IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING COPPER, LEAD, AND OTHER ORES FROM EARTHY AND OTHER SUBSTANCES WITH WHICH THEY ARE OR MAY BE MIXED
Year: 1832

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
PETHERICK, of Penpellick, in the Parish of Tydwardreoth, in the County of
Cornwall, Mine Agent, and JOHN FILMORE KINGSTON, of Islington, in the
County of Devon, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Eighth day of March, in the second year of His reign, did,
for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said Thomas
Petherick and John Filmore Kingston, His especial licence, sole privilege
and authority, that we, the said Thomas Petherick and John Filmore
Kingston, our exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
Thomas Petherick and John Filmore Kingston, our exors, admors, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times hereafter during the term of years therein mentioned, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, our Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING COPPER, LEAD, AND OTHER ORES FROM EARTHY
AND OTHER SUBSTANCES WITH WHICH THEY ARE OR MAY BE MIXED," the said Im-
provements being applicable to the machinery for which a Patent was granted
by His late Majesty to the said Thomas Petherick, the Twenty-eighth day of
April, One thousand eight hundred and thirty; in which said Letters Patent
is contained a proviso that we, the said Thomas Petherick and John Filmore
Kingston, or one of us, shall cause a particular description of the nature of

page_text: our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
inrolled in His said Majesty's, High. Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully
and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Filmore Kingston, for the said Thomas Petherick and myself, do hereby
declare that the nature of our said Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, is described and ascertained in manner following
(that is to say):-
Whereas the Invention of certain machinery for separating copper, lead,
and other ores from earthy and other substances with which they are or may
be mixed, and for which a Patent was granted as aforesaid by His late
Majesty King George the Fourth to the said Thomas Petherick, was fully
described in the Specification which the said Thomas Petherick caused to be
inrolled in the High Court of Chancery on the Twenty-eighth of October, One
thousand eight hundred and thirty, consists in certain machinery thus com-
posed, namely, a large vat, tub, or vessel to be filled with water and having a
fixed cover, in which cover are apertures and receptacles adapted to the form
and size of a number of sieves, such as are or may be used in the operation
for separating copper, lead, and other ores from earthy and other substances
with which they are or may be mixed, and the interior capacity of which vat,
tub, or vessel communicates with the interior capacity of a hollow cylinder,
into which a corresponding plunger (or piston) is fitted, and which plunger or
piston is moved alternately up and down (or to and fro in any other direction)
within such hollow cylinder, so as to alternately displace water therefrom, and
force the same into the vat, tub, or other vessel, and then withdraw water
from the vat, tub, or vessel into the hollow cylinder. In order that the water
contained in the vat, tub, or vessel, and which also fills. the receptacle so that
the sieves are partially- (and the contents of the sieves are wholly) immersed;
may be alternately raised and lowered with a sudden flux and reflux of water;
which is repeated and continued until the requisite degree of separation of the
ores from the earthy and other substances with which they are or may be
mixed is effected; the particulars of all which machinery, and the magnitude
and arrangement of the parts thereof, are fully described in the said Specifi
cation enrolled the Twenty-eighth day of October; One thousand eight hundred
and thirty, and the. Drawings thereunto annexed. Now know-ye, that our
improvements in the aforesaid machinery consist in the following particulars
(that is to say):-

page_text: Firstly, the aforesaid plunger or piston, or any suitable substitute which
may be used for a plunger or piston, and also the aforesaid chamber or
cylinder wherein the same is moved, is, according to our present improvements,
to be provided with suitable valves to cause the same to act in the manner of
a single acting pump, in order to force water out of the interior capacity of
the said chamber or cylinder into the interior capacity of the vat, tub, or
vessel whenever the said plunger or piston, or substitute therefor, is moved in
one direction, and whilst it is so moving the water in the receptacles wherein
the sieves are immersed will be raised with a sudden flux, but during the
return or motion of the plunger or piston, or substitute therefor, in an opposite
direction it will not (in consequence of the action of the aforesaid valves)
withdraw water from the vat, tub, or other vessel so as to cause any reflux of
the water in the receptacles wherein the sieves are placed. But the water
which is thus raised in the receptacles at every succeeding flux will make its
escape from the receptacles by running over their top edges into any suitable
reservoir, from whence it can run or be drawn again into the aforesaid
chamber or cylinder, in order that the said water may in due course of suc-
cession be again forced into the vat, tub, or vessel by the action of the plunger
or piston, or substitute therefor, together with its valves, in order to raise the
water in the receptacles with a flux as aforesaid without that flux being
followed by a reflux."
Secondly, in lieu of forcing water into the vat, tub, or vessel by the direct
action of a moveable plunger or piston, or substitute therefor, as above stated,
the said water may be suddenly let into the vat, tub, or vessel from a
reservoir which is sufficiently elevated above the receptacles to cause an
adequate hydrostatic pressure to be exerted within the vat, tub, or vessel for
raising the water in the receptacles with a sudden flux; the said sudden
letting in of the water being performed by opening a suitable entrance valve
or sluice situated in a passage of communication between the interior of the
said elevated reservoir and the interior of the vat, tub, or vessel; or between
the interior of the vat, tub, or vessel, and the interior of the receptacles
wherein the sieves are placed, and which entrance valve or sluice must be shut
as soon as the required sudden flux of water has taken place, the water
which thus rises in the receptacles during the flux making its escape from the
receptacles by flowing over the top edges of the receptacles into a suitable
reservoir or channel leading to a tank or pool. And in order to keep up the
action of this apparatus the water which has run over the tops of the recep-
tacles as aforesaid must be raised up or returned from the said tank or pool
into the elevated cistern or reservoir-before-mentioned, from- which it is to be

page_text: let down again at intervals through the entrance valve or sluice as aforesaid,
by which means the same water will be used over and over again, and the
aforesaid entrance valve or sluice may be opened and shut at the required
intervals by suitable connections from the said machinery, whereby the water
is raised and returned from the lower tank or pool into the elevated reservoir
as aforesaid. And note, in situations where a sufficient stream and fall of
water can be obtained, then the water may be continually poured into the
reservoir in order to be admitted at suitable intervals to flow through the vat,
tub, or vessel, to produce the flux of the water in the receptacles, and the
water that runs over the tops of the receptacles may be retained in pits called
"slime pits" for a sufficient time to deposit any small quantity of ore it may
have carried off in suspension. In the latter case the operation will be carried
on by a continual change and succession of the water which is brought by the
stream and carried away thereby, which may be very conveniently done in
some situations and with such ores as are not liable to material waste by
change of the water, and then no machinery is required for agitating the
water in the vat, tub, or vessel, or for returning the water which has been
used in order that it may be used over again; but the opening and shutting of
the valves at the required intervals may be effected by suitable machinery in
the manner herein-after described.
The Sheet of Drawings No. 1 hereunto annexed, and herein-after particu-
larly described, represents machinery constructed according to the former
Patent Invention of the said Thomas Petherick, with the first of our present
improvements applied thereto, and which machinery we have made and have
worked with a flux of water in the receptacles without being followed by a
reflux, whereby the separation of the copper, lead, or other ores from the earthy
or, other substances with which they are or may be mixed is more completely
effected. But note, as respects our said first improvement, that although we have
spoken of a sudden flux without a reflux, there will necessarily be a momentary
reflux of the water in the receptacles during the shutting of that valve which is
provided to prevent the return of the water from the vat, tub, or vessel into
the chamber or cylinder wherein the plunger or piston, or substitute therefor,
moves; nevertheless that momentary reflux will be very trifling and barely
perceptible, unless that a distinct momentary reflux of smaller extent than the
flux shall be required to be made, in which case it may be effected in our said
first improvement by regulating. the extent to which the said valve, which is
provided as aforesaid, to prevent the return of the water into the chamber or
cylinder, shall open, or by regulating the weight of that valve, the shutting of
it may be retarded so as to produce a sensible reflux of that water in the

page_text: receptacles to any required extent. Or, in respect to our said second
improvement wherein the flux is produced by means of the hydrostatic pressure
of water from an elevated reservoir communicating with the vat, .tub, or
vessel, as aforesaid, a small reflux may be effected, if desired, by a momentary
opening of a small exit valve or sluice in a waste pipe, or channel leading
from the vat, tub, or vessel, and shutting that valve again very suddenly, the
said opening and shutting being performed at proper intervals by means of
suitable connections between the said exit valve or sluice, and the other parts
of the apparatus, as herein-after described, and as shewn in the Sheet of
Drawings No. 2.
Sheet of the Drawings here annexed represents a horizontal plan and a
vertical elevation of a row of machines constructed to the former Patent
Invention of the said Thomas Petherick, with our present first improvement
applied thereto. The said machines stand side by side, and are all worked by
a communication of horizontal shafting (V, V,) and wheelwork v, x, y, z, from
one waterwheel. Figure 1 is a vertical elevation of one machine, and
Figure 2 is a horizontal plan of the same machine, corresponding to the
elevation of Fig. 1. Figures 3 and 5 are sections of two other machines, and
Figures 4 and 6 two corresponding horizontal plans of the same machines. The
same letters of reference denote the same parts in all the Figures, and they are all
drawn to a scale of half an inch to one foot, or one twenty-fourth part of the
real size. T is a connecting rod or plunger rod, which is required to be
moved alternately up and down. This may be accomplished by a crank or by
a camm, which is turned round by the power of a waterwheel or steam
engine, or by horses or manual labor, or other first moving power, either
applied to turn a long horizontal axis, as represented in the Drawing Sheet 1
at V, which by suitable pullies and endless straps, or by suitable wheelwork,
gives motion to several axes S, each having a crank or camm with levers, or
any other well known means may be used for communicating the required up
and down motion to the connecting rod T. This connecting rod has a piston
or plunger c attached to its lower end, which is intended to move up and down
with the rod in a chamber D, D. g, Figures 3 and 5, is an inverted valve in
the moveable plunger or piston (C, C,) and (h) is another inverted valve at the
bottom of the chamber (D, D,) in which the plunger or piston moves; both
of these valves must be made of buoyant wood, so that they will have a ten
dency to rise upward in the water and close themselves. They may be circular
valves applied to stop circular holes in the plunger or piston C and the
bottom of the chamber D, D. Each valve is guided and kept in its place by
three or four upright fixed pins with hooks at their lower ends to stop

page_text: the valve when opened, and limit the extent to which the valve shall
open.. In Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, C is a hollow moveable plunger or short
ylinder, open at the top, which is made smooth and true on the out-
side surface, and works up and down through a packing, which is contained
in a stuffing box (B), and is retained therein by a gland or ring. That
stuffing box is situated at the top of a hollow cylinder or chamber (D, D),
which is fixed in the centre of the upper plate or fixed cover (W) of the large
vat, tub, or vessel (E), which may be of a square form, with upright sides.
The cover (W). has in it four circular openings F, F, F, F, near the four
corners of the square, as shewn in Figs. 2 and 4, each of which openings is
surrounded with a short cylindrical hoop or rim, forming four receptacles for
the sieves (K), Fig. 1, into which sieves the ores are put, in order to separate
them from the earthy and other substances with which they are or may be
mixed, the separation being effected by the action of the water contained in
the vessel (E), when that water is put in motion by the descending motion of
the moveable plunger or piston (C), so as to cause the water in the recep-
tacles (F) to rise therein with a sudden flux and flow through the ores and
other substances contained in the seives, all which is according to the said
Thomas Petherick's former Patent Invention; but according to the first of
our present improvements, the valve g is added in the moveable plunger or
piston, and the valve h is added at the bottom of the chamber D, D, in which
the said piston, or plunger moves; and during the flux of the water in the
receptacles, it runs over the rims thereof into the upper part of the vessel E,
which is above the fixed cover (W), and from thence the said water flows
over into the open top of the plunger or piston C into the hollow central part
of the plunger or piston, and thence it returns through the valve g into the
chamber D, whenever the plunger or piston C is drawn upwards. The same
water is again forced out of the chamber D by the downward motion of the
plunger C into that part of the vessel E which is below the fixed cover W, in
order that another flux may be caused in the receptacles and sieves, and so on
successively. G, Figure 1, is an orifice for the pipe which supplies water to
the vessel E. H are a number of plug holes to draw off the water from the
vessel E; and I, the moveable plate or door to take out the small fragments
of ore from the lower part of the vessel E. L, Fig. 1, is the perpendicular
piston rod, fixed to the centre of the moveable piston or plunger C, and guided
at its upper end to retain the piston or plunger in a perpendicular direction,
when it is moved up and down with alternate motion by means of the con-
necting rod T, and a revolving crank pin (m), at the end of a horizontal
axis (S), Fig. 1 and 2, which axis is turned round either by an endless strap

page_text: or endless chain and pullies, having varieties of speeds, as shewn in Figure
2 and 1, or else by bevil wheelwork, having varieties of speeds, shewn in
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, to communicate motion from a long horizontal axis V,
which extends along the row of machines, and imparts motion to all of them,
being itself regularly turned round by water power applied to a cog wheel (R)
on one end of it, or by steam power, or the strength of the horses, or the
machines may be turned by the strength of men. The axis (S) of the crank
may have a fly wheel (Z), Fig. 1 and 2, fixed upon it to regulate the motion,
and which will be useful when the motion is transmitted by an endless strap
or chain, but is not necessary when bevil wheels are used. In case the
machines are to be worked by the strength of men, each. machine, may
have its own separate axis, corresponding to that marked S, which axis being
placed in a suitable position to be turned by means of winch handles on the
opposite ends of it, the men may turn it quicker or slower as is required; or
it may be worked by a man or men working a simple lever or forcing-pump
handle, to which the piston rod may be connected. Or the said lever may be
placed in an upright or pendulous position, with a heavy weight at the lower
end of it, which weight will cause the lever to vibrate, in the manner of a
pendulum, when the man swings it backwards and forwards with his hand in
the manner sometimes practised for working pumps. Or two men may be
seated on low seats, with footboards before them, like the rowers in a boat;
they must sit facing each other, with the said pendulum between them, and
by ropes or by leading rods they may draw it towards them by turns, with an
action like that of rowing, so as to cause it to vibrate and give an alternating
motion to the piston. The weight which is applied to the said pendulum may
be slided up or down, and fixed at such a distance from the centre of motion
as will adapt the pendulum to vibrate with a quickness suitable. to that
wherewith the piston is required to work; or each machine may have a small
water wheel for itself, distinct from the others, the axis of which small water
wheel may correspond to the axis (V), that is, it may be connected with the
axis (S) and the crank by an endless strap or by wheelwork, in the same
manner as the axis (V) is represented to be connected; and by drawing more
or less water on that small water wheel the machinery may be worked quicker
or slower, without making change in the gears or pullies. The axis (S), in
Figures 3 and 4, is represented with two bevil wheels (v, x,) upon the extreme
end of it; and two other bevil wheels (y, z,) are applied, upon the long. hori-
zontal axis (V). All those four wheels are of different sizes, and are all
capable of being slided along their respective axes, and of being fixed fast
thercon at any place, so that any two of the four wheels may be put in gear

page_text: together, in order to transmit the motion to the axis (S) with four different
variations of speed, as may be required; for instance, the large wheel (y) may
either turn the large wheel (v) or the smaller wheel (x); or, the smaller
wheel (2) may either turn the small wheel (a), or it may turn the large wheel
(v), and thus a quicker or less rapid speed will be given to the axis (S), and
to the crank. The axis (S), in Figures (5 and 6), is represented with a
snail or camm (1), instead of a crank, fastened to the flat plate (r) at
the end of the horizontal axis (S), instead of the plate (n), from which
the crank pin m projects out, as shewn in Figures (1 and 3), for that plate
being removed the snail or camm (1) can be applied in its place against the
flat surface of the plate (r), and fastened by the two screw bolts. The
curved circumference of the camm (1) operates upon a roller (d), Figures 5
and 6, which is mounted in the forked end of a lever (e), the opposite end of
that lever being its centre of motion (f), and that centre is supported by a
bracket affixed to the wood framing of the machinery. The connecting rod T
is jointed to the lever (e) by the same pin m which serves for the centre pin of
the roller (d). When the camm (1) is turned round along with the axis (S),
its curved circumference acting beneath the circumference of the roller (d)
will first raise the same up, together with the plunger (C), and then let it down
again by the weight of the plunger (which must be sufficiently loaded for that
purpose) with an alternating motion, which will answer the same purpose as
the motion produced by a crank. But with the camm the curvature of the
different portions of its circumference may be varied, so that it will let the
plunger (C) descend by its own weight with a sudden motion, and it may then
be kept almost stationary, or may continue to descend further with a slow rate
of motion, or may begin to rise again with a gradual motion as soon as its
sudden descent is terminated. Where any of these particular kind of motions
are considered to be desireable, the camm (1) can at any time be removed,
and another camm substituted with a suitable curvature to communicate that
particular kind of motion and that extent of reciprocating motion to the
plunger which will best effect the separation of the particular ores from the
other substances with which they are mixed. And note, as a substitute for a
plunger or piston, a strong leather bag of a cylindrical form may be fastened
to the piston all round its circumference, as is shewn at (k, k, Fig. 5), the
other end of the said bag (k, k,) being made fast to the circular aperture of the
chamber (D, D), which occupies the centre of the cover (W) of the
vessel (E), the said leather bag forming as it were a lining to the chainber
(D, D), in which chamber the piston is moved up and down, and when
so moved, the leather bag (k, k,) will expand and contract in length, and

page_text: must be kept distended by hoops applied within it at such distances apart
as will allow the leather to fold between them when the bag lengthens and
shortens. The advantage of the said bag as a substitute for the aforesaid
plunger or piston with packing is, that the apparatus is worked with less
friction, and consequently more easily put in motion. The mode of operation
of the machinery herein-before described is as follows:-The large vessel
being filled with water by the pipe which joins to the orifice (G) to within a
few inches of the upper edges of the same above the fixed cover (W), a sieve
(K), partly filled with the ores and the earthy and other substances with
which they are mixed, (and which may be called waste, and which are
intended to be separated therefrom,) is placed in each of the receptacles. A
continual reciprocating or alternating motion is given to the plunger or piston
(C) by one or other of the means herein-before described, and which in the
downward movement of the plunger or piston causes a sudden flux of the
water through the bottoms of the sieves acting beneath the ores and waste,
and raising the same upwards, and in so rising the waste earthy and other
substances being principally of less specific gravity than the ores, the
ascending water will have a tendency to raise the said waste higher than it
raises the ores, which form their greater specific gravity have a tendency to
remain in the lower part of the sieves; as soon as the downward movement of
the plunger ceases, the valve (h) being buoyant closes, and remains closed
during the upward motion of the plunger, so that all reflux of the water is.
prevented, and the ores and waste are allowed to settle and arrange themselves
during each interval between the succeeding fluxions of the water in the order
of their respective specific gravities, the waste, constituting the lighter portion,
remains on the top. The water forced up as aforesaid through the receptacles
flows over their rims into the upper portion of the vessel (E), above the fixed
cover (W), and from thence into the chamber (D, D), or into the interior of
the leather bag (k, k,) which lines that chamber in Figure 5, in order that
the said water may be forced again into the under part of the vessel (E),
because according to our first improvement the piston (C), with the two
inverted valves (g and h) operates in the manner of a single acting pump to
force water into the vessel (E) every time the piston descends, for then the
inverted valve. (g) in the piston closes, and the piston (C) becomes a solid
piston to force water downwards out of the chamber (D, D), through the
valve (h), which opens itself into the vessel (E), so as to cause the water in
the receptacles (F, F,) to rise with a sudden flux, and the water so raised
gradually overflows the rims of the receptacles into the chamber (D, D),
where a deficiency of water has just been caused by the descent of the piston

page_text: (C), that descent driving down water before it; but when the piston (C) is
raised up again by the action of its crank or camm, it produces no action, for
the inverted valve (h) at the bottom of the chamber (D,D,) closes of itself, so
as to prevent any water returning out of the under-part of the vessel (E) into
the chamber, but the valve (9,) in the piston opens, so as to avoid any
displacement of the water contained in the chamber D by the rising of the
piston. By a continuance of this alternating motion, the larger fragments of
the ores gradually collect on the bottoms of the sieves, whilst the smaller
fragments and particles thereof pass through the openings of the said bottoms
into the lower part of the vessel (E), and the waste collects gradually above
the larger fragments of ores which remain in the sieves. When the requisite
degree of separation is effected, the sieves are removed from their receptacles
without stopping the motion of the machinery, and as soon as a sieve is
removed from any one of the receptacles, another sieve ready filled with ores and
waste is to be put into that receptacle in place of the sieve which is withdrawn.
Those fragments and particles of ores which are sufficiently small to pass
through the openings of the bottoms of the sieves, and which fall during the
operation into the large vessel (E), collect in the lower part thereof. The
waste in the sieves (so withdrawn from the receptacles) will be found lying
over the larger fragments of ore, and is to be removed from off the ore, which
ore, when a sufficient quantity thereof is collected in the sieves, is then taken
out of the same, clear from waste or nearly so.
At the conclusion of a day's
work, or at any other convenient period, when a parcel of ore is finished, the
plugs at (H, Figure 1,) or a requisite number of them, are withdrawn from
the plug holes (H), to let out the water from the vessel (E), and the small
fragments and particles of ores which have collected therein are taken out
through the aperture that is covered by the moveable plate or door (I) which
is removed for that purpose. All which operation of the machinery is the
same as in the said Thomas Petherwick's former Patent Invention, only that
by virtue of our present improvement the flux is succeeded by tranquillity in
the water instead of a reflux, that tranquillity being obtained in our first
improvement by the action of the valves (g and h).
Sheet II., Figure 7, of the Drawings, represents a method of applying
hydrostatic pressure, by means of a reservoir of water communicating with the
vat, tub, or vessel previously described, the reservoir being raised a little above
the vat, tub, or vessel, and in lieu of the plunger or piston a chamber or
cistern (D) is fixed in the centre of the cover (W) of the vessel (E) with the
valve (9) at the bottom of it opening upwards; an adequate supply of water
is poured continually into the cistern (D), so as to keep the same filled up, in

page_text: order that the water may stand at a sufficient height above the cover (W), to
enable the water in the cistern (D) to act with an adequate pressure on the
valve (g), in order that when that valve is suddenly opened by lifting it up by
its rod (m), the water may make its way into the vessel (E), with sufficient
force and promptitude to raise the water in the receptacles with the requisito
sudden flux, so as to cause the ore and other substances contained in the sieves
to be lifted up from off the bottoms of the sieves in the manner before stated;
and then the valve (9) being let fall will stop that sudden flux, in order that
the ore and stuff may subside again to the bottom of the sieves. The valve (g)
may be opened and shut at proper intervals by a boy or other person, with a
lever handle like that of a pump, or it may be worked by machinery in
case (instead of a running streain being employed to. keep the aforesaid
cistern (D) adequately filled) any machinery is used for returning and raising
up water into the said chamber, in order to use the same water over again and
again; for note, the water that makes its escape from the receptacles (F), by
flowing over at the top thereof, either during the sudden flux, or during the
pause, or during the gentle flowing which is to succeed that. flux or that pause,
is to be conveyed away by suitable spouts from off the top. of cover (W),
which cover being surrounded by the sides of the vessel (E) like a raised
border, forms a shallow cistern to contain the water which overflows from the
receptacles, and those spouts should flow off equally from all the sides of the
border round the cover (W) of the vessel (E). And note, that when a
suitable constant stream of running water can be had, the water which is so
conveyed away from off the cover (W) may be allowed to run through
suitable pools called slime pitts, and may go away down the stream.. (n) is an
exit valve covering the orifice of an exit pipe (o), by which a reflux of the
water through the bottoms of the sieves can be produced if required. The
valve (n) being suspended in a suitable manner, joins to the other end of the
lever, which is worked by hand or otherwise for lifting the valve (9) so as to
admit of opening the valve (n) at the proper intervals, namely, when the
valve (9) shuts, and vice versa, and the water so flowing through the sd exit
pipe (o) may either be caught in some suitable pool or cistern and raised up
again, like that flowing over the tops of the receptacles or together with it, or it
may be caught in suitable pools or slime pitts, and, ultimately run off therefrom
down the stream..
Figure 8, Sheet II., is a horizontal plan, and Figure 9 is a vertical section of
a mode by which the hydrostatic pressure may be applied in a very simple and
effective manner. E is the vessel or cistern divided vertically at (p) part of
the way down below, the cover (W). (F) is a fixed receptacle, in which a

page_text: sieve is placed, as before described. (g) is a valve attached to an iron
lever (s), which is poised on a centre of motion in the manner of a scale
beam; the said valve being formed of iron (but it may be made of any other
metal or of wood) and hollow within, with a lid shifting on or off, in order to
admit of suitable weights being placed within it, or removed so as to adjust the
weight of the said valve according to the elevation of the head of water
at (A), so that it will just overcome the bydrostatic pressure by the weight
of the said valve. (q) is a moveable box with three sides, the end of the
vessel (E) forming the fourth side, and the bottom of the said box is fixed
upon the lever (r), at the opposite end thereof, to the end whereon the
valve (9) is fixed. (t) is a sliding board or shuttle to regulate the height of
the head of water flowing over it in a (A), and which shuttle (t) is allowed
to slide upwards from being with its upper edge on a level with the rim of
the receptacle (F), to five or six inches higher than that level. From
practical experience, we have found three or four inches difference of level to
be as much as is necessary to produce an adequate hydrostatic pressure for
dressing ores; but the vessel's sides may be raised to produce any greater force,
if such should be found requisite, from the greater specific gravity of different
ores; the mode of operation is as follows:-The water being constantly
supplied either from a running stream or by means of water-raising machinery,
as previously described, is allowed to flow into the vessel (E), over the upper
edge of the shuttle (A), and thence it passes beneath the vertical partition (p),
and rises up through the sieve in the receptacle (F), and overflows the top
edge thereof into that part of the vessel (E) which is above the horizontal
cover (W), whence it runs over the top of the vertical partition (P) into the
box (g), which on being filled with the water so running over, becomes heavier
than the valve (g), then by the lever (s) it descends, and causes the said valve
to ascend and close the aperture of the receptacle (F) beneath the sieve, that
the said box (g), when it has descended with its flat bottom lower than
the aperture (u) in the end of the upper part of the vessel (E) discharges
its water through the said aperture, and when empty it again becomes
lighter than the valve (9), which, by preponderating, opens and admits
the flux of water a second time to rise up through the receptacle and
sieve, and so on successively, and these alternate motions may be rendered
more or less rapid by conducting a part of the water by a shute or trough
from the head of water at (A) along the side of the vessel into the box (7),
because the quantity of water directed in a given time into the said box (g),
regulates the rapidity or slowness of its movements. The water thus flowing
away at the aperture (u), may be caught in suitable pools or slime pits
previous to its being ultimately carried off by the stream.

page_text: Figure 9, Sheet II., represents an arrangement whereby the hydrostatic
pressure is made applicable in the same way as in Figure 8; but instead of
the valves being worked by means of the water itself which flows over the
top of the receptacle, the valve is opened and shut alternately either by means
of a lever worked by a boy or other person, or by some machinery such as
that herein-before described, and the apparatus may be adapted to work
several sieves from one action. (E) is a vessel of sufficient size and divided
horizontally by the cover at (W), and divided vertically by partitions at (p,p,p),
so as to hold four sieves in corresponding receptacles (F). (9, 9, 9, 9,) are the
valves beneath each of those receptacles, which valves are affixed to the ends
of levers (o, o.) which are poised in centres similarly to the lever (o), Figure 8,
the opposite ends of the said levers (o, o,) being connected by the links (r)
to the ends of other levers (x, x,) the opposite ends of which are attached by
a link to a long cross lever (y), which is worked up and down by a boy or
other person in the manner of a pump handle. And note, the opposite end
of the lever (y) may be connected with another set of levers (x) and links (r)
and levers (s) carrying four other valves (g) beneath four other receptacles (F)
in a similar manner to the four which are represented, and in this way eight
to twelve or sixteen sieves, or other suitable number, may be worked by a
boy or other person. Or they may be worked by a water wheel or other
machinery, and as the valves are arranged so as to balance each other at
opposite ends of the several levers, there will only be the friction of the
parts to be overcome in opening and shutting the said valves. The operation
of the last-described machinery with several receptacles is as follows:-A
constant stream of water being allowed to flow into the compartment (A. 1),
runs over the top edge of the sluice therein, then passing under the partition
(p) in the vessel (E), it rises through the sieve in the receptacle (F 1), from
whence it overflows into the next compartment (A 2), then passes under the
partition (p) in the vessel (E) and rises through the sieve contained in the
next receptacle (F 2); thence it overflows in a similar manner into (A-3).and
through the. receptacle (F 3) into (A 4), and lastly rises through the recep-
tacle (F 4), each receptacle being on a lower level than the preceding one,
as is shewn by dotted lines in the section. The overflow from the lowest
receptacle (F 4) may either be used to work another set of vessels, which
are similarly arranged and placed on a lower level, or it may be caught in
suitable pools or slime pits previously to being carried off as waste water down
the course of the stream. The several valves g beneath the several receptacles
may be alternately opened and shut by a lever at (y), worked either by hand
or by some suitable machinery, so as to permit a sudden flux of the water

page_text: to take place, and stopping the same at suitable intervals without sensible
reflux between the fluxions in order to cause the separation of the ores from
the waste or refuse stuff, in the same manner as in the other methods
herein-before described. The last-described machinery represented in
Figures 8 and 9, Sheet II., is drawn to a scale of three quarters of an inch
to a foot.
Having now described our machinery and apparatus, I, the said John
Filmore Kingston, for the said Thomas Petherick and for myself, do hereby
declare that our Invention does not consist in any specific form or size of any
of the vessels or parts herein-before described (for the same may be greatly
varied), nor in the number, size, or form of the receptacles for the sieves, nor
in the size, form, or construction of the sieves which are to be placed in those
receptacles. The choice of the proper kind and size of sieves to be used
therein depending (as the same choice does in jigging ores by hand) upon
the sort of ores and waste which are to be separated, except that if desired
larger sieves may be used containing a greater quantity of ores and waste than
could be conveniently handled in the usual way of jigging by boys holding the.
sieves in their hands. But what we do claim as our present improvements in
machinery and apparatus for dressing ores is,―
.
Firstly, the application of suitable moveable valves, in the manner herein-
before described, to the plunger or piston, or the substitute for a plunger or
piston, which works alternately up and down in the cylinder or chamber of
machinery, which is constructed in the manner described in the Specification
belonging to the Patent granted, as herein-before mentioned, by His late
Majesty to the aforesaid Thomas Petherick, and bearing date the Twenty-
eighth day of April, One thousand eight hundred and thirty. The said
application of valves being made by us for the purpose of causing an inter-
mitting flux of the water in the receptacles wherein the sieves are placed
without any reflux, or with only such a small reflux as is deemed expedient;
and,―
Secondly, we claim the various means herein-before described of producing
a flux of the water in the said receptacles at frequent succeeding intervals as
aforesaid, without a moveable piston or plunge, by means of a head of water
to act at frequent intervals by hydrostatical column pressure, in order forcibly
to introduce water into the vat, tub, or other vessel, when a suitable entrance
valve is opened for a momentary action and then shut again, as herein-before
described, the water so introduced producing a flux of the water in the
receptacles being followed by a reflux, in order in any or all of the above
cases, by such repeated raising and overflowing of the water in the receptacles,

page_text: by repeated fluxions thereof without refluxions, to facilitate the separating
of copper, lead, and other ores from earthy and other substances with which
they are or may be mixed. The form of construction and the magnitude
and arrangement of the parts herein-before described may be greatly varied
according to the various kinds of ores which it is intended to treat by
machinery according to our said improvements without departing from the
essential nature of our Invention as herein.declared.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Filmore Kingston, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, on behalf of the said Thomas Petherick and
myself, this Eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Eighth day of September, in
the
year of our Lord 1832, the aforesaid John Filmore Kingston came before
our said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to
the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.