Improvements in Fluid Support for Ore Concentrating Belts.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1892-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fluid Support for Ore Concentrating Belts.
I, CECIL URQUHART FISHER of 45 Holborn Viaduct, London in the County
of London, Solicitor and Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me by Frederick Gleason Corning of 55 West 27th Street,
City of New York, County and State of New York, United States of America,
Mining Engineer) 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 the treatment of ore pulp upon the surface of an endless
flexible apron or belt travelling upon rollers at the opposite extremities of a
percussion or other frame: said belt requiring, therefore, a support at its intermediate
portion such as will cause the least possible friction and maintain as nearly as
possible a perfect plane surface. The pulp constituents being separated by the
washing currents into parabolic zones or other streaks or groups in the order of
their specific gravity preparatory to delivering them into separate receptacles,
necessarily rest with variable gravity upon different parts of the apron according
as the material is so grouped or distributed. The full description of an apparatus
wherein the pulp constituents are separated by washing, into parabolic zones, is set
forth in the U.S. Letters Patent No. 311,231, dated Jan. 27th, 1885 of the said
Frederick Gleason Cording.
Heretofore, intermediate rollers have been employed beneath the ore bearing part
of the belt or a plane table and a film of water depending for its supply upon
gravity alone due to the slight inclination of the table and apron, has been
employed as a supporting medium. The latter expedient involves uncertainty of
equal or sufficient access of the sustaining water to all parts of the under side of
the belt when the pulp or ores are equally distributed in groups as aforesaid. A
heavy load of ore upon the higher side of the belt would for instance obstruct the
flow of water designed to support the lower side thereof; thus causing great friction
upon the table.
My invention consists in means hereinafter fully described and pointed out in
the appended claims, whereby the supporting fluid for the belt is introduced under
pressure and in direct application beneath all parts of the belt. My invention also
provides means whereby the pressure and consequent supporting power of the
fluid may be varied beneath different parts of the belt according to the distribution
of the material thereon, so as to sustain the surface evenly.
Referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:
Figure 1, is a sectional elevation illustrating the application of my invention to
a non-percussion belt frame appearing on line y y, Figure 1.
Figure 2, a plan view of Figure 1, partly broken away to show the underlaying
parts;
Figure 3, a sectional elevation showing the application of my invention to a
percussion belt frame, in which the fluid distributing box is stationary ;
Figure 4, a cross-section of Figure 3, and
Figure 5, a sectional elevation showing the fluid distributing box movable with
the percussion frame.
Figures 6, and 7 are top or plan views with a portion of the perforated top broken
away. Said views being taken on the line xx, Figure 4.
Figure 8, is an enlarged cross-section illustrating in exaggerated proportion,
the distributing box, the apron or belt, and the action of the fluid thereon.
A, represents the stationary frame of the machine; B, the endless apron or belt;
and C, the rollers at the extremities of its frame for supporting said belt.
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page_text: D, is the distributing box, supplied with fluid under pressure from the pipe E,
through which the fluid issues in jets that impinge on the under surface of the
belt. The distributing box D, is supported in Figures 1, and 2, upon a stationary
frame G; also as applied to the percussion frame H, carrying the belt B, in
Figures 3, and 4, the box D, is supported upon a stationary frame G; and Figure 5,
represents the said distributing box as supported in the percussion frame H, moving
with it.
The box or reservoir D, is supplied with fluid through the pipe E, from any
suitable source, such as a pump or elevated tank in the instance of the use of
water as a supporting medium, or by means of a blower in the instance of air.
The pipe E, in Figure 5, is provided with a flexible section or suitable equivalent E',
to admit of the reciprocating motions of the reservoir D.
The distributing box D, may be constructed as of a single compartment, as
indicated at the left hand portion of Figure 6; but in order to provide for variable
force of the sustaining jets at different parts of the perforated surface F, I may
subdivide the distributor D, interiorly by partitions I, variously arranged, as
indicated in the right hand portion of Figure 6, or in Figure 7; or the said
distributor may be constructed of separate sections, each being independently
supplied. In the divisional construction of the distributor D, each compartment
is provided with an independent supply pipe or branch E', E³, E, etc., of the
pipe E, controlled by different valves J, J, etc. to regulate the flow and consequent
pressure.
The combined effect of the travel of the apron B, and lateral wash of the water
fed thereon with the ore pulp from the hopper K, and other points is usually that
of separating the metalliferous particles of different grades or kind, and the tailings,
into parabolic zones or strips as indicated in said Patent No. 311,231; and in order
to conform the zones of variable sustaining force in the jets beneath the apron, to
such distribution of the weight of the material upon it, I may divide the
distributor D, interiorly into corresponding shaped sections as indicated in
Figure 7 each parabolic section having its own supply pipe and valve for
regulating pressure in such proportion as to sustain the surface of the apron
evenly. A feature of my invention consists in that the percussion frame,
Figures 3 and 4, may be relieved of the usual weight of the apron supporting
rolls, or a water table; the positive introduction of the sustaining fluid by the
jets throughout, admitting of the reciprocatory motion of the apron or belt B,
above them without under friction; especially when air is used.
:
In operation, the interposed film of fluid is maintained between the entire
adjacent surfaces of the apron B, and the distributor D, acting in its transitional
confinement as a support; and in the case of liquid, it flows off in a sheet into a
suitable trough or receptacle.
The mode of introduction of the fluid by jets, enlarges the function thereof
by reason of the mechanical energy or thrust of the said jets themselves against
the apron, and such sustaining action can be regulated at will by the instrumentalities
hereinbefore described.
1
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:
1. The combination with an ore concentrating belt, a fluid pressure reservoir
beneath. it, having outlets directed toward the under surface of the belt, for the
purposes described.
2. In an ore concentrator, the combination of a flexible apron or belt, and a fluid
distributor for maintaining the same, formed of a perforated plane surface under-
laying the said apron, and means for introducing through said perforations a .fluid
under pressure for the purposes described.
3. In an ore concentrator, the combination of an endless apron or belt, rollers
whereon the belt is revolved, and intermediate to said rollers, a fluid distributing

page_text: box having a plane perforate surface adjacent the belt, and means for supplying
said distributor with fluid under pressure.
4. In an ore concentrator, the combination of a flexible apron or belt, a plane
table beneath the belt, and perforations through the surface of the table for
supplying a film of fluid beneath the same and the belt.
5. The combination with a flexible apron or belt for washing and separating ore
pulp, of a perforated fluid distributor beneath the belt, provided with interior sub-
divisions and independently controlled supply pipes for each said sub-division,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
ليمي
1000
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.