Patent GB-1046081-A (GB)
Title: Mineral concentrating apparatus
IPC: B02C17/04
Filed: 1964-01-16
Abstract: 1,046,081. Concentrating ores; ball mills. DENVER EQUIPMENT CO. Jan. 16, 1964 [Nov. 8, 1963], No. 2031/64. Headings B2A and B2H. General description. To a mineral concentrating apparatus adapted to be transported as an integral unit, dry ore in a finely divided state is fed via a conveyer 7, a bin 8 and a conveyer 9 to a jig 10 in which the ore is jigged in a liquid carrier to separate a heavy mineral concentrate and to form a pulp with the remainder of the ore. The pulp overflow is directed via a drum feeder 66 to a rotatable ball mill 11 in which the ore constituents of the pulp are reduced in size and froth flotation reagents are added to the pulp to condition it for flotation. Oversize material is removed by a screen 17 mounted on the discharge end of the mill and is returned to a crusher for further reduction. The conditioned pulp containing the undersize material falls into a sump 18, to which additional reagent can be added, and is fed by a pump 19 to a cone separator 20 where it is separated into a fine fraction which is directed via a vortex overflow pipe 22 to a first froth flotation unit comprising cells 24 to 27, Fig. 2 (not shown) and into a coarse fraction which is directed via an apex underflow pipe 23 to a second froth flotation unit comprising cells 28 to 31. In the cells 24 to 31, the valuable minerals are elevated to the surface in a froth which is skimmed off into a launder 60 for final discharge of the mineral as a concentrate. Tailings from the first bank of cells 24-27 may be delivered to a concentrating table 56<SP>1</SP> for final removal of valuable minerals before the tailings are discharged to waste. Alternatively, the tailings are fed via a pipe 23a to the second bank of cells 28-31. Below the aerating impellers 57 of the cells 28-31, Fig. 5 (not shown), the cells open into cone separators 32-35 where the non-floated solids from the cells are subjected to a sorting action, the lighter solids being returned to the cells and the heavier ones collecting in the bottom of the cone separators. The tailings from the last cell 31 are directed via a pipe 51 to the concentrating table 56<SP>1</SP> or are discharged directly to waste. The cone separators have discharge tubing portions 36-39 secured thereto and connected to pipes 40-43 leading to the jig 10. Eccentrics 44 to 47 mounted on a common shaft 48 connected by a belt and pulley to a variable speed drive 50 co-operate with the tubing portions 36-39, Fig. 4 (not shown), to regulate the flow of heavy solids slowly discharging from the cone separators 32-35, the slurry being returned to the jig 10 for recirculation. Ball Mill. The ball mill, Figs. 6 to 9 (not shown), has a cylindrical shell position 61 secured by a trunnion 62 at the feed end and supported near its discharge end by spaced hard rubber rollers 63, 64 mounted on bases 63a, 64a adjustable towards, or away from, each other by means of a bolt and nut 65, 65a. The drum is driven via belts 75, 76 by an assembly comprising a motor 71, Fig. 1 a variable drive 71a Fig. 8 (not shown) and a gear reducer 72 having double output shaft extensions. The drive assembly is mounted on a hinged base 15 to adjust the tension of the belts. The shell portion 61 is lined internally with rubber 67 and is formed with longitudinally extending projections 61c, 61d which serve to elevate the pulp and the grinding balls to aid in the pulp attrition. A grate 69 at the discharge end of the shell has a relatively large central opening 94 for introducing the grinding balls and relatively smaller openings 92 for the discharge of the treated pulp.