US2524036A - Ore jig - Google Patents

Description

F. A. BE AUCHAMP ORE'JIG Oct. 3, 1950 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1947 ATTORNEY 1950 F. A. BEAUCHAMP ORE JIG Filed April 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fieaer/c A Seal/champ ATTORH EY Patented Oct. 3, 1950 ORE J IG Frederic A. Beauchamp, Berkeley, Calif., assignor to. Hamilton, Beauchamp & Woodworth, San. I

Francisco, Calif., a copartnership Application April 5,1947, Serial No. 739,527

This invention relates'generally to ore jigs and methods of the type utilized for concentrating OI'ES;

In the gravity concentration of ores by jiggingdifficulty is frequently experienced in maintain-= ing continuous uninterrupted discharge of concentrate from the draw-off cups employed. Under certain operating-conditions and certain types of ores the draw-off cups are subject to frequent choking with resulting interruption in the discharge of concentrate. This is particularly true with certain types of-ores, as for example where the concentrate is relatively coarse as to particle size, or where 'the'ore contains closely classified products. The entire jigging operation is upset by choking of the draw-off cups, and

this difliculty may be accompanied by uneven banking of concentrate'in 'theore bed. Such operating difliculties result in lowered'metallurgical extractions, the overall capacity of v the equipment is seriously impaired, and operatingcosts are materially increased.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ore jig and method which will overcome the above difiiculties, and which has an improved draw -off cup capable of operation with remarkable freedom from choking.

A further object of the invention is to provide a jig of the above character which in general is capable of higher operating capacity and better separating efficiency, while at the same time being relatively free of choking or clogging.

Further objects of the invention will appear I from the following description in which the preferred embodiments have been set forth in detail in conjunction with'the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating a series of jigs each provided with draw-off means. I

Figure 2 is aside elevational View in section illustrating a portion of the jig equipped with my improved draw-01f means.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line I4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view like Figure 3, but illustrating lClaim. (01.209 45?) Figure 1 of the drawing diagrammatically represents a plan view of a jigging installation, in which cells numbered Ito 4 inclusive operate successively upon the material. Cell I is provided with a central draw-01f means 5, cells 2 and 3 with side draw-off means 6 and I, and cell 'l withside and enddraw-ofi means 8 and 9.- Feed-is supplied continuously to cell I, and tailings withdrawn from cell 4. Figure 2 shows one of the cells-or compartments provided with aside drawoif for concentrate. In this instance the-compartment consists of conventional upright side walls I I and I2, together with the conical shaped bottom l3.

I6. As is well known to those skilled in the art the compartment is provided with suitable pulsating means, such as a plunger or'diaphragm, whereby the body of water occupying the compartment is caused to.pulsate in a vertical direc-- tim through the screen and the working bed maintained above'the screen.

My improved discharge means consists of avertically extending cup II which is adju-stably mounted upon the vertical side wall II. As representative of a-suitable attachment, the cup is shown provided with vertical edge flanges I 8' which are slidably engaged within the grooves I9. Following conventional practice, an adjustable weir is provided in the side wall II for discharge'of concentrate from the cup. Thus a gate- 2I has its edges slidably engaged within grooves 22 whereby it can be adjusted to a desired elevation. The gate is provided with a horizontally extending slot 2 3 which registers with a larger opening 24 in the sidewall II. The lower'horizontal edge 25 of opening 23-forms a Weir which can be adjusted as to height with respect to the cup I1 and with respect to the workingbed upon the screen I 4.

In conventional jig constructions the cup I I an area of the jig bed corresponding in contour to the cross-sectional contour of the cup. In accordance with the present invention the lower portion of the cupI'I is provided with a hoodlike-conduit extension 26.- The upper'wall 2'! of this extension is sloped at a substantial angle with respect to the horizontal in order to avoid any accumulation of solid material upon the same, as for example an angle of about 30. It is desirable that the lower open face of the hood be substantially contiguous with the lower end of the cup, or in other words in a common horizontal plane. In general the extension just described A screen I4 extends horizontally across the compartment and underlies thegrid 3 communicates with the lower portion of the cup 11 in a zone well below the normal level of the weir 25, whereby its effect is applied to the lower portion of the column of material maintained in the cup.

