US2585753A

US2585753A - Centrifugal separator

Info

Publication number: US2585753A
Application number: US62750A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert R Drury
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-11-30
Filing date: 1948-11-30
Publication date: 1952-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 1969-02-12

Description

Feb. 12, 1952 H. R. DRURY 2,585,753

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARAT'OR Filed Nov. so, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 1/ INVEN TOR.

Feb. 12, 1952 H. R. DRURY CENTRIFUCAL SEPARATOR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Nov. 30, 1948 INVEN TOR.

HE/QBE/QT Del/RY A TTOE/VE) black sand or magnetite.

The top wall of the pocket comprises a horizontal portion 42 and an upwardly inclined portion 43. The upper wall of the pocket extends inwardly beyond the upper edge of the bowl and terminates in an outwardly curved discharge flange 44 of substantial width which extends horizontally beyond the outer extremity of the side wall of the pocket 36 and serves to direct and greatly stimulate the movement of tailings from the bowl. The top wall of the pocket defines a discharge opening for the bowl ofjsmaller diameter than the maximum diameter of the bowl. The form and position of the concentrating pocket of the device is important in carrying out the objects of this invention in that both centrifugal force and gravity are employed to concentrate the valuablemetal or mineral which is collected in its outer and lower'diameter in the presence of The amount'of black sand or magnetite collected in the pocket is substantially limited due to the shape of the upper part of the pocket and the reduced diameter of the pocket at that point. the residue or tailings of sand, gravel, water and black sand being drawn up and outward by the centrifugal force and speedily discharged by the discharge flange 44.

In order to protect the inner surface of the bowl a renewable bowl liner 45 preferably molded from rubber. or a suitable plastic is provided. Such a liner will greatly outwear the metallic bowl, can be economically replaced when worn out and serves to reduce the weight of the device. Drain plugs 46 are provided in the base of the bowl through which the concentrate may be removed from the bowl from time to time.

A circular launder 41 is coaxially positioned about the rim of the. discharge flange 44 of the bowl. The launder'41 includes an outer cylindrical wall 48, an inner cylindrical wall 49 and a. fiat inclined bottom 50 thus forming anasymmetrical annular chamber. A rectangular discharge chute is provided adjacent the lower portion of the bottom 50. The walls, bottom and chute are suitably secured together as by welding to form a completed unit. The launder is supported by a plurality of angle brackets 52 bolted or otherwise secured to members 53 extending upwardly from the base IIL.

The bowl I1 is fed from a feed chute 54 which opens to the interior of the bowl adjacent the bottom thereof. A suitable bracket55 supported by the members 53 serves to maintain the chute 54 in proper position within the bowl.

With reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, there is illustrated an attachment 5'! which positioned at spaced points about the pocket and are adapted to rotatetherewith and will be re- 4 ferred to hereinafter as accelerators. The accelerator 51 comprises a plate 58 adapted to be secured to the wall portion 43 of the pocket 35 by means of bolts 59. The plate 58 has angularly secured thereto an impeller 60. The impeller is preferably disposed at an angle of forty-five degrees to the axis of rotation of the bowl when mounted therein and when so positioned serves to act on the water and gravel passing the mouth of the concentrating pocket to direct it upwardly and outwardly onto the discharge flange 44 whereby it is conveyed to the launder 41.

Where there is a great amount of black sand or magnetite present in the placer sand, gravel or mine tailings, the accelerators are provided with a flow directing finger 6| welded or otherwise secured to the outer end of each impeller and extending downwardly and outwardly toward the concentrating pocket. The finger extends preferably at an angle of forty-five degrees to the radius of the bowl at'that point and the fiat side of the finger is inclined at an angle of forty-five degrees to the direction of rotation. The finger serves to interrupt the upward flow of material along the inner surface of the bowl, agitate the same and direct it into the mouth of the pocket.

