FLOTATION MACHINE WITH MIXING AND AERATION IMPELLER AND METHOD

摘要

FLOTATION MACHINE WITH MIXING AND AERATION IMPELLER AND METHOD A mixing and aeration impeller is comprised of a hub and a plurality of first flutes interspaced between and joined to a plurality of second flutes. The flutes are adapted to the hub and have troughs which begin proximate the hub and extend radially away from and angularly downward and upward away from a plane normal to a shaft to which the impeller is adapted. The flutes are preferably formed as one unitary structure and shaped in a periodic pattern which may be generally sinusoidal or trapezoidal in cross section normal to the radius of the impeller along the length of the troughs. The impeller includes means to receive compressed air from a source and means to exhaust the compressed air radially outward from the rim. The hub has means to receive the compressed air and to communicate it to a passage or gap formed in the flutes to transmit the air radially outward to the rim. The air is exhausted through a slot along the rim of the impeller, A shroud with radial fins may be positioned about the impeller, The impeller used is the agitation means in a flotation machine for recovering mineral values. A method of agitation and aeration is also disclosed.