AN IMPROVED VANNING MACHINE
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Olark, of 58, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED VANNING MACHINE."-A Communication from abroad
by William Bell Frue, of Silver Islet, in the Province of Ontario,
and Dominion of Canada.
Bealed the 5th December 1874, and dated the 15th October 1874.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Olark
at the-Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 15th October 1874, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE OLARK, of 58, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
VANNING MACHINE," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for
the same, and have made solemn Declaration that it has been communi.

page_text: cated to me from abroad by William Bell Frue, of Silver Islet, in the
Province of Ontario, and Dominion of Canada.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
:-
This Invention relates more particularly to that class of separating
machinery known as vanning machines, its object being to effect a
separation of the heavy ores or metals, such as gold, silver, copper, tin,
and such like from the associated rock when in a pulverized condition
and suspended in a currrent of water.
The Invention consists of an outer stationary frame, within which is
supported an inner frame having attached the endless travelling apron
or conveyor. To the inner frame and attachments a quick vibrating
motion is communicated, which in combination with the progressive
motion of the conveyor and flow of water effects the sifting and deposit
of the heavier metal particles on the surface of the conveyor, to which
they adhere, the lighter particles of rock being washed off.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional
clevation taken on line x, x, of Figure 2; Figure 2 is a horizontal
sectional elevation on line y, y, Figure 1; and Figure 3 an end elevation
of a vanning machine constructed according to this Invention. Similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
F is the outer frame of the machine, strongly constructed of wood or
iron, within which the apron frame B is supported on the sliding
shafts E¹, held in suitable bearings L. To these sliding shafts fixed
pulleys are attached, around which passes the endless apron or conveyor A,
driven from the drum O, which is placed underneath and near the
centre of the apron frame B, and which gives a continuous progressive
motion to the endless apron A. The position of the drum O being the
point of least lateral motion of the belt reduces the wear on the same to
a minimum. D is the driving pulley; the apron B is moved laterally
with a quick vibratory motion by the connecting rods K, K, K, and
crank shaft E. I, I, are collar rings, fastened by a set screw to sliding

page_text: shafts E' for holding the yokes H on the end of the apron frame B, to
which, i.e. to the yokes H) the connecting rods K are attached in
position. The endless apron A travels over and is supported by the
rollers B', B', B', resting in suitable bearings on the apron frame B.
G is the regulating pulley used for grinding the endless apron parallel
to the apron frame, and also as a belt tightener to increase the friction
between the large drum and the apron; I' is the water sluice, and H¹
the sand or ore sluice. L', It, are pillow blocks. J is the collecting
tank filled with water, into which the endless apron dips when passing
around drum C. The endless belt A is made of rubber and canvas, or
other suitable material, with upright rubber flanges attached along its
edges and rising a short distance above its upper surface. The flanges
are made sufficiently elastic to avoid distortion when passing around the
pulleys. The upper surface of the apron is inclined from the horizontal
(by slope of apron frame B) in order that the water and sand may flow
down to the lower end of the machine into waste launder K¹.
The operation of this machine is as follows:-The powdered material
suspended in a current of water flows down the sand sluice and is
distributed by a spreader in the same over the width of the apron,
flowing down the inclined surface of the same towards the lower end of
the machine. A regulated stream of water runs from the water sluice
behind the sand sluice. At the same time the endless apron A travels
forward slowly and continuously, receiving at the same time a rapid
shaking motion from the crank shaft E. The heavier ores and metals
are settled by the shaking motion and are carried by the apron up against
the descending stream of water to be ultimately disposited in the water
tank underneath, through which the now inverted apron passes. A
light stream of water playing on the under side of the apron as it leaves
the tank washes back any still adhering particles of ore or metal. The
lighter particles of rock are washed down the apron by the stream of
water and drop over the lower end roller into the waste or tailings
launder,
.
I do not wish it to be understood that I confine myself to the
secondary motion as communicated by the connecting rods K and crank
shaft E, as there are many different ways in which an equivalent motion
can be imparted to the endless travelling apron A, and I have merely
selected the construction described and shown in the Drawings believing
it to answer the purpose best.

page_text: Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as new and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is,-
1st. The endless travelling apron A having a progressive motion and
a secondary agitating or shaking motion, substantially as described and 5
for the purpose specified.
2ndly. The outer frame F with bearings L in combination with the
inner vibrating apron frame B, arranged and operating substantially as
described and for the purpose specified.
3rdly. The apron frame B, yokes H, sliding shafts E¹, and collars I 1
in combination with the revolving crank shaft E and connecting rods K,
arranged and operating substantially as described and for the purpose
specified.
4thly. The endless travelling apron A of rubber having raised flexible
solid flanges 6 of the same material, substantially as described and for 1
the purpose specified.
5thly. The combination with the endless travelling apron A of the
driving drum O and regulating pulley G, arranged and operating
substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Olark, have 2
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
Witness,
HARRY SWALES,
58, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)