AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING OR RECOVERING METALS FROM THEIR ORES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of " AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING OR RECOVERING
METALS FROM THEIR ORES." A communication from abroad by Anson C.
Tichenor, of San Francisco, California, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd February 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
FOR EXTRACTING OR RECOVERING METALS FROM THEIR ORES." A communication
from abroad by Anson C. Tichenor, of San Francisco, California, United States of
America.
This Invention relates to the extraction or recovery of any metal from its ore,
but more particularly to the recovery of the precious metals; and it consists, first,
in feeding the ore in a finely divided condition in at the bottom of a tank containing
molten lead or other metal, to which an electrical current is applied; and secondly,
in mechanical devices or apparatus for carrying this improved method of recovery
into effect.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the said tank with the battery applied.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the tank shewing the pump, and drawn to an
enlarged scale; and
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the same.
A represents an iron tank to contain lead, kept during the said process in a molten
state; and B is a pipe leading from an ore drying pan to a point near the bottom
of the tank A. The ore is fed by a screw-conveyor into the hopper a at the upper
end of the pipe B, and a chain-feeder C constructed after the manner of a chain-
pump, and passing over a wheel or pulley D arranged near the bottom of the tank,
and another pulley E arranged above the tank. The pulley E being driven by
proper machinery, the discs & or buckets of the feeder carry the ore down into the
molten lead near the bottom, when the metallic elements which will amalgamate
with lead are at once fused, and the remainder of the constituents of the ore, owing

page_text: to the difference of specific gravity, float to the surface of the molten lead, whence
they are recovered. When the lead becomes highly charged with the precious
metals they are recovered by cupellation.
This Invention is based on the discovery that if a current of electricity be applied
to the body of the molten metal the rapidity of the fusion of the metal in the ore
is greatly enhanced, in fact so far as to be practically instantaneous; for when the
electric current is applied to a body of ten tons of molten lead, and a couple of
ounces of gold are dropped in at one edge of the kettle, a ladle of the lead instantly
taken from any portion of the kettle shews traces of the gold, thereby indicating
that the fusion of the gold and its infusion throughout the lead are instantaneous.
F represents the electrical battery, and f, f', the wires from the two poles
immersed in the molten metal at opposite sides of the said tank or kettle.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The improved method or process of extracting or recovering metals from
their ores herein described, and consisting essentially in applying an electrical
current to a body of molten lead into which the ores are being passed for the
purpose, set forth.
Second. The tank and pipe in combination with the pulleys and chain-feeder
provided with discs, to which is imparted a downward movement, all constructed,
arranged, and operated as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
W. KOB. LAKE. (L.S.)