The area of extent of conduit extension 26 as viewed in plan (Figure 3) should be substantial with respect to the plan contour area of the cup itself. Thus in that form of the invention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the plan area of the extension 26 is somewhat greater than the plan contour area of the cup ll without the extension.

The jig as described above operates as follows: Normally the jig is operated with a continuous feed to the same, and with continuous discharge of tailings. Because of the jigging action a layer of heavier separated concentrate material accumulates upon the screen l4, and spreads over this screen in a manner well known to those familiar with such operations. 'Assurning the use of a conventional discharge cup such as has been used in the past, the lower'end of the cup is located below the upper level of the layer of concentrates on the screen, and the concentrates continually progress into the lower portion of the cup, and from thence they pass upwardly over the weir 25. With the present invention the cup is similarly located with respect to the layer of concentrates on the screen. However, as the jigging action proceeds the volume of water entrapped in the enlarged lower portion of the cup assembly 26 is forced up into the smaller crosssectional area of the upper part of the cup ll, greatly accelerating and lengthening the vertical pulsion movement in the upper portion of the cup as compared with the vertical pulsion movement outside the cup or with that obtainable within a conventional cup. The augmented vertical pulsion displacement within the confines of the cup acts in a positive manner to maintain the impounded minerals loosened and free to be discharged at each upward pulsation of the water. It has been found that such motion insures against clogging of the cup, whereby it is possible to maintain uniform discharge of the concentrates over long periods of continuous operation;

The beneficial effects of the present invention are particularly noticeable in the handling of feeds which tend to cause clogging of conventional jigs. Thus my jig will successfully handle ore solids of such a character that concentrate particles separated out upon the screen are coarser than 4; inch in diameter. It is well known that such coarse concentrates tend to cause clogging of ordinary jigs. Also my invention can be used successfully where the minerals being separated are close to each other in relative specific gravity, as for example minerals having a difference of 0.5 or less on the specific gravity scale.

In addition to eliminating clogging under difficult operating conditions, my invention is also desirable in that it makes possible efiicientcontinuous draw-off of concentrates without in any way interfering with capacity or the desired emciency of separation. In this connection it has been lll 4 noted that the greater area of the jigging screen covered by the draw-off means does not interfere with the desired separating action. In fact with my invention it appears feasible to provide for higher overall operating capacities, without sacrificing eificiency of separation.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment of the invention. In this instance the draw-off cup 31 is provided with two conduit extensions 32. These extensions communicate with the sides of the cup, and are likewise provided with sloped upper walls 33. The operation of these extensions is substantially the same as for the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. Such a drawoff means has been indicated at 9 in Figure 1.

Figure 7 illustrates how my inventioncan be modified for a central draw-off, corresponding for example to the central draw-off means 5 of Figure l. The draw-cit cup 36 in this instance is cylindrical shaped, and is adjustably carried by the supporting members 31. A vertical drawoif pipe 38 is axially aligned with cup 36 and is adjustably retained with respect to the stationary pipe 39. The lower portion of the cup 36 is provided with conduit extensions 4|, which have their lower edges contiguous with the lower end of the cup 35. These extensions operate in the same fashion as the conduit extensions 26 of Figures 3 and 4.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the contouring and dimensioning of the extensions may vary in different instances. For example the arrangement of Figures 3 and 4 (6, 7 and 8 of Figure 1) maybe modified by providing a-longer extension 26 which extends farther across the screen and which may be tapered toward its extremity. Also with the draw-oil means of Figure '7 the extensions 4| may be in the form of acontinuous circular flare.

I claim:

In an ore jig of the type provided with a screen upon which a layer of concentrate accumulates, an upright draw-oil" cup having its lower open end disposed adjacent the screen and adapted to receive concentrate, means for discharging material from the cup at a level above the lower end of the same, and a downwardly sloped hood-like extension communicating with the lower portion of the cup and overlying a portion of the jigging screen beyond the plan contour of the cup, said extension being generally below the separating zone overlying the screen and the lower edge of the same being disposed within the layer of concentrates accumulatin on the screen, said extension presenting an upper downwardly sloped surface to the overlying separating zone and providing means for augmenting motion of material in the cup without substantially restricting the area of the separating zone.

FREDERIC A. BEAUCHAMP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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