IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR SEPARATING FROM EARTH AND STONES, AND FOR WASHING, GOLD OR OTHER METALS AND PRECIOUS STONES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Clayton Mewburn, of 169, Fleet Street, in the
City of London, Patent Agent and Consulting Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR SEPARATING FROM EARTH AND STONES,
AND FOR WASHING, GOLD OR OTHER METALS AND PRECIOUS STONES."
communication from abroad by John Wetson, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
A
Sealed the 15th July 1879, and dated the 21st January 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Clayton Mewburn at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st January 1879.
JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of 169, Fleet Street, in the City of London,
Patent Agent and Consulting Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR
SEPARATING FROM EARTH AND STONES, AND FOR WASHING, GOLD OR OTHER
METALS AND PRECIOUS STONES." [A communication from abroad by John Wetson,
of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.]
The improved machine which forms the subject of the present Invention consists
in part of a hollow cone, having the wide end upwards, and made to oscillato in
bearings. Within the cone is a revolving vertical shaft which carries radial arms
or agitators. Earth or soil is thrown into the cone, and by means of pumps or
otherwise water is supplied to moisten the earth or soil while being sifted in the
cone. The metals or precious stones being the heaviest substances make their way
to the bottom or neck of the cone, and they are from thence admitted by a cock or
valve ito a drawer below. Revolving with the shaft, but quite below the cone, is
a tray, and by opening a door in the side of the cone small stones fall into the tray,
and those which are of value are selected as the tray goes round.
The cone, which may be several feet in diameter and depth, can be made in
segments, bolted or otherwise secured together so as to make the whole water
tight.
Trunnions are fixed to the top end of the cone to enable it to vibrate, and the
trunnions rest in bearings secured to the framework of the machine.
The bottom of the cone consists of a casting having a central hole with a stuffing
box, through which the vertical shaft passes. The bottom of the upper or conical
part of this casting dips down about two inches towards one side, where there is a
valve or cock. The cock or valve admits the gold and precious stones into a drawer

page_text: below, which is secured by a lock and key; this drawer is of horse-shoe form in
plan, so that upon being shut it will pass the shaft on each side.
Immediately above the last named casting, and nearly all round the circum-
ference, there are a number of small holes through the cone which conduct the
water into an outer cone; the water rises therein, and is carried off into a trough
by a pipe attached to a nozzle near the top of the outer cone. Any gold or precious
stones are by this cone prevented from escaping, as they will not rise with the
water, and if any pass into this outer cone they return again through the small
holes upon the subsiding of the water. The outer cone is close up and attached
to the inner one at the lower end, but stands about 2 inches away from it at the
upper end; it does not quite encircle the inner cone, but at its ends it is joined
thereto. In the portion of the inner cone, thus not enclosed by the outer one, there
is a small door, and above this door, but higher up in the main cone, there is
another door of larger size; both doors are hinged, and are designed to be easily
opened.
There are say seven pairs of radial arms or agitators, but the number may be
varied. They are fixed upon the vertical shaft in halves, and each of theso 14
radial arms is set at an angle of about 60° from the vertical, and extends nearly to
the plates of the conc. Each arm has the twist in the opposite direction to the one
above or below it so as to neutralize any end strain on the shaft and ease the
bearings.
Level with the bottom of the upper door already named there is a perforated
circular plate or sifter which rests on the inner circumference of the conc, and upon
a collar on the shaft, and is made in halves.
At the bottom of the vertical shaft, and carried by arms attached thereto, thero
is a circular tray having a rim around its outer edge and around the shaft, and in
the outer rim there is a sliding door to carry off the water. This tray receives
small stones and precious metal that are extracted upon opening the small door of
the inner cone.
The cone is carried by means of its trunnions upon a frame or entablature; this
frame may be of any suitable material; it may, for example, be made of angle iron,
and supported by wrought hollow columns, say two main or centro columns and four
corner ones, and all these columns may rest on piles. The piles are set out and
screwed down at any place where it is proposed to treat the soil containing the
gold and diamonds, and liners of wood are interposed between the top of the 2
main piles and the bases of their columns so as to form a level surface to receivo
those two columns. The other four, or corner columns, dropover the heads of their
piles, and are jammed thereto by set screws passing through the base ring of the
columns. Each of the four sides of the machine is steadied also by adjustable
diagonal stays.
The trunnions may consist of two iron forgings bolted by a wide palm to the
top rim of the cone. They are stayed by two plato iron cross beams, which are
themselves also stayed to the rim of the cone by stays. These cross beams serve
to carry the top central bracket or bearing for the agitator shaft, which they thus
also carry by means of a collar at the top of the shaft. The said cross beams also
carry a bracket for a bevil pinion on a top horizontal shaft, and a bracket or bearing
for a bevel wheel at the outer end of the same shaft, this pinion and wheel being
for driving the agitator shaft. The cross beams are stayed to the cone.
The top horizontal shaft is passed through one of the trunnions of the cone, and
is thus concentric with the centre of the cone's vibration; by this means the circular
motion is easily imparted to the agitator shaft although the cone has a vibrating
motion. The top horizontal shaft does not fit in the trunnion; the eye in the latter
is bored considerably larger than the said shaft, thus giving clearance in the eye, so
that the wear of the trunnion and that of the bearing may be independently taken
up. The combination of notions may, however, be obtained in any other convenient
way.
The motive power may be that of animals. A horse gin gives motion to a

page_text: horizontal shaft which couples up to the machine proper. A short shaft extends
from the coupling to a spur wheel, and this end of the shaft is carried on one of the
main columns by a bearing. Another bearing of the same shaft is supported upon
a pile, and the cap of this bearing is carried upwards and supports the tail end of
an upper pump shaft. A pair of bevil wheels transmit the driving power for the
cone to a shaft which is nearly vertical, and at the top of this last named shaft are
the bevil wheels for driving the top horizontal shaft before described. The bearings
for the nearly vertical shaft are supported upon one of the main columns, and are
stayed to one of the corner columns.
The spur wheel before mentioned gears into another of the same size, above it,
which is keyed upon the upper pump shaft. Each of these wheels has a crank pin,
and by these the two pumps are worked which supply water to the contents of the
cone, and for the purpose of washing down the hills. The pumps required by the
machine may be of any suitablo kind, and may be fixed and worked as may be
thought best. They may, for instance, be made horizontal, double acting, and have
independent suctions and discharges. One pump may deliver to the cone, and one
to the hills. The pumps may be carried upon frames made of angle iron and
secured to the columns of the machine. The spur wheels before described are geared
and marked when erected in such a way that one pump will be at half stroke when
the other is on dead centre, and so continuously as the wheels revolve; there is also
an air vessel in each discharge, this secures a uniform resistance to the driving
power. The suction and discharge water may be conducted by leather hose pipes,
that for washing down the hills having a tapered nozzle end for the purpose.
The vibration of the cone is effected in the following way:-A pulley upon the
pump shaft drives by a belt another pulley keyed upon a side shaft which is carried
by two of the corner columns. An eccentric, variable in throw, is fixed upon the
side shaft, and by means of its rod takes hold of the bottom of the cone.
eccentric thus gives an oscillating motion to the cone, ranging from inch to about
three inches.
The
The machine can be furnished with an inclined or other approved carrier for
taking the soil or material up and throwing it into the cone, such addition would
be made by simple mechanical means.
The machine is of light construction, and easily separable into its several parts
for transport on the backs of animals.
Another machine constructed according to this Invention consists like that
already described of a hollow cone having the wide end upwards; to the base of this
cone peculiar motions as hereinafter described are imparted.
Within the cono
there is also a revolving shaft carrying arms or agitators. The earth or soil and
stones are thrown into the cone, and water is also sent in by means of pumps or
otherwise. The metals or precious stones make their way down to the neck of the
cone and are there received into a drawer or otherwise, from which they are
extracted when required.
The framework of the machine may be supported on piles or in any other
suitable way.
