US1476250A - Hydraulic classifier - Google Patents

Description

. Dec. 4, 1923. v 1,476,250

R. s.' HANDY ET AL HYDRAULIC CLASSIFIER vFiled Deo. '7, 1921 Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

BQYAL S. HANDY AND EDWARD HEARING, OF KELLOGG, IDAHO.

HYDRAULTC CLASSIFIEE.

Application filed December 7, 1921. Serial No. 520,494.

' To all whomz't may concern:

Be it known that we, ROYAL S. HANDY and Fnwnnn HEARTNG, `citizens of the United States, residing` at Kellogg, in the county of Shoshone and State of Idaho, have invented new and useful Tmprovements in Hydraulic Classiers, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to the construction ofthat class of apparatus commonly termed hydraulic classifiers, and is especially designed to progressively segregate the granular constituents of ore or pulp in the order of their specific gravities as they discharge from the stamps, pebble mills, or other grinding mechanism employed.

The objects of the present invention are to generally improve and simplify hydraulic classifiers; to render such classiiiers durable and efficient in operation; to increase the capacity thereof; to minimize the amount of Water employed; to permit visual observation and easy regulation of water pressure, and to permit quick and ready removal of such parts of the mechanism as may require cleaning from time to time.

Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the classifier.

Fig. 2 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section of the same. y

y Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3-3, Fig. f Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of the classifying columns employed. y

Fig. 5 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 6 is a cross section on line (i4-6, Fig. 4. Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, A indicates in general a vbox shaped container vin which is formed aseries of pyramid shaped settling l compartments ofincreasing surface area and depth asindicated at 4, 5, 6 and 7.V The main container is also provided with a feed box 2, and a pipe 3, through which the pulp discharges after classification has taken place. Arranged below each settling chamber is an enclosed pressure chamber, as indicated at 8, and forming communication between each pressure chamber andthe settling chamber arranged above thesame is a crosswise extending slot, which is provided for the reception of a removable block 9. The slots and the blocks disposed therein'are ar ranged in the vortex of the respective settling chambers and to a certain extent form the most essential part of the classifying mecha-V nism. The blocks employed are specifically illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. They consist of elongated cast-iron blocks, the sides and ends of which are tapered as shown at 10 and 11 to conform with the contour of the slots. Each block is provided with sorting columns 12, which are formed by drilling the blocks or otherwise forming the columns therein. Each block is also provided with a pair of upwardly extending eye-bolts 13, which permit ready removal or insertion of the blocks, and the sorting columns employed are grad uated in size with relation to the respective blocks, that is the block disposed in the iirst settling chamber, or that indicated at 4, con tains sorting columns of the largest diameter, while the blocks disposed in the remaining settling chambers are provided with sorting columns of gradually decreasing size. Tn other words as the area and depth of the settling chambers increase, a proportionate decrease in the size of the sorting columns is resorted to. This is due to ther fact that varying grades of classifiedv material is sought, and also due to the fact that `the coarser particles contained in the ore or pulp have a tendency to settle more rapidly than the lighter materials.

' For the purpose of obtaining-the classification desired, counter-currents are employed, that is each pressure chamber 8 is connected with a main water supplypipe 14 by means of pipes 15. Each pipe 15 is provided with a valve 16 whereby the pressure may be regulated, and each pipe 15 is also provided with a glass pressure gauge 17to permit visible indication of the water .pressure maintained in the respective chambers 8.

In actual operation the pulp Jor ore to be classified is delivered to the feed box 2, by means of water or anyfother suitable liquid. The pulp is here equally distributed and will iiow over the settling compartments 4, 5, 6 and 7, in the direction of arrow a. As the pulp flows in this direction, the yvelocity will gradually reduce and the heavier particles contained will settle in thechambers 4, 5, 6 and 7. The settling particles will finally reach the drilled openings 12 or the sorting columns where they meet the rising currents discharging from the pressure chambers 8, and as the velocity of these rising or counter currents is controlled by the valves 16 and the pressure is visibly indicated by the glass pressure gauges 17, it is obvious that any flow or velocity desired may be readily obtained, and that only particles of a given specific gravity and shape will be permitted to enter the respective compartments. Suchv particles as pass through thepsorting columns will continue to settle into thepressure boxes, where they may be discharged through spigots, such as indicated at 18. vThe lighter `particles descending into the'lirst chamber, or into any chamber for that matter,'which it is not desiredto collect, will rise towards the top of the settling compartment from which it ViseXpelled and will thus overflow into the succeeding compartment, where it may be permitted to settlethrough the columns if desired. AThis is possible as the slightly different conditions of counter-current in the sorting columns will permit such action, thus particles of one gravity will settle in thefirst compartment, and particles of another gravity Vor shape will settle in thc second compartment, and so on, and varyino' grades are finally obtained.

he present'machine may handle pulp fromv stamps, pebble mills, or any other class of grinding or crushing` machinery desired. Practically any number of segregated grades or classes of material desired may be obtained by increasing or decreasing' i the number of settling chambers and classitying columns employed. rlhe product thus classified may be returned to the crushing or grinding mechanism employed if a finer product is desired, .or it may be directly delivered to concentratingtables, etc.,that

is the` apparatus is equally applicable whether it is desired to slime the entire product or to merely classify thel pulp for further concentration, etc.

The features desired in the Aapparatus here 'disclosed are: superior Y efiiciency in every direction and greater ease of operation. and control. These results are obtained: first, by providing the pyramid shaped settling chambers of increased area and depth, it is possibleto gradually remove and segregate vthe ore particles of varyingshape and size and Vspecific gravity Second, the removable blocks of sorting columns, not constricted, and which also vary in size and in number serve a similar purpose. Third, the glass pressure gauges permit visual indication of the pressure in eachcompaif ment, and as valves' are provided in conjunction therewith, adjustments t-o accommodate varying conditions set up by the two preceding factors may be quickly and readily attended to. Fourth, the provision of removable blocks of sorting columns is of further importance as it permits almost instantaneous ycleaning of,V theY sorting columns', and renders the-operation of the machine infinitely easier, that is wood pulp or other waste has a tendency to clog the fairly small openings formed in the blocks, and as this is the case'the blocks must be cleaned from time to time which can be quickly accomplished in the present instance due to the fact that each block is provided with eye-bolts i3,WhichezrtendV above the water level and thereby permit quick removal and vre-insertion of the blocks.. A lixed height or water level ,is maintained above the settling chambersd, 5, 6 and 7, by means of an overow or baille board 25, and as this lmay be readily removed or changed, it is obvious that the height may be increased or decreased to suit varying conditions of pulp. y y y While certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically illustratod, we wish it understood that various changes in form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of' the appended claims, similarly hat the materials and finish of the several partsemployed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or varyinguses may demand. Y

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to lsecure lby Letters Patent isl. A classifier comprising a trough shaped container having a series of settling chambers formed therein and arranged in suc-Y cessive order lengthwise thereof, a pressure chamber formed below each settling chamber and vcommunicating with'th'e settling chamber thereabove and provided with an inlet opening and an outlet, valveoperated means for admitting water toeach pressure chamber and for regulatin "the Vpressure thereof and means between t ing element of the water 4admitting means of eachY pressure chamberv and'the outlet thereof and disposed adjacent one sidev of the container to Acontinuouslyindicate-'the pressure in each pressure chamber tothereby prevent the use of an excessive amount of water and thereby preventr` the ywaste of water.

2. A classifier comprising a trough shaped container having a series of lsettling chambers formed therein and arranged insuc-V oessive order lengthwise thereof, each .successive chamber increasing Ainvarea, a pressure chamber formed below each settling chamber and communicating therewith yand provided `with an outlet, valve operated means for admitting vwater to each pres sure chamber and for regulating thepressure thereof,l and a gauge disposedinl the path of thewater admitting means of each pressure chamber between l. the regulatinfr element of the water admittingy means and eregulatthe container adjacent to one side of the latter to visibly indicate the kpressure in the respective pressure chamber to thereby prevent the use of an excessive amount of water and thereby revent the waste of water.

3. A classi er comprising a trough shaped cont-ainer having a series of settling chambers formed therein and arranged in successive order lengthwise thereof, a pressure chamber formed below each settling chamber and communicating with the settling chamber thereabove and provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, valve operating means for admitting water to each pressure chamber and for regulating the pressure thereof, and means between the regulating element of the water admitting means of each pressure chamber and the outlet thereof and disposed adjacent one side of the container and extending above the container to continuously indicate the pressure in each pressure chamber.

l. A classifier comprising an elongated container having a series of pyramid shaped settling chambers formed therein, and arranged in'successive order lengthwise thereof, an enclosed pressure chamber formed below each settling chamber, means for admitting water to each pressure chamber and for regulating the pressure thereof, a slot formed in the bottom of each settling chamber and at the apex of each chamber, said slots forming communication with the respective pressure chambers, a removable block disposed in each slot, and a plurality of interspaced vertically disposed passages formed in each block.

5. A classifier comprising an elongated container having a series of pyramid shaped settling chambers formed therein, and

ranged in successive order lengthwise thereof, an enclosed pressure chamber formed below each settling chamber, means for admitting water to each pressure chamber and for regulating the pressure thereof, a slot formed in the bottom of each settling chamber and at the apex of each chamber, said slots forming communication with the respective pressure chambers, a removable block disposed in each slot, and a plurality of intel-spaced vertically disposed passages formed in each block, the area of the passages in each block being of increasing diameter.

6. A classifier comprising an elongated container having a series of pyramid shaped settling chambers formed therein, and arranged in successive order lengthwise thereof, an enclosed pressure chamber formed below each settling chamber, means for admitting water yto each pressure chamber and for'regulating the pressure thereof, a slot formed in the bottom of each settling chamber and at the apex of each chamber, said slots forming communication with the respective pressure chambers, a removable block disposed in each slot, a plurality of interspaced vertically disposed passages formed in each block, the area of the passages in each block being of increasing diameter, andl means for visually indicating the pressure in each pressure chamber.

7. A classifier vcomprising an elongated container having a series of pyramid shaped settling chambers formed therein, and arranged in successive order lengthwise thereof, said chambers increasing successively in area and depth, an enclosed ypressure chamber formed below each settling chamber, a crosswise extending longitudinal slot formed in the bottom of each settling chamber and communicating with each adjacent pressure chamber, a block disposed in each slot, a plurality of interspaced vertical passages formed in each block, means for admitting water to each pressure chamber and for regulating the pressure thereof, a feed box Y adapted to deliver a pulp to the elongated container, a discharge pipe communicating with said container, and means for maintaining a predetermined pulp level above the settling chambers.

8. In a classifier of the character described the combination with the elongated container and the successive settling chambers formed therein, of a pressure Vchamber formed below each settling chamber, a communicating crosswise extending slot formed in the bottom of each settling chamber, a removable block receivable in each slot, and a plurality of interspaced vertically disposed passages formed in each block.

9. In a classifier of the character described the combination with the elongated container and the successive settling chambers formed therein, of a pressure chamber formed below each settling chamber, acommunicating crosswise extending slot formed f f ROYAL s. HANDY. EDWARD HEARING.

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