Patent Number: 7618517
Docket Number: 15508
Serial Number: 12080022
Date Patented: 11/17/2009

Summary:   A method and apparatus are presented for determining the quantity of liquid and solid content in a removal stream of a froth created from a suspension that is generated during a froth flotation operation. Specifically, electrodes are immersed in the froth generated from a suspension having a known quantity of fiber particles, and the conductance of the froth is measured to establish a relationship between the measured conductance and the quantity of fiber particles. The electrodes are then submerged in a froth generated from a suspension having an unknown quantity of fiber particles, and the froth conductance is measured. The quantity of fiber particles in the froth can then be determined from the pre-established relationship between conductance and solid particle content. Patent Status: Patent application filed on March 31, 2008. Link at USPTO filed under patent title “Method and apparatus for monitoring liquid and solid contents in a froth.” Inventors: Jun Yong Zhu One Gifford Pinchot Dr. US Forest Service Madison, WI 53726 Phone: (608) 231-9520 jshu@fs.fed.us Freya   Tan (former FS employee) Roland Gleisner (same address as first inventor) Phone: (608) 231-9426 rleisner@fs.fed.us