IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING AND DRESSING THE DEBRIS FROM LEAD MINES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Crispin, of Stratford, in the
County of Essex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR WASHING AND DRESSING THE DEBRIS FROM LEAD MINES."
Sealed the 1st August 1871, and dated the 2nd February 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Crispin
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 2nd February 1871.
I, WILLIAM HENRY CRISPIN, of Stratford, in the County of Essex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING AND DRESSING THE DEBRIS FROM LEAD MINES," to
be as follows:-
This Invention consists in certain combinations and arrangements of
mechanism and apparatus whereby the debris from lead mines can be
advantageously dressed and washed preparatory to being submitted to
the operation of smelting.
A cylinder formed of perforated metal or wire is mounted in an
inclined position on a shaft placed longitudinally through the same,

page_text: and on which it is free to revolve. The cylinder is placed in a tank
the bottom of which is also inclined, and to which water is continuously
admitted. The debris is admitted into the perforated or wire cylinder
by means of a hopper placed at the centre of the upper end thereof, and
is then subjected to the operation of the water in the tank by the
rotation of the cylinder. The coarser portions of the debris are thrown out
of the perforated or wire cylinder through an aperture in the centre of the
lower part thereof by a self-acting scoop, which is placed in the interior
of the cylinder whilst the finer portions pass through the perforations
into the tank and flow out from the same through a pipe or channel
placed at the lower extremity thereof into a cylinder of wood or iron
which is mounted on a shaft or on friction rollers in a horizontal or
nearly horizontal position. The last-mentioned cylinder upon being
caused to revolve agitates the substances contained therein, and the
lighter portions together with the water pass through an aperture in
the centre of the further extremity of the cylinder, whilst the heavier
portions when thoroughly washed are withdrawn through apertures in
the cylinder which are provided with slides capable of being readily opened
by the attendant during the rotation of the cylinder. The lighter portions
or slimes of the debris which pass from the centre of the cylinder, as
before mentioned, run into a launder, and in their transit through the
same may be subjected to further washing. The rotation of the cylinders
is effected by means of suitable gearing actuated by any of the well-
known sources of motive power.
The apparatus before described is mounted on suitable supports, and
the whole may be placed on a platform provided with wheels, by means
of which it may be readily conveyed from one place to another as may
be desired. The debris is or may be fed or conveyed to the perforated
cylinder through or along a trough in which is placed an endless chain
or belt which passes over grooved pulleys at either end of the trough,
and to which chain or belt are attached scoops, by which when the chain
or belt is set in motion (which is effected by well-known means) the
debris is moved or drawn from the end at which the same is admitted,
and upon reaching the further extremity of the trough falls through an
opening in the end thereof into the hopper, by which the perforated or
wire cylinder is supplied.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Henry Crispin in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 2nd August 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,. WILLIAM
HENRY CRISPIN, of Stratford, in the County of Essex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty.
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Henry Crispin, Her special
licence that I, the said William Henry Crispin, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such, others as I, the said William Henry
Crispin, 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 AND DRESSING THE DEBRIS FROM
LEAD MINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Henry Crispin, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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 William Henry Crispin, 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, that is to say :—
My said Invention consists in certain combinations and arrangements
of mechanism and apparatus whereby the debris from lead mines can
be advantageously dressed, and washed preparatory to being submitted
to the operation of smelting.
:
A cylinder formed of perforated metal or wire is mounted in an
inclined position on a shaft placed longitudinally through the samè,

page_text: and on which it is free to revolve. The cylinder is placed in a tank,
the bottom of which is also inclined, and to which water is continuously
admitted. The debris is admitted into the perforated or wire cylinder
by means of a hopper placed at the centre of the upper end thereof,
and is then subjected to the operation of the water in the tank by the
rotation of the cylinder. The coarser portions of the debris are thrown
out of the perforated or wire cylinder through an aperture in the centre
of the lower part thereof by a self-acting scoop which is placed in the
interior of the cylinder, whilst the finer portions pass through the
perforations into the tank, and flow out from the same through a pipe
or channel placed at the lower extremity thereof into a cylinder of wood
or iron which is mounted on a shaft or on friction rollers in a horizontal
or nearly horizontal position. The last-mentioned cylinder upon being
caused to revolve agitates the substances contained therein, and the
lighter portions together with the water pass through an aperture in
the centre of the further extremity of the cylinder, whilst the heavier
portions when thoroughly washed are withdrawn through apertures in
the cylinder which are provided with slides capable of being readily
opened by the attendant during the rotation of the cylinder. The
lighter portions or slimes of the debris which pass from the centre of
the cylinder as before mentioned run into a launder, and in their transit
through the same may be subjected to further washing. The rotation
of the cylinders is effected by means of suitable gearing actuated by any
of the well known cours of motive nower

page_text: If desired the perforated or wire cylinder may be dispensed with,
the other portions of the apparatus being arranged as will be well
understood..
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in
conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim
as the Invention secured to me by the said hercin-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, the combination and arrangement of parts and
mechanism substantially as and for the purposes hercin-before set forth
and described.
In witness whercof, I, the said William Henry Crispin, have herc-
unto set my hand and seal, this First day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.