IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PULVERIZING AND WASHING QUARTZ OR ORE, AND FOR AMALGAMATING THE GOLD CONTAINED THEREIN
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford, of 16,
Castle Street, Holborn, London, Patent Agent, for the Invention
of IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PULVERIZING AND WASHING
QUARTZ OR ORE, AND FOR AMALGAMATING THE GOLD CONTAINED THEREIN."
Scaled the 8th September 1853, and dated the 17th June 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Auguste Edouard
Loradoux Bellford at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with his Petition, on the 17th June 1853.
I, AUGUSTE EDOUARD LORADOUX BELLFORD, of 16, Castle Street,
Holborn, London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PULVERIZING
AND WASHING QUARTZ OR ORE, AND FOR AMALGAMATING THE GOLD CONTAINED
THEREIN," to be as follows:-
The nature of the first part of this Invention consists in the employ-
ment, for the purpose of pulverizing quartz or ore, of a spherical ball

page_text: placed within a circular basin, whose axis moves in such a way as to
describe a cone around an imaginary fixed axis, but does not cause the
basin to rotate. The basin is so formed that the ball nearly fits to its
sides. The imaginary axis round which the axis of the basin revolves
is intended to be vertical, and consequently the bottom of the basin
must always be in a similarly inclined position, though the position of
the basin is constantly changing in such a way as to make all the
points in any circle described from its axis successively the lowest
points in the said circle, every point moving as it were in a circular
inclined plane. The ball will always descend by its gravity to the
lowest place in the interior of the basin; but as every point in the circle
of the basin in which the ball remains cominences ascending as it
passes the ball, it has a tendency to carry up the ball with it. This
tendency is overcome by the gravity of the ball, which causes it to
rotate on its axis in the same manner as a ball descending an inclined
plane, and always keeps it at the lowest part of the basin, where, by
its rolling motion, it is made to grind and pulverize the material placed
in the basin. The peculiar notion of the basin admits of the quartz or
ore being kept all towards the working point of the ball, and keeps the
entire mass of its contents constantly and thoroughly adapted, so that
all the particles are subjected alike to the action of the ball.
A constant
The nature of the second part of this Invention consists in the com-
bination with a ball and basin, having such movements as I have de-
scribed, of an outer basin placed below, with a space below, with a space
between it and the crushing basin, moving with the crushing basin, and
having communication with it through an opening or openings in the
centre, which is or are protected by a screen or screens. This outer
basin contains mercury for amalgamating the gold or metal.
stream of water is admitted into the crushing basin, and this, combined
with the action of the ball, washes and throws all the crushed portions
of the matter over the screen, through which the finer portions descend
to the outer pan, where the gold or metal amalgamates with the
mercury, and from which the quartz or other foreign matter is washed
by the stream of water.
The third part of this Invention relates to a device for counteracting

page_text: the too great centrifugal tendency which may be imparted to the
crushing ball by the revolution which it is caused to make around the
axis of the basin and the imaginary axis round which the former
axis moves.
The axis of the basin receives its motion through a
crank which acts at one end of it, and the increasing centrifugal force
of the ball is made to shorten the effective length of this crank, and
thus re-reduce the motion of the basin and the inclination of the plane
which is presented to the ball.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Fig. 1, is an elevation of a machine constructed according to this
improvements.
Fig. 2, is a vertical section of the same at right angles to Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is a plan of the same.
Fig. 4, is a plan view, showing the crank through which rotary
motion is given to the crushing and amalgamating basins detached
from the machine.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the
several Figs.
The
A, is the frame of the machine, in the lower part of which is
supported the driving shaft B, which occupies a vertical position, and
receives motion through a belt pulley C, from any prime mover.
upper end of the shaft is forked to receive a block D, of metal, which is
pivoted to it by a pivot f, passing transeversely through the axis of the
shaft. E, is the lower or amalgamating basin, which is intended to be of
cast iron of circular form, and has a hub a, projecting some distance
from the inside of the bottom which receives the shaft F. on which it
is firmly secured. G, is the inuer or crushing basin, which is so formed
as to make a trough or channel M, all round its bottom to receive the
ball. The raised circular part H, of the basin within the trough rests
upon a number of bearing pieces b, b, which stand up from the bottom of
the basin E, and it has a hub c, which fits to the shaft, and rests on the
hub a.
The two basins are secured to each other and to the shaft by
any suitable means. The raised circular part II, of the basin G, is open,
the hub being merely united to the trough by radial arms, and the
opening is covered by a screen L.

