US1767893A - Centrifugal amalgamator and separator - Google Patents

Description

I June 24, 1930. Q p, E AQN 1,767,893 I -CEN TRIFUGAL AMALGAMATOR AND SEPARATOR Filed Sept. 6, 1927 i an suitable manner. K

Patented June 24, 1930 a r 1 V I s a i "STATES FFICE '4 i PAIILVA. irnumann, or onioAeo .ZlILLINOiS i I c NTnIFU L'AMALGAMA'rQR AND snraimroa Application filed Septmbert, 1927, Serial No. 217,722, and. in Canada September 18, 1926.

' The invention relates to a "centrifugal cone 9 can .be lowered. is a circular amalgamator and separator for extracting pocket forming a trap around the top of the precious metals from sands and from finely drum. 11 is the upper rim of this trap. 12 milled'ore r is a mercury lining formed against the walls The object of my invention is tov provide 2by the rotation.- 17 are a plurality of ,ver- 50 a machine of the 'kind mentioned above tical vanes fixed to the wall2 to impart the which, although comparatively simple of rotation to the mercury 'andthe pulp. In construction, makes possible a very high eX- Fig. 2 18 is a wire screen closing the circultraction of Values from the worthless matelar opening of thetrap 10. T -1 rial accompanying them.f- I s When the machine is working all the 55 -}In the accompanying drawing I only show parts shown in the drawing, with the exthe rotating drum beingthe essential part ception of theinlet pipe 1, rotate at a high jofthe-machine, as the'foundations, pulleys, speed. v 1 launders and other parts can be arranged in Before the machine is started a quantity of mercury is put into the drum sufficient 60 Whil the drawing illustrates an embodito furnish a linin against the walls of the ment of my invention, it is to be understood drum entirely filling the space between the that in adapting the same to meet different shoulder 4 and the rim 3. conditions and requirements, various changes By the rotation the mercury flows over the 5 inform, 'proportion, and minor details'of ourve'5, and is lined up against the walls 6 theconstr'uction maybe resorted to, without 2 of-the drum, forming a'thin body'fiush departing from the nature of my invention. with the .rim 3 and the shoulder 4 which, One formof the invention isillustrated thoughtheoretically paraboloidal, at a high in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical speed of rotation may be-called cylindrical 5 section ofthe drum; Fig. 2 is avertical sea for practical purposes. Any surplus of mer- 7Q 4o impart thefrota tiom-enlarged, ofa'modifiecl' type of the cury flows out over the rim 3 which, like trap around the top ofthe drum. the shoulder 4: whereon the mercury lining 1 is the inlet pipe forthe water-mixed finds a support, is preferably not more pro- 7 material to be treated, from now on called jecting inwards than the thickness of the pulp; 2 is the cylindrical wall of the rotatmercury lining. I ing drum; 3 is an inward projecting rim The pulp is then run in through the inlet around the top of the drum. -Aninward pipe 1, and is rotated by the vanes 8. These projecting shoulder 4 is formed around the vanes 8 however, asalso the vanes 17, are,

base of the walls 2, into which shoulder the in some cases, not necessary, the pulp and curved end 5 of the bottom -6 of the drum the mercury being sufliciently rotated by 89 merges. 7 is an outlet hole for the mercury, mere friction with the bottom 6, the cone amalgam, and precious metals, tobe screwed 9, and'the walls 2. The pulp now flows open only when; the machine is stopped; 8 through the circular outlet between the botarea plurality of radial vertical vanes t0 tom (Sand the cone 9. Strikingagainst the tion toth'e pulp. 9 is a cone curve 5 the stream of pulp is deflected up- 35 mounted on thearms lt to force the uinwards, so that it cannot rush straight streaming pulp downwardg "The arms 14: against the'mercury, thus avoidingflouring are' fixed to the stublikeLprolongation 13 of and undulation of mercury. The pulp, the spindle 15. 16' are a-plurality of discs spread out into a th1n film, assumes a flow around the stub. 13; by taking them out the practically vertical, becoming parallel'to the 0 m'ercury'lining before flowing onto it. The depth of the pulp film varies with the speed of rotation, but, by taking out the-discs 16 below the cone arms 14: and thereby lowering the cone 9, it can also be regulated. I The pulp now flows upwards over the mercury either vertically or in a more or less steep spiral line, according to the rotation imparted to the pulp in relation to that of the mercury.

The pulpstream flows in an even thin sheet over the smooth and unbroken surface of the mercury. Any turbulent motion in flowing onto and oif the' mercury is avoided, as the mercury is flush with the rim 3 and the shoulder 4. By the centrifugal force all substances heavier than mercury. such as gold, platinum, and others, are pressed into the mercury'and through it against the walls 2 of the drum, or, if amalgamable, they are amalgamated. The lighter particles of. the pulp, the inner edge of which is preferably pointed or rounded to prevent the settlement of solids thereon, such as quartz sand, slimed gangue or other minerals remain swimming on the inner surface of the mercury lining, and continue their way gliding upwards over it, till they are washed out over the rim 3.

The volume of the precious metals thrown into the mercury causes some mercury to flow over the rim 3. Any mercury so displaced, sometimes carrying values of pre cious metal dissolved in it, is thrown into the trap 10,forcing on account'of its higher specific gravity its way into the sandsand slimes partly filling that trap. The trap consists of a circular pocket around the top of the drum, and spaced substantially outwards, so that the pulp flowing outover the rim 3does not flow quietly into the trap, but

that it is splashed into it with force, splaslr' ing the lighter valueless particles out of it. In order to reduce too strong splashing a wire fabric 18, as shownin Fig. 2, may be vplacedover the opening of the trap. The same result of'reducing too strong splashing "may also be obtained by making the connec- 'tion'from the rim 3 to the trap upwardly inclined, as shown in Fig. 2. This connection from the rim 3' to the trap must always be of such incline that no solidsfrom the pulp cansettle thereon under the influence ofcentrifugal force;

Ass aid before, the vanes 8 and 17 may "be left away. In such case the pulp, being less rotated thanv the mercury, would flow over it in a spiral, remaining consequently longer in contact with it during its passage through the drum. y

When the operation is finished, and the drum is stopped, the mercury, the amalgam, and the precious metals will be found'on the bottomfof' the drum and in the trap, from vices show great disadvantage, which render their working defective or impossible. Some of them have riffles projecting over the mercury, thereby causing an accumulation of solids against these rifiles,'through which fresh pulp cannot come any more in contact I with the mercury. Others direct the pulpstream more or less fully against the mercury, whereby this is floured and washed into the waste, no effective means to catch it being provided. Others again provide a circulating mercury surface, forcing the mercury to pass through narrow channels and other obstacles breakingit up into minute globules. Besides, such machines are: very heavy having double walls. They are extremely complicated and expensive, "and, the mercury being kept in circulation, they requirean excessive driving power. I Y Y I My invention difiers from all these, being a very simple, comparatively inexepnsive device. Rifiies and other impediments to the upward flow of the pulp are avoided. No solids can settle against the upper rim of the machine, as themerc'ury is flush wit-hit. Any precious metals, escaping from being caught within the drum, are caught in 8 rotating trap, and so isalso anymerpeury Y the onrushing pulpstream and the surface of which is unbroken'and is flush wit thfifim bordering ,it,I can apply,& Very gh cen rifugal force Without fear of flouring mercury V and of accumulating solids on it detrimental ,to the extractiQn; 'And by combiningthijs with the trap, catching the unavoidable overflow of mercury loaded with precious I obtain a very much increased if ciencyin amalgamation and separation. I I I In h drawing the rim 13 ho n made in one piece with the trap, andjso is, the

would of coursebe no departure from the nature of my invention if the rims were made in one piece with the Wall 2,01 if they were made of separate pieces by themselves.

I claim: I 1. In a centrifugal amalgamator and separator of the type having a rotatingdrum with practically cylindrical walls, the com.-

bination of a mercury lining with an un- "broken surface kept up against thesewalls I shoulder i in one piece with the curve 5. It

upper edge of this lining'andv determining its thickness, and a mercury trap outwardly spaced around the top of the drum and connected therewith.

2. In combination, a centrifugal amalgamat ing and separating receptacle adapted to maintain a wall of mercury within the same during rotation, a trap at the top of the receptacle, and an open meshed screen extending across the mouth of said trap and adapted to receive the impact of material overflowing the receptacle.

PAUL A. NEUMANN.

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