Apparatus and method for isolating materials

• US 7,331,467 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: E3 Solutions LLC (Lockton Cos. LLC)
• Original Assignee: Magnetic Torque International, Ltd.
• Inventors: Wise, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez; Joseph C.
• Application Number:
  US11/455,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20080000813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 209 38- 40, 209212-214, 209/216, 209/223.1, 209/225, 209/226, 209/229, 209/232, 209/906, 210/695, 210/222, 210/223
• US Class Current: 209/38
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/04 with the material carriers in the form of trays or with tables
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/22 with non-movable magnets
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/23 with material carried by oscillating fields; with material carried by travelling fields, e.g. generated by stationary magnetic coils; Eddy-current separators, e.g. sliding ramp

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.

Claims

1. 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:

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.