Abstract:
A particle classifier apparatus used to mine for gold and other precious particles. The present invention is meant to replace the sluice box or any inefficient means for gold mining. The present invention is used with and without a stream of flowing water. The present invention comprises a PVC channel, a main trough and a plurality of small troughs. The PVC channel comprises a slit with a narrow end and a wide end. The present invention is designed for the stream of flowing water to flow from the narrow end to the wide end. The water flow pushes the particles through the slit and into the plurality of troughs located beneath the slit. The smallest particles fall into the narrow end whereas the big particles fall into the wide end. The plurality of small troughs are removed from the main trough so the captured particles may be panned for gold.

Description:
[0001]    The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/503,805 filed on Jul. 1, 2011. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a particle classifier apparatus used to mine gold. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is intended for but not limited to gold. The present invention intends to improve the efficacy of the separating process utilized in placer mining to separate heavy precious metals from lighter gauge. In placer mining, sand and sediment are collected from a bed stream and processed through classifying instruments such as sluice box, plastic bucket classifier, wire mesh or any classifier that separates small rocks from big rocks. The common classifier in the field is the sluice box, which is placed in a stream bed to allow stream sediment to settle in. The present invention functions like the sluice box, but unlike the sluice box, the present invention does not need to be removed from the stream bed to be cleaned and inspected for entrapped precious particles. The collected precious metals in a plurality of small troughs may be inspected at any time during the mining processing. The present invention comprises a plurality of riffles, a slit and a plurality of small troughs. Similar to the sluice box, the plurality of riffles of the particle classifier apparatus serves to entrap the heavy precious metals in the sediment. The plurality of riffles then conduct the heavy precious metals down to the slit and consequently the plurality of small troughs located beneath the slit. The plurality of small troughs may be accessed at any time by the user during the process. The particle classifier is operated along with a flow of stream water, which deposits particles and sediment into the slit and the plurality of small troughs. The claimed particle classifier may be operated along with a flow of water from any source other than streams. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention is a particle classifier apparatus used to mine gold or other precious particles. The dimensions as described in the following are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The present invention eliminates the screening of particles with a wire mesh, grizzly bars, plastic bucket classifiers or anything that separates small rocks from big rocks. It classifies the particles into multiple different size compartments which in turn can be removed and be panned separately in a regular gold pan. Thus, the present invention eliminates all the classifying with a wire mesh and a sluice box, an inefficient process during which the bigger rocks are picked out and the smaller rocks still need further classification. Unlike a sluice box, the particle classifier apparatus does not have to be removed from the water to be cleaned out or be taken apart to get to the compartments of panned particles. Any one of a plurality of small troughs can be checked at anytime without having to clean out the entire apparatus. The present invention classifies with the flow of water, allowing the particles fall through a slit, into the plurality of small troughs, ready to be panned for gold. The present invention is easy to use, light and portable. The present invention can also be used if there is no flowing water. To achieve this, the particles are flushed down with a bucket of water at the top of the present invention while the present invention is tilted at a steep angle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a left perspective view of the present invention when the invention is closed. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a left perspective view of the present invention when the invention is closed. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a right perspective view of the present invention when the invention is closed. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a bottom right perspective view of the present invention when the invention is closed. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the present invention when the invention is closed. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a right view of the present invention when the invention is closed. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is a left view of the present invention when the invention is closed. 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is a top view of the present invention when the invention is closed. 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  is a view of a small trough showing a female connector. 
           [0013]      FIG. 10  is a view of a small trough showing a male connector. 
           [0014]      FIG. 11  is a bottom view of the present invention when the invention is open. 
           [0015]      FIG. 12  is a left view of the present invention when the invention is open. 
           [0016]      FIG. 13  is a right perspective view of the present invention when the invention is open. 
           [0017]      FIG. 14  is a right view of the present invention when the invention is open. 
           [0018]      FIG. 15  is a top right perspective view of the present invention when the invention is open. 
           [0019]      FIG. 16  is a top left perspective view of the present invention when the invention is open. 
           [0020]      FIG. 17  is a top perspective view of the present invention when the invention is open. 
           [0021]      FIG. 18  is a top perspective view of the present invention when the invention is open. 
           [0022]      FIG. 19  is a top left perspective view of the present invention when the invention is open. 
           [0023]      FIG. 20  is a top perspective view of the present invention when the invention is open. 
           [0024]      FIG. 21  is an exploded view of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
         [0026]    As can be seen  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 15 , a plurality of small troughs  3  is situated on a trough inside  21 , which is the inside of a main trough  2 . The main trough  2  is made of aluminum or any malleable material. In the preferred embodiment, the main trough  2  is 36 inches in length, 6 inches in height, and 6 inches in width. Additionally, the cross section of the main trough  2  is a 90-degree V-shape. It is understood that the cross section of the main trough  2  in the present invention is not limited to a 90-degree V-shape. The cross section of the main trough  2  can be of any shape. Situated on top of both the plurality of small troughs  3  and the main trough  2  is a Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) channel. The PVC channel  1  is a vertical half of a PVC pipe. It is understood that in the present invention, the PVC channel  1  is not strictly composed of PVC. The PVC channel  1  may be composed of any material, in any shape or configuration. In the preferred embodiment, the PVC channel  1  is also 36 inches in length and 6 inches in diameter. A top PVC end  5  is fastened to a top trough end  22  by a top bracket  12 , a top left fastener  13 , a top right fastener  14 , a top left connector  35  and a top right connector  36 . The top left connector  35  and the top right connector  36  are two separate L-shaped connector pieces that connect the top PVC end  5  to the top trough end  22 . Furthermore, the top left connector  35  and the top right connector  36  help stabilize the top end of the present invention. The top left connector  35  and the top right connector  36  each comprises a hole, wherein the top left fastener  13  and the top right fastener  14  are to be attached to. Located at the bottom of each L of the top left connector  35  and the top right connector  36  is a plurality of holes for bolts to connect the top left connector  35  and the top right connector  36  to the main trough  2 . The top left connector  35  and the top right connector  36  are attached the top PVC end  5  along with the top bracket  12  to the top trough end  22 . 
         [0027]    The top PVC end  5  is rotatably attached to the top trough end  22 . A bottom PVC end  6  is fastened to a bottom trough end  23  by a bottom bracket  15 , a trough connector  30 , a bottom left fastener  16 , and a bottom right fastener  17 . The trough connector  30  comprises a left trough connector  31  and a right trough connector  32 . The trough connector  30  serves as a carrying strap to fasten the PVC channel  1  to the main trough  2 . The trough connector  30  is also utilized to hold the present invention together when the user needs to transport the particle classifier apparatus from one location to another. The left trough connector  31  fastens a left side of the bottom PVC end  6  to a left side of the bottom trough end  23  via the bottom left fastener  16 . The right trough connector  32  fastens a right side of the bottom PVC end  6  to a right side of the bottom trough end  23  via the bottom right fastener  17 . The trough connector  30  can be easily detached from the bottom left fastener  16  and the bottom right fastener  17 , respectively, to unfasten the bottom PVC end  6  from the bottom trough end  23 . Once the bottom PVC end  6  is unfastened from the bottom trough end  23 , the bottom bracket  15  is still attached to the bottom PVC end  6 . Therefore, the bottom PVC end  6  can be lifted by the user via the bottom bracket  15  to upend the PVC channel  1 , so the plurality of small troughs  3  can be removed once the plurality of small troughs  3  is full. With the aforementioned components attached, both the top bracket  12  and the bottom bracket  15  may serve as handles for the user to easily carry and lift the present invention from one location to another. 
         [0028]    As can be seen in  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 20 , the particles reach the plurality of small troughs  3  via a slit  7  located in the middle and along a PVC inside  4 . The slit  7  is a long triangular slit with a narrow end  8  and a wide end  9 . It is understood that the narrow end  8  and the wide end  9  of the slit  7  can be of any dimensions other than those specified in the preferred embodiment. In the preferred embodiment, the length of the slit  7  is 26 inches while the narrow end  8  is 1/16 of an inch and the wide end  9  is ¾ of an inch. The difference in width of the slit  7  allows the present invention to classify particles by size. The narrow end  8  is adequately narrow to allow passage of particles or denser constituents of sand and sediment therethrough. The narrow end  8  is positioned near the top PVC end  5 , whereas the wide end  9  is positioned at the bottom PVC end  6 . Between the narrow end  8  of the slit  7  and the top PVC end  5  is a distance of 10 inches, which is the difference between the length of the slit  7  and the length of the PVC channel  1 . The wide end  9  of the slit  7  is essentially a gap and has a slit connector  18  fastened to one end by a plurality of connector flat bolts  19  and the other end by a connector fastener  20 . The attachment of the slit connector  18  to the wide end  9  of the slit  7  keeps the PVC channel  1  stable and prevents the PVC channel  1  from splitting vertically into two halves. Additionally, the slit connector  18  allows the width of the wide end  9  to be adjustable to accommodate various sizes of large particles passing into the wide end  9 . 
         [0029]    As can be seen in  FIG. 15 , a plurality of curved bars  10  situates on each lateral side of the slit  7 . The plurality of curved bars  10  is fastened to the PVC inside  4  by a plurality of flat bolts  11 . The plurality of curved bars  10  serves as riffles or barriers to entrap the heavier, precious metals and conduct the said precious metals into the slit  7 . It is understood that the plurality of curved bars  10  may be riffles of any configuration other than the plurality of curved bars  10  mentioned in the preferred embodiment. The plurality of curved bars  10  is separated from each other by a constant pitch on each lateral side of the slit  7 . The constant pitch between each of the plurality of curved bars allows particles of different weights to accumulate along the slit  7 . The plurality of curved bars  10  on one side of the slit  7  corresponds to the plurality of curved bars  10  on the other side of the slit  7  in such a manner wherein the plurality of curved bars  10  on one side of the slit  7  minors the plurality of curved bars  10  on the other side of the slit  7 . The plurality of curved bars  10  on both lateral sides of the slit  7  serves as conduits for the particles to pass into the slit  7  with the smallest and densest particles passing into the narrow end  8  and the largest particles or lighter gangue passing into the wide end  9 . The particles are caught by the plurality of small troughs  3  located beneath the slit  7 , below the PVC channel  1 . 
         [0030]    The plurality of small troughs  3  is situated adjacent to each other, in a linear fashion, along and beneath the slit  7 . As can be seen in  FIG. 20 ,  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , the plurality of the small troughs connects to each other via a female end  33  and a male end  34 . The female end  33  is attached to the male end  34  via a hook mechanism. Additionally, the female end  33  of each of the plurality of small troughs  3  is a flange that overarches the male end  34  of each of the plurality of small troughs. The male end  34  of each of the plurality of small troughs  3  is a bare side of each of the plurality of small troughs  3 . The bare side of each of the plurality of small troughs  3  does not comprise a flange that overarches. The female end  33  is positioned opposite to the male end  34  on each of the plurality of small troughs. The plurality of small troughs  3  also comprises a plurality of small trough rivets  37 . The plurality of small trough rivets  37  holds the plurality of small troughs  3  together. The plurality of small trough rivets  37  connects all components that make up each of the plurality of small troughs  3 . In the preferred embodiment, the plurality of small troughs  3  together forms a 2 foot long classifier below the PVC channel  1 . The narrow end  8  of the slit  7  is above a top end of the plurality of small troughs  3 , whereas the wide end  9  of the slit  7  is covered by the slit connector  18 . The top end of the plurality of small troughs  3  has been designed and located in a such a manner that the top end of the plurality of small troughs  3  catches all the smallest and densest particles that fall in the narrow end  8  of the slit  7 . There is an empty slit space starting from the slit connector  18  to the narrow end  8 . Situated directly beneath the empty slit space next to the slit connector  18  is a bottom end of the plurality of small troughs  3 . As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the bottom end of the plurality of small troughs  3  is adjacent to a stopper V flange  29 . The stopper V flange  29  is attached to the trough inside  21  via a center fastener  28 , near the bottom trough end  23 , to keep the plurality of small troughs  3  in place and to prevent the plurality of small troughs  3  from sliding vertically down the main trough  2 . 
         [0031]    As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , attached beneath the bottom trough end  23 , on an opposite side of the stopper V flange  29 , is a stand bracket  27 . The stand bracket  27  is fastened to the bottom trough end  23  by the center fastener  28 . The stand bracket  27  helps support the bottom trough end  23  and the bottom PVC end  6  during use. The stand bracket  27  also helps support the particle classifier apparatus in its upright position. As can be seen in  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 18 , a triangular top flange  24  is attached to the top trough end  22  by a plurality of left top bolts  25  and a plurality of right top bolts  26 . The plurality of left top bolts  25  and the plurality of right top bolts  26  not only attach the triangular top flange  24  to the top trough end  22 , but the plurality of left top bolts  25  and the plurality of right top bolts  26  also attach the top left connector  35  and the top right connector  36  to the PVC channel  1  and the main trough  2 . Without the plurality of left top bolts  25  and the plurality of right top bolts  26 , the top left connector  35  and the top right connector  36  cannot be supported. Therefore, the top PVC end  5  cannot be supported without the plurality of left top bolts  25  and the plurality of right top bolts  26 . The triangular top flange  24  prevents outside particles from interfering with the classifying process of the present invention. Without the triangular top flange  24 , outside particles could fall into the top end of the main trough  2  and accumulate, weighing down the present invention. 
         [0032]    To use the present invention, the user arrives at a desired location where s/he must carry the apparatus with the top bracket  12  and the bottom bracket  15 , and slide the top PVC end  5  and top trough end  22  into a stream bed with the direction of water stream flowing vertically down the apparatus from the top PVC end  5  to the bottom PVC end  6 . Then, the trough connector  30  is unfastened, releasing the bottom PVC end  6  from the bottom trough end  23 . The bottom PVC end  6  is thus lifted up slightly to slow down the flow of water. The user may also place more particles into the classifier near the top PVC end  5  and the narrow end  8  of the slit  7  to be classified. When the plurality of small troughs  3  beneath the slit  7  is full of particles, each of the plurality of small troughs  3  can be removed individually or together at the same time. The collected particles can be further classified in a gold pan. The present invention may be used without a stream of flowing water. The user would need to position the present invention in a manner where the top trough end  22  and the top PVC end  5  are slightly elevated above the bottom trough end  23  and the bottom PVC end  6 . With the present invention tilted, the user would place the dry particles at the top PVC end  5  while allowing the dry particles to be mixed with a bucket of water and washed down and into the slit  7 . The bucket of water is used to flush the dry particles into the slit  7 . The water should be able to flow down out of the bottom trough end  23  and into the ground due to the gravity of the Earth. 
         [0033]    Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.