US1268630A - Aerating device. - Google Patents

Description

I. P. RUTH, In.

AERATING DEVICE. MPLICATION FILED MAY31. I917.

Patented June 4, 1918.

JosErn' r. RUTH, an, or DENVER, cononimo.

AERATING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4., 1918.

Application filed May 81, 1917. Serial No. 171,81.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH P. RUTH, Jr., citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aerating Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in agitating devices, being more especially intended for use in connection with flotation apparatus or apparatus adapted to cause the metallic values in connectionwith oil and air to rise to the top of the pulp in the form "of a froth.

In apparatus of this character it is exceedingly important that the pulp be prop erly aerated and the object of my present improvement is to produce a device adapted to efliciently perform this function, though it is evidentthat my improved agitator may be advantageously employed in other relations.

In the embodiment of my improved con-. struction, illustrated in the drawing, the device is well adapted foruse in testing ore side member is removable, so

for treatment by the flotation process, one side of the receptacle being composed of glass whereby the process may be advantageously observed. Furthermore, this glass that after each test the receptacle may be thoroughly cleaned, in order to prevent the possibility of. any metallic values remaining therein from the previous test. It should be explained, however, that the construction is well adapted for use on a large scale as well as in a small testing plant of the character just explained.

In my improvement I e mploy a receptacle into which the pulp H1111- gled with the necessary oil is introduced. Located at the bottom of this receptacle is a rotary head from which extends downwar'dly a short, openended pipe, which is iii communcation with pulp in the bottom of entrance of air.

the tank. A conduit is also connected with this head and extends upwardly therefrom above the level of the ulp, the up er extremity of the conduit eing open or the The lower pipe member is in communication with the inner extremities of a number of passages formed in the head and whose outer extremities terminate at the periphery ofithe head while the upwardly extending conduit is in communication at its lower extremity with a number of pets sages which also extend outwardly to the periphery of the head, the outer extremities of the last named passages, however, being hooded to facilitate the escape of the air from said passages, this air being sucked downwardly through the upwardly extending conduit by the centrifugal force developed by the rotary action. As the head is rotated, the centrifugal force draws pulp from the bottom of the tank and discharges it through certain passages of the head to the periphery of the latter; while the same force draws air downwardly through the upwardly extending conduit into the head and discharges it through other passages at the periphery of the head. The object of hooding the outer extremities of the air passages of the head is to produce a suction adjacent the extremities of these passages whereby the air is caused to escape from the outer extremities of said passages into the pulp.

Having briefly outlined my improvement as well as the function it is intended to perform I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated the embodiment thereof. 7

In this drawing Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section illustrating mi improved apparatus, the section being ta en on the line 1-1 Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken through the agitating member roper, shown in detail and on a larger sea e.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the same.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a tank or receptacle adapted to hold pulp or other material to be treated. As shown in the drawing, the tank is adapted for use as a flotation apparatus and in Fig. 1 the top surface of the The side and end angle brackets '12 which extend inwardly over the side wall 8, which is greferably composed of glass or other suita le transparent materlal. In the overlapping ends of these brackets 12 are threaded fastening screws 13 whose lnner extremities engage the wall 8 and hold the latter in place but in such a manner that it is readily movable for the purpose of cleaning out the material and sediment therein after any test or after any batch of ore or other treated. The bottom of the tank is vided with anopening 14 which is normally closed by a screw plu 15 which is provided or convenience of ma- Mounted upon the upper part of the structure is an upright frame work 17 having cross-pieces 18 in which is journaled a vertically disposed shaft 19 carrying a pulley 20, which may be connected with any suitable motor, notshown, for the purpose of rotating the shaft. As ing the shaft is supported by means of ballbearing members 21 which are fast on the shaft and engage ball cups carried by the cross-pieces 18. This or any othersuitable construction ing the shaft formance of its in a stable position in the perfunction, as hereinafter described. This shaft extends downwardly, its

lower extremity terminating at the bottom of the tank where it is threaded into the agitating member proper, which is designated by the numeral 22. This member consists of a head 23 which is provided with a socket 24 V into which is threaded the lower extremity of. a tube or conduit 25. Below the threaded opening 24, the head is further provided with an opening-26 shaft 19 is relatively small and leaves considerable space within the conduit 25 the head, the upper extremity of the conduit being 'open and terminating above the level of the material and froth in the tank.

. The lower extremity 'of the conduit 25,

within the agitating head is provided with a number of openings 27 which are in communication with the inner extremities of the passages 28 formed in the head, their outer extremities terminating at the periphery of the head and being covered with hoods-29 which are open asshown at 30 for the escape of air into the pulp. The agitatin member is rotated in the direction indicate by the arrow a, in Fig. 4*and the hoods 29, which extend outwardly a short distance from the periphery of the head at their open extremities are curved or inclined inwardly merged into the e- Hence, as the hea is 11 indicated by the artheir inner extremities riphery of the head.

walls are provided with liquid in the tank material has been pro- passage 31 which tance from the shown in the draw-- may be employed for support-- into which is threaded. the lower extremity of the shaft 19. The

is drawn downwardly into 1,2es,eso

row (1, assuming that the tank. contains pulp or otherliquid as indicated inFi 1, a partial vacuum will be produced arfiacent the open extremity of each hood. Assuming that the agitating member is rotated at sufficient speed, this vacuum will be sufiicient to overcome the pressure of the head of and cause the air which is drawn downwardly through theconduit 20 to be forced outwardly into the liquid, whereby the same will be thoroughly aerated, this aeration ,cotiperating with the outward flow of liquid through the head in a manner'which will now be explained. The bottom of the agitating member 23 1s provided with a short verticallydisposed 'is open at the lower end of the head and merges into a short downwardly extending tube 32 which is open at its lower end and terminates a short disbottom of the tank. The short passage31 is in communication with the inner extremities ofthreepassages 33 which lead outwardly from the passage 31 to the periphery of'the head. As the head is rotated in the manner heretofore described, the centrifugal force developed by the rotary action of the head will draw the pulp upwardly from the bottom of the tank through the short passage 31 and force it outwardly through the passages 33, producing a thorough agitation of the pulp and a thorough mingling of the air and pulp through the medium of the agitating head.

s shown in the drawing a partition 34 is secured between the sides of the tank and is so shaped that. it is parallel r approximately parallel with the bottom and inclined ends thereof. The short pipe member 32 extends through an openlng in the bottom of this partition and during the operation heretofore explained, pulp is drawn upwardly from below the discharged against the inclined sides thereof, whereby it is deflected upwardly and facilitates the carrying. of the mineral-laden froth composed of the metallic values, oil and air bubbles to the top of the pulp withm the tank.

As shown in the drawing the tank is fur and operation of a launder 36 tank and the r The pulp tank by way of a valve-controlled conduit partition and is my improvement will be readily understood.

to be treated is fed into the gled with the necessary oil, in case the appafatus is to be employed for separating mineral values on the flotation principle. The agitating head or member 23 is rotated at the desired speed, as heretoforeexplained,

and draws air downwardly through the conduit member 25 and discharges it at the periphery of the head, pulp being drawn upwardly into the head simultaneously and also discharged at the periphery of the head through other passages, thus causing the air and the pulp to be thoroughly mingled, as heretofore explained- The relative number of air and liquid passages in the head may be varied to control the proportions of air and liquid discharged through the head.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Aerating apparatus including a tank, a rotary member located therein and provided with a set of passages extending from its central portion toward its periphery, and a hollow member through which said passages are in communication with the atmosphere above the liquid which the tank is adapted to contain, and another set of similar passages having both ends of each passagi in communication with the liquid in the ta 2. Aerating apparatus including a tank, a rotary member located therein and provided with a passage extending from its central portion to its periphery, and a hollow memher through which said passage is in communication with the atmosphere above the liquid which the tank is adapted to contain, and another similar passage having both of its ends in communication with the liquid in the tank.

3. Aerating apparatus includin a tank, a rotary member located therein an provided with a plurality of independent passages extending from its central portion to its periphery, and a hollow member through which said passages are in communication with the atmosphere above the liquid, which the tank is adapted to contain, and another passage having both of its ends in communication with the liquid in the tank, and means for rotating the said member at a speed to develop sufiicient centrifu al force to overcome the pressure of the liquid in thetank, whereby air and liquid are taken into .35 the said member and discharged at its periphery.

4:. Aerating apparatus including a tank, a rotary member located therein. and provided with an open ended passage extending from its central portion to its periphery and a hollow member through which said passage is in communication with the atmosphere above the liquid which the tank is adapted to contain, a hood at the outer extremity of the air passage and another passage having sages extending from its central portion outrotary head both of its ends in communication with the liquid in the tank.

5. Aerating apparatus including a tank, a rotary member located therein and provided with a number of open-ended passages extending from its central portion to its periphery and a hollow member open to the atmosphere above the liquid which the tank is adapted to contain, and in communication at its lower end with said passages, hoods at the outer extremities of the said passages, and a number of other passages in communi cation at both of their extremities with the liquid in the tank, said last named passages extending from the central portion of the said member to its periphery.

6. Aerating apparatus including a tank, a member mounted to rotate therein and composed of a head having a number of pas- 851 wardly to its periphery, a tubular member connected with the head and extending above the liquid in the tank, said tubular member being open to the atmosphere at its upper extremity and in communication at its lower extremity with the passages of the head, the rotary member having a depending conduit open at its lower extremity to allow the liquid of the tank to enter, the rotary memher having a number of passages in communication with the said liquid-receiving conduit, said last named passages being open-ended and extending from the central portion of the rotary member to its periphery.

7. Aerating apparatus including a tank a vertically disposed shaft extending into the tank, a rotary member secured to the lower portion of the shaft and having two sets of passages extending outwardly from its central portion to its periphery, one set of said assages having hoods at their outer extremlties, a conduit whose lower extremity is secured to the said rotary member and in communication with the hooded passages, the upper extremity of said conduit being in communication with the atmosphere above the liquid of the tank, the rotary member having 9. depending conduit in communication with the other set of passages both extremities of the latter thereby being in communication with the liquid in the tank.

8. A gas difi'usion device comprisin a rotary head having a passage for gas t erein extending outwardly toward the periphery of the head and a stationary hood at the outer extremity of said passage.

9. A gas diffusing device comprising a rotary head having a plurality of passages for gas extending outwardly toward the perlphcry of the head and stationary hoods at the outer extremities of the passages.

10. A gas diffusing device comprising 8. having a plurahty of passages for gas extending outwardly toward the peof liquid extending outwar ly both end a let, and a stationary member arranged adja- "cent said outlet and toward the of the head, and a set periphery of liquid passages also extending toward the. passages being open ,at.

eriphery, all of said s 12. A gasdifiusion device comprisinga rotary therein extending outwardly from the center of the inember, said. passage havmg' an outadapted to liquid passing said outlet.

member having a passage for gas,

displace I 13. A gas diffusion device comprising a rotary head having a assage for gas therein extendlng outwardly om the center of the head,

said outlet and adapted to displace liquid passing said outlet to create a partial vacuum-to draw out the gas.

i 14. A gas diflusing device comprising a rotary head having a plurality of passages for gas extending outward] from the center off'the head, each passagehaving anoutlet .in itsouter" portion, anda relatively station- 'ary hood arranged adjacent each of said out lets and adapted to said outlets to createadraw gas into the liquid.

In testimony whereof I aflix m JOSEPH P. mi

displace liquid'passing partial vacuum to signature. TH, JR,

said passage having an outlet, and a relatively stationary hood arranged adjacent

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