# US 7,607,341 B2 · Device for measuring the density of particles by flotation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,341 B2 - Document ID: US7607341B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/730,902 - Filed: 2007-04-04 - Published: 2008-01-17 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2006-04-13 - Assignees: Institut Franco-Allemand de Recherches de Saint-Louis - Inventors: Lionel Borne; Jean-Louis Patedoye - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607341B2 ## CPC - G01N 9/14: the body being built into a container - B03D 1/028: {Control and monitoring of flotation processes; computer models therefor} - G01N 9/10: by observing bodies wholly or partially immersed in fluid materials - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B03D: FLOTATION; DIFFERENTIAL SEDIMENTATION (sedimentation in general B01D21/00; in combination with other separation of solids B03B; sink-float separation B03B5/28; detergents, soaps C11D) ## Abstract The present invention relates to the investigation of particle characteristics, particularly to a device for measuring the apparent density distribution of a set of particles composed of several subsets of particles with different apparent densities and able to implement a flotation process to measure this distribution and comprising a flotation container, a stirrer and a system for measuring the density of the liquids, characterized in that the inside wall of the container has at least a first part in the shape of an inverted cone with axis Y whose height is 1.5 to 3 times its maximum diameter, and in that it has means for extracting liquid communicating with said first part at the vertex of the inverted cone, said means having a tube communicating with said first part at the tip of the inverted cone of which the first axis makes an angle of between π/2 and 3π/2 radians with the second axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Device for measuring the apparent density distribution of a set of particles composed of several subsets of particles with different apparent densities and able to implement a flotation process to measure this distribution, comprising: a double-walled container having an inside and an outside wall defining an inner and outer chamber; a stirrer placed in the inner chamber; and a system for measuring a density of the liquids, wherein the inside wall of the container includes at least a first part in a shape of an inverted cone with a second axis whose height is 1.5 to 3 times a maximum diameter of the inverted cone, and the first part has extraction means for extracting liquid communicating with the first part at a vertex of the inverted cone, the extraction means having a tube communicating with the first part at the tip of the inverted cone of which a first axis makes an angle of between π/2 and 3π/2 radians with the second axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the stirrer is placed in the upper part of the inner chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the inside wall includes a second part of tubular shape surmounting the first part and having the same cross-section as a base of the cone. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein a densimeter is connected to an inside part of the container by a sampling tube having a filter at a free end of the sampling tube. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the container has two walls, the inside wall and an outside wall, the outside wall having at least two apertures connected to means for regulating the inside temperature of a space separating the inside and outside walls. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) Device according to claim 5, wherein the regulation means circulates a liquid at a constant regulated temperature inside the space. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the container is closed on a side opposite that of the extracting means by a lid. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) Device according to claim 7, wherein the lid has at least three bores that penetrate the lid from top to bottom. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) Device according to claim 7, wherein the lid is made at least in part of a heating-insulating material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein an inside part of the container communicates with means for supplying a liquid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) Device according to claim 10, wherein the resupplying means passes at least in part through one of the bores provided in the lid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein an outside wall of the container is covered, at least in part, by an insulating material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the container is filled, at least in part, with a liquid mixture of toluene and methylene iodide. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) Method for measuring the apparent density distribution of a set of particles composed of n subsets of particles with different apparent densities and able to implement a flotation process to measure this distribution using a device according to claim 1, the method comprising: introducing a first flotation liquid and particles to be characterized into a flotation to form a mixture; homogenizing the mixture by stirring; allowing the mixture to decant; and extracting decanted particles with the aid of an extraction means. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising adding a liquid with a lower density that that of the first flotation liquid and repeating the homogenizing, allowing, extracting, and adding steps are repeated n−1 times.