Year: 1888

page_text: JAMES ROAOH 'Mulberry Tin Works Lanivet near Bodmin Mine Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to he performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention consists of a Buddle for mining purposes, having an open and
accessible floor, the whole so constructed that the ore separated from other and
extraneous matter in which it is found may be delivered automatically from the
underneath part of such Buddle. This automatic delivery goes on simultaneously with
the action of the Buddle, so that the Biddle has not to be stopped for the same to
be emptied as is the case with existing Buddles.
I construct my Buddle for choice in wood and iron with a sloping head and a pit
beyond, and all for preference in a circular form or plan. The whole Buddle being
so raised as to be accessible from beneath. The pit of the Buddle may be divided. all
around into two parts by an upright division. The two parts I call respectively the
inner and outer compartments forming the Buddle.
The part of the floor of the Buddle near the head is divided into three or more
parts or steps one above the other, with open risers, or space left where a riser
would be in the case of ordinary stairs. Beyond the steps and extending to
the outside of the Buddle I construct a series of corrugations all around in the
direction of the diametrical centre of the Buddle. Upon the corrugations I place
an inverted V shaped channel, npheld about. 2 inches from the floor of the Buddle
and from the apex of the corrugations of the floor, and inside this channel I form
a continuous upright piece along the entire length. This continuous upright piece
which I here call a water parting piece does not extend in height to within 2 or
3 inches of the apex of the inverted V shaped channel. These channels I propose
to construct in sheet iron. These corrugations and channels all incline gently from
the inside to the outside. The foregoing arrangement of the floor of the Buddle
into steps and channels I call an open floor.
Underneath the steps are launders that catch the water and ore falling from the
inner edge of the steps. These launders which I here call ground launders have open

page_text: bottoms for the ore to pass through, and are connected to cross launders- to deliver
the ore outside. These ground launders are constructed to slope or incline so as the
better to deliver their contents outside as required.
"The outside rasing of the Buddle has holes cut in the same to-allow-the-V shaped
channels to discharge themselves into a foot launder running around the same.
Around the top outside of the Buddle runs a water and waste launder, to take the
waste that runs over the top of the Buddle.
In the centre of the Buddle is a water pipe supplied with a sufficient pressure of
water, and the bottom of this pipe is fitted as a centre, so that the pipe may revolve on
its own axis, and this it does by means of power exerted upon it. Branch pipes from
this revolving water pipe throw a force of water on to the steps hefore mentioned, upon
which lay a rich deposit of, ore. These revolving pipes throwing a force of water
was es the rich ore off the steps into the ground launders. A projecting piece of
metal after the ananner of a rake may precede each of these jets of water, being
Secured to the branch pipe, or arm delivering the jet of water for the purpose of
loosening the rich ore on the steps before the water plays upon it, to wash it into the
launder.
A pan is fixed in the centre of the head of the Buddle and into this receptacle runs
the material to be Buddled, and it is distributed from this pan by means of spouts
which may revolve or not as may be desired with the water pipe.
My improved Buddle works as follows.―
The two compartments forming-the-working-space of the Buddle 1 fill up with
sun to the top, and then I start the action of the Buddle. The material to be
Buddled is deposited by means of the spout or spouts near the edge of the Buddle
hend and thence flows gently on towards the outer edge of the Buddle this distance
being definitely arranged by the construction of the Buddle to form a gentle inclined
plane.
•
The richest ore falls first and remains nearest the head of Buddle and on the steps,
and the rest flows on becoming a poorer and poorer deposit of ore as the substance
reaches the outside when what flows over the edge may be considered as waste.
Simultaneous with the discharge of substance to he buddled is started the revolving
water pipe, discharging water on the steps of the Buddle, and into the channels at
the bottom of the Buddle. As these water jots revolve the force of water washes
away the sand lying above the steps and above the channels in the floor of the Buddle,
and as the sand is washed away off the steps and along these channels the substance
to be buddled becomes exposed to the action of the water, when the whole of the
sund is washed away the Buddle is in full action, the rich ore on the steps is
washed off the steps into the ground launders arranged to receive the same, and is
thence carried by means of the discharged water into the cross launders and out of
the Buddle for further treatment.
The deposit of the inner compariment gradually decends upon. the steps, and is
1 carried away by the jets through the ground and cross launders, and that in the outer
compartment gradually decends upon the top of the V shaped channels and is carried
out to the foot launders outside the Buddle by medium of the water passing through
those channels.
J
By these means the action of the Buddle goes on continuously, the ore being
discharged froin: underneath. as herein described, at the same time as the substance to.
be buddled is deposited on the head.
In order that my improvement may be more fully understood. I will proceed to
describe the several figures on the sheet of drawings hereunto annexed, all of which
. figures aro marked with like letters of reference throughout.
Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through the diametrical centre of the Buddle,
shewing one half of a Buddle in section. A is the outer casing forming the Buddle
sloping slightly inwards at the top. B.is the division forming the inner and outer
compartments of Buddle. C is the inner casing of Buddle sloping slightly outwards
at top. D is the Buddle head. E is the Pan to receive the substance to be buddled.
is the spout or spouts distributing the said substance over the Buddle head. Fis

page_text: the revolving water pipe having a main branch pipe F¹, and smaller jet pipes Fl
throwing water on to the steps marked G G G and into the channels over the corrugated
floor of Buddle. HHH are the ground launders underneath the steps G G G and
arranged to receive the washed ore from the steps by means of the revolving jets of
water. J shews a cross launder to receive the discharged ore and water from
the ground launders HHH. K indicates the bottom of corrugations or ridges
forming the floor of the Buddle beyond the steps, and toward the outside. The lines
marked L M and N shew respectively the top of the V shaped channels, the top of
the edge of the water parting piece and the top of the ridge or corrugations of the
channels. P is the foot launder at base of Buddle and outside the same to receive
the inferior ore washed through the channels at the bottom of the Buddle. R is the
water and waste launder to receive the waste water and other useless matter flowing
over the outer edge of the Buddle. S is a leveller secured to the top of the upright
partition B. TTTTT are rings of wood or iron for the construction of the Buddle.
V is the iron frame to which are secured the steps G GG. W is a metal collar
with a tightening nut around the revolving pipe F. X is a metal block upon which
the water pipe F revolves. Z shews where the deposit of rich ore falls, which is
gathered off the steps below, and Z shews the poorer deposit taken off through the
channels on the floor of the Buddle.
Figure 2 shews a plan of part of a Buddle according to the section of figure 1 in
which M shows the inverted V shaped channel. And N¹ is the space of the corrugated
or ridged floor between the channels.
Figure 3 shews a section in which M is the inverted V shaped channel and Y the
parting piece.
As my improvements are capable of various modifications without departing from
the principle thereof -I do not restrict myself to materials demensions or the precise
form or placement of the several parts thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
The accessible and open floor of the Buddle as before described, being so constructed
that the ore separated from extraneous matter in which it is found may be delivered
automatically from the underneath part of such Buddle simultaneously with the
working of the same.