US2072498A - Amalgamating cylinder - Google Patents

Description

March 2, 1937. E. L. FOSTER AMALGAMATING CYLINDER Filed April 29, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventm March 2, 1937. WE. L. FOSTER 2,072,498-

AMALGAMATING CYLINDER Filed April 29, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 HIHII q l I l 7 l|| Q Inventm E. 2. Fave March 2, 1937. L FOSTER 2,072,498

AMALGAMAT ING CYL INDER Filed April 29, 1936 4 Shets-Sheet 3 Inventor E. L fisher Maz ch 2, 1937.. E. L. FOSTER 2,072,498

AMALGAMATING CYLINDER Filed April 29, 1936- 4 Sheet-Sheet 4 Invenflor L.fbwf@w Mm? lomeys Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlQE AM'ALGAMATING CYLINDER Edwin L. Foster, Long Beach, Calif.

Application April 29, 1936, Serial No. 77,059

4 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to amalgamators and has for its object to provide an improved amalgamating cylinder.

In accordance with the present invention pro- 5 vision is made whereby a fresh, clean coat of amalgam or mercury is maintained on the face or periphery of the roller at all times and while in operation, thereby improving materially a device of this character, since heretofore after the 10 amalgam plate or cylinder was used a short time it became dirty and dead, and without sufficient clean amalgam to contact the gold for any useful purpose.

The present invention together with its objects 15 and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings where- 1n:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an amalga- 20 mating cylinder for use in an amalgamator, and

in horizontal position.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the cylinder.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view thereof.

25 Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through the cylinder.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view illustrating certain details hereinafter more fully referred to.

30 Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the manner of securing one end of the spirally wound wire.

Figure '7 is an elevational view of an amalgamating cylinder for use in a vertical position.

35 Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view through the vertical amalgamating cylinder.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the vertical amalgamating cylinder, and

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substan- 40 tially on the line Ill-l of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that in each form thereof the amalgamating cylinder comprises a hollow cylindrical body formed of suitable material and 45 having welded or otherwise secured within its respective opposite ends plates or disks 6.

The plates or disks 6 have formed integral therewith pintles 1 adapted to be journaled in suitable bearings provided therefor in the amal- 50 gamator (not shown).

Further in each form of the invention there is spirally wound on the periphery of the cylinder 5 a wire 8 the respective opposite ends of which are anchored to the cylinder through the medium 55 of screws or similar fastening elements 9. The

wire 8 is for the purpose of spreading over the periphery of the roller the mercury contents l0 thereof.

The roller illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive is of a type particularly designed for use in 5 the amalgamator in a horizontal position, and may be, and preferably is, mounted for revolving movement in the amalgamator.

This horizontally used amalgamating cylinder is provided in one of the end plates 6 with a filling opening normally closed through the medium of a plug H.

Also the horizontal amalgamating cylinder is adapted to contain therein the mercury iii, and from the interior of the cylinder the mercury or amalgam, which latter is preferably composed of mercury and approximately two percent of cyanide is directed onto the periphery of the roller through tubes II arranged within the cylinder as shown and having one end fitting in suitable openings provided therefor in the periphery of the cylinder.

From the above it will be apparent that as the mercury issues through the tubes III onto the periphery of the cylinder the mercury will be caused to spread over the periphery of the cylinder through the medium of the spirally wound wire 3 which latter is preferably German silver wire.

From the above then it will be apparent that in operation there is being continuously applied to the surface of the cylinder a fresh, clean coat of mercury or amalgam for use in separating or amalgamating metals, as gold, silver and copper, from their ores.

In the amalgamating cylinder shown in Figures 7 to 10 inclusive and which is designed for vertical disposition within an amalgamator a departure is made from the structure and as sembly of the horizontal cylinder in that, in the vertical amalgamating cylinder there are provided at the respective opposite ends of said cylinder partition plates l2 which with the end plates 6 form chambers which receive the mercury ID as shown in Figure 8, the mercury being introduced into these chambers through passages provided in the spindles I and from feed boxes 13 provided on the free ends of the spindles and being preferably integral with the spindles.

Each feed box It is provided with a filling opening equipped with a suitable screw plug l4 as shown. i

Also in the periphery of the vertical cylinder there is provided for each of the mercury chambers a series of drilled holes M through which the mercury issues onto the periphery of the cylinder to be spread throughout the length of the cylinder by the spirally wound wire 8 as is thought to be apparent.

It will be understood that in regard to the vertical cylinder the same may be mounted either for rotating movement or may be mounted stationary within the amalgamating device as found desirable.

It will be further appreciated that in either form of the invention the periphery of the cylinder will continuously present a fresh, clean coat of amalgam or mercury for contacting the amalgamable metals thus rendering the cylinder highly eflicient and substantially self-cleaning.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. An amalgamating cylinder having a perforated perimeter and adapted to contain mercury for issuance through the perforations in the cylinder, and a spreader element in spiral form disposed about the cylinder for spreading the mercury over the perimeter of the cylinder as the mercury issues from the latter.

2. For use in an amalgamator, a cylinder having provision in the interior thereof for containing mercury, and also having perforations in the periphery thereof through which the mercury issues to spread over the periphery of the cylinder, and a wire for spreading the mercury over the cylinder spirally wound about the cylinder and anchored at its respective opposite ends to the cylinder.

3. For horizontal disposition within an amalgamator, an amalgamating cylinder adapted to contain mercury and having interiorally thereof tubes one end of which are disposed in openings in the periphery of the cylinder, said tubes serving to direct the mercury contents of the cylinder onto the periphery of the latter, and means spirally disposed about the periphery of the cylinder for spreading the mercury over the periphery of the cylinder as it issues onto the periphery of the cylinder.

4. For vertical disposition within an amalgamator, an amalgamating cylinder having in the respective opposite ends thereof mercury containing chambers, and also provided in the periphery thereof with perforations through which the mercury issues onto the periphery of the cylinder from said chambers, and a spreading member spirally disposed about the periphery of the cylinder for spreading the mercury over the periphery of the cylinder as it issues thereonto.

EDWIN L. FOSTER.

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