A Method and Apparatus for Separating Diamonds from Earthy Matters.
Year: 1897

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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Method and Apparatus for Separating Diamonds from
Earthy Matters.
I, GEORGE LABRAM, of Kimberley, in the Territory of Griqualand West, in the
Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
According to this invention the mixture of diamonds with earthy matters is
washed down from a distributing plate over an inclined suspended table (which
may be made in steps) which is covered with smooth iron plates coated with
grease, white lead or the like. This table is oscillated by a cam and spring or
otherwise so as to be bumped against a fixed block.
The earthy matters pass over the end of the table and the diamonds adhere to the
plates, which from time to time are removed, other fresh coated plates being
substituted, so that the operation can be carried on continuously.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
A Method and Apparatus for Separating Diamonds from
Earthy Matters.
I, GEORGE LABRAM, of Kimberley, in the Territory of Griqualand West, in the
Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, 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 :-
According to this invention the mixture of diamonds with earthy matters is washed
down from a distributing plate over an inclined suspended table, (which may be made
in steps) which is covered with smooth iron plates coated with grease, white lead, or
the like. This table is oscillated by a cam and spring or otherwise so as to be bumped
against a fixed block. The earthy matters pass over the end of the table and the
diamonds adhere to the plates which from time to time are removed, other fresh
coated plates being substituted, so that the operation can be carried on continuously.
The accompanying drawings represent apparatus suitable for operating as above
described.
Fig. is a front view. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 3 is a sectional
plan on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
A is a receiver or hopper in which the mixture of diamonds and earthy matter is
fed, and from which by a screw conveyor B, within the hopper, it is pushed out of a

page_text: spout so as to fall on an inclined distributing table C. From the lower edge of C the
material, by jets of water from a pipe K, is washed down upon the coated plates J,
which are laid on an inclined table made in steps F fixed on sides D. This table
is suspended by adjustable hangers E, it is drawn to one side by a cam or eccentric G,
and urged by a spring S, so as to be bumped against a fixed stop H. The sludge of
earthy material overflows the lower edge of the table at L into a receptacle or
discharge duct M.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein described method of separating diamonds from earthy matters by
causing the material containing them to pass with water over plates coated with grease
or equivalent material and carried by an inclined oscillating table subjected to
bumping action.
2. Apparatus for operating as above set forth, constructed substantially as
described.