US2647686A

US2647686A - Centrifugal separator

Info

Publication number: US2647686A
Application number: US165629A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert R Drury
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-06-02
Filing date: 1950-06-02
Publication date: 1953-08-04
Anticipated expiration: 1970-08-04

Description

Aug. 4, 1953 H. R. DRURY CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 2, 1950 Aug. 4, 1953 H. R. DRURY 2,647,686 CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR Filed June 2, 1950 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 4, 1953 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR Herbert R. Drury, Laguna Beach, Calif. Application June 2, 1950, Serial N 0. 165,629

1 Claim.

This invention relates to centrifugal separating devices and more particularly to separating apparatus employed by miners in the separation of precious or valuable metals from the substances bearing the metals and to such apparatus employing a rotating bowl for imparting centrifugal action to the substance under treatment.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide centrifugal separating apparatus whereby valuable metals may be efficiently, economically separated from alluvium or gangue, placer =grave1s and sand or mine residue, particularly from such material containing black sand (magnetite) and muck (decomposed quartz) which has seriously interfered with separation as performed in prior concentrating bowls.

Another object of the invention is to provide a centrifugal separating bowl which is particularly adaptable to the recovery of fine gold, platinum or other valuable metals from gangue and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a centrifugal separating bowl means for thoroughly working the metal containing substance under treatment as it moves over the surface of the bowl and separate means for entrapping and holding the precious metals separated from the substance as it is being so worked.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a centrifugal separating bowl having a substantially smooth inner surface, a mesh-like liner arranged in said bowl in spaced relation to the inner surface thereof and means disposed between said l ner and the inner surface of the bowl for entrapping and retaining particles of gold and other precious or valuable metals as they are separated from the material treated in the bowl.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel liner for a centrifugal separator which serves to efiiciently and economically separate and retain precious metals from gangue which liner may be easily removed from the separator and cleaned to recover the precious metal.

These and other objects and advantageous features of the invention not at this time more particularly pointed out will become more apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, and wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary top plan view of a centrifugal separator embodying the present invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure l,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of the preferred liner construction,

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view of a modified form of liner, and,

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the device with certain part omitted.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated centrifugal separating apparatus embodying the teachings of the present invention comprising a base frame I including side frame members II and end frame members l2 the adjacent ends of which are mitered and welded together to form a unit. Extending between the end frame members l2 are a pair of spaced angle irons l3 upon which is disposed a supporting plate l4 positioned at the center of the frame In. Mounted on the plate l4 and secured to the angle irons I3, is an upstanding journal box member formed with an internal axial bore IS.

The journal member l5 supports in the bore I 6 thereof a vertically disposed shaft l8 rotatably mounted in a thrust bearing l1 on the upper surface of the journal l5. Keyed to the shaft l8 above the bearing l! is a sheave I9 the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. The upper end of the shaft is extends into the bore of a depending hub 2| formed on the lower surface of a supporting disk 22 and is secured thereto by means of set screws 23. Supported on the top surface of the disk 22 is a frusto conical concentratin bowl 24 preferably made of aluminum, iron, steel, plastic, or of molded hard rubber if desired. The bowl 24 is secured to the disk 22 for rotation therewith by means of suitable bolts 25.

The apparatus for rotating the bowl 24 and the supporting structure therefor is best illustrated in Figures 2 and 5 of the drawings and includes a motor 26 mounted on a plate 21 supported between spaced angle members 28 secured to the frame l0. Although an electric motor is illustrated in the drawing, any other suitable power means may be employed depending upon the particular site where the device is to be set up and used. Extending parallel to the drive shaft 28 of the motor is a countershaft 30 suitably supported in spaced brackets 3| and 32 mounted on the frame ID. A belt 33 operatively connects pulley 34, keyed to the end of the countershaft, to pulley 35 on the motor shaft 29. Mounted on the countershaft 30 is a sheave 36 which is aligned with and is adapted to drive the sheave IQ of the bowl supporting assembly through the belt 31.

The bowl 24 is preferably frusto conical in configuration being formed with a smooth interior surface, with the base thereof resting on the upper surface of the disk 22. The side wall of the bowl may extend at an angle of between fifty and sixty degrees to the plane of the base, however, it has been found that if the pitch of the side wallis approximately fifty-eight degrees with respect to the base, the metal carrying material introduced into the bowl is properly worked as it passes upwardly along the side wall of the device and maximum separation is obtained before it-is discharged from the bowl. Furthermore maximum speed of operation and capacity isobtained with the aforesaid angulation of the side wall.

