Method of and apparatus for conditioning pulp
OwnerCharles A. Greeninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In conditioning pulp, such as ore particles carried by or in suspension in water, or other particles, conditioning prior to flotation involves the addition of one or more reagents to the pulp or the like. By this invention, an agitation and pumping zone, spaced from the bottom of the tank in which the operation is carried out, pumps pulp outwardly in swirling, circumferential streams. A conditioning reagent is supplied to the active area of the pumping zone, such as the center of the zone. The operation may be enhanced by using a pair of pumping zones, one above the other, as well as intercepting the streams of pulp radially outwardly of the pumping zones, as by a stabilizer having radially extending vanes.
Claims15
A method of conditioning pulp in a tank, comprising:
- a. establishing a lower annular zone, spaced from the bottom of said tank, for pumping pulp outwardly in swirling, circumferential streams;
- b. supplying pulp to said zone;
- c. supplying a conditioning reagent to the center of said zone;
- and
- d. intercepting said streams of pulp at a position radially outwardly of said zone to produce agitation of said pulp and consequent mixing of said reagent therewith.
Apparatus for conditioning pulp in a tank, comprising:
- an impeller disposed adjacent but spaced from the bottom of said tank, having agitation and pumping means for receiving pulp and the like centrally and discharging the same outwardly;
- means for rotating said impeller about a substantially vertical axis;
- means for supplying pulp to said impeller;
- means for supplying a conditioning reagent to the center of said agitation and pumping means;
- and
- means surrounding said impeller for receiving a pulp mixture from said agitation and pumping means for interrupting the circular flow of said pulp mixture to produce an intermixing of said pulp with said conditioning reagent.
Apparatus for conditioning pulp in a tank, comprising:
- an impeller disposed adjacent but spaced from the bottom of said tank, having agitation and pumping means for receiving pulp and the like centrally and discharging the same outwardly;
- means for rotating said impeller about a substantially vertical axis;
- means for supplying pulp to said impeller;
- means for supplying a conditioning reagent to the center of said agitation and pumping means;
- means surrounding said impeller for receiving a pulp mixture from said agitation and pumping means for interrupting the circular flow of said pulp mixture to produce an intermixing of said pulp with said conditioning reagent;
- and
- cover means overlying and engaging at least a portion of said interrupting means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.