Method and apparatus for mineral flotation cell level detection
AssigneeCyprus Amax Minerals Company
InventorMichael O. Schmalzel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flotation cell level detector for providing an indication of a level of a liquid in a flotation cell may comprise a generally circular shaped float having a submergence function such that small changes in the submergence level of the float will result in large changes in the submerged volume of the float when the float is submerged at about the design level of submergence. A reference member is attached to the float and held a spaced distance above the float by a plurality of support members. A sensor mounted above the reference member detects the position of the reference member and generates a corresponding output signal.
Claims15
A level detector for providing an indication of a level of a liquid, comprising:
- a generally circular shaped float defining an open central aperture and having a mass, a volume, a design level of submergence, and a submergence function, wherein the design level of submergence is selected to be at about a point corresponding to a submergence level where a first derivative of the submergence function is a maximum;
- a reference member having a mass;
- a support member connected to said float and to said reference member for holding said reference member above the liquid;
- and
- reference member sensing means operatively associated with said reference member for sensing a position of said reference member and for generating an output signal related to the position of said reference member.
A level detector for providing an indication of a level of a liquid, comprising:
- a generally X-shaped float having a mass, a volume, a design level of submergence, and a submergence function, wherein the design level of submergence is selected to be at about a point corresponding to a submergence level where a first derivative of the submergence function is a maximum;
- a reference member having a mass;
- a support member connected to said float and to said reference member for holding said reference member above the liquid;
- and
- reference member sensing means operatively associated with said reference member for sensing a position of said reference member and for generating an output signal related to the position of said reference member.
A float assembly for floating on the surface of a liquid, comprising:
- a generally circular shaped float defining an open central aperture and having a mass, a volume, a design level of submergence, and a submergence function, wherein the design level of submergence is selected to be at about a point corresponding to a submergence level where a first derivative of the submergence function is a maximum;
- a reference member having a mass;
- and
- a support member connected to said float and to said reference member and extending generally upward from said float for holding said reference member above the liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.