US499346A

US499346A - Centrifugal ore separator

Info

Publication number: US499346A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1893-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 1910-06-13

Description

(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 1.

y 0. B. PECK.

GBNTRIPUGAL ORE SBPARATOR. No. 499,346. `Paten, dJ11I`1e-13, 1893.

Imm" In .l I

(No Model.)y asheets-Sheet 2. '0. B. PECK.

GENTRIFUGAL ORE SEPARATOR.

1\I0.1.99,34.6l PatentedJune 1s, 189s.

(No Model.) f 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. 0. B. PEGK.

CENTRIFUGAL ORB SEPARATOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORRIN B. PECK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MELINDA PECK, OF

SAME PLACE.

CENTRIFUGAL ORKEv-SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,346, dated June 13, 1893.

Application filed December 27,1892. Serial No.456,423. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORRIN B. PECK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Ore-Separators, of which the following is a specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central, longitudinal, broken, sectional elevation of my improved machine; Fig. 2 a plan sectional view of the rotatable parts of my machine, partly shown in dotted lines and with parts removed; Fig. 3 an end elevation of the mechanism for longitudinally moving the deiector taken in the line 3 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 4 a front elevation of a vertical section of a circulating wheel, taken in the line 4 of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken in the same way of a modification of the circulating wheel. Fig.6 is an end elevation enlarged, showing the end of the treatment vessel, partly in section, with both feed and Water supply pipes. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the shipping mechanism, enlarged. Fig. 8 is a front' elevation of a modified form of circulating wheel; and Fig. 9 is a section showing one form of discharge pipe in detail.

In making my improved centrifugal ore separator,I make a bed or frame, A, provided with brackets or standards, A', on which the operative parts are intended to be mounted. I make a treatment vessel or cylinder, B, preferably bell-shaped or enlarged from one end to the other, and provide it with a separatingl surface, A2, on the inside, preferably of such form as to be adapted to receive and retain material thereon the more securely thegreater the amount of centrifugal force developed. This vessel, however, is preferably arranged in a horizontal position, and is supported by the brackets A', in suitable journals or bearings a. It is preferably provided with a belt surface, B', so that it may be rotated by means of a belt, B2, operated by any convenient motive power, although, if preferred, other means may be used for rotating it. The vessel or cylinder, B, is provided with shafts or trunnions, b, which rest in the bearings, a. These shafts or trunnions are hollow, as shown in the drawings, for the purposes hereinafter described. The vessel may.

tor, C, which may also be used to perform the office of a stirrer or distrbuter, to stir or distribute the material being treated uniformly over the separating surface, and tol .loosen and assist in the removal of the heavier particles at the proper stages of the treatment or operation hereinafter described. The outside surface of this deflector preferably corresponds in form to that of the inside of the treatment vessel, B, leaving an annular space or channel Avbetween the deflector and the treatment vessel, thus forming a channel or passage in which the separation is effected, and with the separating surface forming one side thereof. This deflector serves to deiiect and guide the material along near or in prox-h imity to the separating surface, and also as the means through which the size or depth of the channel or passage, in which the separation is effected, may be changed, increased or decreased. I wish to say here, however, that while I have shown the deector as a vessel, yet, as its main object is to form the inside wall of the passage or channel in, or through which the material to be treated is passed, and to afford means through which the size or depth of the channel or passage may be changed, it iswnot essential that itl bein the form of a vessel, and any other arrangement may be adopted that is preferred, so long as it serves to form the inner walls of the ways or channels in which the material is treated, or serves to perform the functions for which it is designed. Nor need the channel in which,

the material is treated be annular or extend entirely around the interior of the treatment vessel, as separate channels maybe used instead of one continuous annular channel, if

preferred. I shall for convenience, however,

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provided with hollow trunnions, c, which extend out through the hollow trunnions of the treatment vessel, and are supported in bearings, c.

In order to rotate the detlector, I have mounted a pulley C on the end of one of the trunnions, c, so that it may be rotated by a belt operated by any convenient motive power, although othei` means maybe use d, if desired, for rotating the defiector. I arrange a shaft D, in suitable bearings, d, and extend it through the hollow t-runnions, c, of the deiiector, so that it may be rotated by a pulley, D', or other convenient means.

