IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR SEPARATING ORES AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINES FOR SEPARATING ORES AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES."
A communication from abroad by Emory Bassett Hastings and Robert Lewis
Goddard, both of Palmer, in the County of Hampden, State of Massachusetts,
United States of America.
Sealed the 25th February 1879, and dated the 16th September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th September 1878.
"6
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR SEPARATING ORES AND FOR
OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES." [A communication from abroad by Emory Bassett
Hastings and Robert Lewis Goddard, both of Palmer, in the County of Hampden,
State of Massachusetts, United States of America.]
The object of this Invention is to furnish an improved machine for separating
ores and other similar uses, which shall be so constructed as to treat finer and
coarser particles with the same success, which may be easily adjusted to operate
upon different grades, and which shall be simple in construction, be easily oiled, and
have all its wearing surfaces protected from dust.
The Invention consists in the combination of the hollow post provided with an
air inlet pipe, and perforated in its upper part, the vertical shaft, the three gear
wheels, the two collars, and the hollow cylinder provided with radial blast pipes,
with each other; in the combination of the feed cone, the adjustable feed cylinder,
and the ore bed, with the hollow post provided with perforations, the bearing, and
the hollow cylinder; in the combination of the obtuse angled or radially-projecting
elbow pipes provided with top slits, the straight radial pipes having their outer
parts bent upward, inward, inclined forward, and provided with side slits, and the
guide aprons with the hollow cylinder and the ore bed; and in the combination

page_text: of the outer inverted cone provided with the vertical flange, the discharge pipes, and
the chutes, and the inner inverted cone provided with the discharge pipe and the
chutes, with the hollow post to receive the separated ore as it is blown from the
ore bed, all as herein-after fully described.
The machine is mounted upon a base or pedestal, to the centre of the top of which
is firmly secured the lower end of a hollow cylindrical post. The ends of the
hollow post are closed by bearings, in which revolves a vertical shaft. To the
lower end of the shaft is attached a bevel gear wheel, the teeth of which mesh into
the teeth of a bevil gear wheel upon a horizontal shaft revolving in bearings
attached to the base, and motion is given to it from any convenient power.
If desired the horizontal shaft may be omitted, and the driving power be con-
nected directly with the vertical shaft.
To the upper part of the vertical shaft is secured by a set screw or other con-
venient means a gear wheel of such a size as to work freely within the hollow post,
and the teeth of which mesh into the teeth of a small gear wheel which projects
through a slot in the side of the hollow post, and is pivotted to a collar fitted upon
said post, and secured in place by a set screw or other convenient means. The
teeth of the small gear wheel also mesh into teeth formed upon the inner surface of
the upper part of a hollow cylinder, whose inner surface fits just below the gear
teeth upon the outer surface of the collar above mentioned, which thus serves as
its upper bearing.
The lower part of the cylinder is contracted to fit upon the hollow post, and its
lower end rests upon a collar fitted upon the said hollow post, and secured to it by
a set screw or other suitable means. With the lower part of the hollow post is
connected the inner end of a pipe, the outer end of which is designed to be con-
nected with an air pump, a fan blower, a reservoir of condensed air, or other means
of supplying a steady blast of air. The pipe should be provided with a stop-cock
or valve, to enable the air blast to be regulated as may be required.
A cavity of the hollow post and the cavity of the cylinder above mentioned
are connected by perforations formed through the walls of the said post just below
the upper collar. Perforations are also provided in the walls of the cylinder con-
nected with the inner ends of two sets of radial pipes, which alternate with each
other.
The outer parts of the one set of pipes are bent to the rearward at an obtuse
angle, and have longitudinal slits formed in their upper sides, through which the
blast escapes against the under side of the ore bed, which is composed of wire gauze.
The other set of pipes at the outer edge of the ore bed are bent upward and then
inward horizontally, and are inclined forward and have slits formed in their sides.
The bent parts of these pipes are made in separate pieces connected by air-tight
couplings, so that their ends may be adjusted to give the desired direction to the
blast.
The wire gauze of the ore bed is made ring-shaped, and is attached to a ring-
shaped frame, which is attached to the base of a cone, which is recessed to receive
the upper part of the said cylinder, the upper part of the hollow post, and the conical
upper end of the bearing, upon which the said cone rests. The cone is secured to
the hollow post by a set screw or other suitable means.
In the apex of the cone in line with the vertical shaft is formed a hole, in which
is secured the lower end of a hollow screw, the upper end of which is closed by a
detachable cap. Upon the screw is screwed a long nut, the lower end of which is
formed solid with or is rigidly attached to the centre of a cross bar, the connection
being strengthened by a web or angle brace. The ends of the cross bar are formed
solid with or are firmly attached to the upper edge of a hollow cylinder, the lower
edge of which extends down to or nearly to the ore bed at the outer edge of the
hase of the cone upon the hollow post.
The ore to be operated upon is introduced into the space between the cone and the
cylinder, and passes beneath the lower edge of the said cylinder to the ore bed, the
rapidity of the feed being regulated by turning the cylinder down or up as required.

page_text: With this construction as the pipes are carried around by the gearing the vertical
blast from the slits in one set of pipes raise the ore from the different parts of
the ore bed in succession, move it a little towards the outer edge of the said ore
bed, and allow it to drop. The lighter particles of the ore will rise higher than the
heavier particles, and will fall slower, so that they will always be above the said
heavier particles.
The lighter part of particles of the ore as they rise come into the horizontal blast
from the slits of the other set of pipes, and are blown against a vertical flange formed
upon or attached to the upper edge of an outer inverted cone, by which they are
guided into the space between the said outer cone and an inner cone, and pass out
through discharge pipes into some suitable receiver. In the space between the two
hollow cones are placed inclined chutes or partitions to guide the ore to the
discharge pipes.
The heavier particles of ore drop from the outer end of the ore bed into the
cavity of the inner cone, and also pass out through discharge pipes, towards which
the ore is guided by chutes or guides placed in the cavity of the inner cone,
through the centre of which the hollow post passes. The hub of the chutes is
extended upward, so as to prevent any dust from flying against and adhering to the
oil surface of the hollow post.
0
The hollow cones rest upon and are supported by a collar placed upon the hollow
post, and secured to it by a set screw or other suitable means.
Substantially the same effect may be obtained from the two blasts by making
the cylinder stationary and revolving the ore bed..
A ring cup is provided on the hollow post below the cones to receive the surplus
or waste oil from the friction surfaces of the machine.
All the friction surfaces of the machine are oiled from the hollow screw before
referred to at the top of the machine, into the upper end of which the oil is poured,
and which thus serves as an oil cup or reservoir.
The upper end of the hole through the top bearing of the vertical shaft is slightly
flared, and the upper end of the said shaft is made conical to form a space in which
oil rests, and from which it passes down to the gear wheel thereon. The upper
surface of the gear wheel being slightly concaved to retain oil and cause it'to pass
through the grooves in the hub of the said gear wheel, and pass on to the lower
bearing of said shaft. In the outer surface of the conical upper end of the upper
bearing of the vertical shaft, and in the outer surface of the upper part of the hollow
post are also formed grooves, through which the oil passes down to the small gear
wheel before referred to, and collar upon which it is pivoted. The upper surface of
this small gear wheel is slightly concaved to receive oil and cause it to pass to the
stud or pivot of the said wheel. The upper surface of the collar is also grooved
radially to conduct oil to the upper bearing of the air cylinder, from which it passes
down through the said cylinder to its lower bearing.
The inner ends of the blast pipes project a little beyond the inner surface of the
cylinder, so that the oil will not enter the said pipes. The surplus or waste oil
passes down the hollow post, and is caught by the waste cup, from which it may
be removed as desired.
By this construction all the friction surfaces of the machine will be wholly pro-
tected from dust, and will be oiled from a single cup or reservoir.
To the hollow air cylinder also are rigidly attached the inner ends of as many
rods as there are blast pipes in one set. The outer ends of the rods are bent upward,
and to each of them is attached an apron for carrying the ore blown by the hori-
zontal blast over the inner and outer cones before mentioned.
The ends of the blast pipes and the aprons can be adjusted with respect to each
other and with respect to their height above the ore bed by set screws.
The rear
edge and one end edge of each of the aprons are bent upward at right angles to
insure the passage of the ore into the space between the two cones,

page_text: of the upper part of a hollow cylinder K. The inner surface of the cylinder K just
below the gear teeth J fits upon the outer surfcce of the collar I, which thus serves
as its upper bearing.
The lower part of the cylinder K is contracted to fit upon the hollow post B, and
its lower end rests upon a collar L fitted upon the said hollow post B, and secured
to it by a set screw or other suitable means. With the lower part of the hollow
post B is connected the inner end of a pipe M, the outer end of which is designed
to be connected with an air pump, a fan blower, a reservoir of condensed air, or
other means of supplying a steady blast of air. The pipe M should be provided
with a stop-cock or valve to enable the air blast to be regulated as may be
required.
The cavity of the hollow post B and the cavity of the cylinder K are connected
by perforations formed through the walls of the said post Bjust below the collar I.
Perforations in the walls of the cylinder K connect the inner ends of two sets of
radial pipes N, O, which alternate with each other.
The outer parts of the pipes N are bent to the rearward at an obtuse angle, and
have longitudinal slits forined' in their upper sides, through which the blast escapes
against the under side of the ore bed P, which is made of wire gauze.
The pipes O at the outer edge of the ore bed P are bent upward and then
inward horizontally, and are inclined forward and have slits formed in their side, as
shown in Figures 1 and 2. The bent parts of these pipes O are made in separate
pieces connected by air-tight couplings, so that their ends may be adjusted to give
the desired direction to the blast."
The wire gauze of the ore bed P is made ring shaped, and is attached to a ring-
shaped frame, which is attached to the base of a cone Q. The cone Q is recessed to
receive the upper part of the air cylinder K, the upper part of the hollow post B,
and the conical upper end of the bearing 62, upon which the said cone Q rests. The
cone is secured to the hollow post B by a set screw or other suitable means.
In the apex of the cone Q in line with the shaft C is formed a hole, in which is
secured the lower end of a hollow screw R, the upper end of which is closed by a
detachable cap S. Upon the screw R is screwed a long nut T, the lower end of
which is formed solid with or is rigidly attached to the centre of a cross bar U, the
connection being strengthened by a web or angle brace u. The ends of the cross
bar U are formed solid with or are firmly attached to the upper edge of a hollow
cylinder V, the lower edge of which extends down to or nearly to the ore bed P at
the outer edge of the base of the cone Q.
The ore to be operated upon is introduced into the space between the cone Q and
the cylinder V, and passes beneath the lower edge of the said cylinder to the ore
bed P, the rapidity of feed being regulated by turning the cylinder V down or up
as required. With this construction as the pipes N, O, are carried around by the
gearing the vertical blasts from the slits in the pipes N raise the ore from the
different parts of the ore bed P in succession, move it a little towards the outer
edge of the said ore bed, and allow it to drop.
The lighter particles of the ore will rise higher than the heavier particles and
will fall slower, so that they will always be above the said heavier particles. The
lighter particles of the ore as they rise come into the horizontal blast from the slits
of the pipes O, and are blown against the vertical flange w¹ formed upon or
attached to the upper edge of the outer inverted cone W, by which they are guided
into the space between the said outer cone W and the inner cone X, and pass out
through the discharge pipes Y into some suitable receiver. In the space between
the two hollow cones W, X, are placed inclined chutes or partitions Z to guide the
ore to the discharge pipes Y.
The heavier particles of ore drop from the outer edge of the ore bed P into the
cavity of the inner cone X, and pass out through the discharge pipes A¹ towards
which the ore is guided by chutes or guides B placed in the cavity of the inner
cone X, through the centre of which the hollow post B passes. The hub of the

page_text: chutes B¹ is extended upward around the smaller lower. part of the cylinder K, so
as to prevent any dust from flying against and adhering to the oiled surface of the
hollow post B.
The cones W, X, rest upon and are supported by a collar C¹ placed upon the
hollow post B and secured to it by a set screw or other suitable means.
Substantially the same effect may be obtained from the two blasts by making the
cylinder K stationary and revolving the ore bed P.
To the hollow post B a little below the collar C¹ is secured a ring cup D¹ to
receive the surplus or waste oil from the friction surfaces of the machine.
All the friction surfaces of the machine are oiled from the hollow screw R, into
the upper end of which the oil is poured, and which thus serves as an oil cup or
reservoir.
The upper end of the hole through the bearing b² of the vertical shaft C is
slightly flared, and the upper end of said shaft C is made conical to form a space
in which oil rests, and from whence it passes down to the gear wheel G and to the
lower bearing of the said shaft C. The upper surface of the gear wheel G is
slightly concaved to retain oil, and cause it to pass through the grooves in the hub
of the said gear wheel and pass on to the lower bearing of said shaft. In the outer
surface of the conical upper end of the bearing b', and in the outer surface of the
upper part of the hollow post B, are also formed grooves, through which the oil
passes down to the gear wheel H and the collar I. The upper surface of the gear
wheel H is slightly concaved to receive oil and cause it to pass to the stud or pivot
of the said wheel. The upper surface of the collar I is grooved radially to conduct
oil to the upper bearing of the cylinder K, from which it passes down through the
said cylinder K. to its lower bearing.
The inner ends of the pipes N, O, project a little beyond the inner surface of the
cylinder K, so that the oil will not enter the said pipes.
The surplus or waste oil passes down the hollow post B and is caught by the
waste cup D, from which it may be removed as desired. By this construction all
the friction surfaces of the machine will be wholly protected from dust, and will
be oiled from a single cup or reservoir.
To the hollow cylinder K are rigidly attached the inner ends of as many rods E'
as there are pipes O. The outer ends of the rods E' are bent upward, and to each
of them is attached an apron F' for carrying the ore blown by the horizontal blast
over the inner cone X and into the outer cone W. The ends of the blast pipes O
and the aprons F¹ can be adjusted with respect to each other and with respect to
their height above the ore bed by set screws. The rear edge and one end edge of
each of the aprons F¹ are bent upward at right angles to ensure the passage of the
ore into the space between the two cones W, X.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The combination of the hollow post B provided with a pipe M and per-
forated in its upper part, 'the vertical shaft C, the gear wheels G, H, J, the
collars I, L, and the hollow cylinder K, provided with radial blast pipes, with each
other, substantially as herein shown and described.
2nd. The combination of the feed cone Q, the adjustable feed cylinder V, and the
ore bed P, with the hollow post P provided with perforations, the bearing 62, and
the hollow cylinder K, substantially as herein shown and described.
3rd. The combination of the obtuse angled or radially-projecting elbow pipes N
provided with top slits, the straight radial pipes O having their outer parts bent
upward, inward, inclined forward, and provided with side slits, and the guide
aprons F, with the hollow cylinder K. and the ore bed P, substantially as herein
shown and described.
4th. The combination of the outer inverted cone W provided with the vertical.
inclined flange w³, the discharge pipes Y, and the chutes Z, and the inner inverted

page_text: cone X, provided with the discharge pipes A' and the chutes B', with the hollow
post B, to receive the separated ore as it is blown from the ore bed P, substantially
as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set my
'hand and seal, this Twelfth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)