US1350647A - Discharge control for jigs and like machines - Google Patents

Description

G. H. ELMORE AND H. L. McLEAN. DISCHARGE CONTROL FOR JIGS AND LIKE MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JUL Z2, I-9I8- RENEWED JAN. 23, I92D- 1,350, 47.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

gwvenfom Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

e. H. ELMORE AND H. L.' McLEAN; DISCHARGE CONTROL FOR .IIGS AND LIKE MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JULY ZZA IQID. RENEWED JAN. 28, N20.

1,350,647. t fig. 24,1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.-

e. HIELMORE AND H. L. McLEAN. DISCHARGE CONTROL FORv 1168 AND LIKE MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, HHBMIRENEWEDJAN-23,1920- I 1 35 0, 647; Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUY I-I. ELMORE, or SWARTHMORE, AND HARRY L. MGLEAN, or SOB/ANTON, PENN- sYLvANrA.

DISCHARGE CONTROL FOR JIGS AND LIKE MACHINES.

Application filed July 22, 1918, Serial No. 246,192. Renewed January 23, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GUY H. ELMonn and HARRY L. MoLnAN, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at Swarthmore, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, and at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Discharge Controls for Jigs and like Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to machines for separating coal and other minerals or substances, and consists primarily in a float device for controlling the discharge cylinder, valve, or other mechanism by which the level of the lower layer on the bed is regulated and kept practically constant.

The invention is in the nature of an improvement upon or a development of that set forth in Letters Patent of the United States granted to Guy H. Elmore, July 11th, 1911, and numbered 997,609. The purpose of the invention is to simplify the construction and improve the operation of the mechanism, substituting purely mechanical means for electro-mechanical devices such as are employed in the prior structure. It is here illustrated in connection with a coal ji In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the jig;

Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the same;

Fig. 3, a perspective view showing the general arrangement of the float mechanism and its connection with the longitudinally pocketed slate valve or drum by which slate and bone or other material is discharged when the accumulation reaches a predetermined thickness or level;

Fig. 4:, a section view of the float or disk and its containing cylinder;

Fig. 5, a View illustrating a modification of the slate valve or discharge device.

Under prior constructions it has been usual to employ as a means of regulating the discharge valve, gate, or cylinder, a true float, generally hanging loosely in the coal or other material upon the jigging bed or screen, and commonly reaching to the meeting line or plane of the coal and the slate and bone, or either, beneath it. Floats of this character are not wholly satisfactory because subject to the pressure and friction of the mass of coal about them and liable Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. A, 1920.

Serial No. 353,588.

to be impeded or interfered with in their movements by large lumps of coal, slate or bone lodging beneath them, and by water, coal or other matters resting upon and tending to hold them down.

Under the present invention we employ preferably a simple disk moving freely within a stationary cylinder or casing, which extends down to and preferably somewhat below the upper surface of the stratum conr posed of slate, bone, or both. The cylinder holds the coal, slate, and bone away from the upper face and edges of the disk, but permits the slate and bone to rise within the cylinder or casing and lift the disk or float, thereby actuating the discharge valve, cylinder, or device through which escape of accumulated bone or slate is permitted.

The preferred embodiment is illustrated in the drawings, in which 1 indicates the body of a lg having the usual screen 01' sieve 2 upon which the coal to be treated is delivered by a chute, hopper, or like means. The delivery or tail end of the sieve rests upon a ledge formed upon a casting 3 extending transversely across the box or tanklike body of the ig from wall to wall. This casting 3 has an inclined surface extending down to a bucket drum or slate valve 41, the shaft of which is journaled in bearings or boxes carried by the side walls of the structure, and rotated from time to time to remove so much of the accumulated bone, slate, or both, as may be necessary to maintain or restore a proper level or thickness of the lower stratum on the bed.

Above the casting 3, which is curved on its upright face to conform to the path of the vanes or buckets of the slate valve at, is arranged a second casting in the form of a crossplate or partition 5, the upper edge 6 of which forms a fixed overflow for the washed coal. Carried by said cross plate 5 and adjustable relatively thereto in guideways at its ends, is a cut-off gate or valve 7 having a rod or handle 8 extending to the top of the machine for the ready adjustment of said valve 7. Any suitable means may be provided for holding the gate or valve in its adjusted position, as usual, an eye-bolt 9 being indicated in the drawings and serving at once as a guide and clamp for the rod.

Beneath the screen 2 is' a hutch 10. pref erably of inverted pyramidal shape, having at its apex a valved outlet 11 for the discharge of matters accumulating therein. Extending across the tank or body of the machine is a cross partition 12,'which with the side walls and an end wall of the tank or body, constitute a plunger chamber 13 within which is arranged a vertically reciprocating plunger 14', movableby an eccentric or crank-shaft as is usual in this class of machines. The plunger serves to produce pulsations of water alternately upward and downward through the sieve or screen 2, and through the substances lying thereon, such pulsations serving by alternately lifting and dropping back the lumps or particles of material, to stratify the same according to their different specific gravity, and causing slate and bone to separate from andfall belOW the coal when coal is being treated.

