Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for treating titanium machining scrap to remove both magnetic and non-magnetic high density inclusions, particularly bits or pieces of tungsten carbide broken from the cutting tool or tools associated with the scrap. In the process and apparatus a major portion of the undesired high density inclusions are removed by the novel use of an air separator, particularly one having an inclined, vibrating, air-conducting deck onto which the work product is fed and through which an upward current of air is blown. One or more magnetic separators are also used in advance of a final x-ray inspection station. The overall efficiency of the process and apparatus is such that a high percentage of initial input material is converted to high quality material passing the x-ray inspection and suitable for use in making rotating aircraft parts or other parts subjected to severe service demands.

Abstract: A sluice box apparatus for recovering heavy material, such as gold, comprises a fine recovery channel and a coarse recovery channel. The recovery channels have receiving ends, riffles and matting for collecting fines of the material. A hopper at the receiving end of the channels has a receiving end for aggregate, a discharge end adjacent the receiving ends of the channels, a bottom, an open top and water distributing means near the top and the discharge end for washing fines from the aggregate. A perforated plate extends substantially across the hopper near the discharge end. The plate is spaced-apart from the bottom. There is a coarse material discharge opening adjacent the coarse recovery channel for a flow of water and aggregate passing over the perforated plate to the coarse recovery channel and a fine material discharge opening between the bottom end and the perforated plate and adjacent the fine recovery channel.

Abstract: A portable, dry-placer mining apparatus is provided with a vacuum chamber which defines a contained region of lower-than-atmospheric pressure which establishes the mode or means for drawing material into the chamber. The material is then ejected therefrom at a rate determined by the differential pressures established internal and external to the vacuum chamber. To prevent material impaction from interferring with the vacuum controlled output flow of material, any tendency of the material toward impaction is disrupted by an air stream flowing therethrough in response to the lowered pressure within the vacuum chamber. The material is output to a vacuum controlled separator device which is vibrated to separate denser from less-dense materials. A vacuum responsive frequency control is incorporated in the vacuum responsive vibratory drive of the separator device. The entire device is easily manually transportable and may be fitted to a conventional backpack frame.

Abstract: A self-contained revolving trommel classifying and sluice type recovery plant is described. The trommel screen is perforated and provided with helical corrugations to subject received placer material to several forces which, combined with sufficient water added through provided nozzles, break up the placer material and expose values to the trommel perforations. The perforations are arranged in a continuous pattern within the length of the trommel. Classified material drops through the perforations into an elongated sluice, along with all the accumulated water used in the classifying-washing process. Values are separated from tailings by corrugations along the sluice length. A suction pump operates with a suction hose and settling tank to recover values from the sluice during operation.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a refining apparatus which incorporates an updraft passing through a surface, which surface has permeable and impermeable regions, in combination with a vibrator, to serve as a device to fluidly suspend a mixture of materials above the surface so that the heavier constituents of the mixture of materials tend to migrate to the surface and remain upon the impermeable regions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for beneficiating a mixture of coal and a denser material are provided. The coal and ash mixture and a liquid medium are deposited into a rotating, sloping barrel having internal spiral flights and foraminous end sections. Coal and medium travel downwardly and the denser material is screwed upwardly. The positions of deposit of the mixture and the medium are adjustable, as are the rates of rotation of the barrel and the angle of the barrel.

Abstract: A fluidized bed apparatus for separating and sorting solid bodies of different densities.

Abstract: A gold concentrator comprises a housing at the end of a sluice into which a quantity of sand, rock and gold particles is deposited. A screen on a portion of the sluice serves to segregate larger particles of rock and gold from the finer sand particles. A hose is attached to the rear wall of the housing and water under pressure mixes with the finer sand. The mixture of sand and water strikes a wall and a depending flange within the housing causing the mixture to turn over therein thus creating a suspension of particles within the liquid. The suspension falls onto the sluice and flows downwardly therealong and over the screen at the bottom thereof. A flange at the end of the sluice turns the suspension in the opposite direction where it flows down a forwardly extending second sluice. The forwardly extending second sluice has a rubber mat thereon having a series of transversely extending grooves which function to trap the gold and black sand particles therein.

Abstract: A method of dividing a mixture of pieces or fragments of different materials and different sizes, e.g. fragments of domestic wastes, into two or more fractions, enriched with respect to one or more materials, in which method the mixture is charged to the lower part of an inclined shaking table arranged for rotary movement about two shafts at an amplitude and a speed of rotation so adjusted that large pieces or fragments of material of high elasticity and/or rigidity are caused to bounce on the shaking table and, as a result of the inclination of said table, bounce down to the lower end thereof and away from said lower end to form a first fraction, while pieces or fragments of material which lack, or have only slight rigidity and/or elasticity are moved as a result of the rotary movement of the shaking table, and are discharged from the upper end of said table to form a second fraction.

Abstract: A trailer chassis supports an apparatus for separating a lighter specific gravity material such as coal from higher specific gravity waste material. An open ended, elongated cylindrical drum is mounted for rotation about its axis inclined slightly from the horizontal, the drum bearing helical strips along the inner wall to drive the waste towards the inlet end. Water borne coal and waste enters the upper end of the drum. One of a plurality of annular baffle plates at the rear of the drum maintain a water level permitting floating of the lighter weight coal off of the heavier waste, where it spills over the baffles. A wire screen covers openings within the drum wall to the rear, between longitudinally spaced baffle plates to permit dewatering and removal of fine waste from the coal which exits the open rear end after passing from chamber to chamber, partially defined by the annular baffle plates. An auger underlying the chassis drives the water and fine waste forwardly.

Abstract: An improved continuous run sluice box having a sonic vibration and ultrasonic vibration means for concentrating gold or other precious metals while eliminating the loss of black sands containing other valuable fines normally accompanying the use of conventional sluices. The sluice includes a novel type riffle construction including a vertical wall and a sloping wall leading to a collecting area having a nylon cloth screen positioned between coarse and fine metallic screens which facilitates both the collection of the fines and the release of the same during flushing operations.

Abstract: A gold panning and classifying method and system includes a generally rectangularly shaped gold pan having diverging side panels and a plurality of valleys and ridges in the front panel. A plurality of nesting classifying screens are included to effect a first separation of material into portions composed of equivalent size particles. The unique shape of the pan greatly enhances the gravity separation techniques for separating fine sands from gold and gold dust.

Abstract: A reclamation system for receiving unused mixed concrete ingredients and the washout water therewith includes an elongated, on grade gravity separation tank having an upper discharge end over an on grade grout receiving area, an inclined belt conveyor which is pivotally mounted for limited rotation on a vertical axis between a first position alongside the tank and said grout receiving area and a second position having its lower end over said area and below said tank discharge end and having its upper discharge end over an aggregate and sand receiver.

Abstract: A centrifugal jig receives a pulp material within a rotating cylindrical jig bed for the purpose of separating the pulp into a selected heavy fraction and a lightweight fraction. The jig bed is cylindrical. It is rotated to produce an outward centrifugal force on the pulp material that is substantially greater than the force of gravity. A liquid is pulsed inwardly to produce a fluidic bed within the rotating jig bed to permit settling and separation of the heavy fraction from the lightweight fraction. The heavy fraction is screened and passed radially outward to be collected outside the bed. The lightweight fraction or tailings are moved over a discharge edge of the jig bed and are collected at a station remote from the heavy fraction collection area.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuous flow classification and specific gravity separation of relatively fine, heavy sands from gravel and dirt aggregate comprises an elongated channel having an apertured top plate which defines an upwardly facing flume and a cavity. The flume is adapted to have a flow of water bearing the aggregate introduced at its upstream end to flow over the top plate so that the relatively smaller, heavier material falls through the apertures into the cavity. An inclined table is positioned in the cavity below the top plate, the angle of inclination of the table being adjustable. The table has a trough defining side portions and terminating in a downstream extension for discharging tailings, the extension having an opening communicating with the sump portion of the cavity. An adjustable weir diverts flow of a selected heavier portion of the material from the trough into the cavity sump.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process and a device for roasting an agro-food product in the form of grains.The process consists of fluidizing an auxiliary body in the form of fine solid particles in an enclosure 1, and putting the grains of the product to be roasted in flotation in the fluidized bed of particles of which the temperature is adapted to roasting, to generate the roasting by the effect of the shocks of the fine particles of the auxiliary body with the grains of the product.The invention can be applied particularly for the roasting of grains of a product such as coffee, cocoa, etc.

Abstract: Apparatus for reclaiming aggregate from unset concrete comprising an inclined rotating drum, a reservoir space in the drum, and means for separating the slurry in the reservoir from aggregate in the reservoir, the slurry exiting from the lower end of the drum and the aggregate exiting from the upper part of the drum.

Abstract: A device for separating heavier inpurities from solid bodies in a fluid flow comprising a trough-like casing accommodating a horizontal rotatable drum with a screen cylindrical side wall and groove-like elements move the impurities in the rotating drum towards an appliance intended to separate, receive and unload the impurities. The appliance is secured to the drum at the inlet for the fluid and the elements for moving the impurities are made as grooves arranged spirally in the side wall of the drum throughout its length. Each groove has a cylindrical side wall whose external surface protrudes beyond the external surface of the side wall of the drum, and two face walls are arranged perpendicularly to the cylindrical side wall.

Abstract: A sluice box is disclosed for use in high volume placer mining operations and a method of placer mining is disclosed, which are particularly useful for the recovery of gold from aggregate material. In operation, aggregate material is loaded into an inlet trough of the sluice box where it is mixed with water to form a slurry. A coarse recovery channel leads from the inlet trough and the sluice box is downwardly inclined, so that the slurry flows through the sluice box. The inlet trough has a punch plate bottom for separating the slurry into a coarse slurry stream which passes on into the coarse recovery channel, and a fine slurry stream which drops through the punch plate. A distribution section located below the punch plate has a generally conical and upwardly inclined floor, and angularly disposed vanes, so that the fine slurry stream is spread transversely and evened to produce a generally uniform cross-sectional flow profile.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating coarse and fine particles of intermediate specific gravity from an aggregate containing said particles of intermediate specific gravity as well as fine and coarse particles of higher specific gravity by use of a liquid of lesser specific gravity than any of said particles, which apparatus includes a pair of inclined, axially rotating, concentrically disposed helical ribbon flights separately secured within an annular housing such that the rotating action of said flights transports the fine and coarse particles of heavier specific gravity out of the flowing aggregate slurry. The fluid is then drained from the intermediate specific gravity particles passing with the fluid through the lower end of the annular housing in a screened cylinder.

Abstract: A rotary drum-type sand classifier of this invention is provided with a desired number of rows of sand discharging mechanisms at the rear end thereof.Between each pair of sand discharging mechanism, a water cleaning chamber is formed where the classified sand is cleaned with water fed from the rear outlet of the drum. Due to the above construction, the sand classifier of this invention can conduct the classifying and cleaning of sand to be produced simultaneously and efficiently.

Abstract: A fluidizing tank for granular refractory material has a porous bottom wall that is displaceable downwardly from a bottom edge of the tank in order to define a gap through which contaminating precipitated particles can fall from the tank, preferably aided by a downward slope of the porous wall. A receptacle housing the tank contains a vibratory sieve for separating the particles from the material falling from the tank so that the sieved material may be returned to the tank, preferably directly by mechanical or suction transfer from the bottom of the receptacle.

Abstract: A vessel is provided for stripping oil from char particles of different density recovered from a pyrolysis of organic solid waste. The lower end of the vessel is of reduced diameter with a plurality of gas jets which direct gas inwardly and upwardly to direct stripping gas through the particles. A standpipe extends upwardly from the bottom of the vessel and terminates above the gas inlet jets. A gas outlet is provided at the top of the vessel. The particles are introduced at an intermediate level in the vessel. The top of the standpipe is covered with a screen mesh for limiting the size of particles which can enter the standpipe. The gas fluidizes the particles of different density which tend to concentrate at different levels in the fluidized bed because of their density differences. The standpipe terminates at a selected level within the fluidized particle bed which results in a desired mixture of the particles of different density being withdrawn from the fluidized bed through the standpipe.

Abstract: A movably mounted receptacle having perforations therein with hollow spigots connected to the receptacle in registry with the perforations and projecting substantially downwardly therefrom, these spigots being moved through a bed of the particulate material in a receiver while particles of the material move through the spigots. The spigots discharge the particles moving therethrough into the bed and agitate the bed during movement therethrough. A fluid medium is directed in the materials in the receptacle, this medium going through the spigots with the material particles and overflowing from the receiver, carrying lighter particles with it while heavier particles concentrate towards the bottom of the bed. The separating method involving the use of this apparatus.

Abstract: In apparatus for treating and separating products in granular form, a container is provided with fluidization and vibration means, the grains and the pulverulent solid are subjected to the fluidization treatment only in a vertical portion of the bed, the circulation currents arising therefrom are utilized for separating, within the container itself, the treated product in granular form from the pulverulent solid, and the vibrations are utilized for discharging the treated products to the outside.

Abstract: Method of separation of a mixture of mineral grains with differentiated sific gravity, under the conditions of a restricted sedimentation, in a cylindrical device, consists therein that the mixture A of the mineral with water is radially supplied to a trough 2 formed around the upper edge of the wall 1 of the water box. The mineral circulating in the trough 2 is desludged and partially separated according to the weight of the grains, and then, under pulsating action of the water, is displaced in a ring-shaped working trough along spiral trajectories towards the conduit 17 and 19 taking out the light fraction D and towards the conduits with a flap 16 for discharge of the heavy fraction C. The pulsating motion of the water is effected by compressed air being cyclically fed to the ring-shaped air chamber 6 via the pulsation valves 14 from a ring-shaped tank 5 arranged around the water box. From the air chamber 6 additional air chambers 7 extend radially beneath the sieve deck 7.

Abstract: Material treating apparatus including one or more pneumohydraulic vibrators. The apparatus includes a container with cells separated by at least one valve lying on a supporting frame, the valve having a movable valve element which is urged toward its valve-closed position by springs. On one side of the valve there is an air cell connected with a source of air under pressure, and on the other side of the valve there is a second cell containing a liquid or a liquid suspension of material to be treated. When the air cell is subjected to air under pressure the movable valve element vibrates and generates intensive vibro-pulsation turbulent streams in the liquid material in the second cell.

Abstract: A mineral jig for use in treatment plants for the concentration of heavy minerals e.g. cassiterite, gold, platinum, garnet, pyrites and magnetite includes a container for water comprising an upper substantially cylindrical portion and a lower frusto-conical plunger portion, the container including an inlet for water and an outlet for concentrated slurry. A rotor of dished or inverted frusto-conical form is mounted for rotation in the upper portion, and carries a screen of wire mesh or perforated metal. A drive is provided for vertical oscillation of the plunger and a water seal is located between the portions. In operation, slurry on the rotor is subjected to pulsations as a result of the plunger oscillations and to centrifugal force causing a vortex to form in the container co-axial therewith. Heavy mineral passes through the screen and is concentrated prior to collection, while lighter metals move up the rotor and eventually spill over the edge thereof for subsequent collection.

Abstract: A wet-type sand classifier is characterized by having a unique cone-shaped and sand-discharging means which is disposed at the outlet of the rotary drum and is employed instead of a conventional belt conveyor means to improve the classification efficiency of the apparatus.

Abstract: A device for circulating liquid by vacuum, that is carrying two or more particles of different densities. The particles are separated and then discharged through a discharge bowl to separate receptacles, and the liquid is returned for re-use.

Abstract: A dredge unit having a buoyant support carrying a sluice box suspended beneath, a water suction system connected to an outlet end on the box and a suction hose operatively connected to an inlet end thereof. The water suction system operates to draw water and material through the suction hose and into the sluice box where material of relatively high specific gravity is contained while the remainder and the water is discharged from the system.

Abstract: A portable sluice pan is described for panning for gold and other valuable heavy minerals from placer deposits. The pan includes an elongated trough having a feed hopper at one end and a removable flexible riffle mat in the bottom of the trough to cause the placer pulp to flow in a turbulent manner over the riffles to stratify the heavier and lighter materials. The sluice pan is constructed of light weight material such as aluminum and may be hand held during operation.

Abstract: A plurality of axially spaced blades are rotated by a drive shaft positioned above the feed trough. The blades rotate transversely through the upper feed layer skimming off the foreign matter which is deposited in a container alongside the trough as the blades are rotated downwardly. Preferably, the blades are rotated through scraping wires on their downward track to clean the blades prior to passing through the feed once more.