The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 24, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 25, 1996
Andrew W Wedel, East Lansing, MI (US);
Blaine F Severin, Okemos, MI (US);
William G Bickert, East Lansing, MI (US);
Board of Trustees operating Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for the separation of manure (104) and sand (102) in a sand and manure mixture (100) is described. The apparatus (10) of the first embodiment includes a tank (12) with an upper grate (22), a lower grate (20), an air supply tube (30) and a water supply tube (36). The apparatus (210) of the second embodiment includes a tank (212) having a screened grate (220), an air supply tube (230) and a water supply tube (236). The apparatus (310) of the third embodiment includes a tank (312) having an upper portion (312C) and a conical lower portion (312D) with a grate (320) between the two portions. In operation, all three embodiments essentially operate similarly. The chamber (12F, 212F and 312F) of the tank is filled with water. The mixture is then dumped into the chamber to form the aqueous suspension (106) with the water. In all three embodiment, the flow of air and water if present, agitates the mixture in the suspension which causes the mixture to break down and the sand to separate from the manure. The sand settles on the floor (12B, 212B and 312B) of the tank while the manure remains suspended in the suspension.