US2132378A - Jig - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 11 1938. B. M. BIRD ET AL 2,132,378

JIG 7 Original Filed Jan- 8, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 11, 1938. B. M. BIRD ET AL JIG Original Filed Jan. 8, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 H I I 1 5 BYQON MJEHQD ERNST F. MULLER Oct. 11,1938. B. M. BIRD El AL 2,132,378

v JI'G I Original Filed Jan. 8, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 M ing parts of thefioat controlled refuse discharge i2 and one of which is individual to the comnism of Fig. trol valves, one of which is individual to com- Patented Oct. 11, 1938 J I I UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE Byron M. Bird and Ernst F. Muller, Columbus, Ohio, assignors to The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Ohio Application January 8, 1935, Serial No. 8'16. Re-

newed June 22,1938. In Great Britain July 24,

' 12 Claims. (o1. zoo-4st) This invention relates to a jig, and more parfloat operated pawl and ratchet control mechaticularly to a jig used for washing coal and sepanism for the refuse discharge valve;

rating the clean coal from the refuse found in- Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of termingled therewith in the raw coal. his.

An object ofthe invention is to provide a jig Fig. 9 is an enlarged elevationalview of the with an improved fluid control means for addetails of the pawl mechanism of Figs. '1 and 8; justablydirecting the jigging fluid through the Fig. 10 is an enlarged-detailed elevational view jig screen to compensate for varying conditions of avalve and an adjustable eccentric mechanism encountered in practice, j which may be employed as a part of our inven- Another object of the invention is to provide tion; v a multiple compartment jig in which each com- Fig. ll is a sectional elevational view of the department has an individual refuse collector and vice of Fig. 10; and elevator, whereby the refuse from each compart- Fig. 12 is a sectional view'of the eccentric ment may be separately received and, if desired, mechanism of Figs. ill and ii taken on the line given individual treatment. VA -i2 of Fig. 10. 15

Another object of the invention is to provide This application is a continuation in part of a multiple compartment jig, the fluid pulsating our application entitled Apparatus for treating means of which are operatedin synchronism mineral materials, Serial No. 736,442, filed July and at adjustable phase relations. 23, i934.

Another object of the invention is to provide Referring particularly to the drawings, there an improved refuse chute which will relieve the is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 a jig including the discharge valve under abnormal conditions. I features of our invention. As illustrated, this de- Still another object of the invention is to provice comprises a multiple compartment jig and vide an improved refuse accumulation responsive in the illustration given there are three compartrefuse discharge valve operating meansfor a jig. rnents though, of course, this number may be Another object of the invention is to provide either increased or reduced, as desired. Broadly a jig including a perforate screen which is pivstated, the device comprises a lower frame strucoted at one end adjacent a refuse, discharge ture iii, built up of longitudinal, lateral and upopening and adjustably mounted adjacent an right channel members with cross angle memopposite end whereby the rate of travel of the hers to increase the rigidity thereof. Within the material across said screen may be adjusted. said lower frame in is supported an elongated Other objects of the invention will appear tank it which is divided into three comparthereinafter, the novel features and combinations rnents l2, it and it. being set forth in the appended claims. An upper frame 85 is also provided which is Referring to the drawings: 5 rigidly attached to' said lower frame In, said Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a three-comupper frame being adapted to support the operpartment jig incorporating the features of our ating mechanism for each of the said jig cominvention, two compartments of which are shown partments i2, i3 and il. Said upper frame ii in longitudinal section, and parts of which are includes a centrally disposed platform I 6 upon removed to show other details. which is mounted a speed reduction mechanism 40 Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the i8 driven from a motor i1 through a U-belt drive device of Fig. 1; iii (Fig. 2).

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail, parts being shown Extending longitudinally of said upper frame in section, showing particularly the adjustable i5 is a pair of shafts 20 and 2|, each of which is fluid directing plate; 0 driven fromsaid speed reduction mechanism It. 5 is a sectional detail taken on line Said shaft 20 carries a plurality of eccentrics,

311F411 of three in number, for operating air control valves, Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational detail, showtwo of which'are individual to the compartment mechanism; partment i3. Shaft 2| is also provided with 5 Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the mechathree eccentrics for driving individual air con- Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 8-8 of partment i3 and two of which are individual to Fi compartment il. in addition, the shaft 20 drives Fig. 7 is an enlarged elevational viewof the the elevator mechanism 22 individual to the compartment l2. The shaft 2| also drives elevator mechanisms 23 and 24 individual to compartments l3 and 14, respectively. Said shaft 2| also drives the shaft 25 through chain and sprocket mechanisms 26 and 21, which shaft 25 is common to a plurality of refuse discharge devices, one for each of the compartments 12, i and M.

The tank H is provided with a material receiving chute 28 which is adapted to receive the raw material to be treated by the jigging device-as, for example, raw coal as received from the mine-and, with a treated material discharge chute 29 over which the treated material, such as clean coal, is adapted to be discharged into a receptacle or conveyor.

As the structural details of each of the several compartments i2, i3 and is are substantially the same, a description of one will sufiice for ail. Each of said compartments comprises an individual wash tank 39 having substantially parallel side walls 30 and t2 and an arcuate bottom wall 33. Extending longitudinally of the wash tank 39 and substantially parallel with the side wall 35 is a partition 33 which divides the wash tank 39 into a wash chamber 3% and an air chamber Extending laterally between the partition 33' and the side wall 32, and thus within the wash chamber til, is a material supporting screen or perforate plate 3%. Adjacent one end of said screen til is a laterally extending weir ill which is made of a pair of relatively adjustable plates and which is vertically adjustable by having elongated slots cooperating with nuts 3'5 which extend from a laterally extending plate, which plate is connected at its opposite ends to said partition 33 and side wall 32. The bottom edge of weir Si is positioned above the lower and discharge end of said screen 35 to form an opening 36 or" variable size of a refuse discharge chute til formed by upper and lower stationary walls 35' and 36 and a pivoted member lfiil, hereinafter described more in detail. A refuse discharge valve til, of the rotary locking gate type, cooperates with said discharge chute Bil to discharge the refuse which accumulates on the screen 3'6, said refuse being discharged into the boot 4H oi the elevator mechanism 22, or 2 1, where it may be lifted by the buckets 2 of said elevator mechanism and discharged from the discharge opening'thereof. A perforated coal discharge chute 38' directs material from the weir 37 to the next compartment screen 35.

Substantially longitudinally and centrally spaced with respect to the inclined screen 36 and extending between the walls 3! and 32 of the wash tank 30 and positioned between the walls 3| and 33' of the air compartment 35 and forming one wall of said air compartment, is a partition 43. This partition 43, in each of the compartments l2, l3 and i4, is effective to divide said compartments I2, l3 and I4 into sub-compartments, each of which has an, individual air chamber 35 and an individual air control valve 44.

