Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus to be used for the Extraction of Gold and Silver from their Ores by the Amalgamation Process.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 15th July, 189-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus to be used for the
Extraction of Gold and Silver from their Ores by the
Amalgamation Process.
I, JOSIAH HARRIS, of Meadow Bank, Longton Avenue, Upper Sydenham, in
the County of Surrey, Mining Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide improved machinery or apparatus to
be used for extracting gold and silver from their ores by the amalgamation
process.
The apparatus consists of a trough to contain the mercury, above which one or
more horizontal rollers rotate in suitable bearings and dipping into the mercury.
These rollers, which extend from side to side of the trough, are made of or covered
with, some metal which is capable of being amalgamated, and are fluted or
corrugated and serrated longitudinally. They are so placed in the trough that the
crushed ore is divided and opened up, and is carried by the rollers beneath the
surface of the mercury in a finely divided or powdery condition and not pressed
thereunder in the form of a cake as heretofore. The rollers are parallel to each
other and are sufficiently near together to successively take up the ore passing
under the roller immediately in front.
The waste ore passing under the last roller is agitated by means of a rake fixed
over the end of the trough to extract the last particles of gold or silver which may
remain, the waste ore finally passing off through a suitable outlet.
The ores may be discharged through a suitable hopper in front of the first roller
either in a dry or slightly moist, or wet condition, and water is added to the waste
ore after leaving the last roller to enable the raking action to more easily break up
and disintegrate the particles.
The rollers are driven by any suitable mechanism and preferably geared together
so as to rotate in the same direction, the straight line motion of the rake being
derived from a cam or its mechanical equivalent.
The amalgam and mercury may be drawn off when required from the bottom of
the trough by suitable discharge pipes fitted with cocks or valves.
11000
CASTLE SMITH,
Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
36
CASTLE SMITH,
Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus to be used for the
Extraction of Gold and Silver from their Ores by the
Amalgamation Process.
I, JOSIAH HARRIS, of Moraston Lodge, Jew's Walk, Sydenham, in the County
of Kent, Mining 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide improved machinery or apparatus to
be used for extracting gold and silver from their ores by the amalgamation
process

page_text: The apparatus consists of a trough to contain the mercury, above which one or
more horizontal rollers rotate in suitable bearings and dipping into the mercury.
These rollers, which extend from side to side of the trough, are made of or covered
with some metal which is capable of being amalgamated, and are fluted or corrugated
and serrated longitudinally. They are so placed in the trough that the crushed ore
either from stamps or other grinding or pulverising machines, which is placed in the
trough, is divided and opened up, and is carried by the rollers beneath the surface
of the mercury in a finely divided or powdery condition and not pressed thereunder
in the form of a cake as heretofore.
The rollers are parallel to each other and are sufficiently near together to
successively take up the ore passing under the roller immediately in front.
The waste ore passing under the last roller is agitated by means of a rake or
rakes fixed over the end of the trough to extract the gold or silver which may
remain, and to liberate any mercury which may be mixed with the tailings, the
said tailings finally passing off through a suitable outlet.
The ores may be delivered into the machine or apparatus through a suitable
hopper or grating in front of the first roller either in a dry or slightly moist or wet
condition, and water is added to the waste ore after leaving the last roller to enable
the raking action to more easily break up and disintegrate the particles.
The rollers are driven by any suitable mechanism and geared together so as to
rotate in the same direction, the straight line motion of the rake or rakes being
derived from a cam or its mechanical equivalent.
The amalgam and mercury may be drawn off when required from the bottom of
the trough by suitable discharge pipes fitted with cocks or valves.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood and carried into
practice I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accom-
panying drawings in which similar letters are used to indicate corresponding parts
throughout.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation and Figure 2 a sectional plan of my improved
amalgamating machine.
The bed A of the machine forms the trough into which the mercury is placed
about an inch deep. Beneath each roller B, the bottom of the trough is slightly
depressed or curved (as shewn at C C). These depressions or curves C C extend
from side to side of the bed or trough A of the machine and are provided so as to
obtain a greater depth of mercury at these parts. Under each depression C, and
preferably at one end of the roller, is a cavity D secured by means of a padlock
from which the mercury and amalgam may be drawn off when desired. The rollers
are journalled in bearings fixed to or formed in the sides E of the machine. On the
ends of the roller spindles are cogs F, gearing with the intermediate cogs G, so as
to cause the rollers to rotate all in the same direction and at the same or at different
speeds as desired. The rollers are rotated by any suitable motive power, preferably
by means of a band passed over the band pulley or drum H shewn keyed on the
spindle end of the first roller, that is the roller nearest the hopper or grating J.
Each roller is provided with a disc T at each end to prevent the mercury and
amalgam from falling off the rollers on to the bearings and sides E of the trough.
All the rollers are provided with longitudinal corrugations, and each corrugation is
preferably fluted or serrated longitudinally so as to bite or hold on to and divide
the ore and carry the same through without caking.
The last roller is provided with a crank, cam, or its equivalent K at each end of
the spindle. On to each crank one end of a connecting rod L is pivotted, the other
end being pivotted to the transverse rod M, sliding in longitudinal grooves N, in
the sides E of the machine. This transverse rod M carries the rake O which by
means of the cranks or their equivalents K, connecting rods L and grooves N, is
caused to travel longitudinally in a straight line.
If required an additional rake or rakes may be placed between the last roller and
the mercury trap P, the said rake or rakes being worked transversely across the
machine by hand or by any suitable mechanical means, so as to open up the tailings

page_text: and liberate any mercury therefrom and also to prevent the caking or congestion of
the tailings in front of the mercury trap P.
Between the last roller and the rake O I provide a mercury trap P which will
prevent mercury passing off with the waste ores, or tailings. I also make the
bottom A² over which the rake works inclined downwards towards the trap P so
that as the tailings are broken up by the rake O any mercury mixed therewith will
be set free, and by its greater specific gravity will fall on to the inclined bottom A³
and from thence will gravitate into the trough P.
The trap P extends from side to side of the machine, and immediately in front I
fix a wall or bridge Q also extending from side to side of the machine, as shewn in
Figure 2. Secured to the sides E of the machine is a second wall R which also
extends from side to side of the machine (see Figure 2) and is so fixed as to reach
down below the bed A of the machine and dip into the trap P. The said trap P
may also if desired be provided with a lock up cavity D at one end from which the
mercury may be drawn off when desired.
The top or cover S is so made as to box in the whole of the mechanism and is
provided with a padlock or other means for securing, to prevent the mercury and
amalgam from being fraudulently abstracted.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-Sufficient mercury is placed in the
trough A to rise about an inch from the bottom and thus cover or partially cover
the lowest corrugations on the rollers. The top or cover S of the machine is then
locked and the rollers rotated. The ore in a finely divided state is placed in the
hopper or grating J by which it is screened and falls down into the trough A in
front of the first roller, the corrugations or serrations of which pass it downwards
through the liquid mercury to the rear, so that the whole of the ore is completely
immersed in the liquid mercury. This is done successively by all the rollers, and
after being passed to the rear by the last roller the tailings are banked up against
the wall or bridge Q over which they pass and fall down between the walls Q and R
into the mercury trap P. Here the greater specific gravity of the mercury will
cause it to fall to the bottom whilst the tailings will float on the surface of the
mercury and will be passed along on to the inclined surface A' beneath the rake O
by which they are opened up and freely delivered through the outlet U. Water
may if desired be used to carry off the tailings, or when no water is used they may
be drawn off by a fan or exhaust, or by other suitable mechanical means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
(1) The construction and use of a machine or apparatus for extracting gold and
silver from their ores, consisting of a bed or trough containing mercury in which
one or more corrugated and serrated rollers rotate horizontally passing the ore to
the rear and through the mercury in the trough, a trap to catch mercury passing
off with the tailings, and a rake or rakes to open up said tailings to liberate
mercury they may contain and to allow of their free delivery, the whole combined
and operating in the manner and by the means, or any mechanical equivalent
thereof, substantially as described and shewn.
(2) My improved machine or apparatus for extracting gold and silver from their
ores by the amalgamation process substantially as hereinbefore set forth and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 15th dor of Iul 1901
CASTLE SMITH,
Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
66
CASTLE SMITH,
Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.