Patent ID: 7314140

Claim:
An apparatus for separating materials comprising: a tank containing a flocculent, said tank having an upper chamber and lower chamber, said upper chamber being in fluid communication with said lower chamber, whereby flocculent may flow from said upper chamber to said lower chamber; a first material conveyor disposed in said upper chamber, said first material conveyor having at least an end disposed in said flocculent, said conveyor being operable to convey materials from said tank, said first material conveyor includes a perforated belt; a second material conveyor, said second material conveyor having at least an end disposed in said flocculent, said second material conveyor being operable to convey materials from said tank; and a flocculent circulation system interconnecting said upper chamber and said lower chamber, said flocculent circulation system being operable to move flocculent from said lower chamber to said upper chamber; further including a valve interposed between said upper chamber and said lower chamber, said valve being operable to vary a rate of flow of flocculent from said upper chamber to said lower chamber; said tank includes a divider wall extending between said upper chamber and said lower chamber, and wherein said valve is disposed within said divider wall, and further including a clean out valve disposed within said divider wall.