US675660A - Amalgamating apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

No. 575ml). Patented lune 4, |901. A. LAvmx. AMALGAMATING APPARATUS.

(Application Med Dec. 23, 1898.) (un Modal.) 3 sheets-snm l.

'fue Nongus mins cn, PHoro-Ll'mo., msmnofom D. c,

VVT/VESSES No. 675,660. Patented lune 4, 190|. A. LAVUIX. AMALGAMATlNG APPARATUS.

(Application Bled Dec. 23, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(Nn Model.)

No. 635,660. Patented lune 4, l90l. A. LAVOIX.

AMALGAMATING APPARATUS.

(Application 'led Dec. 28, 189B.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

me Noms Pneus co, woraumo. mas-wauw. D. c.

UNiTieD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANTOINE LAVOIX, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

AMALGAMATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 6'? 5,660, dated June 4:, 1901. Application tiled December Z3, 1898. Serial No. 700,114. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom z'ft 'muy concern:

Be it known that l, ANTOINE LAvoIX, civil engineer, a citizen of the Republic of France, and a resident of 7 Rue de Chateaud un, Paris, France, have invented certain Improvements in orRelating to AmalgamatingApparatus for Extraction of Precious Metals from Minerals, (for which applications for patents have been iled in my nalne in Belgium the 12th of October, 1898; in Germany the 13th of October, 1898; in France the 8th of December, 1898, and in England the 8th of December, 1898,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an amalgamating apparatus adapted for delivery in large quantities, and especially designed to accomplish extracting to a maximum degree the gold or silver from the minerals; and it consists, essentially, in passing the minerals in suspension in water from below the top through a ring-like column ot' Quicksilver, not thick, but contained between two cylinders, while the mass is fast stirred up by rotation of one of the cylinders, provided with pins covering its whole circumference in contact with the Quicksilver and while the raising of the minerals is delayed by circular ribs carried by the cylinder and arranged in convenient spaces one from the other in order tothrow back the minerals upon the pins of the rotating cylinder to secure intimate and prolonged contact of all the particles with the quicksilver.

The annexed drawings show the amalgainating apparatus of my invention..

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a sectional partial elevation. Fig. e is a horizontal section on the line 1 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail of the construction of the cylinders of the apparatus on a larger scale. Figs. 6 and 7 show in a vertical and horizontal section a modified construction of the cylinders. Fig. 8 shows another modified construction in which both of the cylinders are provided with pins.

My apparatus comprises, essentially', two vertical concentric cylinders A and B, with an annular space between them, which is illed with Quicksilver during the action and which forms the amalgamation-held.

Nith reference to Figs. 1 to 5, the outer cylinderAis composed of three parts or sectors riveted or bolted together along the whole height, and it rests upon the ground on three regulating-screws cl, allowing, in conjunction with three water-levels b, the true vertical adjustments of the apparatus.

Each bracket c, forming a nut for the regulating-screwct, and also each water-1evel box is of iron, cast with one of the sectors of the cylinder A, so that the three parts of this cylinder are identical and require only one pattern and mold.

The cylinder A is closed below by a riveted bottom C, of cast-iron, with a ribbed frame D, which forms a center pedestal for supporting the shaft o of the cylinder B and also carries the pipe e for the iniiow of the mixture of water and mineral and the pipe f for outfiow of the residue. This latter pipe serves also during the working of the apparatus for periodically evacuating the amalgam. On its top end the cylinder has also a riveted head F, perforated with windows or holes g and carrying the different organs for operating the rotation of the inner cylinder B.

