Abstract: An apparatus including a stiffening structure for stiffening a portion of an axle with a first diameter. The apparatus further includes a set of elements, wherein each of the set of elements includes a semi-circular longitudinal channel of a pre-determined length, and further includes a second diameter that is substantially similar to the first diameter. The apparatus also includes an outer surface comprising a set of expanded structures, wherein each expanded structure of the set of expanded structures further includes a set recesses, wherein each of the elements can be coupled together around the axle with the set of expanded structures, and wherein the amount of deflection of the axle is substantially reduced for the pre-determined length.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for linking GUI sliders displayed on a computer screen. A master slider and a slave slider are displayed, each including a knob and a guide. The master knob can be moved along the master guide in response to input from a user, such as with a pointing device. The movement of the slave knob of the slave slider is influenced along the slave guide based on the position and/or movement of the master knob. The slave slider can preferably be in a full slave mode or in a partial slave mode. In full slave mode, the slave knob tracks the movement of its master knob and cannot be selected directly by the user. In partial slave mode, a slave knob can be directly selected and moved by the user, but includes a limit to its movement based on the master knob's current position. Graphical indications of the limits and/or influence on the slave slider are displayed, such as half tone displays on the screen and lines indicating the limits to movement.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an improved froth flotation separation for beneficiating phosphate containing ores wherein an ore is preliminarily conditioned with an anionic agent and then subjected to froth flotation separation to concentrate the phosphate containing fraction. The improvement comprises the addition of sodium silicate near the end of the conditioning step before the beginning of the froth flotation.

Abstract: A process for recovering phosphate values from silica-containing phosphate ores is provided. The ore has a particle size in the range of about 0.6 to 1.2 mm and is subjected to selective flotation in the presence of a cationic flotation reagent comprising a di(hydrophobic group) quaternary ammonium salt, wherein each of the hydrophobic groups contain 6 or more carbon atoms and at least one of the groups contains from about 10-20 carbon atoms, in combination with a hydrocarbon oil and a phosphate depressing agent.

Abstract: A method of beneficiating a phosphate ore containing silica and an alkaline earth metal carbonate impurity, particularly dolomite or calcite. The steps include testing the ore for excessive levels of carbonate impurities, the use of conventional flotation steps to remove silica, grinding the ore to a particle size in which at least 90% of the ore particles are less than 0.355 mm and thereafter reagentizing the ground phosphate containing ore with water, a carbonate collector, a phosphate depressant and a pH regulator to obtain a flotation feed having a solids level of about 20-30% and a pH of about 5.6-6.0. The flotation feed is then subjected to a reverse flotation in a flotation cell to remove carbonate impurities as the cell overflow and to collect a phosphate concentration as the cell underflow.

Abstract: A reverse flotation process for removing alkaline earth metal carbonate impurities particularly dolomite and calcite as the cell overflow from a flotation feed reagentized with water, a carbonate collector, a phosphate depressant and a pH regulator to about 20-30% solids and a pH of about 5.5-6.0. The phosphate concentrate is collected as the cell underflow.The carbonate collectors comprise stable salts of sulfonated linear fatty acids having a straight carbon chain of about eight to twenty-two carbon atoms and a direct sulfur to carbon bond. The sodium salt of sulfonated oleic acid is the preferred carbonate collector. Phosphate depressants include sodium tripolyphosphate.The flotation feed particle size is preferably such that 90% by weight of the particles pass through a 42 Mesh (Tyler) screen. The effectiveness of the separation improves as the particle size of the flotation feed is decreased.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for beneficiating a phosphate ore matrix containing apatite, siliceous gangue, and an alkaline earth metal carbonate mineral impuritywhich includes the steps of washing and sizing the ore, subjecting it to a gravity separation, a conventional "double float" flotation, and a phosphate-carbonate flotation separation to provide a phosphate ore concentrate having a high BPL content and a relatively low concentration of alkaline earth metal carbonate mineral impurity.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for beneficiating an apatitic phosphate ore containing an alkaline earth metal carbonate mineral impurity, which includes conditioning the phosphate ore in an aqueous conditioning slurry containing a cationic reagent at a concentration sufficient to reagentize the ore; and subjecting the reagentized ore to a froth flotation process wherein the apatite is recovered in the froth concentrate and the alkaline earth metal carbonate mineral impurity is rejected in the underflow tailing.