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Methods and apparatus for the continuous monitoring of wear in flotation circuits

  • US 9,649,640 B2
  • Filed: 04/10/2015
  • Issued: 05/16/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for continuously monitoring wear of a rotor or stator in a flotation cell, comprising:

  • (a) the flotation cell comprising the rotor and the stator therein;

    (b) multiple detectors;

    each detector of said multiple detectors being embedded within a vane of the rotor or stator;

    wherein a first detector of said multiple detectors is provided at a first radial location, in relation to a vertical axis of the flotation cell as a whole, which is different than a second radial location, in relation to said vertical axis of the flotation cell, of a second detector;

    each detector being configured as a sacrificial RFID tag; and

    (c) at least one sensor being configured as a reader/interrogator, the at least one sensor being provided to the flotation cell and configured to communicate with the multiple detectors wirelessly during operation of the flotation cell;

    wherein in use, the rotor or stator wears away and ultimately affects a function of the multiple detectors such that the first detector fails to provide a first confirmation signal responding to a first check signal transmitted by the at least one sensor after being consumed by a first amount of wear to the rotor or stator, and the second detector fails to provide a second confirmation signal responding to a second check signal transmitted by the at least one sensor after being consumed by a second amount of wear to the rotor or stator;

    the second amount of wear to the rotor or stator being greater than said first amount of wear to the rotor or stator;

    wherein, by virtue of communication with the multiple detectors, the at least one sensor is configured to monitor said function of the multiple detectors and determine an operational status of the rotor or stator, the operational status relating to wear experienced by the rotor or stator, andwherein in response to determining whether the rotor or stator experiences the second amount of wear, the at least one sensor is configured to relay an indication to notify an operator of the operational status of the rotor or stator.

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