IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF AND MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR CONCENTRATING ORE
Year: 1884

page_text: I ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES of the firm of W Brookes & Son of 55 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS
OF AND MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR CONCENTRATING ORE 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 ore concentrating mechanism of that class wherein the
pulverized ore is treated on a reciprocating table in the presence of water for the
separation of the valuable and heavy parts from the gangue.
In the machine and by the process to be herein described the treatment of the
ore is continuous that is the pulverized ore is applied continuously to the table,
and having been carried on the same far enough to become separated into layers,
the gangue is removed, as will be described, and in the further operation of the
table the valuable parts of the ore are carried along and discharged continuously
into a receptacle placed at the delivery end of the machine.
This invention has for its object certain improvements in feeding the ore upon
the table; in means for promoting the separation of the mineral and gangue into
distinct layers; in means for saving float mineral; in means for removing the
gangue; and in means for supplying the wash water to the table.
Figure 1, is a top or plan view of an ore concentrator embodying my invention.
Figure 2, a side elevation of Figure 1.
Figure 3, is a sectional detail at the left of the dotted line X-X Figure 2.
Figure 4, is a detail partially in section of the vessel for supplying the wash
water.
Figure 5, is a cross section of Figure 2, in the dotted line XL-X¹.
Figure 6, is a bottom view and section of the exhaust chamber shown 'in
longitudinal vertical section in Figure 5, the said Figure showing the exhaust
mouths and passages.
Figure 7. is a right hand end elevation of Figure 1.
Figure 8, is a cross section in the line X³ Figure 2.
0 is a longitudinal central section of Figure 1.

page_text: mЯcnice.
Figure 11, is a detail showing an end of the exhaust chamber.
Figure 12. is a plan view of a part of the bottom of the table.
Figure 13 is a partial plan and section enlarged of the actuating mechanism for
the table.
Figure 14 is a section of Figure 13 in the dotted line X*.
Figure 15 is a section of Figure 14 in the dotted line X*.
Figure 16 a section of Figure 18 in the line Xº.
Figure 17 is a section in the dotted line X' Figure 13.
Figures 18 and 19, modifications of the devices for saving float mineral.
The main shaft a, having at one end suitable fast and loose pulleys a¹, a³, has at
its other end a balanced crank a³, provided with a crunk pin a, which enters a
slide box a, which latter is fitted into a groove or way of a lever a³, having its
fulcrum on a pin or stud a7, fastened in block a made adjustable on the frame
work A by the screws aº, aº.
The lever a, referred to, has at its rear side two screws b, which serve to adjust
and hold an eccentric ring 6¹ having an elongated central opening to permit of the
lateral adjustment of the said ring about the sleeve al of the said. lever, bolts 6' in
slots b holding the said ring firmly in position so that it is rotated by and in
unison with the said lever.
The eccentric ring b₁ receives about it snugly the eccentric strap b' of tho
connecting rod be jointed at be to ears of the table B, the eccentric in its movements
reciprocating the said table, and by adjusting the position of the said eccentric on
the said lever as it will be obvious that more or less throw may be given to the
table, and it will also be obvious that by adjusting the block as and its pivot a so
as to place the said pivot out of line with relation to the shaft a that a variable
rotation of the lever a may be effected, the farther the pin a' is out of line with
relation to the shaft a the greater the variation in the speed of rotation of the
lever a at different parts of each stroke.
The speed of movement of the table is slowest during the latter part of its
return stroke and the first part of its outer stroke toward the delivery end of the
apparatus, thus enabling the ore to settle on the ore bed during part of the return
stroke of the table and to follow the first part of the outward movement of the
table without slipping thereon, but as the last part of the outer movement of the
table and the first part of its inward movement is effected at a high rate speed it
follows that. the movement of the ore is gradually accelerated during the outward
movement of the table thus giving to the ore such velocity that on the sudden and
quick reversal of the table at high speed, the ore, owing to its momentum, is thrown
forward and upward on the inclined ore bed.
The ore to be treated is fed continuously into the ore distributing trough c with
water, and the ore being kept in suspension therein by the agitator c² is carried
over with the water through the discharge lips of the trough c on to the con-
centrator. The agitator o' derives its motion of rotation from a sprocket wheel ou
the main shaft through a chain c² extended over a sprocket wheel c³ on the shaft of
the agitator.
Near the discharge lip of the ore distributing trough, and at the rear of it, is a
rigid curtain c³, the lower edge of which is extended into the said trough at the
rear side of and extending below the said lip, such arrangement of the said curtain
arresting the scum until it is thoroughly wet by the action of the agitators in the
water and thus causing it to sink under the surface of the water.
From this trough the ore and water are fed continuously upon an apron c³ and
thence into the settling compartment represented at the right hand end of the table.
The distributing trough is provided at bottom with a plugged opening o through
which waste mercury and amalgam may be removed when the ore placed in the
said trough to be fed to the table has previously been treated with mercury for the
extraction of ree mineral,

page_text: The table B is made up of side and end pieces and a suitable bottom so that the
water in the settling compartment may be maintained at the proper level for the
requirements of the process. The bottom of the table is made up of slats c
attached to suitable cross pieces c³ the edges of the slats being slightly separated
thus affording sufficient space to permit the slats to swell under the action of
moisture, and the said slats at their edges are provided with holes for the reception
of dowel pins c to thus cause the retention of adjacent slats at the same level
between the cross pieces c³.
These slats c are covered with a sheet c' of thin india rubber, canvas, leather, or
metal, the said sheet being extended from end to end of the table and covering the
entire ore bed.
Above the settling compartment of the table is placed a stirring frame D
provided with a series of pins d which latter project down into the pulp, the
lateral movement of the said frame keeping the pulp in a loose condition which
favors the settling of the mineral upon the ore bed of the reciprocating table.
The stirring frame D, see Figures 1 and 2, has legs d¹ which rest and slide upon
brackets & attached to the table B.
The frame D derives its lateral motion from the connecting rod d³ attached at
one end to a crank on a shaft d' actuated by suitable belt and gearing shown in
Figures 1 and 2, from the main shaft of the machine.
At or near the end of the settling compartment is provided apparatus for
removing the gangue and water.
This apparatus best shown in Figures 1, 2, 5, 6, and 9, consists of an exhaust
chamber e having a series of mouths e¹ each of which has leading from it a channel
or passage e, all the channels or passages extending to the outer ends of the said
chamber where they open into discharge chambers e³.
The upper portion of the exhaust chamber has a large air passage e* which
communicates at each end with the discharge chambers e³ the said passage c
having a collar or outlet e which is connected by pipe with any usual or suitable
exhaust apparatus, preferably an exhaust fan, so that a constant rarefaction of the
air is maintained in the discharge chambers, the lower ends of the latter being
sealed against the admission of air by ore and water travelling through the cups e
attached to the lower ends of the discharge chambers.
Between the mouths of the exhaust chamber and the top of the ore bed, and
held in adjustable position a little above the ore bed, is a protecting plate funder
which latter the heavy or valuable portion of the settled mineral passes while the
principle portion of the gangue passes above it.
This plate, interposed as described between the valuable portion of the mineral
and the main body of the gangue and between the lower side of the exhaust
chamber and the bottom of the ore bed, thus serves as a protecting plate for the
valuable mineral which has settled upon the ore bed while the gangue and water
are being removed through the mouth e¹.
The distance between the mouths of the exhaust chamber and the protecting
plate may be adjusted when desired by the screws 8.
Beyond the exhaust apparatus, toward the delivery end of the machine, is
located the washing compartment, the ore bed at such portion of the machine
being upwardly inclined as best shown in Figure 9.
The washing compartment forms a continuation of the settling compartment, and
the ore settled upon the ore bed in the settling compartment, owing to the varying
speed of the ore bed during different parts of its stroke, is made to pass from the
settling compartment under the protecting plate and into the washing compartment
without disturbing the stratification, which is a matter of the greatest importance.
The washing compartment has placed in it a stirring frame D₁ which in
construction is the same as the frame D before described and which will be
reciprocated in like manner.
The delivery end of the ore bed or table is made vertically adjustable by means
of the lever g connected, see Figure 2, with the shaft g' extended across the frame

