US3675859A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for separating particulate materials
Assignee: Electronic Assistance Corp
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Filing: 1970-07-06
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Granted: 1972-07-11
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Expires: 1990-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A mixture of relatively malleable and relatively friable materials in particulate form within a given initial size range is separated into a fraction composed essentially of the malleable materials and a fraction composed essentially of the friable materials by first subjecting the mixture, in a vibratory mill, to forces effective to break up the particles of the friable fraction into sizes constituting a range substantially below the initial size range without substantially breaking up the particles of the malleable material and then separating the mixture according to size.
Inventors
- 👤 Chauncey L Mitchell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:17
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B1/00; C22B1/005; B; B02; B02C; B02C17/00; B02C17/14; C22B21/00; C22B21/0007; C22B7/00; C22B7/04; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the mixture is treated in a vibratory mill, the material being suspended in a liquid and conducted through a conduit containing a grinding media and vibrated substantially along an axis transverse to the conduit axis.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of processing particulate material having an initial particle size range and composed of a relatively malleable metal fraction and a relatively friable impurities fraction, some of which may be soluble, comprising the steps of delivering a suspension in a liquid of the mixture to a vibratory mill, the mill having a conduit for the material containing a grinding media, subjecting the conduit to vibratory motions substantially along a single axis thereby to impart motion to the grinding media and to subject the mixture to impact and shear forces sufficient to break up the impurities fraction to a size range substantially less than the initial size range and to deform the particles of the metal fraction into generally disc-like bodies having a size range substantially greater than the initial size range, discharging the suspension from the vibratory mill, and thereafter separating the discharged suspension mixture into a liquid component including solubles, and on the basis of size, into a fraction composed predominantly of the malleable metal particles and a fraction composed of the friable impurities and the suspension liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the mixture of particulate materials is suspended in water in an amount of from about 1 pound of particulate material to 1 gallon of liquid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the particulate material is within a size range such as to pass an 8 mesh screen and to be retained on a 48 mesh screen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for processing a mixture of relatively malleable and relatively friable materials in particulate form, the particles being within a given initial size range, comprising means for suspending the particles of said mixture in a fluid, means for subjecting the suspended mixture to forces effective to break up the friable particles into sizes constituting a range substantially below the initial size range and causing soluble friable particles to dissolve in the fluid without substantially breaking up the malleable particles, means for removing the fluid including the dissolved friables, and means for separating the remaining materials according to size to obtain a portion composed predominantly of the malleable fraction and a portion composed predominantly of the insoluble friable fraction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the means for breaking up the friables is a grinding device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the grinding device is a vibratory mill.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the vibratory mill is a ball mill comprising at least one conduit for the material charged with grinding media and means for vibrating the conduit along substantially solely an axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the conduit has a corrugated bottom surface such as to impose a generally tangential force on the grinding media that is propagated through substantially the entire cross section of the conduit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 and further comprising means for blending the material with a liquid and means for conducting a blend of the material and liquid continuously into and out of the mill.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the means for separating the materials is a screen or screens.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US979180A
Cited
US1071763A
Cited
US1930684A
Cited
US1999825A
Cited
US3037711A
Cited
US3510074A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-11 | 1976-01-10 | 1976-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-11 | 1980-01-10 | 1980-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-11 | 1984-01-10 | 1984-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |