Patent ID: 6059206
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: B02C,B03B,Y02W,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for separating materials from breakable elements comprising:a first conveyor for conveying at least one solid breakable element to a first size reducing means which applies force to said solid breakable element sufficient to break said solid breakable element into a first portion,a second size reducing means for applying force to said first portion to form smaller second portions, said second size reducing means being capable of reducing the size of at least some of said first portion,a second conveyor located to receive at least some of said smaller second portions, said second conveyor conveying said some of said second portions to a third size reducing means,said third size reducing means comprising at least two filter elements having interior and exterior surfaces, a first of said at least two filter elements having first open areas which pass from its interior surface to its exterior surface which are smaller than second open areas which pass from the interior surface to the exterior surface of said second filter element,a frame which covers at least said first, second and third size reducing means, anda gas withdrawing means which withdraws gas from within said frame through a vent, said at least two filter elements defining a longitudinal dimension which comprises the combined length from a first end of said first filter where said second portion is introduced into said third size reducing means to a second end where a third portion exits said third size reducing means,said third portion comprising material which has not passed through said first open area or said second open area from said interior surface to said exterior surface in either said first filter element or said second filter element exits,and said third portion exits said second filter element,said vent having its center at least one eighth of the distance from said second end to said first end, away from said second end towards said first end.