AN IMPROVED COAL WASHING AND SEPARATING OR SORTING MACHINE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
-
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "AN IMPROVED COAL WASHING AND SEPARATING OR SORTING MACHINE."
A communication from abroad by Cl. Jouffray and J. Chevalier, both of
Vienne, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th July 1881.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED COAL WASHING AND SEPARATING
OR SORTING MACHINE." [A communication from abroad by Cl. Jouffray and
J. Chevalier, both of Vienne, France.] .
This Invention relates to an apparatus for washing or cleansing impure coal, and
for separating the same mathematically or regularly into four parts, that is to say,
schist or schist-dust, which is of no value, rough or coarse coal, which is inferior,
but which can nevertheless be used, pure coal, and coal-dust.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a circular hopper, which
terminates at its lower part in a distributor of well known form, consisting of a
ribbed plate, to which slow movement is imparted. The coal reduced by ordinary
means to pieces of suitable size is introduced within this hopper, and being distri-
buted arrives in a conductor which at the top is in the form of a hopper, but is
lower down of a rectangular shape in transverse section. Its lower end in commu-
nication with the washing or cleansing frame is of a width equal to that of the
said frame. The coal in its descent strikes against one or several plates projecting
from the upper side of the conductor or chute, which plates compel it to spread
out, this being more fully effected by a vertical side at the lower end.
From the said conductor or chute the coal falls into the washing or cleaning
apparatus properly so called. This apparatus comprises a large vat of cast iron
divided into compartments, and constructed in one piece or in several pieces, as
may be desired.
There are two washing frames, each having a shaking piston.
There is also a series of compartments, in which by reason of the action of the
Du CII

page_text: pistons a regular or methodical circulation of the material to be sorted or separated
and of the water takes place.
These compartments form four groups, which I will designate by the figures
1, 2, 3, 4.
The number of groups obviously corresponds to the number of qualities to be
classified or separated, and in the lowest compartment of each group a chain of
buckets extracts the produce.
The bottom of the washing vat or tank is formed by a cast iron frame covered
with a sheet of wire gauze or of perforated sheet metal. Between the first and the
second washing frame there is an inclined barrier, which is always submerged
when the apparatus is in operation. The front part of this barrier is open, and
before this vertical opening is a sluice or slide, and the extent to which this slide is
raised is regulated in the usual manner by means of a lever working in a segmental
frame. Through this slide the schist will pass. The slide when opened to its full
extent must not pass beyond a stop which is provided on the apparatus.
In front of and above the barrier there are three guides or pieces which are
made of wood, and bolted upon shoulders or projections on the cast frame.
This arrangement of parts is repeated beyond the second washing frame, but the
upper stop of the second barrier is somewhat lower than the lower one of the first
barrier.
Between the third compartment and the group 4 there is a slide capable of being
regulated by hand; moreover the group 4 can be placed in communication with
the groups 1 and 2 by valves provided for the purpose.
The two pistons are driven by a single shaft supported by the apparatus itself in
bearings of the most convenient shape. The motion, received by means of a
pulley, is transmitted to the pistons by cams, which have a sudden drop or fall.
The stroke may be diminished by interposing in the usual manner elastic washers
between the shoulder of the piston rod and the supporting guide of said rod.
Supposing the apparatus to be full of water and the pistons to be in motion
and coal to be introduced regularly into the spout, as soon as the coal settles on
the first frame the mass will be lifted at each stroke of the piston, and will then
fall back and tend to separate into layers of progressive density, as in other
apparatus. It will then suffice to open the slide proportionally to the quantity of
schist to be separated to allow the latter to be drawn off.
At the same time as the schist-fragments fall the schist dust will fall through
the frame and will settle at the bottom of the compartment, and when this material
has collected to a sufficient thickness it is taken by a screw conveyor mounted on
the shaft carrying the first chain of buckets and is conducted to the latter, which
will remove it. From this moment the lower compartments of the group No. 1
-will-serve continuously-for-the-passing.and the removal of the schist and schist dust,
and if the slide is properly regulated the separation of these materials from the
coal will he effected in a mathematical or regular manner. What group 1 effects
for the schist group 2 will effect in identically the same manner for the inferior
coal, either in fragments or dust. The arrangement of the group is the same, with
the exception of the difference in the level between the two barriers and the
difference in the size of the frame and piston, which are of smaller surface, and it
is therefore possible to actuate the second piston by means of a single rod, whilst
the first piston has two rods.
The second vat effects the separation of the inferior coal in the same manner as
the first one effects that of the schists. The inferior coal in fragments falls
through the slide in front of the chain of buckets; the dust of the same density
passes through the layer of this coal, and falls into the lower compartment. . A
screw conveyor carries it to the chain of buckets for the inferior coal in the same
manner as the schist is dealt with.
The pure coal mixed with dust reaches the third compartment, whence it is
elevated by a chain of buckets.
To facilitate the regulating of the slide in each of the washing frames I employ

page_text: This
a device or gauge of special form constructed as follows, that is to say:-I provide
a rod passing through the centre of a supporting box, in which it is held so as to
move very freely between two series of rollers placed one above the other.
rod terminates in an enlargement, and is provided with a scale or with a very
light index or pointer arranged to move over a graduated scale. In making the
rod of a determined weight proportionate to the density of the layers to be
separated, and which experience soon demonstrates, I ensure the, enlargement being
exactly on the plane where the separation of the two layers takes place..
The attendant has only to read the height to which the device projects to know
accurately the height of the schist bed and that of the bed of inferior coal in the
fraine.
From the third compartment the water charged with dust passes to the group
No. 4, and passing under the chambers of the two first chains of buckets reaches
two valves, which allow it at each exhaust stroke of the piston to return under
the piston; there is therefore a complete circuit.
The dimensions of the apparatus are such that the group No. 4 acts as a depositing
basin, and the dust can be removed therefrom by chain buckets.
The only
precaution to be taken is to give to this chain a very slow movement, so that the
deposit may take place in comparatively calm water.
The provision of the second washing tank and of the means employed for ensuring
its proper working forms one of the chief novel features of this apparatus.
The carrying forward of the coal to the platforin between the first and second
tanks and the compartment number 3 is ensured by the return of the washing
water to the pistons by the valves and the regulating slides.
When the pistons rise suction takes place under the frame, and the valves in the
chamber 4 are operated upon at the same time.
The layers of coal and of schist acting to close up or clog the frame, the effect of
such suction is produced more particularly when the return stroke takes place.
In consequence thereof the level in the compartment 4 is disturbed, and a super-
ficial current is created, which regularly flows from the frame to the chamber 4 to
end at the valves. This current meets the three guides, and each of these offering
a particular resistance a basin is produced between two guides in which the
water stands lower than in front and higher than in the rear. This produces a
series of steps, and the flow from one to the other takes place with force, the coal
being thus carried away under the guides.
If a greater number of qualities of material is to be separated the same apparatus
can be used by increasing its length and by adding one or more groups, consisting
like those numbered 1 and 2 of a frame, a piston with a return valve for the water
a screw for the dust, and a chain of buckets.
In all cases the same principle would be applied under the same conditions, and
would produce the sorting or separation in the same manner.
Likewise in all cases the quantity of water required for washing would be
reduced to a minimum, as it is sufficient to supply to the tank that quantity of
water carried away by the wet material which is removed.
The general tank may be of different dimensions and form; the relative position
of the parts may be varied, and the same results would be attained by applying
the same principle, viz. :-
The passing of the material to be treated over two or more successive frames
with pistons, the water returning to each piston through a depositing chamber.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th January 1882.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED COAL WASHING AND SEPARATING
OR SORTING MACHINE." A communication from abroad by Cl. Jouffray and
J. Chevalier, both of Vienne, France.
This Invention relates to an apparatus for washing or cleansing impure coal, and
for separating the same mathematically or regularly into four parts, that is to say,
schist or schist-dust, which is of no value, rough or coarse coal which is inferior,
but which can nevertheless be used, pure coal, and coal dust.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a circular hopper A, Figure 1,
which terminates at its lower part in a distributor of well known form, consisting
of a ribbed plate to which a slow movement is imparted.
The coal reduced by ordinary means to pieces of suitable size is introduced
within this hopper, and is distributed into a conductor B, which at the top is in the
form of a hopper, but lower down is of a rectangular shape in transverse section.
Its lower end in communication with the washing or cleansing frame is of a width
equal to that of the said frame. The coal in its descent strikes against one or
several plates b projecting from the upper side of the conductor or chute, which
plates compel it to spread out, this being more fully effected by the vertical side b
at the lower end.
From the conductor or chute B the coal falls into the washing or cleansing
apparatus properly so called. This apparatus comprises a large vat of cast iron
divided into compartments, and constructed in one piece or in several pieces, as
may be desired. It consists substantially of two washing frames C and C¹, each
having a shaking piston P and P¹, and also of a series of compartments, in which
by reason of the action of the pistons a regular or methodical circulation of the
material to be sorted or separated and of the water takes place.
These compartments form four groups, designated on the Drawings by the
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, those compartments which are at all times in communication
with one another being designated by the same Figure.
· The number of groups obviously corresponds to the number of qualities-to-be-
classified or separated, and from the lowest compartment of each group a chain of
buckets extracts the produce.
The bottom of the washing tank or vat is formed by a cast iron frame covered
with a sheet of wire gauze or of perforated sheet metal. Between the first and the
second washing frame there is a kind of barrier with an inclined top, which is
always submerged when the apparatus is in operation; the front part of this
barrier is open at c, and before this vertical opening is a sluice valve, the extent to
which the said sluice valve is raised being regulated in the usual manner by means
of a lever and quadrant. Through this sluice valve the schist will pass. The sluice
valve when opened to its full extent must not pass beyond a stop d.
In front of and above this barrier there are three sliding pieces e, f, g, which
are made of wood and bolted upon brackets projecting from the side of the cast
frame.
This arrangement of parts is repeated beyond the second washing frame, but the
upper stop of the second barrier is somewhat lower than the lower one of the
first barriers.

page_text: Between the third compartment and the group 4 there is a sluice valve V
capable of being regulated by hand; moreover the group 4 can be placed in
coinmunication with the groups 1 and 2 by flap valves provided for the purpose,
and shewn in section below the piston (Figure 3).
The two pistons are driven by a single shaft supported by the apparatus itself in
bearings of the most convenient shape. The motion, received by means of a pulley,
is transmitted to the pistons by cams, which have a sudden drop or fall. The
stroke may be diminished by interposing in the usual manner elastic washers
between the shoulder of the piston rod and the supporting guide of said rod. The
detail construction of this part does not influence the operation of the apparatus,
and may be varied at will. The same is the case with the gearing of the chains of
buckets, which will ordinarily be suspended from the roof of the shed or building
in which the apparatus is placed, and will consequently depend upon the
construction of such building. The same observation applies to the hopper.
Supposing the apparatus to be full of water and the pistons in motion, and coal
to be introduced regularly into the spout, as soon as the coal settles on the first
frame C, the mass will be lifted at each down stroke of the piston, and will then
fall back and tend to separate into layers of progressive density, as in other
apparatus. It will then suffice to open the sluice valve proportionately to the
quantity of schist to be separated to allow the latter to be drawn off.
At the same time as the schist fragments fall the schist dust will fall through
the frame and will settle at the bottom of the compartiment, and when this
material has collected to a sufficient thickness, it is taken by a screw conveyer
mounted on the shaft carrying the first chain of buckets and is conducted to the
latter, which will then remove it. From this moment the lower compartments of
the group No. 1 will serve continuously for the passing and removal of the schist
and schist dust, and if the sluice valve is properly regulated, the separation of those
materials from the coal will be effected in a mathematical or regular manner.
What group No. 1 effects for the schist group No. 2 will effect in identically the
same manner for the inferior coal, either in fragments or dust. The arrangement
of the group is the same with the exception of the difference in level between the
two barriers, and the difference in the size of the frame and piston, which are of
smaller surface, and it is therefore possible to actuate the second piston by means
of a single rod, whilst the first piston has two rods.
The second vat effects the separation of the inferior coal in the same manner as
the first one effects that of the schist. The inferior coal in fragments falls through
the sluice valve in front of the chain of buckets; the dust of the same density
passes through the layer of this coal and falls into the lower compartment. A screw
conveyor carries it to the chain of buckets for the inferior coal in the same manner
as the schist dust is dealt with.
The pure coal mixed with dust reaches the third compartment, whence it is
elevated by a chain of buckets.
To facilitate the regulation of the sluice valve in each of the washing frames I
employ a device or guage of special form represented separately in Figure 5, and
constructed as follows, that is to say:-I provide a rod passing through the centre
of a supporting box, in which it is held so as to move very freely between two
series of rollers placed one above the other. This rod terminates at its lower end
in an enlargement, and is provided with a very light index or pointer arranged
to move over a graduated scale. By making the rod of a weight determined
according to the density of the layers to be separated, and which experience soon
demonstrates, I ensure the enlargement being exactly on the plane where the
separation of the two layers takes place. The attendant has only to read the
height to which the guage rises to know accurately the height of the schist bed
and that of the bed of inferior coal in the frame.
From the third compartment the water charged with dust passes to the group
No. 4, and passing under the chambers of the two first chains of buckets reaches

page_text: two valves which allow it at each exhaust stroke of the pistons to return under
the pistons; there is therefore a complete circuit.
The dimensions of the apparatus are such that the group No. 4 acts as a
depositing basin, and the dust can be removed therefrom by a chain of buckets.
The only precaution to be taken is to give to this chain a very slow movement, so
that the deposit may take place in comparatively calm water.
The provision of the second washing tank and of the means employed
for ensuring its proper working forms one of the chief novel features of this
apparatus.
The carrying forward of the coal to the platform between the first and second
tanks and the compartment No. 3 is ensured by the return of the washing water
to the pistons through the flap-valves and the provision of the regulating
slides e, f, g. When the pistons rise suction takes place under the frame and the
valves in the chamber No. 4 are operated upon at the same time. The layers of
coal and of schist tending to close up or clog the frame, the effect of such suction
is chiefly produced on the return of the water.
The result is a lowering of the level in the compartment No. 4 and a superficial
current is created which regularly flows from the frame to the chamber No. 4 and
through the valves, as shewn by the arrows in Figure 2. This current meets the
three slides e, f, g, and each of these offering a certain resistance a basin is
produced between two slides in which the level of the water is lower at the end
from which it is flowing than at the slide beneath which it is to pass. This produces
a series of steps, and the flow from one to the other takes place with force, the
coal being thus carried away under the slides.
The Drawing shews three slides for each passage, one in front, one on the top
of the barrier, and one almost in the middle of the inclined platform, but it must
be understood that this arrangement only illustrates the principle, and that
according to the density of the material to be treated a more or less energetic
suction from one tank to the. other may be obtained by varying three elements,
viz. The suction by the piston by altering the stroke and the size of the valves,
the incline of the platform of the passage, and the number and height of the
slides.
If a greater number of qualities of material is to be separated the same apparatus
can be used by increasing its length and by adding one or more groups, consisting
.like those numbered 1 and 2 of a frame, a piston with a return valve for the
water, a screw conveyor for the dust, and a chain of buckets. In all cases the
same principle would be applied under the same conditions, and would produce
the sorting or separation in the same manner. And in all cases the quantity of
water required for washing would be reduced to a minimum, as it is only necessary
to supply to the tank that quantity-of-water-carried away_by_the_wet_material
which is removed.
The general tank may be of different dimensions and form; the relative position
of the parts may be varied, and still the same result be attained by applying the
same principle, viz. The passing of the material to be treated over two or more
successive frames with pistons, the water returning to each piston through a
depositing chamber.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim, -
First. Apparatus for washing or cleansing impure coal and separating the same
arranged, constructed, and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and
shewn in the accompanying Drawing.
Second. The application to existing apparatus for washing or cleansing coal of
one or more additional washing frames with pistons, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Third. The use of the slides or sluice valves and the sounding rods or gauges

page_text: working between friction rollers, substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn
in the accompanying Drawing for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my
. hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
HENRY H. LAKE. (L.S.)