Improved Amalgamating Apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application. 4th Apr.. 1896-Accepted, 3rd Apr., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Amalgamating Apparatus.
I, JOHN EDWARD PRESTON, of 49 Moorgate Street, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object the recovery or separation of precious metals either
in the fine or granulated form from ores and other materials containing same.
For this purpose I employ an amalgamating apparatus in which the mercury bath
has a conveyor dipping into same and on to which conveyor the crushed or powdered
ore or other material is delivered from a hopper or other receptacle, while the
other end of such conveyor extends beyond the mercury bath and carries away the
tailings.
The conveyor I employ is of screw form and is inclined, and as above stated its.
lower end dips into the mercury bath, while such conveyor extends up beyond the
bath and works above an inclined table at the upper end of which the tailings
dumped.
are
As the ore or other material falls upon the lower end of the conveyor the rotation
of the screw tends to force same beneath the surface of the mercury and the precious
metals are thereby amalgamated and fall to the bottom of the bath, whence they can
be drawn off from time to time as desired. The result of the rotation of the screw in
the mercury has the further effect of continually changing the surface of the latter,
whereby the ore is continually exposed to a fresh clean surface of mercury, and the
amalgamation of the precious metals is consequently greatly facilitated.
The constituents of the ore or other material which are not amalgamated are by
the rotation of the screw conveyor carried beyond the bath and up the inclined table
above referred to, from the upper end of which they are dumped, any mercury which
by the action of the rotating screw may tend to mount up the lower end of the
inclined table with the tailings draining back into the bath.
The accompanying drawing illustrates a suitable method of carrying my invention
into effect, Fig. 1 being a longitudinal section of the apparatus, and Fig. 2 a plan
view thereof.
A is the screw conveyor which is caused to revolve by any suitable means, such as
the bevel wheels a and b, from any suitable source of power, and the lower end of
which screw works in the mercury bath B, while its other end extends upwards and
works over the inclined table C. The ore or other material to be treated is delivered
on to the surface of the bath B from hopper D, and the screw conveyor A carries same
along such surface whereby the precious metals are amalgamated and fall to the bottom
of the bath, whence they can be removed from time to time through the cock or
valve E. The portions of the ore which are not amalgamated after passing over
the bath B are by the screw conveyor A carried up the table Cand are dumped at
the upper end thereof at c.
Any mercury which may by the rotation of the screw A be carried a short distance
up table C with the tailings will drain or run back into the bath B. In order to
prevent all chance of the tailings falling back down the table C by gravity I may
enclose the upper part of the screw in a cylindrical case or sheath F, which is secured
to and revolves with the screw, so that the tailings will be enclosed within such case
or sheath up which the screw will gradually work them to the top.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
The improved amalgamating apparatus consisting in an inclined screw conveyor
the lower end of which revolves in a bath of mercury to the surface of which
the ore or other material to be treated is delivered, while the other end of such
screw extends up beyond the bath and works over an inclined table so as to
convey the tailings to the upper end thereof, all substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.