US657553A - Ore-classifying apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

No; 557,553. Patanted' sept. n, i905:

.1. s. Loman. on; GLASSlI-YING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Apr. 29, mos.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheeta-Shaet I.

No. 657,553. Patented Sept. ll, I900.-

J. s. LODER. ORE GLASSIFYING APPARATUS.

(Apph t filed Ap 99 1893) 2 Sheets-Shoot 2 -(Nu' Model.)

|: PETERS 00.. momurna, WASHIN UNITED STATES- PATENT Omcs.

:lOl-IN SQLODER, on ouRnncoLonnoo', ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO ALExAND aoUNINcnAME, or BIRMINGl-IAM,'ALABAMA.

ORE CLiASSIFYIiNG APPARATUS;

sPEcIFicA'rrroN formingpart of Letters Patent No. 657,553, dated September 11, 1900-.

mass or pulp, as it is termed,,into,the sepaother novel features hereinafter described Application filed April 29, 1893. l

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN S. LoDER, a citi-' zen of the United States, residing at Ouray, county of Ouray, State of Colorado, have in vented a certain new and useful Improve mentin Ore-Classifying Apparatus; and Ide-' clare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

In the concentration and separation of mine eral ore it has heretofore been customary to reduce the ore by a crusher to the requisite degree of fineness and then introduce the rator, using, of course, the usual amount of water to produce the pulp. This pulp must; however, necessarily contain all sizes and weights of particles from the finest up to the size to which the crusher is expected to re-. duce, it as well as minerals of various specific gravities, and this being introduced into a single separator the latter cannot of necessity accomplish the separation as efiectually as though the particles were of substantially the same size or substantially the same specific gravity, since where with one adjustment of the machine maximum efficiency could be attained on the mineral of one specific gravity it requires another adjustment to attain a maximum efiiciency on mineral of another specific gravity.

My invention has for its object the production of an apparatus whereby the ore or pulp is classified before being introduced into the separator or concentrator that is to say, the particles of a certain range of specific gravity are separated from the entire mass and run to one concentrator, the particles of thenext adjacent range of specific gravities are separated and run to another concentrator, and so on until the entire volume has been divided andeach class carried to its respective con-;

centrator.

The invention has also for its object certain and claimed. i

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a part sectional elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. Qis adetail of the separatinghopper. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the circulating-diaphragm. Fig. 4 is a detail of the valve or shaft seat.

construction, provided with the buckets a, and B a chute into which the contents of the buckets are dumped, said chute leading to a hopperorV-shaped receptacle 0. In the apparatus illustrated are six of these receptacles or hoppers O G C C 0 0*", connected together by the conduits 0.

Connected with the lower end or point of each hopper is a conduit D, each one extending to a separator or concentrator E. From each of the latter extends an outlet-conduit F to acommon conduit G, leading to the base of the elevator.

I will now describe the construction of the hoppers O O, &c.

Extending vertically through each hopper is a shaft H, Fig. 2, provided on its upper end with a beveled gear H, which meshes with a beveled gear J on. the shaft J. The shaft J is provided with cone-pulleys J Above the shaft J is another shaft K, driven from any suitable source and provided with cone-pulleys K. By a belt connection between the shafts J and K any desired speed may be given to the former, and consequently tothe vertical shaft in the hopper. In the lower end of each hopper is a plug. or shoe M, which performs the double function of a valve and a seat or hearing for the lower end of the shaft.

Surrounding the plug M is a lining or valveseat N. The plug is provided with a rim or flange m on its upper end adapted to bear on the seat N, and its body is provided with a longitudinal groove or recess m, larger at the lower end than at the upper. The purpose of making this longitudinal groove tapering or larger at the lower than at the upper end is to prevent the clogging of such opening, which would occur if, the arrangement were the reverse or if the opening were of uniform diameter throughout its length, for with the groove constructed as I have described any particles large enough to pass through the upper, end of the groove will be immediately discharged therefrom, because free from con i there is no tendency to choke or clog the disi estate tact with the surrounding walls, and hence charge-groove.

Below the plugfis a chamber P, with the 'outletsp p communicating with theconduit D; A set-screw Q, operated by the'handwheel Q and locked bythe wheelQ operates to raise or lower the plu M. On the shaft H are keyed di'aphragms l i. Each of the as;

phragms has downwai-dl'y-=pl-ojecting wings I cut from themetal to leave openings above,

so that when the diaphragms are revolved the pulpis agitated circulated, and elevated:

I will now describe the. general operation.

The'pulp is admitted to the elevator sit-Al carriedup and dumped into the chute- B, by which it is conveyed to the first hop-pert).

.There'volution of the cirejulators' R stirs up land circulates themass, and the smallerand, lighter'particles will naturally work toward the center and be forcedupward, while the.

1 larger and heavier particles will work down the plug M, which carries the shaft. The pl rig the sides to the bottom. This result is'du'e tothe fact that'the blades of the diaphragm,

are so curved and so arranged with relation :to'the-plane of revolution of the diaphragm asto cause the blades to scoop up and lift,

the material, thus efifectiug'a mechanical ele= vation of the particles of material and also establishing an upward current which tends to force the lighter particles upward, the heavier particles falling by gravity between the pe ripheral edges of the diaphragm and the wall of the hopper, thespaces between the peripheries'of the diaphragm and the wall of thehopperYbeing sufliciently wide for this purpose The spaces between the edges of the die-- phragmand thehopper will beof suflicient width to allow of the passage of the particles, and these spaces mayfbe'varied by adj listing or valve Maud with it the shaft H have been raised sufficientl y toallow the desired amount of pulp to pass between the outeredg'e or-pe' riphery of the circulators and the hopper-eats ing', and the same elevation of the plug raises the rim m'away from its seat and allows the pulp to pass to the chamber? and frem-thence to the concentrator. Thisis of course thepulp containing these particles of the greatest The balance has been elevatedto the top of the hopper, and as new material is weight.

added will pass through the conduits tothe next adjacent hopper, where the same process is undergone and the" coarser particles sepae. rated,vand so on until the last hopper-Cis reached. .This is the finest grade ofmi'neral in the pulp and runs directly to its esteem it tosay that on each may be provided a reeeptacle containing that portion of the pulp from t-r'ator. The construction of the concentrw tors is immaterial in this application. Suflic'e which the dress or tailings have not been thoroughly separated. This receptacle isconnected by the conduit F with the conduit G. and by the latter with the elevator, so that such of the pulp as has not been thoroughly.

graded in size from O, the smallest, to G the largest, the purpose of this arrangement be f ing-to equalize the work to be performed in In other each. of the hoppers or receptacles. swords-when the pulp is delivered to the first 'receptacleit contains the heaviest particles,

and as these particles will settle to the bottom of the first hopper more quickly. than the lighter particles will settle to the bottom'of' the succeeding hoppers I have found that by varying the size of theagitating and elevating diaphragms or disks R the work of each hopper may be readily adjusted to the con dition oft-lie pulpat the time it is operated uponin the various hoppers. It will also beobserved that the hoppers O C'contain three of the circulators R, the hoppers (J 0 contain two, andth'e hoppei' Of but one. It will also be observed that each shaft H can be given :an'ydesired speed. "By'these' various adjustments the pulp .is thoroughlyclassified and each gradeo'r class-delivered toa concentratoradapted an dad'justed to-"separa'te that particular class most efiectually. i

For the purpose of in'suring the emptying of the-buckets a of the: elevator A, and incidentally forthe purpose of adding water to the pulp toiusure'its' flow along the chute B (and through the various-hoppers or receptaelse-U; I propose .t'o' directj'a' jet. of ,water into the buckets just befhre' they reach the receivfi l'l gj ehd: of the entrant-mil jet, assisted by gravity, will. serve to there ughly cleanse and remove snot the pulp from thebuckets." This result maybe accomplished in many different-"ways, the simplest construction known tomebeing a waters pipe B',arranged as shown in the drawings, for the accomplishment ofthe above-mentionedobjeet;

' umni be seen that bythe above-described apparatus'ythe' orepulplis so separated 61? cIaSsifiGQthat a'miaxinrum efficiency n'iayY be attained in the; concentration of the ore when :it reaches.thehconcentrator, since each machine has particles'er minerals of a statedweight with-iwhi'ch to deal. Itwill also seen that by the classification of the ore as a ove described the use of alarge'amou'nt of water is'eljviated andthe amount of water introducedin-to,thepulp is gradu ally reduced.

