Separation of minerals by specific gravity
AssigneeJody G. Robbins
InventorsJody G. Robbins, Joseph Richard Wantulok
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A centrifuge for separating minerals by specific gravity is disclosed. The centrifuge rotates to circulate slurry across a collection region and to subject slurry in the collection region to centripetal forces that facilitate stratification within the collection region by the specific gravity of the constituent minerals of the slurry. Energy, such as acoustic energy, is coupled with the collection region and enhances the stratification by specific gravity within the collection region.
Claims23
A device for separating minerals by specific gravity, the device comprising:
- a centrifuge configured to rotate about an axis, the centrifuge comprising an inner chamber, a collection region comprising an outer chamber, and a flow path between the outer chamber and the inner chamber to convey a mineral-containing material from the inner chamber to the collection region;
- an energy injection module configured to couple to the collection region to provide oscillating energy into the collection region, wherein the centrifuge, the collection region and the energy injection module are configured to settle minerals out of the mineral-containing material and stratify the minerals by specific gravity;
- and
- wherein material collects in the collection region, wherein the material has a mass, and wherein the device further comprises at least one sensor that measures the mass of material collected in the collection region.
A device for separating minerals by specific gravity, the device comprising:
- a centrifuge configured to rotate about an axis, the centrifuge comprising an inner chamber, a collection region comprising an outer chamber, and a flow path between the outer chamber and the inner chamber to convey a mineral-containing material from the inner chamber to the collection region;
- and
- an energy injection module configured to couple to the collection region to provide oscillating energy into the collection region, wherein the centrifuge, the collection region and the energy injection module are configured to settle minerals out of the mineral-containing material and stratify the minerals by specific gravity, wherein the energy injection module is configured to provide acoustic energy into the collection region at a subsonic frequency.
A method for separating minerals by specific gravity, the method comprising:
- obtaining a fluidized slurry containing at least two minerals having different specific gravities;
- supplying the fluidized slurry into an inner chamber of a centrifuge;
- rotating the centrifuge containing the slurry about an axis such that the slurry is circulated within the centrifuge;
- while rotating the centrifuge, weighing material collected within the collection region;
- conveying at least a portion of the slurry from the inner chamber into an outer chamber of at least one collection region connected to the inner chamber;
- generating energy waves and injecting the energy waves into the collection region;
- and
- stratifying the minerals in the collection region by specific gravity.
A method for separating minerals by specific gravity, the method comprising:
- obtaining a fluidized slurry containing at least two minerals having different specific gravities;
- supplying the fluidized slurry into an inner chamber of a centrifuge;
- rotating the centrifuge containing the slurry about an axis such that the slurry is circulated within the centrifuge;
- conveying at least a portion of the slurry from the inner chamber into an outer chamber of at least one collection region connected to the inner chamber;
- generating energy waves and injecting the energy waves into the collection region, wherein generating the energy waves comprises generating acoustic energy waves, and wherein generating the acoustic waves comprises generating subsonic waves;
- and
- stratifying the minerals in the collection region by specific gravity.
A device for separating minerals by specific gravity, the device comprising:
- a centrifuge comprising a collection region and an inner chamber connected to the collection region, the centrifuge configured to rotate about an axis and to convey a mineral-containing material from the inner chamber to an outer chamber of the collection region;
- a fluid inlet for supplying the mineral-containing material to the inner chamber of the centrifuge;
- and
- an energy injection module configured to couple to the collection region to provide oscillating energy into the collection region, wherein the centrifuge, the collection region and the energy injection module are configured to settle minerals out of the mineral-containing material and stratify the minerals by specific gravity, and wherein the energy injection module is configured to provide acoustic energy into the collection region at a subsonic frequency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.