Improvements in and Connected with Machinery for Crushing Auriferous and other Ores, and in the Method of Promoting the Amalgamation of the Precious Metal.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1886.
Complete Left, 28th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 5th Apr., 1887.
DECEDV
Improvements in and Connected with Machinery for Crushing
Auriferous and other Ores, and in the Method of Promoting the
Amalgamation of the Precious Metal.
I THOMAS DAVID WILLIAMS of East London South Africa and at present of
53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex Engineer do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements in stamping machinery for crushing auriferous
quartz and other ores and particularly to the machine described in the specification.
of another application for Letters Patent filed on my behalf on the 20th day of
March 1886.
My present improvements relate to the stamping for crushing chamber, and to the
anvil, grids, mercury baths, ripples, and other appliances in connection therewith, and
to the method of promoting the amalgamating action of the mercury. The anvil
is immediately surrounded on three sides by upwardly inclined trays or deflectors
and next to these by mercury baths which are provided with means of supplying and
drawing off the mercury from the outside of the chamber. The crushing chamber is
constructed with outlet or extension chambers on these three sides in which are hung
adjustable swinging grids which may be fixed at any angle to suit the splash from the
stamp. These grids are so arranged with regard to the mercury baths above referred
to that the portion of the splash which does not pass through descends the grids into
the baths. The bottom of the extension chambers is formed by a curvilinear surface
or bridge covered with an apron of amalgamated copper leading from the mercury
baths within the stamping chamber to a second set of baths outside the chamber.
The latter are at a lower level, and over them are hung adjustable deflectors or
curtains to throw down the splash that passes through the grids. Immediately above
these ripples or baths perforated pipes are arranged, from which water is rained down
on the surface of the mercury to keep the ripples clear, and promote the precipitation
and amalgamation of the gold held in suspension in the slime. When steam is used
as the motive power for the stamp, the exhaust steam may be similarly projected on

page_text: to the surface of the ripples or it may be blown through the mercury for the purpose
of warming it, and so further promoting the amalgamating action. Beyond the
second set of ripples are arranged removable grids, to catch any coarse quartz which
may escape from the stamping chamber beneath the banging grids. Beneath these
portable grids are suspended amalgamated copper lined trays by suitable hangers.
The quartz or ore to be crushed is supplied to the stamping chamber through an
aperture in the rear or fourth side provided with a hanging gate or flap between
cheeks or fenders which direct the quartz on to the anvil block. The anvil block is
made adjustable to compensate for wear and to keep its upper face at the proper level
by fitting it within a cavity in the bed of the stamping chamber to which access is had
through an aperture at back closed by a plug, wedges being introduced thereat for
raising the anvil and packing plates for supporting it at the required height.
Dated this 20th day of December 1886.
T. D. WILLIAMS.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Machinery for Crushing
Auriferous and other Ores, and in the Method of Promoting the
Amalgamation of the Precious Metal.
I, THOMAS DAVID WILLIAMS of East London South Africa, and at present of
53, Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, 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 improvements in stamping machinery for crushing auriferous
quartz and other ores, and particularly to the machine described in the specification
of another application for Letters Patent filed on my behalf on the 20th day of
March 1886. No. 3971.
My present improvements relate to the stamping or crushing chamber, and to the
anvil, grids, mercury-baths, ripples, and other appliances in connection therewith, and
to the method of promoting the amalgamating action of the mercury.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,
wherein Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sections of the stamping chamber, at right angles
to one another, and figure 3 a horizontal section of the stamping chamber shewing the
ripples etc. in plan. The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all
the figures.

page_text: The anvil N is immediately surrounded on three sides by upwardly inclined trays
or deflectors, and next to these by mercury baths S which are in communication with
each other and with a pipe leading to a feed nozzles outside the stamping chamber,
the nozzle being provided with draw off plugs whereby the mercury may be supplied
and drawn off as required.
The crushing chamber Z is constructed with outlet or extension chambers Zon
these three sides, in which are hung adjustable swinging grids T hung from the top,
and which may be adjusted by hand levers on the projecting ends of their axes and
fixed at any angle to suit the splash from the stamp.
The gauze forming the grids is clamped between a pair of frames cottered together,
and the grids are so arranged with regard to the mercury baths S, above referred to
that the portion of the splash which does not pass through descends the grids into the
said butlis.
The bottom of the extension chambers is formed by a convex or curvilinear surface
or bridge covered with an apron U of amalgamated copper leading from the mercury
baths S within the stamping chamber to a second set of baths S' outside the chamber.
The latter baths S₁ are at a lower level, and over them are hung adjustable deflectors
or curtains V to throw down the splash that passes through the grids T, these curtains
being adjustable in the same way as the grids. Immediately above these ripples, or
baths, perforated pipes are arranged from which water is rained down on the surface
of the mercury to keep the ripples clear, and promote the precipitation and amalgama-
tion of the gold held in suspension in the slime.
When steam is used as the motive power for the stamp, the exhaust steam may be
similarly projected on to the surface of the ripples, or it may be blown through the
mercury for the purpose of warming it, and so further promoting the amalgamating
action.
Beyond the second set of ripples or baths S¹, are arranged removable tray like
grids W to catch any coarse quartz which may escape from the stamping chamber
beneath the hanging grids T, it being necessary to leave the hanging grids open at
bottom to allow the slime to flow over the bridge or apron U. Above these catch
trays or grids W, other perforated shower pipes are provided, the water rained
down from which drives the slimes through said grids on to copper lined trays X
suspended beneath said grids by suitable hangers.
The quartz or ore to be crushed is supplied to the stamping chamber through a shoot R
and aperture in the rear or fourth side of said chamber provided with a hanging gate
or flap between cheeks or fenders which direct the quartz on to the anvil block N.
The anvil block N is made adjustable in height to compensate for wear, and to keep
its upper face at the proper level by fitting it within a cavity in the bed of the stamping
chamber, to which access is had through an aperture at back closed by a screw
plug n, packing plates n being introduced thereat beneath the anvil for supporting it
at the required height after it has been raised by wedges temporarily introduced
beneath.
Gutters n are provided for catching run-away quicksilver when the plug is removed
to adjust the anvil. The level of the top of the anvil is such that the stamp O will
strike through the crushed material at each stroke, thereby throwing a heavy splash
against the grids T, which as before mentioned are provided at three sides of the
stamping chamber, the crushed material which does not pass through the grids running
down them into the mercury baths S. The fine stuff or slime is forced over the apron
by the action of the water, and is washed down with a gradual sweep across the outer
mercury baths S₁ with a dragging motion caused by the convex and concave contour
of the tray.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In an ore stamp, the combination and arrangement of adjustable pendent grids
hung in an outlet or extension of the stamping chamber, a mercury bath within the
chamber beneath the grid, a second mercury bath outside the grid and a copper-plated

page_text: bridge or apron leading beneath the grid from the first to the second bath or ripple,
substantially as described and shewn in the drawings.
2. In an ore stamp, the combination and arrangement of adjustable pendent grids
hung in an outlet or extension of the stamping chamber, a mercury bath within the
chamber beneath the grid, a second mercury bath outside the grid, a copper plated
bridge or apron leading beneath the grid from the first to the second bath or ripple,
an adjustable curtain over the outer mercury bath, a removable tray-like grid beyond
the outer mercury bath and a swinging copper-lined tray beneath said grid, substantially
as described and shewn.
3. An ore stamp having outlet or extension chambers at three sides of the stamping
chamber, each containing a pendent adjustable grid and curtain, in combination with
inner and outer mercury baths, a copper-plated bridge or apron leading beneath the
grid and an outer removable grid with copper lined tray beneath it, all combined and
arranged substantially as described and shewn.
4. The method of promoting the amalgamating action, by discharging water or
steam through perforated pipes on to the mercury in the outer baths, as specified.
5. An ore stamp, constructed as herein specified and having a movable anvil block
fitted within a cavity in the bed of the stamping chamber and supported on packing
plates, the stamping chamber being provided with an aperture at back closed by a
removable plug for the purpose specified.
Dated this 28th day of Fol 1997
T. D. WILLIAMS.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.