GB1177067A - Apparatus for Use in Determining the Character of Finely Divided or Particulate Solid Material - Google Patents

Abstract

1,177,067. Feeding material. COAL INDUSTRY (PATENTS) Ltd. 26 May, 1967 [10 June, 1966; 17 Jan., 1967], Nos. 26013/66 and 2470/67. Heading B8S. [Also in Division G1] In a photo-electric measurement, solid particulate matter is continuously deposited upon a rotating horizontal table where it is displaced radially as it moves past a fixed deflector so moving adjacent previously deposited material radially across the table towards a position where it can be discharged, a plate overlies the particulate matter to level it ready for inspection by a photo-electric detector positioned above the table to receive radiation reflected off the material passing beneath it. In the embodiments coal deposited upon the table is irradiated with X- or γ-rays which are backscattered to the detector with an intensity dependent upon the ash content of the coal. In Fig. 1 coal is deposited near the centre of a rotating table 10 from a central shoot 12 to join previously deposited coal all of which is displaced radially outwards by a fixed deflector 15 and is prevented from being pushed off the table by a springed biased wall 19 hinged at 20 and from piling up upon itself by a horizontal plate 13. The deflector 15 is hinged at 16 so it may be secured in different positions 15<SP>1</SP>, 15 to accommodate different rates of coal feed. Coal on reaching the rim of the table is deflected into a hopper 18 by a wall 17. A radiation source and detector D scan the coal as it passes by. In another embodiment, (Fig. 3, not shown.) the plate 13 extends nearly completely round the table and has a trailing edge adjustable in height above the table. The detector may view the coal through a plate in contact with the coal which may be the plate 13 itself.