US2554480A - Ore concentrator - Google Patents

Description

May 22, 1951 w. N. T. MORTON ORE CONCENTRATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1948 INVENTOR. WALTER 1v. 7? MORTON May 22, 1951 w. N. T. MORTON 2,554,480

ORE CONCENTRATOR Filed Jan. 8, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 :11 a i H w w I I 2/ l g m 5a F m n n m I L L 1 7 o I q 45 A i II I INVENTOR. L WALTER N. r. MORTON @MZW. W 7612104 A TTORNEYS.

y 22, 14951 w. N. T. MORTON 2,554,480

ORE CONCENTRATOR Filed Jan. 8, 1948 s SheetS -Sheet s INVENTOR. WALTER IV. I MORTON .4 TTOR/VEYS.

Patented May 22, 1951 UNITED STATES ijATENT ()FFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to an ore concentrator and has to do particularly with a concentrator or separator of the centrifugal type wherein the rotating parts are reduced to a minimum thereby simplifying balancin problems and wherein the major portions of the separator are stationary and are of simple rugged construction.

An object of the invention is to provide an ore concentrator of improved efficiency and capable of adjustment for handling ores of different types. and grades. For example, a concentrator. constructed in accordance with this invention can very easily be set up andadjusted to handle rich or lean ores. 4

In accordance with the invention the concentrator has an exterior shell or body providing an interior chamber and within the container is a rotary impeller. The pulp, that is, ground or crushed ore in water is introduced into the chamher, and subjected to the action of the impeller. The, heavy concentrates and the gangue are separated largely by centrifugal force as the pulp is caused to flow or move in the chamber because of the action of the impeller. Due to the interior construction, and formation of the chamber the heavy concentrates and the gangue are caused to flow into different portions of the chamber and discharge means is provided for both.

Other objects will become apparent as thefollowing detailed description is followed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which show one form of concentrator constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 1 is a. general cross, sectional view showing. a. concentrator constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a general view showing the concentrato'r in side. elevation.

Fig. 3 is a, view showing the top of the pulp vessel looking substantially on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view'in the nature of a plan view of the apparatus with the top funnel removed showi'ngstructure in dotted lines and illustrating by arrowsthe flow of concentrates.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the impeller.

v Fig, 6 is an enlarged cross sectional View showing a wiper blade and taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 5.

The mechanism embodies a separating chamber provided with a bottom I and with walls extending upwardly therefrom which advantageously and preferably are of conical shape as illustrated at 2. The conical wall is preferably flanged atits lower edge so as'to rest upon and besecured tcr the bottom by cap" screws'or' bolts 3. This provides a separating chamber 4. There is an impeller in the chamber carried by and operated by a shaft 6 suitably journalled as at 1 and which may be rotated by any suitable means, such as an electric motor 8 operating through a belt or the like 9 which, in turn, runs over pulleys l and II. This impeller has a plate-like body 55 with blades I6 thereon and the impeller is arranged to rotate counter-clockwise as Fig. is viewed. The impeller sits close to the bottom panel I and it may be provided with one or more wiper blades ll extending therefrom which may project into the space adjacent the intersection of the side and bottom walls, as shown in Fig. 1. The wiper blades are preferably flexible comprised of a flexible piece of steel I8 and preferably provided with a rubber or plastic coating I9.

The top of the cone shaped chamber is provided with an extension surrounding which is a chamber 2i closed at the top and bottom as at 22 and 23 and havin an outlet or discharge pipe 24. Attached to the top closure 22 is an inlet tube 25 which extends downwardly through the extension 20 and terminates adjacent the center of the impeller. In this connection, the impeller preferably has a central conical extension 26. A suitable vessel, which may be of funnel shape, is illustrated at 30, the same communicating with the inlet pipe 25 and it may have a spider formation 3! for supporting a valve 32 having a screw threaded stem 33 threaded in the spider and a suitable controlling handle 34.

A valve in the form of a plate 36 cooperates with the upper end of the extension 20 and rods 31' secured to the valve plate slide through the cover plate 22 and their upper ends are engaged by a ring or plate 38.

The chamber 4 has an outlet for the concentrate, this outlet being preferably substantially tangentially located as shown at 40, and located in the lower portion of the chamber adjacent the intersection of the bottom wall I and the conical wall 2. A suitable valve 4| is associated with this outlet, the same bein slidably mounted and having a rod 42 with an element thereon having an abutment 43 and an abutment 44. A shifter element 45 havin a yoke portion between the two abutments is keyed to a rock shaft 46 held by brackets 41 so that oscillation of the shaft moves the valve member 45 into and out of position for closing an opening the outlet 40. This valve is preferably automatically acting by the condition of the gangue. A construction for so operating the'valve resides in a lever 50 keyed or vessel 38. the inlet pipe in a controlled manner as reguthe pipe 25 and engages the impeller.

to the shaft 46 and having an extending arm for receiving, in an adjustable position, a suitable weight 5|. The other end of the lever is connected to a rod 52 preferably provided with a turnbuckle 53. This rod is pivotally mounted as at 54 and has a forked end 55 for resting on the plate 38.

Th interior of the chamber is preferably provided with rifiles or abutments on the interior surfaces of the conical wall 2. There are a series of these riflies or abutments as shown in Fig. 4, and each is disposed in an angular manner so that it extends along the inner surface of the member 2 substantially from the bottom to the top thereof. The abutments or rifiles are preferably broken, there being alternate openings and abutment portions, the openings being illustrated at SI, and these openings are preferably offset from each other. That is to say, the opening in one rifile is in alignment with the abutment of the next adjacent rifile.

In the operation of the apparatus, the pulp :which, aforesaid, is ground and screened ore carried. in water is introduced into the funnel The pulp flows downwardly through lated by the valveBZ. The pulp passes from Due to the central protuberance 26 the pulp is more or less spread .or divided so that it flows outwardly in alldirections. The pulp thus discharged from the. inlet pipe falls upon the plate body of the impellerand rotation is imparted thereto. The speed of rotation of the impeller is such as to cause the substance to flow outwardly by centrifugal force and the substance engages the walls of the conical chamber 4. Accordingly, a charge of substance in the chamber is whirled rapidly and as the substance moves over the inner surface-of the chamber it engages the rifiles. The lighter substances work upwardly under the centrifugal force while the heavy concentrates work downwardly. The heavy concentrates strike the ,abutments or riffies and more or less pile up or accumulate thereon, but the continuing forces arelsuch that the substances piled up against the riffles are urged in a downward direction. This is 'becauseof the downward inclination of the riffies. Of course, as some of the substance .accumu lated on an abutment portion of the rifile reaches an opening 6| therein, that accumulation passes therethrough and onto the next rifile. Ultimately, however, the heavy concentrates are .separated from the gangue and are accumulated in the outer regions of the chamber while the gangue, comprising the water and other lighter materials, is forced upwardly through the extension 20. The pressure of the gangue serves to elevate. the valve plate 36 for the discharge of ,the gangue through the discharge pip 24. The elevating of the valve plate actuates the rod 52, and as will be appreciated by reference to Fig, 2, the valve 4! is shifted to the right, as Fig. 2-is viewed, thus opening the outlet 48 for the heavy concentrates.

Accordingly, a continuous operation may be had with the valve 32 being adjusted for the entrance of'pulp with sufficient rapidity to satisfy the-requirements of the machine in separating the heavy concentrates from the gangue. It will be noted that .the escape of the gangue actuates the valve control for opening the discharge valve for the concentrates. With the arragement as shown,, if there is no discharge of gangue the valve for the concentrates is closed. The weight 5! serves to close the valve against centrifugal force and the pressure of the concentrates thereon, and this can be adjusted as required. The valving' arrangements can be adjusted for lean or rich ores. For example, in the case of a lean ore, in which there is more gangue, the turnbuckle 53 may be adjusted so as to require a greater movement of the valve plate 30 in order to open the concentrate valve 4L.

The heavy concentrates more or less accumulate as above mentioned, in the lower outer regions of the chamber and, if desired, the outlet valve therefor can be opened at intervals. The wiper blades i'i serve to move the concentrates and to wipe the lower outer regions of the chamber relatively free thereof although the wiper blades may be dispensed with. r

In order to prevent the accumulation of concentrates in the outer regions of the chamber so dry that the same will not readily flow some of the water introduced with the pulp may be caused to flow or pumped tothe outer regions of the chamber. One way of accomplishing this is to form the blades IS with hollow passages 10 which have forwardly facing openings Tl (Fig. 1). These passages extend downwardly through the body plate l5 of the impeller and into the space between the body l5 and the bottom panelv I.

The impeller has suitable blades E2 on its under surface. In the operation of the impeller liquid is picked up by the opening H and pumped downwardly and outwardly by the blades 12. into the outer regions of the chamber. The solids of the gangue being heavier than water are thrown outwardly sothat at the locations of the opening H the liquid is picked up with a minimum of solids of the'gangue.

1. An ore concentrator comprising, a stationary bottom wall, walls extending upwardly there from, said walls defining a separating chamber, an impeller in the chamber located adjacent the bottom wall, and disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the. wall, means for operating the impeller, an inlet pipe for pulp passing into the chamber and arranged to discharge pulp to the impeller, the impeller having blades for engaging the pulp to impart rotary motion thereto and throw the pulp outwardly by centrifugal force, the inner surfaces of the upwardly extending walls having rifiies thereon which are inclined so as to extend in an upwardly and downwardly direction for the collection of heavy concentrates thereon and for urging the concentrates into the lower outer regions of the chamber, an outlet pipe. for gangue connecting into the upper regions of the chamber, outlet means in the lower outer portion of the chamber for heavy concentrates, a valve for the outlet pipe for the gangue operated to open position by the pressure of the gangue thereon, a valve for controlling the outlet means for the heavy concentrates and connections between said valves so that theoperation of the outlet valve for the gangue operates the valve for. the heavy concentrates. V V V 2. An ore concentrator comprising, a stationary bottom member positioned substantially horizontally, side walls connected to the bottom memhaving its lower end arranged to discharge pulp to the center part of the impeller, said impeller having blades for imparting rotary motion to the pulp to throw the same outwardly by centrifugal force against the inclined walls, passage means for gangue surrounding the inlet pipe and extending upwardly from the top of the conical chamber, an outlet pipe for gangue, outlet means positioned substantially at the intersection of the bottom member and the upwardly extending walls, said outlet means being for heavy concentrates, a valve betweenth said passage means and the outlet pipe for the gangue arranged to be operated by the pressure of the gangue thereon, a valve for controlling the outlet means for the heavy concentrates and means interconnecting the valves whereby operation of the valve for the gangue operates the valve for the heavy concentrates.

3. An ore concentrator comprising, a stationary bottom member positioned substantially horizontally, side walls connected to the bottom memher and extending upwardly in converging manher to form a separating chamber substantially of conical shape, an impeller in the chamber positioned adjacent the bottom member and substantially parallel there-to, an inlet pipe for pulp extending downwardly into the chamber and having its lower end arranged to discharge pulp to the center part of the impeller, said impeller having blades for imparting rotary motion to the pulp to throw the same outwardly by centrifugal force against the inclined Walls, passage means for gangue surrounding the inlet pipe and extending upwardly from the top of the conical chamber, an outlet pipe for gangue, outlet means positioned substantially at the intersection of the bottom member and the upwardly extending walls, said outlet means being for heavy concentrates, and flexible wiper blades secured to the impeller for actuation in and for wiping the heavy concentrates in the zone adjacent the intersection of the bottom member and the upwardly extending walls.

4. An ore concentrator comprising, stationary bottom and upper walls forming a separating chamber, a rotary impeller in the chamber located adjacent the bottom wall, means operating the impeller, an inlet pipe for crushed ore carried in water passing into the chamber for trifugal force, an outlet pipe for gangue connecting into the upper region of the chamber, outlet means in the lower regions of the chamber for heavy concentrates, and means including passages in the impeller for recirculating some of the liquid into the outer regions of the chamber to wet the heavy concentrates.

5. An ore concentrator comprising, stationary bottom and upper walls forming a separating chamber, a rotary impeller in the chamber locat ed adjacent the bottom wall, means operating the impeller, an inlet pipe for crushed ore carried in water passing into the chamber for dis-- charging the crushed ore and water to the impeller, the impeller serving to engage the crushed ore and water to impart rotary motion thereto and throw the same outwardly by centrifugal force, an outlet pipe for gangue connecting into the upper region of the chamber, outlet means in the lower regions of the chamber for heavy concentrates, and including passages in the impeller means for pumping some of the water from the inner regions of the chamber into the outer zone for wetting the heavy concentrates.

6. An ore concentrator comprising, a station'- ary bottom wall, walls extending upwardly therefrom, said Walls defining a separating chamber, an impeller in the chamber located adjacent the bottom wall, and disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the wall, means for operating the i'mpeller, an inlet pipe for pulp passing into the chamber and arranged to discharge pulp to the impeller, the impeller having blades for engaging the pulp to impart rotary motion thereto and throw the pulp outwardly by centrifugal force, whereby the gangue is forced upwardly in the chamber with the heavy concentrates collecting in the lower outer regions in the chamber, an outlet pipe for gangue connected into the upper regions of the chamber and outlet means in the lower outer region of the chamber for the heavy concentrates, the blades of the impeller having passages therein leading to the space between the impeller body and the bottom wall, and blades on the underside of the impeller for pumping water of the pulp into the outer regions of the chamber to wet the heavy concentrates.

7. An ore concentrator comprising, a chamber constituted by a substantially flat horizontally disposed bottom wall and a circular wall extending upwardly therefrom of conical form, an impeller in the chamber having a plate like body positioned adjacent the bottom wall and substantially parallel thereto, said impeller having blades on its upper surface, the outer portions of the impeller being spaced from the intersection of the bottom wall with the upper extending circular wall, a conduit extending downwardly into the chamber and substantially centrally thereof and into close proximity to the impeller for discharging pulp to the center part of the impeller, means for rotating the impeller whereby the same throws the pulp outwardly toward the space beyond the impeller, and for forcing the pulp upwardly along the inside surfaces of the conical wall, spaced riflies on the inner surface of the conical wall for engaging the pulp and tending to urge the heavy concentrates downwardly into the space adjacent the bottom wall and outwardly of the impeller, an outlet for gangue leading from the top of the chamber and surrounding the said conduit, and outlet means tangentially arranged and located substantially at the intersection of the bottom wall and said conical wall for the outlet of the concentrates from said space.

8. An ore concentrator comprising, a chamber constituted by a substantially fiat horizontally disposed bottom wall and a circular wall extending upwardly therefrom of conical form, an impeller in the chamber having a plate like body positioned adjacent the bottom wall and substantially parallel thereto, said impeller having blades on its upper surface, the outer portions of the impeller being spaced from the intersection of the bottom wall with the upper extending circular wall, a conduit extending downwardly into the chamber and substantially centrally thereof and into close proximity to the impeller for discharging pulp to the center part of the impeller, means for rotating the impeller whereby the same throws the pulp outwardly toward the space beyond the impeller, and for forcing the pulp upwardly along the inside surfaces of the conical wall, spaced riflles on the inner surface of 8 the conical wall for engaging the pulp and tend- REFERENCES CITED mg to urge the heavy concentrates downwardly The following references are of record in the into the space adjacent the bottom wall and outfile of this patent:

wardly of the impeller, an outlet for gangue leading from the top of the chamber and surrounding UNITED STATES PATENTS the said conduit, outlet means tangentially ar- Number Name Date ranged and located substantially at the intersec- 489,797 Faber Jan. 10, 1893 tion of the bottom wall and said conical wall for 762,867 Allen June 21, 1904 the outlet of the concentrates from said space, 880,808 Michaelsen Mar. 3, 1908 and interconnected valves for the outlet of the 10 896,471 Seymour Aug. 18, 1908 gangue and the outlet of the concentrates. 1,657,161 Higginbottom Jan. 24, 1928 1,885,735 Laughlin Nov. 1, 1932 WALTER N. T. MORTON. 2,293,398 Meesook Aug. Ill, 1942

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