Separator

• US 4,267,980 A
• Filed: 11/26/1979
• Issued: 05/19/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cal West Metals
• Original Assignee: Cal West Metals
• Inventors: LaPoint, Albert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hill, Ralph J.
• Application Number:
  US06/097,489
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 209/17, 209/172.5, 209/172, 209/44, 241/20, 241/24, 241/81
• US Class Current: 241/20
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 11/00 Feed or discharge devices integral with washing or wet-separating equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 5/42 of drum or lifting wheel type
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 7/00 Combinations of wet processes or apparatus with other processes or apparatus, e.g. for dressing ores or garbage
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/54 Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/84 Recycling of batteries or fuel cells

Abstract

Apparatus for separating a comixture of light and heavy materials includes a drum divided into two sections. In the first section, the material is introduced with a fluid, and separated from the fluid such that the fluid flows substantially the length of the first section along a "counter flow" path to wash against the material to be separated before overflowing the first section. The material to be separated separates into floating and sinking fractions, the floating fraction overflowing the first section together with the fluid. The sinking fraction is carried by a scroll along the wall of the first section to be lifted into the second section.

In the second section, the sinking fraction is reduced in size by a charge of grinding balls and lifted and removed from the second section.

In another embodiment a fluid section is provided within the first to carry the sinking fraction to near the entrance of the first section to insure its travel therewithin is as long as possible for additional scrubbing or washing by the "counter flow" fluid.

Claims

1. Apparatus for separating an input material having floating and sinking fractions, comprising:

a separation container with two ends, one end for overflowing the floating fraction, and another end for discharging the sinking fraction;

an input flow stream to introduce the fractions to be separated and a fluid near the sinking fraction discharging end;

a partition inside the container to isolate the floating fraction to the floating fraction overflowing end;

means to separate fluid from the input flow stream to introduce at least a part of the input flow stream behind the partition, whereby the fluid flow is established in a direction from the sinking fraction discharging end to the floating fraction overflowing end past the partition;

means for moving the sinking fraction in a direction opposite the fluid flow path past the partition toward and out of the sinking fraction discharging end and substantially in contact with the flow stream to be scrubbingly contacted thereby;

and means for returning fluid overflowing the container at the floating fraction overflowing end to the input flow stream.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a secondary sizing container for receiving the sinking fraction from the sinking fraction discharging end;

a quantity of grinding balls in the sizing container to reduce the size of the sinking fraction therein;

a partition in said sizing container to permit only sinking fraction particles of at least a predetermined small size pass;

and means for discharging the sinking fraction which has passed the partition from said sizing container.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a secondary scrubbing container in the separation container to carry the sinking fraction in a bath containing the floating fraction to a location near the floating fraction overflowing end, and discharging the sinking fraction into the separation container.

4. Apparatus for separating a material having mixed floating and sinking fractions, comprising:

means for providing a fluid stream,

a first enclosed drum having an interior chamber receiving said fluid stream, one end of said drum having an overflow opening for overflowing fluid from within said first drum;

a second drum carried within said interior chamber of said first drum, partially within said fluid in said first drum, said second drum having an open end and an enclosed end, said enclosed end having a central opening therethrough;

an enclosed screen container carried within said interior chamber of said first drum adjacent the central opening of said enclosed end of said second drum;

means for introducing the material to be separated together with said fluid stream into said screen container;

whereby materials retained by said screen container overflow into said second drum and fluid and materials passing through said screen container fall into said first drum to establish a fluid current within said first drum between said screen container and said overflow opening of said first drum, and whereby a portion of said floating fraction of said materials which overflow into said second drum is separated in said fluid from said sinking fractions;

means for agitatively moving said sinking fraction within said second drum toward said open end of said second drum, whereby said sinking fraction within said second drum is further separated from said floating fractions, and the sinking fraction is introduced into said first drum;

means for agitatively moving said sinking fraction introduced into said first drum in a direction opposite said fluid current, whereby said fluid current scrubs said sinking fraction to still further separate floating fraction therefrom, and overflows said floating fraction through said overflow opening of said first drum,

and means for removing said sinking fraction from said first drum.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising means for recirculating fluid overflowing said first container, whereby the adjustment of the quantity ratio of fluid of said fluid stream to the material to be separated controls the density of the fluid within said first drum.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said means for agitatively moving said sinking fraction in said second drum is a scroll on a wall of said second drum and wherein said means for agitatively moving said sinking fraction within said first drum is a scroll on a wall of said first drum.