Improvements in Apparatus for the Extraction of Gold.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1890-Accepted, 1st Nov., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Extraction of Gold.
I CLAUDE THEODORE JAMES VAUTIN, of Somerset Mansions, Welbeck Street, in
the County of Middlesex, Metallurgist, 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 apparatus or plant for the more efficient
extraction of gold from its powdered or pulverized ores, by any suitable re-agent by
art or hydrometallurgical method.
The special improvements in my apparatus consist of a combined dissolving and
leaching vessel supplied with the ore and re-agents by suitable over-head hoppers and
vats, a diaphragm pump in which the chemical solution to be pumped does not enter
the working barrel and which may be applied to accelerate the leaching, or to pump
the gold-bearing solution into a special set of depositing or precipitating vessels. And
in order that my invention may be the better understood I now proceed to describe
the same in relation to the drawings hereto annexed, reference being had to the letters
and figures marked thereon.
Figure 1. is a general elevation of my combined apparatus as a complete plant for
the extraction of gold.
Figure 2. is a vertical section through the combined dissolving and leaching
vessel.
Figure 3. is a vertical section through the diaphragm pump.
The material for treatment, after being crushed and if necessary roasted, is fed by
the truck B. on the tramway A. and deposited in the hopper C. and from thence is
liberated and falls into the dissolving vessel E; a suitable proportion of chemical
re-agent is added and with an addition of water as required or not.
The lid a of the dissolving vessel (Figure 2) is then closed by the screw down
clamp b. The dissolving vessel E is mounted on trunnions c. c (Figure 2) through
which respectively supplies of water may be introduced through the pipe d which
enters the vessel at any desired point, and the metal bearing solution after filtration
may be withdrawn through the pipe e which issues from the vessel below or above the
filter bed as may be desired.
The whole dissolving vessel can thus be rotated about its trunnions whilst the water
supply communication and the solution exit pipe communication are maintained.
The interior of the dissolving vessel is provided with oblique baffles or part
diaphragms fff by which the ore and re-agent are mixed and stirred as the dissolving
vessel revolves the material falling from end to end.
At one end of the dissolving vessel is a filter bed g so secured by slats of wood that
the filtering medium cannot fall from the bed upon rotation of the dissolving vessel.
The gold bearing solution, having passed through the said filter bod, is received and
carried away through the pipe e either by gravitation or the suction of the pump,
filtration being effected either upwards or downwards as may be desired according to
the position of the dissolving vessel. The solution is then delivered by the said pump
either from the dissolving vessel direct or from an intermediate tank H into the
tank I.
Another method of filtration is by admitting water under pressure at the top of the
dissolving vessel when closed and so forcing the metal bearing solution out through
the filtering medium in the vessel and thence into the tank H.
The solution is then allowed to run from the tank 1 into a series of precipitating
vessels K, where the decomposition of the gold bearing solution takes place and the
gold is deposited.
When the first precipitating vessel is noticed to be charged with gold it is removed

page_text: for collection of the gold, and the 2nd and 3rd vessels are moved up a newly charged
vessel being added at the bottom.
The gold is easily removed from the precipitating agent by methods well known.
The pump used should be of special construction so as to prevent any solution or
any grit or fine sand from getting into the working barrel of the pump. I therefore
employ a diaphragm pump of which I show a suitable design in Figure 3 ha
diaphragm sufficiently elastic to admit of a rise and fail of the centre by the recipro-
cating motion of the rod or plunger k which is attached to the centre thereof by the
bolt and nut C. The rise and fall of the said diaphragm h draws the liquid through
the said suction valve m. and discharges the same through the delivery n.
solution does not pass through the diaphragm nor does it touch the working surfaces
of the plunger k, which may be kept surrounded with water or oil by the feed
cup p.
The
I protect all the interior parts of the apparatus with any known non-corrosive
compound or paint which enables the apparatus to be made of wood or metal as may
be desired without lead linings.
The pipes through which the solution passes are glass lined instead of leaden pipes
which former I consider preferable for use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is
1st. A combined apparatus for the extraction of gold consisting of suitable over-
head hoppers and vats; one or more combined dissolving and leaching vessels,
capable of rotation about trunnions to maintain agitation a prime mover; a diaphragm
pump drawing gold bearing solution from the said dissolving and leaching vessel or
from an intermediate gravity filled tank and delivering the same to a series of gold
precipitating or depositing vessels and pipes for making the necessary connections
substantially as described.
2nd. In a gold extracting apparatus a combined dissolving and leaching vesse
provided with trunnions conveying the water supply and the metal bearing solution
exit rotated by pulley and driving gear and with an hermetically closing cover
transverse agitators or baffles and a slat protected filter bed substantially as and for
the purposes described.
3rd. In a gold extracting apparatus a diaphragm pump so arranged that the gold
bearing solution and the grit held suspended therein does not enter into the working
barrel of the pump substantially as described.
4th. In a gold extracting apparatus a series of separate detachably connected
depositing vessels (say 3) containing the necessary re-agent to cause the precipitation
of gold therein the top vessel of such series being successively removed at suitable
intervals, for the collection of the precipitated gold and a newly charged vessel being
added at the bottom substantially as and for the purposes described.
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