GB195467A - Improvements in apparatus for separating the liquid and solid components of mixtures of liquids and crushed or ground ore products - Google Patents

Abstract

195,467. Arbuckle, A. J. Jan. 9, 1922. Separating by gravity.-Separated solid matter is discharged from a settling-tank 2 for ore pulp through a conveyer casing 6 in which is reciprocated a shaft 11 carrying perforated discs 12. The discs are in groups the individual members of which increase in size towards the outlet end of the casing, which is formed as a casting 7 and serves as a feed-chamber for an elevating device in a vertical casing 8. The elevator comprises a shaft 18 with perforated plates 19 of uniform size and provided at suitable positions along its length with valves which open or close according as the shaft is moved downwards or upwards. A ball or other suitable non-return valve 15 is provided at the bottom. The raised material is discharged through a shoot 50. The outlet from the settling-tank to the conveyer 6 is controlled by a valve 51 on a vertically-movable spindle 54, the material being forced past the valve by an annular piece 57 fixed to the spindle. The spindle works through a guide 55, fixed to the wall of the tank, the boss of the guide being protected by an air-tight hood 56 on the spindle. The walls of the tank are scraped by upper and lower sets of curved plates 58 suspended from a tubular member 64 which surrounds the spindle and is lifted by it as the spindle moves upwards. At the bottom of the tube 64 is a cone 79, and any air collected thereby passes away up the tube. The supply pipe 95 may be cone-shaped at top and bottom and may be supported from arms 62 which support the scrapers, so that it is moved up and down with the latter. The moving parts may be actuated from an engine 26 which is connected directly to the shaft 11 and by a rope or chain 82 to the spindle 54. The motion of the shaft 11 is communicated to the shaft 18 by levers 33, 31. In modified apparatus the means for discharging the solid matter are applied to tanks of other shapes. An arrangement is described in which a single conveying and elevating device discharges the solid matter from three settling-tanks. Fig. 17 illustrates the application of the conveying and elevating device to a tank 131 in which ore products and treating solutions are agitated together by means of air under pressure and circulated through a pipe 158. The solution is drawn off through valves 159 and the solid discharged through a conveyer 134 and elevator 136. The moving parts are operated in unison as described above from a crank disc 140.