US1545636A

US1545636A - Method for separating materials of different specific gravities

Info

Publication number: US1545636A
Application number: US507605A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas M Chance
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1921-10-14
Filing date: 1921-10-14
Publication date: 1925-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 1942-07-14

Description

July 14, 1925.

T. M. CHANCE METHOD FOR SEPARATTNG MATERIALS OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIES INVENTOR.

Filed Oct. 14, 1921 WITNESSES:

Patented July 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES THOMAS CHANCE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD FOR SEPAR ATING MATERIALS OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIES.

Application filed October 14, 1921. Serial No. 507,605.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. CHANGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods for Separating Materials of Different Specific Gravities, whereof the following is-a specification.

My invention consists of an improvement upon the method of separating materials of different specific gravities described in U. S. atent No. 1,224,138, which was issued to me May 1, 1917, and consists of an improved method for discharging the heavier mate- 1 rial which sinks through the fluid mass used as the separating medium to the lower part of the receptacle in which separation is effected, by suppressing agitation of the fluid tus thus permitting some of the solid constituent of the fluid mass to settle with the heavier material and using this settled matter as a conveying medium to carry the said heavier material out of the apparatus. The

fluid mass used to efiect separation is similar to that described in the above namedpatent as an agitated mixture of liquid and comminuted solid matter insoluble in said liquid.

In my present invention I permit some of the solid constituent of the fluid mass, as well as materials to be separated that are of greater specific gravity than the fluid mass, to settle to the lower part of the receptacle in which separation is effected, and I discharge these heavier materials, generally consisting of concentrate in the treatment of ores, and of refuse in the washing of coal, together with the solid constituent of the 40 fluid mass, from the "lower part of the said receptacle. This discharge may be eflected by causing the materials to flow through a restricted discharge operating by the same method used to effect the discharge of relatively thick, semi-fluid, or more or less viseid materials when what are known .as spigot discharges are used to discharge such mate rials from a classifier, settler, jig hutch or other similar apparatus; or, the discharge may be effected by trapping out through two or more valves superposed one above the. other and which are alternately opened and closed, as is practiced in the operation of apparatus similar to the well known Robinson coal washer; or the material may be removed by bucket elevators, scrapers or other devices in common use, etc. After removmg the material in this way the solid constituent of the fluid mass is separated from the materials with which it is mixed by screenlng, washing with water, by classification in an upward current classifier, or other meanswand may then bereturned to the apparatus for re-use in the fluid mass.

I It is of course evident that when operatmg by this method, the agitation used to maintain the fluidic properties of the fluid mass must be less than that required to prevent settlement of any of the comminuted solid matter forming the solid constituent "0 of the fluid mass, and in practice I find that the agitation can readily be adjusted to pro- 'd'uce the required condition. mass in the region at the base of the appara- It will-be understood that the heavier materials to be removed from the lower part of the apparatus are no longer in a fluid mass, but are mixed with, and encased in, a mass consisting of the solid constituent of the fluid mass with liquid filling-its interstices or voids and with the body of the fluid mass superposed thereon, which fluid mass is maintained in a fluidic condition by agitation.

In addition to the removal of the heavier material from the lower part of the apparatus as already described I may utilize the conditions produced therein to efl'ect a three or four part separation by drawing off, from position intermediate the top and bottom of the fluid mass, a portion of the fluid-mass together with materials of intermediate specific gravity, thussecuring the separation of -middlings products whichare too heavy to float in the fluid mass and are not heavy enough to sink quickly through it.

The drawing illustrates the carrying out of my invention in a cone type apparatus resembling in its structural features the well known Robinson coal washer. It will be understood however that the receptacle used may be of any suitable shape or form, that the required agitation may be eflected by any of the described means, andthat the materials may be removed by any suitable meansin common use in coal washers and ore concentrators, such as bucket elevators, scrapers, rakes, conveyors and the like.

It will be understood that for effective carrying out of myfinvention the fluid mass must he maintained as a mobile fluid, that is, its fluidic properties must at all times be such as to permit the heavier of the materials to be separated to fall freely through it.

An apparatus in which this method of separation may be carried out is illustrated by the figure of the drawing which is a vertical elevation and partly cross-sectional view embracing the essential and necessary elements and also some adjunct-ive devices which are useful in handling and rehandling the solidconstituent of the fluid mass and the separated materials.

The drawing represents the receptacle as a cone, which diagrammatically is intended to represent a receptacle of any suit-able shape or size, equipped with means for mechanical agitation of the fluid mass shown as a revolving shaft 3, with attached stirring arms 4, driven by bevel gears 5, and equipped Withmeans for hydraulic agitation consisting of inlets 6, for liquid under pressure controlled by a valve 7, and means for discharging material settling to the lower part of the apparatus comprising a discharge tube 8,.con-

, trolled by a slide vvalve 9, operated by a thrust cylinder, and also provided with a hydraulic jet inlet 11, controlled by the valve 12, to facilitate the flow of settled material through the valve 9. Below this discharge valve 9 a shaking screen 13 is shown, actuated by the eccentric 14. This screen is supported on rollers 15. It dewaters and desands the material delivering the sand and waterlinto the settling tank 16, the separated material being delivered from the upper deck of the screen 13. The receptacle 1 is provided with an overflow weir and apron 17 whichis intended diagrammatically'to represent any means for transporting material floating in the upper part of the fluid mass 2, and removing it from the apparatus, which-delivers the material consisting of separated (floating) material, fluid mass and liquid (water) 18, superimposed on fluid mass 2, to the des'anding and dewatering shaking screen 19, the upper deck of which delivers the separated material dewatered and desanded. The separated water and sand flow through the conduit 20 to the settling tank 16, from which the sand mixed with suflicient water is pumped by the pump 21, through conduit '21, back into the receptacle 1. Clear liquid (water) from the settling tank -'16, is pumped by pump 22 through the conduits shown to supplyhydraulic agitation through inlet' 6, and for hydraulic flushing jet 11, and also for supplying the spray nozzles 23, .23 .for the desanding screens 13 and -19. The material to be-separated is introduced through a feed chute shown as an inclined trough 24. The

liquid (water) 18, overlying the fluid mass is shown by broken lines, the fluid mass 2, by broken lines andstippling to represent its solid constituent, and the settled material 25, in the lower part of the receptacle and. discharge tube 8, is shown by stippling.

An aperature 1n the side of the receptacle 1, controlled by a gate 26, and operating lever 27, and provided with a dischargeapron 28, is shown to illustrate diagrammatically a means for drawing ofi material that is not light enough to float readily in fluid mass 2, and which is not heavy enough to sink readily in said fluid mass.

Such material may be desanded and de watered by screens similar to 13 and 19, or any other apparatus in common use for such purposes.

The operation of this apparatus will be readily understood without further detailed description. It will be understood that the agitation may be effected either by hydraulic or by mechanical means, that either the hydraulic water or the operation of the revolving shaft 3 may be discontinued, or that neither may be used, the necessary agitation being produced by the pump 21, and the kitnetic energy. of the fluid mass as it is discharged from the conduit 21', into the receptacle 1. In the apparatus as shown no means internal or extraneous are shown for providing a itation to that part of the receptacle 1, ying' below the lowest of the stirring arms 4, or below the inlets 6, for hydraulic agitation, thus providing conditions that permit the solid constituent of the fluid mass, as well as the heavier separated material, (which consists of particles lar r in size than the sand used as the so 'd constituent of the fluid mass) to settle together in the discharge tube 8, and in the lower part of the receptacle 1.

The peculiar advantage of this method is found in the ability to discharge the materials without the use of two valves operated alternately to trap out material as is practiced in the operation of apparatus similar to the Robinson coal washer, and in the utilization of the settled constituent of the different specific gravitie's which consists inintroducing said materials. into a fluid mass consisting of an agitated mixture of comminuted solid matter and liquid, in ca material of less specific gravity than sai fluid mass to flloag in said fluiilfi mass, in causin materia o eater spec' c avity than in fluid mass to sink in saifi fluid mass, -in sufliciently reducing the agitation of said fluid mass in the region into which said region to fall with said heavier ma terial, whereby the voids between the particles of said heavier material become substantially filled with said comminuted matter and whereby liquid which in the fluidic portion of said fluid mass separates said particles of comminuted solid matter is largely displaced, in causing said comminuted matter to act as conveying and restraining element in any further movement of said heavier material and in removing said heavier material together with said comminuted solid matter.

2. ,A method for separating materials of different specific gravities which consists in introducing said materials into a fluid mass consisting of an agitated mixture of comminuted solid matter and liquid, in causing material of less specific gravity than said fluid mass to float in said fluid mass, in

causing material ofgreater specific gravity than said fluid mass to sink in said fluid mass, in sufliciently reducing the agitation of said fluid mass in the region into which said heavier material is settling to cause the solid constituents of said fluid mass in said region to fall with said heavier material, whereby the voids between the particles of said heavier material become substantially filled with said comminuted matter and of said fluid mass separates said particles of comminuted solid matter is largely displaced, in causing said comminuted matter to act as conveying and restraining element in an further movement of said heavier material, in removing said heavier material together with said comminuted solid matter and in removing from said fluid mass the material floating therein.

I THOMAS M. CHANCE.

Witnesses:

H. M. CHANGE, GARL'K. SCHULZE.

whereby liquid which in the fluidic portion