Magnetic separator method and apparatus

Claim 2

Method of separating magnetic or magnetizable particles from a material comprising magnetic or magnetizable particles and other particles having magnetic or magnetizable values less than said particles to be separated, said method comprising: a. establishing a flowing stream comprising said material, b. establishing a stationary magnetic field along a separating region of said stream from a source completely surrounding the stream, said magnetic field having a flux pattern which produces substantially only radial separating forces within the separating region, said radial forces having substantially no longitudinal components and diverging perpendicularly from the stream flow axis with increasing magnitude substantially equally in all radial directions about said axis, thereby to attract magnetic or magnetizable particles flowing through the magnetic field into an outer portion of the separating region, and c. separating said outer portion of said stream from an inner portion as the magnetic or magnetizable particles leave the separation region.

Claim 3

Method as in claim 1, further comprising: d. varying the flow rate of said feed stream to control the amount of magnetic or magnetizable particles attracted into the outer portion of the separating region.

Claim 4

Method as in claim 1 wherein the magnetic field intensity in step (b) is static.

Claim 5

Method as in claim 1 wherein the magnetic field intensity in step (b) is pulsating.

Claim 6

Method as in claim 1 wherein the magnetic field intensity in step (b) is alternating.

Claim 7

Method as in claim 1, further comprising: e. varying the intensity of the magnetic field to control the amount of magnetic or magnetizable particles attracted into the outer portion of the separating region.

Claim 8

Method as in claim 1 wherein the magnetic field intensity in step (b) is pulsating or alternating, and further comprising: f. varying the pulsating or alternating frequency to control the magnetic susceptibility of the particles attracted into the outer portion of the separating region.

Claim 9

Method as in claim 7, further comprising: g. varying the intensity of the magnetic field to control the amount of magnetic or magnetizable particles attracted into the outer portion of the separating region.

Claim 10

Method of separating magnetic or magnetizable particles from a material comprising magnetic or magnetizable particles and other particles having magnetic or magnetizable values less than said particles to be separated, said method comprising: a. establishing a first flowing stream comprising said material, b. establishing a second flowing stream of fluid in contact with said first flowing stream, c. establishing a stationary magnetic field along a separating region of said streams from a source surrounding the second flowing stream, said magnetic field having a flux pattern which produces separating forces directed perpendicularly from the flow axis of said first flowing stream, thereby to attract magnetic or magnetizable particles flowing through the magnetic field from said first flowing stream into said second flowing stream, and d. separating said first flowing stream from said second flowing stream after said magnetic or magnetizable particles leave the separating region.

Claim 11

Method of separating magnetic or magnetizable particles from a material comprising magnetic or magnetizable particles and other particles having magnetic or magnetizable values less than said particles to be separated, said method comprising: a. establishing a first flowing stream comprising said material, b. establishing a second flowing stream of fluid in contact with said first flowing stream, c. establishing a stationary magnetic field along a separating region of said streams from a source surrounding the second flowing stream, said magnetic field having a flux pattern which produces separating forces directed perpendicularly from the flow axis of said first flowing stream, thereby to attract magnetic or magnetizable particles flowing through the magnetic field from said first flowing stream into said second flowing stream, and d. separating said first flowing stream from said second flowing stream after said magnetic or magnetizable particles leave the separating region.

Claim 12

Method as in claim 9, further comprising: e. varying the flow rate of said first flowing stream to control the amount of magnetic or magnetizable particles attracted from the first flowing stream into said second flowing stream.

Claim 13

Method as in claim 9, further comprising: f. varying the flow rate of the second flowing stream relative the first flowing stream to confine said other particles of material to the first flowing stream as it leaves the separating region.

Claim 14

Method as in claim 9, further comprising: g. said first and second streams flowing parallel to each other.

Claim 15

Method as in claim 9, further comprising: h. the direction of flow of said first and second flowing streams being substantially vertical.

Claim 16

Method of separating magnetic or magnetizable particles from a material comprising magnetic particles and other particles having magnetic or magnetizable value less than said particles to be separated, said method comprising: a. establishing a first flowing stream comprising said material, b. establishing a second flowing stream of fluid, said second flowing stream having an annular transverse cross section extending completely around and contacting the transverse periphery of said first flowing stream, c. establishing a stationary magnetic field in a separating region of said streams from a source surrounding the transverse periphery of said second flowing stream, said magnetic field having a flux pattern which produces separating forces directed radially outwardly from the flow axis of said first flowing stream, thereby to attract magnetic or magnetizable particles flowing through said magnetic field from said first flowing stream into said second flowing stream, and d. separating said first flowing stream from said second flowing stream after said magnetic or magnetizable particles leave the separating region.

Claim 17

Method of separating magnetic or magnetizable particles from a material comprising magnetic particles and other particles having magnetic or magnetizable value less than said particles to be separated, said method comprising: a. establishing a first flowing stream comprising said material, b. establishing a second flowing stream of fluid, said second flowing stream having an annular transverse cross section extending completely around and contacting the transverse periphery of said first flowing stream, c. establishing a stationary magnetic field in a separating region of said streams from a source surrounding the transverse periphery of said second flowing stream, said magnetic field having a flux pattern which produces separating forces directed radially outwardly from the flow axis of said first flowing stream, thereby to attract magnetic or magnetizable particles flowing through said magnetic field from said first flowing stream into said second flowing stream, and d. separating said first flowing stream from said second flowing stream after said magnetic or magnetizable particles leave the separating region.

Claim 18

Method as in claim 14, further comprising: e. the transverse cross section of said first flowing stream being circular, f. the transverse cross section of said second flowing stream being a circular annulus coaxial with said first flowing stream.

Claim 19

Method as in claim 15, further comprising: g. said magnetic field being established substantially uniformly at a plurality of symmetrically spaced points around the transverse periphery of said second flowing stream.

Claim 20

Apparatus for separating magnetic or magnetizable particles from a material comprising magnetic or magnetizable particles and other particles having magnetic or magnetizable values less than said particles to be separated, said apparatus comprising: a. elongated conduit means having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a separating region spaced between said ends, b. said inlet end of the conduit means adapted to receive a flowing stream comprIsing said material, c. baffle means disposed within the outlet end of the conduit means and extending downstream from the separating region, said baffle means defining a concentrate discharge passage aligned coaxially with an outer portion of the separating region and a tailings discharge passage aligned coaxially with an inner portion of the separating region, d. means for establishing a stationary magnetic field within the separating region from a source thereabout, said means having a magnetic field with a flux pattern which produces substantially only radial separating forces within the separating region, said radial forces having substantially no longitudinal components and diverging perpendicularly from the stream flow axis with increasing magnitude substantially equally in all radial directions about said flow axis, and e. whereby magnetic or magnetizable particles flowing through the magnetic field are attracted into the outer portion of the separating region and discharged through said concentrate passage, and whereby the remaining particles are discharged through the tailing passage.

Claim 21

Apparatus for separating magnetic or magnetizable particles from a material comprising magnetic or magnetizable particles and other particles having magnetic or magnetizable values less than said particles to be separated, said apparatus comprising: a. elongated conduit means having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a separating region spaced between said ends, b. said inlet end of the conduit means adapted to receive a flowing stream comprIsing said material, c. baffle means disposed within the outlet end of the conduit means and extending downstream from the separating region, said baffle means defining a concentrate discharge passage aligned coaxially with an outer portion of the separating region and a tailings discharge passage aligned coaxially with an inner portion of the separating region, d. means for establishing a stationary magnetic field within the separating region from a source thereabout, said means having a magnetic field with a flux pattern which produces substantially only radial separating forces within the separating region, said radial forces having substantially no longitudinal components and diverging perpendicularly from the stream flow axis with increasing magnitude substantially equally in all radial directions about said flow axis, and e. whereby magnetic or magnetizable particles flowing through the magnetic field are attracted into the outer portion of the separating region and discharged through said concentrate passage, and whereby the remaining particles are discharged through the tailing passage.

Claim 22

Apparatus as in claim 17 wherein means (d) comprises: f. permanent magnet means having a plurality of radial poles with convex faces disposed in opposite adjacent polarity about the separating region for producing the radial separating forces of said magnetic field.

Claim 23

Apparatus as in claim 17 further comprising: n. means for supplying said flowing stream of materials to the inlet end, and o. control means operatively associated with means (n) for varying the flow rate of said stream.

Claim 24

Apparatus as in claim 17 wherein means (d) comprises: g. electrically energized magnetic field producing means having a plurality of effectively radial poles with convex faces disposed in opposite adjacent polarity about the separating region for producing the radial separating forces of said magnetic field.

Claim 25

Apparatus as in claim 20 wherein means (g) includes: h. means for varying the intensity of the magnetic field.

Claim 26

Apparatus as in claim 20 wherein means includes: i. means for producing a static magnetic field intensity.

Claim 27

Apparatus as in claim 20 wherein means (g) includes: j. means for producing a pulsating magnetic field intensity.

Claim 28

Apparatus as in claim 23 wherein means (j) includes: k. means for varying the frequency of the pulsating magnetic field intensity.

Claim 29

Apparatus as in claim 20 wherein means (g) includes: i. means for producing an alternating magnetic field intensity.

Claim 30

Apparatus as in claim 25 wherein means (l) includes: m. means for varying the frequency of the alternating magnetic field intensity.

Claim 31

Apparatus for separating magnetic or magnetizable particles from a material comprising magnetic or magnetizable particles and other particles having magnetic or magnetizable values less than said particles to be separated, said apparatus comprising: a. elongated conduit means having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a separating region spaced between said ends, b. first baffle means disposed within the inlet end of the conduit means and extending downstream to the separating region, said first baffle means defining within said conduit means adjacent the inlet end thereof a feed inlet passage adapted to receive a first flowing stream comprising said material and a wash fluid inlet passage adapted to receive a second flowing stream of wash fluid, c. second baffle means disposed within the outlet end of the conduit means and extending downstream from the separating region, said second baffle means defining within said conduit means adjacent the outlet end thereof a concentrate discharge passage adapted to discharge a third flowing stream and a tailings discharge passage adapted to discharge a fourth flowing stream, d. said concentrate discharge passage and said wash fluid inlet passage being substantially aligned with respect to each other loNgitudinally of the elongated conduit means, e. said tailings discharge passage and said feed inlet passage being substantially aligned with respect to each other longitudinally of the elongated conduit means, f. means for establishing a stationary magnetic field within the separating region from a source positioned such that the second flowing stream is interposed between the first flowing stream and said source, and g. whereby magnetic or magnetizable particles flowing through the magnetic field are attracted from the first flowing stream into the second flowing stream and are discharged through the concentrate passage with the wash fluid in a third flowing stream, and whereby the other particles are discharged through said tailings passage in a fourth flowing stream.

Claim 32

Apparatus for separating magnetic or magnetizable particles from a material comprising magnetic or magnetizable particles and other particles having magnetic or magnetizable values less than said particles to be separated, said apparatus comprising: a. elongated conduit means having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a separating region spaced between said ends, b. first baffle means disposed within the inlet end of the conduit means and extending downstream to the separating region, said first baffle means defining within said conduit means adjacent the inlet end thereof a feed inlet passage adapted to receive a first flowing stream comprising said material and a wash fluid inlet passage adapted to receive a second flowing stream of wash fluid, c. second baffle means disposed within the outlet end of the conduit means and extending downstream from the separating region, said second baffle means defining within said conduit means adjacent the outlet end thereof a concentrate discharge passage adapted to discharge a third flowing stream and a tailings discharge passage adapted to discharge a fourth flowing stream, d. said concentrate discharge passage and said wash fluid inlet passage being substantially aligned with respect to each other loNgitudinally of the elongated conduit means, e. said tailings discharge passage and said feed inlet passage being substantially aligned with respect to each other longitudinally of the elongated conduit means, f. means for establishing a stationary magnetic field within the separating region from a source positioned such that the second flowing stream is interposed between the first flowing stream and said source, and g. whereby magnetic or magnetizable particles flowing through the magnetic field are attracted from the first flowing stream into the second flowing stream and are discharged through the concentrate passage with the wash fluid in a third flowing stream, and whereby the other particles are discharged through said tailings passage in a fourth flowing stream.

Claim 33

Apparatus as in claim 27, further comprising: h. said means (f) applying a magnetic force to said magnetic or magnetizable particles in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said elongated conduit means.

Claim 34

Apparatus as in claim 27, further comprising: i. said elongated conduit means being arranged with its longitudinal axis vertical.

Claim 35

Apparatus as in claim 27, further comprising: j. rod means mounted coaxially within said inlet end and extending into the separating region, said rod means having a circular transverse cross section, whereby the feed inlet passage has a circular annular transverse cross section.

Claim 36

Apparatus as in claim 27, further comprising: k. means for supplying the first flowing stream to means (b), and l. control means operatively associated with means (k) for varying the flow rate of the first stream.

Claim 37

Apparatus as in claim 27, further comprising: m. means for supplying the first and second streams to means (b), and n. control means operatively associated with means (m) for varying the flow rate of the second stream relative the first stream.

Claim 38

Apparatus for separating magnetic or magnetizable particles from a material comprising magnetic or magnetizable particles and other particles having magnetic or magnetizable values less than said particles to be separated, said apparatus comprising: a. a first hollow elongated tube having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a separating region spaced between said ends, b. a second hallow elongated tube disposed within the inlet end of the first tube and extending downstream to the separating region, said second tube defining within the first tube adjacent the inlet end thereof a central feed inlet passage adapted to receive a first flowing stream comprising said material and an annular wash fluid inlet passage surrounding the central feed inlet passage, said wash fluid inlet passage being adapted to receive a second flowing stream of wash fluid, c. a third hollow elongated tube disposed within the outlet end of the first tube and extending downstream form the separating region, said third tube defining within the first tube adjacent the outlet end thereof a central tailings discharge passage adapted to discharge a third flowing stream and an annular concentrate discharge passage surrounding the central tailings discharge passage, said concentrate discharge passage being adapted to discharge a fourth flowing stream, d. said concentrate discharge passage and said wash fluid inlet passage being substantially aligned with respect to each other longitudinally of the first tube, e. said tailings discharge passage and said feed inlet passage being substantially aligned with respect to each other longitudinally of the first tube, f. means for establishing a stationary magnetic field within the separating region from a source positioned such that the second flowing stream is interposed between the first flowing stream and said source, and g. whereby magnetic or magnetizable particles flowing through the magnetic field are attracted from the first flowing stream into the second flowing stream and are carried Out of said first tube through the concentrate discharge passage with the wash fluid in a fourth flowing stream, and whereby the other particles are carried out of the first tube through the tailings discharge passage in a third flowing stream.

Claim 39

Apparatus for separating magnetic or magnetizable particles from a material comprising magnetic or magnetizable particles and other particles having magnetic or magnetizable values less than said particles to be separated, said apparatus comprising: a. a first hollow elongated tube having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a separating region spaced between said ends, b. a second hallow elongated tube disposed within the inlet end of the first tube and extending downstream to the separating region, said second tube defining within the first tube adjacent the inlet end thereof a central feed inlet passage adapted to receive a first flowing stream comprising said material and an annular wash fluid inlet passage surrounding the central feed inlet passage, said wash fluid inlet passage being adapted to receive a second flowing stream of wash fluid, c. a third hollow elongated tube disposed within the outlet end of the first tube and extending downstream form the separating region, said third tube defining within the first tube adjacent the outlet end thereof a central tailings discharge passage adapted to discharge a third flowing stream and an annular concentrate discharge passage surrounding the central tailings discharge passage, said concentrate discharge passage being adapted to discharge a fourth flowing stream, d. said concentrate discharge passage and said wash fluid inlet passage being substantially aligned with respect to each other longitudinally of the first tube, e. said tailings discharge passage and said feed inlet passage being substantially aligned with respect to each other longitudinally of the first tube, f. means for establishing a stationary magnetic field within the separating region from a source positioned such that the second flowing stream is interposed between the first flowing stream and said source, and g. whereby magnetic or magnetizable particles flowing through the magnetic field are attracted from the first flowing stream into the second flowing stream and are carried Out of said first tube through the concentrate discharge passage with the wash fluid in a fourth flowing stream, and whereby the other particles are carried out of the first tube through the tailings discharge passage in a third flowing stream.

Claim 40

Apparatus as in claim 33, further comprising: h. said first tube being arranged with its longitudinal axis vertical.

Claim 41

Apparatus as in claim 33, further comprising: i. said means (f) applying a magnetic force to said magnetic or magnetizable particles in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first tube.

Claim 42

Apparatus as in claim 33, further comprising: j. said first, second and third tubes each having a circular transverse cross section, k. said second and third tubes each being mounted to said first tube coaxially therewith.

Claim 43

Apparatus as in claim 36, further comprising: l. said means (f) generating a magnetic force substantially uniformly at a plurality of symmetrically spaced points around the transverse periphery of the first tube.