Automatic discharge regulator

Claim 2

An automatic discharge regulator for a discharge exit from a separator or a classifier comprising a sleeve comprised of two sheets of resilient flexible material in side by side relationship, abutting one another at one end and adapted to sealingly mate with the discharge exit at the other end, said two sheets being sealingly held together along the length of the two opposing edges thereof, two reinforcing pads of flexible, elastic material, respectively, centrally located on and fixedly attached only to the outer surface of each of said two sheets so that each of said two sheets longitudinally extend in the direction of said one end beyond the corresponding said reinforcing pad, said reinforcing pads aiding in resiliently retaining said sheets at said one end in abutting relationship, thereby closing said one end of said sleeve when said regulator is in mating engagement with the discharge exit, the flexible material of said two sheets and of said reinforcing pads having sufficient resilience to allow said one end of said sleeve to be opened by and pass solid particles therethrough.

Claim 3

The automatic discharge regulator according to claim 1 wherein the sheets of flexible material are rectangular and the reinforcing pad on each sheet is circular.

Claim 4

In a method of regulating the discharge of solid materials from a separator through an exit including the steps of controlling the velocity and flow of solid particles conveyed in a fluid suspension to a separator, separating at least a portion of the solid particles from the fluid, and removing the majority of the fluid and any particles left therein, the improvement comprising passing the portion of solid particles through a sleeve of resilient material attached to the exit, the resiliency of the sleeve forcing it closed when no solid particles pass therethrough, and varying the vacuum inside the separator to regulate the percent of solid particles separating from the fluid.

Claim 5

In a method of regulating the discharge of solid materials from a separator through an exit including the steps of controlling the velocity and flow of solid particles conveyed in a fluid suspension to a separator, separating at least a portion of the solid particles from the fluid, and removing the majority of the fluid and any particles left therein, the improvement comprising passing the portion of solid particles through a sleeve of resilient material attached to the exit, the resiliency of the sleeve forcing it closed when no solid particles pass therethrough, and varying the vacuum inside the separator to regulate the percent of solid particles separating from the fluid.

Claim 8

The method of regulating the discharge of solid particles from a hydrocyclone according to claim 4 wherein the vacuum in the hydrocyclone is regulated by varying air bled into a siphon leg from an overflow pipe of the hydrocyclonE.

Claim 9

An automatic discharge regulator for a discharge exit from a separator or a classifier comprising a sleeve comprised of two sheets of resilient flexible material in side by side relationship, abutting one another at one end and adapted to sealingly mate with the discharge exit at the other end, said two sheets being sealingly held together along the length of the two opposing edges thereof, two reinforcing pads of flexible, elastic material, respectively, centrally located on and fixedly attached only to the outer surface of each of said two sheets, said reinforcing pads aiding in resiliently retaining said sheets at said one end in abutting relationship, thereby closing said one end of said sleeve when said regulator is in mating engagement with the discharge exit, the other end of the sleeve having a reinforced collar of flexible material, the flexible material of said two sheets and of said reinforcing pads having sufficient resilience to allow said one end of said sleeve to be opened by and pass solid particles therethrough; and said regulator further comprising a reinforcing strip extending from said other end of said sleeve in outer coaxial abutting relationship with said two sheets and terminating at a location spaced from the closure of said one end.

Claim 10

An automatic discharge regulator for a discharge exit from a separator or a classifier comprising a sleeve comprised of two sheets of resilient flexible material in side by side relationship, abutting one another at one end and adapted to sealingly mate with the discharge exit at the other end, said two sheets being sealingly held together along the length of the two opposing edges thereof, two reinforcing pads of flexible, elastic material, respectively, centrally located on and fixedly attached only to the outer surface of each of said two sheets, said reinforcing pads aiding in resiliently retaining said sheets at said one end in abutting relationship, thereby closing said one end of said sleeve when said regulator is in mating engagement with the discharge exit, the other end of the sleeve having a reinforced collar of flexible material, the flexible material of said two sheets and of said reinforcing pads having sufficient resilience to allow said one end of said sleeve to be opened by and pass solid particles therethrough; and said regulator further comprising a reinforcing strip extending from said other end of said sleeve in outer coaxial abutting relationship with said two sheets and terminating at a location spaced from the closure of said one end.

Claim 11

The automatic dishcarge regulator of claim 6, wherein said sheets are rectangular, said reinforcing pad on each sheet is circular, and said reinforcing strip partially surrounds, but is spaced from, said reinforcing pad.

Claim 12

The automatic discharge regulator of claim 6 wherein the two sheets of flexible material are resilient natural rubber and are held together at two opposing edges by rubber adhesive, and where the reinforcing pads are natural rubber and are positioned on the outside surface of the sheets by a rubber adhesive.