Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1887
Complete Left, 29th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 4th May, 1888
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of 53,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents,
do hereby declare the nature of this Invention a communication to me from abroad
by Thomas David Williams at present of Johannesburg in the South African Republic,
Engineer, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved amalgamating apparatus for winning fine
metallic particles met with in gold and other ores.
My improved amalgamator is continuous in its action and is constructed of a
cylinder sheathed with amalgamated copper mounted to rotate in a bath of mercury
and enclosed in a casing, the slimes or gangue being delivered on to the circumference
of the cylinder, at the upper part. The cylinder is driven at a suitable speed so as to
thin down the adhering film of slimes or gangue sufficiently to ensure immediate
contact of the fine metallic particles contained in the same with the amalgamated
sheathing of the cylinder, whereby they are carried down into the mercury bath,
which wipes them off the cylinder at the same time that the latter is recoated with
mercury, for presentation again to the stream of slimes or gangue.
Means are provided of drawing off and renewing the mercury bath whilst the
apparatus is running and of applying heat to the bath and cylinder in order to promote
the amalgamating action if necessary.
If desired electricity can be applied to keep the amalgamated copper sheathing
sensitive.
A. MELVILLE CLARK.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.

page_text: An Improved Amalgamating Apparatus.
1, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of
Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication
to mo from abroad by Thomas David Williams, at present of Johannesburg, in the
South African Republic, Engineer, 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 an improved amalgamating apparatus for winning fine
metallic particles met with in gold and other ores. The improved amalgamator is
continuous in its action and is constructed of a copper sheathed horizontal cylinder
mounted to rotate in a bath of mercury, the slimes or gangue being delivered on to
the cylinder, whereby the fine metallic particles are carried down into the mercury
which wipes them off and retains them at the same time that the cylinder becomes
recoated with mercury for presentation again to the stream of slimes or gangue.
Means are provided of drawing off and renewing the mercury bath whilst the
apparatus is running, and of applying heat to the bath and cylinder in order to
promote the amalgamating action, if necessary. If desired, electricity can be applied
to keep the amalgamated copper sheathing sensitive in the usual manner.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specifica-
tion wherein figures 1 and 2 are respectively cross and longitudinal sections, and
figure 3 an end elevation of the apparatus. The same letters of reference indicate the
same parts in all the figures.
A is the cylinder made of, or sheathed with, amalgamated copper carried upon a
horizontal shaft which is mounted in bearings and driven in any convenient way.
The cylinder is enclosed in a casing B of which the lower part B₁ contains mercury
wherein the cylinder dips. The casing has an inlet c at the upper part leading from
the tables Cover which the sline or gangue passes in the ordinary manner before
entering the inlet c, whence they are deposited directly on the surface of the cylinder A.
The casing has an outlet d immediately above the level of the mercury bath, at which
the tailings pass out. The cylinder is rotated at such speed, and the supply of the
slimes or gangue thereto so regulated, that the cylinder will become coated on the
descending side with a thin film, whereof the fine metallic particles will adhere to
the amalgamated copper surface and be carried down into the mercury bath whilst the
tailings pass out at the outlet d and are carried away by gravity in the usual way.
e is a heating pipe for warming the cylinder and mercury in order to keep the latter
sensitive in cold weather. is a plug for drawing off the amalgam.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
The herein described amalgamator, consisting essentially of a horizontal cylinder of
amalgamated copper rotating in a bath of mercury and receiving the slimes or gangue
substantially in the manner described.
T. D. WILLIAMS.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.
Dated this 29th day of March 1888.
T. D. WILLIAMS.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.