Improvements in Apparatus for Testing Presence of and Recovering Float Gold and other Metals.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 6th July, 1893-Accepted, 26th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Testing Presence of and Recovering
Float Gold and other Metals.
I ALFRED FRANCIS SECCOMBE of Albaston, Gunnislake, Cornwall Mining
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an apparatus more especially intended for the recovery
of float gold, either alone, or in lieu of other processes at present in practice, or in
conjunction with them, for recovering the metal which has passed away with the
waste water, and would in the ordinary method of working be lost.
It may also be
applied for the recovery of other metals held in suspension in water in the same
The machine being effective in extracting minute particles of gold, may
be satisfactorily used as a test machine for accurately ascertaining the quantity of
gold to be obtained.
manner.
The portion of the machine by which the gold is extracted can be removed
rapidly for cleaning, and a duplicate inserted so that no loss of time occurs as with
other apparatus.
The apparatus consists of a drum or wheel of iron or other suitable material,
with floats or projecting arms or plates around its periphery, the whole being
caused to rotate in the water in which the metal to be recovered is suspended,
means being furnished to cause the metal to be retained by the said plates and
wheel.
The wheel is mounted in a suitable shaft, turning in bearings formed by or fixed
on the box or tank through which the water flows, or otherwise supported in such a
manner that the floats will be caused to dip into the water. These floats are fitted
on the rim of the wheel in any suitable manner, such as by small rivets, and are
preferably attached in such a manner that they can rapidly be removed for cleaning
purposes. On each float is formed or fixed a curved piece or blade for the purpose
of giving greater surface for the retention of the metal, and in consequence of their
peculiar form and action on the water while passing through it, their effectiveness
in arresting the metal is largely increased, ensuring that practically the whole of
the latter shall be brought into contact with the floats before the water passes
away.
The floats may be turned by the force of the water itself as it passes through
the box or along its channel, or external power may be used to turn the wheel.
The floats are placed horizontally or vertically as desired, or to any intermediate
angle. In the former case the box will be preferably of circular form, the ends of
the floats almost meeting the sides of the box, in order that little or no water
can escape without meeting the said floats, suitable outlets and inlets being
arranged so that a considerable quantity of water always remains in the box when
the wheel is working, preventing the latter moving too rapidly.
For retaining the gold, to which this arrangement will be applied, the rim of the
wheel and the floats including the curved extensions, are of copper covered with
the amalgamating compound, well known in gold obtaining processes, so that any
particles coming into contact with the said amalgamating compound, will be
retained by it, being recovered from the compound in the usual manner. Loose
amalgamated plates may also be placed in the bottom and around the sides and end
of the box, the lower plate covering the bottom of the tank being adjustable to any
angle, in order to give the required impetus to the sand etc. passing through with
the water.
When these are sufficiently charged with the particles of gold, they are removed
and alsanced

page_text: This apparatus may be used for the recovery of gold after the other well known
processes having been employed, to save the gold otherwise wasted, or can be used
in the place of the ordinary amalgamating process, in which the water passes over
fixed prepared plates or obstructions of suitable form, placed in the current of the
water. For other metals than gold where the amalgamating process cannot be
used, floats can be formed by a frame carrying blanketing or like material, or the
plates forming the floats can be covered by such material, to which particles of
metal will adhere.
Dated this 27th day of June 1893.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Testing Presence of and Recovering
Float Gold and other Metals.
I, ALFRED FRANCIS SECCOMBE, of Albaston, Gunnislake, Cornwall Mining
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 an apparatns more especially intended for the recovery
of float gold, either alone or in lieu of other processes at present in practice, or in
conjunction with them, for recovering the metal which has passed away with the
waste water and would in ordinary methods of working be lost. It may also be
applied for the recovery of other metals held in suspension in water in the same
manner.
The machine being effective in extracting minute particles of gold, may be
satisfactorily used as a test machine for accurately ascertaining the quantity of
gold to be obtained. The portion of the machine by which the gold is extracted
can be removed rapidly for cleaning and a duplicate inserted so that no loss of time
occurs as with other apparatus. The apparatus consists of a drum or wheel of iron
or other suitable material, with floats or projecting arms or plates around its
periphery the whole being caused to rotate in the water in which the metal to be
recovered is suspended, means being furnished to cause the metal to be retained by
the said plates and wheel.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the wheel, shown in position in the box, through
which the waste water passes, Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a plan and Fig. 4 a vertical section of a similar arrangement, in which
the wheel is placed horizontally and Fig. 5 a representation of a simple float.
A is the box or tank through which the water to be treated runs, passing away
through an outlet a at one end. The wheel B formed in any suitable manner, is
mounted on a shaft 6 turning in bearings a¹ at the sides of the box A, as in Figs. 1
and 2, or at top as in Figs. 3 and 4. The floats or arms c are fitted on to the
rim in any suitable manner, such as by the small rivets c shown in the drawings,
and are formed with curved pieces D at one side, made in one with them or
separately and attached by suitable means to them. These curved pieces are for
the purpose of giving greater surface for the retention of the metal and in con-
sequence of their peculiar form and action on the water while passing through it
their effectiveness in arresting the metal is largely increased ensuring that
practically the whole of the metal shall come into contact with the floats before
the water passes away.
The wheel A may be turned by the force of the water itself, as it passes through

page_text: the box, or by external power, the wheel E being shown in Fig. 2 to provide a
means for transmitting the motive power.
When the wheel placed horizontally as in Figs. 3 & 4, the box is preferably
of circular form also, the ends of the floats almost meeting the sides of the box;
in order that little or no water can escape without meeting the said floats.
An inlet a is shown for the water which passes around the wheel, and away
through a, the box and outlet being arranged so that a considerable quantity of
water always remains in the box when the wheel is working, preventing the latter
moving too rapidly. For retaining the gold to which this arrangement
particularly applies, the rim of the wheel and the floats, including the curved
extensions, are of copper covered with the amalgamating compound well known in
obtaining processes, so that any particles coming in contact with the said amalgam
will be retained by it, being recovered from the compound in the usual manner.
According to Figs. 1 and 2, loose amalgamated copper plates F are placed in the
bottom and along the sides and end, the latter being also used to regulate the size
of the outlet. The plate covering the bottom of the tank is adjustable at any
angle in order to give the required impetus to the sand &c. passing through with
the water. When these are sufficiently charged with the particles of gold, they
are removed and cleansed and after being treated with fresh amalgam where
required are replaced, ready for use again. The wheel may it is obvious be tilted
to any angle desired for any special circumstances, instead of being fixed in a
horizontal or vertical manner, as shown, the method of operation being the same.
This apparatus may be used for the recovery of gold after the other well known
processes have been employed, to save the gold otherwise wasted, or can be used in
the place of the ordinary amalgamating process, in which the water passes over
fixed prepared plates, or obstacles of suitable form placed in the current of water.
For other metals than gold, where amalgamating cannot be employed the floats cau
be formed by a frame carrying blauketing or like material, or the plates, forming
the floats can be covered by such material to which the particles of metal will
adhere.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion I declare that what I claim is :-
(1.) An apparatus for the recovery of float metal, such as gold, in which
floats are revolved around a suitable centre, in the water, containing the metal in
suspension, the said revolving floats being treated in such a manner as to retain the
metal, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(2.) An apparatus for the recovery of float metal, such as gold, consisting of a
wheel supported in suitable bearings, and having projecting arms or floats around
its periphery, revolving in the water in which the metal is suspended, the said arms
and wheel being prepared in such a manner as to retain the particles of metal
meeting them, substantially as described.
(3.) An apparatus for the recovery of float metal, such as gold, consisting of a
wheel supported in suitable bearings, and having projecting arms or floats around
its periphery, with curved extensions projecting from their face, revolving in the
water containing the suspended metal particles, the wheel and floats being prepared
in a suitable manner to retain the metal meeting them, substantially as and for the
purposes specified.
(4.) An apparatus for the recovery of float gold, consisting of a wheel,
supported in suitable bearings, having a number of floats or arms bolted to the rim
of said wheel, with curved extensions projecting from their face revolving in the
water in which the gold is suspended, the rim and floats being of copper and
treated with amalgam for the retention of the particles of gold coming into contact
with them, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(5.) An apparatus for the recovery of float gold, consisting of a box A through
which the water in which the gold is suspended passes, having bearings a¹,
supporting the wheel B, on the rim 6' of which the arms C are, the latter being

page_text: furnished with curved extensions D revolving in the said water, the rim and arms
being treated with amalgam, substantially as described and shown and for the
purposes specified.
Dated this 4th day of July 1893.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.