IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CRUSHING AND TREATING AURIFEROUS AND OTHER MINERAL ORES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles James Appleby, of Cannon Street, in the City
of London, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND
ARRANGEMENT OF MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CRUSHING AND TREATING
AURIFEROUS AND OTHER MINERAL ORES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles James Appleby at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd October 1881.
CHARLES JAMES APPLEBY, of Cannon Street, in the City of London. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR CRUSHING AND TREATING AURIFEROUS AND OTHER MINERAL ORES."
My Invention relates to machinery or apparatus used for the purpose of crushing
and amalgamating or otherwise treating auriferous ores, such as quartz or other
mineral ores, and it has for its objects improved methods of constructing and
arranging the several parts of such machinery or apparatus so that it is very
effective, simple, portable, and easily fixed and removed, and at the same time great
economy in space is effected as compared with machinery for similar purposes as
ordinarily heretofore constructed and used.
Apparatus constructed according to my Invention for the purpose of crushing
and treating auriferous quartz consists, first, of a battery of stamps, preferably of
the kind hereinafter described, and driven by means of chain wheels and endless
chains from a steam engine; second, of novel methods of constructing amalgamating
boxes into which the pulverized quartz flows from the stamps, and the gold con-
tained in it is extracted by means of mercury; also in novel methods of constructing
and arranging the parts of buddles or concentrating apparatus in which the gold
remaining in the pulverized quartz flowing from the amalgamating boxes is
concentrated; and also in the novel general arrangement of the machinery or
apparatus for the purposes described.
Assuming that two batteries, containing three stamps each, are to be used,
I arrange a suitable foundation, preferably of timber piles, at the upper part of

page_text: the floor where the operations are to conducted, and upon this foundation
I arrange the two batteries of stamps in line with each other, but separated by
a sufficient distance.
The support which carries the batteries upon the piles or other foundation consists
of beams or girders of iron plates and angle irons rivetted or bolted together, and
made in pieces of such size and weight that they can be readily transported. Upon
the support so constructed (which may be covered with a floor of iron, wood, or
other suitable material), I fix strong vertical frames, also of iron plate and angle
iron, supported by suitable struts, and having cross beams similarly constructed to
which are bolted guides, preferably of wood, in which the upper ends of the stamp
rods are guided, these rods being preferably cylindrical bars, so that they can turn
round in the guides.
I prefer that the stamp heads themselves and the boxes in which they work
should be constructed according to the Specification and Drawings of my Letters
Patent dated January 12th, 1880, and numbered 133, entitled "Improvements in
the Construction and Arrangement of Machinery for Stamping and Reducing to
Powder Mineral and other Hard Substances."
Near the upper part of the framework described I bolt or otherwise fix bearings
in which revolves a horizontal shaft upon which are keyed cams or lifters by which
the stamps are lifted. These cams are arranged so as to come into operation in
succession, and they operate upon circular discs or lifting plates fixed upon the
stamp rods by screws and adjustable nuts, so that their position may be accurately
adjusted.
Upon the floor or platform below and between the batteries of stamps I arrange
a steam engine and boiler of any convenient form and design, and upon the driving
shaft of such engine, or upon a shaft connected to it, I tix a chain wheel round
which passes an endless chain, also passing round a corresponding chain wheel
above the shaft which carries the lifting cams. The lifting cams upon each battery
of stamps can be connected with or disconnected from the shaft so actuated by
means of a suitable clutch box actuated by a handle below, so that either or both
the batteries may be set in motion or stopped as desired. The cam shaft or the
engine shaft may also be provided with a crank or cranks actuating one or more
pumps, by which water is pumped up into a cistern at a sufficient height, whence
it is brought down through pipes and admitted as required into the stamp boxes
into which the auriferous quartz is fed and pulverized.
From the stamp boxes the auriferous quartz discharged through screens when
sufficiently pulverized passes together with the water through conducting shoots
into amalgamating boxes placed at a lower level, but carried upon the same
foundation and supports. These amalgamating boxes consist each of a box,
preferably of iron and rectangular in plan. The back and ends of the box are of
considerable height, and in the ends guides are formed within which are adjusted
at a short distance from and parallel with the back a plate or board, the lower end
of which descends to within a short distance of the bottom of the box, dipping
below the surface of mercury with which the bottom of the box is supplied. The
pulverized quartz and water therefore admitted into the space between the back of
the box and the adjustable board or plate described descend through the mercury,
up which they rise, part of the gold being detained and amalgamated with the
mercury, and they then pass over the front edge of the box, which is a little above
the surface of the mercury, and thence fall if required into a similar box where a
further quantity of gold is detained, and whence if necessary they may again pass
into similar boxes, or into shoots or troughs, which conduct them into buddles or
concentrating apparatus constructed, arranged, and actuated in the following
manner I prefer to arrange one buddle to each battery of stamps at a lower
level than the amalgamating boxes described, and supported upon timber or other
foundations. Each buddle is complete in itself, and consists of a horizontal pan or
vessel of suitable diameter constructed of iron plates rivetted or bolted together.
Transversely across the top of each buddle a framework of iron plate and angle

page_text: irons is arranged, which carries bearings in which revolves a horizontal shaft
parallel to the engine shaft, and driven at a suitable speed from the latter by
means of chain wheels and an endless chain. This shaft drives by means of bevilled
toothed wheels a vertical shaft revolving in the centre of each buddle in bearings
in the bottom of the buddle, and in the transverse frame above, and each transverse
shaft carries a horizontal revolving frame which revolves above the buddle, and is
provided with adjustable rakes, scrapers, brushes, or cloths, by which the surface
of the auriferous sand which is admitted through a trough to the centre of the
buddle from the amalgamating boxes already described is smoothed and made
uniform and even.
The particles of gold being heavier settle down near the centre of the buddle,
whilst the lighter and poorer sand fills its outer part, the water eventually flowing
away and being made to pass if necessary through settling pits, in which any
auriferous quartz still remaining in suspension is deposited. When the buddle is
full the revolutions of the vertical central shaft is stopped by means of a clutch box
upon the transverse revolving shaft which drives it, and the auriferous sand,
concentrated and enriched, as described, is removed and the gold extracted by
amalgamation or other well known means. I prefer to coat the interior surfaces
of the amalgamating boxes and of the buddles or concentrating apparatus with
enamel, in order to prevent injurious action in the presence of the mercury.
Buddles constructed and arranged in the method described are self contained, and
consequently are very easily fixed in their places and removed as may be desired.
And by the method of construction of the several parts of the entire apparatus, and
by the method of arrangement described in which the whole series of processes is
continuous, the entire mechanism being supported and adjusted by, and at the
same time forming part of the framework which carries it, great economy both of
construction and in fixing and removing the machinery or apparatus as well as in
working it is effected.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles James Appleby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd April 1882.
"
CHARLES JAMES APPLEBY, of Cannon Street, in the City of London.
IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR CRUSHING AND TREATING AURIFEROUS AND OTHER MINERAL ORES."
This Invention relates more especially to machinery or apparatus used for the
purpose of crushing or pulverizing and amalgamating or otherwise treating
auriferious ores, such as quartz or other mineral ores, and it has for its objects
improved methods of constructing and arranging the several parts of such
machinery or apparatus, so that it is very effective, simple, portable, and easily
fixed and removed, and at the same time great economy of space is effected as
compared with machinery for similar purposes as ordinarily heretofore constructed
and used.
Machinery or apparatus constructed according to my present Invention for the
purpose of crushing and treating auriferous quartz consists, first, of a battery of
stamps, preferably of the kind hereinafter described, and driven by means of
wheels and endless chains, bands, or ropes, actuated by a suitable steam engine or
other motive power; second, of novel methods of constructing amalgamating
boxes into which the pulverized quartz flows together with water from the stamps,
and in which the gold contained in it is extracted by means of amalgamation
with mercury; also in novel methods of constructing and arranging buddles or
concentrating apparatus in which any gold remaining in the pulverized quartz
flowing from the amalgamating boxes is concentrated; and also in the novel
general arrangement and combination of the machinery or apparatus for the several
purposes described.
The accompanying Drawings are in illustration of my Invention. Figure 1 is
a side view, Figure 2 a front view, and Figure 3 a plan of apparatus having two
batteries, each containing three stamps. The same letters of reference refer to the
same parts in the several Figures. a is a suitable foundation consisting preferably
of suitable timber piles at the upper part of the floor where the operations are to
be conducted. Upon this foundation are arranged the two batteries of stamps b, 61,
in line with each other but separated by a sufficient space. The support which
carries the batteries of stamps and the other appliances hereinafter described upon
the piles or other foundation, consists of beams or girders c of iron plates and
angle irons rivetted or bolted together and constructed in separate pieces of such
size and weight that they can be readily transported. Upon the support so formed
(which may be covered with a floor d of iron, wood, or other suitable material)
I fix strong vertical frames e, e, e, e, also of iron plates and angle irons, supported
by suitable struts or stays f, f, f, f, and having cross beams g, g', similarly
constructed, to which are bolted guides h, h', preferably of wood, in which the
upper ends of the stamps rods i, i, i, are guided, these being preferably cylindrical
bars working freely, so that they can turn round in the guides h.
I prefer that the stamp heads and the boxes k, k', in which they work should
be constructed and arranged according to the Specification and Drawings of my
Letters Patent, dated January 12th, A.D. 1880, and numbered 133, entitled
"Improvements in the Construction and Arrangement of Machinery for Stamping
and Reducing to Powder Mineral and other Hard Substances," but any other
convenient form of stamp heads and boxes may be used.
Near the upper part of the framework described I bolt or otherwise fix bearings
1, 1, 1, 1, in which revolve horizontal shafts m, m³, upon which are keyed cams or
lifters n, n, n, n', n¹, n¹, by which the stamps are lifted, these cams being arranged
so that they come into operation in succession and actuate circular discs or lifting
plates 0, 0, 0, 0, 0¹, o¹, fixed upon the stamp rods by adjustable screws and nuts, so
that their position may be accurately regulated. Upon the floor or platform d, and

page_text: between the batteries of stamps I arrange a steam engine p and boiler r of any
convenient form and design, and upon the driving shaft of such engine or upon
a shaft connected with it and driven by it, I fix a chain wheel or pulley, round
which passes an endless chain, band, or rope 8, which also passes round a corre-
sponding wheel above upon the shaft t, which can be connected with either or
both of the cam shafts m, m¹, as may be desired, by means of the coupling
clutches u, u', and handles v, v. The cam shaft m or the engine itself may also
be provided with a crank or cranks w driving one or more pumps by which
water is pumped up into a cistern y fixed at a sufficient height, whence the water
is brought down through pipes 2, and admitted as required by the cocks or
valves 1, 2, to the stamp boxes k, k¹, through the hoppers 3, 4, into which the
quartz to be pulverized is also supplied from the platform 5. Instead of a steam
engine the apparatus may be driven by a water wheel or other convenient power.
From the stamp boxes k, k', the auriferous quartz discharged through screens
6, 7, when sufficiently pulverized passes, together with the water, into amalga-
mating boxes of the kind hereinafter described and shewn in Figures 4, 5, and 6,
and thence down the inclined plane 8 to additional similar amalgamating
boxes 9, 10, whence it passes down the conducting shoots 11, 12, to the
buddles 13, 14.
I prefer to arrange one such buddle to each battery of stamps, as shewn, at a
level sufficiently below that of the amalgamating boxes, and supported upon timber
or other foundations 15.
I make each buddle complete in itself and consisting of a horizontal pan or
vessel 16, 17, of suitable diameter and constructed of iron plates rivetted or
bolted together. Across the top of each buddle is arranged transversely a
framework 18 of iron plates and angle irons, which carries bearings 19, 20, 21,
in which revolves a horizontal shaft 22 parallel to the engine shaft, and driven
at a suitable speed from the latter by means of the chain wheels or pulleys
and endless chain, band, or rope 23. This shaft 22 drives by means of the bevilled
toothed wheels 24, 25, the vertical shafts 26, 27, revolving in the centre of each of
the buddles in bearings on the bottom of the buddles and upon the framework 18,
and each vertical shaft 26, 27, carries a horizontal frame, which revolves above the
material in the buddle, and is provided with adjustable rakes, scrapers, brushes, or
cloths, by which the surface of the auriferous sand, which is admitted from the
conducting shoots 11, 12, to the centre of the buddles, is smoothed and made uniform
and even in the way well known and practised. The particles of gold being heavier
have a tendency to settle down near the centre of the buddles, whilst the lighter
and poorer sand fills their outer parts, the water eventually flowing away by the
shoots 29, 30, and being made to pass, if necessary, through settling pits, in which
any auriferous quartz still remaining in suspension is deposited.
I
When either of the buddles becomes filled in the way described, the revolution
of its vertical central shaft is stopped by means of the clutch boxes 31, 32, upon
the shaft 22, and the auriferous sand, concentrated and enriched as described, is
removed and the gold extracted by amalgamation or other wellknown means.
prefer to coat the interior surfaces of the amalgamating boxes and of the buddles
or concentrating apparatus with enamel, in order to prevent injurious action in the
presence of the mercury, and to economize and facilitate the action of the latter.
I also prefer in some cases to partially or entirely surround the amalgamating boxes
with a jacket or casing, which can be heated when desired by the introduction of
steam, hot air, or other sufficiently hot medium, by which the process of amal-
gamation is facilitated. In Figure 4 is shewn a vertical section, and in Figure 5,
a plan partly broken off, of a double amalgamating box constructed according to
my Invention.
The box is preferably of cast iron, rectangular in plan, and made in one piece, so
that it may be free from cracks, spaces, or joints, into which the mercury may pass
and escape, and its inside being made as smooth as possible and preferably enamelled,
as already described.

page_text: The back A and sides B are of considerable height, and in the ends are formed
guides C, within which is adjusted, at a short distance from and parallel with the
back A, a plate or board, the lower edge of which is adjusted at a short distance
from the bottom D of the box, dipping below the surface of mercury with which
the box is supplied. The pulverized auriferous quartz and water therefore admitted
at E into the space between the back A and the adjustable board or plate descend
through the mercury, up which they rise, part of the gold being detained and
amalgamated with the mercury, and they then pass over the edge of the front of
the box F, which is a little above the surface of the mercury, and they pass down
the space between the front F and a second moveable board or plate which is fitted
into the second lower similar box G, after passing through the mercury, in which
they pass away, as already described, over the edge H of the front of the lower
box.
In the same way the auriferous sand and water may be made to pass through
any additional number of amalgamating boxes. Figure 6 shows a section of a
single box. I, I, are plugs by which the mercury can be removed from the boxes.
By the method of construction of the several parts of the entire apparatus as
described and shown, and by the method described in which the whole series of
processes is continuous, the entire mechanism being supported and adjusted by, and
at the same time forming part of, the framework which carries it, great economy
both of construction and in fixing and removing the machinery or apparatus, as well
as in working it, is effected.
Buddles constructed and arranged in the method described and shown are self
contained, and are consequently very easily fixed in their places and removed, as
may be desired. I do not claim the precise form and arrangement of the several
parts of the machinery or apparatus as hereinbefore described and shewn, which
may be altered in their details to suit the various purposes or circumstances to which
they are to be applied; but having described my Invention, and the manner in
which it is to be performed,
I claim,―
First. The combination of the portable framework of iron plates and angle irons
with stamping machinery and motive power engine, actuated by means of wheels
and endless chains, bands, or ropes, supported by and forming part of such portable
framework, with or without a steam or other motive power engine, substantially as
and for the purposes described and shewn in the Drawings.
Second. In combination with such stamping machinery and motive power engine,
the buddles actuated by wheels and endless chains, bands, or ropes, substantially as
described and shewn.
Third. The method of constructing amalgamating boxes in one piece, plain or
enamelled, so as to be free from joints or cracks, substantially as and for the purpose
described and shewn.
Fourth. The method of constructing portable buddles of metal plates in com-
bination with portable framework carrying driving apparatus and disengaging
clutches, substantially as described and shewn in the Drawings.
Fifth. The general arrangement and combination of the portable framework,
stamping machinery, motive power engine, amalgamating boxes, and buddles, all
substantially as described and shewn in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles James Appleby, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 20th day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.