To preventthe contents of thehoppers from circulating to tooagreat an extentinthe same the hoppers can, if desired be provided with stationarywings or'das-her-boards Cfiextendingiinwa-rdlyffrom the walls.

'Whil'eI have shown the use of'sixhoppers in my present apparatus, yet' the number mightlbe increased or diminished as desired,

the number depending on "the number of classes of mineral contained in the pulp.-

It is obvious that many details of my aparatus might bealtered to fit the exigencies IIO direction as the circulatoirs B, one or moreof V of each particular case where it isused with out departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is- 1. An apparatus for classifying ore-pulp, consisting of a series of V-shaped receptacles connected at their upper ends by suitable con: duits and each provided with an outlet at its lower end,a vertical shaft extending into each receptacle and one or more horizontal diaphragms carried by said shaft, each of said diaphragms being provided with down wardlyprojecting wings, located out of radial alinement with each other, and means for adj usting said shaft to vary the space between the diaphragms and the walls of the receptacles, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for classifyingore-pulp, the combination with a V-shaped receptacle provided with a discharge-opening at or near its bottom of a vertical shaft extending into the receptacle,horizontal diaphragms mounted on the shaft and a valve fol-said discharge' opening constituting a bearing for the lower end of the shaft, said diaphragms, shaft and valve being vertically adjustable to simultaneously vary the space between the dia phragm and the walls of the receptacle, and the size of the discharge-opening, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for classifying ore-pulp the combination of a V-shaped receptacle provided with a vertical shaft for carrying means for agitating and elevating a portion of the contents of the receptacle, and a seat for the lower end of said shaft consisting of a plug having a valve-opening adapted to be opened by the elevation of the plug,and means for elevating the plug, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus for classifying ore-pulp the combination with the V-shaped recepta-. cle and vertical shaft of a seat for the lower end of the shaft, said seat being in the form of a plug, filling the lower end of the receptacle, said plug provided with a rim on its upper end and a longitudinal recess in its side, said recess being larger at the lower end than at the upper end, substantially as described.

5. An apparatus for classifying ore-pulp, consisting of V-shaped receptacles into which the pulp is introduced successively, each receptacle being provided with a vertical shaft rotating at a speed different from that of the other shafts and carrying diaphragms provided with blades, and means for adjusting said shaft vertically to vary the space be-: tween the walls of the receptacle, and the diaphragms, substantially as described.

6. An apparatus for classifying ore-pulp,

consisting of a series of V-sh'aped receptacles graduated in size and each provided with a valved discharge-opening at or near its bottom, the smallest receptacle receiving the supply for the series through which the ore is passed, an adjustable shaft in each receptacle carrying mechanism for agitating, means for varying the space between the diaphragms and walls of the receptacles, and means for giving the shaft of each receptacle a difierent speed from that of the receptacle next adjacent, substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus for classifying ore-pulp,

the combination of an elevator for elevating 8. In an apparatus for classifying ore-pulp, V

the combination with a V-shaped receptacle provided with a discharge-opening at or near its bottom, of a vertical shaft extending into the receptacle, one or more horizontal diaphragms mounted on the shaft, each of said diaphragms being provided with a downwardly-projecting wing and an opening above each wing, said wings being out of radial alinement, substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus for classifying ore-pulp, the combination with a series of receptacles suitably connected together, a bucket elevator and a chute leading from the upper end of said elevator and discharging into one of said receptacles, of a fluid-nozzle located at the head of said chute and directing a stream of fluid into each bucket of the elevator as it passes the chute, substantially as described.

10. In an apparatus for classifying ore-pulp, the combination with a series of receptacles into which the ore is successively introduced, of a bucket elevator, a chute leading from the upper end of said elevator and discharging into one of the said receptacles, and a fluid-nozzle adapted to discharge a stream of water upward and into each bucket as it passes the chute and discharges its contents therein, substantially as described.

JOHN S. LODER.

Witnesses:

TODD MASON, O. R. BARNETT.

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