Improvements in Means and Apparatus for Raising Mud and other Material or Deposits, from River Bottoms and the like, and for Analogous purposes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 30th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1898
Improvements in Means and Apparatus for Raising Mud and other
Material or Deposits, from River Bottoms and the like, and for
Analogous purposes.
I, GEORGE POLL, of 167, Pentonville Road, London, Miner, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to means and apparatus for raising mud or other detritus or
gold bearing deposits from the bottom of rivers, harbours and the like and has for
its objects the provision of improved means for, firstly, loosening or dislodging such
deposits from crevices, pockets or the like in the beds of rivers and other places, and,
thereafter, lifting the said deposit and conveying it to a sluice.box of any well known
or suitable construction.
as
These improvements consist mainly in applying the method known
"hydraulicking" (according to which the auriferous earth is loosened by a high-
pressure jet of water) to the bottom of rivers, lakes, harbours and undrainable or
other places, in such a manner that the force and direction of the high pressure jet
of water will cause the loosened deposits to enter a shield or funnel-like opening or
mouth of a hydraulic elevator of similar construction to those now used on the
surface for lifting the auriferous earth or the like into a sluice box and for other like
purposes.
In putting my invention into practice I employ a floating platform provided with
a suitable staging, adjustable sliding guideways, a bucket, gearing, and their
respective adjuncts substantially as described in the specification of former Letters
Patent granted to me and numbered 4044 of 1897.
At or near the lower end of the sliding guideway, I provide a hydraulic elevator
which may be attached to the said guideway by a bracket or other suitable means
of attachment so as to be raised and lowered with it, a suitable opening in the plat-
form being provided for it to pass through.
This hydraulic elevator consists of two chambers which may be arranged side by
side, one of the said chambers communicating with the other through a nozzle or
other suitable orifice in its bottom.
The second chamber, that is the one into which the said nozzle enters, is provided
with an opening or mouth in the side nearest to the sliding guideway (through
which the bucket is lowered and raised) the said opening or mouth having a funnel-
like attachment by which the loosened earth and the like are directed into the
elevator.
The elevator is supplied, through a pipe (which is preferably vertical), with high-
pressure water which enters the first chamber and escapes therefrom into the second
chamber through the nozzle or orifice in its bottom in a vertical column, which
draws a current of water in through the said mouth in its side, and, with it, any solid
matter that may be in close proximity thereto.
This current, including any solid matter, is lifted up by the said column of water,
through a second vertical pipe and is delivered at its top into a sluice box supported
by suitable tressles on the platform, or into the mouth of a second elevator to be

page_text: further lifted in a similar manner to a greater elevation so as to allow a sufficient
fall after passage through the sluice box to enable the waste to be conveyed through
a chute to a convenient distance from the platform.
The nozzle used for performing the process of "hydraulicking" is located inside
the bucket (which is supplied with air under pressure like a diving bell) and is so
directed that the loosened deposits and the like will be driven towards the
funnel-like mouth of the elevator which is preferably close up to the bucket.
The funnel-like mouth which extends sideways towards the bucket, is provided with
an extensible covering which may be arranged so as to be capable of being operated
by means of racks and pinions, and thus to close in that part of the river or other
bottom which is being operated upon, and prevent the drawing in of outside
water.
These wings are operated by the workman in the bucket in any suitable manner,
such for example as by one or more crank handles or the like applied to that end of
the pinion spindles which extends to the bucket.
The high pressure water may be supplied, through pipes having flexible
connections, and supported at intervals on pontoons, by reservoirs in the neigh-
bouring hills or other elevations or the platform may be provided with suitable
hydraulic pumps.
Although described as forming part of an apparatus for raising auriferous deposits
from river beds, it will be obvious that my invention will be equally applicable for the
removal of silt and other deposits from harbours and elsewhere or for the removal of
earth in the construction of docks, canals and the like.
Dated this 20th day of November 1907
A. F. SPOONER,
323, High Holborn, London, Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Means and Apparatus for Raising Mud and other
Material or Deposits, from River Bottoms and the like, and for
Analogous purposes.
I, GEORGE POLL, of 167, Pentonville Road, London, Miner, 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 means and apparatus for raising mud or other detritus or gold
bearing deposits from the bottom of rivers, harbours and the like and has for its objects
to provide improved means for, firstly loosening or dislodging such deposits from crevices
pockets or the like in the beds of rivers and other places, and, thereafter, lifting the
said deposit and conveying it to a sluice-box of any well-known or suitable
construction.
These improvements consist mainly in applying the method known as "hydrau-
licking" (according to which the auriferous earth is loosened by a high pressure jet
of water) to the bottom of rivers, lakes, harbours and undrainable or other places in
such a manner that the force and direction of the high pressure jet of water will
cause the loosened deposits to enter a screen or funnel-like opening or mouth of a
hydraulic elevator, of similar construction to those now in use on land, or other
suitable elevator, for lifting the auriferous earth or the like into a sluice box and for
.other like purposes.
In putting my invention into practice I employ a floating or other suitable platform
provided with a staging, adjustable sliding guideways, a bucket forming a submergeable

page_text: airtight compartment, gearing, and their respective adjuncts substantially as described
in the specification of former Letters Patent granted to me and numbered 4044 of
1897. At or near the lower end of this sliding guideway, I provide a hydraulic or
other suitable elevator, preferably attached to the said guideway by a bracket or other
suitable means, so that they may be raised and lowered together, a suitable well or
opening in the platform being provided for them to pass through.
The hydraulic elevator consists of two chambers arranged side by side, one of
the said chambers communicating with the other through a nozzle or other
suitable orifice in its bottom. The second chamber, that is the one into which
the said nozzle enters, is provided with an opening or mouth in the side nearest
to the sliding guideway (through which the bucket is lowered and raised) the
said opening or mouth having a screen or funnel-like attachment by which the
loosened earth and the like is directed into the elevator. High pressure water is
supplied, through a flexible pipe, to the first chamber of the elevator and escapes
therefrom into the second chamber through the nozzle or other orifice in its
bottom, from which it issues vertically in a rigid column. This high pressure
column or jet of water passes (centrally) up a vertical pipe attached to the top of
the second chamber and therein produces an upward current in the low pressure
water that has found its way in through the opening or mouth with which the said
second chamber is provided.
The current which is thereby set up carries with it into the elevator any solid
matter that may be in close proximity thereto, which is then forced upwards, either
by the direct action of the high pressure jet or by the said current, into a box through
the bottom of which the said vertical pipe of the elevator is slightly extended, so as
to prevent any tendency of the lifted water and its contained solid matter to flow
back.
This box is provided with an outlet through which the lifted matter flows either
into a sluice box supported by suitable tressles on the platform, or into the mouth of
a second elevator to be further lifted in a similar manner to a greater elevation so as
to allow a sufficient fall after passage through the sluice box to enable the waste to be
conveyed through a chute to a convenient distance from the platform, or, after passage
through the sluice box the tailings may be delivered into the mouth of a similar
elevator to be raised to a suitable height for the same purpose.
The nozzle used for performing the process of "hydraulicking" is located inside
the bucket (which is supplied with air, under suitable pressure, like a diving bell)
wherein it is adjustably held, and so directed that the loosened deposits and the like
will be driven towards the screen or funnel-like mouth of the elevator, which is
preferably close to the bucket. This screen or funnel-like mouth, which extends
sideways towards the bucket, may be provided with an extensible covering or wings
which may be arranged so as to be capable of being operated by means of racks and
pinions or otherwise and thus to close in that part of the river or other bottom which
is being operated upon and prevent the drawing in of outside water. These wings are
operated by the workman in the bucket in any suitable manner, such for example
as by means of one or more keys, crank-handles, or the like, applied to that end of
the pinion spindles nearest to the bucket, access to which is gained through suitable
holes in the said bucket. The high pressure water may be supplied, through pipes
having flexible connections and supported at intervals on pontoons, by reservoirs in
neighbouring hills or other elevations, or the platform may be provided with suitable
hydraulic pumps.
I will now proceed to more particularly describe my invention with the aid of the
accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts, but I wish it to be
understood that I do not restrict myself to the particular construction shown.
Figure 1 is a side elevation and,
Figure 2 is a plan, of a floating platform, with the principal parts of my present
invention applied thereto.
:
Figure 3 shows, on a larger scale, the hydraulic elevator attached to the sliding
guideway, and the bucket in section and side elevation respectively and,

page_text: Figure 5 is a section taken on the line x-x in Figure 3, showing a front view of the
screen or funnel,like attachment, with one of its sliding wings and operating parts
.removed.
Figure 6 is a vertical section through the bucket showing the hydraulic nozzle in
position.
Figure 7 is a vertical section, on a much smaller scale, through a pontoon showing
the pipe support provided with a swivel joint, and
Figure 8 is the key by which the sliding wings of the screen or funnel-like
-attachment, are operated.
In Figures 1 and 2 a is a floating platform of similar construction to that described
in my said prior specification which is, in practice, provided with substantially similar
apparatus and gearing as is therein described, but which have, for the sake of
clearness, been omitted from the annexed drawings. The said platform a is provided
with suitable staging a², a2x and has a well a¹, of modified form, through which the
sliding guideway b and the hydraulic elevator m is operated. d is the bucket or
submergeable airtight compartment which slides in the guideway b and may be raised
independently by means of a rope and winch or otherwise, and is adapted to be kept
down to its work by similar means. The said bucket is capable of rotation, but in
accordance with this invention, it is, after being lowered to its work, held stationary,
and the rod f, which passes through suitable stuffing boxes at each end of the hollow
shaft d¹, is turned by its handle to elevate the hinged flaps d*, one of which is
shown disconnected from its supporting link f2 and turned back under the other
where it is secured by a bolt was shown in Figure 6. The said bucket d is supplied
with, air under pressure by a suitable pump ato through the pipe as for the purpose
of preventing the surrounding water from entering it, thus enabling it to be used as
a diving bell and at the same time removing the resistance of the water to the
operation of the hydraulic jet. The hydraulic nozzle n, which may be provided with
a suitable cock n¹, is supported in an adjustable holder n², clamped upon a transverse
rod m³, and is connected with the main supply pipe p by the flexible pipes n
and n5.
The hydraulic elevator m consists, as more clearly shown in Figure 3, of two
chambers m³, m². The chamber m³ is supplied with high pressure water from the
main supply pipe p by the flexible pipe m³ and discharges it through an orifice or
nozzle m in the bottom of the second chamber m², from which it issues in a column
and passes up through the vertical pipe m³, and in so doing draws in the surrounding
water and any solid matter that may be in close proximity, through the opening or
mouth mo, as herein before explained. The mouth m is provided with a liner mox
which may
be replaced to provide against wear and tear. The pipe m5, which
supports the hydraulic elevator m, is rigidly attached to the sliding guideway b by
means of a bracket m7.
The screen or funnel-like attachment o (see Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5) is suitably secured
to the mouth me of the elevator m and is also supported by the tie ox which is
rivetted to the bracket m'. This screen or funnel-like attachment extends towards,
- and partially encloses, the lower part of the bucket d so as to prevent the loosened
natter from going anywhere but into the mouth m of the elevator m. Sliding
wings o¹ may be provided, adapted to be raised or lowered in suitable guides o² by
means of racks 03 and pinions of. Thus that part of the river or other bottom
that is being operated upon is enclosed and the drawing in of outside water is
prevented.
Surrounding the top of the pipe m³ is a box q into which the lifted matter is
delivered and from which it is conveyed by a pipe q¹ to a sluice box r of any well-
known or suitable construction. After flowing through the sluice box 7, which is
supported on the platform a by suitable tressles, the tailings are led into a
receiver and conveyed to a second hydraulic elevator m by which they are lifted
into a receiving box qx; and thence pass through a pipe q¹ into a chute 8 by

page_text: which they are conveyed into barges or to a convenient distance from the: floating
platform a
m
High pressure water may be supplied from the banks through suitable piping which
may be flexible throughout or at intervals where it is supported by pontoons t (see
Fig: 7) provided with świvel pipe supports. t',.anchors, and other necessary appur
tenances. Or hydraulic pumps may be provided to supply the high pressure water
as herein before explained.
In practice, the sliding guideway b and the hydraulic elevator.m are first lowered
by any suitable means, such as by ropes and pulleys, as described in the said former
specification, suitable guide rolls m³, (see Fig. 2) running on guide rails m' attached
to the staging a2x being provided to steady the upper part of the hydraulic elevator m.
After these parts are in place, the bucket d is lowered by similar or other suitable
means through the sliding guideway 6 into the position indicated in Figures 1 and 3.
The air pump is then set to work and the valves (not shown in the drawings) which
control the high pressure water supply are turned on, while the workman who is in
the bucket first adjusts the direction of the nozzle n and then turns the cock n¹ with
the result that the high pressure jet that issues from the nozzle tears up the material
against which it is directed and washes it towards the screen o from which it is
drawn into the elevator m in the manner described. The workman inside the
bucket may, when requisite, lower any or all of the wings o¹ of the screen o by
means of a key u (see Fig. 8) applied through holes u¹ to the square end of the
spindle of.
Although described as forming part of an apparatus for raising auriferous deposits
from river beds, it will be obvious that my invention will be equally applicable for
the removal of silt and other deposits from harbours and elsewhere or for the
removal of earth in the construction of docks, canals and the like.
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 :-
1. In combination, a platform, a submergeable airtight compartment, means
for maintaining such compartment with air under pressure, a nozzle supplied
with high pressure water located in said compartment for the purpose of
loosening and disengaging the material operated on, and means serving to raise
the material so loosened.
2. In combination, a platform, a submergeable airtight compartment, means for
maintaining such compartment with air under pressure, a nozzle supplied with high
pressure water located in said compartment for the purpose of loosening and
disengaging the material operated on, and a submergeable hydraulic elevator.
3. In combination, a platform, a submergeable airtight compartment, means for
maintaining such compartment with air under pressure, a nozzle supplied with high
pressure water located in said compartment for the purpose of loosening and
disengaging the material operated on, means serving to raise the material so
loosened and means serving to connect said airtight compartment with said raising
appliance and to enclose that part of the river or other bottom that is being operated
on and to prevent the drawing in of outside water.
4. The combination, with a submergeable airtight compartment a nozzle supplied
with high pressure water located therein and a submergeable elevator, of a screen
serving to guide the disengaged matter into the mouth of the elevator and to prevent
the drawing in of outside water.
5. The combination, with a submergeable airtight compartment a nozzle supplied
with high pressure water located therein and a submergeable elevator, of a screen,
adjustable wings ou said screen, and means for operating said wings serving to guide
the disengaged matter into the mouth of the elevator and to prevent the drawing in
of outside water.
6. In combination, a platform, a submergeable airtight compartment, a
hydraulic nozzle located therein, a submergeable elevator, a screen or cover

page_text: connecting said submergeable compartment with said elevator and a sluice box
located on said platform adapted to receive the raised matter substantially as set
forth.
7. The construction, arrangement and combination of parts constituting my
improvements in means and apparatus for raising mud and other material or deposits
from river bottoms and the like and for analogous purposes substantially as set forth
and as illustrated in the annexed drawings.
Dated this 30th day of August 1898.
A. F. SPOONER,
323, High Holborn, London, Agent for the Applicant.