Argentiferous Substances.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 26th Oct., 1888
Argentiferous Substances.
We, EDWIN JENNINGS BALL, of 39 Aynhoe Road Hammersmith London W.,
Assistant in Metallurgy at the Normal School of Science and Royal School of Mines
London and BENNETT HOOPER BROUGH of 5 Robert Street Adelphi London W.C.
Assistant in Mining at the Normal School of Science and Royal School of Mines
London do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The use of a system of cones and inverted cones made of amalgamated metal plates.
These cones and inverted cones are arranged in such a way that they may be made to
revolve in opposite directions about a central axis. The material to be amalgamated
is passed over or through this system. Instead of cones, pyramids, segments of
spheres or other surfaces may be used. One of the sets of surfaces may be stationary
whilst the other is made to revolve or both may be stationary or in certain cases one
or both sets may be reciprocated or have other suitable motion. Electricity may be
applied in connection with this machine by connecting the cones with a battery or
with any other suitable source of electricity.
1
1 .
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1041

page_text: Argentiferous Substances.
We, EDWIN JENNINGS BALL, Mining Engineer, of 39, Aynhoe Road, Hammersmith,
London W. and BENNETT HOOPER BROUGH, Mining Engineer, of 5, Robert Street,
Adelphi, London, W.C., 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 :-
Our invention relates to thai class of devices or apparatus employed for the
treatment and extraction of gold and silver from materials containing the same, which
are commonly known as amalgamators, and has for its principal object to increase the
compactness and efficiency of such apparatus.
For this purpose we employ a system of cones and inverted cones made of
amalgamated metal plates and cause the material containing the precious metals to
pass over the surface of the said cones.
In the further description, reference will be made to the accompanying drawing,
in which Fig. I is a vertical central section of an amalgamator embodying our inven-
tion and Fig. II is a plan of the same. Similar letters indicate corresponding parts
in both Figures.
The material to be treated is fed or flows into a distributor B or direct on to the
uppermost cone A mounted on a vertical spindle C. After passing over the surface
of the cone A, it falls on to an inverted cone F open in the centre, and so on to the
cones A, F, A, &c. (as many as may be required for the special material and treat-
ment). The distributor B may be a cup-shaped receptacle provided with perforations b,
or any suitable device commonly employed for analogous purposes.
1
The two systems of cones A, A, A, &c. and F F, &c. may be revolved in the
same or in opposite directions, or one or both may romain stationary as found
desirable.
Instead of cones, pyramids, segments of spheres and other suitable conoidal surfaces,
smooth or corrugated, may be used.
The cones A A, A, &c. and distributor B are attached to a vertical shaft C
supported at D and guided at E. This can be revolved, if desired, by means of a
worm and wheel, as shewn, or by any other suitable mechanism.
The inverted cones F. F, &c. are supported by an outer frame or casing G so
arranged as to be easily opened for inspecting the inside of the apparatus. The
casing G may be adapted to be securely fastened when required to prevent any
interference with the plates or theft of amalgam.
The material after passing over the cones is caught in a chamber H. situated at the
bottom of the apparatus and arranged so as to prevent the loss of any mercury or
amalgain that may pass over the amalgamated plates.
Through the pipe I, a current of water can be delivered, if necessary to keep the
particles in the chamber H in motion.

page_text: KK, &c. are sweepers, preferably attached to the underside of the lowest cone, for
keeping the fine material in motion and preventing the same from settling.
Lis the discharge orifice.
If desired, an axial to and fro motion may be imparted either to one or to both
systems of cones, so that the material travels over the conical surfaces either by
gravity alone, or by gravity aided by centrifugal force or rocking action.
Electricity may be employed in this machine by suitably arranging the cones and
connecting them with a battery or other suitable source of electricity.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. An amalgamator comprising in its construction a system of cones and a system
of inverted cones made of amalgamated metal and arranged axially one over the other
in such a manner, that the raw material, admitted at the top, falls alternately over one
of the cones and one of the inverted cones until it reaches the bottom of the apparatus,
substantially as described and illustrated.
2. An amalgamator comprising in its construction a system of cones mounted on a
vertical shaft, a system of inverted cones open in the centre and attached at their
circumference to a casing, the said cones and inverted cones being made of
amalgamated metal arranged along the same vertical axis in such a manner that the
raw material admitted at the top falls alternately over one of the cones and one of the
inverted cones, until it reaches the bottom of the amalgamator, substantially as
described and illustrated.
3. The combination of revolving shaft and cones A, A', A², with stationary or
movable casing G and inverted cones F, F1, F2, collecting chamber H, with or without
stirrers K, Kand water inlet 1, means for admitting or for admitting and distributing
the raw material at the top, and means for discharging the product at the bottom,
substantially as described and illustrated.
4. The modified form of amalgamator, in which the conical surfaces are replaced
by conoidal, or pyramidal surfaces with or without corrugations, substantially as
described.
3
1000
EDWIN J. BALL.
BENNETT HOOPER BROUGH.
By Fairfax & Wetter,
433, Strand, London,
Agents.