I mount on the shaft D means for forcing or causing a circulation of water, which may incidentally contain some of the material, through preferably a transverse partition B3. These means are preferably formed of a circulatingwheel,D2,which is preferably hollow and mounted on the shaft D, as shown in Figs. l and 2, and it is provided with openings or ports in its peripheries atthe dippers d', so that as the wheel is rotated with sufficient rapidity by the rotation of the shaft D, the water will be scooped or dipped up and forced into the interior of the circulating wheel, and toward the axis of revolution and delivered, through openings or channels in the transverse partition B3, to the side of such partition ropposite to that at which the circulating wheel is arranged, or toward the receiving end of the vessel. vided, at or near its discharge end, with small holes or orifices b2, through which water and the material treated may be discharged, as hereinafter described. By means of the partition not permitting the water to run back toward the dischargeV end of the vessel, eX- cepting through, or by way of the channel or passage A3 over the separating surface,l

and being acted upon by centrifugal force, the water is forced or driven toward the receiving end of the vessel, through the ports cl2 and through the channel or passage A3 between the separating surface and the defiector, carrying or forcing with it newly introduced material along over the separating surface, whence the lighter and more worthless of such material, and a portion of the water, is discharged through the orifices b2, while a portion of the water passes through theports d3, where it is again caught up by the wheel D2, and again circulated through the channel or passage over the separating surface before being discharged from the separator. It will be understood that while the lighter and more worthless particles or portion of the material being treated is Washed, forced or carried through the channel or passa-ge over the separating surface to be discharged, the heavier and more valu able portion accumulates on the separating surface in the channel or passage,

to be removed as hereinafter described.

A trough or curbing, E, is preferably arranged around the discharge holes or orifices of the treatment vessel to catch the water The vessel B is pro-y and material discharged, so that they can be carried oft through one or more discharge pipes e.

The material to be treated is introduced through a pipe F, which enters the hollow trunnions b of the treatment vessel, and discharges the material in a finely powdered condition, and preferably mixed or diluted with water at the receiving end of the treatment vessel. The material and water immediately pass, through the action of centrifu gal force, to the wall of the treatment vessel, and proceed along the separating surface toward the discharge holes or orifices. Before the operation has commenced, a sufficient quantity of water should be introduced into the treatment vessel to partially fill the same. As the operation begins and new water is introduced with the material to be treated, the water already in the vessel assumes a position to the outside, leaving a hollow space along the center, as shown in Fig. 1, and the circulating wheel, or means for forcing a current 0f water, moves the desired portion of the water toward the receiving end of the vessel to the opposite side of the transverse partition, and thereby forces it to commingle with the material being introduced, and pass along the separating surface toward the discharge end. The water introduced with the material is intended to be sufficient to maintain about the same quantity of water in the vessel, or, in other words, to compensate for the water constantly discharged through the orifices b2. The current of water flowing over the separatin g surface is intended to be maintained at sufficient strength and rate'of speed to wash off and carry away the lighter particles of the material,without being sufficiently rapid and strong to carry off the heavier particles, which areallowed to accumulate on the separating surface Aof the treatment vessel, and within the channel or passage where the separation is effected.

The deflector, C, and the shaft D, although rotatable independently of each other, are preferably arranged so as to move longitudinally in unison. To effect this movement, and to secure it automatically back and forth, I arrange one end ofthe shaft D, and one end of the hollow truunions, c, in a sliding or traveling box or journal F', by providing flanges or rings, f, on them, fitting in annular channels or grooves in the sliding or travelingjournal or box. rIhis permits the shaft and trunnion to rotate in the box or journal, but causes them to move or travel longitudinally with it, whenever it is moved. Topermit this, the journals sustaining the other end of the shaft, and the opposite trunnion of the deflector, are arranged so that the shaft and trunnion may move or slide longitudinally in them.

Toautomatically move the traveling journal or box, and with it the shaft and deflector, back and forth, Iarrange a screw wheel, G, operated by a screw shaft, g, sustained re- IDO IIO

