IMPROVEMENTS IN County of Cardigan, for the Invention of Apparatus for CLEANING SMALL COAL OR SLACK, AND FOR SEPARATING ORES FROM THEIR Gangue
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Enfield Taylor, of Aberystwyth, in the.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
County of Cardigan, for the Invention of
Apparatus for CLEANING SMALL COAL OR SLACK, AND FOR SEPARATING ORES
FROM THEIR Gangue.”
"
.
Sealed the 28th August 1874, and dated the 11th March 1874.

page_text: <
In practising my Invention the small coal or slack as brought from
the pit is first passed through a circular riddle (unless sufficiently
screened before), and all that passes without falling through the meshes
of the riddle will be delivered into a wagon for immediate delivery, or
if necessary it is delivered upon a revolving picking table from which
the shale and other refuse can readily be removed by boys or girls, while
the lumps of coal are swept automatically by a semi-fixed arm into a
wagon. The size of the mesh of the riddle will vary with the quality of
the coal and purposes for which it is required.
The coal shale and other substance falling through the meshes will
drop into a hopper, from which it is drawn by means of an archimedean
screw to the said "impeller."
The action of the screw gives a perfectly regular feed, which is
indispensable to the efficient working of the apparatus or machine,
and the speed of the screw may be altered at will by the aid of speed
pullies:
Upon the said "impeller" is performed the operation of cleaning the
coal. This part of the apparatus or machine is in the form of a hollow
iron cylinder or drum with diagonal bars forming its outer circumfer-
ence, and placed at such an angle that blades, which are secured to them
perform (when rotary motion is given to the cylinder) a continuous
screw like course. The number of blades and dimensions of the said
'impeller" may vary with the mineral to be treated. The said blades
are made of wrought iron or steel, and are so arranged that they can be
extended to their true pitch as they wear. The cylinder is supported by
a central axle upon frames at each end, and is driven by. speed pullies.
At the base of the "impeller" is the aforesaid adjustable iron bed plate
which has the same length as the cylinder, being about one-eighth of
the outside circumference of the blade circle of the same sweep and
made to fit it exactly. To the upper edge of this plate and on its
outer rim is attached a launder or trough extending its entire length.
This launder is fed with water by a gas tube or other pipe in which is a
regulating cock, and when working is always kept full to overflowing on
the inner side.
The small coal and other substance being delivered upon the bed a
plate by the archimedean screw and a rotary motion being imparted to
the "impeller" the blades revolve, following cach other like the threads
of a screw,
but there will be a momentary pause upon the plate between,

page_text: them. The blades work at an angle to the archimedcan screw, and
moving against the inclination of the "bed plate," each one in its turn
as it
passes the plate impels the coal and other substance in its way
slightly upward and towards the further end, besides also turning the
mass in a similar manner to the action of a plough. The water flowing
from the trough and down the bed plate washes over the coal, which is
the lighter substance, and the blades push forward the shale, pyrites,
and other refuse to the further end, while on their way they are con-
tinually turning over and exposing to the action of the water the
particles of coal.
j
The aforesaid bottom or bed plate is made adjustable, so that it
may be raised or lowered for minerals of different sizes or specific
gravity. In this way not only is the rush of water increased or
diminished at pleasure, but a larger or smaller surface may be
presented for the material treated to rest upon in order to obtain the
best results.
The coal is carried from the propellor over a shoot lined, with per-
forated plates, to allow a part of the water to pass into a wagon or tub
The shale and other impurities are pushed over the end by the propeller
into a similar receptacle.
The whole apparatus or machinery may be driven by steam or water.
It will require little power, but great regularity.
In treating the ores of lead, copper, iron, and other metals, the
process is the same or nearly the same as above described for the treat-
ment of coal, but the action of the water will reverse, the points of
delivery of the valuable material, as the ores are almost invariably
heavier than the gangue that accompanies them. The size of the mesh
for the riddle in the case of ores will generally vary from one to six in
inch

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Henry Enfield Taylor, Her special
licence that I, the said Henry Enfield Taylor, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Enfield
Taylor, 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING SMALL COAL OR SLACK, AND FOR
SEPARATING ORES FROM THEIR GANGUE," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Henry Enfield Taylor, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument 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 what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 Henry Enfield Taylor, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom
panying Drawing forming a part of this Specification :-
My Invention relates,―

page_text: screw-
A is an archimedean screw forming the said automatic feed apparatus.
B is the impeller, and C the adjustable bed plate. The said impeller has
the form of a hollow cylinder or drum made of iron, wood and iron, or
other suitable material with diagonal bars a forming its outer circum-
ference and placed at such an angle that blades 6 which are secured to
them move in (when rotary motion is given to the cylinder) a continuous
v-like course. The number of these blades and the dimensions of
the said "impeller" may vary with the mineral to be treated. The
blades 6 are made of iron or steel, and are so arranged that they can be
restored to their true pitch as they wear. The cylinder B is supported
by a central axle c upon frames d at the cylinder ends, and is driven by
a belt or strap passed over the pulleys e and connected with pulleys fon
a countershaft, as shewn in Figure 1. At the base of the "impeller."
is.. the aforesaid adjustable bed plate C which has the same length as
the cylinder B, being about one-eighth of the outside circumference of
the blade circle, it has the same sweep or curvature as the outer circum-
ference of the blades 6 and is made to fit the same exactly, as shewn in
Figure 3. To the upper edge of this plate C and on its outer rim is
attached a launder or trough extending its entire length. This
launder is fed with water by a- tube or pipe g¹ in which is a regulating
cock, and when working is always kept full to overflowing on the inner
side.
In using my improved apparatus the coal or slack as brought from
the pit is first passed through a riddle (unless sufficiently screened.
before) and all that passes without falling through the meshes of the
riddle will be delivered into a wagon or other suitable receptacle for
immediate removal, or if necessary it is delivered upon a revolving
picking table from which the shale and other refuse can readily be
removed by boys or girls, while the lumps of coal are swept-automa
tically by a semi-fixed arm into a wagon. The size of the mesh of the
riddle will vary, say from ½ inch in diameter or square to 3 inches, with
the quality of the coal and purposes for which it is required. The
riddle is fed by an elevator or other suitable appliance if it cannot be
fixed in such a position as to take the coal direct from the pit or other
place of supply."
The coal, shale, and other substances falling through the meshes will
drop into a hopper, from which it is drawn by means of the aforesaid
archimedean screw to the said "impeller." Or I may deliver the coal

page_text: ✔
or other substance to be treated into a revolving screen D arranged
above the screw A, as shewn, and which delivers the said coal or other
substance into the hopper E, whence it falls into the box or case / of
the screw.
The action of the screw A ensures a perfectly regular feed, which is
indispensable to the efficient working of the said apparatus or machine.
The said screw is driven by a belt passed over the pulleys i and over other
pulleys on a countershaft or other conveniently arranged shaft; and
the speed of the said screw may be altered at will by means of these
pulleys.
Upon the aforesaid "impeller" is performed the operation of cleaning
the coal, the small coal and other substance being delivered upon the
bed plate by the archimedean screw C, and rotary motion being imparted
to the cylinder B the blades 6 revolve, following each other like the
threads of a screw; but there will be a momentary pause upon the
plate between each of them. The blades 6 work at an angle set from
the archimedean screw and moving against the inclination of the bed
plate, cach one in its turn as it passes the plate impels the coal and
other substance before it slightly upward and towards the further end of
the cylinder, at the same time turning the mass with an action similar
to that of a plough. The water flowing from the trough. 9 and down
the bed plate C washes the coal over, the coal being the lighter sub-
stance, and the blades push forward the shale, pyrites, and other
refuse to the further end, while they are continually turning over and
exposing to the action of the water the particles of coal.
The aforesaid bottom or bed plate C is made moveable by means of
adjusting screws or otherwise, so that it may be raised or lowered for the
treatment of minerals of different sizes or specific gravity. In this way
not only is the rush of water increased or diminished at pleasure, but a
larger or smaller surface may be presented for the material being treated
to rest upon in order to obtain the best results.
The coal is carried by the water over the bed plate C into a shoot F
lined with perforated plates or gauze through which the water and fine
material escape, and the coal is delivered into a wagon or, tub. The
shale and other impurities are pushed over the end of the bed plate by a
the "impeller" into a similar receptacle.

page_text: The whole apparatus or machinery may be driven by steam, water, or
other power. It will require little power, but great regularity.
In treating the ores of lead, copper, iron, and other metals, the
process is the same or nearly the same as above described for the treat-
ment of coal, but the action of the water will reverse the points of
delivery of the valuable material, as the ores are almost invariably
heavier than the gangue that accompanies them. The size of the mesh
for the riddle, in the case of orcs, will generally vary from one to six
holes in the square inch.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it understood that I claim,―
First. In an apparatus for cleaning coal and slack, and for separating
ores from their gangue, the employment of an automatic feed apparatus
constructed and operating as herein set forth.
Second. The impeller and adjustable bed plate constructed, combined,
and operating as herein set forth, and for the purposes specified.
Third. The apparatus consisting of the said automatic feeder, the
impeller, and adjustable bottom, constructed, combined, and operating
as herein set forth, and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Enfield Taylor, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four
25 Witness,
PAGET P. MOSLEY,
Netherseale Old Hall,
Ashby de la Zouch.
HENRY E. TAYLOR. (L.S.)