Abstract: A separator for extracting magnetic material from an airstream of magnetic material and non-magnetic material includes a planar chamber with an inlet port, outlet port and a waste port, and a series of magnets in a plane parallel to the chamber. The magnets rotate about a common axis thereby drawing magnetic material around the chamber and towards the outlet port whilst non-magnetic material is remains in the airstream and is discharged by the waste port.

Abstract: A mill for the comminution of particulate material by impact means including a shell rotating at super critical velocity and a gyrating mandrel. Material introduced to the mill forms a bed on the inner surface of the shell and is then crushed by the impact of the gyrating mandrel. The axis of rotation of the shell is in angularly displaced from the axis of gyration of the mandrel to transport material through the mill.

Abstract: A separator for extracting magnetic material from an airstream of magnetic material and non-magnetic material includes a planar chamber with an inlet port, outlet port and a waste port, and a series of magnets in a plane parallel to the chamber. The magnets rotate about a common axis thereby drawing magnetic material around the chamber and towards the outlet port whilst non-magnetic material is remains in the airstream and is discharged by the waste port.

Abstract: A mill for the comminution of particulate material by impact means including a shell rotating at super critical velocity and a gyrating mandrel. Material introduced to the mill forms a bed on the inner surface of the shell and is then crushed by the impact of the gyrating mandrel. The axis of rotation of the shell is in angularly displaced from the axis of gyration of the mandrel to transport material through the mill.

Abstract: A grinding mill for particulate material includes a rotary container having an inner surface, a material feed for feeding the particulate material to the container, a first rotary drive rotating the container about a first rotational axis, and a shear inducing member contacting the particulate material in the container so as to induce shearing in the particulate material layer. The shear inducing member is mounted about a second axis, which is angularly displaced from the rotational axis of the container. The mill may also include an angle adjustment mechanism for adjusting the relative angular displacement of the container rotational axis and the shear member axis.

Abstract: A grinding mill has a rotating container (40) into which particulate material is fed. The container is rotated above critical speed to form a layer which is retained under high pressure against the container inner surface. Shearing discs (58) mounted inside the container induce shearing of the layer to promote particle fracture by shearing and abrasion in the pressurized layer. Fine ground material travels axially to the container discharge end (64). In one form of the invention, the container is rotated at sufficient speed to form a series of solidified zones (70) alternated with stirred zones (72) next to non-rotating shearing discs (58). These solidified zones act as solid discs rotating with the container.

Abstract: A centrifugal jig has a container mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis (22), separated into an axial region (32) and a peripheral region by ragging material (41) supported by a screen (30). The peripheral region is composed of a series of hutch chambers (34) with reciprocating wall portions (45) located radially outside the screen (30), for repetitively dilating the ragging. Also disclosed is a hutch chamber construction applicable to both rotary and non-rotary jigs, having a reciprocating wall portion (45) which includes convergent wall surfaces leading to the hutch chamber concentrate outlet (44).

Abstract: An autogenous grinding mill (10) includes a support casting (12) and a drive motor (14) which rotates a drum (18) defining a generally cylindrical grinding chamber. The other end of the chamber has a discharge opening (22) through which a stationary shaft (24) passes. One or more shear-inducing members (26, 26′) are affixed to the shaft (24). A continuous feed of flowable particulate material, for example a slurry or power, is introduced to the rotating grinding chamber via feed passage (28) passing trough the stationary shaft (24). The mill also includes means for introducing a fluid into a layer of material being ground to contact that material. This means can be the same passage (28) used for the feed material or might be a separate passage.

Abstract: A grinding mill has a rotating container (40) into which particulate material is fed. The container is rotated above critical speed to form a layer which is retained under high pressure against the container inner surface. Shearing discs (58) mounted inside the container induce shearing of the layer to promote particle fracture by shearing and abrasion in the pressurized layer. Fine ground material travels axially to the container discharge end (64). In one form of the invention, the container is rotated at sufficient speed to form a series of solidified zones (70) alternated with stirred zones (72) next to non-rotating shearing discs (58). These solidified zones act as solid discs rotating with the container.

Abstract: A grinding mill has a rotating container (40) into which particulate material is fed. The container is rotated above critical speed to form a layer which is retained under high pressure against the container inner surface. Shearing discs (58) mounted inside the container induce shearing of the layer to promote particle fracture by shearing and abrasion in the pressurised layer. Fine ground material travels axially to the container discharge end (64). In one form of the invention, the container is rotated at sufficient speed to form a series of solidified zones (70) alternated with stirred zones (72) next to non-rotating shearing discs (58). These solidified zones act as solid discs rotating with the container.

Abstract: A centrifugal jig has a container mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis (22), separated into an axial region (32) and a peripheral region by ragging material (41) supported by a screen (30). The peripheral region is composed of a series of hutch chambers (34) with reciprocating wall portions (45) located radially outside the screen (30), for repetitively dilating the ragging.

Abstract: A centrifugal jig has a container mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis. The container is separated into an axial region and a peripheral region by ragging material supported by a screen. The peripheral region is composed of a series of hutch chambers with reciprocating wall portions located radially outside the screen, for repetitively dilating the ragging. The disclosed hutch chamber construction has a reciprocating wall portion which includes convergent wall surfaces that narrow toward the hutch chamber concentrate outlet.

Abstract: A power unit, energizable by solar heat, having a thermodynamic system including an evaporator, vapor pressure actuated motor, pump and condenser, the motor being arranged to operate upon evaporation of fluid in the evaporator, which is subsequently condensed and pumped back into the evaporator. The vapor pressure actuated motor is coupled to a hydraulic pump which in turn drives a hydraulic motor. The fluid in the thermodynamic circuit is a low temperature boiling fluid, preferably a fluoro carbon refrigerant, so that use can be made of "low grade" heat.