Improvements in Machinery and Appliances for Separating and Cleaning Auriferous and other Mineral Ores and Substances, and also Precious Stones, from their Gangue and other Associated Refuse Matter. and in Modes, Means and Processes connected therewith and for otherful Purposes
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application. 16th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 17th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 10th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery and Appliances for Separating and
Cleaning Auriferous and other Mineral Ores and Substances,
and also Precious Stones, from their Gangue and other Associated
Refuse Matter.
I, GEORGE MIDDLETON EDWARDS of No. 54 Gresham Street, London, E.C. in the
County of Middlesex, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
:-
Letters Patent dated 23rd May 1885 No. 6347, were granted to me for "Improve-
ments in Machinery and Appliances for Treating, Dressing and Cleaning Tin and
other Mineral Ores, and in Modes, Means and Processes connected therewith and for
other Useful Purposes"-and part of the processes therein indicated consisted in the
use of Washing Frames constructed of thin sheet iron, as described in my complete
specification to the above letters patent.
My present improvements in this process consist in so arranging the mechanical
appliances connected therewith, that a much larger bulk, and a greater variety, of
materials can be operated upon in a given time; a greater cleansing power can be
exercised by the water employed for that purpose; and that considerably increased
facility is obtained for discharging the material, as treated, from the machine.
According to my present Invention, I make use of channels constructed of metal,
wood or other suitable material advantageously rectangular in form and of convenient
dimensions, for example, from one to two feet broad, more or less, about 11 or 12
inches deep, more or less, and 8 feet long or more, as required.
These channels are made open at the top with perpendicular sides, and when used
are placed at an inclination of about one in six between the upper and lower ends.
The floor of the channels is constructed as follows. At the upper end the flooring is
made to incline about one in four for about two feet or more, when it rises
perpendicularly about 8 inches and from that elevation again inclines for about two
feet at the same angle as before, then again rises about 8 inches and again slopes as
before. These inclines and steps are repeated to any extent necessary. In the wedge
shaped spaces between the inclines and steps and upright sides of the channels, I place
moveable blocks wedge like in form, which are so arranged as to stand clear froui the
floor about one inch, more or less, and clear of the perpendicular face of the step
about one inch, more or less.
The object of this arrangement is to permit water-borne material to flow between
the bottom of the solid wedge and the surface of the flooring.
The method of working is as follows-The gangue or matrix containing the ore,
crushed to a suitable degree of fineness, is fed into the upper end of the channel from
an ordinary launder or similar appliance together with water, and flowing rapidly
down the first incline is checked by the first step, when, in order to leave this section
of the channel it has to rise perpendicularly through 8 inches of water to get over
the step and on to the second incline, after passing down which, it is met
by the second step where it again has to rise through the water, and so on through
the series.
In consequence of the channel in its total length being on an inclination of about
1 in 6 the top of each step is about 4 inches lower than the one preceding it
in the series.
Thus, for about 9 inches the water carrying the ore has a clear run before it reaches
the next lower water level. By this means the force of the head of water is kept up
to an extent sufficient to produce a controlled scour through the whole length of the

page_text: channel, by which a large proportion of the gangue or refuse matter will be
carried away through the. lower end of the channel, by reason of its weight being
relatively less than that of the mineral ore which remains in the several divisions of
the channel:
The same action, with the same result; is followed in the washing for diamonds and
other precious stones.
When the deposits in each or any of the inclines are sufficient to render it necessary
that they should be cleared out, this is effected by opening a valves running nearly the
whole breadth of the waterway, in the floor of the channel at the foot of each step.
through which the accumulation is washed out into a vessel conveniently placed
underneath the channel to receive it:
"
By simple mechanical' arrangements the head of the channel can be raised for
lowered with the object of altering the fall or the water, and clear water can bé lét
into each section of the channeli for the purpose of clearing out the material
deposited.
Dated this Fifteenth day of May 1889.
GEORGE MIDDLETON EDWARDS:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery and Appliances for Separating and
Cleaning Auriferous and other Mineral Ores and Substances,
and also Precious Stones, from their Gangue and other Associated
Refuse Matter.
GEORGE MIDDLETON EDWARDS of. No. 20 Dinsdale Road, Blackheath, S.E
in the County of Kent; Manufacturer; 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 :—
"
Letters Patent dated 23rd of May. 1885 No. 6347, were granted to me. for.
Improvements in Machinery and Appliances for Treating Dressing, and Cleaning
Tin and other Mineral Ores, and in Modes; Means; and Processes connected therewith
and for other Useful Purposes" and part of the processes therein indicated consisted
in the use of Washing Frames, constructed of thin sheet iron, as described in, my
complete specification to the above letters patent.
My present improvements in this process consist of and are effected by the use of
mechanical appliances which allow of a much larger bulk of material. being treated
within a given time. A greater variety of mineral substances can also be effectively
dealt with for cleansing purposes, and the facility with which the concentrated
imineral retained by the machine can be discharged therefrom is also considerably.
increased.
According to my present Invention I make use of. channels constructed of metal,
wood, or other suitable material; advantageously rectangular in form and of convenient
dimensions, for example, from 1 to 2:fect broad, more or.. less, about 11. or. 12. inches
'deep more or less and about 8 feet long ortmore as required.
These channels are made open at the top with perpendicular sides and. when
in use are advantageously placed at an inclination of about 1 in 6 between the
upper and lower ends: The surface of the floor of the channels I construct as
follows:-
At the upper end the flooring is uiade to incline about 1 in 2, more or less, for
about 2 feet or more when it rises perpendicularly about 8 inches, more. or less; and
from that elevation again inclines for about 2 feet at the same angle as before; then
again rises again about 8 inches and lagain slopes as before. These inclines and steps
can be repeated to any extent necessary.
In 'the wedge shaped spaces between the: inclines and steps and upright sides of
the channels, I fix blocks or boxes wedge like in form which fit closely at the sides but
3

page_text: stand on fillets clear from the floor about 1 inch, more or less, and clear of the
perpendicular face of the step about l'inch, more or less.
My object in this arrangement is to permit water borne material to flow only
between the bottom of the wedge blocks and the surface of the flooring; and up and
over the rise of the step: The method oft working I propose to adopt is as follows:
The gangue or matrix containing the ore, crushed to a suitable degree: of fineness is
fed into the upper end of the channel from an ordinary launder or similar appliance
together with water on to a grating. or sieve, and passing through the sieve flows
rapidly down the first incline, until checked by the first stop when, in order to leave
this section of the channel, it has to rise perpendicularly through about 8 inches of
water to get over the step and on to the second incline, after passing down which, it
is met by the second step, where it again has to rise through the water, and so on
through any further inclines.
In consequence of the general inclination of the appliance, being ordinarily about
one in six, the top of each step is about 4 inches lower than the one precoding it in
the series. Thus for about 9 inches the water carrying the ore has a clear run before
it reaches the next lower water level. By this means the force of the head of water
is kept up to an extent sufficient to produce a scour through the whole length of the
channel, by which a large proportion of the gangue or refuse matter is carried
away through the lower end of the channel, by reason of its weight being relatively
less than that of the mineral ore which remains in the several inclines of the
channel.
The same action, with the same result is followed in the washing for diamonds and
other precious stones.
When the concentrated Imineral ore, or other deposits in each or any of the inclines
are sufficient to render it necessary that they should be cleared out, this is effected by
opening a valve, running nearly the whole breadth of the water way, in the floor of the
channel at the foot of each step, through which the accumulation is washed out
into a vessel or launder conveniently placed underneath the channel to receive it.
F&F Sheet I.
By simple and well known means the head of the channel can be raised or lowered
with the object of altering the fall of the water, and clean water can be let into each
section of the channel for the purpose of clearing out the material deposited.
Now in order that my Improvements may be clearly understood and readily carried
into practice, I will proceed to illustrate the same by and describe the Drawings
hereto annexed :-
Fig. 1 Sheet I is a longitudinal section of a machine. A is the feed launder which
delivers the mineral ore and other materials and water on the sieve B 1 which is used
to prevent stones passing in, all material that can pass through this sieve falls on
the inclined surface C and is carried down into the passage under the fixed wedge
box D 1.
Fig. 2 Sheet II is a transverse section of the machine, and shows a convenient
arrangement for the sieves under the feed launder, two sieves are used so that one may
be in position while the other is emptied, the sieve B, is shown in section in position,
and B 2, as it appears in being emptied.
The sieves are supported by but free to slide on the rod L, and the sieve B2 is
rigidly attached to the pipe K which surrounds this rod and passes through the other
sieve B, and has the handle H, on its other end, by means of which B 2, is tipped.
By this arrangement the operator standing on the one side of the machine can tip the
sieve on either side as required.
Fig. 3, Sheet II shows the arrangement for controlling the valve, the bell crank N,
holds the valve up tight when the handle P. is in the horizontal position, but as soon
as the handle is raised the valve opens by its own weight.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood

page_text: that I not limit myself to the exact details herein before described and illustrated in
the Drawings, as they may be varied without departing from the nature of my
invention; at the same time I do not claim any of the parts separately which are well
known, but I declare, that, what I do claim as my invention, is :--
The general combination and arangements substantially as herein before specified
and shown in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Dated this 15th day of February 1890.
GEORGE MIDDLETON EDWARDS.