US2661092A - Endless belt magnetic separator - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1, 1953 s. G. lNJEsKl ENDLESS BELT MAGNETIC SEPARATOR Filed March 8, 1950 Patented Dec. 1, 1953 ENDLESS BELT MAGNETIC SEPRATOR Stanley G. Injeski, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Dings Magnetic Separator Co., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application March 8, '1950, Serial No. 148,475

2 Claims. l The present invention relates in general 'to improvements in the art of separating mixed magnetic and non-magnetic materials, and relates `inox-e specifically 'to improvements in the conystruction 'and operation of endless belt magnetic 'separators for effecting automatic separation of magnetic particles fromnon'e'magnetic substances Vwith which the 'former are intermingled.

The primary object lof my invention is to provide an improved endless belt type lof magnetic separatorlwhich is exceedingly simple and compact construction, and which is 'also highly eicient in operation.

It is common practice in the mining industry, tov separate magnetic ore particles from nonmagnetic substances with the aid of a bank 'of magnets'coacting with the lsagging lower run of `an endless material conveying belt, and wherein the mixture is fedV against 'fthe lower face of the belt at' one end of the magnet group and the separated magnetic particles are delivered from the belt beyond the magnets while the tailings are removed between the feed and discharge zones. This separation is usually effected in a bath of liquid with the aid of a rubber surfaced material advancing belt which should constantly snugly vengage the magnet bank; and in order to main- .'tain the lower belt run in" proper engagement with the magnetic polesk it has heretofore been customary to utilize a manually operable belt tightenerfor periodically spreading the belt supporting pulleys apartwhenever undesirable belt vstretch becameapparent to the operator. This prior method of compensating for belt wear and stretch is not satisfactory unless operating conditions are continually and carefully observed; and while vsome of the prior separators `of this type have also been provided with ther various devices for preventing delivery of excess treating liquid with the concentrates, these have also proven to be a constant source of annoyance. l

It is thereforev an important object of the present-invention to provideimproved mechanism for constantly and effectively compensating for variations in'belt lengths ink magnetic separators of the endless belt type, with minimum attention on the part of thefoperators, while also `insu/ring .most effective driving contact between the belts and their driving pulleys.

Another importai'itY object of this invention is to provide improved structure for automatically and effectively dew'atering the concentrates or magnetic material delivered by an endless Vbelt magnetic separa-tor', without the use of complicated mechanism, :and for-v -also removing? excess treating liquid from the separating zone.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a compact but highly ei'cient maglnetic separator of great capacity, all relatively delicate parts of which are normally well protected while being Yreadily accessible for inspection and adjustment.

Still another important object of my invention is to provide a simple and durable automatin cally functioning magnetic separator especially adapted for the constant and effective treatment of low grade ferrous ore with minimum loss `of time due to necessary repairs.

These and other more specific objects andl advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several features constituting my invention, and of the l'construction and operation of a typical endless belt magnetic separator embodying the same, may be had by referring to the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification, and wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts of the structure. Y

The sing-le figure of the drawing is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation of one of vmy improved magnetic separating units,.looking toward the driving mechanism and with a portion of the casings broken away soA as to reveal a normally concealed structure.

The gist of the present invention is the provi- -lsion of improved instrumentalities for insuring proper advancement and coaction of the endless conveyor belt with the .pulleys and magnets, and for handling the treating liquid so as to constantly remove the excessfand to prevent undesirable escape of polluted liquid with the` concentrates, and while the typical embodiment illustrated involves a conveying belt having its lower stretch or run substantially disposed along a catenary curve and cooperating with the magnets to produce only a single separation ofy concentrates from tailings, it is not my desire or intent to unnecessarily restrict the utility of the improvement by virtue of this limited showing. It is also contemplatedv that specific descriptive terms used herein be given the broadest possible interpretation consistentv with the actual disclolSure.A

