Improvements in the Separation and Concentration of Minerals and other like Materials, and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Apr., 1895-Accepted, 15th June, 1895
PROVISIONAL ELEVATIO
Improvements in the Separation and Concentration of Minerals and
other like Materials, and in Apparatus therefor.
I, WILLIAM SCOTT, of Bovegno, Province of Brescia, Italy, Civil Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved method of
separating and concentrating minerals and other like materials which are in a
mixed condition, or mixed with other matter such for instance as a mixture of
galena, blende, and "gangue" in cases where the specific gravity of the various
substances vary considerably, and the construction of new or improved appliances
or machinery to be used for said purpose, which will enable such minerals or
substances in a broken or granulated state to be separated in a more perfect and
convenient manner than by the methods previously employed.
According to the improvements of this invention the separation is effected by
forcing a current of air up through!spaces or openings down which all the mixed
matter would otherwise be free to fall, the strength of the current of air being
so arranged that while the heaviest particles by their gravity would overcome
the force of the air and pass down, the lighter particles would be prevented by the
impact of the current of air from falling down, and the improved apparatus or
machine would be constructed as will be described.
"
"blende'
"
n
For treating a mixed mass of material say of "galena" or lead ore,
or zinc orc, and "gangue or refuse matter such as these ores may be found in
combination or admixture with, after same have been crushed into a granulated
but not pulverised condition by ordinary means, and separating and concentrating the
galena, the blende, and the gang each by themselves, the following construction and
arrangement of appliances would preferably be employed. The separating appliances
would be carried on a strong vertical frame, rectangular in form, and consisting of
stout posts or standards securely bound and stayed together by crossbars at
both sides and ends, and which may be constructed of wood or metal or
combination of those materials. For effecting the operation being described a
number, preferably eight divided into two sets of four each, of pneumatic separators
would be carried on the frame, each set of four in vertical line one above the
other. These pneumatic separators would be constructed in two main parts
connected together by a species of bellows body or sleeve composed of leather or
other flexible material. The upper portion or separating frame would consist
of a three sided tray shaped frame having a bottom with numerous openings for
the passage of the materials downwards, and these openings might be of various
forms such as perforations in a plate, but would preferably be formed by a number
of thick wooden bars or it might be metal bars of some depth secured in a diagonal
or angled position between the side bars of this separating frame in such a manner
that narrow sloping openings would be left between them, and while the bottom
edges of these bars might be so cut as to be all in the same horizontal line the
upper edges would be cut so as to form steps, each sloping downwards from the
back to the front of the frame. The lower portion of the pneumatic separator
would be of hopper shape, the back vertical end extending to the bottom and the
other front vertical end being much shorter. A curved metal plate would be
carried from the short front vertical end down to a level with the longer back end,

page_text: and be secured to the sides of the hopper; the small space between the edge of
said plate and the back end forming the delivery outlet for the separated material.
This lower hopper part would be secured to the frame of the apparatus while the
upper separating frame would be adjustably suspended in the manner to he
described, the two parts being connected by a bellows body formed of leather or
other flexible material so as to allow of a certain amount of lateral and vertical
movement of the separating frame. An opening would be formed in the back end
of each hopper part for the admission of the current of pressure air led by suitable
pipes from any convenient blower or air compressor and within the hopper and in
front of this opening angled vanes or webs would be extended across the hopper to
distribute the current of air equally over the lower side of the separating frame.
These pneumatic separators four in each set, as stated, would be mounted on the
main frame one above the other, the hopper part being secured to the main frame
and the separating frame part being suspended from brackets or projections on the
main frame by links one for each corner. These links would be suspended from
short rods passing up through the brackets which rods would be screwed and nuts
formed as worm wheels would turn on the screwed part and bear on the bracket.
A rod passing across and carried in bearings on the main frame and actuated by a
hand wheel at one end, would be fitted with two worm screws, so that each of the
pairs of worm wheels from which the back and front respectively of each
separating frame was suspended could be turned simultaneously to regulate the
relative heights of the front and back of the separating frames, and so set the
frames at the most suitable slope for the best action of the apparatus. Each
separating frame of the pneumatic separators would be fitted across its front end
with a trough or box open at the one end, the top of this trough being on a level
with the upper part of the bottom framing, and this trough or box would have
fitted on it as a cover a perforated metal plate or sieve beyond which a downwardly
curved plate would project. These separating frames would each be connected by
links or otherwise to levers at one side of the main frame actuated by vertical
oscillating shafts or other mechanism to give a lateral reciprocating motion to each
separating frame in order to keep the materials placed thereon in a state of
agitation and in metien towards the front.
The two series of pneumatic separators being secured as described to the main
frames and the air pipes connected to each hopper part, a hopper provided with a
door adjustable by a screw to regulate the passage of the materials would be
mounted above each series, and another hopper might be mounted above each of
these to one side, in the path of the elevator, to receive and convey to the first
mentioned hopper the material to be separated.
The material consisting in this case of mixed galena, blende, and gangue being
conveyed from the crushing mills by any convenient conveying apparatus to the
hopper above the first series, would be allowed to fall in a regulated stream upon
the back part of the upper separator. This separator being reciprocated in the
manner described the material would traverse the bottom of the frame over the
openings towards its front, and the strength of the current of air being properly
adjusted nearly all but the heavy galena would be prevented passing down through
the openings, and would pass over the perforated plate in front when all the finer
particles would fall through into the trough from the open end of which they
would flow down a pipe or duct into a hopper at the bottom of the machine whence
they would be conveyed by an elevator to the upper hopper of another machine of
the same kind but having the pressure of air and the separators specially adapted
for dealing with the more minutely divided materials. The grosser particles
consisting of blende and gangue would fall over the curved plate in front of the
separating frame into a shoot which would deliver them into a hopper whence they
would be conveyed to the upper hopper of the second series of pneumatic separators
where the blende and gangue would be fiually separated. The material passing
through the openings of the first separator would fall from its lower hopper part
on to the second separator where the same process would be repeated. Such

page_text: materials as would pass through the second separator would fall on the third, and
from the third to the fourth, but these last two separators would deliver the blende
and any galena remaining into a hopper at the side of the machine opposite to the
first two, from which it would be conveyed by a bucket elevator back to the upper
hopper of the same series. The mixed blende and gangue conveyed to the other
series of four separators would be treated in each separator of the series so that
the blende would be separated from the gangue. By this process the galena would
be delivered at the bottom of the first series, the blende at the bottom of the
second series, and the gangue or refuse passed to one side. The hoppers supplying
the mixed materials to the upper separators would be fitted with a revolving roller
at the bottom to regulate the discharge of the material therefrom, and the whole
apparatus would have a covering hood whence all dust would be drawn by a
suction fan.
Though a machine consisting of two series of four separators has been described
it will be evident that the number of series and the number of separators in each
series is capable of variation to suit the particular ores or materials being treated,
so that while for a mixture of only one ore and refuse one series of pneumatic
separators would be sufficient for other ores or materials of a more complex nature
three or more series of separators might be required, and the number of separators
in each series might be increased; also that by varying the passages of the
separators and the force of the air current other materials than the particular ores
for which the machine described is specially adapted could be treated in the same
or an equivalent manner. The construction of the machine as described is also
capable of considerable modification while retaining as the main essential feature
of the invention the pneumatic separator.
Dated the and I.... 1001
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
Improvements in the Separation and Concentration of Minerals and
other like Materials, and in Apparatus therefor.
1, WILLIAM SCOTT, of Bovegno, Province of Brescia, Italy, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of iny invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being made to the accompanying sheet of drawings
and to the letters and figures marked thereon:—
My invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved method of
separating and concentrating minerals and other like materials which are in a mixed
condition, or mixed with other matter, such for instance as a mixture of "galena,"
"blende" and "gangue," in cases where the specific gravity of the various
substances vary considerably, and the construction of new or improved appliances
or machinery to be used for said purpose, which will enable such minerals or
substances in a broken or granulated state to be separated in a more perfect, and
convenient manner than by the methods previously employed.
According to the improvements of my invention, the separation is effected by
forcing a current of air up between and over the surfaces of inclined bars, or other
openings formed in an appliance, hereinafter called a pneumatic separator, down
between which bars all the mixed matter otherwise be free to fall, the strength of
the current of air being so arranged that while the heaviest particles by their
gravity, and by a horizontal vibration imparted to them, would overcome the force.
of the air and pass down, the lighter particles would be prevented by the impact of
the current of air from falling down through the openings. The improved apparatus

page_text: or, machine consists of a combination of these pneumatic separators, hoppers, and
elevators fitted and actuated all as will be described.
In order that my said invention may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended a sheet of explanatory drawings in which the same reference letters are
used to indicate the same or equivalent parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 is a plan of the upper part of the machine showing the hoppers, and
Figure 2 is an elevation partly in section taken on the line 1-1 on Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a diagram side view showing the hoppers and elevators.
Figure is a sectional elevation showing the arrangement of the pneumatic
separators, and Figure 5 is a plan view taken on the line 2-2 on Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of one of the pneumatic separators and Figure 7.
is a plan of same.
Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of a pneumatic separator slightly modified in
detail from that shown in Figures 6 and 7.
""
"
Referring to these drawings, which show the construction and arrangement of
the appliances which are preferably employed for treating a mixed mass of material,
say of "galena or lead ore,
" blende or zinc ore and "gangue or refuse
matter, such as these ores are frequently found combined or mixed with in Nature,
after same have been crushed into or granulated condition by ordinary means, such
as crushing mills, and for separating and concentrating the "galena," the "blende,"
and the gangue each by themselves, the following is a description of said
appliances.
"
The separating appliances are carried on a strong vertical frame, preferably
rectangular in form, and consisting of stout posts or standards A securely bound
and stayed together by cross bars A' at both ends and sides, and which may be
constructed of wood or metal or a combination of these materials. For effecting
the operation being described a number, preferably eight, divided into two sets or
series of four each, of pneumatic separators B, as shown in Figure 4, are carried ou
the frame A. A', each set of four in vertical line with one another. These
pneumatic separators B, as shown to an enlarged scale in Figures 6, 7 and 8, are
constructed in two main parts B1, B3 connected together by a flexible junction or
bellows body B³ composed of leather or other suitable material. The upper portion
or separating frame B¹ consists of a tray shaped frame enclosed on three sides by a
rim and having a bottom with numerous openings for the passage of the materials
downwards. These openings might be of various forms such as perforations in a
plate, but are preferably formed as shown by a number of wooden bars B, or it
might be metal bars, of some depth secured in a diagonal or angled position between
the side bars of the separating frame B', and which may be made adjustable, in
such a manner that narrow sloping openings are left between them, and while the
bottom edges of these bars B' are so cut as to be all in the same horizontal line the
upper edges are cut so as to form steps ench sloping downwards from the back to
the front of the frame B', or they may be rounded at top as shown in Figure 8.
The lower portion B2 of the pneumatic separator is of hopper shape, the back
vertical end B extending to the bottom, and the front end B heing much shorter.
A metal plate is carried from the front end B° down to a level with the lower
edge of the back end B and is secured to the sides of the hopper; the small space
between the edge of said plate and the back end B' forming the delivery outlet,
which may be made adjustable, for the separated material. This lower hopper
part B is secured to the main frame A A' of the apparatus, while the upper
separating frame B' is adjustably suspended in the manner to be described, the
two parts B', B, being connected by the bellows body or sleeve B so as to allow
of a certain amount of lateral and vertical movement of the upper separating
frame B'.
An opening is formed in the back end B5 of each hopper part B for the admission
of a current of pressure air led by pipes C, fitted with regulating butterfly valves C
or, other valves, from any convenient blower or air compressor and within the hopper
and in front of this opening angled or curved vanes or webs C³ are extended across

page_text: the hopper B³ to distribute the current of air equally over the lower side of the
separating frame B'. These pneumatic separators B, four in each series as state,
are mounted on the main frame A, A, one above the other, the hopper part 13*
being secured to the main frame and the separating frame part B being sus
pended from brackets D or projections on the main frame by links D' one for
each corner. These links D' are suspended from short rods D passing up through
the brackets D which rods D2 are screwed and nuts D³ formed as worm wheels turn
on the screwed part and bear on the bracket D. A rod E carried in bearings on the
main frame A, A', and actuated by a hand wheel E, at one end, is fitted with two
worm screws E engaging with the worn wheels D³ so that each of the pairs of
these from which the back and front respectively of each separating frame is
suspended can be turned simultaneously to regulate the relative heights of the back
and front of each separating frame B to the most suitable slope for the best
action of the separator. Each separating frame B' of the pneumatic separators B
is fitted across its front end with a trough or box open at the one end, the top
of this trough being on a level with the upper part of the bottom framing and has
fitted on it as a cover a perforated metal plate or a sieve beyond which a
downwardly curved plate 63 projects. These separating frames B' are each connected
by links F, or otherwise, to levers F' at one side of the main frame actuated by
vertical oscillating shafts or other mechanism to give a lateral vibrating motion to
each separating frame B in order to keep the materials placed thereon in a state of
agitation and in motion towards the front.
b
The two series of pneumatic separators B being secured in position as described,.
a hopper G, provided with a door G adjustable by a screw G to regulate the
passage of the minerals, and a distributing roller G, is mounted above the first series,
and another hopper G is mounted above the hopper G to one side in the path of
the elevator I, or other elevator or conveyor employed, to receive and convey to the
first mentioned hopper G the minerals to be separated. The second series of
separators are provided with hoppers H and H and fittings H', H³, H³, all in a
similar manner to the first series.
"
The materials consisting in this case of mixed "galena," "blende" and
gangue" being conveyed from the crushing mills by any ordinary conveying
apparatus, not shown in the drawings, to the hopper above the first series, is allowed
to fall in a regulated stream upon the back part of the upper separator.
This
separator being reciprocated as described the materials are caused to traverse the
bottom of the frame over the openings towards its front, and the strength of the
current of air being properly adjusted, nearly all, but the heavy galena," is
prevented from passing down through the openings and travels over the sieve in
front when all the finer particles fall through into the trough from the open end of
which they flow down a pipe or duct J into a hopper K at the bottom of the
inachine whence they are conveyed by an elevator L to the upper hopper of
another machine of the same kind but having the pressure of the air and the
separators specially adapted for dealing with the more minutely divided materials.
The quantity of fine particles from the second series being small can be allowed to
fall into a box for occasional removal to the second machine. The grosser particles.
consisting of "blende" and "gangue" fall over the curved plate in front of the
separating frame from the first two of the first series of separators into shoots M
which deliver them into a hopper N whence they are conveyed to the upper hopper
of the second series of separators, by an elevator O, in which series the "blende'
and "gangue
are finally separated. The materials passing through the openings
of the first separator fall on to the second and so on to the lowest separator, but
the last two deliver the "blende" and any "galena" remaining by shoots P into
a hopper Q whence it is conveyed by the bucket elevator I back to the bopper of
the same series. The mixed blende" and "gangue" conveyed to the second
series is treated in each separator of the series so that the "blende" is separated
from the gangue." By this process the "galena" is delivered at the bottom of
the first series, the "blende" at the bottom of the second series, and the gangue
"

page_text: or refuse passed to one side. The various elevators are actuated, by transmitted
motive power, from the upper part of the machine, and the whole may be covered in
and any dust be drawn away from the interior by a suction fan, but this is not an
essential feature of my invention.
Though a machine consisting of two series of four separators has been described
it will be evident that the number of series and the number of separators in each
series, is capable of variation to suit the particular ores or materials being treated,
so that while for a mixture of only one ore and refuse one series of pneumatic
separators will be sufficient, for other ores or materials of a more complex nature,
three or more series of separators might be required, and the number of separators
in each series might be increased; also that by varying the passages of the
separators and the force of the air current other materials than the particular ores
for which the machine described is specially adapted could be treated in the same
or an equivalent manner. The construction of the machine as described is also capable
of considerable modification while retaining, as the main essential feature of the
invention, the pneumatic separator.
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.
First. A machine for separating and concentrating minerals or other like
materials of varied specific gravity, in a granulated state, constructed and arranged
all substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Second. In a machine for separating and concentrating minerals or other like
materials of varied specific gravity, in a granulated state, the combination com-
prising one or more series of the pneumatic separators described, air pressure
pipes, hoppers, elevatore, and regulating and actuating devices all substantially as
herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Third. For use in a machine for separating and concentrating minerals or other
like materials of varied specific gravity in a granulated state, the construction of
a pneumatic separator consisting of an upper movable part connected by a flexible
junction or bellows body to a lower fixed hopper and air chamber part all
substantially as herein described and shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8 of the
accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In a machine for separating and concentrating minerals or other like
materials of varied specific gravity in a granulated state the combination comprising
a pneumatic separator of the class described with suspending, height adjusting, and
actuating devices, all substantially as herein described and shown in Figures 4
to 8 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. The construction of a pneumatic separator of the class described fitted
with a sieve covered trough or box all substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 4 to 8 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated the 2nd Anril 1895
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.