Improvements in Apparatus for Pulverizing and Amalgamating.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 5th Jan., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Pulverizing and Amalgamating.
We, JOHN ROBINSON, of No. 23 Macquarie Street South, in the City of
Sydney, Colony of New South Wales, Mine and Battery Manager, and, MARTHA
SYMONDS PLUMB, of Marrickville, near Sydney aforesaid, Freeholder, 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 :-
This invention has reference more particularly to improvements in pulverizing
and amalgamating machinery, used for the purpose of saving the precious metals
contained in quartz and the like, whose component parts consist of an oscillating
chamber containing rollers to which motion is imparted by the oscillation or
rocking motion of the chamber, the said chamber being provided with amalgamating
wells or riffles and grids or screens.
Our improvements consist first in constructing the said oscillating chamber with
its internal surface or roller path essentially of the form of an inverted ellipse,
the radius of the curves formed upon the transverse axis being preferably equal
to that of the rollers, such curves being carried above the axis a certain desired
distance, and provided at that part with spring cushions or buffers, which will
allow the rollers to seat themselves without violence and also assist their return
motion, the centre of the roller or rollers being below the transverse axis when
the oscillating chamber occupies a horizontal position. The said chamber is also
constructed so as to provide for feeding the material to be crushed by means of
a hopper and chutes, which in the first instance will admit of the material being
fed to a central roller. For this purpose channels are constructed on each side of
the chamber and are carried across the chamber until they meet each other. A
certain portion of this channel, being essentially the part called the roller path, is
subsequently filled with a closely fitting casting termed a false bottom, each end
of which is formed taper so as to provide for the quick delivery of the material
and also for its gradual pulverization prior to its final delivery upon the broader
surface of the roller path."
The hopper and chutes are combined in such a manner that the feeding operation
may be performed automatically, so that each alternate movement of the oscillating
chamber may be used to impart the requisite stroke to certain mechanism attached
to the hopper, whereby the opening and closing of the hopper door may be
effected as desired. Such mechanism may consist of a lever combined with a
quadrant, a conecting rod, and sliding pin, in combination with the hopper door.
It may further consist of a stationary screen which will take the place of the
hopper door, such screen being provided with outlet passages for depositing or
conveying the material placed in the hopper as each alternate motion of the
machine takes place, the oscillation in one direction serving to uncover the opening
for discharging the material upon one side, the subsequent movement having the
same effect in the other direction.
The oscillating chamber, which is constructed lengthwise so as to contain any
required number of rollers, the centre one being the first reducing power, is made
preferably in segments for convenience of transport, the centre portion consisting
of the roller path as before described, and any suitable number of mercury troughs
placed on either side but being divided from the pulverizing chamber by a frame-
work carrying the requisite screens. The end portions of the oscillating chamber

page_text: are each attached so as to stand below the mercury troughs, and, being at a
lower level, will readily receive the tailings which are discharged from the first
reducing roller. A screen frame is likewise attached to the outside to screen the
material to the requisite fineness. Outside of this again are placed any suitable
number of mercury troughs, if such are considered necessary.
The chamber is provided with a sufficient number of detachable rockers upon its
under side, of special form, having projections in certain positions which will fit
into corresponding indentations provided in bearing plates placed immediately
below the rockers. Upon these bearing plates the apparatus is set in motion.
These bearing plates may have attached to them po ⚫kets which may be designated
spring or buffer pockets, and are provided with either suitable springs or rubber
cushions which are so placed and are of such a length that the crushing chambers
by their oscillating movement will come in contact with them, and they will offer
the necessary resistance to the concussion caused by the rolling motion of the
rollers. These pockets may also be used separately from the bearing plate.
A further improvement consists in the use of a special form of connecting rod
which provides a means for oscillating the chamber and rollers, and is so con-
structed, that with the aid of a movable strut jointed to a buffer frame and to a
link and connecting rod, the movement given to the chamber and rollers will be
free from jars and shocks which are so destructive to this class of machinery. The
aforesaid strut and link are also designed for the purpose of producing a tilting
movement to the oscillating chamber, which will enable the attendant to clean up
when it is desired to do so, and also to readily eject the rollers from the chamber.
These two operations are performed by detaching one end of the connecting rod
from the links and strut, and then connecting the links and strut with a pin, and
by means of either lifting tackle, an elevating screw, a screw jack, or such like
device, gradually pressing the aforesaid joint upward until the strut and links
occupy the desired position, which will give the chamber the required tilt.
The means employed for operating the apparatus may be a spur wheel gearing
with a pinion, the said spur wheel carrying a crank pin, or being attached to a
crank shaft. This gearing may be set in motion either with horse, steam, water, or
manual power, and the oscillating movement may also be imparted by means of a
connecting rod, attached to a bar of spring steel secured to any convenient part of
the oscillating chamber, the said bar of spring steel being used to resist the shocks
incidental to the movement of the crushing rollers.
Our invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which similar
letters are used throughout the different views to indicate similar parts, and in
which
Figure 1 is a part section and part elevation of our apparatus.
Figure 2 is the same view as Fig. 1 shewing connecting rod detached and
chamber in tilted position.
Figure 3 is a plan shewing position of three (3) rollers, frame, and driving gear.
Figure 4 is a section on line A-A of Fig. 3.
Figure 5 is a side elevation looking at machine from driving side.
Figure 6 is a detail shewing connecting rod and steel spring attachment for
operating oscillating chamber.
Figure 7 is a detail of lever and quadrant for operating hopper door.
Figure 8 shews the alternative method of feeding.
In the various figures:-A is the oscillating chamber.-B, roller path.-
C, curves on transverse axis.-D, primary crushing roller.-E, buffers or cushions.-
F, springs attached to E.-G, central chamber.-H, framework for screens of G.-
I, mercury troughs on each side of G.-J, channels in G.-K, false bottom
in J.-L, outer chambers.-M, secondary crushing rollers.--N, framework for
screens of L-0, mercury troughs attached to L.-P, chutes.-Q, hopper.-
R movable door of Q.-S, lever operating R.-T, connecting rod attached to S.-
U, quadrant operated by S.-V, pin moving in U.-W, detachable rockers secured
to under side of G and L.-X, projections formed on W.-Y, bearing plate for W.-

page_text: Z, indentations in Y to receive X.-A', spring or buffer pocket in Y.-B¹, spring
in A-C, gusset plates for link pin.-D', link pin.-E', links. F¹, strut.-
G', strut pin. H¹, bracket upon strut framing.-I', strut framing. J¹, connecting
rod. K pin for E, F, and J.-L' crank pin. M', spur wheel.-N', shaft.-
O', pinion. P', shaft carrying O'.-Q', pulleys.-R', bearings.
In Figure 6-S₁ is the connecting rod.-T. steel spring secured to A.
In Figure 8-U³ is the stationary screen. -V', feed openings.--W¹, connections
for securing U¹.
:-
The method of operating our apparatus is as follows:-
The material to be treated, which may in the first instance be broken to
suitable dimensions by known appliances, is placed in the hopper attached to the
central chamber, and an oscillating movement imparted to the machine by means
of the gearing operating the connecting rod, strut, and links. As the oscillation
takes place, the rod, T, being stationary, will secure the lever. S, which carries
the pin, V, but the quadrant, U, will travel upon the pin, V, until the end of
the slot is reached, when U will be set in motion causing the door, R, to oscillate
so as to uncover the passages leading out of Q into P. If the feeder shewn in
Figure 8 is used in lieu of the above, U' is held stationary by the connections, W',
and as the hopper is oscillated, the feed openings, V', will alternately occupy a
position connecting them with each chute, P, and thus the material to be treated
will be delivered into the central chamber. The larger pieces of material will
remain in the channel, J, until they are reduced in size, and will then gradually
work their way to the roller path, B, where they will receive the full crushing
weight of the roller. This operation will continue until the material is reduced
to the requisite fineness, it may be an impalpable powder, when it will pass out of
either or both of the screens, and if water is used will be induced to flow through
the mercury troughs, 1, into the outer chambers, L, where it may be further
reduced by the rollers, M, until it passes through the outer screens, N, into the
outer mercury troughs, O, the precious metals being collected in the mercury
troughs, I, I, and O, O.
The movement of the crushing rollers is controlled somewhat by the special
form of the roller path, each roller moving without sudden impetus along the
flattened part of the curve and seating itself against the cushion provided for it on
each side, its impact with the said cushion assisting its return motion. As the
oscillation is taking place the projections and indentations which are shewn upon
the rockers, W, and the bearing plate, Y, will, by fitting into each other, prevent
disarrangement of the machine and secure a bearing surface at every part of the
stroke.
It must be understood that we do not confine ourselves to any particular kind of
metal in the construction of this machinery, as certain wearing parts may be
composed of either cast iron, or, steel specially chilled or hardened or otherwise
adapted by known processes to resist the wear and tear incidental to pulverizing
machinery.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is.
1. In the construction of apparatus used for pulverizing and amalgamating, an
oscillating chamber carrying a crushing roller, or rollers, designated the primary
and secondary reducers, the roller path of such chamber being constructed in the
form of an inverted ellipse and provided with buffers or cushions to receive the
thrust of the crushing rollers, and having feeding channels formed in the casing
thereof, such being partly filled with a false bottom, as described and shewn, and
for the purposes set forth.
2. In apparatus for pulverizing and amalgamating, the oscillating chamber
described in Claim 1, in combination with a feeding chute or chutes and a hopper,
as described and shewn and for the purposes set forth.

page_text: 3. In apparatus for pulverizing and amalgamating where an oscillating chamber
is used, a hopper and chute, or chutes, for feeding such apparatus, as described and
shewn, and for the purposes set forth.
4. In apparatus for pulverizing and amalgamating, or either of them, carrying a
crushing roller, a feeding channel formed in the chamber, as described and shewn,
and for the purposes set forth.
5. In apparatus for pulverizing and amalgamating, or either of them, a central
chamber, such as described, and having its discharge at each end, in combination
with screens and mercury troughs, as described and shewn, and for the purposes
set forth.
6. In apparatus for pulverizing and amalgamating, or either of them, the method
of feeding an oscillating chamber provided with a central roller as a primary
reducer, and two (2) outer rollers as secondary reducing powers, as described and
shewn.
7. In apparatus for pulverizing and amalgamating, or either of them, a connecting
rod in combination with a pivoted strut and links for operating an oscillating
chamber, as described.
8. In apparatus for pulverizing and amalgamating, or either of them, the com-
bination of a strut and links when detached from an operating connecting rod for
the purpose of tilting an oscillating chamber, as described and shewn.
9. In apparatus for pulverizing and amalgamating, or either of them, the
detachable rockers in combination with an oscillating chamber and bearing plate,
as described and shewn and for the purposes set forth.
10. In apparatus for pulverizing and amalgamating, or either of them, a steel
spring and connecting rod of the form described, for operating an oscillating
chamber such as described, as described and shewn and for the purposes set
forth.
11. The general combination and arrangement of the various mechanical parts
as herein described, the whole forming our improved apparatus for pulverizing
and amalgamating, substantially as described and shewn and for the purposes set
forth.
Dated this 8th day of Tanu 1001
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.