AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND MACHINERY FOR CON- CENTRATING ORES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND MACHINERY FOR CON-
CENTRATING ORES."
A communication from abroad by William
Hooper, of Ticonderoga, New York, United States of America,
Mining Engineer.
-
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 25th April 1871, pursuant to the 9th Section of
the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
PROCESS AND MACHINERY FOR CONCENTRATING ORES," and have petitioned Her
<

page_text: Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns
Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn
declaration that it has been communicated to me from abroad by
William Hooper, of Ticonderoga, New York, United States of America,
Mining Engineer.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, 'do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification under my hand and
scal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing forming
a part of this Specification :-
The first part of this Invention relates to an improved process for
concentrating ore by subjecting the same to the action of a rock breaker
and of a crusher (either or both) and then separating the reduced ore
according to the different grades of fineness, and treating the various
grades either by a dry separator, or by a wet separator, or by a "buddle,"
or by any two or all, in such a manner that the orc is concentrated to
the desired degree of richness with the least possible waste.
The second part of this Invention relates to the construction of a
dry ore separator, the action of which depends chiefly upon a bellows.
constructed with a flexible diaphragm capable of receiving a rapid
vibratory movement in combination with a sieve 'or porous bottom used
as an ore bed. With this bellows is combined an air-tight bellows
chamber, so that no air is allowed to escape except through the ore bed.
'T'he motion of the bellows is produced by cams, eccentrics, or trip wheels:
mounted on the driving shaft and acting on shoes or cages in com-
bination, with or without springs, so that a rapid vibratory motion can
be imparted to the flexible diaphragm without exposing the driving
mechanism to injurious shocks or blows. The ore is fed to the ore bed
through hoppers, which can be raised or lowered, and which are con-
nected with guages extending across the ore bed and controlling the
depth of the stratum of ore thereon. Suitable partitions on the top of
the ore bed prevent the mass of ore spread on said orce bed from becoming
uneven or broken. The ore discharges from the orc bed through an
aperture in the bottom of the ore bed, so that the concentrated or pure
ore passes down through the bellows. With this bottom delivery is
combined an aperture or passage composed of two or more channels, one
above the other, each provided with a shoe or gate except the top one,

page_text: so that through the upper channel will be delivered the gangue or
tailings, through the lowest one pure or clean separated orc, and through
the intermediate channel or channels (if such are provided) a mixture of
orc and tailings called middlings. In some cases the bottom delivery is
omitted and the compound discharge channel is used alone to carry off
the concentrated ore and the tailings. In the compound discharge
passage is placed a roof-shaped partition to prevent the lower and heavier
stratum of ore from being broken and mixed with the upper stratum of
middlings or tailings during its discharge, and to insure an even and
uniform discharge.
The third part of this Invention relates to a wet ore separator or
"slime machine" in which fine particles of the crushed or reduced ore
are treated, the separation of the light and heavy parts being effected by
means of a sluiced endless apron, to which the ore is transferred through
a mixing tub, and which has an intermittent motion imparted to it by a
ratchet wheel and pawl or other suitable mechanism; said sluiced apron
is strengthened by cross ribs attached to its under surface, and passes
over rollers having their bearings in a frame or shoe hinged at one end
and provided at the opposito end with adjusting screws, so that it can be
set at any desired inclination. The shoe is composed of two parts, which
are connected by hinge joints, and each of which is provided with
adjusting screws, so that it can be set at any desired inclination, and
thereby the apparatus can be adjusted to suit the nature of the material
to be separated. Over the sluiced apron, and near its top end, is placed
a water tank, which is so arranged that the water contained therein can
be continuously discharged or splashed out at suitable intervals for the
purpose of facilitating the separation of the ore. Under the apron are
placed two or more hammers operated by cam wheels and caused to
strike against said apron for the purpose of shaking up the material
lodged thereon. A pipe extending across the bottom of the apparatus
and provided with holes serves to throw jets of water against the apron
for the purpose of washing off such particles of ore as may adhere to
the same.
The bottom of the apparatus is roof-shaped to prevent the
light and heavy parts of the ore from mixing after they have been
separated.
The fourth part of this Invention relates to a "dumping buddle" or
trough, which is hung on gudgeons projecting from its ends and placed
in an inclined position in such a manner that if ore and water are madẹ

page_text: to pass down over it the different constituents of the orc will arrange
themselves thereon according to their different specific gravities, the rich
ore remaining at or near the head of the buddle, and the middlings
towards the bottom ends thereof, while the tailings pass over the lowest
end of the same, and when the buddle is filled it can be readily dumped
by swinging it round on its gudgeons, and suitable partitions which are
adjustable on the floor below the buddle serve to keep the rich ore
separate from the middlings and the middlings from the tailings after
the contents of the buddle have been dumped. With this buddle are
combined a stirring tub and an oscillating feeder, which latter receives
in one compartment ore and water from the stirring tub, and clean water
from a suitable source in such a manner that by using clean water at
intervals pure ore can be produced at the head of the buddle.
The first part of this Invention will be fully understood from the
following remarks:-Ores when not homogeneous are so diverse in their
constituents and properties, and vary so much not only in their density
and friability but in the proportions of the metalliferous particles
contained in the rock or earth, that it is impossible to devise any one
machine of universal application in the process of concentration or
separation. There must be a combination of contrivances, and it is
believed that those which form the subject of this Specification will in
large measure if not entirely meet the general want in this department
of industry.
It should be borne in mind that with any process however perfect
there will always be some waste, and that the amount of waste will
depend on the value of the ore when compared with the cost of
handling.
My process will be better understood if we take a particular ore and
follow the manipulation of it, with an occasional reference to other ores,
from the time it is raised from the mine to the shipment of the con-
centrated material to the smelting or other works where the metal is
extracted. For example, we will take rock containing copper pyrites
in a gangue of talcose slate, the pure pyrites yielding, say, twenty-five
per cent. of copper, and the rock itself containing on an average five per
cent. of copper; and we will suppose the operator wishes to get a con-
centrated product which will yield an average of, say, fifteen per cent. of
the metal. Let the ore as it is raised from the mine be dumped on
inclined screens, one arranged above the other, the top one being the

page_text: $
coarsest, to take out the large lumps suitable for and requiring the rough
work of a rock breaker, and the next being less coarse to take out the
size suitable for and requiring a crusher. In most cases two screens will
be sufficient, one to take out the large lumps for the breaker, and the
other to take out the smaller lumps for the crushor. Whatever passes
through the latter will ordinarily be similar to what the crusher will
produce. A screen like the latter should also be used in connection with
the breaker to produce two kinds, viz., smaller lumps for the crusher
and finer stuff nearly similar to that which the crusher would produce.
When more sizing is required additional screens should be used. The
ore should be crushed no finer than will be sufficient to disengage the
metalliferous particles from the gangue; and the operator must decide
for himself how far it will pay for him to push the crushing. He must
balance the value of the waste on the one hand with the cost of labor on
the other. The ore being thus reduced to the requisite fineness it should
be passed through a drying cylinder, which empties into a receptacle
attached to a blowing or suction device to gently drive or draw out such
portion of the orc as has been reduced to an impalpable powder or dust
during the previous manipulations, which dust is caught in a room
provided for this purpose. This dust when wet is called a slimc," and
must be treated wet as hereafter described. From this receptacle it
should be passed over a screen or screens to produce two kinds, viz.,
coarse granular particles to be concentrated, dry and fine granular
particles which cannot be profitably treated dry, but which will require
the use of water. Ordinarily what will pass through a screen or sieve
with holes or meshes about one-fifth of an inch in diameter, and what
will lic on top of a screen or sieve with holes or meshes about one-
thirtieth of an inch in diameter would be suitable to be concentrated
dry, and what would pass through the finer mesh would be best treated
wet. Actual experience in the treatment of any particular ore must
point out where the precise line is to be drawn between the several sizes
to be produced for the dry and wet concentration respectively, also
whether more sizing is necessary. The operator should save ore of the
requisite richness whenever he can do so cheaply without waiting to
treat it by the use of any improved machinery however perfect. No
more rock should be crushed than is absolutely necessary. Cheap
labourers, such as boys and women, should stand at the set of screens
near the dump also between the breaker and the crusher to pick out and
save such pieces of ore as may be already rich enough. And if at any

page_text: time during the entire process it is found that some of the ore of
requisite richness can be saved to better advantage by treating it
partially by the old methods, such as sluicing, jigging, buddling, tossing,
those methods should be united to my process with the view of obeying
that law of miners which substantially requires the operator to save ore
whenever he can do so with little or no manual labour. My process is
more especially designed to cheaply save that portion of the ore which it
is very difficult if not impossible to cheaply secure by the means
heretofore in use; and it is not intended to be an entire substitute for all
other labor saving machinery which experience has already proved to
be good enough.
My dry machine hereafter described will take out the gangue of the
material sized for it, as above mentioned, by a continuous discharge of
material called "tailings," and the metalliferous particles with some
gangue will also be discharged continuously and separately. To avoid
too close watching it will be better to allow some tailings to pass off
with the concentrated material and not attempt a perfect separation,
although with many ores this may be effected by one operation. The
tailings however will ordinarily be made valueless by the first operation,
that is to say, they will be made so poor that it will not pay to handle i
them any further. Nevertheless, there may be some ores the tailings of
which it might be advisable to pass through one or more similar
machines. In such cases let one or more similar machines be used for
this purpose so long as it may appear to be profitable to continue tho
process in this direction. There will necessarily be some, metalliferous 2
particles adhering to much larger particles of gangue, for the crushing
will not perfectly disengage the one from the other. With all such
adhering particles there will be more or less difficulty, and a little waste
will result from this imperfection in the crushing, but ordinarily the
largest part of such particles, and in some instances the whole of them 8
will come away with the concentrated material. The latter, as a general
rule, will be raised to a sufficiently high per-centage for market by
one operation, and will sometimes contain scarcely any gangue. But
with some ores it may so happen that it would be well to treat the
concentrated material more carefully on a second similar machine.
My machine with an endless sluiced apron called the "slime machine"
sometimes used in connection with and sometimes independently of the
"dumping buddle," as hereafter described, will concentrate to the like.
3

