Abstract: An apparatus for separating non-ferrous metal particles from residue composed of rubber, dirt, wood, plastic, glass, an the like, as well as the non-ferrous metal particles. The residue is transported by a conveyor belt over a pair of rotating magnetic separating discs which generate a magnetic field flux upward. This magnetic field flux induces an eddy current in the non-ferrous metal particles. The eddy current is a repulsive force to the magnetic field flux, which enables the non-ferrous metal particles to be levitated above the conveyor belt and the other residue material. The rotation of the field accelerates the particles off the side of the conveyor belt, into discharge chutes which collect the separated particles for recycling. The other residue material is collected at the end of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A magnetic repulsion assembly for separating copper particles from zinc particles, the assembly including a magnetic pulley having a radially decreasing flux density field surrounding the pulley, a belt wrapped around the magnetic pulley for supporting the particles and a resilient pulley mounted in close proximity to the magnetic pulley whereby the copper particles will be rotated into engagement with the surface of the resilient pulley and thrown outwardly therefrom at a greater trajectory than the zinc particles.

Abstract: A refuse material recovery system is shown and described including a blend of automatic material processing by size and density and manual separation or sorting procedures. Overall, the system optimizes recovery from refuse including municipal solid waste, commercial waste, commingled recyclables waste, and demolition waste. The system performs a primary size classification followed by ferrous separation steps, manual separation steps, and subsequent size classification steps. The process also provides separation by density, and eddy current method as well as air knife techniques. The system is further adapted to provide optional diversion capability to accommodate different end uses for recovered materials as a function of current market conditions. The system exhibits the desirable characteristics of efficiency, large capacity throughput, and cost effectiveness.

Abstract: A nonferrous material sorting apparatus comprises a screening device for screening nonferrous materials to be sorted into materials of a plurality of size ranges, a first sorting device for sorting the nonferrous materials of the minimum size range according to the weight ratio by an inclined vibrating air table supplied with air, and a second sorting device for sorting the nonferrous materials of the size range larger than the minimum size range according to the size in specific gravity of the nonferrous materials relative to constituent materials of a fluidized bed.

Abstract: A method of separating mixtures of microscopic dielectric particles in sunsions in an apparatus for carrying the method. A mixture of particles is forced onto guide paths by dielectrophoretic forces or by a flow of the suspension medium with an additional force, which is provided to compensate the force causing the particles to move along the guide paths for specific particle species causing the specific particle species to be fed out from the mixture of particles. The apparatus may be integrated on surfaces of silicon wafers at low cost and in mass-production numbers, and is suitable for isolating minute particles such as biological cells, cell organelles, bio molecules as well as organic dielectric particles.

Abstract: A system and method for separating an electrically conductive particulate material, such as gold, from other materials. A ferromagnetic core is formed in a torroidal-like shape and is provide with a gap. A coil is wound around the core and an alternating current is applied to the coil to induce an alternating magnetic field at the gap. A stream of particles is directed into the gap. The frequency of the alternating current is set according to the specific resistivity of the particulate material which is to be separated from the rest of the material and according to the size of the particles which are to be separated from the rest of the material. By properly adjusting or setting the frequency of the alternating magnetic field, the first particles are imparted a trajectory which is different than the trajectory of the second particles in the particle stream.

Abstract: A material separator apparatus having a continuous conveyor belt for support and transportation of materials to be separated and a motor to rotate the conveyor belt. The apparatus includes an electromagnet within the continuous belt to produce a magnetic field at the belt. An alternating current drives the electromagnet. This produces a magnetic field which in turn induces an eddy current in the materials to be separated. The eddy currents form the basis of a repulsive force which will produce different material trajectories based on the material properties such as conductivity and permeability. The wave form of the driving current is controlled to improve repulsive efficiency and help assist in differentiating among several classes of materials.

Abstract: A conductive material sorting device includes a belt conveyer for supplying materials to be sorted, a roller wound with the belt conveyer, a magnet rotor inserted into the roller to be arranged at a portion of the roller wound with the belt conveyer and having a magnet arranged to alternate N and S poles with each other, and a drive device for rotationally driving the magnet rotor in the same direction as the roller and in the revere direction. An alternating magnetic field is generated by the rotation of the magnet rotor making it possible to send away conductive materials contained in the materials to be sorted along the most distant locus due to the repulsive force of a magnetic field caused by the eddy current generated in the conductive materials accompanying the generation of the alternating field.

Abstract: An eddy current separator made up of a body made of magnetic material and having a surface curved about an axis. Spaced slots in the magnetic body extend shaped like part of a hollow cylindrical body having an outer surface and an inner surface. The surfaces and electrical coils are disposed in the slots. The coils can be connected to a source of multiphase electricity forming a traveling magnetic field projection from the curved surface. The field will induce eddy current in electrically conductive material supported on the curved surface thereby, separating electrically conductive material from other material.

Abstract: An oxide superconductor having good current-carrying characteristics can be manufactured by a method including the steps of mixing and baking a plurality of different kinds of ingredient material at a predetermined proportion and obtaining a mixed powder having oxide superconducting powder as a main ingredient, and the step of placing a magnet close to the mixed powder to separate the oxide superconducting powder through the utilization of the magnetic repulsive force due to the Meissner effect of the superconductor. In preferred embodiments, the separating step is carried out in a buoyancy medium and a filter is employed for unifying the particle size of the oxide superconductive powder within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A magnetic rotor for use with an eddy current separator. The rotor has a plurality of permanent magnets bonded to a polygonal outer periphery and undercuts are formed in the flat surfaces to relieve stresses due to differences in thermal co-efficient of expansion of the permanent magnets and the rotor structure. A carbon filament is wrapped around the permanent magnets under tension overcome the centrifugal force due to rotation of the rotor. The rotor is supported on a bearing sleeve that surrounds the rotor shaft with rotor bearings which support the rotor on the sleeve and the sleeve extends inwardly over the rotor shaft and the shell has shell bearings supported on the sleeve extension. Therefore, the sleeve supports the rotor independent of the shell so that the bearing of the shell and the bearing supporting the rotor are each independent of one another. The sleeve is supported on pillow blocks. The ends of the rotor are clamped to the rotor shaft by means of a locking assembly arrangement.

Abstract: A magnetic repulsion separator for separating a mixture of discrete particles having various electroconductivity characteristics, the separator including a main shaft, a pair of main bearings for supporting the shaft, a hollow rotor mounted on the shaft and having an even number of axially aligned notches around the outer perimeter thereof, a row of permanent magnets in each of the notches, each alternate row of magnets having opposite polarity, an outer nonmagnetic shell mounted for rotary motion on the main shaft and encircling the hollow rotor for carrying the discrete particles of material and a nonmagnetic mesh wrapped around the rows of magnets with a nonmagnetic adhesive provided in the spaces between the rows of the magnets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering metallic aluminum from furnace dross. The method includes reducing the particle size of the dross and passing the resulting dross particles over the surface of an inclined linear induction motor to separate the more conductive, aluminum-metal-containing particles from the less or non-conductive particles that contain little or no metallic aluminum. The linear induction motor provides an electromagnetic field that operates to levitate the conductive, aluminum-containing particles, while those particles that include little or no aluminum are not affected by the electromagnetic field. A flow splitter positioned at the lower end of the motor separates the conductive particles from the substantially non-conductive particles. Metallic aluminum recovery rates of about 55% and higher of the aluminum contained in the furnace dross have been achieved. The resulting product has been enriched by a factor of twelve times over that of the infeed material.

Abstract: A purification apparatus for superconductor fine particles is provided which comprises a device for forming a flow of powder containing the superconductor fine particles, and device for applying a magnetic field to the flow of the powder.

Abstract: An improved method of dry magnetic separation for separating materials of differing types and levels of magnetism from a raw sample is disclosed. The method includes precleaning the raw sample by first extracting a strongly magnetic fraction from a feebly magnetic fraction, followed by additional processing steps for the extraction of the feebly magnetic fraction and the collection of refined sampels for each fraction so separated. The recovered fractions are then analyzed for magnetic susceptibilities and are correlated to at least one identifying physical and/or chemcial characteristic in order to determine which fraction or fractions are to be recovered for further processing. Following that determination, the recovered fraction or fractions are processed for an additional magnetic separation step in order to yield a clean fraction.

Abstract: Non-magnetic, conductive particles are separated from one another on the basis of their respective electrical conductivities. This is achieved by irradiating the particles with microwave or radio frequency electromagnetic radiation and simultaneously subjecting the particles to a magnetic field. The eddy currents induced in the particles by the electromagnetic irradiation interact with the magnetic field to cause movements of the particles which are dependent on their conductivities.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for separating shredded particles, for instance particles of used beverage cans, into respective fractions that contain greater amounts of one of a plurality of alloys from which the cans have been made. The method includes screening the shredded material to provide particles having a desired particle size, and gravimetrically separating the screened particles into a plurality of groups based upon the mass of the particles. The heaviest bulk density group of particles is selected for further processing and is first preferably passed through a flattening device to flatten the particles, which are then conveyed through a varying magnetic field provided by a linear induction motor so that the particles containing higher concentrations of higher conductivity alloys can be further separated from particles of alloys having lower electrical conductivities.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for magnetically beneficiating a raw sample, such as coal or lunar soil is disclosed. The beneficiation is achieved using a novel of fractionating the sample into components of different magnetic susceptibilities. The results of the fractionation may be used to determine the type of magnet to be employed for large scale operations, as well as the appropriate fraction or fractions to be recovered for further processing.

Abstract: Electrodynamic separation of non-ferromagnetic, free-flowing materials, in which at least one component of the material to be processed is electrically conductive, whereby such material is caused to free-fall into a region of space permeated by time and space varying magnetic fields which induce eddy currents in the electrically conductive particles which produce forces on such particles that result in substantially different free-fall trajectory than that of nonconductive particles. Conductive particles are separated on the basis of mass, electrical conductivity and magnetic susceptibility. The time and space varying magnetic fields are generated by a plurality of permanent magnets or electromagnets attached to a rotor assembly such that the polarity of adjacent magnets is caused to reverse so that rotation of the rotor assembly generates magnetic fields which may vary in time and space to the maximum extent.

Abstract: A magnetic separator is provided in which a conveyor belt is conducted over a belt drum to transport relatively electrically conductive particles. A magnetic system consisting of permanent magnets or electromagnets is rotated at a high speed at an eccentric location within the belt drum so that an air gap between the outer surface of the magnet system and the inner surface of the belt drum is not constant. As a result, the magnetic lines of force lose their influence on an iron particle coming between the belt drum and the conveyor belt. These iron particles can be removed from the belt drum or the conveyor belt by scrapers to avoid damage to the belt drum.

Abstract: The eddy current separator apparatus disclosed herein employs first and second cylinders, each of which is provided with means for generating a circumferential series of radially directed magnetic poles of alternating polarity. The cylinders are mounted for rotation around parallel axes with an essentially vertical gap between them. A mixture of electrically conductive and non-conductive particles can be fed into the gap from one side. The cylinders are rotated synchronously in opposite directions with poles of opposite polarity facing across the gap, at a speed substantially higher than the speed of mixture feed. Electrically conductive non-magnetic particles are impelled by eddy currents generated by the magnetic flux projected across the gap by the faacing moving poles and can be received or collected separately from free falling non-conductive particles.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of separating predetermined non-magnetic electrically conductive items from a flow of non-magnetic electrically conductive materials containing such items and other non-magnetic electrically conductive materials comprising the steps of passing the flow of materials adjacent to electromagnetic field generating apparatus; controlling the flux field generated by the apparatus such as to create electrical currents within the predetermined electrically conductive items which react with the generated electromagnetic flux field causing the creation of a directional force upon the predetermined items such as to move only the predetermined electrically conductive items out of and away from the flow of material.

Abstract: A method is described for separating a mixture of flat metal alloy particles in which the particles of one alloy are generally smaller and less conductive than the particles of another alloy, e.g. a scrap mixture of aluminum-lithium alloy and other wrought aluminum alloys. In this method, the scrap mixture is thermally pretreated and then crushed into relatively flat particles, such that the aluminum-lithium alloy is fragmented into smaller particle sizes than the otehr wrought alloys. These particles are then physically separated based on differences in particle size, density and/or electric conductivity. For instance, the separation may be done by an eddy current separator or a dense media separator.

Abstract: The operation of an apparatus for separating non-magnetizable metals, in particular non-ferrous metals, from a solid mixture by means of an alternating magnetic field is improved and the construction of the apparatus simplified by arranging the magnetic field generator adjacent to a straight, curved or bent slideway of a material of poor electrical conductivity.

Abstract: A magnetic field separation system includes a magnet unit having first and second pole members forming a linear gap with a relatively high magnetic field density therebetween. A flow chamber comprised of first and second optically transparent slides mounted so as to define a generally planar fluid pathway therebetween, passes a biological fluid over the linear gap at an angle, with flow through the pathway being accomplished by gravity and capillary action. Biological fluid, when sensitized to magnetic reaction, passes through the fluid pathway, thereby resulting in perceivable separation of the sensitized particles.

