Method and apparatus for transporting a product within a diffuser
AssigneeBosch Projects (Pty) Ltd.
InventorsMichael John Gibbon, William Howard Yeo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for transporting a product within a diffuser during a continuous lixiviation process. The apparatus comprises at least one screen deck for the continuous lixiviation process and at least one longitudinal transport zone, the longitudinal transport zone extending between an inlet and outlet of the diffuser. The transport zone may include a plurality of transport zones. A drive means is arranged to move the longitudinal transport zone at a first speed towards the outlet end of the diffuser and to retract the longitudinal transport zone at a second speed which is substantially faster than the first speed towards the inlet end of the diffuser, so that the transport zone drive the product towards the outlet of the diffuser.
Claims32
A method of transporting a product within a diffuser having a screen deck during a continuous lixiviation process, the method comprising:
- providing a screen deck for the continuous lixiviation process;
- providing at least one longitudinal transport zone, the longitudinal transport zone extending between an inlet and outlet of the diffuser;
- moving the transport zone towards the outlet of the diffuser at a first speed to cause the transport zone to drive the product towards the outlet;
- and
- retracting the transport zone towards the inlet of the diffuser at a second speed substantially faster than the first speed while the product continues to move towards the outlet of the diffuser, to return the transport zone to its original position.
An apparatus for transporting a product within a diffuser during a continuous lixiviation process, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one screen deck for the continuous lixiviation process;
- at least one longitudinal transport zone, the longitudinal transport zone extending between an inlet and outlet of the diffuser;
- and
- drive means arranged to move the longitudinal transport zone at a first speed towards the outlet end of the diffuser and to retract the longitudinal transport zone at a second speed which is substantially faster than the first speed towards the inlet end of the diffuser, so that the transport zone drive the product towards the outlet of the diffuser.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.