It will thus be seen that in the device illustrated there are three compartments l2, l3 and I4, each of which has an inclined screen 36, a weir 31, a discharge chute 39, a discharge valve 40 and a refuse elevator mechanism, and that each of said compartments l2, l3 and i4 is divided into two sub-compartments, each sub-compartment of which has an individual air chamber 35 with an individual air control valve 44. It is thus manifest that there will be six air control valves 44 and six sub-compartments for the three comtions which are 120 degrees out of phase.

partments I2, l3 and I4, each sub-compartment being provided with an individual air chamber 35.

Each of the air valves 44 is controlled by, an adjustable eccentric mechanism 45. There are therefore six of said adjustable eccentric mechanisms, three of which are operated from the shaft 20 and three of which are operated from the shaft 2!, as aforesaid, The air control valve 44 and the adjustable eccentric mechanism 45 may well take the form of the devices of Figs. 10, iii and 12 which are hereinafter described and which are disclosed in detail inthe application of Byron M. Bird for a Method of jigging, Serial No. 736,443, filed July 23, 1934, and in the application of Byron M. Bird and Frank H. Smith for a Valve, Serial No. 736,444, filed July 28, 1934.

Bald eccentric mechanism 45 is of such form that it may be operatively connected to the shafts 2% or 2! to have any one of three angular posi- The keyways of each eccentric are preferably aligned on shafts 2t and 2|. By employing the eccentric mechanism disclosed in said Figs. 10, 11 and 12 and hereinafter described, it is possible to operate each of the valves 44 in synchronism with the phase relation of any valve 120 degrees out of phase with any other valve. One particular mode of operation of said valves which has been found to be particularly useful and to reduce appreciably both the air and the energy required to operate the device, is to set each of the two valves 44 of each individual compartment l2, l3 and 64 in phase and to set eachpair of valves individual to each of said compartments l2, l3 and it, 120 degrees out of phase with each other pair of-valves; that is, the valves 44, individual to compartment it, would operate in phase; the valves to, individual to compartment I 3, would also operate in phase with each other but 126 degrees out of phase with the valves oi-said compartment l2; and the valves 4 individual to compartment l4, would operate in phase with each other and 120 degrees out of phase with the valves oi each of the compartments l2 and I3. This particular setting of said valves is illustrated in Fig. of the drawings.

Each of said valves 44 is operative to control periodically the admission of air under pressure to its individual air chamber 35 and to exhaust air from saidv air chamber. In addition, where the valves are the type disclosed in said Figs. 10, 11 and 12, they may be adjusted to seal the charm bers 35 twice during each cycle of operationonce under conditions of initial atmospheric pressure in said chambers and again under conditions above initial atmospheric pressure in said chambers.

The source of air supply which is controlled by said valves 44 may comprise an air pump or blower 48 which is connected to a common air storage tank 41 by a conduit 48. Said air storage tank 4'] is preferably of sufficient size that there is no substantial reduction of air'pressure therein when any of the valves 44 are operated. Individual conduits 49 having therein individual man-- ually controllable valves 50 lead from the air storage tank 41 to the individual valves 44.

Each of the sub-compartments of the compartments l2, l3 and I4 is provided with a source of water comprising a valve controlled supply line 5|, which is supplied with-water from a common water main 52. It is thus manifest that each of the sub-compartments of the compartments l2, I3 and I4 may be individually controlled, both as tothe amount of water supplied thereto and the amount of air supplied thereto and exhausted therefrom.

Cooperating with each of the compartments l2, l3 and i4 is a refuse responsive float controlled refuse discharge mechanism. Said mechanism comprises a float 53 which responds to the accumulation of refuse on the screen 36 to control the actuation of the refuse discharge valve 40, thereby to maintain the refuse on the said screen 36 at a predetermined level. The details of this mechanism are illustrated in Figs. 4 to 9, inclusive, and will be described hereinafter.

Adjacent the bottom of each of the wash tanks 30, positioned below what is commonly termed the hutch, is a longitudinally extending trough 54 within which operates a screw conveying mecha-v nism 55 for conveying the accumulated hutch refuse through the small opening 55 in the boot M of the elevating mechanisms 22, and 26 where said refuse may be withdrawn by said elevating mechanisms. Said screw conveying mechanism 55 is driven from the lower or foot shaft of the elevator mechanism 22, 23 or 24, which shaft extends beyond both walls of the boot M and has a squared extension on the left hand end, as

viewed in Fig. 1, to receive an internally squared extension on the right hand end of the-central hollow pipe 55. The left hand end of said screw mechanism 55 in compartment 12 is clamped to a small stud shaft by a clamp 56" formed of two half cylinders, one half of which carries part of the spiral forming the screw mechanism 55. Appropriate bolts and nuts maintain the clamp 56' on the mentioned stud shaft and pipe 55'. The left hand end of said stud shaft is carried in the cover bearing 51' which is removably'attached to the bottom of tank 30, as by nuts and bolts. This cover bearing not, only supports the stud shaft and thereby supports the left hand end of the screw conveying mechanism 55, but also provides a removable cover which may be removed and allow removal of said screw conveying mechanism by longitudinal movement thereof.

The screw conveying mechanism of compartments i2. i3 and M is thus driven from the foot shaft of its elevator mechanism 22, 23 and M, respectively In addition, all of said screw con: veying mechanisms 55 are connected through the couplings 56 of compartments Mend it and the elevator foot shafts.

It is evident that the screw conveying mechanisms 55 of compartmens i3 and 54 cannot be removed in the manner above described with respect to the mechanism 55 in compartment i2. There is an additional way in which said screw conveying mechanism 55 of said compartment i2 may be removed and this also applies to each of the other compartments. The partiion 43 has a portion cut away above the trough 54 which is normally covered by a removable plate 4|. By removing the split coupling 56, the shaft 55 can be moved to the left suillciently to disengage the aforementioned squared extension on the right hand end thereof from the aforementioned squared extension on the stub shaft. When this is done, the conveyor mechanism 55 is free to move and, with plate ll removed, it may be pulled through the trough 54 and opening Ml ino one of the sub-compartments. By pivoting the screen 38 andmoving it out of the way or by removing man-hole cover 13, the said mechanism 55 may be removed from the tank 30. The plate 4} is provided to allow of two separate and distinct adjustments in each of the compartments whereby an initial a adjustment of air and water may be used in the first half of the compartment and a final adjustment of air and water may be used in the second half of the compartment.

Adjacent the bottom of each of the boots 4| is a line refuse flush valve 51 which provides for flushing of the said boots 4|.

From the above description of the jig, it is evident that in the operation thereof the raw coal to be treatedis fed at the material receiving chute 28 onto the screen 36 of the first compartment I2. Rotating shafts 20 and 2| operating through the eccentric mechanisms operate the individual air control valves 44 to admit air to the air chamber 35 and exhaust air from said chambers periodically. By setting the eccentric mechanisms 45 of each of the compartments I2,

i3 and I4, 120 degrees out of phase with each other, it is evident that only two valves 44 will be open at the same time and thus the amount of air drawn from the storage tank M at any time will not be excessive. This particular mode of air admission also results in what may be termed a wave motion of the jigging fluid inthe compartments IE, it and it as the fluid in each of said compartments 82, iii and it will go through a cycle of operation which is 120 degrees out of phase with. the cycle of operation of fluid in eachother compartment.

The material being treated, which in the example given will be considered as raw coal, is first received on the screen 35 of the compartment l2 and there subjected to the periodic pul sations of fluid moving upwardly and downwardly with respect to the screen 35. This movement of fluid with respect to said material will be effective to stratify the component parts thereof according to specific gravitiesns is set forth'in considerable detail in the above mentioned application of Byron M. Bird, Serial No.

736,448. Part of the line refuse of said raw materlal will be drawn down through the screen 56 in o the hutch of the wash tank 35 and accumulate in the trough 56 where it will be conveyed by the screw conveyor 55 to the boot til of the elevator mechanism 22. As the said material is stratified on the screen 55, the heavy particles of refuse thereof, particularly the shale, will accumulate in the lower strata of the bed of materials with the components of intermediate specific gravity, such as bone or honey coal, in the intermediate strata and the clean coal in the top I to be continuous and to extend into compartment.

N. This is an important feature of our invention and increases the capacity of the jig by delivering material to compartments l3 and I4 which is partially stratified due to the action of the preceding compartment or compartmens. The chutes are: sections I3 and H are perforated and receive water from the front sub-sections of compartments l3 and I4, respectively, whereby the stratification of he preceding compartment is maintained continuous over the refuse discharge boots ll. It is thus evident that fill vention.

the stratifying action is continuous and undisturbed throughout the entire jig. Moreover, the absence of any dropping of material from one compartment to the next avoids any disturbance of the straiified condition of the bed. I

The refuse responsive float mechanism 53 of the compartment I2 is therefore adjusted to respond to a large accumulation of heavy specific gravity material, such as shale, to operate the refuse discharge valve 40. The coal, bone and honey coal received by screen 36 in the second compartment I3 is subjected to another jigging operation and this compartment is preferably so adjusted as to remove any shale which may have passed over the weir 3'! of compartment l2 and most of the components of intermediate specific gravity-that is, the bone or honey coal. Therefore, principally pure coal with some of the fractions of intermediate specific gravity material that is, bone or honey coal and, particularly, the lowest specific gravity components thereof-will pass over the weir 31 of compartment [3 onto screen in the flnal compartment Id. Compartment M will be adjusted to remove effectively those remaining fractions of refuse and discharge from the discharge chute 29 only the clean coal.

It is evident that, as the particular separation to be performed by each of the compartments l2, l3 and i4 is not of identical material, it probably will require a different adjustment of the operating mechanisms for each of these compartments. provided by the mechanism, comprising our in- For example the air valves 36 of each of the sub-compartments of compartments l2, l3 and it may be given a separate and distinct adjustment, if desired. Likewise, the water supplied to each of said sub-compartments may be individually adjusted. In addition, the refuse withdrawal mechanism Mi for each of said compartments i2, i3 and IE may be individually adjusted and this is particularly important as the amount of accumulated refuse on the screen 36 has an important bearing upon the results obtained in any compartment. In addition, the height of weir 3i of each compartment may be individually adjusted. By providing the individual elevator mechanisms 22, 23 and 2 3 for each of the compartments l2, l3 and M, respectively, the component parts of the refuse may be received at separate points and thereafter receive individual treatment. For example, it may be found that the refuse from the last compartment M includes a secondary coal which may be sold as such or may be crushed and returned to the material receiving chute 28 to be subjected again, with a. new charge of coal, to a jigging operation.

In addition to the adjustments for providing individual control for each of the compartments 2, l3 and I4, each of the sub-compartments thereof is provided with an individual pivoted fluid deflecting plate 58 which comprises a pivoted continuation of the partition 33' and which may be adjusted to vary the flow of fluid upwardly through the screen 38. As best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, this plate is attached at its upper end to a pivot shaft 59 pivotally mounted in brackets 59' and attached at its lower end by a bracket 80, to one end of the adjusting rod 8| which rod extends through a packing gland 82 in the side wall 32 of said wash tank 30. The packing gland 62 comprises a base portion 83 which is preferably welded to said side plate 32 and has a conical aperture 64 through A wide range of adjustments is therefore 1 which said rod 6| extends. A brass knuckle 65 is threaded to receive the threaded end 68 of the rod BI and is adapted to be clamped in the conical aperture 64 of said base 83, as by a clamping plate 51 provided with a conical aperture 68 and removably attached to said base 63, as by machine screws 69. The head of the brass knuckle 65 is preferably flattened at Hi along opposite side faces thereof to receive a wrench or tool, whereby it may be turned to move the rod 8i inwardly or outwardly of the wash tank Bil and thereby to adjust the position of the deflecting plate 58. Said plate 53 is also preferably provided adjacent each side edge with a wiping member ":7 i, such as a rubber strip, which makes a wipingcontact with the adjacent wall of the sub-compartment Said strip is attached to said plate 553' by clamping plate ii and appropriate fastening means, as nuts and bolts.

It is thus seen that the partition which divides the Wash tank 38 into the Wash chamber 35 and the air chamber has a pivoted adjustably positionable extension for each of the sub-compartments of the compartments l2, l3 and M which may individually regulate the lines of flow of jigging fluid with respect to the screens 35. This pivoted extension adjustable while the device is in operation due to the fact that the adjusting means therefor is accessible from the outside of the wash tank. To adjust said mechanism, machine screws 69 are sufliciently released to allow turning of the brass knuckle lie and, when the adjustment is completed, said screws are drawn home and the knuckle Ni held in a fixed position to form a water-tight packing gland.

in addition to the above mentioned elements, each of the compartments i2, i3 and i i may be provided with longitudinally extending reinforc ing pipes l2 which are rigidly attached at their ends to the end walls of each of the wash tanks 36] and to the central partitions 43 thereof. Each of the compartments l2, l3 and i4 is also provided with a covered manhole E3, the cover of which may be removed to provide access to said compartments for making any repairs and for providing access thereto for any other purpose.

Referring more particularly to Figs. i, 4, 6, '7, 8 and 9 of the drawings, there is illustrated in detail the refuse accumulation responsive float controlled refuse discharge mechanism which constitutes one feature of our invention. This device comprises a float 53, preferably stream lined by having a rounded front with side walls tapering to a point at the rear, as best indicated in Fig. 5,- which may well take the form of a hollow aluminum member. Said float is provided with a pointer 14 adjacent the top thereof adapted to cooperate with a scale 15, which is mounted'on bracket 18 carried on cross channel m mber 11 between the side wall 32 of the tank and the partition 33' thereof, to indicate the refuse depth. Said float 53 is carried upon a parallel motion mechanism comprising two pairs of lever arms 18 and 18 having heads 80 and 8|, respectively, provided with a plurality of apertures 82 and 83, respectively, for receiving trunnion bolts 84 and 85, respectively, extending through said float 53. It is manifest that, by removing the cotter pins which are provided for each of said bolts 84 and 85 and removing said bolts from the float 53, said float may be adjusted to any desire-d position with respect to said lever arms 18 and I9 and retained in said adjusted position by re-inserting said bolts 84 and 85 and fastening the cotter pins Said lever arms 18 and 19 are pivoted, respectively, to the shafts 86 and 81 which are mounted on nonfriction bearings in the journals 88 and 89, re-

spectively, of the bracket 19. The lever arms 19 are removably attached to the shaft 81, as by the lever arms 19 rigidly to the shaft 81 so that said shaft 81 rotates responsive to the movement thereof, the lever arms 18 are keyed to said shaft 99, as by keys 93, to provide positive rotation of said shaft 86 responsive to movement of said lever arms 19, which movement is, of course, controlled by the float 53. The shaft 89 has an extension 94 over which is adapted to he slipped the hub of a lever arm 99 carrying an adjustable counter-balancing weight 91 adapted to counter-balance the normal weight of the float mechanism 53. Said hub 95 also receives a reduced extension on a cross shaft 98 and is preferably rigidly attached thereto, as by welding. The hub 95, riding on extension 94, thereby provides one bearing support for said shaft 98. Integrally formed with said hub 95 is an extending arm 99 having a U-shaped end I99, the side flanges of which are adapted to extend adjacent the upper and lower edges 'of one of the lever arms 18, whereby said arm 99 will transmit the motion imparted to lever arms 18 by the float 53 to the cross shaft 99.

The other end of the cross shaft 98 is journaled in a bearing I9I mounted on a bracket I99 attached to the end of the cross channel 11. Bigidly attached to said cross shaft 98 to rotate therewith and extending rearwardly therefrom is a lever I92 provided with a. plurality of apertures I93 adapted to receive selectively the bifurcated end of a coupling member I94 which is attached to a downwardly extending rod I99 which carries at its lower end an adjustable coupling I99 (Fig. '7) provided with an elongated aperture I9l. Said I coupling I99 is screwthreaded with the lower end of the shaft I99 and is provided with a lock nut I91 whereby said coupling may be adjustably positioned on said,

shaft I95 and whereby the end of said shaft I95 may be variably extended to restrict the amount of lost motion provided by said elongated aperture I91. It is thus seen that a mechanism is provided whereby the position of the float 99 may control the rod I99 which rod may, in turn, be employed to control the operation of the refuse discharge valve 49, the details of which will now be described.

Said refuse discharge valve 49 comprises a paddle wheel I98 which, as seen in Fig. l, cooperates with the chute 39 to remove the refuse accumulated in said chute and discharge said refuse into the boot 4| of the elevator mechanisms 22, 23 and 24, respectively. Said paddle wheel I98 is mounted on the shaft I09 (Fig. 8) which extends through a mounting H9 comprising a removable plate III having a hub I I2 which is provided with an enlarged recess adapted to receive felt washers I I3 of a packing gland which washers may be compressed by compression bushing or gland II4 adapted to be adjusted by headless studs and cooperating nuts H5. The plate I I I is provided with a circumferential flange H6 adapted to be attached by cap screws III to a ring I I1 rigidly secured to the side wall 32 of the wash tanks, as by welding. A gasket H8 is preferably positioned between theflange I I6 and ring II1 to provide a water-tight connection. It is to be noted that the internal diameter of the ring I I1 is larger than the diameter of the paddle wheel I98 whereby, upon removal of the cap screws 1', the paddle wheel may be removed by being drawn outwardly through said ring IIl.

Rigidly attached to the flange IIB is the base II9 of a bracket I29 which has a pair of spaced upstanding arms carrying spaced journal bearings HI and I22 through which extend the outer end of the shaft I99. Said base II9 may be attached to said ring III, as by cap screws I23 which extend through said flange H9 and into said ring Ill. The bearings I2I- and I22 are provided with inner circumferential bearing surfaces I23 and I24, respectively, which cooperate with the outer portion of the shaft I99, and with external bearing surfaces I25 and I29, respectively, for a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

The shaft I99 is provided at its outer end with a grease fitting I2'l cooperating with an axial drill hole I2'l which communicates with circumferential grease grooves grease to said bearing surfaces I23 and I24, respectively. Adjacent said bearing surfaces I28 and I24, the bearings I2I and I22 may be provided with appropriate grease grooves I28 and I29.

A pair of levers I39 and I9I is provided with hearing rings I92 and I39, respectively, which c0- omrate with the inner portions of the bearing surfaces I29 and I29, respectively, and are r0- tatable with respect thereto. Said rings I32 and I99 have extending arms I39 and I35, respectively, adapted to carry counter-weights I39 and I99, respectively, which may m adjusted on said extending arms, as by clamp screws I39.

Intermediate the bearings I2I and I22 and keyed rigid with the shaft I99 is a ratchet wheel I99. It is thus evident that upon rotation of the ratchet wheel I99 the shaft I99 will be rotated with the paddle wheel its to eflect the discharge of accumulated refuse in the chute 39.

To efiect a rotation of said ratchet wheel I99, there is provided a pair of pawls I49 and MI which are of unequallength and which are mounted upon a bolt I92 extending between spaced bell crank levers I99 and I44 having bearing rings I49 and I49, respectively, cooperating with the outer extensions of the bearings I25 and I29, respectively;

Between the bearing rings I99 and I49 is a spacing washer I'll. A similar spacing washer I49 is also positioned between the bearing rlngs I32 and I49. These washers are preferably provided with the rotation preventing tongues extending into slots I99 and I59, respectively, of said bearings I25 and I29. Arms I43 and. I44 of the bell crank levers I43 and I44 are provided with extensions I5I and I52, respectively, having appropriate bearing rings adapted to receive the trunnions of a cross head I52, which cross head is adapted to receive the end of a reciprocating rod I53 and to be adjustably attached thereto by spaced nuts and washer I54.

As best illustrated in Fig. 1, the rod I53 is continuously driven from an eccentric mechanism I54 driven from the shaft 25. As the shaft 25 rotates continuouslyrunder the operation of the motor I1, it will be evident that the bell cranks I43 and I44 will be continuously oscillating on I29 to supply the bearings I25 and I26, respectively. Therefore, so long as the pawls I40 and I are allowed to cooperate with the teeth of the ratchet wheel I29, said wheel I36 and the paddle wheel I06 will be continuously revolved in a step-by-step manner. The two pawls I40 and MI of unequal length are provided so that a movement of the bell cranks to rotate said pawls-a distance only half the displacement of the teeth of said ratchet I39 -will be effective to rotate said ratchet wheel. That is, by providing the two pawls I40 and I, a smaller arc of oscillation of the bell cranks I43 and M61 is required to rotate the ratchet wheel To provide for the selective operation of said ratchet wheel E39 and the consequent selective rotation of the refuse discharge paddle wheel H08 responsive to the operation of the float 53, the levers and lfiil, which have an arcuate periphery, provided with an arcuate shield 955 h..ving an extension which, in certain posiim.) tions of adjustment, rides under the pawls I60 and t lt and prevents said pawls engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel Rigiclly attached to said levers B30 and iii for rotation thereof about the bearing rings 632 and I33 is a bifurcated bracket I57 having a cross pin E58 adapted to move in the elongated slot ill? of the coupling E06. It is thus evident that the float 53 operating responsive to the accumulation of refuse on the screen 36 will determine the position of the shield I55 with its extension 556 which will, in turn, determine whether or not the pawls I40 and I, or either of said pawls, engage the teeth of the ratchet, wheel I39 and will determine theextent of this engagement.

