Abstract: Described is a conveyor sluice system useful for mining fine particles of target minerals, such as gold, that are difficult to collect and are therefore often discarded. Several conveyor sluice arrangements discussed herein use a textured belt that is wrapped around head and tail pulley rollers. Post hydrocyclone aggregate distributor feeds conveyor sluice slurry onto the textured belt near the head pulley roller. As the conveyor sluice slurry flows down the textured belt surface, concentrated aggregate (rich in target heavy minerals) settles and gets trapped in the belt texture. At least one belt cleaning rinse nozzle aims rinse water at the textured outer surface and sprays the concentrated aggregate out from the belt texture. A concentrate launder collects the rinsed off concentrated aggregate and pumps it to a finishing table where the target minerals are separated and collected.

Abstract: A printing head for a printing system is disclosed. The printing head comprises a plurality of compartments, each having an outlet port for depositing liquid and an inlet port separately connectable to a separate liquid container. At least two compartments are in controllable fluid communication with each other, and the printing head comprises an arrangement of sensors configured for generating signals indicative of (i) a filling state of each compartment, and (ii) a fluid communication state between the at least two compartments.

Abstract: A separating apparatus for the sink and float separation of a mineral raw material according to density using a liquid. The separating apparatus includes a rotatable drum including a plurality of sink-product pockets for discharging a sink product of the mineral raw material. The apparatus also includes a raw material inlet for delivering the raw material into the liquid bath, a first liquid inlet and first liquid outlet including an overflow disposed at a top level of the liquid bath, and a second liquid inlet and second liquid outlet. The separating apparatus also includes a front deflecting barrier and a rear deflecting barrier, each projecting into the liquid bath from above and disposed over an entire width of the liquid bath. In addition, a method for the sink and float separation according to density of a mineral raw material using a liquid.

Abstract: A system for delivering the same or differing controllable amounts of washing liquid to several flights of a spiral separator including a housing, a plurality of spaced members having a respective generally vertical passage communicating with fluid in the housing and permitting fluid to flow therethrough. A plurality of fluid passageways respectively communicate with the members to provide the same or differing amounts of liquid to each of the flights. The distributor housing may include a central liquid receiving chamber, a plurality of spaced compartments located in proximity with the chamber, a plurality of passages throughwhich fluid flows into fluid passageways respectively coupled to the compartments, a single flow controller rotatable therein to expose different portions of said passages at every rotation thereby varying the liquid flow to each compartment.

Abstract: A system for delivering the same or differing controllable amounts of washing liquid to several flights of a spiral separator including a housing, a plurality of spaced members having a respective generally vertical passage communicating with fluid in the housing and permitting fluid to flow therethrough. A plurality of fluid passageways respectively communicate with the members to provide the same or differing amounts of liquid to each of the flights. The distributor housing may include a central liquid receiving chamber, a plurality of spaced compartments located in proximity with the chamber, a plurality of passages through which fluid flows into fluid passageways respectively coupled to the compartments, a single flow controller rotatable therein to expose different portions of said passages at every rotation thereby varying the liquid flow to each compartment.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for separating contaminants from particulate material for separating undesirable debris from particulate material such as sand or gravel quickly and efficiently for increasing the production of separated gravel. A conveyor having a frame and a belt with corrugated side walls defining a channel for retaining water. The conveyor includes a second roller adjacent a rear portion of the conveyor, wherein a cornice of the second roller is preferably at an elevation equivalent to an upper edge of the corrugated side walls. At least one dividing member having a front edge, wherein the front edge projects into an upper layer of water within the channel for separating the upper layer from a lower layer of the water. Water is supplied to the channel adjacent the rear portion and a mixture of contaminated rock is supplied thereafter through a delivery chute.

