Abstract: A hoisting apparatus includes at least one pair of substantially vertical columns defining a frame. A tie bar and a carriage are selectively securable to the at least one pair of columns and oriented substantially perpendicular to the columns. A lifting device connected to the tie bar at a first end and to the carriage at a second end. The lifting device is operable to cause movement of the tie bar relative to the at least one pair of columns when the carriage is secured to the at least one pair of columns and to cause movement of the carriage relative to the at least one pair of columns when the tie bar is secured to the at least one pair of columns. The hoisting apparatus is connectable to a counterweight of a belt conveyor for raising or lowering the conveyor in a series of incremental hoisting steps.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for beneficiating, or “cleaning”, ultra-fine raw coal with spiral concentrators. The inventive system includes multiple pre- and post-classification systems to size the finer sized raw mineral to develop a pre-sized mineral fraction within a first size range (approximately 0.15 mm by 0.044 mm). The pre-sized mineral fraction is fed to at least one spiral concentrator, wherein the at least one spiral concentrator separates the pre-sized mineral fraction into clean mineral and refuse by specific gravity. Water may be added to the inlet of the at least one spiral concentrator to maintain a constant flow through the at least one spiral concentrator. Additionally, residual minus 0.044 mm particles may be removed from the clean mineral output by a post classification system.

Abstract: A rotary slurry distributor is provided, including rotary container. The feeding inlet is mounted on the upper part of the aforesaid rotary container for receiving a mineral slurry. A guide structure is provided on the side wall of the rotary container. Along the rotary container, the guide structure has a tangential angle relative to the horizontal direction. As the mineral slurry falls into the rotary container, the mineral slurry flows through the guide structure and the gravity of the mineral slurry imposes a tangential force on the guide structure so that the rotary container can rotate. The homogenization of the quantity and quality of slurry can be realized using this rotary slurry distributor. The design of the device is smart. The gravity of mineral slurry is used to realize the rotation of the rotary container (no external power is needed) in order to further realize the uniform distribution of mineral slurry.