Year: 1896

page_text: I. CHARLES DUNSFORD JENKINS, M.D., of 130 Huntington Avenue, Boston.
Massachusetts, United States of America, dc hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved amalgamator and concentrator for the
extraction of gold or silver from crushed ores and the like, and is designed to
provided apparatus of this kind or class which will operate with greater efficiency
than the amalgamators heretofore employed.
One important feature of my improved amalgamator is the combination of circular
series of amalgamator-plates with means for rotating them about a common axis
in such a manner that, whilst one series is rotating in one direction, the adjacent
series will rotate in the reverse direction. The amalgamator-plates of each series
are inclined relatively to each other or are arranged tangentially or
in any other convenient manner so that, when revolved about their common axis,
they will tend to draw the particles of ore or of gold or silver inwards or towards
the centre of the amalgamator. By these means any particles of gold or silver
which may pass through the outer series of plates will be intercepted by the plates
of the inner series, and consequently the liquid or tailings discharged will contain
but few if any traces of gold or silver.
I make my improved apparatus with a central inlet and with means for causing
the ore or pulp introduced through the said inlet to flow nearly to the circum-
ference of the amalgamator before it reaches the amalgamator-plates, its upward
movement will then be retarded by its being carried around first in one direction
and then another by the outer and inner series of amalgamator-plates, and at the
same time drawn towards the centre of the amalgamator. I find it advantageous
to provide for the introduction of the ore or pulp through a central tube which is
capable of being rotated in suitable bearings and to which the inner series of
amalgamator-plates is attached so that the latter will rotate with the said tube.
The amalgamator-plates of the outer series are carried by a ring or annular piece
which is attached by arms or spokes to the central piece or hub, thus forming a
kind of wheel which has its bearing on the said central tube. The said ring or
annular piece is toothed internally and with it is geared a pinion which is also
geared with a toothed wheel fixed upon the said central tube. The said pinion is
mounted upon a shaft which is driven by suitable gearing from an engine or other
motor. Rotary motion. in opposite directions is thus imparted simultaneously to
the two series of amalgamator-plates.
I sometimes arrange one or more perforated plates or strainers above the series
of amalgamator-plates and below the outlet.
In some instances I provide a concentrator by making the amalgamator with a

page_text: perforated false-bottom through which the water will be forced upward and the
lighter particles carried off leaving the concentrated material which may be drawn
off through a suitable opening or openings.
Dated the 15th day of October 1906
D. YOUNG, & Co
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, CHARLES DUNSFORD JENKINS, M.D., of 130 Huntington Avenue, Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America, 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 an improved amalgamator and concentrator for the
extraction of gold or silver from crushed ores and the like, and is designed to
provide apparatus of this kind or class which will operate with greater efficiency
than the amalgamators heretofore employed.
One important feature of my improved amalgamator is the combination of
concentric circular series or groups of amalgamator-plates with means for rotating
them about a common axis in such a manner that, whilst one series or group
is rotating in one direction, the adjacent series or group will rotate in the reverse
direction. The amalgamator-plates of each series or group are inclined relatively
to each other or are arranged tangentially or in any other convenient manner so that,
when revolved about their common axis they will tend to draw the particles of ore
or of gold or silver inwards or towards the centre of the amalgamator. By these
means any particles of gold or silver which may pass through the outer series or
group of plates will be intercepted by the plates of the inner series or group, and
consequently the liquid or tailings discharged will contain but few if any traces of
gold or silver.
According to another part of my said invention, I provide a concentrator by
making the amalgamator with a perforated false-bottom through which water
will be forced upward and the lighter particles carried off, leaving the concentrated
material, which may be drawn off through a suitable opening or openings.
My said invention, moreover, comprises other improvements hereinafter
described.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a vertical central section, and
Figure 2 a plan showing one form of my improved amalgamator, some of the
parts being removed.
Figure 3 is a vertical central section showing another form or modification of
my improved amalgamator.
Figures 4 and 5 are transverse and longitudinal vertical sections respectively,
illustrating a further modification of my invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, A is a circular vessel
or chamber provided with a central tube or wall A¹ through which pass the hollow
shaft B and the shaft C extending through the same, for driving the circular frames
bearing the amalgamator-plates. The said frames are arranged concentrically in
the chamber A and consist of upper and lower rings D, D, E, E¹ respectively,
between which rings are arranged the amalgamator plates F, the upper and lower

page_text: rings of each frame being secured together by bolts or in any other suitable manner.
The amalgamator plates F are detachably mounted at suitable distances apart in
the said frames and are set approximately tangential to the inner edge of the said
rings respectively, the inclination of the said plates being in opposite directions in
the inner and outer frames as shown, so that, when the frames are rotated in
opposite directions as hereinafter described, the material in the vessel A will be
moved towards the centre or by both series or groups of the said plates.
The inner frame D, D' is supported on a star-shaped frame or spider D³ mounted
on the upper end of the hollow shaft B and running on ball-bearings B' in a ball-
race at the upper end of the central tube A¹. The outer frame E, E¹ is mounted
on the central shaft C by means of a spider running on ball-bearings C in a
ball-race on the upper side of the spider D².
The shafts B, C are provided at their lower ends with bevel-wheels B2, C² geared
one above and the other beneath, with a bevel-pinion G mounted on a shaft G',
to which motion is imparted by means of fast and lose pulleys H, H or in any
other suitable manner; the said shafts B, C are thus simultaneously rotated i
opposite directions from a common driving shaft.
The under side of the ring E' is provided with series of stirring rods or wires
J which extend down into an annular channel A2 in the vessel A, which channel is
provided with a perforated false-bottom K. Lis the inlet for the "pulp" or crushed
ore in suspension in water; this inlet is provided with a deflector L' for deflecting
the entering ore over the false-bottom K. M is the outlet for the excess liquid
containing the lighter particles of the ore. N is an inlet pipe for supplying water
to the space beneath the false-bottom K. P is a pipe through which the heavier
portions of the ore or "concentrates" are removed.
The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows, viz. The narticles of crushed
ore entering at L are deflected downwards towards the false-bottom K, and meet
the streams of water rising through the perforations therein, and are stirred up by
the rows of stirring rods or wires J; the larger or heavier particles sink onto the
said false-bottom and are conducted away through the pipe I, whilst the remainder
of the "pulp" passes up into the space traversed 'by the amalgamator plates F.
Here the precious metals are taken up by the mercury on the rotating amalgamator
plates, whilst the lighter particles ascend and pass away with the water through
the outlet M.
Figure 3 shows a somewhat similar arrangement of my apparatus in which the
pulverized ore or pulp is supplied to the amalgamator through a central inlet-tube
L which is provided with a funnel-shaped mouth I for the introduction of the
pulp and also serves as a shaft for rotating the inner frame D, D₁ for which purpose
it runs in a bearing L secured to the vessel A. The lower end of the tube L² is
combined with the lower ring 1' which is pivotally mounted on a pin S and runs
on rollers T mounted at the bottom of a vessel A. The pulp, passing down the
pipe L, is deflected outwards through passages D in the lower ring D into the
space beneath an iron or other ring or annular plate U which prevents it from
mixing with the body of liquid in the vat until it has nearly reached the circum-
ference of the vessel A. The motion of the pulp above indicated is facilitated by
means of a channelled dise or piece S arranged around and carrying the pin S.
The channel in this disc serves to deflect the pulp under the plate U, the disc
itself also serving to retain the plate U in position, this being effected by means
of lugs U arranged on the underside 'thereof. The outer frame E, E' is similarly
supported on rollers T.
In order to impart rotary motion in opposite directions to the frames D, D',
E, E, bearing the amalgamator-plates, the upper inner ring D is provided with
a gear-wheel B and the upper outer ring E with an internal-gear-wheel C';
and between these gear-wheels B, C is arranged a pinion G2 mounted on a shaft
turning in a bearing on a bridge-piece Vi secured to the vessel A. Motion
is imparted to the pinion Gs through 'bovel-gearing G G from a shaft Ga
driven by means of a pulley H or in any other suitable manner. In this

