US833169A - Magnetic ore-separator. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED OCT. 16, 1906.

Elm 833,169.

G. E. KNOWLES;

MAGNETFG ORE SEPARATOIL' APPLICATION FILED DBO. 5. 1901.

2 SHE-ETBSHEBT 1.

514 we 'm foz Camden E/(nawZes c1 flffo'zucl o d i 1-,

Wifmcoac PATENTED OCT. 16, 1906. v c. B. KNOWLES. MAGNETIC ORE SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5. 1901.

2 SHBETS-SHEBT 2.

0 l lll jk UNITED STATES PATENT o en.

YOAMDEN E. KNOWLES, OF JOPLIN, .MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FOURTHS TO G. B. YOUNG, GEORGE T. COOLEY,-AN D GUY H. ELMORE, OF JOPLIN, MISSOURI. AND W. E. BRINKERHOFF, E. 'OKEEFE, AND JOSEPH HEREIN, OF UARTHAGE, MISSOURI.

MAGNETIC ORE-SEPARATQR.

' Application filed December To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CAMDEN E; KNOWLES, 'a citizen of the United States, residing at Joplin, in the county of Jasper and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and use-1 ful Improvements in Magnetic Ore-Separators, of which the following is a specification.

The object ofmy invention is to provide means for the separation and classification of ore of varying magnetic susceptibilities at a single operation; and my invention consists in the parts, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section of a magnetic oreseparator embodying my invention; Fig. 2,

an enlarged sectional view of the poles of the magnet; Fig. 3, an end view of an electrical agitator; Fig. 4, a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, an enlarged'section of the separating-belt, and Fig; '6 a partial top plan view corresponding to Fig. 5.

Reference-letters A and A enote, respectively, the north and south poles of an electromagnet; B, an a ron for feedin ore into the magnetic field Between poles and A; C, an electric agitator for operating apronB; D, a separating-belt E, E, and E drums or rollers carrying belt D; F, F, and F hoppers or bins for receiving the separated ore particles. The poles A and A are the poles of an electromagnet having fiat pole-faces a set at an ,angle to each other, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. B this arrangement a field of comparatively eeble strength is produced in region a, but which gradually and continually increasesin strength till it reaches a maximum at a then gradually, but more abruptly, decreases to oint (L as indicated by the broken lines in ig. 2. I find that for most purposes an an le between pole-faces a of about thirty-five degrees is most satisfactory. Apron B is mounted in a slanting position parallel to face a of pole A and is su plied with pulverized ore from hopper b. t points I) apron B is given a pivotal bearing on rock-bars b, which are pivoted in station-. ary bearings 6 It extends into the imagnetic field, ending abruptly at or near the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 1906.

5,1901. Serial No. 84,856.

link I) a ron B is connected with agitator G, by whic it is agitated to cause the ore to travel down its up er surface from the hopper 1; into the fiel d between pole-pieces A and A. v a j The electrical agitator 0 consists of a s in-, dle or sleeve 0, loosely mounted on sha c and'carrying pole-pieces c and Wire coil 6 Partially surrounding one end of sleeve 0 and fixed to shaft c is another sleeve 0, which is provided with pole-pieces 0 mounted to pass within and in close proximity to pole pieces 0 It will be noted that the passage .of an electric current through coil 0 will constitute this apparatus an electromagnet, with pole-pieces c and 0 north or south poles, dependlng upon the direction inwhich the current is passed through coil 0 In the drawings pole-pieces c are indicated as being north poles and pole-pieces c as. south poles;

the pole-pieces are made north and which south poles. The coil 0 is connected up in series with the coil which excites pole-pieces A and'A. One of the pole-pieces "c is connected to apron B by link I), while the other is connected to rod 0", which has a spring 0 bearing on one side of stationary piece 0 and a stop 0 bearin on the other side thereof. Shaft c is rotate by means of a crossed-belt connection with shaft 0, so as to cause polepieces 0 to alternately approach. and recede rom pole-pieces 0 As each pole-p1ece 0 passes each pole-piece c the attraction between them, due totheir op osite polarity, causes the pole-pieces c to e drawn alon with pole-pieces 0 against the resistance 0 the spring 0 until the spring 0, together with the attraction of the next approaching polepiece,'draws it back, thus causing a reciprocation of pole-pieces c and consequently of apron B, each time the pole ieces ass.

