US1706552A - Concentrator deck - Google Patents

Description

Mara! 1 A. H. STEBBINS 1,706,552

couczu'mm'bn ozcx Filed June 5, 1927 ZSheets-Sheet 1 I /Nl ENTOR-' BY wmm 1 ATTORNEY 1929- A. H. STEBBINS ,706,552

CONCENTRATOR DECK Filed June 5. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i I: N g V /Nl/NTOR.' 1 dam-am BY ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES ALBERT H. STEBBINS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CONCENTRATOR DECK.

Application filed June 3, 1927.

Serial No. 196,366.

This invention relates to a novel form of Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken on the line concentrator deck having a material receiving valley in which separation of materials that ditl'er in specilic gravity is etl'ected.

In carrying out the j'n'esent invention the materials to be treated are advanced along a valley in the concentrator deck and a strat lication ot the materials is ellected eithel through the use of air or by vibratory move.- ment. The lighter materials are raised to the su 'lace by the rising air currents. or by the heavier particles working down under them, and such lighter materials are disposed of by crowding them out of the valley. The valle may be made as long as desired to give the heavier particles ample time to work down under the lighter particles.

One important feature of the present invention resides in scrapers arranged along the valley and which serve to 't'orce the lighter materials or tailings laterally out of the valley while permitting the heavier particles or values to remain in the valley.

Another 'l'eature of the invention resides in the construction whereby a concentrate confining pocketis formed near the discharge end of the valley and in which the materials are subjected to a panning action.

Another feature oi the invention resides in l nti'er blocks arranged at the sides of the valley to force the concentrates toward the centre ot' the valley and to crowd the tailings out ol the valley.

Still another feature of the invention resides in a sloping portion of the deck and cooperating ritlles tor disposing of some of the tailings bel'ore the materials reach the treatment valley.

()ther :l'eatures oi" the invention and novel combination of parts in addition to the above will be hereinat'ter described in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one good practical form thereof.

In the drawings 2-- Fig. l is a. perspective view ot a concentrator deck constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plain view of Fig. 1;

Fig. I on an enlarged scale. is a perspective view ot pprtion of the deck ol Fig. 1;

Fig. r is a vertical sectional view through portion of the deck valley;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the deck of F a I mounted upon a supporting frame;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line a e of Fig. 5;

7-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line d-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view through the deck valley showing the butter blocks; and

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the butter blocks of Fig. 9.

The concentrator deck forming the subject matter of the present invention is shown as mounted upon a supporting frame in approximately a horizontal position. and movement of the n'iaterials lengthwise ot the deck is produced by imparting a progressive vibratory movement to the deck. This is not. essential. however, in all embodiments of the invention. for it desired the deck may be supported at a steep inclination in the direction ol its length so that the materials being treated will flow lengthwise of the de k under the influence of gravity.

in the construction shown the materials to be treated are delivered to the concentrator deck by the feed hopper 10 having the sliding gate 11 which may be adjusted to control the rate of flow of the materials to the deck surface from the feed hopper. That portion of the concentrator deck lying near the teed hopper 10 is preferably provided with the oppositely inclined surfaces '12 which slope downwardly from the central ridge 153 that extends lengthwise ot a portion of the deck as shown. The arrangen'ient is such that the opposite slope of the deck surt'aces 12 will promote the flow of the materials down these inclined surt'accs towards the side walls ll of the deck. Inclined rillles 15 provided upon that portion ot the deck surface lying near the teed hopper serve to direct the. concentrates towards the material receiving valley, while the tailings or lighter materials work laterally over the ritlles down the inclined deck surt'ace. As a result of the const ruction just described the materials undergo a preliminary treatment before they reach the valley to be described, and in this manner the tailings which separate out promptly are prevented from reaching the valley.

In accordance with the present invention the deck surface is provided with the treatment valley 16 which extends lengthwise ot' the deck a substantial distance, as shown, and the tailings which are crowded out of this valley, in a manner to be described, tall upon the launders 17, along which the tailings travel until they pass from the discharge lltl ends of the launders into the tailing receiving hoppers 1H. it he laundcrs i7 preterably oi their length wi h in the dir 'suion rev pect to the *alley 1th as will be apparent t'ronr the drawing, so that the increased inclination ot' the surt'ates 17 will promote trz 'vcl oi the tailin as towards the hoppers 18. At each side ot the valley 16 are provided the \ertically tllhpUHtrl walls 19 and the upper edges ot these walls lie tlnsh with the side walls 20 ot the valley, the arramaancnt being uch that the materials which are crowded out ot' the valley it will readily work up the incliccd walls 2 and tall upon the laun-r ers 1?. The inclined wall 21 m y be provided at the juncture of the ridge l3 and the valley It) as shown. As above statctl the concentrator dcrl; shown is mounted upon a supporting frame to receive a progressive vibratory movement. This movement serves to work the concentrates down under the tailinn s and the stratification of the materials may be effected by movement alone, or if desired air passing upward y through the materials may be employed to promote separation of the materials. In the present case the floor ot the Valley 16 is shown as having the air apertures through which small jets of air may be delivered to the materials being: treated. A'ir under pressure may be supplied to that portion of the deck surtace lying near the feed hopper l and to the apertures 22 within the alloy 16 by forming the air chamber or receptable below the deck snrtace, and since it is unnecessary to supply air under pressure to the lannders 17 the air chamber 2 is prelerably provided with a reduced port on 2 1 which lies under the valley 16.

The valley 16 is preferably so constructed that it d ,-rcases in width from its material receiving end towards its discharge end as yill be apparent f om Fig. 2, this construc tion being desirable to crowd out of the al ley the lighter materials as they approach the discharge end oil? the alley. Removal of the tailine's or linhter materials from the valley further promoted by providing any desired number ot' scrapers which are conveniently arranged in diverging pairs, as best shown in Fig. 3. The lower portion ot each scraper Q5 lies in close prou'iixity to the tloor of the central portion of the valley while the lower edges of the outwardly flaring wings of the scrapers slope upwardly with respect to the incl incd surfaces of the alley, as b st shown in Fig. 4. The arrangement ch that all materials traveling lengthwise the valley will be deflected laterally by c scraper wings but? the concent ates lying r-cneath the tailings may through the \YOln passages 26 provided between the lower edge of tl e scrapers :nd the deck surface, while 10 tailings will be deflected laterally by the It will therefore ra'rrrs out of the Valley.

be seen that the scrapers serve not only dctlcct the tailincs out oi he valley, b also to dctlcct the comrcntratcs laterally 211 up the side walls of the valley sutiiricntly to rework the concent'ates nd thereby retrt t or clean the same.

It may be desi able to increase or decrease the number ot scrapers 25 employed, or to vary their position lengthwise ot the valley, in accordance with the requirements ot the materials be ng treated. Means is tlicre't'ore shown for supporting the scrapers in diticrcnt positions of adjustment and consists ot the posts :37 w :ich are arranged in a row extending lengthwise ot the valley as shown, and in order to give these posts the desired stit'l'ncss they may extend downwardly throinrh the deck surface to the lower wall of the air chamber 2t. The posts 2 are spaced apart sutiicicntly to receive between them the intermediate portion 28 ot a pair of connected scrapers and the pair o't scrapers may be secured to any post 27 in tt 1: d red position of adjustn'ient lengthwise oi the valley by a bolt 29. The outer end ot' e ch scraper is preferably provided. with a downwardly extending leg 3U whicn may rest upon the su face 17. The legs 30 may be provided with the elongated slots 31 so that they may be adjustably secured to the scrapers by the bolts After the materials being treated have traveled a sabstantial distance along the Valley 16 so that the concent 'ates have had an opportunity to work down under the tailings, it may be desirable to crowd the concentrates in\ ardly toy aids the central portion of the a ley. This may be done by providing the butter blocks formed of the cooperating walls 3;; and 25%. The walls 33 are shorter than the w: lls ill and serve to direct the concent ates inwardly towards the central portion of the valley. These walls 33 extend upwardly from the in clincd surfaces 20 a less distance than, the walls Ell so that the tailin g's may tlow over the top of the walls 3?) into spaces 35 (see Fin. 10) whereupon the materials that enter these spaces upon moving lengthwise of the decl; will be directed out. of the valleys by the higher walls 31'. It will theretorc be seen that the butter blocks just described perform the double function of cro'vvdinc; the concentrates inwardly towards the central portion ot the valley and of Jerking the tailings laterally out of the valley. The concc itrates which have worked downwardly under the tailings within the Valley 16 may be drawn. oil through any desired number of discharge openings 36, having the discharge pipes 237 that extend downwardly through the air chamber 24.

As the concent'ates traveling; aloi valley 16 approach the discha end tli their ll'lOYt-llltllt lengthwise o't the vallev is arrested by the transversely extending wall ill] lit)

38 which wall is preferably given the stepped construction shown, to prevent the concentrates from working up this inclined wall. The tailings which still remain within the valley when the concentrates reach the wall 38 will pass from the discharge end of the valley into the tailing receiving hopper 18 and these tailings may differ somewhat from the tailings which enter the discharge hoppers 18 it may be desirable to provide partitions between the hoppers 18 and 18*, as shown. The tailings which work up the inclined wall 38 are prevented from escaping sidewise by the upstanding walls 39.

The transversely extending wall 38 serves to form a concentrate receiving pocket near the discharge end of the valley 16 and in which the concentrates may be subjected to a panning action under the vibratory movement imparted to the deck. This panning operation will serve further to work the concentrates down under the tailings, and as the concentrates accumulate in the pocket just mentioned they may be drawn oil from time to time through the discharge openings 36. In order to confine the concentrates within this pocket until they have undergone the desired panning operation, means should be provided for closing the lower end of the discharge pipe 37. This is conveniently done by providing the bag or tube 40 shown in Fig. 5, and which may be twisted as shown to prevent the materials from passing therethrough, and the discharge end of this twisted tube may be temporarily secured to the under surface of the deck as shown. Such fine particles as work through the air apertures 22 will fall upon the floor 41 ot' the air chamber. from which they may escape through the discharge opening 42 into the tube or bag 40.

Various means might be provided for supporting the concentrator deck for reciprocatory movement in the direction of its length and the means shown in the drawings to this end consists of the uprights 43 which are connected by the longitudinally extending rails 44, and the opposite sides of the supporting frame are connected by the transversely extending braces 45. The concentrator deck may be rigidly secured to the carriage 46 and this carriage is mounted upon the supporting frame for movement in the direction of its length by the ball or roller bearings 47 which are contined between the bearings blocks 48 secured to the supporting frame and the hearing blocks 49 secured to the carriage 46. Air under pressure is su plied to the air chamber 23; by the fan 50 tile discharge portion of which is connected by a flexible connection 551 to the downwardly extending portion 52 of the air chamber.

Various means might be provided for imparting a progressive vibratory movement to the concentrator deck and a simple means to this end is shown in Fig. 5 and consists of the operating cable 5 1 an intermediate portion of which is secured to the carriage 46 by the clamping means The portion of the cable 53 which extends in a right-hand direction from th clamp 54, extends around a grooved idle sheave and the lower end of this portion oi the cable is secured to a coiled spring 5b. The portion of the cable 5?). which extends: in a lctt-hand direction l'ron'i the clamp 54 passes around a grooved idle sheave 57 and passes from the lower portion of this sheave around a grooved sheave 58 which is mounted upon the eccentric 59. and the end of the portion of the cable extending from the sheave 58 is fastened to an anchor (it). The e -cen tric hf) is rigidly secured to a power shalt (Bl. the arrangement being such that rotation of tit 61 will rotate its eccentric to move the sheave 58 in an orbital path to thereby slack oil and tension the cable 53. This will serve to mpart the desired progressive vibratory movement to the deck to advance the materials lengthwise ol' the same towards its discharge end.

lVhile in most cases it may be desirable to impart a progressive vibratory movement to the concentrator deck forming the subject matter of the present invention this is not essential in all constructions, for if the deck is supported at a steep inclination in the direction of its length it will be unnecessary to vibrate the same since tiie force of gravity, together with the iction oi the air passing upwardly through the apertures 22, will produce the desired flow of the materials lengthwise of the deck. The air jets will serve also to work the lighter materials upwardly through the concentrates to effect the desired classification, whereupon the tailings will be crowded out of the valley 16 by the construction above described.

From the foregoing description when read in connection with the drawings it will be seen that the materials undergo a preliminary treatment upon portions 12 ot the deck surface before they reach the treatment valley l6, and that while traveling along this valley stratilication is eli'ected, by the rising air currents and by the vibratory movement. The arrangement of the lower edges of the scrapers 25 so that the size 01 the passages 26 ii crease in an outward direction. together with the angular arrangement ol these scrapers. prevents clogging ol the materials within the passages :26. and the panning action to which the concentrates are subjected near the discharge end of the valley serves to produce an exceptionally clean product.

hat 's claimed is 1. 1r concentrator deck. comprising in combination. a deck casing provided with a material supporting surface constructed and arranged to form a central. valley extending lengthwise of the deck, means for directing the materials to be treated into the valley,

the

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scrapers mounted in the valley and const t'tit' ed and arranged to direct the tailings up the inclined sides and out of the valley while permitting the concentrates to remain in the valley, and said SCHLPQI'S being mounted to lie in close proximity to the central floor of the valley to deflect all materials traveling along tl e valley laterally onto the inclined sides oi' the valley.

2, fr concentrator deck, comprising in comhination, a deck casing provided with a matrri. l supporting surface that is constructed and arranged to form a valley extending length ol' the deck, means for directing the man utlrw to he treated into the valley, and strangers mnstrnctml and arranged to direct the ta l ngrjs latcrall v' out of the valley while permitting the conrcntrates to travel lengthwise ol' the valley under the scrapers, said scrapers heing also arranged to deflect the cmiccn ratcs laterally within the valley to ettcct their retreatment.

I). A concentrator deck, comprising in cominalion, a deck casino; provided with a mate 'ial supporting surlface that is constructed and arranged to form a valley extending lengthwise of the deck, means for directing the materials to he treated into the valley, and scrapers mounted in the valley to direct the tailings out oi the valley and having their lower edges inclined to the deck surface to provide outwardly flaring passages for the tf()1lt't,lltl't1t0S.

l. A concentrator deck, comprising in comhination. a deck casing provided with a material supporting surface that is constructed and arranged to form a alley extending lc -thwisc of the deck, means for directing the materials to he treated into the valley to travel lengtlm ise tl'iereo'f, inclined scrapers arranged in pairs that flare outwardly from the bottom oi the valley to direct the upper strat um oi the materials up the inclined sides of the valley out of the valley and arranged so that the lower stratum may pass under the scrapers.

5. A concentrator deck, comprising in comlliiltltltill, a deck casing provided with a malt-ittll supporting surface that is constructed and arranged to form a valley extending" it .gthn'se ot the deck, means for directing the materials to he treated into the valley to travel lengthwise thereof, a central wall mounted in said valley and extending lengthwise thereof, scrapers positioned in said vallc v and supported by said wall in spaced relation to the lloor to direct the lighter matcrials out of the valley, and means for securing the scrapers to said wall in different positions of adjustment lengthwise of the vallev.

(3. A concentratm' deck, comprising in comhination, a deck casing provided with a material supporting surface constructed and arranged to form a central valley extending lengthwise oi the deck, a series of scraper supporting posts mounted in said valley and arranged to form a wall extending lengthwise of the valley, scrapers for detiectin g the lighter materials traveling along the valley laterally out of the same, and means for securii'ig the scrapers to the ditl'erent posts to vary their position lengthwise of the valley.

7. A concentrator deck, comprising in comhination, a deck casing provided with a material supporting sin-face coi'istructied and arranged to f rm a central valley extending lengthwise of the deck, a scraper supporting wall mounted in the valley to extend lengthwise thereof, a series of scrapers mounted in said valley and comprising dc lector wings secured to said wall with their outer ends diverging thcret'rom in spaced relation to the lloor ol' the valley and arranged to dctlect the lighter materials laterally out of the valley while permitting the heavier materials to w rk under said wings, and downwardly extending legs at the outer ends of said wings and adapted to support the wings in spaced relation to the floor ot the valley.

8. A concentrator deck, comprising in coml ina ion a deck casing having a central ridge near its material receiving end to extend lengthwise ot' a portion of the deck and having a material receiving valley extending lengthwise oi the remaining portion of the deck, said ridge heing provided with a deck su 'l'ace that opes downwardly from the opposite sides of the ridge, feed means for delivering the materials to he treated to the deck surface, inclined ritlles upon the deck surlace and arranged to direct the concentrates into said valley while the lighter materials llow over the ritlles down the sloping deck surface, and means for crowding the lighter materials out o l said valley.

9. A concentrator deck, conqarising in comh nat on, a deck cas ng having a central ridge near its material receiving end to extend lengthwise ot a portion oi the deck and having a material receiving valley extending lengthwise of the remaining portion of the deck, said ridge heing provided with a deck surface that slopes downwardly trom the opposite sides oi the ridge, teed means for delivering the materials to he treated to the deck surt'ace, inclined rilllcs upon the deck surface and arranged to direct the concentrates into said valley while the lighter materials flow over the rillles down the sloping deck surtace, and scrapers constructed and arranged to direct the lighter materials out 01 the valley.

10. A concentrator deck, con'iprising in comhination, a deck casing having a central ridge near its nniterial receiving end to extend lengthwise of a portion of the deck and having a material receiving valley extending lengthwise ot' the remaining portion of the deck, said ridge being provided with a deck surface that slopes downwardly from the opposite sides of the ridge, feed means for delivering the materials to he treated to the deck surt'ace, inclined ri es upon the deck surface and arranged to direct the concentrates into said valley while the lighter materials flow over the ritlles down the sloping deck surface, and said uilley heing provided with a cross-sectional area that decreases toward its discl arge end to crowd out of the valley the lighter materials.

11. A concentrator deck, comprising in conlhination, a deck casing provided with a material supporting surface constructed and arranged to t'orm a valley extending lengthwise ot h deck, means t'or directing the material: to he treated into the valley, means tor crowding the lighter materiahs out ot' the valley, a concentrate retaining wall extending across the taller near its discharge end to i'orin a concentrate ocket, and means for remov ng the concentrates tron; said pocket.

ii. A i concentrator deck, com rising in comhination, a deck casing provided with a material supporting surface constructed and arranged to form a valley extending lengthwise ot the deck, means t'or direct ing the materials to he treated into the Valley, means t'or crowding the lighter materials out of the cal to). a cmicentrate retaining wall extending across the valley near its discharge end to term a concentrate pocket. and means for vihrating the deck casing to suhject the materials contined in said pocl-t'et to a panning action.

1?). A ctmcentrator deck, comprising in comhinatitai. a deck casing provided with a material supporting surface constructed and arranged to 't'orni a Valley eistending lengthwise ot the deck, means For directing the materials to he treated into the mlley, means for crowding the lighter materials out of the Valley, and a series of steps arranged across the Valley near its discharge end to arrest the travel of the concentrates while permitting the tailings to flow over the steps.

1.4. A concentrator (leek, comprising in combination, a deck casing provided with a material supporting surface mustructed and arranged to term a v: llcy extending lengthwise o t the deck, inc-ans for directing the materials to he treated into the valley. and hntler hlocks arranged along the sides of the \alley to crowd the concentrates toward the centre of the Valley and adapted to direct; the tailings out of the valley.

15. A ctmcentrator deck, comprising in comhination, a deck casing provided with a material supporting surt'ace constructed and arranged to form a valley extending lengthwif-ze ot' the deck. means 't'or delivering the materials to he treated into said valley, butler hlocks arranged along the side) of the valley to crowd the ctmcentrates toward the centre of the valley. and each buffer hlock having a low wall positioned to direct: the concentrates inwardl; hut over which the tailings may escape.

16. A concentrator deck, comprising in combination. a deck casing provided with a naterial supporting surt ace cons ructed and arranged to form a alley extending lengthwise ot the deck, means tor delivering the materials to he treated into said valley, hutler lilocks arranged along the sides o t the valley to crowd the concentrates toward the centre of the valley, and each hatter hlock having a low wall over which the tailings may escape while the conctaitrates are oirected inwardly by such wall and also a high wall which extends away from the central portion of the alley.

In testimony whereof, I have name to this s 'iecification.

ALBERT H. STERBINS.

signed my

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