page_text: The upper end of the shaft F, is suspended at a fixed point; the
suspension may be made with any joint which will admit of its turning
freely in any direction. I have adopted a hook d, and eye e, as being
the simplest and easiest of construction. The lower end of the shaft is
connected by a crank to the shaft B. This crank, instead of being a
bar or block rigidly connected to the two shafts, consists of a rod I, which
is fitted to work freely in a hole made in a block D, at right angles to
the pivots f; at one end is pivoted a metal box J, which is bored to
receive a journal i, on the lower end of the shaft F. A spring g, is
applied between the block D, and a shoulder near that end of the
rod I, to which the shaft F, is connected, and another spring h, is
applied between the said block and a shouliler at the opposite end of
the rod; both these springs exert their force by pushing from the block.
The ball K, may be solid cast iron, or, for convenience of trans-
portation, may consist of a hollow cast iron shell, may be filled with the
heaviest available materials.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-The quartz, ore, or
auriferous mineral, after being broken into small pieces, is fed in a
suitable quantity to the basin G, and is subjected to the action of the
ball K, which fits to the trough or channel M, in such a way as to
leave room for some of the matter under at the sides of the ball, where
it is submitted to a crushing and grinding operation. The stream
of water which is let into the trough G, washes up all the finely pul-
verized particles, and carries them through the screen I, where there a
constant overflow to the basin E, containing the mercury. In the
latter basin a constant agitation is kept up by the peculiar motion
imparted to it, and by it every particle of the gold or metal is brought
into contact with the mercury and amalgamated with it, while the
quartz or other foreign mineral matter is washed away by the constant
overflow at the lowest part of the basin E. The amalgam is withdrawn
from the basin through a suitable valve or trap 1, in any part of the
bottom. The ball K, owing to the constant change in the position of
the lowest portion of the basin, moves a horizontal plane in a circle
described from the imaginary central axis round which the axis of the
basin moves, and thus acquires centrifugal force, which tends to throw

page_text: the lowest side of the basins from the centre.
This centrifugal force
is in a certain degree, but not perfectly, counteracted by the gravity of
the ball, which intends to lengthen the crank, while the centrifugal
force tends to shorten it. The shortening of the crank reduces the
extent of the motion of the basin, and lessens the inclination of the
plane down which it may be said to be descending, and thus arrests
the centrifugal tendency; the springs g, and h, admit of the lengthening
and shortening of the crank, and hold it at at a desirable length, when
not otherwise unduly influenced, and also serve to prevent shocks to
the machine in stopping and starting.
I will here remark, that the lower end of the shaft F, may be attached
at fixed point, and the upper end may be attached to a crank, and this
the lowest side of the basins from the centre.
This centrifugal force
is in a certain degree, but not perfectly, counteracted by the gravity of
the ball, which intends to lengthen the crank, while the centrifugal
force tends to shorten it. The shortening of the crank reduces the
extent of the motion of the basin, and lessens the inclination of the
plane down which it may be said to be descending, and thus arrests
the centrifugal tendency; the springs g, and h, admit of the lengthening
and shortening of the crank, and hold it at at a desirable length, when
not otherwise unduly influenced, and also serve to prevent shocks to
the machine in stopping and starting.
I will here remark, that the lower end of the shaft F, may be attached
at fixed point, and the upper end may be attached to a crank, and this
will give a motion to the basins similar to the arrangement shown.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford in the Great
Seal Patent Office, on the 17th December 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
AUGUSTE EDOUARD LORADOUX BELLFORD, of 16, Castle Street, Holborn,
London, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford,
Her special licence that the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bell-
ford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford, 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 terin 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, communicated to me by a foreigner
residing abroad, for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PULVERIZING AND

page_text: WASHING QUARTZ OR ORE, AND FOR AMALGAMATING THE GOLD CONTAINED
THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Auguste
Edouard Loradoux Bellford, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 Auguste Edouard Loradoux
Bellford, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement (that is to say):
The nature of the first part of the Invention consists in the employ-
ment, for the purpose of pulverizing quartz or-ore, of a spherical ball
placed within a circular basin, whose axis moves in such a way as to
describe a cone around an imaginary fixed axis, but does not cause the
basin to rotate. The basin is so formed that the ball nearly fits to its
sides. The imaginary axis round which the axis of the basin revolves is
intended to be vertical, and consequently the bottom of the basin must
always be in a similarly inclined position, though the position of the
basin is constantly changing in such a way as to make all the points in
any circle described from its axis successively the lowest points in the
said circle, every point moving as it were in a circular inclined plane.
The ball will always descend by its gravity to the lowest place in the
interior of the basin; but as every point in the circle of the basin
in which the ball remains commences ascending as it passes the ball, it
has a tendency to carry up the ball with it. This tendency is overcome
by the gravity of the ball, which causes it to rotate on its axis in the
same manner as a ball descending an inclined plane, and always keeps
it at the lowest part of the basin, where by its rolling motion it is made
to grind and pulverize the material placed in the basin. The peculiar
movement of the basin admits of the quartz or ore being kept all
towards the working point of the ball, and keeps the entire mass of its
contents constantly and thoroughly agitated, so that all the particles are
subjected alike to the action of the ball.

page_text: The nature of the second part of my Invention consists in the
combination with a ball and basin, having such movements as I have
described, of an outer basin placed below, with a space between it and
the washing basin, moving with the crushing basin, and having com-
munication with it through an opening or openings in the centre, which
is or are protected by a screen or screens. This outer basin contains
mercury for amalgamating the gold or metal. A constant stream of
water is admitted into the crushing basin, and this, combined with the
action of the ball, washes and throws all the crushed portions of the
matter over the screen, through which the finer portions descend to the
outer pan, where the gold or metal amalgamates with the mercury,
and from which the quartz or other foreign matter is washed by the
stream of water.
The third part of my Invention relates to a device for counteracting
the too great centrifugal tendency which may be imparted to the
crushing ball by the revolution which it is caused to make around the
axis of the basin and the imaginary axis round which the former axis
moves. The axis of the basin receives its motion through a crank
which acts at one end of it, and the increasing centrifugal force of the
ball is made to shorten the effective length of this crank, and thus
reduce the motion of the basin and the inclination of the plane which
is presented to the ball.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Fig. 1, is an elevation of a machine constructed according to my
iniprovements.
Fig. 2, is a vertical section of the same at right angles to Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is a plan of the same.
Fig. 4, is a plan view, showing the crank through which rotary mo-
tion is given to the crushing and amalgamating basins detached from
the machine.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the
several Figs.
A, is the frame of the machine, in the lower part of which is
supported the driving shaft B, which occupies a vertical position
and receives motion through a belt pulley C, from any prime mover.

page_text: The upper end of the shaft is forked to receive a block D, of metal,
which is pivoted to it by a pivot f, passing transversely through the
axis of the shaft. E, is the lower or amalgamating basin, which is
intended to be of cast iron of circular form, and has a hub a, project-
ing some distance from the inside of the bottom which receives the
shaft F, on which it is firmly secured. G, is the inner or crushing
basin, which is so formed as to make a trough or channel M, all round
its bottom to receive the ball. The raised circular part II, of the
basin within the trough rests upon a number of bearing pieces b, b,
which stand up from the bottom of the basin E, and it has a hub c,
which fits to the shaft and rests on the hub a. The two basins are se-
cured to each other and to the shaft by any suitable means. The
raised circular part H, of the basin G, is open, the hub being merely
united to the trough by radial arms, and the opening is covered by a
screen L.
The upper end of the shaft F, is suspended at a fixed point; the
suspension may be made with any joint which will admit of its turning
freely in any direction. I have adopted a hook d, and eye e, as being
the simplest and easiest of construction. The lower end of the shaft is
connected by a crank to the shaft B. This crank, instead of being a bar
or block rigidly connected to the two shafts, consists of a rod I, which
is fitted to work freely in a hole made in the block D, at right angles
to the pivots f; at one end is pivoted a metal box J, which is bored to
receive a journal i, on the lower end of the shaft F. A spring g, is ap-
plied between the block D, and a shoulder near that end of the rod I,
to which the shaft F, is connected, and another spring h, is applied
between the said block and a shoulder.at the opposite end of the rod;
both these springs exert their force by pushing from the block.
The ball K, may be of solid cast iron, or, for convenience of transpor-
tation, may consist of a hollow cast iron shell, which may be filled with
the heaviest available materials.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-The quartz, ore, or
auriferous mineral, after being broken into small pieces, is fed in
a suitable quantity to the basin G, and is there subjected to the action
of the ball K, which fits to the trough or channel M, in such a way

page_text: as to leave room for some of the matter under and at the sides
of the ball, where it is submitted to a crushing and grinding operation.
The stream of water which is let into the trough G, washes up all
the finely pulverized particles, and carries them through the screen L,
where there is a constant overflow to the basin E, containing the
mercury. In the latter basin a constant agitation is kept up by the
peculiar motion imparted to it, and by it every particle of the gold or
metal is brought into contact with the mercury, and amalgamated with
it, while the quartz or other foreign mineral matter is washed away by
the constant overflow at the lowest part of the edge of the basin E.
The amalgam is withdrawn from the basin through a suitable valve or
trap 1, in any part of the bottom. The ball K, owing to the constant
change in the position of the lowest portion of the basin, moves in a
horizontal plane in a circle described from the imaginary central axis
round which the axis of the basin moves, and thus acquires centrifugal
force, which tends to throw the lowest side of the basins from the
centre. This centrifugal force is in a certain degree, but not perfectly,
counteracted by the gravity of the ball which tends to lengthen the
crank, while the centrifugal force tends to shorten it. The shor-
tening of the crank reduces the extent of the motion of the basin
and lessens the inclination of the plane down which it may be said
to be descending, and thus arrests the centrifugal tendency. The
springs g, and h, admit of the lengthening and shortening of the
crank, and hold it at a desirable length, when not otherwise unduly in-
fluenced, and also serve to prevent shocks to the machine in stopping
and starting.
I will here remark, that the lower end of the shaft F, may be
attached at fixed point, and the upper end may be attached to a crank,
and this will give a motion to the basins similar to the arrangement
shewn.
I claim, 1st, the employment for the purpose of pulverizing quartz
or ore, or any mineral matter containg gold or other metal, of a
spherical ball K, within a circular basin G, whose axis moves so as to
describe the periphery of a cone, but which does not revolve, the said
motion being produced by any mechanical means equivalent to those I

page_text: have described. 2ndly, the combination, substantially as shown, with a
crushing or pulverizing basin G, moving as I have described, of an
amalgamating basin E, the said amalgamating basin being placed below
the said crushing basin, having the same axis and moving with it, and
having communication with the said crushing basin through a screened
opening in the centre of the same. 3rd, connecting the shaft F, which
forms the axis of the basins to the driving shaft by means of a crank I,
whose length is capable of being varied by the increasing or decreasing
centrifugal force acquired by the ball, but which is regulated, when the
crank is not otherwise unduly influenced, by springs g, h, on either side
of one of its connections, substantially as described.
In witness whercof, I, the said Augnste Edouard Loradoux Bell-
ford, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth
day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-three.
A. E. L. BELLFORD. (L.S.)