Improvements in Magnetic Separators.
Year: 1889

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Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 1st Aug., 1990-Accepted, 4th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magnetic Separators.
I ALFRED SMALLWOOD of Globe Metal Works. Hawkes Street, Small Heath in the
City of Birmingham Manufacturer and Metal Merchant do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to machines for separating iron from mixed metals, and for
magnetising generally, and which said appliances are commonly called magnetting
machines.
Thus, my said invention has for its object, the separation of iron and steel from
crushed ores compound or mixed metals, and other substances and also for magnetising
substances generally; and which said invention consists in employing extended and
suitably mounted off iron plates, or superfices, electro magnetised by passing generated
or induced current or currents of electricity through them, and in manner, that on
indiscriminately mixed metals (in a separating machine) being thrown upon the said
plates, the iron or steel is retained by the attraction, whilst the other metals roll off,
and which said iron or steel, thus accumulated upon the plates is by a simple
interruption of the electric current, dislodged, and conveyed to a suitable receiver.
In carrying out my invention I mount upon an elevated and horizontal axis or shaft,
two elongated rectangular shaped soft iron plates which are in communication with a
battery placed beneath them and with the said plates insulated from the shaft, in
manner that the current passing through the plates is not disbursed or lost.
On the extended soft iron plates being magnetised the compound metal or ores to
be separated as thrown upon the said plates when the same are preferably in an
inclined position, so that the magnetism of the plates attracts & retains the iron or
steel and allows the other metals or substances to roll or fall off, and after the said
plates have become sufficiently loaded retained metal it is precipitously dislodged by
turning the plates upon the rock shaft in a reverse direction and interrupting the
current.
I employ a conducting bar under the rock shaft, which may receive its current
directly or through the interposition or intervention of coils of insulated electric wire.
In case I utilise the shaft itself as the conducting means I isolate it from the
supports or housings by vulcanite or other insulators situated at or in proximity to the
bearings.
Instead of employing plates I may employ a sheet iron drum, which on being
magnetised and rotated, separates the iron and steel from mixed metals or metallic or
other substances.
In carrying out another form of my invention I do so by placing a revolving iron
bar or cylinder in the centre of a coil or coils and with the end placed in connection
with an electric battery or batteries through a coil or coils and I connect the bar or
cylinder of iron, with a temporary magnet, in the form of soft iron plates, or drum
when by bringing the metallic substances in juxtaposition, the iron and steel in the said
substances, is, attracted thereto, and separated from the other substances.
My invention is also applicable to the magnetisation of various substances for various
purposes.
In connection with my electro-sorting or magnetising machine I may employ cell
or other batteries.
The electro-sorter plates or the like, inay be made to revolve, or they may be made
to pick up.
Dated this 28th day of October 1889.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magnetic Separators.
I, ALFRED SMALLWOOD of Globe Metal Works, Hawkes Street, Small Heath in the
City of Birmingham, Manufacturer, and Metal 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 :-
The object of this invention, is the separation of iron or steel particles, or pulverised
iron ores, from other materials, with which they are, or may be associated.
The said invention is also applicable, for the separation of other metals attractable
by magnets, and mixed or associated with powdered and other substances.
My said invention consists of a series of electro magnets, of alternate polarity, and
directed from a transverse plate or plates, and with the cores of the said magnets
presented to the inside of a passage or shoot, wherethrough the material to be separated
is passed.
The said invention consists further in an improved system of arranging and
connecting the distributing wires, wherethrough the exciting fluid from a dynamo or
voltaic system. passes to helically directed coils of the magnets.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents in longitudinal vertical section,
(with some of the electro magnets in elevation) a magnetic separator, for a machine
or apparatus for the separating of magnetic, from non-magnetic substances, and
constructed according to my invention. The apparatus is thus seen, to consist
essentially of electro magnets carried upon the underside, and integral with, a
rocking plate, have at its middle and upper side, trunnions, which work and turn
within bearings, carried by an insulated framing, preferably of wood.
Figure 2 represents a side elevation of the said magnetic separator, showing the
open lower sides of the same, wherein the mixed substance to ho separated, is fed,
through the intervention of a hopper, disposed at one end, so that the mixed materials
such as metals, pulverised ores, or the like, are passed into the hopper, and by
gravitation, allowed to be fed forward, by sliding down the inclined plane, and thereby
being brought into proximity with the poles of the magnet, which attract the metallic
particles or substances, and cause them to adhere to the said polar ends, until the
interruption of the currents, which pass through the insulated wires surrounding the
legs of the magnets, consisting of annealed or soft iron, cast in one piece with
the plate.
Figure 3 represents a transverse vertical section upon the dotted lines A B Figure 1,
showing the receiving passage of the mixed material to be separated.
Figure 4 represents a horizontal section upon the dotted lines CD Figure 1,
whilst Figure 5, represents a section, upon the dotted lines E F of the said
Figure 1.
In Figure 4, the said magnetic separator, is shown provided with a dynamo, from
which the imponderable exciting fluid, is augmented.
The same letters reference, indicate corresponding parts in Figure 1 to 5.
The said magnetic separator consists of soft iron legs a, directed from the under-
side of a transverse plate a², supported by opposite trunnions a³, working within
bearings of insulated supporting framing 6, made preferably of wood, although
the bearings may be made of vulcanite, glass, or other materials, adapted to prevent
the transmission or escape of electric Huid, which is required to be concentrated
at the poles.
The plate a, unites the legs or cores a, of the magnets together, and takes the
place of the bend of the horse-shoe magnet, in order to create the polarity of the
said magnets, and further the said plate a², contains the same amount of metal.as
is contained within the whole of the legs or cores of the magnets, upon its
underside.
The legs or cores of soft iron, are encircled by insulated copper wires c, wound
upon bobbins d, which are slipped upon the said legs or cores, thus electric action is

page_text: excited, by the passage of electric currents through the wires, directed around the
soft iron cores, made integral, or in one piece with, a transverse plate, which is of the
weight of the combined cores.
The magnets shown, consist of twenty four in number, although any other even
number may be employed with like advantage, according to the size of the machine
to be constructed, although the magneto motive force generated, is proportioned to
the intensity of the electric current employed, or to the number of coils or helixes,
surrounding the soft iron cores, and which insulated coils are made of thin wire, when
intensity currents are required.
Thus, the sending of the currents through the encircling wires, converts the cores
into powerful magnets, and by means of them, or their polar ends, steel or iron, or
other material, attracted by magnetism, is separated from mixed materials.
The polar ends of the magnets, extend slightly through holes in a wooden
partition e, with a zinc outer covering e. This partition forms the top or roof to the
receiving passage or conduit f, which is open at its sides at f, and has side ledges ƒ³,.
see Figure 3.
The partition e, e, is for the purpose of preventing the accumulation of attracted
material upon the sides of the ends, other than upon the faces a', which protrude
slightly into the receiving passage f, whose entrance is provided with a hopper f*,
of the entire length of the said passage, whose bottom, when the machine or apparatus
is in position as represented in Figure 1, constitutes an inclined plane, down which
the mixed materials to be separated, rolls, or is fed by gravity, so that as the said
mixed material is fed forward by its own weight, the whole of it is brought in
proximity to the poles of the magnet, which attract from it, iron, steel, and
the like.
The apparatus is kept in any desired position, by a hook or a graduated hook,
directed from either the framing, or the separator, which takes upon a stud, either
upon the frame or upon the separator.
The fastening means is only for the purpose of preventing tipping or displace-
ment.
The floor of the receiving passage, may be adjusted by slotted side stays g, and
securing nuts and bolts h, best seen in Figure 2, and by means of which, the
distance of the said bottom or inclined plane, from the ends of the magnets is
regulated.
