US1442199A - Hydraulic separator - Google Patents

Description

H. R. WAHL. HYDRAULIC SEPARATOR.

ORIGINAL HLED NOV. 6.1915.

ATTORNEY.

8 SHEETS-SHEET Jan. 16, 1923.

' 1,442,199. H. R. WAHL.

HYDRAULIC SEPARATOR.

ORIGINAL FILED NOV 6, 1915. 8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

` /E .W INKENQR.

AT TORNEY` Jan. 16, 1923.

H. R. WAHL.

HYDRAULIC SEPARATOR. ORIGINAL FILED Nov 6. 1915.

8 SHEETS SHEET 3. 4

INVENTQR.

ATTORNEY. A

Jan. 16, 1923.

` H. R. WAHL.

HYDRAULIC sEPARAToR.

ORIGINAL FILED NOV. 6. 1915.

B SHEETS-SHEET 4..

E' BY ATTORNEY Jan. 16, 1923.

H. R. WAHL.

VHYDRAULIC sEPARAToR.

ORIGINAL FILED NOV. 6. 1915. 8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

F/G. 6. l 5d ATTORNEY.

' J an. 16, 1923.

` H. R. WAHL. HYDRAULIC SEPARATR. omelNALHLED Nov'.6.1915.

BSHEETS-SHEET S.

IN V ENTOR. WML

Jan. 16, 1923.

H. H. WAHL.

HYDRAULIC SEPARATOR. oHlGlNALrlLED Nov.6,1915.

a SHEETSHEEI 111 INVENTOR V95. /2 w BY zw/ ATTRNEY.

Jan. 16, 1923.

' H. R. WAHL.

HYDRAULIC SEPARATOR.

ORIGINAL FILED NOVI 6| 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET H.

i mymywm WMM-,4%

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 16, 1923.

uNrrEnvsrATnsy 1,442,199 Param OFFICE.

HENRY n. WAHI., or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. t

HYDRAULIC SEPARATOR.

original application meal November 6,1915, serial No. 60,019. raient No.'1,sos,sc1,. dated ninewio, 1919. i

n Dividedand this application led .Tune 6, 1919. Serial No. 302,158.

T 0 all whom/t may conce/m:

y Be it known that I, HENRY R. WHL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the countyiof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Separators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.y

This invention relates to improvements in hydraulic separators for crushed ores and is a division of my co-pending applicationy filed November 6, 1915, Serial No. 60,019.l .y

My invention relates to improvements in sand-slime classifiers27 particularly those known as mechanical classiers wherein heretofore the sand, together with some of the slimes, settles on the inclined bottom of a containing tank, from which they are discharged at a point higher than the water level by a mechanical means, such for eX- ample as reciprocating scrapers, or helical conveyors, the agitation of which is intended to prevent to a certain extent the settling of the slimes, and promote disintegration of the sand enclosing slimes, further augmented if desired by water sprays directed against the sand before being discharged; which opera'- tion, however, necessitates repetitions detrimental to efliciency and capacity.

My invention further relates to improvements in dewatering machines for crushed ore, or tailings, heretofore discharged from their containingrtank.by a scraping operation, such as an endless chain with scraper flights, or a revolving wheel with attached Scrapers, the use of which is objectionable because of the wear and tear thereto from their frictional contact with the bottom of the tank, and which for the discharging of crushed ore is more seriously objectionable because of pulverizing the ore and thereby producing slimes, which are ditlicult of recovery by mechanical Imeans of concentra-V For theoperation of crushing' the vor e,'the

well-known ball or tube mills havemerited inos't consideration, and the product from these machines consists of-particles ranging in'size from a very'iine powder, usually termed slimes, and increasing tov size sjAdis-` tinguished as finev and coarse sand.

