Improvements in Coal Washing Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 4th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 1st Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coal Washing Apparatus.
GEORGE EDWARD ALLEN Watergate Colliery Flimby, Maryport Cumberland
Colliery Yardsman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My improvements relate to the washing of coals and seperating therefrom dirt
of various kinds by means of apparatus of the trough coal washer class,-by which
the coals to be cleaned and washed are conveyed into a trough, or troughs,
(made of wood or iron or other material) lying at a slight inclination, and
terminating at the lower end or ends in a receiving hopper.
A stream, or streams, of water flowing through the said trough, or troughs,
seperates the dirt from the coals,-leaving the former in the bottom of the
trough, or troughs, and washing and carrying the coals into the aforesaid hopper-
whence they are lifted by elevator buckets or other means into wagons or other
receptacles.
The water after bringing the coals into the receiving hopper usually passes
direct through and out at the opposite end and by its force carrying with it a
large quantity of fine coals.
In order to thoroughly seperate the dirt from the coals and allow the latter
to move forward freely and quickly in the troughs, and also to prevent as far as
practicable the fine coals from passing beyond the receiving hopper, it is essential
that the hopper be relieved of the inflowing water as speedily and steadily as
possible.
For this purpose I insert in the hopper, and fix by means of nails or screws.
or bolts or otherwise, a diaphragm, or diaphragms, made of wood or other material,
underneath which the water and coals pass, the coals sinking towards the
elevator buckets, and instead of the water rushing direct through the hopper, on
rising to its level the whole or part flows over the diaphragm, or diaphragms,
and through outlets in any direction required.
The inlets to hopper may be at one or both ends, or in the sides, or at the
end and side, or otherwise as the formation of hopper or local conditions may
necessitate, and I may insert a diaphragm at one or any of the inlets for the
purpose hereinbefore stated.
And in order that the said invention may be fully understood I shall now.
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for this purpose shall refer
to the annexed drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding
parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a surface plan of one form of hopper, with inlet and outlets and
lower elevator wheel in section.
Figure 2 is a length section of same hopper on line marked A B on Figure 1,
showing one direction in which elevator buckets may be worked.
Figure 3 is a cross section on line marked C D on Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a surface plan of a hopper of same size and form, showing one other
method of applying the diaphragm with a side inlet.
And referring to Figures 1 to 4,-E represents the lower ends of troughs
wherein the coals are washed and conveyed to hopper,
F is inlet to hopper,
G the outlets off the diaphragm,
H the diaphragm,
The heal

page_text: K the water boxes which carry the water from diaphragm,
L the usual direct outlet.
The drawings represent troughs, hopper, diaphragm, and water boxes as made
of wood.
Dated this 18th day of November 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coal Washing Apparatus.
GEORGE EDWARD ALLEN Watergate Colliery Flimby, Maryport Cumberland
Colliery Yardsman 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 improvements relate to coal washing apparatus of the trough coal washer
class, in which the coal to be washed is conveyed into a trough or troughs made of
wood or iron or other suitable material, lying at a slight inclination and terminating
at the lower end, or ends, in a receiving hopper made of wood or iron or other
suitable material.
A stream or streams of water flowing through the said trough or troughs,
seperates the dirt from the coal, leaving the former in the bottom of the trough
or troughs, and washing and carrying the coal into the aforesaid hopper from
which it is lifted by elevator buckets or other means.
The water after bringing the coal into the receiving hopper usually passes
direct through and out at the opposite end. But the agitated state of the water
in the hopper caused by the violence of the inflowing stream or streams or the
revolution of the elevator buckets or both, is such, that the water in passing there-
from carries with it a large quantity of fine coal.
In order to thoroughly seperate the dirt from the coal and allow the latter to
move forward freely and quickly in the troughs, it is essential that the lower ends
of troughs be kept as clear as possible by carrying the water speedily off. And it
is desirable also to carry it off in such a way as to prevent coal passing with it.
My invention has for object to facilitate the washing of coal and prevent coal
passing away with the waste water (that is the water that has been used in the
process of washing), in those systems of coal washing in which the coal is washed
in troughs by a stream or streams of water.
(And it may also be used to obtain or recover fine coal from the waste water that
has been used in any other system of coal washing.)
And for this purpose, I insert and fix, in or near the hopper or in or near
the lower ends of troughs, one or more diaphragms made of wood or iron or any
suitable material, and which may be plain or perforated or meshed, and of such
size and shape and form as local circumstances necessitate, and arranged in such a
way that the water may be caused to pass against or under or over or through
them, and off by means of water boxes or outlets in or near the hoppers or in or
near the lower ends of troughs, in any direction required.
The invention is equally applicable to those trough coal washers in which the
washing process is aided by mechanical appliances in the troughs, as to those
without.
The inlets to hoppers may be at one or both ends, or in the sides, or end and
side.
And I may employ diaphragms, and make outlets, to carry the water off from
the sides or ends or surface, or from any part or level of hopper or from any point
in or near the lower ends of troughs in any direction required.
And the size and shape and form of diaphragms whether flat, angular, concave,
convex or otherwise, and the size of perforations or mesh, and the application and

page_text: arrangement and combination of diaphragms, will depend on the capacity and
formation of hoppers and troughs or other circumstances, and the quantity of coal
and water to be dealt with.
And in order that the invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
accompanying drawings.
The application and arrangement and combination of diaphragms with water
boxes and outlets as shown in the drawings are given by way of example only and
may vary considerably without affecting the nature of the invention.
Figures 1 to 11 are length outline sections of one form of hopper showing various
applications of the invention.
Figure 12 shows section of same form of hopper, and an enlarged section of
lower ends of troughs.
Figure 13 is a surface plan of same form of hopper showing troughs, diaphragms,
outlets, and water boxes.
Figure 14 is a cross section of same form of hopper, and water boxes.
Figure 15 is a view of troughs, diaphragms, and water boxes without the hopper
and elevators.
Figure 16 is a part surface sketch of the same arrangement as shown in
Figure 15.
And referring to Figures 1 to 16, Figure 1 shows a horizontal diaphragm H,
with vertical back II, and inlet F, and outlets G, and the usual direct outlet L.
The coal and water on leaving the lower ends of troughs to enter hopper, pass
underneath the diaphragm H the coal sinking toward the elevator buckets and the
water rising and passing over the diaphragm H, and through outlets G from either
or both sides of hopper.
Fig. 2 shows a similar arrangement to Figure 1, but with an additional
diaphragm M, placed in front of elevators to prevent agitation and allow the water
to be carried off steadily. With this arrangement the vertical back I, of
diaphragm H, may be lowered to allow a portion of the surface water flowing
in the troughs to pass over on to the horizontal diaphragm H, and through
outlets, instead of passing underneath the horizontal diaphragm with the coal.
Fig. 3 shows a similar arrangement to Figure 2, but with a sloping perforated
or meshed diaphragm indicated by the dotted line N above the horizontal one H,
for use where the area of hopper is insufficient to allow the water to be carried
off steadily, or where large quantities of water have to be dealt with, in order
to allow the large body of surface water that flows above the coal after the
dirt has been deposited in the troughs, to pass directly through and off over
the horizontal diaphragm H as shown in Figure 13, instead of passing underneath
the diaphragm H with the coal. The remainder of water entering the hopper
with the coal passing out over the diaphragm H and through the outlet as
shown on surface plan Figure 13.
Figure 4 shows a similar arrangement to Figure 3, but with the upper end of
perforated or meshed diaphragm N resting on the top of diaphragm M, to allow
any fine coal floating in the surface water to pass over into the elevators.
Figure 5 shows the diaphragm N lying back toward the troughs, for the purpose
of allowing the surface water to pass through and off, instead of passing under-
neath the diaphragm H with the coal.
The diaphragms N shown in the three foregoing figures may be concave or
convex as the case may require, and attached in such a manner as to allow of their
being raised or lowered to suit large or smaller quantities of water.
Figure 6 shows an arrangement whereby the whole of the water is made to pass
through the diaphragm N on to the diaphragm H, and through outlets from either
or both sides of hopper, or the diaphragms may form a perforated or meshed
cylinder, fixed at each end to sides of hopper with outlet at each side-the upper
part of cylinder standing above the water level as in diaphragm N, in order to
allow the stream to pass on to it.

page_text: By this arrangement the coal falls toward the elevators by its own weight or
gravity.
Figure 7 shows another arrangement for carrying the whole of the water off
through perforated or meshed diaphragms, the main body of water passing
through diaphragm N, the remainder passing underneath the horizontal diaphragm H
with the coal and out through diaphragm O, the agitation caused by elevators
keeping the perforations or meshes of diaphragm O clear. The water passing
under diaphragm H and out through diaphragm O, allows the coal to pass toward
the elevators more freely than if all the water were made to pass through
diaphragm N.
Figure 8 shows an arrangement whereby the water on bringing the coal to the
hopper passes directly through the diaphragm N, into a water box K, the coal
falling toward the elevators by its own weight or gravity. Where the diaphragm N
is placed as shown in this figure in front of the lower ends of troughs, the coal,
instead of falling into a hopper, to be lifted by elevators, may, if the troughs be
placed at a sufficient height, pass from troughs over the diaphragm N direct into
wagons or other receptacles.
Figures 9 and 10 show hoppers with inlets at each end, and with diaphragms N
and H placed at each inlet to carry off the water through either, or both, sides of
hopper.
Figure 11 shows an application of the invention where it may be inconvenient to
place diaphragms in the body of the hopper.
A diaphragm N is placed at the direct outlet L, the waste water in flowing_out
at the direct outlet L passes down through diaphragm N into the water box K or
otherwise, and the fine coal carried out of the hopper with the waste water passes
over the diaphragm N, and falls into a tub P or into a second hopper or other
receptacle. The direct outlet may be at any convenient place in hopper.
Figure 12 shows one method in which the invention may be applied-where the
volume of water is very large, in order to carry off a part of the surface water
through sides of troughs before it reaches the hopper.
A perforated or meshed diaphragm is placed in the troughs in the position
indicated by the dotted line N, the surface water passing through the diaphragm N
and off through sides of troughs by outlet G into water boxes or otherwise, the
remainder of water carrying the coal forward into the hopper.
Figure 13 shows outlets G. G off diaphragm H, and a dividing board placed
diagonally on diaphragm H, to allow the surface water passing through diaphragm N
to flow through outlet G direct into water box K at one side of hopper-the
water passing under diaphragm H flowing through outlet G at the other side.
It also shows diaphragm N and outlets G 1-G 1 as applied in lower ends of troughs
shown by Figure 12.
Figure 14 shows diaphragms indicated by the dotted lines N-N, which may
cover the whole available surface of hopper, the water passing off into water
boxes K-K or otherwise.
Figure 15 is a view of troughs in section, and showing how the invention
may be applied where the hopper and elevators are unsuitable, or where the
troughs can be placed at a sufficient altitude to allow the coal to pass direct from
troughs over the diaphragms into wagons or other receptacles. The diaphragms
may be placed in front of the lower ends of troughs, or at the sides or both, as
shown N-N, the water passing through the diaphragms into water boxes K-K
or otherwise.
Figure 16 is a part surface sketch of the same arrangement as shown in
Figure 15, and switch boards may be used at the lower end of troughs to cause
the water and coal to pass on to any or all the diaphragms.
And referring back to Figure 1 the plain diaphragm back I may be used as
a diaphragm without the horizontal diaphragm H. The coal passing underneath
the diaphragm back I toward the elevators, a portion of the surface water standing
against it at the troughs' side may be carried direct through an outlet in the side of

page_text: hopper, or troughs, and off in water boxes or otherwise. By this arrangement less
water will pass through the hopper, and direct outlet L.
The whole of the horizontal diaphragms H shown in drawings may be concave
or otherwise, and sunk as shown in Figure 10 to allow the water to be taken from
any level required through sides of hopper, into pipes or water boxes or otherwise.
And the mode of transporting water taken from troughs and hoppers will
depend on local circumstances.
And the direction in which elevators work, and the size and form of hoppers,
and the size and form and number of troughs used, will largely determine the
kinds of diaphragms used, and the positions in which they require to be placed.
And the use of diagonal dividing boards on diaphragms H is optional.
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
1st. The employment of diaphragms of the kinds herein described and illustrated,
in connection with coal washing apparatus of the trough coal washer class, for the
purposes substantially as herein described.
2nd. The employment of diaphragms combined with necessary outlets for water,
of the kinds herein described and illustrated, in connection with coal washing
apparatus of the trough coal washer class, for the purposes, and after the manner
substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Dated this 3rd day of February 1893.