US664059A - Ore-mixing machine. - Google Patents

Description

No'. 664,059. Patentd nec. la, 1900.-

J. P. scnucn, I. ORE MIXING MACHINE.

'Appl at on l d Nov 29 1898) 2 Sheets-Sheet l..

No. 664,059. Patemtedem.` I8, |900.

.1. P. scHucH, 1n.

',RE'MIXING MACHINE. (Application led Nov. 29, 1i498.) (No Modal.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.`

, lvs Jluorgys,

me Nonms mais co. PHOTULITHQ.. wAsmNG'roN, n c.

' NrTED STATES ATENT Fries..

JOHN PHILIP SCHUOH, JR., OF CRIPPLE CREEK, COLORADO.

ORE-MIXING MACHINE.

SBECIFICATION forming part of Letters `Patent No. 664,059, dated December 18, 1900.

I Application filed November 29, 1898. Serial Nol69'7, 780. (No model.)

To LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN PHILIP SoHUcH, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Cripple Greek, in the county of El Paso and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Ore-Mixing Machine, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to an improved oremixing machine designed especially for use in connection with a process of extracting precious metals from their ores through the medium of a cyanid solution.

Herelofore in treat-in g gold-bearing ores by the common cyanid process the ore is first crushed, dried, and rolled to aproper degree of fineness, and that which requires roasting, is then conveyed to the roasters, While the oxidized ore, which does not require roasting is conveyed to the bin or receptacle therefor. After the portions of the ore to be roasted have passed through this step of the process the same is conveyed to the cooling-room before being deposited in the bin or receptacle referred to, which containsthe ore requiring no roasting. All of the ore is then removed by manual labor into the ordinary stationary cyaniding-tanks, and after these tanks are filled with the ore the cyanid solution is introduced therein. In this process the filled cyanid-tanks, withlthe solution and ore therein, are permitted to remain filled and unmolested for a sufficient length of time for Ythe solution to act on the ore, after which the gold-bearingsolution is drawn off and allowed to flow to the precipitation-room, while the` tailings in the tank are then washed with water and shoveled out or sluiced out when this is possible. In this process, which is the one usually followed out in extracting gold and silver from their ores by the use of cyanogen-containing solvents, the percentage extracted rarely exceedseightyper cent. of the ore value, and it is the purpose of the present invention to provide means whereby a larger percent. of the value of the ores may be saved. f

To this end the invention contemplates an improved mixingmachine which provides for a thorough aeration of the ore and solution, while at the same time providing for a mixing of various grades of ore with the cyanid solution, so as to make one even grade out of ores of various values.

With these and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are necessarily susceptible to modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an oremixing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the machine. Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of the revoluble agitator.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates an upright tank of the required capacity and which is preferably of a cylindrical form. The said tank is provided with an open upper end surrounded at its peripheral top edge with an annular track-groove 2, the purpose of which will be presently explained in connection with the revoluble agitator forming a part of the machine. The upright tank 1 is closed at its lower end by the main bottom 3, which has formed in its upper side an annular draingutter 4, which is pierced at intervals by the drain openings or ports 5,in which are fitted one end of the branch pipes 6, arranged beneath the lower end of the tank, and at this point it may be observed that the tank is supported on a suitable base or supportingpillars 7, which provide a bottom space below the tank for the piping 6 and the gearing hereinafter referred to. Each of the drain openings or ports 5 has a branch-pipe connection 6 therewith, and each of the several branch pipes 6 is provided with a controllingvalve 8, which may be used to cut off or regulate the iow of the solution therethrough, and all of said branch pipes 6 converge to and connect with a common drainage-pipe 9, which leads to the usual precipitation-boxes in the precipitation-room, it being understood that the gold-bearing solution which percolates to the main bottom of the tank and the drain-gutter -1 thereof must be conveyed to the precipitation-room to provide for precipitating the precious metal from the solution.

Supported within the bottom portion of the tank 1 is a strainer consisting of a false-bottom plate 1Q and superposed brous sheets 11 and 12, arranged above the said false-bottom plate 10 and together forming a straining or filtering strata through which the goldbearing solution must pass before reaching the drainage-pipe 9 and serving to collect and retain sand, slime, and other impurities contained in the ore or evolved by the chemical action of the cyanid solution thereon. The false-bottom plate 10 of the strainer is arranged directly above the main bottom 3 of the tank and constitutes a false bottom for the latter, and said false-bottom plate is provided in the fiat surface thereof with a plurality of concentric drip-grooves 12', each of which grooves is pierced by a multiplicity of drip openings or perforations 13, through which the gold-bearing solution escapes and flows directly onto the main bottom of the tank. In addition to the plurality of concentric grooves or drip openings or perforations the false bottom 10 is provided with a peripheral upstanding fiange 14, which forms a seat within which is placed the intermediate fibrous sheet 12, which fibrous sheet 12 is preferably made of cocoa matting and which is retained in place by the second and upper fibrous sheet 11, preferably of canvas and having its edges stretched over the upstanding peripheral flange 14 and held against the same by the annular retaining-band 15, which encircles the said flange 14 of the false-bottom plate 10. By reason of the construction described it will be obvious that a very effective strainer or filter is provided, while at the same time the fibrous sheets 11 and 12 thereof are readily removable and replaceable.

The strainer or filter within the bottom portion of the tank 1 not only serves to collect and retain the impurities, but effects a separation between the gold-bearing solution and the ore pulp or slush, which is necessarily mixed with more or less of the solution as the result of the mixing operation within the mixing-tank, and to provide for carrying off said ore pulp or slush which does not penetrate the strainer or filterthe tank 1 has fitted thereto, preferably at one side and near the bottom thereof, an ore-discharge spout 16, having a cut-off or controlling valve 17 and fitted to the tank in such a manner that the inner end thereof communicates with the interior of the tank above the plane of the top fibrous sheet 11 of the strainer. The ore pulp or slush, which is necessarily saturated with more or less of the cyanid solution, passes through the discharge-spout 16 and is deposited into the lixiviation-tanks, preferably of the type disclosed in my former patent, No. 611,515.

To provide for a proper mixing of the ore and cyanid solution within the mixing-tank 1, the latter has arranged therein a revoluble agitator 1S. (Shown in detail in Fig. 4- of the drawings.) The revoluble agitator 18 extends nearly the full height of the mixing-tank and is of substantially the same width as the same to provide for a thorough mixing or agitation of every particle of ore within the tank, and while this agitator is necessarily susceptible to modification in the construction thereof the same is preferably of the construction shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. As illustrated in this figure of the drawings, the agitator 18 essentially consists of a top supporting-spider 19, formed of the right-angularly intersecting cross-arms 20, a plurality of spaced concentric rectangular bottom frames 2l of different sizes and arranged in the same horizontal plane, and a series of vertical parallel agitator-bars 22, depending from the under side of the cross-arms 2O of the supporting-spider and joined at their lower ends to the corners of the bottom frames 21. This completes the general structure of the agitator; butin order to thoroughlybrace the same to insure exceptional strength and the positive movement thereof within the tank oblique brace rods 23 are arranged at the sides of and connect the series of agitatorbars 22 depending from the cross-arms at each side of the point of intersection, and supplemental oblique brace-rods 24 connect the extremities of the cross-arms 20 with the outermost rectangular bottom frame 21 at the corners of the latter.

At their extremities the cross-arms 20 of the supporting-spider 19 are formed with spindles 25, on which areloosely mounted the traveler- Wheels 26, which travel in the annular trackgroove 2 at the top edge of the tank, thereby providing a wheeled support for the upper end of the agitator. The said top supportingspider 19 is fitted at its center to the vertical agitator-shaft 27, the opposite ends of which are respectively mounted inthe step-bearin gs 28 and 29, which are respectively fitted to the ceiling and floor of the room in which the machine may be used. The shaft 27 imparts motion to the agitator, and at the under side of the spider 19 and at the center' thereof is arranged a bearing-block 30, turning in the combined bearing and oil-cup 31, formed at the upper end of a protective tube 32, arranged centrally within the tank and arising from the bottom thereof to the extreme top, as plainly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and at this point it will be observed that the tube 32, in connection with the cup 31, serves to drain off all oil, so that the oil which is used to lubricate the bearings cannot possibly reach the interior of the mixing-tank. The agitator-shaft 27 extends the full length of the tube 32 and has mounted thereon beneath the tank a beveled gearwheel 33, meshing with a corresponding wheel 34 on the inner end of the drive-shaft 35, supported in suitable bearings 36 beneath the tank and having a suitable driving connection 37 therewith.

IOO

IIO

Now in the ordinary process of treating gold-bearing ores, as explained in the statement of invention, the oxidized ore which has been crushed and reduced to the proper degree of ineness does not need roasting, While other portions of the ore must be subjected to the roasting step; but in the present invention instead of allowing the roasted ore to get entirely cold in the cooling-room the same is conveyed or delivered through the feedchute 38 directly into the open upper end of the mixing-tank 1 While the ore is still in a Warm condition. At the same time a stream of the oxidized ore is delivered through the feed-chute 39 into the open upper end of the mixing-tank, and both of the chutes are supported in any suitable manner and used in connection with any type of conveyer, so for this reason further illustration of the connections with the chutes 38 and 39 is not made in the present application. While the ore `is being delivered into the mixing-tank a constant stream of the cyanid solution is also delivered into the tank through the solutionsupply pipe 40, which is preferably fitted in one side of the tank near the top thereof, and as the agitator is constantly revolving Within the tank the entire mass of ore is intimately mixed with the solution, thereby insuring an even and uniform extraction of the precious metals from their ores. As previously explained, the gold bearing cyanid solution which passes through the strainer Within the bottom of the tank is carried by the drainagepipe 9 into the vprecipitation-room, and there is a constant iioW of this solution from the mixing-tank, and after precipitation of the metals from the cyanid solution the barren solution may be used over again. The ore slush or pulp mixed With the solution discharges through the spout 16 and is delivered to the cyanid-tanks for the purpose hereinbefore referred to.

In carrying out the invention it is necessary that the ore and cyanid solution when being mixed together must be thoroughly aerated, so that the air will give up its oxygen and assist in dissolving the gold in the solution. By using the cyanid solution instead of Water at the stamps it is not necessary to introduce'air into the mixture Within the mixing-tank. To secure this result, the tank is provided near the top thereof with an exterior annular air-blast pipe 41, having a valved supply connection 42 therewith and provided With a plurality of depending jetpipes 43. These jet-pipes are also arranged exterior to the tank, at the outer side thereof, and are joined at their upper ends to the main annular pipe 41, While the lower ends of said jet-pipes are provided with short inturned nipple portions 44, which enter the tank near the bottom thereof immediately above the plane of the strainer to provide for inject-ing air into the mixture of ore and solution during the mixing thereof by the agitator. It will be observed that by reason of having the j et-pipes 43 depend from the blastpipe 41 at the top of the tank the drawing in of sand into the said annular pipe 41 is prevented.

. By practical experiment it has been found necessary to have the cyanid solution, which is mixed With the ore, quite Warm in order to secure the best results in the separation of the metal from the ore, and a number of expedients may be resorted to for the purpose of maintaining the solution at a proper temperature. As the ore Which is introduced into the tank 1 of the mixing-machine is used while in a Warm condition, the lsame Will necessarily serve to keep the cyanid solution warm, so ordinarily, in connection With the mixing-machine, it Will not require supplemental means for heating up the cyanid solution; but it may be necessary at times to resort to supplemental means for heating the solution before introd ncin g it into the mixingtank, and one Way to accomplish this result is illustrated in the drawings, Where the solution-supply pipe 40 is shown leading from a storage tank or reservoir 46 for the cyanid solution. This storage tank or reservoir 46 may have arranged therein a heating-coil 47 of piping, the terminals of which coil are connected with any suitable supply for steam or hot air, whereby a circulation of steam or hot air may be maintained in the coil, thus insuring the thorough heating up of the cyanid solution before it is delivered through the supply pipe or pipes to the point of use. While the interior heating-coil 47 Within the storage tank or reservoir for the cyanid solution Will accomplish the desired result, it will be understood that an exterior coil or any extraneous means for heating up the solution may be utilized for the same purpose.

It has already been explained that ordinarily a separate heating of the solution which is used in the mixing-tank is not necessary; but this is always necessary when the cyanid solution is used at the stamp-mill or in any Wetcrushing-machine instead of Water, Which operation dispenses with the necessity of introducing air into the mixture Within the mixing-tank, as previously explained.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction,operation,and many advantages of the herein-described machine Will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art Without further description, and it Will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what 'is claimed as new, and desired to be secured IOO IOS

IIO

communicating with the interior of the tank immediately above the plane of the false bottom, a revoluble agitator depending within the tank into close proximity with reference to the false bottom, and a plurality of airjets arranged to communicate with the tank in a plane intermediate the said false bottom and the lower end of the agitator thereabove, substantially as set forth.

2. In an ore-mixing machine, an open tank provided in the main bottom thereof with an annular drain-gutter pierced by drain openings or ports, a bottom strainer for the tank, said strainer being arranged above the main bottom and consisting of a perforate falsebottom plate having a plurality of perforated drip-grooves, and superposed spaced fibrous sheets arranged over the said false-bottom plate, and a revoluble agitator arranged to work above said bottom strainer, substantially as set forth.

3. In an ore-mixing machine, an open tank provided in the main bottom thereof with an annular drain-gutter pierced at intervals by drain openings or ports, a drainage-pipe having a plurality of valved branches I-espectively leading to separate drain openings or ports, a strainer arranged within the bottom portion of the tank, a discharge-spout communicating with the tank above the strainer, and an agitator, substantially as set forth.

4. In an ore-mixing machine, a tank provided at the bottom with a solution-drain, a bottom strainer for the tank consisting of a perforate false-bottom plate having an upstanding peripheral flange, an intermediate fibrous sheet confined within such flange, and

a second upper fibrous sheet having its edges stretched over and secured to the upstanding peripheral flange of the plate and an agitator, substantially as set forth.

5. An agitator for mixing-machines, con sisting of a top spider formed of intersecting cross-arms, a plurality of spaced concentric rectangular bottom frames of different sizes and arranged in the same horizontal plane, and a series of vertical agitator-bars depending from the under sides of the cross-arms and joined at their lower ends to the corners of the bottom frames, substantially as set forth.

6. In an ore-mixing machine, the combination with the tank having a strainer and a mixing device arranged above the latter, of an exterior annular air-blast pipe encircling the tank and provided with a plurality of' jets communicating with the interior thereof', substantially as set forth.

7. In an ore-mixing machine, the combination with a tank having a strainer and a mixing device arranged above the latter, of an exterior annular air-blast pipe encircling the tank near the top thereof and provided with a plurality of depending jet-pipes having their lower ends communicating with the interior of the tank near the bottom thereof, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesess.

JOHN 'PHILIP SCI-IUCH, JR.

Witnesses:

H. C. MCNETTY, A. B. OLSON.

Images