Patent ID: 7331467
Filing Date: 2008-02-19
Classification: B03C

Abstract:
1. A method of wet separation of non-magnetic metal values from a source material containing non-magnetic material and magnetic material, the method comprising the steps of: providing a non-magnetic material collection channel for collecting non-magnetic material; feeding the source material to the collection channel; treating the source material with a fluid in the collection channel to transport the source material along a retaining member for retaining non-magnetic material, the fluid flushing materials other than the non-magnetic metal values away from the retaining member; and providing a magnetic separation assembly adjacent the collection channel, the assembly having discrete sections of magnets, the sections of magnets in spaced longitudinal relation forming alternating areas of presence and absence of a magnetic field for permitting the magnetic fields to intermittently act on the source material to progressively separate the magnetic material from the non-magnetic material during transportation along the retaining member, the non-magnetic material carried by the fluid being efficiently collected and retained in the retaining member in the absence of magnetic material.