Improvements in Apparatus for Extracting Metals.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 7th Nov., 1396
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Extracting Metals.
We, EWALD FISCHER of 14 Gellhornstrasse, Breslau in the German Empire,
Engineer, and CHARLES GREGORY PENNEY, of 3 George Yard, Lombard Street,
London in the County of Middlesex Merchant, 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:-
The subject of this invention is an apparatus by means of which ores containing
metals capable of amalgamating with mercury can be treated in the wet or dry
states so as to produce amalgamates, and by means of which the amalgamates can
be separated, whilst interruptions in the working are avoided by the absence of the
deposition of the heavy matters which are incapable of amalgamation.
We will describe our invention with reference to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 of which represents the apparatus in sectional side elevation. Figure 2
represents a cross section taken along the line A-B Figure 1.
An air-pump a or its equivalent, forces air into the air heater which may
be heated by the gas burner c or otherwise. The air having been heated to the
required temperature, passes through the outlet d into the upper part of the
mercury retort e which is also provided with a heating apparatus such as the gas
burners. The jet of hot air issuing in the upper part of the retort carries with
it mercury vapours into the pipe g. This pipe is covered with a heat insulator g
and is returned axially through the rotating drum i and nearly to the end of the
rotating cylinder h. Within the cylinder the pipe g is fitted with numerous
outlets g and gas shewn by Figures 1 and 2, the outlets being by preference
fitted with steatite jets or nozzles, so as to diminish wear and tear and to facilitate
renewals. Thus, the mixed hot air and mercury vapours pass into the interior of
the drum. At the same time, the wet or dry material to be operated upon which
contains the metal, is introduced through the inlet pipe n passing through the centre
of the cylinder cover. As by the rotation of the drum the material is kept in a
constant state of agitation and change of exposure, a rapid and perfect
admixture of the mixed air and mercury vapour with the material takes place,
and the metal or metals therein quickly combine with the mercury vapour to form
an amalgamate.
The rotating cylinder and drum are arranged at an angle and there are openings
at the end of the cylinder next to the drum so that the mixture can pass from the
cylinder to the drum. This drum is constructed of copper and its inner surface is
amalgamated. It contains suspended from the axial pipe g an anode o which may
be constructed of carbon or other suitable conductor of electricity, and is connected
as at p with the positive pole of a dynamo or other source of electricity. The
sides of the drum form the cathode and may be connected to the negative pole of
the source of electric current by contact with the brush of the terminal q. The
anode may be adjusted in distance from the cathode by means of the screw
couplings r.
Two or more sets of the apparatus may be used simultaneously with or without
interconnections of the separate parts as may be convenient.
The arrangement shewn is to be understood as being typical, as it may be varied
in many ways, but in all cases we prefer to connect the drum with the cylinder
substantially as represented by Figure 1, and to drive them by means of friction
wheels and rollers k l m.

page_text: The substitution of hot air by other gases does not present any advantages
because with air the production of the necessary temperature is more easily
obtained and maintained, and more especially air is far more applicable for use
with the dry process.
This apparatus has the advantage that the materials which do not enter into
the amalgamate can readily escape, and that the amalgamate can be readily removed
from it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
Apparatus for use in the amalgamation of metals contained in ores and the like
by either the wet or the dry processes, constructed arranged and operated
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
W. E. HEYS & SON.