The inner cylinder B is open at its lower end, and its inner border is at little distance from the bottom C of the outer cylinder. 1 This cylinder has a plane bottom h at a convenient height from its lower end and rests upon the frame D by means of its shaft o, fastened to the bottom h and carried and guided by a cross-bar t, embodying arms made of iron cast with the cylinder. The top part of the cylinder is reinforced by inner ribs j, uniting with the head G. Upon the boss, at the center of head G, is keyed a beveled wheel 7e, operating to revolve the cylinder. This wheel 7c gears with a beveled pinion 7d, keyed ou the horizontal shaft l, supported and guided by a long bearing F', made of cast-iron, in the head F of the outside cylinder. On the outside of the apparatus the shaft Z carries a fast driving-pulleym and a loose pulley m. When the apparatus is working, the thrust resulting from the iiowing in under pressure of the liquid in the cylinder B tends to lift this cylinder, so that it must be provided on its top end with a very good bearing R, conveniently oiled. For this purpose there is keyed on the head G a shaft o', whose top end forms asocket and turns upon a stationary pivot formed by a screw n, held in the head F of the outer cyl- IOO two consecutive ribs t.

inder. This screw carries keyed on it a wormg q when the pivot is to be screwed down forv compensating for wear.

The oiling of the socket is secured by an oiler o", from which passes a pipe r', arranged in the axle of the pivot.

The inner cylinder B carries upon lits whole outer circumference metallic pins s, screwed into its walls or fastened in any other convenient manner to project slightly less than the width of the annular space between the two cylinders. The cylinder B has also on its outside, and equidistantly-arranged, circular-ribs t, making a very small flange, and the cylinder A has on its inner circumference circular ribs t', situated each about in the middle of the intermediate space between each two ribs t and forming a larger flange than the ribs t. and very little less than the width of the annular space.

To enable'the easy replacing or substituting of the pins s after wear, the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 may be employed. The pins s instead of being fastened directly in the wall itself of the cylinder B are fastened in metallic rings or jackets or, wrapping the cylinder B and varranged each between Each ring m is made of three segments united together two by two by means of lugs y and bolts y', which allow a quick assemblage and dismounting. I may also employ yfor the same purpose the construction 's'hown in Fig. 8. Each horizontal linevof pins s is of iron, cast with a short ring c', which is passed over the cylinder B. These rings are su perposed and solidarized with the lcylinder B by means of vertical keysor by any other suitable means. Each of said rings is molded like a gear. In this view the two cylinders A and kB are shown as formed by sections united by means of strong circular iianges and bolts. Besides I have represented in the-interior of the-cylinder A superposed rings e', of iron, cast with pins or teeth s', of which the horizontal lines alternate with the lines of pins s.

The 'amalgamator works as follows: The apparatus being irst put in exactly vertical position and the cock f in the pipe f being closed, quicksilver is introduced till its level arrives at the height of the gravity-valve u, which is seated in the top end of the pipe e and is supported by a flange, as shown. This quantity of quicksilver is estimated as suliicient Vfor filling the whole annular space between the two cylinders when it is confined to that space. The pipe e being put in cornmunication'wi'th a pump delivering the mixture of water and mineral with a pressure of four to live kilograms, or thereabout, per square centimeter, the tap e of the feed-pipe is opened, the liquid laden'with mineral lifts the valve u and falls back over the surface of thesheet of quicksilver, the level of the water rises, and the airis compressed under the full bottom h, forming a bell, while the level of the quicksilver goes down in the cylinder B and rises in the annular space between the two cylinders. As soon as the quicksilver is gone down in the cylinder B to the line y the water and the minerals pass the border of the cylinderB and traverse, from below to top, the layer of quicksilver with a rapidity partly depending upon the height of the quicksilver column. It will be understood that it is useful for the border of the inner cylinder B to be entirely horizontal in order that the waterand minerals escape along the whole circumference of this cylinder and that the whole annular mass 'of quicksilver works at the same time. The drivin'g-pulleym of the cylinder B being then engaged, this cylinder begins to turn. In accordance as the water and the minerals rise in traversing'the quicksilver a strong agitation is produced in the liquid along its whole height by the ypins s, so that the different particles of the-minerals come into intimate contactwith the quicksilver and all the precious metal is dissolved. The rising movement of the minerals vis diminished or delayed, moreover, by the circular ribs and t of the cylinder, disposer-lso as to form a zigzag course. The projection of the ribs t being, moreover, largerthan that of the ribs t, the minerals are always thrown back toward the inner cylinder to undergo the action of the pins o'n the spot where it is most felt, and this considerably increases the efficacy of the process by securing, namely, the scouring-that is to say, the cleaning off of the different particles of metal or thedetaching of the already-formed amalgam from the surface of these particles. Vhen the two cylinders are provided with pins, the stationary pins or teeth s can only facilitate the stirring and contribute to furnish an excellent work. I may remark that the cylinder B is also provided toward its lower end on its inner surface with a certain number of pallets r, which, rotating in the midst of the water laden with minerals, stir up'the sedi-ments in this mass, so that the process of amalgamation may act regularly. The outer cylinder A has near its top end a gage-level pipe T, showing at what moment quicksilver must be supplied to thetapparatus. The mixture of water and residues arriving at the upper part of the apparatus after the amalgamation passes out through a pipe S.-

