Flotation machine apparatus and method of using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12145159-B2
Application number	US-201917040852-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2019
Priority date	Mar 23, 2018
Publication date	Nov 19, 2024
Grant date	Nov 19, 2024

Abstract

A flotation machine includes a wash water system that is connectable adjacent a tank to direct sprays of water into froth within a froth zone. Wash water panel assemblies of the system can be positioned adjacent the tank so that each of the wash water panel assemblies are moveable between an open position and a closed position. Each wash water panel assembly can include an outer panel body that at least partially defines a reservoir in which wash water is passable and a spray membrane positionable adjacent the outer panel body. The spray membrane can have a plurality of spray holes in fluid communication with the reservoir such that water is passable from the reservoir and through the spray membrane via the spray holes for spraying water into the froth in the froth zone.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A flotation machine ( 1 ) comprising:
a wash water system ( 11 ) that is connectable adjacent a tank ( 3 ) to direct sprays ( 31 ) of water into froth, the wash water system ( 11 ) comprising a plurality of wash water panel assemblies ( 21 ) positioned adjacent the tank ( 3 ), each of the wash water panel assemblies ( 21 ) being moveable between an open position and a closed position, each of the wash water panel assemblies ( 21 ) comprising:
an outer panel body ( 24 ) that at least partially defines a reservoir ( 24 b ) in which wash water is passable wherein the outer panel body ( 24 ) is moveably attachable to the tank ( 3 ) of the flotation machine via at least one connector ( 23 ) such that the outer panel body ( 24 ) of the panel assembly is moveable between an open position and a closed position; and
a spray membrane ( 25 ) positionable adjacent the outer panel body ( 24 ), the spray membrane having a plurality of spray holes ( 25 a ) in fluid communication with the reservoir ( 24 b ) such that water is passable from the reservoir ( 24 b ) and through the spray membrane ( 25 ) via the spray holes ( 25 a ) for spraying water into the froth.

2. The flotation machine of claim 1 , wherein the spray membrane ( 25 ) is resilient and is configured such that a plurality of protruding shapes ( 29 ) are formed in the spray membrane ( 25 ) via deformation of the spray membrane that occurs when liquid water is passed through the spray holes ( 25 a ) for spraying water into the froth.

3. The flotation machine of claim 2 , wherein the spray membrane ( 25 ) has a plurality of recesses ( 25 b ), each of the recesses in fluid communication with a respective set of the spray holes ( 25 a ), each of the recesses ( 25 b ) also in fluid communication with the reservoir ( 24 b ).

4. The flotation machine of claim 3 , wherein each of the wash water panel assemblies ( 21 ) comprise a metering plate ( 22 ) positioned between the outer panel body ( 24 ) and the spray membrane ( 25 ), the metering plate ( 22 ) having a plurality of holes ( 22 b ) in fluid communication with the reservoir ( 24 b ), each of the holes ( 22 b ) of the metering plate ( 22 ) being in fluid communication with at least one of the recesses ( 25 b ).

5. The flotation machine of claim 2 , wherein each of the wash water panel assemblies ( 21 ) comprise a metering plate ( 22 ) positioned between the outer panel body ( 24 ) and the spray membrane ( 25 ), the metering plate ( 22 ) having a plurality of holes ( 22 b ) in fluid communication with the reservoir ( 24 b ), each of the holes ( 22 b ) of the metering plate ( 22 ) being in fluid communication with at least one of the spray holes ( 25 a ).

6. The flotation machine of claim 2 , comprising:
at least one wash water member ( 27 ) positioned to contact the spray membrane ( 25 ) of at least one of the wash water panel assemblies ( 21 ) when that at least one wash water panel assembly ( 21 ) is in a closed position, the at least one wash water member ( 27 ) having holes ( 27 a ) that are aligned with the spray holes ( 25 a ) so that the protruding shapes ( 29 ) can extend into the holes ( 27 a ) of the at least one wash water member ( 27 ).

7. The flotation machine of claim 6 , wherein the spray membrane ( 25 ) has a plurality of recesses ( 25 b ), each of the recesses ( 25 b ) in fluid communication with a respective set of the spray holes ( 25 a ), each of the recesses ( 25 b ) also in fluid communication with the reservoir ( 24 b ); and
wherein each of the wash water panel assemblies ( 21 ) comprise a metering plate ( 22 ) positioned between the outer panel body ( 24 ) and the spray membrane ( 25 ), the metering plate ( 22 ) having a plurality of holes ( 22 b ) in fluid communication with the reservoir ( 24 b ), each of the holes ( 22 b ) of the metering plate ( 22 ) being in fluid communication with at least one of the recesses ( 25 b ).

8. The flotation machine of claim 6 , wherein each of the wash water panel assemblies ( 21 ) comprise a metering plate ( 22 ) positioned between the outer panel body ( 24 ) and the spray membrane ( 25 ) to at least partially define the reservoir ( 24 b ), the metering plate ( 22 ) having a plurality of holes ( 22 b ) in fluid communication with the reservoir ( 24 b ), each of the holes ( 22 b ) of the metering plate ( 22 ) being in fluid communication with at least one of the spray holes ( 25 a ).

9. The flotation machine of claim 1 , comprising:
a plurality of connectors ( 23 ) that moveably connect the wash water panel assemblies ( 21 ) to at least one of the tank and a housing of the flotation machine such that each of the wash water panel assemblies ( 21 ) is moveable between a closed position and an open position; and
wherein the spray membrane ( 25 ) is resilient and is configured such that a plurality of protruding shapes ( 29 ) are formed in the spray membrane ( 25 ) when liquid water is passed through the spray holes ( 25 a ) for spraying water into the froth.

10. The flotation machine of claim 9 , comprising:
at least one wash water member ( 27 ) positioned to contact the spray membrane ( 25 ) of at least one of the wash water panel assemblies ( 21 ) when that at least one wash water panel assembly ( 21 ) is in the closed position, the at least one wash water member ( 27 ) having holes ( 27 a ) that are aligned with the spray holes ( 25 a ) so that the protruding shapes ( 29 ) can extend into the holes ( 27 a ) of the at least one wash water member ( 27 ).

11. The flotation machine of claim 10 , wherein the spray membrane ( 25 ) has a plurality of recesses ( 25 b ), each of the recesses ( 25 b ) in fluid communication with a respective set of the spray holes ( 25 a ), each of the recesses ( 25 b ) also in fluid communication with the reservoir ( 24 b ); and
wherein each of the wash water panel assemblies ( 21 ) comprise a metering plate ( 22 ) positioned between the outer panel body ( 24 ) and the spray membrane ( 25 ), the metering plate having a plurality of holes ( 22 b ) in fluid communication with the reservoir ( 24 b ), each of the holes ( 22 b ) of the metering plate ( 22 ) being in fluid communication with at least one of the recesses ( 25 b ).

12. A wash water panel assembly ( 21 ) for a wash water system ( 11 ) of a flotation machine ( 1 ), the panel assembly ( 21 ) comprising: an outer panel body ( 24 ) that at least partially defines a reservoir ( 24 b ) in which wash water is passable; and a spray membrane ( 25 ) positionable adjacent the outer panel body ( 24 ), the spray membrane ( 25 ) having a plurality of spray holes ( 25 a ) in fluid communication with the reservoir ( 24 b ) such that water is passable from the reservoir ( 24 b ) and through the spray membrane ( 25 ) via the spray holes ( 25 a ) for spraying water into froth; wherein the spray membrane ( 25 ) is resilient and is configured such that a plurality of protruding shapes ( 29 ) are formed in the spray membrane ( 25 ) when liquid water is passed through the spray holes ( 25 a ) for spraying water into the froth; and wherein the outer panel body ( 24 ) is moveably attachable to at least one of a tank ( 3 ) of the flotation machine and a housing ( 6 ) of the flotation machine via at least one connector ( 23 ) such that the outer panel body ( 24 ) is moveable between an open position and a closed position.

13. A method of operating a flotation machine ( 1 ) comprising: providing a wash water system ( 11 ) including wash water panel assemblies according to claim 12 for installation into a flotation machine a

Assignees

• Smidth As F L

Inventors

• Walker Mathew

Classifications

• B05B1/185

  characterised by their outlet element; Mounting arrangements therefor · CPC title

• B03D1/16

  with impellers; Subaeration machines {(mixing gases or vapours with liquids B01F23/20)} · CPC title

• B05B15/55

  using cleaning fluids · CPC title

• B05B15/528

  by resilient deformation of the nozzle · CPC title

• B05B12/06

  for effecting pulsating flow {(nozzles, spray heads or other outlets with means for generating a discharge of pulsating nature B05B1/08)} · CPC title