CLAWSON-IMPROVED FLOTATION VALVE

Abstract

A dart valve is mounted in a modular cartridge that may be replaced as a unit within a junction box without necessarily having to stop a froth flotation process that is underway. A plurality of these modular cartridges may be placed within a single junction box.

Claims

1. A cartridge module system for use in a junction box for flotation processing, comprising a cartridge module including a dart valve system and a support frame the dart valve system having a plunger, a rod connected to the plunger for actuation thereof, and a control mechanism for selective actuation of the rod; the support frame having a top and a bottom, the bottom including a seat aperture with dimensions complementary to those of the plunger for establishing follow control of material passing thorough the seat by virtue of the position of the plunger relative to the seat aperture as provided by operation of the control mechanism, the top retaining the control mechanism of the dart valve system; and means for mounting and demounting the cartridge in the junction box for engagement therewith when the cartridge module is installed in the junction box.

2. The cartridge module system of claim 1, wherein the support frame is rectilinear.

3. The cartridge module system of claim 1, wherein the positioning of the plunger relative to the seat increases an area available to flow of the material when the plunger is raised with respect to the seat aperture.

4. The cartridge module system of claim 1, wherein the positioning of the plunger relative to the seat decreases an area available to flow of the material when the plunger is lowered with respect to the seat aperture.

5. The cartridge module system of claim 1, further comprising cartridge module system mounted in sealing engagement with the junction box.

6. The cartridge module of claim 5, wherein the means for mounting and demounting includes a system of one or more bolts.

7. The cartridge module of claim 5, wherein the means for mounting and demounting includes a system of one or more clamps.

8. The cartridge module of claim 5, wherein the means for mounting and demounting includes a gasket at the bottom of the support frame and a weight of the cartridge module.

9. The cartridge module system of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of the cartridge modules mounted in sealing engagement with the junction box.

10. The cartridge module system of claim 5, wherein the junction box is mounted between a first bank including at least one first flotation cell and a second bank including at least one second flotation cell.

11. The cartridge module system of claim 10, further comprising a fluid level control system that selectively positions the plunger relative to the seat aperture to maintain a fluid level withi8n the first flotation cell within a predetermined range.

12. The cartridge module system of claim 11, wherein the fluid level control system includes a float for sensing the fluid level, the float being configured to emit a signal representative of the fluid level for use in automated control of the fluid level when the fluid level is outside of the predetermined range.

13. A method of flotation separation processing by use of the cartridge module system as set forth in claim 5, the method comprising the steps of: forming a slurry of ore that has been comminuted to liberate metal; introducing the slurry to a first flotation cell; performing separation of the metal in the first flotation cell during which separation a level of fluid in the cell is maintained within the predetermined range, the process of separation being performed until a first cartridge module is due for replacement; selectively demounting the first cartridge module from the junction box; and mounting a renewal cartridge in place of the first cartridge module; and thereafter continuing to perform separation of metal in the first flotation cell.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the steps of selectively demounting and mounting are performed without interrupting the step of performing separation.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the steps of selectively demounting and mounting are performed without draining the junction box.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the junction box is in open flow configuration with respect to the junction box and the steps of selectively demounting and mounting are performed without draining the first flotation cell.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the steps of selectively demounting and mounting are performed without draining the junction box.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the junction box is in open flow configuration with respect to the junction box and the steps of selectively demounting and mounting are performed without draining the first flotation cell.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is an assembly view of a cartridge module system according to one embodiment;

[0020] FIG. 2 shows the assembled ca cartridge module system in use during froth flotation;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a midsection view of the cartridge module system in use; and

[0022] FIG. 4 shows a process of utilizing the cartridge module according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The instrumentalities described above are shown in more detail below using of drawings and discussion thereof to teach by way of nonlimiting example.

[0024] FIG. 1 is an assembly view 100 of a cartridge module system 100. A dart valve 102 is of a type that is commonly used in ore flotation or leaching processes and, by way of example, may be purchased on commercial order from eDart of Cape Town South Africa. The dart valve 102 includes a plunger 104 and a rod 106 connecting the plunger 104 with a dart actuator 108. The plunger 104 is shown assembled in a frustoconical shape tapering down, but in some embodiments I will be appreciated that the valve may be assembled in a frustoconical orientation (not shown) tapering up. When assembled, the dart actuator 108 is capable of causing the rod 106 to engage in axial shifting motions 112.

[0025] The dart actuator 108 may be removed so that the dart valve 102 may be reassembled to form a module 114 where the dart valve 102 resides in a rectilinear support frame 116 made of vertical upright channels 118, 120, 122, 124 and horizontal channels 125, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 135. A baseplate 136 provides an aperture that serves as a valve seat 138 for sealing engagement with the plunger 104. A top plate 140 defines an aperture 142 for receipt of the rod 106. The dart actuator 108 bolts to the top plate 140, for example, where an internally threaded hole 144 receives bolt 146.

[0026] A junction box 146, as shown in FIG. 1, is a valve housing that is constructed to receive three of the cartridge modules 114 sitting side by side. As shown in FIG. 1, the cartridge module 114 is received within the junction box 148 such that the aperture 142 is concentrically positioned with respect to opening 150. Additional cartridge modules identical to the cartridge module 114 are provided such that the valve seats 138 are proximate openings 152, 154. The junction box 148 may be constructed to receive any number of modular cartridges 114. The junction box 148 is constructed using an internal rectilinear frame 156 made of vertical posts 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172 and horizontal members 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184. A base plate 182 welded to the members 178, 180 defines the openings 150, 152, 154.

[0027] As depicted in FIG. 1, the rectilinear frame 156 is without an exterior skin that forms a watertight barrier at surfaces 188, 190, 192, 194, except for an inlet (not shown) permitting slurry to enter an internal reservoir 196. Also, the top plate 140 may be provided with wings 197A, 197B including apertures, for example aperture 199, such that a bolt 198 may align with internally threaded aperture 195 on member 174 for mounting and demounting the cartridge 114 in the junction box 148 for engagement therewith when the cartridge module is installed in the junction box 148. Alternatively, a clamping or system (not shown) or system of latches such as bayonet latches may be utilized for this purpose.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows the junction box 148 with a plurality of cartridge modules 114, 114′, 114″ assembled in place. A plate 202 forms part of the outer skin, as described above, and is welded to frame members 158, 162, 166, 170, 174, 178 to define in part the reservoir 196. As shown in FIG. 2, the dart valve actuator 108 is able to control gravity flow of slurry from the reservoir 196 by shifting 112 the rod 106 up and down for movement of the plunger 104 relative to seat 138. The seat 138 discharges through opening 150 into a plenum 204 within header 206 that is drained through orifices 208, 210, 212.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a midsection view of the junction box 148 with the cartridge module 114 installed proximate a flotation cell 300. The flotation cell 300 may be, for example, a flotation cell of the prior art as described above. A float 302 rises and falls with a liquid level 304 within the flotation cell 300. A housing 306 with sense circuitry provides a signal, such as a voltage, current, or wireless signal, to controller 308 which, in turn, communicates with the dart valve actuator 108 for shifting movement 112 of rod 106 that repositions the plunger 104 relative to the valve seat 138. This creates a different level 312 within reservoir 312 because of a pressure difference by virtue of hydrostatic head that is compensated by flow restriction between the plunger 104 and the valve seat 138. The reservoir 196 is in open flow configuration with the interior 310 of the floatation cell 300 such that inflow 314 enters reservoir 196 through opening 315 and discharges through the valve seat 138 and opening 150 into plenum 208 mand exits through opening 204. The outflow 314 may be used to feed a second float cell (not shown) in series.

[0030] The cartridge module 114 described above will be subjected to wear in the intended environment of use, and that such wear may continue until such time as the system is unable to maintain a suitable level 304 within the flotation cell 300. The foregoing instrumentalities improve prior systems by providing a cartridge module 114 that may be removed while a froth flotation process is underway. The cartridge module 114 may be advantageously replaced without having to drain the interior 310 of the flotation cell 300. In prior systems, drainage was necessary and time consuming due to the preferred open flow configuration through opening 315.

[0031] This is shown in FIG. 4 as process 400. Step 402 entails an ordinary froth flotation process where comminuted ore is subjected to froth flotation processing for purposes of isolating liberated metal particles. The process continues until a diagnosis 404 is made that there is a need for dart valve replacement. This may be made, for example, on the basis of a predetermined maintenance interval or on the basis that positioning of the plunger 104 is unable to maintain level 304 within a predetermined range as shown in FIG. 3. While the froth flotation process continues underway the cartridge module 114 is detached from the junction box 148 and replaced 406. The froth flotation process continues 408 uninterrupted throughout all of these steps.

[0032] Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the foregoing discussion teaches by way of example and not be limitation. Accordingly, what is shown and described may be subjected to insubstantial change without departing from the scope and spirit of invention. The inventors hereby state their intention to rely upon the Doctrine of Equivalents, if needed, in protecting their full rights in the invention.