GB846154A - Gravity concentrator - Google Patents

Abstract

846,154. Washing granular materials; separating solid materials. MOBILE MINERAL EXTRACTIONS PTY Ltd. Nov. 5, 1957, No. 34440/57. Classes 82(2) and 117 Heavy and light fractions of a mixture are separated in the dry state or in a liquid medium by a concentrator comprising (Fig. 2) a frusto-conical member 10 which is open at both ends, supported so as to be rotatable about its axis 11 and so that its generatrix in its lowest position 34 slopes downwardly from the smaller to the larger end, and provided at the smaller end with a continuous imperforate annular step 26. Step 26 is preferably adjustable in height and may consist of an iris diaphragm. When operated dry, the mixture is fed on to the rotating member 10 at about the middle of line 34; the heavy fraction builds up against step 26 and overflows into cylinder 24 and thence into a collector tray, while the tailings fall from the larger end of the member. For wet operation, the member 10 either is immersed in water so that at least the whole of the aperture at the smaller end is submerged, or itself acts as a watercontainer. In a further embodiment, a plurality of co-axially mounted members is used, a higher member discharging concentrate into the next lower member; Fig. 12 shows such a concentrator which embodies three members 187, 192, 195 and means for feeding the tailings from one member back into the preceding member, said means consisting of rotating rings 230 provided internally with buckets 237.