Material collection devices, placer recovery systems, and related methods are disclosed. A material collection device includes a filter tube including a wall defining apertures, an inlet through which fluid and material enter the filter tube, protrusions extending inwardly from the wall of the filter tube, the protrusions in front of the apertures from a perspective of the inlet, and an outlet through which the fluid and material exit the filter tube. The material collection device also includes a collector positioned below the filter tube, the collector configured to collect particles of the material that exit the filter tube through the apertures.

Apparatus for cleaning contaminated aggregate includes at least one channel arranged in use to receive a liquid containing contaminated aggregate; and first and second banks or groups of at least one jet. The first bank or group of jets is arranged to direct pressurized fluid at the contaminated aggregate in order to agitate the contaminated aggregate against a surface and promote the separation of cleaned aggregate from contaminated aggregate. The second bank or group of jets is arranged to direct and/or urge the cleaned aggregate to a drainage outlet.

Systems and methods for separating heavier from lighter materials in mixed auto shredder residue (ASR) from end-of-life vehicles. Vehicles are shredded and the resulting mixed ASR is fed into a system that efficiently segregates heavier (typically metal) from lighter (typically plastic) pieces. The system has an inlet feed chute angled downward to a lower end over a separator tank filled with water. One or more nozzles configured to introduce water at a velocity into the separator tank create a flow of water across the tank to push smaller and lighter particles over an exit weir. Heavier particles sink toward a heavy matter removal conveyor having a lower end positioned within the separator tank so that the heavier particles are transported upward out of the separator tank. The heavy matter removal conveyor may be one or more Archimedes screws, a flat, ribbed or cleated conveyor, or a drag chain.

Material collection devices, placer recovery systems, and related methods are disclosed. A material collection device includes a filter tube including a wall defining apertures, an inlet through which fluid and material enter the filter tube, protrusions extending inwardly from the wall of the filter tube, the protrusions in front of the apertures from a perspective of the inlet, and an outlet through which the fluid and material exit the filter tube. The material collection device also includes a collector positioned below the filter tube, the collector configured to collect particles of the material that exit the filter tube through the apertures.

Systems and methods for separating heavier from lighter materials in mixed auto shredder residue (ASR) from end-of-life vehicles. Vehicles are shredded and the resulting mixed ASR is fed into a system that efficiently segregates heavier (typically metal) from lighter (typically plastic) pieces. The system has an inlet feed chute angled downward to a lower end over a separator tank filled with water. One or more nozzles configured to introduce water at a velocity into the separator tank create a flow of water across the tank to push smaller and lighter particles over an exit weir. Heavier particles sink toward a heavy matter removal conveyor having a lower end positioned within the separator tank so that the heavier particles are transported upward out of the separator tank. The heavy matter removal conveyor may be one or more Archimedes screws, a flat, ribbed or cleated conveyor, or a drag chain.

An elutriation apparatus has a mechanism adapted to move water along a path, the water entraining material particles of different density, and a plurality of elutriation columns interfaced to the mechanism adapted to move the water with entrained particles, the elutriation columns interfaced along the path, each elutriation column having a vertical bore with water controlled to travel up the vertical bore at one velocity and having also a capture element at the bottom of the bore. As the water with entrained particles passes over each interface to an elutriation column along the path, particles of a density sufficient for the particles to settle in the elutriation column at a velocity greater than the upward velocity of water in the bore of the elutriation column, settle to the bottom of the column, and particles of lesser density pass on to a next elutriation column interfaced along the path.

The invention relates to a system and method for separating pieces having a second density (9c) from granular material. The system includes a separation tank (2) comprising a first side wall (12) provided with a tank outlet (6), a bottom (7), a pipe (4) defining a channel (3a) for allowing a slurry to enter the tank (2). A pipe outlet (4b) is spaced apart from the tank outlet and arranged vertically below the outlet (6). The separation tank (2) comprises a trap (5) for collecting said pieces. A separation chamber (8a) is arranged in liquid communication with the pipe outlet to allow slurry to enter the separation chamber. The pipe outlet is in a lower third of the separation tank facing the bottom of the tank so that slurry flows vertically through the pipe outlet towards the bottom causing a turbulent flow of the slurry in the tank.

The separator according to the invention comprises: a tank (1) for receiving waste material and containing fluid to separate waste material by density into floating and settled material; automatic feed means (18, 37), for example, a double screen (18) to feed waste material to the tank (1); motorised conveyor belts (3, 4) divided into a floating waste material conveyor (3) and a settled waste material conveyor (4) to extract floating or settled waste material from the tank (1): and a blower-type sorting device (21) comprising: a turbine (22) that provides an airflow; and a branched duct (23) divided into: a riser duct (26) to transport part of the airflow to a diffuser (39) beneath the automatic feed means (18, 37) to raise light-weight waste material; and a discharge duct (27) to transport and horizontally expel another part of the airflow in order to remove previously raised waste material. The separator according to the invention may incorporate bubble-making means, with injectors (2) to facilitate floatability and remove floating waste material.

The invention relates to a system and method for separating pieces having a second density (9c) from granular material. The system includes a separation tank (2) comprising a first side wall (12) provided with a tank outlet (6), a bottom (7), a pipe (4) defining a channel (3a) for allowing a slurry to enter the tank (2). A pipe outlet (4b) is spaced apart from the tank outlet and arranged vertically below the outlet (6). The separation tank (2) comprises a trap (5) for collecting said pieces. A separation chamber (8a) is arranged in liquid communication with the pipe outlet to allow slurry to enter the separation chamber. The pipe outlet is in a lower third of the separation tank facing the bottom of the tank so that slurry flows vertically through the pipe outlet towards the bottom causing a turbulent flow of the slurry in the tank.

The separator according to the invention comprises: a tank (1) for receiving waste material and containing fluid to separate waste material by density into floating and settled material; automatic feed means (18, 37), for example, a double screen (18) to feed waste material to the tank (1); motorised conveyor belts (3, 4) divided into a floating waste material conveyor (3) and a settled waste material conveyor (4) to extract floating or settled waste material from the tank (1): and a blower-type sorting device (21) comprising: a turbine (22) that provides an airflow; and a branched duct (23) divided into: a riser duct (26) to transport part of the airflow to a diffuser (39) beneath the automatic feed means (18, 37) to raise light-weight waste material; and a discharge duct (27) to transport and horizontally expel another part of the airflow in order to remove previously raised waste material. The separator according to the invention may incorporate bubble-making means, with injectors (2) to facilitate floatability and remove floating waste material.