Improvements in Apparatus for Concentrating or Separating the Heavier Constituents of Pulverised Ores or the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 15th July, 1892-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Concentrating or Separating the
Heavier Constituents of Pulverised Ores or the like.
A communication from PETER FERGUSON, residing at Waiorongomai, New
Zealand, Mining Engineer.
I, DUNCAN FERGUSON, of Annfield Villa, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, Coal Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows, that is to say:
This invention has for its object by improved, simple, and durable apparatus to
effect in rapid, efficient, and economical manner, the concentration or separation
of the heavier constituents of pulverised ores or the like.
The improved apparatus comprises a feeding hopper into which the pulverised
materials are charged and from the bottom of which they are dropped in a regulated
stream by means of a fluted roller or other suitable device. Below the feeding
hopper a strong regulated blast of air is directed upon the falling materials in a
horizontal or more or less 'inclined direction, and in the course of the blast a
number of deflecting plates are adjusted at suitable inclinations to break up the
currents and assist the separating action. Below the space in which the blast acts
there is arranged a large receptacle which is divided by partitions into two or more
open-topped compartments. The first receiving compartment is directly under the
feeding hopper and receives the heavier constituents of the pulverised materials;
and the upper part of the partition between it and the second compartment may be
made adjustable so that more or less of the stream of materials may be directed
into the first compartment. The remainder of the receptacle may be divided into
two or more compartments the lighter grades of the materials going into the
further compartments. At the bottom of the receptacle arrangements may be made
for delivering the separated materials into wagons or trucks.
Dated this Twenty-second day of October 1891.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Concentrating or Separating the
Heavier Constituents of Pulverised Ores or the like.
A communication from PETER FERGUSON, residing at Waiorongami, New
Zealand, Mining Engineer.
I, DUNCAN FERGUSON, of Annfield Villa, Barrhead in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, Coal Merchant 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, that is to say :-
This invention has for its object by improved, simple and durable apparatus to
effect in a rapid, efficient, and economical manner, the concentration or separation
of the heavier constituents of pulverised ores or the like.
And in order that the said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood, I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings showing
a simple modification of the improved apparatus.
Figure, 1, of the drawings is a longitudinal vertical section and Figure, 2, is a

page_text: transverse vertical section of the apparatus, which may be constructed wholly or
partly of wood or other suitable material or materials.
In these drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
The pulverised materials to be concentrated, are charged into a feeding hopper, A,
and fall through an adjustable door, on to a grooved roller, B, which is arranged
to work in bearings at the bottom of the hopper. The roller is driven by belt or
other suitable gearing, and in rotating throws the materials into a large receptacle
or encased chamber, C, below the feeding hopper and extending horizontally beyond
it. Instead of the grooved roller any other suitable feeding device may be
employed. A strong blast of air, from a fan or other blowing apparatus, is led by
a pipe, D, into the chamber, C, below the feeding hopper, A, and is directed upon
the falling materials, a damper, E, being provided in the pipe for regulating the
blast. A number of deflecting plates, F, are fixed at suitable inclinations, in the
course of the blast for the purpose of breaking up the air currents and assisting
the separating action. The chamber, C, extends over an encased space which is
divided by partitions into five or more open topped compartments, G, H, I, J, K.
The first compartment, G, is directly under the feeding hopper, A, and receives
the heaviest constituents of the pulverised materials. The upper part of the
partition between it and the second compartment, H, is made adjustable by being
hinged at, L, and by means of weighted cords, M, N, which are attached to it, it
can be shifted to either side so that more or less of the stream of materials may be
directed into the first compartment. The remaining compartments receive the
lighter grades of the materials, the lightest grade falling into the farthest com-
partment, K. At the bottom of the various compartments which are made with
one side inclined adjustable doors are arranged for delivering the separated materials
into wagons or trucks, O.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved apparatus
for concentrating or separating the heavier constituents of pulverised ores or the
like, and comprising a feeder dropping a regulated stream of pulverised materials
across a blast of air, deflecting plates for breaking up the currents, and a series of
compartments for receiving separately the materials which drop at different distances
from the entrance substantially as herein before described.
Dated this Fourteenth day of July 1892.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.