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Patent US4065385A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4065385A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for separating a mixture of liquid and coal fines
Assignee: Inland Steel Co
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Filing: 1976-12-13
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Granted: 1977-12-27
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Expires: 1996-12-13
Abstract
Abstract Coal fines are separated from a mixture containing liquid and coal fines in an apparatus comprising a combination surge tank and flotation tank employing air bubbles to urge the coal fines toward the overflow from the flotation tank.
Inventors
- 👤 Ali I. Aktay
- 👤 Bohdan J. Bodnaruk
- 👤 Michael O. Holowaty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:02
CPC Classifications
B; B03; B03D; B03D1/00; B03D1/14; B03D1/24; B03D1/26; B03B; B03B9/00; B03B9/005; B03D1/1406; B03D1/1443; B03D1/1462; B03D1/1475; B03D1/1493
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
277 words
An apparatus for separating coal fines from a mixture of liquid and coal fines, said apparatus comprising: a tank including an unconverging upper portion and a downwardly converging lower portion; first outlet means for removing froth from the upper portion of said tank; second outlet means at the bottom of said tank for removing liquid from said tank; means for withdrawing liquid from said tank through said first and second outlet means and for providing in said tank a first zone in which liquid is urged toward said first outlet means and a second zone, below said first zone, in which liquid is normally urged downwardly toward said second outlet means; said downwardly converging lower tank portion comprising means for accelerating the downward movement of liquid in said second zone as the downwardly moving liquid approaches said second outlet means; means for introducing into said tank a first mixture comprising liquid and coal fines; means for premixing air with at least a portion of the liquid from said first mixture to form a second mixture comprising said liquid and bubbles of air; and means for introducing said second mixture into said downwardly converging lower portion, substantially below said unconverging upper portion, in said second zone at a level at which rising air bubbles from said second mixture exert an upward force on coal fines mixed with liquid in said second zone sufficient to overcome the downward urging of the liquid on the coal fines, for the acceleration the liquid undergoes at that level as a result of said downwardly converging lower tank portion, and to urge said coal fines at that level toward said first outlet means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
277 words
An apparatus for separating coal fines from a mixture of liquid and coal fines, said apparatus comprising: a tank including an unconverging upper portion and a downwardly converging lower portion; first outlet means for removing froth from the upper portion of said tank; second outlet means at the bottom of said tank for removing liquid from said tank; means for withdrawing liquid from said tank through said first and second outlet means and for providing in said tank a first zone in which liquid is urged toward said first outlet means and a second zone, below said first zone, in which liquid is normally urged downwardly toward said second outlet means; said downwardly converging lower tank portion comprising means for accelerating the downward movement of liquid in said second zone as the downwardly moving liquid approaches said second outlet means; means for introducing into said tank a first mixture comprising liquid and coal fines; means for premixing air with at least a portion of the liquid from said first mixture to form a second mixture comprising said liquid and bubbles of air; and means for introducing said second mixture into said downwardly converging lower portion, substantially below said unconverging upper portion, in said second zone at a level at which rising air bubbles from said second mixture exert an upward force on coal fines mixed with liquid in said second zone sufficient to overcome the downward urging of the liquid on the coal fines, for the acceleration the liquid undergoes at that level as a result of said downwardly converging lower tank portion, and to urge said coal fines at that level toward said first outlet means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 and comprising: means for recycling first mixture liquid from said lower portion of the tank to said premixing means; said recycling means including outlet means for said liquid located below the level at which said second mixture is introduced into said second zone and substantially above said second outlet means for subjecting the liquid urged toward said second outlet means to an interception operation before that liquid reaches the level of said second outlet means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said recycling outlet means is located below the level at which said air bubbles begin to rise.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said recycling means comprises means for recycling said first mixture liquid at a rate which produces a shearing action with said air in said premixing means to produce fine air bubbles having a size in the range of 50-100 microns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said premixing means comprises: a vortex chamber; first inlet means for introducing said mixture tangentially into said vortex chamber; second inlet means, located above said first inlet means, for introducing air downwardly into said vortex chamber to premix said air and said mixture; and outlet means for said second mixture located below said first inlet means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said introducing means for the second mixture comprises means for directing said second mixture downwardly into said second zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said tank is a surge tank.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
282 words
A method for separating, in a tank, coal fines from a mixture of liquid and coal fines, said method comprising the steps of: providing a liquid-containing tank with an unconverging upper portion, a downwardly converging lower portion, a first outlet for removing froth from said upper portion of said tank and a second outlet for removing liquid from the bottom of the tank; simultaneously withdrawing liquid from said tank through said first and second tank outlets at respective withdrawal rates which cooperate to provide, in the tank, a first zone in which said liquid is urged toward said first outlet and a second zone, below said first zone, in which said liquid is normally urged downwardly toward said second outlet; accelerating the downward movement of liquid in said second zone as the downwardly moving liquid descends through said downwardly converging lower tank portion and approaches said second outlet; introducing a first mixture of said liquid and said coal fines into said tank; premixing air with at least a portion of the liquid from said first mixture, to form a second mixture comprising said liquid and air bubbles; and introducing said second mixture into said downwardly converging lower portion, substantially below said unconverging upper portion, in said second zone at a level at which rising air bubbles from said second mixture exert an upward force on coal fines mixed with liquid in said second zone sufficient to overcome the downward urging of the liquid on the coal fines, for the acceleration the liquid undergoes at that level as a result of its descent through said downwardly converging lower tank portion, and to urge said coal fines at that level toward said first outlet.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
282 words
A method for separating, in a tank, coal fines from a mixture of liquid and coal fines, said method comprising the steps of: providing a liquid-containing tank with an unconverging upper portion, a downwardly converging lower portion, a first outlet for removing froth from said upper portion of said tank and a second outlet for removing liquid from the bottom of the tank; simultaneously withdrawing liquid from said tank through said first and second tank outlets at respective withdrawal rates which cooperate to provide, in the tank, a first zone in which said liquid is urged toward said first outlet and a second zone, below said first zone, in which said liquid is normally urged downwardly toward said second outlet; accelerating the downward movement of liquid in said second zone as the downwardly moving liquid descends through said downwardly converging lower tank portion and approaches said second outlet; introducing a first mixture of said liquid and said coal fines into said tank; premixing air with at least a portion of the liquid from said first mixture, to form a second mixture comprising said liquid and air bubbles; and introducing said second mixture into said downwardly converging lower portion, substantially below said unconverging upper portion, in said second zone at a level at which rising air bubbles from said second mixture exert an upward force on coal fines mixed with liquid in said second zone sufficient to overcome the downward urging of the liquid on the coal fines, for the acceleration the liquid undergoes at that level as a result of its descent through said downwardly converging lower tank portion, and to urge said coal fines at that level toward said first outlet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
92 words
A method as recited in claim 8 and comprising the further step of: recycling first mixture liquid from a lower portion of said tank for premixing with said air to form said second mixture; said recycling step comprising withdrawing said first mixture liquid from a location in said tank below the level at which said second mixture is introduced into said second zone and substantially above said second outlet to subject the liquid urged toward said second outlet to an interception operation before that liquid reaches the level of said second outlet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 9 wherein said withdrawing location is below the level at which said air bubbles begin to rise.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as recited in claim 9 wherein said recycling step comprises recycling said first mixture liquid at a rate which produces a shearing action with said air during said premixing step to produce fine air bubbles having a size in the range 50-100 microns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said last-recited introducing step comprises directing said second mixture downwardly into said second zone.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-12-26 | 1981-06-27 | 1981-12-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-26 | 1985-06-27 | 1985-12-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-26 | 1989-06-27 | 1989-12-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |