US1197398A

US1197398A - Concentrating-table.

Info

Publication number: US1197398A
Application number: US76591513A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert H Richards
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1913-05-06
Filing date: 1913-05-06
Publication date: 1916-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 1933-09-05

Description

R. H. RICHARDS.

CONCENTRATING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1913.

1 a 1 97,3 9. Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

49 1. Red's [d H. H'. RICHARDS.

CONCENTRATING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. I9I3.

l 9 1 9 T7,, 3 9 Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Zia/670%)";

19:1; CE. I

ROBERT H. RICHARDS, 015 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONGENTRATIING-TAIBLE.

memes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 11916.

Application filed May 8, 1913. Serial No. 765,915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT H. -RICH- ARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coir centrating-Tables, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention ertains to concentrating tables of the Wil e type, and more espccially to those whic are'longitudinally reoiprocated.

The purpose of the invention. is to in crease the capacity of the table and insure closer and better separation, or to state it .in another way, to enable a table of reduced size, involving smaller expenditure of power and less water consumption, to perform the work of larger tables of prior construction, and to effect a cleanersepa'ration of product.

Five features contribute to the improved results, by reason of their presence and cooperation in the table. These are: First. The use of the Wilfley diagonal of advancing terminals. Second. The making of the top surface of the table in a single or common plane, the riffles or channels being sunk below such surface, with the tops of the separating ribs, cleats or walls in plane with the smooth portion of the table surface. Third. Forming the concentrate discharge end of the table oblique to its lon gitudinal axis. Fourth. Causing the diagonal terminal line of the rifiles, or the dividing line between the rifiled and the smooth portions of the table, to extend to a point on the concentrate discharge end of the table somewhat above the lower corner or angle of saidtable. Fifth. Forming 'at the concentrate discharge end of the table a series of corrugations, grooves or chan-" nels, extending in the direction of the length of the table, and parallelto the rifiles but inclining downward. Some of these features are old per se, but so far as I am aware, they have not hitherto been combined in one structure. When so combined, they mutually affect one another, and contribute to the unitary result,the per- .fect concentration of minerals, and the complete and close separation of concentrates from quartz, sand and other matters. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: K Figure .1 is a top plan view of the table;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view designed to show better the corrugated o'r grooved concentrate discharge endof the table, and the action of the grooves or corrugations in securing perfect separation anddelivery of.

suitable material, and which may advantageously be of woodcovered with linoleum, because this substance has a surface admirably suitedto the purpose,'its use being particularly satisfactory on the smooth or unrifiled'portion 2 of the table. will be seen from the drawing to have the VVilfley diagonal of advancing terminals, by which is meant that the ends of the rifile cleats in series, beginning at the upper end or feed side ,of the table, are advanced along an oblique line toward the concentratedischarge end of the table and toward the tailing side; that is to say, the end of each lower rifiie extends a little beyond the one above it toward the concentrate discharge end, making thereby an oblique line of ad- I vancing terminals. I

The entire upper surface of the table is in common plane, that is to say, the smooth or unriflled surface 2 and the upper surfaces of the ribs or rifiie cleats 3 which separate the riffles or grooves 4, lie in one and the same plane, While said riflle cleats are threeeighths of an inch more or less deep at the lower cornerof the mechanism end of the table, and become progressively shallower until they disappear at the oblique line of meeting with the smooth-portion 2 of the table surface, as bestindicated in Fig. 3. The rifile cleats are all of about the same taper, and the thick ends, .that is, the ends toward the mechanism end of the table, will therefore be of a thickness or height diminishing from the lower -or tailing side to the upper or feed side of the table.

