IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR ⚫ SEPARATING GOLD FROM EARTHY MATTERS
Year: 1854

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LETTERS PATENT to Bevan George Sloper, of London, Civil Engineer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
⚫ SEPARATING GOLD FROM EARTHY MATTERS."
Sealed the 14th July 1854, and dated the 17th January 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bevan George Sloper at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th January 1854.
I, BEVAN GEORGE SLOPER, of London, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR SEPARATING GOLD FROM EARTHY MATTERS " to be as follows:-:-
The following is a description of my Invention, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings; Fig. 1 being a longitudinal section, Fig. 2 a trans-
verse section, and Fig. 3 a plan in section. a is a tank through which a
constant flow of water is maintained, in which two concentric cylinders b, c,
fixed upon an axis d, placed horizontally, or nearly so, revolve. The inner
cylinder 6 is for the purpose of breaking down the clay or soft earthy matters
containing the gold, and the interior surface is studded with short spikes or
projections e, e, and upon the axis & are fixed two or more discs f, f, about
two inches less diameter than the cylinder, and about one foot asunder, and
between these discs are placed a number of small iron cylinders g (about two
inches diameter) with the edges rounded off. The cylinder bis charged at
the loading end with the soil or materials containing the gold, and by the

page_text: rotation of the cylinders the aluminous earth becomes suspended in the water,
whilst the sand, stone, and metallic matters disentegrated and comminuted by the
action of the studs, and the rolling cylinders g, g, are conveyed to the discharge
end of the cylinder, at which part a portion of the circumference is perforated
with holes of about of an inch diameter. Through these holes the sand, small
pebbles, and grains of gold pass into the annular space between the two
cylinders, which is divided by flat rings f', f', into a series of chambers g', g',
communicating with each other by passages h. The outer cylinder is composed
of belts or zones of perforated sheet metal, the holes in the belts which are
nearest the discharge, and of the cylinder 6, being very minute, and gradually
increasing in size in the successive belts, to the last in which the holes are as
large as those in the enterior cylinder. Beneath the cylinders is placed a
trough, divided by partitions into as many cells m, m, as there are different
sized perforations in the cylinder, and into these the materials fall according to
their fineness. The sand, gravel, and gold which are too large to pass through
the perforations in the cylinder bare caught by a box n, fixed at the circum-
ference of the cylinder (and called the nugget box), and projected therefrom at
each revolution into a receiver, to be examined for nuggets, and the useless
matter rejected. To the bottom of each cell is fixed a curved pipe o, o, of
about an inch bore, which at the outer end is furnished with a stop cock p.
having an index q attached, to shew to what extent it is open. By means of
these cocks the water in the tank is caused to flow through the pipes with a
regulated velocity and force, according to the extent of opening in the stop-
cocks. During the working of the machine, the stop-cocks are only opened
sufficiently to allow the force of the current to wash away the lighter materials,
leaving the gold in the pipes; and when the gold has accumulated to a certain
extent the machine is stopped, and the stop-cocks being fully opened, the
increased force of the current of water brings away the gold. Previous to
drawing the gold the stop-cocks are several times opened and shut by a very
rapid motion of their spanners, by which action any sand lodged amongst the
grains of gold is dislodged and brought away. The annular space between the
cylinder, it should have been stated, is closed at each end, and the orifices of
the internal cylinder are contracted by an internal flange r at each end. I
would also observe that a continuous spiral or continuous spirals may be sub-
stituted for the flat rings, by which the annular space is divided into chambers;
also, that for the cylinders truncated cones may be substituted. I claim with
respect to the Invention herein-before described,―
1. The apparatus or machinery for breaking down or comminuting the
materials with which the gold is mixed.

page_text: 2. The "nugget box," for separating and projecting from the breaking down
cylinder for examination whatever is too coarse to pass through the perforations
in the said cylinder.
3rd. The arrangement described for separating the sand, gold, &c., in parcels
of different degrees of fineness, that is to say, by passing the materials through
sieves of different degrees of fineness formed upon the periphery of revolving
cones or cylinders.
Lastly, the effecting the separation of the gold from the sand or other earthy
matters with which it is mixed by currents of water of regulated velocity and
force, as herein-before described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed by
the said Bevan George Sloper in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th July 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BEVAN
GEORGE SLOPER, of London, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Bevan George Sloper, Her special licence that I, the said Bevan George
Sloper, my exccutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Bevan George Sloper, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter,
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GOLD FROM EARTHY MATTERS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Bevan George Sloper, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Bevan George Sloper, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by. the
following statement thereof (that is to say):-
:-
The nature of my Invention, and the manner of carrying the same into
effect, is ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon; Figure 1 representing a longitudinal section of the machinery, and
Figure 2, a transverse section thereof. a is a tank through which a constant
stream of water is maintained, the water being kept always at the same level.
In this tank two concentric cylinders b, c, fixed upon an axis d, placed
horizontally or nearly so, revolve. Within and to the inner cylinder b is fixed
for the purpose of breaking down the clay or soft earthy matters containing
the gold, at about one inch from the circumference, two half cylinders d, d,
of iron or other metal, pierced with holes and technically called stabbed metal,
having the burrs projecting inwards. On these half cylinders are fixed vertical
cutters e, e, of stabbed metal, about four inches deep and six inches apart,
inclined a little to the axis of the cylinders, and thus forming a kind of screw
to carry the earthy matters forward. On the inner cylinder b is also fixed one
or more ledges f, f, about half inch deep, not quite parallel with the axis, and
thus forming a kind of screw to carry forward the sand and gold when
separated from the clay. These iron half cylinders terminate at about one
foot from the discharge end f, of the inner cylinder b. At this end is a
diaphragm or partition g, which has a moveable door h, which may be opened
at intervals to allow the passage of large stones into the end chamber of the
inner cylinder, from which they may be projected by the contrivance called
the nugget box.
On the external cylinder c, are fixed a series of V shaped rings i, i, for the
purpose of better separating the sand and gold into parcels according to their
fineness.
The cylinder 6 is charged at the loading end with the soil or materials
containing the gold, and by the rotation of the cylinders the aluminous earth
becomes suspended in the water, while the sand, stones, and other matters
disintegrated and comminuted by the action of the cutters and grating surfaces
are conveyed to the discharge end of the cylinder b, at which part a portion of
the circumference is perforated with holes j, about a quarter of an inch
diameter. Through these holes the sand, small pebbles, and grains of gold
pass into the annular space between the two cylinders, and fall on the inner
surface of the outer cylinder. The outer cylinder is composed of belts or zones
of perforated sheet metal, divided by flat rings k, k, into a series of annular
chambers m, m, communicating from one to another by inclined passages.

page_text: The holes in the belts which are nearest the discharge end of the cylinder b,
are very minute, and gradually increase in size to the last belt, in which the
holes are as large as those in the interior cylinder. Thus, the first three or four
belts have holes of the smallest size, the three or four next belts have holes
rather larger, and so on to the last belt. The sand and gold of each degree of
fineness are received into separate funnel-shaped troughs n, n. The sand,
gravel, gold, and large stones which are too large to pass through the per-
forations of the cylinder b, are caught by a box o (called the nugget box) fixed
at the circumference of the cylinder, and are projected therefrom at intervals
by the revolution of the cylinder into a receiver to be examined for nuggets,
and the useless matter rejected. To the bottom of each trough is fixed a
curved pipe p, p, of about one inch, or one and a quarter inch bore, made of
metal, and furnished at its outer end with a stop-cock or valve, or it may be
made of an elastic material in part or entirely, such as vulcanized india-rubber,
which may be partially or entirely closed by being pressed together between
two blocks of wood, or other hard substance, moved by a lever q, q. Indices
are attached to the stop-cocks or levers to show the extent of the opening
which permits the passage of the water. By means of these cocks, valves,
or levers, the water in the tank is allowed to flow through the pipes with a
regulated velocity and force, according to the extent of the opening of the
stop-cocks or valves, or the degree of compression exercised by the levers on
the elastic pipes.
During the working of the machine the force of the current of water is
regulated to wash away the lighter materials, leaving the gold in the pipes; and
when the gold has accumulated to a certain extent, the machine is stopped,
and the waterways in the pipes being freely opened, the increased force of the
current of water brings away the gold. When the pipes are made of any
elastic material, the lower part of each pipe may be slightly agitated by resting
on a board, to be raised and lowered suddenly by any convenient mechanical
arrangement, the better to keep the gold in suspension.
The annular space between the cylinders is closed at each end, and the
orifices of the internal cylinders b, are contracted by flanges r.
When gold has to be separated from sand alone, or from the crushed rock or
matrix which contained it, the internal half cylinders of stabbed metal may be
dispensed with, and the size of the metal perforation of the outer cylindrical
zones may be smaller, and their size determined by the degree of fineness of the
sand or crushed rock.
Having thus described my Invention, and the manner of carrying the same
into effect, I claim in respect thereof,-

page_text: First, the employment of the half cylinders and cutters made of stabbed
metal for breaking down or comminuting the materials with which the gold is
mixed.
Second, the nugget box for catching and projecting from the inner cylinder
the materials which are too large to pass through the largest perforations of the
cylinders.
Third, the arrangement described for separating the sand and gold into
parcels of different degrees of fineness, by passing them through revolving
annular sieves forming the outer cylinder.
Fourth, the effecting the separation of the gold from the sand or other earthy
or lighter matters with which it may be mixed by the action of upward currents
of water of regulated velocity and force.
Lastly, the general combination and arrangement of the parts of the machine,
as herein above described, for the purpose of separating gold from earthy
matters.
In witness whereof, I, the said Bevan George Sloper, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
JAMES MURDOCH.
For the Patentee,
JAMES MURDOCH, Agent.
B. G. SLOPER. (L.S.)