Ore separating method and apparatus
OwnerMax R. Richaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating ore. The apparatus includes a rotatable conical cap having a rounded top, inwardly curving sides and a riffle extending vertically from the circumference of the base. An ore-water slurry is allowed to flow down the sides of the rotationally agitating cap and into the riffle, which retains the heavy metals but allows the tailings to be carried over the riffle. The inward curvature of the sides cause centrifugal separation of the metals from the tailings in the slurry stream.
Claims25
An ore-separating apparatus comprising:
- a. an upright, rotatable conical cap having a truncated, rounded top, sides, a base, and a riffle extending vertically from the circumference of the base, the sides of the cap curving inwardly between the top and the base wherein the inwardly curving sides of the cap extend downward from the top at an angle of from about 30.degree. to about 45.degree. from the axis of the cap and form an arc having a subtended angle of from about 20.degree. to about 30.degree.;
- b. a means for rotationally agitating the cap;
- and
- c. a means for evenly introducing a uniform slurry of ore to the rounded top of the cap at a low velocity;
- so that the slurry gravitationally and evenly flows down the sides of the agitating cap and changes flow direction with the inward curvature of the sides, whereby such change in direction contrifugally separates heavier precious metals in the slurry from lighter ore tailings with the result that the heavier metals are captured by the riffle and the lighter tailings are carried over the riffle and away.
An upright, rotatable conical cap for separating ore comprising a truncated, rounded top, sides, a base, and a riffle extending vertically from the circumference of the base, the sides of the cap curving inwardly between the top and the base, wherein the inwardly curving sides extend downward from the top at an angle of from about 30.degree. to about 45.degree. from the axis of the cap and form an arc having a subtended angle of from about 20.degree. to about 30.degree., the cap adapted to be rotationally agitated.
A method for separating ore comprising:
- a. continuously introducing at a low velocity a slurry of ore to a truncated, rounded to of an upright, rotatable conical cap, the top having an effective diameter of about 2 inches or greater;
- b. continuously rotationally agitating the cap;
- c. allowing the slurry to flow evenly and circumferentially down the sides toward the base of the cap at an angle of from about 30.degree. to about 45.degree. from the axis of the cap for a distance of at least about 3.5inches;
- d. the gradually changing the direction of the flow of the slurry along about a 2 inches arc formed by the sides of the cap, the directional change being from about 10.degree. per inch to about 15.degree. per inch in order to separate centrifugally heavy metals in the ore from lighter, remaining tailings;
- and
- e. then directing the flow into a circumferential riffle, the top of which is at a level which approximately bisects the 2 inches arc;
- whereby heavy metals in the ore are retained by the riffle and lighter ore tailings are carried over the riffle and away.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.