US2025841A - Apparatus for deshaling gravel - Google Patents

Description

Dea 31, 1935;

` c. H. YoU-Nc;V 250125,841

. APPARATUS FOR DESHALIN@ GRAVEL Filed May 25, 1951 2 Sheets-sheet l1 31,1935. v Y QH, YOUNG .n

APPARATUS FOR DSHALING GRAVEL Fiied May 25,` 1951 `2 sheets-sheet .a

Patented Dec. 31, 1935 PArENTpoFI-*ICE j APPARATUS Fon nEsHALnvG rolmvnr. charles n. rmamnneapolis, Minn. applicati-n my 25,.,if931', serial No. 539,944

5 (ci. 20s-15s) i f The invention relates to the washing., of gravel or other'substances in which vvarious impurities and foreign substances, such as shale, lignite, bark, water-logged wood, and coal, are removed from the gravel by properly directed fluid currents, and has for its'objects to provide new and useful'improvements in apparatus of this character.

An important object of the invention isto provide a shale removing device which may be removably secured to gravel washing apparatus of known and generally used types, forA the eicient and complete removal of the described impurities or deleterious foreign substances. These impurities are usually of less specific gravity than the gravel to'be washed and therefore react favorably to suitably disposed water or fluid currents during the cleansing of the gravel.

' Y A further object of" the invention is to provide a device of the character described in which a plurality of separate uid currents are utilized and so disposed and combined as to cooperate with one another for the removal of practically all of the lighter impurities.k

A still further object is'the provision of means for a more thorough and desirable general washing of the gravel or othermaterial to be treated.

v A `still further object is justable means for controlling the rate of ow of the gravel or other material removing device, thereby adapting the appara-- tus for the thorough cleansing of gravel in which foreign materials are portions.

With such objects 'in view, as well .as lother present in varying proadvantages which may be incident to the use of' the improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations thereof `hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements constituting the same may be varied in proportions and arrangement without\departin`g from the natin'e and i I'. k

practical e'ect, without ments, in their useful applications, to the particscope of the invention.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood there are shown in the accompanyingi drawings means for carrying the same into limiting the improveular constructions which, for the purpose of explanation, have been ade the subject of illustration.

In the said drawings: Fig. 1 is a view in longitudinal gravel washing apparatus constructed andl designed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is aplan view of the front portionof the same. o, Fig. 3 is a view in perspective, partly in vertical section of the improved shale removing device the provision of ad.

through the shale section of a 2 walls 2, a forward or end wall 3 'and an upwardly l and rearwardly` inclined bottom wall Il. The washed gravel is conveyed rearwardly and upwardly by means of apairfof screw conveyers 5 or other suitable power driven conveying devices. The forward ends of the conveyershafts 6 project l0 through the front wall 3 of the washer and arel journaledin bearings or stumng boxes 1 secured to the wall 3 of the washer.. L4Suitable gearing (not shown) is connected to the opposite vends of the shafts 6 for driving the conveyers. 'The l5 washer I is or may be lsupported jinl the position illustrated by standards or frame supports 8.

'Ihe gravel to be washed and which contains various deleterious \substances vor foreign materials of lighter weight than the gravel is indicated n at 9 and initially enters the washing apparatus ward wall of the washer at its upper end.

The shale removing device which constitutes an important feature of the \present improvements, is indicated generally at I4, and is designed to be removably positioned at the forwardend of the tank I. The shale removing 'device includes a relatively shallow pan or receptacle having side walls I5' provided with" outwardly projecting' 40 flanges I6, a rear wall I1 and a downwardly projecting discharge hopper ljatits forward end. The forward end of the shale remover is supported on the lip 40 of the tank by means of the shoulders or wings Ilia, one at each side ofthe 45 device, and the rear-,portion of the flangesV `I6 f the shale remover is secured 'to a transverse member or. support IIib which is inturn secured-as at I6c to the side walls 2 of the washer tank I. VThe receptacle I4 further comprises a bottom Hwalll 9 50 and a second gravelsupporting wall orf-surface 20 spaced therefrom and constituting in effect a false bottom converging orinclining downwardly toward its forward end and-towardthe bottom wall or plate I9, and forming aclosed conduit I 9a 5l' the forward extremities of said plates forming-a relatively restricted and elongated aperture or orifice 2|. The rear wall I 8a of the hopper-I8 terminatesv at its upper end below the forward y extremity of the lower plate I9, as best seen in ai Fig. 3, thereby providing a second elongated aperture 22 immediately below the more restricted orifice 2 I. The forward wall |8b of the hopper |8 is inclined downwardly and rearwardly towards the rear wall |8a to provide a relatively narrow gravel discharge opening 23. s

A movable baffle plate 24 having upwardly projecting side supports 25 is or may be normally disposed adjacent the forward wall |8b of the Y hopper I8, and is supported by suitable bolts or fastening means 26 projecting through the side walls I5 of the receptacle and through elongated apertures 21 one formed in each support 25. The

baille 24 may be adjustably positioned in the hopper relative to the walls |8a and |8b thereof by means of a bolt or fastening device 28 engaging the recess or slot 21 in each side supportingmember 25 and also projecting through an elongated recess or slot 29 in a bracket member 30, one se cured in position on each flange I6 of the side walls I5 of the receptacle. -In this manner the baille 24 may be swung about its pivots 26 towards or away from the wall |8b of the hopper, or raised and lowered with respect thereto by reason of the` porting plate or surface 20.

