Abstract: A method of installing a sleeve within an vortex finder of a cyclone separator to adjust the diameter of the vortex setting. To facilitate installation of the sleeve, the dish-shaped bottom of the cyclone is mounted on a plate which can be lowered and then pivoted aside. The sleeve is provided with a collar which is stitch welded to the vortex finder to retain the sleeve in place. Alternatively, the collar and vortex finder are provided with a bayonet joint to releasably retain the sleeve. A kit of sleeve assemblies of different diameters is provided to accommodate the adjustment of the vortex setting.

Abstract: A method of coal washing at low speed pumping using a centrifugal cyclone of circular cross section having a bowl of diameter B and fitted with a vortex finder, a vortex finder sleeve, a dish, an orifice at the bottom and an inlet near the top in which a critical geometry is provided for the dish as part of a one-piece orifice dish unit so that the recovery of coal can be adjusted at low pumping speed of the water entering the inlet. The pumping speed may vary from 6 to 16 feet of water per second under a pressure of 8 to 15 psig. The orifice dish unit is made of a specified abrasion resistant material.

Abstract: An adjustable vortex finder and kit in a cyclone for adjusting the flow of light fractions from the top outlet of a cyclone comprising a vortex finder, a kit comprising a plurality of sleeve attached by welding with the vortex finder so that each sleeve of the kit may replace any other sleeve. All sleeves of the kit have the same length. The lower edge of each sleeve is even with the top edge of the cyclone dish or is above the top edge of the cyclone by a distance no greater than 0.26B where B is the inner diameter of the cyclone bowl. A collar having an inner opening receives the sleeves of the kit. Each sleeve has a different diameter than the other sleeve in the set of sleeves forming the kit and these diameters vary in dimension between the 0.3B up to 0.5B wherein B is the inner diameter of the cyclone bowl.

Abstract: A method of installing a sleeve within an vortex finder of a cyclone separator to adjust the diameter of the vortex setting. To facilitate installation of the sleeve, the dish-shaped bottom of the cyclone is mounted on a plate which can be lowered and then pivoted aside. The sleeve is provided with a collar which is stitch welded to the bottom of the vortex finder to retain the sleeve in place. Alternatively, the collar and vortex finder are provided with a bayonet joint to releasably retain the sleeve. A kit of sleeve assemblies of different diameters is provided to accomodate the adjustment of the vortex setting.

Abstract: A replaceable shallow bottom dish assembly of novel geometry and critical settings which are fixed for the vortex finder and orifice outlet to establish washing efficiency, quality and recovery for ash and inorganic sulfur removal in the water washing of coal. Some operating linear adjustments are the fixed settings of the dish curvature at the throat, the dish depth or height and the distance between the bottom of the vortex finder and the top of the dish. These critical adjustments are best expressed as a fraction of the cyclone inside diameter. The replaceable shallow dish is abrasion resistant and includes an orifice unit supported by a plate bolted to the lower end of the cyclone and designed to be lowered and pivoted away from the cyclone so as to enable easy access into the cyclone for adjustment and repair.

Abstract: An inlet line deflector and equalizer means for a cyclone for washing crushed and sized coal with water wherein low density (1.6 or less) washed coal particles escape through the outlet pipe above the bottom collector through the box of the cyclone while higher density (1.7 or higher) siliceous impurities drain out of the cyclone bottom. The higher density impure fractions may be recycled in another cyclone to further fractionate into purified coal and refuse. Pure coal particles flow out through the outlet pipe above the box and impure particles containing shale, rock, clay, etc. drain at the bottom. Laminar flow is uniquely created by (1) providing high solids of about 18% to 50%, (2) at high velocity of about 18 to 28 feet per second within the cyclone and (3) by placement of an inlet line deflector in a predetermined critical dimension in the intake pipe.

Abstract: A crushed raw coal washing plant using a plurality of deflector-fitted centrifugal cyclones to produce a washed and dried mixture of clean coarse and fine coal, and fine coal alone, with means to remove refuse and means to recycle clean fine coal slurry by-product into the raw crushed coal inlet. Each centrifugal cyclone of said system is fitted with an inlet line deflector and equalizer means to create laminar flow and gravity separation whereby low density (1.6 or less) washed coal escapes through a first outlet at the top and refuse drains out of a second outlet at the bottom of said cyclone.

Abstract: A single stage or multi-stage coal washing plant comprises a plurality of bunched cyclones supplied with raw crushed coal water slurry at high solids content and high velocity common from a tank through a distributor line that contains an equalizer for supplying equal quantities of solids to each cyclone through an inlet pipe having a critically dimensioned deflector that assists in maintaining streamlined laminar flow. A dewatering screen is used in combination with a centrifugal drier; the water separated from the refuse and clean coal is recycled to a silt pond. A make up water reservoir receives the overflowing water from the silt pond and a caustic soda tank supplies sodium hydroxide between the pump and the reservoir to neutralize acidity during continuous operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a generally flat triangularly shaped metal deflector for installation to the interior non-tangential surface of an inlet pipe to the bowl of a centrifugal separating cyclone. The deflector constricts the inlet cross section to the bowl by about 19% to about 32%. The process comprises the steps of selecting a pipe section of the same size as the inlet pipe and marking the chord ends at the center angle between 118.degree. and 149.degree., preferably close to 120.degree.

Abstract: A sink-float method and apparatus for testing and separating a mineral such as coal in mineral products containing inert matter which employs a novel trapezoidally shaped testing tank, a mixture of perchloroethylene as a parting liquid and white gasoline as a dispersant and surfactant, and an implement in the form of a long stirring rod angulated at its end. The tank is provided with bars at the bottom to limit the movement of the implement. The invention provides a quick and precise test for specific gravity of raw crushed coal and its impurities.