The elongated opening III'I is provided so that the float 53 may have a limited up and down movement responsive to the pulsations of the jigging fluid passing through the screen 36, without affecting the shield I55. The limits of this movement may, of course, be varied by the position of the coupling I06 on the threaded end of the shaft I05.

It should be noted that the bell cranks I43 and I44 are pivoted on the stationary bearings I26 and I26, respectively; thus, there is no tendency for the shaft I06 to be oscillated responsive to the continuous oscillation of the said bell cranks I43 and I44 except when there is engagement between one of the pawls I40 and I and the ratchet wheel I39 whereby the discharge of refuse will be completely under the control of the float mechanism. In addition, the washers I41 and I46 being also stationary and non-rotatably mounted on the bearings I25 and I26, respectively, there will be no tendency for the oscillatory movement 'of the bell cranks I43 and I44 to be transmitted to the brackets I30 and I3I. By virtue of the counter-balance weights I36 and I3-I, the mechanism comprising the levers I36 and I3I and all parts rigid'the'rewlth will remain in pulsating movement of this coupling. The posi-v tion of the shield I66 will therefore be governed by the float mechanism and will not cause undue wear by 'needless continuous oscillation. v

In the operation of the jig in the manner above described, it is evident that the refuse discharge mechanism of each of the compartments I2, I3 and I4 will operate responsively to the accumulation of refuse individual to each of said compartments. Shaft 26, common to all of said compertments, will maintain a constant oscillatory welding. Said frame also includes a downwardly movement of the bell cranks I43, I44 of each compartment. Floats 53 individual to each of said compartments will pulsate periodically under the influence of the pulsating movement of the jigging fluid. This pulsating movement will not be 6 transferred to the shield I55 of the discharge mechanism due to the lost motion connection provided by elongated slot I01. However, a predetermined maximum accumulation of refuse on any compartment screen 36 will alter the range of pulsating movement of coupling I06 and cause a rotation of shield I55 to remove its extension I56 to allow the pulsating movement of bell crank levers I43, I44 to be translated into rotary movement of paddle wheel I08 of discharge valve 46, through engagement of one of the pawls I40 or itl with ratchet wheel I39. The refuse will thereby be discharged from chute 30 and screen 36 of the operating compartment until a predetermined minimum amount of refuse remains on said screen 36, which will result in extension 356 or. shield I55 again lifting pawls I40 and MI to prevent their engagement with ratchet wheel 536, responsive to the control of float 53. It is evident that the discharge of refuse is individual to each of the separate compartments I2, I3 and I4 and thus may be separately and differently adjusted, and the refuse on each bed 36 of each of said compartments may be maintained at any desired level within relatively narrow limits.

One of the features of our invention relates particularly to the construction of the refuse discharge chute 39. As best seen in Fig. 1, this chute includes as one wall thereof the pivoted member I60 which is plvotally supported adjacent the top thereof by pivot member I6I and which has a lower free end I62 of cylindrical configuration which free end is adapted to engage normally the paddle wheel I08. Said pivoted member I60 therefore normally guides the refuse in the chute 39 to be discharged under the operation of the paddle wheel I08 of said refuse discharge valve 40. Should a. large particle of material be received in said discharge chute 39 which might otherwise damage said refuse discharge valve 40, the pivoted member I60 will pivot about its point I6I, thereby yielding and preventing any damage to the refuse discharge valve 40. It is also to be noted that valve 40 is entirely below the screen 36. Chute 39 is therefore always fllled with refuse and a predetermined depth of refuse is maintained on said screen 36.

Another feature of our invention is the pivotal supporting means for the screens 36. The said screens 36 may take the form of a. perforate plate mounted upon a. frame I63 comprising side and end angle members and both lateral and longitudinal reinforcing ribs, which are rigidly attached together and to said perforate plate, as by extending plate I63 which is adapted. to maintain sliding contact with the partition '43 during adjustment of said screen to confine the jigging fluid of each sub-compartment to its screen portion. Adjacent its forward end, the screen is supported on a. pivot I64 for pivotal movement thereabout. The rear end of said screen 36 is 'adjustably supported from hangers I66 which depend from brackets on the side wall 32 and the partition 43. Said hangers I66 have nuts I66-adjacent the top thereof which may be adjusted to inclination of said screens which will control the rate of travel of material thereacross.

Referring particularly to Figs. 10, 11 and 12, there is illustrated in detail a valve mechanism 44 which is particularly adapted to be employed with our invention as well as an. eccentric mechanism 45, which is particularly adaptedto be employed to operatesaid valve 44. Said valve 44 comprises a cylinder 259 provided in the upper part thereof with a circumferential inlet port 268 comprising an annular opening communicating with a circumferential chamber 26l provided with a pipe fitting 262. Adjacent the lower part of said cylinder 259 is a plurality of. discharge ports 263 communicating with atmospheric pressure. In place of the discharge ports 263, there may be employed a continuous annular. discharge port similar to the inlet port 260 and provided with a circumferential chamber therefor similar to the chamber 26L In this case, the circumferential chamber would be provided with one or more ex haust ports similar to the ports 263.

The bottom part of said cylinder 259 communicates with the belled conduit 264 forming the upper part of the air chamber 35. The upper part of the cylinder 259 is provided with ahead 265 having an integral guide sleeve 266. Within the cylinder 259 is a pair of pistons 261 and 268. The piston 261 is adapted to control the opening and closing of the inlet port 268 and the piston 268 is adapted to control the opening and closing of the discharge ports 263. The piston 261 is provided with a central hub 269 and axially extending spokes 219. The spokes 218 permit the free movement of the air received through the inlet port 268, through the cylinder 259 to the conduit 264 and into the air chamber 35 when piston 261 is in inlet port opening position. The piston 268 is also provided with a hub 2H and spokes 212 in order to allow the above mentioned free passage through the cylinder 259.

Rigidly attached to the hub 269 is a hollow sleeve 213 adapted to be guided in the guide sleeve 266. The upper endof said hollow sleeve 213 is screw threaded, 'as illustrated at 214, and is adapted to receive screw-threadedly a split guide thimble 215 which may be clamped rigidly thereto after having been adjusted to a desired position With respect to the threaded neck portion 211 of said guide thimble 215. The inner cylindrical surface of said guide thimble 215 is adapted to slide on the outer surface of the guide sleeve 266. A U-shaped link 218, carrying a connecting rod 242, is pivoted to laterally extending lugs 289, 238 of the thimble 215.

Projecting through the longitudinal opening 28l of the hollow sleeve 213 is a shaft 282 rigidly attached at its lower end with the hub 21! of the piston 268 and adjustably connected 'to the hollow sleeve 213 at its upper end by screw threads 283. A clamping nut 284 is provided for clamping said shaft 282 rigidly with said hollow sleeve 213 after the former is adjusted to a desired position. To provide for the adjustment of said shaft 282 with respect to said hollow sleeve 213/the top of said shaft 282 is preferably squared as indicated at 285, whereby a wrench may be employed to rotate said shaft 282 and thereby effect its adjustment. The portion 219 of sleeve 213 is also squared to receive a tool whereby it maybe prevented from turning with shaft 282 during adjustment of said shaft. As the piston 261 is rigidly attached to the hollow sleeve 213 and as the piston 268 is rigidly attached to the shaft 282, it is obvious that by rotating said shaft 282, which i 7 is screw-threaded at 283, with said hollow sleeve 213, the position of the piston 268 may be adjusted with respect to the piston 261. This adjustment may be made within wide limits and, when any desired adjustment is effected, it may be maintained by clamping home the clamp nut 284. After said adjustment is made between said pistons 261 and 268, said pistons are adapted to be moved in unison under the control of the connecting rod 242. By virtue of the adjustabilityv afforded by the screw-threaded connection between the threaded portion 214 of the hollow sleeve 213 and the cooperating threaded portion of the guide thimble 215, said guide thimble 215 may be adjusted with respect to said hollow sleeve 213 and thus the positions of said pistons 261 and 268 may be adjusted with respect to the connect-- ing rod 242. The upper end of the connecting rod 242 is connected to an eccentric mechanism 45.

There is also illustrated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 a particular type of adjustable eccentric mechanism which is particularly well adapted for use as an element of our invention. Said eccentric mechanism comprises a split strap 286 rigidly connected with the connecting rod 242. Mounted upon the shaft 28 for rotation therewith is a bushing 288 provided with a circumferential flange 289 and a cylindrical hub 298. This mounting is effected by the usual keyway in the shaft 28 with which cooperates a key 288' against which is adapted to impinge a set screw 289' threaded through said bushing 288. It may be stated that the keyways on shafts. 29 and 2| are all preferably formed in longitudinal alignment. Said hub 298 is adapted to fit into an-oval-shaped opening 29| having parallel side walls in an eccentric plate 292, which plate is rotatablymounted between side fianges of the strap 286 and is carried between the flange 289 and a retaining washer 293, bolted to said bushing 288, as by cap screws 293'. The stroke of the connecting rod 242 is of course, controlled by the spacing between the axis of rotation of the eccentric plate 292 or the center thereof, and the axis of rotation of the shaft 28; that is, the stroke will be twice this spacing. In order to control variably the stroke of said connecting rod 242, the eccentric plate 292 is made adjustable with respect to the bushing 288 whereby said axial spacing may be controlled at will. The oval-shaped opening 29! permits relative adjustment between the eccentric plate 292 and said bushing 288. To effect this adjustment and also to effect a further adjustment which will be discussed more in detail hereinafter, the flange 289 is provided with three angularly positioned conical holes 295' adapted to receive selectively the frusto-conical head 295 of a pin 294, the axis of rotation of which head is spaced with respectto the axis of rotation of said pin 294. Said pin 294 is adapted to be received in a drill hole in the plate 292. The axial extension of said frusto-conical head 295 is screw-threaded to receive a nut 296 and at its extremity is squared home the nut 296. The retaining washer 293 is 16 also effective to maintain this adjustment when clamped by cap screws 293'.

As illustrated in Fig. 12, the distance between the outer wall of the hub 299 within the ovalshaped opening 291 and the wall defining said opening 291 may be adjusted by the rotation of the pin 294 about its axis. This may be efiected by a wrench fitted on the square head 291. Along the section line illustrated in Fig. 12, the said walls are spaced at substantially their maximum distance. By rotating the pin 294, the axis of rotation of the frusto-conical head 295 will be" moved upwardly and will decrease the mentioned distance. This affords the above mentioned adjustment of the length of the stroke of the connecting rod 242. In addition to the above mentioned adjustment, by removing the retaining washer 293 and the nut 296, it is possible to move the eccentric plate 292 along with the pin 294, having a frusto-conical head 295, in axial direction sumciently to disengage the head 295 from the conical hole 295' in which it is positioned and to rotate the eccentric plate 292 either 120 or 240 degrees in either direction and then place said head 295 in another of said conical holes 295'; that is, plate 292 may have any one of three angular positions relative to the bushing 288. By this expedient, a plurality of valves may be driven from the common shaft 29 and their cycle of operation may be either 120 or 240 degrees in phase relation. In addition, the cycle of operation of any one valve may be adjusted in phase relation either 120 or 249, degrees from any prior setting thereof.

By employing the adjustable eccentric mechanism and the adjustable dual piston valve mechanism illustrated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, very flexible control of the admission of air under pressure to the discharge chambers 35, the maintenance of airrin said chambers and the discharge of air therefrom is provided. The adjustable eccentric mechanism 45 provides for an adjustable stroke of the connecting rod 242 and a resulting adjustable stroke for the pistons 261 and 268. Said adjustable eccentric mechanism 45 also provides for adjusting the phase relation between two or more valves. The adjustable thimble 215 provides for an adjustable determination of the limits within which said pistons 261 and 268 will operate for any given eccentric adjustment and any given relative adjustment of pistons 261 and 268; and the adjustment provided between the shaft 282 and the hollow sleeve 213 provides an adjustment for the relative positions of the pistons 261 and 268 which, in turn, provides for the relative times of opening and'closing of the inlet port 269 and the discharge ports 263. With the valve 44 and the eccentric mechanism 45 adjusted as illustrated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 and with the shaft 29 rotating in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 10, a cycle of operation of the device will be substantially as follows: With the valve 44 in the position illustrated in Fig. 11, both the inlet port 269 and the discharge ports 263 are closed and the chamber is sealed at an initial atmospheric pressure following a period of exhaustion of chamber 35. As the shaft 29 rotates counter-clockwise and the pistons 261 and 268 are moved downwardly, the inlet port 269 is opened as the eccentric device 45 approaches the lower limit of its stroke. The discharge ports 263 are maintained closed through this portion of the cycle. It may be noted that, as the inlet port 269 does not begin to open until the eccentric 45 has approached the downward extremity of its stroke, the rate of opening of said port 269 will be small in comparison with what it would have been had said port started to open at approximately the instant the axis of the eccentric plate 292 passed below the axis of the shaft 29. With the connecting rod 242 in its extreme downward position of the stroke, the inlet port 269 will be com pletely opened and the discharge ports 263 will be closed. As soon as inlet port 269 starts to open, air under pressure will be admitted to the chamber 35 to produce upward movement of the jigging fluid through the screen 36. On return movement of the connecting rod 242 under the control of the eccentric 45, the inlet port 269 will be closed while the outlet ports 263 will be maintained closed. Under these conditions, the chamber 85 is effectively sealed under initial pressure above atmospheric pressure and this condition is maintained until the connecting rod 242 has substantially completed its stroke in the upward direction under the control of the eccentric mechanism 45. When the connecting rod 242 substantially completes its upward stroke, said discharge ports 263 are opened while the inlet port 269 is maintained closed and the chamber 35 is free to exhaust at atmospheric pressure. During the following downward movement of pistons 261 and 268, exhaust ports 263 will be closed while inlet port 269 is maintained closed and the chamber- 35 is effectively sealed under conditions of initial atmospheric pressure. This completes a cycle of operation of the said mechanism.

The period during which the inlet port 269 is opened and fluid under pressure is admitted to the air chamber 35 is designated the inlet period. The following period during which ports 269 and 263 are both closed under conditions of initial pressure above atmospheric, is designated the expansion period. The following period during which exhaust ports 263 are opened is designated the exhaust period and the final period during which ports 269 and 263 are closed under initial atmospheric pressure is designated the com-- 7 pression period.

It may be noted that with this particular valve construction the expansion and compression periods are, of necessity, of relatively equal duration of time while the inlet and exhaust periods may be varied within wide limits and may be of difierent time durations.

By lowering the position of the piston 261 with respect to the connecting rod 242, the period during which the inlet port 269 is maintained open may be increased and, by raising said piston with respect to said connecting rod, said period may be reduced. This period may be varied between wide limits from. 20 degrees to 300 degrees of movement of shaft 29, by controlling the position of said piston 261 on said hollow sleeve 213.' Likewise, by lowering the position of the piston 288 with respect to the connecting rod 242, the period during which the discharge ports 263 are open may be reduced and, by raising this piston with respect to said connecting rod, said period may be increased. This period may also be varied between the limits above mentioned for piston 261. It is to be noted that the length of the piston 261 is such that under no condition may said piston be moved upwardly sufficiently to open the inlet port 269. This requires the opening of said inlet port 269 to take place only during the downthe control of the piston 268, are adapted to be opened only in response to an upward movement of the connecting rod 242. Furthermore, the pistons 261 and 268 are preferably so adjusted that under no condition will ports 260 and 263 be open at the same time for, if this condition exists, the air under pressure will enter the I cylinder 259 through inlet port 260 and be discharged to the atmosphere through the discharge ports 263, thereby wasting the air and doing no useful work. It is obvious that the portion of any cycle of operation, during which inlet port 260 may be opened and discharge ports 263 closed, may be varied within wide limits and the portion of the cycle, during which discharge ports 263 may be opened "and inlet port 260' closed, may likewise be varied within wide limits. In additiomthe condition under which boththe inlet port 260 and the discharge ports 263 are closed may be varied within wide limits and, in fact, this period may be reduced to substantially zero or increased to substantially 150 degrees. It may be noted, however, that with this particular valve construction, this period cannot exceed even theoretically 180 degrees and as a practical matter the limit is about 150 degrees.

In addition, the rate at which ports 260 and 263 are opened and closed once their respective pistons begin an opening and closing operation may be varied by varying the stroke of the connecting rod 242 and by varying the instant during any cycle of operation at which said opening or closing operation begins. The latter factor is, of course, determined to a large extent .by the portion of the cycle a valve is adjusted to be opened while the former is independently adjustable. For example, if the portion of any cycle defining the limits during which port 260 first starts to open until it is totally closed is small, such as 60 degrees, then it will begin to open when eccentric 45 approaches the lower part of its stroke during which the rate of movement of piston 26! is relatively small. On the other hand, if the portion of the cycle defining the limits during which ports 26!] first starts to open until it is totally closed is 180 degrees, then it begins to open when eccentric 45 is midway of its downward stroke. At this portion of its movement, the piston 26'! is moving at its maximum velocity. It is, of course, evident that the rate of opening and the rate of closing of either of the ports 266 or 263 will be the same though the rate of opening and closing of the inlet port 260 may be different from that of the discharge ports 263.

It is thus obvious that with the eccentric operated valve structure illustrated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, the period during which the fluid is admitted to the chambers 35, the rate of this admission, the period during which the discharge ports 263 are closed and the rate of opening thereof may be varied within wide limits, thus providing a very flexible means for controlling the cyclic movement of the jigging fluid with respect to the screen 36.

A cycle of operation of the jigging fluid under the influence of the cyclically operating valve 44 in a typical case will be substantially as follows: During the air inlet period, the jigging fluid will move upwardly through the screen 36. During the expansion period which follows, the jigging fluid will continue to move upwardly through said screen 36 though at a decreasing velocity. It maybe that said upward movement will continue beyond the expansion period and for a short interval into the following exhaust period, and it is even possible that said upward movement may terminate prior to the termination of the. expansion period. During the exhaust period, the upward movement of the fluid is terminated,' unless previously terminated and for an instant said fluid is at rest. Following this instant of rest, the fluid moves downwardly through the screen 36 at an increasing rate of downward velocity. This increasing downward velocity is ordinarily checked before the end of the exhaust period and the downward velocity is maintained ata sharper reduced rate during the latter partof the exhaust period. During the following compression period, the air in the chamber 35 is compressed by the downward movement of the fluid through the screen 36, which compressed air is effective to reduce the downward velocity of said fluid to zero. In some cases, it has actually been found that during the compression period the air is sufllciently compressed to reduce not only the downward velocity of the fluid to zero but to start the upward velocity of the fluid with respect to the screen 36 just prior to thebeginning of the following air inlet period. Under certain adjustments of the valve, it has also been found that the compression period is not quite sufficient to reduce said downward velocity to zero and this is accomplished by the first part of the following inlet period.

It is evident that the device comprising our invention is very flexible and each of the several compartments l2, l3 and I4 may be independently adjusted by virtue of a large number of independently adjustable means to take care of the particular problem presented to eachof said compartments. For example, the inclination of the screen of each of said compartments may be separately and individually adjusted. The rate of discharge of the accumulated refuse on each of the screens 36 may be independently adjusted and the allowed depth of refuse bed or amount of accumulated'refuse may be independently adjmted for each compartment. The size of the refuse discharge opening and the height of the weir of each compartment may be separately adjusted. In addition, each of said compartments is divided into two sub-compartments each sub-compartment of which has an individual periodically operated air control valve for controlling the pulsations of the jigging fluid in that sub-compartment. Each of said subcompartments also has an individual source of water supply and an individually controllable fluid guide plate for directing the jigging fluid to that portion of the screen 36 positioned above said sub-compartment.

In addition, the phase relation of the valves individual to eachof the compartments i2, i3 and i4 may be adjusted within wide ranges. As above suggested, each group of said valves individual'to the several compartments I2, i3 and I4 may be set 120 degrees out of phase. This particular setting is, of course, by no means necessary and, if desired, all of said valves may be operated in phase or four of said valves may be operated in phase while two of said valves which, for example, are individual to one of the compartments, may operate out of phase therewith by any desired amount. Furthermore, if desired, one valve individual to each of the compartments may be set 120 degrees out of phase, with the valves of any one compartment also set 120 degrees out of phase. However, the preferred setting is with the valves of the several compartments 120 degrees out of phase. This reduces to a minimum the amount of air drawn from the tank 41 at any instant. By virtue of this feature, the pressure in said tank 41 may be maintained substantially constant with a relatively small pump or blower 46. Furthermore,

due to this constancy of pressure in tank 41, the

operation of the jig is more uniform and emcient. This is due to the fact that a constant air pressure is always available and the resulting operation may be more accurately controlled by valves 44. Full pressure is always available at the end of a stroke as well as at the start thereof and, should there be any overlapping of the air inlet periods of two compartments, the second compartment would have available the full air pressure, which is necessary for its proper action.

In the operation of our device, a very efllcient jigging of materialas, for example, coal-may be realized due to the above mentioned extreme flexibility of the adjustments of each of the compartments l2, I3 and I4. In addition to the elements described above in detail, it may be mentioned that the drive mechanisms 26 and 21 are each provided with a chain tensioning mechanism which may take the form of a pivoted bell crank having a roller on one arm thereof adapted to ride on the chain and an adjustable weight on the other arm thereof. These devices are clearly seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The device of our invention may be employed to perform substantially any desired cycle of jigging operation and it is particularly adapted to operate in accordance with the method of jigging disclosed in the above mentioned application of Byron M. Bird, Serial No. 737,443, though it is obviously not restricted to this particular method of jigging.

The steps involved in said method are described generally in the above description of the operation of valve 44. It may be further pointed out that the cycle of operation of each compartment involves the upward movement of fluid through the screen 36, first at a relatively slow rate to open the top of the bed, followed by an increased rate which lifts the entire bed as a mass. The bed then opens rather rapidly throughout, after which the fluid continues its upward movement but at a rapidly decreasing rate. This is followed by downward movement of the fluid through screen 36 which is cushioned by the air trapped in air chamber 35 during the compression period and brought to rest thereby. The stratification of the material takes place while the bed is open. This particular method of jigging has been found to provide a more complete separation of materials according to specific gravity and to be capable of treating .a wider size range of materials than has heretofore been satisfactorily treated,

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims said screen,

hereto appended, and we wish therefore not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of our invention, what we desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a jig, the combination with a tank adapted to contain a jigging fluid, of a pivoted deflecting plate in said tank, said plate having a pivotal connection adjacent the top of said plate extending substantially parallel with a side wall of said tank, an adjusting rod attached to the lower end of said plate and extending through a side wall of said tank, and combined adjusting and packing means cooperating with said rod where it extends through said wall to adjust plvotally said plate and provide a fluid-tight packing for said rod.

2. In a jig, the combination with a device comprising a plurality of sections each of which comprises a fluid container, a material supporting screen and a refuse discharge valve, of operating means common to all of said refuse discharge valves, and refuse accumulation controlled means individual to each section for effecting operative connection between the refuse discharge valve of said section and said common operating means, said refuse controlled means comprising a float having a rounded front and tapering sides leading to a relatively sharp rear end.

3. In a jig, the combination with a tank, of

a screen in said tank, means for causing periodic upward movement of jigging fluid through said screen to stratify material thereon, float mechanism for determining the depth of refuse on said screen, said mechanism comprising an elongated upright float having a rounded front and tapering side walls leading to a sharp rear portion, means for pivotally mounting said float including lever arms, one on each side of 'said float, each having a plurality of vertically spaced holes adapted to receive selectively a cross pin for connecting said float to said arms, a variable counter-weight for adjusting the buoyancy of said float, a refuse valve controlling lever operatively connected to'said float, and means for varying the leverage of said float thereon.

4. In a jig, the combination with a tank, of a screen in said tank, means for causing periodic upward movement of jigging fluid through said screen to stratify material thereon, float mechanism for determining the depth of refuse on said mechanism comprising an elongated upright float having a rounded front and tapering side walls leading to a sharp rear portion, and means operated by said float mechanism for controlling the discharge of refuse accumulated on said screen.

5. In a jig, the combination with a tank adapted to contain a jigging fluid, of an adjustable screen within said tank, a partition dividing saidtank into a plurality of sub-compartments to which said screen'is common, means individual to each sub-compartment for causing jigging fluid to move cyclically through said screen, and means comprising an extension on the'bottom of said screen to provide a continuation of said partition to said screen for varying positions of said screen.

6. In a jig, the combination with a tank having upright longitudinally extending side walls and end walls, of an upright longitudinally extending partition positioned between said side walls and dividing said tank into two compartmerits, a perforate material supporting screen in one of said compartments through which jigging fluid is adapted to be moved, means associated with the other compartment for periodically forcing said fluid through said screen, said longitudinally extending partition comprising an upper stationary portion adapted to aid in supporting said screen and a lowermost portion which is pivoted at its top at the lower extremity of said upper stationary portion, wiper means carried on the ends of said lowermost partition adapted to wipe the end walls of said tank, and means for adjusting said pivoted portion about its pivot.

"7. In a jig, the combination with a tank, of a screen in said tank, means for causing periodic upward movement of jigging fluid through said screen to stratify material thereon, float mechanism for determining the depth of refuse on said screen, said mechanism comprising a float having a rounded front and tapering sides leading to a relatively sharp rear portion, and means op-= erated by said float mechanism for controlling the discharge of refuse accumulated on said.

screen.

8. In a jig, the combination with a tank, of a material supporting screen therein, means for causing jigging liquid to move upwardly periodically through said screen to stratify material thereon containing refuse, a refuse ejecting rotary valve, an oscillating arm for rotating said valve, a float constructed and arranged to determine the depth of stratifled refuse on said screen, and means controlled by said float and constructed and arranged to cause said rotary valve to rotate through a variable angle for each oscillation of said oscillating arm, said angle depending upon the position of said float as determined by the depth of refuse on said screen.

9. In a jig, the combination with a tank, of a coal supporting screen therein, means of causing jigging liquid to move upwardly periodically through said screen to stratify the coal thereon into layers of refuse and clean coal, a rotary refuse ejector, a reciprocating member for imparting rotary movement to said valve, a pivoted float constructed and arranged to determine the depth of said refuse bed, anti-friction mountings for said float, and mechanism controlled by said float and cooperating with said reciprocating member to determine variably the extent of rotation of said ejector for each reciprocation of 1 said member as determined by the depth of said refuse bed.

10. In a jig, the combination with a tank, of a coal supporting screen therein, means for causing jigging liquid to move upwardly periodically through said screen tostratify the coal thereon into layers of refuse and clean coal, a rotary refuse ejector, oscillating means for rotating said ejector in steps, and means including a refuse responsive float for controlling variably the angle of rotation of said ejector for each oscillation of said oscillating means, as determined by the depth of the refuse on said screen.

11. In a jig, the combination with a tank, of a coal supporting screen therein, means for causing jigging liquid to move upwardly periodically through said screen to stratify the coal thereon into layers of refuse and clean coal, a rotary refuse ejector, oscillating means for rotating said ejector in steps, and means for controlling variably the angle of oscillation of said oscillating means, as determined by the depth of the refuse on said screen.

12. In a jig, the combination with a tank adapted to contain a jigging able screen within said tank, a partition dividing said tank into a plurality of sub-compartments to which said screen is common, means individual to each sub-compartment for causing jigging fluid to move cyclically through said screen, and means constructed and arranged to provide a rotation of said ejector for each fluid, of an adjustcontinuation of said partition to said screen for BYRON M. BIRD. ERNST F. MULLER.

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