Mineral separation by particle settling characteristics

Claim 2

In mineral separation apparatus having means for passing materials bearing minerals and similar substances past an upwelling flow of fluid wherein desired materials move counter to said upwelling flow to first collection means and undesired materials move along said upwelling fluid flow to second collection means, the improvement comprising: retardation means for retarding the counter movement of such materials as they enter within said upwelling fluid flow to increase the effective interaction time of said fluid flow on such materials as may enter said fluid flow and attempt to move counter thereto; and means for inhibiting the interaction of all said materials with other than an upwelling flow of fluid.

Claim 3

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said retardation means comprises a winnowing channel of finite length through which said materials must overcome a sustained region of relatively high pressure fluid flow in order to move counter thereto.

Claim 4

The improvement of claim 2 wherein said winnowing channel comprises a surface canted below a horizontal plane such that material entering said winnowing channel will be drawn by gravity to said canted surface and thereby retarded in moving counter to said fluid flow.

Claim 5

The improvement of claim 3 wherein said canted surface comprises a wall of said winnowing channel and is canted at an angle approximating the repose angle of said material when subjected to said upwelling fluid flow.

Claim 6

The improvement of claim 4 wherein said winnowing channel comprises a rectilinear channel approximately 63.5 mm. (one-quarter inch) in length or larger.

Claim 7

The improvement of claim 2 further comprising means for increasing the pressure of said upwelling fluid flow to provide for a sustained region of relatively high pressure fluid flow within said winnowing channel.

Claim 8

The improvement of claim 6 further comprising flow channel means for channeling said upwelling fluid flow to said winnowing channel.

Claim 9

The improvement of claim 7 wherein the means for increasing the pressure of said upwelling fluid flow comprises constriction means within said flow channel means for increasing the velocity and pressure of said upwelling fluid flow.

Claim 10

The improvement of claim 8 further comprising means for introducing fluid into said flow channel means whereby said fluid so introduced upwells through said flow channel means.

Claim 11

The improvement of claim 9 further comprising control means coupled to said means for introducing fluid into said flow channel means for controlling the rate at which fluid is so introduced.

Claim 12

The improvement of claim 10 further comprising means for providing a uniform fluid flow velocity across said flow channel means.

Claim 13

The improvement of claim 11 wherein said means for providing a uniform fluid flow velocity across said flow channel means comprises an elongate sheeting-flow orifice interposed across said flow channel means between said flow channel means and said means for introducing fluid thereto.

Claim 14

The improvement of claim 12 further comprising fluid diffusion means interposed between said means for introducing fluid and said elongate sheeting-flow orifice disseminating fluid flow uniformly along said elongate sheeting-flow orifice.

Claim 15

The improvement of claim 2 further comprising means for coupling said first collection means to said winnowing channel downstream of said upwelling fluid flow for collecting in said first collection means material moved through said winnowing channel counter to said flow.

Claim 16

The improvement of claim 14 further comprising recovery means for recovering material from said first collection means.

Claim 17

The improvement of claim 15 further comprising fluid isolation means coupled to said first collection means for isolating said upwelling fluid flow from said recovery means while said material is being recovered from said first collection means.

Claim 18

The improvement of claim 16 wherein said fluid isolation means further comprises means for inhibiting the flow of fluid from said first collection means while said material is being recovered therefrom.

Claim 19

The improvement of claim 17 wherein said first collection means comprises flexible walled conduit.

Claim 20

The improvement of claim 18 wherein said recovery means comprises a fluid containing vessel fluidly coupled to said flexible walled conduit by the fluid contained in said vessel.

Claim 21

The improvement of claim 19 wherein said fluid isolation means comprises: first compressing means for selectably compressing said flexible walled conduit to provide a close region in which said material accumulates without passing to said recovery means; second compressing means for selectably compressing said flexible walled conduit interposed between said first compressing means and said winnowing channel to provide a closed volume between said first and said second compressing means; and means for alternating said first and said second compressing means between states of compression and non-compression of said flexible walled conduit such that both said first and said second compressing means must simultaneously be in a state of compression of said flexible walled conduit before either of said first and said second compressing means is alternated to a state of non-compression of said flexible walled conduit.

Claim 22

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the means for passing materials past an upwelling flow of fluid comprises a downward sloping surface such that material deposited on said surface will be drawn by gravity to said upwelling fluid flow.

Claim 23

The improvement of claim 21 wherein said downward sloping surface comprises a smooth surface inclined below a horizontal plane at an angle approximating the quiescent repose angle of said material when immersed in a fluid body.

Claim 24

The improvement of claim 21 wherein said retardation means further comprises interception means for intercepting and retarding desirable material entering said upwelling fluid flow from said downward sloping surface which desirable material is initially impelled upward by said upwelling flow.

Claim 25

The improvement of claim 23 wherein said interception means comprises an extension of said retardation means above the level at which material enters said upwelling flow from said downward sloping surface.

Claim 26

The improvement of claim 21 further comprising: a plurality of said retardation means; and a plurality of said downward sloping surfaces each cooperatively passing material to a selected one of said plurality of said retardation means via an upwelling flow of fluid.

Claim 27

The improvement of claim 25 further comprising means for accumulating a sufficient volume of fluid from the upwelling flow to totally immerse said material as it is passed by said downward sloping surfaces to an upwelling flow of fluid.

Claim 28

The improvement of claim 26 wherein said means for accumulating fluid is a fluid retainment vessel having means for introducing material to the fluid accumulated therein.

Claim 29

The improvement of claim 27 wherein said means for introducing material comprises material agitation means fluidly coupled to the fluid accumulated in said fluid retainment vessel for introducing material to said accumulated fluid in a controlled manner to inhibit agitation of said accumulated fluid.

Claim 30

The improvement of claim 28 further comprising means for coupling a first of said plurality of said downward sloping surfaces to said material agitation means for accepting material introduced into said accumulated fluid and passing it under the influence of gravity to the first of said plurality of said retardation means.

Claim 31

The improvement of claim 29 further comprising means for passing off fluid from said upwelling flow which fluid is in excess of that accumulated in said fluid retainment vessel.

Claim 32

The improvement of claim 30 wherein said means for passing off excess fluid comprises means for passing off with the excess fluid material borne upward by said upwelling flow.

Claim 33

The improvement of claim 31 wherein said means for passing off excess fluid further comprises means for sampling the material content of such excess fluid.

Claim 34

The improvement of claim 30 wherein said means for inhibiting the interaction of all said materials with other than an upwelling flow of fluid comprises means for inhibiting fluid flow across said plurality of said downward sloping surfaces.

Claim 35

The improvement of claim 33 wherein said means for inhibiting fluid flow across said downward sloping surfaces comprises means for increasing the depth of immersion of each of said plurality of downward sloping surfaces within the fluid accumulated within said fluid retainment vessel in inverse proportion to the distance of each of said downward sloping surfaces from said means of passing off excess fluid from said fluid retainment vessel.

Claim 36

The improvement of claim 34 further comprising baffle means for separating said plurality of said retardation means and said plurality of downward sloping surfaces into at least two sub-groups of said pluralities whereby desired materials of at least two distinguishable particle fluid-settling characteristics may be segregated from undesired material moving along said upwelling fluid flow.

Claim 37

The improvement of claim 27 further comprising means fluidly coupled to fluid accumulated in said fluid retainment vessel for increasing the velocity of said upwelling flow within the fluid so accumulated in said vessel.

Claim 38

The improvement of claim 36 wherein said means for increasing the velocity of said upwelling flow comprises fluid displacement means.

Claim 39

The improvement of claim 37 wherein said fluid displacement means comprises a plurality of fluid displacement plates for constricting the volume of said fluid retainment vessel through which said upwelling flow must pass.

Claim 40

In mineral separation apparatus having means for passing materials bearing minerals and similar substances past an upwelling flow of fluid wherein desired materials move counter to said upwelling flow to first collection means and undesired materials move along said upwelling fluid flow to second collection means, the improvement comprising: a winnowing channel of finite length through which said materials must overcome a sustained region of relatively high pressure fluid flow in order to move counter thereto and having retardation means therein for retarding the counter movement of such materials as they enter within said upwelling fluid flow to increase the effective interaction time of said fluid flow on such materials as may enter said fluid flow and attempt to move counter thereto; flow channel means coupled to said winnowing channel for channeling upwelling fluid flow to said winnowing channel and having means therein for increasing the pressure of said upwelling fluid flow to provide for a sustained region of relatively high pressure fluid flow within said winnowing channel; means for coupling said first collection means to said winnowing channel downstream of said upwelling fluid flow for collecting in said first collection means material moved through said winnowing channel, said first collection means comprising flexible walled conduit; recovery means comprising a fluid containing vessel fluidly coupled to said flexible walled conduit by fluid contained in said vessel; fluid isolation means coupled to said first collection means for isolating said upwelling fluid flow from said recovery means while material is being recovered from said first collection means; a downward sloping surface comprising said means for passing materials past an upwelling flow of fluid such that materials deposited on said downward sloping surface will be drawn by gravity toward said upwelling fluid flow; a fluid retainment vessel for accumulating a sufficient volume of fluid from the upwelling flow to totally immerse said material as it is passed by said downward sloping surface to an upwelling flow of fluid; material agitation means fluidly coupled to the fluid accumulated in said fluid retainment vessel for introducing materials to said accumulated fluid in a controlled manner to inhibit agitation of said accumulated fluid; means for passing off fluid from said upwelling flow, which fluid is in excess of that accumulated in said fluid retainment vessel whereby material borne upward by said upwelling flow is passed off with said excess fluid; and means for immersing said downward sloping surface to a sufficient depth within the fluid accumulated in said fluid retainment vessel so as to inhibit fluid flow across said downward sloping surface.

Claim 41

In mineral separation apparatus having means for passing materials bearing minerals and similar substances past an upwelling flow of fluid wherein desired materials move counter to said upwelling flow to first collection means and undesired materials move along said upwelling fluid flow to second collection means, the improvement comprising: a winnowing channel of finite length through which said materials must overcome a sustained region of relatively high pressure fluid flow in order to move counter thereto and having retardation means therein for retarding the counter movement of such materials as they enter within said upwelling fluid flow to increase the effective interaction time of said fluid flow on such materials as may enter said fluid flow and attempt to move counter thereto; flow channel means coupled to said winnowing channel for channeling upwelling fluid flow to said winnowing channel and having means therein for increasing the pressure of said upwelling fluid flow to provide for a sustained region of relatively high pressure fluid flow within said winnowing channel; means for coupling said first collection means to said winnowing channel downstream of said upwelling fluid flow for collecting in said first collection means material moved through said winnowing channel, said first collection means comprising flexible walled conduit; recovery means comprising a fluid containing vessel fluidly coupled to said flexible walled conduit by fluid contained in said vessel; fluid isolation means coupled to said first collection means for isolating said upwelling fluid flow from said recovery means while material is being recovered from said first collection means; a downward sloping surface comprising said means for passing materials past an upwelling flow of fluid such that materials deposited on said downward sloping surface will be drawn by gravity toward said upwelling fluid flow; a fluid retainment vessel for accumulating a sufficient volume of fluid from the upwelling flow to totally immerse said material as it is passed by said downward sloping surface to an upwelling flow of fluid; material agitation means fluidly coupled to the fluid accumulated in said fluid retainment vessel for introducing materials to said accumulated fluid in a controlled manner to inhibit agitation of said accumulated fluid; means for passing off fluid from said upwelling flow, which fluid is in excess of that accumulated in said fluid retainment vessel whereby material borne upward by said upwelling flow is passed off with said excess fluid; and means for immersing said downward sloping surface to a sufficient depth within the fluid accumulated in said fluid retainment vessel so as to inhibit fluid flow across said downward sloping surface.

Claim 42

The improvement of claim 39 further comprising a plurality of said winnowing channels and of said downward sloping surfaces.

Claim 43

The improvement of claim 40 wherein said retardation means within said winnowing channels and said downward sloping surfaces comprises surfaces inclined below the horizontal at angles comprising the repose angles of materials deposited on said surfaces under the fluid flow conditions established in operating said mineral separation apparatus.

Claim 44

The improvement of claim 41 further comprising means fluidly coupled to fluid accumulated in said fluid retainment vessel for increasing the velocity of said upwelling flow within the fluid so accumulated in said vessel.

Claim 45

The process whereby substances borne by a carrier material may be separated from said carrier material and segregated one from the other comprising the steps of: (a) presizing said carrier material and the substances carried thereby by passing said material through two or more stages of screening; (b) selecting screen mesh size of each stage of screening by relating adjacent stage screen mesh sizes to the specific gravities of the two substances borne by said material having the greatest specific gravities in accord with the formula M.sub.2 /M.sub.1 =(G/g K) wherein M 2 is the screen mesh size of a prior adjacent stage screen and M 1 is the size of the succeeding adjacent stage screen, G is the greater and g is the lesser specific gravity of the two substances, and K is an empirical value determined by the particulate fluid-settling characteristics of the substances such that material accumulating between adjacent stages of screening will comprise particles of the substances of specific gravity g which will move along an upwelling flow of fluid within a body of fluid and particles of the substances of specific gravity G will move counter to such upwelling flow of fluid; (c) introducing screened material from a selected stage of screening into a body of fluid in a manner controlled so as to inhibit agitation of said fluid; (d) utilizing the influence of gravity rather than fluid movement to introduce said screened material to an upwelling flow of fluid within said body of fluid; (e) winnowing such screened material as moves counter to said upwelling fluid flow by directing such counter movement through a contained finite length of controlled relatively high velocity upwelling fluid flow; and (f) collecting such winnowed counter moving material in collection means permitting the recovery of such material without modulation of the upwelling flow of fluid.

Claim 46

The process whereby substances borne by a carrier material may be separated from said carrier material and segregated one from the other comprising the steps of: (a) presizing said carrier material and the substances carried thereby by passing said material through two or more stages of screening; (b) selecting screen mesh size of each stage of screening by relating adjacent stage screen mesh sizes to the specific gravities of the two substances borne by said material having the greatest specific gravities in accord with the formula M.sub.2 /M.sub.1 =(G/g K) wherein M 2 is the screen mesh size of a prior adjacent stage screen and M 1 is the size of the succeeding adjacent stage screen, G is the greater and g is the lesser specific gravity of the two substances, and K is an empirical value determined by the particulate fluid-settling characteristics of the substances such that material accumulating between adjacent stages of screening will comprise particles of the substances of specific gravity g which will move along an upwelling flow of fluid within a body of fluid and particles of the substances of specific gravity G will move counter to such upwelling flow of fluid; (c) introducing screened material from a selected stage of screening into a body of fluid in a manner controlled so as to inhibit agitation of said fluid; (d) utilizing the influence of gravity rather than fluid movement to introduce said screened material to an upwelling flow of fluid within said body of fluid; (e) winnowing such screened material as moves counter to said upwelling fluid flow by directing such counter movement through a contained finite length of controlled relatively high velocity upwelling fluid flow; and (f) collecting such winnowed counter moving material in collection means permitting the recovery of such material without modulation of the upwelling flow of fluid.

Claim 47

Means for recovering substances settling to the bottom of fluid containing vessels while inhibiting agitation of such fluid comprising: collection means coupled to the bottom of a vessel for accepting therein substances settling through fluid contained in said vessel and said collection means and having an open end through which may pass substances accepted by said collection means; and pressure means for inhibiting the flow of fluid through said open end of said collection means while permitting the easy passage of settling substances therethrough.

Claim 48

Means for recovering substances settling to the bottom of fluid containing vessels while inhibiting agitation of such fluid comprising: collection means coupled to the bottom of a vessel for accepting therein substances settling through fluid contained in said vessel and said collection means and having an open end through which may pass substances accepted by said collection means; and pressure means for inhibiting the flow of fluid through said open end of said collection means while permitting the easy passage of settling substances therethrough.

Claim 49

The recovery means of claim 44 wherein said pressure means comprises: a fluid body into which said open end of said collection means is immersed; and means for reducing the pressure head of fluid above said open end of said collection means below the level of pressure exerted by said fluid body.

Claim 50

The recovery means of claim 45 wherein said collection means comprises a flexible walled conduit.

Claim 51

The recovery means of claim 46 wherein said means for reducing the pressure head of fluid above said open end of said collection means comprises: first compression means for releasably compressing said flexible walled circuit above said open end and retaining settling substances in the region of such compression; and second compression means coupled to said flexible walled conduit intermediate said first compression means and said fluid containing vessel for releasably compressing said flexible walled conduit, said first and said second compression means being operative such that both said first and said second compression means must compress said flexible walled conduit before either one of said compression means releases said conduit of compressive forces exerted thereby.