Abstract: Method of removing slimes from slime-containing slurries in which the slurry is force fed at an acute angle onto a downwardly directed screen surface of a welded profile wire screen having fine screen openings at a pressure which for the slime content and impact angle of the slurry on the screening surface will project water and suspended slimes from the slurry through and beyond the screen a distance sufficient to cause gravity discharge of the slime suspension free of contact with the back of the screen below the impact area.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for feeding and discharging air for pneumatic jigs, includes feeding and discharging pressure air to and from air chambers, which are opened at their respective lower ends, and which are formed in water-filled tanks, to vertically vibrate water in the water tanks, and separate a pulverulent body on the water. The air feeding and discharging steps are carried out repeatedly, and with having overlapping periods. The apparatus comprises an outer cylindrical casing, and an inner casing provided rotatably in the outer casing, the outer casing being provided in a circumferential wall thereof with a communication port communicated with air pipes opened into the air chambers. A plurality of air ports communicate with an air feeding unit which is capable of feeding air of a plurality of different pressures to the air chambers, and a discharge port is provided.

Abstract: A magnetic separator has a support defining an upright axis, two stationary pole pieces spaced from and around the axis on the support, and a stationary inner ferromagnetic piece extending between the pole pieces and axially bridging same. This inner piece defines with the outer pieces respective angularly offset separation gaps. Means is provided, normally in the form of coils, for energizing the pole pieces and thereby creating a magnetic field extending radially across the gaps and through the inner piece. An annular rotor centered on the axis extends through the gaps. This rotor is formed of an endless angular succession of groups of nonradially extending and spaced-apart rotor elements. It is rotated about the axis to orbit the groups of rotor elements through the gaps and particulate material including magnetically attractable particles is fed axially down through the rotor as it rotates. Particles are then washed from the elements at a location angularly offset from the gaps.

Abstract: A vibratory screening machine for separating particles from fluid includes a fine mesh screen located within a vibratory basket. The machine further includes a supply for delivering fluid having the entrained particles from a source thereof towards the screen. A weir is disposed substantially adjacent the supply and overlies an upstream portion of the screen for directing the flow of fluid onto the screen. The weir includes an upstream end positioned adjacent the supply and a downstream end. A plate forming a dam is attached to the downstream end of the weir to form a pool of fluid on the weir. The weir includes at least one fluid flow opening positioned substantially adjacent the plate forming the dam. A flow directing plate is connected to the weir for directing the fluid flowing through the fluid flow opening towards the upstream portion of the screen underlying the weir.

Abstract: This invention relates to a flat stroke sifter screen unit having the entire vibratory drive system mounted at the inlet end of the unit including drive springs, input motor (or vibratory excitor) and counterbalance, all located at this end of the screening unit. The outlet end of the unit is free of any bearings, or wheels, or rods, or the like and the entire unit is supported on isolation springs which may be steel coils for a fully free floating mounting.

Abstract: Process for recovery of elemental phosphorus from waste ponds by dredging the waste pond to obtain an aqueous phosphorus slurry, separating particles larger than 2 mm from the slurry, treating the remaining slurry in an initial hydrocyclone and removing an overflow of solids larger than 500 micrometers, treating the underflow from the initial hydrocyclones in smaller diameter hydrocyclones, removing a second overflow enriched in slimes and diminished in phosphorus, removing a second underflow enriched in phosphorus and diminished in slimes and heating it sufficiently to melt the phosphorus therein, treating the heated second underflow in a centrifugal separator, and separating and recovering a stream of coalesced phosphorus from a heavy fraction of impurities.

Abstract: Partially purified salt containing less than about 00.4 weight percent insolubles is further purified to reduce the insolubles until the milk pad rating is 3 or better for certain industrial uses and 1 for human consumption. The entry salt is washed in clarified brine to dislodge insoluble impurities adhered to the salt surfaces. The washed salt is then scrubbed with fresh water sprays to displace the wash brine from salt surfaces. The washed salt is drained and then dried in a kiln where flowing air blows away some impurities. The dried salt is passed through a magnetic separator, doubly sifted to remove both large and small impurities, and, where food grade salt is required, passed through a color sorter that removes relatively dark impurities.

Abstract: A raw refuse processing apparatus disk screen separating bed has a series of interdigitated rotatable disk assemblies and is adapted to receive raw refuse at one end, including bagged refuse, and at an intermediate location along its length the separating bed is provided with a bag breaker arrangement comprising a floating carriage having bag delaying disk assemblies and overlying bag ripping disk assemblies of the separating bed.

Abstract: The invention is a cyclone-type particle classifier. It comprises an upper body section, with an inlet for a particle laden gas, and a lower conical section where classification occurs. The lower section comprises an inner foraminous portion and a coaxial outer solid walled portion. These are separated so as to define an annular-shaped volume between them. The two lower sections are further separated at their upper basal portion by an air gap which is in communication with the annular volume and the ambient atmosphere. The annular space is connected to one outlet duct at its apex while the inner volume of the foraminous portion is connected to another duct. These ducts lead to the suction side of appropriate fans. The two ducts serve as the only gas outlet means from the device.

Abstract: In order to wash inert materials, even of a large size, with a limited amount of washing liquid and with a lesser consumption of energy and without moving metal parts, apparatus having a plurality of tubular rotors (1) which are in side-by-side relation but spaced a distance from each other and are rigidly locked with a common shaft (13) which is horizontal or at an angle with respect to the horizontal, in which each rotor (1) has a plurality of transverse annular baffle plates (2) adapted to delimit corresponding annular channels (3) and having in each channel (3) a plurality of peripheral boxes (15). As the rotors (1) revolve, the washing liquid overflows to the outside over the lower baffle plate (2) of each rotor (1) and the material being washed, which is introduced through the mouth of the rotor (1) located at one end of the apparatus, advances against the current through all the rotors (1) until it is discharged from the mouth of the rotor (1) located at the other end.

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: Method and apparatus for making a sharp separation of solids into components which are finer than the screen mesh and coarser then the screen mesh. The solids ladened fluid is introduced onto a screen to separate coarse solids from fine solids. A tray containing a body of aqueous liquid is vibrated causing the aqueous liquid to repeatedly contact the solids while on the screen to provide the needed mobility for fine particles to pass through the screen with the liquid. The aqueous liquid returns to the tray and the vibration of the tray aids in removal of the fine solids which have passed through the screen from the tray. Aqueous liquid is continuously added to the tray or sprayed above the screen to keep accumulated solids from increasing the viscosity of the aqueous liquid in the tray.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating a papermaking suspension which includes an elevated receiver mounted at the top of a pedestal structure, there being a plurality of generally vertically oriented cleaners connected at the underside of the receiver and the pedestal structure providing conduit means through which the suspension to be cleaned is conveyed to the cleaners, rejected stock from the cleaners being returned to a subsequent cleaning operation and through which cleaned deaerated stock can be conveyed from the receiver to a point of use such as a papermaking machine.