An Improved Method and Means for Separating Metals and Heavy Minerals from Ores.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 16th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method and Means for Separating Metals and Heavy
Minerals from Ores.
RICHARD STANFIELD, Student, of Elm Tree Villa, Rosenan Road, Battersea, in the
County of Surrey, and THOMAS CLARKSON, Demonstrator, of Elm Tree Villa, Rosenau
Road, Battersea, in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
:-
Our Invention consists in the following application of the principle of centrifugal
force to the separation of metals and other dense bodies from their lighter associated
minerals.
The ore, having been brought into a fine state of division by any suitable means, is
introduced, with or without water (preferably without water), into a suitable receptacle
revolving about a vertical or suitably inclined axis, and provided at its circumference
with holes through which the material is ejected.
These holes may be straight or curved, and arranged radially or otherwise. They
may be in one plane so as to project the material horizontally, or on the surface of a
cone, so as to project the material upwards or downwards as desired.
The denser particles of the material, by reason of their greater centrifugal
force, are thrown a greater distance from the receptacle than the particles of less
density.
The ejected material is received by a series of annular or other suitable receivers
concentric with or arranged around the axis of the receptacle; the denser material
falling into the receivers farther from, while the lightor material falls into those nearer
to, the said axis.
Suitable means are provided for removing the materials from the various receivers.
The receptacle may be also arranged with straight or curved projecting tubular
arms. These tubes may proceed from any convenient part of the receptacle, and any
suitable number may be used.
The material may be fed into the receptacle by a hopper or other suitable means.
The interior of the receptacle is so formed or shaped as to facilitate the flow of
the material to the ejecting orifices.
If necessary, the settlement of the ejected material may be facilitated by creating
a downward current of air into the receivers. Such current may be produced by an
exhausting or pressure fan or other suitable means. The fan may be arranged on the
same axis as the receptacle, or in any other convenient position.
The receivers may be kept moist by water, steam, or any other fluid.
A substance of a specific gravity between that of the dense and light particles may
be mixed with the unseparated material to assist its separation. This substance
should preferably be soluble so that it may subsequently be readily separated from
the metals or minerals.
The separation may be assisted by adding a heavy substance, which would combine
with the metallic portions of the material.
The whole machine may be enclosed in a suitable case.
A series of two or more machines may be used; the heavy portions of the
material being passed successively through each, and the lighter portions returned
for subsequent treatment.
This machine is applicable to the treatment of the ores of gold, silver, tin, lead,
copper, or any other metal, and to the resolution of any like composito material
into its heavy and light constituents.
Dated this 16th day of Tanu 1980
RICHARD STANFIELD.
THOMAS CLARKSON.

page_text: The material is fed by a shoot or other suitable contrivance not shewn in the
drawings, into the rotating vessel A, which is provided at the top with a hopper, and
at the periphery with a number of apertures a. through which the material is ejected.
The form of the vessel A, and the arrangement of the apertures will be better
understood, on referring to Figs. 3, and 4. The apertures a, are made rather long, in
order to ensure that the path of each particle during its passage through one of the
holes or passages, is practically parallel to the axis of the hole. This precaution is
necessary, in order that all the particles when ejected may have practically the same
angular velocity.
The upper part a, of the vessel A, contains one or more rows of the apertures a, and
is preferably detachable from the lower portion a², which forins the head or top of the
spindle B. This arrangement facilitates the attachment of duplicate vessels suitable
for the particular material to be operated upon.
A number of extra upper parts a', provided with holos of different size, form, or
number may be kept in readiness. We do not restrict ourselves to the particular form
of vessel shewn in Fig. 3.
The shaft B, may be driven from a shaft C, by bevel wheels D and E, (shewn
diagrammatically). The spindle B, is mounted in bearings F, and G, in the frame H.
The bearing at F, is protected against dust by the cap I, in addition to the protection
afforded by a conical cover J. The cover J, rests on rollers K, let into the main
frame L. Lateral displacement of the cover is prevented by bearings M, N, and, to
prevent dust getting insido the cover, the latter is sunk a little way into the under side
of the vossel A, in addition to being made to overlap the frame L, at l.
The cover J, is rotated by means of an internal wheel R, and pinion S. The latter
is fixed to the top of a short spindle T, which carries at its lower end the worm wheel U,
that is actuated by the worm V, on the shaft C.
The arms O, are shown to be straight and radial in plan, Fig. 2, sheet 1, but they
may be tangential or curved, so as to offer a very small resistance to the passage of
the material from the vessel A, to the receiver Q; and any material that may be
obstructed by an aru, may be guided into the right division by a small plate or shoot
carried by the arm.
The receiver Q, Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is represented with four divisions or steps, D', D³,
D³, D, but any convenient number may be used.
Tho material after being deposited in the divisions, is swept down the shoots S¹, S³,
S³, S, Fig. 2. Sheet 1. by brushes P, into receptacles placed beneath. The brushes
rest in the divisions of the receiver; a portion of one division only is shewn fitted with
brushes in the drawings. The brushes may be mounted on rings P, that are rotated
in the divisions by the arms O, which are fixed to the cover J.
The receiver Q, may be conveniently made in sections. It is shewn supported
partly upon the frame L, but chiefly upon the brackets W, which are fixed to the
frame. The conier part of the frame L, is connected to the outer portion, by the
arms Z.
Two truncated cones A', B', confine the material that is deposited in the space C¹.
They also serve to direct a current of air, which may be drawn or blown through the
machine by a fan or blower arranged on the same axis as the vessel A, or connected
to the machine by a tube K', or in any other suitable manner.
It will be seen that owing to the form of the receiver Q, being somewhat conical,
the current of air will have a greater velocity in the space between the vessel A, and
the division D', than it will have between the vessel A, and the division D', henco
it acts with greater effect upon the lighter particles which have the shorter range.
A tube E, joining the cones A', B³, covers the shaft C, and the cone A¹, is closed
at the bottom to exclude dust.
Any material passing down the space C¹, and not being carried away by the air
current, will collect in the receptacle F, from which it is gradually removed down a
shoot G, by means of a worm H', or other suitable apparatus. The worm H', may
be driven from the shaft O, in any convenient manner.
Two or more machines may be combined in series, or in auy convenient manner, so

page_text: that one may act as the feeder to another; all or part of the material being passed
successively through two or more machines.
The separation may be assisted by adding a heavy substance (such as mercury),
which would combine with the metallic portion of the material. This machine is
applicable to the treatment of the ores of gold, silver, tin, lead, copper, or any other
metal.
The machines may be used for sizing purposes, or they may be used in conjunction
with other sizing appliances for the purpose of separating metals and minerals
from ores.
We may use our improved receiving and collecting apparatus with any form of
centrifugal separator or sizing apparatus for the purpose specified.
We do not confine ourselves to the exact details hereinbefore described and
illustrated, as these may be varied without departing from the spirit of our Invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said.
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is :-
:-
1. The method hereinhefore described of separating metals and heavy minerals
from ores, by adding a heavy substance such as mercury, which will combine with
the metallic portion of the orc, increase its weight, and thereby facilitate its separation
from the ore in a centrifugal separating machine.
2. The means for separating metals and heavy minerals from ores, substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. The means for receiving and collecting the materials ejected from a centrifugal
separator, substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
4. The combination of two or more centrifugal separating machines, together with
their receivers, whereby one machine and receiver may act as the feeder to
another, all or part of the material boing passed successively through two or more
machines.
5. The means hereinbefore described for separating metals etc., and receiving and
collecting the ejected materials, in combination with a fan or blower for producing
an air current, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
6. In a centrifugal separating machine for the purpose hereinbefore specified; a
vessel A, provided at the top with a hopper to receive the pulverized ore, and at the
periphery with one or more rows of apertures a, through which the material is ejected;
such apertures being mado rather long, to ensure that all the particles when ejected,
shall have the same angular velocity, substantially as hereinbefore described.
7. In a centrifugal machine for the purpose herein before specified; a vessel A. of
the kind referred to in claim 6, detachably fitted on a base a³, which forms the head of
a rotating spindle B; to facilitate the attachment of duplicate vessels suitable for
the particular material to be operated upon, substantially as herein before described.
8. In a centrifugal machine, for the purpose hereinbofore specified; a rotary vessel A,
provided with apertures a, and rotated by a shaft B, enclosed in a rotary cover J,
having arms O, for rotating brushes P, and serving as a cover to exclude dust from
the bearings F, G, all arranged and operated substantially as hereinbefore described
and shown in the accompanying drawings.
9. In a centrifugal separating machine for the purpose hereinbefore specified, the
combination of a rotary vossel A, a receiver Q, provided with divisions for receiving
the ejected material, with brushes mounted on rings, and rotated in the divisions by
arms O, attached to a cover J, substantially as herein beforo described and shown in
the accompanying drawings.
1000
RICHARD STANFIELD.
THOMAS CLARKSON.