US1378920A - Process of and apparatus for separating ore materials from each other - Google Patents

Description

R. S. TOWNE AND F. B. FLINN.

PROCESS OF'AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING ORE MATERIALS FROM EACH OTHER.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT. 12, I914- RENEWED IAN.5.1920.

1,378,920. Patented May-24,1921.

a5 5 -36 fl 32 umrsu STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT SAFFORD TOWNE, OF NEW YORK,.N. Y., AND FREDERICK B. FLINN OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PNEU- MATIC PROCESS FLOTATION COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORA TION OF DELAWARE.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING ORE MATERIALS FROM EACH OTHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 24, 1921.

Application filed September 12, 1914, Serial No. 861,433. Renewed.- January 5, 1920. Serial No. 349,639.

To allwhom it may concern.

Be it known that we, ROBERT S. Towns and 'FREDERICK B. FLINN, citizens of the United States, residing at New York and Orange, in the counties of New Y'ork and Essex and States of New York and New Jersey, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of and Apparatus for Separating Ore Materials from E QhOther, of which .the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawmg This invention relates to a process for treating ores for the purpose of separating the metalliferous particles from the nonmetalliferous particles thereof; also to improvements in apparatus for carrylng out the process. The process is of the general class in which air, or equivalent gaseous body, is used for causing the metalliferous particles to separate from a fluid pulp mass and rise to the surface; and is more particularly a process in the subclass in which use is made of relatively large bubbles formed by the introduction of air, or its equivalent, into thepulp mass under slight pressure from an external alr body.

In carrying out a method of this sort a pulp is formed by commingling the ore in its original condition with water in suitable proportions, and, generally, there is added, at one stage or another, a quantum of 011 or equivalent material for purposes now well known. A column of pulp is formed and the air is forced into the bottom part of this column, generally through a porous septum or diaphragm adapted, under proper conditions ofdepth of column, pressure of air and degree of permeability of the septum, to form the relative]... large bubbles referred to. The pulp is! elivered as a continuous supply to the column. 1

We have found that the ores must be considered'in several classes in respect to'the general features of the process which we have devised. In the case of some ores we have found it more advantageous to deliver the incoming pulp at horizontal planes which are high relatively tothe planes of the porous septum, and in such cases the column may be of relatively lesser hor1zon tal dimensions and prolonged vertlcally as particles, or

, horizontal area w 'ile it is moving downward; and in such cases we cause it to enter the ma1n pulp column from points at the periphery, ores of the sort referred to being so largely suspended in the water that they can be carried in a sheet to the center or points approximating it.

But experience has brought us in contact with ores of another class which, either because of the greater specific gravity of their ecause of the relatively larger sizes of the particles which are introduced in the pulp, have a tendency to quickly separate from the suspending fluid, and therefore are not subjected for a sufiiciently long time to the separating action of the air.

Ores of this class we treat in the manner herein set forth. We find that, as concerns these, it is better to deliver the pulp at or near the vertical axis of arelatively widely extended pulp column, permitting the solid content particles to commence their descent onlines approximately close to the vertical axis, and causing them to move outward as they descend, so that they shall be subjected to repeated actions of the air globules as the latter ascend.

In the drawings one of the numerous forms of apparatus is shown which can be employed in the treatment of ores such as are referred to;

Of the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing one form of mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 66 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings,-

1 represents the main tank or receptacle,

cylindrical in form. It may conveniently be constructed of sheet metal, though any other suitable material may be used when preferred. The receptacle 1 is provided with a conical bottom 2 having radially inclined sides. At the lower end of the conical bottom 2 there is a discharge pipe 3 in which there is a valve 4. Connected with the pipe above the valve is a branch discharge pipe 5 which is preferably formed of flexible hose.

Mounted in the receptacle, preferably at about the level at which the vertical side walls join the inclined bottom walls, is an air distributing device indicated as a whole by 6. It comprises an upper plate 7 which is inclined downward from the center toward the periphery. The plate is porous and may be formed of some suitable medium Such as silica sponge, carborundum, a plurality of perforated metal plates, sheets of canvas, etc. Below the plate 7 is another plate 8 formed of sheet metal or other imperforate material. Preferably the plate 8 is also conical in form, it being inclined upward from the center toward the periphery. Preferably the plates 7 and 8 are provided with large central apertures in which is fitted a vertical tube 9 which will be further referred tobelow. The space between the two plates 7 and 8 is preferably divided into annular chambers 10, 11 and 12 by meansof vertical partition walls 13, 14 and 15. The outer partition wall 13 is spaced away from the main side walls of the recep tacle, leaving an annular space 13*. The entire device 6 can be supported in any desired way. As shown, it is carried by brackets 16, 16 extending upward from the inclined bottom wall 2.

Valved air pipes 17, 18 and 19 communicate respectively with the chambers 10, 11 and 12 and serve to supply air under pressure thereto. By means of the valves in the pipes the pressure in the, several chambers can be regulated and controlled as deslred.

At the upper end of the tube 9, preferably some little distance above the plate 7, there is provided a cap or plate 20 which closes the upper end of the tube. At the periphcry of the plate 20 there is an annular lip or flange 21.

22 is a spout for delivering ore pulp to the plate 20. As shown, the spout is connected at one side to the wall of the receptacle 1 and receives its supply through a pipe 23. In order to provide for the ready deflection of the upward flowing bubbles in 1 the receptacle, the spout 22 is provided with oppositely inclined walls 23, 23 below its bottom, these walls serving to engage the bubbles and guide them to the sides of the spout.

In order to insure the delivery of the pulp from the spout 22 to the plate 20, we provide the tube 24 which is mounted vertically above the tube 9 and is of substantially the same size. The spout 22 communicates with this tube 24 through an opening 25.

Positioned around the outside of the upper part of the main receptacle 1 is an. annular bubble receiver 26. This has an inclined bottom 27 and at its lowermost part it is provided with a discharge spout 28.

As the tank 1 may be of large diameter,

we find it advisable to provide means formechanically assisting the discharge of bubbles from the central parts thereof. The mechanism for engaging these central bubbles comprises the rotating blades 29, 29 which are fixed on the hollow hub 30 surrounding the tube 24. As shown, the hub 30 carries rollers 31, 31 which engage the hub 30 to give the revoluble hub an antifriction bearing on the tube 24. The hub 30 is connected by means of the arms 32, 32, supported on the ball pivot 33 with a vertical shaft 34, which is driven by the motor 35 through the gearing 36.

In using the apparatus embodying our invention, the ore, after being first pulverized (when pulverization is necessary) is formed into a suitable liquid pulp of which oil, when necessary, may bea constituent. This pulp is introduced in a stream into the spout 22, through which it flows into the tube 24 aforesaid, is engaged by the upward moving air bubbles, and the metalliferous particles thereof are caught by the bubbles and carried upward. The ore, as it passes downward and outward, is repeatedly acted upon by the bubbles with the result that when the periphery is reached all of the metalliferous particles have been caught by the bubbles and removed. The gangue or residue passes downward and outward through the annular passageway 13, and then along the inclined bottom wall 2 to the discharge pipe 3.

The airpressures in the chambers 10, 11 and 12 may be varied relatively to each other in order to regulate and control the flow of air into the receptacle. In practice, it is advisable, in using a machine of this character, to vary the action of the air as the pulp moves radially, one rate of air supply being most eflicient near the center where the pulp is rich and its flow is slow, and another rate of air supply being most efiicient near the and its flow is more rapld.

The level of the liquid in the tank 1 may be regulated and controlled either by means of the valve 4:, or by means of the pipe 5. If

the pipe 5 is used the level of the liquid in the tank may be regulated by raising or lowering the outer discharge end of the pipe.

The bubbles carrying the metalliferous particles in their films continue to move upward above thgpp ggface of the pulp and the successively emerging bubbles are carried upward by those that follow, with the result that there is formed a bubble column extending to the top of the receptacle wall. At the top of the Wall the bubbles move radially outward under the influence of gravity and are discharged into the annular receiver 26. In this receiver many of the bubbles break up, but those which remain, and the liquid resulting from those which have burst, flow by gravity down the inclined bottom of the annular receiver and out through the spout 28.

On account of the size of the tank many of the bubbles at or near the center would break down before reaching the periphery 1f the expectation were to have all of them reach the periphery by gravity alone. The rotary blades 29, 29 serve to engage the central bubbles and to push them outward near enough to the periphery so that they can reach it by gravity without breaking down.

We do not herein claim broadly the means for causing differences in the air action at different radial portions of the porous plate; and we do not herein claim broadly the means for assisting the removal of the bubbles from the center of the receptacle. These features are presented and claimed broadly in our co-pending application Serial No. 861,432, filed on even date herewith.

We are aware that it has been proposed to provide rotary blades at the top of a flu d receptacle in ore-treating apparatus. But in the earlier instances referred to these were positioned directly in the horizontal planes of the surface of the fluid, the purpose being to skim from said surface all the materials that rose thereto. The scrapers had thelr lower parts arranged in the horizontalplanes of the hydrostatic overflow of the fluld. In the present ,mechanism the central bubbleguiding rotary devices are so positioned as to have all of their movable parts operate in planes considerably above the fluid surface so that the lower part of the bubble mass is allowed to freely rise and yet can be graduallyinduced to move outward toward the upper edge of the receptacle wall over which the bubbles flow or roll. The discharge controlling devices at 4 and 5 are adjusted to hold the top or hydrostatic level of the fluid at a plane considerably below that of the upper edge of the receptacle wall. The r0- tary bubble-moving device does not extend over the whole area of the receptacle but is so arranged as to leave a free annular space of considerable width. This rotary device is introduced when we use a receptacle of long diameter. With such an apparatus'the bubbles at the center tend to break down before they can reach the periphery. It is preferable to avoid entirely having them impinged on by outside bodies. But a suitably arranged and properly adjuited device of this sort can, where the area is large, be used at the center to induce a tendency of the bubbles to move gently toward the edge so that they can, under their own gravity, roll or flowover the rim.

What we claim is:

1. In an apparatus for separating the metalliferous from the non-metalliferous ingredients of an ore mass, the combination of a pulp receptacle having a conical bottom with a discharge opening therein, a porous plate mounted, in the lower part of the receptacle with its periphery spaced slightly from the walls of the receptacle, means for supplylng air under pressure below the said porous plate and forcing it therethrough to form relatively large substantially uniformly distributed air bubbles, throughout the area of the receptacle and means for supplying ore pulp to the receptacle above the said porous plate, the said pulp being acted upon by the said bubbles to remove the metalliferous ingredients therefrom flowing downward and outward over the eriphery of the plate and into the space elow it.

2. In an apparatus for separating the metalliferous from the non-metalliferous ingredients of an ore mass, the combination of a pulp receptacle, a porous plate in the lower part of the receptacle inclined downward along lines extending from the center to the periphery thereof, means for supplying air under pressure below the said porous plate and forcing it therethrough to form relatively large substantially uniformly dis tributed air bubbles, means for supplying ore pulp to the receptacle near the center thereof above the said porous plate, the said pulp flowing downward and outward in the directions of inclination of the late and being acted upon by the said bubb es to remove the metalliferous ingredients therefrom, and means for collecting the resulting barren pulp at the periphery of the plate and discharging it from the receptacle.

3. In an apparatus for separating the metalliferous from the non-metalliferous ingredients of an ore mass, the combination of a pulp receptacle, a porous plate in the lower part of the receptacle inclined downward along lines extending from the center to the periphery thereof. means for supplying air under pressure below the said porous plate and forcing it therethrough to form relatively lar e substantially uniformly distributed air bubbles, means for supplying ore pul to the receptacle near the center thereo above the said porous plate, the said pulp flowing downward and outward in the directions of inclination of the plate and being acted upon by the said bubbles to remove the metalliferous ingredients therefrom, walls forming a chamber be? low the said plate for collecting the resulting barren pulp flowing over the periphery of the plate, and means for discharging the barren pulp from the said chamber.

4. In an apparatus for separatin the metalliferous from the non-metalli erous ingredients of an ore mass, the combination of a pulp receptacle, a porous late in the lower part of the receptacle in ined downward along lines extending from the center to the periphery thereof, means for supplying air under pressure below the sai porous plate and forcing it therethrough to form relatively lar e substantially uniformly distributed air bubbles, means for supplying ore pulp to the receptacle near the center thereof above the said. porous plate, the said pulp flowing downward and outward in the directions of inclination of the plate and being acted upon by the said bubbles to remove the metalliferous ingredients therefrom, a wall below the said plate in the form of an inverted cone for collecting the resulting barren pulp flowing over the periphery of the plate, and means at the apex of the cone for discharging the pulp therefrom.

5. In an apparatus for separating the metalliferous from the non-metalliferous ingredients of an ore mass, the combination of a pulp receptacle, a porous plate in the lower part of the rece tacle inclined downward along lines exten ing radially from the center to the periphery-thereof, means for supplyin air under pressure below the said porous p ate and forcing it therethrough to form relatively large air bubbles, means for causing the action of the air at one annular portion of the plate to differ from the action at another annular portion, means for supplying ore pulp to the receptacle at points near the center thereof and above the said porous bottom, the said pulp flowing downward and outward in the directions of inclination of the plate and being acted u on by the said bubbles to remove the meta iferous ingredients therefrom, and means for collecting and discharging from the receptacle the resulting barren pulp which reachesthe lower peripheral parts of the plate.

6. In an apparatus for separating the metalliferous from the non-metalliferous ingredients of an ore mass, the combination of a pulp receptacle, a orous plate in the lower part of the receptac e, means forv supplying air under pressure below the-said'porous plate and forcing it therethrou h to form relatively large substantially uni ormly distributed air bubbles, a closed tube extending upward from the porous plate in the center of the receptacle, means for supplying ore pulp to the receptacle at polnts above the said porous bottom arranged along the periphery of the said tube, and said pulpbeing acted upon by the said bubbles to remove the metalliferous ingredients therefrom, and means for collecting and discharging from the receptacle the resulting barren pulp.

7. In an apparatus for separating the met alliferous from the non-metalliferous ingredients of an ore mass, the combination of a pulp receptacle, a porous plate in the lower part of the receptacle, means for supplying air under pressure below the said porous plate and forcing it therethrough to form relatively large substantially uniformly distributed air bubbles, a closed tube extending upward from the porous platein theooi'lter of the. receptacle and terminating below the top thereof, a second tube above and in axial alinement with the first tube and separated therefrom, means for supplying ore pulp to the second tube to cause it to flow radially outward through the opening between the tubes, the said pulp being acted upon by the said bubbles to remove the metallifemul ingredients therefrom, and means for collecting and dischargin the receptacle the resulting barren pu p.

8. In an apparatus for separating the metalliferous from the non-metalliferous ingredlnts of an ore mass, the combination of a pulp receptacle, a porous plate in the lower part of the receptacle, means for supplying air under plate and orcihg it therethrough to form relatively large substantially uniformly distributed air bubbles, a closed tube extending upward from the porous plate in the center of the receptacle and terminating below the to thereof, a second tube above and in axial almement with the first tube and separated therefrom, a spout extending substantially horizontally from the periphery of the receptacle to an aperture in the second tube for supplying ore pulp to the said second tube, the said pulp flowing radially outward through the opening between the tubes and being acted upon by the said bubbles to remove the metalliferous ingredients there-v from, and means for collectingand discharging from the receptacle the resulting barren P P- 5?. In an apparatus for separatin the metalhferous from the non-metalli erous in gredlents of an ore mass, the combination of a pulp receptacle, a porous plate in the lower part of the receptacle, means for supplying an under premure below the said porous from 1pressure below the said porous pate and forcing it therethrough to form relatively large substantially uniformly distributed air bubbles, a spout extending substantially horizontally from the periphery of the receptacle to a point near the center for suplying ore pulp to the central part of the receptacle, the said pulp flowing radially outward and being acted upon by the said bubbles to remove the metalliferous ingredients therefrom, sharply inclined walls at the bottom of the spout for deflecting u ward moving bubbles to the sides thereo and means for collecting and discharging from the receptacle the resulting barren pulp.

10. In a mechanism for separatin the metalliferous from the non-metalli erous constituents of an ore mass, the combinatlon of a pulp receptacle, a porous plate in the lower part of the receptacle, means for supplying air under pressure below the said porous plate and forcing it therethrough to form relatively large substantially uniformly distributed air bubbles, means for supplying ore pulp to the receptacle above the said porous plate, the said pulp being acted upon by the said bubbles to remove the metalliferous constituents therefrom, means for collecting and discharging the resulting barren pulp from the receptacle, means without and around the peripheryof the receptacle for receiving bubbles dlscharged over the walls thereof, and a movable device at the center of the upper part of the receptacle for engaglng bu bles and moving them outward toward the said receiving means, said receptacle having a horizontal diameter which is long relatively to the capacity of the bubbles to pass from the center to the edge, and the said bubblemoving device being arranged to operate in planes above the surface of the pulp and toleave a wide exposed area adjacent the peripher of the receptacle.

11. n a mechanism for separatin the metalliferous from; the non-metalli erous constituents of an ore mass, the combination of a pulp rece tacle, a porous plate 1n the lower part of t e receptacle, means for supplying air under pressure below the said porous p ate and forcing it therethrough to form relatively large substantially 11111- formly distributed air bubbles, means for supplying ore pulp t0 the reeeptacle above the said porous ate, the said pulp being acted upon by t e said bubbles to remove the metalliferous constituents therefrom, means for collecting and discharging the resulting barren pulp from the receptacle, means without and around the eriphery of the receptacle for receivln bu bles discharged over the walls thereo and a rotatable device at the center of the upper art of the receptacle havmg outward exten mg blades for engaging bubbles and moving them outward toward the said receivin means, said receptacle having a horizonta diameter which is long relatively to the capacity of the bubbles to pass from the center to the edge, and the said bubblemoving device being arranged to operate in planes above the surface of the pulp and to leave a wide exposed area adjacent the periphery of the receptacle.

12. The herein described process for separating the metalliferous from the non-metalliferous particles of an ore mass, which consists in forming a body of li uid pulp of the ore having a relatively wi e horizontal cross area forming bubbles of air at the bottom of the body and permitting them to rise therethrough and adhere to and remove the metalliferous particles, introducing fresh pul into the said pulp body at points considera ly above the plane of bubble formation and near, the vertical central axis of the receptacle, causing the said pulp to move downward at the center of the body to the bottom and then outward across the vertical paths of the bubbles, permitting the barren pulp to move vertically past the planes of bubble formation, collectin and temporarily retaining it in a region ielow said planes, and discharging it from said region under optional control.

13. The herein described process for separating the metalliferous from the non-metalliferous particles of an ore mass, which consists in forming a body of liquid pul of the ore having a relatively wide horizontal cross area, forming bubbles of air at the bottom of the said body of pulp at points remote from the peripheral portion of the pulp and permitting them to rise therethrough and adhere to and remove the metalliferous particles, introducing fresh pulp into the said pulp body at points considerably above the Plane of bubble formation and near the center of the mass of said bubbles, causin thesaid pulp to move both downward and outward in all directions relative to the center of the mass of said bubbles and across the vertical lines of movement of the bubbles, permitting the barren pulp to move vertically past the planes of bubble formation, collecting and temporarily retaining the pulp in a region below said planes, and discharging it from said region under optional control.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT SAFFORD TOWNE. FREDERICK B. FLINN.

Witnesses:

DAVID Soo'r'r, R. E. SAFFoRD.

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