Improvements in or relating to Means for Classifying and Sorting Ore, Grain, Flour, and similar Materials,
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left. 20th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1898
Improvements in or relating to Means for Classifying and Sorting
Ore, Grain, Flour, and similar Materials,
I, JACQUES ANCEL, of 16, Rue Drouet, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide improved apparatus for classifying and
sorting ore, grain, flour and similar materials according to size and density (or
specific gravity) of the separate parts or pieces and has special reference to improve-
ments in the apparatus described in my prior Patent Application No. 6864 dated the
11th March 1897.
The separator or sorter mainly consists of an inclined sorting or sifting cylinder,
the successive meshes of which generally increase in size, so that the materials
treated may in the first place be sorted according to the size of its pieces or
lumps.
The cylinder receives continuous rotary motion through any suitable gearing.
In order to prevent the material from obstructing or blocking the meshes of the
cylinder the outer surface of the cylinder is rubbed or swept by means of a
cylindrical brush, which receives rotary motion in the direction opposite to that of
the cylinder.
The bottom of the upper chamber, which contains the cylinder slopes and conveys
the material to, say, five apertures or openings. The first four apertures and the
parts arranged below them are alike, so that only one section will be described and
then the last or terminal section over which the last aperture is located will be
described.
Under any one of the four first apertures-say the first aperture receiving the
smallest pieces or grains-there is arranged a distributing cylinder which receives
continuous rotary motion from driving pulleys one of which is rigidly secured upon
the shaft of the perforated cylinder while the other is fast upon the shaft carrying
the whole set of distributing cylinders.
Owing to the motion of the distributing cylinder the material which collects
above it falls continuously into a vertical shoot passing in doing so between
the cylinder and a movable partition or valve; the said shoot being provided at the
bottom with a valve the extent of area of whose aperture is adjustable at will.
The material passing through the passage afforded by this valve drops on to an
Archimedean or conveyor screw or worm wheel which revolves about its axis under
the action of a current of air or blast produced by a fan. The material is thus
divided, as it meets the wings or vanes of the screw and is acted upon by the air
current under most favourable conditions. The second part of the sorting operation
viz., sorting according to density is performed at this point. The denser portions
of the material descend to the bottom of the vertical shoot on to a cylinder receiving
continuous rotary motion. From this cylinder the denser parts fall into a chamber
where they are acted upon by an Archimedean or feeding screw which conveys them
outside the machinery. This screw revolves under the action of a pulley which
receives its motion direct from the driving shaft.

page_text: The less dense particles are carried away by the current of air as they move
along meet an inclined worm-wheel or screw turning under the action of the current
or blast. The particles of the material carried along by the blast now become
sorted or classified according to density in compartments beneath this screw. The
parts which do not collect in these compartments and are in the condition of dust,
then pass over other compartments where they may be in their turn, classified
according to density. The almost impalpable dust that does not descend into these
last mentioned compartments is carried still further on to the fan which eventually
drives or blows them into receivers containing water or any desired fluid.
As the operations just described take place air is drawn in by the fan through an
aperture or apertures, the size or area of which is adjustable at will by means of a
sliding valve, damper trap or the like.
Should it be found in the course of the operation that dust accumulates in the
compartments such dust may be expelled thence by slightly opening the compart-
ments at the bottom, where they are fitted with adjustable, preferably conical
valves for that purpose. Air will be drawn in by the fan and those of the particles
contained in the several compartments, which are too fine are thus once more set in
motion and removed.
The dust compartments which possess an inclined sided or plane conical sectional
area extend along the length of the entire apparatus while as regards each of the
apertures mentioned above, the means for sorting the ore according to density are
quite distinct from each other.
From the foregoing remarks it will be seen that the apparatus described enables
the material to be sorted into pieces or lumps of five different sizes, the lumps of
the first four sizes being moreover divided into four classes according to density or
specific gravity; and the dust, common to the first four sizes being in the last
instance separated into four classes according to their fineness or density.
The last aperture which up to this stage has been disregarded receives the largest
pieces (fifth size) which fall into a chamber wherein they accumulate. Within this
chamber an Archimedean screw may be arranged if desired, for the purpose of con-
veying the material outside the apparatus.
Instead of having a single fan for the whole apparatus may have one for each
part or section.
Likewise I may arrange in the passages adjustable conical spouts or regulating
means so that the sectional area of said passages may be increased or decreased in
order to regulate the velocity of the air.
Furthermore, I may extend the screw above the dust chambers or employ a
separate screw.
Dated this 16th day of December 1897.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Means for Classifying and Sorting
Ore, Grain, Flour, and similar Materials.
I, JACQUES ANCEL, of 16, Rue Drouet, Paris, in the Republic of France, 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 :—
The object of this invention is to provide improved apparatus for classifying and
sorting ore, grain, flour and similar materials according to size and density (or

page_text: specific gravity) of the separate parts or pieces and has special reference to
improvements in the apparatus described in my prior Patent Application No. 6864
dated 11th March 1897 the construction and operation of the apparatus will be
best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a con-
venient form of the invention in which
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, and Figure 2 a plan of the apparatus,
while,
Figure 3 is a cross section of the same.
The separator or sorter mainly consists of an inclined bolting or sifting
cylinder A, the successive meshes of which gradually increase in size, so that the
material treated may in the first place be sorted according to the size of its pieces
or lumps.
The cylinder A receives continuous rotary motion through any suitable gearing
here shown as a bevel wheel a, which gears with a wheel a¹, mounted upon a shaft A¹
which carries the driving pulley B.
In order to prevent the material from obstructing or blocking the meshes of the
cylinder A, the outer surface of the cylinder is rubbed or swept by means of a
cylindrical brush B', which receives rotary motion, in the direction opposite to that
of the cylinder A from the two driving pulleys b b¹.
The bottom of the upper chamber, which contains the cylinder A, slopes and
conveys the material to say, five apertures or openings C₁ C₂ C₁ C₁ C. The first
four apertures and the parts arranged below them are alike, so that only one section
will be described and then the last or terminal section over which the last
aperture C, is located will be described.
Under any of the four first apertures,-say the first aperture C₁, receiving the
smallest pieces or grains of ore-there is arranged a distributing cylinder c, which
receives continuous rotary motion from driving pulleys Cu C, one of which C¹¹¹, is
rigidly secured upon the shaft of the perforated cylinder A, while the other C is
fast upon the shaft D carrying the whole set of distributing cylinders, c.
Owing to the motion of the cylinder c, the material which collects above it falls
continuously into a vertical shoot d, passing, in doing so between the cylinder and
a movable partition or valve D¹; the said shoot d being provided at the bottom
with a valve d¹ the extent or area of whose aperture is adjustable.
The material passing through the passage afforded by this valve d¹ drops on to
an Archimedean or conveyor screw or worm wheel E which revolves about its axis
preferably under the action of a current of air or blast produced by a fan F. The
material is thus divided, as it meets the wings or vanes of the screw E, and is acted
upon by the air current under most favorable conditions. The second part of the
sorting operation-viz., sorting according to density-is performed at this point.
The denser portions of the material descend to the bottom of the vertical shoot E',
on to a cylinder G, receiving continuous rotary motion from the pulleys C¹ and G¹,
which are fast upon the shafts D and G" respectively. From this cylinder G the
denser parts fall into a chamber g, where they are acted upon by an Archimedean or
feeding screw H which conveys them outside the machine. This screw H revolves
under the action of a pulley H¹ which receives its motion direct from the driving
shaft.
