Patent ID: 9592515
Date: 2017-03-14
CPC Classifications: B02C,B03B,B03C,Y02W

Claim:
1. A separator system for separating a stream of pieces of varying shape, size, mass, specific gravity, composition, density and color based upon desired characteristics, wherein at least one of the characteristics is specific gravity, the separator system comprising a fluidic separator for separating the pieces over time, the fluidic separator comprising: a container for holding a fluid having a specific gravity and for receiving an input stream of the pieces, the input stream comprising a first type of piece having a higher specific gravity than the fluid, a second type of piece having lower specific gravity than the first type but higher than the fluid, and a third type of piece having a lower specific gravity than the fluid, the container having an upper mouth; an input conveyer having a terminal end directed toward the container mouth for dispensing the input stream of the pieces directly into the fluid in the container; a paddle disposed to rotate in a first direction about a central axis in the container and stir the pieces and fluid in the container, the paddle having vanes that extend outward from the central axis and leave a space between the vanes and an inside wall of the container which provides room for the pieces to circulate within the container and separate according to relative specific gravity; a lower outlet in the container for receiving the pieces which have sunk to the lower outlet to thereby form a lower output stream of pieces; an upper outlet in the container for receiving the pieces which have risen to the upper outlet to thereby form an upper output stream of pieces; and a fluid up well subsystem in the container comprising at least one fluid inlet to the container for moving at least some of the fluid over a period of time in an upward direction, the fluid up well system causing at least a majority of the second type of piece to rise to the upper outlet and without preventing at least a majority of the first type of piece from sinking to the lower outlet.