US3841865A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for precipitating copper
Assignee: Dravo Corp
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Filing: 1972-09-05
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1992-09-05
Abstract
Abstract Improvements in a process whereby iron mini-pellet precipitants are dynamically suspended in copper pregnant solutions by constantly introducing fresh pellets and solution into the treatment vessel by bouncing the pellets and fresh solution off a diffuser plate thus creating an upward migratory motion, and by recirculating pellets and solution from the bottom of the vessel to the top creating a vortex. This vortex helps dislodge the particulated copper from the pellet precipitants by directing the pellets into baffle plates. The particulated copper rises with the spent solution and flows out of the vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 K Krish
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:44
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B3/00; C22B3/02; B; B01; B01F; B01F25/00; B01F25/10; B01F25/20; B01F25/25; C22B15/00; C22B15/0063; C22B15/0084; C22B15/0089; C22B15/0091; C22B3/20; C22B3/44; C22B3/46; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A METHOD OF PRECIPITATING COPPER FROM PREGNANT SOLUTIONS THEREOF ONTO IRON MINI-PELLET PRECIPITANS, IN A TREATMENT VESSEL HAVING AN UPPER END AND A LOWER INVERTED CONE PORTION, WHICH METHOD COMPRISES: A. CONSTANTLY ADDING AN INITIAL MIXTURE OF PREGNANT COPPER SOLUTION AND IRON MINI-PELLETS INTO THE TREATMENT VESSEL AT AN ENTRY SPACED FROM THE INVERTED CONE PORTION; B. DYNAMICALLY SUSPENDING THE PELLETS AND COPPER FROM THE PREGNANT SOLUTION IN THE TREATMENT VESSEL TO PERMIT PRECIPITATION OF COPPER ON THE PELLTES; C. CONSTANTLY DRAWING OFF A RESULTING MIXTURE OF SOLUTION AND PELLETS FROM THE INVERTED CONE PORTION OF THE TREATMENT VESSEL, AND RECIRCULATING SAID RESULTING MIXTURE TO THE TREATMENT VESSEL AT A POSITION INTERMEDIATE THE ENTRY FOR THE INITIAL MIXTURE AND THE UPPER END OF THE TREATMENT VESSEL; AND D. REMOVING PRECIPITATED COPPER AND SPENT SOLUTION FROM THE UPPER END OF THE TREATMENT VESSEL.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
A METHOD OF PRECIPITATING COPPER FROM PREGNANT SOLUTIONS THEREOF ONTO IRON MINI-PELLET PRECIPITANS, IN A TREATMENT VESSEL HAVING AN UPPER END AND A LOWER INVERTED CONE PORTION, WHICH METHOD COMPRISES: A. CONSTANTLY ADDING AN INITIAL MIXTURE OF PREGNANT COPPER SOLUTION AND IRON MINI-PELLETS INTO THE TREATMENT VESSEL AT AN ENTRY SPACED FROM THE INVERTED CONE PORTION; B. DYNAMICALLY SUSPENDING THE PELLETS AND COPPER FROM THE PREGNANT SOLUTION IN THE TREATMENT VESSEL TO PERMIT PRECIPITATION OF COPPER ON THE PELLTES; C. CONSTANTLY DRAWING OFF A RESULTING MIXTURE OF SOLUTION AND PELLETS FROM THE INVERTED CONE PORTION OF THE TREATMENT VESSEL, AND RECIRCULATING SAID RESULTING MIXTURE TO THE TREATMENT VESSEL AT A POSITION INTERMEDIATE THE ENTRY FOR THE INITIAL MIXTURE AND THE UPPER END OF THE TREATMENT VESSEL; AND D. REMOVING PRECIPITATED COPPER AND SPENT SOLUTION FROM THE UPPER END OF THE TREATMENT VESSEL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the pellets and copper from the pregnant solution are dynamically suspended by causing the initial mixture to bounce off of a diffuser plate into the solution in the treatment vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the pellets and copper from the pregnant solution are dynamically suspended by removing the resulting mixture from the bottom of the treatment vessel and reintroducing said resulting mixture into the treatment vessel in a circulating stream creating a vortex.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method defined in claim 3 wherein the resulting mixture is removed from the treatment vessel at a rate greater than the rate at which the initial mixture is added to the treatment vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method defined in claim 4 wherein the resulting mixture is removed at a rate six times the rate at which the initial mixture is added.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the treatment vessel includes a vertical wall portion having baffle plates located thereon, and the precipitated copper metal is broken from the pellets by causing the pellets to collide with each other and the baffle plates on the vertical wall portion of the treatment vessel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein precipitated copper and spent solution are removed by their overflowing the treatment vessel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2981413A
Cited
US3154411A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |