Method and apparatus utilizing a rotating electromagnetic field for separating particulate material having different magnetic susceptibilities

Claim 3

The method set forth in claim 1 in which said field rotates about a substantially horizontal axis.

Claim 4

The method set forth in claim 2 in which said first location at which the material is introduced is spaced from said axis in a generally horizontal direction.

Claim 5

The method set forth in claim 3 in which said first location is disposed where the field is moving upwardly and said third particles having a higher magnetic susceptibility are removed at a location spaced angularly approximately 270* from said first location.

Claim 6

The method set forth in claim 3 in which said first location is disposed where the field is moving downwardly and said third particles having a higher magnetic susceptibility are removed at a location spaced approximately 360* from said first location.

Claim 7

The method set forth in claim 1 in which said field rotates about a substantially vertical axis.

Claim 8

The methods set forth in claim 6 in which said first location is disposed radially outward from said axis and at an elevation above the middle of said axis.

Claim 9

The method set forth in claim 1 in which the location for removing said first particles having a lesser magnetic susceptibility is beneath said first location.

Claim 10

Apparatus For separating material composed of particles having different magnetic susceptibilities comprising a stator including a stationary non-magnetic shell having a generally cylindrical outer surface and a generally cylindrical inner surface and a plurality of polyphase windings fixedly disposed within said shell in an adjacent relationship with the said inner surface thereof, said windings generating a rotating electromagnetic field that progresses circumferentially therearound, means for introducing said material into said field at one radial location so that particles having a magnetic susceptibility less than a given level fall gravitationally out of said field and the particles having a magnetic susceptibility above said given level are accelerated exclusively by said field to the extent that those particles possessing a magnetic susceptibility nearer said given level are thrown outwardly away from the outer surface of said shell due solely to centrifugal force developed only by said rotating field and thereby separated from those particles having a higher susceptibility which continue in a proximal relationship to said outer surface due to said rotating field, means for collecting said centrifugally separated particles so that they remain separated from those particles having a higher susceptibility so that said higher susceptibility particles continue in said proximal relationship to said outer surface, and means extending outwardly from the outer surface of said shell at a location less than 360* from said one location for deflecting those particles having a higher susceptibility which have continued along said outer surface from said field prior to the completion of a full revolution of said field.

Claim 11

Apparatus For separating material composed of particles having different magnetic susceptibilities comprising a stator including a stationary non-magnetic shell having a generally cylindrical outer surface and a generally cylindrical inner surface and a plurality of polyphase windings fixedly disposed within said shell in an adjacent relationship with the said inner surface thereof, said windings generating a rotating electromagnetic field that progresses circumferentially therearound, means for introducing said material into said field at one radial location so that particles having a magnetic susceptibility less than a given level fall gravitationally out of said field and the particles having a magnetic susceptibility above said given level are accelerated exclusively by said field to the extent that those particles possessing a magnetic susceptibility nearer said given level are thrown outwardly away from the outer surface of said shell due solely to centrifugal force developed only by said rotating field and thereby separated from those particles having a higher susceptibility which continue in a proximal relationship to said outer surface due to said rotating field, means for collecting said centrifugally separated particles so that they remain separated from those particles having a higher susceptibility so that said higher susceptibility particles continue in said proximal relationship to said outer surface, and means extending outwardly from the outer surface of said shell at a location less than 360* from said one location for deflecting those particles having a higher susceptibility which have continued along said outer surface from said field prior to the completion of a full revolution of said field.

Claim 12

The apparatus set forth in claim 9 in which said stator is disposed along a substantially horizontal axis.

Claim 13

The apparatus set forth in claim 12 including means having an inlet opening disposed generally horizontally at said one location where the electromagnetic field is moving outwardly, and means located generally beneath said stator via which those particles having a magnetic susceptibility less than said given level are gravitationally removed.

Claim 14

The apparatus set forth in claim 11 in which said means for deflecting said higher susceptibility particles from said field includes a barrier extending angularly from said stator, said means for gravitationally removing these particles having a magnetic susceptibility less than said given level being to one side of said barrier, and means to the other side of said barrier for removing the particles having the highest magnetic susceptibility after being deflected by said barrier.

Claim 15

The apparatus set forth in claim 12 including an adjustable splitter vane for determining the cross sectional area through which the highest magnetic susceptibility particles pass and thereby the amount thereof.

Claim 16

The apparatus set forth in claim 10 including means having an inlet opening disposed generally at said one location where the electromagnetic field is moving downwardly, and means located generally beneath said stator via which those particles having a magnetic susceptibility less than said given level are gravitationally removed.

Claim 17

The apparatus set forth in claim 14 in which said means for deflecting said high susceptibility particles from said field includes a barrier extending angularly from said stator immediately above said one location, and an adjustable splitter vane beneath said stator for determining the cross sectional area through which the particles above said given level of susceptibility pass and thereby the amount thereof.

Claim 18

The apparatus set forth in claim 15 in which said means for removing those particles having a magnetic susceptibility less than said given level is to one side of said splitter vane and said means for collecting said centrifugally separated particles is to the other side thereof.

Claim 19

The apparatus set forth in claim 9 in which said stator is disposed along a subStantially vertical axis.

Claim 20

The apparatus set forth in claim 17 in which said one location is adjacent the upper end of said stator.

Claim 21

Apparatus for separating material composed of particles having different magnetic susceptibilities comprising a housing, a stator including a stationary non-magnetic shell having a generally cylindrical outer surface and a generally cylindrical inner surface and a plurality of polyphase windings fixedly disposed within said shell in an adjacent relationship with the inner surface thereof, said shell being arranged horizontally within said housing and said windings generating a rotating electromagnetic field that progresses circumferentially therearound, means for introducing the material to be separated into said field at one radially located position so that the particles having a magnetic susceptibility below a given level fall gravitationally toward the bottom of said housing and those particles having a magnetic susceptibility above said given level are carried by said rotating field, means located at a second radial position spaced angularly from said first position for deflecting the material having a high magnetic susceptibility out of said field, first means for collecting the material having a magnetic susceptibility nearer said given level which is thrown outwardly away from the outer surface of said shell by centrifugal force developed solely from said rotating field, and second means for collecting the material having said high magnetic susceptibility deflected by said deflecting means after said material having a magnetic susceptibility nearer said given level has been thrown outwardly away from said outer surface due to centrifugal force.

Claim 22

Apparatus for separating material composed of particles having different magnetic susceptibilities comprising a housing, a stator including a stationary non-magnetic shell having a generally cylindrical outer surface and a generally cylindrical inner surface and a plurality of polyphase windings fixedly disposed within said shell in an adjacent relationship with the inner surface thereof, said shell being arranged horizontally within said housing and said windings generating a rotating electromagnetic field that progresses circumferentially therearound, means for introducing the material to be separated into said field at one radially located position so that the particles having a magnetic susceptibility below a given level fall gravitationally toward the bottom of said housing and those particles having a magnetic susceptibility above said given level are carried by said rotating field, means located at a second radial position spaced angularly from said first position for deflecting the material having a high magnetic susceptibility out of said field, first means for collecting the material having a magnetic susceptibility nearer said given level which is thrown outwardly away from the outer surface of said shell by centrifugal force developed solely from said rotating field, and second means for collecting the material having said high magnetic susceptibility deflected by said deflecting means after said material having a magnetic susceptibility nearer said given level has been thrown outwardly away from said outer surface due to centrifugal force.

Claim 23

The apparatus set forth in claim 19 including a splitter vane adjustably positionable with respect to said stator so as to cause more or less concentrate to be removed.

Claim 24

The apparatus set forth in claim 20 in which said second collecting means includes an outlet in the bottom of said housing via which the material having a relatively high magnetic susceptibility is removed and said first collecting means includes an outlet in the bottom of said housing via which the material having a magnetic susceptibility nearer said given level is removed, and in which said splitter vane is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis so that its upper edge can be swung to a position nearer said stator to divert more of said material having a magnetic susceptibility nearer said given level into said first collecting means and less of the material having a relatively high magnetic susceptibility into said second collecting means.

Claim 25

Apparatus for separating material composed of particles having different magnetic susceptibilities comprising a housing having a bottom, a stator including a stationary non-magnetic shell having a generally cylindrical outer surface and a generally cylindrical inner surface fixedly disposed in said housing and a plurality of polyphase windings fixedly disposed within said shell for generating a rotating electromagnetic field, the bottom of said housing having a first outlet formed therein located beneath said stator via which non-magnetic particles are gravitationally discharged, means for introducing said material into said housing at a location adjacent said stator so that the material enters the field at a relatively high intensity portion thereof whereby the particles having a magnetic susceptibility above a given level are accelerated entirely by said field to the extent that those particles possessing a magnetic susceptibility nearer said given level are thrown outwardly from the outer surface of said shell due to centrifugal force developed solely by said rotating field, said bottom having a second outlet therein laterally offset from said shell via which said centrifugally separated particles are removed, a barrier extending across said housing for deflecting those particles having a relatively high magnetic susceptibility from said field, said barrIer being located a substantial angular distance from the location at which the material is introduced into said housing, said bottom having a third outlet opening located near said barrier so that material deflected thereby which has continued in a proximal relation along said outer surface is removed via said outlet.

Claim 26

Apparatus for separating material composed of particles having different magnetic susceptibilities comprising a housing having a bottom, a stator including a stationary non-magnetic shell having a generally cylindrical outer surface and a generally cylindrical inner surface fixedly disposed in said housing and a plurality of polyphase windings fixedly disposed within said shell for generating a rotating electromagnetic field, the bottom of said housing having a first outlet formed therein located beneath said stator via which non-magnetic particles are gravitationally discharged, means for introducing said material into said housing at a location adjacent said stator so that the material enters the field at a relatively high intensity portion thereof whereby the particles having a magnetic susceptibility above a given level are accelerated entirely by said field to the extent that those particles possessing a magnetic susceptibility nearer said given level are thrown outwardly from the outer surface of said shell due to centrifugal force developed solely by said rotating field, said bottom having a second outlet therein laterally offset from said shell via which said centrifugally separated particles are removed, a barrier extending across said housing for deflecting those particles having a relatively high magnetic susceptibility from said field, said barrIer being located a substantial angular distance from the location at which the material is introduced into said housing, said bottom having a third outlet opening located near said barrier so that material deflected thereby which has continued in a proximal relation along said outer surface is removed via said outlet.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 22 including a splitter vane between said second and third outlet for diverting more of said relatively high magnetic susceptibility material through said third outlet when moved into one position and less of said relatively high magnetic susceptibility material when moved into a second position.

Claim 28

In apparatus for separating materials composed of particles having different magnetic susceptibilities, a housing, a stator contained in said housing comprising a plurality of stacked laminations, each lamination having a series of angularly spaced pointed teeth projecting radially outwardly therefrom to form slots between the various angularly spaced teeth, a plurality of coils disposed in said slots, a non magnetic liner encircling the pointed ends of said teeth, whereby polyphase energization of said coils produces a rotating field sufficiently intense so as to carry with it particles having a magnetic susceptibility above a given level and which field will produce a sufficient amount of centrifugal force to throw outwardly from said stator those particles having a magnetic susceptibility nearer said given level, deflecting means extending between said liner and one portion of said housing for deflecting said material having a relatively high magnetic susceptibility from said rotating field, said means being located at an angular position with respect to said liner which is spaced from the location at which the material is introduced into said field, means for removing from said housing the material that is separated by centrifugal force from said field after reaching a sufficient angular velocity, means for removing from said housing the material that is separated by said deflecting means, and means for removing from said housing the material having a magnetic susceptibility below said given level.

Claim 29

In apparatus for separating materials composed of particles having different magnetic susceptibilities, a housing, a stator contained in said housing comprising a plurality of stacked laminations, each lamination having a series of angularly spaced pointed teeth projecting radially outwardly therefrom to form slots between the various angularly spaced teeth, a plurality of coils disposed in said slots, a non magnetic liner encircling the pointed ends of said teeth, whereby polyphase energization of said coils produces a rotating field sufficiently intense so as to carry with it particles having a magnetic susceptibility above a given level and which field will produce a sufficient amount of centrifugal force to throw outwardly from said stator those particles having a magnetic susceptibility nearer said given level, deflecting means extending between said liner and one portion of said housing for deflecting said material having a relatively high magnetic susceptibility from said rotating field, said means being located at an angular position with respect to said liner which is spaced from the location at which the material is introduced into said field, means for removing from said housing the material that is separated by centrifugal force from said field after reaching a sufficient angular velocity, means for removing from said housing the material that is separated by said deflecting means, and means for removing from said housing the material having a magnetic susceptibility below said given level.