The rifiles may be formed by grooving or channeling the surface of the table, with or without linoleum, as in Fig. 4, or by making th surface of the table initially of two planes, one at a quite obtuse angle to the other, and thereafter securing to the depressed plane separate riflie cleats or strips 3 as illustrated in Fig. 5. The taper of the riifle cleats is just sufiicient to bring their top surfaces up to the plane of the smoothor unriflied surface. This latter construction will be found convenient whereit is desired to employ linoleum on the surface of the table, since the entire surface may be covered with a layer 5 of linoleum, as seen in Fig. 5, preparatory to securing upon the depressed plane of the table the tapered ribs or riflie cleats 3*. Still another way of accomplishing the result, which gives virtually a one-plane table and admirable results in practice, is to make the table with a single plane surface covered with linoleum, and tack on itthin riifle cleats %-,;*of an inch thick, more or less, and of uniform thickness throughout their entire length, using the oblique line of ends or not as preferred.

As shown in Fig. 1, the concentrate-discharge end of the table is made'oblique to the longitudinal axis of the table, while the mechanism end thereof may be rectangular,

the lower or tailing-discharge side of the table being under those conditions the shorter side. While 1 prefer this form of table, my invention is applicable to other forms, with which all or many of its advantages are secured. I donot therefore, limit myself to this form of table except'as specifically stated in the claims.

It has hitherto been customary to make .the diagonal terminal line of the rifiles extend from a point on the upper or feed side of the table, and at a relatively short distance from the mechanism end of the table, to the lower corner of the table at the concentrate-discharge end. I prefer, however, to extend a limited number of the riffles at the lower or tailing side of the table, all the way from the mechanism end to the concentrate-discharge end, as indicatedin Fig. 1; hence the oblique line separating the smooth surface 2 of the table from the rififled surface may oegin at about the usual point on the upper or feed side of the table and extend to a point on the concentrate discharge end of the table somewhat back-of or above the tailing side and the lower corner or angle.

At the, concentrate-discharge end of the table I form a series of grooves, channels, or corrugations 6, which may be of V-shape or other suitable cross section, said corrugations extending in the direction of the axis of the table and in,the line of recipro-.

cation, andin plan parallel to the riflie cleats but inclining downward as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. The purpose of these corrugations, grooves or channels 6 is to insure delivery ofeach separate product into its proper receptacle, and to overcome the diflimemes or under the end, causing delivery of such particles awavfrom their ownbox or bin into a neighboring box intended for another product.

The improvement obtained by bringing the diagonal line of rifile tips up some inches above the lower corner of the table, is that the line of the dividing partition between the receptacle belonging to one product and that belonging to another, is coincident with the direction or swing of the particles, and hence the particles as ,they swing 03 the table drop into-the. box for which they are intended, while if this dividing line is put along the tailing-discharge side, the particles as they swin off the table move transverse to the direction of the dividing parti-- tions and swing now in and now out of their own box. Tn'the use of tables of prior construction, it is found that after the grains have been properly separated and brought thus separated to the concentrate end of the 4 table, the wash water flowing across thetable and discharging from its end during the backward throw of the table, carries with it in a direction transverse or oblique to the line of reciprocation, particles lying in its path or falling from the table, and deflects them from their proper course, frequently delivering them from one to several inches to one side of the point at which they should be delivered. By reason of the corrugations, grooves or channels 6, the grains or particles are firmly held against lateralmov'ement while traversing the inclined edge at the concentrate-discharge end of the table, and they are consequently caused to move only in the direxztion of the reciprocation of the table; hence by'em- I ploying thin walls of sheet metal or other suitable material, to mark the boundaries- 'ucts'reaching the end of'the table are delivered to their appropriate receptacles.

Thus, assuming that middling is to be saved and separated from tailing and concentrate,

the concentrate would fall upon thev inclined.

chute or surface 9, the quartz upon the oppositely-inclined chute or surface 10, while the middling falling between the upright walls or dividers 7 and 8, would enter the receptacle 1 1. The walls or dividers 7 and 8 are made adjustable toward and from each other, and are set in accordance with the width of the band of concentrate or middling as the same reaches the discharge end of the table. This width varies according to the class of materials treated, and the walls 7 and 8 are adjusted as soon as the band becomes well established, since the width remains practically constant thereafter if the feed to the table is steady. The walls being thus set, and the grains or particles being guided in and by the corrugations or grooves, each class will fall into its proper division or receptacle. These dividers for making separation between the products may be made in. other ways besides those indi cated, and the number of them may be increased or diminished.

12- indicates a 'water pipe extending lengthwise of the table just above its edge on the high or feed side, which pipe is provided with aseries of taps or cocks 13, or it may be a trough with holes for water and suitable water checks, and-14 is a. feed hopper, spout, or chute on the feed side of the table, and reaching from the mechanism end for a suitable distance toward the concentrate discharge end.

In the operation of .the machine the pulp is delivered by thechute or hopper 14: to

' the narrower upper portion of the rifi'led surface of the table, together with asuitable quantity of water, and the taps 13 are, either preliminarily or as the work progresses, opened to deliver suitable quantities of water along the upper or feed side of the table. The action of the table is as follows: The jerking action produced by the mechanism tends to advance the grains of sand toward the concentrate end. This vibration tends also to stratify the sands in such a way that the heavier gains are underneath, while the lighter grains are above.

The transverse flow of water tends to carry the sands down the slope toward the tailing side, which movement is retarded by the rifiie grooves, but since the agitation due to' the mechanism has stratified the sands within the rifile grooves, it is only the top layer of lighter waste material that is carried down toward the tailing side. The

' heavier portion in the layer beneath is con stantly advancing toward the terminals of the riflle grooves, and finally.delivered out on to the smooth or unrifiled portion. The

special use of the advancing terminals is to give to the doubtful grains, by which I mean the grains that are not quite heavy enough to be concentrate nor light enough to be tailing, or the fine grains that have not quite weight enough to be sure to get into the concentrate band at thefirst opportunity, an oft-repeated chance of being accepted as concentrate or being rejected as tailing, according to whether they are finallyheavy enough to attain the advancement into the concentrate band or light enough to be thrown into the tailing band. By thisprogressive travel over and through the rifiies the different substances are gradually separated, the gangue flowing off at the lower centrate, middling and tailing to a very con siderable extent. This widening is due to the fact that water and water carrying sand will spread out to greater width if flowing upon a plane surface, than they will if they are flowing in a trough made up of two planes sloping toward one another near their line of intersection, be the angle of convergence of the two planes ever so slight in its variance from the straight line. The p gactical working of a oneplane table as compared with a two plane table is that the widening out of the bands, due to the one plane table, occurs at a very considerably wider angle than happens on the two plane table, thus effecting suflicient separation of the concentrate from the'tailing by traveling a shorter distance than would be required on the two plane table. Indeed, it frequently happens-on the two plane table, that the bands travel along on parallel roads without widening at all after the first three or. four feet have been passed. This arriving at sufficient separation in the shorter distance, enables one to use a much smaller table than would be required where the two plane table is used.

The quantity power necessary to operate the smaller and lighter table, are proportionately less, while owing primarily to the corrugated or grooved discharge end of the table, and to making the division line between the con centrate andthe tailing on 'the end of the table instead of at the lower corner or on the lower .edge thereof, the. separation is cleaner and closer than has heretofore been found possible- Thecorrugations, grooves or channels at th concentrate-discharge end of the table may be formed in the body of the table itself, or'may be made ofmetal, cast, bent,

. t 4 115 of water employed, and the or otherwise fashioned into shape, as shall be found convenient. in practice.

Briefly recapitulating the features of my table and their purpose and effect, the riflies serve to retain the heavy under layer of concentrate while the lighter quartz resting above the concentrate is floated ofi over the cleats or riflie walls and down the table toward the tailing side, as heretofore. With a table having its entire upper surface in common plane and the riliies wholly below such plane, there is a greater widening of the bands formed by the different materials than is the case where the linoleum surface is all one plane with taper Tillie cleats tacked on, which widening is the purpose for which tables of this class are designed.

By carrying some of the riftles at the lower'side of the table entirely to the delivery or concentrate-discharge end, and having the lowermost point of the smooth surface 2 of the table terminate somewhat above the lower side of the table, say ten inches more or less, the division between middling and quartz, or other relatively light product, is made on the end of the table, and with the aid of the corrugations on the end edge of thetable, each class of material or each product of the separation, is caused to leave the end of the table in a right-line in the direction of the reciprocating movement, unaffected by the throw due to the reciprocation. As a result the dividers for separating these products can be so lined up that the one product always remains on the one side, and the other product always on the other side of the dividing partition, as should be done. On the other hand, if the diagonal line of advancing terminals comes out at the lower corner of the concentrate-discharge end, bringing the dividing line between the middling and tailing on the tailing s ide of the table,'then the middling product and tailing product are thrown from the table now one way and now the other with reference to the dividing partition between the two products, and, according to the phase of the movement of the mechanism, at one instant middling is thrown into tailing, and at another instant tailing is thrown into middling.

By making the delivery end of .the tablef oblique, and having the wash water come on atthe upper side of the table, or by other appropriate construction, a wetted edge is assured, and a proper delivery of the products without any heaping of dry banks, and without boring or displacement such as. produced by wash jets arranged merely to keep the edge wet. 1

1 It will be seen from the foregoing description-that the single plane construction tends to produce wider bands of the difierent products or classes of material, since there is not present the valley -or trough-like table surface incident to the employment of tapering cleats or ribs secured upon a previously planesurface. This broadening of the bands, which of course increases toward the discharge end of the table, makes easier the division of the products and their delivery into separate receptacles, which is further facilitated by making the division between the middling and the tailing on the end instead of at the side or corner of the table. Finally, the corrugations serve to prevent the remingling of products once separated, yet allow a free and adequate flow of water over the end of the table to maintain a wetted, edge, which is finally insured by obliquity of the end.

Having thus described my invention, what it claim is 1. The combination of a laterally inclined, longitudinally shaking concentrating table adapted to deliver the concentrated product over the end edge thereof; guiding meanson the discharge end of'said table, extending substantially the entire depth of said end edge to guide the concentrated product during discharge, and a divider. structure for receiving materialrdischarged from said guiding means and for maintaining the classification thereof. A

21 The combination of a laterally inclined,

longitudinally shaking concentrating table having an oblique concentrate discharge end and a top surface adapted under the shaking action to propel the lighter and heavier particles in divergent paths, the heavier particles being discharged solely over the edgeof said oblique end; and guiding means on said oblique end extending substantially the entire depth of said end edge and in z the direction of shake of said table.

3. The combination of a laterally inclined longitudinally shaking one-plane concentrating table having an oblique concentrate discharge end and having longitudinally extending rifile grooves adapted to propel the heavierparticles in a relatively wide hand all to the oblique end and to propel the lighter particles in a divergent path partly to the end and partly to the low side of said table; and guiding means on said oblique end extending in the direction of shake of said table and substantially the entire depth discharging particles.

4. The combination of a longitudinally shaking concentrating table adapted to pro-J pel the heavier and lighter materials in di- .of the edge of said oblique end, to guide vergent paths toward one end of said table;

a plurality of guide ribs or flanges on said end of the table and extending in the general direction of shake of the table for guiding material discharging over said end; and a divider structure for receiving said .discharging material and maintaining the cla s ficat on t e eof.

5. The combination of a longitudinally shaking concentrating table having an oblique concentrate discharge end, and adapted to propel the heavier materials and at least part of the lighter materials in divergent paths to said oblique'discharge end; and a plurality of guide ribs or flanges mounted on the discharge end of said table and extending in the general direction of shake thereof.

6. The combination of a shaking concentrating table adapted to propel the lighter and heavier materials in divergent paths,

and having the discharge end beveled to form a steeply inclined discharging surface; and a plurality of guide ribs or flanges on said discharging surface and extending in the general direction of shake of said table.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ROBERT H. RICHARDS.

Witnesses: HAROLD R. PERRY,.

CHAS. E. Looks.