IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING ORES, GRAIN, WOOL. AND OTHER MINERAI, VEGETABLE, AND ANIMAL OTHER MINERAI, VEGETABLE, AND SUBSTANCES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Colin Mather, of the Salford Iron Works, Man-
chester, for the invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING
ORES, GRAIN, WOOL. AND OTHER MINERAI, VEGETABLE, AND ANIMAL
OTHER MINERAI, VEGETABLE, AND
SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 6th December 1867, and dated the 11th September 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
left by the said Colin Mather at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
11th September 1867.
the
I, COLIN MATHER. of the Salford Iron Works, Manchester, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
WASHING ORES, GRAIN, WOOL, AND OTHER MINERAL, VEGETABLE, AND ANIMAL
SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
My improved machinery consists of a hollow cylinder open at both ends,
and placed by preference in a slanting position; the interior of this cylinder
is made with a worm and buckets or lifters. The ore or other substance is
fed in at the lower end of the cylinder and a stream of water is admitted at
the other or higher end. A slow rotary motion is given to the cylinder by
steam or other power, and the action of the worm carries the ore or other
substance from the lower to the higher end of the cylinder, where it is dis-
charged, the combined action of the worm and buckets or lifters agitates the

page_text: ore or other substance, and the water in passing through the cylinder removes
the earthy and other foreign matters. In washing grain it is desirable to
pass pieces of flint or other hard substances through the cylinder with the
grain in order to clean the interior of the cylinder; the end of the cylinder
is perforated to allow the grain to pass through the perforations while the
flints or hard substances are delivered at the end of the cylinder. The per-
forated end of the cylinder is also used to separate the smaller from the larger
portions of the ore or other minerals.
By this improved machinery the washing is performed more rapidly and
effectually, and with less water than heretofore
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Colin Mather in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
March 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, COLIN
MATHER, of the Salford Iron Works, Manchester, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors. give and grant unto me,
the said Colin Mather. Her special license that I, the said Colin Mather,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1. the said
Colin Mather, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR WASHING ORES, GRAIN, WOOL. AND OTHER VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL
SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Colin Mather
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 per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Oflice within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said Colin Mather, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,

page_text: Mather's Improvements en Machinery for Washing Ores, Grain, Wool, &c.
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
(that is to say):--
My improved machinery consists of a hollow cylinder open at both ends,
and placed by preference in a slanting position; the interior of this cylinder
is made with a worm and buckets or lifters. The ore or other substance is
fed in at the lower end of the cylinder and a stream of water is admitted at
the other or higher end. A slow rotary motion is given to the cylinder by
steam or other power, and the action of the worm carries the ore or other
substance from the lower to the higher end of the cylinder, where it is dis-
charged; the combined action of the worm and buckets or lifters agitates the
ore or other substance, and the water in passing through the cylinder removes
the earthy and other foreign matters. In washing grain it is desirable to pass
pieces of flint or other hard substances through the cylinder with the grain in
order to clean the interior of the cylinder; the end of the cylinder is per-
forated to allow the grain to pass through the perforations while the flints or
hard substances are delivered at the end of the cylinder. The perforated end
of the cylinder is also used to separate the smaller from the larger portions of
the ore or other minerals.
By this improved machinery the washing is performed more rapidly and
effectually, and with less water than heretofore
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into operation, I will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings, reference being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Figure is a longitudinal section of my improved machinery for washing
ores and other substances; Figure 2 is a side view; and Figure 3 an end
view of the same.
a represents a strong wood or other frame supporting the bearings for the
axle of the cylinder e, the casing of which is connected to the two end drums
and e. The cylinder is placed by preference in a slanting position, and
the lower end of the cylinder is partially closed by the annular plate f, through
which the spout of the hopper passes; this hopper is kept supplied with the
ore or other substances to be washed. Within the cylinder e is a worm,
made by preference with a double thread, as shewn at h in Figure 1, and this
vorm is divided at intervals by the buckets or lifters i. i. A stream of
water supplied by the pipe is kept constantly flowing through the cylinder
as long as it is in operation. The cylinder is turned slowly round by the
pulley on the driving shaft 1, to which is fixed the worm m. gearing into the
wheel bon the axle b, or in any other convenient manner. The upper end
of the cylinder c is or may be perforated. As the cylinder revolves the ores

page_text: or other substances fed into the lower end through the spout of the hopper
are gradually carried forward by the worm h until they are discharged from
the upper end of the cylinder, and the ores or other substances are kept in
constant motion by the worm and by the lifters or buckets i; the soil or
other impurities loosened from the ores or other substances is washed away
by the action of the water and escapes through the annular plate while the
cleaned ores or other substances are discharged at the upper end of the
cylinder. When the upper end is perforated, as shewn, the smaller portions
of ore or other substance escape through the perforations and are collected
in a truck or other receptacle. When grain is to be washed it is desirable
to pass pieces of flint or other hard substances with the grain in order to keep
the interior of the cylinder clean; in this case the grain would escape through
the perforations, and the flints at the end of the cylinder.
By means of the improved machinery above described the washing of ores,
grain, wool, and other mineral, vegetable, and animal substances is effectually
performed, and with a great economy in time and water.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described a convenient
mode of carrying the same into operation. I wish it to be understood that
the dimensions of the cylinder, the pitch of the internal worm, and the number
and arrangements of the buckets or lifters must be varied according to the
substances to be operated upon, or the quantity to be produced. I claim the
application of a revolving cylinder with internal screw or worm and buckets
or lifters, and either with or without perforations at the discharging end, for
washing ores and other substances.
In witness whereof. I the said Colin Mather, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of March, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-eight
COLIN MATHER. (...)