Abstract: An improved jig screen for a centrifugal jig includes a recovery zone and a stratification zone adjacent to one another. The stratification zone is constructed to prohibit outward radial passage of slurry particles while permitting fluid pulsations to be imparted to the slurry during jig screen rotation. The stratification zone axially leads to the recovery zone. The recovery zone has openings permitting passage of particles in the slurry and through which fluid pulsations are directed to the slurry during jig screen rotation. The combination of applying centrifugal force and fluid pulsations to a pre-stratified slurry more effectively separates the heavy particles passing through the recovery zone of the jig screen from the lightweight particles discharged at its exit end.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating grain material and for sorting out heavy inclusions from a product flow, particularly stones from gain material, in which the product flow is fed to an inclined layering table and guided so as to be substantially layered thereon. The layering table being acted upon by air flow and oscillated in such a way that the heavy inclusions lying directly thereon are conveyed up the table and guided away separately at the higher end. The feeding of the product flow is effected by way of a feed duct which opens to into the area of the higher end of the table and feeds the product into the separating zone of the product layers as a flow across the widest possible surface area, the separating zone being located in the area of the higher end of the table. The table has air guides for circulating. On an upper side, a closed hood is arranged and on an end side, a product feed portion is arranged. In the middle thereof, an outlet suction portion coupled to the closed hood is arranged.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for removing unwanted foreign material from particulate material. The apparatus and process find particular application in the pulp and paper industry to remove contaminating plastic material from wood chips. The apparatus includes a transporting conveyor for moving the particulate material between a inlet area and an outlet area and a vibrating motor for vibrating the conveyor to sort the particulate material and the foreign material. Heated rollers heated to a temperature sufficient to render the foreign material tacky are applied to the sorted material and cause the foreign material to adhere thereto such that the foreign material is extracted from the particulate material which is delivered to the outlet area.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for separating grain mixture, e.g. for separating heavy inclusions, such as stones (28), from grain product, in which the product is guided via an inclined oscillating layering table surface, through which air flows, so as to be substantially layered and the layering air is guided as recycle air, wherein the recycle air used for the layering of the product is guided through separate guides for the inlet and outlet air, and the guides are oscillated jointly with the layering table surface.

Abstract: A mineral benefication apparatus having a housing, including opposed stratification hoppers arranged at its lower periphery. Particulate material and water are introduced separately into the housing, which is then oscillated to separate a portion of the particulate material. The apparatus can be modified to operate either on land or in a sea environment.

Abstract: A juice processing module is provided in a raw juice stream to aid in the separation of the juice stream into clarified juice and pulpy juice. Raw juice is forced through directed orifices at a separating screen carried in a containment housing. Juice outlet ports are provided for the clarified juice and the pulpy juice.

Abstract: A product separator having a flotation tank through which a quantity of product is passed in a flow of water. A shaped duct having a horizontal capture leg and an upwardly inclined discharge leg is connected into the floor of the tank so that the entrance of the capture leg communicates with the flow and an upper exit in the discharge leg empties into a vibratory hopper. A raised gate passes upwardly into the flow and directs less buoyant product into the capture leg. An ejector is positioned in the bottom of the capture leg and is arranged to direct a continuous high velocity stream of water across the transition region between the two legs into the discharge chute into a segregation hopper.

Abstract: A separator suitable for processing agriculture products in a fluidized bed flowing through an inclined trough under the influence of gravity. The fluidization medium is recirculated from the output end of the trough back to the input end thereof using a recirculation drum horizontally disposed laterally encircling the output end of the trough and supported for rotation about its own longitudinal axis. The inner surface of the drum includes an endless series of receiving pockets for collecting sand below the output end of the trough and lifting it thereabove. A damper at the output end of the trough is used to accelerate the establishment of the fluidized bed therein by temporarily obstructing the flow of fluidized bed. An ultrasonic sensor is used to determine the depth of the trough and based thereon to control the rate at which fluidization medium is provided thereto.

Abstract: A gas is forced upwardly through a fluidization medium, such as sand, producing a fluidized bed which flows under the influence of gravity through an inclined trough. The separation of the side walls of the trough decreases in the direction of flow of the fluidized bed increasing the depth thereof. The apparent density of the fluidized bed is maintained substantially uniform, regardless of the increase in depth, by correspondingly increasing the pressure of the air forced through the medium in a manner corresponding to the depth thereof. A gas distribution plate beneath the fluidization medium having a higher resistance to the flow of gas than the layer of fluidization medium thereabove contributes to the maintenance of a substantially uniform apparent density in the fluidized bed despite variations in its depth.

