IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE CRUSHING AND TREATMENT OF ORES
Year: 1862

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles de Bergue at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th October
1862.
I, CHARLES DE BERGUE, of Strangeways Works, Manchester, Engineer,
do hereby declare, the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR THE CRUSHING AND TREATMENT OF ORES," to be as follows:-
In reference to the crushing of ores, my improvements embrace apparatus
for employing direct pressure of steam or air to the stampers of stamping mills,
so as to increase the force of a blow, and also to reduce or regulate it as desired,
and for concentrating or collecting and presenting the materials to be crushed
to the proper action of the stampers.
Also apparatus for crushing and grinding the materials between rolls ar
rollers in pairs, the surface of one roll being caused to revolve at a speed
differing from that of the other by suitable gearing for effecting the relative
speeds.
In reference to the treatment of ores, my improvements embrace apparatus
for the separation of the lighter from the heavier portions of ores already
crushed and pulverized, or ready and prepared for such treatment, by dropping
them suddenly from the top of a tank or vessel filled with water or other liquid,
and further by so effecting the sudden dropping or release of the crushed or
prepared ore, as to cause the simultaneous or nearly simultaneous discharge of
the whole of the quantity to be dropped at each such dropping, the intention
being that the falling of the particles of the pulverized ore being to a great

page_text: extent retarded by the liquid, and this effect taking place relatively more in
respect of the lighter portions than the heavier portions, the latter may first
reach the bottom of the tank or vessel, the others following them; and the
result being the deposition of the several portions in layers according to their
relative specific gravities, and the consequently easy separation or removal of
one layer from another.
To facilitate the removal I purpose constructing the tank or vessel of a series
of pieces that may be built or fitted one upon the other, and be readily removed
from each other, and with valves or doors, which may be opened and closed as
desired; and to give depth to the layers deposited, I purpose constructing the
tank or vessel of a conical or tapering form, or with reduced area towards the
lower end or base, thereby concentrating the falling materials, as the several
portions thereof are successively deposited.
To effect the sudden and simultaneous release of the materials, I purpose
employing at or near the top of the tank or vessel, a tray or feeder for con-
taining pulverized or prepared ore, and furnished with a number of hinged
blades or plates to constitute the bottom, so that if these be quickly turned a
series of openings may be presented, and a simultaneous or nearly simultaneous
discharge may be caused to take place from the entire surface of the bottom
of the tray or feeder. Or, instead of this arrangement, any other convenient
arrangement of flaps, valves, or openings may be substituted.
The improvements also embrace the effecting the separation by apparatus
for dropping the pulverized or prepared ores into and through a horizontal or
inclined current of water or other liquid, and furnished with a series of separate
receptacles at the bottom, into which, according to specific gravity, the lighter
portions will be carried to the further, and the heaviest to the nearer ones; and
I purpose providing these receptacles with arrangements for withdrawing their
contents into suitable vessels, and with slides or doors at different heights for
discharging the contents.