Improvements in Ore Separating Machinery.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ore Separating Machinery.
I, CHARLES JOHN REED, of 224 High Street, Orange, in the County of Essex
and State of New Jersey, United States of America, Mining Engineer, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in ore separating machines, in which a
revolving drum operates in conjunction with fixed magnets and a current of air and
gravity.
The object of my invention is to provide a means of separating mixtures of
powdered minerals and chemicals of separating magnetic from less magnetic or
non-magnetic particles and dense from less dense particles.
I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing
in which
Figure 1 is a side view of the entire machine arranged for separating particles in
a finely powdered state.
Figure 2 is a side view of the entire machine arranged for separating particles in
a coarsely powdered state.
Figure 3 is a side view of the entire machine arranged for the separation of
particles in either a finely divided or coarsely powdered state.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
D is a revolving drum, cylindrical in form, and revolving in suitable supports, S, S,
and receiving its motion from a suitable pulley or gearing G.
H is a hopper or feed-box into which the mixture in a powdered condition is
placed.
QQ is a solid support, or frame-work which holds the mechanism in proper
position.
A represents an air-pipe through which a current of air is blown into the interior
of D in the direction indicated by the arrow.
C represents magnetic particles or concentrates and T represents non-magnetic
particles or tailings. M represents magnets fixed in position and having their poles
close to the exterior of D, but not in actual contact. In Figures 1 and 2 E is a
tube connecting with H and extending into D and conveying the mixture, O into
the interior of D. This tube is shown in broken lines in Figures 1 and 2 and is
not shown in Figure 3. In Figures 2 and 3, B is a flexible belt having a down-
ward motion derived from pulleys over which it passes.
In Figure 1 this belt is not shown. In Figure 1 the magnets M are placed in a
line under the revolving drum D. In Figures 2 and 3 the magnets M are arranged
at one side of D in several ascending rows.
This revolving drum D is preferably roughened on its inner surface to better
facilitate the agitation of the crushed or powdered mixture as it passes through the
drum. This roughening is attained in various ways, as for instance, grooving,
corrugating or otherwise roughening the inner face of the drum itself; or by
fastening bars, rods, points or other internal projections, or arms on the inner surface
of the drum; in fact any means of roughening this interior surface, which suggests
itself, may be utilized, the function thereof being to constantly agitate or stir up the
powdered material as it passes through the drum, and thus subject each particle to
the influence of the magnets in its passage.
The operation of my invention is as follows.
First. As shown in Figure 1. The drum D is inclined at any suitable angle
between the horizontal and vertical and is made to revolve in either direction about

page_text: its axis. A current of air is blown from A through the drum, entering the lower
end and passing out at the upper end. The finely powdered mixture passes through H
into E, through E into D at O.
The motion of D, preferably roughened as described on its inner surface, keeps
the powder thoroughly agitated, while the magnets M, draw the magnetic particles
down and hold them against the lower side of D. Gravity and the motion of D
cause these magnetic particles to move slowly downward aud finally pass out at C.
While this is going on the current of air blows all non-magnetic particles out at the
upper end of D at T. The agitation of the magnetic particles by the motion of
the drum enables the air-blast to remove all adhering and intermingled non-magnetic
particles.
The same apparatus without the magnets will separate dense particles from lighter
particles, such as gold and silver from sand and earth.
Second. As shown in Figure 2. The drum D is inclined at any suitable angle.
The powdered mixture passes through H into E, through E into D and falls at
near the middle of D. D is made to revolve so that the side nearest the magnets M
moves upward. The magnetic particles are drawn and held against the side of the
drum adjacent to the magnets. The motion of the drum moves the magnetic
particles upward from one magnet to a region where they are attracted by the
magnet next above in the series. The particles pass gradually from the lowest
magnet diagonally upward to the top of the series and then fall upon the next series
above. They are thus carried gradually and with continual agitation against gravity
to the upper end of the drum, thence out against the belt B, which passes between
the highest magnet and the upper end of D. The downward motion of this belt
carries the particles down away from the influence of M and they fall at C. The
non-magnetic particles of ore are carried downward by gravity and the current of
air from A and fall out at T..
Third. As shown in Figure 3. The drum consists of two cylinders, D D, having
their adjacent ends close together and their axis of revolution in the same line and
having a common motion. The hopper H is placed between the adjacent ends of
the cylinders and is held by any suitable support. Otherwise the arrangement is
similar to that shown in Figure 2. The drum may be adjusted to a horizontal
position as in Figure 3, or at any desired inclination. When the drum is horizontal
the tailings T are driven out by the combined action of the air-blast from A and the
rotary motion of the drum.
It is evident that the drum may be made
form approximating that of the cylinder.
be of any form and number and may be
around the revolving drum.
conical or bell shaped or of some other
It is also evident that the magnets may
arranged in a great variety of positions
As for illustration they may be arranged in a spiral row running continuously
round and round the drum and from one end to the other.
All these forms of drum and arrangements of the magnets are here contemplated
and covered in this application.
It is also evident that a current of water or other liquid may be used instead of
the air-blast.
I am aware that prior to my invention, magnetic separators have been made with
fixed magnets and revolving drums. I, therefrom, do not claim such a combination
broadly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what' I
claim is :-
-
First. In an ore separator a hollow drum having a roughened interior, substan-
tially as described.
Second. An ore separator having a hollow drum with a roughened interior
in combination with magnets arranged exterior to the drum, substantially as
Jihad

page_text: Third. An ore separator having a hollow rotary drum with a roughened interior
through which the powdered ore is passed, substantially as described.
Fourth. An ore separator having a hollow rotary drum roughened on its interior
in combination with magnets arranged exterior to the drum, substantially as
described.
Fifth. An ore separator having a hollow rotary drum through which the
powdered ore is adapted to pass longitudinally in combination with electro-magnets
arranged exterior to drum and in close proximity thereto, and means for creating a
blast through the drum, said drum being roughened on its interior, substantially as
described.
Sixth. An ore separator provided with a hollow rotary drum having means on
its inner surface for agitating the powdered ore as it passes longitudinally through
the drum, substantially as described.
Seventh. An ore separator provided with a hollow rotary drum having agitators
carried by its inner surface in combination with magnets arranged in close proximity
to the exterior of the drum, substantially as described.
Eighth. In an ore separator, a hollow revolving drum through which the ore
passes longitudinally in combination with a fixed magnet outside of the drum,
substantially as described.
Ninth. In an ore separator, a hollow revolving drum through which the ore
passes longitudinally in combination with fixed magnets outside of the drum,
substantially as herein set forth.
Tenth. In an ore separator, a hollow revolving drum through which the ore
passes longitudinally in combination with fixed magnets outside of the drum and an
air current or blast, substantially as herein set forth.
Eleventh. In an ore separator, a hollow revolving drum through which the ore
passes longitudinally in combination with fixed magnets outside of the drum, an
air current or blast and a hopper or feed-box, substantially as herein set forth.
Twelfth. In an ore separator, a hollow revolving drum through which the ore
passes longitudinally in combination with fixed magnets outside of the drum, an air
current or blast a hopper or feed-box and a travelling belt, substantially as herein
set forth.
Dated this 5th Inf Lanuar 1901
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.