US1190466A

US1190466A - Apparatus for separating materials of different specific gravities.

Info

Publication number: US1190466A
Application number: US2885115A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles Schifferle
Original assignee: YUBA CONSTRUCTION Co
Current assignee: YUBA CONSTRUCTION Co
Priority date: 1915-05-18
Filing date: 1915-05-18
Publication date: 1916-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 1933-07-11

Description

CHARLES SCHIFFERL'E, 0F SAN FRANCSCO, CALIFEJNA, Af'f'lllt lll@ CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, F SAN FRANCK-SCS, CALlIFGttNlA, COIttlC-y CALIFORNIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May itl, 193.5. clal No. $225,851.

To all whom it may concer/n Be it known that I, CHARLES SCHIFFERLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Apparatus for Separating Materials of Ditt'erent'Speciiic Gravities, of which the following` is a specification.

The invention relates to an apparatus for 'sepa lating` materials of different specific gravities by displacing the materials of lesser specific gravity with the materials of greater specilic gravity.

An vobject of the invention is to provide an apparatus for separating materials of ditferent specic gravities by displacing the lighter` material with the heavier material.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which the displacement of the lighter material is accomplished by centrifugal force.

A further obyect of the invention'is to provide an apparatus in which the material to be separated is held in substantial equilibrium or in a mobile condition while being acted on by centrifugal force.

The invention possesses other advantagem ous features, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth at length in the following description where l shall outline in full that form of the apparatus of the invention whiehl have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part lof the present specification.

ln the drawings, l have shown only one specific form of the apparatus of my invention, but it is not limit myself to such form, because my invention may be embodied in a multiplicity of forms, each being a species of my said in vention.

It is also tobe understood that by the claims succeedingthe descriptionof my in- .,vention I desire to cover the invention 1n whatever form it may be embodied.

The invention is particularly designed to be employed in the concentration of crushed oresfplacersands and the like, to separate the greater specific gravity metal bearing particles from the remainder of the ore, but it may be used in separating any mixture of particles of different specific gravities.

ln accordance with my invention. the ma teri al to be separated is subjected t0 the action to be understood that l do,

integral with the easing.

of centrifugal force, while being maintained i' in a loose or mobile condition or a condi-- tion.ofsubstantial equilibrium, so that the particles of greater specific gravity may pass through and displace the particles of lesser speciiicw'oravity. This is accomplished by passing liquid or fluid' into or throusrh the material in al direction opposed to theidirew tion of the centrifugal forces and the liquid or tluid forms a perfect mixture with the material, liolding it; in a loose cmidition which permits the particles to arrange them selves in accordance with their specific grav-- ities. The liquid r fluid is mot flowed at such a rate that it carries oil particles of material of lesser specific gravity in suspen sion and the particles of lesser specific grav ity are removed by being,r displaced by particles of greater specific gravity. nthe accumulated particles of greater specific frravity may then bel removed in any desirable .manner` ln dry separation, the material to be separated may be fed to the apparatus in a dry condition and air or other ,gas enr ployed the medium for maintainiznr it in a loose condition. so that the pz tiefes are free to move under the action of centri-foral force and in wet separation the nniterial may be fed wet or dry, preferably wet and iii solution, and the medium :for maintainiiigr it in a loose condition may he water or other liquid.

ln the accompanying drawinfgs, in which l have shown one form of the apparatus of my invention, ljigure l is a side eleva tion of the apparatus of my invention, parts thereof being broken a way to better disclose tue apparatus. llig. 2 is a vertical section of the apparatus shown in Fig. l.. Fig. 3 is a verA tical section lof a modified forni of the apparatus, showing a. form of coilcentration discharge which` may be en'iplo'w i The. apparatus comprises an annu double walled casing EZ, the outer and inner walls 3-4 thereof being substantially''per-- pendicular, although the inner wall l may flare outuf'ardly very slightly as it progresses upwardly rrl`he annular casing is n'nmnted on the hub 5, by suitable connectingl means such as the hollow pan .6, which is formed Secured to the hub 5 is al pulley 7 or other suitable means, by which rotary motion may be imparted to the hub and casina. The hub is rotatably mounted on a suitably supported conduit 8 which is provided with apertures 9 within the hub. The hub is also provided with suit,- able apertures l2 opening into the hollow pan 6 to permit the passage of liquid or fluid fromA the hub to the casing. The liquid or fluid is introduced through the conduit and due to the action of centrifugal force is conveyed 4into the annular casing 2 com pletely filling the casing.

The inner wall of the casing is provided with one or more annular' pockets ll-l arranged above each other, the pockets being formed at the upper edge with a lip 16 which overlies and is spaced from an outwardly extending lip 17 on the inner wall. The space between the lips provides a passage for the liquid or iuid iii the casing into the bottom. of the pocket.

Tlie'material to be separated is fed onto the upper wall 18 of the pan and is thrown outward tothe edge of the pan and upward into the pockets in the casing. Liquid or fluid is introduced into the pan and casing in such amounts that it fills the pockets and discharges slowly therefrom. The material iii the pocket is therefore saturated with liquid .or fluid, which holds the particles apart and prevents them from packing, which results in practically holding the particles in suspension so that they are free to arrange themselves under the action of the centrifugal force. The particles' of greater specific gravityare driven to the bottom of the pocket, displacing the particles of lesser specic gravity. 'When suliicient material has been fed to completely ill the lowerrnost pocket, the heavier particles of the subsequently' fed material dise place the lighter particles in the pocket and the lighter particles travel upward' into the next pocket above. When the lower pocket has completely filled with` the heavier particlesand additional heavier particles are fed9 the heavier particles'lodge iii the second pocket, crowding out the lighter particles ,which pass into the next pocket above. As many superposed pockets may be arranged as desired. The particles of lesser specific gravity pass over the upper edge or' the casing and discharge into the receiver 19 which is provided with a sloping 'bottom' 21 and a discharge conduit 22. 'The' particles of greater specific gravity accumulate in the pockets and when these are fully charged with the heavier particles the feed of material is stopped and the rotating casinir stopped and the heavier particles remove The particles in the pockets during the operation of the apparatus being held ina `substantial state of suspension or equilibrium in the liquid or fluid. move laterally with relation to each other on account of the rotation of the casing and this lateral movement assists in releasing the particles, so

that the particles of greater specific gravity may move radially to the bottoni of the pocket. It is understood that during the operation of the apparatus fluid or liquid is moving slowly inward through the material in the pocket, but the separation of the particles is accomplished by displiceiiient and not by the carrying effect of the uid or liquid.

In Fig. 3, I have shown a form of appai'atus in which only one annular pocket 23 is provided and in which means are provided for discharging the accumulated particles of greater specific gravity from the pocket during the operation of the apparatus. The pocket ,.3 is provi-ded at spaced intervals with discharge conduits 24, extending through the outer wall 3 of the casing. Each conduit 2l is provided with u valve, the head 25 of which is adapted to seat on and close the conduit and the stem 26 of which is supported and guided in the conduit. Surrounding tlie casing is a stationary cani 28 which enga ges the heads of the valves. The

cani is offset at one portion so that the valves at that portion are moved outward from their seats7 opening the discharge conduit and allowing the' accumulated particles of greater specific gravity to discharge into the surrounding receiver 27. At its other portion thecamis concentric with the casing and arranged to hold the valves seated. On account of the loose state of the material in the pocket, the accumulated heavier particles quickly redistribute themselves when some of them are discharged at one place, thereby obviating the necessity of providing discharge conduits at all points on the pocket.

By the use of this apparatus, concentration or separation of particles of different specific gi'avities may be quickly and elliciently accomplished. When the particles of greater `specilic gravity are of such material, such as gold orsilver, that will readily amalgamate, a quantity of mercury may be introduced into the pockets and the separation thereby made more elicient.

l claim:

l. An apparatus of the character d escribed, comprising a rotatable annular casing, means for introducing fluid into said easing to lill the same, an annular pocket formed iii the inner wall of said casing and a' lip on the casing lextending into said pocket, the lip' being spacedfrom the wall of the pocket `to permit fluid to flow from the casing into the pocket.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a rotatable annular casing, means -for introducing fluid into said 'casing 'to fill tle'same, an annular pocket.

formed in the inner wall of said casing, said inner wall being provided with an annular slot for conveying fluid from the casing to the bottoni of the pocket, a discharge outletJ for said porket, a valve controlling said outlet and moans for operating said valve.

fi An apparatus of the rliaractei: described comprising a rotatable annular casing, leans for introducing: fluid into said easing to fill the saine, an annular-pocket formed in tbc inner wall of Said casing, said inner wall boinagr provided with an annular slot Afor conwying fluid 'lron'i the casinbr to tbe bottom of the pocket, a discharge outlet for said pocket, a valve controlling Said outlet and means operative by the rotation of tbn rasingr for operating said valve.

4f. An apparatus of the, Character desrribrd rolnprising a rotatable annular Casing`r means for introdueing` fluid into said casing' to fill the saine, an annular pocket vfoi-ined in the inner wall of said casing, said inner wall being provided with an annular slot ilor conveying fluid from the casing to the bottoni of the pocket, a discharge outlet for said pocket, a valve controlling said outlet, means for operating Said Valve to discharge material in the pocket and a revepiaele adapted to receive said discharged material.

5. An apl'mratus of the Character flescribed comprising a rotatable annular casing', means for introducing fluid into Said casing to lill the saine, an annular pocket;

formed in the inner wall, of Said casing means for conveying Huid from the casingi to the bottoni of the pocket, a discharge outlet for Said pocket, a valve controlling said outlet projecting.;n beyond the Casing and a, stationary cam surrounding the Casing and engaging said valve.

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California., this (Sth day ofMay, 1915.

CHARLES SCHIFFERLE.

In presence oll- H. G. Pnosr.