US340874A - Amalgamator - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

B. s. HARBAGH.

AMALGAMATOR. No. 340,874. Patented Apr. 2

messes: V $132M lutions of the conveyer.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN S. HARBAGH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AMALGAMATO R.

fill PECIPICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,874, dated April 2'7, 1886.

Application filed October 24, 1885. Serial No. 180,853. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN S. HARBACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Arnalgamators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The object -of this invention is to effect a rapid and economical separation of gold from the earth in which it is found without the use of water; and to this end the invention consists in a new machine and method for accomplishing what is generally known as dry amalgamation, the details of which will be hereinafter fully explained.

Figure 1 is a vertical section on line y y, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is an end elevation. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line or a, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation. Fig. 5 is a detached view, enlarged, of one of the spirals or convo- Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the spiral.

Like figures indicate'like parts in all the views.

1 1 are the posts, 2 2 the sills, and 3 a crossgirt, of the frame, which, however, may be of any construction adapted to support the operative parts of my machine.

4 is a cylinder-head at the head end or receiving end of the machine.

5 6 is the lower half of the cylinder or casing, which is semicircularin cross-section and of uniform diameter throughout, except that at its rear end or discharging end it is contracted, as at 6, (see Figs. 1, 2, 4,) whereby the lower side at its extreme rear end is some what elevated, for a purpose which will be explained.

I prefer to use a second semi cylinder or shell, 7, which may be hinged to the part 5 6, as at 8 8. a

9 is a half-head closing the discharging end of the machine above the girt 3.

10 is a shaft mounted in suitable bearings on the framework-for instance, as indicated in the drawingsand provided at suitable intervals with spider-arms 1.1 11, the hubs of which are keyed or otherwise made fast to the h shaft.

12 represents the convolutions of a conveyer or worm mounted upon and carried by the spider-arms, and of an external diameter a little less than the internal diameter of the shell, so as to revolve in close proximity to said shell.

13 13 are lifting blades or plates attached by their edges to the convolutions of the conveyer and projecting laterally therefrom. As indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 5, these blades are each attached by one edge to the outer edge of the conveyer-blade, the inner edge of each plate being nearer the axis of the conveyer than the edge which is attached to the convolution.

In Fig. 6 each plate is attached to the conveyer-blade by one edge, but not to the periphery of the convolution, being arranged on a line tangential thereto, the plane of the plate being by preference parallel with a plane running lengthwise of the conveyer and intersecting its axis.

The convolutions 14. of the conveyer at the discharging end of the machine are of reduced diameter, to correspond substantially with the contracted end of the cylinder.

It will be readily understood that as the conveyer revolves the plates or lifting-blades will elevate more or less of the contents of the cylinder, which material will, as the conveyer continues its rotation, slide off from the plates upon the mass below, whereby the agitation of the auriferous earth will be accomplished more perfectly than would be possible, or at least practicable, with a conveyer of the ordinary construction.

15 16 is a trough arranged below the shell,

which latter is cut away to correspond with the 'inturned edges of the sides of the trough. By preference the bottom of this trough is inclined, as indicated in Fig. 1.

17 is a feed-hopper, through which the mingled mass of gold, earth, and other materials may be fed into the machine. There may be a supply-pipe opening into the head end of the trough, as at 18, Fig. 1.

19 20 represent, respectively, a dischargepipe and stopcock or other gate, located at the tail-end of the trough, through which to draw off its contents, as may be desired.

7 2lcis a transverse partition placed in the trough near the discharging end of the machine, the lower edge of the partition being a short distance above the bottom of the trough, so as to form a throat, through which the contents of the trough may pass.

22 is a pulley orband-wheel on the end of shaft 10. This pulley may be belted to any convenient motor.

23 23 are holes, one or more, in the widened rear ends, 16, of the trough, to permit the passage of air and the overflow of mercury, as will be explained.

24 is a bracket or saddle in which the head end or receiving end of the shell 5 6 may be convenienll y supported.

I do not wish to be limited to the particular form of conveyer-spiral shown, nor to arranging them at any particular inclination or pitch,

nor making them in a substantially continuous worm or thread, as indicated, because under some circumstances, I find it desirable to use separate convolutions, substantially as indicated in Fig. 5

By an examination of the drawings it will be seen that when the trough is filled with quicksilver, its upper surface will be a little above the lower edges of the conveyer-blades, so that during the revolutions of the conveyer the mingled mass of gold, auriferous earth and other material will be rolled, tumbled, and thoroughly agitated in such manner that all portions of it will be successively brought into contact with the quicksilver, and that the gold will sink to the bottom of the trough or at least into the quicksilver; but the refuse will be slowly advanced over the surface of the quicksilver, and finally discharged at the rear end of the machine without seriously disturbing the surface of the quicksilver, or, under ordinary circumstances, causing it to bank up in advance of the coiweyer-blades.

In order to effectually guard against the quicksilver being advanced from the head machine toward the discharging end, I have extended both sides of the trough beyond the lines at which it (the trough) is intersected by the shell or cylinder, into which extensions the quicksilver and such gold as may be accumulated therein can flow temporarily.

The inclined reduced portion 6 of the cylinder, while it will not interfere with the discharge of refuse, will return to the trough any quicksilver which may possibly be carried thither with the refuse and would otherwise be discharged and wasted.

In order to guard against any loss or wastage by reason of the quicksilver or gold adhering to the conveyer, I make it wholly of iron or other neutral material, whereby I am enabled to accomplish a satisfactory separation of the gold from the earth and other impurities in a more economical manner than has ever before been attained.

As a further safeguard against the contents of the trough being forced rearward and out of the machinewith the refuse, I provide the 1 partition 21, the upper edge of which is on a line with the lower line of the conveyer, the lower edge of the partition being a short distance from the bottom of the trough, and through the throat thus formed the quicksilver and portion of all of the gold in the trough will pass when the stop-cock 20 is opened.

By slowly introducing a fresh supply of mercury at 18, and leaving the stop cock slightly open, a continuous flow of mercury and gold through the trough can be maintained, and the mercury, after the gold has been separated therefrom, may be returned and run through the machine again.

Should the mercury from any cause-such as accumulation of gold in the trough-rise above its sides into the cylinder, it would not under ordinary circumstances rise high enough to be discharged at the tail end with the refuse, because of the overflow-holes 23, (see Figs. 1 and 4,) thus avoiding the waste of quicksilver and gold which might otherwise result.

Although I regard iron as the best material for the conveyer, yet I do not wish to be limited thereby, because 1 may use any other material that is neutralthat is to say, to which quicksilver will not adhere when brought into contact therewith by the operation of the machine. Of course a hand-crank may be used instead of a band-wheel to drive the conveyer; nor do I wish to be limited to the precise construction shown of the lifting-plates, which project laterally from the convolutions of the conveyer, because their construction might be materially modified, as might be also their position relative to the conveyer or their mode of attachment to its convolutions without departing, essentially, from that part of my invention.

By examining Fig. 3 it will be seen that the mercury holder is outside of the cylinder, which latter may be regarded as the ore-ho1der. In this respect my apparatus differs materially from those devices heretofore in use having cylinders and conveyers, as the cylinders heretofore have furnished only a single compartment, serving both as an ore-holder and a mercury-chamber. XVith these devices it becomes necessary either to sink the convcyer-blades deep into the mercury, or else it is impossible to have them engage at their sides with the ore, for when they are elevated so as to have their peripheries at or just slightly below the surface of the mercury they are out of concentricity with the cylinder, and wide spaces are left open between their side edges and the cylinder-walls.

I can engage with all of the ore by my conveyer-blades and advance it, and at the same time avoid disturbing the main body of the mercury, inasmuch as it lies outside of the cylinder-walls--that is to say, I employ, in combination with the means for advancing the ore, a mercury-holder and walls converging downwardly toward the mercuryliolder, and having an opening between them. I prefer to have this opening somewhat narrower than the upper surface of the mercury, inasmuch as I can thus provide a lateral recoil-chamber, which shall relieve the mercury of any forward pressure that may be exerted by the blades when they dip into the surface, one of my objects being to keep the mercury in an undisturbed state. Of course more or less of the same ends could be attained if the mercury and the advancing mechanism be placed in one general cylinder-that is, if the walls of the mercury-trough we're concentric with the upper part of the cylinderprovided that walls or partitions similar to those shown for the bottom part of the cylinder be arranged to converge between the mercury'space and the conveyor.

I am aware of the fact that use has been made of rectilinearly-moving brushes to carry dry material over mercury,said brushes being arranged perpendicularly to their path; but I so treat the material that it shall be turned and tumbled over and over, and the mercury is not pushed directly forward, as it is by devices similar to the brushes above mentioned.

The slow forward movement of the amalgamated material in the trough is facilitated by having the body of mercury gradually increased in depth, so that the heavier portion cannot reach the bottom at once, but shall be suspended more or less until it reaches the exit. By so arranging the parts that they shall act in this way, I can supply at the upper end fresh mercury, which shall be substantially proportional to the valuable material delivered to its surface, and which can be caused to move as a current either continuously or at such-intervals as are advantageous.

By having the mercury-chamber divided into two parts, one communicating with the other, and one so arranged that the earth shall not be in contact with the mercury therein, I can prevent the mercury from banking up in front of the conveyor at the tail end, as the mercury can escape from one part of the chamber to the other, and hence it can be prevented from being carried up the incline at the end and lost with the refuse.

I do not herein make claim to any particular process which can be carried out in using the mechanism that I have described. Said mechanism may be used to follow any of several processes.

I prefer to follow an improved method which I have devised; but this method I have made the subject-matter of claims in another application of mine-to wit, No. 173,411, filed August 3, 1885.

I do not herein claim a conveyor made of iron or neutral material, but shall make that the subject-matter of another application which I am about to file.

IVhat I claim is"- 1. In an amalgamator, the combination of the open-bottomed cylinder, a mercury-holder outside of and below the cylinder, means, sub stantially as described, for advancing the ore through the cylinder and over the upper surface of the mercury while in contact therewith, and an inclined support at the discharge end of the cylinder for the escaping refuse, substantially as set forth. 7

2. The combination of means, substantially as described, for advancing the ore, a mercury-holder, and inclined walls for holding and retaining the ore converging toward the mercury-holder to points inside of the sides of the mercury-holder, substantially as described.

3. The combination of means, substantially as described, for advancing the ore, a pulpholder having'an opening in its bottom, and a mercury -holder, constructed and arranged as set forth, wider than the said opening, as described.

4. The combination of means, substantially as set forth, to advance the ore, an ore-holder, a mercury-holder, and a wall or partition transverse to the path of the ore and extending down into the mercury and constructed, substantially as set forth, to provide a passage for the mercury below the top of the partition, as described.

5. The combination of means, substantially as described, for advancing the ore, the oreholder having its lower walls substantially circular in section and with an opening between them, and the mercm'y-holder wider than said opening and arranged, substantially as described, to have the surface of the mercury at or near the edges of the opening, as set forth.

6. The combination, with the means for advancing the ore and the walls which hold or confine the ore, of the mercury-holder having an inclined bottom and an opening at the top communicating continuously with the cylinder along the bottom thereof, substantial] y as set forth.

7. The combination, with the mercury-hold er having the inclined bottom, the cylinder or pulp-holder above the mercuryholder, and the conveyor for advancing, of means for continuously supplying and continuously withdrawing the mercury, substantially as set forth.

S. The combination, with the cylinder or pulp-holder, the eonveyer, and the mercuryholder, of the vertical partition or wall 21, arranged, substantially as set forth, to have the ore pass over it and the mercury pass un der it, substantially as set forth.

9. In an amalgamator, the combination, with means for advancing and containing the ore, of a mercuryholder adapted, substan- 10. In an amalgamator, the combination of surface of the mercury, substantially as set a mercury-holder, a cylinder or chamber for forth. 10 the ore above the mercury-ho1der, a conveyer In testimony whereof I affix my signature in arranged, substantially as set forth, to advance presence of two witnesses.

5 the ore over the surface of the mercury, and BENJAMIN S. HARBAGH.

the lifting-plates secured to the conveyer- Witnesses: blade and arranged, substantially as set forth, CHAS. H. ()TTERSON,

to take up the ore and drop it upon the CHAS. H. GONOVER,

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