Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Applicant claims the benefit of Provisional Patent No. 62/074,328, filed on Nov. 3, 2014, by the same inventor, David Urick. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    A primary ore separation device used to remove magnetic particles from non-magnetic particles in a mixture utilizes a spinning magnet within a non-conductive cylindrical tube attaching the magnetic particles to the tube while the magnet is spinning and, by using centrifugal force, or the force caused by inertia, separates and spins away the non-magnetic particles, the device generally used upon mixed ore materials containing gold and other precious metals contained within the non-magnetic particles. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Prior Art 
         [0005]    A preliminary review of prior art patents was conducted by the applicant which reveal prior art patents in a similar field or having similar use. However, the prior art inventions do not disclose the same or similar elements as the present magnetic separator, nor do they present the material components in a manner contemplated or anticipated in the prior art. 
         [0006]    Magnetic separation of ore has been used for ore suspended is liquids or for the application to dry ores materials. In U.S. Pat. No 954,015 to Bent, an auger compels a stream of liquid bearing ore through a horizontal tube with a magnet drawing the magnetic particles laterally where the magnetic particles are evacuated in a descent while the tailings in the suspension are carried upward by an upward flowing stream. A vertical separator sifts ore through a mesh screen where the particles fall into an upper cylinder into a liquid within the tube pushed by an eddy current within the tube influenced by a DC biased current and forces the particles into lateral multiple ore extractors which gather the metallic ores and extract them based upon their distinct permeability and ohmic resistance. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,771 to Henriquez. The cores are charged with an alternating current of variable frequencies. “Influenced particles” are moved aside while “uninfluenced particles” continue downward into the bottom of the vertical tube. A similar liquid suspension separator is shown in U.S. Pat. No 8,684,185 to Ries which uses a magnetic coil to influence magnetic particles away from non-magnetic particle within a mixture of magnetic and non-magnetic particles within the liquid suspension. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,364 to Kyrazis runs a mixed power by means of a belt drive through a magnetic field, wherein the magnetic particles are lifted into an upper passage while a lower passage evacuates the non-magnetic particle not influenced by the magnetic field. 
         [0008]    Rotation has also been used in the separation of metallic ores. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,833 to Matsufuji, a method is defined which utilizes centrifugal force provided by an air jet pump to move placer gold sand particles through a pipe and removing the particles through the specific gravity distinctions of the particles and separating the placer gold from the other particles through a magnetized cylinder with a high magnetic field, between 5000 and 200,00 gauss, against an inner wall of the magnetized cylinder. A much more simple rotating cylinder is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,881 to Shumway, which is a simple rotating drum cylinder with an inner spiral auger with large particles sent down the rotating drum while the smaller gold containing black sands are released through a plurality of small openings in the drum allowing the black sand to be separated from the more course materials in the materials run through the drum. A vibrating cradle is also employed within the machine. 
         [0009]    A rotating magnetic wand is demonstrated in an unrelated massage device to Kleitz, U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,720, which discloses a wand with an inner rotating magnet which emits an series of magnetic waves which allegedly enhance vascular circulation when held over a body part between 18 and 24 inches away from the body part. Although used in a wholly unrelated filed of art, it does include a wand with a rotating magnet within the wand. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Black sand gold mining has grown in popularity due to the recent increase in the price of gold and the development of less expensive technology for the part time prospector and enthusiast. Black sands are found in several geographic locales across the globe, primarily in places containing placer deposits or on beaches near prior volcanic activity. The black sands are known to contain precious metals including gold, thorium, titanium, tungsten, and zirconium, and gemstones including garnet, topaz, ruby, sapphire, and diamonds. Due to the increase in the occasional prospectors, large scale placer mining has been restricted, commonly requiring a license or permit near lakes, rivers and streams and especially on public beaches. Small scale or hobby scale mining has also been recently restricted or limited to small quantity mining and often away from the water where the black sands are know to deposit. 
         [0011]    As seen in the prior art, using a magnet for primary separation of magnetic deposits from non-magnetic materials has been known in the field of placer mining of black sands. However, none of the prior art provides a magnetic separator using the simple components and mechanical features of the present magnetic separator. 
         [0012]    The primary objective of the invention is to provide a simple device attaching to a common drill which attracts magnetic materials comprising black sands and, by use of a spinning motion, causes the non-magnetic particles to be forcibly removed from the spinning magnetic material by inertia and/or centrifugal force. A second objective is to provide the device with the ability to withdraw the magnetic force from the pick-up end of the device to remove the magnetic material from the pick-up end once the non-magnetic materials are removed, repeating the magnetic separation until a satisfactory separation has occurred, wherein the non-magnetic materials are removed for further classification and separation. It can be presented as a hand held tool for use with a rotary drill, as seen in below  FIG. 1 , or in an industrial size with other drive means and incorporated as a component in industrial sized applications and machinery where separation of magnetic particles is desire and useful. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The following drawings are submitted with this utility patent application. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the magnetic separation device with phantom lines showing the attachment of the device to a cordless rotary drill. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the magnetic device with the cylindrical bipolar magnet shown in the tool section of the cylindrical housing. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the magnetic device with the cylindrical bipolar magnet shown in the handle section of the cylindrical housing. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of the cylindrical bipolar magnet with a radial pole configuration. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of a second embodiment of the cylindrical bipolar magnet with a diametrical pole configuration. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0019]    A magnetic separation device  10  to separate non-magnetic components from magnetic components in a wet or dry mixture, as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the device comprising a non-magnetic cylindrical housing  20  defining an inner longitudinal cylindrical channel  22 , an outer surface  24 , a central radial hilt  30 , a closed end tool section  25  and a handle section  27  defining an opening  29  to the inner longitudinal channel  22 , a handle section grommet  40  having a central aperture  42 , the handle section grommet  40  inserting within the opening  29  of the handle section  27 , a drive shaft  60  defining a tool end  62 , a cylindrical neck  64  and a drill attaching end  66 , the tool end  62  attaching a strong cylindrical bipolar magnet  50  encased within a slip sleeve  55 , the slip sleeve  55  slidably engaged within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel  22 , the drill attaching end  66  extending beyond the central aperture  42  of the handle section grommet  40  further secured to a rotary drive apparatus A,  FIG. 1 , delivering rotation to the  60  drive shaft, the bipolar magnet  50  upon the tool end  62  rotating within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel  22  of the cylindrical housing  20  and being movable between the tool section  25  and the handle section  27  as drive shaft  60  is pulled or pushed with the neck  64  moving within the central aperture  42  of the grommet  40 , the bipolar magnet  50  producing an alternating and rotating magnetic field around the outer surface  24  of the cylindrical housing  20  attracting magnetic components from a mixture of magnetic and non-magnetic particles against the outer surface  24  of the cylindrical housing  20 , spinning the particle mixture upon the outer surface  24  of the tool section  25  of the cylindrical housing  20  while the bipolar magnet  50  is positioned within the tool section  25 ,  FIG. 2 . This spinning action urges, liberates and releases the non-magnetic particles outward while spinning, grinding and agitating the magnetic particles against one another while rotating upon the outer surface  24 , wherein the non-magnetic particles are expelled and collected from the spinning mixture while the magnetic particles remain bound to the outer surface  24  at the tool section  25  of the cylindrical housing  20 . 
         [0020]    Once the user has cleaned the quantity of mixed materials to their satisfaction, the device  10  is then transferred to a disposal location where the magnetic material is removed from the outer surface  24  of the tool section  25  of the cylindrical tube  20  by withdrawing the bipolar magnet  50  by sliding the drive shaft  60  from the tool section  25  into the handle section  27 ,  FIG. 3 , the magnetic material removed from the outer surface  24  as the bipolar magnet  50  is passed by the radial hilt  30  into the handle section  27 , withdrawing the magnetic attraction retaining the magnetic material from the tool section  25 , the radial hilt  30  blocking the magnetic material from transfer onto the outer surface  24  of the handle section  27  within which the bipolar magnet  50  is now positioned. It would be beneficial for the cylindrical housing  20  to be made of a smooth, non-stick material for ease of removal of the magnetic materials from the tool section  25  during disposal. The device  10  is then ready for further use in processing more of the mixture, or reprocessing the same material for more complete separation by returning the bipolar magnet  50  to the tool section  25  of the cylindrical housing,  FIG. 2 . 
         [0021]    The slip sleeve  55  surrounding the bipolar magnet  50  is made of a non-magnetic friction reducing material which allows the encased bipolar magnet  50  to rotate and slide freely within the inner longitudinal cylindrical channel  22 . The bi-polar magnet  50  is a strong earth magnet having a positive portion N and a negative portion S which may be provided in several polar configurations embodiments including a radial polar and a diametric polar configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . This bi-polar magnet  50  would configure the positive portion N and negative portion S in a manner which would produce a shifting or alternating magnetic field during rotation. This rotation causes the magnetic particles to also rotate around the outer surface of the cylindrical housing  20  at the same speed as the rotary drive apparatus A would turn the attached drive shaft  60 . The higher the rotational speed of the drive shaft  60 , the greater the rotational speed of the bipolar magnet  50  and its resulting alternating magnetic field, further causing greater rotation and grinding movement of the magnetic particles, separating the non-magnetic particles from confinement within the magnetic particles and producing a greater amount of rotational force or inertia upon the non-magnetic particles, spinning those non-magnetic particles outward and releasing them from the mixture, preferably into a container for further processing. The retained magnetic particles are then transferred to an appropriate waste disposal container while still attached upon the device  10  and released from the device  10  into the waste disposal container by withdrawing the bipolar magnet  50  within the cylindrical housing  20  from the tool section  25  to the handle section  27  thereby removing the magnetic attraction from the tool section  25 . 
         [0022]    The radial hilt  30  would be attached to the outer surface  24  of the cylindrical housing  20  along a linear axis between the tool section  25  and the handle section  27  introducing a barrier between the tool section  25  and handle section  27  and also a hand grip stop for the user to hold during operation and use, with the positioning of the radial hilt  30  dependant on the manufactured length desired for the tool section  25 . It is contemplated that the radial hilt  30  may be incorporated into a handle section sleeve  28  which inserts over the outer surface  24  of the handle section  27  of the cylindrical housing  20 ,  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the handle section sleeve  28  being also made of a non-magnetic material and could also be constructed with the radial hilt  30  as an integrated component. As currently constructed, the tool section  25  beyond the radial hilt  30  is provided in a short version and a long version, with the handle section  27  being provided in both versions at approximately the same size and length. The radial hilt  30  would further provide a tool side surface  32  and a handle side surface  34 , with the radial hilt  30  aligning the tool side surface  32  and handle side surface  34  at right angles with the outer surface  24 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , for better deterrent to the passage of magnetic materials during withdrawal of the bipolar magnet  50  from the tool section  25  to the handle section  27  of the cylindrical housing  20 . 
         [0023]    It is contemplated within the scope of this device  10  that its use may be in conjunction with mining and prospecting, ideally suited for use in the separation of black sand mixtures containing precious metals, and also in applications involving plastics and foundries, oil and petroleum refinement, oil and petroleum extraction, chemical and pharmaceutical processing, agricultural and food processing or any other industrial use requiring the separation or extraction of magnetic particles. Additionally, the rotary drive apparatus A may be proportionally sized to the application employed, from as small as the hand held rotary drill shown in  FIG. 1 , above, to an independent drive mechanism, not shown, which is supplied to the device or provided locally within the industrially application or appliance to compel the required rotational force and speed. A mechanical means, also not shown, may also be provided within a large industrial section to move the magnet from the tool section to the handle section, not under human hand control as is implied in the present device employing the hand held drill of  FIG. 1 , the handle section  27  alternatively being referenced as a base section, an anchor section, or a dormant section, depending on the size of the magnet, its orientation and the magnitude of the correlating components. It is contemplated that the device  10  may be used in conjunction with other mining and prospecting application, such as incorporation of the device into a trammel, wet or dry sluice, roller cage, swarf, air or water spinning devices, barrels or drums, or into a conveyor drive mechanism, as observed in the prior art and as determined by those skilled in the art who might substitute the novel features of the current device into other technologies. 
         [0024]    Additionally, the cylindrical housing  20  is intended to be used as a hand held device, held in one hand against the handle side surface  34  by the handle section  27 , with the other hand being used to operate the rotary drive apparatus A while controlling the position location of the bipolar magnet  50  within the longitudinal cylindrical channel  22 . It is essential that the cylindrical housing  20  be of an appropriate circumference to be comfortably and securely held by a user. Thus, the cylindrical housing  20  may be presented in more than one circumference for the comfort to various users, with the bipolar magnet  50  and other components accordingly sized to maintain the intended function of the device  10 . 
         [0025]    The cylindrical bi-polar magnet  50  would preferably be no longer than the length of the tool section  25 , the tool side surface  32  of the radial hilt  30  imposing a separation barrier between the tool section  25  of the cylindrical housing  20  and the handle section  27  of the cylindrical housing  20 , while completely withdrawing any magnetic attraction to the tool section  25  when the bipolar magnet  50  is completely withdrawn into the handle section  27  to release the magnetic particles from the tool section  25 ,  FIG. 3 . Without the radial hilt  30 , the magnetic particles would simply pass along the cylindrical housing  20  without the ability to release the magnetic particles from the cylindrical housing  20 . With the inclusion of the radial hilt  50 , the attracted and attached magnetic particles are prevented from passing along the cylindrical housing  20  and, when the bipolar magnet  50  is withdrawn past the radial hilt  30 , the magnetic particles are released and fall away from the outer surface  24  of the cylindrical housing  20 . 
         [0026]    While the separation device  10  has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: b