US3789978A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for separating finer particles from coarse particles suspended in a liquid
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-04-20
•
Granted: 1974-02-05
•
Expires: 1991-04-20
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating finer particles from coarse particles suspended in a liquid by projecting the liquid, via a nozzle, in the form of a conical spray onto a screening member or strainer. A pressure difference is maintained between the pressures on either side of the screening means so that a portion of the liquid and finer particles together with a gas, such as air, are permitted to pass through the screening means to its outlet side whereas coarse particles are conducted away on the inlet side of the screening means. The invention is mainly characterized by a liquid column maintained on the outlet side of the screening means. This column communicates with the outlet side of said screening means.
Inventors
- 👤 B Janson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:44
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07B; B07B1/00; B03; B03B; B03B7/00; B07B2230/00; B07B2230/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of separating finer particles from coarser particles both suspended in a liquid comprising: introducing and maintaining a gas in a gas space; spraying a particle-containing liquid through the gas space against the inlet side of a screening means and flowing a portion of the liquid in mixture with gas and containing finer particles through the screening means thereby forming gas bubbles while simultaneously conducting coarser particles away from the inlet side of the screening means; maintaining in contact with the outlet side of the screening means a column of said liquid into which the mixture of liquid and gas bubbles flows; and maintaining a pressure difference between the pressures on either side of the screening means such that said column and said flow through the screening means is maintained.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of separating finer particles from coarser particles both suspended in a liquid comprising: introducing and maintaining a gas in a gas space; spraying a particle-containing liquid through the gas space against the inlet side of a screening means and flowing a portion of the liquid in mixture with gas and containing finer particles through the screening means thereby forming gas bubbles while simultaneously conducting coarser particles away from the inlet side of the screening means; maintaining in contact with the outlet side of the screening means a column of said liquid into which the mixture of liquid and gas bubbles flows; and maintaining a pressure difference between the pressures on either side of the screening means such that said column and said flow through the screening means is maintained.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the screening means is disposed so that its inlet side faces generally downwardly and wherein the liquid is sprayed generally upwardly against the downwardly facing inlet side.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the screening means extends in substantially a horizontal plane and wherein the liquid is sprayed substantially vertically upwardly against the underside of the screening means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the screening means extends at an angle to a horizontal plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 1 including passing the liquid containiNg finer particles and gas from the screening means to a flotation chamber and separating the finer particles from the liquid in the flotation chamber.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
209 words
A method for separating finer particles from coarser particles both suspended in a liquid comprising: arranging a screening means capable of passing only finer particles so that it exhibits a downwardly facing surface and an upwardly facing surface; arranging and maintaining a body of liquid of uniform thickness in contact with the upwardly facing surface of the screening means; spraying liquid containing suspended particles upwardly through a gas space against the downwardly facing surface of the screening means while introducing and maintaining a gas in the gas space so that a portion of the liquid in mixture with gas and containing finer particles flows through the screening means into the body of liquid in the form of bubbles suspended in liquid; and so that coarser particles are conducted away from the downwardly facing surface of the screening means; maintaining a pressure difference between the fluid pressures on opposite sides of the screening means such that the body of liquid in contact with the upwardly facing surface of the screening means in maintained in the form of a column and such that the flow through the screening means is maintained; allowing the gas bubbles to rise and thereby carry finer particles to the surface; and discharging the floating finer particles.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
209 words
A method for separating finer particles from coarser particles both suspended in a liquid comprising: arranging a screening means capable of passing only finer particles so that it exhibits a downwardly facing surface and an upwardly facing surface; arranging and maintaining a body of liquid of uniform thickness in contact with the upwardly facing surface of the screening means; spraying liquid containing suspended particles upwardly through a gas space against the downwardly facing surface of the screening means while introducing and maintaining a gas in the gas space so that a portion of the liquid in mixture with gas and containing finer particles flows through the screening means into the body of liquid in the form of bubbles suspended in liquid; and so that coarser particles are conducted away from the downwardly facing surface of the screening means; maintaining a pressure difference between the fluid pressures on opposite sides of the screening means such that the body of liquid in contact with the upwardly facing surface of the screening means in maintained in the form of a column and such that the flow through the screening means is maintained; allowing the gas bubbles to rise and thereby carry finer particles to the surface; and discharging the floating finer particles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
