Improvements in Extracting Metals from their Ores and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left. 6th May. 1890-Accepted. 5th July. 1890
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Extracting Metals from their Ores and Apparatus
therefor.
I ROBERT WELFORD of Kings House Works Sunderland Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
These improvements which relate to the wet method of extracting the precious
metals has for its principal object to dispense with the use of a separation or leaching
vessel or its equivalent by constructing and arranging the reagent cylinder, chamber
or vessel with a filter either inside, or on, or attached to the said reagent vessel; the
solution being sucked or obtained through the filtering medium from the ore mass by
pressure of any kind & also so that this reagent vessel is made with its interior in
connection with special distributing valve boxes outside whereby different ingredients
can be introduced into & extracted from the vessel either whilst in motion or at
rest. It is intended that the extraction of other solutions (for instance silver) besides
gold from one suitable ore mass can be carried out by the above means.
Dated this Seventh day of August 1889.
ROBERT WELFORD.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Extracting Metals from their Ores and Apparatus
therefor.
I ROBERT WELFORD of Kings House Works Sunderland Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in the wet method of extracting metals
from their ores and has for its principal object the carrying out of the process of
chlorination, or other treatment and the carrying out of the process of leaching or
separation of the liquids containing the metals in one suitable vessel without removal
of ore material whereby economy of time, labor, and plant is effected and risks of
reprecipitation avoided."
My apparatus may be said to consist of a barrel having hollow trunnion end
bearing preferably arranged one at each end and on which the barrel turns and
having on one side a distributing valve box or the equivalent fixed this valve box
has different separate connections leading by pipes to reservoir tank of water, acid
measure tanks also to air or other source of pressure supply, all the branch valves or
cocks are arranged so that each can be in communication through trunnion with
the interior of the barrel. On the other side of the barrel another valve box or the
equivalent may be conveniently fixed also having branches or ways leading to gold
or other liquor discharge tanks and steam &c. for cleaning purposes; and these
branch valves are also connected with and arranged so that cach may communicate
through trunnion also with the interior of the barrel, but with a filtering arrangement
intervening. The trunnions have stuffing boxes and the glands are made in two
halves to admit of removal and packing.
The barrel is preferably worked through plain and cross belts by fast and loose
pulleys in order to get a to and fro movement on its contents when required. Tho
crushed ore, roasted concentrates or metalliferous material may be conveniently fed
through a hopper into the barrel from above and after treatment the residue can be
dropped into a wagon placed underneath.
In order that the process and apparatus may be better understood I will now give
the following description for treating an ore containing gold.

page_text: As is usual in the treatment of ores in the wet way the quartz is first crushed fine
and is then usually roasted to expel sulphur &c. Referring to the accompanying
Drawing the general arrangement of the principal parts of the apparatus is shewn in
part sectional front elevation at Fig. 1. and part sectional end elevation at Fig. 2.
The barrel and connections are all lined with lead or made where necessary of some
acid resisting material and the barrel can also be lined with wood.
The valves and cocks on each side of the barrel S. all being shut a charge of ore
material together with a certain quantity of chloride of lime is placed through the
manhole door O. inside the barrel S. The door is now securely closed up and the
valves or cocks at E. f and h. are opened to admit a suitable measure of water and
sulphuric acid from the (connected) supply tanks (not shown in Drawing) the said
liquids flow through the pipe shewn dotted and terminating at T.
and
After the acid and water are admitted into the barrel these cocks E. f. and hare
shut but in certain cases when desired air or other pressure can be admitted and
kept on from another branch say g. connected to a receiver through the common
inlet E. The barrel is now by means of power conveniently through gear
belt pulley w. rotated either one way or the other for a time, during which the gold
contained in the ore becomes dissolved through the action of the reagent chlorine
and the water; pressure is also set up, and is indicated at Q. Test portions of
liquor can be conveniently drawn from R. and tried for gold. When the gold
solution is ready to be drawn off the outlet cocks b. and c. are opened and the
pressure forces out any liquid through the filtering medium M. which in this case
consists of wood perforated with holes and covered with sacking or canvas this being
fixed before the gutter pipe I. is fitted inside, and the whole so placed near enough
to the shell of barrel to admit of the liquid finding its way through into this gutter
shaped filter L. which goes the full length of the barrel; thence the liquid passes
through the pipes K. and past b. and c. into the settling, stock or precipitating tanks
connected therewith (not shewn in Drawing). Whilst this leaching part of the
operation is going on the attendant especially if the ore contains slimes must work
the band le P. backwards and forwards in order through the power belts and gear to
rock the barrel and thus agitate the contents and disperse any slimes or tendency of
the ore mass to pack; until the liquor is got out. If desired gas, air &c. can be got
out when the filter and pipe is on top (even with liquid in the barrel) by opening
say branch d. for this purpose.
In the event of all the gold salt not being dissolved out, more water can be added
the mixing or churning operation repeated and the solution again obtained.
After sufficient leaching of the ore, the manhole is opened and the waste dropped
and cleared out (if necessary using water through the branch h.) to allow of a fresh
charge being introduced.
The precipitation and winning of the gold from the liquor may be carried out by
any well known means such as by sulphate of iron, copper sulphide &c. and the
deposit collected and fused into ingots. It can be seen that my apparatus can be used
in the hydrometallurgical treatment for silver, copper &c. or where more than one
metal is contained in one ore by using other ingredients. Although I have shewn in
the Drawing and described apparatus suitable for carrying out my improvements yet
I desire it to be understood that my Invention is not necessarily practised in
apparatus constructed like that described for example the filter may be on shell of
barrel and the pipe outside, again a filtering compartment with either a fixed or
revolving pipe can be arranged to the same end or other forms of apparatus, gear,
and motion may be used and direct filtration secured with less or more branches
fitted for treating more than one metal as required, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner. the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is
1st. In the wet process of extracting metals constructing a barrel or vessel with a
filtering arrangement whereby both chlorination, or other treatment and leaching or

page_text: separation of the fluids without removal of the ore material can be carried out
substantially as described.
2nd. In the extraction of metals by the wet method arranging a barrel or vessel
with filter and in connection with valve boxes or their equivalent and sources of supply
and discharge whereby different fluids can be introduced and withdrawn from the said
barrel substantially as described.
3rd. In the extraction of metals in the wet way arranging a barrel with filter,
branch connections, and gear whereby a churning and to and fro motion can be given
to contents of said barrel and so that chlorination or other treatment, and filtration,
and washing can be carried out substantially as described.
4th. In a hydrometallurgical apparatus such as herein described the combination
of a moving vessel having a filtering arrangement and distributing valve boxes or
their equivalent with connections from different sources of supply and discharge to
and from said vessel and gear to work said vessel and contents substantially as
described, and as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this Fifth day of May 1890.
ROBERT WELFORD.