Abstract: The specification and drawings describe a series of devices and methods for classifying and separating superconductive particles. The superconductive particles may be separated from non-superconductive particles, and the superconductive particles may be separated by degrees of susceptibility to the Meissner effect force. The particles may also be simultaneously separated by size or volume and mass to obtain substantially homogeneous groups of particles. The separation techniques include levitation, preferential sedimentation and preferential concentration. Multiple separation vector forces are disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein an invention for beneficiation of powered material having superconducting characteristics and processes for carrying it out. The invention involves introducing powdered superconducting material into the vertical field of a magnet wherein particles thereof are levitated according to the Meissner Effect. Particles which are more superconducting levitate at higher elevations or states above the magnet than do particles containing phases that are non-superconducting. Particles that are non-superconducting do not react at all in the magnetic field. Levitated particles are selectively harvested from whatever states desired.

Abstract: An apparatus for magnetically separating and collecting particulate matter fractions of a raw sample according to relative magnetic susceptibilities of each fraction so collected is disclosed. The separation apparatus includes a splitter which is used in conjunction with a magnetic separator for achieving the desired fractionation.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of effecting the separation of paramagnetic particles from non-paramagnetic particles in the fine and finest particle size ranges of approximately below 1 mm suspended in a fluid medium by the passage of the fluid medium through an apparatus having a separation channel suitable for containing a flow of the fluid medium flowing therethrough and which includes at least two exits suitable for separating the paramagnetic particle enriched fluid medium from the paramagnetic particles depleted fluid medium into two product streams, the separation channel defining the direction of the fluid medium flow being at least partially paralleledly oriented with respect to a magnetic induction member such that the magnetic flux exerted upon the paramagnetic particles within the fluid medium flow are repulsed from the induction member and entrained within the fluid medium to countereffect the effect of inertial forces or gravitational forces on the fluid flow, and separated from the non-paramagnetic

Abstract: A mineral separator system providing for the removal of conductor and semiconductor materials from a pulp fluid containing nonconducting materials. Pairs of spaced magnet assemblies provide alternate or successive magnetic fields obliquely across a separation chamber through which the pulp fluid flows. Eddy currents set up in the conductors cause the conductor particles to migrate to a wall in accordance with the orientation of the magnetic field. Electrical stimulation of the semiconductors through the pulp fluid causes the semiconductors to have eddy currents induced therein.

Abstract: The disclosed invention provides method and apparatus for the separation of diamagnetic and paramagnetic particulate material. The invention utilizes a magnetic roll formed of either alternating permanent magnet and nonmagnetic spacer disc elements or alternating saperdisc elements and disc elements in which magnetism is induced. The dry admixture to be separated into magnetically homogeneous fractions is fed as a plurality of discrete streams onto spaced points on the upper surface of the rotating roll. The feed material undergoes lateral separation on the face of the roll and the materials of different properties part from the surface of the roll at different angular positions, thereby enabling their separate collection. For this purpose a plurality of receptacles are provided in a horizontally spaced relationship to collect the individual streams of diamagnetic material as they leave the surface of the rotating roll.

Abstract: The specification describes specie-separating and concentration-enhancing methods and apparatus which operate on a substantially continual basis. The constituents of a mixture are separated according to their respective influencability by motion in the direction of a separation influence and the species of like net influencability are transported in substantially continuous streams, each of opposite net influencability running near each other, in a direction or directions transverse to the separation influence, the streams being in communication parallel to the separation influence so as to transfer at least one of the separable species from one stream to another stream by virtue of continued separation of influenceable species as the respective streams progress transversely to the separation influence. The two streams can run in the same direction (co-current) or in respectively opposite directions (countercurrent).

Abstract: A drum-like rotor having numerous, closely spaced, elongated rows formed of permanent magnets arranged end-to-end and secured to the outer surface of the rotor, produces a high-density, rapidly reversing magnetic field in a band-like zone which is spaced a short distance from, and extends along the length of, the rotor outer surface. The magnetic field induces eddy currents in pieces of different metals passed through the zone which produces repulsive magnetic forces of different intensities in different metal pieces, and thus, magnetically separates such pieces. The rows of magnets, in their radial direction, are alternatingly thicker and thinner, so that the outer surface of the thinner rows are depressed relative to their adjacent thicker rows. The outer surface of the magnets of each thicker row have a polarity which is opposite to the polarity of their next adjacent thicker row magnets, and the direction of the magnetic polarity of the magnets of the thicker rows are radial relative to the rotor.

