AU8421398A - Sorting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

if:

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: a Name of Applicant: De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited Actual Inventor(s): Matthias Kofler Address for Service: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA j t: i 'li :id Invention Title: SORTING APPARATUS Our Ref: 548019 POF Code: 1503/304551 The following statement is- a full description of this invention, including the best method ofperforming it known to applicant(s): 004 -2- !iACKGROMN OF THE PPA M~fON THIS invention relates to sorting apparatus which can be used, for example, to sort particu~late material or other items having vaiable size.

Sorting apparatus is known in the form of a sorting grate or grizzly which comprises sets of parallel burs which are spaced apart to define slots or openint betwen them. Particidawe materia such as crushed ore is deposited orto the grate, which is vibrtdt gtt h material, and particles of the material having a size less than the width of the slotE flls through the gate.

It is an object of the invention to provide appmratus of this general ind, which can classiIy particulate mateial accrding to thie size thereof.' SUMARY OF THE WNTION According to a first asPuct Of the inventionl there is provided a sorting grate comprising a frame and a plurality of grate members supported by the frame, the grate members defining between thern at least onie aperture which increases in site from a first end to a second end of the gate.

TJ- he sorting grate according may comprise a plurality of elongate grate a, members which are arranged side by side, wvith respeCtive first ends of the grate members being closer together thian respective second ends of the grate members, so that between adjacent grate members are defined apertures having a width which increa~es from first to second ends of the grate members.

The elongate grate members are preferably bars which are arranged to define a predeterminued angle between adjacent bars.

The bars may comprise steel bar or tubing wlded to frame members e=ending transversely relative to the bars.

According to a second aspect of the invention thce is provided sorting apparatus comprising: a sorting gmt as defined above; a Plurality of recePtacIes for sorted material below the grat, the recpticles being disposed side by side beween the first and second ends of the gae;: -4rnaounting means for supporting the grate movably above the receptacles: and vibrator means for imparing vibrating motion to the grate, The receptacles are preferably staggered vertically with respect to one another arnd the sorting Wae iinledcorrespondingly, with the first end thereof uppermost so that particulate material deposited on thle grate mnigrates doiwwadly along the lenigth thereof towards the second end of the grate, with smaller particles passing through the grate: near the first end thereof and larger particles passing through the grate further away from the first end thereof.

:ITe apparatus may inclIude feed m~eans adjacent the first end of the grate for depositing niafedal to be sorted thereon, such as a conveyor discharge chute arranged above the first end of the grate.

The mounting means may comprise a set of springs.

Thie vibrator means Preferably comprises a vibratory motor at or near the first end of the grate, aranged to cause vibration of the grate in a directionJ transverse to a plane defined by the grate.

Figure I is a sceai lnview of Sorting apparatus according to the invenition; ;and iFIgure 2 is a schemnatic side view ofihe apparatus.

t DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT The illustrated sorting apparatus comprises a grate or grizzly 10 which consists of a set of elongate rods or bars 12 of uniform cross section which are arranged side by side, as best seen in Figure 1. At a first end 14 of the grate, the bars are closer together than at a second end 16, defining a predetermined angle between adjacent bars, with the result that the slots or openings 18 i: between the bars 12 have a width which gradually increases from the first end to the second end.

i The bars 12 typically comprise mild steel bar or rectangular section steel tubing, and are connected together by cross members 20 welded to their S: undersides, effectively defining a vestigial frame which supports the bars.

The grate or grizzly 10 is mounted for vibratory movement above a set of four hoppers 22, 24, 26 and 28. For examplethe comers of the grate can be suspended by a set of springs 34 from the upper edges ofthe hoppers. The hoppers are staggered vertically relative to one another, and the grate 10 is inclined correspondingly, with its first end 14 uppermost above the first hopper 22. A conveyor discharge chute 30 is disposed above the first end of grate 10 and deposits particulate material onto the portion of the grate above the hopper 22, as best Seen in Figure 2. A viratorymotor 32 or other vibrator means is mounted on or connected to the grate at or near the irst end thereof 1to cause it to vibrate, prferably in a direction tranverse to the plane defined by the grate, asindicated by the arrows in Figure 2.

When particulat material is deosited onto the vibating grale, it migrates Sdownwardly from the feed poin with maler particles fling trough the 51A N]i -6grate nearer its uppermost end, and larger particles falling through further down. Very large particles simply fall off the end of the grate into the last hopper 28. The maximum aperture or gap size of the grate will depend on the intended application of the apparatus. For example, to sort diamondcontaining gravel, a maximum gap size of about 8 mm was found to work effectively.

Although the hoppers 22 to 28 are illustrated without any conveyor means associated with them, it will be appreciated that each hopper can have an associated conveyor, such as a belt conveyor located beneath a chute or opening at the bottom of the hopper, to remove the collected material in the °hopper.

The grate of the described sorting apparatus is very simple, and requires little more effort to construct than a conventional rectangular grizzly, but is able to classify particulate material according to size. The grate 10 is rigid and of S simple construction, and does not require the use of rollers or other relatively complex equipment. It will be appreciated that the application of the invention is not limited to ore sorting, but that the apparatus can also be used to sort other articles having a distribution of sizes, such as grain or fruit, with suitable adjustment of the aperture size of e grate.

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Claims (8)

1. A soiling grate comprising a ftrrme and a plurality of grate members supported by the frame, the grate members defining between them at leaatone apete wichincreases inlsize froma first end to aseconld end ofithe grate. eta2. A sorting grate acording to claim 1 comprising a plurality of elongate grate memibers which aearranged side by side, with respective first ends of the grate members being close-r together than respective second ends of the grate members, so that between adjacent grat= members are defined apertures having a width which increasces -from first to second ends of the grate members.

3. A sorfng grate azeording to claim 2 wherein the elongate grate

7- a members =r bar which axe amraged to define a predetermined angle between adjacent bars.- 4. A sort grate acrding to claim 3 wherein the bars comprise steel bar or tubing, and are welded to frame= members extending raiisversd1y Weative to ihe bar. A sortinig grate substantily as herein described and illustrated. 6. Soring apparatus comprsintg: -a asort grate accordingto any one of clais I to a pluxality of receptacles for sorted material below the grate; The receptacles being disposed side by Side between the first and second ends of the grate; mounting means for supporting the grate movably above the receptacles;an vibrator means for impartng -vibrating motion to the grate. 7. Sorting apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the receptaclIes comprise bins or hoppers.

8. Sorting qppararus according to claim 6 or claim 7 'wherein the receptacles are staggerd vertically with respect to one another and the sorting gate is inclined correspondingly, with the first end thereof uppermost so that particulate material deposited on the gr=t Migrates .downwardly along the length thereof towards the second end of the grate, with smaller particles passing through the grate near the first end .4 thereof and lager -particlcs passing through the grate further away from the first end theeof.

9. Sorting apparatu according to any one of claims 6 to 8 including feed means acent the firstend of the grate for depositing materia to be sorted thereon. sorting apparatu according to claim 9 wherein the feed means is a conveyor discharge chute arranged above the frs end of the grate. 9-

11. Sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 10 where0in the momfrn me=n compriseS, a set of Springs

12. Sorting apparatus accoding to any one of claims 6 to iiwherein thle vibrator means coMprises a vibratory MOtor at or uear thae first end Of the grate.

13. ortng ppaatrs acoringto claim 12 -wherein the vibratory motor is arrnge tocaue vbration of t grate in a directon tansverse to a plane drfined by the grate- 1.4. Sortin apparatuissubstantally as herin described and illustraed. *DATED: 14th September, 1998 pHII.LIPS ORMONDE &FITZPATRICK Attorn eys for: DE BEERS CONSOLIAE MIELMID L