Referring to the drawing, the improved magnetic ore separating unit shown therein comprises in general, a continuously advancing endless belt .El coacting with van upper driving pulley 4 and with a lower' idler pulley 5 both rotatable about `parallel horizontal aires; an elongated arcuate series or bami ofrmagnetsf having lower poles or' pole-pieces'y 1 disposed incluse proximity to the top of the lower stretch or run 8 of the belt 3; a mixed material feed tray il for delivering a granular mixture of magnetic and nonmagnetic particles suspended in liquid, to the lower face of the belt run 3 near the idler pulley a non-magnetic material or tailings hopper Iii forming a liquid basin II at the delivery end of the feed tray 9 and in which the medial portion of the belt run ii is constantly immersed; a stationary magnetic material or concentrate guiding and squeeze plate I2 extending upwardly from within the basin I I along and gradually approaching but spaced from the lower face of the belt run 3 remote from the feed tray 9, and cooperating with a special end pole I3 at its uppermost delivery end; a concentrate discharge hopper i4 cooperating with a discharge spout I5 at the upper end or" the squeeze plate I2; a motor I and speed reduction gearing I'I cooperating with the upper pulley 4 to constantly drive the same and to thereby likewise advance the belt 3 at any desired speed; a manually manipulable belt tghtener i8 cooperating with the idler pulley to initially tension the belt; and an automatic belt tensioning and contact roller I9 coacting with the upper belt run near the driving pulley The various parts of the improved separating unit are mounted upon a sturdy main frame 2l, and the pulleys Il, 5 are journalled for rotation in xed and adjustable bearings 2.2, 23 respectively carried by the upper portion of the frame 2i, while the magnets t are enclosed within a sealed casing 2li which together with the hoppers Il), I and the feed and discharge elements are secured to the opposite side walls of the main frame. The endless conveyor belt 3 is preferably formed of durable rubber or similar resilient material, and the lower run 8 of this belt should snugly engage but be freely slidable along the pole-pieces l, I3 and the intervening spacer blocks 25 or" the magnets 5 which may be electrically energized in a well known manner to produce opposite polarity in the successive polepieces l, I3.

The mixture of magnetic and non-magnetic particles suspended in liquid, may be constantly fed to the feed tray e through one or more supply pipes 2t and a distributing chamber 2l, and the tray .fl is spaced from but substantially follows the curved contour of the lower advancing belt run 8, terminating within the liquid basin II.

In order to permit variation of the level of the I liquid which is maintained within the basin II and in which the medial portion of the belt stretch il is immersed, the tailings discharge hopper Ie is provided at its bottom with an adjustable outlet 28, and an overflow opening 29 at the f upper portion of the hopper Iii beneath the squeeze plate serves to discharge excess liquid from the basin I l which is not carried off by the outlet 23.

The inclined squeeze plate I2 gradually aptends approximately parallel to the pole-piece I3` Y;

throughout the entire extent of the latter. The tapered area above the lower portion of the plate I2 serves as a washing and pick-up zone for the magnetic particles or concentrates, while the more restricted area directly beneath the special pole I3 functions tofcompress and to squeeze excess polluted liquid out of the mass of concentrates and to return this liquid down the inclined plate I2 to the basin iI. The lower extremity of the concentrate discharge hopper It is provided with a concentrate outlet 3Q and the delivery spout I5 at the end of the plate I2 is directed downwardly toward this outlet.

The housing for the separating zones and which constitutes a part of the main frame ZI, is provided with inspection openings 3I near the feed and discharge zones, so that an attendant may readily observe the functioning of the machine; and this housing is also provided with fresh liquid sprayinlets 32, 33, one of which serves to deliver a spray of clean liquid upon the inner surface of the advancing belt 3 While the other likewise projects cleansing liquid against the outer belt surface. The belt tightener I8 for initially tensioning the belt 3 is mounted upon vthe upper forward end of the main frame 2| and comprises a manually manipulable screw 35 coacting with each of the bearings 23 of the idler pulley 5, and with a bracket 36 so that rotation of the screws 35 will slide the corresponding bearings along parallel slots 3l formed in the opposite sides of the bracket 36. The screws 35 are adapted to be locked in adjusted position relative to the bracket 36 by means of nuts 38, and the initial belt tensioning effected with the aid of this tightener I3 may be accomplished whenever the separator is first assembled or when a new belt 3V is applied to the pulleys 4, 5. v

The automatic belt tensioning and con-tact roller I9 which coacts with the upper belt stretch or run near the driving pulley 4, functions not only to compensate for subsequent wear and stretching of the belt 3, but also serves to mate- -rially increase the driving con-tact between the pulley 4 and the inner belt surface considerably beyond The roller I9 is relatively heavy and rests by gravity upon the upper run of the belt 3, being journalled for free rotation in a pair of laterally spaced levers 40. The levers 40 are swingably mounted upon a transverse pivot rod 4I carried by bracket member 42 supported upon the upper deck of the main frame 2|, and the swinging end of each lever 40 beyond the roller I9 is provided with alongitudinally adjustable Weight 43. These weights 43 Vaugment the pressure exerted by the roller I9 against the belt 3, and they may be adjusted independently of each other in order to equalize this pressure throughout the belt width. l

When the improved endless belt magnetic separating unit has been Yproperly constructed, assembled and adjusted as above described, its normal operation is as follows. The propelling motor I6 may be operated to rotate the pulley'4 at the desired speed, thereby constantly advancing the endless belt'3 in the direction indicated by the arrow. The magnets 6 should be'energized and fresh liquid should be admitted through the inlets 32, 33 whereupon liquid containing the mixture of magnetic particles and non-magnetic substances may be constantly supplied through the feed pipe 26 and chamber 2'I to the-feed tray y9. As the feed mixture flows along vand over the end of the tray 9 lbeneath the advancing lower run 8 of the belt 3 and through the magnetic iield produced by the magnets, the particles of magnetic material will be attracted by the successive pole-pieces I and will adhere to the lower outer belt surface. I- f The liquid admitted with the feed mixture by regulating the outletfvalve l28, while excessive Erising 4 0f this liquid level `willbe-:avoided lby the overflow opening v 2 9. Asfthe 'belt' run "B proceeds throghffthe vliquid basin "Iig-the vmagnet poles 'I whichare{if-successive opposite polarity,` will 'tend itc 'agitate the magnetic 'particles adhering the -Ibelt l 3 thus Washing v`7t1"1"e1"ef10m I entrai-fled onrri'agnetic particles A and other substances which descend through the-hopper IIl'-wilth: the

liquid. Upon reaching the discharge plate l2, the advancing magnetic particles adhering to the 'belt run 8 will be carried through the tapering liquid filled space produced by the lower end o-f the plate I'2 cooperating with the adjacent portion of the -advancing belt, and these particles will be gradually positively confined within the field of magnetic influence produced by the magnets so that any magnetic particles which may be dislodged from the belt surface will promptly be picked up and restored to this surface.

The magnetic lparticles clinging to the belt 3 will eventually be carried upwardly along the plate I2 above the level of the liquid in the basin I I and will thereafter be subjected to a confining and squeezing action by the plate I2 and the powerful magnetic influence of the considerably wider pole-piece iI3. This compression or squeezing of the concentrates will express lthe polluted liquid therefrom and the removed liquid will flow down the spaced inclined plate I2 into the basin I I while the clean magnetic concentrates will drop by gravity from the belt 3 onto the spout I5 after they pass the zone of `magnetic influence created by the magnets, 6. The fresh liquid spray admitted through the inlet 33 will then wash the louter surface of the belt 3 lbefore this belt proceeds beneath the automatic tensioning roller I9, and this fresh washing liquid will also assist in carrying the concentrates down the spout I5 to the outlet 30; while the fresh liquid spray admitted through the inlet 32 will also wash the inner surface of the belt 3 free from abrasive particles and will lubricate the surfaces of the magnetic poles 1, I3 thereby reducing friction losses to a minimum.

While the belt tightener I8 may be adjusted .to initially tension the endless belt 3 and to maintain the lower arcuate run 8 thereof in proper engagement with the pole-pieces 1, I3 and spacer blocks 25, the flexible belt 3 may contract or stretch slightly, and 4may also wear somewhat during normal operation. In order to avoid necessity of constantly wa-tching for such changes in the belt length, the roller I9 will automatically compensate Afor such variations, and theweights 43 may be readily adjusted to produce the desired belt tension. By locating the roller I9 in close proximity to the d-riving pulley 4, additional and most effective driving contact between the rpulley 4 and the `belt is also obtained and undesirable slippage is avoided. The unit will thus function most effectively with very little attention, and the normal operation may be observed through the openings 3| while the feed inlet and tailings discharge may be controlled so as to insure maximum efficiency and capacity of the unit.

' From the foregoing detailed description it should be apparent that my invention in fact provides an endless belt magnetic separator "winni 'is sentie, @maar and cutan inf-construction `andwhich 'is also highly leiiicierit in loperation and flexible in its adaptation for-the treatment Y'of variable mixtures of magnetic and non-magnetic particles. With the aid of the vcombined manual 'and automatic lbelt'tensi'oning v fl'cviatingv belt tensioning roller I9 also vca1 1se's t lce belt 3'to contact the ,driving-pulley 4 'for aconsiderable portion'of the 'pulley periphery. vflfie improved 'squeeze plate A'I2 also insures the production of clean and unadulterated concentrates without causing these concentrates to cling to the belt after leaving the magnetic field, while the overflow opening 29 located beneath this plate permits discharge of excess polluted liquid entirely within the unit where this liquid may be conducted away with the tailings. All parts of the improved assemblage are also well protectedwhile still being readily accessible for inspection, and the structure has proven highly satisfactory and successful in actual use especially for the treatment of low grade iron ore.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of operation of the magnetic separator herein specically shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. In a magnetic separator, horizontally spaced pulleys, a series of electro-magnets located between said pulleys and having poles formed to create an arcuate magnetic field the medial portion of which extends downwardly below the lowermost portions of both of the pulleys, an endless conveyor belt coacting with said pulleys and having its lower run longitudinally movable through said eld and along said magnet poles, means forming a liquid basin within which the medial portions of said belt run and of said magnetic field are immersed, means for feeding mixed magnetic and non-magnetic particles toward the lower face of said belt run at one end of said basin, and a substantially straight and imperforate inclined guide plate of non-magnetic material having its lower end immersed within the liquid near the opposite end of said basin and its upper end portion gradually approaching said belt run and terminating above said liquid closely adjacent to the last pole of said magnet series, said last pole also being above said liquid and cooperating with its renergizing magnet to produce increased flux intensity at the point of glosest approach of said plate toward said belt ace.

2. In a magnetic separator, horizontally spaced pulleys, a series of electro-magnets located between said pulleys and having poles formed to create an arcuate magnetic field the medial portion of which extends downwardly below the lowermost portions of both of the'pulleys, an endless conveyor belt coacting with said pulleys and having its lower run longitudinally movable through said eld and along said magnet poles,

the lower face of said belt run at one end of said 5 basin, a substantially straight and imperforate inclined guide plate of non-magnetic material having its lower end immersed within the liquid near the opposite end of said basin and its upper end portion gradually approaching said belt run and terminating above said liquid closely adjacent to the last pole of said magnet series, said last pole also being above said liquid and cooperating with its energizing magnet to produce increased iiux intensity at the point of closest approach of said plate toward said belt face, and means forming an overflow for excess liquid from said 'basin directly beneath the medial portion of said inclined guide plate.

STANLEY G. INJESKI.

8 Referencesited in theflle 01' this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number VName Date Nickerson Jan. 5, 1897 Conley Nov. 14, 1899 Dutton July 13, 1915 Brackett Sept. 11, 1928 Brubaker Sept. 13, 1932 Crockett Nov. 5, 1946 Martin June 10, 1947 Niedener Dec. 30, 1947 Crockett Aug. 10, 1948 Stearns June 13, 1950 Vogel Aug. 14. 1951

Images