US775946A - Concentrating-machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 775,946. PATENTED NOV. 29, 1904.

A. H. STEBBINS.

GONGENTRATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4. 1902. No MODEL. 5

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teuren Srares ALBERT H. STEBBlNS, (')F Patented filaire-ruben.' 2t), la.

LITTLE HUUR, ARKANSAS.

CONGENTHMTlNGirWl/ACMlNE.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 775,946, dated November 29, 1904.

Application filed February 4, 1902. Serial No. 92,494. (No model.)

To rr/ZZ 'wlw/rt it may concern/ Be it known that I, ALBERT H. S'rniivs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Little Rock, county of Pulaski, State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Concentrating'-l\achines, of which the followingr is a specification.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to concentrators whereby metals and ores are separated and reclaimed from their accompanying' impurities. When material containing' metals and valuable ores is sui j ected to the action of an agitating' force, it be`- comes stratified, and the light or waste material will rise to the top of the mass, while the metals and valuable ore-bearing' particles will gravitate tothe bottom, and if when the mass is thus stratified the upper portion is subjected to a moving' force in one direction while the lower portion is subjected to a moving force in a different direction it is evident that the valuable portion of the mass may beseparated and collected from the remainder. It is the general object of my present invention to provide means for carrying out the opera tion above indicated; and with this in view the invention consists of the parts and conibinations, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of an apparatus embodying my invention, the top or cover being' removed to more clearly disclose the parts beneath. Fig. Qis asection on line 2 Q of Fig. l, showing' also the top in position; and Fig'. 3 is a cross-section on line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig'. 4 is a sectional detail.

The main body of the machine consists of a box-like frame A of any suitable form and construction in which is supported some distance above the bottom e a concentrating-surface B, on which the material, preferably in a iinely divided or comminuted state, is fed or delivered through a suitable hopper D, the said concentrating-surface being' provided with perforations arranged at an angle to each other to produce cross-currents over the said surface, as and for a purpose that will hereinafter more fully appear. The concentrating-surface B is preferably formed of a series of concentrating-sections 7X, arranged in different planes, and, as shown in the drawings as the preferred enibodiment of my invention, the number of these planes is repre sented as two, the sections formingj)l the up, per plane, and the sections /1 forming the lower plane, although it evident that the number of such different planes of sections may be varied as desired. ln the space between the concenmating-surface B and the bottom d of the frame A is an air or fluid chamber into which either continuous or intermittent blasts of air or other Huid maybe forced as desired through suitable connecting means from any source of power, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and as a preferred construction, as exemplified in my present illustration of the invention, this ai r or fluid chamber is divided into compartments c c', each of which is coextensive with and beneath the concentratiiig-sections of the surface B, althouglnas is evident, this construction mav be departed from, if desired, and still be within the scope of my present invention, as will hereinafter more fullyT appear. For the purpose of introducing blasts of air or other fluid into the ai r or iiuid chamber pipes C C are provided, the pipes C comm unicatingI with the comparti-ments c beneath the upper plane of the concentrating-scctions I by means of branch pipes ci, while the pipe C' is connected tothe series of compartments c beneath the lower plane of concentratingsections by means of branch pipes c, any usual form of valves C2 (2 being; provided in the pipes C C for the purpose of regulating the amount and force of theair or other fiuid currents desired to be introduced into the air or lluid sections c c beneath the concentrating-surface.

The upper coneentrating-sections of the concehunting-surface are preferably perforated, so as to direct air or other iiuid currents directlyT across the upper concentratingsections the said perforations being' formed b v forcingl a portion of the material of the said section upward or offsetting it above the opposite wall of the opening' thus formed," as shown at The lower plane of concentrating-sections L' are likewise perforated in a IOO similar manner by forcing a portion of the material of each section upward and odsetting it, as before stated, with the openings directed at an angle to the openings in the upper concentrating-sections It will thus be seen that material upon the upper concentrating-sections 7) will by the force of air or other iuid passing through the openings in the said upper sections be forced directly across said upper sections, whereas material upon the lower sections 7) will be directed diagonally of the said lower sections b, for a purpose that will hereinafter be more fully described. lVhile I have thus shown the distribution of the perforations or openings in the upper and lower sections of the concentrating-surface, it is to be understood that this is only one of the many forms, arrangements, and directions which may be given to said openings or perfor-ations in order to force material supported on said sections in different directions, and I do not, therefore, intend to limit my invention to the precise construction shown in this respect.

lVliile the apparatus constituting my invention may be employed without a cover above the concentrating surface B while treating some forms of material, yet such cover is desirable under some conditions, and I have therefore provided a cover E practically coextensive with the concentrating-surface and adapted to be placed upon the apparatus or removed therefrom and when placed thereon to be secured to the frame A by any appropriate meansas, for instance, the latch and pin e e'. It is desirable in treating some forms of material that there shall be connement of the air or fluid currents above the concentrating-sections Z2', and yet such currents should be allowed a certain amount of escapement, and this object I accomplish by forming the cover as shown in one of its forms in Fig. 2, in which two layers of metal are illustrated provided with perforations e", and between these two layers e2 e" of perforated metal there is held a sheet i of textile or other permeable material, whereby a portion of the air or fluid currents passing through the concentrating-surface Bmay be allowed to escape and yet the major portion thereof be confined to perform the work of concentration of the values and elimination of the 'Waste materials, it being understood, of course, that other constructions of covers might be employed besides that herein shown and described, it being only necessary that it shall permit the relief or escape of apart only of the air or other fluid currents, and all such forms of permeable covers I regard as within the scope of my invention.

At one end of the apparatus I provide a waste-chute F, an opening f being provided between the cover and concentrating-surface B for the passage of waste products, while at vone side of the frame A, I provide a concentrate-chute G'. which may have any desired number of dischargeeoutlets g g for carrying away the valuable products to be collected. The character of the discharge-chute may be varied; but preferably it will consist of a trough extending along the side of the frame A, as shown.

From the construction thus far described it will be noted that ore-pulp or like material being fed to the concentrating surface B through the feed-chute will be acted on first by the currents of air or fluid passing through the upper section which currents by direction of the openings 3 will cause themass of material thereon to become stratified more or less with the heavier particles at the bottom, and simultaneously with such stratification the material will be fed toward the waste-chute F until it reaches the first concentrate-section Z2', at which point the valuable particles will gravitate to the bottom or directly upon said section, and by the direction of the perforations in saidsection the said valuable products will be moved diagonally along the length of said concentrate-section b', and the light or waste material forming the main portion of the upper strata will be carried on to the next upper section and so on from section to section of the concentrate-surface the material will be subjected to repeated stratification and movement of the heavier particles in one direction, while the lighter particles will be moved in another direction. In order to facilitate this movement of the lighter particles from the top of the mass contained on the lower section I have provided .directing- Y boards I-I, the lower edges of which are located some distance above the surface of the sections and extend onto the upper sections L. These directing-boards may of course extend down from the cover E, if desired, or be secured in position in any desired manner, so that they shall be diagonally arranged, as shown in Fig. l, with their lower edges above the sections b to direct the top layers of material as they move lengthwise of the lower sections ZJ onto the upper sections 7J. As the mass of material moves Linder the actuating force of the cross-currents produced by the perforations in the upper sections I) b the heavier particles constituting the values will be moved lengthwise of the sections 72, and finally into the concentrating-chute Gr, while the lighter particles constituting the waste material will be finally carried into the wastechute F and discharged from the machine.

One of the essentials of my present invention is the separation of the waste or valueless portion of the material treated from the valuable portion thereof by cross-currents of air or other fluid, which serves not only to stratify the material by the agitation imparted thereto as the air or iiuid currents pass through the same, but also to move the different qualities or portions of the Amaterial in different IOO IIO

directions as the mass moves over the conl l claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcentrating-surface, so that in the passage over the said surface the waste or valueless portion may be eliminated and the valuable portion reclaimed.

In use the apparatus may be placed either in an inclined or horizontal position, dependent upon the character of material treated, and the air or lluid chamber under the concentrating-sections may direct the same or like currents oit air or other fluid through the di tlerent concentrate-sections, dependent upon the material undertreatment. These and other variations in the details of the apparatus will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in this artmas, for instance, the shape of the box-like frame, the arrangement of the upper and lower planes of concentrate-sections with relation to each other and to the boxlile frame, and the direction, size, and character of the pcri'orations in the concentratesurface, all of which variations will depend upon the composition ci' material to be treated and the character of the fluid-currents employed.

lr' desired, and in order to prevent material carried by the upper sections 7; `lrom being delivered into the concentrate-chute (5r, the edge vf ci' the frame A may be carried above the suriace of the upper sections b, while the edge of the said 'frame A, as at t', at the end of the lower sections may be fiush with the surface of the said lower sections to permit the concentrates to be moved into the concentratechute G, as indicated in Fig. 3.

ln the present embodiment of my invention I have shown the concentrate-sections 7) b arranged parallel and at right angles to the sides oi the box or frame A; but it is evident, oit' course, that this angle or arrangement is not essential and may be varied as desired, so long as the concentrate-surface B is divided up into a series of concentrate-sections in dii?- 'ferent planes, as hereinbefore described.

The present apparatus while primarily designed for the separation of dry material can be used with advantage with both air and water, or either of them, as the separating medium, and in either case the air or water forced through the concentrating surface from beneath accomplishes all ot' the agitation necessary for stratiiication, and thereby eliminates the necessity o'shaking and jig-ging machinery. In some cases and in separating some characters of material the use of water either with or without the air aifords some advantages, as the ore-pulp may be held in suspension longer in the water than in air and will thus serve to both agitate and carry the material forward when it is of rather heavy character, or where it is mixed with clay and 'there is an excess of moisture in the material to be concentrated the water will help to disintegrate the component particles of the pulp. Having thus described my invention, what ent, is-

l. In an ore-concentrator, the combination of a box-like frame, a concentratirig-surface arranged above the bottom ol said 'traine to provide a Vfluid-chamber, means `For introducing a blast of fluid into said chamber beneath the concentrating-snrtace to stratilv the material thereon, said concentrating-surlacc being provided with periorations, said perforations being disposed in grouijis at an angle to cach other in different portions ot' the concentrating-surface to direct the fluid-currents in diiferent directions over said concentrating-surface.

f2. In a machine of the class described, the combination ol a frame, a concentrating-sur- Jface supported thereby, said concentratingsurface being' provided with pcricrations disposed in groups at an angle to cach other in dil'lerent portions of the cone mtratingsur 'face to direct Alluid-tairrents in different directions over said concentratingsurface, and means for directing Huid-currents through said peritorations.

3. In an ore-concentratcr, the combination ot a frame, a concentrate-srn'liacc supported by said frame above the bottom thereof to provide a fluid-chan'iber and comprising perforated concentrate-sections in dillcrent planes, the perforations et' the sections in one plane being disposed at an angle to the pert'orations in the other plane, and means for introducing Huid-currents into said chamber beneath the concentrate-sections.

4E. In an ore-concentrator, the combination of a frame` a concentrate-suritace supported by said frame above the bottom thereof to provide a iuid-chainber and comprising pertorated concentrate sections in dillerent planes, the perfor-ations of the sections in one plane being disposed at an angle to the perforations in the other plane, the walls of the pertorations being' offset to direct fluid-currents over the sur tace of co1icentratc-sections, and means for introducing [luid-curren ts into said chamber beneath the concentrate-sections.

5. In an ore-concentrator, the combination of a box-like frame, a concentrating-surface supported by said frame and comprisingconcentrate-sections disposed alternately in ditferentplanes and having perforations directing air or liuid blasts over the surface oi" said sections, partitions in said lrame beneath the concentrate-sections lorming a separate fluidchamber for each of said sections, and means' for introducing blasts of liuid into each oit said fluid-chambers to strati'ly and move material supported thereon.

