A NEW AND IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING METALLIC MINERALS FROM EACH OTHER AND FROM THE NON METALLIC SUBSTANCES WHICH MAY BE PRESENT
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Browne at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th February 1881. A communi-
cation from abroad by Herbert Strickland, of Antwerp, Belgium.
ALEXANDER BROWNE, of the Firm of Browne and Company, of 5, Southampton
Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents. "A NEW AND IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING METALLIC MINERALS FROM EACH OTHER AND FROM
THE NON METALLIC SUBSTANCES WHICH MAY BE PRESENT." A communication
from abroad by Herbert Strickland, of Antwerp, Belgium.
This Invention consists in separating metallic minerals from each other, also
from any non metallic substance or substances which may be present by means of
one or more rising columns of water automatically produced by an apparatus
constructed and arranged, substantially as follows:-
The apparatus consists of a trough or series of troughs placed in a slanting
position, in which is fixed one or more chambers with adjustable fronts and backs,
having three adjustable diaphragms or partitions placed therein, in a vertical
position at about equal distances asunder, the middle one extending to the bottom
of the aforesaid chamber and over a small hole therein, but this partition is tapered'
towards both ends so as to divide the hole into two equal parts, and also devide
the water as hereafter described; the other two partitions only extend about three
fourths down the said chamber, the other fourths being left free. Over the top of
the middle partition (in the first chamber only, by preference) is fixed the water
supply cock or cocks in such a way that the water shall rush down both sides of
the said partition.
'
The upper end of the aforesaid trough may have a sieve therein in order to sift
the materials to be treated. The operation of an apparatus constructed as above
is as follows:-
The material to be treated is regularly supplied at the upper end of the trough
by any suitable means in a granulated form, and water is admitted so as to carry
such material through the sieve, where a sieve is employed, along the trough and
into the first separating chamber through a hole or holes made in the chamber for
this purpose; the cock or cocks over the middle partition being turned on, the water
rushes down on either side of the said partition, flows under the bottom of the

page_text: other two partitions, and out of the aforesaid chamber along the trough in which
it meets the main current and into the following chamber, carrying with it the
lighter portions or portions of the material, the heavier portion passing through the
aforesaid small hole in the bottom of the first chamber, and so on in each of the
chambers, it being allowed to pass through as many chambers as may be found
necessary.
The force of the rising column of water must be regulated according to the
specific gravity or nature of the substance to be treated. This regulation I propose
to effect by sliding either of the aforesaid adjustable partitions either higher up
or lower down the chamber, and having a sliding piece on the top of the centre
partition, also by sliding the aforesaid adjustable fronts and backs of the chamber
to suit requirements.
Altho' I have described the chambers as having three partitions, I do not
wish to confine myself to this number, as one or more would answer, nor do I wish
to confine myself to the above described adjustable parts for regulating, as I may
find it advantageous to regulate otherwise.