Apparatus and method for isolating materials
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus is provided for separating non-magnetic mineral values from a source containing magnetic material and non magnetic material. The apparatus includes first and second conveyers in overlying relation which counter-rotate relative to one another. One of the conveyers includes a magnetic assembly which cooperates with paddles on the upper conveyer to progressively isolate values from magnetic material. Multiple stages are provided for intermittent magnetic interactions such that the non-magnetic materials are effectively isolated from the magnetic materials.
20 Citations
57 Claims
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1-8. -8. (canceled)
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9. An apparatus for separating non-magnetic mineral values from a source material containing magnetic material and non-magnetic material, the apparatus comprising:
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a frame;
a non-magnetic material collection channel mounted to the frame for collecting non-magnetic material;
a feed mechanism for supplying the source material to the collection channel;
retaining members mounted within the collection channel to retain the collected non-magnetic material;
a fluid connection on the collection channel configured to connect a source of fluid to the collection channel, the fluid transporting the source material fed from the feed mechanism along the retaining members for retaining non-magnetic material and flushing the magnetic material contained in the source material away from the retaining members; and
a magnetic separation assembly mounted adjacent the collection channel for exerting magnetic fields on the source material transported by the fluid to attract the magnetic material in the source material away from the retaining members and to assist collection and retaining of the non-magnetic material in the retaining members. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of dry separation of non-magnetic metal values from a source material containing the non-magnetic values and other minerals, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of spaced apart magnets each for generating a magnetic field directed to an underlying conveyer;
exposing the material on the conveyer to each of the magnetic fields in alternation in a continuous manner as the material is advanced by the conveyer;
forming substantially homogeneous strata of the minerals overlying said non-magnetic values by repeated exposure to magnetic fields followed by the absence of the fields; and
isolating the strata. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method of dry separation of non-magnetic metal values from a source material containing the non-magnetic values and other minerals, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a pair of top and bottom endless conveyers in vertical spaced relation to convey the source material, the top conveyer including a plurality of spaced apart magnets each generating a magnetic field directed to the bottom conveyer;
exposing the material on the bottom conveyer to each of the magnetic fields in alternation in a continuous manner as the material is advanced by the bottom conveyer;
forming substantially homogeneous strata of the minerals overlying said non-magnetic values by repeated exposure to magnetic fields followed by the absence of the fields; and
isolating the strata. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A method of wet separation of non-magnetic metal values from a source material containing non-magnetic material and magnetic material, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a non-magnetic material collection channel for collecting non-magnetic material;
feeding the source material to the collection channel;
treating the source material with a fluid in the collection channel to transport the source material along a retaining member for retaining non-magnetic material, the fluid flushing materials other than the non-magnetic metal values away from the retaining member; and
providing a magnetic separation assembly adjacent the collection channel, the assembly having discrete sections of magnets, the sections of magnets in spaced longitudinal relation forming alternating areas of presence and absence of a magnetic field for permitting the magnetic fields to intermittently act on the source material to progressively separate the magnetic material from the non-magnetic material during transportation along the retaining member, the non-magnetic material carried by the fluid being efficiently collected and retained in the retaining member in the absence of magnetic material.
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26. A mineral separation assembly suitable for separating metal values from a source of material containing non-magnetic values and other minerals, the assembly comprising:
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a frame for supporting discrete sections of magnets, the sections of magnets being mounted to the frame in spaced longitudinal relation forming alternating areas of presence and absence of a magnetic field;
a spacer mechanism for spacing and maintaining the magnets within an individual section;
a magnetic shield for shielding the frame from magnetic fields generated from the magnets; and
directing means for directing magnetic fields in each section of the sections in a coaxial relationship such that, upon interaction with the assembly, the magnetic fields intermittently act on the source material to progressively separate the magnetic material from the non-magnetic material to assist collection and retainment of the non-magnetic material in a retainer.
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27. A separation apparatus for separating a target material from a source material, the apparatus comprising:
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a carrier for transporting the source material along a predetermined path; and
a magnetic field generator including a plurality of magnets for forming alternating areas of presence and absence of a magnetic field along the predetermined path so that the magnetic fields intermittently act on the source material transported by the carrier to progressively separate the target material from the source material, the strength of the magnetic fields being such that not only magnetic materials in the source material are affected as being attracted, but also conductive non-magnetic materials in the source material are affected by virtue of induction, causing repulsion of the conductive non-magnetic materials away from the magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for separating a target material from a source material, the method comprising the steps of:
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transporting the source material along a predetermined path; and
forming alternating areas of the presence and absence of a magnetic field along the predetermined path so that the magnetic fields intermittently act on the source material transported along the predetermined path to progressively separate the target material from the source material, the strength of magnetic fields being such that not only magnetic materials in the source material are affected as being attracted, but also conductive non-magnetic materials in the source material are affected by virtue of induction, causing effective repulsion of the conductive non-magnetic materials away from the magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method for separating and disposing of a toxic substance from a source material in an environmentally clean manner, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving the source material including the toxic substance;
transporting the source material along a predetermined path;
forming alternating areas of presence and absence of a magnetic field along the predetermined path to exert the magnetic fields intermittently on the source material that is being transported along the predetermined path to progressively separate the toxic substance from the source material, the strength of magnetic fields being such that not only magnetic materials in the source material are affected as being attracted, but also conductive non-magnetic materials in the source material are affected by virtue of induction, causing effective repulsion of the conductive non-magnetic materials away from the magnetic field; and
collecting the toxic substance separated in the step of forming. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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46. An apparatus for separating non-magnetic substances from a source material containing magnetic material and non-magnetic material, comprising:
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a plurality of magnetic separating stations longitudinally spaced apart to provide alternating areas of a strong magnetic field and the absence of a strong magnetic field;
a conveyer for moving the source material beneath the magnetic separating stations such that at a magnetic separating station magnetic material within the source material is attracted away form the conveyer to the magnetic station and non-magnetic material is not attracted to the magnetic station and remains on the conveyer, the conveyer having a discharge end;
a scraper for periodically separating the magnetic material from each of the magnetic stations such that the magnetic material falls onto the conveyer to form a layer of the magnetic material in areas of the conveyer transporting the non-magnetic material thereon, wherein each downstream magnetic separating station acts on the source material on the conveyer to further separate the magnetic material from the non-magnetic material;
a non-magnetic material receptacle located proximate the discharge end and a magnetic material receptacle located proximate the discharge end; and
a discharge separating device located proximate the discharge end to cause substantially only the separated non-magnetic material to be discharged into the non-magnetic material receptacle and substantially only the separated magnetic material to be discharged into the magnetic material receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A method for separating non-magnetic substances from a source material containing magnetic material and non-magnetic material, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing alternating areas of a strong magnetic field and the absence of a strong magnetic field via a plurality of magnetic separating stations longitudinally spaced apart;
moving the source material via a conveyer located beneath the magnetic separating stations such that at a magnetic separating station magnetic material within the source material is attracted away form the conveyer to the magnetic station and non-magnetic material is not attracted to the magnetic station and remains on the conveyer;
periodically scraping and separating the magnetic material from each of the magnetic stations such that the magnetic material falls onto the conveyer to form a layer of the magnetic material in areas of the conveyer transporting the non-magnetic material thereon, wherein each downstream magnetic separating station acts on the source material on the conveyer to further separate the magnetic material from the non-magnetic material;
discharging substantially only the separated non-magnetic material into a non-magnetic material receptacle and discharging substantially only the separated magnetic material into a magnetic material receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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Specification