Apparatus and method for continuously separating solid particles in a fluid medium

Claim 2

The nozzles of said second group of nozzles as described in claim 1 are positioned downwardly at a 45* angle from the horizontal and at a 15* angle from the vertical for accomplishing the creation of a downwardly, inwardly and circularly swirling area of turbulence.

Claim 3

Apparatus for continuously separating discrete particles having varying specific gravities and resistances to fall in water as a separating medium, comprising an elongated cylindrical vessel vertically oriented for receiving the water and particles and forming a separation chamber for the particles, said vessel being closed at the loweR end by downwardly and inwardly depending walls for forming a particle settling chamber having a downwardly directed aperture coaxial with the vertical axis of said vessel, overflow means peripherally disposed adjacent the topmost portion of said separation chamber and communicating interiorly therewith, a conduit fixed to the closed top of said vessel and concentrically projecting downward into said separating chamber for continuously introducing a mixture of the water and discrete particles downwardly into said separation chamber, a manifold encircling the outer periphery of said vessel and attached thereto adjacent the lower end of said separation chamber, said manifold having first and second chambers for carrying water under pressure, a first group of horizontally disposed, spaced nozzles fixed to the interior periphery of said vessel opposite one of said encircling manifold chambers, and communicating with said chamber carrying the water under pressure, said first group of nozzles angled with respect to the radial direction for directing the pressured water upwardly, inwardly and circularly into said separation chamber for forming an upwardly spiraling area of turbulence and imparting an upward rotational motion to the water within said separating chamber, the axis of rotation of the water being substantially coincident with the vertical axis of said vessel, said upwardly spiraling area of turbulence in the water effecting a first separation of the particles having a lesser specific gravity and a greater resistance to fall from the particles having a greater specific gravity and a lesser resistance to fall, the lighter particles being swept upwardly for discharge through said overflow means and the heavier particles settling down into said settling chamber, a second group of horizontally disposed, spaced nozzles fixed to the interior periphery of said vessel below said first group opposite said encircling second manifold chamber and communicating with said second chamber carrying the water under pressure, said second group of nozzles angled with respect to the radial direction for directing the pressurized water downwardly, inwardly and circularly into said settling chamber for forming a downwardly spiraling area of turbulence to sweep the inner surface of said settling chamber and effecting a second separation of the particles having a lesser specific gravity and a greater resistance to fall from the particles having a greater specific gravity and a lesser resistance to fall and carrying the heavier particles into said settling chamber aperture for discharge.

Claim 4

The nozzles of said first group of nozzles as defined in claim 4 are angled inwardly and upwardly at preselected angles to the horizontal and vertical.

Claim 5

The nozzles of said second group of nozzles as defined in claim 4 are angled inwardly and downwardly at preselected angles to the horizontal and vertical.