` My amalgamating apparatus thus made is especially effective and efficient, secures a delivery in large quantity, and extracts to a maximum degree the precious metals contained in the minerals.

I claiml. In an amalgamator, the combination with a vertical exterior cylinder; va cover to said cylinder and a pedestal in the bottom of said cylinder, of an interior, vertical, revoluble, cylinder, journaled as to its lower end in said pedestal, and adapted and arranged to turn within said exterior cylinder; a screw piercing the said cover, and adapted and arranged to form a bearing for the upper end of the said interior cylinder; a wormwheel on said screw; a worm engaging said Wheel; means as specified for actuating and supporting said worm, whereby facility is afforded for regulating the pressure of said screw upon said interior cylinder, of a bevel gear-wheel mounted upon the top of said interior cylinder; a shaft journaled in the cover of said eX- terior cylinder; a pinion mounted on said shaft, and engaging said bevel-wheel, and means for actuating said shaft, whereby the said interior cylinder is made to revolve within the said exterior cylinder all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an amalgamator, the combination with a vertical stationary cylinder; a revoluble vertical cylinder within said stationary cylinder, and a bottom for said stationary eylinder; a pedestal, located on the middle of the inner side of said bottom and a perforated cap on said pedestal, whereon said interior cylinder is journaled; of an entry-conduitextending through said bottom, and said pedestal, and affording facility for the entry of ore-pulp, through said conduit and the perforations of said cap, into the interior of said revoluble cylinder, and under the edge thereof, into a space between the said exterior and interior cylinders, to be there agitated with mercury as specified, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In an amalgamator, the combination with an exterior, upright, hollow cylinder composed of segments as speciiied; a cover for said cylinder; a screw threaded in said cover; a worm-wheel rigidly mounted on said screw; a worin journaled by brackets on said cover, adapted and arranged to engage said worm-wheel; a hand-Wheel on said worm; a bottom for said cylinder; an upright pedestal extending upward from the middle of the inner side of said bottom; an entry-conduit passing through said bottom and through said pedestal; Valves as specified in said conduit; a perforated cover on said pedestal; and a journal bearing on said cover; adjustingscrews whereon said cylinder rests, working in the said bottom thereof; and annular ribs, as specified, extending inwardly, at equal distances apart, upon the inner surface of said exterior cylinder; of an interior upright revoluble cylinder adapted to turn within said eX- terior cylinder; a pressure-chamber in the lower part of said interior cylinder; means as specified for supporting and actuating said interior cylinder; pallets within said interior cylinder; annular ribs and pins on the eXterior surface of said interior cylinder, located as specified; means of communication for the passage of inflowing ore-pulp from said entryconduit to the space between said cylinders,` and discharge-conduits for said cylinders as specified all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.-

In Witness whereof l have hereunto signed my name, this 13th day of December, 1398, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ANTOINE LAVOIX.

Vitnesses:

JEAN BAPTISTE FOURNIER, EDWARD l. MACLEAN.

Images