Enclosed Jones Riffle Splitter with Adjustable Hopper Gate (RSE-16-10)

1. General Description

The enclosed Jones-type riffle splitter is a laboratory-grade mechanical device engineered for the representative division of bulk solid mineral samples, including concentrates, dry tailings, coal, industrial sands, and crushed ores.

The enclosed configuration incorporates a fully contained structural housing designed to minimize dust emissions, prevent loss of fine particles, and eliminate cross-contamination between sampling campaigns. This makes it particularly suitable for metallurgical laboratories, concentrator plants, quality control systems, and operations requiring compliance with international sampling standards.

2. Operating Principle

The equipment operates under the principle of static gravity division. The sample is introduced through the upper feed hopper and flows uniformly by gravity into a series of alternating riffle chutes of constant width.

These chutes divide the material stream into equal fractions, generating two (or more) representative sub-samples depending on the geometric configuration of the splitter.

The adjustable hopper discharge gate enables:

• Controlled initiation and termination of sample discharge
• Regulation of feed rate and material flow
• Prevention of overloading or non-uniform feed distribution
• Reduction of particle size segregation during discharge

3. Main Components

a) Upper Feed Hopper

• Fabricated from structural carbon steel or stainless steel.
• Inclined design to promote uniform gravity flow.
• Equipped with a manually actuated front-hinged or sliding discharge gate.

b) Adjustable Discharge Gate System

• Enables controlled material dosing.
• Improves uniform feed distribution across riffle chutes.
• Minimizes representativity errors caused by irregular flow patterns.

c) Riffle Chute Assembly

• Chutes arranged at a constant angle.
• Slot openings calibrated according to maximum particle size criteria (≥ 2.5 to 3 times the top particle size).
• Alternating geometric configuration ensures equal mass distribution between fractions.

d) Enclosed Containment Chamber

• Fully enclosed structural housing with lateral containment panels.
• Reduces airborne dust emissions.
• Enhances occupational health and safety compliance.

e) Lower Collection Hoppers or Sample Trays

• Receive divided fractions.
• Removable design for easy sub-sample extraction.

4. Reference Technical Specifications

• Number of riffle chutes: 16
• Nominal chute width: 10 mm
• Construction materials:
  • AISI 304 or AISI 316 stainless steel
• Feed capacity: Variable depending on particle size distribution and bulk density
• Operation mode: Manual
• Typical application: Primary or secondary division of dry mineral samples

5. Technical Advantages

✔ Improves statistical representativity of the sample fraction
✔ Minimizes fine particle loss and environmental contamination
✔ Adjustable flow control via discharge gate
✔ Simple maintenance and cleaning procedures
✔ Designed in accordance with best practices in bulk solid sampling (aligned with ISO 13909 principles for solid mineral materials)
✔ Suitable for metallurgical laboratories and concentrator plants

6. Industrial Applications

• Quality control in mineral processing plants
• Sample preparation for chemical assays (Au, Cu, Fe, etc.)
• Dry tailings sample division
• Coal and industrial mineral processing
• Geometallurgical laboratories

7. Operational Recommendations

• Feed the equipment continuously and uniformly.
• Avoid overloading conditions that may cause material overflow.
• Perform thorough cleaning between sampling campaigns to prevent cross-contamination.
• Periodically inspect riffle chutes for wear and dimensional integrity.