US2324549A - Classifier - Google Patents

Description

July 20, 1943.

P. L WIGTON CLASSIFIER Filed Dec. 24, 1940 INVENTOR. PAUL 1.. nus 70 ATTORNEYS,

Patented Jul 'zo, 1943 UNITED'STATES PATENT OFFICE' Paul L. Wigton, Denver, 0010., assignor to Morse vBros. Machinery Company, Denver, 0010., a

limited partnership A Application December 24, 1940, Serial No. 371,544

"Claimsf (01. 209-464) This invention relates to improvements in classifiers of the type having an angularly inclined spiral.

As is well knownto those skilled in. the art, this type of classifier ordinarily comprises a tanklike structure in which is formed a pool of ore pulp, and an upwardly inclined trough associated therewith. An inclined shaft is positioned along the trough and extends intothe pool and carries a spiral which when rotated, moves the settled sands from the pool upwardly along the trough to a sand discharge adjacent the upper end of the trough. Means are provided for so rotating the shaft and the spiral, and a particular problem has been the journalling of the shaft, especially the lower end thereof which is submerged in the pool.

Since this pool of pulp contains ground ore of various sizes mixed with water, the bearing that journals the shaft in the pool is liable to become fouled with gritty abrasive material and is difficult to lubricate. Bearings as ordinarily used for the lower end of such a shaft, are not readily accessible for servicing and have been a source of trouble.

Furthermore, it is desirable in a classifier of this kind to provide means whereby the spiral can automatically raise, within certain limits, to avoid breakage in case a foreign object such as va tool, a piece of steel or the like, should inadvertently get into the device.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide means for journalling the inclined shaft of a spiral type classifier, which will permit the spiral to move slightly to avoid foreign matter that may inadvertently get into the tank. i j

Another object is to provide means for journalling the lower end of the inclined shaft, that overcome the difficulties hereinbefore enumerated, in that said journalling means are" not subject to damage by abrasion and they areeasy of access and easy to lubricate.

Other objects and advantages reside in details of design and construction which will be more fully disclosed in the following description and in the drawing wherein like parts have been similarly designated and in which:

modified form of the general mechanism shown inFig'ures 1 and 2. l

In order to disclose a reduction to practice of the present inventive concept, the accompanying'drawing, which is made a part hereof, will be described in some particularity. The drawing illustrates the invention as it would be used with a classifier which represents a desirable advance in the classifier art; however, it will be manifest that the invention could be used in connection .with other devices where similar bearing and journalling problems exist. Therefore, the present disclosure should not be construed to express or to imply any limitations to the invention, the scope of which is, in reality, measured by the appended claims.

In the drawing, reference character 5 denotes the pool-forming tank portion of a typical classifier, with which is associated an upwardly inclined trough 6. A shaft 1 is journalled ad-. jacent the aforesaid structure and at an incline with reference to the horizontal, and carries a spiral 8 which is positioned and adapted to move settled sands up out of the pool formed in the tank portion 5 and up along the trough V6 to a sand discharge 9.

The shaft 1 is provided with a so-called selfalining bearing Ill adjacent its upper end, which bearing permits a limited angular movement of the shaft. w

Suitable gearing I2 is associated with the upper end of the shaft to rotate it at a desirable speed and in all of its normal angular positions, which positions will vary only a few inches at the lowerend of the shaft, thus requiring relatively small latitude of movement at the upper or end thereof is a sheave l3 and journalled thereabove is a second similar sheave l4 carried in bearings 15 and I6.

, -An endless chain I! is reeved about the sheaves I3 and M which preferably are provided with ridges and depressions in their grooves to fit the links of the chain so that no slippage may occur between the chain and either sheave I3 or M.

It is readily manifest that the lower end of the shaft is thus suspended and journalled for rotation in a highly desirableamanner. There are substantially no sliding frictional surfaces within the pool formed in the tank portion 5, since the lower end of the shaft is, in reality, carried in bearings l5 and I6 entirely above and out. of the pool where they cannot be contamie nated by grit in the pulp and where they are conveniently accessible and easily lubricated.

At the lower end of the tank a removable housing l8 may be provided, which surrounds the lower end (a of the inclined shaft 7. This lower end 1a of the shaft may be provided with a protecting cap H! which is positioned within the housing IS. The relationship of the interior dimensions of the housing l8 to the exterior size of the cap I9 is such that said cap I9 does not ordinarily come in contact with the inner sur faces of the housing l8 because clearances are provided. However, since the housing I8 is greater in its vertical dimension than in its horizontal dimension, the shaft 1 inclusive of the cap I9, may raise a few inches to avoid breaking if a foreign object inadvertently gets into the tank. If the shaft I moves up and down angularly, the inner vertical surfaces of the housing l8 serve as guides to limit any lateral movement of the shaft 1.

The axial thrust of the shaft I is provided for in the self-alining bearing In at the upper end of the structure.

If so desired, means may be provided adjacent the upwardly moving fiight of the chain [1 to spray a stream of water or the like, against said chain constantly to remove adhering grit or other foreign matter therefrom. The means 20 preferably would comprise a nozzle connected with a suitable source of water under pressure not shown.

Thus it will be seen that the lower end of the shaft is hung in endless chain I1, providing optimum operating conditions because the shaft can move angularly within certain limits to avoid foreign objects and it may rotate without any immediate or serious damage to any bearing surface. The housing I8 may be welded or otherwise permanently attached to the classifier tank or it may be bolted thereto so that it is removable for inspection and service.

The lower end of the tank 5 is, of course, provided with the usual slime overfiow 2| and with a drain pipe connection 22.

Instead of chain l1, an endless belt, rope, cable or the like may be substituted.

Referring to diagrammatic Figure 3, a modification of certain components hereinbefore described is illustrated, wherein two similar grooved sheaVes Ma and Mb are substituted in place of the sheave l4, Figures 1 and 2, and are similarly journalled. An endless ring or hoop 23, preferably made of steel or other suitable metal, embraces sheaves Ma and Mb and carries sheave l3 and therefore represents a substitute for the endless chain l1. 7

It is manifest that upper sheave I4, I do and I 4b are journalled on suitable super-structure well above the level of the pool formed in the tank 5. It is obvious that the optional spraying means 29 also can be used in combination with the endless ring or hoop 23 of Figure 3.

When the endless chain H or a belt, rope or cable or the like is used, then such chain, belt, rope or cable can flex sufiiciently to permit the aforesaid upward angular movement of the lower end of the shaft I, or the lower sheave I3 may move with reference to said chain or the like, the grooves in the sheaves l3 and M to be of suflicient depth to prevent permanent disengagement of either sheave from the chain. IT or the like.

When the ring or hoop 23 of Figure 3 is used, grooves in sheave 13, Ma and Mb are provided of sufficient depth to prevent permanent disengagement of said sheaves from said ring or hoop, if and when the shaft I and the sheave 13 move angular-1y with reference to the other components.

Since it is within the scope of the present inventive concept to use a chain l1 reeved over sheaves I3 and l 4, or the equivalent of said chain such as a cable, rope, belt or the like, the term belt as. used hereinafter in the claims, is in,- tended tobea generic term covering all such flexible equivalents of chain H, as well as the chain itself.

While component members l3, M, Ma and llb have been defined as sheaves, nevertheless this term used in the appended claims is definitely intended to designate and include any type of circular track, groove, runway or the like that would be the equivalent of the sheaves illustrated, in

the function of receiving the shaft supporting element I! or its equivalent as herein defined, or part 23 or its equivalent.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In classifiers of the spiral conveyor type,

an inclined tank for pulp having feed and discharge means determining a liquid level at the lower end of the tank, a rotary spiral conveyor, inclusive of a shaft, extending lengthwise of the tank, a self-aligning .bearing at the up er end of the tank in which the shaft is journalled, driving means on the tank for rotating said shaft, and a support for the lower end of said shaft comprising a chamber of slightly larger diameter than the shaft into which the submerged end of the shaft extends for limited lateral movement therein, a

sheave on the shaftadjacent said chamber, a

second sheave supported fro'm'the tank above its liquidlevel in alinement withsaid first mentioned sheave, and an endless member reeved over said sheaves to maintain the submerged end of the conveyor in a suspended position in the tank.

2. In classifiers of the spiral conveyor type, an inclined tank for pulp having feed and discharge means determining a liquid-level at the lower end of the tank, 'a rotary spiral conveyor, inclusive of a shaft, extending lengthwise of the tank, a self-aligning hearing at the upper end of the tank in which the shaft is journalled, 'driv- 3. In classifiers of the spiral conveyor type,

an inclined tank for pulp having feed and dis? charge means determining a liquicl level at the lower end of the tank, a rotary spiral conveyor,

inclusive of a shaft, extending lengthwise of the tank, a self-aligning bearing at theupper end of the tank inwhich theshaft is journalled, driving means on the tank for rotating said shaft, and a support for the lower end of said shaft comprising a chamber of slightly large diameter than the shaftginto which the submerged end of the shaft'extends for limited lateralmovement therein, a sheave on the shaft adjacent said chamber, two coacting sheaves supported from inclusive of a shaft, extending lengthwise of the tank, a self-aligning bearing at the upper end of the tank in which the shaft is journalled, driving means on said tank for rotating said shaft, a support for the lower end of said shaft comprising a chamber of slightly larger diameter than the shaft into which the submerged end of the shaft extends for ilmited lateral movement therein, a sheave on the shaft adjacent said chamber, a second sheave supported from the tank above its liquid level; and an endless member reeved over said sheave to maintain the submerged end of the shaft in a suspended position in the tank, and. means positioned between said sheaves for removing foreign matter from the ascending stretch of said endless member. jj 5. In classifiers of the spiral conveyor type,

an inclined tank for pulp having feed and dis-f charge means determining a liquid level at the lower end of the tank, a rotary spiral conveyor,

inclusive of a shaft, extending lengthwise of the tank, a self-aligning bearing at the upper end of the tank inwhich the shaft is journalled, driving means on said tank for rotatingsaid shaft, a

support for the lower end of said shaft comprising a chamber of slightly larger diameter than the shaft into which the submerged end of the I shaft extends for limited lateral movement therein, a sheave on the shaft adjacent said chamber, a second sheave supported from the tank above its liquid level, and an endless member reeved over said sheave to maintain the submerged end PAUL L. WIGTONL

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