US775947A - Concentrating-machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 775,947. PATENTBD Nov. 29, 1904. A. H. STBBBINS.

CONUENTRATING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR.10,1902.

No MODEL.

wma/bow'. m/zzmwmy lllrrie Strafrs Patented November 29, 1904K.

liacrieivcr ricrea.

GONGENTHATlNGwWIAMlNE.

SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 775,947, dated November 29, 1904.

Application filed March l0, 1902. Serial No. 97,507. (No medei.)

Be it known that l, ALBERT H. STnnBrNs, a citizen ot' the United States, residing at Little Rock, in the county oi Pulaski and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Concentrating-Machines, of which the following' is a specifica tion.

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 subjected to the action of an agitating' torce, it becomes stratiiied and the light or waste material will rise to the top of the mass, while the metals and valuable ores constituting' the heavier particles will gravitate to the bottom of the mass, and it' when the mass is thus stratiiied the upper portion is subjected to a moving' force in one direction while the lower section is subjected to a moving' force in a different direction it is evident that the valuable portions of the mass may be separated and collected from the remainder.

It is the general object of my present invention to provide means for carrying' out the operations above indicated-that is, for stratii'ying the mass oi material by the passage therethrough oi' air or other iiuid currents and to then direct such air or Huid currents into different courses, so that the lighter particles in the stratified mass will be moved in one direction while the heavier particles in the mass will be moved in a different direction, and while in the present embodiment of my invention 1 have shown an apparatus provided with means i'or givingI a definite direction to the two portions et' the stratified `mass referred to it is obvious that the direction oi'v either portion of the mass may be changed to suit the particular circumstances or characters ot ore being' treated.

With the above general objects in view myl invention consists of the parts and combinations, as will be hereinafter more fully deu scribed, and deiinitely pointed out in the claims.

I do not claim, broadly, in this specification a separatingsuri'ace having' perforated seel tions arranged in dil'lerent pla-nes except in combination with cutting-board extended over the sections in the lower plane, as such forms the subject of my application, Serial No. 92,494, liled February la, 1902.

ln the drawings, Figure l isa plan view of an apparatus embodying my invention, the top or cover being' removed to more clearly disclose the parts beneath constituting' the coucentrating-surface. Fig. 2 is a section on line fr .fr ot' Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is a detail plan of a portion of the concentratiiig-surface and, its cutting-boards, ln'esenting a modilied `form to be hereinafter explained.

The main body of the machine consists ot' a box-like frame A oi' any suitable form and construction in which is supported some distance above the bottom (t thcreo'l a concentrating-suri'ace (designated generally by the letter B) and on which the material, preferably in a linely divided or comminuted state, fed or delivered through a suitable hopper D, supported above the concentrating-suriace, as shown, on the detachable lid o1' cover E, the said cover when in use being detachably connected to the box-like frame A by any desirable form otl latch or hook connee tion e e'.

The concentrating-surface B is provided withperorations arranged in a plurality oi' series, each series of perforations being arranged at an angle to the pert'm'ations olf another series to direct the air or iiuid currents across the concentrating-suriiace in different directions, will hereinafter more iully appear. The concentrating-surtace B is preferably i'ormed of a series of coneentrating-see tions Z) 7)', arranged in dilj'erent planes, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2, the number ot said ditl'erent planes vbeing' represented as two in the construction illustratedthat is, all oi the sections 7) are arranged in one plane, while all of the sections are arranged in another plane below the plane of sections 0; but it evident, oi' course, that the number oit' planes ot' sections may be varied, although the con struction embodying the two planes of sections, as illustrated, has been lound by me to give good practical results. lt will also be evident that where a greater number oi' planes of concentrating-sections are employed they Fig. 2-namely, the upper plane of sections will be arranged adjacent to the next lower. plane of sections throughout the series of planes of sections, so that an upper section I, l

l as @2 e", having the perforations 6*, with a midwill alternate with a section on the plane next below it.

Between the concentrating-surface B and the bottom a of the boX-lilie frame A is an air or fluid chamber F, into which suitable continuous or intermittent blasts of air or other fluid may be introduced by means of a pipe C, connected at suitable intervals, as at c, with the box-like frame beneath the concentratingsurface. If desired, I may provide one or more valves in the pipe C, as at c', so that the force and character of blasts of air or other fluid may be controlled as they enter the air or fluid chamber F and whereby said blasts ina-y be permitted to be introduced at one or a plurality of points beneath the concentrating-surface B, as will be evident from Fig. l.

rhe upper concentrating-sections of the concentrating-surface are perforated, so as to direct air or other fluid currents across the surface of the upper concentrating-sections ,7), as shown in Figs. l and 2, the said perforations being formed by forcing a portion of the material of said section upward or odsetting it above the opposite wall of the opening thus formed, as shown at 3. The lower plane of concentrating-sections 7)' are likewise perforated in a similar manner by forcing a portion of the material of each section upward and offsetting' it, as before stated, with the opening directed at an angle to the openings in the Lipper concentrating-sections b, as shown at b* in Fig. Q. ln the present illustration of my invention I have shown the perforations 723 in the upper concentrating-sections as directed diagonally across said concentratingsections, (see Fig. 1,) and I have shown the perforations b* in the lower concentrating-sections b as directed across the machine or lengthwise of the concentrating-sections 5'; but it is to be understood, of course, that the relative directions given to the perforations in the different planes of sections may be varied as desired and will be controlled also by the character of material being treated and the character of fluid available for use. In any event, however, the perforations in one plane will direct the currents in a different direction to thereby cause the different portions of material Linder treatment to be moved in different directions, as hereinbefore generally referred to.

Thile the apparatus constituting my invention may be employed without a cover E during the treatment of some forms of material, yet such cover is desirable under some conditions, and I have therefore provided a cover E, adapted to be removably secured to the box-like frame above the concentratingsurface B, as hereinbefore described; but in the use of said cover itis desirable also that the air or fluid currents have a certain amount Y of escapement, and this l accomplish by forming the cover as best shown in Fig. Q that is, of two layers of perforated material, such dle layer e5 of some permeable material, such as a fabric, the purpose of which is to confine the material under treatment and the air or fluid currents and yet permit such air or fluid currents a certain amount of relief. Thile the construction of cover I have above described is a good practical form, yet it will be understood that any form of cover which will permit the air or fluid currents to slowly pass therethrough will answer the purpose.

At the side of the machine I have provided a concentrate-chute G, into which the concentrates or heavy portion of the material under treatment may fall from the concentrating-surface and be collected at the end of the chute. This concentrate-chute in the form of the apparatus illustrated is disposed along' the edge of the box-like frame; but it will be understood that such concentrate chute may be located in any convenient position to receive thereinto the concentrates or heavy portion of the material as it is delivered from the concentrating-surface. At the end of the machine also l have disposed a series of wastechutes H, into which the light portions of the material may be discharged, preferably from the upper section 5, as shown, and while. l have shown a number of such waste-chutes it will be evident that the number may be Vvaried as desired and disposed differently with relation to the concentrating-surface.

From the construction thus far described it will be noted that ore-pulp or like material fed to the concentrating-surface B through the feed-chute D or at that end of the machine will be acted on first by the currents of air or duid passing through the upper section 7), which cur-rents by direction of the openings 3 will cause the mass 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 by the force of these currents toward the opposite end of the machine until it reaches the first concentrate-section L in the lower plane within the section l), at which point the valuable particles will gravitate to the bottom or directly upon said section b, and by direction of the perforations 7)* in said section the said valuable products will be moved along the` length of said concentrate-section 7;', while the light or waste material forming the main portion of the upper strata will be carried onto the next upper section Z), and so 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 IOO IIO

be moved in another direction. In order to facilitate the movement of the lighter parti cles from the top of the mass contained on any lower section 7), 1 have provided cutting boards or knives, preferably shaped as a sawtooth or scalloped, as shown at (Z, the said cutting-boards being arranged above the lower concentrating-sections the ends of the cutting-board preferably resting upon the edges of the adjacent upper concentrating-sections t, so that they in reality form bridges covering a portion of the space above the lower concentrating-sections 7). The saw-toothed or scalloped cutting-boards are preferably perforated, as at d', in a manner similar to the formation of the perforations in the concentrating-sections, so that any material passing onto the top of the said cutting-boards will be transferred by the passage of the air or fluid currents through said perforations onto the next higher concentrating-section The forces used for transportation of the material over the cutting-boards are the forces coming through the concentrating-surface beneath the said boards, such forces being the air or iiuid currents, and it being but a relatively short distance between the cutting' and eonveying board and the concentrati11g-section beneath the same the layer of ore-pulp under the said board will be comparatively thin and the air or iiuid gets through it easily, passingl therefrom on through the perforations in the cutting and conveying board, by which per forations it receives any new desired direction and serves to transfer the material in that direction when it lodges upon the surface of the said board.

llt will be evident from the construction thus far described that as the stratified material passes from the upper section onto a lower section o' and is moved bythe force of the air or {iuid currents in a new direction, owing to the perforations in the lower concentratingsection 7)', the upper strata of light material will be cut by the cutting boards or knives Z from the lower portion of the material, and such light material passing' onto the top ofthe cutting-boards will be given a ne`w direction of travel by virtue of the perforations cl in said boards, whereby the light material will be transferred onto the next higher concentrating-section L, and this operation will continue throughout the extent of the machine until linally the lighter portion of the material being' now thoroughly denuded of its valuable portions will fall into one of the wastechutes H, while the heavier particles will be transljiorted by the lower concentrating-sections L/ into the concentrating-chute G.

The apparatus as thus described consists of an arrangement of a concentrating-surface in which are combined various levels or planes with perforations therethrough to direct the f1 uid forces in a manner for each level or plane to work independently of the adjacent one and yet in a sense in conjunction therewith and the placing at the lower planes of cutting boards or knives, preferably perforated to segregate from the material on the lower planes the top part thereof and facilitate its transportation to an adjacent higher plane. it is obvious, of course, that the conocntrating-su rface may be arranged at any desired angle from a horizontal; but l have found that the form illustrated gives goed practical results; but, in fact, the concemtrating-surface may be so arranged that different angles may be attained, if desired, and the saw-toothed cutting-boards may be differently disposed over the lower plane of sections of the concentrating-surface than that disclosed in Figs. il, and Q, and l have. shown as a modification of this a construction in Fig. 3, wherein the cuttingI and conveying boards (JX are arranged over the lower concentrating-section alternately with their point or apex in different directions, as indicated in lfig. 3, and other modifications will suggest themselves to one versed in this class of machines; but the principle involved will remain unchangedthat is, a disposition of cutting-boaiils above the lower plane of concentratingsections to transport the upper strata of material from the lower concentrating-sections to the upper concenla'atirig-section as hereinbefore fully described. ln the present embodiment of my invention l have also shown the concentratiiig-sections as of uniform size and din'lensions and parallel with each other; but this is merely a matter of convenient form, as they may be arranged in varying sizes, as will be evident without illustration, and their angular disposition to each other and to the box-lil e frame may be varied likewise.

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 from beneath through the concentrating-su rface accomplishes all the agitation necessary for stratification, and thereby eliminates the necessity of shaking and jigging machinery.

Having thus described my iiiiii'ention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patl. In an ore-concentrator, the combination of a frame, a perforated concentratirig-surface supported thereby and a 'fluid chamber be neath said surface, said concentrating-surface comprising sections arranged in different planes, means for introducing blasts of gase ous fluid beneath the concentrating-surface to stratify and move material supported thereon, and cuttingboards extended over the lower sections to cut the top layers of material from the stratified mass upon the lowerI sections and transfer it to a, section in a higher plane.

2. In an ore-concentrator, the combination, of a frame, a concentrating-sui'face supported thereby above the bottom of said frame to provide a fluid-chamber, said concentrating-surface comprising perforated concentrate-sections arranged in dierent planes, the perforations of the different sections being arranged at an angle to each other, means for introducing iu id-blasts beneath the concentrating-surface, and cutting-boards disposed above the concentrate-sections of the lower plane to cut the top portion from the material upon the lower concentrate-sections and transfer it to a concentrate-section in a higher plane.

3. In an ore-concentrator, the combination of a frame, a concentrating-surface supported thereby above the bottom of said frame to provide a fluid-chamber, said concentrating-surface comprising perforated concentrate-sections arranged in different planes` the perforations of the different sections being arranged at an angle to each other, the walls of said per forations being offset to direct the currents of fluid over said sections, means for introducing fluid-blasts beneath the concentrating-surface. and cutting-boards disposed above the concentrate-sections of the lower plane to cut the top portion from the material upon the lower concentrate-sections and transfer it to a concentrate-section in a higher plane.

et. In an ore-concentrator, the combination of a boX-lile frame, a concentrating-surface comprising perforated concentrate sections arranged in different planes, the walls of the perforations in said sections being offset to direct Huid-currents over said concentrate-sec tions, and the perforations in thesections of one plane being angularly disposed with relation to the perforations in the sections of another plane so that the fluid-currents issuing through the perforations in the sections will tend to move the material in different directions, means for introducing Huid-currents beneath the concentrate-sections, and cuttingboards disposed above the sections in the lower plane to cut off the top portion of the material supported on said lower sections.

5. In an ore-concentrator, the combination of a box-like frame, or concentrating-surface supported by said frame and comprising perforated concentrate-sections arranged in different planes, means for introducing blasts of gaseous fluid beneath said concentrate-sections to stratify and move material supported thereon, and perforated cutting-boards disposed above the concentrate-sections in the lower plane to cut o and direct the top portion of material supported on said lower sections onto a section in a higher plane.

6. ln an ore-concentrator, the combination of a box-like frame, a concentrating-surface supported by said frame and comprising perforated sections arranged in different planes` means for introducing blasts of gaseous fluid beneath said concentrate-sections to stratify and move material supported thereon, and perforated cutting-boards wider at one end than at the other disposed above the concentrate-sections in the lower plane to cut olf and direct the top portion of material supported on said lower sections onto a section in a higher plane.

7. 1n an ore-concentrator, the combination of a frame, a perforated concentrating-surface supported thereby to provide a fluid-chamber beneath said surface, said concentrating-surface comprising sections arranged in dierent planes, means for introducing blasts of gaseous iiuid beneath the concentrating-surface to stratify and move material supported thereon, and cutting-boards extended over the lower sections to cut the top layers of material from the stratified mass upon the lower sections and transfer it to a section in a higher plane, and a cover supported above the concentrating-surface.

8. In an ore-c oncentrator, the combination of a boX-lile frame, a concentrating-surface supported by said frame and comprising perforated concentrate-sections arranged in different horizontal planes, means for introducing blasts of gaseous fluid beneath the concentrating-surface,cutting-boards disposed above the lower concentrate-sections, the perforations in the sections in different planes being arranged at an angle to each other to move material thereon in different directions and the said cutting-boards being' provided with perforations to direct the material supported thereby onto the higher concentrate-sections.

ALBERT H. STEBBINS. ln presence of J. E. LEAs, J. M. WTELLS.

Images