Patent GB-694719-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in classifying apparatus commonly called sand cones
IPC: B03B5/60
Filed: 1949-12-19
Abstract: 694,719. Gravity separation apparatus. DRIGENKO, C., and MOSELEY, W. Dec. 19, 1950 (Dec. 19, 1949; Dec. 19, 1949], Nos. 32531/49 and 32532/49. Class 46 [Also in Groups XXV and XXX] In apparatus for separating sand or other granular material from water and comprising an inverted cone in which the solid material collects for continuous or periodical discharge through a valve at the bottom, while the excess water overflows continuously from the top, the cone is divided into two portions, an upper portion 1, Fig. 4, fixed to the supporting structure and a lower portion 2 to contain the deposited sand, the two portions being united by a flexible seal 3 permitting the lower portion 2 to move relative to portion 1 for regulating the opening of the discharge valve 14. The seal comprises a rubber sleeve 3. Fig. 1, of truncated conical form folded to present a ring of inverted U-section, the inner lip being attached to the lower end of portion 1 by means of a steel band 8 having one or more splits in its length and drawn tight by radial bolts and nuts. The outer lip of ring 3 fits over the upper end of portion 2 and is fixed thereto by a steel band 4 which hasa round rod welded to it at one end extending as a short portion of a spiral of small pitch and then as a straight length to pass through a lug welded to the other end of the band and being screw threaded to receive a tightening nut. In a modification the inner lip of ring 3 is cemented and riveted to the lower end of a reinforced rubber cylinder, the upper part of the latter being secured to cone portion 1 by a band similar to band 4. Three or more blades 10 attached to the inside of the upper portion 1 project outwardly below the lower end to prevent lateral movement of portion 2. A pair of fulcrum plates 17 attached to the supporting structure provide a lower fulcrum 19 and an upper one 24 spaced one unit apart horizontally. A lever 18 of 18 units length is pivoted at 19, two units from one end which supports portion 2 through radial plates 21 and tubular rod 20. The opposite end of lever 18 has a counterweight 22 which rests on a platform 32 in its lowest position. A second lever 23 provided with a small counterweight 31 at one end, has its other end, which is three units from fulcrum 24 connected by two rods 26, collar 27 and crosspin 28 passing through slots 29 in tube 20. to a rod 15 which slides within the tube 20 and carries the moving valve element 14. When a certain quantity of sand has collected in cone portion 2, the latter together with tube 20 moves downwards thus rocking lever 18 and through a vertical link 25 attached to lever 23 at three units from the fulcrum 24, lever 23 is rocked also. Due to the different lever ratios valve member 14 descends twice as fast as cone portion 2 and valve seat 16. The link 25 is forked at 30 so that counterweight 31 alone raises valve 14. Hunting is prevented by a chain 33 attached at its. ends to counterweight 22 and the structure respectively or in a modification by a helical tension spring placed beneath the counterweight. A number of identical cones, A, B, C, Fig. 6, may be fitted to the underside of a rectangular box 34, the rods 15 and tubes 20 passing upwards in the centre line of the box with their upper parts enclosed in a streamlined casing and the levers 18, 23, being mounted on the box above the water level. The suspension of sand in water enters the bottom of a boiling box 36 and there from flows through the main box 34 on either side of the streamlined casing. Two vertical flaps 38 hinged to the bottom of box 34 may be adjusted through internal lever arms 39 and links 40 by external lever arms fixed by screws. Two nearly horizontal baffles 44 divided to clear the streamlined casing and movable between the positions shown and the dotted position 44' further adjust the distribution of sand between the cones. A fourth cone D operating similarly to cones A, B, and C but having a mainly conical upper portion is mounted at the outlet end of box 34. The suspension enters the cone by a centre feed box and leaves over a peripheral weir plate of adjustable height. A collecting flume with a longitudinal partition lies below the valves of cones A, B and C, a shoot being pivoted on each cone B and C to discharge varying proportions of sand to one or other side of the partition. The upper end of the partition terminates in an approximately vertically hinged flap to divide the discharge from cone A. A similar flume whose partition terminates in a flap is provided under cone D, the two flumes meeting at their lowest point and having lateral means for discharging the output of the respective sides of the partition in opposite directions.