Mounted in the bowl 24 so as to substantially cover the entire inner wall surface thereof is. a frusto conical liner or basket 40, the wall portion dzl-zofwhich is suitably constructed of wire mesh, or expanded metal with the lower portion thereof beingwelded orotherwise-secured to a base plate 42 which rests on the-base 38 of the bowl. The upper. edge of the wall portion 4.! terminates in and is secured to a ring. which sets within the peripheral edgeportionof thebowl. The basket 40 which serves to create aturbulence in the water which carries the -material introduced into the bowl-as it passes thereacross, and to hold the fabric closely against the bowl, is held in position. by. means of bolts, 44 extending through the apertures 45, the latter serving as drain ports when thebolts M are removed therefrom. Disposed between the wire mesh basket Ml and the interior wall-oi the'bowl, 24 is a covering or bag t! made-of a; suitable fabric material such as burlap or blanket material. This covering serves toentrapand hold the particlesof precious metal separated from thematerial treated inthe bowl. Irr-Fignre 4 there is. illustrated a modified form of basket in which the wire mesh 4! comprising the side wall thereof is replaced by expanded metal-50.

A circular launder l' is coaxially positioned aboutthezrim of the-discharge'edge of'the bowl. The launder- 5| includes, an outer cylindrical wall 52, an inner cylindrical wall 53 and a fiat inclined bottom 54"thus forming an asymmetrical annular chamber. 'A rectangular discharge chute 55 is provided adjacent the lower portion of the bottom 54'. The walls, bottom and chute are. suitably secured together as by Welding to form a complete unit. The launder is supported by a plurality of angle brackets 56" bolted or otherwise secured to members 51 extending-upwardly from the base In. The bowl is fed from a feed chute 58 which opens to the interior of the bowl adjacent the bottom thereof. A suitable bracket 59 supported bythe members 51' serves to maintain the chute 58 in proper position within the bowl.

In using the concentrating bowl of the present invention the gangue or conglomeration of variousxmetallic substances and associated substances, such as placer gravel or sand mixed with sufficient water to carry it, is introduced intothebowl 24 through the feed chute 58 and deposited in the bottom of the bowl. The bowl is rotated so as to cause the mixture to travel outwardly and upwardly over the surface of the wire mesh basket or liner 50. I have found that where a bowl with a diameter of thirty-six inches is used, a speed of about two hundred R. P. M. is preferable. The rotation of the bowl creates a centrifugal force which works the mixtnre against the surface of the liner effecting a continual turmoil as it moves upwardly thereover causing the heavy desirable mineral particles to move outwardly through the wire mesh 4! where they become entrapped in the fabric liner 41 disposed between the wire-mesh basket and the inner surface of the bowl. This action continues until the fabric liner 41 has become fairly well saturated with the precious metal at which time the feed of solid substance is first cut off, andthen rotation of the bowl is stopped. The drain plugs 45 are removed and the water is permitted to drain out of the bowl into suitable receptacles. The wire basket is removed from thebowl. after. which the fabric liner or bag is carefully washed to remove therefrom the gold or other precious metal particles which have been entrapped therein.

Having thus described my invention so that those skilled in the art may practice the same, what I desire to obtain by Letters Patent is definedin the appended claim.

I claim:

A centrifugal separator comprising a frustoconical bowl for receiving materials to be treated including a base and a side wall, means for rotating said bowl at high speed, a. fabric covering disposed against the inner side wall surface of the bowl, a removable frustoconical basket complemental to the inner surface of the bowl and adapted to be received therein, said basket including a base plate arrangedto seat on the base of the bowl and be secured thereto, a ringxmember arranged to engage within the peripheral edge of the bowl and open mesh material spanning the space between the peripheral. edge of said'base plate and said ring adapted. to maintain said fabric covering against the inner side wall of the bowl, said basket serving to keep the material treated in the bowl in a fluid condition whereby centrifugal force classifies and separates the heavier particles moving them through the wall of the basket where they become entrapped in the fabric covering on the bowl wall.

HERBERT R. DRURY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS