Improvements in Ore Concentrators.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ore Concentrators.
I, THOMAS RALPH Garnier, residing at San José in the County of Santa Clara
and State of California, United States of America, Mining Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improvement in ore-concentrators.
Heretofore in this class of inventions wherein the belt-frame is actuated or moved
for the purpose of facilitating the separation of the heavy and light particles the
movement given to the belt-frame has been uniform throughout that is to say the
same movement is transmitted over the entire area of the frame. This class of
machines has been found objectionable inasmuch as while of course the vibratory
movement will to a great extent effect the separation of the particles still notwith-
standing this some of the sulphurets are apt to be carried with the lighter particles
and thus lost.
It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an ore-concentrator of such
construction that a violent agitation or vibration is given to that end of the belt
over which the heavy particles pass, while a lighter motion is imparted to the end
of the belt over which the lighter separated particles are carried. Thereby in the
event of any of the sulphurets being contained in the lighter particles they will settle
upon the belt, and, us stated, as the movement is very slight at this point they will
not be carried with said lighter particles, but will travel with the belt and follow the
course taken by the other and heavier sulphurets.
My invention consists, first, of an ore-concentrator having the combination, with
a belt-frame, of means for actuating said frame, whereby one end thereof will be
caused to be violently agitated or vibrated, while the other end will have but slight
movement imparted thereto.
My invention further consists of an ore-concentrator having the combination,
with a belt-frame, of means for actuating said frame, whereby a compound longi-
tudinal and lateral movement is imparted to one end of said frame, while a slight
longitudinal movement is imparted to the opposite end thereof; and, furthermore,
my invention consists in various other details of construction, as hereinafter more
fully set forth and described.
My invention further consists in providing a machine which shall be simpler in
its construction, more effective in its operation, less expensive, and more durable
than any device of a similar nature heretofore known to me.
Referring to the drawings forming a part of this application, wherein similar
letters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the entire Specification
and several views-
Figure 1 is a side view in elevation ;
Figure 2 a front end view in elevation; and
Figure 3 a top plan.
The letter A, is used to represent the outer or supporting frame of the concentrator,
which frame consists of cross and longitudinal pieces. The movable concentrating
frame is indicated by the letter B, and is supported above the outer frame by means
of the springs or spring rods C, clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. Within the
movable concentrating frame I secure within suitable bearings the front and rear
rolls D, D', over which the belt E, is adapted to travel. To the front, and within
suitable bearing, of the outer frame I secure the shaft a, upon the outer end of
which is located the drive wheel E¹, while to the inner is secured the bevel friction

page_text: wheel E. Passing centrally through the front of the outer frame A, and con-
centrating frame B, is the crank shaft F, which has rigidly secured thereon the
bevel wheel F, which is adapted to contact with bevel wheel E. However, if so
desired, instead of frictional contact being made between the bevel wheels, the
wheels may be ordinary bevel gear wheels adapted to mesh one with the other.
Below the outer frame works the hand screw, which is adapted to raise or lower
the crank shaft F, sufficient to throw the bevel wheels in or out of contact. The
upper end of the crank shaft F, extends above the concentrating frame and has
secured thereon the cone pulley G, which is connected to the cone pulley G¹, by
means of belt 9. Cone G, is mounted on vertical worm shaft G, which engage
with toothed wheel H, which is attached to extending axle q'. of roll D. The
belt 9, is held in place by means of the adjustable guide H. The rear end of the
concentrating frame is provided with the stud /, which works in guide /', secured
to the rear beam 2, of the outer frame.
Below the concentrating frame is located the water tank I, shown by dotted
ines, Figure 1, and within the same projects the roll I', which works in bearings
formed in bracket 12. To the rear of said roll I locate the smaller roll i, which is
also suspended by said bracket and works within sliding bearings formed therein,
and by means of hand screw, is made adjustable. The belt E, passes over the
rolls E, E, under roll 1', and over roll. As it passes under roll 1, it is thoroughly
cleaned by the water contained in water tank I.
To the forward end of the movable frame I locate the pulp receptacle J, and in
front of said receptacle is secured the water distributer ', which is supplied by
means of suitable supply pipes (not shown). The bottom of said reservoir is
provided with a series of perforations, which permits of the retained water flowing
freely therethrough onto the ore or pulp carried thereunder by means of the
travelling belt, which passes beneath the same.
The operation of my machine is as follows
:-
Power being applied to drive wheels E', by any suitable mechanism, not shown,
shaft a, is caused to rotate, carrying therewith bevel wheel E2, which contacting
with bevel wheel 1, transmit motion thereto, which being rigidly secured to crank
shaft F, causes the revolving thereof. Inasmuch as the crank shaft passes through
the concentrating frame it is obvious that with the rotation thereof a rotary move-
ment is imparted to the forward end of the concentrating bed. The motion of the
crank shaft F, is imparted to the worm shaft G, through the medium of the belt g,
which works over the cone pulleys G, G, and said worm shaft in turn transmits its
motion to the cog wheel H, which being rigidly affixed to shaft or axle g',
necessarily causes the rotation of the roll D, so as to cause motion to be imparted
to the concentrating belt. Inasmuch as the rear end of the frame is provided with
the stud h, which works within the guide ', it is obvious that this end of
the concentrating bed or frame is confined to a longitudinal movement.
Thus have imparted to the movable bed a compound reciprocating and
longitudinal movement.
The pitch of the machine is such as to provide a gradual ascent from the rear to
the forward end. The adjustable guide H, serves to maintain the connecting
belt Sh from slipping off the cone pulleys during the rotation thereof. By means
of the adjustable roll, the tension of the concentrating belt may easily be
regulated.
By the use of a concentrator constructed in accordance with the above description
the palp or ore containing the metal to be separated is caused to be distributed upon
the belt while in rotary motion, by which it is carried forward and exposed to the
action of the waterflow, which, in connection with the oscillatory motion of the belt
and frame, causes the separation of the lighter particles from the heavier. The
heavier particles, remaining upon the belt, are carried beneath the flow of water
over the front roller, while the lighter or worthless particles are carried to the rear
by the downward flow of the water. As the motion imparted to the rear end of
the frame and belt is very slight, whatever of the sulphurets may be contained in

page_text: the lighter particles will fall and settle upon the belt, and adhering thereto, will be
carried forward beneath the water-reservoir over the forward roller.
I am aware that minor changes may be made in the arrangement of parts and
details of construction herein shown and described, without necessitating or
creating a departure from the nature and scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In an ore-concentrator, the combination, with a belt-frame, of means for
actuating said frame, whereby one end thereof will be caused to be violently
agitated or vibrated, while the other end will have but slight movement imparted
thereto, substantially as set forth.
2. In an ore-concentrator, the combination, with a belt-frame, of means for
actuating said frame, whereby a compound longitudinal and lateral movement is
imparted to one end of said frame, while a slight longitudinal movement is imparted
to the opposite end thereof, substantially as set forth.
3. In an ore-concentrator, the combination of the water-reservoir, pulp receptacle,
endless travelling belt, movable belt-frame, said frame being provided with belt-
rollers, and of the herein-described mechanism for imparting a rotary and longi-
tudinal motion to the belt and belt-frame, substantially as and for the purpose
herein shown and described.
4. In an
ore concentrator, the combination of the water reservoir, pulp
receptacle, movable belt frame, belt rollers secured to the front and rear of said
frame, endless belt travelling over said rollers, outer frame or support, and of the
springs for holding the belt frame in position, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
5. In an
ore concentrator, the combination of the water reservoir, pulp
receptacle, belt frame, belt rollers secured within said frame and at the front and
rear thereof, and of the endless belt travelling over said rollers at a gradual
incline from the rear to the front roller, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
6. In an ore concentrator, the combination of the water reservoir, pulp receptacle,
inclined endless travelling belt, movable belt frame, said fraine being provided with
belt rollers, and of the herein described mechanism for imparting a rotary and
longitudinal motion to the belt and belt frame, substantially as and for the purpose
herein shown and described.
7. In an ore concentrator, the combination with the belt frame mounted on
yielding supports, of the belt rollers journaled therein, and of the endless belt
running over the rollers at an incline, substantially as set forth.
8. In an ore concentrator, the combination with the outer or supporting frame, of
the movable concentrating frame or bed, said frame being placed at an incline,
spring supports for the concentrating frame, endless belt adapted to travel over rolls
secured within said frame, and of mechanism for imparting a compound longitudinal
and reciprocating motion to the concentrating frame, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
9. In an ore concentrator, the combination with the concentrating frame, of
mechanism for imparting a compound longitudinal and reciprocating motion to said
frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
10. In an ore concentrator, the combination with the movable frame thereof,
operating shaft secured to the front of the machine, said shaft carrying a drive
wheel and frictional bevel wheel, vertical crank shaft carrying bevel wheel, adapted
to contact with bevel wheel secured upon operating shaft, worm shaft secured
within bearings, connecting belt adapted to transmit motion from the crank shaft to
worm shaft, and of gear wheel meshing with worm shaft and adapted to impart
the motion thereof to the belt operating rolls, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.

page_text: 11. In an ore concentrator, the combination with the movable concentrator frame,
of the adjustable crank shaft, and of suitable mechanism for operating sail shaft,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
12. In an ore concentrator, the combination with the movable concentrating frame,
of the concentrating belt working upon said frame, and of the adjustable roll located
beneath the concentrating frame and adapted to regulate the tension of the belt,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 30th day of October 1890.
THOMAS RALPH GARNIER.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.