Improvements in Machinery for Washing Coal and other Minerals and Materials.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Dec., 1894-Accepted, 5th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Washing Coal and other Minerals
and Materials.
We, WILLIAM OUTTERSON WOOD, Mining Engineer, and CUTHBERT
BURNETT, Mechanical Engineer, both of South Hetton in the County of Durham
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
One part of our invention refers to endless cleaning belts for coals and other
minerals and materials, such belts so far as relates to one important improvement
consisting of plates with upstanding sides forming trays provided with dams
preferably one to each tray and arranged to work on a polygonal drum at each end
of the belt. These plates we joint together in such a manner that very little
cleaning water and fine coal and dirt can escape through the joints whether when
working on the flat or when passing round the drums at the dirt delivery end of
belt. For this purpose the back end of each plate is provided with an upstanding
end part or angle plate forming the dam, the upper part of which is continued
back into a curve or sweep struck with a radius from the centre of the joint pin.
The fore end of the next plate is provided with a curved part which is of a radius
less than above equal to thickness of plate to and works under the curved part of
the first named plate. As these parts and the upstanding side parts at the joints
work with very little clearance being accurately struck in moulds and always cover
each other somewhat even when passing over the drums there is very little leakage
of water and coal smalls and dirt at the joints.
In a modified form of this joint the rear end of each plate is continued into a
sweep or curve struck from the centre of the joint pin and the fore end of the next
plate is similarly continued into a curved part which works under the curved part
of the first named plate. The dams may be either on the top of the joints or
between them or both.
These and the following improvements are of special value in connection with
the cleaning belts and other parts of the coal washing machinery described in the
Specification of our Patent No. 8478 of 1892.
In order to improve the regulation of the coal admission to the cleaning belts we
intercept the coal between the feed spout from the supply hopper, and the belt by
a board or shelf to which a strong stream of water is also supplied in such a manner
as to float the coal on the water and thus impart to it a greater velocity than the
rate of travel of the belt.. The shelf is fixed just above the belt clear of the
dams. We further by preference provide, a little way above the shelf, a rotating
paddle or a small endless belt fitted with paddles for the purpose of more regularly
moving or spreading the coal or assisting the scouring or floating action of the
water and for doing away with occasional manual assistance especially in case of
damp coal. The paddles should work at a greater speed than the water and thus
assist its action effectually.
We also provide appliances for raking the dirt on the cleaning belt on the way
to the dirt receptacle; these appliances are worked by machinery and may be in
the form of rakes which are intermittently reciprocated and raised clear of the
dams on the cleaning belt.
In cases where settling tanks are used instead of the ordinary spouts for conveying
the water thereto we use an endless band made of canvas or metallic trays and
with or without cross dams, so that the dirt may deposit on the belt and the water
with the fine coal pass on to a settling tank or tanks and thence be discharged into

page_text: the main washed coal receptacle or conveyed thereto or other desired place by
creeper or elevator or both. We also provide a separate sand collecting box to
be used either with the spouts or with the endless troughs and either in conjunction
with the settling tanks or placed direct between the strainer and the pump well.
In cases where coal is to be washed which is highly charged with impurities we
use an endless belt of sensibly greater length at the higher or dirt delivery end, so
that the above named raking appliances may work upon a great length of dirt
distributed on the belt and thus more effectually eliminate the fine coal contained
in the dirt. Or we may deliver the dirt on to a separate endless belt to be
washed.
This belt when working in combination with the settling tanks and other
arrangements already described may take the place of the belt F³ described in the
Specification of our aforesaid Patent.
Dated this 1st dow of March 1801
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
Improvements in Machinery for Washing Coal and other Minerals
and Materials.
We, WILLIAM OUTTERSON WOOD, Mining Engineer, and CUTHBERT
BURNETT, Mechanical Engineer, both of South Hetton in the County of Durham
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:-
One part of our invention refers to endless cleaning belts for coals and other
minerals and materials such belts so far as relates to one important improvement
consisting of plates with upstanding sides forming trays provided with dams
preferably one to each tray and arranged to work on a polygonal drum at each
end of the belt. These plates we joint together in such a manner that very little
cleaning water and fine coal and dirt can escape through the joints whether when
working on the flat or when passing round the drums at the dirt delivery end of
the belt.
or
For this purpose as shewn in the vertical longitudinal section Figure 1 the back
end of each plate A is provided with an upstanding end part A' or angle plate
forming the dam the upper part of which is continued back into a curve
sweep A² struck with a radius from the centre of the joint pin A*. The fore end
of the next plate is provided with a curved part A3 which is of a radius less than
about equal to the thickness of plate and is parallel to and works under the
curved part of the first named plate. As these parts and the upstanding side
parts B at the joints work with very little clearance being accurately struck in
moulds and always cover each other somewhat even when passing over the drums
as shewn in Fig. 2 there is very little leakage of water and coal smalls and dirt at
the joints.
In a modified form of this joint shewn in Figure 3 the rear end of each plate is
continued into a sweep or curve A² struck from the centre of the joint pin A*.and
the fore end of the next plate is similarly continued into a curved part A³ which
works under the curved part A' of the first named plate. The dams A' may be
either on the top of the joints or between them or both. Figure 4 shews the
position of the joint parts when passing round a polygonal or other drum.
These and the following improvements are of special value in connection with
the cleaning belts and other parts of the coal washing machinery described in the
Specification of our Patent No. 8478 of 1892.

page_text: In order to improve the regulation of the coal admission to and increase the
efficiency of the cleaning belts we intercept the coal between the feed spout from
the supply hopper and the belt by a feeding plate or shelf to which a strong
stream of water is also supplied and the coal falling thereon is floated on the water
at a considerable velocity and deposited on or near the bottom of the belt trough.
The shelf preferably made adjustable is fixed just above the belt clear of the dams.
Figure 5 is a sectional side view of such an arrangement. A is the cleaning belt
shewn of the form just described. C is the feeding plate or shelf not perforated
upon which the coals fall from the hopper D and spout D' and C¹ are screws for
adjusting the position of the shelf. The water for cleaning the coals issues from
the pipe E with cock E and nozzle E' above the feeding plate C. The mouth of
the nozzle E delivers the water in a flat thin sheet of the width of the shelf C.
At a suitable distance behind the nozzle E2 is a second nozzle E³ for washing
any coal from the dirt which may have passed the main nozzle E².
Another arrangement is shown in sectional side view Figure 6. In this
arrangement a paddle conveyor is placed above a perforated feeding plate or shelf
and may be either a rotating paddle or a small endless belt as F fitted with
paddles F for the purpose of more regularly delivering the coal over a greater
length of the belt. In this example the water issues directly upon the belt A from
the pipe nozzle E³. This arrangement dispenses with occasional manual assistance
especially in case of damp coal.
We may also as shown in the sectional side view Figure 7 which is a continuation
to the right of the view Figure 6 in addition to the water nozzle E³ provide near
the upper end of the belt appliances for raking the dirt on the cleaning belt on the
way to the dirt receptacle, these appliances are worked by machinery and may be
in the form of rakes which are intermittently reciprocated and raised clear of the
dams on the cleaning belt or rotating rakes & mounted on cylinders connected by
pulleys and belt as shown.
In cases where there is a considerable amount of fine sand or other impurities
carried off with the water we discharge the water from the strainer H Figure 8 on
to and over a spout or an endless belt or band I made of canvas or metallic trays
and with or without cross dams and of such width as to reduce the velocity of the
water so that the dirt may deposit on the belt I and the water with the fine coal
pass on to the well K to be pumped over again or as shewn in dotted lines to a
settling tank L or tanks and thence be discharged into the main washed coal
receptacle or conveyed thereto or other desired place by creeper or elevator or
both. We also provide a separate sand collecting box M to be used either with
the spouts or with the endless belt troughs and either in conjunction with the
settling tanks or as shewn placed direct between the strainer and the pump well.
Figure 9 shews a settling or separating tank for receiving sand deposit, the fine
coal passing off by the conduit N.
In cases where coal is to be washed which is highly charged with impurities we
use an endless belt of sensibly greater length at the higher or dirt delivery end, so
that the above named raking appliances may work upon a great length of dirt
distributed on the belt and thus more effectually eliminate the fine coal contained
in the dirt. Or we may deliver the dirt on to a separate endless belt to be
washed.
This belt when working in combination with the settling tanks and other
arrangements already described may take the place of the belt F³ described in the
Specification of our aforesaid Patent.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. The construction of cleaning belt joints shewn and described whereby fine
coal and water are prevented from penetrating at those places to any material
extent substantially as set forth.

page_text: 2. The application above a cleaning belt of the described or other suitable
construction of a board upon which falls the material to be washed in combination
with a strong stream or streams of water above or below the board, the belt having
an inclination towards the washed coal delivery end and moving in a direction
away from it, and rotating or reciprocating appliances for raking the dirt on the
cleaning belt on the way to the dirt receptacle, with or without paddles for
spreading and moving the material on the board, substantially as described and
shewn.
3. In combination with settling tanks and instead of the ordinary spouts for
conveying the water thereto the application of an endless trough shaped band
substantially as set forth.
4. In combination with settling tanks or placed direct between the strainer and
the pump well the application of a separate sand collecting box in conjunction
with the spouts for water supply or the endless trough shaped belts substantially as
set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1894.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chaucery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.