US1395517A - Centrifugal concentrator - Google Patents

Description

W. H. PECK.

CENTRLFUGAL CONCENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 2s, 1920.

1,395,517. PatentedN0v.1,1921.

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W. H PECK.

CENTRIFUGAL CONVCENTRATOR.

APPLlcATloN FILED Nov. 23. 1920.

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Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

YUNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcr-z.

WILBUR n. mick, or Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

cENTaIFuGAL coNcEN'rRA'roR.

Application med November 23, 1920.

To all whom t may concern:

'BeV it known that I, `VVILBUR H. PEOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, inthe county ofsLos Angeles and Sta-te of California, have invented lcertain newA and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Concentrators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in concentrating machines in which centrifugal and coordinating liquid separating forces are employed to effect-separation and beddingy of concentrates through use of a rapidly rotatable concentrating vessel or member, and a relatively differentially rotatable core member, as hereinafter explained, and the main objects of my invention are not only directed to more economical and stable structure but to higher and more efficient results in concentration.

I attain these objects by the mechanism and means which are herein explained and A which I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is partly a side elevation and partly ai vertical central'longitudinal section of my improved concentrating machine.

Fig. 2 is partly a central longitudinal vertical section and partly a side elevation of my concentrator, although not showing the outer journal bearing or feed member, and with the concentrating vessel, and interposed discharge ring, detached relatively and from the supporting head, 'the twoformer being moved longitudinally from their places.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of Fig. l on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. f p

Fig. 4 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the core membershown removed from its supporting shaft,'having been withdrawnv longitudinally therefrom.

Fig. 5 is a side'elevation of the end of the core supporting shaft, which engages the core, also showing the adjacent part of the shaft.

Fig. 6 is partly a longitudinal central section and relatively assembled detail of va portion of the core supporting shaft, part of the hollow vessel supporting shaftand some other parts.

Fig. 7 is partly a section and partly an elevation ofa portion of the core shaft draw `mechanism and a portion of such shaft, en-

larged.

Specification of Letters Patent.

partly an elevation of a broken' Patented Nov. 1, 1921'. serial No. 426,047.

In making my improved centrifugal concentratOr, I provide a rotatable concentrating vessel lwhich is shown in the drawings in a horizontal position. This vessel as a concrete whole embodies a circumferential wall or tube portion, two end -or head portions and la lchambered .discharge ring portion, the latter interposed between the larger head and Vtube portions, as hereinafter explained.

The tube portion 2, is preferably somewhat conical shaped, as illustrated, and is provided with a flange 3, at its-large end, through which it is securely and concentricallybut removably fastened to its'larger head 4 by means of bolts 5,- passing through the interposed chambered ring 6, as shown in Fig. 1. The individuality of these several parts is best-illustrated in Fig. 2 vof the drawings, where they are shown moved apart. The ring 6, also serves as means through which material is discharged from the vessel and I will therefore vcall it a discharge ring. Y

The head 4, isprovided with a central hub 7, which is rigidly mounted on the extended endA of a hollow shaft 8, which shaft is rotatably journaled in boxes 9`and 10, and ma be rotated by means of-a belt pulley 11, from any suitable prime mover, so when the shaft 8 is revolved, the head is also revolved, carrying with it in rotation the concentrating vessel. The journal boxes 9 and 10 are carried on the upper ends of stands 12 and 13, which are mounted on the base plate 14'of thev concent-rator.

The smallerend of the vessel is provided with an end or head 15, which may be secured to the vesselby screws 16, as illustrated in the drawings, and near the central portion of this head there is provided an outwardly extended hollow trunnion 17, having an opening 18, at its central part through which feed of material for separation and water may be introduced into the vessel.

This trunnion 17 serves as a journal bearing` for the outer end of the vessel and is mounted in a journaled box 19, supported on a stand 20, which is secured at its base to the bed plate ofthe concentrator.

There is provided a circumferential row in the discharge ring 6, of the vessel, of short nipples or pipes 2l, having small discharge holes or openings 22, through which material and water fed into the vessel during operation, may be discharged.

Around the vessel, encircling the discharge ring is a hollow hoodv or launder, 23, with a suitable annular crack or Yopening 24, on its inner circumference, positioned in radial alinement with the discharge holes 22, from the vessel, so that water andmaterial discharged from the vessel through these holes will be thrown through the opening 24, intol the launder, asv indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1 and be carried down to the lower part of the launder and passed out of its extend- 'ed part 25, and also indicated by the arrows at their point.

A The launder is separable at the lines 26, Fig. 3, the partsbeing providedv with ears 127, which arefastened together by bolts 28,

thereby holding the two parts of the launder as a single unit.4 The launder is held to` place onthe base plate of the concentrator by amaintainin'g part 29.

^ To operate inside of the vessel for purin outside elevation. In Fig. 4, the core is also shown in section.

The circumferential surface of this core` member is preferably substantially the same shape as the internal bore of the vessel, but somewhat smaller in diameter than such bore,l and is sufficientlyv shorter than the' internal length of the vessel, to enable it to be traveled longitudinally in the vessel, to the extent desired for purposes hereinafter explained;

" The core is smooth on its circumferential surface and is of diameter to leavea vcomparativelysmall space 30, between its ciri cumferential exterior and thev surface 32,

fof the interior .wall of the vessel, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, the space 30 constituting 'the separating channel and the` surface 32,- forming the separating surface, on which' the separated concentrates become bedded.- f e l A,The clore member has its ends somewhatk depressed or hollowed out, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, and its ends 'areprovided with metal plates 33 and 34, respectively, 'which serve to protect the ends of the core from.

serious wear. v

n 'The core isV also provided with a sleeve portion 35, located longitudinally and-centrally therein', and the core is securelybut removably mounted within the vessel on the extended end part of a central shaft 36, whichV end part passes through the sleeve 35, while' the central portion of the shaft passes through and is rotatably journaled in the hollow of the vessel supporting shaft 8. The outer end of the shaft 36, is journaled in a box 37 as illustrated. It is provided with a pulley- 38, by means of which the shaft with the corel may be rotated at the rate of speed desired.

The end portion of the shaft 36, which extends 7into the vessel, as above stated, passes through the longitudinally positioned fsleeve 35, in the central part of the core, so

that the shaft securely and rigidly supports and carries the core, while Ythis end of the shaft preferably terminates within the vessel.

'The nut 39, serves toassist in rigidly holding the vcore on this end of its shaft, although the core may be longitudinally withdrawn and removed vfrom the shaft, by removing the nut, when the wall or shell portion 2, of the vessel is removed, as lshown in some of the drawings, vwhileat the same time maintaining journaled placementv of its shaft 36.

It will be see-n that by this arrangement, as

the shaft 38 isl revolved the core is also revolved, 'such motion being independent of the rotation of the concentrating vessel.

vA s means for. supplying material for sep-V,

aration, mixed with water into the vessel, whichVV mixture I'ivill term as a pulp, I provide a suitable'feed pipe 39', having a valve 40, and with one part of thepipe 41, extendingthrough the'central opening 18,

in the journal trunnion of the small end ofv the vessel, vas illustrated in Fig. 1. The pipe 39', is connected to an agitating tank, not shown, or to other source of supply of pulp to befedto the vessel when desired, and to this pipe is attached a branch pipe 42, having a valve 43, which latter pipe is connected with any suitable source of water supply for purposes hereinafter explained. These pipes and their valves are supported by a stand 44, mounted on the bed plate of the machine to hold them rigidly to place. L ,e Y

As is illustrated and lalcove stated, the circumferential walls of the vessel are conical in shape and the circumferential surface of the core member substantially conforms to 'such shape, furthermore the core is somewhat shorter than the internal length of the vessel, andis not only smaller in diameter than the internal bore of the vessel,l but is longitudinally movable therein through movement 'of its supporting shaft 36. e

The diameter of the core is such that when it is moved to its fullest extent to position toward the'smaller end of the vessel, as shown' in Fig. 1, the annular space 30, being the separating channel, between its circumference andthe wall of the vessel, will be of desired comparatively small size or depth, and as the Vconcentrating part of the cycles'of operation of the concentrator rotatably en proceed, the movement of the core toward the larger end of the vessel Will increase the depth of such channel to facilitate bedding of concentrates, from the fact that both the vessel and core are conical in form, and When the core is again moved to its initial position, the channel will be again contracted to its initial size.

The longitudinal movements ofthe core Within the vessel are accomplished through longitudinally moving the shaft 36, by traveling it in the hollow shaft 8, and such movement is effected by means of a channeled collar 45, secured thereon, best shown in enlargedV detail Fig. 7. The collar is gaged by a`ring part 46, having an attached depending internally screw threaded part 47, engaging a threaded rod 48. The rod is suitably rotatably journaled in a longitudinally fixed position, as illustrated, and carries at its opposite end a` gear Wheel 49, suitably meshing with a gear wheel 50, which, in turn is mounted on the end of a small rotatably journaled shaft 5l.

The shaft 5l, carries a suitable belt pulley 52, through which rotation may be imparted, so that as the shaft 51 is revolved rotation Will be transmitted to the rod 48, through medium of the gear Wheels 49 and 50, and longitudinal movement of the shaft 36, through the parts 45, 46 and 47 will be secured, resulting in longitudinal movement of the core in the concentrating vessel as above stated, in the one direction or the other as desired, depending on which direction the pulley 52 is revolved.

The pulley 52 is intended to be supplied with power through any of the suitable ordinary reversible transmission devices desired, so its direction of rotation may be reversed at will to meet requirements in operation of the concentrator.

Within the concentrating vessel surrounding the place or zone Where the shaft 36 enters and in its longitudinal movements travels in and out of the hollow shaft 8, I provide short tube parts 53 and 54, positioned and of size to relatively telescope as the core is moved longitudinally, and serve .to protect the adjacent parts of the shafts 8 and 36 from destructive abrasions, which are contained in the pulp being treated in the concentrating vessel.

It will be seen that the protecting sleeve 53, is located in the depression at that end of the core, Which position is illustrated in Figs. l and 4, the depression also serving to enable the sleeve 54 to travel and in operation telescope with the sleeve 453.

These parts are illustrated in relative op` erating position in Figs. l and 6 of the drawings.

In operation, the materials or substances to be separated, `composed of particles of different degrees `of specific gravity, as certain metaliferous minerals in ores tailings, and the like, in a comparatively fine state of subdivision and are mixed with Water in suitable proportions so that the mixture will preferably be about 20 to 25 percent. solids, and to 80 per cent. liquid by Weight, and which may be termed as pulp, are placed or flowed into any suitable form of agitating receptacle to keep them in suspended mixture While being drawn out for feed to the concentrator. This agitating receptacle or tank is preferably sufliciently elevated above the concentrator so that the pulp will flow by gravity into the concentrator through the feed pipes above explained.-

During concentration, the vessel is rotated at a high rate of speed to develop the intensity of centrifugal force desired to best assist in effecting separation of the material under treatment.

At the same time the core member is rotated at a sufficiently different rate of speed so that the differential movement of the core with respect to the vessel will create a requisite scouring Wash in the concentrating channel to overcome the precipitating effect of the centrifugal force being developed on the particles of Waste and other substances relatively lighter than the concentrates, as such substances enter and pass through the separating channel, resulting in these substances being prevented from assuming fixed lodgment, but instead, being carried onk through the sepaarating channel by the flow of Water, to discharge through the openings 22, and to final discharge through the part 25 of the launder.

The differential movement between the core and concentrating vessel is not intended to be sufficiently rapid so that the resultant scrubbing Wash in the separating channel will prevent lodgment of the heavier parts of the material which it is desired to retain as concentrates, but will permit such materials to lodge and progressively bed in the separating channel, While the relatively lighter parts are being scrubbed and flowed through to discharge, as just above explained.

Feed of material or pulp for `separation is continued until there is a. desired quantity of concentrates bedded in the separating channel to largely fill such channel, at which time the feed is stopped by closing the valve 40, and the material then in transit through the separating channel will quickly flow on through to waste, or lodge and bed on the separating surface.

rlhe rotating speed of the concentrating vessel is then much reduced by any approprite mechanism for the purpose, not shown, thereby very much diminishing the degree of centrifugal force being-developed to retain the bedded concentrates in the vessel,

and clean water is at this time introduced into the vessel through medium of the pipe 42 and valve 43.

The core member is rotated at a constant rate of speed during operation, and at the time the speed of the vessel is much diminished, the differential moveme'nt between the two is largely augmented, resulting in a stronger scrubbing wash in the separating channel, which, under the lessened centrifugal force, quickly removes. the bedded concentrates, impelling them to discharge through openings 22, where they are caught by the launder 23, in the same manner as the waste materials were caught just previously, and are discharged at the part 25, from which place they may' be diverted by any suitable means, to a desired place of deposit. l

After the bedded concentrates have been discharged from the vessel in this manner, the vessel being cleaned, the vessel is accelerated to its previous speed of rotation for concentration; the flow of clean water is discontinued by closing the valve 43, and feed of'material for concentration is again introduced by'opening valve 40, and the operation repeated, which may be continued in successive cycles as long as desired.

It will be understood that at the beginning of each cycle of concentration the core member is in position nearest the smaller end of the vessel, and during that portion of the cycle in which separation and concentration is occurring, the core is gradually moved toward the larger end of the vessel, by the mechanism above described, so that as the separated concentrates are progressively bedded in the separating channel, this channel is gradually enlarged .to permit of such bedding, until the core has reached its extreme position toward the larger end of the vessel.

At this time, the period of unloading the bedded concentrates commences as above explained, and during such Yperiod the core is moved to its initial position toward the smaller end of the vessel, preparatory to commencement of another cycle in operation.

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a centrifugal concentrator, the combination of a rotatably journaled hollow shaft, a horizont-ally positionedv rotatable end of the shaft and a detachable axially extended hollow cylindrical portion provided with an internal separating 'surface` a central shaft journaled within lthe hollow shaft and extending into the vessel, a core member rotatably supported within the vessel by VSaid central shaft and adapted to be removed Vfrom its said shaft while main taining` the latter in journaled placement,

said core forming with the vessel a separating channel, means for relatively differentially rotating the vessel and the core, means fr introducing pulp for separation into the vessel and means for dischargingthe separated pulp from'the vessel, substantially as described.

3. In a centrifugal concentrator, the combination of, a rotatably journaled hollow shaft, a horizontally positioned rotatable separating vessel, embodying a head portion concentrically mounted onthe overhanging end of the hollow shaft, and a detachable axially extended hollow cylindrical portion, provided with a separating surface, a detachable ring interposed between said head and cylindrical portion, a central shaft journaled within the hollow shaft ofthe vessel and extending therein, a rotatable core member within the vessel mounted on the' central shaft, adapted to be removed from said shaft while maintaining the shaft in journaled placement, said core forming with the vessel a separating channel, means for relatively differentially rotatingthe vessel and the core, means for introducing pulp for separation into the vessel, and means for discharging the separated pulp through said chambered ring from the vessel, substantially as described.

4. In a centrifugal concentrator the combination of -a rotatably journaled hollow shaft, a horizontally positioned rotatably separating vessel embodying a head portion concentrically mounted onthe overhanging end of the hollow shaft, a detachable internally chambered ring portion mounted on said head and a detachable axially extended hollow cylindrical portion, provided with a separating surface and with a journal bearing at its outer end, having a feed pas sage therethrough, a central shaft journaled in the hollow shaft of the vessel, and extending therein, a rotatable core member within the vessel mounted on said central shaft and adapted to be removed from said shaft ico ration into the vessel, and

while maintaining the shaft in journaled placement, said core forming with the vessel a separating channel, means for relatively differentially rotating the vessel and core, means foi` introducing pulp for sepameans for discharging the separated pulp from the vessel through said ring portion, substantially as described.

5. In acentrifugal concentrator, the combination of a rotatably journaled hollow shaft, a horizontally positioned rotatable separating vessel embodying a head portion concentrically mounted on the overhanging end of the hollovw shaft and a detached cylindrical portion provided with a separating surface, a removable internally chambered ring portion interposed between said head and the cylindrical portions' of the vessel, a central shaftjournaled in the hollow supporting shaft, a rotatable core member within the vessel mounted on the central shaft, said core forming with the vessel a separating channel, means for introducing pulp for separation into the vessel, means for discharge of material from the vessel embodying holes for discharging separated pulp through the interposed ring, .means encircling the vessel in radial alinement with such discharge holes adapted to catch pulp as discharged from the vessel and means for relatively differentially rotating the vessel and the core, substantially as described.

6. In a centrifugal concentrator, the combination of a horizontally positioned rotatably journaled hollow shaft, a rotatable separating vessel, mounted on the overhanging end of said shaft and extended outwardly in axial alinement with said shaft, the vessel provided with a journal bearing attached to its outward end, having a feed opening therethrough, a central shaft rotatably journaled within the hollow shaft of the vessel, and extending into the vessel, a core member substantially shorter than the internal length of the vessel provided with a central depression at its end, and rotatably supported within the vessel by the central shaft, and longitudinally movable within the vessel through mediiun of its supporting shaft, telescoping members positioned within the vessel in part in said depression in the core members, and around the entrance of the core supporting shaft into the hollow shaft of the vessel, adapted to protect said shaft at such entrance from damaging abrasives, said core forming with the vessel a separating channel, means for relatively differentially rotating the vessel and core, means for longitudinally traveling said core supporting shaft, means for introducing pulp for separation into the vessel and means for discharging separated pulp from the vessel, substantially as described.

WILBUR H. PECK.

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