Patent ID: 7854406

Claim:
An air separator for the selective separation of different sized particles comprising: a series of concentric vessels, the separator having at least one material feed inlet and three material discharge outlets, each outlet being associated with one of said vessels; each of said vessels being partially conical; a top housing having an upper surface and a substantially cylindrical inner surface; a rotary shaft extending through said upper surface, concentric with said inner surface; a rotor concentric with said inner surface, said rotor being attached to said rotary shaft; a second material feed extending through said upper surface to deliver unsorted materials into said top housing; a first concentric vessel of said series of concentric vessels, said first vessel comprising a first upper portion having a tangentially aligned air inlet, and a frusto-conical first lower portion having at least one first sidewall and a first material outlet; a second concentric vessel of said series of concentric vessels, disposed within said first concentric vessel, said second concentric vessel comprising a second upper portion and a frusto-conical second lower portion having at least one second sidewall and a second material outlet extending through said first sidewall; a third concentric vessel of said series of concentric vessels, disposed within said first concentric vessel and positioned substantially below said rotor, said third concentric vessel comprising a third material outlet extending through said first sidewall and said second sidewall; said first material feed being connected to said tangential air inlet; and wherein said second upper portion forms a barrier between said first upper portion and the interior of said second concentric vessel, and wherein air flow is directed from said air inlet over said barrier, through said rotor, and out said third material outlet.