The cone may be of any convenient size, say, for example, 15 feet diameter. It
can be constructed in segments bolted or otherwise fastened together so as to be
water tight. Upon the centre of the cone and underneath it there is a pivot or
foot made partly globular, and fitting into a bush or footstep which rests in a recess
formed in a bevil wheel; this recess is eccentric with the centre of the wheel, so
that when the latter revolves the base of the cone is carried round in a small circle
corresponding to the eccentricity of the footstep. A beam is secured to the top of
the cone and stretches across it, and is stayed by side stays. Upon the top of this
beam a hollow bracket is bolted, which forms the centre of motion of the upper part
of the cone.
The bearing part of this bracket is made of spherical form and works
in a bush which is confined within a chamber formed upon the lower end of a
central main bracket firmly bolted to the fixed upper frame of the machine. The
bush aforesaid is at liberty to slide vertically in the chamber of the main bracket

page_text: so as to allow the cone to wear downwards upon the footstep in the bevil wheel,
and so as to admit of the tightening up, or lining up, or adjusting of the said foot-
step by means of an adjusting cotter which supports the footstep. Thus it may be
seen that the cone is prepared to move in any direction at the base, which, however,
in its motion always describes a portion of a sphere whose centre is the upper
globular bush already named in the central main bracket.
This bracket is carried by strong cross beams which are supported at the ends
upon columns, and these beams are stayed to the other columns of the framing.
The upper framing of the machine may be stayed to the ground or lower frame-
work so as to secure stiffness and prevent vibration. A system of arms or stirrers
is built upon the spindle which revolves within the cone, and which is always con-
centric thereto, whatever position the cone may assume. The said concentric
condition is effected by the spindle having at its upper end the universal joint
which is concentric with tho hollow globe that works within the bush in the
bracket. The lower end of the spindle rests in a footstep which is secured to the
cone. Motion is imparted to the stirrers by means of a vertical shaft working
within the upper part of the central main bracket, and having at its lower end a
universal joint connexion. The last named shaft is driven by bevil wheels and a
horizontal shaft. Another pair of bevil wheels transmits the motion of a side shaft
to the said horizontal shaft.
The interior of the cone may have a perforated plate if necessary, so as to prevent
the coarser materials getting down to the bottom.
The bottom of the cone has the drawer and valve and other arrangements
similar to those in the machine previously described, but the circular tray is omitted
in this machine, and a guard is provided to direct any water (that may escape)
upon opening the drawer into a gutter. The lower part of the cone has small
holes, and there is an outer cone so as to carry off the water, as in the machine
first described. A spout conveys the water into a canal. At one side of the cone
there are two doors made watertight in any suitable way, and designed to be easily
opened and closed. One door is for removing the contents of the upper part of the
cone, and the other for extracting the finer stones and mud that have passed the
sifter; this last door is furnished with a spout or shoot so as to direct the dirt away
from the machinery below. A number of small doorways may be inserted in the
base of the outer cone, so as to obtain the particles of precious substances which
may have lodged there.
In addition to the circular motion imparted to the foot of the cone, there is also
a pendulous one; this is produced by a connecting rod worked from a pin in a crank
disc on a horizontal shaft. The amount of this vibration can be altered as circum-
stances may require by moving the crank pin to any one of several eyes in the
disc, or the crank pin may be moved in and out from the centre by means of a
screw. It is thus seen that the base of the cone is continually moving in a circle
which is itself always being altered in position by going from side to side. The
mechanism for accomplishing these objects is as follows:-The bevil wheel which
has the footstep for the pivot of the cone is keyed upon a shaft which descends into
a trunk, which trunk forms part of a carriage. This carriage has four rollers which
roll upon the concave surface of part of a cylinder, whose centre is the globular
bearing aforesaid of the top bracket; thus the shaft of the bevel wheel always
radiates towards the said bearing. The bevil wheel is worked by a pinion which
is keyed on a shaft. This shaft moves radially on plan, and obtains its power from
a bevil wheel on the bottom of a side vertical shaft. The last named bevel wheel
is worked by a pinion upon a shaft which again is propelled by wheels from the
prime driving shaft of the machine. The shaft of the pinion which works the
bevel wheel carrying the footstep radiates around a centre which is immediately
below the centre of the side vertical shaft last named; the pedestal of the said
pinion shaft moves in, and are formed upon the base fraine. The cone end of the
said pinion shaft runs in a bearing which is carried, and forms part of a hollow
globe which grasps a spherical bearing attached to the top side of the carriage; the

page_text: said pinion shaft is thus free to vibrate, and also to move up and down at the cone
end so as to meet the requirement of the versed sino produced by the rolling of the
carriage upon an arc. The other end of the pinion shaft is at liberty to move up
and down to the small degree required by means of a short slot and block in its
pivot, whilst the bearing of its pedestal is made slightly curved to allow for the
small up and down motion of the shaft.
Since the length of the pinion shaft is constant from the centre or pivot to the
spherical bearing, the carriago moves on plan in a groove or slot, having a curve
suited to the requirement of that end of the pinion shaft, and the axes of the four
rollers of the carriage are kept always parallel with the axis of the cylindrical
surface on which they roll by means of two pinions which are keyed fast upon one
spindle which works in a projection of the carriage; these pinions gear into two
racks, and compel the carriage to always move according to the condition just
named, and when the carriage in its motion from end to end of its stroke moves in
the groove or slot, and thereby travels in a versed sine also, the pinions are free to
slide on the teeth of the rack by the amount of such versed sine. A slide block
fits the slot, and is carried upon the body of the trunk of the carriage. This block
is made in halves, and is bored out to fit the trunk which is turned in the lathe at
that part, and has a collar above and below the block.
To provide against any turning of the cone bodily which would be inconvenient
on account of the shoot and of the drawer at the bottom of the cono, there are two
or more chains fixed to the framing and taking hold of the cone.
The requisite water may be supplied by pumps of any convenient class, and
worked as may be desired. They may for example be driven by two eccentrics
keyed upon the driving shaft. These eccentrics work upwards on to levers from
which the pump rods descend. One of the pumps discharges its water by means of
a pipe into an annular pipe which rests on the top of the framework of the machino,
and from which by numerous holes around its inner surface, the water is directed
into the contents of the cone. The other pump is used to wash down the hills and
for any required purpose by means of its discharge pipe.
The soil and other substances may be conducted into the machine by a mechanical
carrier arranged in any suitable way, and such carrier may bo driven by a pitch
chain from one of the shafts of the machine.
I have stated that the surface upon which the rollers of the carriage roll is
concave. This surface may however be flat, and in this case the gearing and other
parts of the mechanism will require to be modified accordingly.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Clayton Mewburn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th July 1879.
JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of 169, Fleet Street, in the City of London,
Patent Agent and Consulting Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR
SEPARATING FROM EARTH AND STONES, AND FOR WASHING, GOLD OR OTHER
METALS AND PRECIOUS STONES." A communication from abroad by John Wetson,
of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The improved machine which forins the subject of the present Invention consists
in part of a hollow cone, having the wide end upwards, and made to oscillate in
bearings. It has within the cone a revolving shaft, which carries radial arms or
agitators. Earth or soil is thrown into the cone, and by means of pumps or other-
wise water is supplied to moisten the earth or soil while being sifted in the cone.
The metals or precious stones being the heaviest substances make their way to the
bottom or neck of the cone, and they are from thence admitted by a cock or valve
into a drawer below. Revolving with the shaft, but quite below the cone, is a tray,
and by opening a door in the side of the cone small stones fall into the tray, and
those which are of value are selected as the tray goes round.
In the annexed Drawings Figure is a sectional elevation, Figure 2 a side eleva-
tion, and Figure 3 a plan of one arrangement of machine constructed according to
this Invention.
The cone A, which may be several feet in diameter and depth, can be made in
segments bolted or otherwise secured together so as to make the whole water-
tight.
Trunnions M, N, are fixed to the top end of the cone to enable it to vibrate, and
the trunnions rest in bearings B, C, secured to the framework of the machine.
The bottom of the cone consists of a casting Q, having a central hole with a
stuffing box through which passes the vertical shaft D. The bottom of the upper
or conical part of this casting dips down about two inches towards one side, where
there is a valve or cock, not seen in the Drawing, being behind the shaft D (on the
sectional elevation). The cock or valve admits the gold and precious stones into
the drawer H below, which is secured by a lock and key. This drawer is of
horse-shoe form in plan, so that upon being shut it will pass the shaft on each
side.
Immediately above the last named casting Q, and nearly all round the circumference,
there are a number of small holes S through the cone, which conduct the water
into an outer cone T; the water rises therein, and is carried off into a trough by a
pipe attached to a nozzle N¹ near the top of the outer cone T. Any gold or precious
stones are by this cone prevented from escaping, as they will not rise with the
water, and if any pass into this outer cone they return again through the small
holes upon the subsiding of the water. The outer cone is close up and attached to
the inner one at the lower end, but stands about two inches away from it at the
upper end, as shewn. It does not quite encircle the inner cone, but at its ends it
is joined thereto. In the portion of the inner cone thus not enclosed by the outer
one there is a small door K, and higher up in the main cone there is another
door L of larger size. Both doors are hinged, and are designed to be easily
opened.
In the machine shewn there are seven pairs of radial arms or agitators E, but
the number may be varied. They are fixed upon the vertical shaft in halves, and
each of these 14 radial arms is set at an angle of about 60° from the vertical, and
extends nearly to the plates of the cone. Each arm has the twist in the opposite
direction to the one above or below it, so as to neutralize any end strain on the
shaft and ease the bearings.
Level with the bottom of the upper door L already named there is a perforated

page_text: circular plate or sifter U, which rests on the inner circumference of the cone, and
upon a collar on the shaft, and is made in halves.
At the bottom of the vertical shaft D and carried by arms attached thereto there
is a circular tray J, having a rim around its outer edge and around the shaft, and
in the outer rim there is a sliding door to carry off the water. This tray receives
small stones and precious metal that are extracted upon opening the door K.
The cone is carried by means of its trunnions M, N, upon the frame or entab-
lature P. This frame may be of any suitable material. In the machine illustrated
it is made of angle iron, and is supported by wrought hollow columns; the 2 main
or centre columns are seen at V, V, and the four corner ones at V, V+, V³, Vº.
All the columns are shewn to rest on piles W. The piles are set out and secured
down at any place where it is proposed to treat the soil containing the gold and
diamonds, and liners of wood are interposed between the top of the two main piles
and the bases of their columns, so as to form a level surface to receive those two
columns. The other, 4, or corner columns drop over the heads of their piles, and
are jammed thereto by set screws passing through the base ring of the columns.
Each of the four sides of the machine is steadied also by adjustable diagonal stays,
as shewn at X
The trunnions M, N, are two iron forgings bolted by a wide palm to the top rim
of the cone. They are stayed by two plate iron cross beams Y, which are them-
selves also stayed to the rim of the cone by four stays Z. These crossbeains Y servo
to carry the top central bracket or bearing a¹ for the agitator shaft, which shaft
they thus also carry by means of the collar Z' at the top of the shaft. The cross
beams Y also carry the bracket a³ for bevel pinion, and the bracket or bearing a³
for the outer end bevel wheel. The cross beams Y are stayed to the cone, as shewn,
at the bracket a³.
The top horizontal shaft at is passed through one of the trunnions M of the cone,
and is thus concentric with the centre of the cone's vibration. By this means the
circular motion is easily imparted to the agitator shaft D, although the cone has a
vibrating motion. The shaft at does not fit in the trunnion M; the eye in the
latter is bored considerably larger than the shaft at, thus giving clearance in the
eye so that the wear of the trunnion M. and that of the bearing a³ may be indepen-
dently taken up. The combination of motions may however be obtained in any
other convenient way.
The motive power shewn in the Drawing is that of animals. A horse gin a³ gives
motion to the horizontal shaft a, which couples up to the machine proper at a².
A short shaft as extends from the coupling to a spur wheel b', and this end of the
shaft is carried on one of the main columns by the bearing aº. The bearing b' is
supported upon a pile, and the cap of this bearing is carried upwards and supports
the tail end of the upper pump shaft b². A pair of bevel wheels b³ transmits the
driving power for the agitators E to the shaft b, which is nearly vertical, and at
the top of this last named shaft are the bevel wheels 65. The bearings for this shaft b⭑
are supported upon one of the main columns, and are stayed to one of the corner
columns, as shewn at 6° on plan.
The spur wheel 67 gears into another 68 of the same size above it, which is keyed
upon the shaft 63. Each of these wheels has a crank pin, and by these the two
pumps are worked, which supply water both to the contents of the cone, and for the
purpose of washing down the hills. The pumps required by the machine may be of
any suitable kind, and may be fixed and worked, as may be thought best. They
may for instance be made horizontal, double acting, and have independent suctions
and discharges. One pump may deliver to the cone and one to the hills. The
pumps b and c are shewn carried upon frames made of angle iron, and secured to
the columns of the machine. These frames are seen at c² and c³. The spur wheels
67 and 6s are geared and marked, when erected, in such a way that one pump will
be at half stroke when the other is on dead centre, and so continuously as the wheels
revolve. There is also an air vessel c, c³, in each discharge; this secures a uniform
resistance to the driving power. The suction and discharge water may be conducted

page_text: by leather hose pipes, that for washing down the hills having a tapered nozzle ond
for the purpose.
The vibration of the cone is effected in the following way:-A pulley c upon the
pump shaft 6 drives by a belt the pulley co, which is keyed upon the side shaft c³,
which is carried by two of the corner columns. An excentric co, variable in throw,
is fixed upon the shaft c, and by means of its rod takes hold of the bottom of the
cone at d. The excentric thus gives an oscillating motion to the cone, ranging
from inch to about 3 inches.
The machine can be furnished with an inclined or other approved carrier for
taking the soil, &c., up and throwing it into the cone. Such addition would be
made by simple mechanical means, and are not shewn upon the Drawing.
The machine is of light construction, and easily separablo into its several parts
for transport on the backs of animals.
Another machine, constructed according to this Invention, is represented in
Figures 4 to 7. Figure 4 is a general clevation, partly in section; Figure 5, an
external end view; Figure 6. a ground plan of the machine; and Figure 7, & ground
plan of the machinery underneath the cone.
This machine, like that already described, consists in part of a hollow cone having
the wide end upwards; to the base of this cone peculiar motions are imparted, as
hereinafter described. Within the cone there is also a revolving shaft carrying
arms or agitators. The soil, stones, &c., are thrown into the cone, and water is also
sent in by means of pumps or otherwise. The metals or precious stones make their
way down to the neck of the cone, and are there received into a drawer or other-
wise, from which they are extracted as required.
The framework of the machine may be supported on piles, or in any other
suitable way. In the Drawing it is shown to rest upon a framework of wood
beams A.
The coue B may be of any convenient size, say 15 feet diameter. It can be con-
structed in segments, bolted or otherwise fastened together so as to be watertight.
Upon the centre of the cone and underneath it there is a pivot or foot made partly
globular, and fitting into a bush or footstep which rests in a recess formed in the
bevil wheel C; this recess is excentric with the centre of the wheel, so that when
the latter revolves the base of the cono is carried round in a small circle corres-
ponding to the eccentricity of the footstep. A beam D is secured to the top of the
cone and stretches across it, and is stayed by the side stays E. Upon the top of
this beam there is a hollow bracket F bolted, which forms the centre of motion of
the upper part of the cone. The bearing part of this bracket is made of a spherical
form, as seen in the Drawing, and works in a bush which is confined within a
chamber formed upon the lower end of the central main bracket G; this bracket is
firmly bolted to tho fixed upper frame of the machine. The bush aforesaid is at
liberty to slide vertically in the chamber of the bracket G, so as to allow the cone
to wear downwards upon the footstep in the bevel wheel C, and so as to admit of
the tightening up or lining up or adjusting of the said footstep by means of the
adjusting cotter H which supports the footstep; thus it may be seen that the conc
is prepared to move in any direction at the base, which however in its motion
always describes a portion of a sphere whose centre is the upper globular bush
already named in the bracket G.
This bracket G is carried by the strong cross beams J, which are supported at
the ends upon columns, and these beams are stayed by the stays K to the other
columns of the framing. The upper framing of the machine is intended to be stayed
to the ground or lower framework so as to secure stiffness and prevent vibration;
such stays however are not shewn in the Drawing.
A system of arms or stirrers is built upon the shaft L, which revolves within the
cone, and which is always concentric therewith, whatever position the cono may
assume. The said concentric condition is effected by the shaft L having at its upper
end the universal joint, which is concentric with the hollow globe that works within
the bush in the bracket G. The lower end of the spindle L rests in the footstep M,

page_text: which is secured to the cone. Motion is imparted to the stirrers N by means of the
vertical shaft shewn at the top, and working within the upper part of the bracket G,
and having at its lower end the universal joint connection. The last named shaft
is driven by the bevel wheels O, O, and the shaft P. A pair of bevel wheels Q, Q,
transmits the motion of the side shaft R to the said horizontal shaft P.
The interior of the cone may have a perforated plate S, if necessary, so as to
prevent the coarser materials from getting down to the bottom.
The bottom of the cone has the drawer and valve and other arrangements similar
to those in the machine, shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and already specified, but the
circular tray is omitted in this machine, and a guard T is provided to direct any
water (that may escape) upon opening the drawer into a gutter, shewn at U. The
lower part of the cone has the small holes V and the outer cone W so as to carry off
the water, as in the machine first described. The spout X conveys the water into
a canal Y. At one side of the cone there are two doors, made watertight in any
suitable way, and designed to be easily opened and closed. One door is at Z for
removing the contents of the upper part of the cone, and the other is at A' and is
for extracting the finer stones, mud, &c., that have passed the sifter S; this last
door is furnished with a spout or shoot A* so as to direct the dirt away from the
machinery below. A number of small doorways may be inserted in the base of the
outer cone, as shewn at A³, so as to obtain the particles of precious substances which
may have lodged there.
In addition to the circular motion imparted to the foot of the cone there is also a
pendulous one, namely, from A to As, and back again; this is produced by the
connecting rod A° worked from the pin in the crank disc A7 of the shaft AB. The
amount of this vibration can be altered, as circumstances may require, by moving
the crank pin to any one of the eyes shewn in the disc A', or the crank pin may be
moved in and out from the centre by means of a scrow. It is thus seen that the
base of the cone is continually moving in a circle, which is itself always being
altered in position by going from side to side. The mechanism for accomplishing
these objects is as follows:-The bevel wheel C already named is keyed upon a
shaft which descends into a trunk A, which trunk forms part of the carriage B¹.
This carriage has four rollers, as shewn, which roll upon the concave surface of part
of a cylinder whose centre is the globular bearing aforesaid of the top bracket F;
thus the shaft of the wheel C always radiates towards the bearing F. The bevel
wheel C is worked by the pinion B which is keyed on the shaft B³. This shaft
moves radially on plan and obtains its power from the bevel wheel B' on the bottom
of the side shaft R. B³ is worked by the pinion Be upon the shaft B', which again
is propelled by the wheels Bs from the prime driving shaft A8 of the machine. The
shaft BS radiates around the centre C, which is immediately below the centre of the
vertical shaft R; the pedestal C³ moves in an arc formed upon the base frame C³.
The cone end of the shaft B' runs in a bearing which forms part of a hollow globe
that grasps the spherical bearing B' attached to the top side of the carriage B¹; the
shaft B is thus free to vibrate, and also to move up and down at the cone end so as
to meet the requirement of the versed sine produced by the rolling of the carriage B¹
upon an arc. The other end of the shaft B³ is at liberty to move up and down to
the small degree required by means of a short slot and block in the pivot C', whilst
the bearing of the pedestal C is made slightly curved to allow for the small
vibratory motion of the shaft. Since the length of the shaft B³ is constant from
the centre C to the spherical bearing B', the carriage B' moves on plan in a slot C*
having a curve suited to the requirement of that end of the shaft B, and the axes
of the four rollers of the carriage B' are kept always parallel with the axis of the
cylindrical surface on which they roll by means of two pinions C³ which are keyed
fast upon one spindle which works in a projection of the carriage; these pinions
gear into two racks, as shewn, and compel the carriage to always move according
to the condition just named; and when the carriage in its motion from end to end
of its stroke moves in the groove or slot C and thereby travels in a versed sine,
the pinions are also then free to slide on the teeth of the rack by the amount of

page_text: such versed sine. A slide block fits the slot C and is carried upon the body of the
trunk Aº of the carriage. This block, shewn at C7, is made in halves, and is bored
out to fit tho trunk, which is turned in the lathe at that part, and has a collar above
and below the block.
To provide against any turning of the cono bodily, which would be inconvenient
on account of the shoot A* and of the drawer at the bottom of the cone, there are
two or more chains fixed to the framing and taking hold of the cone, as shown,
Bee C8.
The requisite water is supplied by the pumps C. These may be of any con-
venient class and worked as may be desired. In the machine shown they are
driven by two eccentrics keyed upon the driving shaft A8. These eccentrics work
One of the pumps
upwards on to levers D¹, from which the pump rods D³ descend.
discharges its water by means of the pipe D³ into an annular pipe D*, which rests
on the top of the framework of the machine, and from which, by numerous holes
The
around its inner surface, the water is directed into the contents of the cone.
other pump is used to wash down the hills and for any required purpose, by means
of its discharge pipe, shewn at D³.
The soil and other substances may be conducted into the machine by a mechanical
carrier arranged in any suitable way. Such carrier is shown by the dotted lines at
Do, and is arranged to be driven by a pitch chain from the shaft P.
The machine derives its motion, as seen, from the shaft A8, which may be driven
by animals, or by water, steam, or other motive power.
I have stated that the surface upon which the rollers of the carriage B' roll is
concave. This surface may however be flat, and in this case the gearing and other
parts of the mechanism will require to be modified accordingly, as will be well
understood. And also, under such circumstances, the stirrers N would rise and fall
a little in the cone according to the position of the latter in its stroke or vibration,
because the cone would be further from the centre of oscillation when at the points A*
and A than when at its mid position, whereas the stirrers would remain at one
constant distance from the centre of vibration, that is to say, from the centre of the
globular bearing F. This slight up and down motion would produce a churning
action by the stirrers in addition to the other motions possessed by the machine.
And having now described the nature of tho said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as the "Improvements
in Machines for Separating from Earth and Stones, and for Washing, Gold or other
Metals and Precious Stones,"
First. The combination of the inner cone A. and the outer cone T, communicating
with each other by holes S, substantially as and for the purpose described with
reference to Figures 1 to 3.
Second. The drawer H, of horse-shoe form, below the cone A, to receive the gold
or precious stones when a cock or valve is opened, substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1 to 3.
Third. The tray J below the cone A to receive the gold or precious stones when
the door K is opened, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.
Fourth. The combination of the oscillating or vibrating motion of the cone A and
the rotary or circular motion of the agitator shaft D imparted thereto, substantially
as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.
Fifth. The combination or arrangement of parts, substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1 to 3, fortning an improved machine for separating from earth
and stones, and for washing gold or other metals and precious stones.
Sixth. The cone B (Figures 4 to 7) having the peculiar motions hereinbefore
described, the said motions being imparted thereto substantially as described with
reference to the Drawings.
Seventh. The particular arrangement by means of which the agitator shaft L
(Figures 4 to 7) is always kept concentric with the cone whatever position the cone
may assume, substantially as described with referenco to the Drawings.

page_text: Eighth. The mechanism for imparting a pendulous motion to the cone B (Figures
4 to 7), substantially as described with reference to the Drawings.
Ninth. The particular arrangement of mechanism by means of which, while the
cone is continually moving in a circle, such circle is itself always being altered in
position by going from side to side, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 4 to 7.
Tenth. The arrangement by which a churning action may be produced in the
cone in addition to the other motions, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 4 to 7.
Eleventh. The combination or arrangements of parts, substantially as described
with reference to Figures 4 to 7, forming an improved machine for separating from
earth and stones, and for washing, gold and precious stones.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Clayton Mewburn, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of July, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy nine.
J. C. MEWBURN. (L.S.)