Improvements in Apparatus for Use in the Extraction of Gold from Auriferous Material by the Aid of Chemical Solvents.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Use in the Extraction of Gold from
Auriferous Material by the Aid of Chemical Solvents.
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of London
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Joel James Deeble of Rae Street Bendigo in the
Colony of Victoria Metallurgist) and in what manner the same is to be performed
to he particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to provide a machine for use in the extraction of
gold from auriferous material by the aid of chemical solvents which machine will
ensure the particles of auriferous material being brought into intimate contact
with the cyanide solution or other solvent employed.
It consists of a vat or pan to receive the auriferous material to be treated the
said vat or pan having at, or about, its centre a vertical shaft, or spindle, with an
agitator or stirrer or agitators or stirrers attached to its lower end."
Motion is imparted to this shaft, or spindle, by bevel gearing, or other con-
venient mechanical contrivances, and means are provided for reversing the rotation
and controlling the speed of the agitator or agitators as well as for raising and
lowering, the agitator shaft or spindle.
These latter means may consist of a screw threaded lifting rod fitted with a
correspondingly threaded bevel wheel in gear with a bevel pinion fitted with a
crank handle by which it can be rotated in the required direction, or if preferred
a rack and pinion may be used for the purpose.
The inner side of the wall of the said vat, or pan, is provided with a series of
projections which produce eddies, or swirls, in the material under treatment as it is
carried round the vat, or pan.
In order to drain, or draw, off the gold-bearing solvent from the said vat or pan
it is provided with a vertically sliding valve, or, if preferred with a pipe or pipes
for this purpose.
A waste discharge valve may also be provided in the lower part of the vat, or
pan, for the purpose of enabling the waste material to be sluiced therefrom after
the gold has been dissolved and the gold bearing solution has been drawn off
through the aforesaid valve or pipe or pipes.
The accompanying drawings will more clearly illustrate the construction and
arrangement of the improved machine.
Figure 1 represents a vertical central section of the said machine.
Figure 14 is a plan of part of the driving gear.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the said machine.
Figure 3 is an elevation partly in section and Figure 4 is a plan of the vat or
pan drawn to a smaller scale.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the vertically sliding valve above referred to.
Figure 6 is a plan thereof.
Figure 7 is a horizontal section on the line 7-7 of Figure 5.
Figure 8 is a vertical central section on the line 8-8, Figure 5 and
Figure 9 is a side elevation of the said valve.
The same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts in all
he figures.
A represents a vat to contain the auriferous material to be treated, whilst B
epresents the vertical spindle which is provided in, or about, the centre of the said
at and which carries the agitators or stirrers C on its lower end. These latter
onsist by preference of projecting bars or arms as shewn and they may be attached
FD 073

page_text: at their inner ends to a casting c¹ on the lower end of the spindle B which is
preferably made square or of other than circular shape in cross section and is
passed through a corresponding hole in a bevel wheel D, which is supported in a
casting d, resting upon bearers or beams d', extending across from side to side of
the vat A. This construction admits of rotary motion being imparted to said
spindle B, and yet allows of its being raised and lowered as required. For this
latter purpose a screw threaded rod E is connected to the end of the said spindle B
by a shackle e and is fitted with a corresponding threaded pinion el in gear with a
second pinion e2 having a crank handle e Steps fare provided leading up to a
platform F in a convenient position over the centre of the vat to enable the crank
handle e³ to be operated. Rotary motion is imparted to the stirrers by the bevel
gearing g. g. and a clutch g' (see Figure 1A) to connect or disconnect said gearing
as required.
H. H. represent the projections which are provided upon the inside of the wall of the
vat A, for the purpose of imparting a series of eddies, or swirls, to the material in
the vat, so as to more thoroughly bring the whole of such material in contact with
the solvent solution. These projections may be made integral with said vat or
may be attached thereto as will be readily understood; I represents the vertically
sliding valve which is used for drawing off the solvent solution from the vat A.
It is arranged to be slid up and down in a frame i by means of a screw threaded
rod so that it can be opened more or less according to requirements. The rod
may be rotated by the hand wheel and move up and down in a screw nut or the
hand wheel may be the screw nut and the rod move up and down therein without
rotating.
J (Figure 2) represents a waste discharge valve which is fitted in the lower part
of the vat and enables the debris therein to be discharged after it has been treated,
and the gold bearing solution has been drawn off.
If preferred a series of discharge pipes may be used for this purpose instead of
the valve; stoppers or plugs being placed in and withdrawn from the said pipes as
required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the herein described
machine for use in the extraction of gold from auriferous material by the aid o
chemical solvents the whole being constructed and arranged substantially as, and
for the purposes, hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2. In a machine for use in the extraction of gold from auriferous material by th
aid of chemical solvents, agitators or stirrers projecting from a shaft or spindl
(such as B) capable of being adjusted vertically and of being rotated substantiall
as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanyin
drawings.
3. In a machine for use in the extraction of gold from auriferous material b
the aid of chemical solvents, a vat having projections (such as H) around th
inner side of its walls substantially as, and for the purposes herein before described
and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In a machine for use in the extraction of gold from auriferous material b
the aid of chemical solvents a valve (such as 1) together with means whereby
may be adjusted vertically in the side of the vat substantially as and for th
purpose specified and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of October 1806
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.