page_text: richness that portion of the material which passes through a sieve with
meshes of about one-thirtieth of an inch in diameter. And the same
remarks as to the desirability of re-concentration will apply in some
measure to wet, as I have already stated in reference to dry concentration.
That portion of the material which properly comes under the name of
"slimes" should be first treated on the machine with the sluiced apron
alone, and if the concentrated matter contains too much gangue it may
be finished in the dumping buddle. The latter may also be used to
first treat the fine granular material (not a slime) sometimes called
"buddle stuff," and after in this way saving a considerable quantity of
the ore, the balance may then be treated on the slime machine.
Where an ore of any kind not homogeneous contains metalliferous
particles so mixed with or so finely disseminated through the rock that
the whole mass must be pulverized in order to disengage the valuable
portions from the gangue, then it may be that my dry machine cannot
be profitably employed, and my devices for treating, the material wet,
either as a slime or as buddle stuff, may be alone needed. And in some
such cases it may be necessary to employ stamps so arranged that their
heads will rise and fall in a constant supply of water with fine screens,
through which to discharge the pulverized or granulated material as the
water flows, off, or what would generally be better with a
'flush"
capable of being readily built up on one side of a water-tight trough
enclosing the stampers and supplied with an adjustable flow of water.
$6
Wherever the elevations on the ground or in the building or buildings
will not admit of an arrangement for carrying the material from one
part of the process, to, another by its own gravity elevators must be
used, and by these and other simple contrivances, which will be readily
suggested to the minds of most intelligent operators, there need be no
manual labour from the time the ore is dumped to the completion
of the process, except to pick out and save lumps of ore when already
rich enough, and to feed the breaker and the crusher or the stamps, and
to watch the operations and to take care of the machinery with its
adjustments and connections.
The second part of this Invention is illustrated in Figure 1 to 10
inclusive, in which Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section
of a dry ore separator when constructed with bottom and side discharges
to produce thrée qualities in the process of concentration, viz., pure ore,
tailings, and middlings; Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same;

page_text: Figure 3 is a plan or top view of a dry ore separator when constructed
as a double machine with end discharges only to produce two qualities
in the process of concentration, viz., pure ore and tailings; Figure 4 is
a longitudinal vertical section of the same; Figure 5 is a transverse
vertical section of the same; Figure 6 is an end view of the same;
Figure 7 is a plan or top view of the flexible diaphragm as used in
both single and double machines, as represented in Figures 1 to 6;
Figures 8, 8¹, are the same when the valves are placed elsewhere
and when the concentrated ore is discharged into the bellows, either
through the perforations or meshes, or through an aperture or apertures
in the orc bed; Figure 9 is a transverse section of the same when the
concentrated ore is discharged through a pipe passing from an opening
in the ore bed down through the bellows and diaphragm; Figure 10 is
a plan or top view of an ore bed like the one last mentioned.
In these Figures the letter A designates a frame made of metal or
any other suitable material, and so constructed that it is capable of
supporting the driving mechanism, the bellows, the ore bed, and other
working parts. The ore or other substance to be treated by this
machine if not already in a pulverized or granular condition is first
reduced to the required fineness by suitable crushers or stampers, and
it is then fed into the hoppers B, from which it is allowed to run out
and spread over the ore bed C. Said hoppers are provided with tubular
screw shanks b¹ which extend loosely through the bridge piece c¹, and to
the lower ends of which are connected the gauges d'. Suitable hand
wheels e¹, the hubs of which are provided with internal screw threads are:
fitted on the screw shanks above the bridge picces c', so that by turning
said hand wheel the hoppers together with the gauges are raised or
lowered. By this arrangement the stratum of ore on the ore bed can
be easily retained at a uniform depth, and the depth of said stratum
can be regulated to suit the nature of the material to be separated. The
ore bed is constructed of a perforated plate of sheet metal or of wire
gauze, or of cloth, buckskin, or other porous material, and it is supported
by a grate D, to the top of which is secured a box É which supports
the bridge picces c¹ carrying the hoppers B. Said ore bed is clamped
between the upper surface of the grate D and the bottom surface of the
box E, and a packing piece of india-rubber or other suitable material
is interposed so as to produce an air-tight joint and provent, the escape
of air.