spectively in proper journals or bearings, and with their screws in engagement with each other. I mount on the extended end of the screw shaft loose and tight pulleys, H H', and connect them with belts to a counter-shaft, or other convenient motive power, so that the belts will impart rotation to the pulleys in opposite directions. On the extended end of the screw wheel shaft, I mount a pinion G whose teeth engage or mesh with the teeth of a segment g. This segmentis mounted on a shaft carrying a pinion G2, Whose teeth intermesh with the teeth of a rack g2, arranged on the under side of the traveling journal or box. Pivoted on the shaft carrying the pinion G', I arrange an arm h, whose upper end is pivotally connected in a slotted hole with the lower end of a weighted lever h pivoted on the end of the shaft carrying the pinion G2. The upper end of this weighted lever is pivotally connected preferably in a slot, or elongated hole which is more clearly shown in Fig. 7, and is indicated by the letter h3. The slot or elongated hole enables the weighted lever to acquire an accelerated momentum when it falls the one way or the other, after passing over thecenter of 4its pivotal support, and before contacting to move theshifter rod. Itis thereby enabled to move the rod and shift the belts thedesired distance, with more of a jerk, or with greater suddenness, which prevents the slippage of the belts during their movement from the tight to the loose pulleys, or vice versa, with a belt shifter, H2, suitably lsupported ina bracket h2, so that as the weighted lever is moved back or forth and passes over the gravity center of its pivoted support, it falls in the one direction or the other, moving thek belt shifter in the one direction or the other, to shift the belts from their loose to their tight pulleys alternately, causing the screw shaft g to be rotated in the one direction or the other. This likewise rotates the screw wheel and the pinion g in the one direction or the other, and revolves the segment g back and forth, causing the pinion g2 to revolve in the one direction or the other, to move the traveling box or journal in or out, and with it the shaft D with the circulating wheel or means attached to it, and the deflector C. The segment is provided with stops or studs h3, to limit the extent to which it can be revolved in the one direction or the other before moving the weighted lever h over its gravit-y center of pivotal support, thus reversing the direction of its own travel, as above explained. In this' Way, after the deflector has been moved toward the receiving end of the treatment vessel, gradually diminishing the size or depth of the channel or passages in which the separation is effected, to the pre-determined extent, the movement is automatically reversed through contact of the outer pin or stop Vh5 with the arm or lever h, so that the deflector is gradually moved back away from the receiving end and toward the delivery end of the treatment vessel, thus effecting a gradual and automatic movement of the detiector, so as toincrease or decrease the size and depth of the separating passage orchannel. At this time in the operationof the separator, the material to be separated or treated isintended to commence to be flowed or introduced into the machine, and flowed or forced through the channel or passage between the separating surface of the vessel and the deiiector, the heavier and more valuable portion of the material lodging on the separating surface in the channel or passage. The introduction of material is continued till the defiector is moved back, enlarging the channel or passage to the pre-determined extent. At this time, or somewhat before the movement of the detlector is again reversed, the feed or flow of material to the separator is intended to be discontinued, and a flow of clean water is now preferably commenced, through the water pipe F2 shown in Fig. 6. The pipe e is now transferred vto a receptacle for receiving the more valuable portion whichl has accumulated on'the separating surface, while the deflector was moving out and the channel or, passage enlarged or deepened, or, if preferred, the discharge pipe may be made with branches as shown in Fig. 9, and providedwith a swinging or hinge door e', which may be turned to close one branch or the other as desired. The accumulated heavier particles begin to be loosened and iiowed or washed out and discharged from the separator, as the movement of the deiiector is reversed to an in travel, thereby gradually decreasing the size or depth of the channel or passage to the pre-determined extent, at which time all of the heavier particles are intended to be removed and the operation may be repeated.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modification ofl the circulating wheel. In this modification the wheel is preferably formed with a hollow central portion, and with the radial wings or partitions, I, or with channels or passages, openingatornearits peripheryorouter diameter, and communicating with one or more discharge passages at a point nearer its center, or axis of rotation, which discharge passage is preferably similar to that shown in Figs. l and 2. The wheel, when constructed in this way, is intended to be rotated at a slower rate of speed than the deflector or the water within the separator around' near the periphery of the Wheel; and, of course, the water contained lwithin the wheel, or channels therein, will Ibe rotated or carried around at the same rate of speed as the wheel, which, as just explained,

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will be slower than the rotation of the water contained in the separator around near lthe the pressure of water in the separator is oc casioned by its rotation, and the greater the speed of its rotation, the greater the force and pressure developed, it follows that the water within the Wheel will be subjected to a less force and pressure than that portion of the water contained in the separator outside of the Wheel around near its periphery, which water is being revolved more rapidly, hence such Water outside of the wheel Will rush or course, it will be understood that as fast as the water from the separator iiows into the wheel, as hereinabove explained, its velocity of rotation will be decreased or lessened, and it, in turn, will be forced toward the center by the pressure of the Water outside of the wheel that is being revolved more rapidly.

The wheel may be made in other form, if desired, as, for instance, it may be made with radial arms or spokes with channels or passages within them, opening to receive and discharge the Water at appropriate points, as shown in Fig. 8. If desired,the form of wheel shown in Fig. l may also be rotated at aslower, instead of a faster, rate of speed than the vessel or deflector, and the results obtained will be the same as in the modification, only it will not be effected so rapidly without the wings, flanges or partitions, to quickly lessen the velocity of rotation of the Water as it flows into the wheel. If desired, when the wings or partitions in the wheel are formed spirally and extended out at their ends, to form the dippers d', as shown in Fig. 5, the Wheel may be rotated faster, but I prefer to rotate it slower than other parts of the separator.

While I have described the construction, arrangementand operation of my improved machine with considerable min uteness and detail, I wish it understood that I do not desire or intend to limit myself strictly to details of construction, further than the same may be specified in the claims.

Vhat I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of a rotatable separating surface forming one side of a covered channel or passage in which the separation is effected, and means for automatically changing the size or depth of such channel or passage during the operation of the machine, substantially as described.

2. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of a rotatable separating surface forming one side of a covered channel or passage, and means for gradually and automatically changing the size or depth of such channel or passage during the operation of the machine, substantially as described.

3. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of a rotatable separating surface forming one side of a covered channel or passage, and means for alternately and automatically increasing and decreasing the size or depth of such channel or passage during the operation of the machine, substantially as described.

4t. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of a rotatable separating surface forming one side of a covered channel or passage, and means for alternately, gradually and automatically increasing and decreasing the size or depth of such channel or passage during the operation of the machine, substantially as described.

5. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of a rotatable vessel provided with a separating surface, a detlector for deiectin g and guiding the material along near such separating surface, and means for gradually and automatically changing the size or depth of such channel or passage during the operation Of the machine, substantially as described.

6. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of two rotatable tapering cylinders, one within the other, one of which is movable endwise with respect to the other, and antomatic means for effecting the endwise movement of such cylinder, substantially as described.

7. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of two rotatable tapering cylinders of a greater diameter at one portion than another, one of which cylinders Vis movable endwise with respect to the other, and means for graduallyand-automatically effecting the end- Wise movement of such cylinder, substantially as described.

8. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of two rotatable cylinders, one Within the other, of a greater diameter through one portion than anotheigone of which cylinders is movable endwise'with respect to the other, and means for alternately and automatically eifecting such endwise movement in opposite directions, substantially as described.

9. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of two rotatable cylinders, one within the other, of a larger diameter through one portion than another, one of which cylinders is movable endwise with respect to the other, and means for alternately, gradually and automatically effecting the endwise movement of such cylinder in opposite directions, substantially as described.

10. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of a rotatable separating surface forming one side of a covered channel or passage, means for changing the size or depth of such channel or passage, a traveling journal bearing engaging such means for changing the size or depth of the channel or passage, and means for effecting the travel of such journal bearing, substantially as described.

11. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of a rotatable separating surface forming one side of a covered channel or passage in which the separation is effected, means for changing the size or depth of such chan- IIO nel or passage, a traveling ,journal bearing engaging such means for changing the size or depth of the channel or passage, and automatie mechanism for effecting the travel of such journal bearing, substantially as described.

12. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of two rotatable cylinders, one within the other; one of which cylinders is movable endwise with respect to the other,a traveling journal bearing, rotatably engaging an extended end of ashaft or trunnion of the movable cylinder for effecting its endwise movement, and automatic means for effecting the travel of the journal bearin g, substantially as described.

13. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of two rotatable cylinders, one within the other, one of which cylinders is movable endwise with respect to the other,a traveling journal bearing engaging rotatable means for shifting the movable cylinder, and automatic means for effecting the travel of the journal bearing, substantially as described.

14. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of a rotatable vessel provided with a separating surface, a deflector for deflecting and guiding the material along, near or in proximity to such surface, means for hold-V ing water at a position closer to the axis of revolution of such vessel at its receiving than at its discharge end, and a wheel provided with one or more covered channels or passages for moving water from thedischarging to the receiving end of the vessel, whereby water is repeatedly circulated over the separating surface before escaping from the vessel, substantially as described. l

15. In a centrifugalore separator, the combination of a rotatable vessel provided with a separating surface, a delector for deflecting and guiding the material along such surface, a partition located within such vessel having a passage through it, and a Wheel provided with one or more covered channels or passages for conveying water from the discharge end of the vessel to the opposite side of such partition, whereby water is repeatedly circulated over the separating surface before escaping from the vessel, substantially as described. g

16. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of a rotatable vessel provided with a separating surface, a deiector for dellecting and guiding the material along, near or in proximity to the separating surface, a partition located Within the deector having a passage or channel through it for the delivery of water, and a wheel for moving Water from the discharge end of the vessel to a point on the opposite side of such partition, whereby Water may be repeatedly circulated over the separating surface before escaping fromr the vessel, substantially as described.

17. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of a rotatable vessel provided with a separating surface, a deliector for deflecting and guiding the material along, near or in proximity tothe separating surface, a partition located within the vessel, a wheel provided with one or more covered channels or wise with respect to the other, a partition within the inner cylinder,'and means for moving water from one side of the partition to the other, substantially as described.

19. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of two rotatable cylinders of greater diameter at one point than another, the inside cylinder being movable endwise with respect to the other, a partition within the inside cylinder, means for moving water from one side of the partition to the other, and means for effecting the endwise movement of the inner cylinder, substantially as described.

20. In a centrifugal ore separator, a rotatable vessel provided with a separating surface, in combination with means for decreasing the velocity of rotation of water within the separator, `whereby it is then Vconveyed nearer the axis of rotation by the pressure of water Within the separator having a greater velocity of rotation, substantially as described.

ORRIN B. PECK.

Witnesses:

THOMAS A. BANNING, SAMUEL E. HIBBEN.

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