Gravimetric mineral processing device and method for its use
View Patent ↗The invention disclosed and claimed herein is a device for processing minerals and a method for its use, which device and method employ gravimetric principles to separate values in a feedstock from gangue, thereby allowing recovery or concentration of the values. The invention includes a table that receives and holds the feedstock, a chassis for supporting the table, and a mechanism for imparting a specific motion to the table, the motion being referred to as “compound cyclic,” which is a reciprocating, rectilinear, to-and-fro motion parallel to or coincident with the working axis of the table, combined with a simultaneous, continuous, and smooth vertical up-and-down motion that eliminates vertical jolting, jarring, or bumping.
1. A device for separating values in a feedstock from gangue in the feedstock, wherein said device has a values-end and an opposing gangue-end, said device comprising:
a. a vee-table, wherein said vee-table is configured to receive and to hold said feedstock;
b. a fluidizing means for fluidizing said feedstock to produce a fluidized feedstock, wherein said fluidized feedstock is held by said vee-table;
c. a chassis, wherein said chassis supports said vee-table; and,
d. a table-drive means for imparting a compound cyclic motion to said fluidized feedstock held by said vee-table.
2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a tilt-means for imparting a tilt-angle to said vee-table.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein said tilt-means comprises:
a. a lift mechanism that lifts one end of said vee-table; and
b. a tilt-hinge at an opposing end of said vee-table.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein said lift mechanism comprises a hydraulic system.
5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a values outlet in said vee-table at or near the values end.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein said fluidizing means comprises a manifold.
7. The device of claim 1 further comprising on-the-fly control elements that control at least one of tilt-angle, drive-stroke, and motor speed.
8. A method of using the device of claim 1 , said method comprising the steps of:
(a) loading the feedstock into or onto said vee-table;
(b) fluidizing the feedstock;
(c) applying power to said table-drive means; and,
(d) collecting the values.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of:
(e) on-the-fly adjusting of at least one of:
i. a tilt-angle of said vee-table;
ii. a drive-stroke of said table-drive means; and,
iii. a drive speed of said table-drive means.
10. The device of claim 1 wherein said table-drive means comprises:
a. a drive-motor;
b. an eccentric-coupler attached to said drive-motor, wherein said eccentric-coupler is rotated by said drive-motor;
c. one or more reciprocating legs, wherein said reciprocating legs connect said vee-table to said chassis, and wherein said reciprocating legs comprise a plurality of joints that allow said vee-table to move in said compound cyclic motion; and,
d. a linkage-assembly that couples said eccentric-coupler directly or indirectly to said vee-table,
whereby rotation of said eccentric-coupler by said drive-motor causes said compound cyclic motion to be imparted to said fluidized feedstock held by said vee-table.
11. The device of claim 10 further comprising a tilt-means for imparting a tilt-angle to said vee-table.
12. The device of claim 11 wherein said tilt-means comprises:
a. a lift mechanism that lifts one end of said vee-table; and,
b. a tilt-hinge at an opposing end of said vee-table.
13. The device of claim 10 further comprising a values outlet in said vee-table at or near said values end.
14. The device of claim 10 wherein said fluidizing means comprises a manifold.
15. The device of claim 10 wherein said linkage assembly comprises:
a. a leg-coupler connected to at least one of said reciprocating legs; and,
b. a linkage-rod having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said linkage-rod is coupled to said eccentric-coupler, and wherein said second end of said linkage-rod is coupled to said leg-coupler.
16. The device of claim 15 wherein said leg-coupler is a sliding-coupler configured to adjustably slide up and down said reciprocating leg, whereby a drive-stroke of said device is adjusted by varying a position of said sliding-coupler on said reciprocating leg.
17. A method for using a device for separating values in a feedstock from gangue in the feedstock, wherein the device has (1) a values-end; (2) an opposing gangue-end; (3) a table, wherein the table is configured to receive and to hold the feedstock; (4) a fluidizing means for fluidizing the feedstock to produce a fluidized feedstock, wherein the fluidized feedstock is held by the table; (5) a chassis, wherein the chassis supports the table; and (6) a table-drive means for imparting a compound cyclic motion to the fluidized feedstock held by the table, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) loading the feedstock into or onto the table;
(b) fluidizing the feedstock;
(c) applying power to the table-drive means; and,
(d) collecting the values.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of:
(e) on-the-fly adjusting of at least one of:
i. a tilt-angle of the table;
ii. a drive-stroke of the table-drive means; and,
iii. a drive speed of the table-drive means.