AN IMPROVED METHOD AND IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND DRESSING ORES, AND MINERALS, PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO TIN, LEAD, COPPER, ZINC, AND IRON ORES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Whitton Arundell, of No. 265, Gresham
House, Old Broad Street, in the City of London, Gentleman, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD AND IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
TREATING AND DRESSING ORES, AND MINERALS, PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE
TO TIN, LEAD, COPPER, ZINC, AND IRON ORES."-A communication from
abroad by Mr. Martin Neuerburg, residing at Kalk, Rhenish Prussia.
Sealed the 4th July 1862, and dated the 4th January 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Whitton Arundell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th January 1862.
I, JAMES WHITTON ARUNDELL, of No. 265, Gresham House, Old Broad
Street, in the City of London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD AND IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
TREATING AND DRESSING ORES, AND MINERALS, PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO TIN,
LEAD, COPPER, ZINC, AND IRON ORES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the use of certain improved apparatus, either alone
or in combination. If used in combination, the ore or mineral to be treated
would be passed through the different machines in the order in which they are
herein-after described.
The first improved apparatus is an improved crusher, the improvement in which
consists in substituting buffers of indian-rubber, gutta percha, or springs, for
the weights usually employed for forcing the rollers together.
The second.improved apparatus is for the purpose of removing part of the im-

page_text: purities of the ore, and separating the different sized particles of it, which I call a
separator, and consists of an elongated open tank, divided into five or more com-
partments by perpendicular divisions. Water is made to flow into the end or first
compartment, and thence by overflowing the divisions into each of the other
compartments in succession, and then flows away over the end of the last one.
The bottom of each compartment, except the first, is funnel shaped, and has
an opening, the opening being sufficiently small not to allow the whole of the
water which enters the compartment to flow through it. The first compartment
is partially closed towards the division from the next compartment. Pipes are
connected with each of the openings in the funnel-shaped bottoms of the
compartments. The ore or mineral is made to fall into the second compart-
ment close to the division between it and the first. The heavier particles with
some of the water pass through the opening at the bottom into the pipe
connected with it. The lighter particles are carried by the water into the
next compartment, where a further separation of light from heavy particles by
gravitation takes place, and this is repeated in each compartment in succession.
The particles which remain suspended in the water in the last compartment
are only impurities, and are allowed to flow away with it as waste. As a
portion of the water flows away through the opening in the bottom of each com-
partment, and the strength of the stream becomes gradually less in consequence,
and as the larger particles sink more easily, the size of the particles deposited
in each is smaller in succession as the stream proceeds.
The third improved apparatus is for the purpose of separating any slimy
impurity which may require removal from the ore after it has passed through
the separator. I call this apparatus a conical slime streamer. It consists of
a vessel in the form of an inverted cone. Two pipes enter the vessel at its
sides close to the bottom. Water is forced into the vessel through the pipes,
and flows over the edges of the vessel into a circular trough round the upper
part of it. There is an opening at the bottom of the vessel furnished with a
valve, which is so arranged that the ore when cleansed, can be withdrawn or
made to pass out as it collects. A double cone of metal is placed partly within
the conical vessel. . The lower one of the double cones is of the same angle as
the conical vessel, and is so placed as to leave an interval of from half to three
quarters of an inch between it and the sides of the conical vessel. The
junction of the two cones in the double cone is a little below the top of the
conical vessel. The upper cone of the double cones is of a greater angle than
the lower one. The double cone is supported in such a way as that it may
be raised or lowered at pleasure. There is a cover to the conical vessel; which
also encloses the upper cone of the double cones, and rests on the outer edge

page_text: of the circular trough. The upper part of the cover is furnished with a funnel
through which the ore to be cleansed is introduced into the apparatus. The
funnel is so arranged that the ore on passing through it falls on the upper
part of the upper cone of the double cones and spreads evenly over it. The
ore passes down over the surface of the upper cone of the double cones, and
meets the ascending stream of water at the junction of the two cones. The
slime is by this means washed up by the water, and carried into the circular
trough, and the cleansed ore passes down between the sides of the conical
vessel, and the lower cone to the valve where it can be withdrawn.
The fourth improved apparatus is for the purpose of still further cleansing
the ore, and removing the heavier impurities, and consists of two or more cir-
cular rotating tables placed one above the other, and revolving on the same
axis. The tables are made to slope down to the centre, or the reverse. In
the former case there is a pipe which goes rather more than half round the
table just above its outer edge. This pipe is pierced with holes on its lower side
from which jets of water issue and fall upon the table. The centre of the
table is open, and under its inner edge there is a circular trough to receive
that which is washed off the table. The trough is divided into three divisions,
one is under that part of the table which is washed by the above mentioned
jets; another is under that part of the table which is washed by a stronger
collection of jets which wash obliquely the inner portion of the table im-
mediately after it has passed by the first mentioned jets, and the other division
is under that part of the table which is washed by a collection of jets extending
obliquely across the table the whole width, and is so placed as to wash the
table after it has passed the above mentioned jets, and before it passes under
the place where the ore is made to fall upon it. Pipes lead away from each
division of the trough. The ore being made to fall upon the table is carried
round and washed by the different jets in succession, and is finally swept off
by the lastly described collection of jets. The first division of the trough
receives the impurities only, the second receives the ore partially cleansed, and
that which falls into the third is nearly or quite clean. If the table is made
to slope downwards from the centre, a similar arrangement is adopted, the jets
in that case being made to wash from the centre to the outside, and the trough
is placed under the outer edge of the table. If more than one table is used
the ore to be further cleansed after being washed on the upper one, falls on
to the lower one, where the washing is repeated. When the apparatus as
above described are used in combination, there should be one separator to each
crusher, four conical slime streamers to each separator, and one table or set
of tables to each conical slime streamer. Unless the ore contains slimy im-

page_text: purities the conical slime streamer will not be necessary. If it is desirable to
subject the ore after being treated as above described to a further process of
purification I use an improved percussion table, the improvements in which
consist in causing the table when it swings back to its place after being moved
by the hopper to strike against one or more spring buffers instead of against an
unyielding substance, as has hitherto been the practice, and also in regulating
the extent of the movement of the table by a screw, which moves that part
of it which is acted on by the hopper. If the ore in any stage of its puri-
fication should be left at rest for any length of time, and so become caked
together, I use a rotating drum which is furnished in the inside either with
lances in the usual way, or if the ore should be very stiff with chains loosely
stretched across the inside of it.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Whitton Arundell in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 4th July 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WHITTON ARUNDELL, of No. 265, Gresham House, Old Broad Street, in the
City of London, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Whitton Arundell, Her special licence that I, the said James
Whitton Arundell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said James Whitton Arundell, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"AN IMPROVED METHOD AND IMPROVED APPARATUS POR TREATING AND DRESSING ORES,
AND MINERALS, PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO TIN, LEAD, COPPER, ZINC, AND IRON
ORES," being a communication to me from abroad by Mr. Martin Neuerburg,
residing at Kalk, Rhenish Prussia, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said James Whitton Arundell, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in

page_text: what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Whitton Arundell, do hereby de-
clare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the several Drawings
therein referred to, and hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
One part of my said Invention consists of an improved method of forcing
together the crushing rollers of the ordinary apparatus used for crushing ore
or mineral matters.
In the annexed Drawing, Sheet 1, Figure I. represents the plan, and
Figure II. the side elevation of my improved crusher. A and A' are the
rollers, which may be of any of the forms usually used; B, B, and B¹, B',
are the bearings of the rollers, which work in guides in the ordinary manner,
D and D are buffers constructed in the ordinary manner, and possessing a
proper degree of elasticity given by means of steel springs, india-rubber, or
some other elastic material. These buffers act by the rods C, C, against the
bearings B, B, of the roller A', by which means the roller A¹ is forced towards
the roller A as vigorously, but in a more equable manner, and the machine is
made to work more easily and with less wear and tear, than under the
former method of forcing the rollers together by the action of weights. The
pressure exerted by the buffers against the bearings of the roller A¹, can be
increased or diminished at pleasure by tightening or loosening the nuts
F, F, which act on screws cut on the extremities of the bars E, E, and
which bars pass through the blocks G, G, and G, G'. The blocks G¹, G¹,
are immoveable, being secured to the blocks H, H, by the guide rods J, J,
but the blocks G, G, which form the supports or abutments to the buffers
are so constructed as to approach or recede from the blocks G¹, G', in pro-
portion as the nuts F, F, are tightened or loosened.
I claim as my Invention the combination of one or more buffers with a
system of rollers for crushing ore or mineral matter, in order to effect the
purpose above described, and in a manner convenient for effecting such
purpose, but neither such system of rollers separately, nor the buffer or buffers
as the case may be, separately and not in combination with each other.
Another part of my said Invention consists of an improved apparatus for
removing some of the impurities of the crushed ore or mineral matter, and
separating the different sized particles of it from each other.
In the annexed Drawing, Sheet 1, Figure III. represents a section of the

page_text: side elevation of my improved seperater; and Figure IV. a cross section of one
of the compartments of the same.
The improved separater consists of an elongated tank B', B', B', B', open
at top and formed into 5 or more compartments by divisions, which, as shewn
in Figure III., do not reach to the top of the tank. The compartment B, is
square at bottom and partially covered over at top by the plate C, leaving an
aperture X, the object of which is to impart to the stream of water hereafter
mentioned, a more equable flow into the tank than it otherwise would have.
Each of the compartments D, E, F, G, is funnel shaped at its lower
extremity, and terminates in an aperture L, as shewn in the side elevation
Figure III. and the cross section Figure IV. of one of the last mentioned
compartments, which aperture can be closed at pleasure by a plug M, L. The
upper part of each of the divisions K', K2, K³, which separate the compartments
D, E, F, G, works upon a hinge as represented in Figure III., by the dotted
lines at K, and can be moved backwards or forwards in the direction of the
dotted lines shewn in the same Figure, and there fixed so as at pleasure to
increase or diminish the cubical content of any of the last-mentioned com-
partments. A sufficient stream of water is admitted through a pipe with a
regulating valve a, into the compartment B, and flows thence through the
aperture x into the rest of the tank towards the outlet H, filling in succession
each of the compartments D, E, F, G, a certain part of the water also escapes
through the apertures L, L, L, L, when these are open. The mineral matter
to be separated is poured by the launder J into the tank in a direction imme-
diately over the compartment D, and meeting the stream of water the heaviest
and largest particles thereof are deposited by gravitation in the compartment D,
from which they can be discharged through the aperture L into a proper
receptacle whilst the lighter and smaller particles are carried onwards by the
stream, and in like manner are deposited, according to their weight and size,
successively in the compartments E, F, G, from which they can in like manner
be discharged through the apertures L, L, L, only dirt and impurities which
are the lightest passing out of the tank along with the stream of water through
the outlet H.
Another part of my said Invention consists of an improved apparatus for
cleansing slimy ores after they have passed through my said improved separater.
In the annexed Drawing, Sheet 1, Figure V. represents a section,
Figure VI. a plan, and Figure VII. an elevation of my improved conical
slime streamer. The improved conical slime streamer consists of a double
cone A supported by a spindle B passing through its centre, one end of which
spindle passes through the bridge C, which bridge rests on the edge of the

page_text: circular trough I, I. The other end of the spindle passes into a socket D, which
is attached to the lower hollow cone M, M. The double cone can be raised or
lowered by turning the wheel F, in the centre of which is a nut which acts on
a screw cut on the spindle; G, G, is a hollow cone surrounding the lower half
of the double cone A, and of the same angle as the latter; this hollow cone
rests on the water pipe H, H, and to the upper part of it is attached the circular
trough I, I; K, K, is a hollow cone surrounding the upper half of the double
cone A, and of the same angle as the latter. The last-mentioned hollow cone
is supported by four or more screws, two of which S and S are shewn in
Figures V. and VII. passing through it, and fitting into sockets or holes on
the surface of the upper half of the double cone A, and can be raised or
lowered at pleasure by tightening or slackening the said screws, so as to
increase or diminish the space between it and the surface of the upper half
of the double cone A. A funnel-shaped mouth L, L, is affixed to the upper
part of the hollow cone K, K, the lower hollow cone M, M, has a circular
hole N at its apex, which can be closed at pleasure with a plug N, O. The
space between the lower half of the double cone A, and the hollow cone G, G,
can be increased or diminished at pleasure by raising or lowering the double
cone A. A sufficient stream of water regulated by the regulating valve R,
shewn on Figures VI. and VII. is admitted through the pipe H, H, into the
space between the double cone A and the hollow cones G, G, and K, K, and
finds its way upwards into the circular trough I, I, out of which it flows by the
outlet P. The ore to be cleaned is poured into the funnel-shaped mouth L, L,
and falling on the upper half of the double cone A, is disseminated equally
over it, and in its descent through the space between the lower half of the
double cone and the hollow cone G, G, meets the ascending stream of water,
by which means the slime is washed upwards and is carried along with the
water into the circular trough, and thence away through the outlet P. The ore
is arrested in its downward descent by the lower hollow cone M, M, from
which, when washed, it falls or is withdrawn through the aperture N.
I do not claim as my Invention the use of a stream of water flowing upwards
for the purpose of washing ore or other mineral matter; but I do claim as
my Invention the use of such stream for such purpose flowing upwards between
inner and outer cones, as above described, and also the increasing or diminish-
ing the space between the inner and outer cones as above described, and the
apparatus called the conical slime streamer, as above described.
Another part of my said Invention consists of an improved washing apparatus
for further cleansing the ore and removing the impurities mixed with it after
it has been through the separater or the slime streamer, in case the latter bas

page_text: been used. This apparatus consists of two or more circular tables revolving
upon a common axis, one above the other, and having faces sloping the one
towards and the other away from the centre, upon which faces the ore or
mineral matter is placed, and by the revolution of the tables is exposed to the
action of water discharged in jets upon the tables.
In the annexed Drawings, Sheet 2, Figure VIII. is an elevation, and
Figure IX., a section of the apparatus.
Figure X., Sheet 3, is a plan of the table, which has a convex face; and
Figure XI., Sheet 3, is a plan of the table, which has a concave face.
In Figures VIII. and IX., A represents the circular table, which has next
to its outer circumference a concave face, sloping towards the centre, which is
open. Brepresents the circular table, which has next to its outer circumference
a convex face sloping from the centre, which is open. Each table is fixed to
the vertical spindle or axis C by arms projecting to the centre from the inner
edge of the table to which they are bolted. The spindle rests on the bearing D,
and is supported at its upper end by the bearing D', and in revolving carries
both the tables round with it; a trough F is fixed beneath the table A, so
as to catch any water or other matter that may run off its concave face, and
another trough E is fixed beneath the table B so as to catch any water
or matter that may run off its convex face; each of these troughs is divided
into three compartments, as herein-after mentioned. G is a fixed main water
pipe, which by means of the service pipes H, H, &c. supplies water to the
perforated water pipes hereafter described. Of these perforated water pipes
there are three to each table.
The first of the series belonging to the table A is represented by J in
Figure XI. It lies near the outer circumference of the concave face of the
table, and extends over about two-thirds of such circumference. From this
pipe jets of water issue and fall upon the concave face of the table. The
second is represented by K, the jets of water from which wash obliquely only
the inner portion of the concave face of the table. The third is represented
by L, the jets of water from which wash obliquely the whole width of the
concave face of the table, and are sufficiently powerful to sweep the ore or
other matter that may pass under them by the revolution of the table entirely
off the face of the table. The compartments before mentioned of the trough
F are so arranged that the first receives the washings from the perforated
pipe J, the second those from the perforated pipe K, and the third those from
the perforated pipe L. A pipe not shewn in the Drawing in order to avoid
confusion leads away from each compartment of the trough. The ore or
mineral matter is continuously poured by-the launder P upon the outer portion

page_text: of the concave face of the table A, and is carried by the rotation of the table
in the direction of the arrows marked on the Drawing successively under the
jets of water proceeding from the perforated pipes J, K, L, by the action of
which only the impurities which were mixed with the ore are washed into the
first compartment of the trough F, whilst its second compartment receives a
portion of the ore or mineral matter partially cleaned, and the third the residue
of the ore or mineral matter nearly or quite clean.
The first of the series of perforated water pipes belonging to the table B is
represented by M in Figure X; it lies near the inner circumference of the
convex face of the table, and extends over about two-thirds of such circum,
ference. From this pipe jets of water issue and fall upon the convex face of
the table; the second is represented by N, the jets of water from which wash
obliquely only the outer portion of the convex face of the table, the third is
represented by O, the jets of water from which wash obliquely the whole width
of the concave face of the table, and are sufficiently powerful to sweep the ore
or other matter that may pass under them by the revolution of the table
entirely off the face of the table. The compartments before mentioned of the
trough E are so arranged that the first receives the washings from the
perforated pipe M, the second those from the pipe N, and the third those
from the pipe O. A pipe leads away from each compartment of the trough.
The ore or mineral matter is continuously poured by the launder Q upon the
inner portion of the convex face of the table B, and is carried by the rotation
of the table in the direction of the arrows marked on the Drawing successively
under the jets of water proceeding from the perforated pipes M, N, O, by the
action of which the impurities mixed with the ore and the ore itself in different
stages of cleanness are washed into the various compartments of the trough E
in the same way as has been mentioned in the description above given of the
table A.
I do not claim as my Invention the use of a revolving table for washing
the ore or mineral matter as above described, but I claim as my Invention
only the combination of two or more revolving tables, revolving upon a common
axis in the manner above described, the form of the washing apparatus as
above described, and the mode of washing and sweeping the ore off the tables,
as above described, and the use of such improved washing apparatus in com-
bination with all or any of the apparatus herein described.
Each of the before mentioned apparatus, that is to say, my improved
crusher, my improved separater, my improved conical slime streamer, and my
improved washing apparatus may be used separately, but I claim as my
Invention the use of all or any of them in combination with each other. If

page_text: the said apparatus are so used in combination, the ore or mineral matter to be
treated should be passed through the different machines in the order in which
they are herein-before described, and in that case the machines should be used
in the following proportions:-There should be one separater to each crusher,
four conical slime streamers to each separater, and one washing apparatus to
each conical slime streamer. The conical slime streamer will not be necessary
unless the ore or mineral matter contains slimy impurities.
Another part of my said Invention consists of an improved method of
moving and regulating the motion of a percussion table, which machine is
useful in case the ore or mineral matter, after having been treated as above
described, requires further purification. The speed and extent of the motion
communicated to the table should be regulated according to the nature and
condition of the ore or mineral matter operated upon.
Figure XII., Sheet 1, represents the side elevation of my improved
percussion table. A is the swinging table, to which a forward motion is
communicated by a hopper J on the axis C; B is a buffer attached to the
framework F, and having its springs fastened either at its front or back end,
which buffer, on the return backwards of the table, comes in contact with the
table A; by this means a more equable motion is communicated to the
swinging table than would be the case if its backward motion was stopped by its s
striking against an unyielding substance, as has hitherto been the practice.
Figure XIII., Sheet 1, represents the method by which the extent of motion
communicated to the swinging table by the hopper is regulated. E is a bar
fixed to the swinging table, and having a screw cut on its further extremity ;
G is a regulator travelling on the bar E, and which, by means of two nuts
Hand H, can at pleasure be advanced towards or withdrawn from the
hopper J, which, by striking against the end of the regulator, communicates a
forward motion to the swinging table in a greater or less degree as the
regulator is advanced or withdrawn from the hopper.
I claim as my Invention the combination of one or more buffers with a
swinging table for the purpose above described, and in a manner convenient
for effecting such purpose; and also the method above described of regulating,
by means of a travelling regulator, the extent of motion communicated to the
swinging table by the action of the hopper. If the ore in any stage of its
purification should become caked together by being left for a time at rest or
otherwise, I find it convenient to use a rotatory drum furnished in the inside
either with lances in the usual way, or with chains loosely stretched across the
inside of the drum in case the ore should prove to be very stiff. I do not
claim as my Invention the using a rotary drum with lances, but I do claim

page_text: as my Invention the use of a rotary drum with chains loosely stretched across
its inside and the use of either drum in combination with the herein mentioned
apparatus, or any of them.
The various apparatus herein-before described are applicable for the puri-
fication of tin ore as well as of copper, zinc, and other ores, provided the latter,
on leaving the crusher, are reduced to particles sufficiently small to admit of
their purification in the manner above described. When, however, this is not
the case wholly or in part, I find it advantageous to use for the purification of
any particles which may prove too large for a successful treatment by the
above process, and which may be separated from the smaller particles by any
convenient process now in use, an apparatus which I call the continuous jigging
hutch, but which I do not claim to be my Invention.
In the annexed Drawing, Figure XIV., Sheet 1, represents a side section
of the continuous jigging hutch. A, A', is a vessel having two mouths,
A and A', A being at a higher level and narrower than A¹. Water is admitted
into this vessel by means of a pipe furnished with a regulating valve B, and
flows upwards until it is level with the mouth A', which is covered with a
pierced diaphragm or sieve C, forming the bottom of a box D, which fits,
water-tight, on the mouth of A¹. A weighted box E fits loosely into the
mouth A, and which box is caused to rise and fall by the action of the
hopper F. The ore or mineral matter to be treated is placed in the box D,
through the perforated bottom of which the water in a continuous succession
of shocks is forced, by the action of the weighted box E, almost to the top of
the box D, returning in the intervals of the shocks back again into the vessel
A, A¹, by force of gravitation. The impurities mingled with the ore or mineral
matter are thus gradually driven to the top of the box D, from which they
can be removed by hand. The larger particles of the ore or mineral matter
remain in the box D, from which, after they are sufficiently washed, they can
be removed by hand, and the smaller particles of the ore or mineral matter
pass through the sieve or diaphragm C to the bottom of the vessel A, A¹,
whence they can be withdrawn by opening the valve G.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Whitton Arundell, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of June, in the year of
Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and cirte two
JAMES WHITTON ARUNDELL. (L.S.)