IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING METALS AND METALLIC ORESSTAN IN THE STATE OF
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Borlase, of Allenheads, Haydon Bridge,
in the County of Northumberland, Mining Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING METALS AND METALLIC ORES WHEN
Sealed the 11th May 1860, and dated the 15th November 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Borlase at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
November 1859.
I, EDWARD BORLASE, of Allenheads, Haydon Bridge, in the County of North-
umberland, Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING METALS AND METALLIC ORES WHEN
MINGLED WITH OTHER SUBSTANCES IN THE STATE OF SLIME," to be as follows:-
The materials from which it is desired to separate the metal or metallic ore
are introduced into an inclined cylindrical sieve, which, being caused to revolve,
an agitation of the mass ensues, the larger fragments passing out at the lower
end, from whence they may be conveyed into a "hotching" machine. The
larger fragments of the materials being thus separated, the slime or "sludge"
or that portion of the materials which consists of small particles, or is in a
comparatively finely divided state, passes through the meshes of the sieve and
is conveyed into a distributor, whence it is conducted into the outer part of the
main portion or body of the machine. This latter consists of a receptacle
which may be circular or of any other convenient shape, and is fixed on a
perpendicular shaft, which together with the receptacle is kept in continual
"forth and back" motion by means of suitable mechanism. The effect of this
motion is to keep the slime or "sludge " in an agitated state, thus causing the

page_text: metal or metallic ore to descend or settle to the bottom whilst the waste
and lighter portions are carried with the water with which the whole is mixed
towards the inner part of the receptacle, where it passes over a ring so
arranged as to rise by means of suitable gear as the ore collects or rises in the
machine, the waste passing out through an orifice provided for that purpose.
Any suitable motive power may be employed for actuating this apparatus,
and various modifications may be made in the arrangement of the different
parts thereof.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Borlase in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th May 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
BORLASE, of Allenheads, Haydon Bridge, in the County of Northumberland,
Mining Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edward Borlase, Her special licence that I, the said Edward Borlase, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward
Borlase, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
SEPARATING METALS AND METALLIC ORES WHEN MINGLED WITH OTHER SUBSTANCES
IN THE STATE OF SLIME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Edward Borlase, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Borlase, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and
to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-

page_text: My said Invention relates to certain improved methods of treating matters
and substances containing metal or metallic ore in a finely divided state, and is
especially applicable to the treatment of poor ores, or those which contain but
a small proportion of metallic matter, and also of the refuse or waste from
other machines for washing and separating ores, the metallic particles contained
in such poor ores, and refuse or waste being effectually collected and recovered
and which would otherwise be wholly lost.
Having thus described the objects of my said Invention, I will now proceed
to explain the manner in which I carry it into effect. The materials or
substances from which it is desired to separate the metal or metallic ore, if not
already mingled with water in the state of slime, or what is known to miners
as "sludge," must be sufficiently crushed (if necessary) by any of the known
methods for effecting such purpose, and mixed with water, such mixture being
then introduced into an inclined sieve, which may be of a cylindrical or any
other suitable and convenient form, and which, being caused to revolve, an
agitation of the mass ensues, the larger fragments passing out at the lower end
of the sieve, from whence they may be conveyed into a "hotching" or other
separating machine, or disposed of as may be deemed proper. The larger
fragments of the materials being thus separated, the slime or "sludge," or that
portion of the materials which consists of small particles or is in a comparatively
finely divided state, passes through the meshes of the sieve and is conveyed into
a portion of the machine which I call a "distributor," and which may be
stationary, or have a rotary motion, as may be deemed advisable, whence
it flows through suitable openings, or launders, or ducts, into the outer
part of the main portion or body of the machine. The main portion or
body of the machine consists of a receptacle which may be circular or of
any other convenient or desirable shape, the form thereof being no essential
part of the Invention. The last-mentioned receptacle is fixed on a perpen-
dicular shaft placed in the centre thereof, such shaft, together with the
main body of the machine, being kept in continual "forth and back" motion
by means of suitable mechanical arrangements, and which, as the contrivances
for such purposes are well known and understood by mechanists, need not be
particularly described; or, in some cases, where the metal or metallic ore is in
very finely divided particles, it may be desirable to have the shaft and main
part of the machine stationary. In the latter cases the agitation occasioned by
the rush of the materials from the distributor, will be sufficient for the separa-
tion of the heavier from the waste and lighter portions thereof in the main
body of the machine. In the treatment of slimes containing very finely divided
particles; the process of separation will be much facilitated by allowing water

page_text: 35
to fall into the same in showers, consisting of separate drops falling like drops
of rain. Where it is necessary or desirable to employ the "forth and back
motion before referred to, the slime or "sludge" is thereby kept in a constant
state of agitation, causing the metal or ore to descend or settle to the bottom,
whilst the waste and lighter portions rise and are carried with the water with
which the whole is mixed towards the inner part of the machine. In either
case, whether the shaft and machine have the "forth and back" motion
imparted to it, or are stationary, the waste and water pass over a ring or
cylindrical collar placed in the centre of the machine, and which is raised by
suitable gear as the ore collects or rises in the machine, the waste and water
passing over and through the ring, and flowing through an orifice provided for
that purpose, whence it is conveyed by means of launders, shoots or other
convenient arrangements. When the machine is filled with ore or metallic
particles, it can be settled as with a "dolly," by means of rappers fixed under
the machine, and which may be worked, if desired, during the entire operation.
Having thus described my Invention in general language, I will now refer
to the annexed Drawings, by means of which the before mentioned arrange-
ments, and the mode in which my Invention is or may be carried into operation
will be more fully understood.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the machine; Figure 2 is a plan; and Figure 3
an end elevation of the machine. It will be observed that the same parts are
distinguished by the same letters in the different Figures.
A is the inclined revolving cylindrical sieve, through which the materials are
conducted, the larger parts, by reason of the continual agitation of the mass;
passing out at the lower end into a shoot or launder B, from whence it can be
conveyed to a "hotching" machine, or otherwise disposed of, as herein-before
mentioned; C is the shoot or channel through which the smaller, or slime, or
sludge " portion of the mineral substances submitted to the operation of the
niachine flows into the before mentioned distributor D, and by suitable channels
is conducted into the outer part or main body of the machine E. Instead of
constructing the distributor as represented in the Drawing, it may be made in
the form of an entire cone, with or without channels, perforated near the
periphery thereof. The main body of the machine E may be circular, or of
any other convenient shape, and is fixed on a perpendicular shaft F. The
"forth and back" motion to be imparted to the shaft F, and the main body of
the machine E, is given by means of cranks and connecting rods G, for which
purpose any convenient source of power may be employed; H is the before-
mentioned rising ring, I being the orifice through which the waste and water
pass, as aforesaid. The ring may be made of cast iron or of any other material

page_text: fitted for the purpose. The gear for raising the ring H, is worked by the
machine, the first motion being given to the beam K, causing it to vibrate, so
that the other end moves a ratchet L backward and forward, and giving motion
to the ratchet wheel M, which is fixed on a horizontal shaft N. The ratchet
is raised or lowered by a worm screw to increase or decrease the speed
according to the quality of the slime or "sludge" to be operated upon. On
the horizontal shaft N is a worm pinion that works a wheel on a perpendicular
shaft O, where there is a second worm pinion that raises and lowers the
segment P on the end of the beam Q. The segment can be put in and out
of gear by sliding forth and back on the end of the beam, so that if necessary,
the ring may at once be raised or lowered. The other end of the beam is
attached to the rod R, which works up and down in the centre of the per-
pendicular shaft F, there being a cross bar S, which connects the rod R and
the ring H. Any motive power may be employed for the purposes aforesaid.
It must be distinctly understood, that although I have here described the
mechanical arrangements, by means of which the said ring may be raised, and
the other portions of the apparatus actuated, yet I do not confine or limit
myself to such mechanical arrangements so described, inasmuch as they do not
constitute an essential part of my Invention, and the same purposes may be
effected by any of the known methods of performing similar mechanical
operations; neither do I in the apparatus itself confine or restrict myself to
the precise details or arrangements which I have described or referred to, as
variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the principles or
main features of the said Invention; but what I consider novel and original
and therefore claim as my Invention is,―The combination of apparatus herein-
before substantially described, or any mere modifications thereof, for the uses
and purposes aforesaid.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Borlase, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
E. P. H. VAUGHAN,
15, Southampton Buildgs.
Agent for the Patentee.
EDWARD BORLASE. (L.S.)