Flood cell apparatus

Claim 2

A flood cell apparatus comprising: a tank having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein said tank is adapted to receive materials proximate said inlet end for conveying and processing and for discharge thereof proximate said outlet end, said outlet end defining the overflow level of said tank, means for positioning said tank at a predetermined angle including adjustable means for supporting the outlet end of said tank so that the angular disposition of said tank may be adjusted, the bottom of said tank being inclined upwardly from a lower level at the inlet end of said tank to a higher level toward the outlet end of said tank, and said tank having a width decreasing from the top thereof toward the bottom of said tank to define a reduced cross section of said tank below a given level proximate said overflow level, and means for providing a stream of liquid under pressure from the direction of the inlet end of said tank generally toward the outlet end of said tank and providing sufficient liquid for producing a flow of liquid in said tank over said overflow level, the velocity of liquid flow increasing along said tank toward said outlet end as a consequence of said reduced cross section thereof, said stream of liquid forcing materials under a first specific gravity over said outlet end in accordance with the inclination of the bottom of said tank and the pressure of said stream of liquid, while materials of predetermined greater spEcific gravity are impeded by the inclined bottom of said tank and tend to move toward the inlet end thereof, said tank having evacuation means at its lower inlet end for receiving said materials of predetermined greater specific gravity.

Claim 3

A flood cell apparatus comprising: a tank having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein said tank is adapted to receive materials proximate said inlet end for conveying and processing and for discharge thereof proximate said outlet end, said outlet end defining the overflow level of said tank, the bottom of said tank being inclined upwardly from a lower level at the inlet end of said tank to a higher level toward the outlet end of said tank, and said tank having a width decreasing from the top thereof toward the bottom of said tank to define a reduced cross section of said tank below a given level proximate said overflow level, means for providing a stream of liquid under pressure from the direction of the inlet end of said tank generally toward the outlet end of said tank and providing sufficient liquid for producing a flow of liquid in said tank over said overflow level, the velocity of liquid flow increasing along said tank toward said outlet end as a consequence of said reduced cross section thereof, said stream of liquid forcing materials under a first specific gravity over said outlet end in accordance with the inclination of the bottom of said tank and the pressure of said stream of liquid, while materials of predetermined greater specific gravity are impeded by the inclined bottom of said tank and tend to move toward the inlet end thereof, said tank having evacuation means at its lower inlet end for receiving said materials of predetermined greater specific gravity, and an additional tank of a substantially similar nature having its inlet end positioned for receiving materials forced over the outlet end of said first tank for additionally conveying and processing same.

Claim 4

A flood cell apparatus comprising: a tank having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein said tank is adapted to receive materials proximate said inlet end for conveying and processing and for discharge thereof proximate said outlet end, said outlet end defining the overflow level of said tank, the bottom of said tank being inclined upwardly from a lower level at the inlet end of said tank to a higher level toward the outlet end of said tank, and said tank having a width decreasing from the top thereof toward the bottom of said tank to define a reduced cross section of said tank below a given level proximate said overflow level, means for providing a stream of liquid under pressure from the direction of the inlet end of said tank generally toward the outlet end of said tank and providing sufficient liquid for producing a flow of liquid in said tank over said overflow level, the velocity of liquid flow increasing along said tank toward said outlet end as a consequence of said reduced cross section thereof, said stream of liquid forcing materials under a first specific gravity over said outlet end in accordance with the inclination of the bottom of said tank and the pressure of said stream of liquid, while materials of predetermined greater specific gravity are impeded by the inclined bottom of said tank and tend to move toward the inlet end thereof, said tank having evacuation means at its lower inlet end for receiving said materials of predetermined greater specific gravity, and an additional tank of a substantially similar nature having its inlet end positioned for receiving materials forced over the outlet end of said first tank for additionally conveying and processing same.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the first mentioned tank and the additional tank are substantially in line, with the materials and liquid from the first mentioned tank flowing directly into the second mentioned tank.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said tanks are spaced with a perforated chute disposed between the outlet end of said first mentioned tank and the inlet end of the additional tank for conveying downwardly into the second mentioned tank materials forced over the outlet end of the first mentioned tank, and means under said chute for collecting the liquid from said first mentioned tank.

Claim 7

A flood cell apparatus comprising: an elongated tank having a trough-shaped curved bottom such that the width of said tank decreases toward the centerline of said bottom, said tank having a closed inlet end and an open outlet end, adjustable means for positioning said tank at a predetermined angle so that the open outlet end of said tank is upraised with respect to the closed inlet end thereof, but with the outlet end at its lower extremity being no higher than the closed inlet end to define an overflow outlet of said tank at said outlet end, header means for providing a stream of liquid under pressure directed within said tank toward said outlet end and away from said inlet end such that materials introduced in said tank are impelled by the flow of liquid over the outlet end of said tank according to the specific gravity of said materials, the pressure of said liquid, the inclination of said tank, and the curvature of the bottom of said tank, and evacuation means at the lower portion of the tank proximate the inlet end of said tank for removing materials which are not forced over said outlet end.

Claim 8

A flood cell apparatus comprising: an elongated tank having a trough-shaped curved bottom such that the width of said tank decreases toward the centerline of said bottom, said tank having a closed inlet end and an open outlet end, adjustable means for positioning said tank at a predetermined angle so that the open outlet end of said tank is upraised with respect to the closed inlet end thereof, but with the outlet end at its lower extremity being no higher than the closed inlet end to define an overflow outlet of said tank at said outlet end, header means for providing a stream of liquid under pressure directed within said tank toward said outlet end and away from said inlet end such that materials introduced in said tank are impelled by the flow of liquid over the outlet end of said tank according to the specific gravity of said materials, the pressure of said liquid, the inclination of said tank, and the curvature of the bottom of said tank, and evacuation means at the lower portion of the tank proximate the inlet end of said tank for removing materials which are not forced over said outlet end.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said evacuation means comprises a rotatable evacuation chamber valve.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said tank is provided with a depression therealong between said inlet and said outlet end, and further including an additional evAcuation means communicating with said depression.

Claim 11

A flood cell apparatus comprising: a tank having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein said tank is adapted to receive materials proximate said inlet end for conveying and processing and for discharge thereof proximate said outlet end, said outlet end defining the overflow level of said tank, the bottom of said tank being inclined upwardly from a lower level at the inlet end of said tank to a higher level toward the outlet end of said tank to define a reduced cross section of said tank below a given level proximate said overflow level, and means for providing a stream of liquid under pressure from the direction of the inlet end of said tank generally toward the outlet end of said tank and providing sufficient liquid for producing a flow of liquid in said tank over said overflow level, the velocity of liquid flow increasing along said tank toward said outlet end as a consequence of said reduced cross section thereof, said stream of liquid forcing materials under a first specific gravity over said outlet end in accordance with the inclination of the bottom of said tank and the pressure of said stream of liquid, while materials of predetermined greater specific gravity are impeded by the inclined bottom of said tank and tend to move toward the inlet end thereof, the apparatus being further provided with an additional tank of a substantially similar nature having its inlet end positioned for receiving materials forced over the outlet end of said first tank for additionally conveying and processing same, and including upwardly inclined conveyor means between the outlet end of the first mentioned tank and the inlet end of said additional tank.

Claim 12

A flood cell apparatus comprising: a tank having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein said tank is adapted to receive materials proximate said inlet end for conveying and processing and for discharge thereof proximate said outlet end, said outlet end defining the overflow level of said tank, the bottom of said tank being inclined upwardly from a lower level at the inlet end of said tank to a higher level toward the outlet end of said tank to define a reduced cross section of said tank below a given level proximate said overflow level, and means for providing a stream of liquid under pressure from the direction of the inlet end of said tank generally toward the outlet end of said tank and providing sufficient liquid for producing a flow of liquid in said tank over said overflow level, the velocity of liquid flow increasing along said tank toward said outlet end as a consequence of said reduced cross section thereof, said stream of liquid forcing materials under a first specific gravity over said outlet end in accordance with the inclination of the bottom of said tank and the pressure of said stream of liquid, while materials of predetermined greater specific gravity are impeded by the inclined bottom of said tank and tend to move toward the inlet end thereof, the apparatus being further provided with an additional tank of a substantially similar nature having its inlet end positioned for receiving materials forced over the outlet end of said first tank for additionally conveying and processing same, and including upwardly inclined conveyor means between the outlet end of the first mentioned tank and the inlet end of said additional tank.