US2265537A - Separator - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 9, 1941. b. A. MONEIL, JR

SEPARATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 27, 1940 Dec. 9, 1941. D. A. McNEIL, JR

SEPARATOR Filed April 27, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 flaezior 42215022 2% Dec. 9, 1941. D. A. MCNEIL, JR 2,265,537 Y SEPARATOR Filed April 27, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet s .jiizz/egzvn'.

Dec. 9, 1941. D. A. MQNEIL, JR I 2,265,537

SEPARATOR Filed April 27, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jizdaza r.-

9, 1941- D. A. M NEIL, JR 2,265,537

SEPARATOR Filed April 2'7; 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 16 Claims.

My invention relates to a separator and has particular reference to an apparatus adapted for use in separating various kinds of impurities from granular material which are heavier in weight than the material itself, and in which both centrifugal force and the force of gravity are used in such manner that material is stratified so that the heavier particles may be removed from the lighter.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus in which free foreign particles, such as clay, slate, rock and other substances, may be easily and quickly removed from coal, sand, gravel, grain or other products similar in character, in which the impurities to be removed are heavier in weight than the material from which the impurities are to be separated.

Another and further object is the provision of apparatus wherein granular material, such as coal, coke, gravel and similar material may be passed through the machine and in a continuous operation the heavier particles separated from the mass of material and. removed therefrom, and at the same time dust, dirt and the like of fine particles are removed in a large measure from the material, passing out with the rejected or heavier weight material.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of apparatus in which grain, such as corn, wheat or the like, may be cleaned and foreign substances removed therefrom, such as sticks, and foreign particles lighter than the grain, in which case the operation of the apparatus is the reverse for use with coal, coke and the like, as the grain being the heavier is stratified out of the material and passes out of the separator at the bottom thereof instead of through the opening in the central dam as is the case of coal, coke, gravel or the like.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a separator comprising a circular tub which is oscillated horizontally preferably through an arc of 120, with means for supplying a constant stream of material to the tub, the tub having a movable bottom which normally is spaced slightly below the lower edge of the tub to allow for the constant escape of the very fine particles of material from the tub, and which can be further lowered; away from the lower edge of th tub thus allowing the foreign or reject material to escape from the tub where it has collected on the movable bottom, and thereby removed from the material after it has been stratified in the tub, or if the reverse operation is used, the accept material passes out over the bottom and the lighter or reject material through a central opening in the dam. I

These and other objects of my invention will be more fully and better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of apparatus embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional View on line 33' of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical view, partially in elevation and partially in section, showing the separator and mounting therefor;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 3';

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view showing the. means employed for suspending the valve plate; and

Figure 7 is a detailed perspective view of the valve plate supporting means.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, and in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, longitudinal bottom" sills HI and II are shown to which a plurality of spaced vertical posts l2, I2 are secured at their lower ends. A longitudinally extending channel member or top sill I3 is provided at the upper ends of the posts I2 at one side of the frame, while at the opposite side a longitudinally extending angle member I4 is provided. The posts are connected transversely by appropriate angles l5, 15. The structure just described constitutes the frame upon which the various moving parts of the apparatus are mounted.

Secured at their ends to certain of the posts l2, I2 and extending longitudinally of the frame is a pair of sills [6, I6 preferably of channel construction, with other sills I1, I! extending transversely of the frame and secured at their ends to the longitudinally extending sills l6, l6 in any approved manner, the sills l6, l6 and H, I! forming the supports for the mountings for the separating apparatus. A circular track member 68 is secured to the sills l6, l6 and l1, l1 and is held in position by bolts l9, l9 which extend through the sills l6 and H, respectively, and has openings 18a, Illa therein for access to bottom suspension means for adjustment purposes as hereinafter described.

A tub 20, circular in form, is provided having bolts 2 I, 2| passing through its wall, on the outer ends of which rollers 22', 22 are mounted, having an extension rim 23 formed at the outer portions thereof so the tub 20 is held in position on the track [8. The upper edge of' the member" f8 therefore forms a track upon which the rollers 22 travel and which, in turn, support the tub upon the circular member l8 and allow for rotary movement of the tub 26. A cover plate 24 is secured to the upper side of the tub 20 in any approved manner, having an opening 25 therein. A ring gear 26, mounted upon the cover plate 24, forms the means by which the tub 20 is rotated by suitable power means hereinafter described. v

A dam 2? is mounted centrally of the tub 20 upon the lower ends of arms 28, 28 which extend through the ring gear 26 and opening 25 in the.

" Mounted on the sills IT, IT are vertical plates cover 24, with an opening 29 therein through which the accepted material is discharged during the operation of the device. Theaccepted material passes through the opening 29 into the hollow dam 21 and is discharged downward and grally formed with the plate 34, which is in spacedrelation to the valve plate 32 for purposes hereinafter described. The lower end of the dam 21, extends within the tubular portion 33 and normally operates in telescopic relation therewith. V

The plate 32 extends beyond the bottom edge I of the'tub2l3 and has a plurality of eye- bolts 35, 35 mounted therein around its outer edge which extend through guide angles 36 and 31 on the sidepf the tub 2B. 38, 38' are mounted in the cover 24 around the outer edge thereof which extends over the edge of the tub 20, with springs 39, 39 being interposed between the eye-bolts 35 and the turnbuckles 38; The springs 33 normally exert their force in an upward direction and may be adjusted by means of the turnbucldes 38' to the proper tension to support the plate 32 and the l'ading thereon in proper position with respect Nuts 39a are to the bottom of the tub 29. mounted'in the eye-bolts 35 by means of which the plate 32 is normally held in fixed spaced relation-below the bottom edge of the tub 20, thereby allowing for the constant escape of the fines, such as dust and dirt, during the normal operation of the apparatus. In the separation of grain and the like from lighter substances,

7 the grainpasses out of the tub under the lower A plurality of turnbuckles edge thereof during-the reciprocating of the tub,

where it is conveyed to the proper receptacle to receive it. Stops are provided on the sides of the tub 23 through which the eye-bolts 35 extend,

, with some of the nuts [8a below these stops and others above, them so' the plate 32 is held in properadjusted spaced relation with the bottom fli'l'ievalveplate 32 is also additionally supported by a plurality of arms 49, 49 which are bent inward'at their lower ends and have a plurality oflrollers 4|, 41 mounted thereon which engage against the under side of the valve plate 32 and the upper .side of the plate 34. The arms 40, extend upward with theirupward ends turned inward and mounted in a ring 42. The ring 42 is pivotally mounted upon a yoke 43, theends of which are mounted in short vertical posts 44 and 45 which are welded or otherwise secured to the sill I3. The yoke 43 has a handle portion 46 to which a spring 4'! is secured, the upper end of which is secured to an eye-bolt 48 mounted in an angle 43 secured at its ends to a pair of vertical angles 50, 50. The angles 55, 50 are in turn welded or otherwise secured at their lower ends to angle irons 5|, 5! which extend transversely of the structure and are secured to the Vertical posts 44 and 45 on one side of the frame and to the vertical posts 44a and 45d welded to the angle 14 at their lower ends.

centrally of'these plates through which the ac- ;cepted material passes to the receptacle 30. The

lower edges of the plates 53, 53 extend over the receptacles 54, 54, one of which rests upon the edge of the sill H and a second sill 55, while the other receptacle rests upon and is supported by the channel member-i9. These receptacles tare adapted to receive the reject material which is dumped from the tub 29 when the valve plate 32 is lowered during the operation of the apparatus,so that this reject material passes into the receptacles 54, 54 and can be removed from the machine or otherwise disposed of as may be desired. a

A hopper 56 is provided which is support on the machine in any suitable manner, as'by vertical angles 5?, 51 and has a base portion 51a which is integrally formed with the side walls and is supported upon one of the transverse angles 5| at one of its ends; A belt 53 is mounted upon a roller shaft 59 atone end and a second roller shaft 69 at its opposite end, supported by brackets 6|, 6! atone of its ends and by brackets 6 la, Gla mounted on angleil at its opposite end, the brackets 6i, 6| being mounted upon the sill l3 and the angle I4. An inclined discharge chute 62 is provided which is connected to the base portion 57a of the hopper at its upper end, the lower end of which extends into the tub 20 at one side thereof and through which the material adapted to beseparated is conveyed into the tub 2B. The material may be conveyed into the hopper by a conveyor or the hopper may be placed under a bin having a discharge spout leading therefrom, with the material flowinginto the hopper by gravity and conveyed into the tub 20 over the belt 58 as desired.

Mounted upon a pair of longitudinally extending members 63, 63 is a motor 64 having a belt 65 leading therefrom to a pulley 66 mounted upon a shaft 61 suitably mounted in bearings secured to the top sill l3 and the angle M. A smaller pulley 58 is provided over which a belt 69 operates to a pulley 19 mounted upon a shaft H suitably supportedin bearings in the top sill I3 and the angle M. A connecting rod 12 is secured to the disc 'llla by means of a bolt 13 and at its inner end is secured to a rack 74 suitably mounted in bearing blocks 15, 15 secured to angles [6, 16 which are appropriately secured to the angles 5|, 5| at theirouter ends. In turn, the rack 14 mesh with the ring gear 26secured to the cover plate of the tub 26 by means of which the tub 20 is oscillated through the application of power from the electric motor and the train of belts and pulleys hereinabove described. A small pulley the supporting frame is a spring contact member 1 84 preferably of S-shape, having a lead wire 85 leading to any suitable source of electrical supply, such as a battery or the like. A bracket 86 is provided upon which a lamp 8! is mounted, with a lead wire 88 leading therefrom and returning to the source of electric supply, the circuit being 7 established through the contact member 84 and frame of the machine to the lamp 81, so that when the lower plate 34 is in engagement with the contact member 84 the circuit is closed, resulting in the lamp 8'! being lighted and signalling the operator that a sufiicient quantity of reject material has collected in the tub to force the plate downward slightly away from the bottom of the tub 20 and is ready for the operator to lower the valve plate 32 thereby allowing the reject material to be conducted out of the tub.

In the operation of the device, the material, such as coal, grain, gravel and the like, which it is desired to separate, is placed in the hopper 56 and passes into the tub 20 over the belt 58 and supply chute 32, the tub in the meantime being oscillated through an angle of approximately 120 by means of the rack 14 and power applying connections to the ring gear 26. As the tub is oscillated, the heavier reject pieces of material pass to the bottom and outer side of the tub where they lie upon the plate 32, and, due to the centrifugal force exerted upon these particles, are forced into the corners of the tub, lying partially against the wall of'the tub 20 and the bottom plate 32. Through this operation the material is stratified by gravity, and centrifugal force imparted to the material in the tub 20 causes it to collect in the corner of the tub where it builds up against the wall of the tub 20 and on the bottom of the tub. The lighter material is forced toward the center of the tub where it passes out through the opening 29 in the dam 21 and is dropped into the receptacle 30. As the reject material collects in the corner of the tub 20 its weight gradually increases until the plate 32 drops downward a slight distance and the contact is made through the contact 84 to the signal lamp 81. Thereupon the operator grasps the handle 46 and by exerting a downward pull on this handle the valveplate 32 is forced downward away from the bottom of the tub 20, allowing the reject material to be thrown out under the lower edge of the tub and over the outer edge of the plate 32 and onto the plates 33 or against the side plates 52, where it drops to the receptacles 54, 54. The operator thereupon immediately releases the handle 46 and the combined force of the springs 41 exerted upon the yoke 43 andv the springs 39 pull. the valve plate up into position slightly below the bottom of the tub 20, with angle stops 89, 89 being provided with which the sides of the ring 42 come into contact. The adjustment of the springs is such that a considerable amount of material can be carried in the tub 29 with the valve plate held in close engagement against the bottom of the tub, and only after a considerable amount of material, including heavier foreign matter, has been built up in valve plate to drop a sufficient distance so that contact is made with the signalling apparatus.

The opening 29 in the dam 21 should be larger than the maximum sizes of material adapted to pass therethrough, so that regardless of the size of these pieces of material they will pass freely through this opening and will not lodge against the sides of the opening, thereby damming up the material and preventing the lighter material from flowing out of the tub 20. Due to the fact that rock, slate, mineral matter and the like, particularly in coal, are considerably heavier than the coal itself, this material quickly passes to the bottom of the tub 20 during the operation thereof. Due to the centrifugal action of the tub the material builds up around the outer edge of the tub and the lighter material moving toward the center of the tub against the dam is discharged through the opening 29. In this manner the heavier particles of material, such as slate and the like, are easily and quickly separated from the lighter materials, such as coal, as it is passed through the machine.

When used for cleaning grain of sticks, lighter material and the like, theoperation of the apparatus is the same as for coal, except that the grain, being heavier, escapes under the edge of the tub 20 while the lighter material flows through the opening 29' into the dam 21.

While I have described more or less precisely the details of construction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in form and the proportion of parts and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A separator comprising, in combination, a frame, a tub mounted for oscillating movement on said frame,power means whereby the said tub is oscillated, means whereby material is supplied to the said tub, a hollow dam centrally mounted of said tub having a discharge opening therein, a movable bottom for said tub, and means whereby the said bottom may be moved away from said tub.

2. A separator comprising, in combination, a frame, a tub mounted for oscillating movement on said frame, power means whereby the said tub is oscillated, means whereby material is supplied to the said tub, a hollow dam centrally mounted of the said tub having a discharge opening therein, a movable bottom for said tub, means whereby the said bottom is normally held in spaced relation with the bottom of the said tub, and manual operable means whereby the said bottom may be moved away from the said tub to allow reject material to pass out of said tub.

3. A separator comprising, in combination, a frame, a tub mounted for oscillating movement on said frame, power means whereby the said tub is oscillated, means whereby material is supplied to the said tub, a hollow dam centrally mounted of the said tub having a discharge opening therein, a movable bottom for said tub, spring support means whereby the said bottom is held in spaced relation with the said tub, and manual operable means whereby thesaid bottom may be moved out of its normal osition away from the said tub.

4. A separator comprising, in combination, a frame, a tub mounted for oscillating movement onsaid frame, power means whereby the said tub is oscillated, means. whereby material is supplied to the said tub, ahollow dam centrally mounted whereby the said bottom issllpp rted in spaced relation with the bottom of said tub, a plurality of arms extending between the plurality of plates of the said bottom, a yoke to which said arms are connected at their upper ends, and a spring normally tending to support the said bottom secured to the said yoke. r

5. A separator comprising, in combination, a frame, an oscillating tub mounted on the said frame, power means whereby the said tub is oscillated, means whereby material is supplied to the said tub, a hollow dam centrally mounted of the said tub having an opening therein through which the accepted material passes, a movable bottom having an opening therein through which the dam extends in the normal closed position of the bottom, adjustable spring support means for the said tub, arms extending under said bottom and in normal engagement therewith, a yoke to which said arms are connected having a handle portion, and a spring normally tending to retain the bottom in closed position.

6. A separatorcomprising, in combination, a frame, an oscillating tub mounted on the said frame, power means whereby the said tub is oscillated, a cover plate for the said tub, means whereby material is supplied to the said tub, a hollow dam centrally mounted of the said tub having an opening therein through which the accepted material passes, a movable bottom having an opening therein through which the dam extends in the normal closed position of the bottom, adjustable spring support means for the said tub connected to said cover plate, arms extending under said bottom and in normal engagement therewith, a yoke to which said arms are connected having a handle portion, and a spring normally tending to retain the bottom in closed position but spaced from the bottom of the said tub. 1 v 7. A separator comprising, in combination, a frame, an oscillating tub mounted on said rame, a cover for said tub extending over the upper edge of the said tub, means whereby material is supplied to said tub, a hollow dam centrally mounted of the said tub having an opening in the wall thereof through which the accepted material passes, a movable bottom into which the dam extends, support assembly for said bottom consisting of units of turn-buckles, eye-bolts and springs connected together, one end of each unit being connected to the cover plate and the other end to the bottom whereby the said bottom is normally suspended in spaced relation with the said tub, and dumping means for the said tub comprising arms extending under one portion of said bottom and secured to a movable yoke at their upper ends, and spring means tending to assist the support assembly in holding the movable bottom in position below the said tub.

8. A separator comprising, in combination, a frame, an oscillating tub mounted on said frame, a cover for said tub extending over the upper edge thereof, means whereby material is supplied to said tub, a hollow dam centrally mounted of the said tub having an opening in the wall thereof through which the accepted material passes, a movable bottom comprising a closure member, a hollow member into which the said dam extends and a plate connected to said hollow member and in spaced relation with the said closure member,

support assembly for said bottom consisting of units of turnbuckles, eye-bolts and springs connected together, one end of each unit being connected to the overhanging edge of the cover plate and the other to the bottom whereby the said bottom is normally held in spaced relation with the said tub, arms extending alongside of the said tub having their lower ends extending between the said closure member and the spaced plate, rollers on said arms, a yoke to which the said arms are connected, and a spring connected to the said yoke.

9. A separator comprising, in combination, a frame, an oscillating tub mounted on said frame, a cover for said tub extending over the upper edge of the said tub, means whereby material is supplied to said tub, a hollow dam centrally mounted of the said tub having an opening in the wall thereof through which the accepted material passes, a movable bottom comprising a closure member, extending beyond the edge of the said tub, a hollow member into which the said dam extends and a plate connected to said hollow member and in spaced relation with the said closure member, support assembly for said bottom consisting of units of turn-buckles, eye-bolts and springs connected together, one end of each unit being connected to the overhanging edge of the cover plate and the other to the bottom whereby the said bottom is normally held in spaced relation with the lower edge of said tub, arms extending alongside of the .saidtub having their lower ends extending between the said closure member and the spaced plate, roller on said arms, a yoke to which the said arms are connected, and a spring connected to the said yoke.

10. A separator comprising, in combination, a frame, a ring mounted in said frame, a tub, roll-. ers secured to said tub for engagement with the said ring, a cover for said tub extending over the upper edge of the said tub, means whereby material is supplied to said tub, a hollow dam centrally mounted of the said tub having an opening in the wall thereof through which the accepted material passes, a movable bottom into which the dam extends, suDDQrt assembly for said bottom consisting of units of turn-buckles, eye-bolts and springs connected together, one end of each unit being connected to the overhanging edge of the cover plate and the other to the bottom whereby the said bottom is normally held in engagement with the said tub, and dumping means for the said tub comprising arms extending under one portion of the said bottom and secured to a movable yoke at their upper ends, and spring means tending to assist the support assembly in holding the movable bottom in engagement with the said tub.

11. A separator comprising, in combination, a frame, a tub mounted on said frame for oscillating movement, power means whereby the said tub is oscillated, a source of supply of material to be separated, a supply chute leading from said source of supply to said tub, a hollow dam centrally mounted of said tub having a discharge opening therein, a movable bottom for said tub, means on the tub whereby the movable bottom is normally held in spaced relation with the tub, means apart from the said tub whereby the bottom may be moved below the tub to allow for the escape of the reject material, the discharge opening in the dam being opposite the discharge end of the supply chute to the tub.

12. A separator comprising, in combination, a frame, a tub mounted on said frame for oscillating movement, power means whereby th said tub is oscillated, a source of supply of material to be separated, a supply chute leading from said source of supply to said tub, a hollow dam centrally mounted of said tub having a discharge opening therein, a movable bottom for said tub, means on the tub whereby the movable bottom is normally held in spaced relation with the tub, and means apart from the said tub whereby the bottom may be moved below the tub to allow for the escape of the reject material, the discharge opening in the dam being spaced from the movable bOttom and opposite the discharge end of the supply chute to the tub.

13. A separator comprising, in combination, a frame, a tub mounted for oscillating movement thereon, power means whereby the tub is oscillated, a cover for the said tub extending over the outer wall thereof, a movable bottom having an opening in the center thereof, suspension means for said bottom secured to the said cover plate, a hollow dam suspended centrally of the tub having a discharge opening in the sid thereof and extending into the opening in the said bottom, a supply hopper, a power operated conveyor at the bottom of said hopper, a supply chute leading from said conveyor to the said tub having its discharge end opposite the discharge opening in the said dam, and manually operable means for moving the said bottom away from the said tub.

14. A separator comprising in combination, a frame, a tub mounted for oscillating movement thereon, power means whereby the tub is oscillated, a cover for the said tub extending over the outer wall thereof, a movable bottom having an opening in the center thereof, suspension means for said bottom secured to the said cover plate, a hollow dam suspended centrally of the tub having a discharge opening in the side thereof and extending into the opening in the said bottom, a supply hopper, power operated feed mechanism at the bottom of said hopper, a supply chute leading from'said feed mechanism to the said tub having its discharge end opposite the discharge opening in the said dam, and manually operable means for moving the said bottom away from the said tub.

15. A separator comprising in combination, a frame, a circular track mounted thereon, a tub mounted on said track for oscillatory movement, power actuated means connected to said tub whereby the said tub is oscillated, a cover for the said tub extending over the outer wall thereof, a movable bottom having an opening in the center thereof, suspension means for said bottom secured to the said cover plate, a hollow dam suspended centrally of the tub having a discharge opening in the side thereof and extending into the opening in the said bottom, a supply hopper, a power operated conveyor at the bottom of said hopper, a supply chute leading from said conveyor to the said tub having its discharge end opposite the discharge opening in the said dam, and manually operable means for moving the said bottom away from the said tub.

16. A separator comprising in combination, a frame, a circular track mounted on said frame, a tub, rollers secured to said tub for engagement with the said track, power actuated means connected to said tub whereby the said tub is oscillated, a cover for the said tub extending over the outer wall thereof, a movable bottom having an opening in the center thereof, suspension means for said bottom secured to the said cover plate, a hollow dam suspended centrally of the tub having a discharge opening in the side thereof and extending into the opening in the said bottom, a supply hopper, a power operated conveyor at the bottom of said hopper, a supply chute leading from said conveyor to the said tub having its discharge end opposite the discharge opening in the said dam, and manually operable means for moving the said bottom away from the said tub.

DICKINSON A. McNEIL, JR.

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