Improvements in Magnetic Separators.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 21st May, 1891--Accepted, 27th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magnetic Separators.
A communication from abroad by GEORGE S. FINNEY, of Chicago, Illinois,
United States of America.
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of No. 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
London, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates particularly to improvements in the class of magnetic
separators in which are employed a magnetic wheel and an endless belt of
non-magnetic material surrounding the wheel and serving to support the material
while being treated.
The objects of the invention are to provide an improved construction of the
magnetic wheel, thereby to render the machine the more effective in its operation,
and to provide a generally-improved construction of separator readily adaptable
for treatment of ore either in a dry or wet condition.
A magnetic wheel is formed of soft metal to be magnetised from an extraneous
generator and exert a magnetic influence only while the machine is in operation.
Obviously, however, the wheel may be formed to retain its magnetism and thus be
permanently magnetic, which latter construction, though not the preferred, is
intended to be included as within the spirit of this invention.
The wheel comprises a spool of readily-magnetizable metal, heads of considerably
greater diameter than the body portion, provided with offsets in their inner edges.
The relative diametrical and longitudinal dimensions found best for its purpose are
in the proportion of four to five.
The shaft should be hollow, part way through from one end, to enable the
terminals of the insulated wire with which the spool is wound up to the offsets to be
led through it to the transmitter which comprises a disc of hard rubber, on one end of
the shaft and surrounded on opposite sides of the center of its periphery with
metal bands, to which, respectively, the terminals of the wire are connected. The
opposite end of the shaft may carry the means for transmitting motion to the wheel
such as a belt-pulley and current is supplied to the wheel by means of brushes.
The heads of the spool are extended by metal bars which constitute the pole-
pieces extended from the opposite ends of the spool and are insulated from each
other and caused to alternate between the heads and thus cross the plane in which
the wire is wound. The bars extend from the head or positive end being fitted into
the respective offset where each is secured by an iron screw and each bar reaches
short of the opposite head or negative pole piece, insulating-pieces (brass) being
inserted between the ends of the bars and the head to which the said bars are
secured through the insulating pieces by brass screws. The bars, which alternate
around the wheel with the bars extend from the offset in the head being secured
thereto by iron screws and insulated from the opposite head by interposed pieces of
insulating material (brass) through which the bars are secured to the adjacent head
by brass screws. It will thus be seen that the poles of the magnetic wheel are
extended across its periphery, and the magnetic field is around the two lateral edges
and the end of each bar. These bars are preferably parallel with each other and
extend parallel with the body portion of the spool; but regularity in the direction
of their extension is not of great importance, provided they extend crosswise (at any
desired angle or angles) of the plane of the circumference of the wheel.
An endless apron of any suitable non-magnetic material-as canvas or rubber-
surrounds the wheel which is journalled in an appropriate frame supporting a roller
around which the apron or helt is also passed.

page_text: The proper connection being made with a generator (dynamo or battery) through
the medium of the brushes the wheel is revolved, causing the belt to travel.
Pulverized ore is then fed, it may be through a hopper to the apron, which carries
it to the wheel, where the magnetic particles will be attracted around the edges of
the bars, and thus separated from the non-magnetic particles, which drop from the
wheel when carried sufficiently far around, while the magnetic particles are held by
the magnetism of the wheel on the apron till it reaches a point beyond the influence
of the wheel, where the separated particles of metal drop.
For operating with wet ore I provide a riffle duct through which to lead the wet
material from the hopper to the wheel, and the apron passes around a second roller
in a sluice box, and also around a guide roller.
Dated this 22nd d
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magnetic Separators.
A communication from abroad by GEORGE S. FINNEY, of Chicago, Illinois,
United States of America.
I WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of No. 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
London, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates particularly to improvements in the class of magnetic
separators in which are employed a magnetic wheel and an endless belt of
non-magnetic material surrounding the wheel and serving to support the material
while being treated.
The objects of the invention are to provide an improved construction of the
magnetic wheel, thereby to render the machine the more effective in its operation,
and to provide a generally improved construction of separator readily adaptable for
treatment of ore either in a dry or wet condition.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation, partly broken, of the improved machine,
shewing it in the form best adapted for dry separation;
Fig. 2 a simil r view of the same in the form best adapted for wet separation;
Fig. 3 a view in elevation of the improved magnetic wheel; and
Fig. 4, a view of the same, partly in sectional elevation.
Figs. 5 to 11 represent modifications.
A is the magnetic wheel. As shewn, the wheel A is formed of soft metal to be
magnetized from an extraneous generator and exert a magnetic influence only
while the machine is in operation. Obviously, however the wheel may be formed
to retain its magnetism and thus be permanently magnetic, which latter construction,
though not the preferred, is intended to be included as within the spirit of this
invention.
The wheel A as illustrated, comprises a spool r of readily-magnetizable metal,
the heads and g being of considerably greater diameter than the body portion p
and being provided with offsets o in their inner edges. The relative diametrical
and longitudinal dimensions found best for its purpose are in the proportion of four
to five.
The shaft n should be hollow, as shown, part way through from one end, to
enable the terminals of the insulated wire m, with which the spool is wound up
to the offsets o, to be led through it to the transmitter B which, as shown, com-
prises a disc of hard rubber on one end of the shaft and surrounded on opposite
sides of the centre of its periphery with metal bands i and k, to which, respec-
tively, the terminals of the wires mare connected. The opposite end of the shaft
may carry the means for transmitting motion to the wheel-such as the belt

page_text: pulley and current is supplied to the wheel A by means of brushes g applied to
the bands and i.
The heads and g of the spool rare extended by the metal bars and f¹,
which constitute the pole pieces extended from the opposite ends of the spool and
are insulated from each other and caused to alternate between the heads and thus
cross the plane in which the wire m is wound. The bars f' extend from the head
or positive end q, being fitted into the respective offset o, where each is secured by
an iron screw e, and each bar freaches short of the opposite head or negative
pole-piece 7, insulating pieces (brass) d being inserted between the ends of the
bars F and the head to which the said bars are secured through the insulating
pieces by brass screws e¹. The bars ', which alternate around the wheel with the
bars f extend from the offset o in the head q, being secured thereto by iron
screws e and insulated from the opposite head q by interposed pieces of insulating
material (brass) ', through which the bars are secured to the adjacent head g by
It will thus be seen that the poles of the magnetic wheel are
extended across its periphery, and the magnetic field is around the two lateral
edges and the end of each bar and . These bars are preferably parallel with
each other and extend parallel with the body portion p of the spool; but regularity.
in the direction of their extension is not of great importance, provided they extend
crosswise (at any desired angle or angles) of the plane of the circumference of the
wheel.
brass screws.
C is the endless apron of any suitable non-magnetic material-as canvas or
rubber surrounding the wheel A, which is journalled in an appropriate frame D,
supporting a roller D', around which the apron or belt C is also passed. This
describes the machine illustrated in Fig. 1, and which is especially adapted for
dry separation, the operation being as follows:-
:-
The proper connection being made with a generator (dynamo or battery) through
the medium of the brushes g, the wheel A is revolved, causing the belt C, to travel
as indicated by arrows. Pulverised ore is then fed, as through a hopper E, to the
apron which carries it to the wheel, where the magnetic particles will be attracted
around the edges of the bars f and f', and thus separated from the non-magnetic
particles, which drop from the wheel when carried sufficiently far around, while
the magnetic particles are held by the magnetism of the wheel on the apron till it
reaches the point x, Fig. 1, beyond the influence of the wheel, where the separated.
particles of metal drop.
For operating with wet ore I provide a riffle-duct F, through which to lead
the wet material from the hopper E to the wheel A, (which then should
revolve in the direction opposite that of the wheel in Fig. 1) and the apron C
passes around a second roller D2 in a sluice-box G, and also around a guide-
roller c.
Of the wet ore fed through the riffle-duct F the wheel A takes up only the
magnetic portion, the apron carrying it from the wheel to the sluice-box, where it
is washed off. The tailings pass off directly from the riffle-duct.
In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6, A' is the rotary shaft which.
particularly for the sake of convenience in winding the insulated wire w, of said
structure as hereinbefore described, should be hollow as shown. At desired
distances apart according to the length of the wheel upon the shaft A¹, and
revoluble with the latter are the metal heads B and B which should be of disc
shape. C is a metallic sleeve surrounding the shaft A' to rotate with it, and
provided at intervals with plates or discs D and D¹ (the number of which may.
be increased as desired) which, like the heads B and B', are revoluble with the
shaft.
E', E', are metal bars (soft iron) preferably of the V-shaped in cross section
illustrated in Fig. 6 and rest as shown, near the periphery of the heads on the
opposite ends of the bars, the latter being alternately secured in place by screws,
or the like, of different insulating qualities, as by screws 21, and r', respectively,
of brass and iron alternating with each other around each head B and B¹ from '

page_text: which the adjacent ends of the bars are alternately insulated as by means of the
brass pieces o¹¹.
Where the bars E' cross the periphery of the intermediate discs D" and D',
they are insulated from the latter alternately at the point of contact by a suitable
medium as brass mountings ¹, let or dovetailed into the narrower inner sides of
the bars.
The sleeve C is wound with the insulated wire w, in opposite directions around
the core afforded by the sleeve on its supporting shaft between the adjacent pairs
of dises B D, Di D', and D' B' of metal. Thus the winding may begin with
the wire at a (passed through the hollow shaft at that point) leaving the space s
therein, pass thence into the adjacent spaces (as through the disc D) in which it
is wound in the opposite direction around the core afforded by the sleeve C' pass
thence into the adjacent space s² wherein it is wound as in the spaces and from the
space s² be extended through the hollow shaft with the opposite end of the wire of
that nearest the initial winding to the source of electrical excitement (as a dynamo
electric machine, not shown).
Thus it will be seen that the wheel formed in the manner described and with
which is used the non-magnetic endless belt, comprises a series of electro-magnets
alternating in polarity on a common core and having poles extended by bars E',
from the opposite ends of the series crosswise of the plane of the circumference
of the wheel and forming elements of its cylindrical surface.
.
In the second modification illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, A is a wheel comprising a
shaft, which is preferably hollow, and supports metal (soft iron) heads B
and B', a core C¹ or spool surrounding the shaft between its journal ends, and
having the heads secured to its opposite ends, and metal (soft iron) plates or
discs D D¹ secured at intervals upon the core to form intervening spaces in which
insulated wire w, is wound around the core in opposite directions in the adjacent
said spaces to magnetize alternately each disc, positive and negative, being led
from one to the other preferably, as shown through the plates D" D' and to and
from the wheel A, (from the generator not shown) through the hollow shaft.
The heads B and B are provided at their outer sides near their peripheries
(thus at the opposite ends of the wheel) with suitable guides ', to receive and
retain pieces p, preferably in the form of rope, secured to the edges of the endless
belt E, which may be composed of any suitable non-magnetic material. The
guides o', may be and are preferably provided in the form of grooves in collars n',
secured around the outer side of the heads 13 and B' as shown, though I do not
wish to be understood as intending to limit the improvement in these features of
this invention to such particular construction, as it may be variously modified for
adapting it to different forms of the wheels of magnetic separators, without
thereby departing from this invention.
The described construction of wheels afford, as will be readily understood, a
series of contiguous magnets having their poles extending around the plane of the
circumference of the wheel and forming elements of its cylindrical surface wherein
the force of the magnetic field is extended transversely of the axis. The means
described effectively prevent displacement of the endless belt E", in the operation
of the device, by holding it taut and smooth across the perimeter of the wheel.
It is also possible, as will be easily understood, to use permanent magnets
instead of electro-magnets in the various forms of the improved wheels.
Con-
structions of this nature are illustrated in Figs. 9, 10, and 11; A, is the wheel
comprising all the general construction. The rotary shaft B", carries heads C
and Chaving extended between them, and forming elements of the cylindrical
circumference of the wheel, permanently magnetic or magnetized metal bars D
and Dalternating in polarity around the wheel.
In Fig. 9, the heads C and C" are formed of non-magnetic material such
as brass, and the bars D and D are of steel magnetized and of the tapering
form in cross section illustrated. They are secured at opposite ends to the
heads near their peripherics by means of screws, in a manner to leave a

page_text: narrow space longitudinally between each adjacent pole, and are arranged to
have their opposite poles adjacent to each other, as shown, by screwing the
N pole of one bar to one head, say to head C and the opposite pole to the
other head, the N pole of the next succeeding bar being screwed to the last
named head and its opposite pole to the other head, and so on around the
wheel.
In Fig. 10, the heads C and C are formed of permanently magnetic
material or material susceptible of permanent magnetization, such as magnetized
steel. The bars D₁ and D extend thus as pole extensions, alternately from
them, as shown, to form elements of the cylindrical surface of the wheel, being
secured alternately, at respectively opposite ends, directly to the heads as by
iron or steel screws ", and at their other ends by screws r of non-magnetic
material, as brass, such ends being insulated from the respective disks by
suitable washers o", which may also be of brass.
If desired for the construction in Fig. 2, the poles may be cast with their
respective heads and the two poles connected together and the plates insulated, as
shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A magnetic wheel for a separator, comprising a single magnet having the
poles extended from its opposite ends crosswise of the plane of its circumference
and forming elements of its cylindrical surface, substantially as described.
2. A magnetic wheel for a separator, comprising a metallic spool wound round
the body portion p between the heads y and g', with wire m, metal bars f¹ extending
from the head towards the head 7, and metal bars, extending from the
head towards the head q' and alternating with the bars ¹, substantially as
described.
3. An electro-magnetic wheel for a separator, comprising a spool ", provided with
offsets o in its heads 7 and q', and having wound upon its body portion p, wire m, a
shaft n carrying a transmitter B to which the terminals of the wire m are connected,
bars extending from the head g towards and secured to and insulated from the
head g, and bars extending from the head g' towards and secured to and
insulated from the head 9 and alternating with the bars f, substantially as
described.
4. In a magnetic separator, the combination with a supporting frame, of a magnetic-
wheel comprising a single magnet having the poles extended from its opposite ends
crosswise of the plane of its circumference and forming elements of its cylindrical
surface, and an endless apron C passed around the said wheel and around a
suitably-supported roller 1 substantially as described.
5. In a magnetic separator, the combination with a supporting frame, of a
magnetic wheel, a riffle duct F, a sluice box G, and an endless apron C passed
around the said wheel and having its path of travel extending through the sluice
box, substantially as described.
6. In a magnetic separator, the combination, with a supporting frame, of a
magnetic wheel having poles extended crosswise of the plane of its circumference
and forming elements of its cylindrical surface, a riffle duct F, a sluice box G and
an endless apron C passed around the said wheel and having its path of travel
extending through the sluice box, substantially as described.
7. In a magnetic separator, the combination of a wheel which has magnets_so
disposed that the circumference of said wheel is in the field of said magnets, and a
non-magnetic belt which runs over said wheel, substantially as described.
8. A magnetic wheel' for a separator comprising a series of electro-magnets
having a common core and having poles extended from opposite ends of the series
crosswise of the plane of the wheel's circumference and forming elements of its
cylindrical surface, substantially as described.

page_text: 9. A magnetic wheel for a separator comprising a core having heads B and B',
intervening plates D" and D' affording intervening spaces s, s¹², wound alternately
in opposite directions with wire w, and bars E' extending between the heads across
the said intervening plates and alternately insulated at opposite ends from the said
heads around the latter and from the intervening plates lengthwise of the bars,
substantially as described.
10. A magnetic wheel for a separator comprising a hollow shaft A¹ having
heads B and B¹, intervening plates D" and D' on a sleeve C¹ on the shaft, and
affording intervening spaces s s¹ s² wound alternately in opposite directions with
wire w, extending at opposite ends of said coils through the hollow shaft, and
bars E extending between the heads across the said plates and alternately insulated
at opposite ends from the said heads around the latter and from the intervening
plates lengthwise of the bars, substantially as described.
11. A magnetic wheel for a separator, comprising a series of magnets on a
common rotary core and alternating as to their polarity, and each having its poles
extended continuously around the plane of the wheel's circumference and forming
elements of its cylindrical surface, substantially as described.
12. A magnetic wheel A for a separator comprising the combination of a rotary
core, supporting heads B and B', metal plates D" and D₁ surrounding and fixed
upon the core at intervals between the said heads and affording intervening spaces,
and wire w, wound around the core in opposite directions in adjacent said spaces,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
13. In combination, a magnetic wheel A having guides o near both of its
opposite ends, and an endless belt E" on the wheel having edge pieces p" to enter
the said guides, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
14. In combination, a magnetic wheel A having guides o' in the outer sides of its
ends B and B', and an endless belt E" on the wheel having ropes pl to its edges
and entering the guides, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
15. In combination, a magnetic wheel A having collars n' on its heads B and B¹,
and provided with guide grooves o', and an endless belt E" on the wheel having
edge pieces p", secured to it and entering the guide-grooves o', substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
16. A permanent magnetic wheel A, for a separator comprising a rotary shaft
carrying heads C and C¹, and permanently magnetized bars D1 and D
extending lengthwise between the heads, alternating in polarity around the wheel
and forming elements of its cylindrical surface, substantially as described.
17. A permanently magnetic wheel A, for a separator comprising a rotary shaft
carrying heads C" and C¹ of non-magnetic material, and permanently magnetic
bars D and D extending lengthwise between the heads in a series of alternating
polarity around, and forming elements of, the cylindrical circumference of the
wheel, substantially as described.
18. A permanently magnetic wheel A, for a separator, comprising a rotary
shaft B carrying heads C and C¹ of non-magnetic material, and permanently
magnetic bars D¹ and D extending lengthwise between the heads near their
peripheries in a series of alternating polarity around, and forming elements of, the
cylindrical circumference of the wheel, and secured at opposite ends to the head by
screws ; substantially as described.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham.