US1366767A

US1366767A - John m

Info

Publication number: US1366767A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1921-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 1938-01-25

Description

J. M. CALLOW. FLO TAUON SEPARATORY APPARMUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, I914.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

wi bmeooeo jzm Madam.

UNITED STATES ra ser orrics.

JOHN M. CALLOW, OI SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSEGNOR, BY IEESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO PNEUMATIC PROCESS FLOTATZON COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORA- TION OF DELAWARE.

nno'm'rion snreneronir rnoonss AND APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patent d J 25 1921.

Application filed April 27, 1914. Serial No. 834,768.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, JOHN M. CnLLow, a subject of the King of Great Brltam, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flotation Separatory Processes and Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a flotation separatory process and apparatus designed for the concentration of metallic ores by separating the metallic particles from the barren r rocky constituents thereof, and the lnventlon consists of the parts, constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts and the separator-y process which I will hereinafter fully describe and claim.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in whlch s1m1- lar reference characters indicate like parts in the several views Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view with parts in elevation, of a flotation orseparatory apparatus embodying the salient features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of a part of the apparatus on the line X-X of Fig. 1.

Fig.3 is a modification te be referred to.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of a swlveled connection, 28.

The apparatus shown in the present case is specifically'related to the art commonly known as buoyant processes and which is distinct from the usual amalgamation processes in which the ore forms an amalgam, in that in the buoyant processes a certain percentage of oil, or of two dissimilar oils, or an oil and an acid, or an oil and an alkali is mixed with finely ground ore pulp and the mixture is then subj ected to a violent agitation with the result that large volumes of air are beaten into and entrained by the pulp for the purpose of producing a froth composed of bubbles of air and oil to which the mineral )articles attach, said froth havin the ap earance of an aggregation or mass of fine cap bubbles which when collected and the roth discharged or broken down, by natural ettlem nt, or by the addition of cold water,

or other means, displaces the mineral particles that have been caught.

In another application filed by. me on the 1st day of April, 1914, Serial Number 828,805, I have disclosed and claimed what I term a separatory tank of substantially rectangular form having a bottom portion inclined and provided with a series of independent cells-adapted to contain air, gas or vapor under pressure, and a porouswall or upper surface forming the top of the cell and through which the air, gas or vapor is delivered into the solution, or the mineral bearingpulp in innumerable fine streams distributed irregularly substantially throughout the entire area of the pulp.

In another application filed by me on the 6th day of July, 1914, Serial Number 831,050, I have fully described and claimed a process for removing by vacuum or suction, the froth, foam or suds, which accumu lates on the surface of the pulp, and thereby breaks down the bubbles to displace the mineral particles which they have caught during the ascentof thebubbles through the body of pulp which mineral particles, together with any liquid matter that might come under the action of the vacuum or suction, being separated from the main body of the pulp and delivered into a vacuum tank or vessel wherein the solids are precipitated or settled and from which they may be withdrawn as a concentrate.

The present invention is related distinctly to the two inventions above mentioned for which applications for patents have been made, and it dis loses another type of apparatus by which the aforesaid vacuum process may be carried out.

In the present instance, the tank, A, may be of any suitable construction and capacity. Preferably, it is of circular form and has double walls, 10-1 iorming between them anannular space, 11, into which the pulp to be treated is first admitted, the inner wall, 10, being shorter than the outer wall and terminating above the bottom of the tank so as to form a space through which the pulp may flow into the chamber of the tank from below. I

The tank has an appropriate bottom which at its center is provided with a hub or bearing, 12, which is connected with a tailings discharge pipe, 13.

To the bottom of the tank are fixed in any desired manner a series of vertical partitions, 14, which stano on edge and may have a uniform or variable height. In Fig. 1 I

combined with the partitions forms a series of independent cells in the bottom of the tank and the false bottom forms the top oi said cells and is formed of some appropriate porous medium; porous brick, or a layer of fine sand between two restraining layers of screen cloth, or layers of fibrous material laid one above the other,such as cocoa matting, or porous wood, as bass-wood, or one or more layers of any suitable fibrous material, as canvas or filtering cloth, capable of subdividing air, gas or vapor into more or less irregular jets of infinite number and fineness may be used and are within the scope of my invention and which porous materials are fully described and claimed in conjunction with other featuresin my pending applications Serial Numbers 793,693, filed October 6, 1913, and 806,361, filed December 18, 1913.

It will be observed that by reason of the variable heights of the partitions, 14, the porous material, 15, forming the false bottom, or floor, slopes downwardly from the inner circumference of the tank to the central hub-portion, l2, and thus communicates at the latter point with the tailings discharge pipe, 13. The purpose of thus de clining the porous material from all sides to a common point will be readily understood froin the following: 7

Material, admitted into the annular space, 11, of the tank passes under the lower edge of the inner wall, 10', of said tank and onto the higher part of the porous medium, and the pulp flows down the inclined surface of said medium and gradually fills the tank to the proper level. As the pulp flows down the inclined: surface of the porous medium during the filling operation, the coarser particles of mat rial, say the coarse sands,- too heavy to be lifted by the pressure of air, gas or vapor emitted through the porous medium will naturally gravitate down the incline from all directions toward the lowest point or center and into the tailings discharge, 13.

Experiments conducted by me have shown that if the coarse sands are permitted to accumulate on the top surface of the porous medium, they would soon blanket the latter and to agreat extent render this medium ineffective for the best results. So long as the slime was infinitely fine and slimy, the air, gas or vapor pressure was ample and the velocities maintained in the tank were sul'licient to discharge everything over the a'ccninulate to such an extent as to form a layer or blanket of sand above the porous medium and so retard or prevent the free passage therethrough of the air, or vapor used for aerating and agitating the pulp, and the air, gas or vapor instead of being distributed over the entire surface of the pulp, would all come up through some small area which might represent a path of least resistance and so destroy to some extent theaction of the air, or vapor. To meet this objection found it desirable to incline the porous medium so as to cause the heavier particles or coarse sands to gravitate over the surface of the medium to a discharge point rather than tending to lodge upon and finally blanketing the porous medium; and with this object in view and applying the results of theformer e2:- periments to the present type of apparatus, it will be apparent that if during the agitation and aeration of the pulp by the line streams of air,- gas or vapor, delivered through the porous medium, there is any tendency of the coarse sands or other material to settle upon said medium, the velocity of the air, gas or vapor is sullicient to give a slight movement to the particles and this movement, plus the more or less steeply inclined floor formed by the upper surface of the porous medium, will result in these coarse particles being iain'tained under movement and graritating to the lower end r central point of the tank and into the tailings discharge pipe, 13.

As the sands removed from one portion cl the porous medium gravitate over the surrace they come into Contact with the sands which have lodged or tend to lodge upon the lower portions of the porous medium and this movement to sands so that in the aggregate the coarser sands are caused to be automatically removed and the surface of the medium to be kept substantially clean the free -;lischarge 1 air, gas or vapor, and, therefore, there is no possibility of the slim-es settling u;

and forming a blanket for said porous medium.

Compressed air, or a gas or vapor under pressure is supplied to the various cells formed in the bottom of the tank through a valve-controlled pipe, 55, having valve-controlled branches, 56, one of which leads to each of the aforesaid cells, the volume of air, gas or vapor admitted into each compartment being, preferzbly, under pressure for air as or va or under ressure and this air, gas or vapor is emitted through the porous medium in the form of innumerable fine streams or jets, this being for the purpose of both aerating and agitating the pulp immediately above the several compart ments, the compressed air, gas or vapor becoming the medium of (1) aerating or charging the pulp with a desired volume of air, gas or vapor and (2) it likewise induces and maintains an agitation or ebullition of the pulp and the oiiy'constituents thereof and produces a froth composed of bubbles of air, having an envelop or covering of oily matter to which the mineral particles in the pulp have an affinity and will attach.

To further assist in maintaining the upper surface of the porous medium substantially clean of any material which wouldtend to blanket or clog the pores thereof, I have shown suitable arms, 1'7, radiating from a central hub, or collar, 18, and which arms are preferably formed of piping and are designed to act as revolving stirrers. These arms are arranged a short distance above the surface of the porous medium and are inclined to conform thereto and they operate with a sort of sweeping action to further agitate and start in motion those coarse sands which would tend to lodge upon and clog said medium.

The collar, 18, towhich the arms are secured, is fixed to the lower end of a vertical rotatable shaft, 19, and the arms are suitably braced by rods, 20, connecting the central portions of the arms with the shaft at a point above the aforesaid collar.

The shaft, 19, is mounted in suitable bearings, 21, and the upper part of the shaft is of tubular form for a purpose I will hereinafter mention.

There is also secured to the shaft, the smallerrend of a'cone, 22, and this cone is provided with horizontally extending wings orvanes, 22', which are. designed to operate in the body of pulp to induce a rotation orv circular movement thereof during the period that the air, gas or vapor is being discharged into the pulp from below.

The purpose of the cone, 22, is to form an upwardly inclined wall for directing the constantly forming bubbles upwardly and outwardly and within the range of action of the vacuum devices, which are de signed to break down these bubbles and remove adhering mineral particles to a suitable tank, where the concentrates may e separated and discharged.

It will be well understood in this that the bubbles are in the form of a froth, foam or suds, and that they accumulate upon the surface of the pulp. In order to remove this froth as it forms I locate within the tank any desired number of suitable vacuum nozzles, 23, whose open ends are pro sented downwardly toward the mass of accumulating froth, foam or suds, said nozzles being sufliciently long as to practically er;- tend completely across the space letween the inner wall, 10, of the tank and the upper or larger end of the cone, and beneath which nozzles the inclined wall of the cone is ada ted to direct the foam as it forms.

Tie vacuum nozzles are connected with hollow arms, 24, which in turn are rigid with a sleeve, 25, which embraces the hollow shaft, 26, which is arranged in line with and is practically a continuation of the shaft, 19, to which the lower end of the shaft, 26, is secured, in any appropriate manner.

The inner ends of the hollow are open or provided with ports which are designed to register with other ports,

7 26, when relative movement is imparted to the shaft and arms, said shaft, 26, having its upper end connected by an air-tight swiveled connection, 28, of any appropriate character, for instance, as shown in Fig. at, to a pipe, 29, the opposite end of which leads into a tank, 30, and which tank is connected with the inlet end of an exhaust fan, 31, or like device for creating and maintaining a vacuum in said tank, the tank being provided with a vertical partition, 31, to prevent the short circuiting of the air current induced in the pipe, 29, and insuring a delivery into the vacuum tank of the metallic particles and any solution picked up by the vacuum nozzles. In this tank the solid matters are allowed to precipitate and to be discharged through a valve-controlled outlet in the bottom, which discharge may be continuous or intei'fmittent, as may be desired.

Connected to the hollow shaft, 26, is suitable gearing, 32, which may be of y sired character, for rotating the t;

formed in the lower part of the hollow shaft f shai and surrounding said shaft is a hopper or receiver. 33, into which. leads a spout, 34, for

conducting the material into the hopper, said hopper having extending downwardly at incline from it, the feed distributing pipes, 35, the lower ends of which lead into the annular space, 11, between the double walls of the main tank, A.

The tank, 21, is extended at one end to form a housing, 3b, the lower part or which opens into the annular space, ll, said hous ing forming chamber in which operates a float, 3?, on the end of a pivoted lever, 3b, one arm of which is connected to a rod, 39, whose lower end is secured to one arm of a cell-crank lever, 10, whose other arm is connected to a rod, 41, which in turn is connected to an arm, 12, of a butterfly or other valve, ll-3, located in and controlling the tailings discharged from the pipe, 13, in the bottom of the tank.

In the arrangement heretofore described and shown for ative purposes, the arms, 24:, with their nozzles are supposed to be statiol'iary while the shaft, 26, revolves and circular motion given to the pulp, but it will be obvious that any other arrangement whereby there may be obtained a relative movement of the arms and hollow shaft,

will be but an equivalent of the construction before described and will be within the scope of my invention, it only being necessary that the parts shall be so arranged that 7 during the rotation of one part relatively to the other the ports, 27, will register with the ports in the inner ends of the arm and the suction induced through the pipe, 29, and hollow shaft, 26, will. result in the froth accumulating on the surface of the pulp being picked up by the nozzles and broken down and collapsed and drawn into the nozzles and through the arms and ports before mentioned into the hollow shaft, 26, and finally into the pipe, 29, and vacuum tank. 30. This action will be readily understood when it is suggested that under the ordinary con ditions of operation, the bubbles are ruptured by the expansion of the contained air on reaching; the surface or coming under the influence of the vacuum, where the external pressure is less than that within the bubblesv The same result would be obtained as before suggested, by rotating the vacuum nozzles and their arms about the shaft, 26, in

' V which case the vanes on the cone, 2: 2, vould not be necessary. If the arms, 24:, were made to revolve. the vacuum nozzles would op-' crate with a sweeping: action overthe surface of the bubbles and would pick up the bubbles in the same manner as before described, but the arrangement shown ll regard as the preferred one.

It will also be understood that any de sired number of arms and vacuum nozzles may be employed, although in the present instance but two are shown, one arranged diametrically opposite to the other.

Having; thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. 1n apparatus of the character described. the combination of a tank adapted to contain a mineral-bearing pulp containwearer ing an oily agent having a preferential affinity for the mineral over the gangue constituent of the pulp; means for diffusing a gaseous fluid under p" ssure into the (501 tents of the tank for agitating and aeratingthe same, said mean s permitt the passage of the gaseous fluid but not pulp and water,v and pneumatic means for removing from the surface of the pulp, the froth, foam or suds forming thereon.

2. in apparatus of the character described, the combination of a tank adapted to contain a mineral-bearing pulp, having an oily agent with a pr ferential aflinity for the mineral over the gan ue constituent the pulp; means for diffusing a us fluid under pressure into the contents of tin; tank for agitating and aerating; ti o same, said means permitting the passage of a gas cons fluid but not pulp and wateiu pneumatic means for breaking down the froth, foam or suds forming; on the surface of the pulp and simultaneously therewith removing the mineral particles carried by the froth; and means whereby the contents of the tank and the pneumatic means are given rotary movement one relatively to the other.

1n apparatus of the character described the combination of a tank adapted to contain a mineral-boa ring? pulp having an oily agent with a preferential affinity for the mineral over the gana'ue constituent of the pulp; means for diffusing a gaseous fluid under pressure into the contents of ti o tank for agitating; and aerating the same to produce a froth, foam or suds composed of air bubbles to which the mineral particles attach said means permitting; the passage of the gaseous fluid but not pulp and water, and pneumatic means for exhausting; the air bubbles rising to the surface of the contents of the tank and simultaneously therewith liberating and separating the mineral particles.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a tank adapted to contain mineral-bearinpg pulp having an oily agent with a preferential atiinity for the mineral over the ,Q'angue constituent of the pulp; means for admittinoi fluid under pressure into the contents of the tank for agitating and aerating the same to produce a frotln foam or suds composed of air bubbles to which the mineral particles attach; and pneumatic means for exhausting the air bubbles rising to the surface of the contents of the tank and thereby liberating and separating: the mineral particles, said lastnamed means including a vacuum nozzle positioned in the path of the ascending air bubbles and air-exhausting appliances connected to said nozzle.

5. in apparatus of the character described, the combination of a tank adapted to contain a mineral-bearing pulp having an oily agent with a preferential afiinity for the mineral over the gangue constituent of the pulp; means for admitting a fluid under pressure into the contents of the tank for agitating and aerating the same to produce a froth, foam or suds composed of air bubbles to which the mineral particles attach; pneumatic means for exhausting the air bubbles rising to the surface of the contents of the tank and thereby liberating and separating the mineral particles, said lastnamed means including a vacuum nozzle positioned near the surface of the contents of the tank, and air-exhausting appliances connected to said nozzle; and means for diverting the air bubbles into the range of action of the nozzle.

' 6. In apparatus of the characterdescribed, the combination of a tank adapted to contain a mineral-bearing pulp having'an oily agent with a'preferential affinity for the mineral over the gangue constituent of the pulp; means for admitting a fluid under pressure into the contents of the tank for agitating and aerating the same to produce a froth, foam or suds composed of air bubbles to which the inineralparticles attach; pneu- Vmatic means for exhausting the air bubbles rising to the surface of the contents of the tank and thereby liberating and separating the mineralparticles, sa'd last-named means including a vacuum nozzle positioned near the surface of the contents of the tank, and air exhausting appliances connected to said nozzle; and a member positioned centrally of the tank having'upwardly diverging sides for directing the asce1iding,air bubbles the range of action of the nozzle.

7. In apparatus of the character described, .the combination of a tank adapted to contain mineral-bearing pulp having an oily agent with a preferential affinity for the mineral over the gangue constituent of the pulp; means for admitting a fluid under pressure into the contents of the tank for agitating and aerating the same to produce a th-v foam or suds composed of air bubbles to which the mineral particles attach; pneumatic means for exhausting the air bubbles rising to the surface of the contents of the tank and thereby liberating and separating the mineral particles, said last-named means including a vacuum nozzle positioned near the surface of the contents of the tank; airexhausting appliances connected to said nozzle; and a cone-shaped member having upwardly diverging sides for directing the airbubbles upwardly and outwardly into the range of action of the nozzle.

7 8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a-tank adaptedto contain a mineral-bearing pulp having an oily agent with a preferential afiinity for the mineral over the gangue constituent of the pulp; means for admitting a fluid under pressure into the contents of the tank for agitating and aerating the same to produce a froth, foam or suds composed of bubbles to which the mineral particles attach; pneur atic means for exhausting the air bubbles rising to the surface of the contents of the tank thereby liberating and separating the mineral particles, said last-named means including a vacuum nozzle and airexhausting elements connected thereto; and means whereby the nozzle and contents of the tank are given a circular motion, one relatively to the other.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a tank adapted to contain a mineral-bearing pulp having an oily agent with a preferential affinity for the mineral over the gangue constituent of the pulp; means for admitting a fluid under pressure into the contents of the tank for agitating and aerating the same to produce a froth, foam or suds composed of air bubbles to which the mineral particles attach; pneumatic means for exhausting the air bubbles rising to the surface of the contents of the tank and thereby liberating and separating the mineral particles, said last-named means including a vacuum nozzle positioned near the surface of the contents of the tank; air-exhausting appliances connected to said nozzle; and 'a member positioned centrally of the tank having upwardly diverging sides for directing the ascending air bubbles into the range of action of the nozzle, said memher having laterally extending vanes adapted to impart a circular motion to the contents of the tank.

10. In apparatusof the character described, the combination of a tank adapted to contain a mineral-bearing pulp having an oily agent with a preferential affinity for the mineral over the gangue constituentof the pulp; means for admitting a fluid under pressure intothe contents of the tank for agitating and aerating the sam'e'to produce a froth, foam or suds composed of air bubbles to which the mineral particles attach;

pneumatic means for exhausting the air bubbles rising to the surface of the contents of the tank and thereby liberating and separating the mineral particles, saidlast-named means including a vacuum nozzle positioned near the surface of the contents of the tank;

air-exhausting appliances connected to said nozzle; a member positioned centrally of the tank having upwardly diverging sides for directing the ascending air bubbles into the range of action of the nozzle, said member having laterally extending vanes adapted to impart a circular motion to the contents of the tank; and means for rotating the vanes.

11. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a tank adapted to contain a mineral-bearing pulp having an oily agent with a preferential afiinity for the mineral over the gangueconstituent of the pulp, said tank having double walls forming an intervening space into which the pulp is first admitted, toe innermost of said \valls being shorter than the outer wall; a chamber in the bottom of the tank having a porous upper surface forming a floor for the pulp-containing chamber; means for admitting a fluid under pressure into said chamber; said porous floor adapted to perinit the passage of said fluid into the pulp in innumerable fine streains distributed throughout the entire under surface of the pulp, whereby the pulp is agitated and aerated to produce a froth, or-foani, Which accumulates on its upper surface; a vacuum nozzle positioned at the upper surface of the pulp and into the range of action of which the froth ascends and by which the air bubbles constitutingthe froth are broken down and the mineral particles liberated and removed; a vacuum tank; and pipe connections between said vacuum tank and said nozzle.

12. In apparatus of the character described. the combination of a tank adapted to contain a mineral-bearing pulp having an oily agent With a preferential affinity for the mineralover the gangrue constituent of the pulp, said tank having double Walls forming;' an intervening space into which the pulp is first admitted, the innermost of said Walls being shorter than the outer Wall; achainber in the bottom of the tank having" a porous upper surface forming a floor for the pulp-containing; chamber; means for admitting a fluid under pressure into said chamber; said porous floor adapted to permit the passae'e of said fluid into the pulp in innumerable fine streams distributed throughout the entire under surface of the pulp whereby the pulp is agitated and aerated to produce a froth or foam, which accumulates on its upper surface; a vacuum nozzle positioned at the upper surface of the pulp and into the ranpge of action of which the froth ascends and by which the air bubbles constitutincz the froth are broken down a-nd'the mineral particles liberated and removed; a vacuum tank; pipe connections oily agent with a preferential affinitv for the mineral over the gangue constituent of the pulp, s d tank having double walls form ng an intervening space into which the pulp is first admitted the innermost of said Walls being shorter than the outer Wall; a chamber an the bottom of the tank having; a

and the mineral particles liberated and re said 1,

first admitted, the innermost of said aser/e7 chamber; said porous lleor adapted to perlllll] the passage said fluid into the pulp in innumerable fine streams distributed throughout the entire under surface of the pulp, whereby the pulp is agitated and aerated to produce a froth or foarn which accumulates on its upper surface; a vacuum nozzle positioned at the upper surface of the pulp and into the range of action of which the froth ascends and by which the air bubbles constituting the froth are broke down and the mineral particles liberated and removed; a vacuum tank; pipe connections between said vacuum tank and said nozzle; said porous floor being declined from the inner circumference of the tank to the center of the tank; and a tailings outlet connecting with the lowest point of said floor.

let. in apparatus of the character described, the combination of a tank adapted pulp harine' an oily agent ivf 'ential affinitgr for the mineral over the gangue constituent of the gulp said ha ing double Wells .1: 1 Y a .lOl'lllillL; an interven ng into which nozzle posuicued pulp and into the the froth ascends l bles constituting the fr action which which the air bunare broken down moved; a vacuum tween ("Kl I inner c- 'J for of the tank; tailing with the lovrest pciut i. a Halve in the tailin z's utlet; and means controlled b the level of the pulp in the tank for operating; said valve.

in apparatus of the character described the combination of atank adapted. to containa rnineral-beurinepulp having an oily agent with a preferential affinity-for the mineral over the grangue constit of the said to nl: having double walls forming" an interveninrrspace into which the pulp is ls eingshorter thanthe outer Wall; a chamber in the bottom of the tank having a porous upper surface forming floor for the pulpcontaining chamber; means for admitting a fluid under pressure into said chamber; said porous floor adapted to permit the passage of said fluid into the pulp in innumerable fine streams distributed throughout the entire under surface of the pulp, whereby the pulp is agitated and aerate-d to produce a froth or foam which accumulates on its upper surface; a vacuum nozzle positioned at the upper surface of the pulp and into the range of action of which the fro h ascends and by which the air bubbles constitutingthe froth are broken down and the mineral particles liberated and removed; a vacuum tank; pipe connections between said vacuum tank and said nozzle; and a shaft journaled vertically in the tank having means for imparting circular motion to the contents of said tank.

16. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a tank adapted to contain a mineral-bearing pulp having an ily agent with a preferential alhnity for the mineral over the gangue constituent of the pulp, said tank having double walls forming an intervening space into which the pulp is first admitted, thefinnermost of said walls being shorter than the outer wall; a chamber in the bottom of the tank having a porous upper surface forming a floor for the pulpcontaining chamber; means for admitting a fluid under pressure into said chamber; said porous floor adapted to permit the passage of said fluid into the pulp in innumerable fine streams distributed throughout the entire under surface of the pulp, whereby the pulp is agitated and aerated to produce a froth or foam, which accumulates on its upper surface; a vacuum nozzle positioned at the upper surface of the pulp and into the range of action of which the froth ascends and by which the air bubbles constituting the froth are broken down and the mineral particles liberated and removed; a vacuum tank; pipe connections between said vacuum tank and said nozzle; a shaft journaled vertically in the tank; and arms carried by the shaft abstantially parallel witl and adjacent said floor and adapted to operate with a sweeping movement thereover.

17. in apparatus of the character described, the combination with a adapted to contain a mineral-bearing pulp having an oily agent with a preferential affinity for r the mineral over the gangue constituent of the pulp; means for admitting a fluid under pressure into the contents of the pulp for agitating and aerating the same to produce a froth, foam or suds composed of a mass of air bubbles, to which the mineral particles attach; a rotatable shaft having vanes operating in the pulp for imparting circular motion thereto; vacuum nozzles positioned above the upper surface of the pulp and into the range of action of which the froth, foam or suds ascends, each of said nozzles having a hollow arm, and said pipe being hollow having ports adapted to register with the inner ends of said arms; a vacuum tank; and pipe connections between said vacuum tank and said hollow shaft.

18. in an apparatus for separating the metalliferous from the non-metallifcrous ing 'edients of an ore mass, the combination of a pulp receptacle, means for forming substantially uniformly distributed bubbles of air at the bottom of the said receptacle, means remote from the axial center of the receptacle ror introducing ore pulp and projecting along radial lines to be distributed substantially uniformly over the periphea parts of the cross area of the receptacle, the said pulp being acted upon by the said bubbles to remove the metalliferous ingredients therefrom, and means for discharging from the receptacle the barren pulp which has been acted upon by the bubbles.

19. In an apparatus for separating the metalliferous from the non-metalli erous ingredients of an ore mass, the combination of a pulp receptacle, means for forming substantially uniformly distributed bubbles of air at the bottom of the receptacle, means for introducing ore pulp at points distributed along the periphery of the re ceptacle and projecting the said ore inward along radial lines to be distributed substantially uniformly over the peripheral parts of the cross area of the receptacle, the said pulp being acted upon by the said bubbles to remove the metalliferous i redients therefrom, and means for discharging from the receptacle the barren pulp which has been acted upon by the bubbles.

20. In an apparatus for separating the metalliferous from the non-mctalliferous in gredients of ore mass, the combination of a pulp receptacle, the receptacle inclined downward along lines extending fromthe periphery to the center thereof, for supplying airunder pressure below the said porous he and for ing it therethrough to form relatively large substantially uniformly distributed air bubbles, means for supplying ore pulp to the receptacle points distributed along the periphery o the receptacle and closely adiac 'iit the sail, porous bottom, the said pulp flowing downward and inward over the said bottom in the lirections of inclination and being acted upon by the said bubbles to receive the metalliferous ingredients therefrom, and means at the center of the bottom for collecting; and discharging the resulting barren pulp from the receptacle at the center of the bottom.

' 21. In an apparatus for separating the metalliferous from the non-metalliferous inporous bottom for gredients oi an ore mass, the combination of a pulp receptacle, a porous bottom for the receptacle inclined along lines extending radially from the center thereof, means for supplyir air under pressure below the said porous 0 cm and forcing it therethrough to form relatively large air bubbles, means for changing the action of the air at one annular portion of the bottom relatively to t io action at another annular portion, means for supplying ore pulp to the receptacle at points closely adjacent the upper parts of the said porous bottom, the said pulp flowing over the said bottom in the direction oi? inclination and being acted upon by the said bubbles to remove the metalli'i'crousingredients therefrol'n, and means for collecting and discharging from the receptacle the resulting barren pulp which reaches the lower parts of the bottom.

22. In an apparatus for separating the metalliterous from the non-metalliferous ingredients of an ore mass, the combination of a pulp receptacle, a porous bottom for the receptacle inclined downward along lines extendingfrom the periphery to the center thereof, means for supplying air under pressure below the said porous bottom and toreit therethreugh to term relatively large air bubbles, means for changing the action 01" the air at one annular portion of the bottom relatively to the action at another annular portion, means for supplying ore pulp to the receptacle at points distributed along the periphery closely adjacent the said porous bottom, the said ore lowing downward and inward over the said bottom in the directions of inclination and being'acted upon by the said bubbles to remove the metallii erous ingredients therefrom, and means at the center of the bottom for collecting and discharging the resulting barren pulp from the receptacle.

23. in apparatus for separating the metalliierous from the non-metalliferous ingredients of an ore mass, the combination of a pulp receptacle, means for forming; substantially uniformly distributed bubbles within the tank, and means for exhausting the hubbles from the upper surface of the pulp.

24, In apparatus for separating the metalliferous from the non-metalliferous ingredients of an ore mass, the combination of a pulp receptacle, means for agitating and aerating the pulp to form a froth, and pneumatic means for breaking down the froth and simultaneously carrying off the mineral particles floated thereby.

25. In apparatus for separating the metalliiierous from the non-metalliferous ingredients of an ore mass, the combination of a pulp receptacle, means for agitating and aerating the pulp to form a flOlZll, and pneumatic means for breaking down the froth and simultaneously carrying off the mineral particles floated thereby, and means where by the contents of the tank and the pneumatic means will give rotary movement one relatively to the other.

26. In apparatus for separating the metalli'ferous from the non-metalliterous ingredients of an ore mass, the combination of apulp receptacle, means for agitating and aerating the pulp to form a froth, and pneumatic means for breaking down the froth and simultaneously carrying of? the mineral particles floated thereby, and a closed receiver for said mineral particles.

27. The herein described process for sepatinp; the metallii'erous from the nonmetalliierous particles of an ore mass, which consists in forming a cylindrical body of liquid pulp of the ore having a relatively large diameter, forming bubbles oi: air at 7 he bottom of the body and permitting them to rise therethrough and adhere to and remove the metallit'erous particles, and projecting fresh pulp at relatively low pressure into the said pulp body in sheets directed radially transversely across the vertical lines of movement of the bubbles and commencing at points distributed along the periphery of the pulp body.

28. In an apparatus for separating the metalli'lcrous from the non-metalliferous ingredients of an ore mass the combination of a cylindrical pulp receptacle, means for forming substantially uniformly distributed bubbles of air at the bottom of the said receptacle, means remote from the axial center of the receptacle for introducing ore pulp and projecting it horizontally to be distributed substantially uniformly over the cross area or" the receptacle, the said pulp being acted upon by the said bubbles to remove the metallit'erous ingredients therefrom, and axially arranged means for discharging from the receptacle the barren pulp which has been acted upon by the bubbles.

lntestimony whereot l. ailir; my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JUHN M. .CALLOW.

Witnesses: V

ERNEST GAYrono, H. A. MERCER.