Patents by Inventor Timo Niitti

Timo Niitti 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: 8360245
    Abstract: The invention relates to an equipment and method for flotating mineral slurry (4) in a flotation cell provided with a flotation mechanism (3), comprising at least a drive shaft (6), a rotor (5) and a stator (7), and at least one inlet (11) for feeding mineral slurry (4), a froth launder system (8) for removing mineral enriched froth, at least two discharge outlets (28, 12) for removing two material flows with two different grain sizes from the flotation cell, in which case the flotation cell (2) is provided with a classifying equipment (1) including means for setting the mineral slurry (24) to be classified, separated from the mineral slurry, in an essentially upwardly moving rotary motion in the flotation cell, as well as means for separating coarser material (25) from finely divided material (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventor: Timo Niitti
  • Patent number: 8117926
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of and equipment for preparing an analysis sample (2) for a continuous on-line analysis. According to the invention, a sample material (5) is taken by means of a sampling arrangement (4) from a material flow (24) that contains solid matter and liquid, whereby the sample material (5) is fed into a chamber (6); a layer of material (10), which contains coarse solid matter, depositing in the lower part of the chamber, and a layer of material (8), which contains liquid and fine solids, being separated from the sample material in the upper part of the chamber, whereby at least part of the material (8), which contains fine solids, is moved to the lower part (9) of the chamber (6), from where the analysis sample (2) that has a higher solids content than the sample material (5) is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Kari Mann, Timo Niitti, Christian Von Alfthan, Kari Saloheimo
  • Patent number: 8062519
    Abstract: A flange joint for connecting two objects in a fluid connection so that fluid can flow between the objects. The flange joint has a gasket, and the gasket is installed in the flange joint. The flange joint has at least one channel for feeding additional fluid from outside of the flange joint through the gasket into fluid flowing between the two objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventor: Timo Niitti
  • Patent number: 7997414
    Abstract: A method for separating particles in hydrous slurry comprises connecting at least one teeter water pipe of a teeter water distributor of a hindered-bed separator in fluid connection with a teeter water discharging mechanism, and discharging teeter water from the at least one teeter water pipe to the teeter water discharging mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventor: Timo Niitti
  • Patent number: 7980824
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotor of a flotation machine, particularly to a rotor, that is used for dispersing air to a slurry, and which rotor comprises alternating air ducts and slurry grooves and a collar fitted to the rotor for guiding the slurry flow into the interior of the rotor for avoiding undesired cross flow effect of the slurry flow. The rotor of the present invention efficiently prevents sanding effect and provides excellent dispersion of air into the slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventor: Timo Niitti
  • Publication number: 20100176072
    Abstract: A flange joint for connecting two objects in a fluid connection so that fluid can flow between the objects. The flange joint has a gasket and the gasket is installed in the flange joint. The flange joint has at least one channel for feeding additional fluid from outside of the flange joint through the gasket into fluid flowing between the two objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventor: Timo Niitti
  • Publication number: 20100155309
    Abstract: A method for separating particles in hydrous slurry comprises connecting at least one teeter water pipe of a teeter water distributor means of a hindered-bed separator in fluid connection with a teeter water discharging means, and discharging teeter water from the at least one teeter water pipe that is in fluid connection with the teeter water discharging means to the teeter water discharging means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventor: Timo Niitti
  • Publication number: 20100101337
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of and equipment for preparing an analysis sample (2) for a continuous on-line analysis. According to the invention, a sample material (5) is taken by means of a sampling arrangement (4) from a material flow (24) that contains solid matter and liquid, whereby the sample material (5) is fed into a chamber (6); a layer of material (10), which contains coarse solid matter, depositing in the lower part of the chamber, and a layer of material (8), which contains liquid and fine solids, being separated from the sample material in the upper part of the chamber, whereby at least part of the material (8), which contains fine solids, is moved to the lower part (9) of the chamber (6), from where the analysis sample (2) that has a higher solids content than the sample material (5) is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: Outotec OYJ
    Inventors: Kari Mann, Timo Niitti, Christian Von Alfthan, Kari Saloheimo
  • Publication number: 20100018907
    Abstract: The invention relates to an equipment and method for flotating mineral slurry (4) in a flotation cell provided with a flotation mechanism (3), comprising at least a drive shaft (6), a rotor (5) and a stator (7), and at least one inlet (11) for feeding mineral slurry (4), a froth launder system (8) for removing mineral enriched froth, at least two discharge outlets (28, 12) for removing two material flows with two different grain sizes from the flotation cell, in which case the flotation cell (2) is provided with a classifying equipment (1) including means for setting the mineral slurry (24) to be classified, separated from the mineral slurry, in an essentially upwardly moving rotary motion in the flotation cell, as well as means for separating coarser material (25) from finely divided material (26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventor: Timo Niitti
  • Publication number: 20080063523
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotor of a flotation machine, particularly to a rotor, that is used for dispersing air to a slurry, and which rotor comprises alternating air ducts and slurry grooves and a collar fitted to the rotor for guiding the slurry flow into the interior of the rotor for avoiding undesired cross flow effect of the slurry flow. the rotor of the present invention efficiently prevents sanding effect and provides excellent dispersion of air into the slurry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventor: Timo Niitti
  • Patent number: 7179374
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device to be used in connection with thickening and clarifying apparatuses for shear-thinning of solids containing material, such as slurry, which device contains one conduit for feeding material to be shear-thinnned and another conduit for discharging back the shear-thinned material between a thickening apparatus and the shear-thinning apparatus. The conduit (3,23) for feeding material to be shear-thinned and another conduit (4,24) for discharging back the shear-thinned material are positioned essentially concentrically to each other at least in the ends connected to the thickening apparatus (2,22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Outokumpu Technology Oy
    Inventor: Timo Niitti
  • Patent number: 6945408
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flotation machine, particularly to a flotation machine rotor, that is used for dispersing air, supplied via the rotor axis, to the surrounding slurry, and in which rotor there are formed alternating air ducts and slurry grooves, so that the ends of both the air ducts and the slurry grooves, projecting outwardly from the rotor, form the outer surface of the rotor According to the invention the air ducts (3,15) are arranged in the rotor at essentially equal distances, starting radially from the rotor outer surface, so that the air ducts (3,15) form in the center part of the rotor a space (6,17) for the slurry, in which space the slurry surrounding the rotor is to be made to flow along the slurry grooves (5, 16) provided in between the air ducts (3,15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Outokumpu Technology Oy
    Inventor: Timo Niitti
  • Publication number: 20050150822
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device to be used in connection with thickening and clarifying apparatuses for shear-thinning of solids containing material, such as slurry, which device contains one conduit for feeding material to be shear-thinned and another conduit for discharging back the shear-thinned material between a thickening apparatus and the shear-thinning apparatus. The conduit (3,23) for feeding material to be shear-thinned and another conduit (4,24) for discharging back the shear-thinned material are positioned essentially concentrically to each other at least in the ends connected to the thickening apparatus (2,22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventor: Timo Niitti
  • Publication number: 20040112799
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flotation machine, particularly to a flotation machine rotor, that is used for dispersing air, supplied via the rotor axis, to the surrounding slurry, and in which rotor there are formed alternating air ducts and slurry grooves, so that the ends of both the air ducts and the slurry grooves, projecting outwardly from the rotor, form the outer surface of the rotor According to the invention the air ducts (3,15) are arranged in the rotor at essentially equal distances, starting radially from the rotor outer surface, so that the air ducts (3,15) form in the center part of the rotor a space (6,17) for the slurry, in which space the slurry surrounding the rotor is to be made to flow along the slurry grooves (5, 16) provided in between the air ducts (3,15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventor: Timo Niitti
  • Patent number: 6536596
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flotation cell line, wherein there are installed, in order to treat the flotatable material, several flotation cells so that the flotatable material can be set to flow through the flotation cell line. According to the invention, the flotation cells (, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; 31, 32, 33, 34, 35) that are arranged successively in the flowing direction (22, 52) of the flotatable material, are at least partly installed in parallel with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Outokumpu Oyj
    Inventors: Timo Niitti, Matti Tarvainen
  • Patent number: 6520340
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improving the operation of a flotation cell line, said flotation cell line comprising several flotation cells (1, 2, 3, 4, 5; 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) that are connected by means of liquid stream flow. According to the invention, at least part of the material flotated in the flotation cell line is conducted past the cell (1, 11) that is located first in the flotation cell line, when seen in the flowing direction (7, 16) of the flotatable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Outokumpu Oyj
    Inventor: Timo Niitti
  • Patent number: 5923012
    Abstract: An apparatus for extracting floatable minerals from a slurry (3). Slurry (3) is fed into a tank (2) via a feed inlet (25) and agitated and aerated so as to create an upper zone containing froth enriched with the floatable minerals. The agitation and aeration are also regulated to create a lower zone (41) containing a relatively dense or coarse component of the slurry (3), and an intermediate zone (42) containing a substantially less dense or finer component of the slurry (3). The surface froth is progressively withdrawn via a launder (30) thereby to produce a flotation concentrate. Similarly, the relatively dense component of the slurry (3) is progressively withdrawn from the lower zone (41) via a bottom inlet (26), and the relatively less dense of the slurry (3) is progressively withdrawn from the intermediate zone (42) via a side outlet (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Outokumpu Mintec Oy
    Inventors: Peter Bourke, David Taylor, Timo Niitti, Jouko Kallioinen