US1958325A - Flotation machine - Google Patents

Description

May 8,1934- H. L.. vEATcH FLoTA'I-IONMACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed oct. 22, 1932 W W h w. Mw m 1w fl@ r m a l f. M L

May 8, 1934 H. l.. vEATcH 1,958,325

FLoTATIoN MACHINE IFiled oct. 22. 1932 s sheets-sheet s Patented May 8, 1934 FLOTA'IION MACHINE o Henry L. Veatch, Red River, N. Mex.

Application October 22, 1932, Serial No. 639,101,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to the separation or classification of ores and pertains particularly to an improved flotation machine for carrying out this operation.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a flotation machine in which the agitation of the ore takes place under pressure so that the bubbles formed will remain unbroken until they reach the proper point in the machine for the discharge of the mineral particles which they carry.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flotation machine having an air cushion chamber through which the concentrate carrying bubbles pass before being discharged into the launder, in Which chamber the pressure under which the bubbles move is partially reduced.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a flotation machine having a long froth travel which effectively classifies or separates out the gangue from the froth.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dotation machine so designed that the amount of agitation given to the material in the agitation chamber can be increased or decreased as desired without aiecting the froth and, therefore, without danger of causing the breaking of the froth bubbles and the loss ofthe mineralmoved from the concentrate which the froth carries with it.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,l with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a verticalsectional view through the rst of the two cells of the machine;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view similar (C1. 20s-17o) to Figure 2 through the forward end of the second cell of the machine;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially upon the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a horizontal 'section taken transversely of the machine substantially upon the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

. Figure 6'is a horizontal sectional view taken transversely of the machine substantially upon the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to'the drawings wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numerals 1 and 2 indicate the two cells of which the present notation machine is made up, cell 1 being the primary cell into which the ore is initially discharged and cell 2 being the secondary cell from which the gangue is discharged after the concentrates have been removed therefrom.

The rst cell, or cell l, is shown in vertical longitudinal section in Figure 2 and as will be readily seen it comprises a bottom 3 which is mounted upon suitable supporting structures 4 to assume a relatively steep inclination.

This bottom 3 is continuous with the bottom 5 of cell 2 as is clearly shown. The relatively long side walls 6 combine with the top wall 7 and the end wall 8 to form a relatively long closed agitation chamber which is indicated by the numeral 9 and which as shown is relatively shallow at its rear end and of constantly increasing depth toward its forward end.

At the forward end of the agitation chamber 1 the side walls 6 thereof flare outwardly as indicatedA at 10 and these flared forward walls extend upwardly a substantial distance beyond the side walls 6 of the agitation chamber to form the wings 11, the back or rear ends of which are connected by: the vertical wall 12.

Disposed transversely between the wings 11 is an intermediate wall 13 which is in spaced parallel relation with the wall 12 and terminates at its lower edge at a point slightly abve the plane of the top wall 7 of the agitation chamber and this intermediate wall is connected with the back wall 12 by thehorizontal top wall 14 which also extends across from one side wing 11 to the other, thus forming the chamber 15 which opens downwardly toward the forward end of the agitation chamber 9. This chamber 15 Will be hereinafter referred to as the air cushion chamber. Opening through the top wall 14 of the air cushion chamber is a pipe 16 in which is a valve 17 by means of which, the escape of air from the chamber 15 through the pipe may be controlled.

At the rear or small end of the agitation chamber there is disposed transversely therein upon the bottom 3 and extending from one side wall 6 to the other, the vertical baille wall 18, the top edge of which is spaced from the top wall 'I of the chamber so that the ore charge which is introduced into the pocket 19 formed between it and the back wall 8, may be carried over into the main part of the agitation chamber. 'Ihe ore is introduced into the pocket 19 through the pipe 20 or through any other suitable passage and extending through the top wall "I of the agitation chamber in relatively close proximity to the partition 18 is a pipe 21 through which air is forced under suitable pressure for discharge adjacent the bottom 3 in the ore material from which the mineral matter is to be separated.

As shown, the wings 11 extend a slight distance beyond the flared portions 10 of the agitator chamber walls and at the forward ends of these walls there is disposed therebetween the forward transverse wall 22 from the outer face of which there extends forwardly at a downward inclination the overflow lip 23 from which the mineral carrying froth ows as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In spaced relation with the forward wall 22 is a vertical partition 24 which terminates at its lower edge above the bottom 3 and is connected with the forward wall 22 bythe web 25 thus forming an area 26 into which water may flow from the agitation chamber 9 across the top of the partition 24. y

The water flowing over this partition into the chamber 26 escapes therefrom through the outlet opening 27 formed through the wall 22 at the bottom of the chamber and into the second cell as will be hereinafter more completely explained.

A second partition 28 is disposed transversely of the agitation chamber at the forward end which is in spaced relation with the partition 24 and extends downwardly from the top edge of the front wall 22 substantially half way of the depth of the agitation chamber. The top edge of this partition 28 il connected with the front wall 22 by the top 29 so that this partition 28 and the top 29 forms a guard beneath which the water from the agitationl chamber must flow to pass over the partition 24 and over the top of which the concentrates carrying froth must pass to escape from the cell. Within the area enclosed by the guard wall or partition 28 the portions 10 of the side walls of the agitation chamber are provided with vertical guide grooves 30 between which the ends of a vertically shiftable gate 31 slidably position. This gate as shown moves across that face of the partition 24 which is adjacent the guard partition 28 and the' vertical movement of the gate is controlled by the rod 32 which is swivelly connected at one end thereto and which passes upwardly througha yoke 33 which is mounted upon cross bars 34 carried by and extending across the top edges of the wings-11. The upper end of this rod 32 is screw-threaded and passes through and is threadably connected with the hub portion of a hand wheel-35, the hub of which rests upon the yoke 33 on which it turns.

The inner surfaces of the wings 11 are provided with the vertical guide tracks 36 which are in the plane of the wall 22 and between these tracks .are placed the ends of slats 37 which rest edge on edge and thus forman adjustable gate between the wings 11 and over which the mineral concentrates carrying froth must flow.

The forward wall 22 of the agitation chamber beneath the web 25 has a pipe 38 4therethrough which forms a communicating Passase between the chamber 9 and the agitation chamber 39 of the cell 2.

The cell 2 is a substantial duplicate of the cell 1 having the side walls 40 and the top wall 41 which with the bottom 5 and the lower part of the wall 22 of cell 1 form the agitation chamber 39. The forward ends 42 of the side walls 40 flare outwardly or diverge like the portions 10 of the walls 9 and these divergent walls extend upwardly above the top 41 to form the'wings 43. An air cushion chamber 44 is formed between the wings 43 and above the top wall 41 of the agitation chamber of this cell and the forward wall 45 of the second cell is provided with the bottom outlets 46 and 47, the upper one of which opens from the lower part of the chamber 48 into which the water from the agitation chamber ows over the partition wall v49 the same as described in connection with cell 1. The gate 50 of this cell and the guard partition 51 are of the same construction as in cell 1 as is the adjustable gate 52. In view of this further description of this portion of the second cell is unnecessary.

The air cushion chamber 44 also has a valve controlled air escape pipe 53 like the chamber 15.

Extending through the top wall 41 of the sec-l ond cell is an air pipe 54 through which air under the proper pressure is injected into the cell to agitate the mineral contents thereof which have entered from cell 1 with the water therefrom through the passages 27 and 38.

In4 the operation of the present flotation-'machine the water level in the two cells is maintained in the desired height by the adjustment of the gates 31 and 50, the level preferably being such that the agitation chambers of the two cells will be `filled completely to the top so that water therein beneath the top portion will be under a slight pressure. The ore is introduced into cell 1 through the pipe 20 and this is washed over from the chamber 19 across'the partition 18 by the water into the agitation chamber and is kept in a constant state of agitation -by the air entering through pipe 21.

This constant introduction of air under pressure into the water will result in the production of an area directly beneath the top of this cell of water which is over-chargedwith air and which if permitted to come to the top of the water would form a froth. This introduction of air in the form of bubbles in the water of the agitation chamber carries with it the fine particles of the ore which are disturbed or stirred upby the injected air and -carry the same along through the agitation chamber to the air pressure chamber 15.

Here the concentrates carrying bubbles come to the surface in the form of froth and while the pressure is reduced somewhat the air cushion -against which they press in the air pressure chamber prevents the froth bubbles from losing their charge as they would do if permitted to rise to the surface of the water and enter the open atmosphere. The concentrates carrying -froth is passed on beyond the open bottom of the chamber 15 into the area between the wings 11 and the wall 13 of the air cushion chamber from which area it passes over the adjustable gate falling onto the lip 23 from which it flows into the launder. j

The lighter mineral matter which is not carried out of the first lcell by the froth flows with the water under the guard partition 28 and over the gate 31 into the chamber 26 from which itpasses into the agitation chamber 39 of the second cell 2, while the heavier matter which the agitated water cannot pick up flows directly from the chamber 9 through the passage 38 into the chamber 39. The mineral matter entering the second cell 2 is likewise constantly agitated by air entering through the pipe 54 and the air bubbles rising through the ,water from this pipe pick up particles of ore and pass under pressure toward the forward end of the cell. The same process is repeated in the second cell as in the first cell, the mineral carrying froth passing over the adjustable gate 54 and the lighter mineral particles not picked up by the froth leaving the chamber by way of the chamber 48 and pipe 46 while the heavier matter leaves directly through the lower outletl pipe 47.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that when the air bubbles come to the top of the water in the agitation chamber under pressure they are forced to pass therefrom into the air cushion chamber where the pressure is less than in the agitation chamber and the pressure upon the froth is, therefore, reduced. From this chamber the froth passes on beyondthe air cushion chamber into the open area where the pressure is completely relieved and the mineral concentrates carrying bubbles flow freely therefrom over the adjustable gate.

Due to the long froth travel under pressure in the agitation chambers and the controlled relief of the pressure thereon the froth bubbles do not break and lose their load, therefore, the present machine is more emcient than machines of other types where the froth rises directly to the top of the water which is uncovered and where the bubbles break and lose the load which they have picked up and which they carryfrom the machine into the launder.

It will be readily apparent that by adjusting the height of the gates 31 and 50 the level of the water in the agitation chambers may be changed and consequently the pressure upon and depth of the froth also and the height of the froth between the forward portions of the wings 11 and 43 and in front of the yair vcushion chambers may also be readily controlled by inserting or removing the desirednumber of the slats of which the gates 37 and 52 are made up.

Having thus described the invention, what is` claimed is:-

1. The method of concentrating ores by flotation .which lconsists in agitating the ores and water in a closed chamber which is incompletely filled with the water and maintaining the same and the froth developed thereon under pressure, then fiowing the froth through a closed area in which the air pressure is lower than that within the closed chamber but higher than the atmospheric pressure, and finally flowing the froth on the water into an open receptacle and allowing the same to escape therefrom while drawing off the water beneath the froth and through a separate passageway.

2. The method of concentrating ores by iiotation which consists in agitating the ores and water in a closed chamber by the injection of air into the water and ores and maintaining a pressure in the chamber upon the froth, the chamber being incompletely filled with water owing the froth through a closed area having an air pressure lower than that in said chamber but higher than atmospheric pressure, and finally fiowing off the froth from the surface of the water outend, the casing being open at its top between said chamber and the adjacent end, means for introducing air and water into the casing adjacent the other end, means for controllably releasing air from said chamber, and means for removing the water and froth from the casing by separate paths.

4. A floatation ore concentrating machine, comprising an elongated receptacle having an inclined bottom and closed from one end over the major portion of its top, means for introducing air under pressure and ore into the said closed end of the receptacle, a wall closing the other end of the receptacle, the receptacle having a top opening adjacent said last wall for the discharge of froth, a water outlet adjacent the bottom of said last wall, means preventing water from passing from the receptacle through said top opening with the froth, an air cushion chamber opening downwardly into the receptacle adjacent the top opening beneath which the concentrates bearing froth passes, and means for regulating the escape of air from said chamber.

5. A flotation ore concentrating machine, comprising an elongated agitation chamber having an inclined bottom, side walls and top and end walls, said top wall terminating at one end short of the end wall of greatest height, water outlet means through said last mentioned wall, means for maintaining water at a height in the chamber to form an air space beneath the top wall, means for introducing ore into the chamber adjacent the other end wall, means for introducing air under pressure into the chamber adjacent the ore introducing means, an air chamber overlying the first chamber and having an open side directed downwardly toward the contents of the agitation chamber, said air chamber having two walls extending transversely of the agitation chamber, one of which engages said top wall and the other terminating above the water line of the agitation' chamber, means for regulating the escape of air from the ai'r chamber, and means for flowing off froth over the first mentioned end wall.

6. A fiotation ore concentrating machine comprising an elongated chamber having top, bottom, side and end walls, said chamber having its top wall terminating at one end short of the adjacent end wall to provide a top opening, means for injacent the first mentioned end wall for controlling the ow-ofi' of water from the chamber whereby the -water level is maintained in spaced relation to the top wall to provide a froth area therebeneath, a chamber having one open side and disposed over the top opening of the first chamber, one wall of the second mentioned chamber terminating above the water line of the first chamber whereby froth may pass beneath the second mentioned chamber without being submerged in the water of the first chamber, means for controlling the escape of air from the second mentioned chamber, means for regulating the height of the froth flowing from the first chamber over the -rst mentioned end wall, and means for passing ore from the first mentioned chamber through the said rst mentioned wall adjacent the bottom of the latter.

7. A flotation ore concentrating machine, comprising an elongated agitation chamber having an inclined bottom, side walls and top and end Walls, said top wall terminating at one end short of the end wall of greatest height, a guard wall in spaced relation with the said end wall of greatest height and having a horizontal wall connecting its top edge with the adjacent end wall, a vertically adjustable gate 4disposed between the guard wall and the adjacent end wall for controlling the water level in the chamber-whereby a froth area may be maintained between the water level and the chamber top wall, means for introducing ore into the chamber adjacent the other end wall, means for introducing air under pressure adjacent the ore introducing means,'an air f chamber overlying the rst chamber and-having an open side directed downwardly toward the contents of the agitation chamber, said air chamber having V`two walls extending transversely of the agitation chamber one of which engages the top walland the other terminating above the water line of the agitation chamber whereby ore 8. A flotation ore concentrating machine, comprising an elongated agitation chamber having an inclined bottom, side walls and top and end walls,

said top wall terminating at one end short of the end wall of greatest height, a guard wall in spaced relation with the said end wall of greatest height and having a horizontal wall connecting its top edge with the adjacent end wall, a vertically adjustable gate disposed between the guard wall and the adjacent end wall for controlling the water level in the chamber whereby a froth area may be maintained between the water level and the chamber top wall, means for introducing ore into the chamber adjacent the other end wall, means for introducing air under pressure adjacent the ore introducing means, an air chamber overlying the rst chamber and having an open side directed downwardly toward the contents of the agitation chamber, said air chamber having two walls extending transversely of the agitation.

chamber one of which engages the top wall and the other terminating above the water line of the agitation chamber whereby ore bearing froth may flow from th'e agitation chamber toward the rst mentioned end wall Without submergence into the water of the agitation chamber, means for regulating the escape of air from the air chamber, the said ore carrying froth passing from the agitation chamber over the first mentionedend Wall thereof, and means for controlling the elevation at'which the froth leaves the rst mentioned chamber, comprising a plurality of separable panels disposed vertically in edge to edge relation above and in the plane of the rst mentioned end wall and supporting guides for said panels whereby the latter may be removably held in posi-

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