Process and Apparatus for Extraction of Metals from Ores.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Process and Apparatus for Extraction of Metals from Ores.
We, JAMES JOHN SHEDLOCк and TноMAS DENNY both of 195 Gresham
House in the City of London, Civil and Mining Engineers, 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 :-
Our invention relates to a process for treating ores so as to extract metals
therefrom and to the apparatus suitable for carrying on that process, as we shall
describe, referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section.
Fig. 2 is a plan partly in section of an apparatus for carrying into effect our said
invention.
We produce combustible gas and generate steam by means of a combined
producer and boiler which has a central chamber a fed through a piped from a
hopper, both pipe and hopper being provided with suitable valves e. f. to prevent
escape of the produced gas which is led off through the valves r and dust boxes q.
The fuel chamber a is surrounded by water in a space a from which steam is
generated and passes away through the valve h. The hearth n of the fuel chamber
is conical and is supported with suitable counter-balance ; on a pipe m from which
passages lead through the conical hearth to the narrow annulus o at its edge.
A portion of the steam is led by a branch pipe to an injector i by which air is
drawn in, the mixed air and steam passing by a pipe k into a box and thence
through lateral holes into the pipe m by which it ascends to the passages in the
hearth n and issues thence at the narrow annulus o to ascend through and supply
the fuel. The space under the hearth n forms an ashpit which can be cleared out
from time to time by the door s. The steam acts in other injectors t and t¹ to draw
air into vertical pipes u, u¹ whence a number of branches E governed by valves
lead into chambers C C. The produced gas passing the valves r is supplied to
pipes F whence burner branches G are directed into the chambers CC. Pulverized
ore such as pyrites or other sulphide containing gold or silver or chloride or oxide
of silver supplied to a hopper A is blown by the air and steam jets B into the
chambers CC and is blown to and fro in these chambers as it descends, subject to
the agitating and oxidizing action of the mixed air and steam jets E, and of the
flames from the burners G. The vapours or gases evolved from the ore flow by
passages H, the central chamber I, and flue J, to the chimney. The solid
portions of the ore collect in the space L at the bottom of the chambers C and I
and are led by a worm L' to the amalgamating or alloying apparatus O. Within
a stationary shell Q of conoidal shape revolves an inner shell P, the weight of
which is carried by rollers V revolving on a rail. This rail is preferably made
with several prominences so that as the rollers V pass over them the shell P is
lifted and allowed to descend. Within the tubular axis of the shell P is a feed-
worm having its shaft N driven by a worm-gearing X W and variously speeded
pulley Y from a corresponding pulley Z on the shaft of the main driving wheel U,
from which the shell P is driven by bevel gear T. A space at the bottom of the
shell Q which as well as P is made with several pockets R, is supplied with fluid
metal, which may be mercury or may be molten lead or alloy. The pulverized
deposit from the ore dealt with as above described in the chambers C is delivered
by the worm L' into a hopper M and by means of the vertical worm N is carried
down to the fluid metal at the bottom of Q, as the shell P revolves and ascends
and descends, the material mixed with the fluid metal is forced up in thin films
between the two shells being thus subjected to an abrading and crushing action so
that the metal in the ore becomes amalgamated or alloyed with the fluid metal
the
ונס.”

page_text: contained in the space and pockets R the tailings being swept away at the upper
edge of the apparatus by rakes S. The amalgam or alloy may be run off from
time to time by a pipe z.
When molten metal is employed for alloying, gas from the producer a is led by
a pipe wo to a burner producing a flame which is directed on the bottom of the
shell Q. Gas may also be conducted by the pipe y down the tubular shaft N.
When mercury is used for amalgamating, we may connect the pipe to a water
service so as to supply water to the mixed material at the bottom of the shell Q,
between which and the inner shell P and through the pockets R the ore and water
pass and are discharged by the rakes S.
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is,
1. In the process herein described for extracting metal from ores subjecting the
pulverized ore to violent agitation by jets of air and steam while it is heated by
jets of gas.
2. The apparatus for producing gas and steam and for effecting the action above
referred to, substantially as described.
3. Treating the pulverized deposit from the apparatus referred to in the
preceding claims by subjecting it to abrading and crushing action in presence of
Huid amalgamating or alloying metal.
4. The amalgamating and alloying apparatus substantially as described.
5. The herein described process for treating ores, first, by agitating the ores
finely pulverized and heated by gas flames with air and steam thereby oxidizing
some of their ingredients and driving off the gases and vapours evolved from them,
and secondly, by subjecting the ores after such treatment to crushing and abrading
action in presence of fluid amalgamating or alloying metal.
Dated this 26th of Combor 1901
JAS. J. SHEDLOCK.
THOS. DENNY.