US1497176A

US1497176A - Ore separator

Info

Publication number: US1497176A
Application number: US624964A
Authority: US
Inventors: James Elmer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1923-03-14
Filing date: 1923-03-14
Publication date: 1924-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 1941-06-10

Description

June 10 1924. 1,497,176

'- E. JAMES om: SEPARATOR Filed March 14, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' INVENTOR.

BY ATTORNEYS.

June 10 1924. 1,497,176

E. JAMES ORE SEPARATOR Filed March 14, 1925 2 Sk \ee-1s-$hee t 2 vk m j lm I, I R 3 a III HI lu |M I W1 I a: II m \mm, m l lllll ||l u n 3 gm o o H. o

Patented June 10, 1924a UNITED ELMER JAMES, or raovo, UTAH.

ORE SEPARATOR.

"' l l Application filed March 14, 1923. Serial No. 624,964.

T 0 (IE whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER JAMES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Provo, in the county of Utah and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore Separators, of which the following is a specification.

-My invention relates to mining machincry, and has for its object to provide an economical ore separator, whereby the valuable minerals may be separated from the gangue, whether such mineral be of such light specific gravity as to float on or in water, or whether it be'of greater specific gravity and will sink in water.

A further object is to separate the lighter from the heavier minerals in order that the lighter minerals may be subsequently treated by one process, and the heavier minerals may be subsequently treated by other processes.

These objects I accomplish with the machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters and numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, and as described in the specification forming a part of this application and pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings in which I have shown a substantial embodiment of my invention Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, parts cut away and parts in section. Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section of the junction point between the two cylinders. Figure 3 is an end elevation of the' junction end of the first cylinder. Figure 4 is a plan view of the machine. Figure 5 is alongitudinal diametrical' section of the gangue discharge end of the machine, some of the discharge openings shown in dotted lines. Figure dis "a transverse vertical section on line 66 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows. Figure 7 is a transverse vertical section on line 7-7 of Figure 4 looking in thedirection of the arrows. I

In separating the valuable minerals from the gangue in which they are found it is frequently ascertained that some of the valuable minerals are coated with oil and other substances which will cause them to float in water or on the surface thereof, while other portions of the valuable minerals in the same oreare not so coated and may be caught by mechanical concentration; The

present invention is intended for use in and under such conditions whereby the ore, suitably crushed to release the. minerals from the gangue, is driven through two co-acting cylinders by a flow of water and while passng through said cylinders the crushed ore is agitated by mechanical and hydraulic means, and thereby the coated minerals are floated out at one end of the cylinders and are there caught, while the uncoated minerals are carried out at the opposite end of said cylinders and caught, and the gangue allowed to pass out at the end first'mentioned where the coated minerals are caught. I thus utilize three well-known principles of separating minerals from'gangue; namely, hydraulic washing and agitation, flotation and concentration, in one machine, thereby economizing intime, space in which to operate and machinery required to save the values.

