Patent ID: 6607079
Filing Date: 2003-08-19
Classification: B02C,B07B,F23K

Abstract:
A classifier for separating coarse particles from a stream of gas and a mixture of coarse and fine particles, the classifier comprising:a generally cylindrical outer casing including a vertically-oriented side wall and an upper head; a generally conical inner casing provided within the outer casing and configured so as to provide an annular passageway between the inner casing and the side wall of the outer casing through which the stream of gas and particles can flow upwardly; a plurality of angled circumferentially-spaced vanes supported by the upper head of the outer casing for imparting rotational motion to the stream of gas and particles so as to separate coarse particles from the mixture of coarse and fine particles; and an outlet chamber at an upper portion of the inner casing, the outlet chamber including (i) a top plate with a plurality of outlet openings for discharging streams of gas and fine particles from the classifier, and (ii) at least one pivotable distribution vane for controlling the distribution of the fine particles between each of the outlet openings by affecting the rotational movement of the stream of gas and particles, wherein when the at least one distribution vane is oriented along the direction of rotational movement of the stream of gas and particles in the outlet chamber, the classifier provides a substantially uninhibited flow of gas and particles to the outlet openings.