Improvements in Apparatus for Concentrating or Separating Ores and other Substances.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 29th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Concentrating or Separating Ores
and other Substances.
I, WALTER MCDERMOTT, of 23, Bucklersbury, in the City of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to ore concentrators and particularly to the class of
moving inclined surfaces such as represented by the well known revolving buddle or
conical table and the transversely inclined travelling belt and has for its object the
perfection of the work of such concentrators by the addition of a steady shaking
motion which allows of a flatter incline on the working surface and the use of a
smaller quantity of water to effect a good separation. On an ordinary inclined
surface unless the same be comparatively steep the tendency of the heavy particles
of sand and mineral to settle and pack is so great that a large quantity of water
has to be used to wash the material down the incline and particularly to effect the
final separation of sand from heavy valuable mineral. This excess of water, by
washing away the finest of the heavy valuable mineral particles, causes a con-
siderable loss in the final results, whereas with my improvement of a steady shaking
motion given to the incline surface this settling of the mineral is prevented and the
sifting down of the heavier particles through the lighter particles is effected, while
the lighter particles being kept in lively motion by the moving surface beneath are
readily washed down the incline by a very small quantity of water.
The travelling belt is the equivalent of the conical table, the method of working
being in both cases alike, namely, the crushed ore suspended in a current of water
is fed at one point on the upper edge of the incline and flows down the same to the
While so
outer and lower edge where it falls off into sluices placed to catch it.
flowing down the heaviest particles of rock and mineral settle onto the surface
and are carried onwards by the same in its revolution and are exposed to regulated
currents of water which first act as cleansing streams by washing down the lighter
and worthless matter and finally by stronger jets, or by the application of brushes
in addition to the jets, wash off into separate receptacles the last remaining heavy
particles which have resisted the flowing of the water up to this point. By the
application of my improvement the process of separation is precisely the same as
this described with the exception as before mentioned of the advantages gained by
making the surface not only a travelling one but a shaking one.
The shaking motion can be applied in any desired direction either in a straight
line or as a circular shape but I prefer to oscillate the conical table on its centre
and to impart to the travelling belt a transverse shake in the direction of its motion.
Dated this 50th day of ML1800
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Concentrating or Separating Ores
and other Substances.
I, WALTER MCDERMOTT, of 23, Bucklersbury, in the City of London,
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 ore concentrators and particularly to the class of moving
inclined surfaces such as represented by the well known revolving buddle or conical

page_text: table and the transversely inclined travelling belt and has for its object the
perfection of the work of such concentrators by the addition of a steady shaking
inotion which allows of a flatter incline on the working surface and the use of a
smaller quantity of water to effect a good separation. On an ordinary inclined
surface unless the same be comparatively steep the tendency of the heavy particles
of sand and mineral to settle and pack is so great that a large quantity of water
has to be used to wash the material down the incline and particularly to effect the
final separation of sand from the heavy valuable mineral. This excess of water,
by washing away the finest of the valuable heavy mineral particles, causes
considerable loss in the final results, whereas with my improvement of a steady
shaking motion given to the incline surface this settling of the mineral is prevented
and the sifting down of the heavier particles through the lighter particles is
effected while the lighter particles being kept in lively motion by the moving
surface beneath are readily washed down the incline by a very small quantity of
water.
a
In the drawings Figures 1. and 2. describe the application of my invention to the
conical table and Figures 3. 4. and 5. its application to the side-inclined travelling
belt. The travelling belt is the equivalent of the conical table, the method of
working being in both cases alike, namely the crushed ore suspended in a current
of water is fed at one point on the upper edge of the incline and flows down the
same to the outer and lower edge where it falls off into sluices placed to catch it.
While so flowing down the heaviest particles of rock and mineral settle onto the
surface and are carried onwards by the same in its revolution and are exposed to
regulated currents of water which first act as cleansing streams by washing down
the lighter and worthless matter and finally by stronger jets, or by the application
of brushes in addition to the jets, wash off into separate receptacles the last
remaining heavy particles which have resisted the flowing of the water up to this
point. By the application of my improvement the process of separation is precisely
the same as thus described with the exception as before mentioned of the advan-
tages gained by making the surface not only a travelling one but a shaking one.
The shaking motion can be applied in any desired direction either in a straight
line or as a circular shake but I prefer the arrangement shown in the drawings,
namely the oscillation of the conical table on its centre and the transverse shake of
the travelling belt in the direction of its motion. The same effect as the conical
table can be produced by the use of a concave annular table with feed of ore and
wash water on the outer edge, but greater space is required to effect a good
classification.
Referring to the conical table shown in Figures 1. and 2. A is the surface or
table on which the separation or concentration is effected. This table A, which I
prefer to make in the form of a cone having a very small height, is supported by
the collars B. and B on the hollow shaft Č. in such a way that the shaft C. can
revolve freely in them. The vertical hollow shaft C. is supported at its lower end,
which is closed by the step T, and at its upper end it revolves in a bearing, M,
which also forms a watertight coupling connecting the water pipe D. with the
hollow shaft C. Just at the highest part of the table A. a circular pipe, E, which
is provided with cocks at short intervals, is attached to and connected with the
hollow shaft C. The circular feed-box F. with the spout F is fixed to the shaft C.
above the pipe E.
G. is a launder, which supplies the feed-box F. with pulp. Three circular
launders, H. H' H", are situated just below the lower edge of the table A, which
slightly overhangs the inner launder, H. The upper edges of these launders are
at all points equidistant from the lower edge of the table A, while their bottoms
at all pointsfall in each direction from one point to the place of discharge at the
opposite side of their circumference, in order to create a flow of the material falling
into them to the place of discharge.
To the under side of the table A, at any convenient point, is fixed a lug, I, to
which is attached the connecting rod K. from a small crank, J, on a counter-shaft

page_text: at one side of the machine.
At any convenient position, as at L, are gears for
driving the hollow shaft C.
P. and P are adjustable deflecting plates, which are carried by the arms O. O,
attached to a collar Q. beneath the feed-box F, or to the said feed-box, or to any
convenient place on the shaft C. These arms O. are secured to the collar Q. by
bolts passing through slots in said collar, so that the plates P. may be adjusted as
to operative position by passing one plate or section under the next one.
The operation of the machine is as follows: -The shaft C. is slowly revolved by
the gears L, and carries with it the feed-box F, circular jet-pipe, E, and the
arms O. O. with the deflecting-plates P. P. At the same time the table A.
receives a gentle shaking motion by the action of the crank J. and connecting
rod K, which give the table a short alternating rotary movement on its axis about
the hollow shaft C. As the shaft C. revolves, the pulp in the feed-box F. flows
down through the spout F¹ on to the table A, where it is subjected to the shaking
produced by the crank J. and to the washing action of the water from the jets in
the circular pipe E, which follows the spout Fin its revolutions. The water for
these jets is supplied by the pipe D to the hollow shaft C, and thence it passes to
the pipe E. and the cocks with which it is provided. The shaking and washing to
which the pulp is subjected on the table A. spreads the pulp over its surface, and
the lighter waste rock, being kept suspended by the shaking in the water with
which it is mixed, is washed down over the edge of the table A into the inner
launder, H, while the heavier mineral settles on and adheres to the surface of the
table A, which is covered with smooth wood or rubber, the shaking motion of
the table being sufficiently gentle and uniform not to disturb the adhesion of the
particles of ore to the table A. after they have once settled on to its surface. The
series of jets of water from the circular pipe E. are so regulated that the first jets
which strike the slime or fine ore after it is deposited on the table A. are com-
paratively light, while the succeeding jets have a regularly increasing force to the
end of the series. The first of the series of jets washes away the light waste
matter into the launder H, leaving the heavy clean mineral settled on and adhering
to the surface of the table A, from which it is washed by the more powerful
streams from the last of the series of jets from the pipe E. This series of jets may
be so adjusted as to deal with slimes which contain minerals of different specific
gravities, as well as those which contain but a single mineral, and not only to
cleanse them of the waste rock and earthy matter, but also to separate the denser
minerals from the lighter with a considerable degree of precision. This is effected
by so regulating the force of the jets in the pipe E. by means of the cocks that
they shall first wash away the light waste matter, then the lighter mineral matter,
and lastly the heaviest mineral.
In order that each of the matters thus separated on the table A. may be delivered
and kept apart by itself, 1 arrange deflecting-plates P. P¹ in such a way that they
throw the minerals of different specific gravity into separate launders as they are
washed off the table A. These plates P. P, which may be of sheet iron or any
other suitable material, are portions of annular plates, and are so placed that their
inner edges are just below and extend a short distance under the edge of the
table A. The plate P. is little wider than the inner launder, H, and its outer edge.
projects slightly over the launder H', so any material that is washed off the table A
on to the deflecting-plate P. will be carried over the waste launder H. and be
deposited in the launder H by itself. In the same way the plate P is made wide
enough to extend across the launders H. and H' and and to discharge all matter
washed onto it into the outer launder H. These deflectors (of which there are
two, P. P shown in the drawings) may be so made in sections, one section sliding
under the other in the direction of their length, that they may be made to include
a greater or less drainage surface of the table A, thus adapting them to different
grades of ores and conditions of working.
If it is desired, the arms O. 0. may be made hollow and provided with jets like

page_text: the pipe E, and, being also connected with the hollow shaft C, can be used to assist
in washing off the cleaned ore. Brushes may also be attached to the arms O. O. to
assist in clearing the table A. of the concentrated ore.
If the machine is to be used for concentrating slimes containing but one mineral,
or when it is only desired to free a mixture of different minerals from the waste
matter, only a single adjustable deflecting-plate, as P', is required, and the outer
launder, H may be dispensed with. On the other hand, it may be desirable to
effect a number of separations, when two or more adjustable deflecting-plates may
be used with a corresponding number of launders.
By the use of the apparatus just described, the process of concentrating slimes
or other fine ores becomes a continuous one, and by varying the amount of the
shake given to the table A, the proper regulation of the water jets of the pipe E.
and the adjusting of the deflectors P. P slimes of different grades and those con-
taining mixtures of several minerals may be rapidly and easily cleaned of all waste
matter and separated.
In the belt form of the machine shown at Figures 3. 4. and 5. the endless belt a
is supported on inclined rollers c. c. and d. d. carried in a shaking frame b. which
rests on toggles or rocking legs f. Below the shaking frame the belt passes
round the hanging drums y. which dip the belt into water in the tank i. for a final
washing off the heaviest clinging mineral. From the water tank the belt is raised
by passing over the tightner rollers . which by adjustment of the bearings can be
made to tighten and also guide the belt in its travel. The belt is made to revolve
slowly in the direction of the arrows, by a pulley on the end roller or other flexible
connection as may be convenient. The whole belt with its supporting frame is
given a rapid oscillating motion in the direction of its length by the crank shaft j.
and cranksk. The apron n. extends from beneath the lower edge of the belt a. to
the discharge launder p. This launder p. is divided into two or more dis-
charges r. s. t. by openings in the bottom and stops behind the same. On the
apron n. are fixed two or more adjustable guides or gates o. which are pivoted in
the lower end, and by placing to one or the other side determine the discharge of a
greater or less width of the belt through the respective openings at r. s. t.
e. e. are friction rollers to keep the shaking frame in position. 7. is the feed-
launder by which the crushed ore suspended in a current of water is discharged
onto the upper edge of the belt near one end. m. is a water pipe with adjustable
jets or discharges for washing with varying streams of water the belt as it slowly
revolves past.
►
From the inclination of the belt towards the discharge launder p. it is evident
that the liquid discharge of L. and the water from m. will flow off at the lower end
and discharge through the three openings r. s. t. The action of the machine is as
follows: The pulp discharged on the belt flows through the gradual incline of the
latter towards the discharge edge, being subject at the same time to the rapid
shaking motion which settles the heaviest and more valuable particles of mineral
onto the belt and allows the lighter or waste rock to flow down in the moving
current of water, dropping off the edge of the belt and causing the waste discharge
or tailings through the opening r The heavier portions of the ore which resist the
first flow of the water are carried along in the direction of the arrow by the belt
and submitted to the successive and increasingly strong water currents discharged
from the pipe m. and in this way the material discharged onto the portion of the
belt flowing through the openings. will be of a different class to that which was
more easily washed off through the opening r. while the heaviest portions can be
wholly discharged from the belt by a very strong stream of water so as to discharge
at the point t. Or another class may be produced by limiting the amount of water
used froin m. leaving still a portion of the heaviest mineral attached to the belt
and carried by its revolution round the end roller c, and finally washed off in the
water tank through which the belt travels in an inverted position, which with
the shaking motion is favourable to a complete washing off of all attached mineral.

page_text: It will be seen from the above arrangement that the action of the machine is
entirely under the control of the operator by means of the adjustable gates or
buttons o. and the regulated water supply at different portions of the belt from m.
The great advantage of the machine consists in the fact that while allowing of
the production of different classes of mineral from the same ore-as for example the
separation of galena and zinc blende from the waste rock containing them-it has
also the advantages of the single class concentrators which are inclined in the
direction of their length. A great improvement consists in the application of the
shaking motion by which not only is the side inclination of the belt gradually
reduced, but the quantity of wash water required to make a good separation of the
different classes is greatly diminished. These two advantages carry the equally
important one of a great diminution in the loss of very fine mineral which is one of
the drawbacks to the employment of the plain side-inclined belt or the ordinary
round buddle.
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:-
1. A convex or concave table concentrator with means for applying a shaking
motion to the surface of the same substantially as described.
2. A side-inclined belt concentrator with means for applying a shaking motion
substantially as described.
3. In a concentrator the combination of a shaking motion with an inclined
moving surface so arranged that the material flowing onto the same shall be
alternately exposed to regulated currents of water for the purpose of separating or
cleaning the same and of dividing it into several distinct classes.
4. A concentrator having an inclined surface and a shaking motion mechanism
substantially as described for exposing every portion of the surface alternately first
to the flow of the material to be treated and thereafter to regulated currents of
wash water for separating the different classes according to their density, and for a
final total cleansing of the surface in readiness for renewed charge of ore or pulp.
Dated this 28th day of February 1891.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Applicant's Agent.