Improvements in Hydro-centrifugal Apparatus for Washing, Amalga- mating, and Separating Metallic Ores, and for Washing and Separating other Bodies of Different Densities.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 16th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 17th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydro-centrifugal Apparatus for Washing, Amalga-
mating, and Separating Metallic Ores, and for Washing and
Separating other Bodies of Different Densities.
I, ERNEST BAZIN, of 32 Rue Guillaume-Tell, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in hydro-centrifugal apparatus for washing
auriferous earths and sands, for amalgamating the gold contained in quartz and
auriferous earths and sands, and for separating bodies of different densities generally
by centrifugal action under water by means of curved rotating pans which expel the
lighter sterile matters or gangue but reserve the heavier rich or concentrated
matters.
Figure 1 of the Drawings hereto annexed shows in vertical section one form of an
improved gold washer composed of a cylindrical tank a of sheet iron supported by
four legs a, and a curved pan c, usually of copper, furnished with a central spindle b
formed as a socket at its lower end and resting on a pivot placed at the bottom of
the tank. The spindle band pan c are rotated by means of a crank handle m fixed at
the upper end of the spindle. d d' are two paddles or stirrers secured on the lower
end of the socket of the spindle & which by their rotation collect the sand or other
sterile matter or gangue expelled from the pan e by centrifugal force, and which falls
to the bottom of the tank a, so as to conduct it to a funnel e furnished with a tap e¹
through which the water, sand and so forth can be drawn off into a spout f. g is a
suitably inclined and bent feeding appliance supported adjustably in a socket h fixed
to the side of the tank. This feeding appliance delivers the water and ore, or other
matter to be treated, on to the bottom of the rotating pan during the working of the
apparatus.
The above described feeding appliance is an important improvement in gold washing
apparatus because by delivering the matters to be treated under water and at the
bottom of the immersed pan c, the loss is avoided of the light flakes of gold which
escape to the sides of the tank a and fall to the bottom thereof without entering the
pan, when the matters to be treated are fed on to the surface of the water, especially
when the apparatus is in operation.
This method of feeding also allows of continuous working, and obviates the loss of
time occasioned by charging, and the frequent removal of the pan. The charges of
ore being fed in continuously the action of the apparatus is more regular and the
removals of the pan out of the water to collect the concentrated material are much
less frequent than in apparatus of the ordinary construction. Finally when the pán
is of iron and contains a bath of mercury the apparatus becomes an amalgamator, and
the pan does not require to be removed for the collection of the concentrate because
the centrifugal force projects the mercury against the sides of the pan and the sterile
material or gangue is alone expelled, whilst the gold is dissolved and retained in the
state of amalgam in the mercury.
An overflow orifice o is formed in the side of the tank a to allow the excess of
water to run off. Two rings k are secured to the tank a to facilitate transport, and
the socket of the central spindle has a hole formed at 62 to allow of the escape
of air.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of a gold washer constructed on the same principle
as that characterising the apparatus above described but arranged somewhat
differently.
The water and materials are delivered into a funnel n fixed to the upper end of a

page_text: tube B which conducts the materials to the bottom of the pan c, and at the same
time communicates rotary motion to the latter. This pan, which is furnished at its
central external part with a socket bon which are fixed two stirrers d d', rests on a
supporting foot or pivot b' fixed at the bottom of the tank a. At the bottom of the
pan c is secured a small square iron stem which is capped by a piece B' in the form
of a stirrup terminating the vertical hollow shaft B. A cross piece t fixed diametrically
across the tank a and furnished at its centre with a bearing, holds the hollow shaft B
vertical and at same time supports the feed spout g, the bevil gearing, two bearings jj,
a shaft and a fly wheel, that is to say the mechanical devices which transmit
rotary motion to the pan c.
The tank a is provided with an overflow orifice o and a drawing-off funnel e with a
tap e¹ to regulate the outflow of the gangue to the spout f.
Figure 3 is a section of an amalgamating apparatus with an iron pan c and
specially adapted for treating auriferous earths, sands and quartz containing gold in
the native state by amalgamation, that is to say the bath of mercury previously
placed at the bottom of the pan, is caused by the rotary motion of the latter, to rise
to a certain height up the sides thereof, and to retain and dissolve the gold, while the
gangue passes over the mercury and is expelled.
This apparatus only differs from the others in being too large for a gold washer,
and in having a special arrangement of funnel n which has fixed to its upper part a
solid shaft g held vertical by a bearing, and having keyed thereon a pinion i. This
amalgamating apparatus is fed by a mixing apparatus M which delivers the water and
materials to be treated to the spout g, whence they pass to the funnel n fixed on the
hollow shaft B, through which they descend to the bottom of the pan c.
The delivery of materials to the amalgamator is regulated by the tap of the
mixer m and the withdrawal of gangue therefrom by the outlet tap e¹ of the
amalgamator.
Figure 4 shows a section of a hydro-centrifugal separating apparatus for effecting
the separation of ores or other bodies of different densities by means of water
alone, and for delivering the gangue or lighter matters to a spout f, and the rich or
heavier matters to a spout s, a single pan c only being employed.
The pan has a rotary motion imparted to it by a solid central shaft 6 terminated at
hottom by a cross, the branches of which are fixed at points near the bottom of
the said pan. The water and other materials coming from the mixer are delivered
into a funnel n having a vertical pipe dipping into the pan but placed at the side
so that the matters to be treated are delivered near the side of the pan against which
they are projected by the centrifugal force whereby the separation of the heavy
bodies from the light is effected; the lighter bodies rise and are expelled over the
edge of the pan e to the bottom of the outer tank, where the paddles or stirrers d d
conduct them to the outlet funnel for the gangue or lighter matters, the rich or
heavier bodies fall to the bottom of the pan, which, being perforated in the middle,
allows them to pass away through the funnel s¹ to the spout s.
The perforated bottom of the separating pan is furnished with a socket or tube *
and a stirrup piece resting on a supporting foot placed on a crossbar, the
whole being surrounded, as shown, with a cylindrical part a intended to cut off
communication between the gangue or lighter matters and the rich or heavier
matters.
In the various apparatuses above described, it will be seen that the water and the
materials to be treated are mixed in all cases at a higher level than that of the tank a
which encloses the immersed pan c, by the rotation of which the separation is effected.
The feeding of the materials under water allows of utilizing the flow of the water
mixed with the materials to be treated for giving motion to the separating pan c.
For this purpose the feeding tube 9 (Figures 1 and 4 for example) would be arranged
to deliver the water and other materials in a direction dependent upon the form of
the pan, the hydraulic head, and the speed of rotation to be obtained. In the
apparatuses shown in Figures 2 and 3 a similar result can be obtained by suitably
arranging the devices for delivering the water and other materials to the pan c.

page_text: It will be seen that in the arrangements above described, and illustrated in the
Drawings, for imparting motion to the pan c, no stuffing boxes are required, as is the
case in apparatuses where the driving shaft is passed through the outer tank.
с T1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydro-centrifugal Apparatus for Washing, Amalga-
mating, and Separating Metallic Ores, and for Washing and
Separating other Bodies of Different Densities.
1, ERNEST BAZIN, of 32 Rue Guillaume-Tell, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying two sheets of
drawings and to the letters and Figures marked thereon that is to say :-
This invention relates to improvements in hydro-centrifugal apparatus for washing
auriferous earths and sands, for amalgamating the gold contained in quartz and
auriferous earths and sands, and for separating bodies of different densities generally,
by centrifugal action under water, by means of curved rotating pans which expel the
lighter sterile matters or gangue but reserve the heavier rich or concentrated
matters.
Figure 1 of the drawings hereto annexed shows in vertical section one form of an
improved gold washer composed of a cylindrical tank a of sheet iron supported by
four legs a, and a curved pan c. usually of copper, furnished with a central spindle b
formed as a tube or socket at its lower end and resting on a pivot fixed to the
bottom of the tank. The spindle band pan care rotated by means of a crank
bandle m fixed at the upper end of the spindle. d dare two paddles or stirrers
secured on the lower end of the tube or socket of the spindle b, which by their
rotation collect the sand or other sterile matter or gangue expelled from the pan c by
centrifugal force and which falls to the bottom of the tank a, so as to conduct it to a
funnel e furnished with a tap e' through which the water, sand, and so forth, can be
drawn off into an inclined spout f by which it is conducted to any desired point.
g is a suitably inclined feeding trough terminating in a bent tube for conducting the
This
water and ore, or other matter to be treated, to the bottom of the rotating pan.
delivering or feeding appliance is supported adjustably in a socket h fixed to the side
of the tank a.
By delivering the matters to be treated under water, and at the bottom of the
immersed pan c, the loss is avoided of the light flakes of gold which escape to the
sides of the tank a and fall to the bottom thereof without entering the rotating pan,
when the matters to be treated are fed on to the surface of the water.
This method of feeding allows of continuous working, and if the charge of ore and
water is properly fed to the trough g, the action of the apparatus is quite regular,
because the sand is treated at the bottom of the rotating pan, particle by particle and
not in masses. The collection of the rich matters or concentrates may be effected by
hand with a scraper, or by syphoning out the sand containing them. If the pan c,
the spindle and the lower end of the feeding appliance g are made of iron, and a
quantity of mercury is placed in the pan, the apparatus may be used as an amalga-
mator, the centrifugal force causing the mercury to spread over the sides of the pan
and the sterile material or gangue to be alone expelled by reason of its comparative
lightness, whilst the gold is dissolved and retained in the state of amalgam in the
mercury.
An overflow orifice o is formed in the side of the tank a to allow the excess of
water to run off. Water is admitted to the feeding trough g through a regulating

page_text: Figure 2 is a vertical section of a gold washer constructed on the same principle
as that characterising the apparatus above described but arranged somewhat
differently.
The water and materials are delivered into a funnel n fixed to the upper end of a
tube B which conducts the materials nearly to the bottom of the pan c, and at the
same time communicates rotary motion to the latter by means of a cross piece B¹
fixed to its sides. This rotary motion of the pan is effected by means of a horizontal
shaft and two bevil wheels i, one of which is fixed on the upper end of a short
shaft n² fixed to a cross piece n' of the funnel n.
P
As there is no obstruction at the bottom of the pan c, the concentrates are easily
collected. The tube B is fixed to the cross piece B' by bolts passing through a flanged
piece secured to the tube B so that the feeding tube B transmits rotary motion
direct to the pan c. The washer shown in Figure 2 is also furnished with collecting
paddles d d and, with a feeding appliance y conducting the materials to be treated,
and the necessary water, to the feed funnel n, from which it is conducted by tho.
tube and delivered under water into the pan c. A cross piece fixed diametrically
across the tank a carries the driving gear consisting of the horizontal shaft p carried
by the two bearings jj, the bevil wheels ii', the fly wheel and the crank handle m
as shown in the drawing. The charging of the materials into the apparatus and
the operation of the latter may be effected by hand.
The tank a is provided with an overflow orifice and a drawing off funnel e with
a tap el to regulate the out flow of the gangue to the spout fas described in reference
to Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of an amalgamating apparatus similar to the gold.
washer: shown in Figure 2 and differing only from it in being of larger dimensions,
in being fed from a mixing apparatus M, and in having the socket or tubular
bearing of the pan c extending up inside the latter to admit of a longer pivot
being used, thereby securing equilibrium of the amalgamating pan, when the mercury
rises to the top and spreads over the. interior sides of this pan, without increasing
the height of the tank for that purpose.
.
At the upper part of the pan is a flat vertical part which prevents the mercury
from rising higher.
1"
The mixing apparatus M is furnished with a vertical shaft carrying agitating or
stirring bars and a rake, the whole being put in motion by a horizontal shaft turning
in bearings fixed on a cross piece at the upper part of the mixer. By, these means
the water and materials to be treated are mixed thoroughly together, and are delivered
through a cock r into a funnel, whence they are transmitted by the pipe g to the
funnel which transmits them by the hollow conducting shaft B to the amalgamating
apparatus. When the cock on the mixer M, and the cock e¹ on the tank a, are,
properly regulated, the apparatus works continuously, expelling the gangue and
retaining the gold in the mercury.
Figure 4 shows a section of a hydro-centrifugal separating apparatus for effecting
the separation of ores, or other bodies of different densities, by means of water alone,.
and for delivering the gangue or lighter matters to a spout, and the rich or heavier
matters to another spouts, a single pan c only being employed.
The pan has a rotary motion imparted to it by a solid central shaft 6 terminated
at bottom by a cross piece, the branches of which are fixed at points near the bottom
of the said pan. The water and other materials coming from the mixer are delivered
into a funnel n having a vertical pipe dipping into the pan but placed at the side so.
that the matters to be treated are delivered near the wall of the pan and are projected
by the centrifugal force against such wall where the separation of the heavy bodies
from the light is effected. The lighter bodies rise and are expelled over the edge
of the pan c to the bottom of the outer tank, where the paddles or stirrers d d
conduct then to the outlet funnel e for the gangue or lighter matters; the rich or
heavier bodies fall to the bottom of the pan, which, being perforated in the middle,
allows them to pass away through the funnel and tap s¹ to the spout s.
The bottom of the separating pan is furnished with a perforated socket or

page_text: tube and a stirrup piece b³ resting on a supporting pivot 6 placed on a cross bar,
the whole being surrounded, as shown, with a cylindrical chamber intended to
receive the rich or heavier matters and to cut off communication between them and
the gangue or lighter matters deposited in the outer tank a.
In the various apparatuses above described it will be seen that the water and the
materials to be treated are mixed in all cases at a higher level than that of the tank a
which encloses the immersed pan c, by the rotation of which the separation is
effected. The feeding of the materials under water allows of utilizing the flow of the
water mixed with the materials to be treated, for giving motion to the separating
pan c. For this purpose the feeding tube g (Figures 1 and 4 for example) would be
arranged to deliver the water and other materials in a direction dependent upon the
form of the pan, the hydraulic head, and the speed of rotation to be obtained. In
the apparatuses shown in Figures 2 and 3 a similar result can be obtained by
suitably arranging the appliances for delivering the water and other materials to the
pan c.
It will be seen that in the arrangements above described, and illustrated in the
drawings, for imparting motion to the pan c, no stuffing boxes are required, as is the
case in apparatuses where the driving shaft is passed through the outer tank.
Similar letters of reference relate to like parts in all the Figures of the drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First In hydro-centrifugal apparatus for washing, amalgamating and seperating
metallic ores, and for washing and separating other bodies of different densities, the
improvement which consists in feeding or delivering the materials to be treated to
the lower part of the separating vessel, and below the surface of the water in which
such vessel is placed and operates substantially as herein before described, and illustrated
in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Second-The hydro-centrifugal washing, amalgamating or separating apparatus con-
sisting of an outer tank a containing water, an inner curved pan c rotating on a
pivot b', collecting paddles dd, a discharging funnel and tape e¹, and a feeding
trough and pipe g, all arranged, combined and operating substantially as heroinbefore
described, and illustrated in Figure 1 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
72
Third The hydro-centrifugal washing, amalgamating or separating apparatus
consisting of an outer tank a containing water, an inner curved pan rotating on a
pivot and having a hollow axis B and funnel a through which the material to be
treated is fed, a feeding trough and pipe g, collecting paddles dd, a discharging
funnel and tape e¹ and suitable driving gear, all arranged, combined and operating
substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in Figure 2 of the Drawings
hereto annexed.
Fourth The hydro-centrifugal washing, amalgamating or separating apparatus
consisting of an outer tank a containing water, an inner curved pan c rotating on a
pivot and having an outlet at its lower part for the escape therefrom of the
rich or heavier bodies into a chamber having a discharging funnel and tap & for
the withdrawal of such rich or heavier bodies, collecting paddles d d', and a dis-
charging funnel and tap e el to draw off the gangue or lighter matters, a feeding
trough and pipe g and suitable driving gear, all arranged, combined and operating
substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in Figure 4 of the Drawings
hereto annexed.
Fifth The combination of hydro-centrifugal washing, amalgamating or separating
apparatus forming the subject of the second, third and fourth claiming clauses hereof,
with a mixing apparatus M substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in
Figure 3 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Sixth-In hydro-centrifugal washing, amalgamating or separating apparatus of the
kind herein described, the use of a tubular bearing c extending upwards inside the

page_text: revolving pan c, as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in Figure 3 of the Drawings
hereto annexed, and for the purpose specified.
Seventh-In hydro-centrifugal washing, amalgamating or separating apparatus
causing the entering water and inaterials to impinge upon or to strike the sides of
the separating pan in such a direction as will impart the necessary rotary motion to
such pan, substantially as herein before described."
Dated this 10th day of April 1990.
W. H. Beck,
E. BAZIN.
Per G. E. Gunyon,
115, Cannon Street, London, Agent.