US3890229A — Process and apparatus for classifying granular ma…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 187 words

IN A SLURRY-TREATING METHOD FOR OBTAINING A FINAL FRACTION IN WHICH PRATICLES SMALLER THAN A GIVEN SIZE ARE SUSPENDED IN A GIVEN CONCENTRATION, THE STEPS OF FEEDING THE SLURRY WHICH IS TO BE TREATED INITIALLY TO A FIRST LIQUID CYCLONE HAVING AN UPPER OVERFLOW FINE FRACTION DISCHARGE AND A LOWER DISCHARGE FOR A SUBSTANTIALLY DEWATERED COARSE FRACTION, THEN FEEDING THE OVERFLOW FINE FRACTION DISCHARGE FROM SAID FIRST LIQUID CYCLONE TO A SECOND LIQUID CYCLONE HAVING AN UPPER OVERFLOW DISCHARGE FOR THE FINAL FRACTION AND A LOWER DISCHARGE FOR A SUBSTANTIALLY DEWATERED COARSE FRACTION, FEEDING THE SUBSTANTIALLY DEWATERED COARSE FRACTION FROM SAID FIRST LIQUID CYCLONE TO A GRAVITY SEPARATOR WHILE PRIMARILY BY SAID COARSE FRACTION FROM SAID WHICH IS FORMED PRIMARILY BY SAID COARSE FRACTION FROM SAID FIRST LIQUID CYCLONE AND WHILE SUPPLYING FRESH LIQUID TO THE GRAVITY SEPARATOR AT A RATE WHICH CONTROLS THE CONCENTRATION OF THE PARTICLES IN THE FINAL FRACTION, DISCHARGING PARTICLES LARGER THAN SAID GIVEN SIZE FROM SAID GRAVITY SEPARATOR, AND RETURNING FROM SAID GRAVITY SEPATOR TO SAID FIRST LIQUID CYCLONE A SLURRY FROM WHICH PARTICLES LARGER THAN SAID GIVEN SIZE HAS BEEN SEPARATED.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 187 words

IN A SLURRY-TREATING METHOD FOR OBTAINING A FINAL FRACTION IN WHICH PRATICLES SMALLER THAN A GIVEN SIZE ARE SUSPENDED IN A GIVEN CONCENTRATION, THE STEPS OF FEEDING THE SLURRY WHICH IS TO BE TREATED INITIALLY TO A FIRST LIQUID CYCLONE HAVING AN UPPER OVERFLOW FINE FRACTION DISCHARGE AND A LOWER DISCHARGE FOR A SUBSTANTIALLY DEWATERED COARSE FRACTION, THEN FEEDING THE OVERFLOW FINE FRACTION DISCHARGE FROM SAID FIRST LIQUID CYCLONE TO A SECOND LIQUID CYCLONE HAVING AN UPPER OVERFLOW DISCHARGE FOR THE FINAL FRACTION AND A LOWER DISCHARGE FOR A SUBSTANTIALLY DEWATERED COARSE FRACTION, FEEDING THE SUBSTANTIALLY DEWATERED COARSE FRACTION FROM SAID FIRST LIQUID CYCLONE TO A GRAVITY SEPARATOR WHILE PRIMARILY BY SAID COARSE FRACTION FROM SAID WHICH IS FORMED PRIMARILY BY SAID COARSE FRACTION FROM SAID FIRST LIQUID CYCLONE AND WHILE SUPPLYING FRESH LIQUID TO THE GRAVITY SEPARATOR AT A RATE WHICH CONTROLS THE CONCENTRATION OF THE PARTICLES IN THE FINAL FRACTION, DISCHARGING PARTICLES LARGER THAN SAID GIVEN SIZE FROM SAID GRAVITY SEPARATOR, AND RETURNING FROM SAID GRAVITY SEPATOR TO SAID FIRST LIQUID CYCLONE A SLURRY FROM WHICH PARTICLES LARGER THAN SAID GIVEN SIZE HAS BEEN SEPARATED.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 55 words

In a method as recited in claim 1 and including the step of returning at least a major part of the substantially dewatered coarse fraction discharged from said second liquid cyclone to said first liquid cyclone while bypassing said gravity separator with said major part of said coarse fraction discharged from said second liquid cyclone.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 112 words

In a method as recited in claim 1 and including the steps of wet grinding a raw slurry while simultaneously wet grinding with the raw slurry the particles larger than said given size discharged from said gravity separator, to achieve a wet-ground product made up in part of the raw slurry and in part of the particles of said larger size discharged from the gravity separator, and feeding the thus-achieved wet-ground product to said first liquid cyclone together with the discharge from the gravity separator from which the particles larger than said given size have been separated and to which liquid has been added for controlling the concentration of the final fraction.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 81 words

In a method as recited in claim 1 and wherein gravity separation of the dewatered coarse fraction from said first liquid cyclone is carried out in the gravity separator in a plurality of successive stages in which the fresh liquid flows in countercurrent to the matter derived from the first liquid cyclone so that particles included in the substantially dewatered coarse fraction discharged from the first liquid cyclone are washed at least once by the liquid fed to the gravity separator.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 102 words

In a method as recited in claim 3 and wherein prior to return of the wet-ground product and discharge from the separator to the first liquid cyclone, the wet-ground product and the discharge of the gravity separator from which particles larger than a given size have been separated are subjected to vibrational sedimentation which produces a sedimentation overflow product and a sedimentation settling product, returning the sedimentation overflow product to said first liquid cyclone and returning the sedimentation settling product to the wet grinding operation together with the raw slurry and particles larger than said given size separated at the gravity separator.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 49 words

In a method as recited in claim 1 and wherein the particles larger than given size separated at the gravity separator and at least part of the dewatered coarse fraction discharged from said first liquid cyclone are extracted as matter having undesired coarse particles which are larger than desired.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 40 words

In a method as recited in claim 2 and wherein at least part of the substantially dewatered coarse fraction discharged from the second liquid cyclone is fed to the gravity separator only as a small part of the load thereof.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 61 words

In a method as recited in claim 3 and wherein at least part of the substantially dewatered coarse fraction discharged from the first liquid cyclone is wet-ground together with the raw slurry and particles of said larger size discharged from the gravity separator, so that part of the dewatered matter discharged from the first liquid cyclone contributes to the wet-ground product.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 32 words

In a method as recited in claim 5 and wherein at least part of the substantially dewatered coarse fraction discharged from the second liquid cyclone is also subjected to the vibrational sedimentation.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 172 words

IN A SLURRY-TREATING APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING A FINAL FRACTION IN WHICH PARTICLES LESS THAN A GIVEN SIZE ARE SUSPENDED IN A GIVEN CONCENTRATION, FIRST AND SECOND CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATION STAGES EACH HAVING AT LEAST ONE LIQUID CYCLONE MEANS FOR PROVIDING AN UPPER OVERFLOW FINE FRACTION DISCHARGE AND A LOWER DISCHARGE OF A SUBSTANTIALLY DEWATERED COARSE FRACTION, THE UPPER OVERFLOW DISCHARGE OF THE LIQUID CYCLONE MEANS FOR PROSECOND CENTRIFUGAL STAGE PROVIDING THE FINAL FRACTION, FIRST SUMP MEANS FOR CONTAINING SLURRY TO BE TREATED, FIRST PUMP MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID FIRST SUMP MEANS AND WITH THE LIQUID CYCLONE MEANS OF SAID FIRST CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATION STAGE FOR FEEDING SLURRY FROM SAID FIRST SUMP MEANS TO SAID LIQUID CYCLONE MEANS OF SAID FIRST STAGE TO BETREATED THEREIN, SECOND SUMP MEANS FOR RECEIVING CYTHE UPPER OVERFLOW FINE FRACTION DISCHARGE FROM THE LIQUID CYCLEON MEANS OF SAID FIRST STAGE SECOND PUMP MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID SECOND SUMP MEANS AND WITH THE LIQUID CYCLONE MEANS OF SAID SECOND STAGE FOR FEEDING SLURRY FROM SAID SECOND SUMP MEANS TO SAID LIQUID

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 172 words

IN A SLURRY-TREATING APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING A FINAL FRACTION IN WHICH PARTICLES LESS THAN A GIVEN SIZE ARE SUSPENDED IN A GIVEN CONCENTRATION, FIRST AND SECOND CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATION STAGES EACH HAVING AT LEAST ONE LIQUID CYCLONE MEANS FOR PROVIDING AN UPPER OVERFLOW FINE FRACTION DISCHARGE AND A LOWER DISCHARGE OF A SUBSTANTIALLY DEWATERED COARSE FRACTION, THE UPPER OVERFLOW DISCHARGE OF THE LIQUID CYCLONE MEANS FOR PROSECOND CENTRIFUGAL STAGE PROVIDING THE FINAL FRACTION, FIRST SUMP MEANS FOR CONTAINING SLURRY TO BE TREATED, FIRST PUMP MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID FIRST SUMP MEANS AND WITH THE LIQUID CYCLONE MEANS OF SAID FIRST CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATION STAGE FOR FEEDING SLURRY FROM SAID FIRST SUMP MEANS TO SAID LIQUID CYCLONE MEANS OF SAID FIRST STAGE TO BETREATED THEREIN, SECOND SUMP MEANS FOR RECEIVING CYTHE UPPER OVERFLOW FINE FRACTION DISCHARGE FROM THE LIQUID CYCLEON MEANS OF SAID FIRST STAGE SECOND PUMP MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID SECOND SUMP MEANS AND WITH THE LIQUID CYCLONE MEANS OF SAID SECOND STAGE FOR FEEDING SLURRY FROM SAID SECOND SUMP MEANS TO SAID LIQUID

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 92 words

The combination of claim 10 and wherein an adjustable distributor means is operatively connected with said first discharge conduit means for delivering a major part of the lower discharge of the liquid cyclone means of the first stage to said first conduit means to be delivered thereby to the gravity separation means, and an additional conduit communicating with said adjustable distributor means for receiving a minor part of the lower discharge of said liquid cyclone means of said first stage therefrom and for delivering the latter part to said first sump means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 89 words

The combination of claim 10 and wherein an adjustable distributor means is operatively connected with said second discharge conduit means for delivering a major part of the dewatered matter discharged from the liquid cyclone means of said second stage to said second discharge conduit means, and additional conduit means operatively connected with said adjustable distributor means for optionally directing a minor part of the lower discharge of the liquid cyclone means of said second stage to the gravity separation means as only a small part of the load thereof.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 104 words

The combination of claim 10 and wherein a branch conduit means communicates on the one hand with the upper overflow discharge of the liquid cyclone means of the first stage and on the other hand with said first sump means for delivering part of the upper overflow discharge of the liquid cyclone means of the first stage to said first sump means, adjustable valve means carried by said branch conduit means, and float means situated in said first sump means and operatively conneCted with said adjustable valve means for controlling the latter to maintain a given level of slurry in said first sump means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 85 words

The combination of claim 10 and wherein a branch conduit means extends from the upper overflow discharge of the liquid cyclone means of the second stage to said second sump means for returning part of the final fraction to said second sump means, adjustable valve means carried by said branch conduit means, and float means situated in said second sump means and operatively connected with said adjustable valve means for controlling the latter to maintain a given level of slurry in said second sump means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 142 words

The combination of claim 10 and wherein a wet grinding means has an outlet communicating with said first sump means for delivering a wet-ground product thereto, feed means communicating with said gravity separation means and an inlet of said wet grinding means for delivering to the latter the particles larger than said given size separated by said gravity separation means, adjustable distributor means operatively connected with said first discharge conduit means for delivering a major part of the dewatered coarse fraction discharged from the liquid cyclone means of said first stage to said first discharge conduit means, and additional conduit means communicating with said adjustable distributor means and with the inlet of said wet grinding means for delivering a minor part of the dewatered coarse fraction discharged from the liquid cyclone means of the first stage also to said wet grinding means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 156 words

The combination of claim 15 and wherein a vibratory-screen sedimentation means is situated in the path of flow from the outlet of said wet grinding means to said first sump means for subjecting the wet ground product first to sedimentation prior to delivery to said first sump means, said sedimentation means having an overflow outlet for delivering the product subjected to sedimentation to said first sump means, the overflow separation discharge from said gravity separation means also communicating with said sedimentation means and said second discharge means communicating with an inlet of said sedimentation means for directing dewatered matter discharged from the liquid cyclone means of the second stage to said sedimentation means to be treated therein prior to delivery to said first sump means, said sedimentation means having an outlet for separated particles communicating with an inlet of said wet grinding means for delivering settled particles from said sedimentation means to said wet grinding means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 93 words

The combination of claim 10 and wherein said gravity separation means includes a plurality of horizontally arranged stages in which the particles flow in countercurrent to the liquid supply by the liquid supply means so as to be washed thereby, said gravity separation means including rotary bucket wheel for discharging the particles of larger size separated by the gravity separation means and at least one distributing bucket wheel for distributing the particles of larger size which settle in the gravity separation means in countercurrent to the liquid supplied by the liquid supply means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-06-16	1978-12-16	1979-06-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-06-16	1982-12-16	1983-06-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-06-16	1986-12-16	1987-06-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Process and apparatus for classifying granular material suspended in a liquid

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