Metals from their Ores.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Jan., 1887..
Specification Accepted, 8th Mar., 1887.
Metals from their Ores.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex 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 :-
My invention relates to the class of ore separators known as amalgamating apparatus
and it comprises the improvements hereinafter described.
According to the said improvements the raw material containing precious metals,
crushed or uncrushed, wet or dry, is fed into a revolving pan containing mercury, and
impelled to and fro across the surface of the pan, towards its periphery by the rotation
thereof.
The said invention consists mainly in the employment of a revolving disc set below
a series of broken riffs or ridges so acting together as to ensure great and constant
agitation without loss of mercury, which has heretofore been a cause of practical
failure in ore separating apparatus.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of the improved ore-separator.
Figure 2 is an underside view of the stationary disc.
Similar letters indicate corresponding parts in both Figures.
I sustain the operative devices by an exterior frame, consisting of the base W, four
pillars X, X, the cradle M the central cross piece Z, the supporting box t and the
holding bracket d, containing the box k, in which the horizontal shaft F rotates.
A is a vertical shaft, to which the amalgamating pan B, having an inwardly bent
upper edge C, is rigidly connected. On the shaft A is a bevel gear-wheel D which
engages with the bevel pinion E on the horizontal shaft F, the latter being driven by
a belt connecting with the pulley G, or any other suitable driving mechanism.

page_text: The pan B rests in a cradle M, connected therewith by lugs g,g through each of
which a bolt passes provided with a securing nut below.
His a disc having a closed top 1 to exclude extraneous matter. This disc is sus-
pended above the pan B by pulleys S, at the top of two of the columns XX and is
counter-balanced by weights T, by means of a bracket U and cords V.
h is a swinging bolt, which drops through a slot in the end of the bracket U, when,
its nut having been removed, it is desired to lift the disc H. The height of the latter
above the pan
is regulated by the set screws.
J is a feeding tube, extending from the centre of the disc H to the discharge orifice
of the hopper K.
The disc H is provided, on its lower face, with an inner set of ridges m, arranged
concentrically with the axis of the pan B. Similar sets of ridges such as the ridges n, n
breaking joint with the ridges m, m and the ridges o, o breaking joint with the
ridges n, n being continued towards the peripheral edge of the disc.
p is a discharge pipe, provided with stop cock L in the bottom of pan B, by which
to draw off the amalgam.
P and P¹ are pipes leading from the bottom of the disc H through its cover I,
whereby any vacuum caused by the rapid revolution of the pan B is counteracted.
f is a bonnet, to protect the boxes or bearing and the gearing from dust and
the like.
R is a strainer of fine wire, to prevent coarse foreign substances, such as stones or
bits of iron, from entering the revolving pan B.
The conjoint action of these devices is as follows.
The metal bearing material is fed to the amalgamating pan B through the hopper K.
The pan B, charged with mercury, is rotated with moderate rapidity, causing the
contents to seek its periphery and form a wall beneath the inner turned upper edge C,
over which the surplus material passes outward; but the mercury by reason of its
density, constantly tends to return to and remain at the bottom of the pan, as rotation
diminishes or ceases.
It is obvious, that the riffs or ridges m, n, o as arranged, will compel the contents
of the pan B, in their travel towards the periphery, to pass to and fro across the surface
of the pan, in courses indicated by the arrows.in Figure 2, necessitating uninterrupted
agitation and bringing the metallic portions and the mercury into constant contact
whereby the fine particles of clusive metal sometimes called "float" will be caught
and retained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is.
First An amalgamating pan and means for revolving the same, in combination
with a fixed disc, provided with riffs or ridges constructed and operating together,
substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Second The combination with a pan provided with a discharge orifice or tube, of a
disc arranged above the pan, and riffs or ridges secured to the disc and projecting
downward therefrom, said riffs or ridges being practically concentric with the axis of
the pan and arranged so that they break joint, as and for the purpose, stated.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.