CA1205042A - Transversely inclined ramp separator - Google Patents
Transversely inclined ramp separatorInfo
- Publication number
- CA1205042A CA1205042A CA000438111A CA438111A CA1205042A CA 1205042 A CA1205042 A CA 1205042A CA 000438111 A CA000438111 A CA 000438111A CA 438111 A CA438111 A CA 438111A CA 1205042 A CA1205042 A CA 1205042A
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Abstract
TRANSVERSELY INCLINED RAMP SEPARATOR
Abstract of the Disclosure A materials separator of the ramp type having a longi-tudinally inclined surface down which commingled materials travel for separation and having established along said surface a spatially alternating array of oppositely directed static magnetic fields which extend transversely at an oblique angle to the longitudinal centerline of said surface for exerting on electrically conductive items of commingled materials a laterally directed force component which deflects the elec-trically conductive items to one side of the longitudinal centerline while said electrically conductive items are travelling longitudinally along said surface, the longitudinally inclined surface also being provided with a transverse angle of inclination such that the electrically conductive items are deflected to said one side of the longitudinal centerline by overcoming an opposing laterally directed component of gravity which deflects dielectric items of the commingled materials to the other side of said longitudinal centerline.
Thus, with a laterally directed component of gravity aiding in the separation of dielectric items from electrically conductive items the commingled materials may be deposited anywhere transversely on the input end portion of said inclined surface, thereby increasing the input feed capacity of the transversely inclined ramp type separator as compared to the restricted input feed capacity of a conventional ramp-type separator of nonferromagnetic materials.
Abstract of the Disclosure A materials separator of the ramp type having a longi-tudinally inclined surface down which commingled materials travel for separation and having established along said surface a spatially alternating array of oppositely directed static magnetic fields which extend transversely at an oblique angle to the longitudinal centerline of said surface for exerting on electrically conductive items of commingled materials a laterally directed force component which deflects the elec-trically conductive items to one side of the longitudinal centerline while said electrically conductive items are travelling longitudinally along said surface, the longitudinally inclined surface also being provided with a transverse angle of inclination such that the electrically conductive items are deflected to said one side of the longitudinal centerline by overcoming an opposing laterally directed component of gravity which deflects dielectric items of the commingled materials to the other side of said longitudinal centerline.
Thus, with a laterally directed component of gravity aiding in the separation of dielectric items from electrically conductive items the commingled materials may be deposited anywhere transversely on the input end portion of said inclined surface, thereby increasing the input feed capacity of the transversely inclined ramp type separator as compared to the restricted input feed capacity of a conventional ramp-type separator of nonferromagnetic materials.
Description
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Background of the Invention 1. Field of ~he Invention This invention relates ~enerally to materials separator apparatus and is concerned rnore particularly with a materials separator having eddy-current inducing means for separating electrically conductive items from commingled dielectric ltems of nonferromagnetic materials.
Background of the Invention 1. Field of ~he Invention This invention relates ~enerally to materials separator apparatus and is concerned rnore particularly with a materials separator having eddy-current inducing means for separating electrically conductive items from commingled dielectric ltems of nonferromagnetic materials.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art In the recycle processing of ~aste materials, solid municipal waste initially may be shredded into items of more manageable si7.e ~hich are direc~ed into a stream, as by feeding them onto a moving endless conveyor belt, for exanple.
The stream of shredded waste material may be conducted to a conventional air classifier for removing light fraction items, such as paper products, for example. ~ resulting strearn of heavy fraction items then may be passed through a conventional magnetic separator where ferromagnetic items of high permeability material such as iron products, for example, are removed from the stream. The non-ferromagnetic materials then remaining in the stream comprise dielectric items, such as plastic, rubber, wood and glass, for example, and electri-cally conductive items such as aluminum, silver, copper and zinc, for example. These electrically conductlve items constitute a significant percentage of the total resale value of recycled municipal ~aste material. Consequently, there has been developed in tne prior art a number of materials separators for segregatin~ electrically conductive items from commingled dielectric items of nonferromagnetic materials.
ln U. S. Patent 4,003,830 granted to E. Schloemann on January 1~, 1977 and ass-gned to the present assignee, there
The stream of shredded waste material may be conducted to a conventional air classifier for removing light fraction items, such as paper products, for example. ~ resulting strearn of heavy fraction items then may be passed through a conventional magnetic separator where ferromagnetic items of high permeability material such as iron products, for example, are removed from the stream. The non-ferromagnetic materials then remaining in the stream comprise dielectric items, such as plastic, rubber, wood and glass, for example, and electri-cally conductive items such as aluminum, silver, copper and zinc, for example. These electrically conductlve items constitute a significant percentage of the total resale value of recycled municipal ~aste material. Consequently, there has been developed in tne prior art a number of materials separators for segregatin~ electrically conductive items from commingled dielectric items of nonferromagnetic materials.
ln U. S. Patent 4,003,830 granted to E. Schloemann on January 1~, 1977 and ass-gned to the present assignee, there
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is shown a ramp type of nonferromagnetic materials separator having a longitudinally sloped surface which extends trans-versely at substantially right angles to an imaginary plane passed vertically through its longitudinal centerline. This ramp type of separator is provided with steady-state magnetic means for establishing along said sloped s~rface a spatially alternating series of oppositely polarized and substantially parallèl magnetic stripes which extend transversely at an oblique anyle with respect to the longitudinal centerline of said sloped surfaceO A stream of commingled nonferromagnetic items is directed onto the upper end portion of said sloped surface and adjacent a first longitudinal side thereof to slide down the sloped surface under the influence of gravityO
Since the dielectric items of nonferromagnetic material in the stream are unaffected by the array of oppositely directed magnetic fields established by said magnetic stripes, they continue to slide down the longitudinally sloped surface of the separator and may be collected at the bottom adjacent said first longitudinal side thereof. On the other hand, the electrically conductive items of nonferromagnetic material in passing sequentially through the oppositely directed magnetic fields of the array have induced in them eddy-currents which coact with the magnetic fields. As a result, these electrically conductive items have exerted on them a resulLant force which is directed upwardly of the longitudinally sloped surface and substantially perpendicular to the magnetic stripes. Conse-quently the resultant forces have respective components which deflect the electrically conductive items laterally while they are sliding longitudinally down the sloped surface.
Thus, the electrically conductive items may be collected at . , , . .. . ~ . .. . . . . .. .... . .. .. . .. . . . ..
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the bottom of the sloped surface and adjacent the second or opposing longit~dinal side thereof.
Although the described separator operates satisfactorily for segregating electrically conductive items from commingled dielectric items of nonferromal3netic rnaterials, its efficiency in the segregation process is not one hundred percent. Con-sequently, there may be disposed between the respective containers for collecting the dielectric items and the elec-trically conductive items at the bottom of the ramp one or more containers for collecting the "middlings". ~he "middlings"
comprise a mixture of the dielectric and the electrically con-ductive items resulting from incomplete separations of these items. In some instances, the percentage of dielectric items in the "middlings" may be considered to be objectionable because, among other reasons, excessive lateral spreading of the dielectric items takes place as they slide longitudinally down the ramp and high feed rates cause a relatively larger number of collisions to occur on the ramp surface between the dielectric items and the deflected electrically conductive i-tems.
Summary of the Invention The present invention provides materials separator apparatus, comprlsing ma-terial guide means inclu~ing a base and a plurality of ]ongitudinally juxtaposed panels suppor-ted at a preferred angle of longitudinal inclination with respec-t to the base for receiving commingled dielectric i-tems and electrically conductive items of nonferromagnetic materials and directing the items longitudinally downward of the panels.
Adjacen-t panels have respective material receiving surEace means, with first longitudinal edges disposed in contiguous relationship for forming an interposed trough between the adjacent panels. The surface means extend transversely from the first longitudinal edges at respective reverse angles of transverse inclination relative to the con-tiguous longitud-inal edges. The surface means have respective highes-t portions and lowest portions disposed diagonally opposite one ano-ther, for directing the items along paths extended longitudinally and transversely downward of the surface means including along respective Eall paths extended from adjacent -the high-2n es-t portions to adjacent the lowest portions of -the respective surface means.
Steady-state magne-tic means are magnetically coupled to each of the material receiving surface means for forming, along each of the surface means, a respec-tive spatially al-ternating array of oppositely directed static magnetic Eields extending transversely at an oblique angle relative -to the respective fall path and subjecting the electrically conduc-tive items of the nonferromagnetic materials to an electro-magnetic Eorce having a lateral component directed -trans-versely upward of -the surface means, -the oblique angle being suitable for providing the lateral component wi-th a magnitude sufficient for deflecting the electrically conduc-tive i-tern.s out of the fall path and transversely upward of the surface means while travelling longitudinally downward oE the panel.
In operation, commingled items of nonferromagnetic material are deposited on the upper end portion of the mater-ials receiving surface. As a resul-t, the deposited items are acted upon by orthogonally directed components of gravity.
A longitudinally directed component of gravity urges the items --~a-/o~
to slide longitu~inally down the materials receiving surface;
while a laterally directed component of gravity ~rges the items to slide transversely toward the lower longitudinal side of the materials receiving surface. Consequently, the dielectric items of nonferromasnetic material, which are unaffected by the magnetic fields, may be collected at the lower end of the materials receiving surface and adjacent the lower longitudinal side thereof.
The electrically conductive items of nonferromagnetic material, while passing through the magnetic fields, have induced therein respective eddy-currents which coact with the magnetic fields to exert a resultant force on these items.
The resultant force has a laterally directed component which deflects the electrically conductive items laterally toward the higher longitudinal side of the materials receiving surface and against the laterally directed component of gravity. Con-sequently, the electrically conductive items may be collected at the lower end of the materials receiving surface and adjacent the higher longitudinal side thereof.
Therefore, with a laterally directed component of gravity aiding in the separation of electrically conductivP items and dielectric items the input commingled items of nonferromagnetic material may be deposited anywhere transversely at the upper end portion of the materials receiving surface. Accordingly, this separator may be provided with input feed means having its output disposed for depositing commingled items of nonferro-magnetic material all across the upper or inp~t end portion of the materials receiving surface. Also, this separator may comprise a corrugated array of longit~dinally ju~ aposed ra~ps.
Thus~ the input handlins capacity of this transversely inclined ramp-type separator may be increased to as m~ch as ten times the inp~t handling capacity of a conventional ramp-type separator.
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srief Description of the_Draw _gs For a better understanding of this invention, reference is made in the tollowing detailed description to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric view of materials separator apparatus embodying the invention;
FIG. 2 is a longit~dinal sectional view taken along the line 2-2 shown in Fig. 1 and look~ing in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of gravity vector forces acting longitudinally of the ramp s~rface shown in Fig. l;
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of gravity vector forces acting transversely of the ramp surface shown in Fig '-FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of electromagnetic vectorforces actin~ on an electrically conductive item;
- FIG. 6 is another diagrammatic view of electromagnetic 1, / , ~ ~
forces acting on the electrically conductive ite~ shown in Fig. 5;
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a dielectric item and an electrically conductive item on the ramp surface shown in Fig. l;
FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of an alternative embodi-r,ent of the invention;
FIGo 9 is a schematic end view of the alternative embodiment shown in Fig. 8;
FIG. 10 is a schematic isometric view of another alter-native embodilnent of the invention;
FIG. 11 is a schematic isometric view of still another alternative embodiment of the invention; and FIG. 12 is a schematic isometric view of the embodiment t -shown in Fig. 11 provided with an auxiliary cleaning device.
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Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts, Fig. 1 shows a materials separator apparatus 10 having material feed means comprising a funnel-shaped hopper 12 disposed for receiving commingled items 14 of heavy fraction waste material. The items 14 may be obtained from previous processing steps of shreddinq solid municipal waste into items of manageable size and removing the light fraction items, such as paper products, for example, by conventional air classifier means (not shown). The resulting cornmingled items 14 o' heavy fraction materials deposited in hopper 12 are directed into a stream emerging from the output end portion of hopper 12 and falling onto a moving endless belt 16 of a material cor.yeyor -reans.
Belt 16 is made of pliable non-magnetic material, s~ch as rubber, for example, which travels around a drive roller 18 to pass under the output end portion of hopper 12 and receive therefrom the stream of commingled items 14 of heavy fraction materials. The items 14 are carried by belt 16 to an output roller 20 having coupled to its periphery a ~lurality of axially extending permanent magnets (not shown) which hold ~ ferromagnetic items 14a onto the belt 16 by the forces of magnetic attraction. Thus, the roller 20 compr1ses a con-ventional magnetic separator which causes the ferromagnetic items 14a to adhere to belt 16 longer than the nonferromagnetic items 14b and drop into a suitably disposed container 22 after the belt 16 has carried the items 14a out of che magnetic influence exerted by roller 20. The nonferromagnetic items 14b leave the roller 20 tangentially and fall into a con-ventional vibrator chute 24 which guides the items 14b in suitably thin stream feeding onto a nonferromagnetic materials separator 26 of the ramp type.
This nonferromagnetic ma-terials separator 26 com-prises an elongated planar panel 28 which is longituclinal]y inclined with respect to a substantially horizon-tal upper sur-face 32 of a base support member 30 and, in addition, tilted by raising a longitudinal edge vertically relative -to the oppo-site longitudinal edge. Panel 28 has its lower longi-tudinal edge pivotally secured by suitable means, such as spaced hinges 34, for example, to the upper surface 35 of an inclined plat-form 37 which is in turn supported at an angle of longitudinal inclination to horizontal base 30 by telescopic pos-ts 38 (only one being shown). Thus, the telescopic posts 38 may be adjust-ed to dispose the platform 37 longitudinally at a desired angle of longitudinal inclination ~ with respect -to surface 32 of base member 30. Addi-tionally, the telescopic posts 36 and 40 may be adjusted to dispose the panel 28 transversely at a desired angle of -ti.lt ~ with respect to surface 35 of inclined pla-tform 37.
The panel 28 is made of rigid nonmagnetic ma-terial, such as wood, for example, and has an upper surface disposed between longitudinally extending gutters, 44 and 46, respec--ti.vely, which have outer edges deEined by upwardly ex-tending, side walls, 48 and 50, respectively. Cu-t into the upper sur-face of panel 28 is a generally rhomboid-shaped cavi-ty 52 having straigh-t parallel sides adjacent the respective gut-ters 44,46 and having parallel sloped ends adjacent the respective upper and lower end portions of panel 28. The sloped ends of cavity 52 extend transversely of the panel 28 at a predeter-mined angl.e, such as forty-five degrees, for example, with i-ts longitudinal centerline. ~l.so, in going transversely -- 1 () --of panel 28 from the low longitudinal side to the high longi-tudinal side -thereof, the sloped ends of cavity 52 extend downward longitudinally oE the panel 28.
Cavity 52 has a bo-ttom surface covered wi-th a sheet 54 of high ma~netic permeabili-ty material, such as mild steel, for example, which serves as a magnetic flux return path.
Disposed transversely in the cavity 52 and substantially paral-lel with the sloped ends thereof are contiguous rows of perma-nent bar magnets 56 which have respective upper surfaces sub-stan-tially flush wi-th the upper surface of panel 28. Thus, the magnets 56 substantially fill the cavity 52 from one sloped end to the other sloped end thereof, and have respective thick-- nesses which are substantially equal to the depth of cavity 52.
Although each of the magnets 56 is shown as a single contin-uous bar magnet, it is to be understood that each of the mag-nets 56 may be made up of sequential portions which, in combin-ation, are equivalentto a single bar rnagnet.
The rnagnets 56 are magnetized in the direction of their respective thicknesses and are disposed wi-th respect to one another to provide an alternating series of magnetic north and south holes which are substantially parallel -to one another.
The al-ternating series of magnetic north and south polesextends -transversely of -the upper surface of panel 28 a-t the predeter-mined angle, such as forty-five degrees, for example, wi-th the longi-tudinal centerline of said surface. Overlying the magne-ts 56 and the upper surface of panel 28 is a subs-tantially smooth sheet or layer 58 of non-magnetic material, such as austenitic stainless steel, for example~ Consequently, as shown in Fig. 2, there is established above the layer 58 and longitudinally along the panel 28 a spa-tially alternating array 60 of oppositely directed and substantially parallel ma9netic fields 62 which extend transversely at an obliqùe angle with respect to the longit~dinal centerline of panel 28.
In operation, the commingled items 14b of nonferromagnetic material.s falling from the output end of chute 24 are ~eposited on the smooth surface layer 58 at the upper end portion of panel 28. As shown in Fig. 3, since the panel 28 is inclined longitudinally at an angle ~ with the surface 32 of base member 30, gravity acts on a deposited item 14b with a force which may be represented by the vector g normal to the base surface 32. The vector g has a component gl which is directed along the panel 28 and is equal to g sin 9 . Consequently, the items 14b deposited on surface layer 58 from chute 24 commence to slide longitudinally down the panel 28 under the influence of the gravity component g1.
As shown in ~ig. 4, the panel 28 also is inclined trans-3 ~ t / ~ i r ~_ versely at an angle ~ with respect to the surface~ such that the higher and lower longitudinal half portions o ~anel 28 form respective acùte angles y with a plane e~tending vertically thro~gh the longitudinal centerline of ?anel 28.
As a result, the de~osited items 14b also are subjected to a com?onent g2 f gravity which is equal to g sin ~ . This g2 com?onent of gravity is direc.ed la.erally of the ~.-nel 28 from the high toward the lower longit~dinal side thereof.
Thereforer the items 14b de?osited on surface layer 58 from chute 24 also commence to slide laterally toward the lower longitudinal side of panel 28 while sliding longitudinally down the panel 28.
r5 shown in FigsO 5 and 6, ~he items 14b of - ~2 -I i . 1.
d nonferromaynetic material deposited on panel 28 from chute 24 include elec~rically cond~ctive items 14c which slide down the panel 28 with a velocity having a longitudinally directed component v parallel to the surface layer 58.
~ccordingly, the electrically conductive iterns 14c pass sequentially through the spatially alternating fields 62 of the array 6~ and cut their lines of magnetic flux. As a result, there is induced in each of the electrically conductive items 14c a respective eddy-current which is proportional to the rate of change in the magnetic flux enclosed by the item. Consequently, maximum eddy-currents are induced when the items 14c cross the interfacing boundaries between adjacent magnets 56 where the maximum changes in flux occurO
As taught in the aforementioned U. S. Patent 4,003,830 with respect to an item 14c comprising a ring or disc of aluminum material, the item 14c in passing from a region over a south magnetic pole to a region over a north rnagnetic pole has induced in it a clockwise eddy-current designated by the curl vector 61. As a result, there is exerted on the item 14c a force Fl which is in a plane parallel with the panel 28 and substantially perpendicular to the magnets 56. The force Fl can be resolved into two components, one designated as Fd whichfldirected longitudinally upward of the sloped surface layer 58 and the other desi~nated as Fh which is directed laterally of the co,nponent Fd.
Similarly, when the item 14c is passing from a region over a north magnetic pole to a region over a south magnetic pole, there is induced in the electrically conduc~ive i~em l4c a countercloc~wlse eddy-current designa~ed ~y curled vector 63 As a result, there is exerted on the item 14c, a force designated as F2 whlch also is in the plane parallel with panel 28 and directed substantially perpendicular to the magnets 56. Consequently, the ~orce F2 may be resolved into two components, one designated as Fd which is directed longitudi.nally upward of the sloped surface ].ayer 58 and the other designated as Fn which is directed laterally of the component Fd.
The respective components Fd of forces ~1 and F2 may be referred to as decelerating components since they are directed oppositely to the longitudinal velocity component v. How-ever, these decelerating components Fd of forces Fl and F2 are insignificant in comparison to the longitudinal gravity component gl acting to slide the items 14c longi-tudinally down the panel 28~ On the other hand, the respective components Fh of the forces Fl and F2 are significant in that they act sequentially in a uniform lateral direction to overcome the laterally directed gravity colnponent 92 and deflect the items 14c laterally upward of the transversely sloped surface layer 5~.
Accordingly, as shown in Fig. 7, when a dielectric item 14d of nonferromagnetic material is deposi.ted on surface layer 58 at the upper end portion of panel 28 and adjacent the higher longitudinal side thereof, the dielectric item 14d slides longitudinally do~7n the panel 28 under the influence of the lonyitudinal gravity component gl. Simultaneously, the item 14d slides transversely toward the lower longitudin21 side of panel 28 due to the influence of the ]aterally directed gravity component g2. As a result, the dielectric items 14d may be collected in a container 64 placed at the lower end of panel 28 and adjacent the lower lor.qitudinal side thereof.
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On the other hand, when an electrically conductive item 14c of nonferromagnetic material i5 deposited on the surface layer 58l it commences to slide both longitudinally and laterally just as dielectric item 14d. However, when the item 14c reaches the oppositely directed magnetic fields 62 of array 60 and cuts the lines of flux thereof, the described laterally directed force components ~h shown in Figs. 5 and 6 are developed. As a result, the electrically conductive items 14c while sliding longitudinally down the panel 28 are deflecl:ed laterally upward toward the higher longitudinal side of the panel 28. Consequently, the electrically conductive items 14c may be collected in a container 67 at the lower end of panel 28 and adjacent the higher longitudinal side thereof.
If desired, containers, such as 65 and 66, for example, may be placed between the respective containers 64 and 67 for collecting electrically conductive items 14c which are not deflected as far laterally as the items 14c collected in con-tainer 67. The gutter 44 i5 provided adjacent the lower longitudinally side of panel 28 for collecting the dielectric items 14d sliding off the adjacent longitudinal edge of sur-face 58 before reaching the lower end of panel 28. These dielectric items 14d slide longitudinally down the gutter 44 and into container 64~ Similarly, the gutter 46 is provided adjacent the higher longitudinal side of panel 28 for collecting the electrically conductive items 14c deflected off the adjacent longitudinal edge of surface 58 before reaching the lower end of panel 28. These electrically conductive items 14c slide longitudinally down the gutter 46 and into container 67.
In Figs~ 8 and 9, there is shown an alternative embodiment ~1 2(~ 5 C~ ~L F~
comprising a materials separator apparatus 70 of the dual ramp type having a right longitudinal half whicn is similar to the apparatus 10 shown in Fig. 1 and a left longitudinal half which is a mirror image of the right longitudinal half. The right and left longitudinal halves of apparatus 70 include respective right and left ramps 72 and 74 which are longi-tudinally inclined at a uniform angle ~ (not shown) with respect to a substantially horizontal upper surface 76 of a base supporting member 78. The right and left ramps 72 and 74 also are inclined transversely from the longitudinal centerline of apparatus 70 and form respective positive and negative angles of transverse tilt ~ . Thus, the right and left ramps 72 and 74 have abutting longitudinal sides and extend transversely therefrom in reverse angulated relationship with respect to one another to form a central trough 80 along the longltudinal centerline of apparatus 70.
The right and le~t ramps 72 and 74 comprise respective panels 82 and 84 which have juxtaposed longitudlnal side portions forming tne trough 80 and are made of rigid non-magnetic material, such as wood, for example. The opposinglongitudinal side portions of panels 82 and 84 extend along A respective right and left gutter~86 and 88 which have outer longitudinal edges defined by respective longitudinal side walls 90 and 92 which extend upwardly of the upper surface of panels 82 and 84, respectively. Cut into the upper surfaces of panels 82 and 84 are respective rhomboid-shaped cavities 94 and 96 which have straight longitudinal sides adjacent the respective gutters 86, 88 and have opposing longitudinal sides adjacent the longitudinal centerline of apparatus 70. The cavities 94 and 96 have respective opposing sloped ends ~05~
disposed adjacent the upper and lo~er end portions of the panels 82 and 84, respectively. ~owever, the opposing sloped ends of the cavities 94 and 96 extend transversely of the respective panels 82 and 84 in reverse an~ulated relationship relative to the longitudinal centerline of apparatus 70. ~on-sequently, the sloped ends of cavity 94 extend do~/n~,Jardly of the panel 82 in going toward the gutter 86; and the sloped ends of cavity 96 extend do-~nwardly of the panel 84 in going transversely toward the opposing gutter 88.
Each of the cavities 94 and 96 is substantially filled with a series of permanent bar magnets 98 and 100, respectively, which are disposed substantially parallel with the sloped ends of the respective cavities 94 and 96. As a result, the respec-tive magnets 98 and 100 form a chevron pattern having sloped side portions which extend transversely of the panels 82 and 84, respectively, at an oblique angle relative to the longi-tudinal centerlines thereof. The magnets 98 and 100 have respective thicknesses substantially equal to the depths of cavities 94 and 96, respectively. Magnets 98 and 100 are magnetized in the direction of their thic'~nesses to provide adjacent the upper surfaces of panels 82 and 84 respective alternating series of north and south magnetic poles. ~ach of the panels 82 and 84 together with the associated ~agnets, 98 and 100, respectively, is covered with a smooth surface layer, 102 and 104, of nonragnetic material, s~ch as austel-itic stainless steel, for example.
Accordingly, there is established above the layers 102 and 104 and along the ramps 72 and 74 respective spatially alternating arrays of oppositely directed magnetic fields which are extended in substantially parallel relationship.
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The arrays of ma(3netic fie]ds exten2 transversely at an obliq~e angle relative to the longitudinal centerlines of the respective ramps 72 and 7~ such that the magnetic fields form a herringbone pattern ~ith the central trough extencled along the longitudinal centerline of apparatus. Consequentl~, dielectric items 14d of nonferromagnetic material deposited on the upper end portions of the respective ramps 72 and 74 from overlying conveyor belts, 106 and 108, positioned adjacent the high longitudinal sides thereof will slide both longi-tudinally and transversely dowrl the respective surface layers102 and 104. As a result, the dielectric items 14d will enter the trough 80 and be directed into an aligned container 110 at the bottom of the trough 80. ~n the other hand, electrically conductive items 14c deposited on the ramps 72 and 74 from the respective belts 106 and 108 will begin to slide longitudinallv and transversely until they reach the respective spatially alternating arrays of oppositely directed magnetic fields established above the surface layers 102 and 104, respectivelyO
In passing through these fields the electrically conductive items 14c will have induced therein respective eddy-currents which coact with the magnetic fields to produce a resultant Force having a laterally directed component for deflecting the items 14c laterally~ As a result, the items 14c will enter the gutters 86 and 88, respectively, to be directed to ali~3ned containers, 111 and 112, respectively, at the lower ends of ramps 72 and 74, respectively. I~ desired, there may be dis-posed at the lower ends of ramps 72 and 74 respective con-tainers 113 and 114 for collecting the "middlings".
ln Fig. 10, there is sho~n another alternative -mbodiment including materials separator apparat~ls 12Q which ~os~
is similar to the apparatus 70 shown ir- Figs. 8 and 9 exceot the input feed means cornprises a materials conveyor 122 which extends transversely over t]~e entire upper end portions of ramp 72 and 74, respectively. Thus, commingled items 14c and 14d of nonferromagnetic material may be deposited frorn the conveyor 122 across the combined widths of the respective ramps 72 and 74 rather than only on their upper end portions adjacent the respective high longitudinal sides thereof as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Consequently, the apparatus 120 is enabled to handle a greatly increased load capacity, as compared to apparatus 70, since more input material can be treated, for a given burden depth and flow velocity, as the input stream of commingled items 14c and 14d is widened.
In Fig. 11 there is shown another alternative e,nbodiment including materials separator apoaratus 130 having an input feed hopper 132 with a relatively wide output end portion disposed over a relatively wide conveyor belt 134. ~he belt 134 passes around a drive roller 136 and under the output end portion of hopper 132 to receive therefrom com~ingled ite~ns 14 of heavy fraction material. Belt 134 conducts the com-mingled ite~s 14 to an output roller 138 which is of the magnetic separa~or type having a plurality of axially extending magnets (not shown) in its periphery. Corse~uently, ferro-magnetic items 14a cling to the belt 134 longer than the nonferromagnetic items 14b, and are deposited in a suitablv disposed container 139. The nonferromagnetic items 14b leave the belt 134 tangentially of the roller 138 and are deposited all along the upper end portion of a corrugated type ramp separator 140.
Separator 140 comprises 2 longitudinally ju~taposed ~ 19 --~s~
array of elonyated planar ralnps 143, 144, 145 and 146 which are incline~ longlt~dinally at a uniform angle with respect to a substantially hori~ontal upper surface 137 of a base support member 135 and inclined t~ansversely at a uniform tilt angle ~ . Adjacent ramps of the array have abutting longitudinal edge portions from which they slope transversely in reverse an~ulated relationship to form alternate crests 155 and trouyhs 156 ~ihich extend longitudinally the entire length of the array. Thus, it may be seen that pairs of adjacent ramps~ such as 143, 144 and 145, 146, for examples form respective dual ramp separators si~ilar to the apparatus 120 shown in Fig. 10 with a longitudinally extending trough formed between reverse angulated ramps.
Each of the ramps 143-146 comprises a planar panel having adjacent its upper surface an alternating series of north and south magnetic poles 147-150 9 respectively, ~.~hich are disposed substantially parallel and extend transversely at an oblique angle with the longi~udinal centerline of the respective ra~p. Also, each of the ramps 143-146 has a 2n smooth surface layer 151-154 overlying its respective panei and its respective magnetic poles 147-150. Consequentlyt each of the ramps 143-146 has established above its respective surface layer 151-154 a spatially alternating array of oppositely directed and substantially parallel ~,agnetic fiel~s which extend transversely at an oblique anyle with the longitudinal centerline of the ramp. Disposed at the lower end portion of separator 140 is a plurality of containers 157-161, the con--tainers 157, 159 and 161 being aligned with respective crests 155 and the containers 158 and 160 being aligned with respective troughs 156.
From geometric relationships indicated in Figure 11, it can be shown -that (1) tan ~ = sin (~ /tan ~
where ~ is the angle formed between -the fall path o-f a dielec--tric item 14d and the longitudinal side of a ramp, such as 146, for example. In order to obtain good segregation of the elec-t-rically conductive items 14c and the die]ectrlc items 14d, it is important that the ramp 146 be disposed at a transverse inclin-ation angle ~ sufficiently large to assure that dielectric items 14d will reach the bottom of a trough 156 independently oE where the item l~d is deposited on the upper end portion of ramp 146.
On the o-ther hand, the ramp 146 should not be disposed at such a large transverse inclination angle ~ such as greater than -ten degrees, for example, that a substantial quantity of electric-ally conductive items 14c are prevented from reaching the crest 155. A reasonable compromise between these conflicting require-ments is to select a transverse inclination angle ~ such that a dielectric item 14d starting at the upper end portion of ramp 146 and near the crest 155 will be directed into trough 156 near the lower end of ramp 146. Accordingly, since ramp 146 has a length L and a width W, the desired transverse inclination angle can be expressed as:
(2) sin ~ = (W/I,) tan ~ .
Thus, for example, if the ramp 146 is disposed at a longitudinal inclination angle ~ of approximately forty-five degrees, has a width of ~ive and three-quarter inches and a length of -ten feet, the optimal transverse inclination tilt angle ~ is two and three quarter degrees. It has been shown previously that -the la-teral deflection of an electrically 2:L -~ S~
conductive item, s~ch as 14c, for c-xample, in a relatively moving magnetic field is dependent on the size and shape of the item as well as on the ratio of its electrical conductivity to its mass density. In addition, as shown by operation of the transversely tilted ramp-type separator of this invention, the lateral deflection of electrically conductive item 14c also is dependent on the angle between the fall line of item 14c and the obliquely disposed magnets 150. Accordingly, for optimal operation of the transversely tilted ramp-type separator, the magnets 150 may be preferably disposed trans-ver.sely of the ramp 146 at an oblique angle with longit~dinal centerline thereof which compensates for the resulting fall line of electrically conductive items, such as 14c, for example.
As shown in Fig. 12, the corrusated ramp-type separator 140 shown in Fig. 11 ~ay be pro~ided with a means for periodically removing magnetic particles, s~ch as,~, for example, which pass by the magnetic separator roller 138 and adhere to the s~rface layers 151-154, res?ectively. The magnetic particle removing mearls comprises a zig-~ag sweeper device 162 carried by respective endless cables 168 and 169 which pass around respective pairs of spaced spL-ockets 170 and 171. The cables 168 and 169 carry the devlce 162 into contacting relationship along the respective surface l~yers 151-154 of the ramps 143-146. Device 162 comprls~s a ~lurality of reverse angulated blade portions 164-167 provided with respective felt or rubber edges which sweep longitudinally down the surface layers 151-154 once each revol~ltion of the cables 168 and 169, respectively, and preferably at the rate w~ich commingled items l~c and 14d travel down the respective surface layers 151-154. Since magnetic Darticles sw-pt from the surface layers 151-154 tend to follow along the underlying magnets 147-150, it is preferred that the blade portions 164-167 of sweeper d~vice 162 be disposed at sharper angles with the longit~dinal centerlincs of the rc~spective ramps 143-146, then the magnets 147-1~0 (Fig. Il), resl~ectively.
As a result, the magnetic particles swept by the felt or rubber edges of the blade portions 164-167 from the surface layers 151-154~ respectively, travel toward the lower longi-tudinal sides of the respective ramps lg3-146 and are mixed -~ith the "tailings" in containers 158 and 160, respectively.
Thus, the swept rnagnetic particles do not pose a ?roblern when the "co entrates" in containers 157, 159 and 1~1, respec-r.,æ ~3 f~ t /~7~ ~,7z_tively,,b~ re-cycled through the separator of the ral,~-type for further refinement.
From the foregoing, it will be a??arent that all of the objectives of this invention have been achieved by the structures shown and described herein. It also will be apparent, however, that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the soirit of the invention as ex?ressed in the appended claims. It is to be understood, therefore, that all ~atter sho~;n and described herein is to be interroreted in an illus.rati~e rather 'han in a restrictive sense.
is shown a ramp type of nonferromagnetic materials separator having a longitudinally sloped surface which extends trans-versely at substantially right angles to an imaginary plane passed vertically through its longitudinal centerline. This ramp type of separator is provided with steady-state magnetic means for establishing along said sloped s~rface a spatially alternating series of oppositely polarized and substantially parallèl magnetic stripes which extend transversely at an oblique anyle with respect to the longitudinal centerline of said sloped surfaceO A stream of commingled nonferromagnetic items is directed onto the upper end portion of said sloped surface and adjacent a first longitudinal side thereof to slide down the sloped surface under the influence of gravityO
Since the dielectric items of nonferromagnetic material in the stream are unaffected by the array of oppositely directed magnetic fields established by said magnetic stripes, they continue to slide down the longitudinally sloped surface of the separator and may be collected at the bottom adjacent said first longitudinal side thereof. On the other hand, the electrically conductive items of nonferromagnetic material in passing sequentially through the oppositely directed magnetic fields of the array have induced in them eddy-currents which coact with the magnetic fields. As a result, these electrically conductive items have exerted on them a resulLant force which is directed upwardly of the longitudinally sloped surface and substantially perpendicular to the magnetic stripes. Conse-quently the resultant forces have respective components which deflect the electrically conductive items laterally while they are sliding longitudinally down the sloped surface.
Thus, the electrically conductive items may be collected at . , , . .. . ~ . .. . . . . .. .... . .. .. . .. . . . ..
~ r~
the bottom of the sloped surface and adjacent the second or opposing longit~dinal side thereof.
Although the described separator operates satisfactorily for segregating electrically conductive items from commingled dielectric items of nonferromal3netic rnaterials, its efficiency in the segregation process is not one hundred percent. Con-sequently, there may be disposed between the respective containers for collecting the dielectric items and the elec-trically conductive items at the bottom of the ramp one or more containers for collecting the "middlings". ~he "middlings"
comprise a mixture of the dielectric and the electrically con-ductive items resulting from incomplete separations of these items. In some instances, the percentage of dielectric items in the "middlings" may be considered to be objectionable because, among other reasons, excessive lateral spreading of the dielectric items takes place as they slide longitudinally down the ramp and high feed rates cause a relatively larger number of collisions to occur on the ramp surface between the dielectric items and the deflected electrically conductive i-tems.
Summary of the Invention The present invention provides materials separator apparatus, comprlsing ma-terial guide means inclu~ing a base and a plurality of ]ongitudinally juxtaposed panels suppor-ted at a preferred angle of longitudinal inclination with respec-t to the base for receiving commingled dielectric i-tems and electrically conductive items of nonferromagnetic materials and directing the items longitudinally downward of the panels.
Adjacen-t panels have respective material receiving surEace means, with first longitudinal edges disposed in contiguous relationship for forming an interposed trough between the adjacent panels. The surface means extend transversely from the first longitudinal edges at respective reverse angles of transverse inclination relative to the con-tiguous longitud-inal edges. The surface means have respective highes-t portions and lowest portions disposed diagonally opposite one ano-ther, for directing the items along paths extended longitudinally and transversely downward of the surface means including along respective Eall paths extended from adjacent -the high-2n es-t portions to adjacent the lowest portions of -the respective surface means.
Steady-state magne-tic means are magnetically coupled to each of the material receiving surface means for forming, along each of the surface means, a respec-tive spatially al-ternating array of oppositely directed static magnetic Eields extending transversely at an oblique angle relative -to the respective fall path and subjecting the electrically conduc-tive items of the nonferromagnetic materials to an electro-magnetic Eorce having a lateral component directed -trans-versely upward of -the surface means, -the oblique angle being suitable for providing the lateral component wi-th a magnitude sufficient for deflecting the electrically conduc-tive i-tern.s out of the fall path and transversely upward of the surface means while travelling longitudinally downward oE the panel.
In operation, commingled items of nonferromagnetic material are deposited on the upper end portion of the mater-ials receiving surface. As a resul-t, the deposited items are acted upon by orthogonally directed components of gravity.
A longitudinally directed component of gravity urges the items --~a-/o~
to slide longitu~inally down the materials receiving surface;
while a laterally directed component of gravity ~rges the items to slide transversely toward the lower longitudinal side of the materials receiving surface. Consequently, the dielectric items of nonferromasnetic material, which are unaffected by the magnetic fields, may be collected at the lower end of the materials receiving surface and adjacent the lower longitudinal side thereof.
The electrically conductive items of nonferromagnetic material, while passing through the magnetic fields, have induced therein respective eddy-currents which coact with the magnetic fields to exert a resultant force on these items.
The resultant force has a laterally directed component which deflects the electrically conductive items laterally toward the higher longitudinal side of the materials receiving surface and against the laterally directed component of gravity. Con-sequently, the electrically conductive items may be collected at the lower end of the materials receiving surface and adjacent the higher longitudinal side thereof.
Therefore, with a laterally directed component of gravity aiding in the separation of electrically conductivP items and dielectric items the input commingled items of nonferromagnetic material may be deposited anywhere transversely at the upper end portion of the materials receiving surface. Accordingly, this separator may be provided with input feed means having its output disposed for depositing commingled items of nonferro-magnetic material all across the upper or inp~t end portion of the materials receiving surface. Also, this separator may comprise a corrugated array of longit~dinally ju~ aposed ra~ps.
Thus~ the input handlins capacity of this transversely inclined ramp-type separator may be increased to as m~ch as ten times the inp~t handling capacity of a conventional ramp-type separator.
~ S~
srief Description of the_Draw _gs For a better understanding of this invention, reference is made in the tollowing detailed description to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric view of materials separator apparatus embodying the invention;
FIG. 2 is a longit~dinal sectional view taken along the line 2-2 shown in Fig. 1 and look~ing in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of gravity vector forces acting longitudinally of the ramp s~rface shown in Fig. l;
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of gravity vector forces acting transversely of the ramp surface shown in Fig '-FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of electromagnetic vectorforces actin~ on an electrically conductive item;
- FIG. 6 is another diagrammatic view of electromagnetic 1, / , ~ ~
forces acting on the electrically conductive ite~ shown in Fig. 5;
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a dielectric item and an electrically conductive item on the ramp surface shown in Fig. l;
FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of an alternative embodi-r,ent of the invention;
FIGo 9 is a schematic end view of the alternative embodiment shown in Fig. 8;
FIG. 10 is a schematic isometric view of another alter-native embodilnent of the invention;
FIG. 11 is a schematic isometric view of still another alternative embodiment of the invention; and FIG. 12 is a schematic isometric view of the embodiment t -shown in Fig. 11 provided with an auxiliary cleaning device.
~z~
Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts, Fig. 1 shows a materials separator apparatus 10 having material feed means comprising a funnel-shaped hopper 12 disposed for receiving commingled items 14 of heavy fraction waste material. The items 14 may be obtained from previous processing steps of shreddinq solid municipal waste into items of manageable size and removing the light fraction items, such as paper products, for example, by conventional air classifier means (not shown). The resulting cornmingled items 14 o' heavy fraction materials deposited in hopper 12 are directed into a stream emerging from the output end portion of hopper 12 and falling onto a moving endless belt 16 of a material cor.yeyor -reans.
Belt 16 is made of pliable non-magnetic material, s~ch as rubber, for example, which travels around a drive roller 18 to pass under the output end portion of hopper 12 and receive therefrom the stream of commingled items 14 of heavy fraction materials. The items 14 are carried by belt 16 to an output roller 20 having coupled to its periphery a ~lurality of axially extending permanent magnets (not shown) which hold ~ ferromagnetic items 14a onto the belt 16 by the forces of magnetic attraction. Thus, the roller 20 compr1ses a con-ventional magnetic separator which causes the ferromagnetic items 14a to adhere to belt 16 longer than the nonferromagnetic items 14b and drop into a suitably disposed container 22 after the belt 16 has carried the items 14a out of che magnetic influence exerted by roller 20. The nonferromagnetic items 14b leave the roller 20 tangentially and fall into a con-ventional vibrator chute 24 which guides the items 14b in suitably thin stream feeding onto a nonferromagnetic materials separator 26 of the ramp type.
This nonferromagnetic ma-terials separator 26 com-prises an elongated planar panel 28 which is longituclinal]y inclined with respect to a substantially horizon-tal upper sur-face 32 of a base support member 30 and, in addition, tilted by raising a longitudinal edge vertically relative -to the oppo-site longitudinal edge. Panel 28 has its lower longi-tudinal edge pivotally secured by suitable means, such as spaced hinges 34, for example, to the upper surface 35 of an inclined plat-form 37 which is in turn supported at an angle of longitudinal inclination to horizontal base 30 by telescopic pos-ts 38 (only one being shown). Thus, the telescopic posts 38 may be adjust-ed to dispose the platform 37 longitudinally at a desired angle of longitudinal inclination ~ with respect -to surface 32 of base member 30. Addi-tionally, the telescopic posts 36 and 40 may be adjusted to dispose the panel 28 transversely at a desired angle of -ti.lt ~ with respect to surface 35 of inclined pla-tform 37.
The panel 28 is made of rigid nonmagnetic ma-terial, such as wood, for example, and has an upper surface disposed between longitudinally extending gutters, 44 and 46, respec--ti.vely, which have outer edges deEined by upwardly ex-tending, side walls, 48 and 50, respectively. Cu-t into the upper sur-face of panel 28 is a generally rhomboid-shaped cavi-ty 52 having straigh-t parallel sides adjacent the respective gut-ters 44,46 and having parallel sloped ends adjacent the respective upper and lower end portions of panel 28. The sloped ends of cavity 52 extend transversely of the panel 28 at a predeter-mined angl.e, such as forty-five degrees, for example, with i-ts longitudinal centerline. ~l.so, in going transversely -- 1 () --of panel 28 from the low longitudinal side to the high longi-tudinal side -thereof, the sloped ends of cavity 52 extend downward longitudinally oE the panel 28.
Cavity 52 has a bo-ttom surface covered wi-th a sheet 54 of high ma~netic permeabili-ty material, such as mild steel, for example, which serves as a magnetic flux return path.
Disposed transversely in the cavity 52 and substantially paral-lel with the sloped ends thereof are contiguous rows of perma-nent bar magnets 56 which have respective upper surfaces sub-stan-tially flush wi-th the upper surface of panel 28. Thus, the magnets 56 substantially fill the cavity 52 from one sloped end to the other sloped end thereof, and have respective thick-- nesses which are substantially equal to the depth of cavity 52.
Although each of the magnets 56 is shown as a single contin-uous bar magnet, it is to be understood that each of the mag-nets 56 may be made up of sequential portions which, in combin-ation, are equivalentto a single bar rnagnet.
The rnagnets 56 are magnetized in the direction of their respective thicknesses and are disposed wi-th respect to one another to provide an alternating series of magnetic north and south holes which are substantially parallel -to one another.
The al-ternating series of magnetic north and south polesextends -transversely of -the upper surface of panel 28 a-t the predeter-mined angle, such as forty-five degrees, for example, wi-th the longi-tudinal centerline of said surface. Overlying the magne-ts 56 and the upper surface of panel 28 is a subs-tantially smooth sheet or layer 58 of non-magnetic material, such as austenitic stainless steel, for example~ Consequently, as shown in Fig. 2, there is established above the layer 58 and longitudinally along the panel 28 a spa-tially alternating array 60 of oppositely directed and substantially parallel ma9netic fields 62 which extend transversely at an obliqùe angle with respect to the longit~dinal centerline of panel 28.
In operation, the commingled items 14b of nonferromagnetic material.s falling from the output end of chute 24 are ~eposited on the smooth surface layer 58 at the upper end portion of panel 28. As shown in Fig. 3, since the panel 28 is inclined longitudinally at an angle ~ with the surface 32 of base member 30, gravity acts on a deposited item 14b with a force which may be represented by the vector g normal to the base surface 32. The vector g has a component gl which is directed along the panel 28 and is equal to g sin 9 . Consequently, the items 14b deposited on surface layer 58 from chute 24 commence to slide longitudinally down the panel 28 under the influence of the gravity component g1.
As shown in ~ig. 4, the panel 28 also is inclined trans-3 ~ t / ~ i r ~_ versely at an angle ~ with respect to the surface~ such that the higher and lower longitudinal half portions o ~anel 28 form respective acùte angles y with a plane e~tending vertically thro~gh the longitudinal centerline of ?anel 28.
As a result, the de~osited items 14b also are subjected to a com?onent g2 f gravity which is equal to g sin ~ . This g2 com?onent of gravity is direc.ed la.erally of the ~.-nel 28 from the high toward the lower longit~dinal side thereof.
Thereforer the items 14b de?osited on surface layer 58 from chute 24 also commence to slide laterally toward the lower longitudinal side of panel 28 while sliding longitudinally down the panel 28.
r5 shown in FigsO 5 and 6, ~he items 14b of - ~2 -I i . 1.
d nonferromaynetic material deposited on panel 28 from chute 24 include elec~rically cond~ctive items 14c which slide down the panel 28 with a velocity having a longitudinally directed component v parallel to the surface layer 58.
~ccordingly, the electrically conductive iterns 14c pass sequentially through the spatially alternating fields 62 of the array 6~ and cut their lines of magnetic flux. As a result, there is induced in each of the electrically conductive items 14c a respective eddy-current which is proportional to the rate of change in the magnetic flux enclosed by the item. Consequently, maximum eddy-currents are induced when the items 14c cross the interfacing boundaries between adjacent magnets 56 where the maximum changes in flux occurO
As taught in the aforementioned U. S. Patent 4,003,830 with respect to an item 14c comprising a ring or disc of aluminum material, the item 14c in passing from a region over a south magnetic pole to a region over a north rnagnetic pole has induced in it a clockwise eddy-current designated by the curl vector 61. As a result, there is exerted on the item 14c a force Fl which is in a plane parallel with the panel 28 and substantially perpendicular to the magnets 56. The force Fl can be resolved into two components, one designated as Fd whichfldirected longitudinally upward of the sloped surface layer 58 and the other desi~nated as Fh which is directed laterally of the co,nponent Fd.
Similarly, when the item 14c is passing from a region over a north magnetic pole to a region over a south magnetic pole, there is induced in the electrically conduc~ive i~em l4c a countercloc~wlse eddy-current designa~ed ~y curled vector 63 As a result, there is exerted on the item 14c, a force designated as F2 whlch also is in the plane parallel with panel 28 and directed substantially perpendicular to the magnets 56. Consequently, the ~orce F2 may be resolved into two components, one designated as Fd which is directed longitudi.nally upward of the sloped surface ].ayer 58 and the other designated as Fn which is directed laterally of the component Fd.
The respective components Fd of forces ~1 and F2 may be referred to as decelerating components since they are directed oppositely to the longitudinal velocity component v. How-ever, these decelerating components Fd of forces Fl and F2 are insignificant in comparison to the longitudinal gravity component gl acting to slide the items 14c longi-tudinally down the panel 28~ On the other hand, the respective components Fh of the forces Fl and F2 are significant in that they act sequentially in a uniform lateral direction to overcome the laterally directed gravity colnponent 92 and deflect the items 14c laterally upward of the transversely sloped surface layer 5~.
Accordingly, as shown in Fig. 7, when a dielectric item 14d of nonferromagnetic material is deposi.ted on surface layer 58 at the upper end portion of panel 28 and adjacent the higher longitudinal side thereof, the dielectric item 14d slides longitudinally do~7n the panel 28 under the influence of the lonyitudinal gravity component gl. Simultaneously, the item 14d slides transversely toward the lower longitudin21 side of panel 28 due to the influence of the ]aterally directed gravity component g2. As a result, the dielectric items 14d may be collected in a container 64 placed at the lower end of panel 28 and adjacent the lower lor.qitudinal side thereof.
s~
On the other hand, when an electrically conductive item 14c of nonferromagnetic material i5 deposited on the surface layer 58l it commences to slide both longitudinally and laterally just as dielectric item 14d. However, when the item 14c reaches the oppositely directed magnetic fields 62 of array 60 and cuts the lines of flux thereof, the described laterally directed force components ~h shown in Figs. 5 and 6 are developed. As a result, the electrically conductive items 14c while sliding longitudinally down the panel 28 are deflecl:ed laterally upward toward the higher longitudinal side of the panel 28. Consequently, the electrically conductive items 14c may be collected in a container 67 at the lower end of panel 28 and adjacent the higher longitudinal side thereof.
If desired, containers, such as 65 and 66, for example, may be placed between the respective containers 64 and 67 for collecting electrically conductive items 14c which are not deflected as far laterally as the items 14c collected in con-tainer 67. The gutter 44 i5 provided adjacent the lower longitudinally side of panel 28 for collecting the dielectric items 14d sliding off the adjacent longitudinal edge of sur-face 58 before reaching the lower end of panel 28. These dielectric items 14d slide longitudinally down the gutter 44 and into container 64~ Similarly, the gutter 46 is provided adjacent the higher longitudinal side of panel 28 for collecting the electrically conductive items 14c deflected off the adjacent longitudinal edge of surface 58 before reaching the lower end of panel 28. These electrically conductive items 14c slide longitudinally down the gutter 46 and into container 67.
In Figs~ 8 and 9, there is shown an alternative embodiment ~1 2(~ 5 C~ ~L F~
comprising a materials separator apparatus 70 of the dual ramp type having a right longitudinal half whicn is similar to the apparatus 10 shown in Fig. 1 and a left longitudinal half which is a mirror image of the right longitudinal half. The right and left longitudinal halves of apparatus 70 include respective right and left ramps 72 and 74 which are longi-tudinally inclined at a uniform angle ~ (not shown) with respect to a substantially horizontal upper surface 76 of a base supporting member 78. The right and left ramps 72 and 74 also are inclined transversely from the longitudinal centerline of apparatus 70 and form respective positive and negative angles of transverse tilt ~ . Thus, the right and left ramps 72 and 74 have abutting longitudinal sides and extend transversely therefrom in reverse angulated relationship with respect to one another to form a central trough 80 along the longltudinal centerline of apparatus 70.
The right and le~t ramps 72 and 74 comprise respective panels 82 and 84 which have juxtaposed longitudlnal side portions forming tne trough 80 and are made of rigid non-magnetic material, such as wood, for example. The opposinglongitudinal side portions of panels 82 and 84 extend along A respective right and left gutter~86 and 88 which have outer longitudinal edges defined by respective longitudinal side walls 90 and 92 which extend upwardly of the upper surface of panels 82 and 84, respectively. Cut into the upper surfaces of panels 82 and 84 are respective rhomboid-shaped cavities 94 and 96 which have straight longitudinal sides adjacent the respective gutters 86, 88 and have opposing longitudinal sides adjacent the longitudinal centerline of apparatus 70. The cavities 94 and 96 have respective opposing sloped ends ~05~
disposed adjacent the upper and lo~er end portions of the panels 82 and 84, respectively. ~owever, the opposing sloped ends of the cavities 94 and 96 extend transversely of the respective panels 82 and 84 in reverse an~ulated relationship relative to the longitudinal centerline of apparatus 70. ~on-sequently, the sloped ends of cavity 94 extend do~/n~,Jardly of the panel 82 in going toward the gutter 86; and the sloped ends of cavity 96 extend do-~nwardly of the panel 84 in going transversely toward the opposing gutter 88.
Each of the cavities 94 and 96 is substantially filled with a series of permanent bar magnets 98 and 100, respectively, which are disposed substantially parallel with the sloped ends of the respective cavities 94 and 96. As a result, the respec-tive magnets 98 and 100 form a chevron pattern having sloped side portions which extend transversely of the panels 82 and 84, respectively, at an oblique angle relative to the longi-tudinal centerlines thereof. The magnets 98 and 100 have respective thicknesses substantially equal to the depths of cavities 94 and 96, respectively. Magnets 98 and 100 are magnetized in the direction of their thic'~nesses to provide adjacent the upper surfaces of panels 82 and 84 respective alternating series of north and south magnetic poles. ~ach of the panels 82 and 84 together with the associated ~agnets, 98 and 100, respectively, is covered with a smooth surface layer, 102 and 104, of nonragnetic material, s~ch as austel-itic stainless steel, for example.
Accordingly, there is established above the layers 102 and 104 and along the ramps 72 and 74 respective spatially alternating arrays of oppositely directed magnetic fields which are extended in substantially parallel relationship.
~2~c5~4?~
The arrays of ma(3netic fie]ds exten2 transversely at an obliq~e angle relative to the longitudinal centerlines of the respective ramps 72 and 7~ such that the magnetic fields form a herringbone pattern ~ith the central trough extencled along the longitudinal centerline of apparatus. Consequentl~, dielectric items 14d of nonferromagnetic material deposited on the upper end portions of the respective ramps 72 and 74 from overlying conveyor belts, 106 and 108, positioned adjacent the high longitudinal sides thereof will slide both longi-tudinally and transversely dowrl the respective surface layers102 and 104. As a result, the dielectric items 14d will enter the trough 80 and be directed into an aligned container 110 at the bottom of the trough 80. ~n the other hand, electrically conductive items 14c deposited on the ramps 72 and 74 from the respective belts 106 and 108 will begin to slide longitudinallv and transversely until they reach the respective spatially alternating arrays of oppositely directed magnetic fields established above the surface layers 102 and 104, respectivelyO
In passing through these fields the electrically conductive items 14c will have induced therein respective eddy-currents which coact with the magnetic fields to produce a resultant Force having a laterally directed component for deflecting the items 14c laterally~ As a result, the items 14c will enter the gutters 86 and 88, respectively, to be directed to ali~3ned containers, 111 and 112, respectively, at the lower ends of ramps 72 and 74, respectively. I~ desired, there may be dis-posed at the lower ends of ramps 72 and 74 respective con-tainers 113 and 114 for collecting the "middlings".
ln Fig. 10, there is sho~n another alternative -mbodiment including materials separator apparat~ls 12Q which ~os~
is similar to the apparatus 70 shown ir- Figs. 8 and 9 exceot the input feed means cornprises a materials conveyor 122 which extends transversely over t]~e entire upper end portions of ramp 72 and 74, respectively. Thus, commingled items 14c and 14d of nonferromagnetic material may be deposited frorn the conveyor 122 across the combined widths of the respective ramps 72 and 74 rather than only on their upper end portions adjacent the respective high longitudinal sides thereof as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Consequently, the apparatus 120 is enabled to handle a greatly increased load capacity, as compared to apparatus 70, since more input material can be treated, for a given burden depth and flow velocity, as the input stream of commingled items 14c and 14d is widened.
In Fig. 11 there is shown another alternative e,nbodiment including materials separator apoaratus 130 having an input feed hopper 132 with a relatively wide output end portion disposed over a relatively wide conveyor belt 134. ~he belt 134 passes around a drive roller 136 and under the output end portion of hopper 132 to receive therefrom com~ingled ite~ns 14 of heavy fraction material. Belt 134 conducts the com-mingled ite~s 14 to an output roller 138 which is of the magnetic separa~or type having a plurality of axially extending magnets (not shown) in its periphery. Corse~uently, ferro-magnetic items 14a cling to the belt 134 longer than the nonferromagnetic items 14b, and are deposited in a suitablv disposed container 139. The nonferromagnetic items 14b leave the belt 134 tangentially of the roller 138 and are deposited all along the upper end portion of a corrugated type ramp separator 140.
Separator 140 comprises 2 longitudinally ju~taposed ~ 19 --~s~
array of elonyated planar ralnps 143, 144, 145 and 146 which are incline~ longlt~dinally at a uniform angle with respect to a substantially hori~ontal upper surface 137 of a base support member 135 and inclined t~ansversely at a uniform tilt angle ~ . Adjacent ramps of the array have abutting longitudinal edge portions from which they slope transversely in reverse an~ulated relationship to form alternate crests 155 and trouyhs 156 ~ihich extend longitudinally the entire length of the array. Thus, it may be seen that pairs of adjacent ramps~ such as 143, 144 and 145, 146, for examples form respective dual ramp separators si~ilar to the apparatus 120 shown in Fig. 10 with a longitudinally extending trough formed between reverse angulated ramps.
Each of the ramps 143-146 comprises a planar panel having adjacent its upper surface an alternating series of north and south magnetic poles 147-150 9 respectively, ~.~hich are disposed substantially parallel and extend transversely at an oblique angle with the longi~udinal centerline of the respective ra~p. Also, each of the ramps 143-146 has a 2n smooth surface layer 151-154 overlying its respective panei and its respective magnetic poles 147-150. Consequentlyt each of the ramps 143-146 has established above its respective surface layer 151-154 a spatially alternating array of oppositely directed and substantially parallel ~,agnetic fiel~s which extend transversely at an oblique anyle with the longitudinal centerline of the ramp. Disposed at the lower end portion of separator 140 is a plurality of containers 157-161, the con--tainers 157, 159 and 161 being aligned with respective crests 155 and the containers 158 and 160 being aligned with respective troughs 156.
From geometric relationships indicated in Figure 11, it can be shown -that (1) tan ~ = sin (~ /tan ~
where ~ is the angle formed between -the fall path o-f a dielec--tric item 14d and the longitudinal side of a ramp, such as 146, for example. In order to obtain good segregation of the elec-t-rically conductive items 14c and the die]ectrlc items 14d, it is important that the ramp 146 be disposed at a transverse inclin-ation angle ~ sufficiently large to assure that dielectric items 14d will reach the bottom of a trough 156 independently oE where the item l~d is deposited on the upper end portion of ramp 146.
On the o-ther hand, the ramp 146 should not be disposed at such a large transverse inclination angle ~ such as greater than -ten degrees, for example, that a substantial quantity of electric-ally conductive items 14c are prevented from reaching the crest 155. A reasonable compromise between these conflicting require-ments is to select a transverse inclination angle ~ such that a dielectric item 14d starting at the upper end portion of ramp 146 and near the crest 155 will be directed into trough 156 near the lower end of ramp 146. Accordingly, since ramp 146 has a length L and a width W, the desired transverse inclination angle can be expressed as:
(2) sin ~ = (W/I,) tan ~ .
