US411899A - Electro-magnetic separator - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

R. R. MOPFATT. BLBGTRU MAGNETIC SBPARATOR.

yPatented Oct. 1, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EricE.

RICHARD R. HOFFATT, OF NEViT YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MIC-SNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE IWIOFFATT ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION COM- PANY, OF NEIV YORK.

ELECTRO-MAGNETIC SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 411,899, dated October 1, 1889.

Application iled August 9, 1888. Serial No. 282,367. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.- also t0 prevent the formation of internal or Be it known that I, RICHARD R. M OEFATT, Foucault currents. This magnet I energize o a citizen of theUnited States, residing in the by means of an alternating current, which city, county, and State of New York, have inwill produce rapid changes or reversals of 5 vented certain new and useful Improvements polarity. This magnet I locate in a horizonin Electro-Magnetic Separators, of which the tal and stationary position within a drum or following is a specification, reference being cylinder arranged to rotate, and which is had to the accompanying drawings, and to made of soft iron, or having a layer of softthe letters of reference marked thereon. iron wire Wound upon its periphery. Above ro This invention relates to apparatus for the this cylinder or drum is placed a hopper or separation ot metallic particles from nonother suitable means to convey the pulvermetallic substances by means of electro-magized material to be operated upon for sepanetic action, and it is especially intended for ration. The material passing from the hopuse in the concentrating and treating of ores, per in a regulated manner falls upon the i5 so as to eftectually and economically separate rotating cylinder and is conveyed through the magnetic from the non-magnetic particles the eld (or alternating lines of force) oi' the and at the same time the metallic from the electro-magnet, the citect of which upon the non-metallic substances. metal particles of the pulverized substance Heretofore numerous devices have been is the attraction of the magnetic and there- 2o constructed for the purpose of separating pulsion of the non-magnetic. The former, ad-

magnetic'from non-magneticsubstances, their hering to the periphery of the cylinder, is operation being based solely upon the attractconveyed to its lowest point, which is in a 7o ive properties of magnets that act only upon neutral position, whereit is removed by means the magnetic metal particles, leaving the nonot' arotating brush. The nonmagnetic metal 25 magnetic metal particles unseparated from particles are repelled withforcewhichwillsepthe non-metallic substances. arate them from the non-metallic substance,

I have discovered that when an electrothe latter in no wise being affected in passing magnet is energized by an alternating or an through the magnetic eld, (or lines of forca) intermittent current of electricity, causing a and fallin a perpendicular line into a recepta- 30 rapid reversal or change of polarity in the cle. Suitable provision is made tor receiving magnet, the effect upon metallic substances the metallic particles as they are attracted or brought within the influence of its field (or repelled. magnetic lines of force) is to' attract the In the accompanying drawings, Figure l magnetic and to repel the non-magnetic, krepresents a sectional elevation of a device 35 While non-metallic particles are in no Wise embodying my invention. Fig. i. is a crossaectcd. It is the utilization of this novel section of the same, taken on the line a: a', discovery to the purpose of separating me- Fig. 1. Fig illustrates a method of using tallic from non-metallic substances and maga number of the same in series. netic from non-magnetic substances that con- Similar letters of reference in the several 41u stitutes my invention, and its embodiment in figures indicate like or corresponding parts.

many devices or in modified forms may be The annexed drawings represent, partly in effectually employed to suit various requireelevation, partly in sectiomasimple apparatus 9G ments. for carrying my invention into eiect.

In the construction of my invention I prct'- A is an electro-magnet mounted horizon- 45 erably employ an electro-magnet the core of tally and located in a stationary position which is of soft-iron Wire or laminated sheets within a rotating drum or hollow cylinder insulated each from the others to facilitate B, the periphery of Whichis of soft iron. A the magnetization and demagnetization, and suitable hopper C is placed above the cylinder B in a position that will insure the pulverized material passing therefrom to fall upon the upper surface of a cylinder.

D is a cylindrical brush arranged to rotate.

e e e2 are receptacles for receiving the separated material.

G is an elect-ric source, such as an alternating-current dynamo.

h 7L are the circuit wires or conductors, which include the magnet A.

In the operation of my invention, the circuit being closed, the magnet is energized by the alternating current, which causes a rapid reversal of magnetic polarity. The lines of force extending or passing into or through the soft-iron drum that surrounds the magnet makes a ring-magnet of the drum, the poles of which are opposite the poles of the magnet A, but of an opposite nature, as will be understood. The neutral line of the magnet is midway between the poles, and at this point at the lower part of the cylinderor drum is located the rotating brush. The pulverized ore or other material to be treated is placed in the hopper, and the drum B and brushes D are made to rotate, when the pulverized material falls upon the drum and is conveyed to a horizontal position farthest from the center of the drum, when the nonmetallic substance will fall of its own gravity, while the magnetic particles Will adhere to the periphery of the drum, being attracted thereto by the magnetic force, and the nonmagnetic metallic particles will be repelledas they are brought within the influence of the rapidly alternating or changing lines of force of the magnetic ield.

The dotted lines in the drawings illustrate the separated particles in their passage from the hopper to the receptacles.

It desired, several of the rotating drums withstationary magnets can be arranged one above the other, as illustrated in Fig. 2, for the purpose of subjecting the pulverized material to successive treatment in its passage to insure a more thorough or perfect separation.

While I have thus described one practical method of carrying out my invention, I do not Wish to limit myself to the special construction shown, as it is evident that the principle of my'invention can be embodied in other devices, and that a rapid change of magnetic polarity may be produced With various devices for the purpose of attracting and repelling magnetic and non-magnetic metal particles and separating the same from other substances.

Having thus described the nature, construction, and operation of my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. An electro-magnetic separator having one or more electro-magnets that are energized by means of an alternating electric current, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In an electro-magnetic separator, an electro-magnet energized by means of an alternating current of electricity, substantially as and `for the purpose specified.

3. In an electro-1nagnetic separator, an electro-magnet, combined with means for rapidly changing its polarity, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

4. In an electro-magnetic separator, the stationary electro-magnet A, located within a `magnetic rotating drum B, substantially as land for the purpose speciied.v

RICHARD R. MOFFATT. Vitnesses:

BENJAMIN TUsKA, W. H. CooK.

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