US1211518A - Placer-machine. - Google Patents

Description

J. W. WOODS.

PLACER MACHINE. I APPLICATION FILED FEB- 28. I916.

Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

2 SflEETSSHEET l. 1T1 m J. W. WOODS.

PLACER MACHINE.

MA-mwumm o c JAMES W. WOODS, 0F GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO.

PLACER-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1911.

Application filed February 28, 1916. SerialNo. 80,960.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, James W. Woons, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Junction, in the county of Mesa and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Placer-Machines, of Which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to separators or placer machines; and it contemplates the provision of a simple, compact and easily operated machine, and one which is highly efficient and yet is adapted to be operated successfully with just enough water to keep the gravel in a moist state during the passage of the same through the drum of the machine.

The machine is susceptible of being successfully operated without the use of mercury, though it is so constructed that mercury can be used when desired or expedient.

The invention in all of its details will be fully understood from the following description and claim when the same are read in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine constituting the best practical embodiment of my invention that I have as yet devised. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine, with parts broken away. Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal vertical section illustrative of the screen, drum and agitator of the machine. Fig. 4: is a detail of the bell-crank and connections.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings.

The main frame 1 of the machine may be of any construction compatible with the purpose of my invention, and between the spaced longitudinal or side portions of the same is disposed a swinging cradle 2 that carries three (more or less) riffles 3; the said riflles being so disposed that the uppermost riflie is adapted to receive from the screen andthe lower table of the drum and is also adapted to discharge to the intermediate riffle, which is longer than the uppermost riflle, Fig. 1, While the intermediate riflie is arranged'to discharge to the lowermost rifile, all as best shown in Fig. 2. The riflies, per 86 may be of any approved construction, and it is therefore deemed unnecessary to enter into a detailed description of the same.

The cradle 2 is hung from the frame 1 through the medium of pivoted metallic straps 4 which straps are possessed of resiliency in order to permit of a limited amount of movement of the cradle transversely of the machine.

Mounted on an upright of the main frame is a bell-crank 5, and interposed between one arm of said bell-crank and the adjacent side of the cradle 2 is a connecting rod 6. The other arm of the bell-crank 5 is connected through a pitman 7 with the crank 8 of a transverse shaft 9 which is journaled in suitable bearings at the upper rear portion of the main frame, as illustrated. By virtue of this construction, it will be manifest that rotation of the shaft 9 will be attended by a short side motion of the cradle 2 and rifiles 3 which will have the efiect of working the gravel and lighter substances off. the riffles. When desired a plurality of apertures may be provided in the outer arm of the bellcrank for the purpose of adjustment; and I would also have it distinctly understood that while I show means at one side only for transmitting motion to the cradle 2, such means may be duplicated at the opposite side of the main frame, if deemed necessary or expedient, without involving departure from the scope of my claimed invention.

Mounted in suitable bearings on the main frame 1 and located above the shaft 9, is a drive shaft 10, which may be equipped with a crank 11 for manual rotation or may be adapted for connection with a motor in the discretion of the manufacturer. Said shaft 10 is connected through intermeshed gears 12 and 13 with the shaft 9, and by reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the shaft 10 is provided at the opposite side of the machine with a spur gear 14 that is intermeshed with a spur gear 15 on an upper transverse crank shaft 16, for a purpose hereinafter set forth. 17 18, and 19 are braces fixed with respect to the main frame 1. 20 is the lower section of the drum hereinafter referred to in detail, and 21 is a screen frame. The said frame 21 is connected at its rear end and through the medium of one or-more resilient straps 22 with the rear end of the drum section 20 which drum section is maintained in fixed relation to the frame by the braces 17 and 18. The forward portion of the screen frame 21 is supported by swinging straps 23 which are pivoted at their upper rto effect said movement of the screen frame incidental to the operation of the machine, through the medium of links 2 1 interposed between the crank shaft 16 and the sides of the screen frame.

The screen frame 21 carries a screen 25, Fig. 3, and in front of said screen 25 the frame is provided with a table 26, while surrounding the said screen is a hopper 27 arranged to discharge on the upper table of the lower drum section 20. Said drum section 20 is provided at an intermediate point of its length with a curvilinear or dished portion 28, and in front of said portion 28 the section carries a table 29. The dished or cylindrical portion of the drum section 20' is provided at 30 with several corrugations, and it will also be noticed that the forward table 29 is provided with an upwardly disposed, transverse corrugation 31, designed to offer an obstruction to the passage of the material passing through the machine.

Arranged abovethe drum section 20 is a complementary section 32, and disposed in the drum thus formed are fingers 33 which are carried by the shaft 9 and constitute an agitator designed and adapted to work the upper and lighter part of the gravel ofl and break up any lumps of dirt that may be cemented together.

In the practical operation of the machine, the material is supplied in any approved manner to the screen frame 21, whereupon the screen 25 will separate the coarse gravel from the fine substance. The coarse gravel and other coarse substance pass to and over the table 26 and are discharged from said table to an inclined perforated apron from whence they pass to the uppermost riflle 3. The sand and finegravel take through the screen 25 and onto the upper table of the drum. The sand and fine gravel work by gravity through the drum, and as the gravel must be raised some inches from thebottom of the drum before it passes out, and as the bottom of drum is corrugated, the gold is retained therein, while the lighter material is worked fromthe top by the fingers 33 constituting a cylinder rotating inside of the drum. The tables above and below thedrum portion 28 are inclined so that during the operation of the'machine the wet substance will pass readily from the upper table to the portion 28 and from said-portion 28 to the lower table 29. By virtue of this terial and work the upper strata thereof through the dished trough; the said dished troughbeing provided on its lower uprising portion and on saiddischarge lip with ri-flie pockets adapted to intercept the heaviermaterial passing thereover under impetus from the agitator.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES W. WOODS.

Witnesses:- v

MARY E. MGGARTY, Mrs. JAMES W. WooDs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner'of Patents, Washington, D. O.

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