Multistage mixer-settler apparatus

Claim 1

A MIXER-SETTE UNIT FOR CONTACTING A LIGHT AND HEAVY LIQUID PHASE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTALLY ARRANGED STATES, EACH STAGE COMPRISING AN INLET SECTION FOR THE HEAVY PHASE, AN INLET FOR SAID SECTION, A MIXING SECTION ABOVE THE INLET SECTION, INLET MEANS IN THE MIXING SECTION FOR ADMITTING THE LIGHT PHASE, A H ORIZONTAL PLATE SEPARATING SAID INLET SECTION AND SAID MIXING SECTION, COMBINED STIRRING AND PUMPING MEANS IN SAID MIXING SECTION COMPRISING A SHAFT AT LEAST THE LOWER PORTION THEREOF BEING HOLLOW, A DISC FIXED PERPENDICULARLY TO THE AXIS OF THE SHAFT, A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY ARRANGED TURBINE BLADES SEFURED TO THE PERIPHERY OF THE DISC, MEANS DEFINING RADIAL PASSAGES IN SAID DISC AND COMMUNICATING WITH HOLLOW LOWER PORTION OF SAID SHAFT, SAID PORTION OF SAID SHAFT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID PLATE AND INTO SAID INLET SECTION WHEREBY THE LIQUID LEVEL IN THE INLET SECTION IS MAINTAINABLE AT A PREDETERMINED LEVEL, SETTLING SECTION COMMUNICATING WITH SAID MIXING SECTION, AND OUTLETS IN SAID SETTLING SECTION ADJACENT THE TOP AND BOTTOM THEREOF FOR REMOVAL OF THE LIGHT AND HEAVY PHASES RESPECTIVELY.