US1119950A - Dry concentrator. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

G. D. HARRINGTON.

DRY CONCENTRATOR.

APPLIGATION PILED Nov. 11, 191s. 1,1 1 9,950.

3fm 52 W Glpi/Mmmm HL NURRIS PETERS CO. PHOfU-LITHLL, WASHING ION. l) Y' G. D. HARRINGTON.

DRY CONCENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 11011.11, 1913.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

@LW/hmmm GLEN D. HARRINGTON, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

DRY CONGENTRATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8,1914.

Application filed November 11, 1913. Serial No. 800,391.

To all whom t may concern i Be it known that I, GLEN D. HARRINGTON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dry Concentrators; and I do declare. the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. r

My invention relates to improvements in dry concentrators `or machines of the class adapted to save the precious metallic values when found either in a free state in placer dirt, or in the form of concentrates in pulverized ore or rock. The invention is how ever, more especially intended for use `as a placer machine or for the purpose ofsaving precious .metal values in a free state.

In connection with my inrproved machine, I employ a blast of air which is delivered at one extremity of a box or receptacle and escapes at the opposite extremity thereof, the receptacle being otherwise closed. The interior construction of this receptacle is such that the material passing therethrough is obliged to take a vertical or up and down zig-Zag course, whereby the said material which is carried by an air current of suitable strength. is caused to encounter a number of partitions in succession, which partitions cause the material to fall, whereby the particles of greatest specific gravity, namely the precious metal values are caused to settle'in ritled boxes, which are readily removable through openings in the sides of the box, which are normally closed by glass plates or doors and thereby permit the operator to observe the process of concentration. The partitions or means for interrupting the passage ot the material through the box are formed by devices which are 'secured both to the top and bottom of the box. The devices which are suspended from the top of the box form a plurality of arches. into which the devices or abutments which are secured to the bottom of the box project, thus forming an approximately zigzag passage through the box for the purpose stated.

An important feature of my improved construction consists in the fact that the suspended devices are adjustable, whereby the material as it passes through the box may be caused to pass downwardly to a greater or less extent as may be desired, dcpending upon the character of the material under treatment. It is exceedingly important in machines of this character that provision be made for a considerable range of adjustment with reference to the downward passage of the material in order that the values which are of greatest specific gravity, may be brought into engagement with the rniles at the bottom of the apparatus, to the best advantage. Furthermore, my im proved construction is formed in knockdown shape, or so that it may be readily taken apart and packed in small compass, whereby it may be easily carried from place to place, as by pack animals if desired.

My improved construction is believed to be thoroughly practicable as a dry placer machine, or concentrator, and is therefore believed to fill a long-felt want, since there are many sections of the country where gold bearing material exists in large or at least considerable quantities, which it is impossible to treat by reason of the fact that it is impracticable to obtain water for the purpose, as is required in the ordinary systems of concentration, whether the latter process is carried on in connection with placer dirt or pulverized quartz.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing: Figure l is a side elevation of my improved dry concentrator. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the box or conduit through which the material under treatment must pass and in which the values are saved. This section is taken through the center of the machine, and the parts are shown on a larger scale than in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of the bottom of the concentrator, showing the abutments secured thereto. Fig. l is a transverse section taken through the box on the line 4 4, Fig. 2, looking toward the left. Fig. 5 is a detail view, showing the topof the concentrator, and illustrating the 1nanner of securing the partition members which are partly broken away in this view, which is on the same scale approximately as Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the suspended partitions. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view, partly in section on the line 7-7, Fig. 4:, looking toward the left, the parts being shown on a larger scale. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of one side of the box, illustrating the manner of securing and removing the transparent plates or doors, with which the apparatus is equipped. ln this view, the parts are shown on a larger scale than in any of the other views. Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9, Fig. 8.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a box considered in its entirety and composed of side walls 6, and top and bottom walls 7 and 8. To these sidewalls are exteriorly secured both at the top and bottom, angle bars 9, the horizontal fianges 10 of these bars forming means for connecting the topv and bottom walls 7 and 8, through the medium of screws 12 which are passed through lateral projections or extensions with which the walls 7 and 8 are provided, these extensions abutting against the horizontal flanges of the angle bars, which flanges are providedk with threaded perforations registering with openings formed in the top and bottom wallextensions. By means of this peculiar oonstruction, it becomes practicable to separate the walls of the machine, to facilitate the transportation of the latter from one field of operations to another.

Nithin the conduit or chamber inclosed by the walls of the structure, are located a number of partition members, which are respectively attached to the Vtop and bottom walls of the machine, and which will now be described in detail.

Suspended from the top of the machine are a number of members 13 and 14. The members 13 are secured to the top wall as shown at 15 and are suitably spaced to cooperate with the members 14. The members l13 are curved forwardly and downwardly and to their lower extremities are secured flexible parts 1G forming valves which when acted on by a blast of air, entering the box at the opening 17, are forced against the partitions 14 to form a tight joint and prevent the material from passing upwardly between the two sets of suspended partition members. Each partition member 14 consists of a stationary part 18 which is secured to the top of the boxv as shown at 19, and extends rearwardly and downwardly therefrom, its greater portion occupying an inclination of approximately 4:5 degrees. 1t is evident however, that this inclination may be varied or regulated at will or as circumstances may require or dictate. Slidably mounted upon' this stationary part 18 is a part 2O which. overlaps ythejipart 1S considerably and is slidably heldin coperative relation therewith by vmeans of rods 21, whose extremities engage openings formed in the opposite sides of the box, the said rods being held in place in any suitable manner, and readily detachable in conformity with the knock-down feature of the structure. As the only object of these rods is to perform the function of guides in holding the parts 20 in proper cooperative rela- 'f' tion with the parts 18, it is evident that the construction is in no way limited by this specific feature as other guide means may be employed. The parts 20 extend below the lower extremities of their cooperating parts 18, and parts 23 are hingedly connected to the parts 21 as shown at 22, the parts 23 being adjustable by virtue of this hinged connection, through the medium of toggles 24C composed of links 25 and crank arms 26 which are pivotally connected together as shown at 27. The links are pivoted to the parts 23 as shown at 28. The extremity of each crank arm, remote from the'pivot 27 is made fast to a rod 29 whichis journaled in the opposite side walls of the box as shown at 30. This rod as illustratedV in the drawing', is square in cross section between the journals 30 and engages openings 'of counterpart shape formed in the cranks 26 which are reinforced as shown at 31.

There are preferably two sets of toggles 24 connected with and operated by each rod 29 which extends beyond the opposite side walls of the box and is equipped with milled l.

heads 32 to facilitate adjustment. The rods are also provided outside of the side walls of the structure with toothed wheels 33 adapted to be engaged by locking arms 3e which are exteriorly vpivoted .to the side walls' of the box as shown at 35. rlfhe extremities of these arms remote from the pivot are hook-shaped as shown at 36,

whereby -they are adapted to engage the y spaces betweenthe teeth of the wheels 33. yWhen in 'locking vengagement with the wheels, these arms are heldin place by pins V37 ywhich engage openings formed in the side walls of the structure and are readily removable. It is evident that any suitable 'means maybe employed for locking the rods 29 'in the desired position of adjustment. Some of the possible adjustments of the parts 23 are illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. At the extreme right of this view, the' part 23 is so adjusted that its free extremity occupies its lowermost position;

Vwhile the adjacent corresponding part to ward'the left is adjusted to raise its free extremity considerably above the position of the same part farthest to the right; finally the'part 23 farthest toward the left in this view-is adjusted to raise its free extremity still'farther fromthe bottom of the box, the

said free extremity, however, in this event,

being brought nearer to the forward face of one of the abutments 38 secured to the bottom of the box as hereinafter explained more in detail. It is evident that these adjustments may be readily eected from the outside of the machine by turning the rods 29 through the medium of the milled heads 32. l/Vhen properly adjusted, the hooked arms 34 and the removable pins 37 are brought into requisition for maintaining the parts in the adjusted relation. Furthermore, the parts 20 are adjustable on the stationary parts 18 through the medium of the crank arms 39 pivotally connected with lugs 40 with which the plates 20 are equipped. This pivotal connection is formed by passing pins 41 through slots 42 formed in the lugs 40, the pins being properly connected with the crank arms 39. These crank arms are mounted on rods 43 which are journaled in the side walls of the box as shown at 44, the parts of the rods between the journals being polygonal, preferably square, in cross section, while the adjacent extremities of the crank arms 39 are provided with counterpart openings through which the rods pass, the crank arms being reinforced as shown at 45 for the purpose.

There are preferably two crank arms 39 for each part 20, as indicated in` Fig. 4. -The extremities of the rods 43 extend beyond the journals 44 exteriorly, and are equipped with milled heads 46 and toothed wheels 47 which are adapted to be engaged by arms 48 pivoted at 49 and secured in interlocking relation in the same manner as the arms 34 heretofore described. By turning the rods 43, the parts 2O may be raised and lowered, whereby a corresponding movement is imparted to the parts 23, the latter being independently controlled by the toggles 24 as heretofore explained.

Between each two stationary parts 18, is located a part 13, whose flexible element 16 presses against the plate 20 to form a tight joint as heretofore explained. The parts 18 and their coperating parts 13, (see Fig. 2) eoperate to form arches, and into the spaces of these arches project abutments 38which as illustrated in the drawing, are composed of sheet metal bent to the desired shape, the said abutments being secured to the bottom of the box by screws 4. As illustrated in the drawing, these abutments are composed of rearwardly located inclined parts 50 and forwardly located vertically disposed parts 51. By the employment of these abutments 38, the material is compelled to take the zigzag course through the box indicated by the arrows.

Attention is called to the fact that the members 13, and 18, as well as the parts 20, 23, 16 and the abutments 38 extend transversely the whole distance between the two side walls 6 of thebox, thus leaving no avenue of escape except through the Zig-zag or irregularly shaped passage heretofore explained.

The foremost abutment 38 o1' that located farthest to the left in Fig. 2, coperates with the adjacent partition composed of the parts 18, 20 and 23, to complete the passage for the material through the box just before the tailings escape at the forward extremity of the box. This abutment contracts the opening at the discharge extremity of the box or diminishes its height to the distance between the top of the abutment and the top wall of the box. This space or opening, however, may be further contracted by means of a plate 52 which is made fast to a rod 53 which is journaled in the side walls of the box and controlled from the outside thereof in the same manner as the rods 29 and 43, whereby the plate 52 may be adjusted for regulating the capacity of the discharge opening of the box through which the tailings escape.

In the rear of the rearmost abutment 38, or that farthest to the right (see Fig. 2) is located a small tray 55 provided with riffies 56. A. similar tray 55 is located between each two of the other abutments 38. These trays rest upon the bottom of the box and fit closely in place when the apparatus is in use. Each tray is located below the part 23 and consequently directly beneath the lowest portions of the path of the material through the box. The function of these trays is to catch the precious metal values carried by the placer material under treatment. These trays occupy positions on the bottom of the box directly below openings 57 which are normally closed by transparent plates 58 the latter being exteriorly applied to the opposite side walls 6 and held in place by retaining devices 59 which are secured by screws 60. By loosening these screws, the plates 58 may be detached and the trays 55 removed, and emptied during the operation of cleaning up after the apparatus has been in use for the required length of time. The riflies 56 within the trays may vary in depth as may be required, or as may be found most efficient for the purpose intended.

During the operation of my improved structure, air under pressure is employed. In the drawing (see Fig. 1) a conventional device 61 representing a blowerisillustrated. A conduit 62 leads from this blower to the opening 17 at the upper part of the rear end wall 63 of the structure. This opening as illustrated in the drawing, is surrounded by a collar 64 adapted to receive the forward horizontally disposed part 65 of the conduit 62 into which the material for treatment is fed from a hopper 66 through the medium of feed rolls 67, or in any other suitable manner. During the operation of the strueture an air current of suitable strength is passed through the conduit 62 and the material to be treated is simultaneously deli vered in properly measured volume into the portion 65 of the air conduit. This material is taken by the air current and carried through the box 5 causing the material to take the zig-Zag or irregular path heretofore described. During this operation, as the material strikes against the partitions or interruptions consisting of the partitions and abutnients, the precious metal values having the greatest specific gravity, are caused to settle between the riffles on the trays and by the time the material escapes at the forward extremity of the structure, it consists of tailings only, having been completely deprived of its precious metal values. lt is evident that the length of the structure may be continued to any extent desired and that as many traysmay be employed as may be found necessary in order to impoverish the material of its metallic values.

l prefer to build a machine in comparatively small units, whereby the latter may be multiplied to obtain any capacity which may be desired.

Attention is called to the fact that my improved construction may be employed with water if desired. ln other words, the construction is adapted for use with water as well as with air. If employed with water, it would be necessary to-utilize a suitable head to give the water the desired pressure in order to maintain the gangu'e or waste material in suspension, and effect the necessary separation on the principle of difference in specific gravity. In the event that water is employed under the necessary pressure, the construction may be operated with equal success as with air or as a' dry machine. Emphasis however, is laid upon the dry apparatus in this application vfor the reason that in most districts where valuable placer materia-l exists, there is a scarcity of water, to such an extent as to make a practicable dry machine more economical to operate. t must be understood however, that the appended claims cover the construction, whether employed as a dry or wet apparatus.

In order to make the parts of the machine readily detachable for knock down purposes, the two opposite sides are connected by transversely arranged rods whose opposite extremities are reduced and threaded where they pass through the sides of the box, nuts 69 being applied to their opposite ends. By virtue of this construction, the rods are shouldered where they engage the inner surfaces of the sides of the box thus suitably spacing the latter. Y

Attenti on is called to the fact that in addition to the angle bars 9, through the medium of which the top and bottom walls are connected with the side walls of the box, a similar bar-9 is applied to the rear endwall 63 of the structure, the bottom wall being secured thereto by means of screws 4 'in the same manner as the top and bottom walls are secured to the siderangle bars 9.

` Having thus described my invention, what l claim is:- y

l. In a concentrator, the combination of a box vhaving partition members suspended from the top of the box to form arches, and abutments attached tothe bottom of the box and extending into the spaces formed by the arches to form a passage substantially Zig-Zag in shape, adjacent portions ofthe suspended partition members being respectively slidable and equippedl with flexible parts engaging the slidable parts to form tight joints.

2. A concentrator, comprising a box having a feed opening at one extremity, and a tailings discharge opening at the opposite extremity, the box being intermediately equipped with top and bottom partition members staggered to form a passage substantially Zig-zag therethrough, one set' of partition members having movable parts, and flexible portions engaging the movable parts to form a tight joint. j f

3.. A concentrator, comprisingupper and lower partition members, staggered to form a passage substantially zig-Zag through the box, one set of members having parts slidably adjustable, and flexible parts engaging the slidable parts to form a tight joint.

il. A concentrator, comprising upper and lower partition members, staggered to form a passage substantially Zig-zag through `the box, one set of members having parts slidably adjustable, and iexible parts engaging the. slidable parts to form a tight joint, and means operable from the outside ofthe box for actuating the slidable parts.

5. A concentrator, comprising upper and lower partition members, staggered to form a passage substantially zig-zag through the box, one set vof members having parts slidably adjustable, and flexible parts engaging the slidable parts to form a tight joint, the

slidable parts having lower portions hingedly connected therewith.

6. A. concentrator, comprising upper and lower partition members, staggered to form a passage substantially Zig-Zig box, one set of members having parts slidably adjustable, and flexible parts engaging the slidable parts to form a tight joint, the slidable parts having lower portions hingedly connected therewith, and means` operable from the outside of the box for actuating said hinged parts. I 7. In a concentrator, the combination-of a box having partition members suspended from the top thereof to form arches, and

abutments attached to the bottom Vof said through the lll@ box and extending into the spaces formed by the arches to form a passage substantially zig-zag in shape, the space between the abutments being normally empty, whereby they are exposed to the action of the air and the material passing through the box, the said abutments composed of rearwardly located, forwardly inclined parts and forwardly located vertically disposed parts, substantially as described.

8. In a concentrator, the combination of a box having partition members suspended from the top thereof to form arches, abutments attached to the bottom of the said box and extending into the spaces formed by the arches to form apassage substantially zig-zag in shape, the space between the abutments being normally empty, whereby they are exposed to the action of the air and the material passing through the box, the said abutments composed of rearwardly located, forwardly inclined parts and forwardly located vertically disposed parts and the box being provided at the lowest parts of the passage with riflles for retaining the values.

9. In a concentrator, the combination of a box having partition members suspended from the top thereof and abutments attached to the bottom of said box, the space between the abutments being normally empty, whereby they are exposed to the action of the air and the material passing through the box,

I the said abutments having their forward parts perpendicular to the base of the box for the purpose set forth.

10. In a concentrator, the combination of a box having partition members suspended from the top of the box, abutments attached to the bottom of the box, the space between the abutments being normally empty, where by they are exposed to the action of the air and the material passing through the box,

the said abutments having their forward parts perpendicular to the base of said box and riflles located on said base between the abutments, for retaining the values, substantially as described.

l1. In a concentrator, the combination of a box having partition members suspended from the top of the box, and abutments attached to the bottom of the box, the space between the abutments being normally empty, whereby they are exposed to the action of the air and the material passing through the box, the said abutments having rearward parts inclined forwardly from the base of the box and forward parts perpendicular to the base of said box, for the pur pose set forth.

l2.` In a concentrator, the combination of a box having partition members suspended from the top of the box, and abutments attached to the bottom of the box, the space between the abutments being normally empty, whereby they are entirely exposed to the action of the air and the material passing through the box, the said abutments having rearward parts inclined forwardly from the base of the box and forward parts perpendicular to the base of said box, for the purpose set forth.

13. In a concentrator, the combination of a box having partition members suspended from the top of the box to form arches, the

jacent portions of the suspended partition members being respectively slidable and equipped with flexible parts engaging the slidable parts to form tight joints.

In testimony whereof I ailix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

GLEN D. HARRINGTON. Vitnesses:

A. J. OBRIEN, A. EBER'r OBRIEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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