IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN CRUSHING AND ELIMINATING BLUE AND OTHER DIAMONDIFEROUS CONGLOMERATES FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXTRACTING DIAMONDS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Wilson Hartnell, of Leeds, in the County of York, for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
IN CRUSHING AND ELIMINATING BLUE AND OTHER DIAMONDIFEROUS
CONGLOMERATES FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXTRACTING DIAMONDS."
A com-
munication from abroad by Samuel Stonestreet, of Kimberley, in the Province
of Griqualand West, South Africa.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Wilson Hartnell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th October 1880.
WILSON HARTNELL, of Leeds, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN CRUSHING AND ELIMINATING BLUE
AND OTHER DIAMONDIFEROUS CONGLOMERATES FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXTRACTING
DIAMONDS." A communication from abroad by Samuel Stonestreet, of Kimberley,
in the Province of Griqualand West, South Africa.
It is claimed for this Invention that whilst the machine will rapidly and
effectually reduce or crush blue and other diamondiferous conglomerates to such a
state that the smallest diamond may be otained therefrom, at the same time
breaking or otherwise injuring the diamond is prevented.
It is well known to those who are practically acquainted with the structure of
the diamond that although it is the hardest of all known substances, yet it is
exceedingly brittle, and the shock of a blow of a few pounds in weight will injure
or break it, and on the other hand that a diamond will stand an immense steady
pressure.
"
According to this Invention the blue diamondiferous conglomerate is "tipped
from a truck into a feeder, in which it is passed through one or more pairs of
rollers, which may be ribbed for the purpose of breaking or reducing the material
to a suitable gauge and evenly. The material is then conducted to the reducing
machine, consisting of a circular pan and rollers of plain or peculiar construction.
The pan may be made a fixture and the rollers made to revolve in and round it, or
the pan may be made to revolve and the axles of the rollers mounted in fixed or

page_text: adjustable bearings in which they also revolve. The pan when made to revolve
is caused to move always in one direction by means of suitable gearing, and may
be supported on friction rollers. By preference the outside walls of the pan are
low to enable the pan to discharge itself, and the inside wall may be of any
convenient dimensions. The rollers in the pan may vary in number according to
the size and capacity of the machine required; these rollers are constructed and
fitted to revolve freely upon their axes, and are made in one casting or in two or more
parts, or may consist of a cast iron framework having projecting pieces or rings of
cast steel or other suitable metal retained a suitable distance apart by metal pieces,
or the roller may consist of cast steel plates, the periphery of which combined
forming a corrugated or ribbed surface. The axles of the rollers are so fitted in
their bearings that in the event of any roller passing over a piece of hard iron,
stone, or other hard non-reducable substance, it will rise over the same and return
again without any sudden shock, thus securing a steady even pressure. In
connection with the above pan a scoop, plough, or elevator is employed, which
being fixed so that it faces the pan, the contents thereof are received by the scoop
or plough and conducted into a puddler or mixer. The scoop is fitted that it can
be raised or lowered at pleasure, so that at any moment as soon as the material
has been sufficiently operated upon in the pan it may be conducted therefrom by the
adjustable scoop.
A hopper is provided having a shoot in connection therewith for conducting
muddy water from the mixer through perforated tubing. After the reduced
material has been well mixed with water and freed from all large stones by
passing through a cylindrical sieve, it is then discharged into an eliminator, which
consists of a cylindrical sieve having by preference three different gauges or meshes
thereon, below which there are a corresponding number of hoppers and horizontal
sieves placed side by side, whose gauge or mesh is less than that of the herein before
mentioned cylindrical sieve; these horizontal sieves are mounted on framework over
a tank or reservoir of water. A plentiful supply of water is kept flowing onto the
cylindrical sieve which washes away all sand and mud. The washed material then
passes freely through the several wire sievings into the hoppers, where pulsations of
the water from beneath ensures a rapid and thoroughly perfect means of
eliminating all the lighter portions from the diamonds and other heavy
substances.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Wilson Hartnell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th April
1881.
WILSON HARTNELL, of Leeds, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN CRUSHING AND ELIMINATING BLUE AND
OTHER DIAMONDIFEROUS CONGLOMERATES FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXTRACTING
DIAMONDS." (A communication from abroad by Samuel Stonestreet, of Kimberley,
in the Province of Griqualand West, South Africa.)
It is claimed for this Invention, that whilst the machine will rapidly and
effectually reduce or crush blue and other diamondiferous conglomerates to such a
state that the smallest diamond may be obtained therefrom, at the same time
breaking or otherwise injuring the diamond is prevented.
It is well known to those who are practically acquainted with the structure of
the diamond, that although it is the hardest of all known substances, yet it is
exceedingly brittle, and the shock of a blow of a few pounds in weight will injure
or break it, and on the other hand that a diamond will stand an immense steady
pressure.
"
According to this Invention, the blue diamondiferous conglomerate is "tipped"
from a truck into a feeder, in which it is passed through one or more pairs of
rollers, which may be ribbed for the purpose of breaking or reducing the material
to a suitable guage and evenly. The material is then conducted to the reducing
machine, consisting of a circular pan and rollers of plain or peculiar construction.
The pan may be made a fixture, and the rollers made to revolve in and round it,
or the pan may be made to revolve, and the axles of the rollers mounted in fixed or
adjustable bearings in which they also revolve. The pan when made to revolve is
caused to move always in one direction by means of suitable gearing, and may be
supported on friction rollers. By preference the outside walls of the pan are low,
to enable the pan to discharge itself, and the inside wall may be of any convenient
dimensions. The rollers in the pan may vary in number, according to the size and
capacity of the machine required. These rollers are constructed and fitted to revolve
freely upon their axes, and are made in one casting or in two or more parts, or may
consist of a cast iron framework, having projecting pieces or rings of cast steel or
other suitable metal retained a suitable distance apart by metal pieces, or the
roller may consist of cast steel plates, the periphery of which combined forming a
corrugated or ribbed surface. The axles of the rollers are so fitted in their bearings
that in the event of any roller passing over a piece of hard iron, stone, or other
hard non-reducable substance, it will rise over the same, and return again without
any sudden shock, thus securing a steady even pressure. In connection with the
above pan, a scoop, plough, or elevator is employed, which being fixed so that it
faces the pan, the contents thereof are received by the scoop or plough and con-
ducted into a puddler or mixer. The scoop is fitted that it can be raised or lowered
at pleasure, so that at any moment as soon as the material has been sufficiently
operated upon in the pan, it may be conducted therefrom by the adjustable scoop.
A hopper is provided, having a shoot in connection therewith for conducting
muddy water from the mixer through perforated tubing. After the reduced
material has been well mixed with water and freed from all large stones by passing
through a cylindrical sieve, it is then discharged into an eliminator, which consists
of a cylindrical sieve, having by preference three different guages or meshes thereon,
below which there are a corresponding number of hoppers and horizontal sieves
placed side by side, whose guage or mesh is less than that of the herein before
mentioned cylindrical sieve. These horizontal sieves are mounted on framework
over a tank or reservoir of water. A plentiful supply of water is kept flowing onto
the cylindrical sieve which washes away all sand and mud. The washed material

page_text: or enminating all the lighter portions from the diamonds and other heavy sub-
stances.
And in order that the Invention may be more completely understood, reference
is given to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and marks thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation; Fig. 2, a plan looking at the top; Fig. 3 represents
part transverse sections on lines A, B, and C, D, Fig. 2; Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, are
sections shewing various construction of rollers; Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a
part section and plan of inner bearings for roller shaft.
The "blue" diamondiferous conglomerate is tipped" from the truck onto the
feeding platform a, in which it is passed through one or more pairs of smooth or
ribbed rollers b, and driven from a main shaft c by belting d, so as to break it up
to an inch and three quarters or other convenient guage. This guage is chosen
because a diamond weighing three hundred carats, and of fair form, does not
measure one inch and three quarters, and the risk is so small of breaking one over
that size in comparison with the advantages conferred by this machine. It is to be
clearly understood that everything, iron, stone, shale, blue, and other material must
be broken, so that nothing passing into the reducing machine will be of a greater
guage than one inch and three quarters.
The "blue" diamondiferous conglomerate is then conducted by means of a shoot e
to the reducing machine, consisting of a circular pan f and rollers g of peculiar
construction and action. The pan ƒ may be a fixture, and the rollers g made to
revolve in it, or the pan f may revolve, as shewn in the Drawings, and the axles h
of the rollers secured by means of iron stanchions i round the pan f, and a stout
iron pillar j in the centre. The pan fis made to revolve always in one direction
by means of bevilled gearing k from below and resting on wrought iron or other
joists l, below which there is a circular racer m and friction rollers n, both of which
are, by preference, made of steel, though not necessarily so, to steady and support
the motion of the pan. The outside walls o may be made about six inches in
height to enable the pan f to discharge itself, as will be described hereafter, whilst
the inside wall p is about twelve inches high. The bottom q of the pan f may be
of cast or wrought iron, or steel, and made in sections for easy transport. The
rollers g vary in number and size in accordance with the capacity of the machine.
These rollers g are constructed so that they may revolve freely upon their axes, and
may be made either in one casting or in two or more picces, as shewn at Fig. 7, or
may consist of a cast iron framer having leaves s of cast steel about one and three
quarter inches apart with cast iron pieces or rings t between then, and secured
together by means of the bolt u, as shewn at Fig. 6, or they may be made of cast
steel in plates having the outer edge w hollowed out so as to give a guage of
about one and three quarter inches, as shewn at Fig. 4, or the edge may be bevilled,
as shewn at x, Fig. 5. These composite or solid rollers are kept in their proper
position over the pan f by means of loose collars y in halves, bolted together, onto
the axle h on either side of each roller. The axle h of each roller is so secured in
the stanchions that in the event of the roller passing over a piece of hard iron-
stone, or any other non reducible substance, it will rise over the same, and by
means of steel springs will fall gently, and not with any sudden shock, down to
its former position, thus securing a steady even pressure. When preferred the central
pillar may be constructed as follows:-Any number of projections 1 may be cast, or
otherwise secured, thereon to receive a corresponding number of caps 2. Into these
projections 1 and caps 2 is or are fitted the axles h, provided with the ball shaped
ends 3, as shewn at Figs. 8 and 9. It is advantageous to provide a little "play"
of the ball 3 by cutting away the cap at 4 to allow the rollers to rise and fall to
suit the various irregularities in the size of the material. The scoop or plough 5 is
"

page_text: fixed so that it faces the motion of the pan; the contents thereof are received by
the scoop or plough 5 and falls over the apron 6 into the puddler or mixer 7. This
scoop or plough 5 is provided with a counter balance weight 8, so that it may be
readily raised or lowered by the attendant who stands on the platform 9, whereby
he can immediately stop the machinery by throwing the belt onto the loose
pulley 10. The "blue" diamondiferous conglomerate after entering the pan f
passes under the several rollers in the direction shewn by arrows, and is raked and
opened out after passing under each roller by means of the fixed guides 11 and
rakes 12, and if the blue diamondiferous conglomerate is sufficiently reduced by one
revolution, which can be observed by the attendant, it passes out of the machine
by means of the scoop or plough 5. Should the diamondiferous conglomerate be
required to pass more than once under the rollers the feed supply is stopped, the
scoop or plough raised by the attendant, and the material passes under the rollers
until it is sufficiently reduced, when the scoop or plough 5 is again lowered, and
the pan femptied thereby; but it will be found in practice, that unless the
conglomerate is very hard the supply to the mixer 7 of the reduced material
will be constant. 14 is a hopper for the conduction of muddy water, the mixer 7
being provided with a water service through a perforated pipe.
16 is a platform surrounding the machine for the purpose of oiling.
The "eliminator" 17 is a great improvement on the pulsator now in use, which
latter, owing to its faulty construction and arrangements, necessarily does its work
imperfectly. After the reduced blue diamondiferous conglomerate has been mixed
with water and freed from all large stones by passing through the cylindrical
sieve 18, and supposing no washing machine is used, it is then discharged into the
"eliminator," which consists of a compound cylindrical sieve, having three or more
different guages or meshes thereon, below which are three or more hoppers 15 and
outlet shoots 19 onto three or more separate horizontal sieves 20 placed side by
side, whose gauge or mesh is less than that of the cylindrical sieve above. These
horizontal sieves 20 are placed in a frame 21 over a tank 22 or reservoir of water,
and acted upon by means of one or more pumps 23 in the usual manner of the
present pulsators. A plentiful supply of water is kept flowing onto the cylindrical
sieve, which washes away all sand and mud; the washed stuff then passes freely
through the several sievings into the hoppers, and thence to the horizontal sieves,
where the pulsations of water from beneath acting upon the lighter bodies ensures
a more rapid and thoroughly perfect means of eliminating such lighter portions
from the diamonds and other heavy substances. When these sieves become laden
with heavy matter they may be relieved at any time by means of a scoop without
stopping the working of the "eliminator," which works as long as the reducing
machine is supplying material.
The reducing machine may be worked dry or with water, according to the
nature of the ground or conglomerate to be operated upon, and its action is that
of applying a steady uniform pressure upon the blue diamondiferous conglomerate
whilst in the pan, and which conglomerate is made by attrition under the rollers
to reduce itself, whilst the fine dust or powder acts as a soft bed to all those
smaller diamonds which do not find their way between the grooves of the
rollers.
By the use of this process and machine a great saving will accrue to the user
thereof, for instead of having to wait from three to eight months, or even longer,
before obtaining the diamonds, and even then at the risk of thefts of the largest
ones, the cost of water, labour in breaking up the lumps, turning over and over
again, and other expenses are avoided, all the diamonds being yielded up the same
day. Two men and a boy only are required to work this machine.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I clain as the Improvements in the
Means or Apparatus employed for Crushing and Eliminating Blue and other
Diamondiferous Conglomerates for the Purpose of Extracting Diamonds," is,―
The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the machinery

page_text: or apparatus for reducing the blue and other diamondiferous conglomerates and
extracting the diamonds therefrom, substantially as herein described and illustrated
by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Wilson Hartnell, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand a
eight hundred and eighty one.
WILSON HARTNELL. (L.S.)