page_text: manner the two frames D, D and E, E¹ are rotated in opposite directions from
the common driving shaft G.
The ore or pulp introduced through the inlet L is caused, by the arrangement
above described, to flow nearly to the circumference of the amalgamator before
it reaches the amalgamator-plates F, its upward movement is then retarded by
its being carried around first in one direction and then in another, by tae outer
and inner series of amalgamator-plates, whereby it is at the same time drawn
towards the centre of the amalgamator; it is therefore very thoroughly acted
upon by the said plates F and all traces of precious metal, are removed from it
before it passes away through the outlet M.
If desired the plates F can he "dressed" or supplied with fresh quicksilver
without removing them from the apparatus. For this purpose mercury is dusted
or supplied in a finely divided condition to the upper part of the vessel A and
is taken up by the plates F in their rotary motion. The 'excess mercury and
the mercury from the plates containing precious metals, which fall to 'the bottom,
are collected there and can be drawn off through a cock W, access to which is
had through a door W capable of being secured by means of a padlock or in
any other suitable manner. The upper part of the vessel A is 'covered in by
perforated plates X which are preferably amalgamated and serve to catch any
particles of precious metal which may escape the plates F, in addition to pre-
venting access to the plates F from the exterior. A drain-cock Y'is also provided-
for emptying the vessel A, when necessary, for cleaning or other purposes.
In Figures 4 and 5 I have shown another form or'modification of my improved
amalgamator, in which the rotary frames D, D'. E. E are arranged to turn about
a horizontal axis. In this arrangement the rings D D are mounted on a central
shaft C to which rotary motion in one direction is imparted by means of the
pulley H, whilst the rings E E are mounted on hollow' shafts B, B turning
in bearings A4 in the vessel A5, rotary motion in the reverse direction being
imparted thereto by means of a pulley H³ mounted on the hollow shaft B*.
In order to prevent escape of the water from the tank through the space between
the shaft C and the hollow shaft the latter is provided with a stuffing box B
as shown. Entrance of particles of ore into the bearings and consequent damage
thereto is prevented by forcing water under pressure between the rubbing surfaces,
from chambers Q in the bearings A, to which water is supplied through the
nines Q.
In this form of my improved apparatus, the pulverized ore or "pulp" is supplied
to the vessel A through a chamber R provided with nozzles or perforations R'
and arranged at the bottom of the said tank A, whilst the excess water and the
lighter particles of the ore pass away through the outlet M. In this arrangement
the concentration is effected in a separate apparatus, from which the "pulp" is
supplied to the chamber R through a pipe R³.
It is obvious that the construction of my improved apparatus may be somewhat
further modified without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Having now particularl- 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 :-
First. An amalgamator comprising concentric series or groups of amalgamating
plates arranged to rotate in opposite directions in a vessel containing the "pulp'
or material from which the precious metals are to be extracted, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Second. An amalgamator comprising concentric series or groups of amal-
gamating plates which are arranged to rotate in opposite directions in an annular
vessel, and to which motion is imparted by means of shafts passing through
the central tube or wall of the said vessel, substantially as described.
Third. An amalgamator, comprising concentric series or groups of amalgamating
plates arranged to rotate in opposite directions, and in which the "pulp" or

page_text: pulverized ore suspended in liquid is fed in through a central tube and then
deflected to the circumference of the apparatus before being acted upon by the
said amalgamating plates, substantially as described.
Fourth. A concentrator for concentrating "pulp" or pulverised ore suspended
in liquid, comprising a vessel having a perforated false-bottom through which
water is forced upward to carry off the lighter particles of the ore, an inlet
for directing the pulp" to be concentrated on to the said false-bottom, an
outlet for the concentrated material, and a second outlet arranged
at a higher level for the water and lighter particles of the ore, with or without
a stirrer for agitating the material above the said false-bottom, all substantially
as, and for the purposes, hereinbefore described.
Fifth. The combined amalgamator and concentrator constructed substantially
as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, and operating as,
and for the purposes above specified.
Sixta. The improved amalgamator constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figure 3 or to Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings,
and operating as, and for the purposes above specified.
Dated this '14th day of Ammist 1807
C. D. JENKINS.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.