GB586777A - Concentrator and method of concentration - Google Patents

Abstract

586,777. Washing ores. HUMPHREYS, I. B. Oct. 17, 1944, No. 20061. [Class 82 (ii)] A method of concentrating ores comprises flowing a liquid suspension of the ore down a helical channel and separately collecting at points in the stream particles which have like specific gravity and have assumed like positions in the stream, any uncollected particles being discharged at the end of the channel. As shown, the apparatus comprises a framework A supporting a helical channel B which is made up from sections 15 each having one aperture 20 from which concentrate is drawn off by pipes 32, 33. The cross section of the channel is as shown in Fig. 2, the liquid assuming the shape shown by the dotted line 52. The heaviest particles collect at the shallow inner edge 54 and are urged towards the draw off aperture 20, which has an adjustable plug 57 arranged to collect any desired portion of the shallow edge, by wash water supplied by a pipe C and obtained from the deep edge of the stream or a separate wash water trough above, Fig. 15 (not shown), or below, Fig. 3 (not shown), the main channel. In a modification, Fig. 6 (not shown), wash water is supplied by an L-section blade. In a further modification, Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 15 (not shown), the inner edge of the channel is modified by flattening from a point immediately before one aperture to a point before the next aperture. By careful selection of the apertures used for drawing off, a classification of each constituent removed may be obtained.