Improvements in Apparatus for Washing, Separating, or Concentrating Metallic Ores or Substances of Different Specific Gravities.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1894.
Complete Specification Left, 16th May, 1895-Accepted, 22nd June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Washing, Separating, or
Concentrating Metallic Ores or Substances of Different
Specific Gravities.
We CHARLES CRAIG, WILLIAM CRAIG, and GEORGE KERR CRAIG all of
Front Street Sacriston in the County of Durham Contractors do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of our invention is to provide a simpler or more direct and efficient
method of washing, separating, mixing or concentrating and qualifying minerals
or substances to which these processes are usually applied especially the ores or
residuum of gold, silver, tiu copper lead or other minerals separate or in
combination.
We will proceed to describe our improved appliance :-A table is suspended by
rods at the four corners and made to run with flanged wheels on rails provided for
the purpose. If run on an inclined plane higher wheels are placed at the back so
as to preserve the equilibrium and level of the table. We prefer to keep the table
in position by steel springs or india-rubber stops or springs. At the back of the
table a buffer is firmly fixed. The movement of the table is effected by a cam or
cams fixed on a countershaft acting on a projection fixed to the table. As movement
is given to the shaft, the table is drawn away till the cam or cams pass the
projection and are released when the table is rapidly drawn back by the action of
the springs and the movement checked by the buffer. This reciprocal movement
is carried on at the rate of from 40 to 100 strokes per minute. On the table is a
pan fixed thereto by means of screws and adjustable to any angle, or position or
speed by manipulating the screws. This allows the material to be dealt with at
fast or slow speed and separated rough or fine as may be required.
From a feeding box, liquid is supplied to the table and controlled by pipes
pierced with small holes to regulate and distribute the supply which is arranged to
flow over the table, and clean the concentrates as they pass the divisions of the
table. The separation of mineral particles is effected by the reciprocating aud
percussive action of the table which causes the lightest to pass to outlets leading
to settling pits, tanks, or hoppers while the heavier particles are carried by other
outlets to sluice boxes.
Where further separation or treatment is required we provide a series of tables
constructed and actuated as before described placed in tiers one below the other,
or in such position as may be convenient. It is to be understood that although the
shape and the size of the pan is as described above, the shape may be varied to suit
particular requirements the invention consisting mainly of the form, division and
mounting of the table so as the percussive movement imparted by mechanical means
causes the concentrates to separate and divide in a speedy and more effective
manner than by means of machinery now in use.
Dated this 16th day of August 1894.
JOHN BLACK,
Agent for Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Washing, Separating, or
Concentrating Metallic Ores or Substances of Different
Specific Gravities.
We, CHARLES CRAIG, WILLIAM CRAIG and GEORGE KERR CRAIG all of
Front Street, Sacriston in the County of Durham, Contractors, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for washing separating or
concentrating metallic ores or substances of different specific gravities and has for
its object to provide a simpler or more direct and efficient method of treating such
substances.
We will fully describe one method of practically carrying out our invention with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 shows a plan view, Figure 2 a side elevation and Figures 3 and 4 (the
latter enlarged) sections as hereinafter described on lines w x and y = respectively.
Figure 5 is a detail hereinafter explained and in the following description like
marks of reference designate like parts.
Referring to the drawings, it will be observed that we employ a washing and
separating table, which may economically be constructed of thin iron or steel plates
of a more or less V-shaped formation. The table is fed from the shoot S and has
three outlets, viz. a forward outlet at O for substances of lighter specific gravity
and lateral outlets at O¹ for substances of heavier specific gravity. The converging
sides T¹ of the table may be about 6 or 8 inches high. T is the portion or division
of the table where the washing and separating takes place; T2 is a raised portion
or division of the table onto the central portion of which the aforesaid shoot S
delivers the material to be treated. This raised portion is slightly inclined towards
the portion T as shown in the drawings. N N are perforated spouts adapted to
deliver a shower of water onto the raised portion T2 whence it runs onto the main
table T. The whole of this V-shaped iron tray or table is shown mounted on a
truck or bogie B adapted to reciprocate on rails R.
Part of the truck framing is extended to form a buffer D and D' is a buttress or
concrete wall against which the buffer or buffers is designed to strike as hereinafter
described.
The iron tray or table is secured to the planking of the truck or bogie by means
of adjustable screws E. The positions of these screws are indicated in Figures 1
and 2 but Figure 5 shows an enlarged view of their connection with the table and
the truck. Referring to this figure, it will be seen that a tapped knee K is
rivetted to the sides T of the table and the screws are so mounted that when
turned by handle the table is either heightened or lowered on the screw by which
means the level of the table can be more or less adjusted at any point to the nature
of the work it is required to perform. Figure 2 shows the table thus heightened
slightly towards one end.
On each side of the truck an iron bracket 3 is secured and immediately above
and crossing the truck a motor shaft 4 carrying cams 5 is arranged so that the
cams can strike the brackets simultaneously and draw forward in opposition to the
pressure of the springs L the truck and table which when released by the cams,
flies back against the buttress under the action or recoil of the said springs.
It will be obvious that this jerky reciprocatory motion of the table may be
effected in a great variety of ways; an eccentric could easily be contrived to effect
the purpose. Similarly the bogie might be set on inclined rails with a rear set of
wheels larger than the forward wheels to maintain a level table or platform by

page_text: which device the return motion of the table might be effected by gravity instead
of by spring power as above described. Or the table may be hung on rods at
suitable points and "jigged" or reciprocated as above described.
We find it advantageous to give the raised portion or division T2 of the table
opposite the spout S a slight lip L2 for the purpose hereinafter mentioned.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
Let us suppose for example that we are going to wash coal, then the coal to be
washed together with a sufficient volume of clean water will be allowed to flow
down (from a feeding hopper or otherwise) shoot S when it will fall firstly onto
the raised portion T2 of the table and then over lip L' onto the working platform T
of the table. The shaft 4 and cams 5 will be revolving and the table will
constantly be being drawn slowly forward and sharply returned against the buttress
as above described. The effect of this action will necessarily be to cause the
heavier particles (such as stone, shale and other like impurities in the case of coal
washing) to travel in the direction of the raised end T2 of the table and thence
along its slopes to the outlets at O¹ and hoppers H, while the coal or lighter
material will be carried forward with a portion of the water to the outlet O and in
this manner a thorough washing of the coal and extraction or separation of its
heavier impurities will be effected.
In practice we find that the lateral hoppers at H deliver, in the case of coal
washing, no coal whatever, only stone shale and the like occurring at the outlets O¹
while well-cleaned coal only is delivered at O.
By allowing a trickle of water to run from the perforated spouts N N onto T2
and thence onto the table we find that improved separation and cleansing of the
coal takes place and further that this flow of water facilitates the travel of the
stone and heavier substances towards the lateral exits.
The lip L² is to provide that the flow from the spout S and raised portion T*
shall fall well clear of or over the dirt accumulated immediately thereunder as
shown very clearly in Figure 4.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The improved apparatus for washing separating or concentrating_substances
of different specific gravities consisting of a tray or table such as T having a
forward outlet O and lateral outlets O' and adapted to be reciprocated substantially
in the manner and for the purposes herein set forth.
2. In apparatus for washing separating or concentrating substances of different
specific gravities the combination with a tray or table such as T having a forward
outlet O and lateral outlets O¹ and adapted to reciprocate as herein described of
the means for adjusting the levels of the tray or table substantially as and for the
purposes specified.
3. In apparatus for washing separating or concentrating substances of different
specific gravities the arrangement or combination with a tray or table T adapted to
be reciprocated and having a raised division T2, outlets O and adjusting screws E
of the perforated spouts N N, these several parts being arranged combined or
adapted to work substantially as and for the purposes herein described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
4. The improved apparatus for washing separating or concentrating substances
of different specific gravities substantially as herein described and illustrated in the
drawings hereto annexed.
CM2007
A. CRAWHALL CHAPMAN,
3 St. Nicholas Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Patent Agent.