page_text: In Figures 1 and 2 I have represented the hoppers B at the opposite
ends of the box E, and in this case the ore bed slopes down towards the
middle, where it is provided with an opening 6 which I term the bottom dis-
charge or delivery, while the box E is provided in its sides with openings c
which form the side discharges or deliveries. The ore being let out
from the hoppers B spreads on the ore bed, and it is then agitated by
currents or jets of air produced by the bellows situated below the
grate D. The bellows which are used for most kinds of ore in preference
to any others are constructed of a diaphragm F made of india-rubber or
other suitable flexible material and provided with air valves d, as shewn
in Figure 1 of the Drawings. This diaphragm is clamped between the
supporting frame of the grate D and the main supporting frame A, and
it receives a reciprocating motion by the driving mechanism that will
be presently described. The joint between the supporting frame of the
grate D and the diaphragm is rendered air-tight by a packing piece e
of india-rubber or other suitable material, and this packing piece also
serves to protect the diaphragm from abrasion, wear, or injury by being
brought in contact with the frames between which it is clamped. When
the ore bed is constructed with a bottom delivery the diaphragm F is
perforated in its middle with an aperture corresponding to such bottom
delivery, and a tight joint is produced round this aperture by a cross
bar scoured to the supporting frame of the grate D and pressing thic
diaphragm down upon another cross bar g secured to or forming a
portion of the main frame A, both cross bars being perforated with
apertures corresponding to the bottom delivery 6 of the ore bed; such
perforations are somewhat larger than the opening in the ore bed to
allow the free passage of anything that once enters the opening, and
thus clogging is prevented. By these means the diaphragm F is divided
in two parts, each of which is provided with a separate air valve or set
of valves. Another object of this partition is to prevent one end of the
machine from abstracting air from the other. If the diaphragm was not
partitioned, as shewn in Figures 1 and 4, that section or part of the
ore bed which might have on it the thinnest or lightest mass of orc
would afford the readiest escape for the air, and it would agitate that
section too much, while the other section would be agitated too little.
The partition obviates this difficulty and gives an uniform distribution
of the air in both sections, and in all parts of the ore bed. This
diaphragm thus constructed prevents any fine particles of ore which
might pass through the ore bed from dropping down upon and from

page_text: injuring the working mechanism, and also affords a means of readily
saving and securing such fine ore, owing to the facility of removing the
entire top and exposing the diaphragm, which may be quickly swept,
and the top may then be readily replaced. This is an important feature,
particularly when the machine, is employed in separating ores containing
precious metals.
For some kinds of ore the bellows can be constructed of a series of
detached flexible and elastic air-tight pipes, all of which are. attached
at their bottom ends to a rising and falling board, and at their top ends
to openings immediately under the perforations of the ore bed, so that
the bellows is divided as indicated in Figure 9*. Each of the pipes is
provided with a foot valve for the entrance of air on the downward
motion and with a top valve for the exit of air on the upward motion,
thic bottom valve opening and the top valve shutting on the downward
motion, and the bottom valve closing and the top valve opening on the
upward motion. By this arrangement an independent bellows is
obtained for each fractional part of the ore bed, and if a thin place.should
occur in the stratum of ore on the ore bed no air would be taken from
the remaining portion of the bellows. The currents of air produced by
the action of the diaphragm F pass up through the perforated ore bed
and through the ore spread theṛcon; and by these means the light parts
of the ore are made to arrange themselves on the top,, while the heavy
parts sink down to the bottom of the mass of ore spread on the ore bed,
so that by the time the ore reaches the middle of the ore bed the heavy
parts will discharge through the centre delivery & while the light parts
discharge through the side delivery c. The work of separation of the
heavy from the lighter particles is effected very quickly, almost imme-
diately. A few vibrations of the diaphragm is all that is required, so
that the ore bed may be quite limited in length and yet do the work
efficiently.
+
The ore bed is by preference made the proportioned length shown in
the Drawings so that a compact machine is obtained with the driving
This was
mechanism conveniently located underneath.
one object
in view in adopting the plan of a double machine with the cnd
deliveries.
The side deliveries are best scen in Figure 2. They are situated at
a certain elevation above the ore bed, and from each of them extend
two channels h, i, one above the other, forming a compound passage F*,

page_text: the lower channel being intended to carry off the middlings and the
upper to carry off the tailings as already described. The tailings will
be worthless. The middlings are to be treated over again. In separating
coarse orcs two deliveries, as shewn in Figure 4, will in most cases bo
sufficient, but for finer ores and with ores more difficult to treat threc
deliveries as shewn in Figure 2 will be often found desirable. The
middlings can be taken by elevators back into the hoppers; the pure
ore delivered at the bottom can be saved as finished and the tailings
will be thrown away. The discharge of ore through the several
deliveries or channels is regulated by a checking gatej under the mouth
of the bottom delivery, and by similar checking gates j* under the
discharge openings of the lower channels of the side deliveries. These
checking gates are adjustable, and their position may be regulated by
means of a thumbscrew or by any suitable mechanism. By closing the
bottom delivery partially or wholly, either by devices last mentioned
or otherwise, the discharge of the heavy ore is checked and it is dammed
up, and the discharge of the middlings and tailings is proportionally
increased.
To prevent the mass of ore which is disposed in strata on the orc bed
according to the density or specific gravity of the particles from getting
broken and mixed after being so disposed in strata, I have applied
one or partitions 2 whereby the width of the volume is reduced and
its liability to become uneven and broken is diminished. If the mass
of evenly distributed orc becomes shifted and out of level the air escapes
through the thinnest part of the mass and the desired effect of the orc
separator is lost, or at least materially reduced. The number and
distance apart of these partitions will depend on the peculiaritics of
the ore or other material under treatment.
The mechanism for imparting the required motion to the diaphragm F
consists of two cams or trip wheels q, mounted on the driving shaft r
and working against the bottom parts of cages & which are connected
at one end to perforated metal plates fl sccured to the diaphragm F,
and at the opposite end to a rod g¹ which is provided with a loose
flange resting upon a spring and with two nuts j, k, one of which
bears on the flange and the other against the bridge ", as shewn in
Figure 1 of the Drawing. In the bottom parts of the cages 8 are fitted
shoes with offsets, against which the trip wheels 9 work. By revolving
the driving shaft the cages s are depressed against the action of their

page_text: springs and the flexible. diaphragm is drawn down, so as to admit air-
through its valves, and whenever one of the cams of the trip wheel
passes the offset of the shoe in the appropriate cage. the diaphragm
flies up and puffs of air- are projected through the mass of orc on the
ore bed. By means of the nuts j, k, the cages can be raised or lowered
and the throw of the diaphragm can be adjusted according to the nature
of the material under treatment. The springs & may, however, be
omitted and simple eccentrics, substituted for the trip wheels, so, as, to
avoid all shocks or blows..
in
The construction of the driving gear. may also be otherwise. changed
many different ways, and I have used with advantage an eccentric
acting on levers which connect with the rods gland which are provided
with shoes bearing from opposite sides on the eccentrics. A fly wheel
mounted on the driving shaft aids greatly to produce the desired
steadiness of motion.
ขุ
Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, which represent the double machine, shew the.
hoppers in the middle of the ore bed C and the deliveries c* at the ends.
These end deliveries c* are best seen in Figures. 4 and 6, each end
delivery being provided with two channels *, *, one above the other.
The middlings and tailings, as already stated, discharge through the
upper channels and the heavy orc through the lower channels 7*.
In the last-named passages, or channels. I have arranged roof-shaped
partitions x, best seen in Figure 5. These partitions prevent the stratum
of separated ore while the same discharges from getting broken and
mixed with tailings and render the discharge uniform, so. that the
stratum of separated ore on the ore bed in close proximity to the
discharge will not lose its uniform depth and evenness. A detached
plan or top view of the flexible diaphragm is given in Figure 7 of the
Drawings. If the ore is discharged or allowed to sink- through the
perforations or meshes of the ore bed down into the bellows and to.lodge
on top of the diaphragm, I introduce a tube 4* which is fastened in
the middle of such diaphragm by a flange, which may be circular as
shewn in Figure 8¹, or there may be a bottom delivery with a pipe or
tube passing from an opening in the ore bed down through the bellows
and diaphragm, as shewn in Figures 9 and 10, in which case no orc
would enter the bellows nor touch the bellows unless perhaps finc
particles as herein-before intimated. When the ore is permitted to
discharge through the moshes of the ore bed down into the bellows the

page_text: pipo ʊ* carrying off the ore must be provided with a check to prevent
the air from blowing through. This object is effected by connecting to
the pipe * a flexible pipe ** (see Fig. 82), which is placed at a suitable
inclination and the mouth of which is turned towards a level or is turned
upward a sufficient distance to enable the ore which fills the same
to produce the requisite resistance to the passage of the air from the
|pipo ʊ* carrying off the ore must be provided with a check to prevent
the air from blowing through. This object is effected by connecting to
the pipe * a flexible pipe ** (see Fig. 8), which is placed at a suitable
inclination and the mouth of which is turned towards a level or is turned
upward a sufficient distance to enable the orc which fills the same
to produce the requisite resistance to the passage of the air from the
bellows.
The third part of this Invention is represented in Figures 11 and 12,
in which Figure 11 represents a longitudinal vertical section of my
slime machine" and Figure 12 a sectional plan or top view of the
re
same.
A designates a frame which supports the working parts of my
Invention. In the upper part of this frame are secured two cross
beams a, a, from which is suspended the mixing tub B. This tub is
supplied with ore and water, the ore having been previously reduced to
the desired fineness by stamp mills or other suitable apparatus, and by
the action of the agitator C. The mixed ore and water or the slime is
caused to flow out through the pipes D, which terminate over the
sluiced tank E. This tank E is situated over the endless apron F, and
its bottom is provided with a number of projections b which serve to
distribute the slime uniformly over the surface of the endless apron.
Said apron is divided by longitudinal strips c in threc (more or less)
compartments or sluices corresponding in width to the compartments
of the distributing tank E, and it (the apron) is strengthened by cross
ribs d of wood or other suitable material secured to its under or inner
surface, and these cross ribs also prevent the apron from wearing as it
moves in its frame and over the rollers. By dividing the apron in
several compartments the operation of separating the ore is rendered
more uniform, and the supply of slime to each compartment can be more
readily controlled. The apron is by preference made of india-rubber
or other material impervious to water, and it is stretched over two
rollers G, H, its bottom part being supported by a supplementary
roller I, while its top part rests upon a grate J situated between the
two rollers G, H. The lower side of the apron sags or hangs loosely
between the rollers Hand I, which enables the hinge joint f in the
shoe K to be opened and shut freely, and also brings the apron in a
position to be better acted upon by the jets of water from the pipe w,
and greatly facilitates the operation of washing off the separated ore

page_text: adhering to the apron. If the apron was tightly drawn the hinge
joint could not be opened and more water would have to be used to
wash off the orc, and then it would not do as well. The roller H is
mounted on a shaft e which has its bearings in suitable boxes secured
to the main frame A, and on its shaft swing two arms, which are
connected by suitable cross bars from the shoe K. This shoe is made
in two parts, which are connected by hinge joints f, and the roller G
has its bearings in boxes secured to the outer or lower part of the shoe.
Each of the two parts of the shoe. is supported by screw rods I and h
respectively, and by means of these screw rods the inclination of thic
sluiced apron can be regulated. The lower or outer part of the shoe
being hinged to the upper part can be brought in any desired inclination
independent of the upper part, and the apron can be so adjusted that
its upper surface is either situated in one and the same plane, or that
it forms a ridge or depression in line with the hinge joints f. I have
effected very satisfactory separations without this hinge joint, but for
ores difficult to separate this device greatly facilitates the process, and
in some instances is indispensable. On the end of the shaft e of the
upper roller H is mounted a ratchet wheel i to which motion is imparted
by a pawl secured to an arm 7 which swings on the shaft c, and the
loose end of which connects by a rod m with an eccentric wrist pin n
fastened in a disk o which is mounted on the end of a shaft p. The
wrist pin n is made adjustable in its disk, so that the stroke of the
pawl can be changed as may be required. By the action of this pawl
and ratchet wheel the roller I receives an intermittent motion, which is
transmitted to the sluiced apron. Under the upper part of the apron
are situated three (more or less) hammers 9, which correspond in
position to the compartments or sluices of the apron, and to which
motion is imparted by cam wheels mounted on a shafts which has
its bearings in the arms of the shoe K. By the action of these hammers
the slime situated on the apron is agitated and the lighter parts arc
driven up so that they will readily separate from the heavier parts. I
have effected very satisfactory separation without thus agitating the orc
but for orcs difficult to separate this agitation greatly facilitates the
process. Over the roller H is situated a water tank L, which is hung
on gudgeons having their bearings in boxes. secured to the shoc K.
The bottom of this tank is provided with a number of moveable
and adjustable blocks or projections which serve to regulate the flow
of water and to distribute it across the sluice in different volumes as

page_text: required. Sometimes it may be desirable to divert the strength of the
flow from one point to another across the sluice, and each block being
fastened to the bottom of the tank in only one place it can be readily
moved to any angle and enable the operator to direct the water upon
any place across the sluice where the slime may have a tendency to
accumulate in excess, and at the same time to enable him to stop or
diminish the strength of the flow where less water is needed. From
the tank extends an arm t, which connects by a rod u with an eccentric v
mounted on the shaft p, so that as this shaft revolves an oscillating
motion is imparted to the water tank, or the rod may be connected to
plunging blocks suspended over the tank, and the water contained
therein is splashed over the sluiced apron either by the oscillations of
the tanks or by such plunging blocks, so as to wash off the light parts
raised by the action of the hammers q. The apron is at rest when the
water is splashed on it, and the moment the splash ceases the apron is
moved upwards so that the separated ore adhering to the apron at that
point passes out of reach of the next splash. But in some cases it would
be better to allow the tank to be at rest and omit the splashing, and
permit the flow of water to be continuous. In the separation of some
ores the tank L may be stationary and without plunging blocks, and in
the treatment of others there may be substituted for this tank or used
in connexion with it a pipe with perforations through which the
water is discharged under pressure more or less at pleasure into the
sluices at or near the upper end. The jets or spray thus produced
should in some cases be made to discharge intermittently by the move-
ment of a cock or cocks in the supply pipe and connected with the
eccentric or to some other part or parts of the moving mechanism,
and again the process may be still further aided in some instances by
adding one or more other tanks or pipes for discharging clean water
between the mixing tub and the head of the machine. The bottom M
of the apparatus is roof shaped, as shewn in Figure 11 of the Drawings,
the ridge of said bottom being situated between the roller G and the
supplementary roller I, and across said bottom below the supplementary
roller is situated a water pipe w perforated with a number of holes, so
that if said pipe is supplied with water under pressure a number of jets
will be thrown up against the apron for the purpose of washing off any
metalliferous particles which may adhere to the same.
The shaft p
connects by a bevel gear wheel with the driving shaft x, and on the
end of the shaft p is mounted a cone pulley, from which extends a belt

page_text: to a corresponding cone pulley y which connects by another belt with
a pulley Z on the end of the hammer shaft. The pulley y is mounted
loosely on the end of the shaft e, which forms the centre of motion of
the shoe K, so that in adjusting the shoe up or down the relation of the
two pulleys y and Z is not changed. By the action of the apron the
licavy parts of the ore are carried up over the roller H while the light
parts are discharged down over the roller G. In some ores however,
such as graphite or plumbago, the impurities are heaviest, and pass over
the roller Has tailings, while the particles sought to be saved are lighter
and are consequently carried down the apron over the roller G. In such
cases the valuable particles would be saved at the tail of the machine
where the impurities of other ores pass off. In the treatment' of some
kinds of ores the surface of the sluices on the apron should be plain or
smooth. In the treatment of some other kinds of ores such surface should
be indented, corrugated, roughened or rifled, and in the treatment of
still other kinds of ores or earths, the surface of the apron in the sluices
may be covered or lined with strips of blankets or other suitable woollen
fabrics or their equivalent. These modifications and appliances will
depend on the peculiar character of the orcs and substances to be treated,
but for most ores and substances required to be separated a plain surface
to the apron between the sluices will be sufficient. This machine may
also be used as a "picking table" and for "washing up ores.". This
process is sometimes necessary. In such cases those kinds of coarsely
broken ores which are usually picked over by hand will be shovelled or
fed into the machine under the mixing tub B, and the water will be
supplied to such tub, and discharged therefrom through pipes D into
the sluiced tank E, and thence over the sluiced apron F and among such
ore. The earthy matter and lighter particles will gently pass over the
tail of the apron. The lower end of the apron below the hinged joint f
can be raised so as to keep all heavy pieces on the apron, and then the
intermittent upward movement of the apron will convey them to the
upper end of the machine, where the cleaning process is still further
carried on by the water which flows or is splashed out of the oscillating
or stationary tank L, and then the further upward movement of the
apron finally deposits the washed ore upon the roof shaped bottom M
by its own gravity and by jets of water projected from the pipe below
as above described. Sometimes it will be best to have one or more
persons (usually boys) stand by the machine while in motion to pick
out of the washed ore before it leaves the apron such lumps of pure,

page_text: ore as may be visible, also lumps of worthless rock, and then the balance
will be conveyed to the crushers or stampers for further treatment.
For most fine light ores it will be necessary to elevate the roller G to
prevent any valuable metalliferous particles from passing off with the
waste or tailings.
The fourth part of this Invention is illustrated in Figures 13, 14, 15,
and 16, in which Figure 13 represents a longitudinal section of my
dumping buddle;" Figure 14 is a plan or top view of the same;
Figure 15 is an end view of the same; Figure 16 is a plan of a
modification thereof."
In these Figures the letter A designates a frame made of wood or of
any other suitable material, and provided with cross bars a, a', which form
the bearings for the gudgeons 6 of the "buddle" B. These gudgeons
project from the opposite ends of the buddle, so that if desired an oscilla-
ting motion can be imparted to the buddle, or that the buddle can be swung
clear round for the purpose of dumping its contents. The cross bars a, a',
are situated at different levels, so that the buddle inclines from its head
downward, and the cross bar a¹ which supports the gudgeons at the
bottom end of the buddle is secured to slides C (see Figure 15) which can
be lowered or raised by means of screws c for the purpose of adjusting
the inclination of the buddle. The ore to be separated is delivered to
the buddle either directly from stampers or from either of the machines
heretofore described through a mixing tub D and apron E.
The mixing
tub, is provided with a convex bottom on which sweeps an agitator F
mounted on a vertical shaft G, to which motion is imparted by suitable
gear wheels connecting it with the driving shaft H (best seen in
Figure 13). From the mixing tub the ore and water is either delivered
directly to the apron E, and in this case clean water may be allowed to
flow on the apron at suitable intervals through a pipe I, or the ore
and water from the mixing tub may be conducted in one compartment
of an oscillating feeder J, the other compartment of which is supplied
with clean water through the pipe I, as shewn in Figure 13. This feeder
is hung on a rock shaft, and it receives an oscillating motion by a
suitable connection with the driving shaft H. The apron E extends
over the head of the buddle and its bottom end is slotted as shewn. It
is so constructed that it can be moved back to allow the buddle to swing
round on its gudgeons. On the floor below the buddle are secured one
or more partitions K, which can be adjusted towards and from the head
B

page_text: of the buddle. This dumping buddle can be fed with ore either directly
from the stampers or from the dry or wet ore separator heretofore
described. The ore will be conveyed into the mixing tub and thence
through a suitable pipe or pipes into the front compartment of the
oscillating feeder, and in the meantime clean water is running into the
other compartment of said feeder and the oscillating motion of the
feeder conveys the ore and water which is received from the mixing tub
on the
apron, and by these means the ore is evenly distributed on the
buddle. Clean water is let on at intervals for the purpose of producing
clean ore at the head of the buddle ready for the market. The ore and
water alone direct from the mixing tub when treated on my buddle
will produce a better separation than an ordinary circular buddle, even
without the occasional supply of clean water. A portion of the tailings
will pass off while the machine is working, and a small portion will
remain in the buddle until it is filled ready to be dumped. Before the
buddle is dumped the man in charge will examine the contents and
place two pieces of thin iron edgeways on the surface of ore where the
same is to be divided, and the partitions K. below are adjusted accord-
ingly, so that when the buddle is dumped the pure ore is received in the
compartment L, the middlings in the compartment M, and the tailings
in the compartment N; or if desired the machine can be so managed as
to let only two grades, viz. pure ore and middlings remain in the buddle
to be dumped. If desired a rocking or side motion may be imparted
to the buddle, but in most cases this side motion can be dispensed with.
If desired several buddles can be used in succession, the ore discharging
from the first buddle being received by the second and so on, and in this
case only one mixing tub is required. By arranging the buddle so that
its contents can be dumped the labour of cleaning by means of a shovel
is avoided and much time is saved. If a large number of stampers
are used, several buddles will be required to separate the ore, and if
for instance three buddles are sufficient to take and separate all the
ore and water from say, 20 heads of stampers, it will be necessary to
have a fourth buddle, so that when one is full the ore can be shut off
from it and turned into the empty one and so on, and that the stampers
can be kept running all the time instead of stopping them while
cleaning up a buddle.
"

page_text: ore in the machine, and in this case I propose to contract the outlet at
the tail of the buddle as shewn in Figure 16, and by these means the
current of water will become stronger towards the discharge and the
space for trial water and tailings to lodge on will be diminished.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to.
me by my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I wish it under-
stood that relating to part 1 of this Invention, I claim the within
described process for separating' ores by subjecting the same to the
successive action of a rock breaker, and of a crusher or stampers (cither
or both), then to the action of separating sieves, and finally according to
the various grades of fineness either to the action of a dry separator, or to
that of a wet separator, or to that of a "buddle," or to that of any
two or all of these machines, substantially in the manner herein set
forth.
Relating to part 2 of my Invention and the Figures 1 to 10 inclusive
of the Drawings I claim,--
1. The flexible diaphragm F constructed of an india-rubber plate or
other suitable flexible material, either in a sheet or in sections of pipes
for forcing air through dry substances of different specific gravities,
substantially as described.
2. The arrangement of an air-tight bellows chamber between the ore
bed and flexible diaphragm, substantially as set forth.
3. A driving mechanism constructed with cans or trip wheels
mounted on the driving shaft and acting on shoes or cages supported by
springs and connected to the flexible diaphragm, said cages being so
arranged that they can be adjusted in relation to their cans or trip wheels
substantially in the manner described.
4. A feed mechanism composed of hoppers which can be raised and
lowered, and which are connected to guages controlling the depth of the
stratum on the ore bed, substantially in the manner herein set forth.
5. The arrangement of one or more partitions on the top of the ore
bed to prevent the mass of ore (or other material) on the ore bed from
becoming broken, substantially as described.
6. The passage F* to discharge the lower stratum either from an
inclined or level bed of a double or single machine,. substantially as
described.

page_text: 7. The bottom delivery 6 in the ore bed, substantially as described.
8. The combination of the side deliveries h, i, with the bottom delivery,
substantially as set forth.
9. The roof shaped partition in the passage h*, substantially in the
manner shewn and described.
10. The end discharge *, *, constructed substantially as described.
11. The discharge through the meshes into the ore bed, substantially
as shewn in Figure 8*.
12. The discharge through the bellows by pipes or passages, sub-
stantially as shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10.
Relating to part 3 of my Invention and to Figures 11 and 12 of the
Drawings I claim,―
1. The endless apron E having an intermittent motion imparted to it,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
E
1
2. The endless apron F with its surface in the sluices indented, 1
corrugated, roughened, or rifled, substantially as described.
3. The arrangement of strips of blanket or other woollen fabric, or
its equivalent on the endless apron F in the sluices, substantially as
described.
4. The arrangement of longitudinal strips on the endless apron,. 2
substantially as described.
5. The shoe K divided in two parts connected by hinge joints in
combination with the adjusting screws and with the endless apron,
substantially as set forth.
6. The agitating hammers q in combination with the endless apron 2
substantially as described.
1
7. The cross ribs d extending over the inner surface of the apron F,
substantially as set forth.
8. The tank L oscillating or with plunging blocks in combination with
the endless apron, substantially as described.
9. The roof shaped bottom M in combination with the endless apron,
substantially as set forth.
10. The perforated water pipe w extending across the bottom M in
combination with the endless apron, substantially as described.
3

page_text: Relating to part 4 of this Invention and Figures 13, 14, 15, and 16
of the Drawing I claim,―
1. A dumping buddle constructed as herein described.
2. The combination of a mixing tub, oscillating feeder, and apron with
a dumping buddle, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-fourth day of April, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.
.0
Witness,
E. C. JACKSON.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)