Magnetic segregation of mixed non-ferrous solid materials in refuse

Claim 1

A method for effecting the segregation of mixed solids materials, including mixed, non-magnetic metals obtained in the processing of collected refuse after prior removals of low density materials and magnetically removable ferrous materials, which comprises the steps of: (a) projecting the mixed solid materials in fragmented form from the surface of a moving belt terminating above and at one end of a magnetic field such that said material fragments will be projected at a constant velocity and substantially horizontally outwardly above a plurality of successively positioned material collection zones, (b) providing a series of magnetic fields on each side of and perpendicular to the pathways of the projected materials to cause material fragments to cut through the magnetic force lines, thereby inducing eddy-currents across said collection zones and in the various fragments of conductive materials which provides individual magnetic fields therewith to cause drag forces resisting the horizontal movement of such fragments proportional to their individual conductivities, (c) providing an air flow generally in the direction of the fragment trajectories and with a velocity approximating the average velocity of the fragments to minimize the effect of wind resistance which otherwise might interfere with the separation of the materials, and (d) collecting the solids materials in said successively positioned collection zones in a resulting segregated manner, where the combination of gravity and the drag forces will cause low density and highly conductive fragments to fall into the closer zones and permit high density and low conductivity fragments to carry to the farther zones.

Claim 2

A method for effecting the segregation of mixed solids materials, including mixed, non-magnetic metals obtained in the processing of collected refuse after prior removals of low density materials and magnetically removable ferrous materials, which comprises the steps of: (a) projecting the mixed solid materials in fragmented form from the surface of a moving belt terminating above and at one end of a magnetic field such that said material fragments will be projected at a constant velocity and substantially horizontally outwardly above a plurality of successively positioned material collection zones, (b) providing a series of magnetic fields on each side of and perpendicular to the pathways of the projected materials to cause material fragments to cut through the magnetic force lines, thereby inducing eddy-currents across said collection zones and in the various fragments of conductive materials which provides individual magnetic fields therewith to cause drag forces resisting the horizontal movement of such fragments proportional to their individual conductivities, (c) providing an air flow generally in the direction of the fragment trajectories and with a velocity approximating the average velocity of the fragments to minimize the effect of wind resistance which otherwise might interfere with the separation of the materials, and (d) collecting the solids materials in said successively positioned collection zones in a resulting segregated manner, where the combination of gravity and the drag forces will cause low density and highly conductive fragments to fall into the closer zones and permit high density and low conductivity fragments to carry to the farther zones.