Improvements in Ore Crushing Mills or Stamper Batteries.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 9th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 4th June, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ore Crushing Mills or Stamper Batteries.
I, OWEN HUMPHREY JONES, of No. 2, Chesnut Street, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool,
in Great Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the general arrangement and also to the
form of construction of ore crushing mills and stamper batteries and has for its
object the provision of various means by which the mills or batteries will be rendered
much more efficient for crushing and amalgamating purposes.
The invention contains provision by the aid of which the long sought for fast
crushing stamp mill will be produced. The stampers will be driven 150. 9"
strokes per minute high pressure steam will be used to raise them and fall by force of
gravity.
Stamp lifters are to be couppled to the piston rods by a novel formed cast iron union
piece which also serves the purpose in combination with steel wipers for regulating
the length of the stampers strokes and for revolving the stamp heads. The union
pieces are to be bored out for the piston rods and stamp lifters to fit in. The holes
for the lifters to fit in shall be double the length of the stamp stroke. This provision
serves to regulate the position of the pistons in the cylinders as well as the stroke of
the stampers.
When the stamp shoe is new the lifter shall fit on the bottom of the hole in the
union. In a side of the said hole a clamp piece 4" long shall fit in a recess the same
shall also be made to fit on one third of the circumference of the stamp lifters. On
the back of the said clamps a dovetailed slots shall be made 7 × ×" deep. Slots
shall also be cored out in the union pieces which shall be dressed on the back in
which the dovetailed wedge bolts shall be fitted in the said unions and also in the
dovetail slots in the clamps. Two dressed nuts shall be fitted on each bolt having a
split pin tightly fitted at the back of the jam nuts. By screwing up the said nuts
the stamp lifters are made fast and firm in their true position. When the stamp
shoe and the false bottom are worn say " by slacking the nuts on the wedge bolt
and lifting the piston the stamp lifter will slide down in the hole. Slots having been
made in the union pieces for the purpose of passing steel discs packing pieces through
to fit in the holes on the top of the stamp lifters.
The first packing piece shall in width be equal the diameter of the stamp lifter
and thick having a boss on one end which shall fit in the hole and project * from
the blade which shall be made to fit flush with the out side of the union piece. The
stamp lifter shall be pressed tight against the blade.
By screwing up the nuts on the wedge bolt the clamp will press on the stamp lifter
and keep it fast and firm in its true position. In subsequent operation of lengthening
the strokes circular discs in thickness same to be an easy fit in the holes shall be
put in until the shoe is worn out.
Rabetts seven inches long shall be made on the top part of the unions pieces same

page_text: to be two inches apart and on the bottom to have an angle of one inch from the
vertical line thus forming an angular ratchet wheel on the union pieces.
A novel formed one prong steel faced wiper having an eccentricity of one inch at
the heel same be bored out and the boss faced on each side so as to fit between two
collars and revolve on 1 steel spindle set in two bearings same to be fitted and bolted
in their proper position on the mill standards or as may be thought best. The wipers
shall stand out twenty degrees from a line touching the periphery of the unions so as
clear the curve on the rabetts forming the ratchet wheels against which they shall
operate. The stamps in raising will force the rabetts forming the ratchet wheels to
come in contact first with the top of the wipers and by reason of the angles on both
the rabetts and the wipers. The result of their contact in a stroke of seven inches
will impart a rotary motion to the stamp heads of two inches in every stroke.
By the aid of a new form of steam and exhaust ports steam power can be employed
in the inost economical manner in one end of a steam cylinder for lifting pistons and
stampers in ore crushing mills and the like. In this new form the steam passes from
the steam port into the exhaust port and then into the cylinders. After being fully
expanded in the cylinders, the remnant is by the action of the slide valve allowed to
pass instantly through the same port into the exhaust passage.
Escape steam ports are to be made in the cylinders by the aid of which the pistons.
will be prevented from travelling beyond the required distance. In the event of a
shoe or a top head falling off the stamp lifter, the increased power imparted to the
piston would probably break the cylinder cover. When the bottom of the piston
pass the port the steam will instantly pass through and press on the top of the piston,
thus preventing destruction.
In order to economise the consumption of fuel and diminish the cost of crushing a
new and improved form of slide valve motor will be employed in my ore crushing mill.
which will cut off and set on the steam in one third less time than the present
eccentric sheave. It will be made of cast iron and bounded by three lines of equal.
length and will have a boss on each side. Slots will be cored out and dressed in each
angle in which turned steel pulleys shall be made to revolve on steel pins. The motor
shall be properly bored out and faced on both sides. The bosses which will form the
collars for the strap bolts to work against shall be turned to the required size. The
centres of the three holes for the pins shall be at equal distance from the centre of
the motor and from each other. The pins for the pulleys shall be made an easy
driving fit in the luggs pin holes shall be bored through three luggs and the
pins and split pins to be fitted in same.
Бл
The motor strap shall be formed of four square bolts same to be
turned 2" long at both ends to pass through round holes in cast iron plates
which shall be machined to in thickness or as may be required. The top
plate to have an oil cup cast on and the bottom plates to have a boss for to screw
the slide valve spindle into. The bolts and four nuts for each to be dressed. A
steel piece shall be rivetted to each plate and shall in depth be equal to the length
of the slide valve stroke and in length shall reach, half inch beyond the, middle of
the plates. The piece on the top pate shall be on the right and the one on the
bottom plate on the left. The steel pulleys in the three angles of the motor shall
revolve against the said steel pieces and produce the necessary length of stroke for
the slide valve. The length of one side of the motor will be the distance between
the strap plates. The centres of the bolt holes in the plates shall be at equal dis-
tance from from the centres of the plates and one way on the plates 48". The other
way from centre to centre 24″.
Recesses
to receive.
Cast iron
A new form of guide bearings for stamp lifters will be made in my mill.
will be made in cast iron braces which shall be properly machined
lignum vitæ blocks 6" x 3" x 3" which shall be fitted in the recesses.
caps with flanges one inch deep by " thick same to have dove tail
slots ×× "deep in the middle of each cap shall be fitted on the back of
each block and to be firmly screwed to them with screws. The slots in the caps
shall be dressed. A wedge bolt shall be made for each block to be dressed and

page_text: fitted in the dove tail slots and also in the slots made and properly dressed in the
cast iron braces. Two dressed nuts shall be fitted on each wedge bolt and split
steel pins shall be fitted against the jam nuts in every bolt. When the blocks
and the wedge bolts are properly fitted in the guide braces, the holes for the
guidance and support of the stamp lifters shall be bored in their proper position and
square and true to the work.
By the aid of this new form of stamp lifter guide bearing the lifters can be set
vertical and true to the work and by reasonable attention they can easily be kept so
thus saving much loss of power by friction and wear and tear of lifters and stamper
boxes.
In the present form of stamper batteries much heavy framing is necessary to carry
the shafting spur wheels blocks and wipers. In my mill much less framing is
required and all the cumbersome heavy machinery is dispensed with. By the
application in a new form of stay and tie bolts the mill will be stayed and tied
together cheaper simpler and in a much more efficient manner than the present
mills. Four stay bolts are used two on each side of the mill the bolts will pass
through a part of the mill side standards and also through the sole plate which
carries the cylinders extending and passing through the extreme ends of the
longitudinal sole pieces which carries the side standards of the mill. Suitable cast
iron washers shall be fitted on the bolts under the sole pieces with proportionate size
steel cotters through the bolts. The whole foundation framing including the
stamper box pile block shall be bolted to the sole pieces. The side standards of the
mill having been tenuoned to fit into recesses made to receive them at each end of
the sole plate on which suitable bosses shall be cast to fit to the angle of the bolts
which controles the whole adjustment of the mill.
By screwing up the nuts on the stay bolts, the whole mill including the
foundation framing will be all tied together and stayed in every way in substance
as if it was but one piece. In the event of uneven shrinkage happening in the
timber framing by screwing up the bolts in the opposite direction, the error can
be rectified to a mathematical accuracy in a few minutes. Four strut bolts shall be
employed which shall be bolted to four sockets eye saddle plates same to be sunk
A thread
into the side standards in the proper position and screwed to the same.
five inches long to be cut on the other ends of the bolts with eight faced nuts to fit on
same. Four cast iron clamps shall be cored out to fit on the bolts stem of each to be
faced. The blade part to be three inches long thick rounded to fit the semi-
diameter of the stay bolts.
By screwing the nuts against the stem of the clamps it will increase the staying
and tieing power of the bolts and augment the force necessary to eliminate all
vibration from the mill.
Complaints has been rife among the leaders of the gold mining communities with
regard to the want of a fast crushing stamp mills and also for improvements in the
construction of stamper boxes so as to enable the mills to crush the ore with increased
celerity and at the same to produce a substantial improvements in the process of
amalgamating the gold in the stamper boxes.
My improved ore crushing mill will furnish the long sought for desideratum.
The stamper boxes for my mill shall be made with semicircular ends thus doing
away with the objectionable four square corners in all the other stamper boxes wherein
both the ore and the mercury shelters away from the reach and the action of the stampers.
Only one inch of space will be between the stampers and the liners in my stamper
boxes and as the stampers will be driven 150. 9" strokes per minute, the mercury will
be kept continually afloat among the floating atoms or minute particles of gold.
Therefore in such a condition the mercury and the gold will be constantly in the most
favourable position to blend and amalgamate.

page_text: I, OWEN HUMPHREY JONES, late of No. 2, Chesnut Street, Mount Pleasant, but now
of 62, Albert Edward Road, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in the general arrangement and also to the
form of construction of ore crushing mills or stamper batteries and has for its object
the provision of various means by which the mills or batteries will be rendered more
efficient for crushing and amalgamating purposes.
This invention is designed to produce the long sought for fast crushing stamp mill.
In my experimental mill which I will now describe the stampers are designed to be
driven at the rate of 150 9" strokes per minute, high pressure steam being used to
raise them the fall being effected by gravity.
Referring to the drawings,
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the ore crushing mill;
Figure 2, side elevation of framing of same;
Figure 3, sectional elevation of cylinders, valves and stamper;
Figures 4 and 5 details of valve motion taken at right angles to each
other;
Figure 6, plan of top plate of valve motion;
Figure 7, plan view of stamp lifter guide bearing;
Figure 8, sectional elevation of the parts shown in Figure 7;
Figure 9, plan of devices for rotating the stamper ;
Figure 9 front elevation of same in raised position of stamper box;
Figure 10, plan of stamper box;
Figure 11, front elevation of same;
Figure 12, section of union piece uniting the piston rod with the stamper;
Figure 13, plan of packing piece in same.
In these, the stamp lifters B are coupled to the piston rods C by a novel formed
cast iron union piece A which serves the purpose of regulating the length of the
stamper strokes by means of packing pieces A¹, and in combination with wipers C¹ of
revolving the stamp heads C². The union pieces A are bored out to fit the piston
rods C and the stamp lifters B. The holes for the lifters are preferably twice the
length of the stamp stroke. The union pieces A also serve to regulate the position of
the pistons in the cylinders D as well as the stroke of the stampers. When the stamp
shoe C is new the lifter B fits on the end of the larger bore of the hole in the union.
In a side of the said hole a clamp piece D¹ in ordinary cases 4" long fits in a recess.
The same is made to fit on one third of the circumference of the stamp lifters. On
the back of the clamp a dove tail slot is made. Slots are also cored out in the union
pieces which are dressed. In these dove tailed wedge bolts D² are fitted in the unions
and also in the slots in the clamps supplied with nuts and split pins. By screwing
up the said nuts the stamp lifters are made fast and firm in the required position.
When the stamper shoe and the false bottom in the stamp box are worn say ", by
slacking the nuts on the wedge bolt D2 and lifting the piston the stamp lifter will
slide down in the hole. Steel discs packing pieces are now passed through slots
made for the purpose in the unions and placed on the top of stamp lifters. The first
packing piece A¹ has a blade about " thick with a boss on one end which fits in the
hole and projects a little from the blade. This latter is also made to fit flush with the
outside of the union. The enlarged holes for the stamp lifters are bored a little

page_text: beyond the top of the slot in the unions so that the boss on the first packing piece
may fit in such continuation as shown and the blade also is made to fit against the
top of the slots in the unions. When the first packing piece has been fitted in the
slot the piston is lowered till the lifter fits on the packing piece then the nuts are
screwed up on the wedge bolt, when the clamp will press on the stamp lifter and keep
it fast and firm in its true position. In all subsequent operation of lengthening the
strokes circular discs easily filling in the holes can be put in in this manner until the
shoe is worn out. Rabbets A about 7" long two inches apart centres and of an inch
deep are made on the top part of union pieces with about one inch twist in their
length from the vertical line, these forming an angular ratchet wheel on the unions.
A novel formed piece serving both as a wiper and a pawl C₁ (Figures 1, 9 and 9*) is
provided having an eccentricity of one inch at the heel and the required set off to suit
the circle of the unions. One only of these pieces C¹ is shown in Figure 1 of the
drawings, but in actual practice there is one for each union piece. Each is bored out
so as to revolve on spindle C³ and faced on both sides. so as to fit between two collars c.
That part of each wiper which works against or comes into contact with the rabbets A²
is curved eccentrically so as to correspond exactly with the twist in the length of the
rabbets. One end of the spindle C5 is enlarged in diameter at C, the small part
passing through the wiper while the enlarged portion forms a collar to fit against it.
A chamber is formed in the hearing wherein a helix spring not shown is inserted
which presses against the enlarged part of the spindle. Should the head be moved
out of line either way in falling on the ore this provision will permit the wiper to
move outside of the ratchet wheel but with persistent tendency to assume its true
position. The stamps in raising (from the position indicated in Figure 1) force the
rabbets forming the ratchet wheels to come into contact first with the top of the
wipers C¹ which thereupon seat themselves in one of the rabbets A² in each union, and
by reason of the wipers being rotated on the spindle C5, the parts in contact (namely,
C and A2) will not rub against each other, but move in unison, as the stamps rise,
until they assume the position indicated in Figure 9*. Meantime by reason of the
twist of one inch on the rabbets, and the eccentricity of one inch on the wipers, a
rotary motion imparted to the stampers of 2" in every stroke.
By the aid of a peculiar and novel form of steam and exhaust ports steam power can
be employed in a very economical manner. The steam passes from the steam port E
into the cylinder; after being fully expanded and its function completely performed
in the cylinder, it is by the action of the slide valve allowed to pass instantly through
the exhaust ports F1 F2 and F3 into the exhaust passage F*.
In working ore crushing mills or stamper batteries it is a frequent event for the
stamps shoe to drop out from the top head and even the top head now and again drops
off the lifter such an incident would probably cause the piston to break the cylinder
cover in order to prevent such an occurrence it is therefore necessary that complete
provision should be made so as to render it impossible. In my mills the necessary
length of stroke for the piston to travel in the cylinder is determined in the following
manner. Suppose the stroke does not exceed 10%, at a distance of 10" from the bottom
of the cylinders an escape steam port. E' is made in the cylinders so that
when the piston travels beyond any part of the said port the steam under the
piston will instantly pass through the port and will exert its force against the top of
the piston, thus granting a perfect safety to both the cylinder covers and to the
pistons.
In order to economise the consumption of fuel and diminish the cost of crushing, I
employ an improved form of slide valve cam H which I estimate will cut off and set
on the steam in one third less time than the present eccentric sheave.
It is shown in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 made of cast iron and is bounded by three lines
of equal length and has a boss on each side. Slots are cored out and dressed in each
angle. In these angles turned steel pulleys J are fitted revolving on steel pins. The
cam H is properly bored out and faced on both sides. The bosses which form the
collars for the strap bolts to work against are turned and faced to the required size,

page_text: The centres of the three holes for the pins on which the pulleys revolve are at equal
distance froin the centre of the cam and from each other.
The cam strap is formed of four square bolts I turned. 24" long at both ends so as
to pass through round holes. The strap bottom plate I' has a boss I² on to screw
the slide valve spindle into and the top plate is provided with an oil cup cast on the same
machined to " thick, or as desired. A steel piece. K is rivetted to each plate and is
equal in depth to the length of the slide valve stroke and in length reaches half an
inch beyond the middle of the plate and outside the bolts on the face against
which the pulleys revolve. The portion outside the bolts is circled so as to be flush
with the ends of the strop plates. The piece on the top plate is on the right and
that on the bottom plate on the left. From the strap plates to the face of the steel
pieces is equal to the length of the valve stroke which added to the diameter of the
circle that circumscribes the cam is equal to the distance between the strop plates.
The centres of the bolt holes in the plates are at equal distance from the centres of
the plates and from each other one way 4" from centre to centre the other way 24"
between the centres. The bolts and plates are made square parallel and true with
each other.
In ore crushing mills or stamper batteries the most important of the stamp lifters
guide bearings are those immediately above the stamper bxes as the greater part of
the strain and friction is imposed upon them by reason of the stamps falling upon
uneven surface, as the ore is fed from the back of the box the stampers are pushed
towards the front producing much strain and great friction on the bearings especially
as neither oil nor grease can be applied to them because such would fall into the box
and prevent amalgamation. Therefore the wear and tear on them is excessive and as
no provision is made in the braces for adjusting the stamp lifter when the bearings
are worn, the stamp lifters are often allowed to work in defective bearings. This
produces friction and unnecessary wear and tear upon the stamper boxes and on all
the working parts of the mill.
I have succeeded in designing a guide bearing for my mill which greatly lessens
or abolishes the defects mentioned. The said bearing is constructed as follows:-
Figures 7 & 8. Recesses are made in cast iron braces which are properly machined
to receive four lignum vitæ blocks P 6" x 3" x 24" for each bearing or as may be
required. Cast iron caps Qwith flanges 11" × are provided with dovetail
slots """ deep at the back and in the middle of each cap the metal is 3"
thick on the back so as to allow th under the slots. These are properly fitted on
the back of each block and are firmly screwed thereto with " screws. A wedge
bolt R is made for each block dressed and fitted in the dovetail slots in the caps and
also in slots made and properly dressed in the cast iron braces. Two dressed nuts
are fitted on each wedge bolt steel split pins are fitted against the same nuts in
every bolt.
When the blocks and the wedge bolts are all properly fitted in the guide
braces; the holes for the guidance and support of the stamp lifters are bored in their
true and proper position.
By the aid of this novel stamp lifter guide bearing the stampers can be set vertical
and true to the work and by reasonable attention to the service of the blocks and the
wedge bolts they can easily be kept in their true position thus saving much
loss of power by friction and also wear and tear of lifters and stamper boxes.
Hitherto in the existing form of ore crushing mills much heavy framing is
necessary to carry the shafting, spur wheels, couplings, blocks and wipers. In my
mill much less framing is required and all the cumbersome and heavy machinery is
dispensed with.
By the application in a new form of stay and tie bolts the mill is stayed and tied
together cheaper and in a more efficient manner than the present mills are.
Four stay bolts N Figures 2 & 1, are required, two on each side of the mill. The
said bolts pass through a part of the side standards S and also through the cast-iron
sole plates T which carry the cylinders extending and passing also through the
extreme ends of the longitudinal sole pieces U. which carry the side standards of
the mill. Suitable cast-iron washers are fitted on the bolts under the sole pieces with

page_text: proportionate sized steel cotters through the bolts. The whole foundation framing
including the stamper box pile block are bolted to the said sole pieces. The side
standards of the mill having been tennoned to fit into recesses made to receive them
at each end of the cast-iron sole plate on which, suitable bosses are cast to fit to the
angles of the stay bolts which controls the whole adjustment of the mill. By
screwing up the nuts on the stay bolts, the whole mill including the foundation
framing is all stayed and tied together in every way in substance as if it were but one
piece.
In the event of uneven shrinkage happening in the timber framing by screwing up
the bolts in the opposite direction the error can be rectified to a mathematical
accuracy in a few minutes. Four strut bolts n are employed which are bolted to
socket eye saddle plates these being sunk in their proper position into the side
standards and screw bolted to same. The bolts have thread cut on the other ends
5" long. Four cast-iron clamps are set on the stay bolts the stem of clamps is
bored out to fit on the end of the strut bolts against the nuts. The blade part of
the clamp is 4" long thick and shaped to fit the semi-diameter of the stay bolts.
By screwing the nuts against the stem of the clamps it increases the tension power
on the bolts and augments the force necessary to eliminate all vibration from the
mill.
Complaints have been rife among the leaders of the gold mining communities
with regard to the want of fast crushing stamp mills and also for improvements in
the construction of stamper boxes so as to enable the mills to crush the ore with
increased celerity and at the same time to produce a substantial improvement in the
process of amalgamating the gold in the stamper boxes. The four square corners
inside the stamp boxes used in the present style of ore crushing mills impede the
progress of both the crushing and the amalgamating power of the mills because both
the ore and the mercury are sheltered in the corners and kept away from the reach
and the action of the stampers such defect diminishes the useful power of the mill.
The stamper boxes for my improved mill are made for a distance of 2' 8" from the
bottom of the boxes with semi circular ends, see Figure 10. Only one inch
of space is between the stampers and the liners of the stamper boxes and as the
stampers are driven 150.9" strokes per minute in lieu of 75. the present rate in my
mill boxes the mercury and the gold come in contact twice to once in the other
mills. In improved form of stamper boxes both the ore and the mercury at
every stroke of the stamper fall under the head thus improving both the process of
crushing and amalgamating.
The union piece A is strengthened by these 1 × 1" wrought iron hoops a in
the position as shown on the drawings. The recesses for the clamps and the slots
for the packing pieces are made in the core box so that the clamps will fit in the
recesses.
Figure 1 shows the position and form of the wipers on the ratchet wheel when
the heads are on the bottoms in the stamper box. The proportional dimension of
the wiper and the ratchet wheels may be varied.
The small shaft L Figure 1 to which the slide valve cams are to be keyed is driven
by a small engine which also serves to pump water into the boilers. M denotes the
cast-iron brace in which the stamp lifters guide bearings are arranged as shown in
Figure 8.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The following parts each taken separately or in combination with others of
them and substantially as illustrated and for the purposes described―
a) The cast iron union piece;
b) The packing piece A¹;

page_text: d) The steam and exhaust ports E F;
e) The escape, steam port E¹;
The arrangement of valve cam H and strop device I with blocks K ;
The stamp lifter guide bearing device Figures 7 and 8;
h) The arrangement of the framing Figure 2;
i) The arrangement of stamper box with semi-circular ends;
2. The general arrangement of ore crushing mill or stamping battery with engine
substantially as herein described.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents, of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham & London.