IMPROVEMENTS IN SEPARATING AND ASSORTING SOLID MATERIALS OR SUBSTANCES OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIES
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Second day of April, in the twelfth year of Hor reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs, and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my exors, admors, and assigns, and
such others as I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my exors, adiñors, or
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations
abroad, and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, au
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEPARATING AND ASSORTING SOLID MATERIALS OR
SUBSTANCES OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIES," being a communication from a
foreigner residing abroad; in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso,
obliging me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and
to cause the same to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in

page_text: part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon (that is to say): :-
This Invention has been communicated to me by my foreign correspondent
in nearly the following words :-
The special object of this Invention is to separate copper ores from the
gangue, or foreign matters of different specific gravities, which Invention,
however, is also applicable to the separation or assortment of other substances
having different specific gravities. F
When copper ore is taken from the mine it is generally in a moist state,
and in lumps or pieces of various sizes, and the mode of treating it generally
persued is to subject it to the grinding or crushing operation to reduce the
large lumps, that the ore may be separated from the gangue by a series of
washings. The leading object of this Invention is to separate the copper ore
from foreign substances without washing the ores, and by so acting on their
specific gravities that these various substances may be assorted according to
their kind or value; but to effect. this the ore and foreign substances must
be reduced to a proper size or sizes, which reduction is to be effected by
grinding or crushing, and screening, and with the view to perform theso
operations successfully, the substances thus to be treated should be properly
dried. As the object of this Invention is to separate and assort mixed
substances from each other by acting on their various gravities, it will be
obvious that this Invention is equally applicable to the separation and assort-
ment of other substances from each other as well as to ores.
The ore as it is takon from the mine is to be first subjected to the operations
of drying by heat and air to expel so much of the moisture as would cause the
small particles to adhere; secondly, to the operation of grinding or crushing, to
reduce the lumps to the proper size that the ore may be the better separated
from the gangue; third, to the operation of screening, to separate the different
sizes into separate parcels; and, lastly, whilst falling by gravity to a current or
currents of air or other fluid, which, acting on particles equal or approximately
equal in size, will deflect and cause them to fall at different distances, according
to their several specific gravities, and thus assort them according to their kind
or value.

page_text: The first part of this Invention relates to the grinding operation. The
usual mode of procedure is to pass the whole mass which requires to be ground
or crushed through the first pair of rolls, set at the greatest distance apart, to
reduce the largest lumps, and then through the second pair, set nearer together,
and so on, through the whole series of pairs of rolls, the whole mass, however,
passing through all the pairs. In this way all the smaller particles, which are
only ground up or crushed by the last pair of rolls, have to pass through all
the previous pairs, and therefore have the effect to impede the action of the
rolls on the larger lumps or particles. To avoid this, the first part of this
Invention consists in arranging the series of pairs of rolls with the rolls of each
succeeding pair nearer together, and each successive pair moving with greater
velocity when combined with a series of shoots or hoppers and screens or
grates, so arranged that all the particles which do not require to be reduced
by the first pair shall pass down to the second, all that do not require to be
reduced by the second pair shall pass down to the third, and so on, to the cn<l
of the series, the whole mass being carried through between the last pair.
The second part of this Invention, which relates to the drying operation.
preparatory to grinding or crushing, consists in combining with the crushing or:
grinding operation the process of drying the ore, by causing the whole or only
the smaller lumps or particles to pass through a heater before they are delivered
to the pair or pairs of rolls by which they are to be ground or crushed; and
although it may be only necessary to pass the smaller lumps or particles
through the heater preparatory to the grinding or crushing operation, as in
general the larger lumps do not require to be dried preparatory to grinding,
still the whole may be passed through the drier beforo grinding or crushing.
The third part of this Invention consists in combining with the grinding or
crushing operation the subjecting of the substances to be separated after they
have been ground or crushed to a drying operation, by passing them through
a heater preparatory to and in combination with the screening operation.
The fourth part of this Invention consists in subjecting the substances to be
separated and assorted to the combined operations of screening, to separate the
different sizes into separate particles, and whilst falling by gravity to a current
or currents of air or other fluid, which, acting on particles of equal size, will
deflect and cause them to fall in different divisions, according to their several
specific gravities.
The fifth part of this Invention consists in subjecting the substances to be
separated and assorted to the combined operations of grinding or crushing,
drying by heat and air, to prevent the particles from adhering, to screening to
separate the different sizes, and whilst falling by gravity to a current or

page_text: currents of air or other fluids, that such current or currents, acting on particles
of equal size but of different specific gravities, may deflect, and cause them to
fall at different distances, and thus divide them into different kinds or value.
The sixth part of this Invention, which relates to the screening part of the
apparatus, consists in making a rotating screen for separating and assorting sub-
stances into different sizes, of a series of compartments, with the meshes of the
different compartments successively smaller from the first, or receiving, to the
Jast, or delivery end, so that all the particles below the largest size shall pass
through the meshes of the first compartment, all but the next size through the
meshes of the second compartment, and so on, to the end; when this is com-
bined with the necessary means for transferring all that passes through the
meshes of the first compartment to the second compartment, and so on, to the
end of the series where the smallest particles are delivered, the particles that do
not pass through the meshes of cach compartment being separately delivered.
And the last part of this Invention, which relates to the apparatus for sepa-
rating and assorting the particles according to their several specific gravities,
consists of a shoot or series of shoots from which drop the particles of different
and assorted sizes, in combination with chambers for directing the currents of
air or other fluid, and a separate chamber for each shoot, such chambers con-
taining bins or divisions, into which the particles of different specific gravitics
are separately deposited.
The mechanical means for producing these results are shewn in the accom-
panying Drawings, comprised in four Sheets. In these, Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a
general plan of the whole apparatus; Fig. 2 is an end sectional elevation.
through the line A, B, of Fig. 1, including an elevation of the crushing appa-
ratus behind that line.
In Sheet 2, Fig. 3 is a plan of the crushing or grinding apparatus; Fig. 4
is a side elevation of the same, shewn as with the frames and gearing wheels
removed in the side viewed, and the counterparts of the frames shewn as
behind the working parts; Fig. 5 is an end elevation at the same end, as
with all the parts in place complete; all the parts in this and the two following
Sheets being shewn in larger size than in Sheet 1.
In Sheet 3, Fig. 6 is a sectional elovation of a rotary drying cylinder, to bo
used with steam under pressure; Fig. 7 is an end elevation at the same end;
Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of a rotary drying cylinder, to be used either
with a furnace or with exhaust steam; Fig. 9 is a cross section of either drying
cylinder at the supporting rolls. These Figures, from Fig. 3 to Fig. 9 inclusive,
shew in larger size the arrangements for crushing and drying the ore or any
material requiring similar manipulation or treatment. Fig. 10 is a sectional

page_text: elevation of the first division of the apparatus for sifting or bolting the ore,
shewn as a rotary cylinder, containing three sections or compartments, and as
connected at the right-hand lower end to the first part of a second and similar
division of what is herein-after termed the bolter, the successive divisions of
which may be so arranged as to extend to any number or length, and each
division may have more or less than three sections, according to the quality or
nature of the material on which the apparatus is to operate. Fig.. 11 is a
section, shewing the construction of the outlets through the line. C, D,. of
Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a-section, shewing, the construction of the inlets through
the lines E, F, of Fig. 10; Fig. 13. is a section through the line G, H, of
Fig. 10, shewing the construction of the transferring parts at the lower end of
each division of the bolter, to carry on the materials from one division to the
next; Fig. 14 is a section through the line. K, Fig. 10, shewing the con-
struction of the receiving or upper heads at the commencement of each division
of the bolter, and the mode of supporting the main shaft at the intermediate-
points between each two divisions of the bolter.
In Sheet 4, Fig. 15 is a cross section of any one winnowing chamber,.see-
Fig. 1, Sheet 1; Fig. 16 is a plan of four winnowing bins, shewing the shoots,.
hoods, and blinds, the uses of which are set forth hereafter; Fig. 17. is an end.
elevation of three winnowing chambers, shewing the mode of fitting the blinds.
The parts from the bolter inclusive are shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 1, as in
a building, the middle floor of which is appropriated to the winnowing appa-
ratus, and the upper part as an upper reservoir of air, and to the bolter and
parts connected between that and the winnowing floor. The ground floor is
appropriated to the purpose of furnishing a lower reservoir of air to the win-
nowing apparatus, and of removing the ore and gangue from the winnowing
and receiving bins, as is hereafter set forth. The crushing and drying parts
are shewn independent of a building, and may be arranged in any manner
most convenient as regards the mine or other source supplying the articles or
materials to be operated on by the machinery. The numbers and letters used
as marks of reference apply to the like parts in all the several Sheets and
Figures, as follows:-L is a platform, receiving the ore from the mine, and
sufficiently elevated to give height for the working parts below; 1, 1, are holes
through the platform to pass pieces of ore or material not more than three
inches dimension; M is a hopper, receiving larger pieces which are raked from
the top of the platform L; N, N, N, N, designates the several parts of the
standing frames that support the working parts beneath the platform L. At
2 is the principal driving shaft, which is to be connected to any competent
motive power in any convenient manner, and carries the first pinion 3,

page_text: which gears into the spur wheel 4 on a shaft 5, connected to drive the
second crushing rolls. On the shaft 5 a large pinion .6 gears into a
second spur wheel 7, that is mounted on a shaft 8, which is connected to
drive the first crushing rolls; the pinion 3 gears also below into a third
spur wheel 9 on a shaft 10, that is connected to drive the third crushing
rolls, and carries also a spur wheel 11, that gears below to a gear wheel
12, that is on a shaft 18, which is connected to drive the fourth crushing
rolls. A pinion 14 on an intermediate shaft 15 gears from the spear wheel
12 through a large spur wheel 16, on the same shaft, to a pinion 17 on a
shaft 18, that is connected to drive the fifth crushing rolls. All these driving
shafts are connected by couplings and boxes 19 to the shafts of the crushing
rolls, so that if any unusually large or hard piece of ore or other obstruction
in the apparatus falls accidentally into the rolls the couplings 19 may break
instead of the tooth wheels or the rolls. At 20 are the plummer blocks, and
21 are the journal boxes to the journals of the crushing rolls, throughout this
part of the apparatus. The first or upper crushing rolls 22 are twenty-four
inches diameter, placed at seven inches apart, and make one-half of an entire
revolution in one minute. The second rolls 23 are five inches apart, twenty-
four inches diameter, and make three-fourths of an entire revolution in one
minute. The third rolls 24 are twenty-four inches diameter, three inches
apart, and make an entire revolution in one minute. The fourth rolls 25 are
twenty-four inches in diameter, one inch apart, and make one and one half
revolutions in one minute. The fifth rolls 26 are sixteen inches diameter,
close or nearly close together, and make seven entire revolutions in one minute.
At 27 are secondary couplings to the shafts of each pair of rolls, connected to
secondary shafts 28 on the opposite sides to the driving wheels, and carrying
the gear wheels 29 that connect each pair of rolls to move together. On
each of the plummer blocks of the fourth and fifth rolls a fulcrum 30 takes
à lever and weight 31. Each lever has a toe 32 taking against the outer end
of a slide bar 33, that passes through to one journal box that has a small play
in the plummer block, so that if any hard piece enters these rolls the levers
and weights 31 lift, and allows the rolls to separate and avoid breaking. At
O is a hopper below the first pair of rolls, with a grating 34 on one side, that
has five-inch spacings to lead pieces of more than five inches through to the
second pair of rolls under guide pieces 35 on the opposite side of the hopper.
At P is a hopper below the second pair of rolls, with a grate 36 of three-inch
spacings, to lead larger pieces to the third pair of rolls. At Q is a hopper to
receive pieces less than three inches and carry them to the fourth pair of rolls.
These pieces pass down a grate 37 having one-inch spacings, which allows all

page_text: pass the ore in
These arms are
pieces less than one inch to fall through into a hopper R, which is made
without a grate, so as to lead these small pièces to the fifth pair of rolls.
All the pieces of ore that do not pass through the holes 1 in the platform L
are raked off into the first rolls. All that pass through the platform L fall
into the hopper S beneath, which leads them into the end of a rotary drier T,
formed of two cylinders set one end higher than the other, the upper journal
38 of which is hollow, to pass steam by a pipe 39 between the two cylinders.
to dry the ore, as shewn in Fig. 6. On the end next the hopper S the
cylinder T is fitted with a conical ring flanch and lip 40, to
between the slanting arms (see Fig. 7) of the head 41.
set at such an angle with the main shaft, that each arm descending to the
lower point carries the ore into the cylinder. The steam entering between
the two cylinders fills the space 42, and heats and dries the pieces of ore as
they roll in the cylinder, and pass to the lower end, at which a cock or valve
43 may be fitted in any convenient manner to take off the water of conden-
sation. At 44 are bars connecting the end of the cylinder to the lower
head 45, which is supported by a lower journal and box 46. The means of
giving this cylinder T a rotary motion are not shewn, but this may be done
in any convenient manner. The heat of the cylinder dries the ore as it
passes down to the lower end, and the vapor exhaled from the ore passing up
the cylinder is received at the upper end into a hood, shewn by dotted lines,
and carried into the air by a flue, or as may be convenient. The dried ore falls
through the bars 44 into a hopper U placed beneath, and fitted with a shoot
to pass the ore, which in this case is all less than three inches, to the hopper Q,
and thence to the fourth pair of rolls to be crushed. The hopper V under
the fifth pair of rolls takes the crushed ore from the rolls into the upper end
of a slanting rotary and circular sieve or screen 47, to which a rapid motion is
to be given by any usual connexion to some other part of the machinery. At
48 a hopper receives from the lower end the pieces of ore that do not pass
through the meshes of the screen 47, and by a shoot passes these pieces into.
the lower end of a common elevator 49, having the usual hopper boys to
carry these pieces up to a hopper and shoot 50, which passes them again. to
the fifth rolls. Under the rotary screen 47 is a hopper 51, with a shoe 52, that
receives all the ore that goes through the meshes of the screen 47, and passes
it into the second common elevator 53, the hopper boys of which carry this
crushed ore up to a shoot or hopper 54, that shoots it into the second and
principal drying cylinder W, made of sheet metal, with the receiving end the
highest, and shewn in Figs. 8 and 9 as enclosed in a chamber of brickwork
55, having at the lower end a furnace 56 fitted with grate bars and door in

page_text: any usual manner, and at the upper end a chimney ✗. Instead of heating
this drying cylinder by a fire in a furnace, a cliamber may be substituted for
the furnace to contain the exhaust steam from an engine, or steam supplied
from any other competent source, which steam may be passed into and
through the chamber 55, so as to heat the cylinder W in passing to the final
escape by the chimney X. At 57 a circular plate is fixed in the chimney X,
and in the brickwork at the lower end; and at 58 two flanch bands are fitted
on the cylinder W, to rotate in and fit moderately tight against the plates 5%,
nearly or quite preventing the escape of heat or steam except by the chimney.
The cylinder W is set near the top of the brick chamber 55, so as to allow a
free draught below for the greatest heat to be in contact with the lower
rotating surface of the cylinder. A hood and flue, shewn by dotted lines,
above the upper end of the cylinder carries off the vapor and heat from the
ore in any convenient direction. The cylinder W is supported by a short
shaft 59, with journal boxes in standards at each end, and is fitted with heads
60 at each end, having slanting or angularly placed arms, in the same way as
shewn in Figs. 6 and 7. At 61 are a pair of supporting rolls in frames,
shewn as near the centre of the length, one on each side the cylinder; but
these rolls may be more in number if found needful. At 62 a bevil gear
wheel rim is fitted on the outside of the lower head of the cylinder W,
and is connected to the motive power, as shewn in Sheet 1, to give the
cylinder the required rotation. At 63 are left-handed screw 'flanches.
inside the lower end of the cylinder to turn the ore back and from
the lower head, so that the ore falls through the holes 64 into a shoot 65,
that conveys the ore to the third common elevator 66, the hopper boys
of which raise and carry the dried material up and into the shoot 67,
which leads to the upper end of the bolter Y, and places the ore into the
conical flanch 68 on the upper end of the bolter. It will be understood by
this description of the rotary cylinder W, that the ore entering at the upper
and is rolled over and over laterally by the rotation of the cylinder, and
diagonally by the angle at which the axis is placed, which carries the rolling
particles of ore toward the lower end, and during this descent the particles of
ore are acted on by the caloric surrounding the cylinder, and conducted to the
ore within, as it rolls over and descends; this heat evaporates the aqueous
matter, and at the same time the rolling of the cylinder presents the particles
to the action of the current of air that enters at the lower end of the cylinder
and drives out the internal heat and vapor at the higher end through the
hood and flue, shewn by dotted lines, and cools the ore as it approaches the
exit and falls out to be conveyed to the bolter, as above described, where it is

page_text: separated into graduated sizes, in the manner next described. When the ore
is very wet, it may be needful to place the furnace near the highest and
entering end, and the chimney at the lower and exit end.
The inclined cylinder Y encloses the bolting apparatus, the construction and
incans of operating which are shewn in larger size in Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13,
and 14, Sheet 3, in which 69 is the standard and journal box, carrying the
shaft 70 at the elevated end of the bolter, having a bevil gear wheel connected
with the motive power, as shewn in Sheet 1, in which the bolter is shewn as
formed of nine divisions, but these may be more or less in number; and the
Figure 10 represents each division as comprising three separating chambers or
sections, which may also be more or less in number. These bolters are
formed with a disc head and boss 71 on the shaft 70, with an outer flanch
cylinder 72, 'an inner flanch cylinder 73, an inner ring flanch 74, and an
outer ring flanch 75, having on it the conical flanch 68, so that these two
form an open anuular trough to take the dried ore from the shoot 67. At 76
are openings to pass the ore into the annular space 77, formed by the rings
and flanches 72, 73, 74, 75, within which cant piecos or buckets 78 are set
angularly, so as to turn the ore out of the space 77 through inlets 79 into the
chambers or sections Z, Z, Z. These chambers are enclosed by the exterior
sheet metal cylinders 80, that are secured to the edges of the outer flanch
cylinders 72, and within are the wire cylinder screens or bolting cloths 81,
secured on the edges of the inner flanch cylinders 73, leaving an annular
space between the cylinders 80 and 81. At 82 are short trunks in all the
heads except the first head in each division, these outlets being the same as.
if the inlets 76 were continued out as trunks in all the other heads to pass
out the pieces of ore that will not go through the meshes of the screens in
any one section. The ore that passes through the meshes of the screens being
carried by the rotary motion and inclined position to the lowest part of each
section, are then taken by the next cant buckets 78 and turned through the
inlets 79 into the screen in the next section, the meshes of which being suc-
cessively smaller retains the next largest pieces to send them out through the
trunks 82; these separations of the ore into pieces or particles successively
less in size going on consecutively from the highest to the lowest part of the
bolter. The means of transferring the ore from the lower end of one division
of the bolter to the higher end of the next division are obtained by the
annular disc 83, which has on it inside cant pieces 84, so set that they raiso
the ore from the lower part of the space 77 below, and carry it upwards until
the outer end of the cant pieces each come successively above the horizontal
liuc; the ore then falls towards the centre of the bolter, and is received upon

page_text: a cone 85, set on the shaft in the opening of the disc 83, fitted with fins 86,
so that the cone and fins turn the ore out over the lip 87 on the disc 83 and
into a shoot 88, which is supported in any convenient manner that will keep its.
upper end beneath the lip 87 and hold the lower end over the next annular
trough 68 in the head of the next division of the bolter. The shoot 88 passes
between the intermediate standards 89, that support the journal and boxes of
the shaft 70 between each two divisions.. In front of each journal box is a
small metal disc 90, to prevent any ore falling into the journals; and at 91 is
the coupling between the two parts of the shaft 70, that carry each successive
division of the bolter.
The screens may be made of wire cloth, to commence at five meshes to ono
inch, and go on decreasing in size to ninety holes to one inch; after that
bolting wire or other cloths may be used, having successively from ninety to
two hundred meshes to each inch. By this description of the parts and their
operation it will be seen that the pieces of ore and gangue that will not pass
tho screens come out of the lower end of each section through the trunks 82,
in particles of successively decreasing but approximately equal size in each
parcel, without regard to their specific gravity or value, and that as the bolter
revolves, the ore that has passed the screens descending to the lowest point of
cach section is then taken by the cant buckets 78 upward, until ou arriving
at or near the horizontal line of the centre, the ore by its own gravity slides
off the cant bucket through the openings 79 into the screen of the next
section, which, having smaller meshes than in the preceding section, the assort-
ment of the ore into separate parcels, containing particles of approximately
equal sizes, is effected continuously and consecutively from the first section to
the last, which last section will pass the ore and gangue in a very finely com-
minuted condition out of the lower head by a shoot beneath the shaft, as
before described. Ratchets may be placed round the bolter with the rise in
the rolling direction to raise hammers or mauls of sufficient weight to cause a
shake or jar in falling over each tooth, to disengage any ore that sticks on any
of the interior parts; but these hammers will not be generally needed if the
ore is fairly dried. The bolter may be used with water to make the divi-
sions in the ore either before or after the ore is ground, and at the same
time wash off all the slime or mud from the pieces. To do this tho
bolter and parts must be of a size proportionate to the pieces of ore sent
through it, and the water may be introduced through a hollow shaft with
holes in the circumference, or in any convenient manner, so that the water
goes on with the smaller pieces from section to section, the larger pieces
falling out independently but successively at the lower end of each section of

page_text: the bolter until the smallest pieces come out thoroughly assorted and washed.
In this case there should be one short exterior cylinder below all the others
without a screen, clear at the lower end to pass out the muddy and slimy
water clear of the ore that comes out of the last section; the muddy and slimy
water may be afterwards treated in any usual manner to extract any portions
of ore.
In the Sheet 1, Fig. 1, 92 is the steam engine working the several parts
by the driving drum 93, connected by a belt to a drum on a shaft 94, which
carries the blower wheel 95 set in a case 96 made with a circular opening
admitting air on cach side. This case 96 on the side next the engine. extends
from the ground floor to the roof of the enclosery building; the first floor 97
above the ground extends from the side 98 of the building to the line 99, but
stops at the engine side of the blower, the side caso 96 of which farthest
from the engine extends between the floors 97 and 100 to the side of tho
building 110 opposite the side 98; the second floor 100 extends from the
partition 101 under the roof to the point 102, where the upper current of air
enters the upper portion of the winnowing chambers in the direction of the
arrows 1, 1, the spaces above described forming a lower reservoir of air 10%
and an upper reservoir of air 104, as sent in from the blower in the direction
of the arrows 2, 2, and the space 105 forms a channel for the currents of air
from the winnowing chambers to return to the blower in the direction of the
arrows 3, 3. At 106 is a lower partition to direct the air from the blower
lengthwise of the building from the blower to the lower reservoir 103 in the
direction of the arrows 4, 4; and at 107 is the point of the floor 97 acting
with the partition 106 to send the lower current of air from the blower
lengthwise of the building through the lower reservoir 103; at 108 and 109
are upper and lengthwise partitions to lead the upper current of air length-
wise of the building in the reservoir 104. From the side 110 of the building
opposite the side 98 the vertical divisions 111 extend across the building to
the sides 112 of the winnowing chambers; at 113 are partitions between the
back ends of the winnowing chambers 114, closing up all but the back ends
of the chambers; at 115 are the tops of the chambers 114, and at 116 are
upper hood pieces extending from the tops 115 to the point 102 between the
divisions 111; at 117 are lower hood pieces to the tops of partitions 118
going down to the floor 97 between the divisions 111; at 119 are divisions
forming bins in the chambers 114, each bin fitted with a plug 120 acting
upwards, and when withdrawn allowing the ore or gaugue above to fall out
of the bin into any convenient receptacle; at 121 are two vertical blind slats
that slide laterally in grooves 122 set on the outside faces of the par-

page_text: titions 118, the lower ends of these slat blinds being level with the tops of
the bins within the chambers, and the space below the blinds closed to the
same height. The distance to which these slats are opened regulates the
quantity of the exit blast, and consequently the intensity of the quantity
admitted at the entering end of the chambers to winnow the ore. At 128
are supporting frames that carry the standards and journals of the bolter, and
at 124 are hoppers that receive the assorted parcels of ore as they fall from
the bolter out of the trunks 82, as before described. These hoppers 124
have at their lower ends shoots 125, that lead the descending and assorted
particles of ore, each separate parcel of approximately equal sized particles,
into the upper part of the winnowing chambers 114 immediately above the
first bin 119. At the lower end of each shoot 125 is a small slide 126,
having a thin metal tongue, at the lower part bent at an obtuse angle, that
serves the purpose of checking and preventing the falling ore from attaining
too rapid a descent while falling into the chamber below, and also directs the
ore, so that it ultimately falls vertically into the winnowing chamber beneath
through a small mouth 127 formed beneath the slide, by the piece of thin
metal on the slide 126 acting with a similar piece of metal on the under edge
of the shoot 125, as seen sectionally in Fig. 15. By these means the ore
falls from the mouth with the velocity due to its gravity instead of falling with
the accelerated velocity that it may have attained whilst falling in the shoot.
From this description of the winnowing apparatus it will be understood that
the winnowing blower wheel 95 sends off two currents of air, one from above
the centre of the blower and one from below the centre of the blower, the
upper current of air passing along the upper reservoir 104 lengthwise of the
building, the lower current of air passing by the lower reservoir 103, so that
both currents meet, one entering at the top and the other at the lower part
of the winnowing chambers 114 in the space between the chambers and the
side 110 of the building, and passing between the divisions 111, so that a
slight compression of the air is effected by the tapered form of the divisions 111
and hoods 116 and 117, the intent and effect of this arrangement being to
equalize the conjoined currents of air as they pass through the chambers and
through the openings between the regulating slats 121 into the space 105,
where the several exit currents commingle, and pass in the direction of the
arrows 3 to the centre of the blower, thereby forming an equal and regularly
circulating current of winnowing air from the blower through the winnowing
chambers and returning to the blower again.
By the general commencement and this detailed description it will be under-
stood that the screened ore as it falls in different sizes from the bolter Y by

page_text: the hoppers 124, shoots 125, slides 126, and mouths 127 into the separate
winnowing chambers 114 would fall in a mass of the same mixed character
into the bin directly beneath if not separated by the air blast as it passes
among the falling particles of ore; the heaviest of these descending with a
velocity proportioned to their specific gravity will fall into the first bin through-
out the range, and the lighter be deflected into the bins beyond at angles, which
are the resultants between the gravity of the material and the force of the
current of air, thus depositing themselves in the successive bins in parcels
completely graduated in gravity and value.
What ore passes and deposits into the first four bins is generally full market-
able ore, and is to be saved and dealt with as such. The ore that passes into
the next six bins is not sufficiently free of gangue to be fully marketable,
therefore the contents of these six bins are to be connected together, and
suffered or caused to fall into a trough beneath the bins, in which an endless
scraper shall carry them out in such a direction that they may be easily
transferred to the fifth pair of rolls and re-crushed for sending through the
bolter and winnower again, so as to extract the whole of the metallic particles.
The contents of the last bins will be entirely waste matter. It will be readily
understood that these gencral directions regarding the bins and their contents
are subject to be modified by differences in the character of the ores or other
substances to be treated. In place of air a current of water or other fluid
may be substituted, but air is preferable.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the second operation to which the
substances to be separated and assorted are subjected is that of reducing the
large lumps or masses into small lumps or particles by a new combination of
means, that assorts the lumps to present them to crushing rolls according to
the sizes of the lumps, and that this may be effected with or without first
drying the ore or other substances; but when this Invention is to be employed
for separating and assorting substances of sufficiently small size, or of sub-
stances previously reduced by other means, this second element of this
Invention is to be dispensed with. The first operation, which is divided into
two, before and after crushing, is that of expelling the moisture preparatory
to the third or screening operation, may also be dispensed with when the
substances to be operated on are not moist, but if the substances are moist
when delivered from the grinding, crushing, or comminuting operation, and the
substances are of such a nature as to have a tendency to adhere when moist,
then it is important that this element of the combination be employed. And
although the means of effecting this operation are described to consist of an
inclined rotating metallic cylinder surrounded by a heating chamber with a

page_text: furnace attached, structures which are deemed the best for this purpose, yet
it is not meant to be confined to the employment of these or other methods of
drying, because other means, such as an inclined shaking pan and rake over
a furnace, may be substituted.
The third operation, which is that of screening to assort the particles into
the various sizes, will be best effected by means of an apparatus such as is
herein specified under the head of the sixth part of this Invention, because it
will be found to be better adapted to the purpose than any other screening or
assorting apparatus of which there is any knowledge; but so far as regards
the combinations under the heads of the fourth and fifth parts of this Inven-
tion, any other series of screens which will separate and assort the different
sizes and deliver them so assorted to the last operation will effect the purpose
contemplated to a certain extent, and be the equivalent of the element of the
combinations specified under the heads of the fourth and fifth parts of this
Invention.
In the fourth operation, which consists in separating and assorting different
substances according to their different specific gravities, the special arrange-
ment above specified will be found more efficient for this purpose than any
other apparatus now known to be in use. But as the object of this element of
the fourth and fifth combination is to cause a current or currents of air or
other fluid so to act on particles of the same or nearly the same size in each
division as they are falling by gravity, that each of all the particles in each
division may present a nearly equal amount of area to the action of such
current, by which they may be deflected more or less according to their less
or greater specific gravities, and thus be deposited in a separated and assorted
state, according to the difference of their specific gravities, it follows that any
equivalent means of applying currents of air or other fluids to the falling
particles may be substituted for the arrangement herein specified, and that
such substitute will be essentially the equivalent of this element of the com-
binations specified under the fourth and fifth heads of this Invention.
As to the sixth part of this Invention, it is to be distinctly understood that
it is not to be limited to the precise arrangement of parts herein specified,
so long as the screen consists of a series of compartments, the meshes of each
compartment being of less size from the receiving towards the delivery end
and provided with the requisite means for the transfer of all that passes
through the meshes of the first to the inside of the second, and all that passes
through the meshes of the second to the third, and so on to the end, and with
the necessary means of discharging from the inside of each compartment all
that does not pass through the meshes; the effect of this mode of screening

page_text: and assorting being different to all other plans now known, for instead of using
the screens with meshes to determine the size of the particles that pass through,
they determine the size of the particles that do not pass through, and are
assorted and ejected.
And, finally, as to the last part of this Invention, it is not to be limited to
the employment of any particular kind of blower, or to the number, whether
one or a plurality, nor to the methods described of regulating the current or
currents, nor, in short, to the use of a current or currents of air or other gas,
as water and other liquids may be substituted, but in whatever manner and
under whatever circumstances applied a steady and regular current or
currents is essential.
What is claimed as new in this Invention, and to be secured by Letters
Patent, is,
First, the arrangement of a series of pairs of crushing rolls with the rolls of
cach succeeding pair nearer together and rotating with a greater velocity
than the preceding pair throughout the series, as described, in combination
with the method, substantially as above described, of separating the various
sizes of the substances to be reduced, so that none but the larger lumps shall
pass through the first pair, the second size through the second, and so on,
throughout the series, for the purpose specified.
Second, the methods of drying the ore or other substances, by causing the
whole or only the smaller lumps or particles to pass through a dryer prepara-
tory to and in combination with the grinding or crushing operation, for the
purpose and in the manner substantially as described.
Thirdly, combining with the grinding or crushing operation the method of
drying the ore or other substances after they have been ground or crushed,
and preparatory to and in combination with the screening operation, sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purpose above specified.
Fourthly, subjecting the ore or other substances to be separated and
assorted to the combined operations of screening to separate the different sizes,
and whilst falling by gravity to a current or currents of air or other fluid,
which, acting on particles of equal or nearly equal size, will deflect and cause
them to fall in different divisions according to their several gravities, sub-
stantially as described.
Fifthly, subjecting the ore or other substances to be separated and assorted
to the combined operations of grinding or crushing, drying by heat and air to
prevent the particles from adhering, to screening to separate the different sizes,
and whilst falling by gravity to a current or currents of air or other fluid,
which, acting on particles of equal size but of different specific gravity in one

page_text: or more divisions, will deflect, and cause them to fall at different distances, and
thus divide them into different kinds or values, substantially as described; and
the three operations in this fifth claim specified and combined are also claimed
when combined with the subjecting of the ore or other substances to the
process of drying, after the grinding or crushing, and preparatory to the
screening, substantially as described.
Sixthly, making the rotating screen, for separating and assorting ores or
other substances into different sizes, of a series of compartments, with the
meshes of the different compartments successively smaller from the receiving
to the delivery end, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified,
when this is combined with the method described for transferring all that
passes through the meshes of the first compartment to the second, and from
the second to the third, and so on to the end, the particles that do not pass
through the meshes of each compartment being separately delivered, as
described.
And, lastly, the employment of a shoot or scries of shoots from which drop
the particles of ore or other substances of different and assorted sizes, sub-
stantially as described, in combination with chambers for directing the currents
of air or other fluid, such chambers containing a series of bins into which the
particles of different specific gravities are deposited according to their kind or
value, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.