High intensity wet magnetic separators

Claim 1

A high intensity wet magnetic separator comprising: a support frame; a pair of vertically spaced upper and lower rotor annular assemblies having discs mounted on a vertical, rotatable shaft, each said rotor disc having a heavy central disc portion of highly magnetically permeable material surrounded by an annular assembly having spaced openings extending vertically therethrough, each opening holding a plurality of induced pole pieces to permit passage of particulate material therethrough; a pair of diametrically opposed electromagnets of opposite polarity each having a substantially U-shaped yoke forming upper and lower pole pieces adjacent said upper and lower rotor annular assemblies, each said pole piece having an arcuate face of about 45* to 90*, the upper rotor forming one return circuit and the lower rotor forming the other return circuit; separate inlet means associated with each rotor for feeding a slurry feed to the upper ends of said rotor openings at the leading edge of the magnetic field produced by each electromagnet pole piece; separate inlet means for delivering a first flushing fluid to the upper ends of said rotor openings before leaving each said magnetic field; separate inlet means associated with each rotor for delivering a second flushing fluid to the upper ends of said rotor openings at the mid-points between said electromagnet pole pieces and separate collecting means disposed below said rotor openings at points below each of said feed and flushing inlet means.