Metallic Salts from Pulverised Material Mixed therewith.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1887
Specification Accepted, 30th Dec., 1887
Metallic Salts from Pulverised Material Mixed therewith.
I, CLAUDE THEODORE JAMES VAUTIN, of 23 Old Jewry, in the City of London,
Metallurgical Chemist, 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 improvements in apparatus to be employed for the separa-
tion of solutions of metallic salts, such as those of gold, from the powdered ore or
material mixed therewith.
My invention consists in the combination of a pump with a tub or vessel containing
filtering medium, the pump being of special construction as hereinafter described, so
that in its suction stroke it draws the solution of a metallic salt, which it is desired
to separate from the powdered ore or material through a filter medium of suitable
material and construction; the pump upon its return stroke forcing a portion of the
liquid, which it has drawn by suction, back through the filtering medium in the reverse
direction to its former draught. Whilst such portion of the liquid charge of the
pump is being forced back through the filtering medium, the remainder is delivered
through a suitable valve or valves in the common method of an ordinary suction and
force pump.
The great advantages I obtain by this special construction are:-
1st. The more rapid passage of the liquid solution through the filtering medium
than would be the case were the solution to filter merely by gravity; and,
2nd. The freeing, cleaning, or loosening of the filtering medium and of the
pulverised material, by the reflux of a portion of the pump charge back through the
filtering medium, which would otherwise become choked and thus greatly impede
the penetration of the solution.

page_text: My pump may with advantage be constructed so as to fulfil the above objects in
the following manner, though, as is obvious, equivalent parts may in cases be sub-
stituted for those described; and in order that my invention may be the better
understood, I now proceed to describe the same in relation to the drawings hereunto
annexed, reference being had to the letters and figures marked thereon. Like letters
refer to like parts throughout the drawings.
Figure 1. is a vertical section through the pump and valve box of one suitable
method of carrying my invention into effect.
Figure 2. is a section through the valve box of a second modified but equivalent
form.
Figure 3. is a vertical section through the valve box with attached gear for a third
modified but equivalent form.
The pump barrel A is constructed in any convenient manner corresponding to that
of an ordinary suction pump. I find it convenient in processes where solutions of
chloride or bromide salts are treated, that the said pump barrel and metallic parts in
contact with the solution, shall be made from an alloy of lead and antimony, and
that the pump piston B shall be packed with cup leathers C. The essential novelty
in my pump consists in the construction either of the valves, valve box connections,
or connections between the pump and the filter, so that upon the return discharge
stroke of the piston, a reflux of the 'drawn charge of liquid may be sent back through
the filtering medium.
In figure 1, this is effected by making a branch communication D. fitted with a
cock E. for regulation, between the upper side of the suction valve F. and the lower
side or suction pipe. If this branch passage is left partially open, the piston on its
suction stroke draws the liquid both through the suction valve F, and through this
branch passage D, which is of small relative area either to the suction or delivery
pipes. Upon the return stroke of the piston B, a portion of the charge will return
by the bye-pass D through the suction pipe G back to the filtering medium, and
there raise and loosen or cleanse the said filtering medium, the remainder of the
charge passing through the delivery pipe H in the ordinary way.
This effect may be equivalently produced by placing the pipe D at D', that is, in
communication with the bottom of the pump barrel A. This pipe should also be fitted
with a hand cock or plug E¹, and may be carried into any convenient portion of the
suction pipe or direct into the filtering vessel.
Equivalently, in figure 2, the same effect may be produced by an orifice K provided
in the suction valve F.
Or, equivalently, a bye pass D, figure 3, may be provided with an independent
valve L, by which communication from the pump barrel A direct into the suction
pipe or filtering vessel on the return stroke is effected when the said auxiliary valve L
is raised. This valve is controlled by the lever motion M operated by any convenient
tappet or eccentric motion, or by a cam motion N upon the rotary shaft P, from
which the pump is driven.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, be it known that I do not claim the
suction of a liquid through a filtering medium by the operation of an ordinary suction
pump merely, but what I do claim is :
1st. The combination with a vessel containing a filtering medium of a suction pump
drawing a solution of metallic salts through the filtering medium and returning part
of the liquid drawn charge back through the filtering medium to keep the same
unimpeded and free, substantially as described.
2nd. In an apparatus for the separation of a solution of metallic salts from pulverised
material mixed therewith, the construction of a suction pump, with a bye pass between
the pump barrel and suction pipe or filtering vessel, controlled and regulated by
a cock therein, substantially as and for the purposes described in reference to
figure 1.
3rd. In an apparatus for the separation of solutions of metallic salts from pulverised

page_text: material mixed therewith, the equivalent construction of a pump with an orifice
through the suction valve to effect à reflux action, substantially as and for the purposes
described in reference to figure 2.
4th. In an apparatus for the separation of solutions of metallic salts from pulverised
material mixed therewith, the equivalent construction of a pump with a bye pass
between the pump barrel and the suction pipe or filtering vessel provided with a valve
automatically regulated and controlled by any suitable eccentric or cam mechanism,
to allow of reflux action, substantially as and for the purposes described in reference
to figure 3.
Dated th: 10th