IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PULVERIZING ORES AND AMALGA- MATING THE METALS CONTAINED THEREIN
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents, 66,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PULVERIZING ORES AND AMALGA-
MATING THE METALS CONTAINED THEREIN." A communication from abroad by
Robert McCollum Fryer, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America.
Sealed the 2nd June 1876, and dated the 10th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edward Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th April 1876.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PUL-
VERIZING ORES AND AMALGAMATING THE METALS CONTAINED THEREIN."
This Invention relates to means by which ores containing gold and silver in a
free state can be either pulverized without amalgamation, can be amalgamated
after previous pulverization, or be at the same time and by one operation both
pulverized and amalgamated.
The Invention consists primarily in a chamber which is arranged to rotate or
revolve, or to oscillate upon or about a horizontal axis, and a weight or ram so
placed within said chamber that by the rotation, revolution, or oscillation of the
said chamber the said weight or ram will be caused by gravitation to have a
reciprocating motion, falling from one end of the said chamber to the opposite end
thereof. The said weight or ram may operate to produce the pulverization of the
ore or facilitate the amalgamation of the metals contained in the ore, or both the
pulverization and amalgamation after the ore has been placed within the said
chamber either by falling upon the said ore at the opposite ends of the said
chamber, or by subjecting the said ore to attrition between the said weight or ram
itself and the sides of the chamber.
The Invention also consists in a combination of a series of chambers around a
transverse axis about which they move, and a series of weights or rams arranged
to reciprocate by gravitation within said chambers, essentially as herein-before
described with reference to an apparatus composed of a single chamber with its
[Price 6d.]

page_text: contained weight or ram. Such combination of a series of chambers with their
contained weights or rams all moving about or around an axis common to the
several chambers serves to enlarge the working capacity of the apparatus without
inconveniently adding to its bulk or the space required for its operation.
Furthermore, the Invention consists in a combination of a centrally arranged
separate amalgamating chamber with a series of rotating pulverizing chambers,
having a series of contained weights or rams reciprocating by gravitation within
said chambers, and the latter being arranged to move about or around a transverse
axis common to them all, as herein-before described.
The chambers are provided at their opposite ends with stoppers or valves for
admitting the ore thereto to be crushed or amalgamated, and discharging it there-
from when the operation is complete.
The weights or rams may slide over central guide rods which form ties for the
ends of the chambers, or they may be free to slide over the sides of the chambers.
Along with the ore is introduced within the chamber or chambers a suitable
quantity of warm water, quicksilver, and any appropriate chemical agent which
will prevent the latter from flowing. The apparatus is then rotated, revolved, or
oscillated for a period of six hours, more or less, causing the ore to be pulverized
very fine and the amalgamation to be perfectly completed.
By this Invention the ores may be subjected to pulverization or amalgamation
without loss of the ore or metal contained therein during said treatment.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Henry Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th October
1876.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PUL-
VERIZING ORES AND AMALGAMATING THE METALS CONTAINED THEREIN." A.
communication from abroad by Robert McCollum Fryer, of the City and State of
New York, United States of America.
This Invention relates to means by which ores containing gold and silver in a
free state can be either pulverized without amalgamation, can be amalgamated
after previous pulverization, or be at the same time and by one operation both
pulverized and amalgamated.
The Invention consists primarily in a chamber which is arranged to rotate or
revolve, or to oscillate upon or about a horizontal axis, and a weight or ram so
placed within said chamber that by the rotation, revolution, or oscillation of the
said chamber the said weight or ram will be caused by gravitation to have a
reciprocating motion falling from one end of the said chamber to the opposite end
thereof. The said weight or ram may operate to produce the pulverization of the
ore or facilitate the amalgamation of the metals contained in the ore, or both the
pulverization and amalgamation after the ore has been placed within the said
chamber either by falling upon the said ore at the opposite ends of the said chamber
or by subjecting the said ore to attrition between the said weight or ram itself and
the sides of the chamber.
The Invention also consists in a combination of a series of chambers around a
transverse axis, about which they move, and a series of weights or rams arranged
to reciprocate by gravitation within said chambers, essentially as herein-before
described, with reference to an apparatus composed of a single chamber with its
contained weight or ram. Such combination of a series of chambers with their
contained weights or rams all moving about or around an axis common to the
several chambers, serves to enlarge the working capacity of the apparatus without
inconveniently adding to its bulk or the space required for its operation.