njore milling it is usually rnecessary for practical and yeconomical reasons to "grade the ore after crushing into two or more con# venient groups of sizesbefore treatment on' machines adapted thereto or when necessary,

to separate the-slimes from ores., classify-`the y sands therein by a fhydraulic current and-discharge them from the machine, and also de-' hydrate the coarsest .particles or ygravel and discharge them in a I.dehydrated conditioma's a separategroup 'from themachine', continuously, and therefrom byfla single ops The invention of present application f is, liowevendirected to a ineansfofr.v the separation of the slimes from the` coarser sands and. particles off'crushedvore and the dehydrationv ofthe Vseparated lcoarser sands by a single continuous operation, and bysubstantially the same means before described 1n l my:co-pendingapplication, `lthe `'claims for Y which are Aconfined tothesep'aration rof the' slimes from the sands and co'arser particles, before the classi'cation vof the sands and the subsequent dehydration land discharge of the coarser particles from the machine. y The primeobjectof. my present" invention, broadly stated, is to provide a hydraulic. separator rfor, crushed ores, '*whereinfthe slimes, are separated fromythe oresby rising currents of water, with means lfor vconcurrently therewith' dehydrating the ores before their discharge therefrom. i Another objectl of my invention isto .providev a hydraulic separator. ,withp means `mechanically agitating crushedores containing slimes'constantly ascending to the surface of a rising current'of water ina conta-ining tank, from which .the slimes continuously discharge, and whereby a complete separation of the slimes from the ore particles is made possible and practical.`

A further object of my invention is to provide a hydraulic separator and classifier with means for mechanically agitating ore pulp in currents of water at a point between the rising separated slimes and the separating point therefrom of the sands, whereby the slimes are prevented from settling with the sands.

More specifically stated, the object of my present invention is to provide the hydraulic separator and classilier of my original application with means whereby the line of division between any group of Eparticles consisting of slimes or finer sands` and those consistingof coarser sand, may be variably and definitely controlled after their passage from the containing tank in which they were roughly separated.

Vith these ends yin view, my invention finds embodiment in c ertain feataires ofnovelty in the construction, combination and arrangement ,of parts by which the said objects are attained. all as hereinafter fully described with reference vto the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

1n said drawings.:

Fig. 1 illustrates an elevation in vertical section on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line ,2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. -3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. '2.

Fig. a is a transverse detail of the water supply pipes taken on the line 1 -4 of Fig. 2.-

Fig. 5 is detailed vertical section taken on the line 5 5 kof Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail side elevation showing 4the hopper receiving the dehydrated ore discharged from the buckets and the chute -through which. such ore is discharged from the machine..

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through a modified construction of a hydraulic separator and classifier onthe line 7 7 of Fig. S, with al portion of the link belt chain broken away.

Fig. 8 is a 4vertical section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a partial plan of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a cross section on the-line 11 11 .of Fig. 8.

ters A, C, E, F, L, M, N, O and P designate the same elements of the machine illustrated by Figs. 1 to 35 inclusive of the drawings accompanying my original application and are fully described therein. For clearness of description, however, and understanding of the purposes of the structure in which my invention iinds embodiment, the functions of the elements mentionedabove will again. be pointed out.

With reference to Figures 1, 2, 7 and 8, the machine may be generally described as consisting of an operating water tank A, preferably filled with clear water supplied from any exterior source and admitted to the tank through the water supply system C.

Det-achably secured to and submerged in the contents of the water tank A is a slime separating hopper E, supplied with crushed ore from a feed box F. Encircling the hop per E and partially submerged in the tank A. is the rotor L, consisting of a short cylinder with closed periphery and relatively large end openings, forming a U-shaped section thereof, the projecting end plates of which terminate in tires 1, which rest and roll upon two pairs of flanged rollers 2, suitably mounted on Vshafts 3, through the sides of the tank and caused to revolve thereon, by power transmitted by a link chain belt L1, to a circular rack 5, concentric with .the periphery of the rotor, of which all details are more fully described in my original application.

The shafts 3 are supported and guided in journal boxes (not shown) enclosed by the water-tight casings 6, secured to the tank. the lower portions of which terminate in a base 7, resting upon `the foundations 8.

Pivoted between the end plates of the cylinder and movably secured thereto, are a series of scoop shaped buckets or dehydrating ore Adischargers lwLspaced at intervals near the wall of the periphery, the purpose of same being to elevate out ofthe water, dehydrate and finally to overturn about their .pivots 9 by gravity, or if need be, by a positive mechani I.al means and discharge the contents deposited therein after its passage through thc slime separating hopper E, through a forcible impact against, the next preceding` bucket. down into the discl'large hopper N, Figures 1. 2, 6, 7 and 8, whereafter the ore passes through :1. spout in same and projecting may be carried off by the usual means for subsequent treatment.

In order to steady the rotor while revolving and maintain its vertical position on the rollers, two pairs of guide rollers 10. Figs. 1 and 7, are provided above the water in tank at diametrically opposite points of the tires and bearing againstthe sidesl of same, in opposition to each other.

The driving mechanism'O, Figs. 1, 7

and

8, consists of a rigid frame 11, supporting the bearings. for the shafts 12 and 13, pulleys 14, and reduction gearing 1 5, powerl to which may be transmitted' by belt or any usual means and thereby operating' a relatively small sprocket chain wheel 16, in alignment with the circular rack surrounding the periphery of the rotor L and imparting motion to saine by an endless link chain belt 4, in mesh therewith. l

Eccentric jacks P, Figs. land 2 (not shown in Figs. 7 and 8) consisting of shafts 18, located at suitable places below the rotor, project through the sides of the water tank A., with stuing boxes 19 for same secured thereto, and rigidly mounting two pairs of eccentrics 20, grooved for and provided with straps 17 opposite the tires on the rotor, by means of which straps a' lifting force can be exerted aga-inst same when the shafts are turned by a lever and the rotor held in position, when it becomes necessary to remove the supporting rollers for repairs through suitable doors provided in the ends of tank A, opposite the rollers and closed water-tight by covers 21.

Detachably secured to the opposing side walls of tank A, are stationary deflecting plates 22, converging inwardly 'and overlapping in close proximity the circular flanges 23, riveted to each side plate of the rotor. The clearance space between flanges 23 and deflecting plates 22 is the only means of passage for the clear water surrounding the outside of the rotor in to the interior space occupied by the slime separating hopper E, the direction of current varying from horizontal at the surface to an angle of 45 degrees downward at the bottom, according to the particular point considered with reference to a level line.

The water supply system IC consists of a header pipe 24, with a valve 25,.see Fig. 4, provided with suitable flangesand connections for the branch pipes 26, which terminate in cocks 27, and from croses 28'located at suitable points on the branch pipes 26,

Vshort nipples and anges forni a vertical connection of the branch pipes with tlie'bottom-of tank A.

The contracted end portionof pip/e 24 (not shown in Fig. 8) is continued to the vopposite side of tank A. and terminates at a point 24?,"ar short distanceiip from the bottom and in open communication with same, thereby insuring a water supply should the other inlets beconiechokech'the water inlets 28. when necessary, serving also as drain outlets for ore dropped through the holes 29, see Figs. 1, 6 and 7, provided in the periphery of the rotor L -to thebottom of water tank A, and thereafter discharged from the tank by opening cocks 27.

The holes 29 inthe periphery of the rotor pulley, the rack will inove forward and thusV reseat the valves.

With reference now to Figs. 1 and 2, the

slime separating 4hopper E, consists of opposing downwardly'converging side walls 31,eXtending across, secured to and closed at their ends by the side walls of the operating tank, and extending from the upper edge: of the tank downwardly to a point shortly above the inner edges of the iside-l iianges of the rotor. Y

The converging sides of the slinie separating hopper, together with deiiecting plates 32, secured to the side walls ofthe water tank serve to contract the bottom opening 33 of the slime separating hopper for directing the crushed ore thereyfrom to the rotor, for their elevation and deiydration by means of the buckets M before described rfor that purpose,l and the discharge of the ores into the discharge hopper N', as before mentioned. y n In operation the crushed ore is introduced to a hopper'34, provided with a perforated bottom 35, submerged in the contents of the water tank land through which thek ore discharges into the slime separating hopper,

with the result that the coarser particles descend therethrough, and are conducted as before stated into the rotor in the path of the dehydrating buckets, and from which the slimes are carried upwardly by the rising currents of water, and discharged through openings 36 therein into supplemental slime separating chambers 37 at oppositesides of the slime separating hopper E. v

y, It will now be observed that the'velocity of the ascending currents of water in the slime sepa-rating hopper is substantially greaterthan that of the water in the supplemental'slinie separating'chambers 87, and from which the slime containingwater overflows into troughs 38, one for each supplemental slime-separating chamber,v and from which 'the slnnes are conducted through pipes 39 for subsequent treatment, and that as a result of this difference in velocity, coarser particles oi; sand will be precipitated from the slimes discharging into the suppleniental slime separating chambers 3 depositing on the bottom thereof, and from which it is desirable to remove and dehydrate with the still coarser particles discharging through the bottom of the slime separating hopper E.

As a convenient and effective means for this discharge of the sands from the supplemental slime-separating chambers, there is preferably employed a shaft 40 journaled at its opposite ends in suitable stuiiing boxes 41 in the outer end walls of the water containing tank, to which shaft are secured screw conveyors 42, one for each supplemental chamber, the inner ends of. which project through and beyond the opposing walls of the slime-separating hopper E, which inner ends are enclosed by a pipe 43, through which the deposited sands are conducted and thence directed to the elevating dehydrating buckets by means of spouts 44, which may be formed integral with the pipe.

Each pipe 43 at its opposing ends is provided with openings through which are projected adjustable stuffing boxes 45 and a gland 46, the opposite ends of the pipe being fixed to the side walls of the water tank.

Sleeved. on the shaft 40, and rigidly secured to the pipe 43, is a follower 4T, one end of which projects into the stutng box and the other into a casing 4S, forming an oil chamber to which oil is supplied from a cup 49, connected by a pipe with the oil chamber 48 and supported by such pipe in a plane above the level of the water in the tank.

rlhe follower 47' performs three functions, that of an oil tight closure for the oil chamber 4S, a bearing for shaft 40, and at the same time a gland for adjustably compressing and tightening a suitable packing contained in a chamber 51 in the stuffing box 45, and for which purpose the follower is provided with a flange 52 for the reception of one or more adjustaing screw bolts 53 passing therethrough into the bar 46 supporting the stuffing box, and therefore a means of drawing same against the follower to compress the packing. See Figs. 1, 6, 7, S and also Fig. 13 showing an enlarged view of same.

For operating the shaft and the screw conveyors thereon, one end of the shaft is provided with a pulley for a belt 55, passing around a pulley 56 on a shaft 57, connected by a belt 58 around pulleys 59 and 59a, on a shaft 60, supported by and having its bearing in brackets 61 secured to a frame (see Fig. 1) supported on the water tank on which shaft is a pulley 62 driven by any suitable means from any source adapted therefor.

As a convenient means for conducting the dehydrated coarser sands from the hopper N to some suitable place for subsequent treatment, the hopper (see Fig. 6) is provided with a spout 63, discharging upon a belt conveyor, the bottom side 64 of which is' supported upon rollers 65, upon a shaft 66, journaled at its ends in suitable brackets 67.

The top side 68 of this belt is supported at intervals of its length upon horizontally arranged rollers 69, between which and at the opposite edges of the belt are converging rollers 70, suspended from suitable supports (not shown) sustaining the adjacent sides of the belt in an upwardly inclined position, and thereby converting the top side of the belt into a traveling trough for conducting the dehydrated ore away from the separating machine, but for which `purpose any other suitable form or construction of conveyor may be used.

1n operation for the separation of slimes from coarser sands subsequently dehydrated, the tank is first filled with water as before described, from any source suitable therefor, to a level with the overflow of the water therefrom into the trough 38, followed by the introduction of water t-o the bottom of the tank from the pipe system C before described, and in turn followed by the dis'- charge of ore from the feed hopper through the perforations in the bottom thereof, downward by gravity into the slime separating hopper Following the entrance of the ore into the slime separating hopper, the rising cur;- rent of water meeting the slimes descending in the hopper are thereby prevented from settling in the slime hopper', but are lifted and pass out through the opposing end openings 36 in the side of the hopper, which pass thence into thesupplemental slimeeseparating chambers 37, whereafter in their passage toward the overflow the heavier particles thereof settle to the bottom, and are conducted thence by the screw conveyor to and through the contracted end of the slimeseparating hopper, whence they descend by gravity to a position of rest upon the opposing surface of the water, dehydrated and discharged from the hopper N as before described.

With the rising of the slimes, and their discharge into the trou h 38, and thence through the pipe 39, the `ne1l sands are discharged from the machine with the slimes, it being the purpose and intention in the structure described to separate and dehydrate only the coarser sandsv contained in crushed ore, and whereby the slimes discharged from the machine contain aminimum of line sand.

1t is now to be observed that in the construction shown by Figures 2 and 3, the weir or edge over which the shines pass into the troughs 38, after their passage through the supplemental slime-separating chambers, is in a xedposition and invariable in distance from the openings 36 in the slime separating hopper E, in consequence of which, the

slimes passing throughy the openings, together with the coarser sands, it is not desired to discharge withsame, are caused to settleA below the level of the overflow and subsequently are returned by the screw con'- veyors to the rotor and dehydrated.

In ore milling practice, however, for practical and economical reasons, it is frequent-ly iound desirable to treat. the slime-s troni crushed ore and coarser sands together, and

return only such particles as have not yet lowing and more specifically pointed out in the claims. c c y With reference now to Figures 7 and 8, reference characters A designate an operating water tank, C is the ywater supply system, E is the slime-separating hopper, F is the teed hopper, L is the `rot-or, M are the pivoted dehydrating ore dischargers, N is the discharge hopper, and @is thedriving mechanism, all of substantially the same construction as previously described.

` F or the particular object in View, I prefer to employ a slime separating hopper with its tour side walls converging downwardly and terminating in a short contracted bottoni opening 7l, in alignment with the vertical axis of the rotor. i-Xd'justably secured and conforming in shape with the side walls of the hopper is a battle plate 72, between which and the adjacent wall of the hopper, the slimes pass upwardly and are discharged through an elongated opening 73 therein,

into'a supplemental slime-separating cham- In Figures 7 and 8 I have shown a preferred construct-'Lon having but a. single supplemental slime-separating chamber in con nection with the slime hopper Ebut it is to be understood that two supplemental chambers, as shown in Figs. l and 2, can be Yem,- ployed if so desired.

In order to promote the disintegration of the descending ore within the hopper E and prevent the settling of coarseparticles which it is desirable to discharge with the slimes, Ieniplojv a. V-shaped perforated agitating plunger 7 5, suspended within and free from the contracted portion of the hopper by the rod 76 attached thereto and at its upper end to an eccentric 77, which may be of any usual construction for such purpose.

The eccentric is actuated by a short shaft 78, supported byA bearings (not shown) at each end 79,'rigidly secured to a frame 80, which is supported by the side walls oit the tank A. lThe collars 8l restrain the Y end movement of the shattandy at oneV end'is a pulley A82, driven lby-a belt 83, from the pulf ley `84k located on the shaft of the driving mechanism O. j

The agitatng'plunger 75 receives a'vertical reciprocating motionwhen the shaft 78 is revolved and is guided laterally b a bar 85, secured to the side walls of the, opper. In operationthe crushed orezis vintroduced to a hopper 86 (see Fig. 8), provided with aperforatedbottoni .87, through whichthe ores descend vinto the slime-separating hopper,juntil they reach the zone, ot agitation directly above theI plunger, with the result thata separation ot' the jore particles takes place, during which separationthe coarsest particles immediately sink and pass through the perforations in the 'plunger and are conducted into the'rotor inthe path of the dehydrating buckets and thereby elevated and discharged trom the machine, while the lighter particles, kept in suspension by the agitation, pass upward inthe narrow space between thek baiile-plate 7 2 and the side wall of the hopper and thence outward in a horizontal direction through the opening 73 and into the supplemental chamber 74, at the surface Vof the watertherein.

The water level in the supplemental chamber. andthe hopper E, is indicated by the line 88, and is so maintained by a movable overiiow tray 89, consisting of a narrow and shallow pan shaped structure with its bottom sloping from eac-h end toward the center (see Figs. 9 and. l0), and havinga seat90, conforming'to and makinga close, watertightl contact with the discharge pipe 91, uponlwhich it rests..

'The .two side edges 92 of the tray formv tray and bearing` against the side walls of the supplemental chamber. `,An elongated outletf9et 'for the yslimes iscprovided in the bottom of the tray, coinciding with equiyl` sized openings 95, in the upper side of the discharge pipe 91, of which there are a number of openings spaceda short distance apart over the full length of the pipe', and

closed to wateitightness by theremovable plugs 96; the purpose otthese-plugsbeing to close all openings inthe pipe withfthe exception of one, which is in communication with the opening in the tray, and also to permit the tray to be moved atwill over any ot the openings by shifting the tray with reference to the plugs, and-in so doing the distance betweenthe openings 73 in thel hopper E, andthe overflow edges of the tray is: either lengthened or shortened to accord with the size of sand particles which it is desirable 1t is now to be observed that the slimesk and coarser particles discharged from the hopper E, through the opening 73, must traverse a distance within the supplemental chamber', directly dependent upon the position of the overflow tray on the pipe 91, and as a result of which, more or less time is required for their passage.

-As a further result, the coarser particles settle out of the current and only the lighter particles, it may be desirable to include with the slimes, pass overthe edges of the overflow tray and are discharged from the machine through the pipe 91.

Furthermore, the openings in the pipe 91 are so arranged that when the tray 89 is placed t-o coincide with the opening nearest the hopper E, the distance between the tray and the outlet 73 is practically nothing, and under this condition the supplemental chamber 74 is not in use, and much coarser particles are discharged with the slimes than when the tray is placed at any one of the other openings; which action is further-augmented by the amount of agitation produced in the hopper E.

It is obvious that the rising currents in the supplement-al lchamber 74, are of much less velocity than in the hopper E, and ythat as a result of this difference in velocity, coarser particles of sand will be precipitated from the slimes discharging into the supplemental chamber and settling to the bottom thereof, than in the space immediately above the agitating plunger in the hopper, and which it is desirable to dehydrate and return to a crushing machine for further reduction.

As a convenient and effective means for the removal of the coarser particles which have settled out of the current to the bottom of the supplemental chamber, there is preferably employed a shaft 101, journaled at its opposite ends in a bearing combined with a stufling kboa 102 upon which shaft isA secured a screw conveyor 103.

The bearing and stuffing box (see Fig. 13) consists of a flanged bushing 104, secured to the end wall of the tank by rivets (not shown), and through the openingin the bushing is projected a gland 105, pro

vided with a chamber 106, in which suitable packing 107 is placed to encircle the shaft 101. Seated against the bushing 104, is" a flanged bearing 108, recessed to provide a place for the gland, and having bolts 109, which serve as a means for dra-wing back the gland and for compressing the packing in the chamber 106.

The bearing 108 located in the end wall of the supplemental chamber 7 4, is enclosed at one end, in order to take the end thrust of the screw conveyor, by means of the thrust buttons 110 interposed between the end of the shaft andthe end wall of the bearing and are adjusted laterally by the screw bolt 111.

The shaft 101 projects beyond the bearing located in the side wall of the water tank A, and mounted thereon is a driving pulley 112, for a belt 113,`passing around a pulley 114, on a shaft 12, comprising a part of the driving mechanism O, previously described.

rThe inner end of the screw conveyor 101,`

is enclosed by a pipe 115, provided with a discharge opening and spout 116, which prok i jects ashort distance into the hopper E, and through which opening the deposited coarser sands are conducted into the zone of agitation above the plunger 75, and thereafter they descend into the path of the dehydrating buckets within the rotor L.

At the points where the shaft projects through the side walls of the hopper E, are suitablethimbles 117 for deflecting the descending ore away from the shaft, and pre-A venting the escape of the ore from the hopper.

In` operation for the Aseparation of slimes and finer particles of sand from coal-ser particles subsequently dehydrated and returned for further crushing, the tank A and supplement-al chamber 74 are first filled with water from any source suitable therefor, to a level with. theoverflow of the water therefrom into the tray tion of water to the bottom of the tank from the pipe system C. before described, and in turn followed by the discharge of ore from the feed hopper F, through the perforations in the bottom thereof, downward by gravity into the slime separating hopper E.

The rotor and agitating plunger' having been previously set in motion, the descending ore passes into the zone of agit-ation above the plunger.y the rapid reciprocatinn' motion of which prevents the settling of the slimesand finer particles and they pass upward with the more rapid rising current in the passage formed between the baffle plate 72 and the adjacent wall of the hopper, and are discharged through the opening 7 3 into the supplemental slime-separating chamber 74. The c'oarser particles not preventedl from settling by the agitation pass downward through the perforations in the plunger and come to a state of rest on the periphery of the rotor, whereby they 89, followed b v the introduce 'are subsequently elevated and dehydrated by are deposited on the bottom of thesup plemental chamber, While the lighter particles and slimes reach the overflow yedges of the tray and are discharged fromthe machine through the pipe 91. The coarser particles deposited on'the bottomof the'supplemental chamber are v'then removed by the screw conveyor in a more. or less cohesive mass and returned to .the agitation zone above the plunger 7 5, VWhere they are again disintegrated before passing 1 downward through the perforationsf in the plunger and thence also into the pathoi:l the dehydrating buckets and discharged from the machine. f

Shifting the cveio'w tray 89 toward the hopper E, andincreasing the stroke of the plunger 75, or if desired inadditioman increased rising current in the hopper by ;ad-` mitting more Water through. the pipe sys' tem, C, will result'in the discharge of coarser particles with the slimes, and'rvhen the conditions are reversed, slimes only will be discharged through the pipe 91; each element of the machine being separatively ad-k justable and therefore capable of being closely regulated.

lVhile l have illustrated anddescribed the preferred form or" construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable'of variation and modiiication. Without departing` from the spirit of the invention.V I theretore do not Wish to be limited to thelprecise details ci' construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and vmodifications as come Within thescope ofthe 'appended'claims. f i

Having thus described my claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: y j l l. L hydraulic separator comprising in combination a Water tank, a primary slime separrrtingV chamber, a 1 supplemental slime seperating chamber adjacent thereto, means ior producing rising currents oi' Water in said chambers, discharging therefrom in substantially the same plane and mechanical means for conducting the'iner sands depositing' in the supplemental chamber in invention, what separated from the slimes in the primary f 2. A hydraulic separator comprising in combination aprimary slime separating chamber, a supplemental slime separating chamber directly receiving lthe overflow .of said primary chamber, means for producing constantly rising vcurrents of Water Vin said chambers7 and conveyor means for conducting the sands deposited in the supplemental .chamber into the primary chamber in the path of the .coarser sands descending through the latter.

3. A hydraulic separator comprising in combination a 1ivatertanlr, a primary slime separating chamber, a supplemental slime separating chamber directly receiving the slimesdischarging from the primary chamber, a connecting openpassage-way towards the bottom of said chambers, means for producing in saidchambers constantly rising currents otivater, and aconveyor projecting throughV said `passageway adapted toconduct the deposited sands in the supplemental chamber into the. primary chamber in the vicinity of the open bottom lend thereof. f

4C. A hydraulic'separator comprising in combination a water tank, means for maintaining a predetermined Water level there-` in, a slime separating chamber submergedv therein, a rsupplemental slime separating .chamber therefor, in open communication With the, primary. slime separating -chamber belov.7 said Water level, means for supplying risingcurrent of Water in the slime sepating chamber, means` for conducting sands deposited inthe. supplemental chamber into theprimay slime separating chamber, a revolving means upon Which the sands from both chambers are deposited, and an elevating means' pivotedto said revolving means adapted-to lift and dehydrate said deposited sands and automatically discharge the sands contained ther .in in a ydehydrated condition.

5; A vhydraulic separator comprising in vcombination primary slime Aseparating chamber'open at its bottom for the discharge of the heavier sands therefrom, a supplemental slnne separating chamber immediate- *ly adjacent thereto, means for producing in said chambers rising currentsv otivater. means for Vmaintaining a predetermined Water level in both ci" said chambers, an opg-)ning nextbeloiv said Water level fior the passage .of slimes containing i'iner sandsset tling atthe bottoniv ci the supplemental slime seperating'chamber, and mechanical meansV for conducting said sands to and dischargingthem through the bottom ci the primary slime separating chamber with the coarser sands. the path of movement of the coarser sands 6.V A hydraulic separator comprising in llO combination a primary slime separating chamber provided with al discharge `for sandA settling therein, a supplemental slime separating chamber immediately adjacent thereto, means for producing` rising currents i' water in said chambers, means for main taining a. water level common to both of said chambers, an opening between said chambers below sai-d level i'or the passage of iner sands settling at the bottom of the supplemental chamber, and a screw conveyor adapted for conducting said sands vinto* and from the primary slime separating chamber with the coarser sands.

7. A hydraulic separator comprising in combination a slime separating chamber, provided with a bottom opening fory the discharge of the coarse sands settling therein, a supplemental slime separatingk chamber immediately adjacent thereto, an open passage laterally through the lower end oi tie slime separating chamber for the passage of sands therefrom settling in the supplemental chamber, means for maintaining a water level common to both of said chambers above said opening, means for producing ascending currents of water through the slime separating chamber, andl a movable device for conducting the sands depositing in the supplemental chamber, into and discharging them with the coarser sands from the slime separating chamber.

S. A hydraulic separator comprising in combination a'primary and a supplemental slime separating chamber, means for adjustably maintaining a. Water level in and common to both oi' said chambers, an open passage between said chambers next below said water level, means for producing` rising` currents o'f water through the slime separating chambers, a movable means upon which said sands are deposited, means for dehydrating said sands, and means :tor 'respectively discharging the dehydrated sands and slimes from the separator.

9. A hydraulic separator comprising in combination a water tank, a primary slimeseparating chamber, a supplemental slimeseparating chamber, means for producing rising currents of water in said chambers, and a shifting means for discharging by overflow the coarser sands rising with the slime in the primary chamber.

l0.' A hydraulic separatorl comprising in combination a water tank, a primary slimeseparating chamber, a supplemental slimeseparating chamber, means for producing rising currents of waterin said chambers,`

coarsertsands risinglin the primary chamber. Y

1].. A hydraulic separator comprising in combination a water tank, a primary slimeseparating chamber, a supplemental slimeseparating chamber, and adjustable means atl the water level in the supplemental chamber for overflowing `and discharging therefrom the slimes and-coarser sands rising in and 4supplied from the primary chamber.

l2. A hydraulic separator comprising in combination a water tank, aprimary slimeseparating chamber, a supplemental slimeseparating chamber, Vmeans for producing agitated rising currents of water in the primary chamber, and a horizontal sliding tra-y means for discharging by overflow from the supplemental chamber slimes and coarser sands rising in and vsupplied thereto Jfrom the primary chamber.

13.V A hydraulic separator` comprising; in combination a water tank, a primary slimeseparating chamber, a supplemental slime separating chamber, means for producing rising currents of water in said chambers, a discharge pipe in the supplemental chamber provided longitudinally with a series of openings, a tray provided transversely with a'slot adapted to register with a `numberoi said openings to the exclusion of others, and a series of removable'plugs for closing the remainder of said openings.

lll, A hydraulic separator comprising in combination a Water tank, a primary slimeseparating chamber, a'supplemental slimeseparating chamber, means for producing risinfr currents of water 1n said chambers, a

discharge pipe in the supplemental chamber provided longitudinally with a series of perforations, an adjustable overflow tray provided. with a slot adapted to register with a number of said` perforations to the exclusion of others tor varying the distance of the overlow from the point of entrance of the slimes land sands to the suplemental chamber, and a series of removable plugs for closing the slot in the tray and Lall other perforations in the pipe.

In witness whereof, l have hereunto set `my hand and aiiixed my seal, this @ith day ot June A. D. 1919.

HENRY R. VAHL. [L s]

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