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F_ E_ ELMQRE 1,706,281
SEPARATION OF MATERIALS BY FLOTATION
Filed April 23, 1927
WWW/6%
Patented 1,706,281
1929.
UNITED STATES PATENroFHcE
ram EDWARD ELMORE, for BOXMOOR, ENGLAND.
SEPARATION OF MATERIALS’ BY FLdTATION.
application ‘?led April 23, 1927, Serial No. 186,114, and in Great. Britain July 16, 1926.
This invention relates to the separation of ish speci?cation No. 29,282 of 1904) have a
‘materials by ?otation, more particularly to similar effect in detaching mineral grains
the cleaning of coal and the concentration from the bubbles. . ' - ' a
of ores and the like (allsuch materials being All these defects are particularly impor-_
60
6 for brevity hereinafter termed‘ “mineral”) tant in treating coarse‘ particles. ' ‘ v '
by ?otation, and in particular relates to im _ By the use of my improved “vacuum” proc
provements in the “vacuum” process of ?ota ess and apparatus these defects are largely
tion andt-lie apparatus used therein. _ overcome, and‘ I am enabled, for‘example,
In thesaid “vacuum” process as heretofore successively to treat coal crushed to a‘ larger ,_
loconducted the pulp of mineral and water sizc‘and with a larger through-put than hith 65
has, after agitation with oil or similar agent, erto. “ ’
been‘sucked up ‘through a pipe from a res According to the invention the pulp of I
ervoir into the separating” chamber by the water,-mineral and selective agent, such as
vacuum maintained therein. The velocity oil, is sucked up into-a separating chamber as.
15 of the'p'ulp in this pipe has generally been a substantially vertical stream,which is free
made such'as to insure that the heaviest‘ min from horizontal portions or changes of di- .
eral grains are carried up into the separating 'rection and travels at approximately con-_
chamber. As the pulp rises in this pipe stant velocity. In this manner turbulence
- andapproaches the separating chamber, the is minimizedand'the bubbles and attached
20 pressure on the ulp progressively decreases, mineral rise quietly.
One mod-e‘ of'obtam’ing the substantially
‘ thus causing a li eration of the dissolved and
I :contained gases and their expansion in the constant velocity consists in arranging that -
‘pulp. Such expansion leads to an increase the stream shall have an increasing crosssec-j
. in the volume of the pulp and a corresponding tion in the upward direction.’ The bubbles so
25 increase-in its velocity up the pipe. ’ and attached mineral should be se arated
By observation of what occurs in the pipe . ‘from the stream in the separating c amber
I have found that the considerably increased without aid of mechanical’ rakes or stirrer's.
velocity thus produced leads to turbulence " In a preferred form of the process the
. and a detachment of clean mineral grains depleted pulp, ‘during its descent in“ the sep~
30 from the bubbles of ‘gas liberated by the de-_. ‘arating chamber, is given a rotary‘movement
creased pressure, The mineral grains sovde ‘by the admission of one or‘ more tangential ‘Y
'tached are‘ to a considerable extent lost in the streams of water underv pressure, in order to;
enable a further portion of clean *mineralm .
In some forms or apparatus ,(s'uch'as the ‘grains to rise and be separated, any commu-'
residues. ., . ’ ' ' ' ‘ I ‘
' descends and imparting rotary movement 9., Apparatus for a vacuum process of sepa
about a' substantially vertical axis to that part rating materials in a pulp by ?otation," com
of the body oi liquid in which the depleted prising a separating vessel, a substantially
pulp is descending. ‘ " . - ' Y vertical ‘suction pipe having an increasing
4:. A vacuum process of separating mate cross-section in the upward direction and
rials by ?otation which process comprises agi extending upwardly into the said vessel, at
tating the material with water anda selective least one j etarranged to deliver Water under
agent to produce a pulp containing elastic pressure .in substantially tangential direction
?uid, causing the pulp to ascend under‘ a re into the said vessel at a part thereof which is
. duced pressure as- a substantially vertical below the level of the upper end of said'verti
. stream having an increasing cross section in cal suction pipe, so as to impart a rotary mo
'40 the upward direction compensating for in tion to liquid in the part of the vessel below
creasenn volume of the ascending pulp due‘ to said level and means for sucking pulp up the "
' expansion of elastic ?uid contained therein so said pipe. into the said vessel. _ A.
that the ascending pulp such that it travels at 10. Apparatus for a vacuum process " of
approximately constant velocity ‘causing the separating materials in a pulp by ?otation, 110
stream of ascending” pulp to enter a body'of comprising a separating vessel, a substantial?v
liquid wherein the clean mineral particles as ly vertical suction pipe having an increasing
cend while the depleted’ pulp descends and cross-section in the upward direction and ex
‘ imparting rotary movement about a substan tending upwardly and co-axially into the said
tially vertical ardis to that part of the body of vessel to a level about the middle of the height
liquid in which the depletedpulp is descend thereof, radial ba?ie plates extending from
ing. ' _ . -- _ . -
the upper part of the said pipe to the periph
_5i Apparatus for a vacuum process of sep ery of the said vessel, at least one jet arranged
" arating materials in a pulp by ?otation, ‘com to deliver water under pressure in substane ’
prising a separating vessel,~a substantially tially tangential direction into the part of
vertical suction pipe having an increasing the said vessel below the said ba?le plates so as
cross-section in the upward direction and exto impart a_rotary‘motion to liquid in the
tending upwardly into the said vessel, and, part of thevessel below‘said battle plates and
means for suckingpulp up the said pipeinto means for; sucking pulp up the said pipe into
' the said vessel. , ' . the said vessel‘. I > - _
'6. Apparatus wfora vacuum process of sep 11. Apparatus for a Vacuum? process of
arating materials in a pulp by ?otation, com separating materials in a pulp by ?otation, '
prising a separating vessel, a’ substantially comprising a separating vessel, a conical up
, vertical suction-pipe having an increasing per part to this vesseha delivery throat at
- cross-section in the upward direction and ex the summit of the conical part, a receiver sur- \
130
tending "upwardly and co-axially into the rounding the said throat and adapted to be
1
4 1,706,281,
connected with a vacuum pump, a discharge connected With a vacuum pump, a discharge 15
pipe connected with the receiver,'an ejector in pipe connected with the receiver, an ejector
this discharge pipe, a substantially vertical in this discharge pipe, a substantially vertical
suction pipe having an increasing cross-section suction pipe having an increasing cross-sec- "
in the upward direction and extending up-v tion in the upward direction-and extending
wardly and co-axially into the said separating upwardly and co-axially into. the said sepa 20
vessel, and'a' discharge pipe connected With rating vessel, a’ discharge pipe connected with
the.saidwseparating vessel. ‘ , the said separating vessel, a valve closing the
'12. Apparatus for a vacuum process of lower end of the last-named discharge pipe
separating materials in a pulp by a ?otaf and means for periodically opening and clos
tion, comprising a separating vessel, a conical‘ ing the said valve. ’ “ 25
upper part to this vessel, a delivery throat at In testimony whereof I have signed ‘my
the summit of the conical part, a receiver sur name to this speci?cation.
rounding the said throat and adapted to be , FRANK EDWARD ELMORE. [as]