Improvements in Machinery for Use in Dressing or Concentrating Tin and other Mineral Öres and for other Useful Purposes.
Year: 1888

page_text: 1888
Date of Application, 20th Nov.,
Complete Specification Left, 20th Aug., 1889 Accepted, 21st Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Use in Dressing or Concentrating
Tin and other Mineral Öres and for other Useful Purposes.
We, GEORGE MIDDLETON EDWARDS, of No. 54 Gresham Street in the City of
London, E.C. in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturer, and WALTER JAMES
GRIFFITHS of No. 22 Annandale Road, East Greenwich, S.E. in the County of Kent,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:―
Our Invention relates to improvements in dressing or concentrating Tin and other
mineral ores when in a pulverized or crushed condition, by means of mechanical
contrivances which combine in some respects the chief characteristics of Cleaning
Frames and squaro Buddles such as are commonly used in Mineral ore dressing.
The object of our Invention is to obtain a concentration of mineral at least as high
as that ordinarily obtainable by the separate and consecutive use of the appliances
above named, with less labor employed in the mero handling of mineral ore, together
with diminished cost of dressing and an increased saving of mineral from the tailings
or waste.
For the purpose of our Invention we make use of mechanical contrivances in which
the main principle on which ore is dressed by means of Frames and Buddles is main-
tained, viz., the conveyance of the pulverized ore by a moderate and equally distributed
flow of water down an inclined surface on which the metallic particles are retained
and from which the lighter or waste particles are more or less scoured or washed away.
The inclined surface of an ordinary ore cleaning frame or square buddle is generally
however rigidly fixed all in one plane, whereas for the purpose of our Invention we
construct the inclined surface of the appliance, which we propose to designate a
Concentrator, in sections.
These sections are each supported by pivots which are fixed in the outside framing
on each side of the inclined surface, and are advantageously constructed of wood, and
each section has at its lower edge or end a strip of sheet metal that projects upon, and
beyond the upper edge of the succeeding section, and thus prevents leakage though
the joints of the sections are flush.
The inclined surface (about 1 in 8) of the Concentrator besides being constructed
in sections is also made at about 2 feet from its head or higher end to descend at a
steep inclination for 8 or 12 inches, and then to take again the same or nearly the
same angle of inclination as before.
This steep inclination is arranged for in order that the particles which are chiefly
tailings" when they reach this part of the Concentrator may recover the momentum
lost by previous frictional resistance in their passage over the inclined surface, and
deposit the metallic particles remaining therein on the upper end of the section on
which they next fall.
These steep inclinations or falls may be repeated if necessary, to any desirable
extent, the object being that the tailings when they are finally washed off the Concen-
trator shall contain the least possible amount of mineral if any.
As the ore is liable to be scoured off the surface of an inclined plane if only a slight
increase over the proper flow of water takes place, our improvements have also for
their object to permit of an occasional increase over the ordinary flow of water,
thereby causing a larger quantity of water-borne material to pass over the Concen-
trator within a given time than permissible with existing appliances without loss of
mineral.
For this purpose, it is part of our Invention that at the upper end of each section
of the inclined plane hereinbefore described, obstructions to the even flow of water
should rest on the upper surface of the Concentrator and be able to be quickly and
simultaneously removed and as quickly and simultaneously replaced.

page_text: These obstructions which we designate "drag blocks" may be of various forms but
we prefer to make them of wood cut into an obtuse angled V shape with the open end
towards the head of the Concentrator.
They are fixed on a frame constructed to fit the superficial configuration of the
Concentrator which working on pivots is moved off and upon the surface of the
Concentrator by means of a lever or other simple mechanical appliances.
These drag blocks are arranged so that the water bearing the pulverized or crushed
mineral ore, or other substances to be concentrated may be able to pass readily between
them, and that it shall in so doing be disturbed in its flow, in like manner as the
water of a shallow rivulet or stream is rippled when the bottom is pebbly.
In fact the drag blocks are used by us for the purpose of effecting a concentration
of mineral at the head of each section of the surface of the Concentrator similar to the
deposits of mineral which are ordinarily found in the stony bed of streams flowing
through mining districts.
Upon sufficient ore being deposited to nearly reach the top of the drag blocks which
are about one inch high, the flow of water through the distributing head of the
Concentrator is stopped, and the action of the lever which raises the drag blocks away
from the inclined surface is also made to tip the various sections of the inclined
surface backwards so that they can discharge the mineral and other solid particles into
Launders placed underneath each section of the Concentrator, which discharge is
aided by a direct fall of water from overhead arranged for by ordinary and well known
means.
When the operation of cleaning off the deposits is completed the lever is let go and
the drag block frame is restored to its place in readiness for a repetition of the process.
In treating ores on a large scale we propose to arrange the Concentrators in such a
manner that Dressing Houses of say 20 to 30 feet high can be made use of, on the
various floors of which these Concentrators can be placed in sets so as to derive all the
advantages of gravitation obtainable from commencing work at a moderate height from
the ground.
Although metallic ores have been principally mentioned as being those for which
this machinery is most applicable for treating, we propose to use the same for mineral
or gein washing of all kinds in which the nature of the compound is such as to render
such a course advantageous.
Dated this 90th dor of Navambo 1000
GEORGE MIDDLETON EDWARDS.
WALTER JAMES GRIFFITHS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Use in Dressing or Concentrating
Tin and other Mineral Ores and for other Useful Purposes.
We, GEORGE MIDDLETON EDWARDS of No. 54 Gresham Street in the City of
London in the County of Middlesex Manufacturer, and WALTER JAMES GRIFFITHS
of No. 22 Annandale Road, East Greenwich S.E. in the County of Kent, Engineer,
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 improvements in machinery for use in dressing or concen-
trating Tin and other mineral ores when in a pulverized or crushed condition, the
object of our Invention being to obtain such a concentration of mineral as that
ordinarily obtainable by the separate and consecutive use of self-acting cleaning frames
and buddles, with less labour employed in the mere handling of mineral ore, and a
decrease of mineral in the tailings or waste.
For the purpose of our Invention we make use of mechanical contrivances in the use
of which the main principle on which ore is dressed by means of Frames and Buddles
is maintained, viz., the conveyance of the pulverized ore by a moderate and equally
distributed flow of water down an inclined surface on which the metallic particles are

page_text: retained, and from which the lighter or waste particles are, more or less, scoured or
washed away.
The inclined surface or floor of an ordinary ore cleaning frame or buddle is generally
however rigidly fixed all in one plane, whereas for the purpose of our Invention we
construct the inclined surface of the appliance, which we designate a Concentrator, in
sections. The sections are each supported on pivots which are fixed in the outside
framing on each side of the inclined surface, and are advantageously constructed of wood,
and each section has at its lower edge or end a strip of sheet metal which projects upon
and beyond the upper edge of the succeeding section, in which it is recessed, so as to
keep the surface level and thus prevent leakage though the joints of the sections are
flush.
The surface (inclined about 1 in 8) of the Concentrator, besides being constructed
in sections, is also made at about 2 feet from its head or higher end to descend at a
steep inclination for 8 to 12 inches and then to take again the same or nearly the same
angle of inclination as before.
"
This steep inclination is arranged for in order that the particles which are chiefly
tailings" when they reach this part of the Concentrator may recover the momentum
lost by previous frictional resistance in their passage over the inclined surface, and
deposit the metallic particles remaining therein on the upper end of the section on
which they next fall.
These steep inclinations or falls may be repeated, if
to
necossary, any desirable
extent the object being that the tailings, when they are finally washed off the Concen-
trator, shall contain the least possible amount of mineral, if any.
As the ore is liable to be scoured off the surface of an inclined plane if only a slight
increase over the proper flow of water take place, our improvements have also for
their object to permit of an occasional or intermittent increase over the ordinary flow
of water, thereby causing a larger quantity of water-borne material to pass over the
Concentrator within a given time than is permissible with existing appliances without
loss of mineral.
For this purpose, it is part of our Invention that at the upper end of each section
of the inclined plane hereinbefore described, obstructions to the even flow of water
should rest on the surface or floor of the Concentrator and be able to be quickly and
simultaneously removed and as quickly and simultaneously replaced..
These obstructions which we designate "drag blocks," may be of various forms and
made of wood, metal or other suitable material, but we prefer to make them of wood
cut into an obtuse angle V shape with the open end towards the head of the
Concentrator.
They are fixed in a frame constructed to fit the superficial configuration of the
Concentrator, which, working on pivots, is moved off and upon the surface of the Con-
centrator by means of a lover or other simple mechanical appliances.
These drag blocks are arranged so that the water, bearing the pulverized or crushed
mineral ore or other substances to be concentrated, may be able to pass between them
and that it shall in so doing be disturbed in its flow in like manner as the water of a
shallow rivulet or stream is rippled when the bottom is pebbly.
In fact the drag blocks are used by us for the purpose of effecting a concentration
of mineral at the head of each section of the surface of the Concentrator, similar to
the deposits of mineral which are ordinarily found in the stony bed of streams flowing
through mining districts.
Upon sufficient ore being deposited to nearly reach the top of the drag blocks which
are about one inch high, the flow of water through the distributing head of the
Concentrator is stopped, and the action of the lever which raises the drag blocks away
from the inclined surface is also made to tip the various sections of the inclined
surface backwards, so that they can discharge the mineral and other particles into
Launders placed underneath each section of the Concentrator, which discharge is
aided by a direct fall of water from overhead arranged for by ordinary and well known
means.

page_text: When the operation of cleaning off the deposits is completed the lever is let go
and the drag block frame is restored to its place in readiness for a repetition of
the process.
In treating ores on a large scale we propose to arrange the concen-
trators in such a manner that Dressing Houses of say 20 to 30 feet high can be
made use of, on the various floors of which the Concentrators can be placed in
sets, so as to derive all the advantages of gravitation obtainable from commencing
work at a moderate height from the ground.
Although metallic ores have been principally mentioned as being those for which
this machinery is most applicable for treating, we propose to use the same for mineral
or gem washing of all kinds in which the nature of the compound is such as to render
such a course advantageous.
In order that our Invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried
into practice, we will now proceed to further describe the same with reference to the
accompanying sheets of Drawings in which similar letters refer to corresponding parts.
Fig. is a longitudinal section of a concentrator constructed according to our
improvements, the crushed ore is fed by a spreader (such as is commonly used
with a square buddle) on the head board G, and finds its way down the inclined
surface A. B. C. on which are resting the V shaped blocks marked V. V. The
concentrate remains on this inclined surface, the richest part being nearest the head.
To clear off the accumulation of the concentrate the inclined surface is constructed
to open as shown in Fig. 2.
The frame H. H. to which the V blocks are attached is raised by the lever R. and
causes the three parts A. B. and C of the inclined surface to be simultaneously tilted,
and the boxes P. P. P. which have previously been filled with water, being tipped
over, the deposit is washed off the sections A. B. and C into their respective
launders D. E and F.
Fig. 3 is a cross section of the Concentrator and shows the hollow trunnion of the
box P, through which it is filled with water from the trough S.
A plan of the frame showing how the V blocks are arranged is shown in fig. 5, the
frame may conveniently be made of strips of wood L. L, and wooden blocks fastened
to these, or metal strips and blocks or plates may be used.
When the crushed ore is fed into a concentrator, the richest deposit is just by
the head board, and for dressing ore containing only a small quantity of metallic
particles we propose to use a concentrator arranged as in fig. 4, in this the increase
of velocity gained by the descent at G 2 and G 3 causes additional concentrates to
be obtained from the ore as well as that got at the head so that the tailings are
sufficiently exhausted and may be thrown away at once.
For supplying water to clear off the deposit, boxes as described with regard to
Figs. 1. 2. and 3 may conveniently be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we wish it to be understood
that we do not claim any of the parts separately which are well known but we claim
as our Invention the arrangements and combinations for the purposes and in the
modes substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the Drawings.
In witness whereof we, the said George Middleton Edwards and Walter James
Griffiths have hereunto set our hands and seals this Nineteenth day of August
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty nine.

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