Magnetic separator

A magnetic separator comprising:

• a conveyor assembly arranged for conveying a matrix of magnetic elements through at least one magnetic field set up by magnetic field generating means associated with said separator;
• a feed inlet for supplying feed material to be subjected to separation in a first region of said conveyor assembly which is present at any time in said magnetic field, said first region of said conveyor assembly being at least roughly horizontal;
• means for conducting said feed material away from said matrix in the region of the magnetic field;
• and
• means for removing magnetic particles retained by said matrix at a second region of said conveyor assembly which is outside of the magnetic field,
• the separator being characterized in that:
• the magnetic field generating means comprises at least one pair of solenoid coils located opposite each other with the axes thereof being substantially upright and substantially at right angles to said first region of said conveyor assembly with one coil located above and the other one below said conveyor assembly and wherein the coils of a pair are joined to each other by cladding so that each pair of solenoid coils is embodied in a single unit having openings for permitting said conveyor assembly to pass therethrough between said coils, whereby the capacity of said separator can be increased by increasing the width of said conveyor assembly as respects said first region and commensurately increasing the corresponding width of said coils while maintaining the same vertical spacing therebetween to thereby maintain the same flux intensity in said first region without a substantial increase in power consumption.