & SEW

I AA/01.1297

THOMAS J. STURTEVANT, OF WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS, A SSIGNOR TOSTUBTE- VANT MILL COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,

CHUSETTS.

Specification or Letters latent.

A CORPORATION OF MASSA- AIR-SEPARATOR.

Patented July 26', 1921.

Application filed October 7, 1919. Serial No. 329,094.

To all (whom it may concem Be it known that I, THOMAS J. STURTE- \ANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wellesley, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Air-Separators, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the draw in s representing like parts.

he invention to be hereinafter described relates to air separators, and more particularly to separators of the type disclosed in my copendin I applications Serial No. 297,291, filed ay 15, 1919, a d Serial No. 319,646, filed August 25, 1919.

This type of separator comprises outer and inner casings forming inner and outer chambers and provided with a fan for prod'ucing a circulating air current which movesupward in the inner chamber and downward in the outer chamber. The materials to be graded are introduced into the inner chamber t rough the top thereof and strike a rotary istributer which under the influence of centrifugal force throws the materials outward into the path of the rising current of air. Lighter particles are lifted thereby up to the fan, pass through the fan, and thence downward through the outer chamber, whereas, the heavier particles gravitate downward through the rising current of air in the inner chamber. The fine particles are discharged through one passage, and the coarser particles are discharged through another passage.

In grading of materials, there is a tendcncy for the lighter particles passing downward through the outer chamber to be carried by the circulating air current back into the inner chamber. If the finer particles are returned to the inner chamber in substantial amount, of course, the efliciency of the separator is materially reduced.

The rotary fan tends to produce a whirling current of air downward through the outer chamber, and the centrifugal force of this air current tends to carry the particles outward against the inner surface of the outer chamber, so that they tend to pass downward past the lower opening between the outer and inner chambers a substantial distance therefrom. The whirl and centrifugal eflect diminish as the current approaches said opening, and the force thereof in some instances is sufficient to give centrifugal effect adequate to prevent entrance of particles back into the inner chamber. One of the purposes of the present invention, therefore, is to provide simple and eflicient means for increasing the whirl effect of the air and thereby increasing the vcentrifugal force thereof, more effectively to prevent return of the lighter particles from the outer chamber into the inner chamber. In carrying this feature of the invention into practical effect, in the present instance, the fan is inclosed in a chamber and one or more guides or conduits of a spiral or helical character are provided, comma-- nicating with the fan chamber and the outer chamber so as to deliver the air current into the outer chamber with a pronounced whirl of the air current creating a centrifugal force opposite the lower opening between the outer and inner chambers sufficient to cause the lighter particles to pass downward along or sufliciently adjacent to the inner surface of the outer wall of the outer chamber to greatly reduce the percentage of particles carried by the air current into the inner chamber.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a valve or gate for each of the air conduits which may not only serve to vary the strength of the air current for classification of materials of varying character, but also may serve to contribute to the direction of the whirling air current delivered from the air conduit orair conduits.

In my said application Serial No. 297 ,291, a series of vanes or valves are provided at the lower opening between the outer and inner chambers which serve to promote a whirl effect of the air and also to vary the strength of the air current for classifyingmaterials of varying character. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an air conduit or air conduits such as described, which may be so related to the vanes referred to, as to cooperate therewith desirably in the production of the whirling.

air current. In other words, the air conduit or conduits may be so related to said vanes as to direct the whirling air currents in such a manner as'to be received bysaid vanes and directed by the latter from the outer to the inner chamber.

secured thereto With :the aforesaid and other objects in view, the character of the invention will be bestunderstood by reference to the folldwing description of one good form thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2 through the separator shown herein as embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the separator;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a portion of the separator; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of a latch device for holding the air conduit gate in dif ferent positions of adjustment. 4 v

Referring to the drawings, the separator shown therein as one good form of the invention, comprises a support. in the present instance, in the form of a ring 1 (Fig. 1) having feet 3 adapted to be secured by bolts 5 to beams 7 or other appropriate supportin means.

ounted on aflange 9' of the foundation ring is an outer casing 11 for the outer chamber 13, said casing having a base ring 15 provided with an internal flange resting on the foundation rin flange 9 and vdetachably by screw bolts 17. The outer casing has a shell 19, in the present instance of cylindrical form, with its lower edge riveted to the base ring 15 and its upper edge riveted to a top ring 21'. A head 23 is secured to the top ring and is provided with eyes 25 adapted to be connected to a suitable tackle which may be used for lifting the outer casing from the foundation ring when desired.

Within and spaced from the outer casing is an inner casing 27 for the inner chamber 28 and having an upper conical shell 29 and a lower conical shell 31. The'adjacent ends of said shells are secured to rings 33 connected by through bolts 35. These rings are shouldered to receive a circular baflie plate 37 which may be made in sections and be made of stronger and more durable material than the upper and lower shells 29 and 31. The construction is such that on release of the through bolts 35, the baffle plate 37 may readil be removed and another substituted there or.

Encircling the lower conical shell 31 is a cylinder 39 having its upper edge secured to the lower ring 33 and its lower edge secured to a ring 41. Projecting outward from thering 41 are feet 43 having sockets resting on the upper ends of posts 44 which have their lower ends seated in sockets 45 on brackets 47 projecting radially inward from the foundation ring 1.

A conical casing 49 is secured to and depends from the foundation ring and has a port at the lower end thereof through which the fines are discharged, as more fully heremafter descrlbed,

-ner and outer chambers.

To conduct the coarser particles from the inner chamber,a mouth or collar 51 has its lower edge secured to an upstanding flange of an angle ring 53'secured tothe inner ends of the brackets 47' referred to. Interposed between said angle ring 53 and said brackets is the outwardly projecting flange of a conical collar 55. Depending from the latter is a conical] casing 57 communicating with a spout 59'thaving a delivery end projecting through the fines discharge casing 49 referred to. r

The shells 29 and 31 and the intermediate plate 37 divide the outer casing into a sep arating chamber and a collecting chamber.

The materials to be graded may be introduced into the separator through a hopper 61 secured to the head 23. Projecting downward from the hopper is a feedtube 63 for conducting the materials to therotarydistributer device.

The rotary distributer device, in the present instance. comprises a head 65'having a table 67 with vanes 69 rising from a peripheral portion thereof and surmounted by a. ring 71. Depending from the edge of said table is an apron 73, and rising from and tween the vanes 69 and drop thence onto the annular dish. The hood 87 will serve to de- A tapered flect the materials down onto said dish. The dish is rotated with the table, and therefore. i

centrifugal force will carry the materials outward in the dish to the upstanding flange which will deflect the same upward into the path of the rising air current in theinner chamber. L

The dish and hood may be secured togkthe sleeve 75 referred to, in different positions of adjustment. To accomplish this, thehood ring 85 may 88 threaded to a portion 89 of the sleeve 75, the parts of said ring 88 being clamped to said sleeve by bolts 91 entered through lugs 93 projecting outward from the parts ofsaid ring.

The construction is such that on release of said. bolts the dish and hood may be 'verti cally adjusted with respect to the table and fan as desired. and then may be secured by tightening said bolts.

Suitable means may be provided to produce the circulation of air through the in This means, in the present instance, is in the form of a fan 95 have a split or two part'ring iao having a hub 96 secured to the upper end of the sleeve 7 5 and long blades 97 project mg outward from said hub.

uitable means may be provided for ro- Said vertical shaft may be driven by a bevel gear 113 thereon meshing with a bevel gear 115 on a horizontal shaft 117 journaled in a bearing 119 carried by said casing 109 and in a bearing 121 carried by the foundation ring 1. At the outer end of said horizontal shaft is a pulley 123 adapted to be driven by a belt from any suitable source of power.

The construction is such that the table, dish, hood, sleeve and fan may be readily rotated by means of the simple transmission described. The fan will create a circulation of air through the inner and outer chambers which may flow in the general direction inwhirling air current delivered by the condicated by the tail arrows in Fig. 1-.

The fan may be inclosed in a chamber 125 separated from the outer chamber 13 by an annular plate or partition 127 detachably secured by bolts to the outer shell. This plate may have a central opening 129 registering with the upper end of the upper conical shell 29 of the inner casing. The construction is such that the fan will draw the air up through the inner chamber through the opening 129 into the fan chamber.

As stated, one of the purposes of the invention is to provide means for producing a pronounced whirl eflect of the air current downward through the outer chamber so as to produce a centrifugal force suflicient to cause the lighter particles to move downward along or adjacent to the inner surface of the outer wall of the outer chamber. To accomplish this, in the present instance, one or more air guides or conduits 131 are provided, in the present instance, two being shown, but the number may be varied according to conditions as desired. Each of these air conduits may be of general helical or spiral form, and may be secured on or adjacent to the outer casing 19 referred to, externally or internally thereof. In the present instance, these conduits are secured to said casing externally thereof, and have upper ends communicating with the fan chamher through inlet openings 133, in the pres-- ent instance, substantially diametrically opposed, and said conduits have lower outlet openings 135 communicating with the outer chamber, in the present instance, at substantially diametrically opposed points. The shape of the conduits may vary according to conditions as desired, but in the present instance of the invention, they are of general rectangular cross section and gradually reduced in width progressively downward from their inlet to their outlet openings, with a nozzle effect to increase the velocity and whirl effect of the air current delivered from the conduits.

The construction is such that the air will be forced by the fan outward through the upper inlet openings, thence downward through the conduits through the outlet openings which are so formed as to deliver the air current in relatively thin streams into the outer chamber. These streams will tend to cling to the inner surface of the outer casing 19, and will have a pronounced whirl or helical path of move-.

ment which will produce a centrifugal force effect on the particles carried in the whirling air current, andcause said particles to pass downward close to the inner surface of said outer casing. As a result, said particles will be substantially prevented from entrance through the lower opening to be described, between theouter and inner chambers.

It is desirable to vary the strength of the duits according to the character of the materials to be separated. To accomplish this, in the present instance, eachof the conduit outlet openings 135 may be provided with a gate or valve 137 mounted on a hinge shaft 139 extending upward through the head of the outer casing, where it receives a crank 141 provided with a handle 143 containing a latch 145 (Fig. 4) pressed downward by a coil spring 147, and adapted to cooperate with a series of holes 149 in an arcuate plate 151 mounted on the casing head. The latch has a head 153 on the upper end thereof, the

construction beingsuch that the latch head 153 may be pulled upward against the resistance of the coil spring 147, and then the and then the gate may be secured .by entrance of the latch 145 into one of the holes 149. Thus, the gate may be set in different positions of adjustment to vary the amount of the outlet opening and the strength of the air current delivered therethrough. The gate also serves as a deflector which will contribute to direction of the air current from the outlet opening along the inner surface of the outer casing 19.

The whirling air current on leaving the openings 135 will move downward and thence through the openings 155 back into the inner chamber. Suitable means may be provided to vary the strength of the air current passing through this opening, and

to contribute to or promote the whirl of the air current? This means, in the present instance of the invention, comprises a seriesvalves or vanes are connected by links 163 with arms 165 projecting radially from an adjusting ring 167 mounted on the upper angle ring 159., One of the arms 165 may be longer than the others and be connected by a rod 169 to a screw 171 threaded in the hub of a hand wheel 173 located externally of the outer casin 19.whereit is conveniently accessible. 6n rotation'ot the hand wheel the screw 171 will be adjusted in the hand wheel hub, and will thereby adjust the rod 169 longitudinally, and slide or adjust the ring 167 rotatively on the angle ring 159, and said adjusting ring will operate through the links 163 to open and close the valves any extent desired.

These valves or vanes and the adjusting means therefor may be similar to the construction disclosed in my said application Serial No. 319,646.

The direction of said valves or vanes is 7 such that the whirling air current delivered from the conduits will be received by said valves or vanes and deflected thereby from the outer chamber into the inner chamber, and said valves or vanes will desirably contribute to' the promotion of the whirl effect of the air produced by the conduits. The outlets 135 for the air conduits are located adjacent to, and in the present instance, a short distance above said valves or vanes, the relation thereof being such that a pronounced whirling effect of the air is produced as it passes downward from the conduit outlets to the opening 155 between the outer and inner chambers. As a consequence, a centrifugal force is produced sufficient to cause the particles carried by the whirling air current to tend to cling to and pass downward along the inner surface of the outer casing 19 remotely from the opening 155 between the outer and inner chams bers. As a consequence, the lighter particles are substantially prevented from being carried by the air current back into the inner chamber, and efiicient separation of the materials to be graded is accomplished.

The head 23 of the outer casing may be provided with a large man-hole 175 detachably secured by clips 177, the construction being such that the man-hole may be removed to permit convenient access to the interior of the casing.

The operation of the separator will be readily understood. The materials are de-. livered through the hopper 61 and feed tube 63 to the rotary distribute-r which throws the materials outward and upwardly into the path of the current of air rising in the inner chamber. The lighter particles are'carried upward by the air current past the fan through the fan chamber, and thence whirl downward through the conduits into the outer chamber. The lighter particles carried by this whirling air current pass downward, without entering the inner chamber, through the conical casing 49, and are discharged thereby. The heavier particles, on the other hand, gravitate downward through the air current rising in the inner chamber, pass through the collar 51, through the conical casing .57 h and are discharged through the spout 59. The general path of the air current is indicated by the tail arrows, and the general paths of the lighter and heavier particles are indicated by the plain arrows in Fig. 1.

The adjusting devices for the conduit gates and the adjusting devices for the deouter and inner chambers are located externally of the outer casing of the separator, where they are conveniently accessible for the purpose'of setting of said gatesor valves or vanes in any position desired, for the purposeof producing the most efficient grading effect.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown, and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from-the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is i 1. An air separator, comprising in oom bination, a casing having therein an inner chamber and a divided outer chamber communicating with the inner chamber, a fan in one of the divided outer chambers for circu' lating the air current up through the inner chamber, means to introduce materials to be graded into the inner chamber in the path of said vair current, andspiralguide means leading from the fan containing chamber to the other outer-chamber to di- 115 root the air current from the fan into'the latter chamber while the air current contmues its general whirling direction, there- .by to, produce centrifugal force to throw the particles within the air current outward. 120 I chamber and a divided outer chamber com- 123 municating with the inner chamber, a fan in one of the divided outer chambers for, cir--- v culating the air current up through the inner chamber, means to'introduce materials" to be graded into the inner chamber in the 180 fleeting vanes at the opening between the path of said. air current, and spiral guiding means for deflecting the whirling air current produced by the fan, laterally to the plane of rotation of the fan into the other outer chamber to whirl about the same, thereby to produce centrifugal force to throw the particles within the air current outward away from the air entrance to the inner chamber,

3. An air separator, comprising in combination, a casing having therein an inner chamber and a divided outer chamber communicating with the inner chamber, a fan in one of the divided outer chambers for circulating the air current up through the inner chamber, means to introduce materials to be graded into the inner chamber in the path of said air current, and inclined guide means for leading the whirling air current produced by the fan from the tan chamber to the other outer chamber and in a direction laterally to the plane of rotation of the fan, thereby to transfer the whirling current from one divided chamber to the other and to produce centrifugal force to throw the particles within the air current outwardly away from the (air entrance to the inner chamber, a

4. An air separator, comprising in combination, a casing having outerand inner chambers therein with an opening between them, a fan for producing an air current traveling in a circuit through said chambers, means to introduce materials into the inner chamber in the path of the air current to be graded thereby,'and spiral guide means for conducting the air current from the fan and laterally to its plane of rotation toward the openin between said chambers to promote a whirl of the air current, thereby to produce centrifugal force to throw the particles in the air current outward away from said opening so that they will not enter the opening. I 5. An air separator, comprising in combination, a casing having outer and inner chambers therein with an opening between them, a; fan for producing an air current traveling in a circuit through said chambers, means to introduce materials into the inner chamber in the path of the air current to be raded thereby, inclined means for conductmg the air current from the fan and laterally to its plane of rotation toward the opening between said chambers to promote a whirl of the air current, thereby to produce centrifugal force to throw the particles in the air current outward away from said opening so that they will not enter the openmg, and adjustable means for varying the strength and direction of the air dlscharged from said inclined means. i

6. An air separator, comprising in combination, a casing having chambers therein, with an opening between said chambers,

ber past said opening a substantial distance from the latter.

7. An air separator, comprising, in combination, a casing having therein an inner chamber and a divided outer chamber communicating with the inner chamber, a fan so for circulating the air current up through said inner chamber, means to introduce materials to be graded into the inner chamber in the path of said air current, said outer chamber having an inlet opening in one divided portion and an outlet opening in the other divided portion, and a spiral conduit extending between and communicating with said openings for receiving the air current and the lighter particles carried thereby, so and for directing the same into a portion of the outer chamber.

8. An air separator, comprising in combination, a casing having therein an inner chamber and a divided outer chamber communicating with the inner chamber, a vertical shaft within the casing, a fan within one of the divided chambers and operated by said shaft to circulate the air current through the chambers, a distributer within the inner 10c chamber and operated by said shaft to introduce the materials to be graded into the path of the air current, and inclined guide means for directing the whirling air current produced by the tan, laterally to the plane of rotation of the fan and into the other divided chamber to whirl about the same, thereby to produce centrifugal force to throw theparticles within the air current outward away from the communication between the 1 0 outer and inner chambers.

9. An air separator, comprising in combination, a. casing having outer and inner chambers therein with an opening between them, means for circulating 21,11 311 current throu h said chambers, means to introduce materials to be graded into the inner chamber'in the path of said air current, means extending from said air current circulating means toward said opening for promoting a whirl of the air current and lighter particles in their transit from the inner chamber to the outer chamber, and angular-1y adjustable means for varying the strength and direction of'the whirling air currents.

10. An air separator, comprising in com- ,1 bination, a casing having outer and inner chambers therein with an opening between them, a fan for circulating an air current through said chambers, means to introduce materials to be graded into from the outer to bination, a casing having outer bination, a casing having outer and inner chambers therein with an opening between them, a fan for circulating an air current through said chambers, means to-introduce materials to be graded into the inner chamber in the path of said air current, an inclined conduit between said fan and opening to receive the air current and the lighter particles carried thereby and conduct the same into said outer chamber, an adjustable gate for varying the strength of the air current delivered through said conduit, and a series of vanes at the opening between said chambers for directing tllGg air current the inner chamber.

1%. An air separator, comprising, in combination, a casing having outer and inner chambers therein with an opening between them, a tan for circulating an air current throu h said chambers, means to introduce the inner chamher in the path of said air current, an inclined conduit between said fan and 0 ening to receive the air current and the lig ter particles carried thereby and conduct the same into said outer, chamber, an adjustable gate for varying the strength at the air current delivered through said conduit, a series of vanes at the opening between said chambers for directing the air current from the butter to the inner chamber, and means to angularly adjust said vanes further to control the strength oi the air current.

13. An air separator, comprising, in comchambers therein with an opening between. them, a series of vanes at said opening, a fan for circulating the air current through said opening past said van'esinto said inner chamber, spirally disposed guide means for directing the air current from. the fan through the outer chamber t ward said vanes, and adjustable gate means to vary the streng'h of the, air current for grading materials or varying character.

14. air separator, comprising, in combination, a casing having outer and inner chambers therein with an opening between them a series of vanes at said opening, a fan orcirculating theair current through said opening past said vanesinto said inner chambcr,'spirally disposed guide means for directing the air current from the fan through the outer chamber toward said vanes, adjustable means cooperating with I ber, means to and inner said spiral guide means for varying the strength of the air current, and adjustable means for varying the angles of said vanes further to vary the strength of the air current.

15. An air separator, comprising, in. combination, a casing having outer and inner chambers therein with an opening between them, a series of vanes at said opening, a fan for circulating the air current through said opening past said vanes into said'inner chamber, spirally disposed guide means for directing the air current from the fan to the outer chamber in'the form of a stream traveling circumferentially about the outer chamber, adjustable meanscooperating with the spiral guide means for varying the strength andifdirection of the air current delivered to the outer chamber, and adjustable means for varying the angles of said vanes to vary the direction amount of air passing through said opening.

16. An air separator, comprising, in combination, a casing, separating and collecting chambers therein having an opening affording communication between said chambers, a rotary distributerin the separating chamdeliver materials to be graded to the rotary distributer that they may be thrown outward in the separating chamber under the iniiuence of centrifugal force, a fan for causing an air current to circulate through said chambers with upward movement in the separatingchamber and downward movement in the collectingchamber, a series of vanes in the opening between the chambers for promoting a whirl of the air passing through the opening between said vanes, and valve means for regulating the strength of the air current.

17. Anair separator, comprising, in combination, a casing having separating and collecting chambers therein provided with an opening affording communication between, said chambers, a rotary distributor in the separating chamber, means to deliver materials to be graded to the rotary distributer that they may be thrown outward thereby in the separating chamber, a fan for causing an air current to circulate through said chambers, adjustable means in the path of the air current returning from the collecting chamber to the separating chamber forp'romoting a whirl of the air current and varying the strength of the air current thereat, and valve meansadjustable further to regulate the strength of'the air current.

18. An air separator, comprising, in com-,

bination, a casing provided with separating and collecting chambers having provision to permit an air current to circulate through said chambers with upward movement in the. separating chamber and downward movement in the collecting chamber, a fan for creatmgseid air current, means to introv duce materials to be graded into the path of the air moving upward in, the separating chamber, valve means in the path of the air current entering the collecting chamber from the separating chamber adjustablyto regulate the strength of the air current, and means in the path of the air current returning from the collecting chamber to the separating chamber having provision for promoting whirl of the air current and regulating the strength of the air current.

19. An air separator, comprising, in combination, a casing provided with separating and collecting chambers having provision to allow an airvcurrent to circulate through said chambers with upward movement in the separating .chamber and downward movement in the collecting chamber, a fan for creating the air current and causing the same to Whirl, means to deliver materials to be graded in the path of the upward moving air in the separating chamber, adjustable means in the path of ,the air current entering the collecting chamber from the separating chamber to regulate the strength of the air current, and adjustable means in the path of the air current returning from the collecting chamber to the separating chamber to regulate the strength of the air current.

20. An air separator, comprising, in combination, a casing provided with separating and collecting chambers having provision to permit an air current to circulate through said chambers with upward movement in the separating chamber andv downward movement in the collecting chamber, a fan for creating the air current and causlng the same to whirl, means to deliver materials to be graded into the path of the air current moving upward in the separating chamber, means in the path of the air current passing from the separating chamber to the collecting chamber adjustably to regulate the strength of the air current, and means in the path of the air current returning from the collecting chamber to the separating chamber for promoting whirl of the air current.

In testimony whereof, I have signed-my name to this s ecification.

' THO ASv J. STURTEVANT.

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