US1054410A

US1054410A - Mining apparatus.

Info

Publication number: US1054410A
Application number: US57254210A
Authority: US
Inventors: Isaac N Henness
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1910-07-18
Filing date: 1910-07-18
Publication date: 1913-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 1930-02-25

Description

I. N. HENNESS.

MINING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18, 1910.

1,054,410, Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC N. HENNESS, OF MOCLIPS, WASHINGTON.

MINING APPARATUS;

Application filed July 18,

To all "whom it may concern Be it known that I, ISAAC N. HENNEss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moclips, in the county of Chehalis and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mining Apparatus, of which the following is.a specification.

This invention relates to placer-mining and more especially to apparatus for excavating and conveying auriferous sand or gravel to the sluice boxes or other gold separating appliances.

The object ofthe invention is to afford means whereby large quantities of auriferous material may'be economically excavated from exposed'positions or from submerged river or sea-beds and then progressively transported to the washing contrivances.

The invention consists in the novel construction, adaptation and combination of devices as will be hereinafter described and claimed. y

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a general view in perspective of an eni-' bodiment of my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical longitudinal and transverse sectional views of the scraper employed in carrying out the invention. Fig. 4 is a perspective of a rake which is employed in clearing the ground of boulders or the like which may be encountered.

The reference numeral 5 designates a sluicebox supported upon suitable trestles, such as 6. At the upper, receiving, end ofthe sluicebox is a hopper 7 and above the latter is a platform 8. This platform is provided with an opening 9 of less width than th.plat form. Extending from the platform to the ground is a Way 10 of equal width to the\ platform at its juncture therewith and thence diverging to a greater width at its lower end. At the opposite sides of said way and platform are walls 11 and 12. Mounted upon a portable frame 13 is a plurality of rope-winding

drums

14, 15, 16 and 17 normally loose upon the respective shafts which are driven by a suitable motor, such as an en ine 18 deriving its power from a steam-bo1ler '19. Any sutable devices may be employed for individually engaging said drums with their shafts.

20 represents a scraper constructed with two side plates 21, a top plate 22 extending from the forward edges of the side plates Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913. 1910. Serial No. 572,542.

and thence about the rear of such side plates to form the back 23. As best shown in Fig. 2, the back of the scraper is curved, and detachably connected to its lower edge is a cutting blade 24 which projects below the plane of the bottom edges of the side plates 21. The bottom of the scraper is open while at the front is a gate 25 which is hinged to the front edge 22 so as to be swung forwardly when opened. Secured to the side plates is a draft-bail 26 in which is a centrally-disposed swivel eye-bolt 27 to accominmlat-c the draw-line 28 which passes about a pulley 2S) and thence extends to the winding-drum 14. The pulley 29 is connected to a guy-secured post 30, or an equivalent, which is positioned so that the line when wound about the drum will cause the scraper to be drawn up the wax onto the platform 8.

t the rear corners of the scraper are apertured cars 31 whereto are respectively secured controller lines 32 and 33. line 32 is led by gulde pulleys 34 and 34 to the winding-drum 16; while the other line. 33, is led by

guide pulleys

35 and 35 to the winding-drum 17. In practice, the

pulleys

34 and 35 are secured by anchor ropes 36 remote from the platform 8 and spaced apart to a distance somewhat greater than the Width of the ground which is to be excavated during a stage of operation. The other guide-

pulleys

34 and 35 are maintained in positions to lead the respective lines to the drums therefor.

The rake, illustrated in Fig. 4, is formed of a frame consisting of two transversely arranged bars 37 with spacing blocks 38 between. the corresponding ends. Rigidly secured to the ends of this frame are forwardly directed draw-bars 39 carrying at their outer ends a yoke 40 which serves. for making connection with the 'said drawline 28 when the rake is used in place of the scraper. the rake-frame is provided with holes for the-reception vof teeth 41. When the rake is employed the controller lines 32 and 33 would be connected'with the rake frame adjacent to its ends as for example to the shanks of the outermost of the teeth and between theframe-bars 37. I

In operation, the scraper is first drawn away from the sluice-box by operating the 'agency of the drums 16 and 17 and it may be moved laterally by then slacking one of The Intermediate the draw-bars 39,

two haul-back lines 32 and 33 through the these lines while exerting a pull through the other one. When the scraper is then properly positioned the drum 14 is caused to rotate to Wind up the main haul line 28 which eflects the drawing of the scraper across the ground and over the way 10 to stop upon the platform 8. As the scraper is dragged forwardly lthe downwardly projecting cutting blade 24. digs into the ground and causes the plowed. up material to be turned up against the inner side of the back 23 until the chamber within the scraper is filled with the excavated material and an excess-amount of material will then exert an upward thrust against the underside of the top 22 with the result that the scraper will be raised to elevate the cutting blade out of -operative position. The scraper then rides on its load, so to speak, until it arrives above the platform opening 9 whereupon the transported material will drop into the hopper therebelow to be deposited into the sluice-h0g5. Should any of the material, however, stick to the walls of the scraper 'it may be washed oil by a stream of Water delivered through a hose when the gate 25 is swun "back over the scraper top; A further unotio-n of' the gate is to afford protection to the contents of the scraper from being washed out when a it is being'operatedon a beach having a heavy surf. The scraper is successively drawn back and forth by actuating the proper of the aforesaid lines, and it is evident that by a suitable cont-r01 of the haulbackn'lines that the scraper'may be transvversely moved to excavate all of the ground included in the space bounded by planes coextensive with the side walls 11 of the way and to a distance equal to the offsetting of the

pulleys

35 and 36 from 'the washing device.

Where rocks or other obstructions are encountered, the rake, Fig. 4, is substituted for the scraper and will be reciprocat-ed in substantially the same manner, but may be guided to deposit the various loads along the lateral margins of the ground being worked instead of drawing the rocks over the way.

Having described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent of the United States, is-

A bottomless scraper comprising vertical side Walls, a top plate secured thereto and extending over the rear ends of the side walls to constitute the rear wall, said rear Wall being curved forwardly, a cutter blade secured to the lower edge thereof and lying below the lower edge of the side walls, a front wall of substantially the same width as-the height of the Side walls hinged to the forward end of the top wall, a draft bail pivoted to the sidewalls near the forward ends of the latter, and ears,conn'ect-ed to the side walls atthe rear end of the latter and projecting beyond the rear Wall for the attachment of haul-back lines to the scraper.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 12th day of July, 1910.

ISAAC N. HENNESS.

Witnesses:

A. B. SMITH, H. Barnes.