JP7115038B2 - Flotation machine with bubble observation unit - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an air expansion type valve and a mineral processing machine with a bubble observation unit using the same.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a valve device that controls the flow of transfer fluid in which material substances are mixed, using an elastically deformable deformable valve member (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the valve device described in Patent Document 1, a valve body having a valve chamber is provided between an inflow passage and an outflow passage, and both ends of a deformable valve member are airtightly fixed inside the valve chamber. be done. The valve chamber has an air supply/discharge section for supplying and discharging air to and from the airtight portion between the deformable valve member, and the elastic deformation and restoration of the deformable valve member are controlled by supplying and discharging air from the air supply/discharge section. . This switches between a passing state in which a material object can pass through the valve chamber together with the fluid to be transferred, and a restricted state in which passage of the material object is restricted.

JP 2017-106493 A

The valve device described in Patent Literature 1 is intended to switch between passing and regulating a tangible material that is a mixture, and since the transfer fluid itself is always transferred, there is no problem even when the deformable valve member is not completely closed. No problem.

However, depending on the application, there are cases where it is desired to switch between passage and blocking of the transfer fluid itself instead of the tangible object, and to prevent the transfer fluid from flowing out when the transfer fluid is blocked. For example, in a flotation machine for obtaining a copper concentrate by concentrating useful metals by flotation of copper ore or the like, there is a case where it is desired to collect bubbles in the ore slurry for a predetermined period of time to measure the diameter of the bubbles. In such a case, it is necessary to allow the air bubbles to pass only at the timing of collecting the air bubbles. It is necessary to provide a switching valve device.

On the other hand, a valve having a mechanically movable portion is not suitable for use in which failure occurs frequently when used in an ore slurry, because fine solid particles get caught in the driving portion of the valve.

In addition, most of the conventional air-driven valves have large valve dimensions, and are not suitable for measuring the bubble diameter in the ore slurry as described above.

Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to collect air bubbles in the ore slurry for a predetermined period of time by opening and closing operations. An object of the present invention is to provide an air expansion type valve and an ore processing machine with a bubble observation unit using the same.

In order to achieve the above object, an air inflatable valve according to one aspect of the present invention includes a body portion having a cylindrical portion;
a cylindrical elastically deformable member having at least a portion of its outer peripheral surface provided along the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion;
It is provided at a predetermined position in the center of the elastic deformation member, and when air is supplied to the elastic deformation member and the inner peripheral surface of the elastic deformation member expands inward, it is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface to form a sealed state. a spacer capable of forming a

According to the present invention, bubble diameter measurement in ore slurry can be performed without entrapment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is the whole block diagram which showed an example of the flotation machine with a bubble observation unit which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed an example of the bubble observation unit. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an example of an observation cell; 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an air inflation type valve according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining opening and closing operations of the air inflation type valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention; It is a figure showing composition of a body part of an air expansion type valve concerning a 1st embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of a spacer and a supporting member of the air inflation type valve according to the first embodiment; FIG. 10 is a view showing an example spacer of an air inflatable valve according to the second embodiment; FIG. 10 is a view showing a spacer of an example of an air inflatable valve according to the second embodiment from an angle different from that of FIG. 9; It is the figure which showed an example of operation|movement of the air expansion type valve which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of a flotation apparatus with a bubble observation unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. The flotation machine with a bubble observation unit according to this embodiment includes a stirring tank 10, a stirring blade 20, an air supply shaft 30, a motor 40, a frame 50, a base 51, a support table 60, and a bubble observation unit. 70.

The stirring tank 10 is slurry storage means for storing ore slurry to be subjected to ore flotation. Since the ore slurry contains useful metals to be processed or concentrated, the ore slurry is stored in the stirring tank 10 and subjected to ore flotation. Therefore, although not shown in FIG. 1, the stirring vessel 10 has an extraction port for extracting useful metals at the top of the stirring vessel 10, and an outlet for discharging tailings that are not subject to useful metals. .

The air supply shaft 30 functions as air bubble generating means for supplying air below the stirring blades 20 to generate bubbles in the ore slurry, and also functions as a rotating shaft for rotating the stirring blades 20 . The air supply shaft 30 penetrates through the center of the stirring blade 20 and supplies air from the lower end. As a result, air bubbles are generated from below the stirring blades 20 .

Also, the air supply shaft 30 is provided so as to extend upward from the stirring blade 20 , is connected to the motor 40 via gears, belts, etc., and is rotationally driven by the motor 40 .

The agitating blade 20 is a bubble refining means for refining air bubbles generated by the air supplied from the lower end of the air supply shaft 30 . Bubbles generated at the lower end of the air supply shaft 30, that is, below the stirring blades 20 collide with the stirring blades 20 due to the rotation of the stirring blades 20 when rising, thereby reducing the bubble diameter. Reducing the cell diameter can increase the efficiency of collision with ore particles in the ore slurry.

The ore particles with the metal surface on the surface adhere to the air bubbles and float in the ore slurry. In this case, considering the balance between the size of the ore particles to be beneficiated and the buoyancy of the bubbles, it is preferable to generate bubbles having an appropriate diameter to which the ore particles are likely to adhere. Therefore, a bubble observing unit 70 is provided to observe the bubble diameter. Details of the bubble observation unit 70 will be described later.

The motor 40 is a power source for rotating the stirring blade 20 via the air supply shaft 30 . As described above, the motor 40 rotates the stirring impeller 20 provided near the bottom surface of the stirring vessel 10 via the air supply shaft 30 connected below to generate air bubbles.

The frame 50 is a support member for supporting the air supply shaft 30 and the stirring blades 20 via the motor 40 from above. The frame 50 is provided fixed to the base 51 .

The base 51 is a base that supports the stirring vessel 10 and the frame 50 . Further, a support base 60 is provided as necessary to support the base 51 from below.

The air bubble observation unit 70 is means for measuring the diameter of air bubbles generated by the stirring of the stirring blade 20 within the stirring tank 10 . As shown in FIG. 1, the air bubble observation unit 70 is provided so that the part for sending air bubbles is immersed in the stirring tank 10, and the part for observing air bubbles is above the stirring tank 10, not immersed in the ore slurry. provided in

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the bubble observation unit 70. As shown in FIG. The bubble observation unit 70 includes a frame 80 , a planar illumination 90 , a camera 100 , an observation cell 110 , a communication passage 120 and an air inflation type valve 170 .

The frame 80 is provided for installing each component of the bubble observation unit 70, and includes a bottom plate 80a and side plates 80b. The bottom plate 80a and the side plates 80b are provided perpendicular to each other, but the bottom plate 80a is not horizontally provided but obliquely provided. Therefore, the side plate 80b is also provided obliquely rather than vertically.

The planar illumination 90 is illumination for illuminating the observation cell 110 and facilitating observation of bubbles in the observation cell 110 . Therefore, the planar illumination 90 is provided parallel to the plane of the observation cell 110 so as to illuminate the observation cell 110 efficiently. Specifically, the planar illumination 90 is installed on the side plate 80 b of the frame 80 . The planar illumination 90 may be composed of various illumination means as long as the observation cell 110 can be illuminated appropriately. That is, planar LED illumination may be used. As the type of planar illumination 90, for example, a narrow-angle orientation type illumination may be used.

The camera 100 is imaging means for imaging the behavior and size of bubbles in the observation cell 110 . A camera 100 is also provided parallel to the plane of the observation cell 110 . Thereby, the air bubbles in the observation cell 110 can be imaged appropriately. The camera 100 may have any configuration or type as long as it can properly image the bubbles in the observation cell 110. For example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) camera may be used. may

Observation cell 110 is means for allowing air bubbles to flow in an observable state. The observation cell 110 has a planar shape and is made of a transparent or permeable material. The details of the configuration of the observation cell 110 will be described later.

The communication path 120 connects the air-inflatable valve 170 and the observation cell to form a flow path that communicates the two.

The air expansion valve 170 is a valve that opens and closes so as to supply the bubbles generated by the stirring blades 20 in the stirring vessel 10 to the observation cell 110 at a predetermined timing. It is closed when bubbles are not supplied to the observation cell 110 and is opened at the timing when bubbles are supplied to the observation cell 110 . Details of the air expansion valve 170 will be described later.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example configuration of the observation cell 110. As shown in FIG. FIG. 3(a) is a side view of an example of the observation cell 110. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the observation cell 110 has a front plate 111, an intermediate plate 112, and a rear plate 113. As shown in FIG. A channel 114 is formed in the intermediate plate 112 . A communication path 120 is connected to the lower portion of the observation cell 110 , and a flow path 121 provided in the communication path 120 and a flow path 114 of the observation cell 110 are connected. Also, the flow path 114 is configured to circulate through an external flow path 150 to which a defoaming tank 130 and a pump 140 are connected.

The channel 114 in the observation cell 110 is formed wide and shallow, and configured so that the bubbles spread two-dimensionally without overlapping as much as possible.

FIG. 3B is a front view of an example of the observation cell 110. FIG. As shown in FIG. 3(b), the channel 114 in the observation cell 110 is formed with a planar spread. FIG. 3(b) shows an example in which the channel 114 is formed in a circular planar shape. By forming the wide and shallow channel 114 , the air bubbles 160 are dispersed in a plane, and overlapping of the air bubbles in the depth direction of the channel 114 is prevented. Air bubbles 160 floating upward from the flow path 121 of the communication path 120 spread in the flow path 114 in a planar manner, and are configured to facilitate observation and imaging by the camera 100 . The bubble diameter of the bubble 160 is observed and measured from the front plate 111 side. As described above, the front plate 111 is made of a transparent or permeable material so that the bubble diameter can be easily seen.

Next, the air expansion type valve will be described in detail.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of an air inflation type valve according to the first embodiment of the invention. The air inflatable valve 170 has a body portion 171 , an elastic deformation member 172 , a support member fixing hole 173 , a spacer 174 and a support member 175 .

The body portion 171 functions as a frame that supports the elastically deformable member 172 and has a flow path 171a inside. The main body portion 171 has a tubular and hollow shape as a whole, and has a lower cylindrical portion 171b at its lower end and an upper cylindrical portion 171d at its upper end. It has a tapered portion 171c between it and the shaped portion 171d. A cylindrical elastic deformation member 172 is supported at the bottom cylindrical portion 171b. In other words, the lower end cylindrical portion 171b of the body portion 171 covers and supports the outer peripheral portion of the upper portion of the elastic deformation member 172 . Also, the upper end cylindrical portion 171d is connected to the flow path 121 of the communication path 120 . A through hole 171e that allows ventilation is provided in the side surface of the upper end cylindrical portion 171d. The tapered portion 171c is provided to connect the lower end cylindrical portion 171b and the upper end cylindrical portion 171d.

The body portion 171 may be made of various materials, and may be made of a metal material such as aluminum, for example.

The elastic deformation member 172 is made of an elastic member such as rubber, and has a cylindrical shape. The elastically deformable member 172 is configured as a rubber bag into which air can be introduced between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface. configured to

The elastic deformation member 172 is commercially available from various companies. For example, Bridgestone Corporation sells the elastic deformation member 172 under the product name Air Gripper. As the elastically deformable member 172, such commonly available products can be applied.

Therefore, an air introduction pipe (not shown) is provided in the elastic deformation member 172 so that air can be introduced into the elastic deformation member 172 . The inner peripheral surface of the elastic deformation member 172 can be expanded inward by introducing air from the air introduction pipe. Also, by discharging air from the air introduction pipe, the expanded state of the inner peripheral surface of the elastically deformable member 172 can be shrunk, and the original cylindrical shape can be restored.

The spacer 174 is provided at the center of the cylindrical elastic deformation member 172 , and when the elastic deformation member 172 expands and the inner peripheral surface expands inward, the spacer 174 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface to form an inner side of the elastic deformation member 172 . provided to completely enclose the area of Since the elastically deformable member 172 is configured as a rubber bag, even if the inner peripheral surface expands inward, a gap is finally formed in the central portion, making it extremely difficult to completely seal the bag. Therefore, in the air-inflatable valve according to this embodiment, a spacer 174 is provided at the center of the elastic deformation member 172, and the spacer 174 is closely attached to the elastic deformation member 172 expanded inward to completely close the center, thereby forming a sealed state. It is configured so that

As a result, when blocking air bubbles, the inside of the elastic deformation member 172 can be completely sealed in cooperation with the expansion of the elastic deformation member 172, and the same function as a mechanical valve can be achieved.

The support member 175 is a member for supporting the spacer 174 and supports the lower end portion of the spacer 174 from below. The support member 175 is fixed to the side surface of the lower end cylindrical portion 171b of the body portion 171 by inserting screws, pins, etc. into the support member fixing holes 173, for example. The support member 175 extends from the side surface of the lower cylindrical portion 171b of the body portion 171 and is connected to the lower end of the spacer 174. As shown in FIG. The body part 171 does not cover the entire elastic deformation member 172, but exposes and supports the lower part, at least the bottom part, so that the spacer 174 can be inserted into the center part of the elastic deformation member 172 from below. It is

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the opening/closing operation of the air inflation type valve 170 according to the first embodiment of the invention. Also in FIG. 5, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as in FIG. 4, and the description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

FIG. 5(a) is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an open state of the air inflation type valve 170 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5(a), when the air inflatable valve 170 is open, the elastic deformation member 172 is contracted and maintains its original cylindrical shape. In this state, the air bubble 160 can pass through the internal space of the elastic deformation member 172 and can be supplied to the observation cell 110 through the channel 121 of the communication path 120 .

In addition, FIG. 5(a) shows a configuration in which the lower end of the spacer 174 is supported by a support member 175 from below. Further, the support member fixing holes 173 are provided so as to overlap both the support member 175 and the elastically deformable member 172, and the support member 175 can be fixed by screws or the like. The elastic deformation member 172 is provided with an air introduction pipe (not shown) so that air can be supplied into the elastic deformation member 172 which is configured like a rubber bag.

FIG. 5(b) is a cross-sectional view showing a closed state of an example of the air inflation type valve 170 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5(a), when the air inflation type valve 170 is closed, air is introduced into the air introduction pipe and the elastic deformation member 172 is inflated. That is, the inner peripheral surface of the elastic deformation member 172 expands inward, narrowing the opening inside the elastic deformation member 172 . The spacer 174 and the inner peripheral surface of the elastic deformation member 172 are in close contact with each other, completely closing the opening inside the elastic deformation member 172 . In this state, the bubble 160 cannot pass through the space inside the elastic deformation member 172, and the supply of the bubble 160 from the air expansion valve 170 to the observation cell 110 is stopped.

Here, the pressure of the air to be supplied does not matter as long as it can appropriately expand and deform the elastic deformation member 172. For example, compressed air of about 0.1 to 0.2 MPa may be introduced. .

In the state shown in FIG. 5(b), if air is discharged from an air introduction pipe (not shown), the elastically deformable member 172 contracts again and returns to the state shown in FIG. 5(a). Then, the air expansion valve 170 is opened and the air bubbles 160 are supplied to the observation cell 110 .

By arranging the spacer 174 at the center of the elastic deformation member 172 in this manner, the internal space of the elastic deformation member 172 can be completely sealed, and the air inflation type valve 170 can be completely closed.

It is preferable that the spacer 174 has a shape extending in a direction parallel to the inner peripheral surface of the elastic deformation member 172 . This is because the contact area between the elastically deformable member 172 and the spacer 174 can be increased, and reliable sealing is possible. 4 and 5 show an example in which the spacer 174 is formed in a cylindrical shape. As long as the space can be sealed, it can be configured in various shapes such as a polygonal prism such as a triangular prism, a square prism, etc., without being limited to a cylindrical shape.

Further, even if the position of the spacer 174 is not necessarily completely aligned with the central axis of the elastic deformation member 172 or the main body portion 171, complete sealing is possible as long as it is provided near the central portion. However, from the viewpoint of uniform tight contact and sealing reliability between the spacer 174 and the elastic deformation member 172, the spacer 174 may be arranged so as to coincide with the central axis of the elastic deformation member 172 and/or the main body portion 171. preferable.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing in more detail the configuration of the main body of the air inflation type valve according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an example of the body portion 171. FIG. FIG. 6A shows a channel 171a, a lower cylindrical portion 171b, a tapered portion 171c, an upper cylindrical portion 171d, a through hole 171e, a groove 171f, a through hole 171g, an air introduction notch 171h, and the like. ing.

The air introduction notch portion 171 is a portion where an air introduction pipe for supplying air to the elastic deformation member 172 is provided. An air introduction pipe (not shown) connected to the elastically deformable member 172 is arranged to pass through the air introduction notch portion 171, and an external air pipe is connected to the air introduction pipe. This connection configuration will be described later.

6(b) shows a top view of the body portion 171, and FIG. 6(c) shows a front view of the body portion 171. As shown in FIG. 6(d) shows a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 6(c), and FIG. 6(e) shows a bottom view of the main body 171. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 6(b) to 6(d), the body portion 171 has various grooves and through holes on the side surface of the bottom cylindrical portion 171b. These grooves and through-holes are provided for fixing the support member 175 and the like and for attaching various parts. As described above, the body portion 171 can be configured in various shapes depending on the application as long as it supports the elastic deformation member 172 and the spacer 174 and has the flow path 171a through which the air bubbles 160 pass.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing in more detail the configuration of the spacer 174 and support member 175 of the air inflation type valve according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7(a) is a perspective view of the spacer 174 and the support member 175. FIG. As shown in FIG. 7(a), the spacer 174 is configured in a cylindrical pin shape, and the lower end of the spacer 174 is supported by support members 175 so as to sandwich it from opposite side surfaces. Both the pin-shaped spacer 174 and the support member 175 are formed in parallel. For example, the spacer 174 and the support member 175 are initially formed as separate parts, a slit is processed in the side surface of the spacer 174, and the support member 175, which is a sheet metal part, is set in the slit and joined by spot welding. It may be constructed as an integral part as shown in FIG.

7(b) is a front view of the spacer 174 and the support member 175, and FIG. 7(c) is a plan view of the spacer and the support member 175. FIG. 7(d) is a side view of the spacer 174 and the support member 175. FIG. In FIG. 7(b), the vertical relationship is reversed from that in FIG. 7(a).

As can be seen from FIGS. 7(a) and 7(c), the spacer 174 is configured to be arranged at the center position of the support members 175 on both sides. As can be seen by referring to FIGS. 6(a), (b), (c), (e) and FIGS. The spacer 174 is arranged at the center of the main body portion 171 and the elastically deformable member 172 by fixing the support member 175 with screws or the like. By fixing both the elastic deformation member 172 and the support member 175 to the body portion 171 in this manner, the centers of the body portion 171, the elastic deformation member 172 and the support member 175 are aligned, and the spacer 174 is attached to the body portion 171 and the elastic member 175. It can be arranged on the central axis of the deformation member 172 .

The spacer 174 and the support member 175 may be made of various materials as long as they have a certain degree of durability and corrosion resistance and can be processed appropriately. may be

According to the air inflatable valve 170 according to the first embodiment, by arranging the cylindrical spacer in the center of the elastic deformation member 172, when the inner peripheral surface of the elastic deformation member 172 expands inward, The elastic deformation member 172 and the spacer 174 are brought into close contact with each other so that the inside of the elastic deformation member 172 can be sealed, and the air inflation type valve 170 can be closed.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a spacer 1740 as an example of an air inflatable valve according to the second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 8(a) is a perspective view of the spacer 1740 of the air inflatable valve according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8(b) is a side view and a bottom view of the spacer 1740 of the air inflatable valve according to the second embodiment. Components other than the spacer 1740 are the same as those of the air inflatable valve 170 according to the first embodiment, so description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), the spacer 1740 has a side surface 1741 with a depression formed in the center thereof, and a top surface 1742 and a bottom surface 1743 of which have curved shapes resembling a triangle. Spacer 1740 has a shape adapted to an expanded shape when the inner peripheral surface of elastic deformation member 172 formed of a cylindrical rubber bag expands. When air is introduced into a cylindrical rubber bag, the inner peripheral surface does not expand evenly inward, and in many cases the bag expands toward the center with a gap that resembles a triangle. Therefore, in the air-inflatable valve according to the second embodiment, the shape of the spacer 1740 is a surface having a concave side surface shape, and the elastic deformation member 172 protrudes roundly like a balloon and is adapted to the shape that expands. It has a shape.

As a result, it is possible to improve the adhesion between the spacer 1740 and the elastic deformation member 172 when the inner peripheral surface of the elastic deformation member 172 expands inward, and to improve the sealing performance when the air inflation type valve is closed. can be done. In addition, the timing at which the elastic deformation member 172 and the spacer 1740 come into close contact with each other can also be advanced, and the opening/closing responsiveness of the air inflation type valve can be enhanced.

An insertion hole 1744 is provided in the bottom surface 1743 of the spacer 1740, and the spacer 1740 can be installed so as to cover the cylindrical spacer 174 shown in the first embodiment. In this case, for example, a Teflon (registered trademark) (fluororesin) tape is wound around the spacer 174 of the first embodiment and inserted into the insertion hole 1744 of the spacer 1740 of the second embodiment. Spacer 1740 can be supported without providing a gap between spacer 174 and insertion hole 1744 and in a state in which spacer 1740 is slidable along the direction of rotation. As a result, even if there is a slight misalignment between the expanded shape of the elastic deformation member 172 and the shape of the side surface 1741 of the spacer 1740, the spacer 1740 slides along the rotational direction in conformity with the expanded shape of the elastic deformation member 172. Since it moves, the spacer 1740 and the elastic deformation member 172 can be brought into close contact with each other.

Note that in the second embodiment, the spacer 174 in the first embodiment does not itself function as a spacer, but functions as a support pin or support supporting the spacer 1740 .

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the spacer 1740 has acute upper and lower ends. This shape is intended to prevent the generation of vortices due to the upward flow of the slurry that is generated as the bubbles rise. This spacer shape allows small bubbles to reach the observation cell without being trapped in the vortex.

FIG. 9 is a side view and a bottom view of the spacer 1740 at an angle different from that of FIG. 8(b) of the air inflatable valve according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 shows a side view and a bottom view when one side 1741 of the triangular cross section is placed on the floor, FIG. 9(a) being the side view and FIG. 9(b) being the bottom view.

As shown in FIG. 9(a) and as described with reference to FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), the upper and lower ends of the spacer 1740 are at acute angles. The inclination angle θ is, for example, preferably in the range of 45 to 75°, more preferably in the range of 50 to 70°, even more preferably in the range of 55 to 65°. For example, it may be 60°. However, this tilt angle θ can be changed as appropriate according to conditions and applications, and is not limited to the range of 45 to 75°.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9B, the planar shape of the upper and lower ends may be a shape similar to an equilateral triangle combining curved lines and straight lines. In FIG. 9(b), a side surface 1741 of the spacer 1740 has linear shapes at both ends of each side and a curved shape at the central portion. Since the elastic deformation member 172 expands with a curved outer shape, it is formed not as a straight equilateral triangle but as a curved surface that is slightly recessed toward the center as shown in FIG. It may be of any shape. However, this shape can also be changed in various ways according to the application, and various shapes can be made in consideration of the manner of expansion and deformation of the elastic deformation member 172 and the application. Further, an insertion hole 1744 is provided in the central portion of the bottom surface 1743, and the spacer (support pin or post) 174 may be covered with a Teflon tape wound thereon, as described with reference to FIG. The means for winding around the spacer 174 is not limited to the Teflon tape, and various means can be used as long as they are tapes or members made of a material having a certain degree of elasticity.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the air inflation type valve 170a according to the second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 10(a) is a bottom view showing an open state of the air inflation type valve 170a according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10( a ), a support member 175 is provided below the elastically deformable member 172 , and a spacer 1740 is provided at the center of the support member 175 . Also, an air introduction pipe 172a is provided in the air introduction notch portion 171h of the main body portion 171, and a configuration capable of introducing air into the elastic deformation member 172 is shown. An air pipe 180 is connected to the air introduction pipe 172a so that air can be supplied from the outside. FIG. 10(a) shows a state in which the elastic deformation member 172 is contracted and an opening is formed in the central portion.

FIG. 10(b) is a bottom view showing the closed state of the air inflation type valve 170a according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10(b), in the closed state, the inner side of the elastic deformation member 172 expands toward the center. Therefore, the spacer 1740 having concave curved side surfaces and a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape matches the deformed shape of the elastic deformation member 172, and the degree of close contact between the spacer 1740 and the elastic deformation member 172 can be enhanced.

In this manner, the deformed shape of the elastic deformation member 172 is determined in advance, and the spacer 1740 is configured to have a shape that conforms to the deformed shape of the elastic deformation member 172 when inflated. It is possible to improve reliability and responsiveness in

8 and 9, an example in which the spacer 1740 is configured to have a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape has been described. The shape of the spacer 1740 can be determined according to the characteristics of the elastic deformation member 172 to be used.

As described above, according to the air-inflatable valves 170, 170a and the observation unit-equipped ore dressing machine according to the present embodiment, by improving the air-tightness of the air-inflatable valves 170, 170a, the bubble diameter in the bubble observation unit 70 is reduced. Measurements can be made accurately and quickly.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. can be added.

10 stirring tank 20 stirring blade 30 air supply shaft 70 observation unit 110 observation cell 170, 170a air expansion type valve 171 body portion 171b lower end cylindrical portion 171h air introduction notch portion 172 elastic deformation portion 172a air introduction pipe 173 support member fixing hole 174, 1740 spacer 1741 side surface 1742 top surface 1743 bottom surface 1744 insertion hole 175 support member 180 air pipe

Claims (6)

an air inflatable valve;
a stirring vessel containing the air-inflatable valve;
a stirring blade provided below the air expansion valve in the stirring tank;
and an observation cell provided above the air-expansion valve in communication with the air-expansion valve and capable of observing bubbles generated by the rotation of the stirring blade and sent when the air-expansion valve is open. , and
The air-inflatable valve includes a body portion having a cylindrical portion;
a cylindrical elastically deformable member having at least a portion of its outer peripheral surface provided along the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion;
It is provided at a predetermined position in the center of the elastic deformation member, and when air is supplied to the elastic deformation member and the inner peripheral surface of the elastic deformation member expands inward, it is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface to form a sealed state. and a spacer capable of forming a flotation machine with a bubble observation unit . 2. The flotation machine with a bubble observation unit according to claim 1, wherein said spacer has a shape extending substantially parallel to said inner peripheral surface of said elastically deformable member. 2. The flotation machine with a bubble observing unit according to claim 1, wherein said spacer has a shape conforming to an expanded shape of said inner peripheral surface of said elastically deformable member. 4. The flotation machine with a bubble observation unit according to claim 3, wherein the shape adapted to the expansion shape of the elastic deformation member is a shape having a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape. The flotation machine with a bubble observation unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the spacer is supported by a support member connected to the main body and provided at the predetermined position. The cylindrical portion of the main body supports the side surface of the elastic deformation member so that at least the bottom surface of the elastic deformation member is exposed,
6. The flotation machine with a bubble observation unit according to claim 5, wherein said support member extends from a side surface of said main body portion toward a bottom surface of said elastic deformation member and supports said spacer from below said elastic deformation member.

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