The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 06, 2009
Filed:
Aug. 22, 2006
Guy Peloquin, Jonquière, CA;
Renald Dufour, Jonquière, CA;
Andrew N. Carruthers, Beaconsfield, CA;
Donald Puxley, Jonquière, CA;
Guy Peloquin, Jonquière, CA;
Renald Dufour, Jonquière, CA;
Andrew N. Carruthers, Beaconsfield, CA;
Donald Puxley, Jonquière, CA;
Alcan International Limited, Montreal, Quebec, CA;
Abstract
Method and apparatus for separating components of slurries by gravity settling thereby forming a thickened slurry and a clarified liquid. The apparatus comprises a vessel for decanting a volume of slurry, the vessel having a top and an interior formed by a side wall and a bottom wall for holding the slurry, a slurry inlet means, an outlet for the clarified liquid near the top of the vessel, and a slurry withdrawal apparatus for removal of the thickened slurry from the vessel at or near the bottom wall thereof. The slurry withdrawal apparatus physically engages a portion of the slurry within the vessel interior and transports it through a vessel outlet. The apparatus may include an elongated, rotatable, open spiral-shaped element extending a distance into the vessel from outside near the bottom wall of the vessel, the open spiral-shaped element being in direct and open communication with the interior of the vessel over at least a significant portion of the distance, and a rotational drive mechanism for rotating the open spiral-shaped element, at least intermittently.