Improvements in Ore Concentrators.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ore Concentrators.
I, FRANK LLOYD ROUDEBUSH, of 32, Old Jewry, London, Promoter, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in concentrators; and it consists of the
features, arrangements, and combinations hereinafter described and claimed, all
of which will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which
Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of the machine.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a front end view of the apparatus.
Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line" aa," Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line "yy," Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 illustrates the rotary elevator or bucket wheel.
Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line "zz," Fig. 6.
Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken through the apparatus.
Fig. 9 is a side elevation illustrating the means for regulating the transverse
inclination of the table.
Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line "yy," Fig. 9.
Fig. 11 illustrates the roller-support for the table and trough.
Fig. 12 is a plan view of the table.
Fig. 13 is a cross-section of the same.
Fig. 14 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken through the central portion
of the feed-trough.
Fig. 15 is a cross-section of the same.
Fig. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of the table, illustrating the tapering
strip on the lower edge thereof.
Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts in the views, let
the numeral 5 designate a suitable stationary supporting-frame upon which is
mounted the transversely-inclined table 6, having a longitudinally-tapering strip 7
attached to the upper surface of its lower margin. The bottom of the table rests
upon small wheels or rollers, 8, which engage the supporting-frame and form an
antifrictional support for the table as the latter reciprocates. These rollers have
a large opening 8°, through which passes a small pin 8ª, fast in supports 8;
secured to the transverse piece 8.
Above the upper margin of the table is located a stationary feed-trough 9,
supported by arms 19, secured to the base 5. This trough is divided by suitable
transverse partitions into four compartments 9ª, 90, 9d, and 9. The ore to be
treated is first discharged into the compartment 9* of this trough and passes thence
through suitable openings to the upper front corner of the table. The pure water
necessary in the treatment of the ore is discharged into the central compartment 9,
and passes thence through the openings controlled by suitable valves 9h, to the
D
077

page_text: compartments on opposite sides. The compartments 9° and 9d are also provided
with perforations to allow the pure water to escape to the table.
To the lower surface of the upper ends of transverse pieces 8, engaging the
table, are secured a number of blocks 12, having inclined lower faces engaging
the inclined faces of nuts 13, mounted on a screw-shaft 14, journalled on the
stationary supporting-frame in such a manner that while it is allowed to rotate
freely it is locked against longitudinal movement. The table is supported on
rollers 8, attached to the upper surface of the cross-pieces 8. To one extremity
of this screw-shaft is attached a hand-wheel 14. Hence as the threaded shaft
is operated the nuts are made to travel in either direction, according as it is
necessary to increase or diminish the table's inclination. These nuts are main-
tained in position by guides 14°. Below the lower edge of the table is located
a movable trough 15, mounted on rollers 8ª, engaging stationary supporting-
brackets 8. The lower part of the table is provided with apertures 6, extending
about half the distance from the head toward the foot or tail of the table. These
apertures are to allow the pulp or water containing the float or fine mineral to
pass through into the trough 15, through whose instrumentality it is carried back-
ward and discharged by way of a chute 15* into a rotating wheel 47, containing
buckets 47, which carry the said material upward and discharge it into a stationary
box 18, from which it passes by way of a suitable conduit 19 into the feed-trough 9,
whence it is returned to the table for re-treatment. The box 18 is held in place
by a suitable support 18%, secured to the framework 5. A slot or elongated open-
ing is cut in this part 18", through which the chute 15 projects. This elongated
opening is necessary to permit the reciprocation of the trough.
To the head of the table is attached a bar 20, connected by means of links 21
with a rocking lever 22, having a stationary fulcrum 23. The links and lever
form in effect a toggle for imparting reciprocating movement to the table. The
support 24 for the fulcrum 23 straddles the bar 20, which is allowed to move freely.
The bar 20 is provided with a stop 25, secured to its outer extremity and
engaging a spring 26, whose outer end engages a sort of cap 27, through which
pass two tension-rods 27, whose inner extremities are made fast to the stationary
guide 27°. Suitable nuts are applied to the outer extremity of the rods and
engage the cap 27. The tension of the spring 26 is regulated by adjusting the
nuts. The extremities of the links 21 are formed into half-bearings 21, engaging
pins attached to the lever 22 and the bar 20, respectively. Links of this con-
struction are made practicable by employing the spring 26, which prevents or
takes up all lost motion, compensates for the wear of the parts, and maintains
the elements in operative relation. This mechanism gives a smooth or practically
noiseless reciprocation to the table, as contradistinguished from the jar or con-
cussion incident to the operation of the ordinary bumping-table. Moreover, the
links with the half-bearings are a great convenience in assembling the parts of the
machine.
'
The toggle is operated by means of a connecting-rod 28 leading from a crank 29"
of the motor shaft 29, said rod being attached to the lever 22 by means of a bear-
ing 28, adapted to move in a slot 22, formed in the lever. This movable bearing
is held in place by a nut 28°. By adjusting this bearing the stroke of the table
may be regulated at will. The shaft 29 is journalled in a suitable supporting-
frame comprising two standards 30, secured to the stationary frame of the
machine. This shaft carries a fly-wheel 31 and a pulley 32. The latter may be
connected with any suitable power for operating the machine. A loose pulley 33
is also mounted on the motor-shaft adjacent the pulley 32 for the usual purpose.
The trough 15 is operated through the instrumentality of a lever 34, fulcrumed on
the frame at 35. The extremeties of this lever are provided with half-bearings 34",
engaging wrists attached to the bar 20 and the trough 15 respectively.
Attached to a depending lug 36 on the forward extremity of the trough is a
rod 37, carrying a stop 38, engaging one extremity of a spring 39, whose opposite
extremity engages a cap 40, through which the rod 37 passes. To the outer

page_text: extremity of this rod is applied a tension-nut 40%, which engages said cap. The
lever 34, having the half-bearings, is maintained in operative relation with the
other parts through the instrumentality of the two springs 20 and 39, which
also take up lost motion and cause the trough to reciprocate without jar or con-
cussion. As the shaft 29 is rotated, the table 6 and the trough 15 are simul-
taneously reciprocated through the medium of the mechanism heretofore described.
It will be observed, however, that as the table moves in one direction the trough
moves in the opposite direction, and vice versa.
The elevator-wheel 47 is mounted on a shaft 41, journalled in a suitable stationary
support 42. Motion is communicated to the shaft 41 from a shaft 43 by means
of a belt 45 engaging pulleys on the respective shafts. The shaft 43 is connected
with the shaft 29 by means of a belt 44, leading from the shaft 39 to a pulley on
the shaft 43.
It will be observed from the construction already described that the table 6 is
moving fastest when it reaches its forward limit of movement. Hence it stops.
suddenly and gives the ore thereon a forward impetus, causing it to travel toward
the tail of the table. As the table moves forward the trough 15 moves backward
with practically the same speed, since the lever 34 is centrally fulcrumed. Hence
the trough is moving fastest when it reaches its backward limit of movement, and
the sudden stop causes the ore in the trough to travel towards the bucket-wheel.
In the operation of the machine the material is fed in the form of pulp into
the compartment 9" of the feed-trough and passes thence through the apertures
therein to the upper left-hand corner 6 of the head of the table. (See Fig. 8).
This corner of the table is less inclined than the body thereof, whereby there is
a tendency on the part of the ore to accumulate at this end. The water and the
lighter mineral particles pass transversely downward and reach the lower edge
of the table, occupying a triangular space of considerable area at the lower right-
hand corner of the table. (See Fig. 8.) This pulp, containing the light or float
mineral, would naturally be dammed up by the ore in front of it and would have a
tendency to pass over the strip 7 and escape with the gangue. Hence I have
provided the table with apertures 6d to allow this finer mineral to pass to the
trough 15 and return thence to the feed trough through the instrumentality of
the chute 15, the bucket-wheel 47, and the conduit 19. This process of retreat-
ment prevents the escape of the fine mineral.
The body of the ore takes a position forward of an imaginary line occupying
a position opposite the right angle of the area occupied by the thin pulp or water
containing the finer mineral, as heretofore described. The gangue is simul-
taneously carried forward longitudinally and downward transversely and is dis-
charged over the inclined flange 68, attached to the lower edge of the table and
projecting over the trough 15. The flange 6 does not extend quite to the tail
end of the table for the reason that the gangue, which leaves the table near this end,
contains some mineral. This material I term "middlings." It passes into the
trough 15 and is returned to the feed-trough for re-treatment in the same manner
as the finer mineral, which passes through holes in the table, as heretofore ex-
plained. Hence the gangue is discharged from the lower edge of the table over
the narrow strip 7, the middlings or gangue containing some mineral passes into
the rear end of the return-trough or the end near the tail of the table, while the
mineral or concentrates pass over the tail end of the table or the extremities to
the right, referring to Figs. 1 and 2.
As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the table consists of longitudinal slats or pieces 6,
secured to transverse pieces 68 by suitable fastening devices. The pieces 68
are widest at the centre and taper toward their outer extremities. They are braced
by pieces 6, set edgewise and engaging their central portions. The parts 6, 68,
and 6 are composed of wood. The slats 6 are separated by narrow-spaces to allow
These slats are covered with
for swelling or expansion when the table is wet.
heavy linoleum 6, whose outer edge is secured by suitable fastening devices.

page_text: This construction is light, durable, and efficient and not nearly as expensive as it
would be if the table were composed of metal.
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 combination with a suitable frame, of a transversely-inclined table movably
mounted thereon and having apertures in its lower edge, a narrow tapering strip
attached to the table below said apertures, a trough located below the lower edge
of the table and adapted to catch the material which passes through said apertures,
an inclined flange attached to the lower edge of the table over which the gangue
passes, said flange extending nearly to the tail of the table, the unflanged part
of which allows the material to pass into the trough, a toggle mechanism for impart-
ing a reciprocating movement to the table, and a lever connection between the
table and a trough for actuating the latter, the arrangement being such that
when the table is moving in one direction, the trough is moving in the opposite
direction, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 30th dovr of Antahan 1007