AIR CLASSIFIER WITH COUNTER FLOW SECONDARY AIR

摘要

AIR CLASSIFIER An air classifier for the separation of refuse by density into homogeneous fractions. A waste bin discharges non-homogeneous waste which is dispersed within a mixing chamber whereat a pressurized airflow, moving upwardly therethrough, carries lighter particles upwardly into a main duct structure. Subjacent the mixing chamber, is a crossflow zone through which a secondary airflow moves transversely to waste gravitating from the mixing chamber. The classifier main air duct is of irregular shape having enlarged portions, spaced therealong, each constituting a waste separating station whereat waste particles of like density gravitate into a discharge chute. Air inlet means at each separating station directs a crossflow of air past the gravitating waste matter to remove lighter density particles and return same back to the main duct airflow. The crossflow of air additionally serves to pick up particles from an inclined surface of the main duct and return the particles to the main duct airflow while preventing undesired vortex formation. An auger housing, below each waste separation station, further classifies waste separated at that station by physical size of the waste particles.