or relating to Amalgamators for Extracting Precious Metals from the Various Impurities Combined with them in Ores or the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 30th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1889
Improvements in
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
or relating to Amalgamators for Extracting
Precious Metals from the Various Impurities Combined with
them in Ores or the like.
A communication from abroad by JAMES B. BREWSTER, of the City, County, and
State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of amalgamators in which murcury is used to
extract precious metals from the various impurities combined with them in the ores
in which they are found, and has for its primary object the working of ores of a
friable, or semi-fluid sticky nature, such for instance as some of the adhesive muds in
which gold is found.
The nature of the invention consists in the details of combination and construction
substantially as hereinafter described.
From the body of the machine slopes away a stepped incline. Within the body
of the machine at one side is placed a deep, narrow, vertical pocket hereinafter
called the pocket. This pocket is made fast to the body of the machine, is made
water tight, the outer edge a little higher than the inner edge, and may be formed
of any suitable material, iron, however, seems preferable. Upon a movable partition,
which stands upright within the pocket, is mounted the shaft of the machine. Upon
this shaft are mounted a pulley and a lantern drum. Upon this drum chains, which
are laid side by side through its whole length and pass around and under the
partition, move like an endless belt. Pipes are used and are adapted to cast a spray
of water into the pocket. From the inner and lower side of this pocket an inclined
screen extends across the body of the machine to an opening in the opposite side.
Directly under this screen is the amalgamating table, which may be nearly
horizontal.
A slot in the side wall of the machine gives communication between this table
and the stepped incline.
The surface of this table, and the surface of the stepped incline should both be
covered with amalgamating plates. The plates on the incline are preferably
corrugated.
A
At the foot of the incline is another pocket, hereinafter called the second
pocket. This second pocket is so arranged that it communicates with the bottom
step of the incline. The outer edge of the pocket is the lowest. The inside of this
second pocket is faced with amalgamating plate and within this second pocket is a
removable partition. To the bottom edge of this partition is fastened a bar.
water pipe passes through this partition from edge to edge and communicates with
another water pipe, which is parallel with the under side of the said partition, and
between the bottom of the said partition and said bar, proper orifices in said pipe
allow the water to spirt in jets into said second pocket.
The body of said machine may be made of wood or any other suitable material.
A belt on the pulley, herein before mentioned may connect the machine with any
suitable motor. A hopper may be placed on the pocket to assist in manipulating
the machine.
To use this amalgamator quicksilver in the required quantity is deposited in the
pocket and also in the second pocket until it covers the lower edge of the bar.
Water under pressure is let on through the above mentioned pipes, and the shaft

page_text: set in motion by a belt on the pulley as before described. Pulp is now fed through
the hopper into the outside part of the pocket and against the chains. The pulp,
partly by its own weight, and partly by the motion of the chains is carried down
through the mercury under the partition in the bottom of the pocket. As soon as it
has passed under the lower edge of the partition all those parts lighter than the
precious metal, and such amalgam which may have been formed in the bottom of
the pocket are partly by the motion of the chains, and partly by the action of the
water carried upward on the inside of the partition and thrown upon the screen.
The larger pieces will roll down the screen and out of the machine through the
opening. The finer portions fall through the screen on the table and make their way
through a slot to the stepped incline down which they make their way to
the pocket.
Thus far the material has been carried by the action of the water
flowing from the pipes in bottom of the pocket. But when it comes into the last
pocket, the water flowing into that pocket carries it down through the mercury
under the bar and out through the pocket, over the outer and lower edge and
out of the machine.
As the pulp passes through the machine, the larger pieces of gold are deposited
along the track of the pulp, and the smaller pieces are amalgamated by the
mercury, so that but little of the gold or other precious metal escapes out of the
machine with the gangue.
Dated this 16th day of October 1889.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Amalgamators for Extracting
Precious Metals from the Various Impurities Combined with
them in Ores or the like.
A communication from abroad by JAMES B. BREWSTER, of the City, County, and
State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to that class of amalgamators in which mercury is used to
extract precious metals from the various impurities combined with them in the ores in
which they are found, and has for its primary object the working of ores of a
friable or semi-fluid, sticky nature, such for instance as some of the adhesive muds
in which gold is found.
The nature of the invention consists in the details of combination and construction
substantially as illustrated in the accompanying drawings hereinafter described and
subsequently pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings,"
Figure 1 is a side view of the newly invented amalgamator.
Figure 2 is a top view of the same.
Figure 3 is a front view of the same.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same.
Figure 5 is a detail view of a pocket more fully hereinafter described.
A A designate the body of the machine, from this slopes away the stepped
incline B. Within the body of the machine, at one side is placed a deep, narrow,
vertical pocket designated by I. This pocket is made fast to the body of the machine,
is made water tight, the outer edge a, a little higher than the inner edge and may
be formed of any suitable material. Iron however seems preferable. Upon a movable

page_text: partition C which stands upright within this pocket is mounted the shaft D. Upon
this shaft are mounted the pulley E, and the lantern drum E. Upon this drum the
chains G, which are laid side by side through its whole length and pass around and
under the partition C, move like an endless belt. The pipes F F are adapted to cast
a spray of water into this pocket. From the inner and lower side of this pocket
an inclined screen designated by H extends across the body of the machine to an
opening H in the opposite side. Directly under this screen is the amalgamating
table K, which may be nearly horizontal. A slot k in the side wall of the machine
gives communication between this table and the stepped incline. The surface of this
table, and the surface of the stepped incline should both be covered with amal-
gamating plates. The plates on the incline are preferably corrugated. At the foot
of the incline is another pocket designated by L. This pocket is so arranged that it
communicates with the bottom step of the incline. The outer edge of the pocket is
the lowest. The inside of this pocket is faced with amalgamating plite. Within this
pocket is a removable partition designated by M. To the bottom edge of this partition
is fastened a bar designated by m. A water pipe n passes through this partition
from edge to edge, and communicates with another water pipe o, which is parallel
with the under side of the partition, and between the bottom said partition and said
bar m. Proper orifices in said pipe o allow the water to spirt in jets, into said
pocket. The body of said machine may be made of wood or any other suitable
material. A belt on the pulley E may connect the machine with any suitable motor.
A hopper designated by P may be placed on the pocket I as illustrated, to assist in
manipulating the machine.
To use this amalgamator, quicksilver in the required quantity is deposited in the pocket I
and also in the pocket L, until it covers the lower edge of the bar m. Water under pressure
is let on through the above mentioned pipes, and the shaft set in motion by a belt on the
pulley as before described. Pulp is now fed through the hopper P into the outside
part of the pocket L and against the chains G. The pulp, partly by its own weight,
and partly by the motion of the chains G is carried down through the mercury under
the partition C in the bottom of the pocket. As soon as it has passed under the
lower edge of the partition all those parts lighter than the precious metal and such
amalgam as may have been formed in the bottom of the pocket are partly by the
motion of the chains and partly by the action of the water carried upward on the
inside of the partition and thrown upon the screen H. The larger parts roll down
the screen and out of the machine through the opening H'. The finer portions fall
through the screen on the table K, and make their way through the slot k to the
stepped incline down which they make their way to the pocket L. Thus far the
material has been carried by the action of the water flowing from the pipe in the
bottom of the pocket I. But when it comes into the last pocket L, the water flowing
into that pocket carries it downward through the, mercury under the bar m and out
through the pocket over the outer and lower edge, and out of the machine.
As the pulp passes through the machine the larger pieces of gold are deposited
along the track of the pulp and the smaller pieces are amalgamated by the mercury,
so that but little of the gold or other precious metal escapes out of the machine with
the gangue.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, 1 declare that what I claim is :-
1. In an amalgamator, the combination with the body of the machine and a pocket
secured upright in said machine, of a partition within said pocket, a revoluble shaft
journalled upon said partition, a pulley and drum mounted upon said shaft and a
series of endless chains running upon said drum and around said partition in said
pocket, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In an amalgamator, the combination with the body thereof, and a pocket
fastened upright in said machine a partition within said pocket, a revoluble shaft
mounted on said partition, a pulley and drum mounted upon said shaft, and a series

page_text: of endless chains running upon said drum, around said partition, in said pocket, of a
slanting screen arranged within said machine to receive pulp from said pocket and an
amalgamating table arranged to receive pulp from said screen and a stepped incline
adapted to carry away the pulp from said table, all substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
3. In an amalgamator the combination with a stepped incline faced with corrugated
amalgamating plates, of a pocket communicating with said incline, a partition within
said pocket, a bar attached to the bottom of said partition, a water pipe having a
series of jets between the said bar and the bottom of said partition, and means for
supplying water to said pipe, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 29th day of October 1889.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.