Abstract: Mixed scrap metal pieces 6 are sorted in a fluidised hindered settler containing sand, through which the pieces settle at a differential rate. The sand is fluidised by air from 20 and vibration-driven around a circular trough 2. A depthwise partition 14a sorts the pieces according to settling rate, whereafter they are removed up separate ramps 14 and 16. The sand is levelled preparatory to receiving the pieces 6, and only afterwards is it fluidised.

Abstract: A mineral slurry processing machine for recovering gold from raw fines. An elongated, rigid skid supports a frame plate coupled thereto by vibration transmitting bearings. An inclined processing ramp is adjustably mounted to the plate. An endless belt entrained over the ramp for continual rotation is equipped with a specially grooved working surface which helps separate gold from the slurry. A plurality of similar, regularly spaced apart grooves are cut into the exposed working surface of the belt, and the angulated configuration of the grooves facilitates particle separation and recovery. The belt is divided into a fine receiving region and an adjacent gold conveying region. Each groove includes a first segment which is "angled" with respect to the direction of travel of the belt, and a second segment which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the belt. Separate fine receiving and gold conveying regions thus exist.

Abstract: A multi-start spiral separator for separating particles in a stream of such particles according to their respective densities and/or sizes comprises a plurality of substantially helical troughs arranged around a common axis which is substantially vertical, each trough including at an upper end an upwardly-facing open fluid-receiving portion and at a lower end an outlet, and a fluid delivery pipe which delivers fluid to the spiral separator so that fluid is distributed to the receiving portions of the helical troughs uniformly.

Abstract: Separating elements (14) arranged about a central shaft (1a) rotate in common about the main axis (A) and individually about their longitudinal axes (B). A centrifugal distributor (6) distributes fine-grain mineral mixture mixed with fluid uniformly to the separating elements (14). In each separating element (14) the partial material flow (2a) is set in rotation about the longitudinal axis (B) by entrainment vanes (18) arranged in a first separating element section (15a) and the heavy fraction is centrifuged on to the separator wall (16a). In the second section (15b), formed as conical tubular worm conveyor, which contains no entrainment vanes, the heavy fraction is transported to the collecting chamber (21) and discharged through first discharge openings (22), the fine-grain mineral mixture being fluidized in pulsation on the separating wall (16b) by the combined rotating movements and the heavy fraction being concentrated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a percussion jig in which the chutes for receiving and discharging the material to be separated are each divided into a plurality of individual chute segments arranged spaced from one another so that the spaces between adjacent individual chute segments facilitate a free equalization of the levels of the settling fluid during the upward and downward movements of the settling tank.

Abstract: A centrifugal jig to beneficiate ore by separating a heavier particulate fraction from a lighter particulate pulp. The jig provides a rotor with a vertical cylindrical jig screen rotating in a fluid filled hutch to support a vertical jigging bed. The jigging bed is pulsed sequentially as it is rotated past plural spaced pulsing elements positioned in the hutch externally of the jigging screen. Pulsing may be by pressurized air in the form of fine bubbles, by pressurized fluid or a combination of both. Pulp material is fed at the bottom of the jigging screen to move upwardly thereacross with the lighter gangue material exiting above the screen for exhaustion and the heavier mineral bearing fraction exiting through the screen for subsequent recovery from the bottom periphery of the hutch area. The jig may be used as a bedded centrifuge or in the fashion of a traditional jig especially as when provided with ragging.

Abstract: A sluice box apparatus for recovering heavy material, such as gold, comprises a fine recovery channel and a coarse recovery channel. The recovery channels have receiving ends, riffles and matting for collecting fines of the material. A hopper at the receiving end of the channels has a receiving end for aggregate, a discharge end adjacent the receiving ends of the channels, a bottom, an open top and water distributing means near the top and the discharge end for washing fines from the aggregate. A perforated plate extends substantially across the hopper near the discharge end. The plate is spaced-apart from the bottom. There is a coarse material discharge opening adjacent the coarse recovery channel for a flow of water and aggregate passing over the perforated plate to the coarse recovery channel and a fine material discharge opening between the bottom end and the perforated plate and adjacent the fine recovery channel.

Abstract: Circular jig for gravity separation of minerals, e.g. gold and tin ore, comprising a screen, a grid forming cells over the screen, a central jig box of polygonal, e.g. square shape, pulsating means to cause the jig bed to pulsate and aprons attached to the side walls of the jig box extending outwardly from the jig box to distribute overflow from the jig box to portions of the jig bed remote from the jig box.

Abstract: A plate is attachable to a supporting structure such as a wall. Means carried by the plate encircle and hold a flexible conduit passing through the plate and the structure. The conduit is detachably held at adjustably selected positions along the length thereof.

Abstract: A centrifugal jig receives a pulp material within a rotating cylindrical jig bed for the purpose of separating the pulp into a selected heavy fraction and a lightweight fraction. The jig bed is cylindrical. It is rotated to produce an outward centrifugal force on the pulp material that is substantially greater than the force of gravity. A liquid is pulsed inwardly to produce a fluidic bed within the rotating jig bed to permit settling and separation of the heavy fraction from the lightweight fraction. The heavy fraction is screened and passed radially outward to be collected outside the bed. The lightweight fraction or tailings are moved over a discharge edge of the jig bed and are collected at a station remote from the heavy fraction collection area.

Abstract: An inlet stream of particulate material is successively split into smaller stream segments. The segments are spread across a conveyor belt in a magnetic or conductivity separator. Inlet and intermediate stages of the splitter include troughs of triangular cross section to concentrate the streams before splitting them. The flow direction is reversed in each stage to facilitate the axial concentration of the material stream.

Abstract: A sluice box is disclosed for use in high volume placer mining operations and a method of placer mining is disclosed, which are particularly useful for the recovery of gold from aggregate material. In operation, aggregate material is loaded into an inlet trough of the sluice box where it is mixed with water to form a slurry. A coarse recovery channel leads from the inlet trough and the sluice box is downwardly inclined, so that the slurry flows through the sluice box. The inlet trough has a punch plate bottom for separating the slurry into a coarse slurry stream which passes on into the coarse recovery channel, and a fine slurry stream which drops through the punch plate. A distribution section located below the punch plate has a generally conical and upwardly inclined floor, and angularly disposed vanes, so that the fine slurry stream is spread transversely and evened to produce a generally uniform cross-sectional flow profile.

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: A wet gravity concentration apparatus with means to divide two streams into four streams of different concentration and means to combine the two streams of intermediate concentration. Two conical concentrators are arranged with a first richer stream flowing over one conical surface and a second poorer stream, flowing over the other conical surface. Each surface has a splitter to separate the stream into a concentrated substream rich in value particles and a less concentrated substream composed primarily of tailings. The richer substream of the second poorer stream is combined with the less concentrated substream of the first richer stream so there are three resulting streams. A deflector can be used to combine the two intermediate substreams.

Abstract: Spherically-shaped rolling solids are separated from irregularly-shaped nonrolling solids on the upper outer surface of a conoidally-shaped rotating table whereon most of the spherically-shaped solids roll from the surface of the table and most of the irregularly-shaped solids move with the table until they are removed off the surface of the table. A mixture of the two types of solids is fed onto the rotating table by a feed system with an inclined spreader chute, which system fluffs the mixture prior to its impacting the table and spreads the solids on the surface area of the table. The action of the spreader plate may be combined with a breaker plate or the rear side of a spiral-like scraper blade. The feed system lessens undesirable impact momentums of the solids. The feed system distributes the solids more uniformly over a greater area of the table, thereby decreasing solids bridging or piling on the table and increasing effective use of the surface area of the table.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for separating heavy materials from ore, the apparatus having a hopper or sluice box open at its top and defining a discharge opening on one side. Spaced, parallel pipes extend across the hopper adjacent, but above, the bottom of the sluice box, the pipes having holes which direct the water sidewise toward the adjacent pipes. The holes of adjacent pipes are staggered with respect to each other. Shields or spreaders, disposed over the top portions of the pipes, protect the pipes from the ore which is charged into the open hopper, these spreaders directing the ore between the sprays of water to produce a slurry which passes out of the side discharge opening over a riffle or extractor, providing a downwardly inclined series of spaced parallel, transversely extending, upright barriers which snare and retain the heavy materials, such as gold and black sand. A plurality of these sluice boxes and ripples are juxtaposed on the flat bed of a truck. A common pump supplies water to the sluice boxes.