The D belt-consists of a flexi le bo y portion d, carrying magnetic pieces d, preferably of soft iron, which for simplicity I call seconda magnets. It is carried by drums or r0 lers E, E, and E so asto pass arallel and in close proximity to face a of o e-piece A, between the latter and apron ,until it point of maximum strength. Bymeans of j zontal direction before intersecting or, crossbut it 1s immaterial to the operation which of I I ing the neutral line X X between the polethe field through whit it passes.

. ing both -a'ero'ssan'd l ngthwise of the belt D, g as shown Fig-6. The rows slanting 'cr'oss- .approaches the I feeble strength, but gradually pieces Aand A. As the magnetic pieces (1 pass across the face ofpole-piece A they be come, as it were, a part of pole-piece A and partake of its magnetism with a degree of strength corresponding to their positions in the field; In other Words, the lines of force emanating from pole-piece A seek the path of least resistance to pole-piecesA, and consequently pass through ieces d thus inducing magnetism in pieces in proportion to the number of lines .per unit of area passing through them. An additional-eflect of this tendency of the lines to concentrate in the sec ndary magnets d" is to render their a'ctiial magnetism stron 'er than the "ortion of him each piece 11, b'e'ginnin with no magnetism, as it eld' ecomes an induced ma" et of 'v'er an continually increasing in" strength as it progresses becomes a very powerful induced magnet when it reaches thelplace of maxirnu'm stren 'th in the fi ld. s

the magnets pass b'eyo'n the point of maximum strength V they retain their magnetism for a short time, but gradually lose it, becomin' weaker and weaker as they leave the field; ut, owing to their'moment'ary' retention of magnetism as 5 they pass from 'a stranger into a Weaker field, 5

they carry with them into the Weaker field the magnetism of the preceding stronger field; Thus'on the receding side of the field the secondary magnets are always stronger than the field through which they pass.

Th fifi E, E, and are carried by Shafts 6L6, and- 0 mounted in suitable bearifigs- Shaft e is driven by b;elt e and iii t j drives shaft e through belt efin the direction The secon" ary magnets '11 are arrange in rows slant- 5 indicated byythe arrows in ii 1.

wise oi the belt insures the entry of an in-i (laced ma ih ity o drawa of et (1 into the region of maximum field simultaneously with the withanother therefrom, thus preventing the jerking in the belt'w'hich would result; from the sudden reduction of resistance on the belt if the secondary magnets left the rei gion of maximum density of field unaccompanied bythe introduction of, others. The rows slanting lengthwise of the belt insure.

' arts of apron I orm treatment of the ore. A crossed belt 6 latter in the direction indicated by the arrow align Bins I F, and F are set to catch particles ialling' from belt D, bin F being connected the end of apron B by, means of a flexible diaphragm or aipron f. Between bins F and F and F and F are placed swinging partitions f and f -"for adjusting their mouths.

the'p'a'sjsage of secondary magnets over all B, and consequently a 'uniconnectsshaft cwith shaft 0" to rotatefthc' In operationbelt e is operated to drive drums E and E to draw belt D across the face of pole-piece A, and an electric current I ispassed throughcoil c and the coil forpolepieces -A and A. Rotation of drum E causes rota'tionof shaft 0, and consequently agitation of apron B; and ore from hopper b is caused to travel down the apron-toward polepieces A and A. As these particles pass into the outskirts or feeblest portion of the field those of greatest magnetic susceptibility are gradually worked to the top by the combined action of the, ole-piece A and -the agitation of apron B. T e particles of the next greatest vmagnetic susceptibility seek a position next un er the particles of greatest susceptibility,

and so on down through the thin sheet of ore I flowing down apron B, the particles stratifying themselves in the order of their magnetic susceptibilities. Thus the non-magnetic and diamagnetic particles will seek the bottom strata Asthe particles proceed farther into the gradually increasing field those'most susceptible to magnetism become, as it were, lighter and lighter that is, have more and more tendency to rise toward pole-piece A' until they reach a state where they may be said to fairly float in the air immediately above the apron B, but sti l l under the influence of. its agitatidns. Here'any fine parti- (ties of ore of less magnetic su'sc'e tibility mechanically to them are s' aken off by the agitation of apron B and fall back. 1mmediately afterward when the particles have 1 reached an intensity of field corresponding to their magnetic susceptibilities they are gently drawn up and cling to secondary magnets '11, thus producing no violent or sudden action to entangle the particles. Further progress into the field produces a like effect on the particles of next greater magnetic susceptibility, and so on until the position of m t. mum density offi'eld is reached, when all the magnetic particles ofo'r'e will-have been attracted to induced magnets d in the orderof their. magnetic susceptibilities It will be" noted that the ore particles leaving apron B at any instant of time, to attach themselves to any one secondary magnetmust n'ec'essarily be .of the same m-a' etic susceptibilit and free from mechanica' entanglement wit other ore particles. Thus the particles attaching to the secondary magnets will reach them in the order of their magnetic susceptibilities and be arranged in layers or 'stratified .thereon in the inverse order. of their magmaximum strength; but after a momentary retention of the maximum magnetismthey begin to lose it and gradually decrease in magnetism as they recedefi'om the point of maximum density of. field. When the decrease in strength of the secondary magnets reaches and passes the point corresponding to'the magnetic susceptibility of the least susceptible of the orep'articles, the force of gravity overcomes their attraction to the magnets and they fall into bin F. Upon the further recession of ,the secondary magnets from the field they are further decreasedin magnetism, and further discharge of the attracted particles takes place in the inverse order of their magnetic susceptibilities and at distances from the maximum density of field proportionate to their-magnetic susceptibilities. Thus it ,will be noted that the d1scharge fromany one secondary'ma et at any instant of time must 'necessarily e pari 't and the discharge from each secondary mag: net as it passes any'particular'position must be particles of the same magnetic susceptibility. Particles varying from the least to medium* magnetic susceptibility will be deposited in b1n F and those varying from medium to greatest magnetic susceptibility in bin F By adjusting the swinging parti- "tion f the-mouth of bin F may be varied to insure the prevention of the dropping of any of the particles of greatest magnetic suscept1b1l1ty into bin F and swinging partition f 2 may be adjusted to vary the line of magnetic demarcation between the particles falling into bins F and F While I have illustrated bins adapted to make a division of the magnetic particles into but two cl asses,it is obvious that by increasirig the number of bins the magnetic particles may be divided into as many, classes, in accordance wit-h'their magnetic susceptibilities,

as desired;

the pole-piec Afchan es the direction of travel of thebelt D to 51c horizontal before it crosses theneutral line X X. Experience has shown that it is desirable to maintain the travel of belt D on th'e same side of neutral line X X, as the secondary magnets d seem to lose their magnetism too uickly for a nice separatioriif they cross said line. In addi tion to this effect the horizontal travel of the belt is desirable, inasmuch as it then affords the greatest ossible areafor the operation of gravity to e ect the discharge.

In order to obtain the best results, there should be a prelimina classification or stratificatio'n of the ore be ore it enters the active zone of the field. The magnetic field should increase in attractive capacity gradually and uniformly from the feed end to the discharge end, and provision should be made for the discharge of the non-magnetic particles just beyond the line of greatest intensity, so that the non-magnetic particles may be discharged before any of the magnetic articles are freed from the domination of t e secondary magnets. *While I have illustrated the o posing ma etic surfaces as flat, which is t e preferred orm, it is obvious that the same result maybe obtained by any arrangement which insures a gradual and practically uni' form convergence from the feedend to a line closely adjacent to the dischar e end or by any arrangement'of the feed re ative to the magnetic surfaces which subjects the ores to the influence of magnetic attraction which gradually increases from the feed end to approximately the point of discharge for the non-magnetic particles.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of apparatus embodying my invention, it: is obvious that the form' and construction of-apparatus may be varied indefinitely without departing from the spirit of my invention. 1 therefore do. not Wish to be limited tothe particular construction disclosed; but Y What 'I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a magnetic separator, the combina-' tion of magnetic surfaces adapted to produce a magnetic field, said surfaces converging from the feed to the discharge end and termi nating abruptly at the discharge end; suitable provisions for feedv passin between the converging surfaces; and suita le provisions for discharge, substantially as s 'ecified.

2. In a magnetic separator, t e combination of magnetic surfaces adapted to produce a magnetic field, said surfaces converging from the feed to the discharge'end and terminating abruptly at the discharge end suit- 1 able provisions for feed passing between tlm convergin surfaces; and provisions for dischargin t e non-magnetic particles at or im- I I I mediate y adjacent to the line of nearestap- Roller E mounted in close proximity to proach of the magnetic surfaces, substan tially as specified.

In a magneticseparator, the combinationof flat magnetic surfaces adapted to pro- IIO duce a ma netic geld, said surfaces converging from t e fee to the dischar e end and terminating abruptly at the disc arge end; suitable provisions for feed passing between the converging surfaces; and suitable proyiisons for discharge, substantially as specie i 4. In a magnetic separator, the combination of magnetic surfaces adapted to produce a magnetic field, said surfaces converging from the feed to the discharge end and being arranged at an an le of substantially thirtyfive degrees; suitaile provisions for feed passing between the conver surfaces; and suitable provisions for rfi s iilrarge, substantially as specified.

' 5. In a magnetic separator, the combination of magnetic surfaces adapted to produce a magnetic field, said surfaces converging uniformly from the feed to the discharge end; suitable provisions for feed passing between the converging surfaces; and suitable proiisglons fordischarge, substantially as speci- 6. In a ma etic separator, magnetic surfaces adapte to produce a magnetic field, said surfaces converging fromthe feed to the discharge end and terminating abruptly at the discharge end; a feeder adapted to car the ore into the field from the weaker en provisions for dischargin the non-magnetic particles at or near the ins ofnearest approach; and a carrier provided withone or more secondary magnets having a path of travel through the field, substantially as specified.

7. In a magnetic separator, magnetic surfaces adapted to produce a magnetic field,

said surfaces converging from the feed to the discharge end and terminating abruptly at the discharge end, thereby constituting a path of travel through field of gradually increasing intensity; a feeder adapted to carry the ore into the field from the'weaker end; means for agitating thefeeder; provisions for discharging the nonmagnetic, particles at or near the line of greatest intensity; and a carrier provided with one or more seconda ma nets having a the fie d, substantially as specified.

8. In a magnetic se arator, magneticsurfaces adapted topro ucc a magnetic field, said surfaces converging from the feed to the discharge end and terminating abruptly at the discharge end, thereby producing a field of. graduallyincreasing intensity; a feeder adapted to carry the ore into the field from the weaker end; provisions for discharging the non-magnetic particles at or near the line of greatest intensity; and a carrier provided with one or more secondary magnets having -a path of travel throughand extending beyond the active zone of the field, substantially as specified.

9. In a magnetic separator, magnetic surfaces adapted to produce a magnetic field,

' said surfaces converging from the feed to the:

' discharge end and terminatingabruptly at the discharge end, thereby producing a field of gradually-increasingintensity; a feeder arately dischargin the magnetic partic fied.

adapted to carr theore into the field from the. weaker en' means for agitating the feeder; provisions for dischargin the nonmagnetic particles at or near t he line of greatest intensity; and a carrierfprovided with one or more secondary magnets having a path of travel through and extending be yond .the active zone of the field, substantially as specified.

10. The combination in a magnetic separator of magnetic surfaces converging from the'feed to the dischar -e end, and constitutingamagnetic field; a eeder assin through the field and adapted to deEver t e orein proximity to one of thesurfaces; means for agitating the feeder thereby causing a stratification of the ores in the order of their magnetic susceptibilities; and provisions for septhe non-ma netic and es, substanti y as speci- 11. The combination in a magnetic separator of magnetic surfaces converging from the feed to the dischar e end, and constituting a magnetic field; a eeder passing through the field and parallel to one of the surfaces; means for a 'itating the feeder, thereby causing a strati cation of the ores inthe order of their magnetic susceptibilities; and provisions .for separately discharging the nonmagnetic and the magnetic particles, substantially' as specified.

12. The combination in a magnetic separator of ma the feed to t e dischar e end,'thereby constituting a magnetic fiel said surfaces terminating abruptly at or near the line of greatest intensity; a feeder in proximity to one of the surfaces; a carrier provided with one or more secondary magnets, traveling between said etic surfaces converging from surface and the feeder, adapted to collect the magnetic particles as they pass through the field, and to discharge them as they pass beyond the field, substantially as specified.

' 13. The combination in a magnetic separator of magnetic surfaces converging from the feed to the discharge end, thereby constituting a magnetic field; a feeder passing through the field and adapted to deliver the ore in proximity to one of the surfaces; means for agitating the feeder, thereby stratifying the ores in the order of their magnetic susceptibilities;- a carrier provided with one or more secondary magnets, travelingbe-I tween said surface and the feeder, adapted to collect the magnetic particles as they pass through the field, and to discharge them as they ass beyond the field, substantiallyas speci ed.

- 14. The combinationin a magnetic 'sepa-. rator of magnetic surfaces converging from the feed t6 the discharge end, thereby consti-' tuting a magnetic field, said surfaces terminating abruptly at or near the discharge end; a carrier provided with one or more secondfaces bemg set at an angle to each other, one above the other, and terminating abruptly,

at the point of nearest approach, the upper makingan angle to the'horizontal; a carrier provided with one or more secondary magnets adapted to travel through the fie d from the side of widest divergence above the neutral line of the field andchanging its ath as it passes beyond the surfaces to avoi crossing the neutral line; means for feeding the ore in roximity to the upper surface, and means or dischar 'n thenon-magnetic, particles at or near the line of closest a roach of the surfaces, substantially as spec ed.

16. The combination in a magnetic separator of conver ing magnetic surfaces set at an angle to eac other, one above the other, and terminating abru tly ator near the line of nearest approach, t e upper making an angle to the horizontal, said surfaces constitutmg a magnetic field; a carrier provided with one or more secondar ma ets adapted to travel. through the eld om the side of Widest divergence above the neutral line of the field andchanging its ath to the horizontal as it passes beyon the surfaces to avoid crossing the neutral line; means for feeding the ore in proximity to the upper surface; and means for dischargin the nonmagnetic particles at or near the line of closest approach of the surfaces, substantially as specified. a i

17. The combination in a magnetic separator of converging magnetic surfaces set at an an le to eac other, one above the other, with the u per making an angle to the horizontal, an constituting a magnetic field; a carrier provided with one or more secondary magnets adapted to travel through the field from the side of Widest diver ence, above the neutral line of the field, paraTlel with the upper. surface, and changing its pathto the horizontal as it passes beyond the surfaces to avoid crossing the neutral line pmeans for feeding the ore in proximity to the upper surface ;-and means for discharging the nonmagnetic particles at or near the line of closest approach of the surfaces,- substantially as specified. l a p 18 The combination in a magnetic separator of magnetic surfaces converging from the feed to the discharge end, thereby con-' minating abruptly at or near the discharge end; a carrier provided with one or more secondary magnets ada ted tov travel through the field, from the si( e of Widest divergence, on one side of the neutral line; a feeder carrying the ore into the field from the weaker side and on the same side of the neutral line as the carrier; means for agitating the feeder; and a discharge for the non-magnetic particles at or near the line of closest a roach of the surfaces, substantially as specl ed.

19. The combination in a magnetic separator ofconverging ma netic surfaces arranged at an an le to eadh other, one above theiother, with t' he upper making an angle to the horizontal and adapted to produce a magnetic field; a carrier provided with'one'or more secondary magnets adapted to travel through the field from the side of widest di vergence above the neutral line of the field, and changing its path as it passes beyond the surfaces to avoid crossing the neutral line; a feeder passing-through the field and adapted to deliver the ore in proximity to the upper surface; means for agitating the feeder; and means for dischar in the non-magnetic particles at or near t e line of closest ap roach of the surfaces, substantially as specl ed.