Thus, for example, if the ramp 146 is disposed at a longitudinal inclination angle ~ of approximately forty-five degrees, has a width of ~ive and three-quarter inches and a length of -ten feet, the optimal transverse inclination tilt angle ~ is two and three quarter degrees. It has been shown previously that -the la-teral deflection of an electrically 2:L -~ S~
conductive item, s~ch as 14c, for c-xample, in a relatively moving magnetic field is dependent on the size and shape of the item as well as on the ratio of its electrical conductivity to its mass density. In addition, as shown by operation of the transversely tilted ramp-type separator of this invention, the lateral deflection of electrically conductive item 14c also is dependent on the angle between the fall line of item 14c and the obliquely disposed magnets 150. Accordingly, for optimal operation of the transversely tilted ramp-type separator, the magnets 150 may be preferably disposed trans-ver.sely of the ramp 146 at an oblique angle with longit~dinal centerline thereof which compensates for the resulting fall line of electrically conductive items, such as 14c, for example.
As shown in Fig. 12, the corrusated ramp-type separator 140 shown in Fig. 11 ~ay be pro~ided with a means for periodically removing magnetic particles, s~ch as,~, for example, which pass by the magnetic separator roller 138 and adhere to the s~rface layers 151-154, res?ectively. The magnetic particle removing mearls comprises a zig-~ag sweeper device 162 carried by respective endless cables 168 and 169 which pass around respective pairs of spaced spL-ockets 170 and 171. The cables 168 and 169 carry the devlce 162 into contacting relationship along the respective surface l~yers 151-154 of the ramps 143-146. Device 162 comprls~s a ~lurality of reverse angulated blade portions 164-167 provided with respective felt or rubber edges which sweep longitudinally down the surface layers 151-154 once each revol~ltion of the cables 168 and 169, respectively, and preferably at the rate w~ich commingled items l~c and 14d travel down the respective surface layers 151-154. Since magnetic Darticles sw-pt from the surface layers 151-154 tend to follow along the underlying magnets 147-150, it is preferred that the blade portions 164-167 of sweeper d~vice 162 be disposed at sharper angles with the longit~dinal centerlincs of the rc~spective ramps 143-146, then the magnets 147-1~0 (Fig. Il), resl~ectively.
As a result, the magnetic particles swept by the felt or rubber edges of the blade portions 164-167 from the surface layers 151-154~ respectively, travel toward the lower longi-tudinal sides of the respective ramps lg3-146 and are mixed -~ith the "tailings" in containers 158 and 160, respectively.
Thus, the swept rnagnetic particles do not pose a ?roblern when the "co entrates" in containers 157, 159 and 1~1, respec-r.,æ ~3 f~ t /~7~ ~,7z_tively,,b~ re-cycled through the separator of the ral,~-type for further refinement.
From the foregoing, it will be a??arent that all of the objectives of this invention have been achieved by the structures shown and described herein. It also will be apparent, however, that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the soirit of the invention as ex?ressed in the appended claims. It is to be understood, therefore, that all ~atter sho~;n and described herein is to be interroreted in an illus.rati~e rather 'han in a restrictive sense.
Claims (9)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Materials separator apparatus comprising:
material guide means including a base and a plura-lity of longitudinally juxtaposed panels supported at a pre-ferred angle of longitudinal inclination with respect to the base for receiving commingled dielectric items and electri-cally conductive items of nonferromagnetic materials and directing said items longitudinally downward of said panels;
adjacent panels having respective material receiving surface means with first longitudinal edges disposed in con-tiguous relationship for forming an interposed trough between said adjacent panels, said surface means extending trans-versely from said first longitudinal edges at respective reverse angles of transverse inclination relative to said contiguous longitudinal edges, said surface means having res-pective highest portions and lowest portions disposed diag-onally opposite one another, for directing said items along paths extended longitudinally and transversely downward of said surface means including along respective fall paths extended from adjacent said highest portions to adjacent said lowest portions of the respective surface means; and steady-state magnetic means magnetically coupled to each of said material receiving surface means for forming along each of said surface means a respective spatially al-ternating array of oppositely directed static magnetic fields extending transversely at an oblique angle relative to said respective fall path and subjecting said electrically conduc-tive items of the nonferromagnetic materials to an electro-magnetic force having a lateral component directed trans-versely upward of said surface means, said oblique angle being suitable for providing the lateral component with a magnitude sufficient for deflecting said electrically conductive items out of said fall path and transversely upward of said surface means while travelling longitudinally downward of said panel.
material guide means including a base and a plura-lity of longitudinally juxtaposed panels supported at a pre-ferred angle of longitudinal inclination with respect to the base for receiving commingled dielectric items and electri-cally conductive items of nonferromagnetic materials and directing said items longitudinally downward of said panels;
adjacent panels having respective material receiving surface means with first longitudinal edges disposed in con-tiguous relationship for forming an interposed trough between said adjacent panels, said surface means extending trans-versely from said first longitudinal edges at respective reverse angles of transverse inclination relative to said contiguous longitudinal edges, said surface means having res-pective highest portions and lowest portions disposed diag-onally opposite one another, for directing said items along paths extended longitudinally and transversely downward of said surface means including along respective fall paths extended from adjacent said highest portions to adjacent said lowest portions of the respective surface means; and steady-state magnetic means magnetically coupled to each of said material receiving surface means for forming along each of said surface means a respective spatially al-ternating array of oppositely directed static magnetic fields extending transversely at an oblique angle relative to said respective fall path and subjecting said electrically conduc-tive items of the nonferromagnetic materials to an electro-magnetic force having a lateral component directed trans-versely upward of said surface means, said oblique angle being suitable for providing the lateral component with a magnitude sufficient for deflecting said electrically conductive items out of said fall path and transversely upward of said surface means while travelling longitudinally downward of said panel.
2. Materials separator apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said material guide means include input material feed means for depositing said commingled items tranversely across the entire plurality of juxtaposed panels.
3. Materials separator apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said material receiving surface means extend trans-versely from said first longitudinal edges at said reverse angles of inclination to respective second longitudinal edges disposed in contiguous relationship with other adjacent panels and form respective crests of a corrugated plurality of panels.
4. Materials separator apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said material guide means includes input material feed means for depositing said commingled items transversely across said corrugated plurality of panels and said crests of the corrugated plurality comprise splitter means for direc-ting said commingled items between said adjacent panels of the plurality.
5. Materials separator apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said commingled items are directed along said pre-determined fall paths at an angle .beta. with said first longi-tudinal edges in accordance with the relationship:
tan .beta. = sin .PHI. /tan .theta.
where .theta. is said angle of longitudinal inclination and .PHI. is said transverse angle of inclination.
tan .beta. = sin .PHI. /tan .theta.
where .theta. is said angle of longitudinal inclination and .PHI. is said transverse angle of inclination.
6. Material separator apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said transverse angle of inclination is determined by the relationship:
sin .PHI. = (W/L)tan .theta.
where L is the length of any one of said panels and W is the width of the panel.
sin .PHI. = (W/L)tan .theta.
where L is the length of any one of said panels and W is the width of the panel.
7. Materials separator apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said material guide means includes magnetic sweeper means comprising a zig-zag sweeper device having respective blades movable along respective material receiving surface means of said panels.
8. Materials separator apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of said blade has a yieldable portion movable in contacting relationship with said respective material receiving surface.
9. Materials separator apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein blades are movable along respective surface means of the panels at a more acute angle with respect to said first longitudinal edges thereof than the angle of the magnetic fields relative to said first longitudinal edges.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US43516082A | 1982-10-19 | 1982-10-19 | |
| US435,160 | 1982-10-19 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1205042A true CA1205042A (en) | 1986-05-27 |
Family
ID=23727250
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000438111A Expired CA1205042A (en) | 1982-10-19 | 1983-09-30 | Transversely inclined ramp separator |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1205042A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN110639695A (en) * | 2019-10-03 | 2020-01-03 | 丁先虎 | Iron ore tailing separation equipment adopting electromagnetic adsorption mode |
-
1983
- 1983-09-30 CA CA000438111A patent/CA1205042A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN110639695A (en) * | 2019-10-03 | 2020-01-03 | 丁先虎 | Iron ore tailing separation equipment adopting electromagnetic adsorption mode |
| CN110639695B (en) * | 2019-10-03 | 2020-11-10 | 广西南丹县三鑫环境治理有限公司 | Iron ore tailing separation equipment adopting electromagnetic adsorption mode |
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