An Improved Process, and Apparatus used therein, for the Separation of Metals, Precious Stones, or other Minerals from Gangue or other Matter mixed therewith.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 11th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1392
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process, and Apparatus used therein, for the Separation
of Metals, Precious Stones, or other Minerals from Gangue or other
Matter mixed therewith.
We WILLIAM STRONACH LOCKHART of 67 Granville Park, Blackheath Civil
Engineer and EDWIN WILLIAM STREETER of 18 Bond Street London, Merchant
of Precious Stones, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our process relates to the separation of metals, precious stones or other minerals
from their gangue or other impurities with which they may be mixed, and consists
in the treatment of such mixed minerals by an ascending stream, or succession of
streams of water or other suitable liquid whereby the lighter particles are carried
inwards & upwards while those of greater specific gravity fall by their own weight
through the stream into pockets or other receptacles suitably arranged to receive &
if necessary discharge them the speed of the flow of the liquid being regulated in
such a manner as to effect the separation required and it may be so regulated by
varying the controlling head either at inlet or discharge, by varying the amount of
the discharge by cocks or other such apparatus or by varying the sectional area of
the column of the ascending stream either regularly or in steps, as to increase or
diminish its carrying power as may be desired. The materials to be repaired are
by preference first separated into approximately uniform sizes by suitable, screening,
jigging or pulsating apparatus, as may be considered expedient to the various sizes
then passed into the ascending current to be further separated according to their
various densities by the ascending current may also be used for separating materials
of varying density & size into particles of approximately uniform weight in which
case the preliminary operation of sizing would be unnecessary.
In order to carry our said process into effect we employ a stream of liquid supplied
at a suitable head from any convenient source into which the metals precious stones
or other minerals with their crushed minerals gangue or matrices such as quartz
etc. have been fed.
The downward flowing stream carrying the said mixed minerals or other
materials is introduced into a vertical or approximately vertical column or
stand pipe of any suitable section either from above or below, but so that it is
subjected to the upward flow of an ascending current, the liquid with the lighter
mineral substances, passing over the summit of the said vertically flowing stream or
stand pipe and the heavier minerals, such as metals or precious stones, failing to
travel the full height of the said vertical stream fall down into a suitable pocket or
pockets for their collection.
The ascending column or standpipe may be conveniently made of glass or so
arranged with sight holes or windows for observation of the behaviour of the materials
within it.
In order to eliminate the irregularities of action produced by various sizes of the
crushed or pulverised minerals being treated together we may first treat the
pulverised matrix and stones by jigging or revolving trays or drums, provided with
screens of various meshes so as to divide the material as far as possible into
uniform sizes.
With minerals of similar volume the limit of upward travel in the aforesaid
vertical current or streain will be decided by their respective specific gravities alone
& it is obvious that stones may be conveniently treated in this manner.
It is obvious that where several successive and distinct separations of minerals
are desired, a succession of alternate descending and ascending currents at various
heights may be employed, and the separation of the denser minerals will take place
in the successive pockets at the foot of each successive ascending current.

page_text: As a modification of our apparatus, instead of using parallel pipes or channels
for the conduct of the stream of water and minerals therein we may use in the
ascending streams taper tubes or channels so that the vertically ascending stream
gradually decreases in velocity & carrying power from the base to the summit.
The gradual reduction of velocity will thus tend to carry the lighter bodies
further and the denser bodies not so far in the stream and by the introduction of
catch pockets and protectors in the said vertical stream at different points, the
collection of the various minerals, according to their densities may be effected if
fairly uniform as to volume.
The variation of sectional area may be effected regularly as in a uniformly
tapered pipe or in steps of different arca.
The collecting boxes or pockets are arranged so that suitable orifices are provided,
from which the collected minerals may be withdrawn from time to time without
interfering with the continuous action of the apparatus.
In the last described stand pipe with ascending current if the various intermediate
pockets are provided with cocks or valves by which the water may be allowed to
escape together with the collected minerals the minerals in suspension above such
pocket and in that chamber will pass out through the newly opened orifice, their
weight being no longer supported by the current of water in the upper part of the
stand-pipe which is diverted through the newly open orifice.
These pockets may be filled and discharged in succession..
An agitating apparatas may be inserted anywhere in the course of the stream or
in the standpipe, to effect, if desired, agitation and separation of the particles.
The various sizes of pulverised mineral matter and precious stones as sorted from
the sieves or riddles may be treated in a succession of graduated columns, or in
different separating apparatuses & the apparatus may be employed for the separation
of particles of like size according to their different densities or of particles of
varying size & density according to their actual weight in which latter case
preliminary screening would not be necessary.
Dated this 11th day of April 1891.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process, and Apparatus used therein, for the Separation
of Metals, Precious Stones, or other Minerals from Gangue or other
Matter mixed therewith.
We, WILLIAM STRONACH LOCKHART of 67 Granville Park, Blackheath, Civil
Engineer and EDWIN WILLIAM STREETER of 18 Bond Street, London, Merchant
of Precious Stones, do hereby declare the nature of our invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
Our process relates to the separation of metals, precious stones, or other minerals
from their gangue or other impurities, with which they may be mixed, and consists
in the treatment of such mixed minerals by an ascending stream, or succession of
streams of water, or other suitable liquid, whereby the lighter particles are carried
onwards and upwards, while those of greater specific gravity fall by their own
weight through the stream into pockets or other receptacles suitably arranged to
receive, and if necessary discharge them the speed of the flow of the liquid being
regulated in such a manner as to effect the separation required; and it may be so
regulated by varying the controlling head either at inlet or discharge, by varying
the amount of the discharge by cocks or other such apparatus, or by varying the
sectional area of the column of the ascending stream, either regularly, or in steps, 50
as to increase or diminish its carrying power as may be desired.
The materials to be separated are by preference first separated into approximately

page_text: uniform sizes by suitable screening, jigging or pulsating apparatus, as may be
considered expedient to the various sizes; then passed into the ascending current
to be further separated according to their various densities; but the ascending
current may also be used for separating materials of varying density and size into
particles of approximately uniform weight, in which case the preliminary operation
of sizing would be unnecessary, but should follow for the purpose of separating the
particles of similar size from those of greater or less bulk.
In order that our invention may be the better understood we now proceed to
describe the same in relation to the drawing hereunto annexed, reference being had
to the letters marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of our apparatus.
Fig. 2. is an elevation of the means for adjusting height of discharge exit.
To carry our said process into effect we employ a stream of liquid. supplied at a
suitable head, from any convenient source into which the metals, precious stones, or
other minerals, with their crushed mineral gangue or matrices, such as quartz etc.,
have been fed.
The downward flowing stream carrying the said mixed minerals or other materials
is introduced by the pipe A into a vertical or approximately vertical column or
stand-pipe B, of any suitable section, either from above or below, but so that the
suspended material is subjected to the upward flow of an ascending current, the
liquid with the lighter mineral substances passing over the summit C of the said
vertically flowing stream or stand-pipe, and the heavier minerals, such as metals or
precious stones, failing to travel the full height of the said vertical stream, fall
down into a suitable receptacle or receptacles D for their collection. The ascending
column or standpipe may be conveniently made of glass or other material so
arranged with sight holes or windows for observation of the behaviour of the
materials within it.
The velocity of the upward current may be simply regulated, by turning over the
stand-pipe B as a syphon, and by adjusting the end E of the said outer syphon pipe
at any required height.
In order to eliminate the irregularities of action produced by various sizes of the
crushed or pulverised minerals being treated together, we may first treat the
pulverised matrix and stones by jigging or revolving trays or drums, provided with
Screens of various meshes so as to divide the material as far as possible into uniform
sizes, for further treatment in any individual stand pipe.
With materials of similar volume the limit of upward travel in the aforesaid
vertical current or stream will be decided by their respective specific gravities
'alone, and it is obvious that mixed stones or minerals may be conveniently treated
in this manner.
It is obvious that where several successive and distinct separations of minerals
are desired, a succession of alternate descending and ascending currents, at various
heights, may be employed, and the separation of the denser minerals will take place
in the successive receptacles at the foot of each successive ascending-current.
As a modification of our apparatus instead of using pipes or channels of uniformn
diameter for the conduct of the stream of water and minerals therein, we may use
in the ascending streams taper tubes or channels, so that the vertically ascending
stream gradually decreases in velocity and carrying power from the base to the
summit. The gradual reduction of velocity will thus tend to carry the lighter
bodies further and the denser bodies not so far in the stream, and by the introduc-
tion of catch pockets and deflectors, in the said vertical stream at different points,
the collection of the various minerals according to their densities may be effected if
fairly uniform as to volume.
The variation of sectional area may be effected regularly as in a uniformly
tapered pipe or in steps of differing area.
The collecting receptacle or pockets are arranged so that by means of a suitable
valve or cock F above the receptacle and a valve G on controllable orifice or door,

page_text: the collected minerals may be withdrawn from time to time without interfering with
the continuous action of the apparatus.
In the last described standpipe with ascending current, if the various inter-
mediate pockets were provided with cocks or valves by which the water may be
allowed to escape together with the collected minerals, the minerals in suspension
above such pocket and in that chamber will pass out through the newly opened
orifice, their weight being no longer supported by the current of water in the upper
part of the stand pipe, which is diverted through the newly opened orifice.
These pockets may be filled and discharged in succession.
An agitating apparatus of usual or known construction may be inserted any-
where in the course of the stream or in the standpipe to effect if desired agitation
and separation of the particles.
The various sizes of pulverized mineral matter and precious stones as sorted from
the sieves or riddles may be treated in a succession of graduated columns, or
in different separating apparatus and the apparatus may be employed for the
separation of particles of like size according to their different densities or of particles
of varying size and density according to their actual weight, in which latter case
preliminary screening would not be necessary, but should follow.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish it to be
understood that we do not limit ourselves to the exact details herein described and
illustrated in the drawings since they may be varied without departing from the
essence of our invention but what we do claim is :-
1st. A process for the separation of minerals from one another such as precious
stones from their gangue consisting of a treatment of the mixed minerals by an
ascending current of liquid controlled as to its velocity either at its inlet or
discharge, the minerals being also separated mechanically for size by any suitable
known jigging or sieving apparatus either previously or subsequently to the treat-
ment by a liquid current.
2nd. The construction and arrangement of apparatus illustrated herewith for the
purpose of carrying out the above process substantially as described.
3rd. In such an apparatus an adjustable syphon discharge pipe capable of
regulation to any desired height to control the velocity of the ascending current,
substantially as described.
4th. In such an apparatus the combination with the receptacle of a shut off
valve above the receptacle and a valve or controllable orifice in the receptacle by
which the minerals may thus be removed without stopping the continuous action
of the apparatus.
Dated this 11th day of To 1000
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicants.