US2141862A

US2141862A - Flotation machine

Info

Publication number: US2141862A
Application number: US116155A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert G Hall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-12-16
Filing date: 1936-12-16
Publication date: 1938-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 1955-12-27

Description

Dec. 27, 1938. HALL I 2,141,862

FLOTA'I ION MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1936 NVENTOR. mm 4m ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- 4 Claims.

This invention relates to ore concentrating machines, and particularly that type known as flotation machines.

The object of the present invention is generally to improve and simplify the construction and operation of flotation machines; to provide a machine which is especially adapted for ore flotation concentration processes in which air and a flotation agent, such as pine oil and other chemicals, are introduced; to provide eiiicient means causing a thorough diffusion and mixing of the air and flotation agent with the pulp to produce the greatest amount of froth possible; to provide means whereby eflicient circulation and recirculation of the pulp and frothing agent are insured; to provide a machine of large capacity capable of handling ore pulps containing a small percentage of concentrates; and, further, to provide a machine in which power consumption and wear are reduced to a The flotation machine is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing, in

which- Fig. 1 is a central vertical section of the mag5 chine, taken on line II of Fig. 3; 1

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line III[ of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and par 30 ticularly to Figs. 1 and 2, A indicates in general a tank comprising a bottom section 2, side walls 3 and 4, and

end walls

5 and 6. The tank is divided into two wells, generally indicated at B and C, by a cross-partition plate I. The well B 5 will hereinafter be referred to as "thecirculating well, and the well C, as the settling and return 7 well.

Thewell B is, in this instance, rectangular in shape and has a housing D disposed in the bot- 4,0 tom thereof and extending lengthwise of the machine. The upper portion of the housing is provided with an open cylindrical discharge 7 member 8, while the opposite sides of the housing are provided with ports 9 and III, which function as inlet ports. An air delivery pipe H extends under the bottom of the housing D and is provided with a plurality of air-discharging nozzles l2 which direct air and pulp upwardly in the housing and through the outlet 8, as will 50 hereinafter be described. v

Disposed above the outlet 8 is a rotary atomizing disk ll. 'This disk is of larger diameter than the outlet and may be constructed of metal, rubber, or other suitable material. The disk is a, suitably secured on-the lower end of a shaft ll journaled in bearings l6 and I1, and may be driven by a pulley l8, or any other suitable means. I r

In actual practice, the ore pulp, together with the frothing agent or agents employed, is delivered to a feed trough 20 disposed at one side of the well. The material moves downwardly and enters the bottom of the well through a port 21, which is provided with a gate 22 adjustable from the top of the tank through a 10 screw rod and nut, as indicated at 23 and 24, respectively. Air discharging from the nozzles l2 upwardly through the housing D and through the outlet 8 causes rapid elevation and discharge of the pulp through the outlet 8, and at the same 15' time brings about circulation of the pulp in the tank as continuous discharge through the outlet 8 will cause continuous inflow through the lower ports 8 and ID.

The air jets serve two functions: First, that 0 of bringing about and maintaining continuous circulation of the pulp, and, secondly, that of introducing the air required to bring about frothing. Actual frothing is produced by the atomizing disk It, as this rotates at a sufliciently high 25 speed centrifugally to project the air, together with the pulp directed against the lower surface thereof, to cause substantially complete atomization; and, further, to bring about such intimate mixing and breaking-up of the air and flotation agents carried by the pulp that an-abundance of froth will be produced and will be uniformly distributed throughout the pulp.

The froth thus produced, together with the enclosed or attached concentrates, rises to the surface 28 of the tank and overflows at the point 29, whilethe gangue settles in the well 0, to be returned and recirculated a number of times before flnally discharging through port 30 into an adjoining or similar unit.

Recirculation is important, as it gives the concentrates which are not floated at first a second, third, or fourth chance before entering the next unit or machine.

The discharge port 30 is also provided with an adjustable gate, such as shown at 3|, this gate being controlled by a screw rod and nut in a manner similar to the gate 22. An adjustable gate at the discharge side is important as it regulates the velocity and thereby the sand level at the bottom of the well. While pulp enters the housing D through both of the ports indicated at 9 and Hi, the. port 9 may be considered as the main intake port as it is closer to the feed I inlet, and also because the sand or gangue to be recirculated is directed thereto by slanting one of the sides of the well C, as indicated at 34.

In flotation concentrating machines, particularly of the type here shown, swirling of the pulp should be prevented as much as possible, as

swirling and undue agitation at the surface where the froth is collected are. detrimental. To prevent such swirling, due to the rotation of the atomizing disk l4, baflies, such as indicated at 35, or similar means, may be employed.

The machine shown in this instance is particularly intended for large capacity operations where pulps containing comparatively small percentages of concentrates are to be treated. In machines of this character, power consumption, wear and tear, etc., must be considered, as the cost of handling such ore pulps would otherwise be prohibitive. In the present instance, only one moving part is employed, to wit, the atomizing disk I4. This is also the only part which is subject to any noticeable wear. In actual practice the disk has been made of rubber, and it has been found that the wear produced by abrasion is practically unnoticeable. The power consumption is exceedingly low, and efllcient operation is insured due to the thorough manner in which the froth is produced and circulation is maintained. In actual practice, a disk two feet in diameter, rotated at approximately 800 R. P. M. has been employed. This gives a rim or peripheral speed of about five thousand feet per minute, and no doubt is the reason for the high degree of diffusion and eflicient frothing actually obtained.

While this and other features of the present invention have been more or less specifically described, I- wish it understood that various changes in form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly, I wish it understood that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or various uses may demand.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In an apparatus of the character described, an ore pulp receiving tank, a cross-partition therein dividing the tank into a circulating 'well and a settling well, a housing adjacent the bottom of the circulating wellhaving an inlet at the lower end and a submerged outlet at the upper end, a plurality of air nozzles in the housing for directing air upwardly through the outlet of the housing to introduce the air required for frothing and to maintain continuous circulation of the ore pulp, a rotary disk disposed above the outlet centrifugally to project and atomize matter directed against it by the outlet of the housing, said disk causing the formation of a froth whereby concentrates in the ore pulp are floated t0 the surface of the circulating well and are caused to flow over to the setting well, means for directing material from the settling Well back to the inlet of the housing for recirculation, means for delivering pulp to be treated to a point adjacent the inlet of the housing, and a gate-regulated submerged discharge for control of the pulp discharging after treatment.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, an ore pulp receiving tank, means for delivering pulp to a point adjacent the bottom thereof, a housing disposed adjacent the bottom of the tank, said housing having an inlet at the lower end and a submerged outlet at the upper end, means for introducing air and for maintaining a continuous circulation of pulp upwardly through the outlet of the housing, a rotary disk disposed above the discharge of the housing centrifugally to project and atomize matter coming in contact therewith, and means disposed above the disk to stop swirling movement of the pulp as it rises to the surface of the tank.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, an ore pulp receiving tank, an elongated housing on the bottom of the tank, said housing having a submerged discharge tube on top thereof and openings on opposite sides for the admission of pulp to the housing; means for delivering the pulp to be treated to a point adjacent one of said side openings, a pulp discharge port formed in the other side of the tank adjacent the other side opening in the housing, an air delivery pipe extending longitudinally of the housing and having a plurality of air-discharging jets which direct air upwardly through the discharge tube to cause the pulp to enter the side openings in the housing and to discharge upwardly through the discharge tube, a rotary disc disposed above the discharge tube of the housing to centrifugally project and atomize matter coming in contact therewith, means for removing mineralbearing froth from the surface of the tank, and means for directing settling pulp to the intake opening in the housing which is adjacent the feed inlet of the pulp, so as to cause recirculation of the pulp.

4. In an apparatus of the character described a rectangularly-shaped ore pulp receiving tank, a cross-partition therein dividing the tank into a circulating well and a settling well, a housing in the bottom of the circulating well having a submerged inlet and a submerged outlet, a plurality of air nozzles in the housing for directing air upwardly through the outlet to introduce the air required for frothing, and to maintain continuous circulation of the ore pulp, a rotary disc disposed above the outlet, centrifugally to project and atomize matter directed against it by the outlet of the housing, said disc causing the formation of a froth whereby concentrates in the ore pulp are floated to the surface of the circulating well and are caused to flow over to the set tling well, a slanting bottom in the settling well for directing settling pulp back to the inlet of the housing for recirculation, means for delivering pulp to be treated to a point adjacent the inlet of the housing, and a gate-regulated discharge port formed in the tank in alignment with the opening of the housing, to control the pulp discharging after treatment.

ROBERT G. HAIL.