Abstract: A self-sealing element is provided in the outer wall of the discharge chamber of a centrifugal cleaning apparatus opposite the rejects discharge outlet. When a blockage occurs at the discharge outlet, a long needle-like nozzle is inserted through the sealing element to the blockage. Water or air under pressure is expelled from orifices in the nozzle and breaks up the blockage. After the nozzle is withdrawn, the sealing element, which may be formed of a silicone rubber, reseals itself.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a rotary screening machine for moving pulp suspension through a screening slot and for separating impurities from the pulp suspension. An annular rotatable drum is surrounded by an annular porous screen basket that is spaced away to define a screening slot. Pulp suspension is delivered to one axial end of the slot and is discharged from the other axial end of the slot. Generally wedged shaped vanes, widening in the axial direction between the leading and trailing ends of the vane, are provided around the drum. The wedge defining surfaces may also be inclined with respect to a respective plane perpendicular to the axis. The space between the wedge surfaces is an open volume. A wall in that space is oriented to help create appropriate vacuum and eddy conditions behind the vane. The drum may have different zones, with the lower zone being provided with vanes and the upper zone being generally smooth. Other types of vanes or projections may be provided in the intermediate zone.

Abstract: The mass center of a field flow fractionation channel is adjusted to coincide with the geometric center of the channel. Under these conditions, above critical rotor speeds, the mass center will coincide with the geometric center of the channel and both will coincide with the spin axis of the rotor. This ensures that all portions of the field flow fractionation channel are subjected to about the same centrifugal force.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering magnetic particles from a fluid stream is provided. The fluid is contacted with a ferromagnetic element to cause attraction and collection of the particles. The ferromagnetic element is then heated to a temperature near or above the Curie temperature of at least one of (1) the ferromagnetic element and (2) collected magnetic particles. The collected magnetic particles are then disengaged from the ferromagnetic element. Preferably the ferromagnetic element is disposed in an applied magnetic field and the heating is preferred by passing alternating electric current through the element thereby causing sufficient vibration to disengage the particles.

Abstract: A device for separating a mixture material into a magnetic material, a nonmagnetic conductive material and a nonmagnetic nonconductive material. The device comprises a drum revolving in one direction about a longitudinal central axis thereof. The magnetic material of the mixture material thrown into the drum is attracted to the inner peripheral surface of the drum by the magnetism of a magnetic field surrounding the drum and rotating in a reverse direction to a direction of rotation of the drum, and released from the inner peripheral surface of the drum in a predetermined rotational region in the drum, thereby being received on a receiving member. The nonmagnetic nonconductive material is directed in the direction of rotation of the drum along the inner peripheral surface of the drum, and the nonmagnetic conductive material is directed in a reverse direction to the direction of rotation of the drum by the electromagnetic force of the rotating magnetic field.

Abstract: A sedimentation field flow fractionation channel is constructed to have an outer support ring and a continuous inner channel ring mating with the support ring to define the channel. The channel ring has a tension modulus capable of following centrifugally induced expansions of the support ring. The channel ring is weight loaded to facilitate its following support ring expansions.

Abstract: A method for re-claiming fibers from peanut shells is disclosed wherein the shells are first flattened, the flattened shells are milled to produce a fraction containing fibers and a residue fraction and then the fiber fraction is separated from the residue. The fibers obtained are relatively long staple length fibers and can be used as an absorptive medium, in the form of continuous webs and the like.

Abstract: Method for cleaning particles trapped in a filtermatrix of a magnetic separator in the presence of a magnetic field. A cleaning fluid is passed through the filtermatrix which the filtermatrix is heated to a temperature higher than the Curie-temperature of the filtermatrix material.

Abstract: A vibratory screen apparatus is employed to continuously separate particles of random sizes, such as wood chips, into groups large, medium and small sized particles. A vibratory frame has a horizontal platform driven in vibratory movement to convey particles on the platform to one end of the platform. Upper and lower inclined screens are mounted upon the platform, particles are fed to the upper end of the upper screen which will pass medium and small sized particles passing through the lower screen to the platform. Gravitational movement of particles down the inclined upper screen is delayed by the vibratory movement of the screen; abutment surfaces on the upper surface of the upper screen imparting intermittent upward movement to particles on that surface which resists, but does not overcome gravitationally induced flow of the particles.

Abstract: A garden sieve for mounting on a wheelbarrow has a frame and a stand adapted for detachable connection by means of selectively engageable projections and recesses, with the frame in any one of a series of positions whereby the extension and/or angular position of the stand relative to the frame is adjustable. In the preferred embodiment the stand has two arms, the free ends of which engage opposite sides of the frame near one end thereof and the other end of the frame carries clips intended in use, to fit over an edge of the wheelbarrow.

Abstract: A size fraction of oil shale is upgraded by separating the shale into a first low density fraction containing particles relatively rich in kerogen and a first high density fraction containing particles relatively lean in kerogen, crushing the first low density fraction to produce smaller particles, separating the smaller particles into a second low density fraction and a second high density fraction and recovering the second low density fraction as high grade oil shale rich in kerogen.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for froth flotation separation of the components of a slurry, having particular utility for the beneficiation of coal by the flotation separation of coal particles from impurities associated therewith such as ash and sulfur. In this arrangement, a spray nozzle is positioned above a flotation tank having a water bath therein, and sprays an input slurry through an aeration zone into the surface of the water. The spraying operation creates a froth on the water surface in which a substantial quantity of particulate matter is floating, while other components of the slurry sink into the water bath. A skimming arrangement skims the froth from the water surface as a cleaned or beneficiated product.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a device and process for extracting heavy particles from lighter particles. The inventive device uses a unique riffle action, causing separation of heavy mineral from waste material, in combination with centrifugal force to retain the separated minerals in the concentrator. The concentrator processes a wide range of particle size feed for the extraction of heavy minerals. The device and process of the invention can extract a great percentage of very fine particles, as well as coarser particles. The machinery of the process can be installed in a roadworthy trailer for delivery and use at the excavation site.

Abstract: Method and device of separating materials of different density by ferromagnetic liquid, using the separation zone formed by a set of magnets disposed so as to form a V-shaped gutter with both of the pole faces thereof. Objects to be separate are moved crosswise to the gutter by forming the separation zone extending in the range of the opening portion of the V-shaped gutter in such a manner that the separation zone is sloping in a plane across the gutter. This permits separation of materials of larger size in comparison with prior methods. The device is suitable for separating materials having larger size such as scraps of automobile containing aluminum and its alloys having a relatively large size and adapted to be separated from other heavy materials such as copper, zinc and their alloys.

Abstract: Flotation apparatus for de-inking of pulp suspension in a flotation cell with injectors for feeding the pulp suspension into the cell and for aerating the pulp suspension. The injectors are equipped with wide slot nozzles through which the suspension flows having a ratio of cross-sectional area to periphery of between 1.5 mm and 4.0 mm. A mixing chamber receiving pulp suspension flow from the wide slot nozzles is provided having a cross-sectional area which is between 1.3 to 1.7 times the cross-sectional area of the wide slot nozzles.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for froth flotation separation of the components of a slurry, having particular utility for the beneficiation of coal by the flotation separation of coal particles from impurities associated therewith such as ash and sulfur. In this arrangement, a primary spray nozzle is positioned above a flotation tank having a water bath therein, and sprays an input slurry through an aeration zone into the surface of the water. The spraying operation creates a froth on the water surface in which a substantial quantity of particulate matter is floating, while other components of the slurry sink into the water bath. A skimming arrangement skims the froth from the water surface as a cleaned or beneficiated product. Moreover, a recycling operation is provided wherein particulate materials which do not float after being sprayed through the primary spray nozzle are recycled to a further recycle spray nozzle to provide a second opportunity for recovery of the recycled particles.

Abstract: A machine to separate magnetically susceptible particles from a particulate diamagnetic gangue in a batch type process especially as in ore benefication. A frame pivotally mounts a normally horizontally oriented processing pan that tilts to allow dumping of gangue. A cradle-like spindle plate support having two perpendicularly related rectangular spindle plates is pivotably mounted on the frame above the ore pan so that each spindle plate may be pivotably moved to service one-half of the ore pan. Each spindle plate carries a plurality of spacedly arrayed, perpendicularly oriented, eccentrically rotatable magnetic spindles that may be moved to an operative position within the processing pan. Leveling mechanism is provided to level ore within the pan and vibrators are associated with the pan to agitate particulate matter therein during processing.

Abstract: Fine coal particles are recovered from a slurry of finely divided coal by mixing coarsely divided coal and a binder together to cause the binder to adhere to the surfaces of the coarsely divided coal pieces, mixing the slurry with the coal pieces having the binder adhered thereto to cause fine coal particles to adhere to the binder over the surfaces of the coal pieces serving as nuclei and thereby form agglomerates, and separating the agglomerates from the remaining slurry portion to recover the fine coal particles along with the coarsely divided coal and the binder.

Abstract: A method for determining the efficiency of float-sink raw material separation units which achieve separation by specific gravity sorting of raw material in particle form introduced to a liquid bath. The efficiency is determined by introducing to the bath, with the raw material in particle form for separation, prepared particles of determined size and specific gravity and detecting the separation location of these prepared particles.

Abstract: An elongated rectangular open frame table supports a rectangular sump tank open at its top and mounted below the top of the open frame and spaced from the ends and the rear of the frame. A recessed sink is formed by inclined table sink drain sheets which extend from the rear and sides of the sump tank to the table top. A pivotable first lid overlies the open top of the table frame to seal off the recessed sink and the sump tank. A removable second lid overlies the open top of the sump tank to selectively close off the recessed sink volume from the sump tank. Air register openings provided within the rear table sink drain sheet adjacent the sump tank connect via a vertical tubular ducts, to an underlying main air tube subjected to low vacuum pressure for removing toxic vapors from the recessed sink during the performance of separation tests on coal submerged within liquid provided to the sump tank.