page_text: Furthermore, the Invention consists in a combination of a centrally arranged
separate amalgamating chamber with a series of rotating pulverizing chambers,
having a series of contained weights or rams reciprocating by gravitation within
said chambers, and the latter being arranged to move about or around a transverse
axis common to them all, as herein-before described.
By this Invention the ores may be subjected to pulverization or amalgamation
without loss of the ore or metal contained therein during said treatment.
Having thus explained the objects and nature of the Invention, its description
will now be proceeded with in reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance
with the Invention, and having only a single working chamber with its contained
weight, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same in a plane at right angles to
the previous Figure. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a like apparatus, but some-
what modified as regards its construction, and showing a hollow weight arranged
to reciprocate within the working chamber free from guidance or interference by
a central rod such as is shown in the previously mentioned Figures. Fig. 4 is an
end view of the same, and Fig. 5 a section thereof taken transversely through
the working chamber on the line x, . Figures 6 and 7 are vertical sections, in
planes at right angles with each other, of an apparatus in which a series of working
chambers arranged around a transverse axis, and having contained weights or rams,
also a central amalgamating chamber, are used.
Referring in the first instance to Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawing, A is the.
working chamber, which may be of any desired length and of any suitable shape
in its transverse section, and which is hung to rotate, revolve, or oscillate upon or
about a horizontal axis, as provided for by side trunnions or shafts b, b, supported
in bearings in or on a suitable frame or frames B. This chamber A, which forms
both the pulverizing and amalgamating chamber, or either, is fitted with close ends
or heads C, C, and is represented as operated or rotated by means of a gear wheel c
and pinion d, but it may be otherwise suitably operated. Extending from head
to head of this chamber A is a central rod D, upon which slides a weight or
ram E, and as the chamber A rotates, rovolves, or oscillates upon its axis, the weight
or ram E is caused to reciprocate by gravitation from one end of said chamber_
towards the other. The rod D prevents the said weight E from sliding on the
walls of the chamber A, and also binds the heads C, C, together against shock
consequent on the pounding of the weight or ram E and the contents of the
chamber. The ore is introduced through an opening e arranged at the one end of
the chamber A, and closed by a stopper.G. A similar opening e¹ and stopper G¹
may be made at the opposite end of the chamber to effect the discharge of the
material under treatment from the chamber A. The stoppers G, G¹, may be held
to their places by means of a cotter bar f and stirrups g, or by any other suitable
means. In working the apparatus, a quantity of free or, if refractory, properly
roasted ore, say to the extent of two hundred pounds (more or less) in pieces
of about the size of a common brick is introduced into the chamber A, the
dimensions of the latter for such a charge being about twenty inches in a trans-
verse direction either way, and about five feet in length, and the weight or
ram E being about two hundred and thirty pounds, but of course these proportions
and quantities may be varied. Along with the ore is introduced within the
chamber A a suitable quantity of warm water, quicksilver, and any appropriate
chemical agent which will prevent the latter from flowing. The apparatus is
then rotated, revolved, or oscillated for a period of six hours, more or less, causing
the ore to be pulverized very fine and the amalgamation to be perfectly com-
pleted. This description of the mode of working the apparatus is based upon
the supposition that the pulverization and amalgamation of the ore are being
conducted at the same time in the chamber A, which unless the ore is very hard
it is more economical to do, as the preliminary crushing operation is dispensed
with unless it be with crude rock breakers as used in ordinary quartz mills to.

page_text: prepare ore for the stamp batteries. When, however, the ore is previously pulverized,
the time required for amalgamation in the chamber A is not so great as when said
chamber is used to perform both operations at the same time.
In the modification shewn in Figures 3, 4, and 5, of the Drawings, the working
chamber A, which may be round, square, oval, or of any other suitable shape in
its transverse section, has the longitudinal centre rod D omitted from it, and simple
longitudinal side bolts D¹, D¹, are used instead to bind the heads C, C, together,
also in this modification the weight or ram E, instead of being solid, is of a hollow
shell or cylindrical form and open at either end. The object of this construction of
the weight is to present an extended rubbing surface between it and the walls of
the chamber A for the purpose of acting upon the ore by attrition between the ram
and the sides of the working chamber. Another object of thus constructing the
weight or ram E is to provide a large passage or opening through it for the ore to
freely fall or work through it during certain positions thereof. It may here, how-
ever, be remarked that the construction of the weight or ram may be varied at
pleasure to meet different practical requirements, its office being either to pulverize
the ore by falling upon the same at opposite ends of the chamber A, or by grinding
the ore between the ram and the sides of the chamber A during the motion or
rotation of the latter about or around a transverse axis, the falling of the weight
or ram being due to its own specific gravity. In this modification, Figures 3, 4,
and 5, the axis of motion of the chamber A is represented as provided for by side
shafts or trunnions b, b, but instead thereof one end of the chamber A, here repre-
sented as the lower end, may be fastened to a block of wood or other suitable
material arranged to revolve about a horizontal axis, or such end of the chamber
may be connected with and carried by a central amalgamating chamber, as in the
apparatus shown in Figures 6 and 7 about to be described. Here too it may be well to
repeat that, though the process of both pulverization and amalgamation may be carried
on within one chamber, it may be advisable under some circumstances to perform the
latter operation in a separate chamber or apparatus after the ore has been pulverized.
In the apparatus shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the Drawing, instead of a single
working chamber A, mounted on side trunnions or shafts, the apparatus is composed
of a series of chambers A, A, arranged around a central amalgamating chamber I,
mounted on a transverse axis or horizontal shaft S, each of the chambers A being
provided with a separate weight or ram E, and communicating at their inner ends
by means of opening valves or stoppers G' with the amalgamating chamber I so
that the pulverized contents from the chambers A can pass into the amalgamating
chamber in order that the amalgamating process may be carried on separately and
distinct from the pulverizing operation. The pulverizing is effected by the weights
or rams E as they are reciprocated from end to end of their respective chambers
through the rotation of the several chambers by the wheel c and pinion d, or by
any other suitable means. The amalgamating chamber I is provided with doors,
stoppers, or valves h for the removal of its contents as required.
Having now described the Invention of "Improvements in Apparatus for
Pulverizing Ores and Amalgamating the Metals contained therein," as communicated
to me from abroad by my foreign correspondent, and having explained the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in
part recited Letters Patent I claim-.
First. The combination of a chamber A arranged to rotate, revolve, or oscillate on
or about a horizontal axis, and a weight or ram E so contained within the chamber
that by the rotation, revolution, or oscillation of the chamber the weight or ram
and the material placed therein to be operated upon may be caused by gravitation
to have a reciprocating motion falling from one end of the chamber to the opposite
end, substantially as herein described.
Second. The combination of a series of chambers A, and contained weights or
rams E with a central shaft S around which the chambers are arranged for the
nurnose substantially as herein described

page_text: Third. The combination of a series of crushing or pulverizing chambers A and
contained weights or rams E with a centrally arranged amalgamating chamber I,
for operation essentially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Edward Newton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Second day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
H. E. NEWTON, (L.S.)