Referring to the drawings: An angle iron supporting frame is provided comprising uprights 1 and longitudinal beams 2 and 3, and cross beams 4 and 5. Two' coacting cylinders A. and B are mounted within said frame and they are connected by a universal joint in order that one endof the cylinder A maybe 'movedvertically up and down without disconnecting the opposite end from the cylinder BL To make said adjustment the said cylinder A is supported within the main frame by a supporting rack consisting of the longitudinal'beams 6 and cross ties 7 and the suspending arms 8" at one end, with the Ushaped loop 9 at the opposite end. The legs of the said loop 9 .are pivoted to the beams 6, and said loop is suspended from thecross-head 10 by the threaded rod 11 which is fastened to the upper end of said loop 9. An internally threaded hand wheel 12 whose threads mesh with the thread's of said rod 11 is the means I use to raise and lower the. front end of said cylinder A. The rear end of said supporting rackis carried on pins 13 which are secured in the uprights 1 adjacent the meeting ends of the cylinders by the said supporting arms Sengaging with said pins 13. The said cylinders A and'B rest on-the wheels 14 and 15"r especti'vely-with their respective shafts 16 and 17. Power to rotate said cylinders is applied through the sprocket gear 18 which 1s secured onsaid cylinder B and any ower'may be supplied threugh a sprocket chain, not shown, to drive said sprocket gear 18. I provide a screw feed which enters the cylinder A at raised or front end thereof, and which consists of the commonly used worm screw 19 within the tube 20 with a power driven gear 21, by which said screw 19 is rotated. The said screw feed terminates about eighteen inches from the rear end of said cylinder A, and the ore is dumped out of the feed at that point, and that is where the separation commences. A- spray pipe 22 enters the raised and front end of said cylinder A and is perforated throughout its length with small openings through which water is supplied to spray the interior of said cylinder A and supply the water within both cylinders and by which the ore is moved and separation is effected. On the lower and meeting end of said cylinder A. an inwardly turned flange 28 is provided having a projecting tube 24 integrally formed thereon. The meeting end of the cylinder B has an annularend or closing plate 25 the opening therein coinciding with the tube 24, in order that said tube may be passed partially through and operate within said closure plate 25. Adjacent and parallel with said closureplate 25, an annular battle ring or band 26 is fastened in said cylinder B. An annular closure plate or inwardly turned flange 27 partially closes the rear end of the cylinder B, and a thimble 28 is secured in said plate, through which the floating mineral particles are carried by a flow of water. Near the rear end of said cylinder B the discharge or egress openings 29 are cut in the wall of said cylinder, and a U- shaped yoke or seal 30 is carried around the end portion of said cylinder to close a portion of said discharge openings 29, and leave the others open. The lower arms of said yoke or seal 30 terminate below the water level in the cylinder in order that any discharge through the openings 29 must beffrom those openings which are under the water, thereby allowing all floating particles of mineralto pass out with the water flowmg through said thimble 28. The said yoke or seal 30' is suspended from an arm 81, which is fastened to the nearestcross beam The uniting mechanism connecting the cylinders A and B consists of a trunnion sleeve 34,- having open slots 32 cut therein, inwhich is operated radial lugs or trunnions 33 that are fastened tosaid cylinder A, and a similar pair of extended trunnions 35 are secured on the meeting end portion of said cylinder B." On the interior wall of said cylinder A are secured a plurality of spirally disposed rifiies at an angle counter to the rotation of said cylinder. The height of the rifiles for the most of the length of saidcylinder is less thanthe other portion, preferably l have found that for reserve three-fourths of the length of the cylinder ritiies extending radially inward one-fourth of an inch do' the best work, while for the other one-fourth, rifiles of the depth of one and one-fourth inches are best. The cylinder-B is also provided with spiral riiiies 41 which are given an angle in accord with the rotation of said cylinder B, with the riflies having inward radial depth of one and one-half inches. One of the purposes of the riffles in cylinder A is to move the concentrates toward the front or inlet end of that cylinder, while the ritfles' in the cyl inder B move the material to the discharge openings 29. Any tendency to form eddies in the flowof the water through the thiinble 28 by the gangue discharging through openings 29. will be broken up by the portion of the thimble inside the cylinder B.

The operation of my machine is as follows I The crushed ore is pushed into the cylinder A by the screw feed, and water under pressure is conducted'through the spray pipe 22. The rotation of both cylinders and the flow of water will agitate the ore and move the gangue through the cylinders. The heavier particles of mineral will be caught in the rittles 40 in cylinder A and be carried back up the incline of that cylinder and dumped out of the same or front end of that cylinder. The rotation of the cylinders and spraying action of the water will tend to separate the minerals from the gangue. The gangue and all light or coated mineral particles will pass through the tube 24 into the cylinder B where the agitation is con tinued by the ritfies 4:1 and the rotation of that cylinder. The coated. light and floating mineral particles will be carried in suspension in and on the water and will flow out through the thimble 28, while the gangue will pass out through the uncovered openings 29 and be carried away as waste. The rate at which the ore may be treated is regulated by the tilt of the cylinder A which is accomplished by turning the hand wheel 12.

Having thus described my invention T desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim 1. An ore separator comprising an inclined rotatable cylinder; a plurality of spiral rittles on the inner face of said cylinder inclined counter to the rotation of said cylinder; means to feed ore into the lower portion of said cylinder; an annular band partially closing the lower end of said cylinder; another cylinder operatively connected with and rotated by said first cylinder; a concentrically positioned tube con necting said cylinders; a sealing yoke par tially closing the discharge from said second cylinder; a spray pipe in the first mentioned cylinder to spray the interior thereof and means to rotatesaid cylinders; and a yoke to close all of the gangue discharge Openings above the water level in the last or horizontal cylinder.

2. In a machine of the class described the combination of an adjustahly inclined cylinder and a horizontally disposed cylinder operatively connected; means to feed ore into the incline cylinder near the junction of said cylinder; a plurality of spirally disposed rifiies on the inner face of said cylinders; a spraying means in the first mentioned cylinder; annular gates partially closing both of said cylinders; tubular members in said-gates to form discharge chutes from said cylinders, and openings in the Wall of the horizontally disposed cylinder for gangue discharge; means to rotate said cylinders; and a yoke to partially seal the discharge from the horizontal cylinder.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my 30 signature,

ELMER JAMES.