Fluidizing Apparatus

Abstract

A fluidizing apparatus comprises a vessel having an inlet, a plurality of outlets and a nozzle, through which a pressurized fluid can be fed into the vessel. The outlets are spaced at different heights from a base of the vessel and are controlled by valves enabling fluidized solids to be removed in layers from the vessel. In a further embodiment, a single outlet is raised or lowered to a desired position in the vessel.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method, comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a vessel containing a workpiece including a first workpiece portion and a second workpiece portion;   utilizing a fluidizing apparatus for separating the first workpiece portion from the second workpiece portion by
 injecting a pressurized fluid through a fluidizing nozzle into the vessel, and 
 removing the first workpiece portion from the vessel through an outlet positioned at a height relative to the base of the vessel, wherein the workpiece includes one of a settled bed of solids and a dual filtration media, wherein the first workpiece portion includes one of a first group of solids of the settled bed of solids and an upper section of the dual filtration media, wherein the second workpiece portion includes one of a second group of solids of the settled bed of solids and a lower section of the dual filtration media. 
   
     
     
         29 . A method, comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a vessel containing a settled bed of solids, wherein the settled bed of solids includes a first group of solids and a second group of solids;   utilizing a fluidizing apparatus for separating the first group of solids from the second group of solids by
 injecting a pressurized fluid through a fluidizing nozzle into the vessel, and 
 removing the first group of solids from the vessel through an outlet positioned at a height relative to the base of the vessel. 
   
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein prior to the removing step, further comprising the step of:
 determining that the first group of solids include a first particle size that is different from a second particle size associated with the second group of solids, wherein the removing step includes removing the first group of solids including the first particle size and not removing any of the second group of solids including the second particle size.   
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 29 , further comprising the step of:
 arranging the outlet at an upper end of the vessel.   
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 29 , further comprising the step of:
 fixing an orientation of the outlet relative to the vessel.   
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 29 , further comprising the step of:
 adjustably-arranging the outlet relative to the vessel in an upwardly or downwardly orientation such that the outlet is arrangeable at a selected orientation of a plurality of selectable orientations.   
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , further comprising the step of:
 actuating a rack and opinion assembly for conducting the adjustably-arranging the outlet relative to the vessel step.   
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the selected orientation is dependent upon a determined particle size of the settled bed of solids to be removed from the vessel. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the selected orientation is further dependent upon a velocity of the injected pressurized fluid. 
     
     
         37 . A method, comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a vessel including a dual filtration media element, wherein the dual filtration element includes an upper section and a lower section;   utilizing a fluidizing apparatus for separating the upper section from the lower section by
 injecting a pressurized fluid through a fluidizing nozzle into the vessel, and 
 removing the upper section from an upper end of the vessel through an outlet positioned at a height relative to a base of the vessel. 
   
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein, after the removing step, further comprising the step of:
 washing the upper section in order to remove contaminates from the upper section.   
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein, after the washing step, further comprising the step of:
 replacing the upper section within the upper end of the vessel.   
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the vessel is a filter apparatus, wherein the method further comprises the step of:
 conducting the removing step during an in-use, online, operational situation of the filter apparatus such that the filter apparatus is not taken offline during the removing step.   
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the upper section is characterized to be lighter in weight than the lower section. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the upper section is characterized to be larger in size than the lower section. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the upper section includes a greater contaminate holding capacity than that of the lower section. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 43 , wherein the upper section includes:
 anthracite or activated carbon, wherein the lower section includes sand or garnet.