Abstract: Polycrystalline silicon fragments are sorted into defined particle fractions in a flexible manner independent of initial particle size distribution and desired fraction size by a first mechanical screening into a fine fraction and residual fraction, followed by optoelectronic sorting of the residual fraction.

Abstract: An ultrasonic microfluidic system includes a separation channel for conveying a sample fluid containing small particles and large particles, flowing substantially parallel, adjacent to a recovery fluid, with which it is in contact. An acoustic transducer produces an ultrasound standing wave, that generates a pressure field having at least one node of minimum, pressure amplitude. An acoustic extension structure is located proximate to said separation channel for positioning said acoustic node off center in said acoustic area and concentrating the large particles in said recovery fluid stream.

Abstract: An ultrasonic microfluidic system includes a separation channel for conveying a sample fluid containing small particles and large particles, flowing substantially parallel, adjacent to a recovery fluid, with which it is in contact. An acoustic transducer produces an ultrasound standing wave, that generates a pressure field having at least one node of minimum pressure amplitude. An acoustic extension structure is located proximate to said separation channel for positioning said acoustic node off center in said acoustic area and concentrating the large particles in said recovery fluid stream.

Abstract: The monitoring and control of jig separators is effected by monitoring the time variation within a jig cycle of at least one operating parameter of the jig, and manipulating the operating parameter(s) to produce the sought after form of the time variation within the jig cycle. Operating parameters include bed voidage, water level, particle velocity in the bed and water or air pressure.

Abstract: Particulate material is treated by first washing the contaminated material with a contaminant mobilizing solution comprising a leaching agent, a surfactant or a mixture thereof. Large particles, typically greater than 5 mm are mechanically separated, washed with water and returned to the site as recovered soil. Fines, along with contaminants dissolved or dispersed in the contaminant mobilizing solution are separated from intermediate sized particles by a countercurrent flow of the contaminant mobilizing solution, preferably in a mineral jig. The intermediate sized particles are then abraded in an attrition scrubber to dislodge attached mineral slimes or fines. These additional fines are separated from the intermediate sized particles with a countercurrent flow of wash water in a second mineral jig. The preferred oxidizing agent is chlorine, and hydrogen is the preferred reducing agent.

Abstract: A preferred mineral jig apparatus includes a jig tank having a laterally oriented piston and cylinder assembly mounted therewithin. The piston and cylinder assembly defines two compartments, with reciprocating motion of the piston causing pulsating action of the water within the two respective compartments. The piston and cylinder assembly includes a cylinder, a piston assembly and a piston rod connected to the piston assembly. The piston rod includes an internal channel to convey make-up water to the tank from an external water source. The piston rod is supported for lateral reciprocating motion by at least two downwardly hanging leaf springs. The piston assembly comprises a pair of separated piston plates oriented transversely relative to the cylinder. The separated piston plates defining a space therebetween as well as a separation distance between the piston plates. The piston rod is connected to one of the piston plates.

Abstract: The density of the material in the jig bed is measured in consecutive short segments over the jig cycle, the time period of each segment being not greater than one-tenth the cycle time of the jig, to determine the density signature or profile of the jig. By controlling the operating parameters (e.g. inlet and outlet valve opening and closing, underbed flow rate, discharge gate position and jig working air pressure) of the jig, the density signature or profile is maintained within a control envelope for efficient stratification of the mineral.

Abstract: A pulsator for enriching, particularly, hard coal has mounted in a pulsating compartment a hoisting wheel and a bracket both mounted on a drive shaft, or a ratchet wheel mounted on a drive shaft which runs in bearings above the liquid level of a working trough. The pulsating compartment is of cylindrical shape and is connected to working trough along its longer side and separated from the working trough with a wall. The pulsating compartment consists of an outer wall to which is welded a bottom wall shaped as an arc and connected via a vertical wall to an oblique wall of the working trough. The bottom wall is provided at its lowest point with a grate encased with a pulp outlet stub pipe. The hoisting wheel consists of a side wall connected with an outer screen which is connected in turn to an outer ring along the periphery of the outer screen.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating granular material such as crushed coal or ore that includes particles of different specific gravity. The apparatus includes an elongated frame defining a receiving chute and a discharge chute. A plurality of hydraulic cells are supported in tanden on the frame, each cell including a wave chamber, a screen forming a material supporting floor submerged in the wave chamber, plungers for cyclically raising and lowering the water level in the wave chamber and a refuse bin adapted to receive heavier particles that are separated out in the wave chamber and that collect above the screen. The wave chambers define a flow channel extending from the receiving chute to the discharge chute and adapted to contain a suspension or slurry of the crushed particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a percussion jig in which the chutes for receiving and discharging the material to be separated are each divided into a plurality of individual chute segments arranged spaced from one another so that the spaces between adjacent individual chute segments facilitate a free equalization of the levels of the settling fluid during the upward and downward movements of the settling tank.

Abstract: An expansible chamber is expanded to create a partial vacuum within the chamber. Following expansion, a burst of fluid pressure, attended by fluid flow and an acoustical wave, is introduced into the chamber. Simultaneously, the chamber is forcibly contracted. This transducer produces a square acoustical wave. When the transducer is incorporated into the hutch of a mining jig, it results in the pulling of agglomerations of minute particles down out of the gangue and into the hutch chamber. An annular valve member is movable axially towards and away from a valve seat. The valve member includes a concave sealing surface which mates against a convex valve seat having a smaller radius of curvature. Sealing contact is made adjacent the high pressure side of the valve. A gap is created which widens from the zone of contact towards the low pressure side of the valve.

Abstract: A wet settling machine having a jig screen has the separating liquid mechanically pulsed and the energy of the pulsations is stored in and released from sealed air chambers which open downwardly into the settling liquid.

Abstract: A wet settling machine for processing mineral mixtures, particularly fine-grained coal and other minerals, has the separating liquid energized into a pulsating motion with a basic wave and an upper harmonic superimposed on the base wave. The harmonic wave may proceed longitudinally with respect to the base wave or transversely with respect to the base wave. The base wave is pneumatically generated and the harmonic wave is mechanically generated.

Abstract: A discharge-controlled method for a compressed air-controlled wet settling machine for the preparation of mineral mixtures, particularly for the washing of raw coal, is carried out such that the preparation takes place by means of pulsation of a separating liquid in a work chamber, whereby the pulsation is controlled by means of inlet and outlet valves and results in a stratification of the minerals on the settling machine carrier such that the heavier materials are stratified below the lighter materials. The layer level of the heavier material is measured by a scanner, in particular a float, and an actual-reference regulation controls a discharge apparatus for the heavier minerals. Measurement of the actual value of the heavier material layer level takes place by way of the scanner during a period of time which lies asymmetrically between the opening time of the outlet valve and the opening time of the inlet valve, and in particular shortly before the opening time of the inlet valve.

Abstract: A wash box for separating materials produced in, for example, a mining operation, into fractions of different densities. The machine is divided vertically into compartments, including at least one stratification compartment and at least one reject compartment, the raw material being delivered onto the grid, the level of water in the compartments being higher than the grid. Vertical pulsations are applied to the water in the compartments, causing the water to travel through the perforations of the grid, to stratify the material on the grid, while movement of the water through the wash box tends to carry the lighter fraction from the wash box.

Abstract: A settling machine for upgrading materials, particularly for upgrading coal, comprises at least one settling chamber filled with water and having a jig screen covering at least a part of the chamber arranged at the water level. The chamber is also connected laterally of the jig screen to a plurality of different pressure sources and the connections are such that pressures may be superimposed on the liquid of the chamber to cause a pulsation thereof for the separation of the material contained on the jig screen. With the method of the invention, the pressure is connected via control lines having control valves which may be adjusted to get a number of settling strokes per minute by pressure surges which may be set to the range of between 20 to 50 settling strokes per minute for one of the control valves, and for the other control valve, may be arranged between 150 and 250 settling strokes per minute.

Abstract: Apparatus for gravity collection and handling of products from jiggers to watering devices, comprising two tanks filled with liquid and interconnected by a passage, and a discharge conduit connected to the inlet nozzle of a dewatering device.Inside the equalizing tank the liquid level is at least as high as that in the feeding tank. The outlet of the feeding tank is provided with the restrictor while the outlet of the equalizing tank is equipped with a regulating element. Granular material from the feeding tank flows through the outlet and falls by gravity into the communicating passage, wherefrom together with liquid supplied from the equalizing tank is fed via the discharge conduit to the inlet nozzle of the dewatering device.

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 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 method and apparatus for the preparation of mineral mixtures, particularly of rough washed coal, on a jig which is controlled by compressed air in which the separating liquid, with the aid of control valves arranged in the supply conduits for air and/or separating liquid, is moved periodically up and down through the openings in the settling material carrier, wherein the pulsating movement of the separating liquid is effected with the aid of an electronic valve impulse control of the compressed air and/or the quantity of separating liquid conveyed to the settling tank.

Abstract: A Baum Jig for gravitational enrichment of minerals, particularly hard co in which a screen deck is transversely located to the axis of the jig. Air chambers are made of plates as cut-outs of a cylindrical surface. The axes of symmetry are deflected from the perpendicular by an angle of 5.degree. to 15.degree. in the direction of the mineral to be enriched. The chambers are provided with asymmetric guide vanes adjustable in the horizontal direction. The side walls of a water cistern possess at the height of the screen decks, horizontal off-sets outside the cistern. Spring-loaded protection plates are provided in the off-set supports. The lower edge of one wall of each chamber is shaped as a conduit of back water provided from the bottom with a deflectable arched diaphragm.