Floatation Patent GB 21,948 (1898)

N^o 21,948

Royal Seal

A.D. 1898

Date of Application, 18th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 15th Aug., 1899 - Accepted, 18th Jan., 1900

Abstract. Elmore, F. E. Oct. 18. Treating ores; washing ores. Consists in separating the metallic from the rocky constituents of pulverized ores by mixing with water and then bringing the mixture into contact with thick oil. The oil entraps the metallic constituents, which are afterwards separated, and the rocky constituents pass away with the water. The Figure shows a form of the apparatus. The mixture of pulverized ore and water, supplied by a pipe, and the oil, supplied by the pipe b, flow into a rotating drum c provided with helical ribs d which extend from end to end. The spaces between these ribs are divided into cells by equidistant blades. The ore, oil, &c. are discharged from the end of the drum into a vessel e, in which the rocky constituents subside, while the oil with the metallic constituents floats above. The lowest layer is drawn away as tailings and passes through a pipe f to another drum g, and the process is repeated until the whole of the mineral constituents are separated. The oil and the contained mineral matter are led by pipes l to a rotating drum m containing water and subjected to centrifugal action. The mineral matter passes into the water, and the oil flows out into the casing h, and thence is pumped up through a pipe g to a cistern, preferably partially exhausted of air, and may be used over again. Instead of the separation by centrifugal action, the oil may be thinned by heating or mingling it with solvents such as benzoline, and afterwards left for subsidence or passed through a filter press.

Flotation Process - GB 1898 21,948

PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.

Improvements in Separating Metallic from Rocky Constituents of
Ores and Apparatus therefor.

     I, FRANCIS EDWARD ELMORE, of Pontefract Road, Hunslet, Leeds, in the County of York, Electrometallurgist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows : -

     My invention relates to means of separating the metallic from the rocky constituents of ores, which I effect by bringing a mixture of the pulverised ore with water, into contact with more or less thick oil, which entraps the metallic constituents and allows the rocky constituents to pass away with the water; I then separate the metallic particles from the oil which can be used for repeated operations.

      Various forms of apparatus may be employed for operating as above described. One form which I find effective is of the following description. The mixture of pulverised ore and water and also the oil flow into one end of a drum which slowly revolves on a horizontal axis. At each end of the drum there is a circular opening, and within the drum annular helical ribs extend from end to end; the spaces between these ribs are divided into cells by a number of equidistant blades.
     These blades are not radial, but are inclined in such a manner that, as the drum revolves, each blade after passing the lowest part of its course, becomes horizontal and then slopes downwards so that the liquid carried up by it flows quietly into the next cell in order.

     The ore and water and the oil, which are thus mingled, without being broken up so as to form a uniform mixture, are carried from the end of the drum where they entered to the opposite end whence they overflow into a vessel in which the water and rocky constituents mostly subside, while the oil with the metallic constituents floats above.

     The lowest layer is drawn away as tailings which may be again treated with oil, and the upper layer is led into a centrifugal drum containing a little water. As the drum rapidly revolves, the metallic particles are caused by centrifugal force to pass from the oil to the water which forms a layer next the circumference of the drum which is closed, while the oil, being lighter, flows over an inwardly projecting lip into the casing of the drum whence it is removed to be used over again. When the layer of particles and water in the centrifugal drum attains a certain thickness, the drum is stopped, the layer is removed and the drum receives a fresh charge of water and is again worked.

     The oil may be pumped up to an elevated cistern to supply the drum first described, but, in order to clear the oil from air bubbles, I prefer to draw the oil up to the cistern by creating a partial vacuum in the cistern.

Dated this 18th day of October 1898.

ABEL & IMRAY
Agents for the Applicants

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.

Improvements in Separating Metallic from Rocky Constituents of
Ores and Apparatus therefor.

     I, FRANCIS EDWARD ELMORE, of Pontefract Road, Hunslet, Leeds, in the County of York, Electrometallurgist; do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described . and ascertained in and by the following statement : -

      My invention relates to means of separating the metallic from the rock constituents of ores, which I effect by mixing the pulverised ore with water in quantity amounting to several times the weight of the ore, bringing the mixture into contact with thick oil, such as the thick tarry residue of mineral oil after some of the volatile constituents have been distilled off. This oil entraps the metallic constituents of the ore and allows the rocky constituents to pass away with the water; I then separate the metallic particles from the oil which can be used for repeated operations.

     Various form of apparatus may be employed for operating as above described. One form which I find effective is shewn in vertical section in the accompanying diagram.

      The mixture of pulverised ore and water supplied by pipe a and also the oil supplied by pipe b flow into one end of a drum c which slowly revolves on a horizontal axis. At each end of the drum thereis a circular opening and within the drum annular helical ribs d extend from end to end; the spaces between these ribs being divided into cells by a number of equidistant blades.

     The ore and water and the oil, which are thus mingled without being broken up so as to form a uniform mixture, are carried from the end of the drum where they entered to the opposite end whence they are discharged into a vessel e in which the water and rocky constituents mostly subside, while the oil with the metallic constituents floats above.

     The lowest layer is drawn away as tailings which may be again treated with oil by leading them by a pipe f to a second drum g where they are again mixed with oil supplied by a pipe of the mixture being discharged into a second subsidence vessel k. This may be again repeated until little or none of the metallic constituents remain in the tailings.

     The upper layer from the subsidence vessels is led by pipes l into a centrifugal drum m containing a little water. As the drum rapidly revolves, the metallic particles are caused by centrifugal force to pass from the oil to the water which forms a layer next the circumference of the drum, the side of which is closed, while the oil, being lighter, flows over an inwardly projecting lip n into the casing h of the drum whence it is removed by a pipe, q to be used over again. When the layer of particles and water in the centrifugal drum attains a certain thickness, the drum is stopped, the layer is removed and the drum receives a fresh charge of water and is again worked. The oil may be pumped up to an elevated cistern to supply the drums c and g, but, in order to clear the oil from air bubbles, I prefer to draw the oil up to the cistern by creating a partial vacuum in the cistern.

     Instead of employing centrifugal force to separate the oil from the metallic matters mixed with it, the mixture may be thinned by heating it or mingling it with solvents of the oil such as benzoline, and left for subsidence or subjected to filter pressing, so that the greatest portion of the oil can be recovered for subsequent use.

     Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what claim is : -

     1. Process for separating the metallic from the rocky constituents of ore by mixing the pulverised ore first with water in considerable quantity, then adding to the mixture an oil of the kind described, which adheres to the metallic constituents but not to the wet rocky constituents, allowing the water carrving the rocky material to subside while the oil carrying metallic constituents floats above, and separating the oil from these constituents, substantially as described.

     2. For separating metallic from rocky constituents of ore, apparatus comprising a revolving helically ribbed drum, a subsidence vessel and a centrifugal drum, arranged and operating substantially as described.

     Dated this 15th day of August 1899.

ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants