Year: 1888

page_text: A communication to me from abroad by Messrs. RANKIN, BRAYTON, AND CO., of
San Francisco, United States of America.
I, CHARLES APPLEDY, Engineer, of Cannon Street, in the City of London, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to machinery used for. the purpose of concentrating gold or
other metal or ores contained in pulverized quartz or other material or gangue, in
which a revolving basin or pan. is used into which the material to bo treated is fed
with a sufficient quantity of water, the poorer and lighter parts being separated whilst-
the richer and heavier parts are retained and can be removed from the machine as.
required.
The improved machinery is carried upon a strong frame, preferably of timber
supported by a suitable foundation.
Upon the frame is firmly fixed a central vertical hollow column, having a flange at
its lower end.
Round this central column is fitted a sleeve or tube turning freely upon the column
(preferably with the intervention of anti-friction metal or equivalent devices) and
having formed upon or firmly attached to it a bevilled toothed wheel, into which gears
a corresponding toothed pinion carried upon a driving shaft revolving in bearings
upon the foundation and provided with fast and loose pulleys, or other devices by
which it can be set in revolution at the. proper speed by steam or other convenient
power. The lower end of the sleeve is formed with a flange which turns upon the
upper face of the flange at the lower end of the central column, both being faced true,
and preferably provided with antifriction metal or devices.
The upper end of the sleeve rises to about the middle of the height of the central.
column, and is also provided with a faced flange having a circumferential rim round
it, upon which rests a corresponding faced flange at the lower end of a second sleeve
or tube which fits round the upper end of the central column, and is also preferably

page_text: provided with antifriction metal or devices between the flanges and between itself and
the.central column, so that it can revolve freely but steadily both upon the lower
flange and round the central column.
The upper end of the upper sleeve or tube carries the revolving pan or basin, which
consists preferably of a central somewhat dished basin forming part of the upper
sleeve, and made of cast iron strengthened where necessary with ribs or stays, and an
outer pan or basin of wrought iron plates having a central opening rivetted or other-
wise fixed to the edge of the cast iron basin, (their upper surfaces being preferably
flush) and having round its outer edge, (which is inclined slightly down from the
point where it joins the cast iron basin) a vertical flange or rim. An opening at the
centre of the cast iron basin is provided with a pipe descending for a short distance
into the upper end of the central column. The relative proportions of the cast iron
central basin which inclines down toward the centre, and the outer pan which inclines
down, at a less angle, to the circumference, may be varied more or less as may be
found advisable. For instance the diameter of the central basin may be somewhat
more than half that of the entire pan.
Upon the lower side of the pan near its outer circumference is rivetted or otherwise
fixed a sufficiently strong frame carrying a crankpin projecting downward, and upon
the upper side of the bevilled toothed wheel already described is fixed near one point
of its circumference a strong frame provided with adjustable bearings in which
revolves a short vertical shaft upon the upper end of which is fixed a disc or wheel
having a radial slot in which is fixed a strong adjustable crank pin level with that
already described at the bottom of the upper pan.
The two crank pins are connected together by a connecting rod, and it is evident
that if the driving shaft is set in revolution and the hevilled toothed wheel made to
revolve, not only will the upper pan be made to revolve upon the central column,
but if the vertical shaft be also made to revolve simultaneously in its bearings-it
will also have a short reciprocating movement backward and forward round the
central column and upon the flange at the upper end of the lower sleeve or tube, the
extent of which is dependent upon the length of stroke of the crankpin driven by
the vertical shaft and is quite independent of though occuring simultaneously with
the continuous revolving movement of the pan.
In order to communicate the requisite revolving movement to the vertical shaft, the
latter has fixed upon its lower end a toothed pinion gearing with an annular toothed
rack which is fixed upon the frame of the machine concentric with the central
column.
The bottom of the revolving pan has one or more openings through it close to its
outer edge, which can be opened or closed, or the size of the opening regulated, by
means of sliding shutters suitably arranged and operated by levers or handles carried
upon the outer rim of the pan. These openings are preferably made with radial sides
so that they are widest at their outer ends, the shutters having suitably shaped sides
and turning upon pivots at their inner ends, the extent of the opening being adjusted
by means of a transverse screw and nut, or other equivalent means, acting upon the
outer end of the shutter.
In this way the opening always remains of the same approximate shape, which is
that best adapted for the discharge of the substances in the pan.
It is advisable that the inner surface of the entire pan should be as smooth as
possible, all rivets or bolts being countersunk.
Below the outer edge of the revolving pan is arranged an annular trough of metal
or other suitable material, into which falls the material passing from the pan, through
spouts or shoots behind the adjustable openings described.
This trough is kept clean by one or more revolving scrapers fixed to the horizontal
bevilled toothed wheel so that as they are carried round they scrape up and deliver
through a suitable opening all deposit in the trough.
Into the lower end of the central hollow column is fitted the upper end of a fixed
pipe through which the water and substances passing down from the central basin are
carried away to any desired point.

page_text: Curved more or less radial guides are fixed in the pan near its centre to direct the
outflowing stream and facilitate its discharge through the central hollow column.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The pulverized material containing gold or other metal or ore is fed into the
revolving pan near its outer edge, together with a sufficient stream of water.
The heavier particles, or those which are to be separated, are thrown by centrifugal
force to the outer edge of the pan, whilst the compound oscillating rotary movement
of the latter produced in the way described tends to make them settle to the bottom.
As the operation continues the outer part of the pan becomes filled with the richer
and heavier particles, whilst the light sand lies above them its surface sloping down
toward the centre, down which it is carried through the central column by the current
of water as it passes off through the latter.
By the continuous rotary movement of the pan, the water takes a longer time to
pass to the centre, and the particles have consequently a longer time to settle.
By the combined movements described a motion is given to the pan very similar to
that of the dish used by prospectors for gold, or to the vanning shovel used by miners,
so that the machine is very effective, whilst it is simple and the wearing parts can be
readily removed, it is cheap, readily transported, does not occupy much room, and can
be quickly and cheaply erected.
Adjustable guides may be used where necessary, to steady the movement of the
apparatus.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Ore-concentrating Machinery.
A communication to me from abroad by Messrs. RANKIN, BRAYTON, AND (CO., of
San Francisco, in the United States of America.
I, CHARLES APPLEBY, Engineer, of Cannon Street, in the City of London, 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, and accompanying drawing (that is to say) :-
This invention relates to machinery used for the purpose of concentrating gold or
other metal or ores contained in pulverized quartz or other material or gangue, in
which a revolving basin or pan is used into which the material to be treated is fed
with a sufficient quantity of water, the poorer and lighter parts being separated whilst
the richer and heavier parts are retained and can be removed from the machine as
required.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of the invention, figure 1 being a plan
and figure 2 a longitudinal section through the machine.
The improved machinery is carried upon a strong frame a preferably of timber
supported by a suitable foundation. Upon the frame is firmly fixed a central vertical
hollow column, having a flange c at its lower end. Round this central column is
fitted a sleeve or tube d turning freely upon the column (preferably with the inter-
vention of antifriction metal or equivalent devices), and having formed upon or firmly.
attached to it a bevilled toothed wheel e, into which gears a corresponding toothed
pinion carried upon a driving shaft revolving in bearings & fixed to the foundation a
and provided with fast and loose pulleys i, or other devices by which it can be set in
revolution at the proper speed by steam or other convenient power. The lower end
of the sleeve or tube d is formed with a flange k which turns upon the upper face of
the flange c at the lower end of the central column, both being faced true, and
preferably provided with antifriction metal or equivalent devices.
g
The upper end of the sleeve d rises to about the middle of the height of the central
column band is also provided with a faced flange having a circumferential rim round
it, upon which rests a corresponding faced flange m at the lower end of a second sleevo
or tube n which fits round the upper end of the central column b, and is also preferably
provided with antifriction metal or equivalent devices between the flanges, and
between itself and the central column, so that it can revolve freely but steadily both
upon the lower flango and round the central column.
The upper end of the upper sleeve or tube n carries the revolving pan or basin, o,
which consists preferably of a central somewhat dished basin forming part of the upper
sleeve n, and made of cast iron strengthened where necessary with ribs or stays, and
an outer pan or basin of wrought iron plates having a central opening rivetted or
otherwise fixed to the edge of the cast iron basin, as shewn in figure 2, (their upper
surfaces being preferably flush), and having round its outer edge, (which is inclined
slightly down from the point where it joins the cast iron basin) a vertical flange or
rim p. An opening at the centre of the cast iron basin is provided with a pipe

page_text: descending for a short distance into the upper end of the central column. The relative
proportions of the cast iron central basin which inclines down toward the centre, and
the outer pan which inclines down to the circumference at p, may be varied more or
less as may be found advisable. For instance the diameter of the central basin may
he somewhat more than half that of the entire pan, as shown in the drawing.
Upon the lower side of the pan o near its outer circumference is rivetted or other-
wise fixed a sufficiently strong frame carrying a crank pin projecting downward,
and upon the upper side of the bevilled toothed wheel e already described is fixed near
one point of its circumference a strong frames provided with adjustable bearings s'
in which revolves a short vertical shaft upon the upper end of which is fixed a disc or
wheel having a radial slot in which is fixed a strong adjustable crank pin u level
with that already referred to at the bottom of the upper pan o. The two crank pins
are connected together by a connecting rod v, and it is evident that if the driving
shaft is set in revolution and the bevilled toothed wheel e made to revolve, not only
will the upper pan o be made to revolve upon the central column b, but if the vertical
shaft be also made to revolve simultaneously in its bearings-it will also have a short
reciprocating movement backward and forward round the central column 6 and upon
the flange at the upper end of the lower sleove or tube, the extent of which movement
is dependent upon the length of stroke of the adjustable crank pin u driven by the
vertical shaft and is quite independent of-though occurring simultaneously with-
the continuous revolving movement of the pan.
In order to communicate the requisite revolving movement to the vertical shaft,
the latter has fixed upon its lower end a toothed pinion w gearing with an annular
toothed rack a which is fixed upon the frame of the machino concentric with the
central column b.
The bottom of the revolving pan o has one or more openings (figure 1) through
it, close to its outer edge, which can be opened or closed, or the size of the opening
regulated, by means of sliding shutters suitably arranged and operated by levers or
handles carried upon the outer rim of the pan as shewn at A. (figure 1).
These openings are preferably made with radial sides so that they are widest at their
outer ends, the shutters having similarly shaped sides and turning upon pivots at
their inner ends, the extent of the opening being adjusted by means of a transverse
screw and nut B, or other equivalent means, acting upon the outer end of the
shutter.
In this way the opening always remains of the same approximate shape, for the
discharge of the substances in the pan.
It is advisable that the inner surface of the entire pan should be as smooth as
possible, all rivets or bolts being countersunk.
Below the outer edge of the revolving pan is arranged an annular trough D of
metal or other suitable material, into which falls the material passing from the pan o
through spouts or shoots from the adjustable openings described above.
This trough is kept clean by one or more revolving scrapers E carried by the
horizontal bevilled toothed wheel e so that as they are carried round they scrape up
and deliver through a suitable opening all deposit in the trough.
Into the lower end of the central hollow column is fitted the upper end of a fixed
pipe through which the water and substances passing down from the central pan
are carried away to any desired point.
Curved more or less radial guides C are fixed in the pan near its centre to direct
the outflowing stream and facilitate its dischargo through the central hollow column.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The pulverized material, containing gold or other metal or ore is fed into the
revolving pan o from a sufficient number of points, preferably four, near its outer
edge, together with a sufficient stream of water.
The heavier particles, or those which are to be separated or retained are then
brought by centrifugal force to the outer edge of the pan, whilst the compound
oscillating rotary movement of the latter produced in the way described tends to make
them settlo to the bottom.

page_text: As the operation continues the richer and heavier particles accumulate at the outer
part of the pan, whilst the lighter sand and particles slope down toward the centre,
down which they are carried through the central column 6, by the current of water as
it passes off through the latter to the pipe F.
By the continuous rotary movement of the pan, the water takes a longer time to
pass to the centre, and the particles have consequently a longer time to settle.
By the combined movements described a motion is given to the pan very
similar to that of the dish used by prospectors for gold, or to the yanning shovel
used by miners, so that the machine is very effective, whilst, it is simple and the
wearing parts can be readily renewed, it is cheap, readily transported, does not
occupy much room, and can be quickly and cheaply erected.
Adjustable guides may be used where necessary, to steady the movement of the
apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is:-
1. The combination of the revolving pan and tube a central hollow column b,
fixed circular rack, pinion w, carried round with the sleeve d, adjustable crank-
pin, pin and connecting rod, all arranged and operating substantially in the
manner and for the purpose described and shewn.
2. The revolving pan o, having double inclined bottom, and central opening, and
adjustable openings and covers A, B, substantially as described and shewn.
3. In combination with the revolving and oscillating pan o, the guides C sub-
stantially as and for the purposes described and shewn.
4. In combination with the revolving and oscillating pan o and openings A, the
annular trough D, and scraper E, substantially as described and shewn.
5. In combination with the revolving and oscillating pan o, and central hollow
column, the pipe F, for carrying away the water and matters held in suspension
substantially as described and shewn.
6. The general arrangement of the concentrating machinery substantially as
described and shewn.
Dated this 10th day of January 1980