Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
23 words
A ferromagnetic ore concentrator as defined in claim 1, wherein the field creating means provides a magnetic field which alternates between opposing polarities.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
37 words
A ferromagnetic ore concentrator as defined in claim 2, wherein the field creating means provides a field whose integral over time for one polarity substantially exceeds the integral over time for the opposing polarity during each cycle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A ferromagnetic ore concentrator as defined in claim 1, wherein the field creating means includes primary coil means and secondary coil means magnetically coupled together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A ferromagnetic ore concentrator as defined in claim 1, wherein said magnetic field is created by first means providing a magnetizing force of one polarity and of a substantially constant magnitude, and second means for providing a magnetizing force which alternates between substantially equal and opposite polarities.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A ferromagnetic ore concentrator as defined in claim 1, wherein the field creating means provides a magnetic field in which lines of force extend substantially in the direction of particle movement through the zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
A ferromagnetic ore concentrator as defined in claim 6, wherein said concentration zone defining means includes an inclines inclined nonmagnetic plate, said introducing means introduces particulate material including ferromagnetic particles on one side of said plate at the upper portion thereof, and said magnetic field creating means is positioned on the other side of said inclined plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A ferromagnetic ore concentrator as defined in claim 7, including means for varying the inclination of one or more portions of said plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
A ferromagnetic ore concentrator as defined in claim 7, wherein said field creating means comprises a plurality of magnetic core structures positioned one over another adjacent to the plate, each core structure including one or more coil means wrapped thereon, the polarity of adjacent ones of said coil means providing for alternation of magnetic poles along the plate at any instant of time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A ferromagnetic ore concentrator as defined in claim 1, wherein said means defining said ore concentration zone permits said particulate material to fall by gravity through said zone, and said magnetic field creating means provides a magnetic field having a component acting against the gravitational force.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A ferromagnetic ore concentrator as defined in claim 10, wherein said magnetic field creating means provides a magnetic field varying in direction at selected locations in said ore concentration zone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a ferromagnetic ore concentrator, the combination comprising: a. means defining an ore concentration zone; b. means for introducing a particulate material into the zone, said material including ferromagnetic particles; and means for creating a magnetic field within the zone, said field exerting forces on the ferromagnetic particles, said field cyclically varying to and from substantially zero intensity and of a single polarity and a value greater than zero intensity throughout a major portion of each cycle of variation, wherein the field creating means includes primary coil means and secondary coil means magnetically coupled together, and wherein said primary coil means is energized by an alternating current supply, and including diode means connected in series with the secondary coil means for limiting the flow of current therethrough substantially to a single direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A ferromagnetic ore concentrator as defined in claim 5, wherein said field creating means includes a magnetic core structure having one or more legs upon which the primary and secondary coil means are wrapped.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A ferromagnetic ore concentrator as defined in claim 7, wherein the magnetic core structure includes three legs, and in which the primary and secondary coil means are wrapPed about a middle one of the legs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A ferromagnetic ore concentrator as defined in claim 7, wherein the magnetic core structure has two legs and the primary and secondary coil means are wrapped upon one of the legs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
135 words
In a ferromagnetic ore concentrator, the combination comprising: a. means defining an ore concentration zone; b. means for introducing a particulate material into the zone, said material including ferromagnetic particles; and c. means for creating a magnetic field within the zone, said field exerting forces on the ferromagnetic particles, said field cyclically varying to and from substantially zero intensity and of a single polarity throughout a major portion of each cycle of variation, wherein the field creating means includes primary coil means and secondary coil means magnetically coupled together, said primary coil means is energized by an alternating current supply, and including diode means connected in series with the secondary coil means for limiting the flow of current therethrough substantially to a single direction, and including variable resistor means in series with said diode means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
159 words
In a ferromagnetic ore concentrator, the combination comprising: a. means defining an ore concentration zone; b. means for introducing a particulate material into the zone, said material including ferromagnetic particles; and c. means for creating a magnetic field within the zone, said field exerting forces on the ferromagnetic particles, said field cyclically varying to and from substantially zero intensity and of a single polarity throughout a major portion of each cycle of variation, wherein the field creating means includes primary coil means and secondary coil means magnetically coupled together, said primary coil means is energized by an alternating current supply, and including diode means connected in series with the secondary coil means for limiting the flow of current therethrough substantially to a single direction, and said field creating means includes a magnetic core structure having two legs, and the primary and secondary coil means comprise a primary and a secondary coil concentrically wound about each one of the legs.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
110 words
In a ferromagnetic ore concentrator, the combination comprising: a. means defining an ore concentration zone; b. means for introducing a particulate material into the zone, said field material including ferromagnetic particles; and c. means for creating a magnetic field within the zone, said field exerting forces on the ferromagnetic particles, said field cyclically varying to and from substantially zero intensity and of a single polarity throughout a major portion of each cycle of variation, wherein said field creating means includes a permanent magnet core structure having two legs, first and second coil means wound on different legs, and an alternating current supply for energizing the first and second coil means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
129 words
In a ferromagnetic ore concentrator, the combination comprising: a. means defining an ore concentration zone; b. means for introducing a particulate material into the zone, said material including ferromagnetic particles; and c. means for creating a magnetic field within the zone, said field exerting forces on the ferromagnetic particles, said field cyclically varying to and from substantially zero intensity and of a single polarity throughout a major portion of each cycle of variation, wherein said field creating means includes a magnetic core structure having two legs joined by a bridging member, first and second coil means wound on different legs of the core structure, an alternating current supply for energizing said first and second coil means, and third coil means wound on the bridging member of the core structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A ferromagnetic ore concentrator as defined in claim 19, wherein the third coil means is energized by a direct current supply.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A ferromagnetic ore concentrator as defined in claim 19, including diOde means connected in series with the third coil means for limiting the flow of current through the third coil means substantially to a single direction.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of concentrating particles, at least some of which are ferromagnetic, comprising the steps of: a. introducing the particles into a concentration zone by movement of the particles in a predetermined direction through an entrance to said zone; b. concurrently subjecting all the particles in the zone to a first force transverse to said predetermined direction and tending to move all the particles out of the zone through a first exit; and c. concurrently subjecting only the ferromagnetic particles in the zone to a second force acting in a direction different from that of the first force and tending to move only the ferromagnetic particles out of the zone through a second exit by application of a magnetic field cyclically varying to and from substantially zero intensity and of a single polarity and a value greater than zero intensity throughout a major portion of each cycle of variation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 22, wherein said first force is the force of gravity, and said magnetic field includes a component acting against said gravitational force.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as defined in claim 23, wherein the direction of said magnetic field varies at selected locations in said ore concentration zone.