Flotator

An improved flotator assembly for generating bubbles in a cell containing a quantity of liquid, and comprising:

• separate, substantially coaxially disposed hollow sleeve members including an upper sleeve member partially immersed in a liquid contained within said cell, and further including a lower sleeve member totally surrounded by said liquid, said upper and lower sleeves including open, interior portions spaced from one another a predetermined distance, thereby defining a spaced region between said sleeves which is located more closely to the surface of said liquid than to a bottom surface of said cell;
• rotatable upper blade means located within said spaced region and having an area of rotation confronting the open, interior portion of said upper sleeve for generating a substantially bubble-rich flow of liquid within the immediate area of rotation of said upper blade means;
• rotatable lower blade means located within said spaced region and having an area of rotation confronting the open, interior portion of said lower sleeve for recycling a high velocity flow of liquid between the interior portion of said lower sleeve and a remaining portion of said liquid-filled cell, wherein said high velocity flow is substantially devoid of bubbles;
• partition means located between said upper and lower blade means and substantially spanning said spaced region for preventing said bubble-rich flow of liquid from mixing with said high velocity flow within said spaced region;
• and
• frusto-conical stabilizer means surrounding said spaced region for directing said high velocity flow toward the bottom surface of said cell, thereby generating a jet stream effect which effectively draws the bubble-rich liquid flow from the area of rotation of said upper blade means and into contact with said high velocity flow during passage through the remaining portion of said liquid-filled cell, significantly increasing the chance of contact between said bubbles and any solid particles contained within said high velocity flow.