US1383881A - Flotation apparatus - Google Patents

Description

J. l. THOMAS.

FLOTATION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25. 1919.

Patented July 5, 1921,

no U

i INVENTOR ATTORNEYS the surface by JOSEPH INGRAM rn'omnslor GAnFmu-n, urnn.

FLo'rA'rIoN APPARATUS weasel.

'Specification of. Letters Patent i Patented. July 5, 1921.

Application med march 25, 1919. serial'No. 284,922. f

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known thatfI, JOSEPH I. THo. As, residin Lake, State ofv Utah', have .invented certain new and useful Irnprovements'in Flotation Apparatus; .and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip' v tion of the invention, suchas will yenable o thers'skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same;

This invention relates to flotationl'apparatus, and has for its object the provision of an improved apparatus for carrying out otation operations and more particularlyfthe concentration of .mineral ores by flotation.

In thefconcentration of ores by, flotation,

the mineral `ore pulp ,is subjected to ther ac- -tion of gas bubbles, whereby those" particles of the mineral .which vhave an aliinity or attraction for the bubbles of gas are carried to form of an overflow froth. The gas bubbles should be disseminated in a ne state of-subdivision throughoutth'e mass of Vthe ore pulp and variousl means have heretofore been employed and suggested for lintroducing a gas'- ore pulp in a suitably line state of subdivision.

The present `invention contemplates the provision of a flotation apparatus having, in

combination) with a suitable container, an improved gaseous fluid distributer for introducing into` the ore pulp gaseous fluid in a finely disseminated state. In 'accordance with the invention, the container and distributer are arranged for relative .rotation with respect to each other, and the distributer is mounted within the container, and preferably near the bottom thereof, and comprises a hollow body provided with means permitting the escape from thel interior thereof of gaseous fluid in a nely disseminated state.

In its preferred form, the-hollow body is of blade-like configuration4 yand one wall,

thereof formedof a'porousmedium sodisposed thatthe escape of gaseous fluid therethrough exerts an impelling action tending` relative rotation 4of the` to eiect the desired container and distributer. In view of*l its ability tothus perform the function of exerting an impelling'` action, in addition to its function of distributing gaseous Huid within the ore pulp, thehollowbody may be aptly described as animpeller. Where this impelling action is ASufficient to effect the deat Garfield, in the county of Salt f the buoyant a'ction'of the gas bubbles and are floated off, usually inthe.

leach. celll of the series, and

the container. The shaft 6 lextends ,a rigid stationary sleeve or bearing 8 mountn sired relative rotation between these two ele' ments, no additional means need be provided or s purpose, and in other cases the-impelllng action may be supplemented in any sultable manner, as, for example, by positive mechanical rotation ofeither the container or thedlstributer. Gaseous iuid under` pressure 1s s'uppl1 ed to the hollow body of the distrlbuter 1n any suitable way, and in the preferred form of the invention, aplurality of hollow bodies are' symmetrically disposed about a hollow shaft and are secured to the shaft with their hollow interiorsA in communlcatlon with the hollow interior of the shaft', whereby'the gaseous fluid may be introduced through the hollow shaft.

A flotation apparatus embodying the princlfples of the invention is illustrated, by way o in which;

Figure 1.- is apparatus; f

F ig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, of the vlower -portion of the container and the distributer; and i v Fig..3 is a detail explanatory'view, partly .a sectional elevation ofvthe' in section, of the'lower end of the distributer.

n The flotation apparatus or cell illustrated 1n the drawings comprises a container `5, preferably circularin shape, which may be of concrete or other suitable material. practlce, a plurality of these cells are arranged in series or cascade, the ,Ore pulp being fed into the first l sively subjected t'o -a iotation treatment in the tailings discharged from the end `or last cell. The floated values or concentrates `,are carried over the gv edgeof each Acell as an overflow froth 'and are collected in any convenient manner, as iswell understood inthe art.-

xample, in the accompanyingA drawings,

Iny

or headcell and progres-- v A hollow shaft 6 is vertically and centrally l disposed within the'container 5. This sh'aft is-preferably made in two sections which are bolted, or otherwise suitably secured, c tgether by a coupling?, so as to .permitthe convenient removal 'of the d-istributer from vthrough ed in a beam 9, or lthe like. Aithrust ring 10 secured tothe shaft-rests on thesleeve 8 and serves to support the shaft.' Alpin 11 is preferably set in the bottom of the container guide pin for the bottom.

ofthe shaft 6, as will-bepmore fully explained hereinafter, It will, of course, be understood 5 and serves as a The close that any other suitable construction maybe employed for rotatably mounting the shaft 6, or for otherwise securing the desired relative rotation between the container and the gaseous fluid distributer.

The upper end of the hollow shaft 6 is connected in any suitable manner to the source of compressed gaseous fluid. lin the apparatus shownin the accompanying drawcapes from the distributer is not of sufficient force to e'ect the desired rotation. @ther mechanical means may, of course, be em. ployed to e'ect the desired rotation of the distributer. From the chamber 13, the gaseous fluid escapes into the upper open end of -theshaft 6 and thence into the hollow interiors of the blade-like bodies 01 impellers ,16 of the distributer.

lThe distributer illustrated in'the accompanying drawings has four hollow. bodies 16 symmetrically positioned about the shaft 6 and secured thereto, in proximity to the bottom of the container 5. Each body 16 consists of a main body portion resembling generally a shallow tray, and having more or less the general configuration of a propeller blade. To this end, the hollow bodies 16 may be slightly twisted or spiraled, in order to conform more nearly to the usual configuration of a propeller blade.

The open side of the main of each impeller'16 is covered by aporous medium, such, for example, as a 'piece of canvas 17. The canvas can be held in place by means of a rope 18 driven into a 'groove' 19 around the outer edv e of themain body portion. The main boy portion may be a casting of iron,` of from one-fourth to threeeighths inches in thickness, although lit will, of course, bejunderstood that li do not intend to limit myself to` these dimensions. The impcllers 16 may be secured to the shaft 6 by 'means of 'a square lplug couplingy 20 which is screwed to the lower end of the shaft and is provided with four 4openings 21, one on leach side thereof, for affording communication with the interiors of the hollow impellers 416. Each impeller is provided at its inner end with a base-plate 22 which is secured to the coupling 20 by bolts 23, so that the opening\21 registers with an opening 24, in thebase of the impeller, communicatin with the hollow interior thereof.

bottom of the hollow plug coupling 20 is provided Vwith an indentation or cup 25 into which the guide pin 11 projects body portion iussassi The impellers are secured in position with the porous medium 17, which forms a substantially plane or flat wall thereof, disposed at such an angular inclination that the escape of 'gaseous fluid through this medium exerts an vimpelling action on the distributer tending to e'ect its rotation. 1n the apparatus shown in the accompanyingdrawings, this impelling action operates to effect rotation lof the distributer in a clockwise direction, as viewed; from above. While, in the accompanyingdrawings, the impellers are illustrated as arranged withthe porous wall thereof lowermost, it will of course be understoodthat this arrangement may be reversed and the porous wall may accordingly he uppermost, if desired.

rlhe operation of the apparatus will be understood by those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. The ore pulp is `supplied to the container 5 in any suitable manner. ln the cell shown in the accom- `panying drawings, two openings 26 and 27 vare provided near the bottom, through one of which the ore pulp is supplied to the cell and through the other of which the pulp is withdrawn. During the flotation treatment, the gaseous fluid distributer is slowly rotated and gaseous fluid, for example, compressed air, under a pressure of say five to eight pounds per square inch, is admitted to the sup-ply pipe 15. The gaseous fluid escapes through the porous wall of each of the impellers in a finely disseminated state, and rising through'the ore pulp in this fine state of subdivision e'ects the flotation of the particles of floatable mineral in the pulp.

The rotation of the gaseous fiuid distributer in conjunction with the improved construction thereof, as contemplated by the is accordingly' remarkably even and umtion of gaseous fluid throughout the ore pulp l form, and, as is well recognized in the art, l,

this isof particular advantage in the flotation operation. I The amount of canvas, or other suitable porous medium, is materially less in my improved gaseous distributer than in present types of` flotation cells in which ,porous mediums are provided for the introduction of a gaseous fluid. Asa result 0f my improved construction, the impeller is very easily removed from the container and the canvas, or other porous' medium, can be thus convenienlty renewed. Since the amount of canvas provided for/each impeller is of relatively small area,little` difficultyfis experienced from the stretching or bulgingl ofthe canvas, as is the case in flotation apparatus in which the porous medium covers the entire bottom of the cell or container.`

Furthermore, my improved construction is effect to slightly raise the distributer. and

thus relieves the bearing thrust between the sleeve 8 and the ring 10, so that the distributer may be said to Ahave somewhat of a floating bearing, by which the wear and friction are materially reduced. The circular shape of the container 5 enables the froth overflow to take place around the entire periphery of Vthe cell, whereby the Lfroth overflow may be removed-from the cell in the most effective manner.

The porous walls of the hollow bodies of the distributer are of sufficient total area to provide the introduction into the ore pulp of the necessary quantity of gaseous fluid,

and, in combination `with the rotation of the distributer, insures an even and uniform distribution of gaseous fluid. At the same time the total quantity of porous medium, such as canvas, required for the hollow bodies is relatively small, and, when worn out or impaired in efliciency, canbe renewed fat very slight expense and with little practerior thereof through said porous medium exerts an impelling action ltending to e'ect relative rotation between said container and said distributer, and means for supplying gaseous fluid to the interior of said body. y 2. A flotation apparatus having in combination with a container, a gaseous fluid distributer comprising a hollow blade-like body mounted for rotation within said container and near the bottom thereof and having a v substantially plane wall formed of a porous medium permittingthe escape from the interior of the body of. gaseous fluid in a finely disseminated state, said porous wall being disposed at an inclination ,such that thees cape of gaseous fluid therethrough exerts an distributer relativel combination a container and a gaseous fluid distributer relatively rotatable with respect to each other, said distributer being arranged within said container and near-the bottom thereof and comprising a plurality of impellers each of which has a substantially plane porous wall for permitting the escape from the interior thereof of gaseous fluid inu a finely' disseminated state, the porous walls of said impellers being "disposed at an inclination such that the escape of gaseous fluid therethrough exerts an impelling action tending to effect relative rotation between said container and said distributer, and auxiliary means for effecting relative rotation between said containerand said distributer.

4. A flotation apparatus having in combination with a container, a@ gaseous fluid distributer comprising a hollow impeller mounted for rotation within said container and near the bottom thereof and having one wall thereof provided with a porous medium permitting the escape from the interior of the bodyy of gaseous ,fluid in a finely disseminated'state, said porous wall being disposed at an vinclination such that the escape of gaseoiis fluid therethrough exerts an impelling action on said impeller, means for supplying gaseous fluid under pressure to the interior of said impeller, and auxiliary means actuated by the gaseous fluid supplied to said impeller for Arotating the pro-` peller.

5. A flotation apparatus comprising in combination a container and a gaseous fluid distributer relatively rotatable` with respect to each other, said distributer being mountedi within said container, and near the bottom l thereof, and comprising an impervious, hollow, blade-like body, having a\ substantially plane porous wall disposed at an inclina- 'tion such that the escape of gaseousifluid therethrough exerts an impelling action on said distributer, and means for supplying a gaeous fluid to the interior of said hollow bO y; 1' y 6. A flotation apparatus comprising in combination a container and a gaseous fluid rotatable with respect to each other, said* distributer being mounted within said container, and near` the bottom thereof, and'comprising a'plurality of symmetrically positioned, impervious, hollow, blade-like bodies, each of which has a 'substantially plane porous` wall disposed at an inclination such that the escape of gaseous impelling action on said body, and means xfo/ a gaseous fluid to the interior of said hollow .supplying a' gaseous fluid to the interior of said hollow body.

3. A' llotat1on apparatus comprising fluidtherethrough exerts an impelling action on said, distributer, and means for. supplying

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