Method of and apparatus for assorting particles according to the physical characteristics thereof

• US 3,904,517 A
• Filed: 02/09/1973
• Issued: 09/09/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald C. Wilson
• Original Assignee: Donald C. Wilson
• Inventors: Wilson, Donald C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lutter, Frank W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hill, Ralph J.
• Application Number:
  US05/330,896
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 209/479,480,441,443,471,472,485,467,469,20,12,115,1
• US Class Current: 209/441
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 13/11 involving travel of particles over surfaces which separate by centrifugal force or by relative friction between particles and such surfaces, e.g. helical sorters
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 13/113 shaking tables for wet separating B03B5/04; tables with water impulse B03B5/70; pneumatic tables B03B4/02; moving screens B07B1/28
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 4/00 Separating solids from solids by subjecting their mixture to gas currents using tables or jigs B03B4/00

Abstract

Particles flowing in a stream can be arranged in an order of classification extending transversely of the stream according to physical characteristics of the particles by self-screening and stratification which occur in response to a continuous vibratory feeding of the particles in a direction laterally of the direction of flow of the stream. Particles having similar physical characteristics will flow from a specific portion of the stream into a collecting receptacle having a plurality of compartments arranged in a line transversely of the stream for separately collecting as many stream portions as required to obtain the desired degrees of separation. Further particle assortment from each stream portion can be made in accordance with the particles trajectory of fall from the stream bed.

Claims

1. A method of continuously assorting particles according to the physical characteristics thereof, said method comprising the steps of feeding a mixture of particles which vary in at least one physical characteristic upon a support surface;

subjecting the particles upon the support surface to vibratory forces acting both longitudinally and transversely of the support surface;

deflecting the particles along one side of the support surface for stratifying particles upon the support surface into strata that are inclined upwardly from the surface towards one side of the support surface with particles having similar physical characteristics concentrated in the same stratum;

progressively removing particles from each stratum by gravitational flow from said support surface; and

separately collecting particles flowing from each stratum.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said progressive removal of the particles is accomplished by feeding the particles upon said support surface toward a tapered end thereof where the trAnsverse dimensions of said support surface are progressively reduced.

3. A method of continuously assorting particles according to the physical characteristics thereof, said method comprising the steps of feeding a mixture of particles which vary in one or more physical characteristics upon an underlying support surface;

vibratorily moving the particles upon the support surface to cause them to flow longitudinally of the surface in a stream having a transverse section with an unconfined side that slopes upward from the surface with the particles within the stream moving in a direction transverse to the direction of flow and against a lateral support surface adjacent to said underlying support surface;

deflecting the particles from the lateral support surface so that the particles within the stream follow generally helical paths of movement that diminish in spiral radius with advancement in the longitudinal direction of stream flow to segregate particles according to the variable physical characteristics in an order of classification extending through a multiplicity of particle layers transversely of the stream with particles having similar physical characteristics flowing in the same portion of a transverse section of the stream;

progressively removing each particle layer from the underlying support surface in the direction of flow of the stream along an edge of the underlying support surface; and

separately collecting particles flowing from a plurality of portions of said edge.

4. The method set forth in claim 3, wherein said particle stream is directed to flow parallel to the lateral support surface in response to inclination of the underlying support surface and the force of gravity acting upon the particles.

5. The method set forth in claim 3, wherein said particles are vibratorily moved towards the lateral support surface with sufficient amplitude that said portions of the stream transverse section in which particles having similar physical characteristics flow are continuous with each other and are transversely inclined upwardly from the underlying support surface towards the lateral support surface of the stream at an angle than the angle of repose of the particles therein when subjected to the vibratory forces for moving particles within the stream and including the further step of allowing the particles to roll by gravity down the unconfined side of the stream transverse section to reach a point of stability.

6. The method described in claim 3 including the further step of feeding said separately collected particles to additional underlying support surfaces and repeating the process to achieve a more accurate degree of separation.

7. The method set forth in claim 3 wherein said particles are of generally uniform density and shape but vary in size and are segregated according to particle size.

8. The method set forth in claim 3 wherein said particles are of uniform size and shape but vary in density and are segregated according to particle density.

9. The method set forth in claim 8 wherein said particles are submerged within a liquid while said method is performed.

10. AN APPARATUS FOR CONTINOUSLY ASSORTING PARTICLES BY PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS THEREOF, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A SURFACE FOR SUPPORTING A STREAM OF PARTICLES, A WALL CONNECTED TO ONE SIDE OF SAID SURFACE AND PROJECTING UPWARDLY THEREFROM TO SUPPORT ONE SIDE OF THE PARTICLE STREAM WITH AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID WALL OVERLYING SAID SURFACE, MEANS FOR VIBRATING SAID SURFACE TO IMPART IMPLUSES TO THE PARTICLES THEREON FOR DIRVING SAID PARTICLES TOWARD THE WALL, SAID SURFACE HAVING A WIDTH THAT DECREASES PROPORTIONALLY WITH THE LENGTH OF THE WALL TO GRADUALLY REDUCE THE TRANVERSE SECTION OF THE PARTICLE STREAM, AND A PLURALITY OF COLLECTING COMPARTMENTS ALIGNED TRANVERSELY OF THE PARTICLE STREAM AND IN ALIGMENT WITH THE EDGE OF SAID SURFACE OPPOSITE FROM THAT DEFINED BY SAID WALL WHEREBY SAID COMPARTMENTS RECEIVE PARTICLES FROM HE SURFACE IN AN ORDER OF CLASSIFICATION WITH OPARTICLES HAVING SIMILAR PHYS CAL CHARACTERISTIC BEGIN COLLECTED IN THE SAME COMPARTMENT.

11. The apparatus described in claim 10 wherein said surface is divided longitudinally into a section having rough surface characteristics adjacent said wall and a section having smooth surface characteristics adjacent the discharge edge of said surface on the opposite side from said wall.

12. The apparatus described in claim 10 wherein there are a plurality of surfaces for supporting a stream of particles;

a ramp extending from a discharge edge of a preceding surface to the top of a wall of an adjacent subsequent surface to enable particles to flow from one surface to the other and maintain the separation obtained on the preceding surface;

said subsequent surface being offset from the preceding surface in the direction of longitudinal movement of the particles.

13. The apparatus described in claim 12, including a stop spaced outwardly from and in alignment with a wall at the lowermost end of a ramp to direct particles which have gravitated down the ramp to fall onto the top of the particle pile on the subsequent surface.

14. An apparatus for continuously assorting a mixture of particles in accordance with the physical characteristics thereof, said apparatus comprising a support plate having a flat support surface with the transverse dimensions thereof extending in a generally horizontal plane, said support plate being tapered in the longitudinal direction thereof so that said support surface is progressively reduced in size in said longitudinal direction;

a wall extending upwardly from one transverse edge of said plate with at least a portion of said wall overlying said plate;

means for delivering said mixture of particles to said plate at the wide end thereof;

means for vibratorily feeding said particles on said plate toward said wall so as to cause the particles to form strata in accordance with the physical characteristics thereof as said particles move in the longitudinal direction of the plate; and

a plurality of separate container means for collecting particles which gravitate from the transverse edge of said plate opposite to that connected to said wall.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 where said wall is flat and forms an acute angle with said support surface.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said support plate is inclined in said longitudinal direction.