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March 19, 1929.

F_ E_ ELMQRE 1,706,281
SEPARATION OF MATERIALS BY FLOTATION
Filed April 23, 1927

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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 ‘

35 apparatus described in British speci?cation 'nication of rotary movement to the main 90


No. 191,383) the pulp is admitted in a’ hori body of ?otation froth above being largely
zontal or approximately horizontal ‘direction prevented by ‘stationary ba?les arranged
‘ into the separating chamber at such velocity around the point of entry into the separat—
as to cause ‘rotation of the whole’of. the pulp ing chamber of the-non-turbulent stream of
40 therein. By observing what \occurs inv such- pulp.
The inventionffurther ‘consists in appa
apparatus I have vfound that the;rotation ratus
leads to the creation of eddying currents_or suitable for carrying out my-impro'ved ‘
turbulence-in‘ the separating chamber and a process, said apparatus comprising a sepa- _ , '
loss of clean mineral by its detachment from rating chamber having the usual conical or
45 gas bubbles; also ‘that a' considerable loss of like contracted'upper part connected with 100
mineral also occurs in‘ the horizontal-part a vacuum pump, an outlet ,pipe for the con
I of the'inlet‘ pipes, owing to the rubbing oi ‘ centrates, and an outlet [for the depleted pulp,
_' the bubbles laden with clean mineral along. . and said chamber also having a central sub- '
‘the underside of the top of the pipe-,‘which' stantially‘ vertical suction-pipe for the pulp,
to‘ causes detachment ofclea‘n-mineral from the sofree from bend orphorizontal portions and; 105
bubbles. The same effect is also produced tapered 'inlver ical section that~the rising
by‘ the bends in the pipe where it turns “from . pulp as it expands under the action of ‘the \
the verticalto the'hor'izontal position. falling pressure continues to ascend therein
Mechanical rakes or stirring arms in the as a non-turbulent stream of approximately 110
55 separating vessel (such as described inBri’Q? constant velocity. - -' '
2 1,706,281‘
The foregoing features of ‘my invention are-no bends or turns in the pipe lay there is
‘and other features thereof will now be ex little tendency for the particles which are
plained with reference to the accompanying buoyed up by attached bubbles to become de
drawing which represents a vertical section tachedvfrom the bubbles by friction against
through “an apparatus suitable vfor~ my im surfaces.
proved vacuum process. As the rising pulp leaves the tube u. the
a is a conical vessel having an upper conical heavier particles of ash-material which have
part I) which has a delivery throat ‘0 at its no bubbles attached to them and begin to de
summit. This throat is surrounded by a re— scend againstthe stream, escape through the
. 1O
ceiver d which is closed, save‘ for a pipe con openings between the rings m and pass into
nection 6 leading to a vacuum pump 6’ from vessel (/1. \Vere such particles allowed to con
the upper part, and an outlet opening f ‘at its‘ tinue to descend within the pipe u‘ theymight
lower part connected with a discharge pipe cause. particles of coal to become detached
9 extending downwards into a launder h'. from their gas bubbles. I _
Into this pipe there extends at a suitable point The particles vof coal carried by the adher 80
a downwardly directed jet 11 connected with a 'ing bubbles continue to rise in the upper part
water supply. The end of pipe 9 is sealed un b of the vessel and finally pass through ‘the
der water or ?tted with a non-return valve. throat 0 into the receiver d which they leave
The open bottom of vessel ‘a is "connected: by the pipe 9. I _
20 with a pipe 70 which extends downwards into
In treating some pulps a voluminous froth
theilaunder Z and‘ is closed at its lower end by is produced which is discharged too slowly
a valve'ma The stirrup n which carries this by the pipe 9, the through-put of the machine
.' valve is connected with a lever 0 centered at p being thus reduced. 'To overcome this objec~
and connected at its other end by rod 1/ with tion means may be adopted for reducing the
a, lever r centered at s and subject to the ac- ._ pressure in this pipe and increasing ‘the ve
tion of a rotating cam t. ‘ \ locity therein, the means here shown being
‘4 A rising pipe it connected by a U-bend 'v the ejector jet 5 supplied with water under
with a pulp hopper w extends axially in the pressure. _ 3 j
vessel a to about the junction of the vessel The ash constituents collect in the vessel a
30 _, with
its upper part b. This pipe expands up and descend the‘ pipe is ultimately escaping
. 'wardly and its open upper end has a number past valve Z as this is periodicallyopcned by
of co-axial rings w forming circular louvres. action of cam 25 on lever 7'. This opening and
From this‘portion of 'the pipe extend radial closing of the valve produces a pulsation of
ba?ies 3/. 2 is a jet extending more or~less tan .the contents of the vessel a b which prevents
gentially into the vessel ya and connected with clogging of the-coal in the upper part b and
a water supply. I a ' the formation of- channels therein. Such
The operation of,the apparatus is as fol channelswould allow the water alone to ?o'w
lows, it being assumed,'as- an-example, that away without any coal passing down the
the material under treatment is ‘?nely subdi PIP‘? 9-‘ -' _ , '
vided coal. 1' a, L . . Since some particles of coal having adher
The pulp (a mi 'ture of the material under ing bubbles ?nd their way together with the
treatnient, water and one of the known selec ‘ash constituents into the vessel a, it is advan
tive agents, for instance oil), after having tageous to impart to the contents of this vessel .
been stirred or agitated as is well understood, a rotary movement) to aid the ascent of the
is fed into the hopper w and the vacuum pump coal particles unimpeded by the descent-of the ' 110
connected with pipe e is put in ‘action. The ash constituents.‘ Forthi's'purpose Water un
pulp is sucked up the pipeu and ?lls'the ves der pressure is admitted into the vessel a
- sel a b and the pipe 70. Y The ,cam 25 is set in ro through the aforesaid tangentially directed
tation to open periodi'callythe valve m. the jet 2., ‘In ordenthat the rotary movement may
extent of such opening being adjusted by be communicated as little as possible to the
> means of a turnbuckle 9'. The bubbles of. gas contents of the upper part b, ba?ie plates 3/
liberated from the water in the pulp which is extend'radially from the mouth of the pipe u
' rising up the pipe u, as well as the gas-fad to the periphery of part I). -
sorbed on or in the coal particles, attach them .'Having now particularly described and as
selves to the particles of coal in prefererine to, certained the ,nature'of my said invention and 120
the particles of mineral matter forming a the best means I know of'carrying the same
part of the ash. As the bubbles ascend“ the into practice, I claim _ -
pipe they grow in size and'there i'sjii- tendency 1. Ayacuum process of separating mate
for the volume of the pulp to increase, accom rials by ?otation which process comprises agi
panied by a corresponding increasev in its tating the material with 'water'and a selective
velocity up the pipe. This latter tendency is agent to produce a pulp containing elastic ‘
counteracted vby the increasing diameter of ?uid causing the pulp to ascend under a re
the pipe, so that the pulp rises in the latter as duced pressure as a substantially vertical
65
- a stream having'approximately‘constant ve stream free from changes of direction and
locity and without turbulence.‘ Since there travelling vat approximately constant veloc- lllO
' 1,706,281
3,
ity into a body of liquid wherein selected par said vessel to a levwl about the'middle. ofth'e
ticles of the material ascend while others de- _ .height thereof, and means ‘for sucking pulp.
' scend. .
up the said pipe into the said vessel.
12. A vacuum process of separating mate 7. Apparatus for a vacuum process of sep-Y
rials by ?otation which process comprises agi- ‘ arating. materials in a pulp by ?otation,ycom
tating the material with water and a selective prising a separating vessel‘, a substantially
agent to producea pulp containing elastic vertical vsuction pipe having an increasing
?uid, causing the pulp to ascend under ‘a re cross-section in ‘the upward direction and
duced pressure as a substantially vertical extending upwardly and ‘co-axially into the
stream having an increasing cross section in said vessel to a level about the middle of the 75
the upward direction compensatingqfor in height thereof, at least one ring of larger di-_
crease in volume of the ascending pulp due to amcter than the pipe forming'a Circular 1011-. '
expansion of elastic ?uid‘ contained therein so' vre opening in the upper part of the pipe, ,
that the ascending pulp vtravels at approxi and means for sucking pulp up the said pipe 80
mately onstant velocity‘ and causing the n’ into the said vessel. - -
stream 0 ascending pulp ,to entera body of 1.8. Apparatus for a vacuum process of sepa
liquid wherein selected particles ascend while rating materials in a pulp by ?otation; com‘
' others descend. t prising a‘ ‘separating vessel, a substantially
3. A vacuum process of separating mate-3 ‘vertical suction pipe Chaving ‘an increasing
rials by ?otation which process comprlses agi cross-section in the upward direction and ex
tatmg the material with water and a selec tending upwardly and co-axially into the
, tive-agent'to produce>a pulp containing elas said vessel to a level-about the middle of the
tic ?uid, causing the pulp to ascend under a height thereof, a number of co-axial rings
reduced pressure as a substantially vertical ofsuccessively larger diameter than the pipe .
' stream free from changes of direction and’ arranged to form circular louvre openings
travelling at approximately constant velocity at the upper: part of the pipe and means for
into a body of liquid wherein the clean min sucking pulp up the said pipe into the said
eral particles ascend while the depleted pulp vessel. '_ , . ‘

' 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]

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