An Improved Pneumatic Separator or Assorting Apparatus for Granulated Materials or Substances.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1888
Specification Accepted, 16th Mar., 1888
An Improved Pneumatic Separator or Assorting Apparatus for
Granulated Materials or Substances.
I, HERMANN DIETZ, of 22 Gneisenau Strasse, Berlin, Germany, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
The object of my Invention is to procure the separation and sub-division of the
particles of a mass of granulated material, according to size and specific weight.
In carrying out my Invention I make use of a current of air to assist in the sub-
division of the material to be treated, and I further provide a method of rendering
the regulation of said air current automatic.
In order that my Invention may be the better understood I have appended the
accompanying two sheets of drawings in which Figure 1 represents a longitudinal
section of a separator or assorting apparatus according to my invention, Figure 2 a
transverse section of the same. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a modification of the
device for regulating the air current, hereinafter to be described. Figures 5 and 6
are respectively longitudinal and transverse sections of a separator or assorting
machine in which the principal embodied in my Invention is carried out in a
different manner; and Figures 7. 8 and 9 show the air valves appertaining to
the same.
Referring to Figure 1 and 2, b is a containing case or frame, in which a vibrating
frame c is suspended by four links pp, the vibratory motion being imparted to the
frame c by means of a crank and a connecting rod e¹.
A fixed frame is rigidly attached to the sides of the containing case b, a bellows t t
of any suitable elastic material being interposed between the vibratory frame c and
the fixed frame f.
Upon the upper surface of the frame f I arrange a number of air bellows the
flaps of which are hinged by means of strips of leather or other suitable material.
In order to open and close said bellows flaps in unison with the motion of the
machine, I provide a rod m freely suspended from the containing case or frame 6 by
means of the links n n. An oscillating movement is imparted to said rod m by
means of the connecting rod and crank d, which is driven by a belt upon which the

page_text: pulleys receiving motion from the rigger u. Upon said rod m is arranged a
series of rollers, to which are attached one end of each of the chains & the other end
of said chains being fixed to the flaps h as shown. In order to regulate the extent to
which the bellows flaps are opened, the chains & are partially wrapped round the
rollers. Reverse or inlet valves are provided in the sides of the frame f, so that
they are closed by air compression but opened by exhaustion, or vice versa.
Suitable sieves s are fixed so as to cover the apertures in the vibratory frame c,
through which the heavier particles of the matter requiring separation, fall into the
funnels r, the lighter and smaller particles being driven by the air current in another
direction, through the small funnel x.
I may, however, as an alternative arrangement, move the bellows flaps according
to the method shown by Figures 3 and 4 which represent a sectional elevature and
plan respectively.
In this arrangement the bellows flaps e e¹ are arranged vertically against semi
circular tubes or hoods a which cover the apertures g. Extension rods bare fitted
to the bellows flaps e el and are arranged so as to engage with slots formed in the
rod m to which an oscillatory motion is imparted by the method herein before
described.
I may further modify the construction of the separator or assorting apparatus
according to the method represented by Figures 5, and 6 which are respectively
longitudinal and transverse sections of said separator.
In this case, the vibrating frame 2 fitted with sieves 3, over the funnels 13, is
caused to vibrate by means of the revolving crank 4 and connecting rod 5. Said
vibrating frame is suspended from the containing case or frame 1 by the links 10.
Above the vibrating frame 2 is a fixed frame S, a bellows of any suitable elastic
material being interposed between frames 8 and 2, so as to enclose the intervening
space without impeding the free motion of the vibrating frame 2. Above said fixed
frame I arrange a series of vertical bellows 6, said bellows being operated by
means of the cranks 14, pivotted at 16, and coupled together by the jointed rod 23.
A crank, 19 driven by a belt pulley 22 operates the pair of levers 14, by means of
the connecting rod 18 and lever 17, a vertical reciprocatory motion being thus
imparted to the bellows 6 through the vertical links 15, I may use one alone, or any
number of bellows as may be requisite in carrying out my Invention according to
the foregoing description. The automatic air valves, 24, are constructed so as to open
by compression and close by exhaustion, or the reverse. These valves are shown
more particularly by the enlarged views Figures 7, 8, and 9, in which 26 is the side
of the fixed frame 8 (Figure 5) and 27 the aperture in it. Á disc 28 of india rubber,
leather, or other suitable elastic and flexible material is arranged to cover said
aperture 27, and a guard plate 29, upon a screwed spindle 30, serves to regulate the
lift or opening of the disc valve 28 or any other equivalent regulating device may be
employed for the purpose.
In order to distribute the current of air over the whole surface of the vibratory
frame 21 provide a series of partitions 25, corresponding to the bellows 6, which
extend close to the surface of the sieves 3.
The manner in which the apparatus is operated is as follows, that is to say :-
The materials or substances required to be separated or divided are fed upon the
vibrating frame 2 through the trough or pipe 11. The motion of said frame causes
the heavier and larger particles to fall through the sieves 3, which may be graduated,
into the funnels or hoppers 13, while the lighter and finer particles are driven by the
current of air through the pipe or outlet 12. The machine is driven by the rigger 20
upon the shaft of which is a pulley 21, which communicates the rotary motion to the
bellows crank 19 by means of a belt upon the rigger 22.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
First In a separator or assorting maching for the cannuation and subdinician of the

page_text: particles of any granulated matter, relative to size and weight, the combination of a
vibratory frame and sieves, with bellows for producing an alternating current of air,
substantially as herein described and shown.
Second. In a separator or assorting machine as defined in claim above, the
employment of regulating valves such as may be either opened by exhaustion and
closed by compression, or the reverse, as and for the purpose herein set forth and
shown.
Third. In a separator or assorting machine as defined in the two preceding claims,
the employment of vertical partitions 25 Figure 5 as and for the purposes set forth
and shown.
88.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.
Dated this Thirty-first day of January 1888.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.