Improvements in Apparatus for Washing Coal, Coke, and similar material.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Nov., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Washing Coal, Coke, and similar
material.
1, GEORGE WILLIAM ELLIOTT, of 160 Shirebrook Road, Heeley, Sheffield,
in the County of York, Mining and Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
At present the apparatus in use consists of a trough, down which the material to
be washed is carried, fixed at such an angle that the force of water applied is
sufficient to carry with it all material of the least specific gravity, the heavier
portion finding its way to the bottom of the trough. At suitable distances apart
are placed obstructions or stops across the bottom of the trough to intercept the
material which is of the greatest specific gravity, consequently finding its way to
the bottom of the trough, that portion of lighter specific gravity being carried
over the obstructions by the water and collected at the outlet of trough, the water
meanwhile being drained off.
To remove the deposits of the heavier portion of the material retained by the
obstructions in the bottom of the trough, it is found necessary to divert or entirely
stop the inlet of both water and material, and either remove the deposits by hand,
or by flushing the trough into a channel prepared for it, after the obstructions or
stops in bottom of trough have either been displaced or removed. The efficiency
of this arrangement must depend upon the skill, attention, and reliability of the
attendant, and it also requires two or more troughs to enable the operation to go
on continuously, one trough being in use, while the other one is being cleaned out.
The aim of my invention being to make the apparatus continuous and automatic
in its action, and independent of the skill, or attention of the person in charge, I
make or construct a trough having obstructions which move along the bottom of
trough in the direction of its highest end, and against the stream of water thus
carrying the deposits past the point where the whole of the material enters the
trough, and sufficiently far beyond it to allow all portions of least specific gravity
being separated from it by the water which enters the trough at a suitable distance
above and beyond the entry of material.
The obstructions still carrying the remaining deposits along the bottom of the
trough, finally delivers it at the highest end into a suitable channel or receptacle.
To enable this to be done in a continuous manner I attach the obstructions to one
or more endless chains or similar device, which run over suitable pulleys or sprocket
wheels fixed at and in the proper position in relation to the trough so that during
the time the obstructions attached to lower half length of chain are doing their
allotted work, inside the trough, the others are returning to the bottom end of
trough to continue the operation. These chains and obstructions may be actuated
by gearing or any other approved means, and can be regulated as to speed and
other requirements as may be found requisite or advantageous..
Dated this Twenty-third day of February 1892.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Washing Coal, Coke, and similar
material.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM ELLIOTT, of 160 Shirebrook Road Heeley Sheffield,
in the County of York, 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 :-
The apparatus generally in use consists of a trough or bash, down which the
material to be washed is carried fixed at such an angle that the force of water
applied is sufficient to carry with it all material of the least specific gravity, the
heavier portions finding their way to the bottom of the trough. At distances apart
are placed obstructions or stops across the bottom of the trough, to intercept the
material which is of the greatest specific gravity and which consequently finds its
way to the bottom of the trough, that portion of lesser specific gravity, namely,
coal coke and similar material being carried over the said obstructions by the water
and collected at the outlet of trough, the water being meanwhile drained off. To
remove the deposits of the heavier portions of the material retained by the
obstructions in the bottom of the trough, it is found necessary to divert or entirely
stop the inlet of both water and material and either remove the deposit by hand or
by flushing the trough into a channel prepared for it, after the obstructions or
stops have been displaced or removed. The efficiency of this arrangement must
depend upon the skill attention and reliability of the attendant and it requires two
or more troughs to enable the operation to go on continuously one trough being in
use while the other is being cleaned out.
The aim of my invention being to make the apparatus continuous and automatic
in its action, and independent of the skill and attention of the person in charge, it
will be seen how I obtain that result and its advantages by refering to the accom-
panying sheet of drawings. The same letters of reference apply to similar parts
in the various views.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved apparatus and Fig. 2, shews a series of
three troughs in plan. Fig. 3 shews the sections of material to be used in the
construction of the troughs.
It will be seen that I construct the trough A, of suitable size and fix the same
at an approved angle or incline, and having the obstructions or stops B, across the
same, but the said obstructions or stops B, travel along the bottom of the trough A,
in the direction of its highest end Z, and against the stream of water, thus carrying
the deposits past the point C, (where the whole of the material enters the trough
through the shoot C') and sufficiently far beyond to allow all portions of least
specific gravity being separated from it by the water which enters the trough at a
suitable distance D, above and beyond the entry of material.
The travelling obstructions or stops B, still carrying the remaining deposits
along the bottom of the trough A, finally delivers it at the highest end Z, into, and
through a channel or shoot E, into a suitable tank or receptacle. The material of
the lighter specific gravity having been carried down the trough A towards the
lower end Y, over the moving obstructions B, are discharged down the shoot H,
the water being previously or subsequently drained off. The supply of water can
be regulated as may be found necessary by means of the tap or valve M, and is
spread over the full width of trough A. Where the quantity of water is curtailed
in supply, or as may be found advantageous, the drainings previously mentioned can
be pumped into a tank and used over again as often as desired. When necessary
a revolving (or otherwise) and perforated barrel can be used to graduate the
material and feed the hoppers or shoots C₁. To make the apparatus continuous and
automatic I obtain that result by attaching the travelling obstructions B, to one or
more endless chains F, (or similar contrivance) which run or work over and on

page_text: suitable pulleys or sprocket wheels G, fixed at, and in the proper position at both
ends of and in relation to the trough A, so that during the time the obstructions B,
attached to lower half length of chain f, are doing their allotted work in the
trough A, the remaining obstructions B', attached to half length of chain, are
in course of return to lower end Y, to continue the operation. The whole can be
actuated by suitable gearing N, and chains N¹, or by any other approved mechanical
means, the speed being regulated to any desired extent as may be found necessary,
so that when a series of troughs are being used material of different sizes can be
then washed and operated upon at the same time.
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 use of travelling obstructions or stops moving along the bottom and
sides of the trough or bash, against the stream of water, and in the direction of its
highest end, so as to convey with them the material of greatest specific gravity
which settles at the bottom of the trough and against the before mentioned obstruc-
tions, and also delivering the said deposit at the higher end of trough, and at a
suitable distance above and beyond the point where the water discharges itself into
trough.
2nd. The use of troughs arranged with the said travelling obstructions in the
bottom of the same, and having the material to be washed admitted and fed into it
at a suitable distance below the point of entry of water, thus washing the heavier
portions of material longer before finally discharging the same down the shoot from
trough.
3rd. The use of a trough or troughs in which the water is admitted at a suitable
distance and point above that at which the whole of the material is fed or delivered
into trough or bash.
4th. The use of sections of material, rolled cast or built up (in constructing the
said troughs) as shewn and illustrated by Fig. 3 on accompanying drawing.
5th. The use and combination of the before-mentioned sections with the
travelling obstructions or stops, as generally herein described and illustrated.
6th. The use of coal (coke or other material, washing apparatus, having travel-
ling obstructions or stops, actuated by one or more endless chains, or similar device
and constructed and arranged generally as herein described and illustrated on the
accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this Twenty-first day of November 1892.