Patent ID: 6010011
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: B03D,C02F

Abstract:
A flotation apparatus for mineral processing having a single column provided with a central post, a plurality of partitions forming three separate flotation chambers in said column, the configuration of each chamber being selected for optimum flotation of minerals to be floated, means for swingably connecting one end of each of said partitions to said central post whereby the partitions may be selectively moved to change the area of said separate flotation chambers, means to seal the free end of said partitions against the inside wall of said column, an inlet in the upper portion of a first chamber to feed a feed pulp material, means for generating air bubbles in each of the three chambers in the column whereby at least some of the bubbles which rise up in each chamber and become attached to selected minerals rise to the surface of each of the chambers to form froth layers, the flow of the feed pulp material being counter current to said rising bubbles in said first chamber, the non-floated pulp material in a second chamber being co-current with said rising air bubbles therein and flowing over the top of a partition dividing the second chamber from a third chamber, the non-floated pulp material flowing over the top of said partition dividing the second chamber from the third chamber flows to said third chamber wherein said pulp flow is counter-current to the rising air bubbles in the third chamber, the remaining non-floated pulp material exists as tailings from said column, and means for unloading the floated minerals in the froth layer in each of said chambers of the column.