Fluidized, dry bed, ore concentrator
OwnerLeo O. Burt, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluidized, dry bed, ore concentrator in which a uniform air stream is utilized to fluidize ore particles within a region defined in part by two, moving, riffled surfaces. The particles are statically charged to enhance separation of particles within the fluidized mass. The less massive of the like-charged, fluidized particles are drawn off by a first riffled surface and denoted "tailings". The more massive, and valuable, of the particles are drawn off by the second of the two riffled surfaces and denoted as "fines".
Claims26
A fluidized, dry bed, concentrator comprising:
- means for fluidizing a mass of dry particulate material so as to physically segregate within the fluidized mass relatively heavy particulates from relatively light particulates;
- and
- means coupled to the fluidizing means for withdrawing from said fluidized mass selected particulate matter so physically segregated wherein said means for withdrawing selected particulate matter comprises:
- first extraction means coupled to a region of said fluidized mass in which relatively light particulate matter is segregated for extracting from said fluidized mass said relatively light particulate matter;
- and
- second extraction means coupled to a region of said fluidized mass in which relatively heavy particulate matter is segregated for extracting from said fluidized mass said relatively heavy particulate matter.
A fluidized, dry bed, concentrator comprising:
- means for fluidizing a mass of dry particulate material so as to physically segregate within the fluidized mass relatively heavy particulates from relatively light particulates;
- and
- means coupled to the fluidized means for withdrawing from said fluidized mass selected particulate matter so physically segregated
- wherein said means for withdrawing selected particulate matter comprises:
- a first withdrawal belt, being a continuous driven belt of a structure which permits air flow therethrough, and having a first surface defining the upper bounds of a fluidizing air plenum;
- a second withdrawal belt, being a continuous driven belt of a structure which permits air flow therethrough, and having a second surface defining the lower bounds of a fluidizing air plenum;
- and
- means, coupled to said belts, for driving said first and said second withdrawal belts such that relatively light particulates are drawn off from the upper region of the fluidized mass by said first surface of said first belt, and relatively heavy particulates are drawn off from the lower regions of the fluidized mass by said second surface of said second belt.
A method for fluidizing and concentrating a mass of dry particulate material comprising the steps of:
- a. using two driven, air permeable, continuous, riffle belts to define, between adjacent surfaces of said belts, an upper and a lower region of an air plenum;
- b. introducing a mass of dry particulate matter into the air plenum so defined;
- c. percolating air through said dry particulate matter within said air plenum so as to fluidize said dry particulate matter and cause a stratification of particulate matter therein in accord with the mass of the particles comprising the dry particulate matter, the heavier particles stratifying in the lower regions of the fluidized material;
- d. using a first of said riffle belts to draw off particulate material stratified in the upper region of said air plenum;
- and
- e. using the second of said riffle belts to draw off particulate material stratified in the lower region of said air plenum;
- whereby separate concentrations of heavy particulate matter and lighter particulate matter are accumulated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.