US3420443A - Apparatus for dividing liquid into uniformly distributed flows - Google Patents

Description

n 1969 c. w. J. VAN KOPPEN ETAL 3,420,443

APPARATUS FOR DIVIDING LIQUID INTO UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED FLOWS Filed May 2, 196 6 United States Patent 6506231 U.S. Cl. 239-193 Int. Cl. B05b 1/14 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A liquid divider and distributor apparatus has an inclined trough-shaped bottom having a feeding device at one end thereof. The bottom is formed by a series of alternately positioned transverse flat and corrugated plates which overlap so as to provide a discharge gap or gaps between the lower edge of each flat plate and the succeeding corrugated plate. Each corrugated plate forms an angle with the plane of the respective succeeding flat plate, which angle increases towards the end of the trough remote from the liquid feeding device. The trough-shaped member is inclined to allow liquid to cascade downwardly from the liquid feeding device and the angles of the corrugated plates are set so that a substantially equal flow of spraying liquid drops through each of the said gaps during flow of liquid therein.

The present invention relates to spraying apparatus and more particularly to apparatus providing a uniform distribution of falling driblets, especially for rinsing finegrained particles which are covered with suspension in order to separate the suspension from the particles as the particles are passed along a screen in a layer having a thickness which is a multiple of the dimensions of the particles, the suspension being entrained and carried through the screen by the rinsing liquid.

Many aspects of the problem, as well as the environment to which the present invention is addressed, are discussed at length in British patent specification 986,428 and US. Patent 3,147,212 wherein the apparatus disclosed makes use of a spraying device consisting of a reservoir mounted over the screen and provided with a number of uniformly distributed apertures in the bottom and of plates which are obliquely arranged under the said apertures and the lower ends of which are provided with teeth or corrugations. Notwithstanding the fact that in practice the apertures have a comparatively large diameter of, for instance, 10-12 mm. so that no plugging by particles contained in the spraying liquid need be expected, plugging may be caused by comparatively large particles, so that the uniform distribution of the liquid is not insured.

(As explained in the paragraph bridging pages 2 and 3 of the abovementioned US. patent, at least in the coal and ore processing industries, clarified water originating from the overflowing fraction of a thickener is sometimes used as rinsing liquid input to spraying apparatus of this character and it is in such instances that particles which can cause plugging are contained in the spraying liquid.)

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide apparatus for separating a flow of liquid into a plurality of output streams distributed uniformly over an output area.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device,

of the type described, which is less susceptible than prior art apparatus to clogging when clarified water is being distributed.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a spraying device characterized by a troughshaped member with an inclined bottom, the bottom comprising a series of alternating flat and corrugated strips each slightly below and overlapped with each preceding strip to define a slot between the forward, lower edge of each flat plate and the subjacent rear, upper edge of each corrugated plate, the successive corrugated plates forming angles with the general plane of the bottom, which angles increase proceeding from the upper toward the lower extent of the inclined bottom; and a feeding device constructed and arranged to deliver a flow of liquid to the bottom near the upper extent of the bottom.

These and further objects of the present invention as well as the principles and scope of applicability thereof will become apparent during the course of the following detailed discussion related to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away to expose details that would otherwise be hidden from view, of spraying apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 taken substantially along the longitudinal centerline thereof.

Referring to the figures, the trough 1 has two longitudinal sidewalls 2 and 3 and a bottom 4 which slants when the apparatus is positioned for operation, the degree of slant being most apparent in FIGURE 2.

In the exemplary apparatus shown, the bottom 4 is generally straight, as opposed to being serpentine or the like, and is formed by a series of fiat plates 5 and corrugated plates 6, plates in the series being alternately flat and corrugated starting with a flat first plate 511 and a corrugated final plate 6b. As best seen in FIGURE 1, the corrugations on each plate 6 proceed so as to define plural channels extending generally parallel to the cutting plane on which FIGURE 2 is taken.

The fiat and corrugated plates so overlap each other, as shown in FIGURE 2, that a transversely elongated slot is formed between the lower forward edge of each flat plate 5 and the upper surface of each subjacent corrugated plate 6. The flat plates 5 are all parallel to one another and each slopes downwardly at an angle less than that of an imaginary longitudinally directed line connecting the midpoints of all of the flat plates 5 to define a general slope of the bottom. In other words, the leading edge each next preceding flat plate 5 lies somewhat vertically higher than the trailing edge of the next succeeding fiat plate 5 roof-tile fashion, the vertical height difference in each case being at least equal to the height of the corrugated plate 6 extending therebetween.

The corrugated plates 6 are secured to transversely extending rods 7. The rods are pivotally mounted in bearings 9 in the side walls 2 and 3 of the trough 1 and can be adjusted and fixed in position from outside the trough side walls. The angle which the successive corrugated plates 6 form with the general slope plane of the bottom is not the same for all plates 6, but each tips rearwardly and downwardly slightly more than the plate 6 next preceding it as viewed from the left to right in FIGURE 2.

During operation, the apparatus shown in the drawing is oriented so that the bottom generally slopes at about 15 degrees and liquid to be sprayed is fed to the upper end region of the bottom by feeding means 8, whose particular configuration does not form part of the present invention. In the embodiment shown, the feeding means 8 consists of a tank having a slot in the bottom extending transversely slightly less than the width of the trough bottom over the first flat plate 5a. Liquid placed in the tank 8 flows through the slot and onto the flat plate 5a, From there, the liquid flows forwardly and down along the bottom 4 as a layer under the influence of gravity. At each slot-like opening under the lower edge of a flat plate 5,

a portion of the liquid splits from the liquid layer, reverses flow, passing rearwardly and downwardly along the subjacent corrugated plate and drips from the trailing edge of that corrugated plate 6 in a plurality of driblets uniformly spaced transversely of the trough 1.

Looking at FIGURE 2, it should be obvious that the velocity of the liquid, imparted during its fall from the feeding device 8 to the forwardly, downwardly sloping first flat plate 5a and converted to forward velocity upon contacting the first fiat plate 5a, and the velocity boosts which occur as the liquid falls from the forward edge of a corrugated plate 6 to the succeeding fiat plate 5 and runs down the forwardly, downwardly sloping upper surface thereof, are what drives flows of the fluid forwardly along subsequent corrugated plates 6, even though the latter may be uphill.

Each assembly 6, 7 is so adjusted, then secured in position by constantly increasing the tip angle as discussed above, that substantially the same amount of liquid drips from the trailing edge of each of the corrugated plates 6. This pattern continues up to the lowest corrugated plate 6b where the amount of liquid received from the last flat plate 5 is separated into two parts one of which flows forwardly and the other rearwardly over the plate 6 as shown by dashed lines in FIGURE 2.

It should be apparent that the apparatus just described provides driblets of substantially equal spacing and volume along the length as well as the width of the bottom. As explained above, the driblets can be effectively used as input to a fine-grained material-suspension particle separation screen device positioned below the trough 1, although broader usefulness of the apparatus shown in the drawings is within the purview of the invention.

To promote more uniform distribution of the liquid, the profiles of successive corrugated plates are slightly staggered so as to be out of longitudinal registry. In addition, each flat plate trailing edge can be provided with a flange 10 which rests against the rod supporting the superjacent corrugated plate, as shown in FIGURE 2, in order to achieve desirable sealing.

It should now be apparent that the apparatus just described efliciently accomplishes each of the objects of the invention set forth hereinabove and clearly illustrates the principles of the invention. Because the embodiment illustrated can be considerably modified without departing from these principles or failing to accomplish these objects, the present invention should be understood as encompassing all such modifications as are within the spirit and sco e of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for receiving a flow of liquid and dividing the liquid into a plurality of uniformly distributed flows comprising:

means defining a trough having a bottom, said bottom being inclined so as to have a higher end and a lower end;

said bottom comprising a series of flat plates and a series of corrugated plates, the plates of the two series being disposed in alternating, overlapping relationship, each corrugated plate having a trailing edge disposed beneath the preceding one of said flat plates and a leading edge disposed in overlying relationship to the succeeding one of said flat plates;

the flat plates being tipped forwardly and downwardly,

in the sense proceeding from the higher end toward the lower end of said bottom, the successive corrugated plates forming angles with the inclination of the bottom, which angles increase in magnitude proceeding from the upper end toward the lower end of the bottom, whereby liquid delivered to the bottom near the higher end thereof flows, under the influence of gravity, forwardly and downwardly over said flat plates and is split while flowing over said corrugated plates into first portions which flow rearwardly and downwardly and drip from the trailing edges of the corrugated plates beneath the flat plates and second portions which flow forwardly and drip from the leading edges of the corrugated plates.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flat plates are parallel to one another, the distance between successive of the flat plates being at least equal to the height of the corrugated plate therebetween.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein successive of said corrugated plates have corrugations staggered so as to be out of longitudinal registry with each other.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for increasing and decreasing the slope of said corrugated plates individually.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a plurality of rods, each corrugated plate being secured to one of said rods; said rods extending transversely of and being rotatably mounted on said trough, said rods protruding outwardly of said trough whereby said corrugated plates are adjustable from outside the trough.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further including means defining a flange on each flat plate, each flange resting on one of said rods.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further including tank means supporting on said trough, said tank means having a slot therein extending transversely of the trough suprajacent the higher end of the trough bottom and adapted to deliver liquid to said bottom higher end.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,592,605 4/1952 Searles 209-17 X 3,147,212 9/1964 Van Koppen 20917 3,158,171 11/1964 Eckert 137262 FRANK W. LUTTER, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

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