US320655A - Machine for extracting from pulverized ores gold and silver - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. L. HAYWARD. MACHINE FOR EXTRAGTING PROM PULVERIZED DRES GOLD AND SILV Patented June 23, d1885.

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UNITED S'rrrrns PATENT OFFICE.,

JACOB L. HAYVV-ABD, OF FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR EXTRACTING FROM PULVERIZED ORES GGLD AND SlLVEl?.

SPECIFICATION. forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,655, dated June 23, 1885.

` pplication filed March 21,1885. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB L. HAYWARD, a l

citizen of the United States, residing at Framingham, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Machine for Extracting and Saving the Gold and Silver from Pulverized Orcs and the Gold from Auriferous Sand and Gravel, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for extracting from gold and silver ores, after having rst been pulverized, the gold or silver therein, and gold from auriferous sands and gravel; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to create currents in a body of water confined in a tank by which the pulverized ore, sand, or gravel placed therein is brought into frequent contact with amalgam plates lining the inside of the tank, and the gold or silver caught thereon, or by gravitation to the bottom during the passage of the material from the place where it enters the tank to the other end Where it is discharged; second, to provide means whereby the mercury placed or fed upon the amalgam plates lining the inside of a tank may pass into a general receiver therefor without coming into contact with the upward currents, and to prevent it from being iioured and wasted; third, to pro vide means for the removal of all the mercury and amalgam from a general receiver therefor automatically after it has been fed or placed upon and passed over the amalgam plates, so that it may be reused or retorted; fourth, to agitate the sand or material treated that may settle to the bottom of atank, so as to prevent it from packing, and to allow the gold that will or does not amalgamateto gravitate to the bottom beneath the influence of upward currents; fifth, to give the tank a jarring motion at frequent intervals to prevent the material treated from lodging upon and covering up the surface of corrugated amalgam plates lining the inside thereof. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation andverticallongitudinal cross-section of the entire machine, showing the frame-work, cylinder, and driving arrangements in elevation and the bottom or valley of the tank in section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the bottom or l valley, showing receivingchamber, supplypipe, false bottom, and agitators, and front and rear. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the same, showing also corrugated amalgam plates.

Si milar letters refer to similar parts through out the several views.

The pipe B is the supply-pipc which runs through the entire tank from end to end and out through stuffing-boxes or anges. Upon the upper surface of this pipe, at short distances apart along its length throughout the tank, are orifices D D. rlhese orifices are so arranged as to cause the current or force passing through them to shoot upward and for ward toward the tailing-tank P, Figi, and at the same time alternately or otherwise to the right and left of the center of the tank. The

compressor, steam-boiler, or other means not shown.

The false bottom C runs the entire length of the inside of tank 2,' over supply-pipe B,with proper openings or holes corresponding with the orifices D in said pipe. This bottom C may be either flexible or rigid, and is so formed as to leave longitudinal spaces or openings c c between its outer edges and plates d d. That shown in Fig. 3 is flexible, u being gum belting and e steel plates.

The pulverized ore or material to be treated is fed into the cylinder l, Fig. l, through au opening therein. Upon the periphery thereof is a screen or grating. The coarse material is passed through and out of the opposite end of the cylinder to which it is fed .in,while the fine material falls through the screen or grating into the tank 2, Fig. l, almost filled with water, where it comes in contact with the upward currents above spoken of, these currents having a direction to theright and left alternately, or otherwise, and all forward,carry the material to both sides of the tank, and at the same time upward and forward. The material thus acted upon gravitates, and thelight vparti cles are assisted to gravitate by the downward return of the currents, and comesincon- IOO tact with corrugated amalgam plates d d, Fig.

the false bottom C, where it is again brought in contactv with the neXt upward current and carried to the surface of the water, and gravitating again in like manner as before is acted upon by the next upward current, and this action is repeated by each successive upward current until the opening o is reached, where the material is passed into tailing or settling tank l? and discharged through opening p or by means of a tailing-wheel or other device. The action of the said currents is such that the material treated and the gold and silver therein arebroughtinto frequent contact with the amalgam plates d d, upon which thegold and silver are caught.

Mercury is freely fed upon the` surface of the plates d d, keeping them soft and in good condition for amalgamation. Thesurplusflows down the plates and through thelongitudinal openings or spaces c c, Fig. 3, formed by the outer edges of the false bottom C, and said plates ci d into A, Figs. l, 2, and 8, the true bottom or valley of the tank.

Through the bottom of A is an endless chain or rope, I, having at equal distances thereon plates or disks J, and passing through tubes K K, Figs. l and 2, making a tight joint and preventing a flow of water. This chain is given a continuous motion, and draws the amalgam, mercury, and such other material as may pass through the openings c c, Fig. 3, out of the bottom or valley A, where it falls into tank O, Fig. l, or other receptacle,where it may be drawn off for retorting or reuse. A screw or worm or other device may be used in the place of the chain for the same purpose.

The material that may settle beneath the levelof orifices D D and about them is agitated by means of the arms F F and adjustable fingers G G placed upon the rock-shaft E E, Figs. l, 2, and 3, which havea side motion from right to left across the tank and over the false bottom. This motion may be given by means of rod H, Fig. l, working on a cam on a shaft. The arms F and fingers G G, moved as above, prevent all packing of material on the false bottom O and about the orifices D, and the clogging or closing up of longitudinal spaces c c, and allows all the gold or silver that may gravitate or will not amalgamate on plates d d to settle to the bottom of G, beneath the influence of the upward currents from oriiices D D.

A jar motion is given to the tank by means of projections M being placed upon the trunnions of the revolving cylinder I, running upon the friction wheels S, upon the springs N, on frame B, Fig. l. This jar motion prevents the material treated from lodging upon and covering up the surfaces of plates d d.

The tank 2, shown in Figs. l and 3, has but one valley or bottom. Other tanks may be used having more than one such valley or bottom A, each additional valley or bottom to be provided with supply-pipe B, with orices D, false bottom C, conveyers I, for the purposes set forth.

I am aware that previous to my invention machines foil1 this purpose have been made, with tanks the inner surfaces of which are covered with amalgam plates, and in which upward currents of water are formed, all having supply -pipes through which water is forced, and having revolving cylinders or screens. I do not therefore claim such a combination broadly, but- What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In atank,the bottom (or bottoms or valleys) A,in combination with the supply-pipes B, false bottom C, and conveyers I, to run the entire length of tank 2, having spaces between the sides of each valley and the supplypipe B to admit the free discharge of mercury as may pass through the longitudinal spaces c c into the bottom beneath.

2. The supply-pipe B, with orifices D D at short intervals throughout its entire length and passing through the bottom or valley A, and in combination with false bottom C, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The false bottom O,in combination with the pipe' B and valley A, arranged to leave longitudinal spaces or opening c e between its outer edges and amalgam plates d d or the sides of the valley or valleys of the tank, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The conveyer I,in combination with false bottom C, pipe B, and valleys A, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination of the bearings of the friction-wheels S, resting upon springs N, and the projections M on the trunnions of the cylinder l, and cylinder 1, and tank 2, provided with amalgamated plates, substantially as and for the purposes set forth,

6. The combination of tank 2, cylinder l, tailings-tank P, valley A, false bottom C, conveyers I, pipe B, with orifices D, rockshaft E, arms F, lingers G, jar motion M, and tubes K, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JACOB L. I-IAYWARD.

Vitnesses:

JOHN A. Tonn, DnNroN W. DURYEA.

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