Patents by Inventor Rodrigo Grau

Rodrigo Grau has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11033909
    Abstract: A froth flotation arrangement and method for treating mineral ore particles suspended in slurry includes a flotation cell for separating the slurry into an underflow and an overflow and a primary line including at least three flotation cells connected in series, wherein each subsequent flotation cell is arranged to receive the underflow from the previous flotation cell, the flotation cell includes a tank and an impeller within the tank, and the flotation cell includes a gas supply within the tank, the tank includes a volume of at least 200 m3, the flotation cell including a froth collection launder capable to receive the overflow the froth collection launder including a froth overflow lip, the flotation cell having an available froth surface area (A froth), the flotation cell having a pulp area (A pulp), where the pulp area (A pulp) is calculated as an average from the cross sectional areas of the tank at the height (h1) of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Alejandro Yanez, Rodrigo Grau
  • Patent number: 10828647
    Abstract: A froth collection launder for a collection of froth from a mineral flotation includes a first and a second sidewall which are joined to form a bottom including a tip extending along the bottom, the first sidewall including a first end and the second sidewall including a second end at their open ends, at least one of the first and the second ends includes a froth overflow lip, and when the froth collection launder is positioned at its operation position a centre line is located in the middle of the first and the second end in the cross direction (x) of the froth collection launder. The tip is located between the centre line and one of the first and the second end in the cross direction (x) of the froth collection launder and the tip forms the lowest point of the froth collection launder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Tatu Miettinen, Rodrigo Grau, Alejandro Yanez, Zakaria Mönkäre, Jere Tuominen
  • Publication number: 20200215551
    Abstract: A froth flotation unit for treating mineral ore particles suspended in slurry includes a tank, a gas supply for introducing flotation gas into the slurry to form froth, and a first froth collection launder including a first froth overflow lip facing towards the centre of the tank. The froth flotation unit has a pulp area of at least 15 m2 measured at a mixing area. The froth flotation unit further includes a second froth collection launder with a first froth overflow lip facing the perimeter of the flotation tank, and a froth blocker arranged between the first froth overflow lip and the second froth overflow lip. A froth flotation line, its use, and a froth flotation method are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2017
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Jere TUOMINEN, Rodrigo GRAU, Tatu MIETTINEN, Zakaria MÖNKÄRE
  • Publication number: 20200179948
    Abstract: A froth collection launder for a collection of froth from a mineral flotation includes a first and a second sidewall which are joined to form a bottom including a tip extending along the bottom, the first sidewall including a first end and the second sidewall including a second end at their open ends, at least one of the first and the second ends includes a froth overflow lip, and when the froth collection launder is positioned at its operation position a centre line is located in the middle of the first and the second end in the cross direction (x) of the froth collection launder. The tip is located between the centre line and one of the first and the second end in the cross direction (x) of the froth collection launder and the tip forms the lowest point of the froth collection launder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Tatu Miettinen, Rodrigo Grau, Alejandro Yanez, Zakaria Mönkäre, Jere Tuominen
  • Publication number: 20200129992
    Abstract: A froth flotation arrangement and method for treating mineral ore particles suspended in slurry includes a flotation cell for separating the slurry into an underflow and an overflow and a primary line including at least three flotation cells connected in series, wherein each subsequent flotation cell is arranged to receive the underflow from the previous flotation cell, the flotation cell includes a tank and an impeller within the tank, and the flotation cell includes a gas supply within the tank, the tank includes a volume of at least 200 m3, the flotation cell including a froth collection launder capable to receive the overflow the froth collection launder including a froth overflow lip, the flotation cell having an available froth surface area (A froth), the flotation cell having a pulp area (A pulp), where the pulp area (A pulp) is calculated as an average from the cross sectional areas of the tank at the height (h1) of the impeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2017
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Alejandro YANEZ, Rodrigo GRAU
  • Patent number: 10507472
    Abstract: The flotation apparatus includes a flotation vessel and a cover for closing an upwards open opening of the flotation vessel, wherein the cover and the flotation vessel limits a vessel space for receiving fluid, and an agitating means having a rotatable axis extending through a first aperture in the cover. The rotatable shaft is rotatable supported at a bearing housing outside the vessel space. A connection arrangement surrounds the rotatable shaft between the bearing housing and the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Aleksi Peltola, Rodrigo Grau
  • Patent number: 10357783
    Abstract: A method for controlling gas circulation in a mineral flotation process in a system including one or more flotation cell unit(s) with an apparatus including a gas recirculation loop, a flushing system including an expulsion line for connecting pressure side of the gas recirculation loop to atmosphere and a suction line including a water lock, or means, other than a water lock, for restricting the gas flow and preventing back flow of unpurified gas to the atmosphere, for connecting suction side of the gas recirculation loop to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Jukka Lakanen, Rodrigo Grau, Kaisa Miinalainen
  • Publication number: 20190126292
    Abstract: The flotation apparatus includes a flotation vessel and a cover for closing an upwards open opening of the flotation vessel, wherein the cover and the flotation vessel limits a vessel space for receiving fluid, and an agitating means having a rotatable axis extending through a first aperture in the cover. The rotatable shaft is rotatable supported at a bearing housing outside the vessel space. A connection arrangement surrounds the rotatable shaft between the bearing housing and the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Aleksi PELTOLA, Rodrigo GRAU
  • Publication number: 20170197221
    Abstract: A method for controlling gas circulation in a mineral flotation process in a system including one or more flotation cell unit(s) with an apparatus including a gas recirculation loop, a flushing system including an expulsion line for connecting pressure side of the gas recirculation loop to atmosphere and a suction line including a water lock, or means, other than a water lock, for restricting the gas flow and preventing back flow of unpurified gas to the atmosphere, for connecting suction side of the gas recirculation loop to the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Jukka LAKANEN, Rodrigo GRAU, Kaisa MIINALAINEN
  • Publication number: 20150068956
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the separation of the mineral components of a pyrite containing copper-molybdenum ore by flotation. The method comprises grinding the ore in the presence of soda ash in an open circuit to produce an aqueous ore slurry; subjecting the slurry to a collective flash flotation step (10) in the presence of soda ash and sodium sulphide to recover a first part of metal sulphides of the ore in the form of a first concentrate (C1); subjecting the tailings (T1) of the collective flash flotation step (10) to a grinding step (13) and to a collective rougher flotation step (14) to recover a second part of metal sulphides of the ore in the form of a second concentrate (C3); and subjecting the concentrate (C1) of the collective flash flotation step (10) and the concentrate (C3) of the collective rougher flotation step (14) to a selection step (12) to separate molybdenite from the other metal sulphides of the concentrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Gennady Nikolaevich Mashevskiy, Rodrigo Grau, Mikko Lyyra, Aleksandr Vladimirovich Petrov