IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE ESPECIALLY FOR SEPARATING GOLD FROM CRUSHED AURIFEROUS QUARTZ, SANDS OR EARTHS
Year: 1884

page_text: I BENJAMIN FREDERICK ATKINSON of 3 Hemmings Row, Charing Cross in the
County of Middlesex Surgical Mechanician do hereby declare the nature of
my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE ESPECIALLY FOR
SEPARATING GOLD FROM CRUSHED AURIFEROUS QUARTZ, SANDS OR EARTHS" to be
as follows:-
“
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus applicable especially
for separating gold from crushed auriferous quartz sands or earths.
For this purpose I employ a pan suspended horizontally to which a quick
oscillating to and fro motion is imparted by a crank or otherwise. The bottom of
the pan is made to slope downwards from its sides and ends to a small opening at
the centre and from this opening a flexible tube is made to descend to a closed
bottle or receiver. This tube and receiver are kept filled with water. The supply
of water is maintained through a branch tube which extends from the receiver or
flexible tube and the water rises up through the flexible tube and passes into the
pan either continuously or whenever required so that the tube and pan are always
kept filled with water. The opening at the bottom of the pan is fitted with a
valve which can be raised more or less as required to permit the heavier particles
which have collected above it to descend through the flexible tube into the
receiver.
Crushed ore or screened sand or alluvial deposits in a wet state is supplied to
the pan through a hopper or funnel fixed immediately above it. As the crushed
ore or sand or deposit descends from the hopper into the pan and the pan receives
at the same time an oscillating motion the heavier particles descend gradually
towards the valve opening whilst the lighter particles are jerked over the upper
edges of the pan and fall into a cistern or vessel at the top of which the pan is
mounted.
In this way the washing can be carried on continuously until the bottle or
receiver is filled with metallic particles. The bottle or receiver can then be removed
to be emptied and another put in its place and whilst this is being done the flexible
tube can be grasped by a clip sufficiently tight to close the passage through it so
that the tube and pan may remain filled with water and the washing process be
carried on uninterruptedly.

page_text: The sides of the pan I make by preference to project higher than its ends so that
the ore whilst being washed cannot escape from the pan over its sides and the ends
of the pan I make to incline inwards so that as the pan oscillates to and fro the
water which strikes against the ends of the pan is thrown inwards at each oscillation
so that there is but little escape of water from the pan. In order also to keep the
powdered ore sand or earth which is within the pan continually admixed with the
water I employ a number of pins or pegs which descend from bars placed cross
wise of the pan and reach nearly but not quite to the bottom.
The earthy matters which are delivered over the edges of the pan can be
conducted away in any suitable manner from the cistern into which they fall.

page_text: I BENJAMIN FREDERICK ATKINSON of 3 Hemmings Row, Charing Cross in the
County of Middlesex, Surgical Mechanician do hereby declare the nature of
my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE ESPECIALLY FOR
SEPARATING GOLD FROM CRUSHED AURIFEROUS QUARTZ OR BANDS OR EARTHS
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
"
This invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for separating gold
from crushed auriferous quartz or sands or earths.
For this purpose I employ a pan suspended horizontally to which a quick
oscillating to and fro motion is imparted by a crank or otherwise The bottom of
the pan is made to slope downwards from its sides and ends to a small opening at
the centre and from this opening a flexible tube is made to descend to a closed
bottle or receiver. This tube and receiver are kept filled with water.
The supply
of water is maintained through a branch tube which extends from the receiver or
flexible tube and the water rises up through the flexible tube and passes into
the pan either continuously or whenever required so that the tube and pan are
always kept filled with water. The opening at the bottom of the pan is fitted with
a valve which can be raised more or less as required to permit the heavier particles
which have collected above it to descend through, the flexible tube into the
receiver.
Crushed ore or screened sand or alluvial deposit in a wet state is supplied to
the pan through a hopper or funnel fixed immediately above it. As the crushed
ore or sand or deposit descends from the hopper into the pan and the pan receives
at the same time an oscillating motion the heavier particles descend gradually
towards the valve opening whilst the lighter particles are jerked over the upper
edges of the pan and fall into a cistern or vessel at the top of which the pan is
mounted.
In this way the washing can be carried on continuously until the bottle or
receiver is filled with metallic particles. The bottle or receiver can then be removed
to be emptied and another put in its place and whilst this is being done the flexible
tube can be grasped by a clip sufficiently tight to close the passage through it so
that the tube and pan may remain filled with water and the washing process be
carried on uninterruptedly.
The sides of the pan I make by preference to project higher than its ends so that
the ore whilst being washed cannot escape from the pan over its sides and the ends
of the pan I make to incline inwards so that as the pan oscillates to and fro the
water which strikes against the end of the pan is thrown inwards at each oscillation
so that there is but little escape of water from the pan. In order also to keep the

page_text: powdered ore sand or earth which is within the pan continually admixed with the
water I employ a number of pins or pegs which descend from bars placed crosswise
of the pan and reach nearly but not quite to the bottom.
The earthy matters which are delivered over the edges of the pan can be
conducted away in any suitable manner from the cistern into which they fall.
The drawing hereunto annexed shews a longitudinal section of apparatus in the
manner I prefer for carrying out my invention.
A is an oblong pan suspended by links B near each of its ends so that it may be
rocked end wise to and fro by a connecting rod from a revolving crank not shewn
in the drawing. The bottom of the pan is as shewn made to slope downwards to
a central opening C from which a flexible tube D passes to a closed bottle or receiver
not shewn in the drawing. E is a branch tube through which the supply of water
is introduced. F is a valve by which the opening C can be closed. G is a funnel
shaped bopper through which the powdered ore or material to be washed is
introduced into the pan.
The stem of the valve F is carried up through this funnel and has a disc H
projecting from it, which is pressed upon by a spring I-this spring is held down
by a cone J which is fixed a short distance above the top of the funnel. In this
way the valve F is always held down on its seat but can be lifted whenever
desired.
In the arrangement shewn in the drawing it can be lifted by turning a cap nut L
which screws on to the upper end of the valve stem but other ways of raising the
valve and of retaining it opened to any desired extent might be adopted.
Whenever the valve is lifted the stream of water which then rises up through
the opening C is sufficient to keep back the sands or earths from descending but
yet is not of sufficient force to prevent gold or other metal from passing downwards
into the bottle or receiver.
The valve and its stem have a passage made upwards through them as shown, at
the top of this pas-age are side openings through which a slight stream of water
may be maintained whenever the valve is closed. This passage serves to allow air
to pass from the bottle or receiver and to allow the bottle or receiver to become
completely filled with water.
KK are rows of pins fixed across the pan in order more effectually to keep the
water and matters mixed with it in constant agitation when the pan is rocked.
The ends of the pan are as shewn made to incline inwards to hinder the escape
of water when the pan is oscillated the sides of the pan are also preferably carried
up as shewn higher than the ends so that but little if any water or material is
jerked out over them.
When the apparatus is in action the valve F may be kept slightly open so that
solid metallic particles may continuously descend into the bottle or receiver-or the
valve may be opened from time to time whenever a quantity of metallic particles
have settled down around the valve.
When the bottle or receiver is filled with metallic particles the valve F'is closed
or the tube D is grasped with a clip so as to close the tube and the bottle or receiver
is then removed emptied and replaced.
The apparatus above described can not only be used for separating gold but also
for separating tin or other metals from their ores when crushed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination of a pan oscillated quickly to and fro and formed with the
bottom sloping down to an opening up through which a stream of water can be
maintained of sufficient force to keep sand or earth from descending but not of
sufficient strength to keep back metallic particles such as gold or tin.
2. The combination of a pan oscillated quickly to and fro and formed with
the bottom sloping down to an opening fitted with a valve from which opening a

page_text: flexible tube leads to a bottle or receiver and has a branch water supply tube
extending from it by which a stream of water can be caused to rise up through the
opening whenever the valve is opened.
3. The combination of apparatus substantially as hereinbefere described and
illustrated in the drawing annexed applicable especially for separating gold from
crushed auriferous quartz or sands or earths.