Vibrating-matrix magnetic separators

Claim 2

A magnetic separator adapted to separate particles in a carrier fluid stream into at least two groups on the basis of the induced magnetic dipole moment of the individual particles in the fluid, that comprises: a ferro-magnetic filamentary matrix that contains a plurality of paths therethrough along which the carrier and particles can travel, means for establishing a continuous magnetic background field in the volume occupied by the matrix to magnetize the matrix and the particles, and electric current conductor means embedded in the matrix and electrically insulated therefrom, said conductor means being adapted to connect to a source of alternating current and when energized to effect vibration of the fibers during the separation process by mechanical interaction between the conductor means and the matrix, said vibration being generated by interaction between the continuous background field and the alternating current in said conductor means, the vibrating force occurring wherever the electric conductors of the conductor means are not parallel to the direction of the background field.

Claim 3

A separator as claimed in claim 1 in which the conductor means is an insulated electric wire which is formed into one or several helical coils with their axes essentially parallel to the direction of the background field, distributed throughout the matrix material so that substantially all positions of the matrix are subjected to said mechanical interaction.

Claim 4

A separator as claimed in claim 2 which further includes a source of alternating current of 30 to 1,000 Hz frequency connected to energize the conductor means during the separation process.

Claim 5

A separator as claimed in claim 3 in which the matrix is a stainless steel wool matrix, at least some of the particles being retained by the steel wool in an operable system.

Claim 6

A separator as claimed in claim 3 in which the source of alternating current is controllable in current amplitude and frequency, thereby to provide some control over the degree of mEchanical and magnetic retention of particles.

Claim 7

A separator as claimed in claim 1 which includes an inlet to admit the fluid containing the particles to the matrix, and an outlet to discharge the fluid and those particles which are not retained magnetically, said inlet and outlet serving also to purge the matrix of the magnetically retained particles after the background field has been turned off.

Claim 8

A separator as claimed in claim 1 in which the matrix is operable to move continuously so that portions thereof pass from a region in which said portions are exposed to the background magnetic field to a region in which there is no magnetic field, and back again, a plurality of fixed inlets and outlets being provided to introduce the carrier fluid and particles to the matrix, to remove residual tailings from said portions of the matrix while those portions are in the magnetic field region, and to purge the matrix of magnetic particles when said portions of the matrix are outside the magnetic field region, all operations being conducted in a continuous cycle while the matrix is in motion, means being provided to connect said conductors selectively to a source of alternating current during all or parts of the separation cycle.

Claim 9

A separator as claimed in claim 1 in which the conductor means is an insulated electric wire which is formed into one or several spiral coils with their planes essentially perpendicular to the direction of the background field, sandwiched between layers of matrix material so that substantially all positions of the matrix are subjected to said mechanical interaction.

Claim 10

A separator as claimed in claim 1 in which the conductor means is an insulated electric wire which meanders back and forth between layers of matrix material, the direction of said wire being essentially perpendicular to the direction of the background field, distributed throughout the matrix material so that substantially all positions of the matrix are subjected to said mechanical interaction.

Claim 11

A separator as claimed in claim 1 in which the conductor means is a multi-filament cable or ribbon of woven, braided or stranded configuration, individual filaments being sufficiently thin and of sufficiently tempered material to withstand prolonged vibration without fatigue failure, and insulated with an elastic and chemically resistant material, reenforced for abrasion resistance.

Claim 12

A separator as claimed in claim 1 in which the fluid is water, in which the particles separated are mags and tailings, the mags being retained within the matrix by said magnetic force and the water and tailings passing into, through, and out of the matrix, means being provided to blow a stream of gas through the matrix while the matrix is subjected to the background field and to mechanical vibration simultaneously to remove excess water from the fluid, said last-named means acting also to purge the matrix of the mags when the magnetic field has been turned off but the mechanical vibration is still in effect.

Claim 13

A magnetic separator adapted to separate particles in a fluid carrier stream into at least two groups on the basis of the induced magnetic dipole moment of the individual particles in the fluid, that comprises: a ferro-magnetic filamentary matrix that contains a plurality of paths therethrough along which the carrier and particles can travel, means for establishing a magnetic background field in the volume occupied by the matrix to magnetize the matrix and the particles, and means for establishing an alternating magnetic field in said volume and in a direction approximately perpendicular to the direction of said background field, thereby to apply a vibrating force to the magnetized filaments of the matrix.

Claim 14

A magnetic separator adapted to separate particles in a fluid carrier stream into at least two groups on the basis of the induced magnetic dipole moment of the individual particles in the fluid, that comprises: a ferro-magnetic filamentary matrix that contains a plurality of paths therethrough along which the carrier and particles can travel, means for establishing a magnetic background field in the volume occupied by the matrix to magnetize the matrix and the particles, and means for establishing an alternating magnetic field in said volume and in a direction approximately perpendicular to the direction of said background field, thereby to apply a vibrating force to the magnetized filaments of the matrix.

Claim 15

A separator as claimed in claim 11 which further includes a source of alternating current of 30 to 1,000 Hz frequency connected to energize the conductor means during the separation process.

Claim 16

A separator as claimed in claim 12 in which the matrix is a staInless steel wool matrix, at least some of the particles being retained by the steel wool in an operable system.

Claim 17

A separator as claimed in claim 13 in which the source of alternating transverse field is controllable in current amplitude and frequency, thereby to provide some control over the degree of mechanical and magnetic retention of particles.

Claim 18

A separator as claimed in claim 12 which includes an inlet to admit the fluid containing the particles to the matrix, and an outlet to discharge the fluid and those particles which are not retained magnetically, said inlet and outlet serving also to purge the matrix by washing or blowing out the magnetically retained particles after the background field has been turned off.

Claim 19

A separator as claimed in claim 12 in which the matrix is operable to move continuously so that portions thereof pass from a region in which said portions are exposed to the background magnetic field to a region in which there is no magnetic field, and back again, a plurality of fixed inlets and outlets being provided to introduce the fluid carrier and particles to the matrix, to remove residual tailings from said portions of the matrix while those portions are in the magnetic field region, and to purge the matrix of magnetic particles when said portions of the matrix are outside the magnetic region, all operations being conducted on a continuous cycle while the matrix is in motion, means being provided to apply the alternating magnetic field at one or more portions of the matrix.

Claim 20

A magnetic separator adapted to separate particles in a fluid carrier into groups on the basis of the magnetic characteristics of the individual particles, that comprises, a ferromagnetic filamentary matrix that contains a plurality of paths therethrough along which the carrier and particles can travel, means for establishing a magnetic background field in the volume occupied by the matrix to magnetize the filaments that make up said matrix and the particles therein so that some of the particles are attracted to and become attached to the filaments by virtue of magnetic forces, and vibration means operable to effect vibration of said filaments to discourage purely mechanical attachment thereto while magnetic separation is occurring, said separator serving not only to remove particles from a fluid on the basis of their magnetic characteristics, but also to dry magnetic particles or mags retained in the matrix by magnetic forces in a system in which the carrier is a liquid by blowing a stream of air or other gas through the matrix while said matrix is subjected to a background magnetic field and to mechanical vibration simultaneously, until a desired degree of moisture reduction has been achieved, whereupon the background field is turned off or the matrix is moved to a region of zero field and the dried mags are removed from the matrix, said separator including means for introducing a gas stream to a portion of the matrix in said volume during the time at which the portion of the matrix is magnetized and being subjected to vibration but after a major part of the liquid has been removed from the portion of the matrix, thereby to effect drying of the mags.

Claim 21

A magnetic separator adapted to separate particles in a fluid carrier into groups on the basis of the magnetic characteristics of the individual particles, that comprises, a ferromagnetic filamentary matrix that contains a plurality of paths therethrough along which the carrier and particles can travel, means for establishing a magnetic background field in the volume occupied by the matrix to magnetize the filaments that make up said matrix and the particles therein so that some of the particles are attracted to and become attached to the filaments by virtue of magnetic forces, and vibration means operable to effect vibration of said filaments to discourage purely mechanical attachment thereto while magnetic separation is occurring, said separator serving not only to remove particles from a fluid on the basis of their magnetic characteristics, but also to dry magnetic particles or mags retained in the matrix by magnetic forces in a system in which the carrier is a liquid by blowing a stream of air or other gas through the matrix while said matrix is subjected to a background magnetic field and to mechanical vibration simultaneously, until a desired degree of moisture reduction has been achieved, whereupon the background field is turned off or the matrix is moved to a region of zero field and the dried mags are removed from the matrix, said separator including means for introducing a gas stream to a portion of the matrix in said volume during the time at which the portion of the matrix is magnetized and being subjected to vibration but after a major part of the liquid has been removed from the portion of the matrix, thereby to effect drying of the mags.