Abstract: A skimmer (100) for removing a slag layer (24) from hot metal (6) in a ladle (2) during a process of metal purification such as steelmaking. The improved skimmer (100) is a steel framework covered in reinforced refractory, having a system of internal piping (60) that at one end is attached to a source of gas and at a second end terminating at one or more ports (64). The improved skimmer (100) is attached to a boom for a prior art skimming machine. In use, the improved skimmer (100) is moved along a top surface (6a) of the hot metal, though the slag layer, and predetermined flows of gas are forced into the piping system and expelled through the port or ports to move the slag layer out from the back of ladle so it can be skimmed into a slag pot (4).

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for separating plastics from compost material. In an embodiment, the method comprises: providing an inclined trough having a feed entry at a top end and a materials discharge end at a bottom end, the inclined trough including a plurality of riffles positioned substantially perpendicularly to a direction of flow of compost material down the inclined trough; inducing a vibration in the inclined trough to induce a prolonged period of hindered unsettling in the compost material; providing a longitudinal dam to at least one side of the inclined trough; and generating an air flow over a substantial length of the inclined trough perpendicular to the direction of flow of compost material down the inclined trough, thereby to blow plastics separated from the compost material over the longitudinal dam.

Abstract: An apparatus for segregating particulate by density and/or size including a fluidizing bed having a particulate receiving inlet for receiving particulate to be fluidized. The fluidized bed also includes an opening for receiving a first fluidizing stream, an exit for fluidized particulate and at least one exit for non-fluidized particulate. A conveyor is operatively disposed in the fluidized bed for conveying the non-fluidized particulate to the non-fluidized particulate exit. A collector box is in operative communication with the fluidized bed to receive the non-fluidized particulate. There is a means for directing a second fluidizing stream through the non-fluidized particulate as while it is in the collector box to separate fluidizable particulate therefrom.

Abstract: A deflector (1) for attachment to a spiral separator (2), for capturing and redirecting a portion of a flowing stream of material (5). The deflector (1) includes an attachment means (3), to attach the deflector (1) to the spiral separator (2), a capturing portion (4) to capture a portion of the flowing stream (5), and, a redirecting portion (6) to emit a portion (7) of the stream. A method of separating particles of different densities using the deflector device (1) in conjunction with a spiral separator (2) is also disclosed.

Abstract: An aggregate material separating device includes a frame with a shaker mechanism. A trough is disposed on the frame and coupled to the shaker mechanism by a shaker spring. A hopper is disposed at an end of the trough and can receive a load of aggregate material. A hopper wash line is disposed adjacent the loading hopper to irrigate the aggregate material in the hopper forming a slurry. A brush and a backwash spigot form a standing wave in the trough to slow slurry movement from through the trough in order to provide additional settling time for the slurry. A mineral separation bed is disposed along a bottom and side of the trough. The mineral separation bed has a plurality of substantially longitudinal riffles that can be sized, shaped and oriented to capture minerals of a predetermined specific gravity from the slurry as the shaker shakes the trough.

Abstract: A classifying fluid bed granulator includes a granulation chamber including a fluidizing air chamber (7) with a bed floor (10), a ceiling (3c), an end wall (3d), and a feed inlet (5), a seed inlet (6), an air outlet (4) defined by walls (3a, 3b) and an outlet (9) for produced granules. The granulation chamber is divided into an agglomeration and seed control section (1) and a granulation and classification section (2), and the section (2) includes one or more consecutive compartments having an asymmetric design.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the separation of husks and other chaff material apart from bird seed includes a smaller diameter inner container that is placed inside of a larger diameter outer container. A plurality of feet elevate the inner container above a floor of the outer container. A lid is used to cover the outer container and also the inner container. A housing is attached to the inside center of the lid and it includes a motor disposed distally from the lid with a fan blade attached thereto to displace air. A plurality of vanes are attached to the housing from which they extend until they contact the inside surface of the inner container. The vanes prevent a cyclonic air current pattern from occurring and so help to displace the husks apart from the seed. An offset mass introduces vibration which tends to raise more of the husks to the surface where they are displaced out from the inner container.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating blank pistachio shells and other debris from pistachio nuts includes a flotation tank, a weir and discharge channel, a conveyor within the flotation tank and a pair of counter-rotating rollers for squeezing floating items and for urging floating items towards the weir and discharge channel.

Abstract: A item separating or debris eliminating system includes a tank and a pump for circulating water from one end of the tank around through a duct and back into the opposite end of the tank. A medium density object collector is located within the tank, and a light debris collector is located within the tank. A conveyor filter is included through which substantially all of the water in the tank is circulated. The debris eliminating system preferably also includes a high density object collector within the tank. The system can be used to separate a variety of objects having different densities and terminal velocities in a fluid. Most preferably, the system is utilized for separating debris from potatoes and the like produce.

Abstract: An adjustable splitter assembly at any position along the spiral trough and the splitter is angled to a fixed position pressed against the trough and locked against movement by a long arm selectively clamped in one hook of a retainer having spaced hook sockets, the retainer being attached to the outer rim of the trough either upstream or downstream from the splitter. The splitter may be angularly adjusted to position its leading edge at different locations along an arc with respect to the stream of particles flowing down the trough by moving the arm to another selected hook socket.

Abstract: A screenless vibratory separator consists of a trough, support assemblies, a vibrator, a blade and an adjuster for the blade. The trough having a flat bottom plate and two outlets is open, and is supported by the support assemblies. The vibrator is mounted on the trough. When operating, a mixture is stratified into an upper layer and a lower layer which are separated by the blade and are discharged respectively from the outlets.

Abstract: A method of separating two or more immiscible components from a multicomponent fluid stream thereof involves passing the stream through one or more separation chambers of a plate-type separator. The separator contains at least one separator flow plate, each of which has formed on a common facial surface thereof at least one separation chamber containing at least one inlet means, a channel assembly in fluid communication with the inlet means, and a plurality of outlet means. The channel assembly contains at least one branched-channel structure composed of a main flow channel split at a downstream branch-point end thereof into at least two branching flow channels. The main flow channel is adapted to separate the multicomponent stream passing therethrough into a plurality of substantially discrete density-differing or viscosity-differing fluid phases. Each of the branching flow channels is adapted to receive one of the discrete phases.

Abstract: An air concentrator for dry separation of gold and other heavy minerals from alluvial deposits comprises a housing having a number of open-topped chambers arranged in a ring-like configuration and surmounted by a screen having rings thereon forming annular arms radiating from a hub sweeps over the screen beds. Air under pressure is fed sequentially and cyclically to the chambers by a rotary valve located centrally of the ring of chambers. The deposit is fed over the hub and is swept outwardly over the beds on the screen by the wiper arms, where it is fluidized by pulses of air from the subjacent chambers enabling particles of gold and heavy minerals to settle down to the bottom of the beds by gravitational stratification, and if sufficiently small, pass through the screen for collection through spigots in the bottom of the chambers.

Abstract: A door (20) for a separation table (10) is pivotably installed within discharge chute (12). The door is pivotable between a closed position and an open position. The door has a distal planar section (24) that lies horizontally against the floor wall (38) of the discharge chute when in a closed position. The door when in the open position has a curved contour section (26) that defines the lowest extent (47) of the door and upper wall of opening (47). A stop limit mechanism (50) includes a bar 52 that is adjustably mounted within discharge chute (12) to limit the opening of the door (20).

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a fluidized bed to effect the separation of a mixture of articles having at least a first density and a second density that is greater than the first density into separate groups. The apparatus includes an inclined trough which is supplied at an input end with either a fluidization medium, such as sand, or a mixture of articles from which a fluidized bed is formed by forcing gas upwardly through the bottom of the trough and through the fluidization medium or the mixture. In the case where a fluidization medium such as sand is used, the mixture of articles is introduced into the fluidized bed medium so as to be entrained therewith to effect separation as the articles travel in the direction of flow of the fluidized bed medium. Vertical oscillatory movement is imparted to the inclined trough to improve the separation and layering where the mixture of articles is fluidized, or to improve the density uniformity where a fluidization medium such as sand is fluidized as the bed.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for the pneumatic separation of particulate material particularly but not solely for the separation of objectionable material such as stem from cut lamina or cut rolled stem tobacco (CRS). Apparatus for the pneumatic separation of particulate material comprises a substantially horizontal vibrating conveyor having a plurality of grooves having apertures (14) through which air passes to partially or wholly fluidize the material under treatment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sorting articles with small density differences utilizing a flotation stream. A separator is provided in which a flotation stream continuously flows through a trough and is used to effect the separation of a mixture of articles having small density differences into several groups. Each density group of the mixture of articles to be separated is introduced at the head of the flotation stream at a selected depth. In one embodiment, the flotation stream may be comprised of a fluidized bed which is created by forcing a gas upwardly through a fluidization medium such as sand. In another embodiment of the invention, the flotation stream may be formed from a liquid.

Abstract: A process for continuous particle and polymer separation comprising injecting a stream of carrier fluid containing the material to be separated into the inlet end of a thin channel, adjusting the flow rate to a sufficiently high level that flow-dependent lift forces the different components to different transverse positions by the time they reach the end of the channel, splitting the outlet flow into at least two substreams by means of physical splitters, adjusting the flowrates of the multiple substreams such that the transverse position of the outlet splitting plane divides the particles into enriched fractions, collecting the enriched or separated components from the emerging outlet streams.

Abstract: A thin channel split flow process for particle fractionation which effects a rapid and efficient separation of the particles comprising continuously introducing two or more fluid substreams of different composition into separate inlet ports of a thin enclosed channel having a thickness which is very thin compared to the other two dimensions and bringing the substreams into contact with adjacent substreams so as to collectively form a series of thin laminae flowing parallel to one another in the channel and in contact with one another over a sufficient length of channel to allow a desired level of mass transport between and through laminae, continuously introducing a fluid medium containing the particles to be separated as one or more of the fluid substreams and independently of the particle concentration, varying the fluid composition of the different substreams as needed to realize separation, at the outlet end of the channel splitting the collective streams into another set of substreams so as to permit sep

Abstract: A separator suitable for processing agriculture products in a fluidized bed flowing through an inclined trough under the influence of gravity. The fluidization medium is recirculated from the output end of the trough back to the input end thereof using a recirculation drum horizontally disposed laterally encircling the output end of the trough and supported for rotation about its own longitudinal axis. The inner surface of the drum includes an endless series of receiving pockets for collecting sand below the output end of the trough and lifting it thereabove. A damper at the output end of the trough is used to accelerate the establishment of the fluidized bed therein by temporarily obstructing the flow of fluidized bed. An ultrasonic sensor is used to determine the depth of the trough and based thereon to control the rate at which fluidization medium is provided thereto.

Abstract: A gas is forced upwardly through a fluidization medium, such as sand, producing a fluidized bed which flows under the influence of gravity through an inclined trough. The separation of the side walls of the trough decreases in the direction of flow of the fluidized bed increasing the depth thereof. The apparent density of the fluidized bed is maintained substantially uniform, regardless of the increase in depth, by correspondingly increasing the pressure of the air forced through the medium in a manner corresponding to the depth thereof. A gas distribution plate beneath the fluidization medium having a higher resistance to the flow of gas than the layer of fluidization medium thereabove contributes to the maintenance of a substantially uniform apparent density in the fluidized bed despite variations in its depth.

Abstract: Mixed scrap metal pieces 6 are sorted in a fluidised hindered settler containing sand, through which the pieces settle at a differential rate. The sand is fluidised by air from 20 and vibration-driven around a circular trough 2. A depthwise partition 14a sorts the pieces according to settling rate, whereafter they are removed up separate ramps 14 and 16. The sand is levelled preparatory to receiving the pieces 6, and only afterwards is it fluidised.

Abstract: A spiral separator 1 is provided with a first pivotally mounted splitter (6) having an upstream working edge for dividing a slurry descending the sluice into two streams (A,B). A second pivotably mounted splitter (8) is positioned downstream and radially outwardly of the first and divides stream B into two streams (C, D) the second splitter being moveable to a position adjacent the downstream end of the first.

Abstract: In a spiral separator of the kind used for the wet gravity separation of solids (Figs. 5 & 6) there are provided splitters (70,71,72) in vertically aligned troughs (20,21,22) which are operatively connected by a linkage (80) permitting adjustment of splitters in unison. Preferably the splitters are at corresponding locations of separate troughs and are in vertical register.

Abstract: This invention relates to a spiral separator (1) which is used for separating particulate material and which is able, when arranged in a linear array of such separators, to be adjusted in concert with the other separators in the array.Specifically the invention consists in a spiral separator (1) comprising a volute (2); a splitter blade (4) mounted below a discharge section (3) of the volute (2) for selected rotation about a substantially horizontal axis (5) parallel to the direction of flow in the volute (2), splitting being adjusted by the rotation of the splitter blade (2) about the axis (5).

Abstract: Separating elements (14) arranged about a central shaft (1a) rotate in common about the main axis (A) and individually about their longitudinal axes (B). A centrifugal distributor (6) distributes fine-grain mineral mixture mixed with fluid uniformly to the separating elements (14). In each separating element (14) the partial material flow (2a) is set in rotation about the longitudinal axis (B) by entrainment vanes (18) arranged in a first separating element section (15a) and the heavy fraction is centrifuged on to the separator wall (16a). In the second section (15b), formed as conical tubular worm conveyor, which contains no entrainment vanes, the heavy fraction is transported to the collecting chamber (21) and discharged through first discharge openings (22), the fine-grain mineral mixture being fluidized in pulsation on the separating wall (16b) by the combined rotating movements and the heavy fraction being concentrated.

Abstract: A splitter assembly for a spiral separator comprises a blade (1) having an upstream working edge (11) and has a rail (3) mounted above the sluice floor (2) to which blade (1) is slideably mounted by means of arm (10) which engages rail (3).The lower end of working edge (11) is in contact with floor (2) and the position of contact is adjustable along a path extending between a radially outer and radially inner part of floor (2). In preferred embodiments splitter arm (10) is flexible and working edge 11 moves in a path which is curvilinear with respect to a vertical and a horizontal plane.

Abstract: A continuous concentrator for high volume specific gravity separation of materials, particularly constituent materials of indigenous ores, in a counter-current process, the concentrator includes a continuous loop conveyor constructed with a conveyor bed on which are mounted periodic transverse riffles, and raised sidewalls for containing ore materials deposited on the bed from an ore feed; and, a bar sweeper constructed with a pair of continuous loop, link drives interconnected by transverse sweeper bars adjustably positioned over the conveyor bed, the bar sweeper being operated with the sweeper bars moving proximate the top of the conveyor riffles in an opposite direction from the movement of the conveyor, the rate of movement of the bar sweeper and conveyor being independently controlled for processing ores of different composition or consistency, wherein heavier metals and minerals are conveyed in one direction on the conveyor bed to one end of the conveyor for discharge and collection, and the lighter met

Abstract: This invention relates to a take-off assembly for mounting in a spiral separator. The take-off assembly includes an adjustment tongue and a mating member containing a transverse aperture for receiving the adjustment tongue. The mounting member has a surface surrounding the adjustment tongue which is substantially flush with the top surface of the adjustment tongue. There is also provided an undercut for obtaining an undercut of concentrates particles from pulp flowing in the spiral separator whereby tailings and/or middlings contained in an upper portion of the pulp above the concentrates particles may flow across the transverse aperture.There is also provided a spiral separator for gravity separation of minerals containing the take-off assembly and a method of taking undercuts including using the abovementioned take-off assembly in the spiral separator.

Abstract: This invention relates to a spiral separator including an upright column which is supportable with its axis substantially vertically. The spiral separator is adapted to receive at an upper end thereof a plurality of helical turns surrounding the upright column wherein intermediate the height of the separator there is provided an increase in the transverse dimensions or diameter of the separator which provides an initial portion of relatively small transverse dimensions or diameter. By this feature debris or particles of high specific gravity tending to travel in an outer part of the separator adjacent an outer wall thereof entrained with the water in the pulp are caused to travel inwardly toward an inner part of the separator for ultimate separation from particles of low specific gravity.

Abstract: The invention provides a spiral separator of the type for use in separating a pulp of water and minerals into mineral fractions of differing densities and having a helical trough (30) supported with its axis upright. The shape of the trough working surface profile (30) varies (FIGS. 2A-2D) from place to place along the trough. The profile has a point of maximum displacement (32A, 32B, 32C, 32D) at which profile (30) is at a maximum spacing below a notional straight line (40) joining the inner end (31) and outer end (22) of the trough working surface profile (30). The distance of the point of maximum displacement (32A, 32B, 32C, 32D) from one end (31 or 22) of the profile varies along the trough. A method for manufacture of troughs according to the invention is also described and claimed.

Abstract: A sluice box classifier for a sluice box of a gold mining dredge includes a trough and a rim secured to an underside of the trough. The rim anchors the trough to a standard size container. The trough is formed of four walls and a bottom, and is at least as wide as a lower end portion of the sluice box from which collected overburden is received. The bottom includes a center panel and two floor panels which slope upwardly from opposite sides of the center panel to meet opposite sidewalls of the trough. The floor panels funnel overburden deposited into the trough from the sluice box to the center panel where a plurality of openings in the center panel allows the smaller pieces of overburden to pass through into the container. A portion of a front wall of the trough is bent outwardly of the trough to cooperate with an angle member so as to form a slot which connects the trough to the sluice box.

Abstract: A device for separating and recovering solid particles or granulated matel from a stream of fluid in a state of high purity and with minimal fluid remaining in the recovered solids. The device also provides a calibration or sizing of the recovered solids. More particularly, the device is suitable for recovering sand and gravel from a liquid slurry in dredging operations or the like and comprises a chamber into which the slurry is discharged in the form of two diametrically disposed impinging jets to decrease the kinetic energy of the slurry. The chamber is provided with one or a plurality of outlets disposed in communication with a corresponding number of channels each having a discharge port in the base thereof and a deflector in the discharge port, preferably disposed at an angle of about 45 degrees, for directing the concentrated lower layer of slurry in each channel through the discharge port into a deposition tank.

Abstract: Virgin ore in granular form is enriched by air flotation classification separating at least a large part of the gangue. Suspension of the ore is effected immediately as supplied to the inlet section of the classification trough by copious upward flow of air from the air-diffusing floor plates after which separation is accomplished as the suspension flows through the trough. An adjustable gate in the partition which separates the inlet section of the plenum from the classifier section is adjusted to maintain a relatively very high pressure and consequent copious air flow as compared with the pressure of the plenum from which air is supplied in more moderate quantities to the diffuser floor of the classification trough downstream of the partition. The trough is free of any obstruction that would impede the flow of gangue to its discharge end. Flotation air is supplied to the plenum only at the inlet section and a bleeder valve regulates the total flow to the air-diffusing floor plates of the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a mixture of heavy particulate material and light particulate material into separate fractions of heavy and light material is disclosed. The mixture is introduced to a first separating means, particularly an air jig, with a vibratory carrier for separating the mixture into a clean light fraction and a heavy fraction, which heavy fraction contains some light material. The heavy fraction is passed to a second separating means, this second separating means being a pneumatic table associated with the vibratory carrier for separating the said heavy fraction into a clean fraction of heavier particles and a mixture of lighter particles with some small heavier particles, which mixture is directed to a conveyor for recycling through the air jig. The apparatus provides for a very clean separation of heavy particulate material and light particulate material at a high throughput rate.

Abstract: A spiral separator for the wet gravity separation of solids of different specific gravities has a number of helical sluices or spirals mounted about a vertical column, the bottom of each spiral being substantially straight in cross-section and inclining upwards from inside to outside of the spiral, the pitch of the outside of the spiral being substantially uniform, but the angle of the spiral bottom to horizontal, and therefore the pitch of the inside part of the spiral, varying, this angle and the inside pitch of the spiral being greater in the upper part of the spiral than in the lower part.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning coal of extraneous matter such as gravel and the like includes a stratifying and classifying oscillating screen submerged in a liquid confining tank wherein stratification is produced by motion of the oscillating screen. The screen bottom slopes downwardly and water flow is induced from either end of the screen to aid in the stratification. The coal which rises to the top is removed by several skimmers powered by a vacuum controlled materials handling pump.

Abstract: The helical sluice, or spiral, of a mineral separator used for mineral separation, has a series of take-off openings to carry off strata of dense minerals which form when a pulp of water and minerals to be separated pass through the spiral. Each take-off opening is a slot in the spiral bottom, transverse to the flow, and its effective length, or throat gap, may be varied by a tongue slidably engaged in the slot and having a splitter blade extending up from its leading end to deflect dense strata into the throat gap. A second slot is formed in the tongue to take off middlings, and this is also adjustable, by a slide.

Abstract: A splitter assembly is described of the type wherein a pulp stream is discharged from the discharge edge of a stratification surface across a gap to impinge against a splitter so as to separate into upper and lower flow components, the lower component passing through the gap while the upper component flows over the splitter, characterized in that the splitter has a generally curved impingement surface and is adjustable relative to the stratification surface such that the gap width in the direction of stream flow increases as the required lower flow component increases and decreases as the required lower flow component decreases. Preferably, the splitter is hingedly mounted for rotation relative to the stratification surface.

Abstract: A separating apparatus and method is provided by the use of which a stratified flow of a mixture of materials of different properties, for example, a slurry of mineral-bearing sand in water, can be separated into fractions by impinging a substantial proportion of the flow against a separator face assembly, for example, a separator plate.

Abstract: Ore tailings at the terminus of a spiral concentrator are first split by a novel splitter box into value-rich and value-poor streams determined by the distribution of values therein, and the value-rich stream is upgraded, preferably by passing it through a conical gravity separator.

Abstract: A bed of fluidized material is used to separate seeds on the basis of specific gravity. The bed may be a rotating annulus and it may have one or more layers of micro-balls at the bottom. Means for rotating the annulus and various discharge means are disclosed.

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.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for purifying a stream of mechanically comminuted material as well as for enriching fine ores and other minerals uses mechanical sorting. The thickness of the material stream is enlarged by shaking and an upper and a lower layer containing bigger or lighter and smaller or heavier particles, respectively, form due to the effect of gravity on the material stream. The layers are separated by the edge of a tube, whereupon the upper layer leaves the apparatus through the tube. A preferably exchangeable or liftable and lowerable disc deflects the path of the lower layer of the material stream in a meander-like or winding manner to controllably brake the speed of that material stream.