Abstract: A process and an apparatus for separating particles according to the strength of their magnetic susceptibilities includes a mass of loose particles transported on a moving surface over a plurality of long, thin, magnets separated by thin straps of ferromagnetic metal. The magnets are arranged such that the polarities of two adjacent magnets engaging opposite sides of the same ferromagnetic strap are identical. Particles are separated on the moving surface and when that surface passes around a horizontal axis, the particles fall off the surface into selected areas according to the magnetic susceptibilities of the particles. Cooling air flows between the moving surface and magnets to enhance operation and the useful life of the magnets.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for subjecting a mixture of two types of electrically charged particles to intense physical contact through a pneumatic transfer modified by turbulent flow and path interruptions to produce surface electrical charges on the particles, and separating the charged particles to recover particles having the same charge. Seeding with a recoverable catalyst may be used as well as forming the path of the mixture from one of the two types of electrically neutral particles. The path interruptions may be sudden directional changes, circuitous paths, baffles, induced vortices and other mechanical apparatus.

Abstract: A process and apparatus that allows a portion of a feed system to be cleaned quickly by sequentially closing a feed passageway which leads to a sieve section; rotation of the sieve section to an upside-down position to allow blocking clumps of particles to fall away via gravity and reopening the passageway leading to the sieve section to continue with normal operation.

Abstract: A magnetic separator for separating magnetisable particles from a slurry is described. The separator includes means for establishing a magnetic field (10) in a separation zone. At least one separation chamber (12) with an inlet and outlet containing a fluid permeable magnetizable separating packing material, and, at least one compensating chamber (4) containing a magnetizable compensating packing, are linked and are movable such that movement of the separation chamber or chambers into the separation zone results in movement of the compensating chamber or chambers out of the separation zone and vice-versa. The magnetization characteristics and/or the demagnetization factors of the separating and compensating packings are substantially the same.

Abstract: A magnetic separator for separating magnetizable particles from a fluid is described. The separator is of the type comprising a separating chamber having an inlet and an outlet with means for establishing an axial magnetic field within the chamber. Two or matrix elements are positioned side-by-side axially along the chamber. Fluid separation means is provided for dividing a stream of fluid containing magnetizable particles supplied to the inlet of the chamber into two or more portions and directions each portion axially through a respective matrix element and thence to the outlet. For a given slurry feed amount, a greater matrix element area is provided. The matrix elements may be in the form of spaced annuli, the fluid portions being fed radially between adjacent first and second elements, axially through both elements and then radially between each element and an element adjacent thereto.

Abstract: A super-conducting magnet includes a vessel (8) defining a separation zone through which material to be separated passes. The magnet includes a super-conducting coil (4) located in the vessel and surrounding the separation zone for providing a magnetic field therein. A tube (6) holds the coil and liquid helium to provide a liquid helium reservoir around the coil. At least one radiation shield (12) is positioned between the tube and the vessel. The magnet is a closed system with no helium circulation from the reservoir to outside the vessel and back and the tube is sized to provide a reservoir of sufficient capacity for operation without helium addition for a number of months, preferably a year. A helium reliquifier (46) is positioned in the neck assembly (16), and a non-return valve (49) is located on the neck assembly for release of helium gas from the reservoir.

Abstract: Process for separating valuable solid materials from a mixture of waste scrap materials by adding water and sand to a volume of scrap, such as chopped insulated wire, to obtain a feed of about 70-80% solids by weight; subjecting the feed mixture to vigorous agitation; screening out large foreign materials; subjecting the screened mixture to a dense medium separation with the introduction of water to produce a fluidized bed in the separation zone; removing light stream from the separation zone and screening to recover insulation material particles; and removing a heavy stream from the separation zone and screening to recover metallic particles.

Abstract: A spiral trough separator having a vertical axis and adapted to separate fine particles from a liquid slurry stream of those particles flowing down the spiral trough. The trough has spaced groups of parallel grooves, transverse to the flow of the slurry, a drain adjacent the lower ends of the grooves for collecting concentrates or fines of the particles and a wash liquid outlet to deliver liquid into the slurry stream to remove impurities from such fines prior to collection in the drain. The wash liquid outlet is adjustable with respect to the wash liquid flow in the wash liquid trough of the spiral to select the appropriate volume of wash liquid to be introduced into the liquid slurry stream.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating one type of particle from a mixture of particle types by dropping the mixture through a free fall zone between two spaced vertical walls of electrostatically charged, vertical cylindrical, spaced, continuously rotating electrodes that are continuously brushed by a plurality of spaced vertical cylindrical continuously rotating brushes.

Abstract: A spiral trough separator for treating a slurry of ore particles in water to separate heavier fines from other particles includes a helical trough making a plurality of revolutions around a vertical axis and having the surface of the trough modified with protuberances to agitate the ore particles to allow entrapped impurities to be liberated and grooves to provide enhanced flow of the finer heavier ore fines closer to such axis to increase the efficiency of the recovery.

Abstract: In an inclined pan feeding apparatus for presenting or discharging particulate material onto a conveyor including a feed hopper, a generally horizontal pan to receive particles from the hopper and deliver the particles in a thin layer to a conveyor belt or roll; the improvement wherein the pan is adjustably inclined downwardly from the hopper to a spillway edge above the belt or roll, the pan being attached to the stationary frame through a front pair of vibration absorbers and a rear pair of vibration absorbers, a rotating motor with eccentric weights is attached to the pan to cause the pan to vibrate generally horizontally, the motor being selectively positioned vertically on the back of the pan, and the front pair of vibration absorbers being selectively positioned at spaced locations along the sides of the pan; and a skirt of flexible plastic fringe hanging closely above and parallel to the spillway edge of the pan.

Abstract: Apparatus for receiving particulate product, spreading the particles in a thin layer, and feeding them to a surface of an electrostatic separator, comprising a hopper with a slot discharge opening above a vibrating inclined distribution plate over which the particles are distributed and move to a lower edge where they fall into the feed end of a substantially vertical chute which is capable of discharging the particles at a selected velocity in a generally horizontal direction, the particles passing through the hopper discharge slot being controlled by an adjustable gate to provide uniform feed to the distribution plate and to control the feed rate into the chute, the chute being adjustable to control velocity of particles leaving the chute, and the direction of discharge from the chute, and a bypass conduit to selectively conduct particles directly from the hopper to a point of discharge which avoids the vibrating plate and the vertical chute.

Abstract: A device for feeding particulate material to a moving surface comprising a hopper for containing particulate material and having an outlet in the bottom for dispensing that material; a moving surface spaced downwardly from the outlet of the hopper and adapted to receive particulate material distributed across the surface; a receiver spaced downwardly from the outlet of the hopper to receive particulate material from the outlet and to direct that material generally horizontally to fall from an open edge of the receiver; and a vertical chute to receive the particulate material falling from the open edge of the receiver and to direct it downwardly and then horizontally to a dispensing edge spaced vertically above and closely adjacent to the moving surface.

Abstract: An electrostatic separator for separating or removing materials according to their polarizability which comprises a cylindrical surface having a plurality of closely spaced conductors embedded in an electrical nonconductor with the surface adapted to be rotated about its longitudinal axis in close proximity to the material from which loose particles are to be removed. The cylinder is rotated through successive zones wherein the surface of the cylinder is charged while in close proximity to said material causing the particles to migrate to the surface, then through a zone wherein the surface is oppositely charged so as to repel particles therefrom, and collecting and disposing of the particles removed from the material. This apparatus and method has many applications wherein fibers, dust, contaminants, and the like may be removed from the desired product.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for separating electrically neutral solid materials having different dielectric, shape, density or dipole moment properties by passing a mixture of such materials through a nonuniform electric field generated between an electrically charged arcuate surface and a flat horizontal grounded surface having a receiving end, a discharge end and two lateral edges, said arcuate surface being spaced above said horizontal surface and extending from about said receiving end to about said discharge end and from one of said lateral edges to at least midway between said lateral edges; a means for introducing said solid materials into the electric field near said receiving end and conducting said material through the field to said discharge end; and recovering one type of material from said lateral edge adjacent said arcuate surface and another type of material from said discharge end of the horizontal surface.

Abstract: The rotor comprises an elongated hollow cylinder and hollow stub shafts affixed to and extending outwardly of each end portion of the cylinder, such cylinder interior being in fluid communication with the interiors of the shafts so that cooling fluid passes therebetween to reduce the heat build up of the cylinder and the transfer of heat to the rotor support beraings, and to conserve energy by substantially reducing the mass of the rotor. Fan blades may be located in and attached inwardly of the shaft or the cylinder to force cooling air therethrough.

Abstract: Separation of glass from waste material by high tension techniques. The waste is sized to a range from 1/8 to 1 1/2 inches, dried to a moisture content less than 2%, air classified to remove low bulk density material, and subjected to magnetic separation to remove ferrous metal. The waste is then fed to the top of a rotating grounded drum and subjected successively to ion bombardment from corona discharge electrodes and to an electrostatic field from a static electrode. The glass remains pinned to the roll while other materials come off in the static field.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating non-ferrous metal from waste material comprising a grounded rotary conductive drum, means for feeding waste material to the drum, a D.C. corona electrode, an A.C. corona electrode, a D.C. static electrode and a splitter. The method of separation comprises magnetic separation of ferrous metals, sizing of the waste material, preliminary classification to remove dust and low density particles, drying to reduce the moisture content, feeding the waste material to the rotating grounded roll and subjecting the material successively to D.C. corona discharge, A.C. corona discharge and a D.C. electrostatic field.