Improvements in Gold-saving Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gold-saving Machines.
1, FRANCIS CHAPMAN of 9 & 11 Fenchurch Avenue, Fenchurch Street, in the
City of London, Manager, (a communication to me from abroad by George Massey
of Pitt Street, Sydney, New South Wales, 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 :-
These improvements have reference to gold saving machines in which are copper
plates forming stationary inclined tables (or the covering of same) over the silvered
surfaces of which the auriferous materials together with water flow upon leaving the
crushing machinery. The improvements have been specially devised in order to save
more gold than previously by the ordinary plates.
In order to clearly describe my invention I will refer to drawings illustrating the
same,
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively plan and sectional elevation of part of a plate
constructed in accordance therewith, and for clearness drawn to an increased scale.
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively sectional elevation and plan of a table generally
used in connection with a stamper battery and illustrate the mode of arranging my
improved plates therewith.
From Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that the upper surface of the plate has formed
upon it a number of what may be termed "Button headed" projections. The shape
of the projections is the convex surface of part of a sphere or spheroid. The pro-
jections may be separate from the main plate to which they may be attached by any
suitable means, or they may as illustrated in the drawings. be produced by punching
or compressing the plate from the underside.
In working the operation will be as follows:-The materials and water upon leaving
the crushing machinery will flow down the inclined plates which have been silvered
or amalgamated and the stream will be constantly diverted from its natural straight
course by coming into contact with the projections around and over which they will
travel; this will have the effect of catching the very light portions of gold which have
been previously lost by being carried upon the surface of the water and not coming
into contact with any portion of the surface of the plate.
I am aware that a wave or ripple motion similar to that indicated by the curved
arrows on Figure 1 has previously been brought about by a series of upstanding
studs or projections of a cylindrical or diamond section but these being of considerable
height from the surface of the flat plate stand like so many columns and the water
together with the materials simply flows against and around them but not over the
top I am also aware that a wave or ripple similar to that indicated by the arrows on
Figure 2 has previously been brought about by corrugating the plates across the line
of How. With the former great difficulty and loss of time has been experienced in
removing the amalgamated metals from the surface of the studs and also in resilvering
the plates and with the latter portions of the material are liable to lodge at the bottom
of the corrugations and so considerably to reduce the effective area.
With plates constructed in accordance with my invention the position of the
projections and the number of them may be varied.
1 secure both the afore-mentioned wave or ripple motions and at the same time I
entirely do away with the difficulty of clearing the amalgamated metals from the
plates and also the difficulty in resilvering the same; for by dragging the "pad"
(such as is used for clearing the plates) along the line of projections i.e. diagonally
of the plate, the whole of the plane surface together with the surface of each and every
projection will be easily and efficiently cleared and the time occupied in doing this
will but very little, if at all exceed that required for a similar operation upon a plain
plate.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it understood
that I entirely disclaim the column studs and the cross corrugations as before described
but what I claim is :-
:-
Gold saving machines having copper plates forming the stationary inclined tables
or the covering of same constructed with a number of projections upon their upper
surface each shaped as part of a sphere or spheroid and of such a height from the
plane part of the plate that the auriferous materials and water upon leaving a crushing
or pulverizing machine may flow around and over the top thereof thereby giving the
double wave or ripple motion for the purpose set forth the whole substantially as
herein described and illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1890.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents.