Flotation apparatus for concentration of minerals

Apparatus for separation of minerals from an aqueous pulp containing a mixture of mineral and gangue particles by froth flotation comprising:

• a flotation compartment adapted to contain a relatively quiescent body of said aqueous pulp,
• pulp means for introducing aqueous pulp into said flotation compartment,
• froth overflow means disposed adjacent to the upper end of the flotation compartment for discharging therefrom a float fraction containing floated particles of said aqueous pulp,
• a hydraulic compartment disposed beneath the flotation compartment, said hydraulic compartment being adapted to contain a body of aerated water maintained at a higher static pressure than that of the aqueous pulp in the lower portion of the flotation compartment,
• a constriction plate forming the top of said hydraulic compartment and separating the flotation compartment from the hydraulic compartment disposed therebeneath, said constriction plate having a plurality of spaced orifices for uniformly distributing aerated water thereacross from the hydraulic compartment to the flotation compartment, each orifice being adapted to receive therethrough a stream of aerated water from said hydraulic compartment into the lower portion of said flotation compartment,
• means for introducing air and water into said hydraulic compartment and for forming a multitude of air bubbles throughout the water in the hydraulic compartment,
• underflow means for discharging a non-float fraction containing unfloated particles of said aqueous pulp from said flotation compartment, said underflow means including a discharge duct which opens through said constriction plate, said constriction plate inclining outwardly from the opening into said discharge duct whereby non-float fractions that tend to collect on said plate gravitate toward said opening, and including means for selectively distributing aerated water in said hydraulic compartment substantially uniformly across said constriction plate, said discharge duct opening being disposed centrally of said constriction plate, and said distributing means including a plurality of bubble-entrapping compartments depending from said constriction plate and encircling said discharge duct, the bottoms of said bubble-entrapping compartments being open and communicating with said hydraulic compartment.

Apparatus for separation of minerals from an aqueous pulp containing a mixture of mineral and gangue particles by froth flotation comprising:

• a flotation compartment adapted to contain a relatively quiescent body of said aqueous pulp, said compartment being in upright columnar form,
• pulp feed means for introducing aqueous pulp into said flotation compartment,
• froth overflow means disposed adjacent to the upper end of the flotation compartment for discharging therefrom a float fraction containing floated particles of said aqueous pulp,
• outflow means disposed adjacent to the lower end of said flotation compartment for discharging therefrom a non-float fraction containing non-floating particles of said aqueous pulp,
• first and second aerating means for introducing areated water into said flotation compartment adjacent the bottom and throughout the cross-section thereof, said two aerating means being vertically offset, and including two hydraulic compartments, respectively, having the top sides thereof defined by apertured constriction plates,
• at least a portion of said outflow means being disposed radially within and passing through said first aerating means and the constriction plate thereof and further being in vertical alignment with said second aerating means,
• whereby aerated water is introduced across the space of said flotation compartment for removing the float fraction of said aqueous pulp therein during discharge of non-float fraction.

Apparatus for separation of minerals from an aqueous pulp containing a mixture of mineral and gangue particles by froth flotation comprising:

• an upright flotation compartment adapted to contain a relatively quiescent body of said aqueous pulp,
• pulp means for introducing aqueous pulp into said flotation compartment,
• froth overflow means disposed adjacent to the upper end of the flotation compartment for discharging therefrom a float fraction containing floated particles of said aqueous pulp,
• a hydraulic compartment disposed beneath the flotation compartment, said hydraulic compartment being adapted to contain a body of aerated water maintained at a higher static pressure than that of the aqueous pulp in the lower portion of the flotation compartment,
• means for introducing aerated water into said hydraulic compartment,
• said hydraulic compartment having horizontally extending, spaced top and bottom plates and an enclosing side wall,
• an outflow duct surrounding said hydraulic compartment and opening into the lower portion of said flotation compartment,
• said top plate being in the form of a constriction plate provided with a plurality of spaced orifices for uniformly distributing aerated water thereacross from the hydraulic compartment to the flotation compartment, each orifice being adapted to receive therethrough a stream of aerated water from said hydraulic compartment into the lower portion of said flotation compartment,
• said constriction plate being raised in the central portion and declining to the perimeter thereof whereby non-float fractions that tend to collect thereon gravitate toward and into said outflow duct, means for introducing aerated water into said hydraulic compartment, and
• means connected to said top plate but spaced from said bottom plate for selectively distributing aerated water in said hydraulic compartment to discrete orifices in said constriction plate, said distributing means including a plurality of bubble-entrapping compartments depending from said constriction plate and openly communicating in common with said hydraulic compartment,
• underflow means for discharging residue aqueous pulp from said flotation compartment via said outflow duct.

Apparatus for separation of minerals from an aqueous pulp containing a mixture of mineral and gangue particles by froth flotation comprising:

• an upstanding flotation compartment defined by a closure wall adapted to contain a relatively quiescent body of aqueous pulp,
• means for introducing aqueous pulp into said flotation compartment,
• means disposed adjacent to the upper end of the flotation compartment for discharging therefrom a float fraction containing floated particles of said aqueous pulp,
• a stationary constriction plate disposed adjacent to the bottom portion of the flotation compartment and extending generally horizontally, said constriction plate having a plurality of spaced orifices throughout the area thereof, each orifice being adapted to receive therethrough a stream of aerated water from the underside of said constriction plate into the lower portion of said flotation compartment,
• means for supplying aerated water having a multitude of air bubbles to the underside of said constriction plate which passes upwardly through said orifices,
• underflow means for discharging a non-float fraction containing unfloated particles of said aqueous pulp from said flotation compartment downwardly beyond said constriction plate, said underflow means including a discharge duct which bypasses said constriction plate, and means for inhibiting the loss of float fraction from said flotation compartment and out of said underflow means,
• said inhibiting means including a plurality of vertical baffle plates upstanding from said constriction plate, the bottom edges of said baffle plates being immediately adjacent to said constriction plate thereby to inhibit flow of aqueous pulp between said bottom edges and said constriction plate, and said baffle plates further extending transversely of radii extending from the discharge duct.

Apparatus for separation of minerals from an aqueous pulp containing a mixture of mineral and gangue particles by froth flotation comprising:

• an upstanding flotation compartment defined by a closure wall adapted to contain a relatively quiescent body of aqueous pulp,
• means for introducing aqueous pulp into said flotation compartment,
• means disposed adjacent to the upper end of the flotation compartment for discharging therefrom a float fraction containing floated particles of said aqueous pulp,
• a stationary constriction plate disposed adjacent to the bottom portion of the flotation compartment and extending generally horizontally, said constriction plate having a plurality of spaced orifices throughout the area thereof, each orifice being adapted to receive therethrough a stream of aerated water from the underside of said constriction plate into the lower portion of said flotation compartment,
• means for supplying aerated water having a multitude of air bubbles to the underside of said constriction plate, which aerated water passes upwardly through said orifices,
• underflow means for discharging a non-float fraction containing unfloated particles of said aqueous pulp from said flotation compartment downwardly beyond said constriction plate, said underflow means including a discharge duct which bypasses said constriction plate, and means for inhibiting the loss of float fraction from said flotation compartment and out of said underflow means by minimizing current cross-flow in said flotation compartment above said constriction plate, said inhibiting means including baffle plates extending transversely of such cross-flow and being upright in said flotation compartment.