Patent · US Expired

Centrifugal flotation apparatus and method

USRE34321E · kind E · reissue

5Cited by
5References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 11, 1991
Grant dateJul 20, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 11, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC —)General

Abstract

The apparatus includes a powered bowl assembly having a tubular shaft journalled within a base of the apparatus. A pressurized air flow is discharged into slurry in the bowl assembly via a circular array of bubble generators. An impellor discharges the slurry outwardly against an upwardly inclined annular surface of the bowl assembly to cause the slurry to merge upwardly with the streams to promote flotation. Slurry within the bowl assembly forms a vortex with particle flotation forming a froth layer inwardly of a slurry vortex. The froth exits the bowl assembly upwardly past a barrier partially closing the bowl assembly. Heavier gangue particles exit via an outlet about the bowl assembly periphery. A collector shroud is partitioned to receive the froth and the heavier waste material. A modified form of the apparatus includes an independently powered bowl assembly and impellor.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.