US811871A

US811871A - Coal-washer.

Info

Publication number: US811871A
Application number: US17656903A
Authority: US
Inventors: George Sharpe Ramsay
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1903-10-10
Filing date: 1903-10-10
Publication date: 1906-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 1923-02-06

Description

No. 811,871. PATBNTED FEB. 6, 1906. G. S. RAMSAY. GOAL WASHER.

APPLIGATION FILED ooT.1o. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Ylll III elfroznm No. 81L87l. PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906. G. S. RAMSAY. GOAL WASHER.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 10. 1903.

2 SHEBT-SHEET 2.

75a awww@ TTED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1906.

Application filed October 10, 1903. Serial No. 176,569.

To @ZZ whom il? may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORG-E SHARPE RAM- sAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Marys, in the county of Elk and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Coal-Washer, of which the following is a specification.

The .invention relates to improvements in coal-washers.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of coal washers and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and e'llicient one capable of automatically separating sulfur, slate, rock, bone, and other heavy impurities from the coal and adapted to deliver the clean coal into a bin or other receptacle and to discharge the refuse into a sluice-chute or other receptacle for causing the said refuse to be carried away by water or gravity.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coal-washer of this character having a sluiceway which will not be corroded or similarly injured by the sulfur and other material contained in the coal.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction of the coal-washing means and to enable the water to be used again and again and at the same time permit the character of the washing to be readily ascertained.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction Within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper portion of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the lower portion of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. i is a similar View on the line 1 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of the lower spout or chute. Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating the construction of the Scrapers.

Like numerals of reference designate correspend ing parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a sluice-boX supported by a suitable framework and composed of a bottom 2 and sides 3 and provided with a bottom lining 1, of plate glass or other suitable material of a similar nature which will not be affected by the sulfur and other material found. .in coal, whereby the bottom of the sluice-box is prevented from corrod ing. The glass presents a smooth hard surface and is free from irregularities and is adapted. to retain the true flush character and form of .its surface longer than wood or metal. The sides of the sluice-boX are alsoprovided with linings 5, which, however, may be constructed either of glass or sheet metal, as the sulfur and other material found in coal and liable to corrode the sheet metal will not contact sui'liciently with the side linings to require the same to be constructed of non-corrodible material. The side linings 5 are inclined upwardly and outwardly, and any means may be provided for connecting the side and bottom linings to :form a water-tight joint or connection for preventing the sluicc box from leaking. The bottom lining, besides bc- .ing non-corrodible, presents a smooth upper surface and will not be worn by the heavy refuse material and the coal.

The sluice-box is arranged at a slight inclination, as clearly illustrated :in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and the coal to be cleaned is in the form of dust or powdered material and is delivered to the sluice-box at a point between the ends thereof by means of a coalchute 6, arranged at an inclination and provided with an enlarged upper portion or hopper, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Within the sluice-box is arranged a lower flight of an endless conveyer, which is composed of a pair of endless chains 7 and transverse Scrapers 8, arranged at intervals and connecting the chains. The chains are provided at intervals with links 9, having projecting portions or brackets 10, forming seats for the Scrapers. The projecting portions or brackets consist of flanges arranged approximately at right angles and :forming a recess for the Scrapers. The brackets are located at the centers of the links, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, whereby the Scrapers are caused to maintain a proper contact with the bottom of the sluiceway and are prevented from tilting the links, and thereby affecting such contact with the glass bottom. Each scraper consists of a body portion 12, of hard Wood or other suitable material, a strip 13 of rubber or gum or other elastic material, and

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- a metallic strip 14, arranged on the outer face of the elastic strip for protecting and supporting the same. The scraper is secured to the projecting iianges of the brackets by bolts 15 or other suitable fastening devices, which pass through perforations of the projecting flanges and through the body portion of the scraper and the elastic metallic strips. The Wooden body portion has its front face 16 inclined backward from the direction of ad- Vance of the scraper to receive the elastic strip, which is also inclined in the same direction, and the lower face 16a of the body por tion is spaced from the bottom of the sluiceway and is inclined. The inclined front or engaging portion of the scraper permits the coal to be fioated or carried over it by the water and at the same time prevents any of the heavier material from escaping. The inclined sides 5 of the sluiceway prevent any clogging of the material, as any upward movement of the same caused by the Scrapers will operate to loosen the material, owing to the gradual increase in width of the sluiceway from the bottom to the top of the inclined sides. By inclining the flexible strip backward from the direction of advance of the Scrapers there is a tendency to compress, as well as flex, the exposed projecting portion of the elastic strip, which is braced or stiffened and enabled to operate more effectively than a vertical strip, which would be easily bent or fiexed'backward. The elastic strip, which projects beyond the wooden body portion, has its edge engaging the glass bottom-lining and also the side linings, and it causes the water and coal to flow over the Scrapers and pass downward to the lower end of the sluiceway, and at the same time the Scrapers carry forward or upward in the opposite direction all deleterious material lying upon the bottom of the sluice-box. The water, which moistens and in a sense lubricates both the glass bot-tom and the yieldable portion of the scraper, causes the latter to adhere to the glass bottom, and as the projecting yieldable portion of the scraper is moved forwardly or upwardly along the said bottom the glass is cleaned of all material lying upon it and not iioated over the scraper by the action of the water, and' such refuse material will be carlied forward and effectually prevented from passing under the Scrapers.

The endless chains are arranged on sprocket-wheels 17 and 1S, disposed in pairs at the ends of the sluice-box and mounted on suitable shafts 19 and 20. The shafts 19 and 20 are journaled in suitable bearings of the sides of the sluice box, and any suitable power may be connected with either of the shafts for operating the endless conveyer. A sprocket-wheel 19a is preferably mounted on the lower shaft 19, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The sluice-box is provided at intervals `site ends of the apparatus.

with uprights 21, located at opposite sides of the sluiceway and supporting transverse bars or beams 22, upon which are mounted op posite longitudinal stringers 23, provided at their upper faces with strips 24 of steel or other suitable material. The strips of steel form guides for supporting the upper flight of the endless conveyer and their terminals are extended beyond the stringers and inclined downwardly, as shown at 25, to prevent the links of the chains from catching on the ends of the guides. The sluicebox is provided at its upper portion with transverse

water supply pipes

26, 27, and 28. lThe pipes 26 and 27, which are of greater diameter than the pipes 28, are connected with suitable means for pumping the water back again after the same has passed through the sluiceway, the water being designed to be used over and over again. The smaller pipe 28 is designed to supply clear water to enable the slate, which is carried upward by the con veyer, to bev readily examined to ascertain whether the washer is working properly. The washer is provided beneath the waterpipes with inclined plates or spreaders 30, consisting of inclined planes constructed of wood or other suitable material and adapted to receive and spread the water flowing from the water-supply pipes. The water-supply pipes may be provided with one or more apertures, and the inclined spreading devices will cause the water to spread over the sluice-box and effectively wash the coal.

The lower end of the sluice-box is provided with an inclined chute or spout 31 for discharging clean coal into a bin or receptacle. The inclined faces of the transverse Scrapers assist in iioating the coal over them, and as the heavy impuritiess-such as sulfur, slate, rock, and bone-sink to the bottom of the sluiceway the Scrapers will engage the same and automatically separate such impurities from the coal by carrying them forwardly or upwardly to a dischargeeopening 32. The discharge-opening 32 receives the upper end of an inclined chute or skid 33, which extends downwardly for directing the refuse away from the sluice-box. By this means the refuse is discharged into Va sluice-chute or other receptacle at one end of the apparatus, whereby the refuse is carried away by water or gravity.

It will be seen that the coal-washer is ex- 1 ceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that it is capable of effectively separating the heavy impuritiessuch as sulfur, slate, rock, and bone-from the coal, and that the j pure coal and the heavy impurities are carried in opposite directions and discharged at oppo- Also it will be clear that the glass lining at the bottom of thesluiceway is non-corrodible and at the same time presents asmooth surface, whereby the bottom of the sluiceway is prevented IOO IIO

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from being corroded or worn by the sulfur and heavy impurities. Furthermore, it will be clear that the transverse scraper, which conforms to the configuration of the lower portion of the sluiceway, is adapted to cause the water to flow over it and that the elastic strip sweeps the material forwardly and prevents any of the sulfur or other heavy impurities from passing beneath it or around it.

I-Iaving thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A coal-washer, comprising a sluiceway, an endless belt or belts, and scrapers carried by the endless belt or belts and composed of a body portion arranged to clear the sluiceway, an inclined strip of yieldable material arranged on the front face of the body portion and inclined backwardly from the direction of advance of the Scrapers and having its edge engaging the bottom of the sluiceway, and means for securing the strip of yieldable material to the said body portion.

2. A coal-washer, comprising a sluiceway, sprocket-wheels, endless chains having brackets arranged at intervals and provided with seats and projecting flanges, and Scrapers mounted in the seats of the brackets and supported by the ilanges thereol' and composed of a body portion arranged to clear the sluiceway and having its front inclined backward from the direction of advance of the Scrapers, an inclined elastic strip arranged on the front iace olE the body portion and supported by the same and having its edges engaging and adapted to be flexed by the sluiceway, and means for supporting the elastic strip.

3. A coal-washer, comprising a sluiceway having a glass bottom-lining presenting a smooth surface, an endless belt or belts provided with scrapers oi yielding material engaging the glass bottom, and means for feeding material and Water to the sluiceway, whereby both the Scrapers and the glass bot* tom are wet and the former are caused to adhere to the latter.

4. A coal-washer, comprising a sluiceway having a glass bottom-lining presenting a smooth upper face, an endless belt or belts provided with Scrapers operating in the sluiceway, said Scrapers being provided with rigid bottom portions, yielding projecting portions engaging the glass lining, and means for supplying water to the sluiceway.

5. A coal-washer, comprising a sluiceway provided with a smooth bottom-lining ol glass and having metallic side linings, an endless belt or belts provided with scrapers having projecting yieldable portions, the edges of the yieldable portions being engaged with the bottom and sides of the sluiceway, and means for supplying water to the sluiceway.

6. A coalwasher, comprising an inclined sluiceway, scrapers operating in the sluiceway, a coal-chute discharging into the sluiceway,l and a plurality of water-supply pipes arranged in spaced relation between the coalchute and the upper end of the sluiceway, one

of the pipes being of reduced diameter and discharging clear water into the sluiceway near the upper end thereof to clarify the same and expose the material carried by the Scrapers.

7. A coal-washer, comprising an inclined sluiceway, an endless belt or belts provided with Scrapers operating in the sluiceway, and transversely-disposed water-supply pipes of different diameters, the larger pipe being adapted to discharge water which has been used, and the smaller pipe being arranged at the upper portion of the sluiceway and discharging clear water to clarify the same and. to expose to view the material carried by the Scrapers.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence ol two witnesses.

GEORGE SHARPE RAMSAY. Witnesses:

W. P. MULHERN, R. B. SIIAFFER.