Patent GB-443368-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to the separation of materials by froth flotation
IPC: B03D1/16
Filed: 1934-08-21
Abstract: Aeration of the pulp in froth flotation operations is effected by introducing air under pressure into the pulp so that it impinges on the smooth underside of a disc which is rotated at high speed.  The disc may be solid or perforated and the air inlet preferably comprises a porous medium, e.g. canvas, cloth, or minutely perforated rubber such as that described in Specification 344,238, [Group VI]. Fig. 1 shows four cells 10--13 in series, each cell having a disc 31, driven at high speed by a motor 14, mounted above an air inlet comprising an air chamber 35 covered by a porous medium 39.  As shown in Fig. 3 the air chamber has a sloping bottom and is connected by a pipe 65 with a pipe 67 supplying compressed air, the air supply to the chamber being controlled by a hand wheel 70 and valve 68.  The chamber also has a water supply 66 and a plug 64 for cleaning purposes.  The pulp is fed to the first cell 10 by a conduit 47 leading into a cap 48 above the disc 31 and passes to the succeeding cells through adjustable openings 44, 45, 46.  Radial baffles may be provided in the cells to prevent whirling of the pulp, the baffles 59 in cell 10 being fixed to a ring 50 attached to the cap 48 and the baffles in the other cells being fixed to the walls of the cells, the inner ends of the baffles being, if desired, fixed to a ring.  The pulp leaves the cell 13 by an adjustable aperture 54 and passes into a box 55 having an adjustable weir 56, the compartment of the box beyond the weir having a bottom opening <PICT:0443368/IV/1> <PICT:0443368/IV/2> leading to a discharge launder 57.  An adjustable gate 58 enables sand &c. to be discharged directly from the first compartment of the box 55 into the launder 57.  The froth overflows adjustable weirs 73 into launders 72 which are common to all the cells and slope downwards towards the middle where discharge openings are provided.  The apparatus may be used for treating suspensions of wool and fat in wool washing, for recovering ink released from waste paper after pulping and also for separating chemicals such as anthracene and naphthalene.ALSO:Apparatus which may be used for recovering oil from bilge and oil refinery waste is described as applied to the aeration of the pulp in froth flotation operations. Air under pressure is introduced into the pulp so that it impinges on the smooth underside of a disc which is rotated at high speed.  The disc may be solid or perforated and the air inlet preferably comprises a porous medium, e.g. canvas, cloth, or minutely perforated rubber such as that described in Specification 344,238, [Group VI]. Fig. 1 shows four cells 10--13 in series, each cell having a disc 31, driven at high speed by a motor 14, mounted above an air inlet comprising an air chamber 35 covered by a porous medium 39.  As shown in Fig. 3 the air chamber has a sloping bottom and is connected by a pipe 65 with a pipe 67 supplying <PICT:0443368/III/1> <PICT:0443368/III/2> compressed air, the air supply to the chamber being controlled by a hand - wheel 70 and valve 68.  The chamber also has a water supply 66 and a plug 64 for cleaning purposes.  The pulp is fed to the first cell 10 by a conduit 47 leading into a cap 48 above the disc 31 and passes to the succeeding cells through adjustable openings 44, 45, 46.  Radial baffles may be provided in the cells to prevent whirling of the pulp, the baffles 59 in cell 10 being fixed to a ring 50, attached to the cap 48 and the baffles in the other cells being fixed to the walls of the cells, the inner ends of the baffles being, if desired, fixed to a ring.  The pulp leaves the cell 13 by an adjustable aperture 54 and passes into a box 55 having an adjustable weir 56, the compartment of the box beyond the weir having a bottom opening leading to a discharge launder 57.  An adjustable gate 58 enables sand &c. to be discharged directly from the first compartment of the box 55 into the launder 57.  The froth overflows adjustable weirs 73 into launders 72 which are common to all the cells and slope downwards towards the middle where discharge openings are provided.