Improvements in Apparatus for Washing or Leaching Granular Substances and Separating the same from the Liquids Used.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 19th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 10th Apr., 1897
Improvements in Apparatus for Washing or Leaching Granular
Substances and Separating the same from the Liquids Used.
I, ROBERT MOODIE of 41, Alkham Road, Stoke Newington, London, N.
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the providing of a simple and efficient means
of washing granular substances with water or other suitable liquid and relates
more especially to processes where the liquid is enriched by contact with the solids
to which the enriching substance adheres.
Referring to the drawing-it consists of a tank A with a tapered or curved
bottom and an internal flange near the top, into which the substances to be treated
are put. In this tank a vertical stirrer or circulator B rotates.
Two tanks C and D are placed at the side near the top of the tank A. A passage
between A and C is closed or opened by the deflecting plate or valve E in the
rim of the tank A. A small receiver F between C and D has two openings in the
bottom, one of which communicates with the lower part of the tank A and the other
with the tank D, either of which openings can be closed by the plug G. The
tank C is open to the receiver F by an opening in the side at H.
I will now proceed to explain the method of working this invention. The
liquid and solids in proper proportion being put into the tank A preferably about
half full, the deflecting plate E is lowered to close the aperture in the rim I. The
stirrer B being rotated causes the liquid and solids to be carried up and thrown
with force against the rim and then trickling down the inside surface of the
tank A they are again thrown up to the top by the stirrer B. When this process
of washing has been carried on sufficiently long and in order to separate the
solids from the liquid, the plate E is raised. The mixture at once rushes out by
the passage 1 into the tank C the solids settling to the bottom and the liquid
overflowing at H into the receiver F. In order to wash all the solids out of the
tank A, the plug G is removed from the opening 2 and placed in 3, the liquid thus
returning to the tank A as long as is necessary.
By changing the plug G from 3 to 2 the liquid then runs into the tank D.
When it is desirable to further wash the solids or to further enrich the liquid,
a series of tanks A can be placed side by side and an additional opening and
deflecting plate arranged at the opposite side in order that the liquid or solids
may be delivered at either side as convenient.
The settling tank C may be of several divisions one overflowing into the other
and may be made deeper and have a closed outlet at the bottom to draw the solid
matter off.
Dated this 10th day of May 1896
ROBERT MOODIE.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Washing or Leaching Granular
Substances and Separating the same from the Liquids Used.
I, ROBERT MOODIE of 41 Alkham Road Stoke Newington London N.
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 has for its object the providing of a simple and efficient means of
washing granular substances with water or other suitable liquid and relates more
especially to processes where the liquid is enriched by contact with the solid
particles to which the enriching substance adheres. It may also be used for
washing granular substances free from impurities.
Referring to the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a part section thro' O-P, on
Fig. 2, and Fig. 2 is a cross section thro' X-Y on Fig. 1.
A is a circular tank or receptacle of suitable material with a bottom of tapered
or curved section. The upper part of this tank is fitted with a rim I., which may
be moveable and which has a flauge projecting inwards. In this rim is an opening
and passage 1, which may be opened or closed by the plate E sliding in a groove
in the rim. A stirrer and lifter B, is composed of tubes or open channels running
from the bottom of the tank A extending upwards and outwards to the rim 1.
These channels are fixed to and rotated by arms projecting from a vertical shaft,
and may be of angle or chanuel iron or tubes, and of any suitable inaterial. When
of tubes it is preferable to have the opening at the bottom facing the direction of
rotation, and the top bent to suit the discharge.
Two tanks C and D, are placed at the side and near the top of the tank A so
that the contents of either may be easily returned to the tank A if required.
The tanks A and C are connected by a suitable passage 1.
A small receiver F, between C and D, has two openings in the bottom, one of
which communicates with the lower part of the tank A by the passage 2, and the
other with the 'tank D, by the passage 3, either of which openings may be closed
by the plug G.
An elbow tube H passes thro' the end and near the bottom of the tank C, into
the receiver F, and is made to turn in a socket by the lever J, so that the top end
may be raised or lowered to regulate the level of the liquid in the tank C.
Having now described the nature of this invention I will now shew how it is t
be operated.
The liquid and solids in proper proportion being put into the tank A to a
suitable depth, the plate E is lowered to close the opening in the rim I. The
stirrer B being rotated the mixture ascends the channels or tubes and is discharged
against the rim I and running down the sides of the tank A to the bottom is again
thrown up by the rotating channels. When this process has been carried on
sufficiently long, and in order to separate the liquid from the solids the plate E is
raised. The mixture then rushes thro' the passage 1 into the tank C, the solids
settling to the bottom and the liquid overflowing at H into the receiver F.
In order to wash all the solids out of the tank A, the plug G is removed from
the opening 2 and placed in 3, the liquid thus returns to the tank A as long as is
necessary. By removing the plug G from 3 to 2 the liquid then runs into the
tank D. When the solids have been deposited in the tank C the tube H can be
deflected to drain the liquid remaining in the tank C.
I do not bind myself to this precise method of operating this invention, as the
stirrer B may be suspended and driven from the top. The settling tank C inay
have divisions and one overflowing into the other.

page_text: The tank C may be of circular form the rim of which forming a tangent with
the passage 1, a whirling or centrifugal action would be set up in the tank C
assisting the separation of the liquids from the solids, the liquid being discharged
over a standpipe near the centre.
Two or more discharge openings may be made in the rim I.
The rim I may be raised all round and the mixture discharged into an annular
receiver or channel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven--
tion and the manner in which it is to be performed, what I claim is,
1. In apparatus for washing or leaching granular substances a stirrer for
agitating, lifting, and discharging liquids and solids into settling or other tanks
substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2. In apparatus for washing or leaching granular substances the combination
and arrangement of tanks, stirrer, and discharge passages substantially as herein-
before described.
ROBERT MOODIE.