20. The combination in a magnetic oreseparator of an electromagnet having converging pole-faces set at an angle to each other, one above the other, with .the upper one making an angle with the horizonta a flexible belt carrying secondary magnets and ace of the magnet, then changing to a orizontal direction. before crossing the plane bisecting the angle between the polefaces; a feed-a ron extending into'the an 1e between the po e-faees under the belt an above the lane bisectin the an le between thepoleaces; means for sup fying the apron with ore; bins located un er the horizontal portion of the belt; and means for discharging the material remaining on the apron in the re 'on of closest proximity of the pole-faces suhstantially as specified.

21. The combination in-a'magnetic oreseparator of an electr omagnet having con- .verging pole-faces set at anangle to each other, one above the other, with the upper one making an angle with the horizonta a flexible belt carrying secondary magnets and assing along the surface-of the upper o1eace of the magnet, then changing to a iorizontal direction before crossing the plane bisecting-the angle between the pole-faces; a feed-a ron extending into the an le between the po e-faces under the belt'an I abo veithe plane bisecting the angle between the poleaces; means or supp yin the apron w1th ore; bins located under the llorizontal portion of the belt; means for discharging the matestituting a magnetic field, said surfaces ter Ibo assing along the surface of the upper olerial remaining on the apron in'the region of 'closest proximity of the pole-faces; and

means for' agitating the apron, substantially as specified.

22. The combination in a magnetic orese ar'ator of an electromagnet having two p0 e-fa'ces set at an angle to each other and one above the other, with the upper one makin an angle with the horizontal; a flexible be t carrying secondary magnets and passing along the surface of the upper pole-face, then changing to a horizontal direction before crossm the plane bisecting the an le between t e pole-faces; a feedapron un er the belt and above the plane bisecting the angle between the pole-faces; means for supplying the apronwlth ore; bins loc'at'edunder the horizontal portion of the belt; means for discharging the material remaining on the apron in the region of closest proximity of the polefaces; and electrical means for a 'tating the apron, 'connected in series with t e excitingcoils 'of the electromagnet, substantially as specificed.

23. The combination in a magn'etie oreseparator of an electromagnet adapted to produce a magnetic field; means for effecting a magnetic separation of ore in said field; feeding mechanism for feedingthe' ore into'said fie d poles of o p'osite polarity rotatably mo'u'nted on sai shaft, spring-held to permit a limited movement; a connection between the latter poles and the apron, the magnets being connected in series; and means for rotating the shaft, substantially as specified.

rator of two opposing magnetic surfaces set at an angie to each other; a exiblebeltcarrying secondary magnets arranged in rows slanting both crosswise and lengthwise of the belt; means for passing said belt between'said surfaces from the open side "of their angle; a

e combination in.a magnetic sepafeeder adapted to deliver the ore between said surfaces from the open side of their 'angle; and means for discharging non-magnetic articles at 'or near the region where said suraces most nearly approach, substantially as specified;

26. The combination in a magnetic separator of two opposing magnetic surfaces set at an angle to each other; a flexible belt carrying secondary magnets arran' ed'in rows s anting both crosswise and lengt' 'wise fof'the belt; means for passing said belt between said surfaces from the open side of their angle; a feeder adapted to deliver ore between said surfaces from the open side of their anle'; means for discharging non-magnetic pan icles at or near the'region where said s'uir: faces most nearly approach; and a series of bins adapted to receive the magnetic parti cles as they are released from the secondary magnets, substantially as specified.

2,7. The combination in a magnetic separator of a field composed of flatconvergmg magnetic surfaces; a feeder adaptedto de-- liver or'e in proximity to and parallel with one of the surfaces; means for agitating the feeder; provisions fordischargin the nonmagnetic particles at or near the line of nearest approach of the surfaces; -a flexible belt I provided with secondary magnets arranged:

to travel between the feeder and the nearer I surface and beyond the surfaces; and a series of bins for collecting the magnetic particle's, substantially as specified.

28. The combination in separator of an electromagnet adapted to produce a magnetic field; a field-apron extend-' ing into said field, an electric a tater, for agitating the apron, having its coll connected in a magnetic oreseries with the coil of thefield-magnet; a

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