194 words
Apparatus for separating finer particles from coarser particles both suspended in a liquid comprising: walls forming a gas-containing chamber and a chamber containing a body of liquid; screening means capable of passing only finer particles, said chambers being in communication with each other through said screening means; a nozzle in said gas chamber for projecting the liquid containing suspended particles in the form of an outwardly diverging conical spray onto one side of said screening means to thereby pass a portion of the liquid containing finer particles together with gas through the screening means thereby forming gas bubbles while simultaneously conducting coarser particles away from said one side of said screening means; and means for maintaining the liquid in said liquid-containing chamber in contact with the other side of said screening means in the form of a liquid column into which said bubbles flow, said means including means for introducing and maintaining a gas in said gas-containing chamber and for maintaining a pressure differential across said screening means such that the pressure in said liquid-containing chamber is less than the pressure in said gas-containing chamber whereby said flow through said screening means is maintained.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
194 words
Apparatus for separating finer particles from coarser particles both suspended in a liquid comprising: walls forming a gas-containing chamber and a chamber containing a body of liquid; screening means capable of passing only finer particles, said chambers being in communication with each other through said screening means; a nozzle in said gas chamber for projecting the liquid containing suspended particles in the form of an outwardly diverging conical spray onto one side of said screening means to thereby pass a portion of the liquid containing finer particles together with gas through the screening means thereby forming gas bubbles while simultaneously conducting coarser particles away from said one side of said screening means; and means for maintaining the liquid in said liquid-containing chamber in contact with the other side of said screening means in the form of a liquid column into which said bubbles flow, said means including means for introducing and maintaining a gas in said gas-containing chamber and for maintaining a pressure differential across said screening means such that the pressure in said liquid-containing chamber is less than the pressure in said gas-containing chamber whereby said flow through said screening means is maintained.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus as in claim 7 including a plurality of said chambers and respective screening means and nozzles wherein each screening means is disposed generally horizontally and wherein each nozzle sprays its conical spray upwardly onto the underside of its respective screening means, each liquid-containing chamber having an outlet line for liquid containing finer particles and gas, all said outlet lines being connected to discharge into a common collecting chamber, each gas-containing chamber having an outlet line for liquid containing coarser particles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said plurality of chambers are arranged in a straight line.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said plurality of chambers are arranged in uniform spaced-apart relationship in a closed path.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
195 words
Apparatus for separating finer particles from coarser particles suspended in a liquid comprising: a plurality of housings arranged below a common liquid-containing chamber, each of said housings being divided interiorly into an upper chamber and a lower chamber by a screening means having a lower surface and an opposite upper surface; a nozzle in each lower chamber for spraying liquid containing suspended particles and gas in the form of an upwardly and outwardly diverging conical spray onto the lower surface oF the respective screening means to thereby pass a portion of the liquid containing finer particles together with gas through the screening means; conduit means connecting the upper end of each upper chamber to said common chamber at a level below the liquid level in said common chamber; and means introducing and maintaining a gas in said lower chambers and maintaining a pressure difference between the fluid pressure in said common chamber and the fluid pressures in said lower chambers such that the liquid in said common chamber is maintained as a liquid column in contact with the upper surfaces of said screening means and such that said flow through said screening means is maintained.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
195 words
Apparatus for separating finer particles from coarser particles suspended in a liquid comprising: a plurality of housings arranged below a common liquid-containing chamber, each of said housings being divided interiorly into an upper chamber and a lower chamber by a screening means having a lower surface and an opposite upper surface; a nozzle in each lower chamber for spraying liquid containing suspended particles and gas in the form of an upwardly and outwardly diverging conical spray onto the lower surface oF the respective screening means to thereby pass a portion of the liquid containing finer particles together with gas through the screening means; conduit means connecting the upper end of each upper chamber to said common chamber at a level below the liquid level in said common chamber; and means introducing and maintaining a gas in said lower chambers and maintaining a pressure difference between the fluid pressure in said common chamber and the fluid pressures in said lower chambers such that the liquid in said common chamber is maintained as a liquid column in contact with the upper surfaces of said screening means and such that said flow through said screening means is maintained.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |