Improvements in Filters connected with Coal Washing Machinery, and also applicable to other purposes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 20th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1898
Improvements in Filters connected with Coal Washing Machinery,
and also applicable to other purposes.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM ELLIOTT, The Elms, Coal Aston, Dronfield, Derbyshire,
Mining and Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to the manner of separating the water used in coal wash-
ing, from the coal with which it is mixed during the process of washing, and to
similar purposes, and the appliances connected therewith.
The separation of the water from the coal is effected by receiving all the water
and coal from the coal washer into a specially constructed filter, so arranged that
the water drains through the filtering medium and escapes at the perforated
bottom and is conducted where required.
The coal accumulates on the top until it either falls by gravity, or is removed
by mechanical means into elevators, conveyors, or other means for transportation.
The filter may be so constructed that the coal will overflow at the whole of its
top edge, or at any part of it, and conducted by shoots into the elevators, con-
veyors or elsewhere.
The bottom of the filter is formed with perforated plates, grids or other suitable
arrangement, either at the bottom only, or extending as far up the sides as desir-
able, the body or shell being formed to conduct the water into a trough to convey it
where desired.
The filtering medium, may be the washed coal as it comes from the washer,
and allowed to accumulate until it overflows at the top, or of different grades of
coal, coke or suitable material, placed in layers until the angle at which the
washed coal will roll is reached, or partly of both of these systems.
Where coarse coal, such as nuts, beans and peas are passed over perforated
screens which drain them sufficiently of the water, the finer coal remaining in the
water is separated from it by being passed through the filter as described above.
The mechanical means for removing the drained coal from the top of the filter
when such an arrangement is necessary, are push plates attached to endless chains,
of the conveyor type, or push plates attached to bars actuated by cranks, archa-
median screws or other suitable devices.
This form of filter is also applicable for such materials as washed coke, sand,
phosphates and the like, which will allow the water or liquid to drain from them.

page_text: Improvements in Filters connected with Coal Washing Machinery,
and also applicable to other purposes,
We, MARY ELLIOTT, of The Elms, Coal Aston, Dronfield, Widow, and ALFRED
GEORGE ELLIOTT, also of The Elms, aforesaid, Engineer, and ARTHUR FRY, of
267, Chesterfield Road, Norton Woodseats, Sheffield, Dentist, being the Executors
named in the will of GEORGE WILLIAM ELLIOTT, deceased, late of The Elms, Coal
Aston, Dronfield, Derbyshire, Mining and Mechanical 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:-
This invention relates to the manner of separating and purifying the water used
in washing coal, fuel, minerals, and the like substances, also to the means for auto-
matically delivering such substances, said process being generally applicable to
other similar purposes.
The object of my invention is to greatly simplify process and reduce the dimen-
sions of the appliances heretofore used in this class of apparatus, and by reason
of the automatic and continuous delivery to obtain better results with economy.
The separation of the water is effected by receiving all the water and coal
direct from the coal washer spout into a special box or tank, preferably having
one open side, and constructed with a false bottom or filtering frame through
which the water may escape and be conducted where required.
The coal meanwhile accumulates in the box until the mass attains a sufficient
height that the angle formed, by reason of the open side, in relation to the base
exceeds the angle of rest, whereupon all further additions of coal or fuel tend to
the displacement of a corresponding amount which falls by gravitation and may
be further removed by mechanical means for use.
I will more particularly describe my invention by reference to the accompany-
ing drawings showing examples of some of its applications. Like letters indi-
cate like parts in all the figures.
Fig. 1 represents an elevation, half in section, of a cylindrically shaped filter
to be fixed vertically, Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a box filter adapted for
fixing obliquely where space is limited, Fig. 3 is a top view of Fig. 1. Fig. 4
represents a longitudinal section of a filter fixed horizontally having machinery
for removing or delivering excess of washed fuel.
A, is the framework or outer case of the filter proper, and may be made of any
suitable material, it is fitted or lined inside along one or more of its sides also
across the bottom with a series of grids, bars, or perforated plates B, fixed some
distance from the outer casing so as to leave a space or cavity C, to convey the
water to the discharge opening D, beneath which may be placed a spout to
convey the effluent water wherever required as is well understood.
Upon the perforated plates B, graded mineral stuff may be placed, or in most
cases the washed fuel alone may be allowed to accumulate thereon until the
vertical height of the mass causes it to assume a form having sloping sides ex-
ceeding the angle of rest for such material, whereupon all further accessions of
fuel will tend to force outwardly the base of the mass consisting of the driest
material, which will then fall away and thereafter be continuously conveyed away
by any desired means.
In like manner the water falls upon and percolates through the centre of the
mass leaving therein all the finely divided fuel, and ultimately escapes in a puri-
fied state through the perforations in B into space C by outlet D. The water W
may be collected and circulated or re-used indefinitely when desired.

page_text: The vertical form of filter Fig. 1, is to be fixed centrally below feed spout F,
at a sufficient distance for the falling fuel to assume the form of a truncated cone
or pyramid whose sides exceed the angle of rest for the material being operated
upon, and around the open top of casting A, angular projections H are formed
operating as shutes down which the obtruded fuel passes away automatically for
delivery. An open guide frame or box G, is fitted off end of spout F, centrally
over A to limit the area wherein water and fuel are permitted to fall.
When filter A is fixed obliquely as in Fig. 2, one or more of its sides may be
left perfectly open and the guide frame G be replaced by a baffle or deflecting
plate E to prevent undue spreading of contents of spout F.
With the horizontal arrangement of filter Fig. 4 it may be desirable, especially
where filter cannot be fixed low enough, to effect or assist the discharge of fuel by
mechanical means, such as for example by push plates P, attached to endless
chain Q, or such other equivalent or suitable device actuated by any convenient
means or power.
Where mixed or comparitively coarse coal is operated upon, or separation into
sizes is desired, sloping perforated screens may be interposed at a sufficient height
above filter A, and below delivery spout F, when separate automatic delivery of
graded fuel may be obtained without duplicating the filter A.
It will therefore be seen that under all circumstances continuous automatic de-
livery by separate channels will result both of fuel and of water, without manual
labour or attention also without stoppage or diversion of flow from spout F until
the original mass of fuel becomes loaded with an excess of fuel dust, (all other
impurities having been previously arrested in washing machine or spout.) and
then all that becomes necessary is to rake away such clogged fuel and proceed
as before.
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
1st. In fuel and coal washing apparatus and in appliances connected therewith
the combination and arrangement of parts described which together with the
washed fuel constitute practically a continuous action filter for the purification of
the polluted water used therewith, all substantially as described.
2nd. In a fuel and coal washing apparatus and in appliances connected there-
with the construction, combination and arrangement of parts which together with
a given quantity of washed fuel constitute practically a continuous action filter,
the method and means for automatically maintaining uniformity of the required
mass of such washed fuel, as well as for securing constant automatic delivery of all
excess quantity of such fuel, all substantially as herein described.
1000
THIS Oh tay v
ISAAC BECK, F.S.P.A.,
Agent for the Applicants,
Haymarket Chambers, 17, Haymarket, Sheffield.
ISAAC BECK, F.S.P.A.,
Agent for the Applicants,
Haymarket Chambers, 17, Haymarket, Sheffield.