High-field gradient magnetic separator

Claim 2

In a magnetic separator including a filter mass for traversal by a stream of fluid containing magnetically susceptible components to be separated for exerting a magnetic field of high field gradient thereon to collect said components therein, the improvement wherein said mass is constituted by a porous body comprising a continuous substrate composed of a non-magnetic substance, said body having interconnected pores therein open to outer surfaces of the body, at least a portion of the walls of said pores defining said substrate and being coated with a substantially continuous layer of a magnetic substance.

Claim 3

The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said porous body comprises a body selected from the group which consists of a foam body of high polymer or plastic, coke, lava, conglomerates, sintered or baked bodies, porous carbon, textile, cloth and inorganic or organic membrances.

Claim 4

The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said magnetic layer is a homogeneous layer of magnetizable metal.

Claim 5

The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein the inductance of said body changes with collection of said components from said stream of fluid, further comprising: means for monitoring said change in said inductance during the magnetic collection of said components; and means for generating an electrical signal upon detection of the monitored change in said inductance exceeding a predetermined value.

Claim 6

The improvement defined in claim 4, further comprising means for automatically producing an operator-alerting warning with said electrical signal.

Claim 7

The improvement defined in claim 4, further comprising means for automatically terminating the magnetic collection of said components and backflushing said body in response to said electrical signal.

Claim 8

The improvement defined in claim 1, further comprising means for injecting ahead of said body a gas stream into said fluid, said fluid being a liquid and mixing with said gas stream for passage through said body.

Claim 9

In a magnetic separator including a filter mass for traversal by a stream of fluid containing magnetically susceptible components to be separated for exerting a magnetic field of high field gradient thereon to collect said components therein, the improvement wherein said mass is constituted by a porous body comprising a continuous substrate composed of a non-magnetic substance, said body having interconnected pores therein open to outer surfaces of the body at least a portion of the substrate walls of said pores being coated with a substantially continuous layer of a magnetic substance, said layer of a magnetic substance comprising a non-magnetic substratum substance having finely divided magnetizable material uniformly distributed in said substratum.

Claim 10

In a magnetic separator including a filter mass for traversal by a stream of fluid containing magnetically susceptible components to be separated for exerting a magnetic field of high field gradient thereon to collect said components therein, the improvement wherein said mass is constituted by a porous body comprising a continuous substrate composed of a non-magnetic substance, said body having interconnected pores therein open to outer surfaces of the body at least a portion of the substrate walls of said pores being coated with a substantially continuous layer of a magnetic substance, said layer of a magnetic substance comprising a non-magnetic substratum substance having finely divided magnetizable material uniformly distributed in said substratum.

Claim 11

In a magnetic separator including a filter mass for traversal by a stream of fluid containing magnetically susceptible components to be separated for exerting a magnetic field of high field gradient thereon to collect said components therein, the improvement wherein said mass is constituted by a porous body comprising a continuous substrate composed of a non-magnetic substance, said body having interconnected pores therein open to outer surfaces of the body, at least a portion of the substrate walls of said pores defining said substrate being coated with a substantially continuous layer of a magnetic substance, said layer of a magnetic substance being covered with a layer of polymeric material.

Claim 12

In a magnetic separator including a filter mass for traversal by a stream of fluid containing magnetically susceptible components to be separated for exerting a magnetic field of high field gradient thereon to collect said components therein, the improvement wherein said mass is constituted by a porous body comprising a continuous substrate composed of a non-magnetic substance, said body having interconnected pores therein open to outer surfaces of the body, at least a portion of the substrate walls of said pores defining said substrate being coated with a substantially continuous layer of a magnetic substance, said layer of a magnetic substance being covered with a layer of polymeric material.

Claim 13

In a magnetic separator including a filter mass for traversal by a stream of fluid containing magnetically susceptible components to be separated for exerting a magnetic field of high field gradient thereon to collect said components therein, the improvement wherein said mass is constituted by a porous body comprising a continuous substrate composed of a non-magnetic substance, said body having interconnected pores therein open to outer surfaces of the body, at least a portion of the substrate walls of said pores being coated with a substantially continuous layer of a magnetic substance, said porous body containing finely divided magnetizable material uniformly distributed therein.

Claim 14

In a magnetic separator including a filter mass for traversal by a stream of fluid containing magnetically susceptible components to be separated for exerting a magnetic field of high field gradient thereon to collect said components therein, the improvement wherein said mass is constituted by a porous body comprising a continuous substrate composed of a non-magnetic substance, said body having interconnected pores therein open to outer surfaces of the body, at least a portion of the substrate walls of said pores being coated with a substantially continuous layer of a magnetic substance, said porous body containing finely divided magnetizable material uniformly distributed therein.