IMPROVEMENTS IN SEPARATING SUBSTANCES OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Julius Friedrich Philipp Ludwig Von Sparre, of
Eisleben, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SEPARATING SUBSTANCES OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIES,
Sealed the 17th November 1857, and dated the 19th May 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Julius Friedrich Philipp
Ludwig Von Sparre at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 19th May 1857.
I, JULIUS FRIEDRICH PHILIPP LUDWIG VON SPARRE, of Eisleben, in the
Kingdom of Prussia, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEPARATING SUBSTANCES OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC
GRAVITIES, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND APPARATUSES EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists of four machines or apparatuses for separating
substances, of different specific gravities, in all of which water is employed
either as a medium through which the said substances fall under the action of,
gravity, or as an agent for facilitating the motion of portions of the said sub-
stances along inclined surfaces.
The first machine or apparatus consists of a watercourse or channel
through which water is made to flow at a constant, or nearly constant level,
and with an uniform or nearly uniform velocity; and into which course or
channel a series of curved partitions rise to heights which are increased as the

page_text: distances of the partitions from the point at which the substances to be
separated are fed into the stream are increased. The partitions conduct the
respective portions of the said substances which are brought into contact with
them by the stream of water to chambers or receptacles below, or otherwise
situated, from which they may be removed by any suitable means. If the
substances fed into the apparatus at any given time are uniform, or nearly
uniform, in size, as will be the case if they are all taken from any one of a
series of sieves by which the said substances have previously been successively
sifted; then the portions obtained in any one of the aforesaid chambers or
receptacles will be of very nearly the same specific gravity. By increasing
the number of partitions and corresponding chambers, and suitably preparing
(by moistening with water or otherwise) the substances supplied to the
machine or apparatus, the uniformity of the specific gravities of the substances
obtained in any one compartment may be increased.
The second machine or apparatus mainly consists of the following parts,
arranged as hereafter described. An upright shaft or axle, driven by a belt
passing round a pulley upon it, or otherwise, carries an upright concentric
cylinder, around or partially around the outside of which are fitted a series of
horizontal planes of parallel breadth and at definite distances apart. These
planes are of different lengths (measured round the inner cylinder), and while
one series of their ends is situated in the same vertical plane, or nearly so, their
other ends fall in steps, the upper plane being the longest and the lengths of
the planes decreasing as they descend. Between the ends of these planes is a
casing concentric with the inner cylinder, and of the same radius as the
peripheries of the planes. The whole is contained in an outer casing, which
is filled or nearly filled with water. The substances to be separated are fed
in between the inner cylinder and the first concentric casing, after these have
been set in motion by the axis, and as they fall through the water with
velocities which vary with their specific gravities (if of uniform or nearly
uniform size), they are received upon one or other of the rotating planes,
along which they are carried outward by centrifugal action, and roll off into
one or other of several circular compartments, into which they are conducted
by inclined surfaces suitably arranged. These compartments may each be
furnished with an inclined bottom, down which the separated substances roll
to an exit orifice; or the substances may be removed from the compartments
by other means.
The third machine or apparatus consists chiefly of an inclined surface or
"sweeping table" connected at each end with a reservoir, with which it is
connected by a cylindrical axis, by means of which the angle at which it is

page_text: inclined may be increased or diminished at pleasure. The substances to be
separated are supplied to the table by means of a feeding spout and a receiving
plate within one of the reservoirs, the said substances being passed through a
slot in the axis which connects the table with that reservoir. Through this
slot is also supplied a stream of water from the same reservoir. Those por-
tions of the said substances which are most easily carried forward by the
stream of water are carried through a similar slot in the axis at the other end
of the table, and are deposited in the other reservoir; the remaining portions
are allowed by the withdrawal of a slide or valve in the table to fall into a
third receptacle adjacent to the last-mentioned reservoir. By suitably adjust-
ing the position of the outflow orifice of the second reservoir with respect to
the level of the water in the first reservoir, and by suitably regulating the
inclination of the table, the pressure and speed of the current, &c., may
be adapted to the different circumstances of the substances to be separated.
The fourth machine or apparatus mainly consists of the following parts,
arranged as hereafter described. A hollow pan or vessel, furnished with a
broad flange which is inclined upward and is straight in section, is carried
upon an upright shaft or axle driven by a strap and pulley or other suitable
contrivance. A second inclined flange, carried by a suitable sustaining plate
and beam, or otherwise, is arranged in such manner that the distance between
the two flanges may be regulated to suit the various degrees of coarseness or
fineness of the substances to be separated. Water is supplied by a pipe to
the pan or vessel, and the substances to be separated are fed in between the
two flanges, the pan with its lower flange being set in motion. By the action
of gravity the substances are affected with a downward tendency between the
two flanges, but by the centrifugal action of the water they are affected with
an upward tendency between the same, and the velocity of rotation, &c. are
so adjusted that the latter tendency shall overcome the former, and the sub-
stances are thus carried up over the lower flange, the lighter falling over first.
Concentric chambers or receptacles surround the pan, and a guide plate or
surface, which slides vertically and is sustained by balance weights, or other-
wise, diverts the overflowing substances into one or other of the said chambers
or receptacles. This sliding plate or surface is so operated that, when a certain
portion of the lighter of the substances to be separated. have been guided by
it into one chamber or receptacle, it is raised above or lowered below (as the
case may be) the flange of the pan or vessel, and thus guides the remainder
of the said substances, or a portion of the remainder, as may be desired into
another receptacle or chamber.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Julius Friedrich Philipp Ludwig Von Sparre in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 19th November 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JULIUS
FRIEDRICH PHILIPP LUDWIG VON SPARRE, of Eisleben, in the Kingdom of
Prussia, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, 'by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Julius Friedrich Philipp Ludwig Von Sparre, Her special licence that I, the
said Julius Friedrich Philipp Ludwig Von Sparre, my executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Julius Friedrich Philipp
Ludwig Von Sparre, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SEPARATING SUBSTANCES OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIES, AND IN THE
MACHINERY AND APPARATUSES EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst
'others) that I, the said Julius Friedrich Philipp Ludwig Von Sparre, my
'executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Julius Friedrich Philipp Ludwig Von
Sparre, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
This Invention consists of four machines or apparatuses for separating
substances of different specific gravities, in all of which water is employed
either as a medium through which the said substances fall under the action
of gravity, or as an agent for facilitating the motion of portions of the said
substances along inclined surfaces.
.
The first machine or apparatus consists of a watercourse or channel

page_text: through which water is made to flow at a constant or nearly constant level,
and with an uniform or nearly uniform velocity, and into which course or
channel a series of curved partitions rise to heights which are increased as the
distances of the partitions from the point at which the substances to be sepa-
rated are fed into the stream are increased. These partitions conduct the
respective portions of the said substances which are brought into contact with
them by the stream of water to chambers or receptacles below, or otherwise
situated, from which they may be removed by any suitable means. If the
substances fed into the apparatus at any given time are uniform or nearly
uniform in size, as will be the case if they are all taken from any one of a
series of sieves by which the said substances have previously been successively
sifted, then the portions obtained in any one of the aforesaid chambers or
receptacles will all be of very nearly the same specific gravity. By increasing
the number of partitions and corresponding chambers, and suitably preparing
(by moistening with water or otherwise) the substances supplied to the
machine or apparatus, the uniformity of the specific gravities of the substances
obtained in any one compartment may be increased.
The second machine or apparatus mainly consists of the following parts,
arranged as hereafter described. An upright shaft or axle, driven by a belt
passing round a pulley upon it, or otherwise, carries an upright concentric
cylinder, around or partially around the outside of which is fitted a series of
horizontal planes of parallel breadth and at definite distances apart. These
planes are of different lengths (measured round. the inner cylinder), and while
one series of their ends is situated in the same vertical plane or nearly so, their
other ends fall in steps, the upper plane being the longest, and the lengths of
the planes decreasing as they descend. Between the ends of these planes is
a casing, concentric with the inner cylinder, and of the same radius as the
peripheries of the planes. The whole is contained in an outer casing which
is filled or nearly filled with water. The substances to be separated are fed
in between the inner cylinder and the first concentric casing after these have
been set in motion by the axis, and as these substances fall through the water
with velocities which vary with their specific gravities (if of uniform or nearly
uniform size), they are received upon one or other of the rotating planes, along
which they are carried outward by centrifugal action, and roll off into one or
other of several circular compartments, into which they are conducted by in-
clined surfaces suitably arranged. These compartments may each be furnished
with an inclined bottom, down which the separated substances roll to an
exit orifice; or the substances may be removed from the compartments by
other means.

page_text: 66
The third machine or apparatus consists chiefly of an inclined surface or
'sweeping table," connected at each end with a reservoir by a cylindrical axis,
by means of which the angle at which it is inclined may be increased or
diminished at pleasure. The substances to be separated are supplied to the
table by means of a feeding spout and a receiving plate within one of the
reservoirs, the said substances being passed through a slot in the axis which
connects the table with that reservoir. Through this slot is also supplied a
stream of water from the same reservoir. Those portions of the said sub-
stances which are most casily carried forward by the stream of water are.
carried through a similar slot in the axis at the other end of the table, and are
deposited in the other reservoir; the remaining portions are allowed by the with-
drawal of a slide or valve in the table to fall into a third receptacle adjacent to
the last-mentioned reservoir. By suitably adjusting the position of the outflow.
orifice of the second reservoir with respect to the level of the water in the
first reservoir, and by suitably regulating the inclination of the table, the
pressure and speed of the current, &c., may be adapted to the different cir-
cumstances of the substances to be separated.
The fourth machine or apparatus mainly consists of the following parts,
arranged as hereafter described. A hollow pan or vessel, furnished with a broad
flange which is inclined upward and is straight in section, is carried upon an
upright shaft or axled riven by a strap and pulley or other suitable contrivance.
A second inclined flange, carried by a suitable sustaining plate and beam,
or otherwise, is arranged in such manner that the distance between the two,
flanges may be regulated to suit the various degrees of coarseness or fineness
of the substances to be separated. Water is supplied by a pipe to the pan or
vessel, and the substances to be separated are fed in between the two flanges,
the pan with its lower flange being set in motion. By the action of gravity
the substances are affected with a downward tendency between the two flanges,
but by the centrifugal action of the water they are affected with an upward
tendency between the same, and the velocity of rotation, &c., are so adjusted
that the latter, tendency shall overcome the former, and the substances are
thus carried up over the lower flange, the lighter falling over first. Concentric
chambers or receptacles surround the pan, and a guide plate or surface, which
slides vertically and is sustained by balance, weight, or otherwise, diverts the
overflowing substances into one or other of the said chambers or receptacles.
This sliding plate or surface is so operated that, when a certain portion of the
lighter of the substances to be separated has been guided by it into one
chamber or receptacle, it is raised above or lowered below (as the case may be)
the flange of the pan or vessel, and thus guides the remainder of the said

page_text: substances, or a portion of the remainder, as may be desired, into another
receptacle or chamber.
Figure 1 is an isometrical perspective view of my first described machine.
or apparatus, and Figure 2 a longitudinal section through B, A, C, of Figure 1..
a, a, is a trough or vessel, through which a stream of water is caused or
allowed to flow in the direction indicated by the arrows. Into this trough or.
vessel a, a, rises a series of curved partitions.i, i, the heights of which are
increased as their distances from the feeding or supply hopper 6 are increased,
as shewn. The hopper 6 is formed with a back, curved in such manner that.
the substances as they pass out from it through the slot c, c, into the current
at o, move in a horizontal or nearly horizontal direction. As soon as they
have passed out, the current tends to bear them forward horizontally, and.
gravitation to draw them down vertically, and in consequence of these ten-
dencies they move off in downward diagonal or inclined directions, the heavier
falling more nearly vertically than the lighter. While thus moving they are
brought into contact with one or other of the partitions i, i, and guided down
into one or other of the several compartments or receptacles n, n, the heavier
portions into those which are nearer to the hopper b, and the lighter into those
which are farther from it. The inclined plates or surfaces d, d, which meet
at the top, as in dotted lines in Figure 1, are sometimes used to direct the
falling substances froni the centre into the bottoms of the chambers n, n.
These chambers are formed by partitions, as shewn, and the water which
passes down between any two adjacent partitions i, i, rises in corresponding
and opposite chambers n, n, and flows away over the regulating boards or
gates 1, 1. The positions of these boards or gates are so regulated in con-'
junction with the heights of the partitions i, i, that the velocity of the water
flowing through the trough a, a, may be uniform. The first partition, or that
nearest the hopper b, does not rise above the level of the bottom of the trough a.
The end of the first of the compartments n, n, is closed, as no outflow of water
from it is necessary; this compartment is also broader than all the others,
except the last, which is of twice the breadth of the intermediate ones.
substances to be separated may be fed into this apparatus in either a dry or a
moistened condition as may be required.
The
My second machine or apparatus is represented in isometrical perspective in
Figure 3. This Figure is partly in section, and a portion of the apparatus is
supposed to be removed in order to expose the internal arrangement of the
same. The apparatus here represented is intended to be used for coarse
substances which could not well be separated in the apparatus previously
described, as they would sink so rapidly as to render requisite a very large

page_text: velocity in the flowing water, and also a great depth to fall in, and these could
not be obtained without a very costly and cumbrous apparatus if the arrange-
ment of the foregoing machine were adhered to. In the Figure 3 aforesaid,
a is an upright shaft, which is driven by a belt passing round a pulley e in the
direction indicated by the arrow. This shaft a carries an upright concentric
cylinder b, on the outside of which is fitted a series of horizontal planes or
blades c, c, of parallel breadth, and at definite distances apart. These planes
or blades c, c, are of different lengths, and while one series of their ends c¹ is
situated in the same vertical plane, or nearly so, their other ends c¹¹, c", fall in
steps as shewn. Between the ends of these planes or blades is a casing d,
forming part of the cylinder in the surface of which the peripheries of the
planes or blades lié. The whole is contained in an outer casing k, k, which is
filled or nearly filled with water. The substances to be separated are fed into
the apparatus through a fixed spout i, a fixed funnel f, and a revolving spout g,
terminating over the ends c¹ as shewn. The said substances enter within the
revolving casing d, and as they fall through the water with velocities varying
as their specific gravities vary, they are caught upon one or other of the
rotating planes or blades, over which they are carried by centrifugal action till
they roll off into one or other of the circular concentric compartments m, n, o,
into which they are conducted by the inclined tops or covers of these com-
partments, as will be readily understood. The velocity of rotation is so
regulated, that the heaviest portion of the said substances instead of being
caught by the planes or blades c, c, will fall vertically clear of them, and
descend down the inclined bottom of the chamber 7. The compartments
m, n, o, are furnished respectively with the inclined bottoms p, q, and r, which,
as well as the bottom h, lead to a cock or tap, there being one of the latter to
each compartment for drawing off the contents as shewn. These inclined
bottoms may be dispensed with if thought desirable, and the several compart-
ments or receptacles made sufficiently large to contain the whole of the
substances deposited in them during any required period throughout which the
apparatus may be kept continuously in operation; or there may be connected
with each compartment or receptacle a separate water-tight vessel into which the
separated substances may fall, and which may be removed at any moment for
'purpose of being emptied without stopping the operation of the apparatus.
My third machine or apparatus is represented in longitudinal section, with
the sweeping table or separating surface horizontal, in Figure 4; in longitudinal
section, with the said table considerably inclined, in Figure 5; and in plan,
with the said table similarly inclined, in Figure 6. In all these three Figures
the same letters are applied to like parts of the apparatus. a is the table, the
the

page_text: frame of which projects above its surface, so as to carry a plate of glass g
through which the operation may be observed. This table is connected at each
end with reservoirs k and c respectively by cylindrical axes a¹, a¹¹, respectively,
by means of which axes the angle at which the table a is inclined may readily
be increased or diminished at pleasure. The substances to be separated arc
supplied by means of a feeding spoute and a receiving plate e¹ in the reservoir k,
and pass through a slot n in the cylindrical axis a'. Through the slot n is also
supplied a stream of water from the reservoir k. The lighter portions of the
aforesaid substances are carried by the water along or down the table a,
and through a slot n' in the cylindrical axis a", and thence into the reservoir c
in which they are deposited. When the heavier portions have collected in a
sufficiently large quantity on the table a, they are allowed to fall through a
slot m in the under side of the table a into a third reservoir or receptacle b, the
slot m being opened for the purpose by the raising of the valve finto the
position shewn in the detached sectional Figure 5. The opening of this
valve exposes the heavy substances lying upon the table a to a stream of
water, rushing down with an increased velocity due to the height of the water
in the reservoir k. The water which runs down the table a into the reservoir c'
is allowed to flow out of that reservoir through or over the side d, the level of
the point at which it escapes being brought nearer to or farther below the __
level of the water in the reservoir k by raising or lowering the moveable
side d, according as the pressure and speed of the current flowing down the
table a have to be diminished or increased in order to suit the various sub-
stances under operation; by suitably adjusting this moveable slide d, the said:
pressure and speed may be increased or diminished independently of the
inclination of the table a; i is a gate or slide which is raised when the deposited
substances are to be removed from the reservoir c, in order to open the;
aperture behind it for the purpose.
My fourth machine or apparatus is represented in perspective view, partly
in section, in Figure 7. It is constructed as follows:-A hollow pan or vessel
c furnished with a broad conical flange d, which is inclined upward is carried
upon an upright shaft a driven by a strap round the pulley b, or otherwise.
A second inclined flange e is carried by ก cylindrical plate f, which is capable.
of being moved up and down within the cylindrical guide frame g by means of
hand or other wheels i, i. These wheels i, i, are supported by beams h, h,
which rest on a suitable framework h', h', and which have depending from
them a central cylinder 7. The centres of the wheels i, i, form nuts, which, on
being turned, raise or lower vertical rods or screws 1, 2, to which the

page_text: cylindrical plate f is attached. Hence, by turning the wheels i, i, in a suitable
direction, the distance between the flanges & and e may be regulated to suit
the various degrees of coarseness or fineness of the substances to be separated.
Water is supplied by a pipe k to the pan c, the quantity admitted, and there-
fore the velocity of its outflow, being regulated by means of the cock m. The
substances to be separated are fed in between the two flanges d and e through
the pipe o, from the trough n, and the pan c with its flange d is set in motion.
By the action of gravity the said substances are affected with a downward
tendency between the two flanges d and e, but by the centrifugal action of the
water they are affected with an upward tendency between the same, and the
velocity of rotation is so adjusted that the latter tendency shall just overcome
the former, and the said substances are thus carried up over the upper edge of
the lower flange d, the lighter falling over first. Concentric chambers or
receptacles p and q surround the pan c, and a cylindrical guide plate r, 1,
furnished with a conical upper portions, s, slides vertically between them,
being chiefly sustained by balance weights w, w, connected to them by chains
or ropes passing over pulleys. The sliding plate r, r, directs the overflowing
substances into one or other of the chambers or receptacles p, q, and is
'so operated that when the first or lighter portion of the substances to be
separated has been guided by it into one such chamber or receptacle, it is
raised above or lowered below (as the case may be) the flange d, and then
guides the remaining or heavier portion of the said substances, or a portion of
the remainder as may be desired, into the other chamber or receptacle, the
velocity of the outflowing water being increased for the purpose.
The last described machine or apparatus may be greatly simplified for some
purposes by dispensing with the dividing cylinder or guide plate r, r, and its
appendages, and dividing the receiving chamber (q, p,) transversely or radially
by partitions. Then if the expulsion of the whole of the substances fed at one
time into the pan c be effected in one rotation of the said pan, these substances
will be found arranged in the various compartments according to their several
specific gravities, the lighter in the compartments near to the point o, and the
heavier in those farther from that point.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not confine myself to
the precise details herein-before described; but I claim,-
First, the methods of separating substances of different specific gravities
herein-before described.
Second, the construction and employment of the machinery and apparatuses

page_text: for separating substances of different specific gravities, essentially as herein-
before described and represented in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Julius Friedrich Philipp Ludwig Von
Sparre, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of
November, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
J. F. P. L. VON SPARRE. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered in the
presence of.
(L.S.)
J. WARD,
Her Britannick Majesty's
Consul-General at Leipzig.