A second source of water or other fluid `supply under regulated pressure Ais provided in the form of a substantially horizontally disposed pipe 34 immediately below the outlet 23 of the hopper I8.

The supply of uid to the pipe 34 may be con-` trolled by means of a valve 35 and an elongatedV restricted aperture 36 in said pipe is positioned adjacent the dischargeoutlet 23 and extends a distance substantially equal to the longitudinal extent of said discharge outlet. In this manner it will be noted that the fluid supply to the pipe 34 is directed upwardly under regulated pressure in a relatively thin sheet or stream in a direction counter to that of material descending by gravity through the hopper |8. l

A third source of water or otheruid supply enters the bottom of the .washer I through a supply pipe 31 extending transversely across the front of the washer and communicating with one or more pipes or conduitsv 38 disposed near and substantially parallel to the bottom surface 4 of the washer and adjacent or between the screw conveyers 5. -The pipe or conduit 38 is provided along its upper surface with a plurality of spaced apertures 39 @through which the fluid is directed upwardly under regulated pressurethrough the body of material being carried rearwardly by the conveyers 5. All of the described sources of fluid may have their individual valve devices and may be connected if desired to a common supply pipe in the operation of the apparatus which will now be described.

The washer or tank I is filled with water or other uid, the liquid level being indicated at 4| in Fig. 1. Suitable supplypipes, not shown, are preferably utilized for this purpose. gravel 9 containing impurities vand relatively light foreign substances to be removed descends The by gravity through the chute In. Adjustably s mounted diverting plates or devices 42 serve to level and distribute the gravel in a relatively thin sheet as it descends to the forward end of the delivery `chute I0. 'Ihence the gravel enters the 5 shale remover proper over the rear wall I1 thereof and descends down the inclined supporting surface 20 and is discharged by ,gravity over the forward end of said plate into the hopper I8. At this point of entrance into the hopper 10 the descending stream of gravel encounters a relatively thin sheet of water under considerable pressure which is projected across the entrance into the hopper through the restricted aperture 2| of .the shale remover. vThis sheetof water l5 encounters the shale\lignite, bark and other impurities and projects a considerable portion of the same across the entrance of the hopper and over the discharge .lip 40 and thence out of the Washer.. Coincidentally an upwardly directed 20 stream of water or other fluid fromthe elongated orifice 36 in supply pipe 34 encounters the descending gravel and forcibly ejects. certain of the lighter materials and impurities -which have passed below the horizontally directed stream of 25 water from pipe 3|. Such lighter materials as are encountered by the upwardly projected stream are conveyed out. of the Washer over the discharge lip 40 together With the rst mentioned impurities,`the horizontally directed stream from 30 pipe 3| assisting in said ejection. rlhe washed gravel which is now substantially free of im` purities accumulates as at I I in the forward portion of the washer and is continuously removed upwardly andrearwardly thereof by the con- 35 veyers 5. During its travel toward the discharge j opening I3 of the washerthe'gravel encounters4 the upwardly directed and spaced jets or streams of water from the apertured .pipe or pipes 38. These latter mentioned streams carry upwardly 40 any remaining impurities and conveythe same through the elongated aperture 22 adjacent the entrance to the hopper I8 and such remaining impurities are discharged out of the washer bythe described counter-streams of water from the-45 pipes 3| and 34.v The gravel I2 which is discharged from the washer has been thoroughly cleansed of and freed from all objectionable matter in the manner described. The combination of the three separately directed currents in direc- 50 tion counter ortransverse to that of the passage of the gravel are so associated and combined as to obtain highly successful results in the removal of all impurities. It will be further noted that the horizontally and vertically directed streams 55 of water from pipes 3| and 34 respectively converge at the point where the impure gravel is first admitted to the washer toa'iord a maximum pressure, at this point,` immediately 'adj'acelll-illei discharge outlet 40, and where the maximum 60 amount of impurities are present, 'I'he separation at this point is facilitated by the intermedi-A ate current flow from the washer proper through the aperture 22 of the shale removing device. v The direction of such flow is toward the over- 65 flow 40 and transversely to that of the gravel entering the chute or hopper |8. The area of the hopper I8 may be varied by adjustingA the baille 24 to increase or diminish the width of the p hopper dependent upon existing conditions and 70 2,025,841 `the descent of gravel is retarded by the baille plate.

A further advantage resulting from the described arrangement is that the outward flow of water and impurities through the intermediate aperture 22 is augmented orin'duced byjthfe adjacent and angularly disposed converging fluid currents from pipes 3| and 34. A suction is thereby induced at the point 22 by these latter currents, which serve to promote the ow of water through the aperture 22 in the manner of a venturi or on the atomizing principle. Said intermediate upward current ow from the washer through the port 22 is initially induced by the upwardly projected jets of water through the spaced apertures 39 in the supply pipe 38. The residual impurities in the gravel and which are oi. less specific gravity are carried by said jets to and through the port22 and into contact with the upwardly and outwardly directed streams from pipes 34 and 3|, and are removed from the washer by said latter streams.

The washing device or shale remover constituting the present improvements is equally eilicient in the reclaiming of low grade iron orei Instead of utilizing the screw conveyers 5 in the apparatus, flight conveyers or bucket elevators may be substituted with equal advantageous results. The device obviates the jnecessity of using jigs or shaking screens heretofore commonly used for the removal of these lighter impurities from the gravel.

What I claim-is:

l. In an apparatus for separating impurities from gravel: The combination ofa gravel washing tank, a deshaling device removably positioned on said tank, said deshaling device having a gravel receiving surface terminating in a hopper communicating with said tank, means for feeding gravel mixed with impurities to said surface to be received by said hopper, means for directing a. vjet of washing fluid through said deshaling device in ahorizontal direction beneath said receiving surface and out of contact with said material, means for directing a jet of washing'fluid= in a vertical direction through said hopper in contact with the oppositely moving flow of said material, and means in said tank for directing an intermediate current of washing fluid from said tank toward said deshaling device intermediate said horizontal and vertical-jets, said jets and current of washing material converging and impinging upon said material at the entrance to said hopper, whereby the lighter materials are diverted laterally from said hopper and discharged from said tank.

2. In an apparatus, for separating impurities from gravel: the combination of a gravel washing tank, a deshaling device removably positioned on said tank, said deshaling device having a fluid -conduit and a gravel receiving surface terminating in a hopper communicating with said tank, means for feeding gravel mixed with impurities to said surface to be received by said hopper, a pipe for directing a jet of washing fluid through said deshaling device in a horizontal direction beneath said receiving surface toward said hopper and out of contact with said material, apipe in said tank for directing a jet of washing fluid in an upward direction through said hopper in contact with a downwardly moving ilow of material, and a pipe in said tank having a. plurality of spray orifices for directing an intermediate current of washing fluid upwardly through said tank toward said deshaling device intermediate said horizontal and vertical jets, said jets and currents of washing iluid converging and `impinging upon said material at theentrance to said hopper, whereby the lighter materials are divertedflaterally from said' hopper -and discharged from said tank.

k3. In a'gravel .washing apparatus including a washer tank: a deshaling device removably positioned on said tank for receiving the gravel to be washed,qsaid device consisting of a gravel receiving surfaceterminating at' its forward end in an angularly4 disposed and downwardly projecting hopperand a closeduid conduit beneathsaid gravelreceiving surface, said hopper being open at its lowerend' to discharge washed gravel by gravity into said tank, means disposed below said hopper for. directing a jet of Washingafluid in a vertical direction through the open lower end of s aid hopper in contact with said gravel to elevatelighter impurities therefrom before the gravel'passes from the device to said washer tank,

and means for directing a washing fluid in a ing surface terminating at its discharge end in an angularly disposed anddownwardly projecting open ended hopper, a closedv fluid conduit beneath said gravel receiving surface, said hopper being open at its lower enifitol discharge washed gravel by gravity intosaid tank," `means for directing a lwashing iluidina horizontal direction through. said fluid kconduit into contact with the gravel at the discharge'lnd of said gravel receiving surface' to` separatefrom the gravel the material of less speciiic'gjravity, and an adjustable baille plate` pivotallymounted on said device and depending.-

into 'said hopper for regulating the flow of gravel through said hopper in contact with said washing fluid. 5. A deshaling device for' removable attachment to gravel washing tanks, designed to be removably positioned on said tanks, comprising in combination: a frame member open at its top and having side walls and a rear wall and a gravel receiving surface inclined forwardly and downwardly from said rear wall, a downwardly projecting open ended discharge hopper at the forward end of said device for receiving' material from said surface, a fluid projecting chamber beneath and secured tc said receiving surface communicating at its discharge end with the upper end of said hopper, means for conducting a washing fluid under pressure into said chamber, and an adjustable baille member pivotally mounted on the side walls of said frame and depending in said hopper for controlling the amount of material received therein, whereby said fluid is directed only against material after passing from said receiving surface into saldhopper to direct lighter impurities in the` materialaway'from said hopper,

' andthe washed heavier'niaterial is discharged by

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