US1230135A - Amalgamator. - Google Patents

Description

W. W. DILL.

AMALGAMATOR.

APPLICATION msn ocr. za, 1916.

Patented June 19, 1917.

Il Il l" WILLIAM W. DILL, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTN.

AMALGAMATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 19, 1917..

Application led etober 23, 1916. Serial No. 127,253.

To all 107mm t may concern.'

Be it known that I, lVILLrAM WV. DILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of llfashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amalgamators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to amalgamators of the class used in separating precious metals from their ores. lts object is to render the process of separation thorough and expeditious and to economize manual labor. To this end, my invention consists in the con` struction and combination of parts forming an amalgamator hereinafter more fully described, and particularly stated in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in whichH Figure 1, represents a longitudinal, vertical section at line m, a', Fig. 2, of an amalgamator according to my invention.

Fig. 2, is a plan or top view of the same.

Fig. 8, shows a transverse vertical section at line y, y, Fig. 1.

Numeral 4t represents a hydraulic table or sluice box mounted on legs 5, at an incline down which the slush of water and pulverized ore will run by gravity. A series of crossbars 6, called a mining riiiie, are located across the bed of the table near the head. The remainder of the table is covered with a sheet of copper 7, which extends beyond the lower end 8, and depends therefrom slanting back at an acute angle under the said end, its lower edge 9, being directly over the trough 10. This trough is located below and a little back of the delivery end 8, so that anything falling freely or running from the end S, will pass over the trough and not be caught by it. The trough slants to deliver to one side at 11, into anyy suitable receptacle. A series of crossbars 12, rest removably in notches in the sides 13, of the table, and cach crossbar carries a series of plates 14, preferably of copper silver plated, depending to the table plate 7, for gathering metal. These gathering plates are located with spaces of about their own width between them upon each bar 12, and the plates on adjacent bars alternate so as to locate the plates of one bar opposite the spaces between the plates of the next bar in lines along the table.

The ends of the plates 14, come in Contact with the table plate 7, on lines 15, preferably oblique te the line of the table; those finest condition practicable.

on one bar slantingV to the right and those on the next bar slanting to the left. A hamperboard 16, is hung to swing on trunnions 17, in the sides 13, of the table. This amalgamator is adapted for service in quartz milling, in mining dredging and in hydraulic placer mining. The ore is first to be crushed and'pulverized by any suitable means to the The mercury or amalgamating compound is applied by throwing it against the front faces of the gathering plates 14; its chemical aiiinity for the copper and silver causing it to adhere and spread over them.

Enough mercury is applied to run down upon the table plate 7, and cover it. The pulverized ore is to be mixed with water forming slush that is delivered onto the riflle 6, by any usual means, such as a flume running to the head of the table. The bars of the riiile stop such particles of metal as are too heavy to flow over them suspended in the water as the slush moves down the incline of the table.

In its progress, the slush comes in contact with the gathering plates 14, which present their whole immersed surfaces to catch the fine particles of metal which iiow against them. At the same time, the oblique ends 15 steer the slush from side to side crosswise of the table so that the entire surface of the plate 7 is employed in gathering the particles of metal that sink to the bottom of the moving, slush. When the mercury becomes loaded with metal it forms into the little globules peculiar to mercury and is readily carried by gravity and the friction of the moving slush upon it down the incline, and its native adhesion to the copper plate causes it to follow the under hang thereof until the accumulation drops from the edge 9, into the trough 10, while the silt and other refuse mattei' iiow off from the end 8, and drop beyond the trough l0, as waste matter. The plates 14, have enough uphill slant to prevent their being swung free from the plate 7, by the current of slush. The gathering plates 14, hung alternately as described would still present their surfaces to the flowing slush to gather the metal that is in suspension above the bed plate if their ends were not bent obliquely as at 15, but were left in plane to meet the bed plate 7, in lines square across it, yet that form would impede the desired rapid flow of slush which produces the best results. The

hamper-board 16 backs up the top current of the slush to some extent and forces it into contact with the table in a'linal eortftofV bring all the fine metal in contact with the mercury for amalgamation. When the plates 14 become loaded with amalgam theyl may be removed from the table Vand the amalgam be gathered from` tliemand :from the table plate 7, by usual means. The

`described means fforV bringingi4 then slushl w-hilefin fairly yrapid low5 to/.come in contact with a greatdeal: of surface covered' with mercury accomplishes. the i'rst two. points of my stated objectythoroughness .and

1. A slantingf copper-faced amalgamatingfvr table; obstructing-plates hungwith spaces V between them in successive lines across over the table, the plates of each line being located opposite the spaces between the plates of the adjacent line, the whole width of the lower portion of each plate o one line slanting obliquely to the right along the table, and the corresponding portion of eachk plate of thefnext 'lineslanting obliquely to the left.

2. In an amalgamator, a slanting, copperfaced table; a seriesvof 1 plates depending upon the table'ini successive lines across it,

the linexo-:contact of=thewhble*width of' eachl plate wi-th; the, table.y slanting obliquely to the .line :of 'the table7V the slant of 'one line of plates sbei'ngto tlieriight and of fthe next line to theyleLEt."

f In'testiunony whereof l 4fallin any signature in presencefof twol witnesses;

W'ILLIAM iW. DELL; Witnesses On: Bi l-l-ERGERT,I HL; D.' Bramy Copies` of; thspatentf-may be obtained for `five cents eachgby addressing ftheuf-VGommssionerof Patentsy Washingtomelllc.

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