IMPROVEMENTS IN "APPARATUS FOR CLEANING SEPARATING AND CLASSIFYING COAL AND OTHER MINERALS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Amour Sottiaux of Strépy-Bracquegnies, in the Kingdom
of Belgium, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN "APPARATUS
FOR CLEANING SEPARATING AND CLASSIFYING COAL AND OTHER MINERALS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Amour Sottiaux at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th October 1883.
AMOUR SOTTIAUX of Strépy Bracquegnies in the Kingdom of Belgium Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING SEPARATING AND CLASSIFYING
COAL AND OTHER MINERALS"
The improved apparatus constructed according to my Invention is capable of
cleaning and separating coal from the stones schists or slates and other substances
with which it may be mixed and of classifying it in heaps or compartments by the
action of a current of air or centrifugal force or by a combination of these means
as hereinafter described
In carrying my Invention into effect I employ a case or chamber through which
the impure or mixed coal or other materials are caused to fall. The bottom of this
case is divided into compartments of suitable dimensions-At the upper part of the
case several horizontal rows of bars the spaces in one row alternating with the bars
of the row next beneath are arranged immediately beneath the hopper through
which the materials are introduced and which is provided with a rotating
distributing or feed Cylinder carrying radial blades or projections and arranged
with its axis at right angles to the hereinbefore mentioned bars
The case is open
on one side and communicates through this opening with an enclosed space serving
to collect the dust
The other side of the case is provided with a series of tuyeres or nozzles
arranged at different levels and provided with valves controlled by suitable handles
These nozzles communicate with a vertical main or supply pipe connected with an
air chamber and provided with a valve-The said air chamber is supplied with air
under pressure by means of fans or blowing engines. The axes of these nozzles
are parallel with the hereinbefore mentioned bars
The coal placed in the hopper is caused to fall in a regulated stream from the
distributing Cylinder on to the said bars which divide the coal in such a manner

page_text: that the fragments of Schistose or slatey matter (which are generally of a flat
shape) in falling through the case present themselves edgewise before the nozzles
The currents supplied by these nozzles is regulated by means of the valves herein-
before described so as to increase progressively in intensity-The dust and lighter
particles are blown directly through the open side of the case into the enclosed
space beyond and the heavier portions fall into the compartments in the bottom of
the case.
The pieces of coal are deposited in order according to their size and
weight in the compartments farthest from the nozzles and the stoney slaty and
other matter of greater specific gravity is received in the compartment immediately
beneath the hopper.
The coal may be conveyed away from the compartments by separate shoots or
other suitable means.
In place of the series of nozzles hereinbefore described the air may be supplied
through a single opening provided with suitable deflecting plates or means for
controlling and directing the current.
י
After treatment in the pneumatic apparatus bereinbefore described the coal may
be collected in a funnel arranged below the compartments and conducted to a
centrifugal apparatus constructed as follows:-
A species of turbine having a flat bottom in which are formed a number of radial
channels or passages which rise towards the centre in a curve converging into a
circular opening for the reception of the materials is adjusted so as to rotate on
a vertical axis in the centre of a case provided with a series of concentric Cylinders.
Openings are formed in the sides of these Cylinders and communicate with suitable
shoots in the form of inclined rings on the sides of the said Cylinders.
The inner Cylinder is also provided with a cone or hopper for the reception of
the matter that falls within it. This apparatus is worked by bevel gear or other
suitable transmission gear.
The materials supplied at the centre of the apparatus enter the curved channels
herein before described and the heavier pieces are thrown by centrifugal action into
the annular spaces between the cylinders which form so many compartments in
which the materials are collected in order of gravity. The dust and lighter
particles are collected in the inner Cylinder
"
It is evident that either of the apparatus herein before described may be used
separately and independently or in combination and that they may be employed
for separating cleaning or classifying mineral substances other than coal.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Amour Sottiaux in the Patent Office on the 3rd April 1884.
AMOUR SOTTIAUX of Strépy Bracquéguies in the Kingdom of Belgium Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING SEPARATING AND CLASSIFYING
COAL AND OTHER MINERALS
"
The improved apparatus constructed according to my Invention is capable of.
cleaning and separating coal from the stones schists or slates and other substances
with which it may be mixed and of classifying it according to size in separate
heaps or compartments by the action of a current of air or by centrifugal force
acting successively or independently as hereinafter described.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is an elevation partly in section of a
pneumatic apparatus combined with a centrifugal apparatus in accordance with my
Invention.
In this figure I have not shewn the casing P hereinafter described but it will be
understood that it is to be used with this arrangement.
Figure 2 represents a modified arrangement of passages for graduating the blast
or current of air as hereinafter described.
Figures 3 and 4 drawn to a larger scale represent respectively a vertical section
and a diagrammatic plan of the centrifugal apparatus.
The pneumatic apparatus illustrated in figure 1 is constructed with a case or
chamber C and in a convenient position to receive the impure or mixed coal or
other materials which may be introduced at the upper part of the case by means
of a feed roller A at the bottom of the hopper B. through which they fall by
gravitation-The bottom of the case is divided by partitions into compartments
a, a, a, a, a of suitable dimensions in accordance with the nature of the
materials to be treated.
At the upper part of the case several rows of horizontal bars f (the spaces in
one row alternating with the bars of the row next beneath) are arranged
immediately beneath the roller A the said bars being supported at one extremity
by the side of the chamber C and at the other extremity by a support.
and being at right angles to the axis of the feed roller A. The said feed
roller A carries radial blades or projections and is rotated by a belt or other
gear. The chamber C is open preferably throughout its entire height and width
on the side c¹ and communicates through this opening with an enclosed space or
dust chamber D having a hopper shaped or inclined bottom.
The opposite side of the chamber C is provided with a series of nozzles or air
tubes b (five are shewn in the drawing but I do not limit myself to that number)
arranged at different levels and provided with valves at d-These air tubes have
their axes in planes parallel with the rods f and communicate with a main supply
pipe E connected by a pipe K provided with a valve e with an air chamber Q
which is supplied with air under pressure by means of fans or other suitable
device
.
The coal or other matter placed in the hopper B is delivered in a regulated
stream by the distributing cylinder A on to the bars ff The Coal or matter
passes between these bars in such a manner that the fragments of schistose or
slaty matter (which are generally of a flat shape) in falling through the case C
are caused to present themselves edgewise to the streams of air issuing from

page_text: the air pipes -The force of these streams of air is regulated by means of the
valves so as to decrease progressively in intensity in proportion to their
elevation This is preferably effected as indicated by the example in the drawing
by setting the lowest valve fully open the second four fifths, the third three fifths,
the fourth two fifths and the fifth or highest valve one fifth open consequently
the power of the streams or currents of air meeting the falling materials increases
proportionately from the upper to the lower part of the Chamber C. The dust
and lighter particles are blown directly through the open side c¹ of the Chamber C
into the Chamber D but the heavier portions fall into one or other of the
compartments a a¹ a² a³ a¹ at the bottom of the Chamber C where they are
deposited in order of density the lightest fragments being received in the
compartment a* and the remainder according to their density or weight in the
compartments a³ a' and a¹ the stones schistose and other matter being collected
in the compartment a partly owing to their greater specific gravity and partly
owing to their being caused by the bars hereinbefore described to present
themselves edgewise to the air.
+
The coal may be conveyed away from the compartments by separate shoots or
otherwise removed or it may be subjected to a further classification by means of a
centrifugal apparatus as herein before described. In place of the series of tubes or
nozzles herein before described the. air may be supplied through an opening
provided with suitable deflecting plates or means for controlling and directing the
current of air-This arrangement is illustrated in Figure 2-The air supply pipe K
communicates with a chamber M which contains a series of deflecting plates m
and supplies the current of air with greater force at the lower than at the upper
part of the chamber C
I prefer however to employ the arrangement firstly described because it affords
superior facilities for graduating and regulating the force of the currents
When the materials have been passed once through this pneumatic apparatus
and it then appears desirable to effect a further and more precise classification of
the materials deposited in the compartments, the contents of the compartments
may be successively admitted by valves to a funnel or hopper g arranged below
the compartments and communicating with a vertical tube or passage T¹ leading
to a centrifugal apparatus T.
.
As indicated in Figures 3 and 4 this apparatus is composed of a species of
turbine T provided with a number of horizontal radiating channels or passages t
which rise towards the centre in a curve converging into a passage communicating
with the tube or passage T¹ This turbine is arranged to rotate on a vertical axis
in a case P. provided with a series of concentric cylinders P¹ P¹ Ps of diameters
calculated according to the nature of the materials to be treated.
Shoots qqq are arranged in the form of inclined rings on the sides of the
said cylinders as shown in figure 3 and openings p are made through the cylinders
as shewn clearly in Figure 3 for the passage of the materials from the cylinders
down these shoots
The inner cylinder is provided with a cone or hopper q* for the reception of the
materials that fall within it
These concentric cylinders form a series of receptacles or compartments of
annular form but having the same object as the compartments a to a' in the
pneumatic apparatus herein before described-This centrifugal apparatus may
be rotated by bevel gear as shewn in the drawing or by any other suitable
means.
The action of this apparatus will be readily understood by referring to the
drawings The materials supplied at the centre of the apparatus, through the
tube or passage T¹ enter the curved channels t and the heavier pieces are thrown
by centrifugal action into the spaces between the concentric cylinders P to P³
which form so many annular compartments in which the materials are collected
in the order of their gravity the dust and lighter portions being collected in the

page_text: central cylinder P³ and hopper q* and the heavier fragments passing as far as the
sides of the case P.
It is evident that either of the apparatus herein before described may be used
separately and independently or in combination and that they may be employed
for separating cleaning or classifying any materials to which they are or may be
applicable.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is :-
First An apparatus for cleaning separating and classifying coals and other
minerals the said apparatus consisting of a case or chamber provided with bars
between which the materials pass and with means for supplying air under
pressure through a passage or series of passages so that the force of the current
or currents meeting the materials in the act of falling causes them to be deposited
in the proper order in compartments or shoots substantially as herein before described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings
Second An apparatus for cleaning separating and classifying coal and other
minerals the said apparatus consisting of the combination of a revolving hollow
arm or arins communicating with an opening through which the materials are
supplied and of a casing into which the materials are projected by the said arm
or arms the said casing being provided with compartments or shoots in which the
materials are deposited in the proper order substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings
Third The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the
combined apparatus for cleaning separating and classifying coal and other minerals
by pneumatic action and centrifugal force substantially as herein before described
and illustrated by the accompanying drawings
In witness whereof I the said Amour Sottiaux have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal this twenty ninth day of March One thousand eight hundred
and eighty four.
AMOUR SOTTIAUX, (L.S.)