In using the device the gangue or conglomeration of various metallic substances and associated substances, preferably in a finely divi'ded' state and mixed with sumcient water to form 'a pulp is introduced into the bowl I! through the feed chute 54 and deposited in the bottom of the bowl. The bowl is then rotated so as to cause the mix ture to travel outwardly and upwardly over the interior surface of the liner 45. I have found that where a bowl with a diameter of thirty-six inches is used a speed of about one hundred eighty R. P. M. is preferable. Therotation of the bowl creates a centrifugal force which acts upon the mixture and its contained solids as it moves upwardly along the smooth interior surface of the bowl causing the heavy desirable min eral particles to be forced further outwardly than the lighter particles thereby becoming classi fied as the mixture reaches the pocket. Due to the smooth surface of the bowl the contents never reaches the speed of the bowl, there being considerable slippage between the contents and the wall of the bowl. I have found that the contents of the bowl reaches its maximum rotative speed at a point adjacent the mouth of the concentrating pocket which is about two-thirds as great as the speed of the bowl. The accelerators 51 located at spaced points around the bowl immediately above the pocket revolve at a speed greater than the speed of the contents, thus creating a positive action upon the rising contents of the bowl by first creating a secondary flow of the contents into the pocket in addition to the action of centrifugal force and then creat ing an accelerated movement of the'contents up} wardly after passing the pocket, and thus clearing away any excess substance from the pocket where it is picked up by flange 44 and directed out of the bowl into the launder. The foregoing action continues until a considerable amount of concentrate has accumulated in the pocket; at which time the feed of solid'substance isfirst stopped, and then the flow of water is cut off. leaving the bowl clean but with the concentrate of heavy metal and some sand and black sand in the pocket. The rotation of the bowl is stopped and the pocket washed out-anddrained into a suitable receptacle through the :drain-plugs =46. Having thus described my invention, sothat those skilled in the art may practice the same, what I desire to obtain by Letters Patent is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A centrifugal separator comprising a substantially hemispherical bowl having a smooth renewable liner, means for rotating said bowl about a vertical axis, a circumferential concentrating pocket mounted on the rim of said bowl and opening inwardly thereof, said pocket having upper and lower horizontal walls and a circumferential wall positioned outwardly of the rim of the bowl, the upper wall extending inwardly of the rim of the bowl, and a plurality of accelerators mounted on the inner extremity oi the upper wall of said pocket and positioned adjacent the mouth of the pocket, said accelerators having a portion extending downwardly and outwardly toward the mouth of the pocket whereby material moving upwardly along the internal wall of said bowl will be interrupted and directed into said pocket.

2. A centrifugal separator comprising a substantially hemispherical bowl having a smooth renewable liner, means for rotating said bowl about a vertical axis, a circumferential concentrating pocket mounted on the rim of said bowl and opening inwardly thereof, said pocket having upper and lower horizontal walls connected by a circumferential wall positioned outwardly of the rim of the bowl, and a plurality of accelerators mounted on the upper wall of said pocket inwardly of the inner surface of the rim of the bowl and positioned adjacent the mouth of the pocket, said accelerators having one portion extending downwardly and outwardly toward the mouth of the pocket whereby material moving upwardly along the internal wall of said bowl will be interrupted and directed into said pocket and a second portion extending inwardly and downwardly and serving to direct material passing from the mouth of the pocket on to said discharge flange.

3. A centrifugal separator comprising a substantially hemispherical bowl having an outwardly extending flange formed on the rim thereof, means for rotating said bowl about a vertical axis, a concentrating pocket mounted on the flange of said bowl, said pocket being formed with a circumferential wall spaced outwardly beyond the rim of said bowl and a wall spaced from said flange extending perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the bowl from said circumferential wall to a point spaced inwardly of the upper edge of the bowl and terminating in a reversely extending discharge flange, and a plurality of accelerators mounted on the inner extremity of said wall of said pocket and positioned adjacent the mouth of said pocket, said accelerators having one portion extending downwardly and outwardly toward the mouth of the pocket whereby material moving upwardly along the internal wall of said bowl will be interrupted and directed into said pocket.

4. A centrifugal separator comprising a substantially hemispherical bowl having a smooth renewable liner, means for rotating said bowl about a Vertical axis, a concentrating pocket mounted on the flange of said bowl, said pocket having a circumferential wall spaced outwardly beyond the rim of said bowl and a horizontal wall spaced from said flange projecting inwardly of the upper edge of the bowl and terminating in a reversely extending discharge flange, and a plurality of accelerators carried by said pocket and positioned adjacent the mouth thereof, said accelerators having one portion extending downwardly and outwardly toward the mouth of the pocket whereby material moving upwardly along the internal Wall of said bowl will be interrupted and directed into said pocket, and a second portion extending inwardly and downwardly and serving to direct material passing from the mouth of the pocket on to said discharge flange.

HERBERT R. DRURY.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 444,613 Peck Jan. 13, 1891 528,735 Naylor Nov. 6, 1892 604,978 Garland May 31, 1898 808,584 X. St. Pierre Dec. 26, 1905 1,708,970 Kleinschmidt Apr. 16, 1929 1,853,249 Ainlay Apr. 12, 1932 1,947,844 Gish Feb. 20, 1934 1,988,528 Waltman Jan. 22, 1935 1,997,971 Lindberg a Apr. 16, 1935 2,272,675 Knudsen Feb. 10, 1942