~$ ~ Field of the Invention . . . _ This invention relates to the separation and rlassification according to relative mass and/or density of particles contained in an aggregate mass of particles of various relative masses or densities. In particular, it relates to an improved process wherein gyratory motion is used to energize the particles to fluidize the par- ticle bed. It is particularly useul in the separation of dry particulate ores and minerals, where the process can be applied to upgrading. For example, the invention- readily separates dense particles, such as gold, lead orother metal particulates from less dense sand or gravel of the same particle size. The invention is especially effective in separatlng dense part cles from a homogen- eous flowable bed of particles of different density. ~ ; ~5 Known processes for separating and classifying particles contained within an aggregate particle` mass are truly numerous. Many of these processes are limited to separating particles according to size (classifying) or weight while others are effective in separating par- ticles in accordance with their densities, irrespective of the size of the particle. The present invention per- tains to the latter type of separation process, but can be used in combination with the other types of separa- tion techniques. One of the oldest methods for separating .`' ~ q r~ ~ heavier materials from lighter crushed materials is the riffleboard, or riffle pan in which crushed ore, for example, is placed upon a corrugated surface set at an incline and flushed with water. During separation, the riffle board is moved back and forth in directions normal to the corrugations, or is otherwise vibrated so as to create relative motion between the particles and the rif~led surface. The lighter ore tends to carry over the corruga-tions (riffles) farther from the point of feed than the heavier minerals, and the crushed materials therefore are carried by the water over the edge of the riffle board at different points. A serious disadvantage in the riffle board type of separation process is its requirement for a continuous flow of fluid over the riffles and a high degree of unselectivity in attempting to separate out even the heaviest particles. In addition, the riffles are necessarily restricted in dimension and thus a limit is placed on the amount of material which may be separated in a given amount of time. Another technique for grading crushed ore particles is found in U.S. Patent 3,349,904, granted to Walker in October, 1967. There a rotating screen in the form of an inverted cone receives the aggregate particle mass while air is simultaneously blown upward through the screen to create an upward pressure. ~eavier metal particles are intended to overcome the upward air blast pressure and be separated out of the mass by falling through the screen, while lighter rock particles are thrown upwardly and out- wardly to the periphery of the screen due to centrifugal force. The major disadvantage in attempting to separate particles by this method is the high degree of comple~ity of the apparatus and the essential requirement for a source of pressurized air. Another dm:~ -2- -' ' .. .. . . obvious limitation is that material sized larger than the screen openings, even if having the selected density, cannot be handled. Furthermore, although it may be possible to separate materials whose densities are grossly disparate, it is believed that the process is not sufficiently selective where the density of the desired material (such as crushed ore) approaches the density of the waste material unless the particle size is carefully controlled. Processes such as that disclosed in U.S.- Patent 2,950,819, granted to Holman et al in August, 1960 use a gyratory separator tor "classifier") in which the particle mass is placed upon a vibratory screen which is designed to pass particles of all sizes smaller than the screen openings and irrespective of the particles' densities. Separators of this type are usually operated to cause all over-size particles to move to the periphery of the screen and be discharged. It is possible, however, to operate such devi`ces such that over-size particles do not discharge due to a tendency for them to move radially inwardly to the center of the screen where they are retained as is shown, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 3,794,165 (FIGS. 7-10), granted to Riesbeck et al in February, 197~. In certain cases these separators are used to remove or recover particles entrained in a liquid wherein the liquid passes through the screen and the particles are trapped by the vibratory screen and flushed down an ou-tlet at the screen's center. In all cases, so Ear as is known, gyratory separators have not been adapted to or operated for separating particles in accord- ance with their relative densities. Even in cases where particles are retained on the vibratory screen, no provision was made for separately segregating or extracting those remaining particles dm: ~ _3_ according to their density. One of the most widely used methods at present for extracting ore particles of selected density from a larger particle mass is the so-called " flotation" dm: ,~ -3a- ~ . .3'~,5 --4~ process. This process is a wet process because it uses water as a carrier of the ore particles~ The ore is ~irst finely crushed into powdered :Eorm and then dispersed in the water carrier while oil or some other different liquid is passed upwardly through the aqueous flotation medium. Particles, depending upon their densities, are attracted to the liquid substance and are carried off and collected. Although the flotation process is capable of upgrading the crushed ore by a fac~or of 90%, while re- taining 90% of all the minerals, it is usually desirable that the ore be ground into extremely small particle size, e.g., No. 400 mesh (400 particles per inch). The production cost of mining and crushing ore to a state this fine is expensive. It is known, for example, to account for almost one-half the mining and recovery costs of certain metals. Furthermore, the process is usable only where there is an ample source of water, a resource which is often unavailable in sufficient quan- tity for carrying out the flotation step, and it is alsopolluting if the water carrier waste is discharged back into the source without cleaning. A yet more venerable separation method is gold panning, where a prospector places a small sample of placer in a shallow metal pan and gently swirls the pan to rid it of low density particles while retaining the heavier ones. This procedure is mentioned here because it is still in use by both amateurs and professionals. Panning is sometimes used in the field, for example, in order to separate gold dust from gravel cores drilled from the earth. As might be expected, panning is slow~ tedious and unrewarding except for the most skilled prospectors. Still another known separation technique is based upon a mechanical concentrator known as the Denver Mechanical Concentrating Pan which duplicates -the hand panning mo-tion. This device consists of a series of classifying screens under which are placed several pans specially coated to trap the fine heavy materials ~e.g., gold). The firs-t pan is metal coated with mercury to amalgamate free gold; the remain:ing pans receive the overflow from the first and are coated with a rubber matting covered with screening which acts like a riffle. The entire assembly is driven with an eccentric motion in order to swirl the material in water, which is added along with the particle mixture, to settle the mineral. Like other processes, this technique requires a flow of water and its collection capacity of the heavier fines is limited by the amalgamation and riffle capacity of the concentrating pans. It thus must be stopped periodically and emptied of the concentrate~ minerals. A similar principle is used in devices such as shown in U.S. Patent No. 1,141,972 issued to Muhleman, in June, 1915, where a rotary tilting motion is imparted to a pan having a riffled floor surface. Concentrated ore is extracted from a hole in the center of the pan floor. Again, the motion of the pan is such that the waste material swirls about the edge of the pan and is discharged whereas heavier material gravitates toward the center due to the tilting. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for separating particles in accordance with their masses or densities and which may be carried out in a dry particle bed. Another objec-t of the inven-tion is to avoid some of the disadvantages of particle separation -techniques previously used, while permitting the use of uncomplex apparatus. dm~ 5- . ~ : . . :, Yet another object of the invention is to pro- vide novel apparatus and processes wherein particles are separated in defined annular regions in a particle bed. Among the additional objects of the invention is to provide methods and apparatus for separating par- ticles by efficiently converting gyratory motion into a controlled motion of particles within a particle bed. More broadly, it is an object of the invention to pro- vide a novel way of fluidizing a dry particle bed where- by the movement and flow of particles within the fluid- ized bed is controlled in a way which permits segregation of particles according to relative mass or density. Summary of the Invention These and other objects of the invention are attained by disposing an aggregated mass of particles, which may have different densities, upon a supporting surface so as to form a particle bed. The particle bed -- is then fluidized by agitating the surface, together with other particle-contacting surfaces, with a gyratory motion having a circularly eccentric component and a vertical vibratory component sufficient to reduce the resistance of the particle bed to a degree that the par- ticles can move through the bed in desired directions, e.g., radially circularly and vertically. ~5 In the disclosed embodiments, particles in dif- ferent annular (or circular) regions of the bed are con~ tacted with annular reaction surfaces ~e.g. J vertically extending rings) movable with the supporting surface. These annular surfaces provide areas of frictional con- tact with the particles sufficient to impart to them a net energy or momentum causing particles of selected density to move ~hrough restricted openings to one of the annular regions for collection or removal. This , , ' ' . - , ~ ~, ' ' _7_ ~ S movement of the par~icles comprises a net circularly inward or outward movement whereby particles of selected density move via the restricted openings from one annular region to another. The reaction surfaces may comprise, for example, one or more concentric cylindrical walls or simply a high friction or grooved portion of the supporting sur- face. Particles are then permitted to move across the boundary between such regions whereby the energy or momentum of, for example, the more dense particles causes them to move inwardly or outwardly to the collection region and there displace particles of lesser density. Similar particle action can be obtained with a vertical column wherein the particle energy and/or pres- sure may vary from the bottom to the top of the column,and either the more dense or 19ss dense parti~les can be induced to move from lower to higher levels in the column, where they may be extracted, as is hereinafter described. One phenomenon present in the invention is the tendency of more dense particles to move to given vertical levels in the bed, and this action is taken advantage of in som~ modes of operation. In accordance with other aspects of the inven- tion, the circular motion of the particle mass is con- trolled and directed by elements placed in the bed inorder to accommodate a continuous addition o particles to the bed while extracting the particles of selected densities. In general this motion is circular, but its direction and speed can be controlled to achieve a desired isolation of more dense particles from the less dense ones. The process is effective for upgrading other- wise uneconomic or marginally economic particulate ores and minerals, For example, although extraction of the more dense particles in accordance with certain embodi- ments can result in extraction of less dense particles as ,. '' ' ,' ~ ' : ............. ' : well, the extracted composite mass will be substantially upgraded to a degree where further separation or recovery of the dense par-ticles becomes commercially feasible by known techniques. Generally, the present invention provides a process for the separation of particles of selected density from an aggregated mass of classified particles having different densities, comprising: disposing the aggregated mass of particles upon a supporting surface to form a particle bed; laterally confining the particles in the bed with vertical reaction surfaces so as to establish a plurality of annular channels for the fluidized particles; providing restricted areas of communication between adjacent channels; agitating the supporting and reaction surfaces with a gyratory motion having a circularly eccentric component and an oscillatory vertical component, said motion being such as to fluidize the particle bed and thereby reduce the resistance of the particle bed to translational movement of the particles therewithin, and to induce a net radial and lateral movement within the annular channels of par-ticles of selected density; and permitting said particles of selected relative density to pass through said restricted areas of communication by virtue of said radial and lateral movement so as to accumulate in a collection zone defined by one of said channels. The present invention also provides an apparatus for carrying out the above defined method. Particularly, the apparatus comprises: means providing a surface for supporting 28 the aggrega-ted mass oE particles constitu-ting a particle bed; . . , ' ~ : ' ' . : . : , , , : . , ' means supportin~ said surface means for at least limited lateral and vertical motion; means for agita-ting said supporting surface with a gyratory motion having a circularly eccentric motion component in an oscillatory vertical motion component sufficient to fluidize the particle bed and thereby substantially reduce the resistance of the particle bed to translational movement of relatively more dense particles therewithin; reaction surface means associated with the supporting surface defining a plurality of annular channels, said reaction surface means and supporting means providing an area of frictional contact with the particle bed sufficient to energize the relatively more dense particles so as to cause them to move through the bed in paths having a ne-t circular component and a net radial component; said reaction surface means providing restricted areas of communication between adjacent annular channels and being so configured to permit said relatively more dense particles to pass therethrough into an adjacent channel and there displace particles of relatively less density. Description Of The Drawings . For a complete understanding of the invention, together with the further purposes and advantages thereof, reference should be made to the following detailed inspection of preferred embodiments, and to the drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a perspective view in partial cross-section of an apparatus which may be used for carrying out the process of the invention; FIG. 2 is a plan section view o:E the FIG. 1 28 apparatus; J - 8a - ' ': '' , :' '," ' . ' . - - :. ' ' " .. FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views taken along the lines, A,B-A,B of FIG. 2; FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary plan sec-tion views of the FIG. 1 apparatus showing alternative forms of its particle bed-supporting surface; FIGS. 3A and 4A are cross-sectional views along the lines A-A in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively; FIGS. 5 and 6 are respective plan section views of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing different modifications thereof for carrying out various operations in accordance with the process of the invention; FIGS. 5A-5B and 6A are cross-sectional views, taken along the lines A-A and B-B of respective FIGS. 5 and 6, and include pictorial representations of particles for explaining how they are separated therein; FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional plan view of an apparatus demonstrating further aspects of the process according to the invention wherein extraction of less dense particles occurs in a particle column; ~J `` ' - 8b - . . '' ' ' ~ . ' ~ . : - -9- FIG, 8 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the arrangement of FIG. 7, taken along the line 8-8; and FIG. 9 is a perspective view in partial cross- section of a two-stage separation apparatus for separ- ating particles by density in accordance with the inven- tion. Detailed Description Of ]Preferred Embodiments In the process to be described, partieles of selected density (e.g., most dense particles) con~ained in a mass of classified particles of various densities are separated by giving the particle mass a sufficient degree of fluidity to allow the particles to move within the bed and to distribute themselves according to their densities, Specifically, the partiele bed is fluidizPd by agitating a supporting surfaee for the partiele bed with a gyratory motion effective to cause particles of selected density to move in a generally eircular path from one annular region to another ~or collection or removal, The manner in which this is aehieved will be explained in the ensuing description. When the particle bed is "fluidized", it assumes many properties of a true fluid. For example, it flows and exerts "fluid" pressure, and it may exert a positive or negative buoyant force upon submerged ob- jects so as to ereate a particle flow up or down in thevertieal direction, Additionally, the partiele bed expands due to increased spacing between partieles, thereby offering less resistance to the movement of par- ticles through the bed and permitting a reloeation of classified particles based on their densities. Referring now to FIG. 1, the vibratory device for carrying out the proeess includes a cylindrieal base ll and a plurality of compression springs 13 circumfer- entially spaced about the upper rim 13a of the base for supporting a flat table 14. This table carries at its : . . . . - ,', . :- : . . . ~ : . ,: : 1 0 -- center a cylindrical motor mount 15 which extends down into the center of the base 11 The motor 17 is sup- ported within the cylindrical motor mount 15 by a pair of annular flanges 18, such that the motor is ri~idly affixed to the table 14 Vibrations induced by the motor are therefore transmitted directly to the table. A cylindrical spacing frame 20 secured by a clamping ring 21 at the periphery of the table, extends upwardly for supporting the upper section o~ the apparatus. The upper section comprises a particle-support- ing table 22, constructed for example of one-eighth to one-quarter inch thick steel or aluminum plating, and an upstanding cylindrical rim 23 provided with a discharge opening 24 leading to the discharge spout 26. The open- ing is dispo-sed slightly above the level of the plate 22 so as to form an arcuate shoulder 24a preventing spill- out of any particles resting on the surface of the plate. The entire upper section is similarly clamped by the ring 27 to the rim of the lower frame 20. ~` A shaft 30 extends from each end o~ the motor to which weights 31, 32 are fixed. It will be seen that the weights project horizontally outwardly from the shaft 30, and the radial angle between the axes o~ the two weights is adjustable by shi~ting the angular posi- tion of the weight 32 on the shaft 30. In this manner, the upper weight 31 can be made to lead the position of the lower weight 32 by an adjustable angle. Ad3ust- ment of these weights alters the characteristic of the resultant vibratory motion, as is understood by those skilled in the art. - Preferably, the weight 32 is adjusted so as to provide a substantial lead angle, e.g., o~ abou~ 80-90~. This appears to bring about the maximum fluidity in the particle bed creating a su~icient weightlessness or inter-particle spacing so as to mini- mize ~he resistance of the particle bed to particle movement therewithin, and to impart an upward thrust to : . . . - . . - . the bed, so that particles of greater density will move upward by the absorption of greater energy than particles of lesser density. By the same token, this weight set- ting impar~s an inward thrust, or throw, to particles contacted by the plate and the annular rim 23, On the other hand, a weight setting of 0 lead angle imparts an outward thrust to the particles on the plate, and re- sults in less upward thrust to the particles. The movable components of the separator assem- bly, as shown in FIG. 1, assume a gyratory motion, i.e.,the motion has both a circularly eccentric component and an oscillatory ver~ical component. The combination of these two motion components enables energy imparted to the moving elements to be converted with maximum effi- ciency into the sought-after motion of particles placed upon the table element 22. In general, the components are sufficient in magnitude to reduce the resistance of the mass to translational movement of the particles. Increasing the lead angle of the upper weight 31 tends to increase the vertical oscillatory component of gyra- tory motion, as does increasing the size of the weights.. Higher weight sizes also accentuate the eccentric motion displacement from center. Increasing the mass of the lower weight 32 produces a greater upward thrust and permits the use of a deeper particle bed. In carrying out the process of the invention with the device of FIG. 1 (which will be understood is representative of the kind of device usable) together with certain additional elements to be described, par- ticles are placed upon the table 22, as indicated by thearrow 35, and may be extracted, for example, through the opening 24 and spout 26, as indicated by the arrow 36. Other locations for extraction are also possible. Des- criptions of various gyratory devices of this type, commonly referred to as separators, will be found in ,. . -: ,. ' aforementioned U.S. Patent Nos. 3,794,165, 2,950,819 and U.S. Patent No. 3,399,771 issed to Hryniowski in September, 1968. As earlier mentioned, the circular eccentric motion combined with the vertical oscillatory motion causes the particle mass placed upon the table 22 to move radially either toward the table's center or toward the periphery, depending on the angular displacement of the eccentric weights 31 and 32. If the surface 22 were a relatively smooth one, particles could also tend to move in a slow migratory circular motion in the same direction as the eccentric motion, i.e., in the direction of revolution of the motor weights 31, 32. The particle bed, in this case, does have a certain degree of fluidity which c~n be enhanced and particle flow controlled by making use of the natural tendency of individual par- ticles to spin in a direction counter to the direction of circular eccentricity, with the particle spin axis being generally normal to the supporting table 22. It has been found that this spin tendency can be converted into a circular motion of the particle mass. Moreover, the circular motion can be used to control the flow of particles within the fluidized bed. This conversion of particle spin into a circular trans- lational motion is accomplished by contacting the particles with a reaction surface of sufficient area. This surface may comprise surface portions at the bottom of the particle bed having components of projection normal to the plane of the surface. When the spinning surface of a particle con-tacts such vertical surface portions, the particles react against them and, in essence, bounce off them and thereby are given translational circular motion. The reac-tion sur- ~ace might also and desirably will include a cylindrical wall wherein the par-ticles reac-t against -the inner surface of the wall dm:~ -12- . . , -', . ~ :" -. :' and are given additional ener~y of linear motion. From tests conducted with vibratory devices like that depicted in FIG. l, it appears that an effici~nt configuration, of the surface supporting the particle bed is one which is provided with a series of concentric grooves, scorings, or projections 40 which are contacted by the particles at the bottom of the particle bed. These grooves, scorings, or projections clearly indicated in the plan view of FIG. 2, may be spaced apart by any desired amount, the closer spacings generally giving a higher degree of fluidity to the particles. I have found that inter-groove spacings of between l/4 inch and 3/4 inch provide the desired fluidization of a particle bed containing particles of between l/16 inch and l/8 inch in diameter. As discussed hereinafter, the reaction surface might also comprise an annular ver-tical surface surrounding a region of the particle bed, or a combination of annular surfaces, or an annular surface in conjunction with the supporting surface grooves and projections. The cross-sectional view of FIG. 2A shows the shape of triangular grooves which are cu-t into the surface of the supporting surface 22. In the modified form of surface, seen in FIG. 2B, the particle-contacting surfaces comprise projections rising from the surface 22a wherein each projection has a generally rectangular cross-section with rounded upper edges. Yet another form of particle contacting projections is - seen in FIGS. 3 and 3A. There, the upper surface 22a of the sup- porting table has a multitude of irregular smaller projections 41 extending upwardly. In FIGS. 4 and 4A, projections in the form of a multitude of rectangular mu-tually orthogonal cleats are present for contacting particles at the bottom of the particle bed and dm:~ -13- ', - ~ ~ 0~ imparting to them a translational circular motion. The surface configurations of FIGS. 3, 3A and 4, 4A are not as efficient as those shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B in imparting a circular motion to the particle mass, and the rotational velocity of the particle mass on surfaces such as these is much less than the configuration of FIGS. 2A and 2B. When an aggregate mass of particles is placed upon the supporting table 22 having the surface configuration illustrated, for example, in FIG. 2A, and with the eccentric-weights 31, 32 set for a 90 lead angle, the particle mass is given a high degree of fluidity with a strong net inward movement and accumulation of particles, as well as a circular motion counter to the direction of the eccentric component of gyration. In the embodiments described herein, for reasons which are not thoroughly understood, particles of highest relative density in a classified particle bed generally tend to move with other particles into a collection region and remain there. Particles of lesser density are displaced in that region by the highest density particles. It is believed that this region is the point of lowest total pressure. To investigate this phenomenon in more detail, reference is made to FIGS. 7-8. FIGS. 7-8 illustrate a basic yet effective configuration of the apparatus for carrying out the separation process of the invention. FIG. 7 is a plan view similar to FIG. 2 showing a bed supporting table element 43 and circumferential rim 44 which are understood to be affixed to the gyratory separation device of FIG. 1 in place of the elemen-ts 22, 23. The machine used in this case is one available from Russel Finex Company, Mount Vernon, New York, equipped with a 3/4 hp motor at 1140 rpm. The eccentric- weigh-ts 31, 32 were set -to provide for an inward "throw" of the dm:' -14- - , , :. .:' . - ,,- ~ . . ' ' ~, . particles. EIG. 8 is an elevational view in cross-section of this configuration. The table surface 43a is optionally provided with a series of circular projections 43b similar to -those shown in FIG. 2A. These projections are present only in the annular region next to the rim 44 and , together with the rim, are effective to induce counter-eccentric circular motion of the particles in that region. The remaining portion of the surface 43a is essentially smooth, offering little frictional contact with the particles. The particles in the bed supported by this part of the table will ordinarily follow a slow circular path in the same direction of the eccentric motion component of gyration. Another annular rim 44a of smaller diameter is affixed to the element 43 so as to form an annular channel 44b which serves as a temporary collection zone for upgraded material, as will be explained. Extending upwardly from a level adjacent the central portion of the surface 43a is a smaller annular rim, or collar, 45 which is spaced from the surface to form a narrow annular gap 45c, thus providing an area of limited communication between the interior and exterior of the collar. The collar 45 is affixed to the table 43 by any suitable means (as by brackets, not shown~ so as to be movable therewith. Extending upwardly midway into the space at the interior of the collar is an extraction auct 45d, only a portion of which has been illustrated, leading to points outside the particle bed contained on the table 43. The collar provides a reaction surface 45e for particles a-t its interior so as to impart to them a counter-eccentri circular motion. ~; Associa-ted with the rim 44a is a chute 44c for the introduction of raw material to be processed, indicated by the d~:~ -15- .. arrows 46 designating the direc-tion of raw ma-terial flow (FIGS . 7 and 8). The chute 44c may be flexibly coupled to the rim 44a and supported externally of the agita-tor, if desired, to reduce imbalance of the gyratory table 43a. Material introducted into the chute flows through rectangular orifice 44d leading into the region of higher circular partîcle velocity in the fluidized bed of particles. Extraction of more dense particles occurs through the exit hole 48a and exit chute 48b leading from the annular collection zone 44b, as shown by the arrows 47d. In several runs using this configuration, mixed particles containing, for example, ungraded beach sand and lead shot particles of greater size to be separated were added through the chute 44c to the aggregated particle mass in the annular outer region of the bed, as indicated by the shaded arrows 46. Added particles flowed onto the fluidized bed surface through the opening 44d in the rim 44a. Particles in that outer annular region of the fluidized bed were contacted by the reaction surface provided by the rim 44a and the surface projections 43b. This resulted in a transfer of energy to the particles in that region so as to induce a circular trans- lational particle motion counter to the direction of eccentric gyration, as noted earlier. This motion is shown by the~shaded arrows 47a in FIG. 7. (Particles are not illustrated in FIG. 8.) Particles in the adjacen-t inner annular region, however, had a very much lower velocity of rotation, sometimes even in the direction of the eccentric gyration (as shown). The velocity of the circular motion (indicated by the white arrows 47b) in this adjacent region is thus negative rlelative to (i.e., less than) the counter-eccentric velocity in the outer annular region. ~s a result of the foregoing, a boundary (shown by -the dm:~ -16- . ', :;.' : .. : - - . ~ phantom line in FIG. 7) between these two velocity regions appeared to establish a natural barrier to the inward movement of the lead shot particles, even though the eccentric-weights were set to provide an inward throw, or thrust, upon the particle mass as a whole. Thus, the denser particles tended to remain in the region of highes-t circular particle velocity. The densest particles (shown black in FIG. 8) thus displaced less dense (white) particles. The densest particles also had a tendency to migrate toward the surface of the bed. The reasons for this are not perfectly understood; however, this may occur because of their greater upward inertia provided by the upward thrust of the gyratory table element 43. It may also be the result of the small vertical gradient in circular velocity which increases from bottom to top of the bed. In any case, even those dense particles which may be present in the region inward of the barrier tend to move both to the surface and outwardly to the outer annular region adjacent the rim 44a. Advantage is taken of these phenomena in the extraction of the densest particles. To this end, the rim 44a includes one or more slots 44e cut into its upper edge through which particles in the upper stratum of the fluidized bed can flow into the collection zone 44b. This extraction path is shown by the shaded arrow 47d. From the channel 44b, the particles flow into the opening 48a and extraction duct 48b. While only one slot 44e has been illustrated, it is possible to provide further similar slots in the rim 44a, mutually spaced circumferentially. Use of the extraction scheme shown in FIGS. 7-8 will result in some removal of less dense particles along with the densest particles; however, the ex-tracted mixture is considerably upgraded, con-taining a much higher percentage of the desired dense dm~ -17- r'~ material, for example, a par-ticulate mineral. The upgraded material can, of course, be recycled through the same procedure for further upgrading, recycling taking place either in another stage (not shown) below that illustrated, or in a separate apparatus. In FIGS. 7-8 less dense particles, displaced by the dense par-ticles, migrated inwardly from the inlet opening 44d to the adjacent annular region from which they were removed, as follows: As the volume o less dense par-ticles in the adjacent region builds up, these particles reach the gap 45c at the collar 45 and travel to the collar's interior. There they are contacted by the collar surface 45e and are induced to rotate in the counter- eccentric direction (arrows 47c). Particles outside the collar 45 were forced inwardly- into the higher (counter-eccentric) velocity flow (arrows 46a in FIG. ~). Once inside the collar, particles not only move circularly, but also flow upwardly toward the spout 45d, where they are extracted. In review, particles o highest density accumulated and were extracted from the outer annular region next to the rim 44, while par-ticles of less density moved inwardly in the adjacent region and eventually were extracted from the particle column bounded by the collar 45. The theoretical explana-tion for the behavior of the particles is not entirely understood. It is believed, however, that the particles move in the fluidized bed under the influence of pressure differentials which are established by a combination of forces including those resulting from the circular translational ~ motion, the inwarcl thrust generated by the eccentric motion of the pla-te together with the apparently greater upward inertia o dm~ -18- ' . ' ' ' .: ':.; . .. ~ne more dense particles. Thus, in some instances, the par-ticle motion seemed to comply with the laws of dynamic energy of mo-tion. Whether the apparent highest relative velocity in the region of accumulation -to dense particles is a causative factor of that accumulation or simply an observed phenomenon in this embodiment is not certain. Where the particle bed has appreciable depth, the "hydrostatic" pressure also may be taken into account as in, for example, the interior of the column bounded by the collar 45. Dynamic pressure and the constant addition of dynamic energy to the particles by agitation are further factors tending to complicate the analysis. For example, if a strong inward momentum is imparted to particles at the rim 44e, a sufficient dynamic inward pressure may be exerted on all particles (including dense particles), and this could cause an undesired loss of some of the dense particles to the center of the bed in the FIGS. 7-8 arrangement. For this reason, it is desirable to adjust the dimension of the annular gaps below the collar 45, as well as the collar height, such that the flow into the particle column is gentle enough not to disturb the essentially circular flow at the bed's perimeter. Although the confi~uration shown in FIGS. 7-8 represents one on a laborat~y scale, using a 22 inch diameter table 43 driven by a 3/4 hp motor (weights set at maximum amplitude) wherein the projections 43b extended inwardly approximately 2 incnes from the rim and the collar 45 was 6 inches in diameter and set 1/2 inch from the table surface 43a, small lead sho-t admixed with sand resulted in almost 100% recovery of all lead shot with a flow rate throu~h the appara-tus of 2000 pounds per hour. dm~ -19- Certain further experiments with the apparatus revealed various facets of particle behavior, including their ability to separate in the fluidized bed. In one experiment a cylinder, similar to the collar 45 and about 4-1/2 inches in diameter and 6 inches high, was fixed to the table ~3 and filled with sand. A second, smaller cylinder of about 3 inches in diameter was inserted into the sand to a depth of four inches and r.p.m. readings were taken inside the sand. Within the smaller collar, the circular motion of sand measured about 10 r.p.m. t94 inches/minute at the periphery). In the two-inch space below the inserted collar the speed measured about 45 r.p.m. (636 inches/minute at the periphery). When lead shot was added to the sand, all the lead shot was recovered from the sand at the bottom of the fixed cylinder where the greatest velocity was present. When the inserted smaller collar was removed, the lead shot rose to the top one- quarter of the bed inside the cylinder. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate how further physical elements can be made to react with the particle bed so as to obtain controlled flow of the particle mass. The plan view of FIG. 5 and the corresponding cross- sectional elevation view of FIG. 5A shows the location of flow controlling elemen-ts. A cylindrical collar or ring 51 extends upwardly from the center of the particle supporting surface 50. This collar has a verticle gap 52 ex-tending down to the surface 50, such that particles are free to enter the region inside the collar 51 through the gap 52, but not underneath the collar as in the embodiments of FIGS. 7-8. A second collar in the form of an annular ring 5~ radially spaced from the collar 51 likewise extends upwardly from the particle-supporting surface. It will be dm~ -20- : ' . ' ': . .. ., - . : : - : : understood that the top surface 50 of the plate 49 bounded by the collars 51, 54 includes the annular grooves or ridges ~not shown) of the type depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Particles are added to the particle bed either at the center of the open collar 51, as illustrated by the aesignation Xl in FIG. 5A, or at the location designated X2, which is between the collar 51 and the annular ring 54. Particles added to the particle bed at either location assume a circular motion both in the annular region at the interior of the ring 51 and in the annular region between the ring 51 and the ring 54, due to the eccentric gyratory motion of the surface 50 and rings 51, 54, which provide reaction surfaces to convert the particle spin energy into rotational translational energy of the particle mass. Any denser particles which are in the annular region between the rings 51 and 54 will tend to migrate toward the interior of the collar 51, and will do so upon reaching the gap 52. Thus, there is an exchange of dense particles for less dense particles at the center of the fluidized bed, with the result that denser particles trade positions with the less dense particles and tend to remain there. As more particles are added to the central portion of the particle bed, a point is reached when the less dense particles begin to overflow the impediment of the annular ring 54. These overflowing particles reach the annular region radially outside the ring 54, and, finally, the discharge opening 58 and the extracting spout 60. Thus a con-tinuous flow may be established by adding particles continuously to the center of the bed, and extracting the overflowing less dense particles from the spout 60. For continuous flow operation the diameters of the rings 51, 5~ are selected as no-ted already so as to maintain a hi~her rotational dm \ .i~ 21- particle flow inside -the ring 51 than in the region between rings. This flow relationship aids the tendency of particles to migrate toward the center of the bed where the dense particles may exchange position ~ith the less dense particles and be collected. This inward migration that is aided by the circular f low relationship is caused by the angular displacement of the eccen-tric weight setting which, in all of the embodiments described herein, is 80- 90 lead to provide a net inward throw of the particles to the center. The particle flow in the vertical plane from the central point, where particles are added, to the extraction spout 60 is seen in the illustration of FIG. 5A, the black particles representing the densest particles and the white particles representing less dense particles. In the drawings the more dense particles are shown to be resting at the bottom of the bed. This is a simplified case, and in prac-tice the more dense particles may be suspended at levels below the surface due to the effects previously noted, namely, the grea-ter upwards inertia given the dense particles. In one embodiment, the various elements of the vibratory apparatus depicted in FIGS. 5 and 5A may have the following dimensions and characteristics: - Collar 51 (diameter) 4 inches Opening 52 (width) 1-1/2 - 2 inches Annular ring 54 (diameter) 7 inches Plate 49 (diameter) 18 inches Outer frame 62 (height) As desired Motor hp 1/4 Motor rpm 1140 Weight lead angle ~0-90 dm:`~ c\~ -22- : . ' . .. - ' ' . . The configuration of FIGS. 5 and 5A was successfully used to ob-tain nearly 100% recovery in two minutes' time of 35 No. 2 lead shot from one gallon of sand ranging in particle size from between 1/16" and 1/8" diameter. The shot, after separation, was concentra-ted at the center of the fluidized bed in a volume of less than 5% of the volume of starting material added to the fluidized bed. In the process which has been described, it is not absolutely essential that the annular regions defined by the rings be perfectly circular or that they have common centers. It should accordingly be understood that the term "concentric", as used herein, designates configurations wherein annular regions surround each other successively outwardly of the center of motion. FIG. 5, in conjunction with FIG. 5B illustrates yet another arrangement of elements by which a different effect of the fluidized bed may be realized. In FIG. 5, the phantom lines represent a further annular ring 63 generally concentric with the open ring 51 and closely spaced to this ring so as to form there- with a narrow annular channel 65. The ring 63 extends only 20- partially into the fluid bed so as to leave a narrow cylindrical gap between the bottom portion 63a of the ring and the surface 50 of the gyratory plate 49. Moreover, the ring 63 is not affixed to the table element 63, but is loosely held in place by suitable means or spacers (not shown) and thereEore movable independently of the table and fixed rings providing particle reaction surfaces. As a consequence, the ring 63 does not transmit energy to the particles; in fac-t, it extracts energy from and slows down the particles bounded thereby. Particles are added -to the particle bed at the interior of the open ring 51 (at point Xl), as best seen -23- in FIG 5B. The effect of the intermediate annular ring 63 is to induce a flow of the particles from the center of the ring 51, throu~h the opening 52 in that ring, and thereafter underneath the intermediate ring 63 and into the annular region between the ring 63 and the ring 54. As before, denser particles tend to remain at the interior of the rings 51,54. Less dense particles, nevertheless, are swept out through the opening 52, underneath the ring 63, and over the collar 5~. When operated in this manner, the apparatus of FIG. 5 accomodates continuous feeding of particles to the particle bed at the center of motion and continous extraction of the lighter (less dense) particles at the periphery of the particle bed. The close spacing of the rings 51 and 63 (which may ~e in -the range of .25"-.75" when handling particles up to .25" in diameter) appears to slow considerably the circular particle motion in the channel 65. A reduc~ion in the rotational velocity of particles inside the ring 51 is also observed when the ring 63 is dm~ `` -23a- , . -24- inserted. It is important to note that the floating ring 63 exerts yet another influence, and that is to slow down the particle veloci~y more at the upper level of the bed than at levels immediately above the surface 50. The most dense particles tend to remain within the col- lar 54 at the bottom of the fluidized bed rather than being caught up in the overflow and swept out into'the adjacent region outside the collar 54. It is according- ly possible to control the velocity gradient verticallyin the fluidized bed by such means as the floating ring 63 or other selec~ive energy-extracting elements which contact the particles. In FIG. 5B, as the spacing between the ring 63 and the surface 50 is increased, there is a concomitant lessening of drag and reduction of "pressure" in the annular channel 65; and a lesser rate of flow o par- - ticles from the interior of the ring 51 to the exterior of the ring 63 occurs. ~ At this juncture, it should be pointed out that- the flow of particles in the bed can also be induced radially inwardly in the same manner. If, for example, the ring 63 were larger in diameter such that a narrow annular channel were formed adjacent the inner surface of the ring 54, particles would flow radially inwardly underneath the ring 63 and toward the center of the par- ticle bed. It has been found that, with the configura- tion of annular rings shown in FIGS. 5 and 5B, reason- ably good recovery of the densest particles is achieved. ~IGS. 6 and 6A illustrate a different configu- ration of physical ele~ents for controlling and direct- ing particle flow. In this configuration also, a plu- rality of generally concentric annular regions is estab- lished between the concentric rings 61, 66 and 68; how- ever, the entire surface SO is provic'.ed with particle- ,~?-'~ -- -25- reaction projections of one of the types represented in - FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A and l~A. In one embodiment which was found to be effective, the rings 66, 68 were dimensioned so that the circular particle velocity progressively increases from the outer to imner regions o the bed. The rings have respective openings in their vertical walls so as to permit radially inward migration of the particles in the fluidized particle bed. Thus, the ring 51 is provided with an opening 52, the ring 66 has an opening 70 and the ring 68 has an opening 72 through which the particles may flow. The arrows in FIG. 6 outline the general flow pattern of particles within the particle bed. As best seen in FIG. 6A, particles are continuously added to the particle bed in the annular region between the rings 51 and 66 (this location being designated by "X" in FI~. 6~. The arrangement of open rings of the ~oregoing configuration results in a circular motion of the parti- cle mass within the annular region inside the ring 51, as well as within the regions between the rings 51 and 66, between the rings 66 and 68 and between the ring 68 and the outer frame 62. In operation, wlth the configuration of ele- ments shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A, the relatively dense particles tend to migrate inwardly. The more dense particles collect inside o the ring 51, whereas less dense particles are displaced in the particle mass radially outwardly through the respective openings 52, 70 and 72 into the outer annular regions. If desired, the height of the rings 66, 68 may be reduced in order to facilitate removal of the less dense particles by permitting them to flow over the top of these rings. In one preferred configuration of elements following the arrangement of FIGS. 6-6~, five circular concentric rings were used. Each ring with the excep- .. .: : '" : ' -26- tion of the outer one, had a narrow vertical aperture serving as an area of communication between adjacent channels in the particle bed. The aperture in the center ring was 3/8" wide and 2" high; the apertures in the re- maining apertured rings were 3/8" wide and l-lJ2" high, as measured from the smooth floor of the plate 49, The dimensions of the rin~s were as follows: Diameter ~ei~ Innermost ring #l 5 imches 7 inches Ring #2 7-l/2 inches 2 inches Ring #3 9-l/2 inches 2 inches Ring $4 ll inches 2 inches Ring #5 ~ 12 inches 2 inches The inter-ring spacing (i.e., transverse channel dimen- sion) thus progressively increased from the outer peri- phery to the inner ring as follows: 112 inch, 3/4 inch, l inch, l-l/4 inches. ^` In several tests using a batch of lO0 pounds of -30+15 mesh silica sand containing a few grams of .ll inch diameter lead shot, more than 90% of the lead shot was collected and recovered in less than lO pounds of sand in the region inside the center ring, using a test flow rate (rate at which sand/lead shot mixture is added to the particle bed) of 30 pounds per minute. 2~ The sand/lead shot mixture was added at the point illustrated in FIGS. 6-6A. To facilitate the addition of the particle mixture at this point, a nar- row apron, extending horizontally from the center ring at a height of 2-l/2" above the plate 49, was used to break the falI of particles into the particle bed. Means may be used to guide the particles onto the apron as, for example, a cylindrical collar affixed to and spaced outwardly.from the center ring. In this five-ring embodiment, the mode of operation and the manner of separation occurred as des- ' . ., : . -27~ 5 cribed in connection with FIGS. 6-6A. The circular ve- locities of particle flow, however, were difficult ~o measure. There was an apparent counter-eccentric parti- cle flow in the channels at lower levels of the particle bed, to the extent that flow could be measured with a probe thrust into the bed. However, the surface of the par~icle bed in the channels between rings exhibited con- siderable agitation, or turbulence, and no reliable veloc- ity measurement could be made. In the center ring, how- ever, there was a counter-eccentric circular motion that was observably faster than the apparen~ circular velocity in the channel adjacent this ring. During operation, the apertures in the rings were below the surface of the particle bed, and less dense particles flowed radially outwardly over the tops of the 2-inch high rings for continuous extraction of the - less dense particles from the region defined between the non-apertured 12-inch ring and the rlm 62. To ac~ieve the rate of separation specified above, a "Kason" vibratory machine ~similar to FIG~ 1) was equipped with a 1/3 hp motor operating at 114~ r.p.m., and with a weight setting of 90 lead loaded to capacity of the machine. Thus, in the embodiments of FIGS. 6, 6A, it will ~e seen that the 10w of particles is generally radially inward. The migration of particles is restric- ted between adjacent annular regions except at peri- pherally displaced openings (72, 70, 52) between these adjacent regions. This configuration forces particles migrating within the fluidized particle bed from one annular region to another annular region to follow a circular path before reaching an opening interconnecting adjacent regions. As a result, the p~qrticles are given a longer residence time in the fluidized bed and, conse- quently, the more dense particles have adequate time toseparate out as they travel progressively inwardly. a~ ~a~ ~ . . . - , - ' ' ' - ' ': , ~ , -28- The process of the invention is ideally suited not only for separating particles in a si.ngle operation, but also for separating particles in separate stages. One apparatus in which multi-stage separation can be accomplished is illustrated in FIG. 9. There, in two separation stages 80, 81 are vertically superimposed so as to be agitated by a common eccentric agitator of the type described above in connect:ion with FIG. 1. The first s~age is comprised of the elements shown in FI~..6 and like numerals (followed with a prime mark) have been assigned to the various elements. In addition, the upper stage 80 is provided with a central opening 83 through the plate 49 for passing the separated heavy particles to a chute 85 leading to the second (lower) stage 811 this stage including a pair of concentric rings ~6, 87 extending upwardly from the bed-supporting plate 84 having circumferentially spaced vertical gaps 88, 89 similar in configuration and location to the rings 51, 66 in FIG. 6. Though not shown in FIG. 9, the central opening should be provided with a flow restric- tive element such as a low standpipe or collar such as shown in ~IG. 8. Separation in the two s~ages takes place as described above in connection with FIG. 6. In order to extract the scalped waste material from the first stage, a domed plate 90 disposed under- neath the plate 49'receives less dense particles dis- charged from the openings through the plate 49 and leads them to the discharge spout 92. As clearly illustrated, the chute 85 passes through the sloping plate and de- posits the more dense particles from the first stage inthe annular region between the rings 86, 87. The less dense particles and waste material from the second stage exit from the :Lower discharge spout 93. It w-ill be understood that combinations of stages other than that shown for illustrative purposes . ' ~ . ' " . -29- can be effectively used, and that further separation of the extracted less dense ma~erials can be similarly effected in the same manner in a second stage of separa- tion. Moreover, it is preferable that all particles in the particle bed be classified beforehand so that an evenness of particle size is obtained. This ensures that dense particles to be separated will have greater mass than the less dense particles. To that end, apparatus or carrying out the process may incorporate conventional separation screens. Although the invention has been described with reference to specific processes and apparatus which have been carried out successfully on a small scale using experimental apparatus, it should be understood that the process is not limited to any specific appara- tus for carrying out the invention. There are numerous ways in which a fluidized bed might be controlled for ~- separating particles of specified relative density by the use of specially designed elements placed within the fluidized bed. For example, the flow-controlling ele- ments might be made sloping and may take forms other than those disclosed herein to fit particular needs. Addi- tionally, ~he bed-supporting surface need not be per- fectly planar, and might have the form of an inwardly or outwardly sloping conical wall, or yet other types of sloping geometries for taking advanta~e o~ gravitational force on the particle mass. As a further example, the bed-supporting plate can be covered with a resilient layer which can be depressed slightly by the weight of the particles thereon so as to obtain the desired con- version of spin into translational circular particle movement. It should also be noted that while the inven- tion is ideally suited for separation in a dry particle bed, i.e., one in which no supplemental fluid flow is . , . ~ ~ h~ -30- required, separation can be effected though the particle surFaces are wetted as long as particle mobility is not eliminated by such wetting. Furthermore, the term l'particle" herein is not used ln its strictly literal sense and does not necessarily connote minute or small particles, since the invention might be applied to separation and classification of fragmentary materials over a great range of sizes including stone, rock and minerals (e.g., coal) in chunk form. It should be un- derstood that where the term particle velocity is used,reference is being made to the velocity at levels below the surface of the particle bed. In some instances, for example, particles on the surface appear to flow in a direction opposite to particles below the surace. No attempt has been made to suggest all ~ore- seeable modifications and variations which might occur to those skilled in the art. Thus, for purposes of explanation, all embodiments and operative process modes described above have employed vibratory machines wherein the eccentric weights were set to provide a substantial lead angLe. But other wei~ht settings can be used. Thus I have also used a 0 lead angle to achieve separa- tion. In that case the dense particles collected in the outermost channel at the periphery of the particle bed. Circular velocity of the particles could not be measured, and it is quite possible that ~he particles were influenced more by the net radially directed thrust imparted to them by the eccentric component of gyratory motion than by any forces the circular velocity may have exerted. All such modifications and variation~ are in- tended to be encompassed by the appended claims. I ~' ' ~ ' ' .