6. In an ore-concentrator, the comlgiination of a box-like iframe, a concentrating-surtace supported by said 'trame and comprisi ng perforated concentrate-sections arranged alternately .in two different planes, the walls of said perforations being offset to direct iuidcurrents'over the surface of said sections, partitions in said frame beneath the concentrate-sections forming a separate fluid-chamber for each of said sections, and means for introducing blasts of fluid into each of said fluid-chambers to stratify and move material supported thereon.

T. In an ore-concentrator, the combination of a box-like frame, a concentrating-surface supported above the bottom of said frame and comprising a series of perforated concentratesections in different planes, the perforations of the sections in one plane being disposed at an angle to the perforations of the sections in the other plane and the walls of the perforations being offset to direct fluid-currents over the surface of said planes, partitions in said box-like frame forming a series of fluid-chambers beneath the concentrate-sections, and means for introducing fluid-currents into the said series of chambers.

8. In an ore-concentrator, the combination of a frame, a perforated concentrating-surface having adjacent sections or portions in dilferent planes and supported above the bottom of the frame to provide a fluid-chamber beneath said surface, means for introducing a blast of Huid into said chamber beneath the concentrating-surface to stratify and move material thereon, and a permeable cover supported by said frame above the concentratesurface to permit the escape of an excess of fluid.

9. In an ore-concentrator, the combination of a frame, a perforated concentrating-surface supported above the bottom of the frame to provide a fluid-chamber beneath said surface, means for introducing a blast of fluid into said chamber beneath the concentratingsurface to'stratify and move material thereon, and a permeable cover supported by said frame above the concentrate-surface to permit the escape of an excess of iuid, said cover being formed of sheets of perforated material inclosing between them a textile or like permeable sheet.

l0. In an ore-concentrator, the combination of a box-like frame, a concentrating-surface arranged above the bottom of said frame to provide a fluid-chamber, means for introducing a blast of fluid into said chamber beneath the concentrating-surface to stratify the material thereon, said concentratingsurface comprisingr perforated concentrating-sections arranged in different planes, and directing means disposed above the surface of the lower sections to guide the top strata of material onto the upper sections.

1l, In an ore-concentrator, the combination of a frame, a concentrating-surface in said frame above the bottom thereof to provide a fluid-chamber and comprising concentrate- *Masas sections in different planes, said concentratesections having perforations the walls of which are offset to direct fluid-currents over the surface of said sections, and means for introducing fluid -currents beneath the concentratesections to stratify and move material on said sections, and directing devices disposed above the surface of the lower concentrate-sections to guide the top strata of material onto the next adjoining' section.

I2. In an ore-concentrator, the combination of a box-like frame, a concentrating-surface arranged above the bottom of said frame to provide a fluid-chamber, means forintroducing a blast of fluid into said chamber beneath the concentrating-surface,to stratify the material thereon, said concentrating-surface comprising perforated concentrating sections arranged in different planes, and directing means disposed diagonally above the surface of the lower sections to guide the top strata of material onto the next adjoining section.

13. In an ore-concentrator, the combination of a box-like frame narrower at the feed than at the discharge end, a concentrating-surface comprising perforated concentratesections arranged alternately in two different planes, a feed hopper, discharge and concentrate chutes, means for introducing a blast of fluid into said frame beneath the concentrate-sections, to stratify and move the material thereon, and a permeable cover disposed above the concentrating-surface.

11i. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, aconcentrating-surface supported thereby, said concentratingl surface being provided with perforations disposed in groups at an angle to each other in different portions of the concentrating-surface, the walls of said perforations being offset to direct fluid-currents in different directions over said concentrating-surface, and means for directing Huid-currents through said perforations.

l5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, a concentrating-surface supportedthereby, a feed-hopper to supply material at one end of said surface for treatment, concentrate-chutes arranged at the side of said machine, said concentrating-surface being provided with perforations disposed in groups at an angle to each other in different portions of the concentrating-surface, the walls of said perforations being olfset to direct fluid-currents in different directions over said concentratingsurface, and means for directing fluid-currents through said perforations.

t ALBERT H. STEBBINS.

In presence of J. E. LEAs, W. H. AUDnnicK.

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