After the magnets have exercised their forces upon the material, and attracted the
iron and steel therefrom, the said material, is then allowed to fall into a suitable
receptacle, by increasing the angle of the floor of the passage or shoot. This done,
the current from the dynamo, (or from voltaic cells) is interrupted, when the electro
magnets lose their magnetism, and the iron and steel thus attracted, falls, and rolls
down the passage or shoot, into another receptacle.
The dynamo i, is an ordinary one, consisting of field magnets, armature, commutator,
brush, driving pulley, and shaft, and other accessory parts commonly known, and
although I prefer to employ currents generated by such means, yet the same may be
produced by voltaic agency;
The magnets are only thus excited, whilst a current or currents is or are passing.
through the wires surrounding them.
Concentrated magnetised iron and other ores, admit of being separated, when
crushed or pulverised, and brought into immediate proximity to the poles of the
magnets, and so long as the current or currents continue, which are directed in
the same direction, so long will the separated iron or steel, remain adhering to the
magnets.
The system of transmitting the currents to the magnets, which are coupled together
by connecting wires, consists of a main circuit wire, ³, with connection and circuit
wires k, k², k, arranged as clearly represented in Figure 4.
Figure 6 represents another form of my invention, which is alike in construction
to that of the before described arrangement, other than that the magnetic separator
is mounted upon fixed uprights, and adapted to remain stationary, with respect to

page_text: its framing, whilst the sworf or mixed metals, or other materials, are fed or conveyed
upon a travelling bed, in the form of an endless sheet metal superfice, with rack
teeth disposed on its inner sides.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts as in the preceding figures,
other than the endless superfice, with rack teeth, which is marked 1, and toothed
wheels for the driving of the same marked m, m2. The toothed wheel m, has
a winch or pulley upon its axis, for communicating motion to the band or
superfice.
To separate iron or steel, or other metal attractable by a magnet, from mixed
material, the saine is placed in the hopper, and by gravity, falls, upon the travelling
bed or superfice. and thereby brings the whole of the material, within the magnetic,
field of the magnets, which picks out the said iron and steel, and causes the same to
adhere or be retained, until an interruption of the current.
Figure 7 represents a top side plan of a further modification of my invention, and
Figure 8 represents a part vertical section of the same.
It will be seen that the polar ends of the magnets, or the legs or soft iron cores of
them, extend fadially to within a centrally disposed shoot, passage, or conduit, where-
through the mixed metals or materials to be separated, is passed, and by means of
which, the said materials are brought into proximity with the magnets.
The framings may be mounted on trunnions as represented, so that the said
separator can be inclined, and the movement of the material under operation, is
regulated.
a, a, are magnets, surrounded by insulated coils of wire c. ƒ is a passage, sur-
mounted by a hopper 2; is the framing, supported by trunnions, or by other
means.
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 magnetic separator, consisting essentially of a series of electro magnets,
whose soft iron legs or cores, are made integral, or in one piece with a transversely
directed cast and soft iron plate a², substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly A magnetic separator, consisting of a series of electro magnets, or
magnets of alternate polarity, as described, in combination with a transverse soft iron
plate a substantially as set forth.
Thirdly-Mounting magnetic separators, upon joint centres or trunnions, to
admit of the said separators being inclined, for the regulation of the passage of the
material to be separated, through them, substantially as set forth in Figures 1 to 5.
Fourthly A magnetic separator, directing the polarised ends of the soft iron
legs or cores of the electro magnets, into a passage or shoot, in combination with
a hopper, and other cognate parts, substantially as described and set forth in
Figures 1 to 6.
Fifthly-In magnetic separators, the construction, arrangement, and combination
of parts, as described and illustrated; and which said parts, act in manner, and for
the purpose, as set forth in Figures 1 to 5.
Sixthly The construction, arrangement, and combination of the parts of magnetic
separators, as described and set forth in Figures 7 and 8.
Dated this 31st day of July 1890 -
ALFRED SMALLWOOD.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birminghain, Agent for Applicant.