US1091047A

US1091047A - Apparatus for washing minerals.

Info

Publication number: US1091047A
Application number: US71569912A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph Dodds
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1912-08-19
Filing date: 1912-08-19
Publication date: 1914-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 1931-03-24

Description

mnonns. APPARATUS FOR WASHING MINERALS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1912.-

Patented Mar. 24, 1914,

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J. DODDS.

APPARATUS FOR WASHING MINERALS.

ArrLtoAnon FILED AUG. 19, 1912.

Patented Mar. 24, 1914.

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J. DODDS. APPARATUS POBWASHING MINERALS.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 19,1912. 1,09 1 ,047. Patented Mar. 24, 1914 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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JOSEPH DODDS, OF RUTHERGLEN, GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

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APPARATUS FOR WASHING MINERALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 24, 1914.

Application filed August 19, 1912. Serial No. 715,699.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J osnrrr Donns, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Rutherglen, Glasgow, Scotland, have in vented a certain new and useful Apparatus for Washing Minerals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for separating, by washing, materials of different specific gravities.

The invention is specially designed for separating coal from dirt and shale, for washing ores of the precious metals and for separating or treating other ores and minerals by washing.

Under this invention, which is a development of my prior invention No. 998,163 dated 18th July, 1911, I improve the washing apparatus so that it can deal with large quantities of materials on a small consumption of water which does not require to be under pressure as formerly. To this end the water, which may be supplied at the center of the machine, is drawn downward and then forced upward through the per forations of the rotating table by the action of mechanical means, such as a propeller or equivalent. The apparatus is constructed so that in operation there is a complete circulation of water therethrough thereby enabling the same water to be used repeatedly and economizing its consumption which is an important matter when dealing with large quantities of materials. The construc tion of the apparatus is also otherwise improved. V

In order that the invention may be clearly understood I have hereunto appended ex: planatory drawings which show, by way of illustration or example, an apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section and Fig. 2 is a plan of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a part section on the

line

3, 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a part section on the line 4:, 4:, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a part section on the line 5, 5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a part section on the line 6, 6, Fig 2. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of the apparatus.

On the drawings the same reference characters indicate the same or similar parts.

The apparatus, as adapted for washing coal or such like, is preferably made as follows :--I provide a vessel or tank a, preferably of circular shape, whose base has a raised center surrounded by an annular channel and whose sides are parallel from the top to a certain depth and from thence slope inward and terminate in the said annular channel. The formation of the base and sides may be obtained by constructing the vessel itself of the desired shape or by lining the interior of a cylindrical vessel with cement or other suitable material or by fitting therein a false bottom and sides of sheet metal. Depending centrally into the vessel a is a vertical hollow sleeve Z2 which is carried in a bearing 9 supported on the cross beam 79, this sleeve being rotated through suitable gearing, and concentrio with this sleeve and rigidly secured to it, by arms Z), is a hollow drum 0 of sheet metal extending from near the top, of the outer vessel 4 to about the level of the raised center of the base. The lower end of this drum 0 is slightly bell-mouthed and the upper end is perforated or constructed of suitable wire gauze or netting. Attached to the outside of this drum so as to revolve with it, is an annular table (5 constructed of wire netting or perforated metal and whose eX- ternal diameter is slightly less than the internal diameter of the vessel a. Passing through the aforesaid sleeve b is a shaft 6 whichis rotated through suitable gearing so that it revolves in the same direction as the sleeve 6 but at a greater speed. This shaft carries a screw-propeller f of ordinary formation whose diameter is slightly less than the internal diameter of the drum 0. This propeller is situated at or about the bottom of the said drum, '5. 6. just above the raised center of the base of the vessel a and its shaft 6 is provided with a collar 9 which bears against the lower end of the hollow sleeve Z) thus allowing the thrust from the propeller to be carried by the body of the apparatus.

Arranged above the drum 0, so as to dis charge into the interior thereof, is a water pipe h which is provided with a controlling cook or valve (not shown). At or about the level of the table a? is an opening or port 2' (Fig. 3) through which the dirt or shale from the coal passes from the vessel a to the passages 71 and i and thence to the shale elevator casing j.

2' (Fig. 5) is an opening for the passage, from the vessel a, of the fine dirt and shale whichfinds its way through the perforations of the table d. This opening also discharo'es into the shale elevator casing j from whici the dirt and shale is removed by the elevator j At a suitable part of the vessel a, at or near the top thereof, and extending downward to within a short distance of the table d, is an outlet 70 through which the coal and overflow water pass into a channel Z2 which conveys them to a coal elevator casing Z from which the coal is removed by the elevator Z m is a sliding gate fitted to the vessel a immediately below the outlet It so that, when materials of light specific gravity are to be washed, it may he slid upward in the guides m thus raising the bottom of the outlet is farther above the perforated table (Z.

Arranged above the table (Z and so as to communicate between the vessel a and the coal elevator casing Z, is an opening (or openings) at (Fig. 4) fitted with a number of outwardly projecting guides or sweeps n and through which the water that passes into the coal elevator casing Z with the coal is guided back to the vessel a, and, in order that none of the coal may return with the water, a screen or partition 0 which may be made of wire netting or the like, is provided between the said opening (or openings) n and coal elevator casing Z. The coal and shale elevators are driven by the same shaft at the same speed but the coal elevator is much larger than the shale elevator.

For retarding the rotary motion of the coal in the washer, in order to give the water time thoroughly to wash the same, there is or may be fitted to the beams 72 depending pins 9 (Fig. 6) arranged in rows extending down to within a shortdistance of the perforated table 0?. The pins of one row are arranged so as to be opposite the spaces between the pins of the adjacent rows. The pins are suitably arranged to suit the size of coal being washed.

To facilitate the cleaning of the apparatus or for inspection purposes, hand-hole openings such as r, are provided at suitable places, in the drum a. These holes are of course provided with covers.

The apparatus may be employed singly or as one of a series, according to the material to be washed.

In operation, the coal to be washed is placed upon the table 62 and water is admitted at the inlet h and is projected, by the rapidly revolving propeller f downward on to the curved base and then upward, alongthe slopingsides, through the perforated table cl. The dirt and shale in the coal tend to sink and rest upon the table d I but the agitation caused by the rising water and the action of the propeller f prevents the dirt choking the perforations. The dirt moves outward by centrifugal ac tion and passes away from the vessel (2 through the opening 2' and channels 2" and i into the shale elevator casing 7' from whence it is removed from the apparatus by the elevator j any dirt finding its way through the perforations of the table (Z being passed out through the opening while the coal, which is lighter, floats on or is held suspended in the water and passes out through the water and coal outlet 71: and is conveyed by the channel Is to the coal elevator casing Z and is removed therefrom by the elevator Z while the water, passes through and under the partition 0 and is guided through the opening 7%, back to the vessel a, by the guides or sweeps 12, During the above operations a current of water is caused, by the propeller, to circulate downward through the revolving drum and then upward through the revolving table.

In the modified arrangement illustrated at Fig. 7 the interior of the vessel (19 has formed therein a number (preferably three) of cavities or channels a so arranged and situated that, when the apparatus is in operation, the large stones or shale, which are forced outward in the table (Z by centrifugal action, can pass off said table, at the places at which said cavities a are situated and pass downward into the base of the vessel a and away therefrom through chutes a into the elevator casing from which they are removed by the elevator j Having now fully described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Apparatus for washing minerals comprising in combination, a stationary vessel, a hollow drum rotatably mounted therein, means for rotating said drum, a perforated table attached to said drum so as to rotate therewith, a propeller rotatably mounted within said drum, and means for rotating the same.

2. Apparatus for washing minerals comprising, in combination, a stationary vessel, a hollow drum rotatably mounted therein, means for rotating said drum, a perforated table attached to said drum so as to rotate therewith, a propeller rotatably mounted within said drum, and means for rotating the same at a speed greater than the speed of said drum.

3. Apparatus for washing minerals comperforations at the upper end thereof secured to said hollow shaft and a perforated table secured to said hollow drum.

5. Apparatus for washing mineralscomprising, in combination, a stationary vessel, a hollow shaft rotatably mounted therein, a propeller shaft rotatably mounted within said hollow shaft, a hollow drum having a bell-mouthed lower end secured to said hollow shaft, and a perforated table secured to said hollow drum.

6. Apparatus for washing minerals comprising, in combination, a stationary vessel partly cylindrical and partly conical and made with a centrallyraised bottom, a hollow drum rotatably mounted therein, means for rotating said drum, a perforated table attached to said drum, a propeller rotatably mounted within said drum and means for rotating the same.

7. Apparatus for washing minerals comprising, in combination, a stationary vessel partly cylindrical and partly conical and having a plurality of channels therein and a centrally raised bottom, a hollow drum rotatably mounted therein, means for rotating said drum, a perforated table attached to said drum, a propeller rotatably mounted within said drum and means for rotating the same.

8. Apparatus for washing minerals comprising, in combination, a stationary vessel, a hollow drum rotatably mounted therein, means for rotating said drum, a perforated table attached to said drum so as to rotate therewith, a propeller rotatably mounted within said drum, means for rotating the same, a mineral elevator casing, a passage communicating with said stationary vessel and said elevator casing, and a mineral elevator within said casing.

9. An apparatus for washing minerals comprising, in combination, a stationary vessel, a hollow drum rotatably mounted therein, means for rotating said drum, a perforated table attached to said drum so as to rotate therewith, a propeller rotatably mounted within said drum, means for rotating the same, a mineral elevator casing, a plurality of guides, and a screen within said casing.

10. An apparatus for washing minerals comprising, in combination, a stationary vessel, a hollow drum rotatably mounted therein, means for rotating said drum, a perforated table attached to said drum so as to rotate therewith, a propeller attached to said drum so as to rotate therewith, a propeller rotatably mounted within said drum, means for rotating the same, a mineral elevator casing, an elevator therein, a shale elevator casing and an elevator within said casing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH DODDSJ Witnesses:

WILLIAM FLEMING, ANNIE LIND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.