IMPROVEMENTS IN AMALGAMATORS to be as follows:
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1886.
Complete Left, 12th Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 12th July, 1887.
We EWALD FISCHER, Engineer, and MAX WILLIAM WEBER, Merchant, both of
15 Queen Street, in the City of London do hereby declare the nature of the said
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AMALGAMATORS to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to certain improvements in Amalgamators, that is, apparatus
and means whereby the process of separation of precious metals from their ores and
foreign substances is carried on by mercurial amalgamation in combination with
electricity.
The objects of this Invention are :—
(1). To provide apparatus of improved construction wherein the process of bringing
the particles of the ore on to and intimately into connection with the mercury is
effected by mechanical and chemical means.
(2). The operation of so presenting and treating the ore and precious metals in
mixture therewith is to be carried out under special electrical conditions inherent to
the apparatus and the fitting up of the same.
(3). Continuous "make" and "break" of the electric current, constantly passing
in one direction is to be effected in order to give a constant succession of shocks to
the matters affected by the electric current.
(4). Provision is made for the introduction to the matters or substances under
treatment and having or carrying in mixture the precious metals, of gases of various
and required kinds to act upon the chemical combinations of so called complex ores
30 as to free the precious metals more effectually for their presentation to and reception
by the mercury in the amalgamator.
The invention is carried out as follows:-
The mixing apparatus employed for introducing the ground ore with its conveying
iquor to the amalgamator apparatus, will be of ordinary or required kind, and the
chamber from which the so mixed ore and liquid will be discharged will have a level
bove the other part of the apparatus and be fitted with a gate or sluice shutter for
egulating the supply and flow.

page_text: This supply will be served to the following special apparatus
-
In the first chamber or tank there are mounted three rollers in succession, the first
of which rollers is to be mounted so that its face will work in the mercury which is
placed in the said chamber.
This roller in its connection with the electric current (supplied from a Dynamo
machine or other source of electric supply) is negative as is the mercury which acts as
cathode.
The other two rollers of the series are made as barrellets, that is with end cheeks
and lengthwise strips of wood forming a cylinder. The outer faces of the strips of
the barrellet, are armed with carbon strips and are fitted and move above the level
of the mercury and these carbon strips are in their connection with the electric current
positive and act as anodes.
The rollers before described are fitted with hollow axles perforated, or made with
openings along their length, within the rollers and said axles are encased in surrounding
barrellets or casings within the rollers. The said inner barrellets are covered with
flannel or felted material or cloth through which the gas or gases, introduced by way
of the hollow axles, will find way to the material under treatment.
Tubular connections will be provided from the gas container or containers to the
hollow axles of the rollers.
The rollers of the said chamber will have motion imparted thereto so as to be
rotated in one direction but will be geared or driven so as to run at different
velocities.
To facilitate the amalgamation of the precious metal with the mercury permanganate
of potash in solution will be introduced to the liquid employed to wash the ore through
the apparatus to which liquid a little acid will be added. The permanganate of
potash will be contained in a reservoir fitted with a draw off tube and stop-cock so as
that the solution will run or drip slowly into the liquid of the ore in the first or roller-
tank. The strength of the solution of permanganate of potash in its reservoir as
above stated will be about one part to one or two thousand parts of water according
to the quantity of sulphide present in the ore.
Together with this addition of permanganate of potash, chlorine gas is to be
introduced to the ore by way of the hollow axles of the rollers as before described.
The chlorine gas and permanganate of potash come together and chemical action
is set up which will give the chlorine gas in its nascent state in that combination so
rendering the action of that gas upon the chemical impurities of the precious metal
very active and effecting the cleansing of the precious metals when presented to the
mercury and in the best possible condition for the amalgamation with the mercury to
take effect. A separation of the particles of the constituents of the ore is effected by
these means and the precious metals will be terminated to or be received at the
negative pole, that is the mercury.
The next tank in series will be shallow and will be provided with a wooden disc
mounted on a vertical spindle working in bearings above the tank, said wooden disc
being covered, on the side facing the mercury, with carbon said carbon serving as
anode to the mercury cathode. The carbon of the disc is metallicly connected with
the positive pole. Between the said disc and the mercury the ore is to be passed, that
is, to be washed through, and the precious metals, that may have been carried over
from the first chamber will be purified and freed from all sulphides and pyrites
and such like foreign matters thus the precious metals will be found pure in the
mercury.
The next portion of the apparatus is to be a copper tank or pan of flat plate like
form, which pan is prepared on its inner face with amalgam of silver, and a disc is
mounted and will rotate above this pan, said disc being mounted and faced with carbon
similarly to that last described and connected with the positive pole of the electric
current circuit. The ore will be washed over this pan for the purpose of ensuring
that no particles of mercury will be lost. The said pan is connected with the negative
pole of the electric source of supply.
The upper half of the apparatus is made of wood so as to insulate it from the lower

page_text: portion. The mercury is supplied to the apparatus and is filled in up to the level
required. Proper stop-cocks and ways are to be provided for regulating the wash of
the ore through the apparatus and for drawing off the mercury when required and so
forth.
The connections from the Dynamo electric machine or source of electricity will be
as follows:-The connections from the negative pole will be taken to the mercury
container and pans and to the negatively connected roller. The positive pole of the
electric source of supply will be connected directly to the device for effecting the
continuous "make" and "break" of the current and thence to the parts of the apparatus
carrying or serving as the carriers of the anode parts.
All the rollers will be mounted in lignum vitæ bearings of the framework.
The means for effecting the "make" and "break" of the electric current as above
specified is mounted in the circuit and a rotating barrel is employed with alternate
metallic and insulated parts or surfaces upon which a spring finger or "brush" will
bear. The metallic surfaces of the rotating barrel will be in electric connection with
the positive pole. The spring finger or "brush" will be in proper electric connection
with the anode parts of the apparatus.
Upon the machine being set in motion the said barrel will be rotated and the
current circuit will be successively closed and opened throughout the whole of the
apparatus in connection.
For this "make" and "break" of current other equivalent means may be employed
in the circuit such as an electro magnet and armature but the vibrating armature in that
case would serve the purpose of the spring finger or brush before described and be
similarly connected as will be well understood by any practical electrician.
Dated this 12th day of July 1886.
WALTER A. BARLOW,
6, St. Paul's Churchyard, London,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Amalgamators.
We EWALD FISCHER Engineer and MAX WILLIAM WEBER, Merchant, both of
15 Queen Street in the City of London, 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 certain improvements in amalgamators, that is, apparatus
and means whereby the process of separation of precious metals from their ores and
foreign substances is carried on by mercurial amalgamation in combination with
electricity and certain chemical agents or reagents.
The objects of this Invention are:-
(1). To provide apparatus of improved construction wherein the process of bringing
the particles of the ore on to and intimately into connection with the mercury is
effected by mechanical and chemical means.
The operation of so presenting and treating the ore and precious metals in mixture
therewith is to be carried out under special electrical conditions inherent to the
apparatus and the fitting up of the same.
Continuous "make" and "break" of the electric current, circuit constantly passing
in one direction is to be effected in order to give a constant succession of shocks to the
matters affected by the electric current.
Provision is made for the introduction to the matters or substance under treatment
and having or carrying in mixture the precious metals, of gases of various and
required kinds to act upon the chemical combinations of so called complex ores so as
to free the precious metals more effectually for their presentation to and reception by
the mercury in the mercury container of the amalgamator.
The invention is carried out as follows:-
Figs. 1 and 2 are longitudinal section and plan of apparatus.
The mixing apparatus A, employed for introducing the ground ore with its conveying
liquor to the amalgamator apparatus, will be of ordinary or required kind, and the
chamber from which the so mixed ore and liquid will be discharged will have a level
above the other part of the apparatus and be fitted with a gate or sluice shutter A¹ for
regulating the supply and flow.
This supply will be served to the following special apparatus
In the first chamber or tank a there are mounted three rollers b, c, d, in succession,
the first of which rollers, b, is to be mounted so that its face will work in the mercury
which is placed in the said chamber a. The mercury level is indicated by the
line y-z.
This roller 6 in its connection with the electric current (supplied from a Dynamo
machine or other source of electric supply) is negative as is the mercury which acts
as cathode. The whole chamber a is of cast iron and is in electric negative connection
as is the roller b. The roller 6 may therefore take its bearings on the sides of chamber a

page_text: direct without other connection. The other two rollers c, d of the series are made as
barrellets, that is with end checks e and lengthwise strips of wood forming a
cylinder.
The outer faces of the strips fof the barallet are armed with carbon strips g attached
to the wood by copper screws or by plugs, and are fitted and move above the level of
the mercury and these carbon strips 9 are in their connection with the electric current
positive and act as anodes. The shafts h are fitted in wooden bearings h¹.
The roller b before described is fitted with hollow axle i perforated, or made with
openings along its length; within the roller and said axle is encased in a surrounding
barrellet or strips forming a casing within the roller b. The said inner barrellet is
covered with flannel or felted material or cloth through which the gas or gases
(introduced through and by way of the hollow axle) will find way to the material
under treatment.
Tubular connections will be provided from the gas container or containers to the
hollow axles of the rollers. These may be flexible india rubber.
The rollers of the said chamber will have motion imparted thereto so as to be rotated
in one direction but will be geared or driven so as to run at different velocities.
To facilitate the amalgamation of the precious metal with the mercury permanganate
of potash in solution will be introduced into chamber a to the liquid employed to
wash the ore through the apparatus to which liquid a little acid will be added. This
may be in chamber a.
The permanganate of potash will be contained in a reservoir fitted with a draw off
tube and stop-cock so as that the solution will run or drip slowly into the liquid of
the ore in the roller-tank a. The strength of the solution of permanganate of potash
in its reservoir as above stated will be about one part to one or two thousand parts of
water according to the quantity of sulphide present in the ore.
Together with this addition of permanganate of potash, chlorine gas is to be
introduced to the ore by way of the hollow axle i of the roller bas before
described.
The chlorine gas and permanganate of potash come together and chemical action is
set up which will give the chlorine gas in the nascent state in that combination so
rendering the action of that gas upon the chemical impurities of the precious metal
very active and effecting the cleansing of the precious metals when presented to the
mercury and in the best possible condition for the amalgamation with the mercury to
take effect.
A separation of the particles of the constituents of the ore is effected by these means
and the precious metals will be terminated to or be received at the negative pole, that
is the mercury.
The next tank in series will be shallow and will be provided with a wooden disc m
mounted on a vertical spindle n working in bearings above the tank, said wooden disc
being covered on the side facing the mercury with carbon m³, said carbon serving as
anode to the mercury cathode. The carbon of the disc is metallicly connected with
the positive pole, for instance through the spindle n. Between the said disc and the
mercury the ore is to be passed, that is, to be washed through, and any residue of
precious metals that may have been carried over from the first chamber; will be purified
and freed from all sulphides and pyrites and such like foreign matters, thus the
precious metals will be found pure in the mercury.
P
The next portion of the apparatus is to be a copper tank o or pan of flat plate
like form, which pan is prepared on its inner face with amalgam of silver, and a disc
is mounted and will rotate above this pan o; said disc being mounted and faced with
carbon o', similarly to that last described, and connected with the positive pole of the
electric current.circuit. (This may be through the spindle q.) The ore will be washed
over this pan for the purpose of ensuring that no particles of mercury will be
lost. The said pan o is connected with the negative pole of the electric source of
supply.
The upper half of the chamber a is made of wood so as to insulate it from the lower

page_text: portion. The mercury is supplied to the chamber a, and is filled in up to the level y―z
required.
The chamber is a continuation of chamber a, and has a like level of the mercury.
Proper stop cocks r and a sluice s are to be provided for regulating the wash of the
ore through the apparatus and for drawing off the mercury when required and so
forth.
The connections from the Dynamo electric machine or source of electricity will be
as follows:-The connections from the negative pole will be taken to the mercury
container a and pans and to the negatively connected roller. The positive pole of
the electric source of supply will be connected directly to the device for effecting the
continuous "make " and "break of the current and thence to the parts of the
apparatus carrying or serving as the carriers of the anode parts. The roller b may be
mounted without electrical connection except its contact with the mercury.
"
The rollers c d will be mounted in lignum vitæ bearings of the framework.
The means for effecting the "make" and "break" of the electric current as above
specified is mounted in the circuit directly with the positive pole. This consists of a
rotating barrel or disc r fitted somewhat like a comutator with alternate metallic
and insulated parts or surfaces upon which a spring finger or "brush" will bear
The metallic surfaces of the rotating barrel or disc will be in electric connection with
the positive pole.
The spring finger or "brush" will be put in proper electric connection with the
anode parts of the apparatus viz. roller cd. Upon the machine being set in motion
the said barrel or comutator will be rotated and the current circuit will be successively
closed and opened throughout the whole of the apparatus in connection giving shocks
of the current to the mercury as the carbon strips 9 establish the connection with the
mercury.
Fig. 3, sheet 3, is a cross section of the roller b, shewing the hollow shaft with
perforations for introduction of the gas.
Fig. 4 is a like view of the rollers c. d.
Fig. 5 is a view of the tank 7 and parts for giving the "make" and "break."
Fig. 6 is a view of tank o.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
Firstly. The improved amalgamator apparatus constructed combined and operating
as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Secondly. Causing the "make" and "break" of the electric current in amalgamator
apparatus as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Thirdly. The employment in an amalgamator of permanganate of potash and chlorine
gas as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Dated 12th March 1887
WALTER A. BARLOW,
6, St. Paul's Churchyard, London,
Agent for Fischer & Weber.