Improvements in Washing Granular, Crushed, or Powdered and like Materials or Substances.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left. 11th Jan.. 1897-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Washing Granular, Crushed, or Powdered and like
Materials or Substances.
1, TOM PARKINSON, of Denewell Avenue, Low Fell, Gateshead, in the County
of Durham, Manager of Flour Mills, do hereby declare the nature of said invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improved apparatus, without mechanical or moving parts,
for extracting stones, earth, sand or other heavy substances from wheat or other
grain, coal or other minerals and gold or other metals from crushed quartz or
ores or from alluvial soils containing gold or other precious metals.
The apparatus, in any of the various forms in which it may be applied, operates
by two currents of water the one flowing in a series of small cataracts down an
inclined trough mixed with the grain, coal, crushed quartz, or alluvial soil, the
other current flowing upward in regulated quantity, by hydrostatic or other pressure
to a series of apertures provided in the bottom of the trough immediately behind'
a series of hollow "louvre" like dams across the trough, over which obstacles in
turn the material to be washed flows with the main current, the heavy particles
being deposited at the bottom of each "louvre" and by their weight fall through
the upward current, which prevents the lighter particles passing, into a chamber
below. The apertures will be so shaped or fitted with guides as to facilitate
the entry to, and passage through, of the heavy particles into the chamber.
As applied to washing wheat the apparatus is first filled with water which is
kept flowing and the feed of wheat is added from a hopper at the top of the
inclined trough. In passing onto the trough a portion of the water flows through
perforations into the first chamber, in quantity regulated by a valve and sufficient.
to establish an upward current flowing to the aperture or apertures in the trough
behind the first louvre," then the main current of water, with the wheat, passes
over the first "louvre" depositing the stones or heavy substances at the back
thereof which fall into the first chamber through the upward current, which prevents
the sound wheat passing, and are removed by suitable valves in the bottom of
the chamber which can be opened without stopping the operation of the apparatus.
Flowing over the perforations in the first "louvre' a regulated quantity of water
passes into the second chamber and so on over the whole series to the bottom end
of the trough the action being repeated as often as required.
In washing coal the coal flows over the "louvres" with the main current of
water and the "brasses" dirt and heavy particles drop through the apertures into
the lower chamber.
In treating crushed quartz or alluvial soils containing gold, or precious metals.
" with
heavier than water, the refuse substances will flow away over the "louvres
the water, the particles of the metals passing through the apertures behind into
the receivers which may be tubes in which the upward current (in this case of
clean water) under regulated quantity and pressure, operates as described to reject.
the lighter particles.

page_text: Improvements in Washing Granular, Crushed, or Powdered and like
Materials or Substances.
I, TOM PARKINSON, of Denewell Avenue, Low Fell, Gateshead, in the County of
Durham, Manager of Flour Mills, do hereby declare the nature of said invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improved apparatus, without mechanical or moving parts,
for extracting stones, earth, sand or other heavy substances from wheat or other grain,
coal or other minerals and gold or other metals from crushed quartz or ores or from
alluvial soils containing gold or other precious metals.
The apparatus, in any of the various forms in which it may be applied, operates by
two currents of water, the one flowing in a series of small cataracts down an inclined
trough mixed with the grain, coal, crushed quartz, or alluvial soil, the other current
flowing upward in regulated quantity, by hydrostatic or other pressure to a series of
apertures provided in the bottom of the trough immediately behind a series of hollow
"louvre" like dams across the trough, over which obstacles in turn the material to be
washed flows with the main current, the heavy particles being deposited at the bottom
of each "louvre" like dam and by their weight fall through the upward current, which
prevents the lighter particles passing, into a chamber below. The apertures will be
so shaped or fitted with guides as to facilitate the entry to, and passage through, of
the heavy particles into the chamber.
As applied to washing wheat the apparatus is first filled with water which is kept
flowing and the feed of wheat is added from a hopper at the top of the inclined trough.
In passing on to the trough a portion of the water flows through perforations in the
first "louvre" like dam into the first chamber, in quantity regulated by a valve and
sufficient to establish an upward current flowing to the aperture or apertures in the
trough behind the second "louvre" like dam, then the main current of water, with
the wheat, passes over the second "louvre " like dam depositing the stones or heavy
substances at the back thereof which fall into the first chamber through the upward
current, which prevents the sound wheat passing, and are removed by suitable valves
. in the bottom of the chamber which can be opened without stopping the operation of
the apparatus. Flowing over the perforations in the second louvre" like dam a
regulated quantity of water passes into the second chamber and so on over the
whole series to the bottom end of the trough the action being repeated as often as
required.
In wasbing coal the coal flows over the "louvres" with the main current of water
and the "brasses," dirt and heavy particles drop through the apertures into the lower
chamber.
In treating crushed quartz or alluvial soils containing gold or precious metals
heavier than water, the refuse substances will flow away over the dams with the water,
the particles of the metals passing through the apertures behind into the receivers
which may be tubes in which the upward current, (in this case of clean water)
under regulated quantity and pressure, operates as described to reject the lighter
particles.
DroneSMEAN

page_text: Fig. 2 a partial transverse section through the line x-x of Fig. 1 ;
Fig. 3 an end sectional view of the discharge trough at lower end of Fig. 1 as.
applied for grain washing;
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the trough; and
Fig. 5 a transverse section through the line - of Fig. 4 as applied to washing:
crushed and sized ores of gold or other valuable metals.
The same or equivalent parts of the apparatus are denoted by the same letters on all
the figures.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A. is the tank into which water is delivered by the
feed pipe B, in regulated quantity, and from which it flows through a grating C. down
the inclined trough D. over a series of hollow dams E. E', E, &c. covered by wire.
work F. to the lower end of the trough, carrying with it in a series of small cataracts.
the floating grain and depositing at the back of each of the dams heavier substances
as earthy matter, gravel, or like debris. Beneath each hollow dam is a
chamber G. G1, G2, &c. all of which are filled before washing commences, by water
from the main current flowing through the wire work F. Washing having com-
menced and an upward current from the chambers G. G', G2, &c. established,
regulated by adjustable valves F', sufficient to keep the grain in suspension and pass it
over each successive dam, whilst the heavier debris falls through the upward current
down the passages H. H1, H2, &c. and deposit at the bottom of each chamber above
valves J, by opening any of which it is discharged into the corresponding pocket K,
and either of the valves J. being now closed, and the corresponding lower valve Ji
opened, the debris, mixed with water, flows into an inclined trough L. and is
discharged.
The grain to be washed will preferably be delivered by a hopper M. in front of the
first hollow dam E. and behind the second hollow dam E, over which it flows with the
water and in succession over each of the following dams, each dam having fitted to it
a sliding lip N. by which the height of the dam may be adjusted. In front of each of
the dams E, E, &c. is a rotating adjustable regulator O. by which the current of
water flowing down the trough may be regulated as to force and direction.
On reaching the bottom of the trough the grain flows with the water into a revolving.
"thrower" P. extending across the width of the apparatus in a chamber Q., and this.
"thrower" delivers into a cylindrical casing containing a
"creeper or worm R.
by which the grain is conveyed to a spout S. outside the end of the chamber Q..
where it is received, washed, and drained from the foul water, which has passed
through the perforated bottom of the creeper casing into the chamber from which it is
discharged at an opening T.
Referring to Figs. 4 and 5 which shew an apparatus specially adapted for gold
washing, the crushed quartz (having previously been sorted into uniform sizes by the
usual screening or other processes) flows with water from the hopper M. on to the
trough D., which is arranged on an angle of about 45 degrees and is washed down with
the current of water until it reaches the first dam E. when the heavier gold and the
debris with which it is mixed are met by an upward current of clean water issuing
under regulated pressure from a main supply pipe V. by cocks or valves F. F through
pipes G. into the chambers H. H', H2, &c. and spreads out fan like through passages.
in the bottom of the trough. This upward current carries the lighter debris in
suspension with the descending current over the damns E. E', E², &c. in succession
to the bottom of the trough, but at each dam the particles of gold fall through
the upward current and pass through the passages into the chambers H. H', H', &c..
and through the pipes G. and now open cocks or valves F into receptacles U.
which may be of glass, to be discharged when they are filled with the pre-
cipitated gold or other valuable metals. These receptacles, when of glass, are
cemented into sockets which screw on to the ends of the cocks Fa, any one of
which being closed, the receptacle may be unscrewed to be discharged and again
replaced, the cock reopened, and the washing resumed in that section, without the
other sections having been interfered with. As it is necessary to regulate the
flow and force of the upward current, or to shut it off entirely, as when cleaning.

page_text: out any section, a cock F. is placed between the main supply pipe V. and the cock F
by which this is effected.
In washing coal or other minerals the apparatus may be similarly constructed to
that described for grain, and the general process will be the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. An apparatus for washing grain, or granular substances, in which two
currents operate, the main current flowing with the grain or other substances to
be washed, down an inclined trough fitted with hollow dams, and the upward
current rising from chambers filled with water from the main current through
passages behind each dam with such regulated force as to keep the lighter grain
or other substances in suspension, and cause them to pass over the dams, whilst
the earthy matters, stones, or other debris fall through the upward current and are
discharged at the bottom of the chambers, means being provided for regulating the
quantity, force, and direction of the main current and the force of the upward current,
also of adjusting the height of the dams, the whole, comprising the various parts in
combination, constructed and operating substantially as described.
2nd. An apparatus for washing ores of gold or other metals heavier than water from
crushed and sized quartz or alluvial soils in which two currents operate, the main
current flowing with the quartz down an inclined trough fitted with transverse dams,
and the upward current of clean water rising through passages behind each dam with
such regulated force as to keep the lighter quartz, earth, or other debris in suspension,
and cause them to pass over the dams, whilst the gold or other metals fall through the
upward current and are discharged into receptacles below the trough, the whole com-
prising the various parts in combination, constructed and operating substantially as
described.
3rd. The apparatus for washing grain or other granular substances, comprising the
various parts in combination, constructed and operating as hereinbefore described, and
as shewn by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
4th. The apparatus for washing ores of gold or other metals heavier than water,
comprising the various parts in combination, constructed and operating as
hereinbefore described, and as shewn by Figs. 4 and 5 on the accompanying sheet of
drawings.
1907
T. J. DANSON, F. Inst. P.A.,
Agent for Applicant.