The face of the cross-plate or partition 5 opposite that on which the sieve .or screen is located is provided with ledges 15 and 16, which serve to support respectively a screen or perforated (lo-watering plate 17 and a water-return plate 18. Projecting from the inner side of said cross-plate 5 is a vertically adjustable bracket 19, which ing the upper end of the cylinder or casing 20 it is furnished with a cover 21 having a central opening.

.lVithin the. cylinder or casing 20 is arranged a disk or float 22, which may be of any suitable metal or other-material, and

which plays freely within said cylinder so thatit may rise and fall.thereinwithout friction, the lit beinghowever sufliciently close to prevent particles or granules of bone, slate, or coal working past the'disk and enterin the space above it. The disk or float 22 is carried at the lower end of a rod 23, preferably of tubular form, hung or suspended in the forked end of an arm 24 carried by a shaft 25, which may conveniently be made of rectangular cross section. The arm 24 is formed with a hub or boss to fit said square shaft 25, and provided with a set-screw or other means for securing it againstv movement longitudinally of the shaft. The arm 24 is'preferably arranged at the midlength of the shaft, and the cylinder or casing 20 and float or disk 22 in the medial plane of the machine or at the midwidth of the sieve or screen 2.

The shaft 25 is' formed with cylindrical journals which turn in boxes or bearings 26 mounted on the upper edges of the side walls of the machine, and is extended beyond its bearing at'oneend to receive a square boss or hub 27 provided with oppositely-extending arms 28 and 29, the arm 28 being provided with anadjustable weight or counterbalance 30.

The shaft 31 of the slate valve 4 is ex- 7 tended through a side wall of the jig body 1,

and has keyed or otherwise made fast thereon a ratchet-wheel 32. Hung upon this shaft 31 is a swinging or oscillating frame 33, comprising two castings 34 and 35 with hubs or bosses fitting the shaft 31, and recessed on their inner faces to receive two parallel iron bars 36 and 37 which are connected at their upper ends by a filler block 38, bolts, rivets'or other fastenings serving to firmly unite these several parts. Pivotally supported between the bars 36 and 37, preferably above -the ratchet-wheel 32, is a pawl 38 the nose of which tends to fall by gravity into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 32. The engaging end of this pawl is connected by, a rod 39, preferably formed in two parts connected by a turnbuckle 40, with the outer end of arm 29 carried by rockshaft 25. The arms or bars 36 and 37 are longitudinally slotted to receive a pin or bolt 41, capable of adjustment in said slot and surrounded by a spacing collarv 42, which in turn is encircled by a perforate block 43 carriedat one end of a rod orpitman 44, the opposite end of which is connected with a crank-arm 45 carried by a shaft 46 at the plunger end of the jig. This shaft .46 receives motion through a belt or drive chain 47 V passing about sprocket wheels 48 and 49 on said shaft and on the main driving shaft 50, as seen in Fi '1.

is shown in Figs. 1, 2- and 4, the rod 23 which carries the float or disk 22 is provided with a series ofperforations to permit adjustment of the rod in arm 24, so that the relation of the float 22 to the arm 24 may be varied at-will. 7 7

Under the construction above described the operation of the mechanism is as foland bone the intermediateand lower strata,

as is well understood. As the bodybuilds up, the level of the bone and slate gradually rises over the screen and builds up within the cylinder or casing 20, finally coming into contact with the lower face of the float or disk 22, and moving up the disk, the rod 23 and the arm 2%, thereby rocking the shaft 25 and lowering the arm 29, the rod 39, and the pawl 38, which is normally held above and out of engagement with the ratchetwheel 32. WV hen the level of the bone and slate rises to a predetermined height, the nose of the pawl 38 drops into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet, and as the swinging frame 33 is constantly oscillated, said pawl imparts a step-by-step rotation to the ratchet-wheel 32 and;consequently to s raft 31 and slate valve or discharge drum 4. This rotation of the slate valve or drum carries the slate, or slate and bone, which escapes beneath the gate valve 7 over its top, and discharges it into a lateral chute or trunk by which it is delivered from the machine.

This action continues until through lowering of the level of the slate, bone, or both, the float or disk 22 descends by reason of its weight,'aided to whatever extent may be necessary by the properly adjusted counterweight 30, such descent resulting in a downward rocking of shaft 25 and elevation of pawl 38 until it ceases to engage with or act upon the ratchet-wheel 82. In this way the slate valve or drum is caused to act intermittently, and to discharge slate, bone, or both, from time to time, or whenever a predetermined maximum height is attained by the slate, bone, or both. The coal being the lightest of the three bodies, builds up until it rises above the upper edge 6 of the cross plate 5, over which it falls to the dewatering plate 17, and by which it is discharged from the machine into a suitable pocket. The water carried by the overflowing coal, or flowing over the edge 6, escapes through the perforations of the de-watering plate, and falls upon the water-return plate 18, which delivers it back to the hutch 10, thus permitting the water to be used over and over.

Such small particles of coal, slate, bone,

. and other impurities as are not taken out by the dc-watering plate, settle in the lower part of the hutch, and are from time to time discharged through the outlet 11, for which purpose the valve 53 is withdrawn by its controlling hand lever 54:.

It is obvious that any usual or well-know form of pawl ratchet mechanism may be employed for imparting motion to the shaft of the slate valve or discharge drum, and that here shown is merely illustrative of such mechanism generally.

The invention resides primarily in the protected float or disk, which under the construction set forth moves freely, unaffected by weight or pressure of material above it or against its circumference. In other words, said float or disk is subject to pressure on its lower face only. It hence re sponds promptly and efiiciently to the rise and fall of the bone, slate, or both, beneath it, and is far more sensitive in action than any type or arrangement of float device heretofore used, so far as we are aware. The construction set forth avoids other e1;- pedients heretofore deemed necessary, such as making the upper portion of the float of conical form, with a view to facilitating its rise through the coal, or the coal, slate and bone; the provision of lost motion in the connections between the float and the part which it controls, designed to secure a hammering action or series of blows, and the like.

The particular type or construction of is imimportant, that shown being one which has proven quite satisfactory in practice, but which is illustrated merely as a type with which the float device may advantageously be used. We do not, however, mean to limit ourselves to specific details, but intend to claim broadly a float, disk, or equivalent device, movable within protecting casing, cylinder, or inclosure, and exposed to pressure only from below, and so long as this feature is present other details may be varied within quite wide limits.

The rod 39 may directly actuate a rising and falling outlet valve l such as shown in Fig. 5, such valve being preferably hinged at its lower edge so that its free edge n'iay rise and fal and vary the height of its delivery edge in consonance with the fall and rise of the slate overflow. Under such construction the 'itermediate pawl and ratchet mechanism would be omitted, and the rod 39 connected directly with such gate.

Though a simple cylinder is preferred as a guard or casing for the float or disk 22, it is obvious that the form of the guard is un important, provided the float or disk be properly protected against pressure from above or against its circumference.

The invention is obviously applicable to jigs and like machines for treating minerals generally, though illustrated in connection with a coal jig, such being its primary field of use.

Preliminary adjustments of the cylinder or casing 20 and disk or float 22 will be made to suit the minerals to be treated, and the holding devices will be fixed and maintained at such adjustments until a change of materials or a variation in the separation is deemed desirable. It is with this understanding that the cylinder or casing is referred to as fixed.

In the claims which follow, the term float is to be understood as comprehending or including a float or body of whatever form, resting in or upon the material under treatment, and the position of which is determined by the character and quantity and by the rise and fall ofthe material beneath it. So, too, tne term guard is used in a broad sense, to mean an imperforate cylinder, casing or the like, whatever :form or material, encompassing and protecting the float substantially in the man- .ner described. As stated, the float-is preferably of disk form, and the guard is preferably in the form of a cylinder.

Having thus described our invention that We claim is: V

1. In combination with a machine for separating bodies of: differing specific gravity, a perforate bed or screen to support the materials'to be treated; an outlet at the dis charge end of said bed or screen for the escapeno'l the heaviermaterials; an overflow for the lighter material; a discharge valve controlling the escape of tlie'heavier material; a stationary imperforate casing above the bed or screen; a float Wholly Within said casing; a ,rockshait provided with a radial arm from .Whichsaid float is suspended; and

connections between the rocksliaiit and the discharge valve, whereby said valve is caused to discharge the heavier materials When'the float is elevated to predetermined levelby the building up of the heavier material beneath it.y

2. In a 'machine of the character de scribed, the combination of a perforate bed orlscreen; means for eilecting stratiiication of materials moving over said screen; adischarge device at the delivery end of said screen for controlling delivery of the heavier materiallying'nex' its suriace; a llxed imperiorate guard located above the screen; a float completely encompassed by and movable xvithin said guard; and connections be tween the float and-the discharge device Wherebyjdischarge of material is'tacilitated as the heavier mate *ial builds up beneath the float, and 1s hindered as the level of such material is lowered.

tween the float and the discharge device 3.- In a machine of the character described, the combination of a bed over which the material treated travels and on which it is strat ilied; an outlet for the material of the. lower stratum; a valve controlling said outlet; a float resting in or upon and raised and lowered bythe material of said stratum, and connected With and controlling said valve and a fixed im' ert'orate uard completely encompassing the float and protecting it from lateral and downward pressure of the material treated.

l. in combination with a jig and its scre'enorbed, a cross plate raised above the bed-rte form an outlet at the tail of the screen for the heavier materials, and having an overflow for the lighter material at its nape screen for controlling deliver y ot-the heavier materials; a fixed imperforate upright casing above the screen; a float encompassed by and movable Willlllli the casing and subject to the upward pressure of material building up beneath'it; and connections beat the tail of the screen, whereby the'dischargc of heavier material is 'made proportionate to" the upbuilding thereof beneath the float.

GUY n. Era lone. HARRY. L. MCLEAN.

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