Patent ID: 7090082

Claim:
A method for separating materials, comprising the steps of: guiding a mixture of materials through a channel in a direction of flow extending at least approximately parallel to the gravitational field, the mixture consisting of solids and fluid components, which differ from each other in their physical properties, including their density and lift, and which are distributed in an approximately even fashion in a fluid flow of the mixture, conveying a wash liquid through the channel in a direction transverse to the direction of flow of the mixture of materials by means of an inlet portion and an outlet portion which are provided in a wall of the channel and which when seen transversely to the longitudinal direction of the channel lie opposite each other in a direct or offset manner at least in section, wherein the wash liquid displaces from the mixture of materials and removes from the channel at least one material component of the mixture of materials that is to be separated, and guiding the wash liquid into and/or out of the channel in a direction transverse to the flow direction of the mixture of materials by means of guide members which limit the channel at least partially and are arranged at least approximately parallel at a distance to each other and extend at a predetermined angle in an inclined fashion with respect to the direction of flow of the mixture of materials.