Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to phase separation, and more particularly, to a apparatus and a method for phase separation. In one example, the apparatus includes a spiral shaped body, split outlets and an adjustable splitter. The spiral shaped body includes an inlet portion to receive a mixture of phases associated with distinct effective masses, an outlet portion, and multiple helical turns stacked between the inlet and outlet portion. A portion of helical turns are twisted to form a twisted portion having opposite walls of a preceding helical turn turned relative to one another in opposite directions. The split outlets are configured at walls of the preceding helical turn to withdraw the phases based on an effective mass of said phases. The adjustable splitter is movably configured at least a portion of a cross section of the spiral shaped body to facilitate separate withdrawal of the one or more phases of the mixture.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for conveying particulate material are described. A particulate material conveying apparatus may comprise a slide duct having a slide duct axis. The slide duct may comprise an interior region, and the interior region may have a top third interior region, a middle third interior region, and a bottom third interior region. The top third interior region is disposed above the middle third interior region and the middle third interior region is disposed above the bottom third interior region. The duct further defines an opening. An air movement mechanism may be connected to the duct an configured to move air through the opening into the slide duct in a direction of the slide duct axis such that a greater amount of air exits through the bottom third interior region than either of the top third interior region or the middle third interior region.

Abstract: The present invention provides a diverter or flow controller 1.060, 26.060 for controlling a flow on or within an apparatus 1.001, 26.500, including at least one diverter or flow controller element 1.065, 26.2 and one or more displacement members 1.064, 26.064 adapted to move at least part of the diverter or flow controller element 1.065, 26.2 or a corresponding one of the diverter or flow controller element 1.065, 26.2 into or out of contact with a flow path. The invention also provides a remotely controlled diverter or flow controller and is applicable to flow devices or apparatus such as spiral concentrators and banks of these as up-current classifiers, hydraulic classifiers, teeter bed style classifiers, sluices, weirs, or channels.

Abstract: The invention provides a spiral separator module 3.010 including at least one trough segment 4.012 having an up stream edge and a downstream edge, each trough segment 4.012 being adapted to interface with at least one other corresponding trough segment 4.012 of a second spiral separator module to form a continuous section of a spiral trough.

Abstract: An aggregate processing assembly is provided. The processing assembly includes a separator assembly having a central member extending from a first end to a second end, the central member supporting at least one helical flight provided between the first and second ends, the helical flight having a width provided between a proximal end and a distal end. An assembly housing is provided around a portion of the separator assembly, the assembly housing includes a collection portion for receiving processed feed stock which exits the separator assembly radially away from the central member outward past the distal end, and the collection portion includes a first outlet. A second outlet is coupled to the separator assembly for receiving processed feed stock which exits the separator assembly at the second end of the at least one helical flight. A proppant, an aggregate, a system for processing feed stock to produce a proppant or aggregate, and a method of producing a proppant or aggregate is also provided.

Abstract: A spiral concentrator has a spiral trough (2.001) has a concentrate gutter (2.010) and a pocket (2.008) located near the outer edge of the gutter. An inflatable bladder (2.012) is located in the pocket and can be deformed from a first state in which the bladder does not interfere with the flow of the slurry, to a second state, in which the bladder diverts the concentrate towards a concentrate gutter (2.101). Alternatively, a spiral trough has a deformable device that sits above and separate from the trough and acts as a flow diverter. As the device changes form, shape or state, it gradually contacts the trough or flow diverting more or less concentrate in a controlled manner.

Abstract: A deflector (1) for attachment to a spiral separator (2), for capturing and redirecting a portion of a flowing stream of material (5). The deflector (1) includes an attachment means (3), to attach the deflector (1) to the spiral separator (2), a capturing portion (4) to capture a portion of the flowing stream (5), and, a redirecting portion (6) to emit a portion (7) of the stream. A method of separating particles of different densities using the deflector device (1) in conjunction with a spiral separator (2) is also disclosed.

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: An adjustable splitter assembly at any position along the spiral trough and the splitter is angled to a fixed position pressed against the trough and locked against movement by a long arm selectively clamped in one hook of a retainer having spaced hook sockets, the retainer being attached to the outer rim of the trough either upstream or downstream from the splitter. The splitter may be angularly adjusted to position its leading edge at different locations along an arc with respect to the stream of particles flowing down the trough by moving the arm to another selected hook socket.

Abstract: A spiral concentrator (1) comprising a spiral trough (2) mounted on a central column (3) which is characterized therein that, in comparison with a conventional trough having a profile (11) which is generally concave and which slants downwardly from an outer edge of the trough towards a central column, the profile (8) of the trough is deepened in a section of the trough adjacent the central column of the concentrator.

Abstract: A spiral trough separator having a vertical axis and adapted to separate fine particles from a liquid slurry stream of those particles flowing down the spiral trough. The trough has spaced groups of parallel grooves, transverse to the flow of the slurry, a drain adjacent the lower ends of the grooves for collecting concentrates or fines of the particles and a wash liquid outlet to deliver liquid into the slurry stream to remove impurities from such fines prior to collection in the drain. The wash liquid outlet is adjustable with respect to the wash liquid flow in the wash liquid trough of the spiral to select the appropriate volume of wash liquid to be introduced into the liquid slurry stream.

Abstract: A spiral trough separator for treating a slurry of ore particles in water to separate heavier fines from other particles includes a helical trough making a plurality of revolutions around a vertical axis and having the surface of the trough modified with protuberances to agitate the ore particles to allow entrapped impurities to be liberated and grooves to provide enhanced flow of the finer heavier ore fines closer to such axis to increase the efficiency of the recovery.

Abstract: This invention relates to a spiral separator (1) which is used for separating particulate material and which is able, when arranged in a linear array of such separators, to be adjusted in concert with the other separators in the array.Specifically the invention consists in a spiral separator (1) comprising a volute (2); a splitter blade (4) mounted below a discharge section (3) of the volute (2) for selected rotation about a substantially horizontal axis (5) parallel to the direction of flow in the volute (2), splitting being adjusted by the rotation of the splitter blade (2) about the axis (5).

Abstract: The invention relates to a spiral separator supported with its axis substantially vertically which is adapted to receive at an upper end thereof a pulp of water and minerals to be separated. The spiral separator includes a plurality of helical turns wherein each turn includes an inner portion and an outer portion. The outer portion is inclined upwardly relative to the inner portion. The invention is characterized in that the inner portion includes a first part and a second part wherein the second part is inclined upwardly relative to the first part at a steeper angle to horizontal than the first part throughout part of the length of the spiral separator. This feature provides a generally non-turbulent or laminar flow of pulp along the said part of the said spiral separator and thereby inhibits sand barring.

Abstract: This invention relates to a take-off assembly for mounting in a spiral separator. The take-off assembly includes an adjustment tongue and a mating member containing a transverse aperture for receiving the adjustment tongue. The mounting member has a surface surrounding the adjustment tongue which is substantially flush with the top surface of the adjustment tongue. There is also provided an undercut for obtaining an undercut of concentrates particles from pulp flowing in the spiral separator whereby tailings and/or middlings contained in an upper portion of the pulp above the concentrates particles may flow across the transverse aperture.There is also provided a spiral separator for gravity separation of minerals containing the take-off assembly and a method of taking undercuts including using the abovementioned take-off assembly in the spiral separator.

Abstract: The invention provides a spiral separator of the type for use in separating a pulp of water and minerals into mineral fractions of differing densities and having a helical trough (30) supported with its axis upright. The shape of the trough working surface profile (30) varies (FIGS. 2A-2D) from place to place along the trough. The profile has a point of maximum displacement (32A, 32B, 32C, 32D) at which profile (30) is at a maximum spacing below a notional straight line (40) joining the inner end (31) and outer end (22) of the trough working surface profile (30). The distance of the point of maximum displacement (32A, 32B, 32C, 32D) from one end (31 or 22) of the profile varies along the trough. A method for manufacture of troughs according to the invention is also described and claimed.

Abstract: A spiral separator includes an upright column supported with its axis substantially vertical and adapted to receive at an upper end thereof a pulp of water and particles to be separated. The spiral separator also includes a plurality of helical turns mounted to said upright column wherein at least in a top portion of the separator there is provided a channel located on an outer part of the separator. The channel is initially narrow and deep and becomes progressively wider to enable the particles to obtain or maintain an initial velocity so as to maintain the flow of pulp without the coarser and/or less dense particles becoming stationary or stranding and wherein the coarser and/or less dense particles may be retained in an outer section of the channel and the finer and/or denser particles may move toward an inner section of the channel and be retained in said inner section.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for spiral separation of materials. The apparatus includes spiral separator flights mounted on a vertical tube within an enclosure with the material, such as seeds, to be separated being introduced into the apparatus through the vertical tube upon which the spirals are mounted. One of the separated material fractions is discharged from the apparatus through the vertical tube while the other fraction is discharged from a second discharge outlet. A spiral driving mechanism and a baffle are provided for separator adjustability and a plurality of spirals may be enclosed within a common housing. The method includes separating materials by introducing the materials onto spirals at a separating area, controlling the speed of rotation of the spirals to control separation, and collection the separated fractions.