Classifying – separating – and assorting solids – Stratifiers – With liquid treatment
Patent
1982-11-17
1989-01-03
Reeves, Robert B.
Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
Stratifiers
With liquid treatment
209493, 209497, B03B 552
Patent
active
047955538
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to an improved spiral separator of particular use for the separation of minerals.
Spiral separators are extensively used for the wet gravity separation of solids according to their specific gravity, for example for separating various kinds of heavy mineral sands from silica sand.
BACKGROUND ART
Separators of the kind under discussion commonly comprise a vertical column about which there are supported one or more helical troughs coaxially nested in the manner of a multi-start screw thread. The troughs are typically but not essentially of uniform pitch throughout their length. Each trough is provided with a pulp inlet at the upper end of the working portion of the trough, the inlet being connected by tubular means with a common header tank for spiral separators operating in parallel whereby a pulp in the tank may be fed to each inlet. When more than one trough is supported by the column, the respective pulp inlets of the troughs are commonly arranged as nearly as possible to be in a horizontal plane to facilitate simultaneous introduction of pulp to each helix. In the case of two troughs supported on a column the inlets are typically diametrically opposite each other and in the case of the three troughs are equiangularly spaced in a horizontal plane.
Each trough has a floor situated between an outer trough wall and an inner trough wall. In some separators the column may be, or may be a part of, the inner wall wall. In cross-section, with respect to the helix radial direction, the bottom working portion of the trough floor generally inclines upwardly from the inner wall or column to the outer wall. It will be understood that the trough floor at its radially innermost end curves upward to blend with the inner wall or column and at its radially outermost end curves radially upwards to blend with the outer wall.
In operation, pulp is fed from the header to the inlet of each trough. As the stream of pulp descends the trough, particles of higher specific gravity tend to segregate to the bottom of the stream and then slow through contact with the surface and gravitate radially inwardly while particles of lighter specific gravity tend to move radially outwards by virtue of centrifugal forces which overcome the inwards gravitational component. Splitters are arranged at variuus levels of each trough whereby each descending stream may be split into fractions and desired fractions are withdrawn at outlets associated with the splitters. The setting of the splitters requires supervision and frequent readjustment during use of the apparatus in order to maintain acceptable yields.
An object of the present invention is to provide a trough separator which in preferred embodiments is simpler to operate and produces a higher yield of desired fractions than those known in the prior art.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect the invention consists in a spiral separator of the kind used for the wet gravity separation of solids and being characterized in that at least two splitters thereof are operatively connected by linkage means whereby the splitters may be operated in unison.
In preferred embodiments the separator has at least two helical troughs which are substantially identical to each other over a working portion, pulp introduction means whereby pulp is introduced to each trough at a location of one substantially in vertical register with that of the other, an adjustable splitter in each trough, the splitter of one trough corresponding in location to the splitter of the other, and connecting means for adjusting the setting of the splitters in unison. Preferably also the splitters are disposed in vertical register.
By corresponding in location is meant a location at a corresponding distance along the trough from the introduction means and at a corresponding radial distance from the helix axis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 sho
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Mineral Deposits Limited
Reeves Robert B.
Wacyra Edward M.
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