Abstract: A materials separator apparatus comprising a base supporting a ramp type of materials receiving surface sloped longitudinally and transversely with respect to the base for directing commingled dielectric items and electrically conductive items of nonferromagnetic materials deposited on its upper end portion along a fall path extended longitudinally and transversely downward of the surface, and a planar series of substantially parallel permanent bar magnets supported in contiguous rows in a plane substantially parallel to the material receiving surface and sufficiently close thereto for establishing along the surface a spatially alternating array of oppositely directed static magnetic fields which extend in substantially parallel relationship transversely of the surface at an oblique angle with the fall path of the commingled items.

Abstract: Mixed pieces of different non-ferrous metals are sorted by initially moving the pieces through a high density, rapidly changing magnetic flux field, and immediately thereafter, freely moving the pieces along unsupported forwardly and downwardly directed trajectories resulting from the momentum of the pieces, the force of gravity and the magnetically induced repulsive forces developed in the pieces by the flux field. The magnitude of the magnetically induced repulsive forces differ for different non-ferrous metals so that the lengths of the trajectories of generally similar size and shape pieces vary accordingly for separating pieces formed of different metals. The magnetic field is provided by a horizontally axised, rapidly rotating, hollow, liquid cooled, iron wall drum having magnets affixed to its outer surface. The magnets are arranged in rows that are formed of numerous, tile-like, small, permanent magnets which are positioned end to end, with their like polarity ends adjacent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating at least one superconductive phase from a multiphase material which may contain multiple superconductive phases and a normal phase by the use of diamagnetic force. A material containing multiple phases is pulverized into granules approximately the grain size of a selected superconductive phase and is then subjected to a force to cause movement of the particles in a particular direction. The selected superconductive phase is made superconducting by cooling the material below its transition temperature. Diamagnetic force is then generated by an applied magnetic field which deflects and separates the superconducting granules but has substantially no effect on the nonsuperconducting granules. Conversely, the selected superconductive phase has a magnetic field applied to it and then is made superconducting to cause a separation.

Abstract: A method for continuous separation of magnetizable paramagnetic and/or diamagnetic particles from a flowing fluid laden with the particles includes guiding the flow through a separation region, penetrated by a high-gradient magnetic field along a primary flow route. The particle-laden fluid flow of the separation region is supplied in the form of a multiplicity of partial flows, each passing through feed zones supplied from the direction of the outer periphery of the separation region and through feed openings of flow guiding bodies. The feed openings are distributed over the cross section of the separation region in the form of at least one feed hole field. The partial flows are then guided inside the separation region through at least one separation hole field of pole element orifices distributed over the cross section of the separation region and associated wall parts which are penetrated by the primary magnetic flux in the direction of the axes of their orificies.

Abstract: In separating a mixture of solid material particles including non-magnetic electrically conductive metals into a light fraction and a heavy fraction, where the light fraction includes the non-magnetic particles, the mixture is directed into an upwardly extending airflow passageway from an inlet channel extending laterally from the passageway. The inlet channel is spaced between the inlet and outlet ends of the passageway. An alternating magnetic field is provided adjacent the entrance of the mixture into the airflow passageway for accelerating the particles in the desired direction. The mixture is fed through the inlet channel into the airflow passageway in layer form, preferably as a single layer. A main flow of air passes upwardly through the airflow passageway from the lower inlet end and develops a highly turbulent vortex-like airflow. The airflow, in combination with the magnetic field, effects separation of the light and heavy fractions of the material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recycling cans is disclosed. Discrimination of overweight conductive material from acceptable conductive materials from a mixed material input, while maintaining a high level of acceptable material recovery is achieved by control of the input to the separation system, as well as control of the separation mechanism.

Abstract: A magnetic process and apparatus for separating out small electrically conductive particles dispersed in a finely ground, relatively non-conductive medium by means of magnetic fields. More specifically, a steady or relatively slowly varying field is provided, and a higher frequency magnetic field induces magnetic dipoles into the conducting particles, which are displaced by the steady magnetic field to thereby effect separation. The magnetic separation process selectively applies a force on a conductive particle so as to either remove it from the bulk of the non-conductive material or increase the concentration of conductive particles in a given volume of space. The effectiveness of the separation process improves with increasing size of the particle; however, the process can be used for particle sizes that would be classed as "very fine".

Abstract: In separating a mixture of solid material particles including non-magnetic electrically conductive metals into a light fraction and a heavy fraction, where the light fraction includes the non-magnetic particles, the mixture is directed into an upwardly extending airflow passageway from an inlet channel extending laterally from the passageway. The inlet channel is spaced between the inlet and outlet ends of the passageway. An alternating magnetic field is provided adjacent the entrance of the mixture into the airflow passageway for accelerating the particles in the desired direction. The mixture is fed through the inlet channel into the airflow passageway in layer form, preferably as a single layer. A main flow of air passes upwardly through the airflow passageway from the lower inlet end and develops a highly turbulent vortex-like airflow. The airflow, in combination with the magnetic field, effects separation of the light and heavy fractions of the material.

Abstract: A method to isolate the paramagnetic fractions of a sediment to beneficiate the platinum and platinum group element ores therein comprising a differential magnetic filtration separation process.

Abstract: A process for the treating of zircon to remove a coating which contains iron from the surface of individual grains to make them move amenable to electrostatic and magnetic separation, wherein the method comprises coating the zircon grains with a strong basic reagent, calcining the coated grains and treating the calcined grains to remove the calcined impurities.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for recovering metal and plastic from plastic insulated wire. Plastic insulated wire is first chopped or otherwise comminuted to reduce the wire size. The bare metal, typically copper or aluminum, is separated from the insulation and insulated wire by aspiration or electrostatic separation. The plastic insulation is then separated from the insulated wire and any remaining bare metal by eddy current separation, typically in a linear induction motor, resulting in three fractions, the bare metal, the pure plastic, and the remaining plastic insulated wire pieces. The latter may be further processed, as by impact milling to separate the plastic from the metal, and then recycled to separate bare metal, plastic insulation, and insulated wire.

Abstract: A system for separation of non-magnetic metal particles in a mixture using an inclined rotating drum and the action of a travelling electromagnetic field. The mixture is introduced at the upper end of the inclined drum which is externally driven about its outer circumference in one direction. Simultaneously, a shifting electromagnetic field is generated along the lower part of the outer periphery of the drum in an opposite direction to rotation of the drum. The mixture as it travels through the drum is repeatedly moved upward in the direction of drum rotation along the inner wall due to frictional forces or in the direction of the shifting electromagnetic field. The successive raising and tumbling to the bottom of the drum provides complete stirring and promotes separation irrespective of particle size. The force of the electromagnetic field is not reduced by coverage with non-magnetic particles and a clear path exists since the interior of the drum is free of any obstructions.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a nonmagnetic conductive material from a nonmagnetic nonconductive material. The separation apparatus comprises a drum arranged in a tilted fashion and rotating in one direction about the longitudinal central axis and a chute for throwing a material being separated into the drum from the upper opening thereof. The material supplied through the chute into the drum is agitated by rotation of the drum, and the nonmagnetic conductive material of the material thus supplied into the drum receives an electromagnetic force produced by a magnetic field moving in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the drum, so as to be separated from the nonmagnetic nonconductive material. In order to increase the agitation effect for the material supplied into the drum, the chute is biased from the center of the upper opening of the drum to one side of the center depending on the rotational direction of the drum, and shoulder portions are provided on the inner peripheral wall of the drum.

Abstract: Materials separator apparatus for segregating electrically conductive particles having a wide range of sizes from a stream of commingled materials. The apparatus includes a material feeder device disposed for directing the commingled particles into a stream. A spatially alternating, steady-state array of juxtaposed, oppositely directed magnetic fields of varying widths is established adjacent the stream. As the materials pass through the magnetic fields, forces exerted on the electrically conductive particles cause lateral deflection of these particles from the stream thereby providing the desired separation. Because the widths of the magnetic fields vary over a wide range, the apparatus provides effective separation of a wide range of sizes of electrically conductive particles.

Abstract: One or more mineral values of sulfide ores are beneficiated by cotreating the sulfide ore with a metal containing compound and a reducing gas under conditions such as to selectively enhance the magnetic susceptibility of the mineral values to the exclusion of the gangue in order to permit a physical separation between the values and gangue.

Abstract: Electrically-conducting particles may be separated from mixtures thereof containing non-conducting particles by conveying the mixture through a magnetic field oriented angularly with respect to the part of conveyance. The magnetic field induces magnetic poles in the conducting particles, causing them to deflect from the path of movement of the mixture as they attempt to move in the angular orientation of the magnetic field. The non-conducting particles are unaffected, so that a separation may be achieved. The invention is applicable to a wide variety of materials, such as ores or tailings which contain desired electrically-conducting particles, such as, iron oxide, and unwanted gangue constituents.