US1083152A - Dry concentrator. - Google Patents

Description

l/ E n. n. alnrnnmm 5; DRY GONGENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.24,1911.

1,08351 52. Patented Deo. 30, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

DRY GONCBNTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.24,1911.

Patented DBC. 30, 1913.

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E. A. STEPHENS. DRY GONGBNTRATOR.

APPLIGATION FILED 00T. 24, 1911.

1,083,1 52., Patented Dee.r 30, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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iran sra'rss ELISHA A. STEPHENS, 0F PORTLAND, OREGON, ASSIGNOR T0 INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING & MINING CO., A CORPORATION OF ARIZONA.

DRY CONCENTRATOR.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ELISHA A. STEPHENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented new and useful Improvements in Dry Concentrators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to dry concentrators for the purpose of concentrating ores and separating valuable metals, such as gold, silver and platinum from sand, gravel and crushed quartz without the use of water.

The invention has for its object to simplify and improve the construction of the jig box and shaker frame and the traps, chutes and air passages forming a part thereof.

A further object is to provide suitably arranged valves for controlling the passage of air through the ducts or passages and to regulate the flow of air to the individual traps.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and improved construction whereby the air blast will be concentrated in the direction of the undersides of the rifes.

Still further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the general construction and operation of a machine of the character described.

lVith these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings-Figure l is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig.-3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view, enlarged, of one of the trap Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led October 24, 1911.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

Serial No. 656,358.

boxes, the riliies above the same and adjacent parts. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view illustrating a modification. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 6 6 in Fig. 5.

Corresponding` parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The framework of the machine is supported upon the longitudinal sills 1, and said framework includes uprights 2 and cap beams 3. Supported longitudinally upon the sills l .is a casing A having an L-shaped bar ZL mounted upon the outer longitudinal sides thereof and near the upper edges. The horizontal anges of the bars 4L have journaled thereon the rollers 5, which engage the horizontal flanges of the L bars La which are secured to the lower edges of the or shaker frame B. The jig box is supported over the casing A and the rollers 5 afford an anti-frictional bearing for the jig box to admit of a freely slidable vibration of the same.

The casing A consists of a suitably constructed casing in the bottom of which is arranged a plurality of horizontal partitions G extending from the inlet 7 at the front end of the casing in a rearward direction, said partition plates being of different lengths, the length of said plates increasing from the top downward, and the lowermost plate terminating at a suitable distance from the rear end of the casing. The casing is provided with a plurality of transverse partitions 8, the lower edges of which are connected with the rear ends of the partition plates 6, thereby dividing the interior of the casing into a plurality of transverse compartments of substantially equal length but of varying depth, the bottom of the rst or forward compartment being formed by the uppermost plate 6, while the bottom of the last or rearward compartment is formed by the bottom member 9 of the box or casing A. Thus, it will be seen that the partition plates 6 and the bottom member V9 form a plurality of ducts whereby the several transverse compartments formed between the partitions 8 and the front and rear members 10, 11 of the casing A are individually and independently connected with the inlet 7. The throat or inlet portion 7 of the casing is equipped with transversely disposed shafts 12, each carrying a valve 13, one such valve being disposed in each of the compartments 14, thereby controlling the passage of air to the transverse compartments of the casing. The valve carrying shafts 12 are equipped with cranks 15 having segmental portions provided with slots 16 that are concentric with the shafts, such slots being engaged by bolts 17 having thumb nuts 1S which may be tightened for the purpose of securing the valves in adjusted position. The throat or inlet 7 communicates through an expansion chamber 19 with the discharge end 20 of a blower 21. The blower 21 is driven by power transmitted from any suitable source.

Supported in the transverse compartments between the vertical partitions 8 are trap boxes 22 increasing in depth from the front rearward, each of said trap boxes being provided adjacent to its lower front edge with an arcuate deliector 23 extending forwardly into the duct 14 with which the compartment in which such trap box is supported communicates. The trap boxes are provided with inverted V-shaped deflectors 24 extending through openings 25 in the sides of the jig box casing, the projecting ends of said deflectors being provided with closed chutes or ducts 26 having suitably arranged valves or closures 27 and 23 adjacent to their lower and upper ends, respectively, the upper valves 28 being disposed adjacent to the outer faces of the side members of the jig box casing.

The jig box or shaker frame B comprises a trough 29 which is inclined from the front in a downward and rearward direction. A hopper 30 is suitably supported to discharge into the upper or front end of the trough. The latter is provided with transverse slots or apertures 31 which are arranged directly above the trap boxes 22, said slots being obstructed by the riffles which are formed of rods or tubes 32 of circular cross section, the ends of which are secured in the sides of the trough, said rods or tubes being suitably spaced to permit material to pass therebetween. These riiiles or screens have been found exceptionally useful and efficient in connection with a concentrator of this class. The under side of the bottom of the trough 29 is provided with downwardly diver-ging deflectors 33 which extend from the front and rear edges of the apertures 31 and which have their lower edges directed to closely engage the upper extremity of the partitions 8. The jig box is to be vibrated horizontally with a stroke only about one-eighth of an inch in length and the partitions S and detlectors 33 are to be of such a thickness as to admit of this vibration without having the compartments formed by said partitions at any time communicated. As will be readily understood, the air blast passing between the partitions 8 is directed and concentrated upon the screened apertures 31 between upwardly converging deflectors 33.

The posts or uprights 2 at the front end of the frame structure are provided with bearings for a shaft 34 which is driven at proper speed by power derived from any suitable source. The shaft 34 has an eccentric which is connected by a link or rod 35 with a bracket 36 upon the front end of the jig box to which a rapid reciprocatory movement will thus be imparted.

Suitably supported upon the rear end of the jig box adjacent to the tail end of the trough 29 is a box 37 the bottom of which is disposed below the level of the bottom of the trough, but is inclined in the opposite direction, that is to say, in a downward and forward direction. Nuggets and coarse gold which is of a size that it will not pass through the screens or rifl'les will be caught in this box and will naturally work by gravity toward the lower end of the box instead of passing with the waste over the rear end of the box. This feature has been found extremely valuable in saving coarse gold, which, otherwise, would be lost.

Under the modification illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, the trap boxes 22, instead of being provided with deflectors 24, valves or closures 27 and 28 and related parts, are equipped each with a suitably supported head 55 inserted through one side of the casing and adapted to receive the values passing through the screens. Above each drawer grooves 56 are formed for the -reception of a slide 57 which, when the drawer is open for the purpose of cleaning up the values, may be placed in an obstruct ing position, as shown in the drawing, Figs. 5 and 6. It is obvious that inasmuch as only one drawer is usually open at one time, a single slide may be used in connection with all of the drawers, such slide being moved from one trap box t-o another. The drawers when closed may be secured in position by means of a bar 53 secured upon the ends of the frame structure in obstructing position with reference to the drawers by suitable means, such as padlocks 59, the bar being provided with slots 60 engaging hasps or staples 61 upon the frame structure. By this simple arrangement it is evident that access to the drawers is prevented except to the iuthorized person who is in possession of a rey.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. Vhen the machine is in operation the blast from the blower will be directed through the ducts 14, each of which is controlled by an independent valve. By the deflectors 23 at the lower front edges, of the trap boxes 22 the air currents will be divided so as to pass equally in front and in rear of said trap boxes and in an upward direction until by the defiectors 33 the air currents are converged against the undersides of the screens or ritlles, thereby holding in suspension the material which is being Jred from the hopper 30 to the trough. By the rapid reciprocatory movement to which the jig box is subjected the material will be caused to travel down the incline of the trough in a rearward direction and will in its passage be subjected to the action of the successive air blasts in issuing through the screens or riitles, thus eecting a very thorough separation, the heavy and valuable particles being permitted to pass through the screens, while the lighter and worthless particles are eventually discharged over the tail end of the trough, with the exception of such gold as may be too coarseto pass through the screens, such gold being saved in the box 37. During the operation, the valves 29 at the lower ends of the chutes are kept closed. In cleaning up the values the valves 28 are closed, thus obstructing the passage of air, while the valves 29 are opened to permit the values to escape from the chutes 26, as will be readily understood.

It is obvious that in the construction of the machine any suitable number of trap boxes and related parts may be employed.

The general construction of the machine is simple and inexpensive, and it has been found in actual practice to be thoroughly effective for the purposes for which it is provided.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A device of the character described comprising a stationary casing, a jig box supported upon the top of the casing for reciprocation, means for vibrating the same, the under side of said jig box having upwardly converging dellectors, a screen between said deflectors, a compartment in said casing and arranged under said deflectors, a trap box supported in the compartment and spaced from the front and rear walls thereof, a valved duct communicating with the lower ends of said compartment, and an arcuate detlector at the lower edge of the trap box.

2. A machine of the character described comprising a casing, a jig box supported upon said casing for reciprocation, means for vibrating the same, a compartment in said casing, said jig box being provided with a screened aperture, diverging deflectors projecting from the edges of said aperture and disposed over said compartment, a trap box supported in said compartment and spaced from the front and rear walls thereof, a valved duct communicating with the lower end of said compartment, a current dividing delector at the lower front edge of the trap box, and means for directing a current of air under pressure into the duct.

3. A device of the character described comprising a stationary casing, a vibratory jig box, a plurality of longitudinal partition plates -o gradually increasing length arranged in the lower part of the casing, vertical transverse partitions connected at their lower edges with the rear ends of the partition plates, the bottom of said jig box providing an inclined trough having transverse slots, screens obstructing said slots, inclined deflectors connecting the slots with the upper edges of the transverse partitions, trap boxes supported between and spaced from the transverse partitions, and means for directing currents of air under pressure into the ducts between the longitudinal par* tition plates.

Af. A device of the character described comprising a casing, a vibratory jig box, a plurality of longitudinal partition plates of gradually increasing length arranged in the lower part of the casing, vertical transverse partitions connected at their lower edges with the rear ends of the partition plates, the bottom of the box providing an inclined trough having transverse slots, screens obstructing said slots, inclined delectors connecting the slots with the upper edges of the transverse partitions, trap boxes supported between and spaced from the transverse partitions, and arcuate delectors at the lower front edges of the trap boxes extending forwardly between the longitudinal partition plates.

5. A machine of the character described comprising a casing having transverse compartments and longitudinal ducts communicating with the lower ends of said compartments, means for supplying air under pressure to the forward ends of the chiots, trap boxes supported in the compartments and spaced from the front and rear walls of said compartments, a jig box supported upon the casin g and providing an inclined trough having transverse slots therein opening in said compartments, screens obstructing said slots and current dividing detlectors at the lower front edges of the trap boxes projecting 'forwardly into the ducts.

6. A device of the character described including a movable supporting frame, a stationary casing supported upon one end of said frame, a fan blower disposed upon the other end of the frame, a plurality of longitudinal ducts disposed in the lower portion of said casing, vertical partit-ions connected to the ends of the ducts and forming vertical transverse compartments within said casing, a throat provided at the front and lower end of said casing and having said ducts extended therein, the free end of said throat having its sides converged to form an expansion chamber, said converged ends of the throat being connected to said fan blower, butterfly valves pivoted within said throat and disposed within each of said ducts to control the passage of air therethrough, a jig box supported above said casing and communicating with the compartments therein, and means to vibrate said jig box.

7. A device of the character described comprising a stationary casing having a plurality of transverse compartments and longitudinal ducts communicating therewith, said casing having a throat constituting an inlet for said ducts, means for supplying air under pressure into said throat, an expansion chamber connecting the supply means with the throat of the casing, a jig box disposed over said casing and means to vibrate the same.

8. A device of the character described including a stationary casing, a plurality of longitudinal partition plates arranged within the lower part of said casing, a vertical transverse partition connected at its lower edge with each of said plates, trap boxes supported between said vert-ical partitions and spaced therefrom, a jig box slidably mounted upon the top of said casing, the bottom of said jig box forming a rearwardly declined trough having a series of screened apertures therein disposed over said trap boxes, downwardly diverging de- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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