The less dense particles are carried away by the current of air, and as they move
along, meet an inclined worm-wheel or screw I turning under the action of the air.
current or blast. The particles of the material carried along by the blast now
become sorted or classified according to density in compartments I, I, I,
beneath this screw. The parts which do not collect in these compartments, and are
in the condition of dust, then pass over other compartments J₁ J, J, where they
may be, in their turn, classified according to density. The almost impalpable dust
that does not descend into these last mentioned compartments, is carried still
further on, to the fan, which eventually drives or blows them into receivers K K¹,
containing water or any desired fluid,
2

page_text: As the operations just described take place, air is drawn in by the fan through
the aperature e, the size or area of which is adjustable at will by means of a sliding
valve, damper, trap, or the like.
Should it be found in the course of the operation that dust accumulates in the
compartments I, I, I,, such dust may be expelled thence by slightly opening the
compartments at the bottom, where they are fitted with adjustable, preferably
conical valves for that purpose. Air will then be drawn in by the fan in the
direction of the arrows 1, 2 and 3 and those of the particles contained in the
several compartments, which are too fine, are thus once more set in motion and
removed.
2
The dust compartments J, J, J, all of which possess an inclined sided or plane
conical sectional area (Figure 2) extend throughout the length of the entire
apparatus, while as regards each of the apertures C₁ C₂ C, C₁, mentioned above,
the means for sorting the ore according to density are quite distinct from each
other.
From the foregoing remarks it will be seen that the apparatus described enables
the material to be sorted into pieces or lumps of five different sizes, the lumps of the
first four sizes being moreover divided into four classes, according to density or
specific gravity; and the dust, common to the first four sizes, being, in
the last instance separated into four classes according to their fineness or
density.
The last aperture C, which, up to this stage has been disregarded, receives the
largest pieces (fifth size), which fall into a chamber M wherein they accumulate.
Within this chamber an Archimedean screw may be arranged if desired, for the
purpose of conveying the material outside the apparatus.
Instead of having a single fan for the whole apparatus, I may have one for each
part or section C₁ C₂ C, or C4.
Likewise I may arrange in the passages 1-2-3 adjustable conical spouts or
regulating means so that the sectional area of said passages may be increased or
decreased in order to regulate the velocity of the air.
2
Furthermore, I may extend the screw I above the dust chambers J₁ J₂ J, or
employ a separate screw.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
-
1. In apparatus for sorting or separating ore, grain, flour or similar materials
a sloping and revolving cylinder, the wall of which is formed of meshes successively
increasing in size, so as to sort the material, admitted or charged into such
cylinder, into different sizes of lumps, which pass, through apertures provided
for the purpose, into compartments underneath and adapted for sorting the ore
according to density; the outer wall of the cylinder being preferably subjected
to the action of a cylindrical brush revolving in the direction opposite to that of the
cylinder.
2. In combination with apparatus of the kind described and serving to sort the
material treated according to size; and in conjunction with each of the apertures
which receive the material as it leaves the upper cylinder; a vertical shoot
provided with a valve or damper enabling the discharge of material to be
controlled and conveying such material onto a vertical screw (or worm)
turning on its own axis preferably under the action of a current of air
admitted through a suitable adjustable opening, located near the lower part of the
said screw.
3. In combination with apparatus of the kind described, a second, inclined, screw
or worm, revolving continuously, preferably under the action of a current of air,
over which shaft are passed the least deuse portions of the material treated, which
had separated from the denser parts over the first screw; such denser parts being

page_text: collected at the bottom of the apparatus and conveyed outside by an Archimedean
screw or other means.
4. In combination with apparatus of the kind described, a series of compartments,
the bottoms of which are provided with dampers, and which receive the parts of
the material treated that are not sufficiently light to be carried away by the current
of air as they pass around the inclined screws; the object of the dampers arranged
at the bottom of the said compartments being to enable a draught of air to be
created in order to set in motion again those particles of dust which may have
settled in the compartments.
5. In combination with apparatus of the kind described dust chambers,
arranged in succession, and located ahead of the fan, substantially as specified.
6. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
apparatus for classifying and sorting ore, grain, flour and similar materials
substantially as described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of October 1898.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.