page_text: from side to side, the said shaft having cranks g² and pins which, by links g³ are
connected with pins 9 extended outward from the stems g³ of bearing gⓇ fitted
into guide ways g' attached to the frame A and thus made vertically adjustable
therein.
These bearings go receive and support the slides 9 which receive the pivot g³
attached to the table B see Figure 3, the said slides travelling with the table.
The pins of the stirring frame D¹ assist the scouring action of the wash water
upon the gangue thus preventing it from coming up the incline and being
discharged with the valuable mineral.
The wash water is delivered to the washing compartment in a continuous sheet
from an open vessel h¹ extended across the table above the ore bed, the front side
of the said vessel having a slot from end to end and having a gate he made vertically
adjustable by suitable adjusting screws h².
The vessel is of a depth sufficient when filled from the perforated pipe h, to cause
the discharge of water in a uniform sheet entirely across the table or compartment,
which is essential to secure uniform action on the gangue from side to side of the
table.
The water issuing from the water vessel falls on a protecting apron h* extended
across the table above the ore bed, see Figures 9 and 10, the said apron owing to
its arrangement preventing the wash water coming into the washing compartment
from disturbing the mineral at the discharging end of the table.
The ore bed or table near its discharge end is provided with a depression or
basin m into which is extended the protecting apron h the top of the same being
thus so located with relation to the slope of the main part of the bed of the
washing compartment as to prevent the water falling upon the mineral in such
manner as to disturb it in its upward passage.
The mineral is discharged from the basin into the collecting trough m¹ from
which it is discharged into any usual box or receptacle.
The outer end of the bottom of the table beyond the centre of the basin m may
be adjusted vertically by means of the screws 7, connected loosely at its lower end
with a part of the tray, the threads of the said screws engaging threaded lugs ²
connected with the outer end of the table, and to permit the table or its bottom
part to be readily bent and adjusted the slats are scored or partially cut through as
at r,, see Figure 9.
In the treatment of many ores as described, a floating scum is formed which is
composed of minute particles of valuable mineral, and to save these floating
particles I have provided the table, with a float collector n composed preferably
of felt placed upon a cylinder n¹, or it may be an endless belt or band of felt as
shown in Figure 18, extended over two cylinders.
The float taken up by the said felt or soft fibrous surface must be removed
therefrom.
To do this I prefer to use a rotating brush n which acts against the said float
collector as in Figure 9, and transfers the mineral from the float collector into the
trough n³, or if desired a scraper n¹ may be employed as in Figure 19, or if desired
I may employ two squeezing rollers n³, no, set preferably at an angle to favor the
escape of the water and material into a suitable trough to be located at one end
of the said rollers at the side of the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In an ore concentrator, the ore distributing trough arranged transversely
with relation to the table and its agitator, combined with the reciprocating table
to operate substantially as described.
2. The ore distributing trough having an agitator therein and provided with an
opening in its bottom for the discharge of waste mercury and amalgam, substantially
as described.

page_text: 3. The ore distributing trough having an agitator therein and provided with a
curtain arranged between the delivery edge of the trough and the agitator, the
lower edge of the curtain being extended into the said trough below the delivery
edge thereof, substantially as described.
4. The reciprocating bed or table, combined with the stirring frame provided
with pins, and with means to reciprocate the said frame transversely, substantially
as described.
5. In an ore concentrator an ore bed or table having a settling compartment free
or nearly so from water current, and an inclined washing compartment continuous
therewith, and a vessel to supply water to the washing compartment, combined
with means substantially as described for removing the gangue and water at or
near the junction of the said compartment as set forth, and for reciprocating the
said bed to effect both the stratification and travel of the said ore, substantially as
described.
6. The reciprocating ore bed upon which the mineral is settled and over which
it travels, and a protecting plate, combined with means for removing the gangue
and water from the upper side of the said plate, substantially as described.
7. In an ore concentrator, the table and protecting plate, combined with an
exhaust apparatus located above the said plate to remove the gangue and water
as set forth,
8. In an ore concentrator, and inclined washing compartment provided with a
basin or depression and a protecting apron above it to receive the impact of the
water supplied to the said bed, substantially as described.
9. In an ore concentrator having an inclined washing compartment, a water
supply vessel h¹ arranged transversely to the said compartment and provided with
a continuous slot whereby water in the said vessel may be supplied to the said
compartment from side to side as a continuous sheet, substantially as described.
10. In an ore concentrator, a float collector adapted to take the float mineral
from the surface of the water, substantially as described.
11. In an ore concentrator, a table provided with a bottom composed of slats
separated from each other and provided with dowel pins and having a covering
sheet c, to operate all substantially as described.
12. The inclined washing compartment, combined with a water supply, and
with a stirring frame provided with pins and having a transverse movement in
the said compartment, substantially as described.
13. In a process for concentrating ores, the following continuous steps, viz:-
stratifying the ore by settling the same in the presence of water having a current
or flow sufficiently slow to permit the fine particles of the mineral to settle upon
the ore bed; removing a portion of the lighter gangue and water from the struta
of the ore settled upon the ore bed passing the mineral and remaining gangue
while yet in stratified condition into a washing compartment and washing the ore
to effect the removal. therefrom of all or any desired portion of the remaining
gangue, substantially as described.
The thin orth And Contahan 1001