Improvements in Apparatus for Purifying Coal or the like Material by the Washing Process.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 24th June, 1895-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Purifying Coal or the like Material
by the Washing Process.
We, RALPH CLOUGH, of East Howlo Colliery, MARTIN LUTHER MULHOLLAND,
of the Ferryhill Engine Works, West Carnforth, Engineers, and ROBERT
CLOUGH, Junr. of Page Bank Colliery, Draughtsman, all in the County of
Durham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to machinery or apparatus for the treatment of coal or
other substances largely mixed with dirt and impurities which are of a greater
specific gravity than the material to be purified, and is designed to effect their
separation from the coal or other substance by the process of washing, that is by
floating or immersing the coal or other material in water which is kept in a state
of agitation by which the impurities are separated by gravity.
The object of this invention is to apply this style of washing process in an
apparatus constructed to act automatically and continuously, that is to say that
apart from a breakdown no stoppage of the apparatus is required for the with-
drawal either of the coal or the like substance under treatment or of the impurities
separated therefrom. It being only necessary to provide a continuous supply of
the material under treatment with a continuous supply of water, and the requisite
provision for removing the continuously discharged and purified coal or the like
material and the continuously discharged impurities separated therefrom.
In describing our invention we will refer to its application to the treatment of
coal only.
In carrying our invention into effect we provide a trough the semicircular
bottom of which is divided into a series of longitudinal segments by means of as
many insets forming dams all facing one way, the end in view being to provide
each segment thus formed with a worm screw or spiral blade rotating in the
opposite direction to the flow of water and following the contour of the trough
bottom by which the water is mechanically agitated, and the material settling to
the bottom is continuously thrust forward and discharged from the apparatus.
The coal under treatment not only shares the agitation imparted to the water but
is also impeded in its passage through the trough, and the process of washing is to
a corresponding extent more effectually carried out and within a shorter length of
water than when the flow of the floating or immersed coal proceeds unchecked.
By forming the segments conically shaped in respect of the semicircular bottom
and uniting them end to end with the larger end of one segment abutting against
the smaller end of the other, dams or insets are formed equal in depth to the
difference of the radii of the two segments at their plane of abutment. The
several segments being all arranged in axial line which this construction admits of,
the worms or screws being similarly coned or tapered to follow the contour of the
bottoms of their several segments, are all mounted and rotated on one shaft. But
in cases where a series of segments could not be conveniently operated or
combined together we restrict the construction of the apparatus to one such conical
segment. Otherwise the segments may be of uniform diameter and the dams or
insets provided for by inclining each segment at an angle to what may be termed
the general or mean centre line of the trough, the lower end of one segment

page_text: abutting against the upper end of the next and so on.
But in this case the
driving shaft could not be continuous but must consist of a series of shafts
following the centre lines of their respective segments and geared together
endwise.
The coal to be washed is delivered into the above described trough from a
hopper, elevator or other suitable feeding apparatus, except that we prefer to
deliver it by a centrifugal or other suitable pump, the coal being well soaked with
water which may be the return water of the apparatus supplemented as required
with fresh water.
• Provision is made to stir the debris or matter settled at the bottom of the
trough and any suitable means may be adopted for effecting this purpose.
בד
G. J. CLARKSON,
Chartered Patent Agent, Stockton-on-Tees,
Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in Apparatus for Purifying Coal or the like Material
by the Washing Process.
We, RALPH CLOUGH, of East Howle Colliery, MARTIN LUTHER MULHOLLAND,
of Ferryhill Engine Works, West Carnforth, Engineers, and ROBERT CLOUGH,
Junior, Page Bank Colliery, Draughtsman, all in the County of Durham, 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 to machinery or apparatus for the treatment of coal or
other substances largely mixed with dirt and impurities which are of a greater
specific gravity than the material to be purified, and is designed to effect their
separation from the coal or other substance by the process of washing, that is by
floating or immersing the coal or other material in water which is kept in a state
of agitation by which the impurities are set free and separated by gravity.
The object of this invention is to apply this style of washing process in an
apparatus constructed to act automatically and continuously, that is to say that
apart from a breakdown no stoppage of the apparatus is required for the withdrawal
either of the coal or the like substance under treatment or of the impurities
separated therefrom. It being only necessary so long as the apparatus is kept in
motion to provide a continuous supply of the material under treatment with a
continuous supply of water, and the requisite provision for removing the continuously
discharged and purified coal or the like material and the continuously discharged
impurities separated therefrom.
In describing our invention we will refer to its application to the treatment of
coal only, the treatment of any other material to which the invention is applicable
being precisely similar.
And in order that our invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect we will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accom-
panying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates a longitudinal view (partly in
section) of machinery or apparatus for washing coal constructed according to our
invention; Figure 2 is a corresponding plan view thereof; and Figures 3 and 4
are right and left hand end views respectively of the same apparatus.
In the drawings a is the washing trough which is supported in an inclined
position as shown in Figure 1. The semicircular bottom of this trough is divided
into a series of longitudinal segments by means of as many insets forming dams b

page_text: all facing one way, the object in view being to provide each segment thus formed
with a worm screw or spiral blade c rotating in the opposite direction to the flow
of the water and following the contour of the trough bottom by which the water
is mechanically agitated, and the material such as the debris settling to the bottom
is continuously thrust backward and discharged from the apparatus at the upper
or rear end. The coal under treatment not only shares the agitation imparted to
the water but is also impeded in its passage through the trough, and the process of
washing is to a corresponding extent more effectually carried out and within a
shorter length of water course than when the flow of the floating or immersed
coal proceeds unchecked.
By forming the segments conically shaped in respect of the semicircular bottom
and uniting them end to end with the larger end of one segment abutting against
the smaller end of the other, dams or insets 6 are formed equal in depth to the
difference of the radii of the two segments at their several planes of abutment.
The several segments being all arranged in axial line which this construction admits
of, the worms or screws c being similarly coned or tapered to follow the contour of
the bottom of their several segments are all mounted and rotated on one shaft d.
This shaft d is driven by any suitable means, such as the bevel spur wheel e gearing
into a bevel pinion f mounted on the cross shaft g rotated by the belt pulley h.
The face of the spiral worm c may be any width or it may be tapered, i.e. it may
be wider at the large diameter than at the small end, or vice versa and it may be of
any pitch (either uniform or variable) found suitable in practice. But a uniform
angular pitch of the spiral blade is attended with the effect of conducing to a
uniform thrust against the water and in the debris.
or
In cases where a series of segments could not be conveniently operated
combined together we restrict the construction of the apparatus to one such
segment. Otherwise the segments may be of uniform diameter and the dams or
insets provided for by inclining each segment at an angle to what may be termed
the general or mean centre line of the trough, the lower end of one segment abutting
against the upper end of the next and so on. But in this construction it is obvious
that the driving shaft could not be continuous but must consist of a series of
separate shafts following the centre lines of their respective segments and geared
together endwise by spur gear with the alternate worms made right or left hand
to correct the motion given by the necessary introduction of the spur gear; but
it should be understood that the complication of parts thus involved is not attended
with any corresponding advantage in practice.
The coal to be washed is delivered into the trough a from a hopper, elevator or
other suitable feeding apparatus j, except that in some cases we deliver it by a
centrifugal or other suitable pump so that the coal may be well soaked with water
which may be the return water of the apparatus supplemented as required with
fresh water from the inlet pipe k. The lower or coal discharging end of the trough
is furnished with a regulating dam n as shown in Figure 3 which is used to increase
or diminish the depth of water contained in the trough a and also a shoot for the
delivery of the washed coal. The regulating damn may be fitted in position in
any manner which will adapt it to its purpose, a simple means being to turn it
about its lower edge as on a hinge with suitable means for retaining it in any
required position. This device is useful in dispensing with the necessity of tilting
the trough a bodily from one incline to another to vary the depth of water passing
through the apparatus. Doors m are provided at the lowest level of each segment
to enable the debris or matter and water settled at the bottom of the trough to
be drawn off when the trough is laid off or requires to be drained of its contents.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
An apparatus for purifying coal or the like material by the washing process in
which a worm screw or spiral blade or a series of worm screws or spiral blades

page_text: extend along a trough which is preferably set to an incline and divided into several
or only one segment by damns or insets, the worm screws or spiral blades rotating
against the flow of water, all combined, arranged and operating together substantially
as and for the purpose as herein before described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 21st day of June 1895.
G. J. CLARKSON,
Chartered Patent Agent, Stockton-on-Tees,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 24th June, 1895-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Purifying Coal or the like Material
by the Washing Process.
We, RALPH CLOUGH, of East Howle Colliery, MARTIN LUTHER MULHOLLAND,
of the Ferryhill Engine Works, West Carnforth, Engineers, and ROBERT
CLOUGH, Junr. of Page Bank Colliery, Draughtsman, all in the County of
Durham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to machinery or apparatus for the treatment of coal or
other substances largely mixed with dirt and impurities which are of a greater
specific gravity than the material tonbe purified, and is designed to effect their
separation from the coal or other substance by the process of washing, that is by
floating or immersing the coal or other material in water which is kept in a state
of agitation by which the impurities are separated by gravity.
The object of this invention is to apply this style of washing process in an
apparatus constructed to act automatically and continuously, that is to say 'that
apart from a breakdown no stoppage of the apparatus is required for the with-
drawal either of the coal or the like substance under treatment or of the impurities
separated therefrom. It being only necessary to provide a continuous supply of
the material under treatment with a continuous supply of water, and the requisite
provision for removing the continuously discharged and purified coal or the like
material and the continuously discharged impurities separated therefrom.
In describing our invention we will refer to its application to the treatment of
coal only.
In carrying our invention into effect we provide a trough the semicircular
bottom of which is divided into a series of longitudinal segments by means of as
many insets forming dams all facing one way, the end in view being to provide
each segment thus formed with a worm screw or spiral blade rotating in the
opposite direction to the flow of water and following the contour of the trough
bottom by which the water is mechanically agitated, and the material,settling, to
the bottom is continuously thrust forward and discharged from the apparatus.
The coal under treatment not only shares the agitation imparted to the water but
is also impeded in its passage through the trough, and the process of washing is.to
a corresponding extent more effectually carried out and within a shorter length, of
water than when the flow of the floating or immersed coal proceeds, unchecked.
By forming the segments conically shaped in respect, of the semicircular bottom
and uniting them end to end with the larger end of one segment abutting against
the smaller end of the other, dams or insets are formed equal in depth to the
difference of the radii of the two segments at their plane of abutment. The
several segments being all arranged in axial line which this construction admits of,
the worms or screws being similarly coned. or tapered to follow the contour of the
bottoms of their several segments, are all mounted, and rotated on one shaft. But
in cases where a series of segments could. not be conveniently: operated or
combined together we restrict the construction of the apparatus to one such couical
egment. Otherwise the segments, may be of uniform diameter and the dams.or
insets provided for by inclining each segment at an angle to what may be termed
the general or mean centre line of the trough, the lower end of one segment
IP Q17

page_text: abutting against the upper end of the next and so on.
But in this case the
driving shaft could not be continuous but must consist of a series of shafts
following the centre lines of their respective segments and geared together
end wise.
The coal to be washed is delivered into the above described trough from a
hopper, elevator or other suitable feeding apparatus, except that we prefer to
deliver it by a centrifugal or other suitable pump, the coal being well soaked with
water which may be the return water of the apparatus supplemented as required
with fresh water.
Provision is made to stir the debris or matter settled at the bottom of the
trough and any suitable means may be adopted for effecting this purpose.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1894.
G. J. CLARKSON,
Chartered Patent Agent, Stockton-on-Tees,
Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in Apparatus for Purifying Coal or the like Material
by the Washing Process.
We, RALPH CLOUGH, of East Howle Colliery, MARTIN LUTHER MULHOLLAND,
of Ferryhill Engine Works, West Carnforth, Engineers, and ROBERT CLOUGH,
Junior, Page Bank Colliery, Draughtsman, all in the County of Durham, 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 to machinery or apparatus for the treatment of coal or
other substances largely mixed with dirt and impurities which are of a greater
specific gravity than the material to be purified, and is designed to effect their
separation from the coal or other substance by the process of washing, that is by
floating or immersing the coal or other material in water which is kept in a state
of agitation by which the impurities are set free and separated by gravity.
The object of this invention is to apply this style of washing process in au
apparatus constructed to act automatically and continuously, that is to say that
apart from a breakdown no stoppage of the apparatus is required for the withdrawal
either of the coal or the like substance under treatment or of the impurities
separated therefrom. It being only necessary so long as the apparatus is kept in
motion to provide a continuous supply of the material under treatment with a
continuous supply of water, and the requisite provision for removing the continuously
discharged and purified coal or the like material and the continuously discharged
impurities separated therefrom.
In describing our invention we will refer to its application to the treatment of
coal only, the treatment of any other material to which the invention is applicable
being precisely similar.
And in order that our invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect we will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accom-
panying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates a longitudinal view (partly in
section) of machinery or apparatus for washing coal constructed according to our
invention; Figure 2 is a corresponding plan view thereof; and Figures 3 and 4
are right and left hand end views respectively of the same apparatus.
In the drawings a is the washing trough which is supported in an inclined
position as shown in Figure 1. The semicircular bottom of this trough is divided
into a series of longitudinal segments by means of as many insets forming dams b

page_text: all facing one way, the object in view being to provide each segment thus formed
with a worm screw or spiral blade e rotating in the opposite direction to the flow
of the water and following the contour of the trough bottom by which the water
is mechanically agitated, and the material such as the debris settling to the botton
is continuously thrust backward and discharged from the apparatus at the upper
or rear end. The coal under treatment not only shares the agitation imparted to
the water it is also impeded in its passage through the trough, and the process of
washing is to a corresponding extent more effectually carried out and within a
shorter length of water course than when the flow of the floating or immersed
coal proceeds unchecked.
By forming the segments conically shaped in respect of the semicircular bottom
and uniting them end to end with the larger end of one segment abutting against
the smaller end of the other, dams or insets bare formed equal in depth to the
difference of the radii of the two segments at their several planes of abutment.
The several segments being all arranged in axial line which this construction admits
of, the worms or screws c being similarly coned or tapered to follow the contour of
the bottom of their several segments are all mounted and rotated on one shaft d.
This shaft d is driven by any suitable means, such as the bevel spur wheel e gearing
into a bevel pinion f mounted on the cross shaft g rotated by the belt pulley h.
The face of the spiral worm c may be any width or it may be tapered, ie. it may
be wider at the large diameter than at the small end, or vice versa and it may be of
any pitch (either uniform or variable) found suitable in practice. But a uniform
angular pitch of the spiral blade is attended with the effect of conducing to a
uniform thrust against the water and in the debris.
In cases where a series of segments could not be conveniently operated or
combined together we restrict the construction of the apparatus to one such
segment. Otherwise the segments may be of uniform diameter and the dams or
insets provided for by inclining each segment at an angle to what may be ter.ned
the general or mean centre line of the trough, the lower end of one segment abutting
against the upper end of the next and so on. But in this construction it is obvious
that the driving shaft could not be continuous but must consist of a series of
separate shafts following the centre lines of their respective segments and geared
together end wise by spur gear with the alternate worms made right or left hani
to correct the motion given by the necessary introduction of the spur gear; but
it should be understood that the complication of parts thus involved is not attended
with any corresponding advantage in practice.
The coal to be washed is delivered into the trough a from a hopper, elevator or
other suitable feeding apparatus j, except that in some cases we deliver it by a
centrifugal or other suitable pump. so that the coal may be well soaked with water
which may be the return water of the apparatus supplemented as required with
fresh water from the inlet pipe k. The lower or coal discharging end of the trough
is furnished with a regulating dam n as shown in Figure 3 which is used to increase
or diminish the depth of water contained in the trough a and also a shoot / for the
delivery of the washed coal. The regulating dam n may be fitted in position in
any manner which will adapt it to its purpose, a simple means being to turn it
about its lower edge as on a hinge with suitable means for retaining it in any
required position. This device is useful in dispensing with the necessity of tilting
the trough a bodily from one incline to another to vary the depth of water passing
through the apparatus. Doors m are provided at the lowest level of each segment
to enable the debris or matter and water settled at the bottom of the trough to
be drawn off when the trough is laid off or requires to be drained of its contents.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
An apparatus for purifying coal or the like material by the washing process in
which a worm screw or spiral blade or a series of worn screws or spiral blades

page_text: extend along a trough which is preferably set to an incline and divided into several
or only one segment by dams or insets, the worm screws or spiral blades rotating
against the flow of water, all combined, arranged and operating together substantially
as and for the purpose as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
www way
Ας του,
G. J. CLARKSON,
Chartered Patent Agent, Stockton-on-Tees,
Agent for the Applicants.