US2122822A

US2122822A - Placer mining machine

Info

Publication number: US2122822A
Application number: US103021A
Authority: US
Inventors: James F Noel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-09-28
Filing date: 1936-09-28
Publication date: 1938-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 1955-07-05

Description

July 5, 1938. NOEL 2,122,822

PLACER MINING MACHINE F'ild Sept. 28, less 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Flg-l 6/0/7765 F fVaL July 5, 1938. J. F. NOEL I 2,122,322

4 PLACER MINING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2a, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lfdmes F/Voefl Patented July 5, 1938 jF' iuNI Eo STATES PATENT OFFICE James F. Noel, Rawlins, Wyo. Application September 28, 1936, Serial No. 103,021

9 Claims.

, Q'Ihis invention relates to placer machines, and theprimary purpose of the invention is to meet the demand fora placer mining machine of simple construction, employing a minimum number of parts, especially bearing surfaces, and one that is rugged, durable, portable and which may be manufactured at a relatively low cost. ,With the foregoing object outlined and with more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

appended 1 is a top plan view of the machine, partly bfroken'away to facilitate illustration. Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation.

" Fig. 4 isa longitudinal sectional view of the line 4-4 of sluice box and screen, taken on the Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the same, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view of a detail of the sluice box.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same detail.

' "Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view of adetail of a modification.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same.

Referring to the drawings, Ill designates a stationary frame, preferably formed of a pair of transverse channel irons ll secured to and supporting a longitudinal channel iron I2.

A prime mover l3,

such as an internalcombustion engine is securely mounted on the frame at one end thereof. A horizontal transverse shaft I4 is rotatably mounted in bearings l5 arranged on the medial portion of the frame. means may be employed for driving from-the engine. For example, a belt Any suitable the shaft l6 driven by' a pulley H on the engine shaft may drive a pulley l8 fixed to the shaft l4.

Another framev I9 is supported on the main frame by vertically disposed leaf springs which have their ends fixedly connected to the two frames, and the frame I9 is vibrated by means of a leaf spring pitman 2| having one of its ends encircling and driven by an eccentric 22 on the shaft M. The other end of the pitman issecured to the frame 19 by any suitable means such as screws 23.

, The sluice box 24 isremovably mounted on the frame l9, and as best shown in Fig. 5, iflies 26 are secured to the bottom of the box. Each riflie preferably consists of an angle iron exe tending longitudinally of the box and having its horizontal wing secured to the bottom of the box. The vertical wings of the angle irons divide the box into a series of longitudinally arranged parallel channels 21, and each channel contains undulated means 28 extending lengthwise thereof. Such means preferably consists of strips mounted on the horizontal wings of the angle irons and having undulated top surfaces. If two strips are employed in each channel, they can be arranged with their ridges 29 coinciding as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, or the ridges of the two strips may alternate as shown at 30 in Figs. 8 and 9,

The undulated strips form a novel system of inclined surfaces between the riflies which, due to a wedging action, prevent the material from becoming packed. The angle of the inclined surfaces and the rapidity and amplitude of the mo.- tion are determined by the character of the material treated, and the undulated strips act to keep the material in a loose condition, andthis allows the heavy material, such as gold, to easily Work its way to the bottom or to the spaces be-. tween adjacent angle irons. These spaces are occupied by toothed strips 3i which extend lengthwise of the box. Each tooth of these strips is preferably made up of vertical surfaces 32 from which inclined surfaces 33 slope downwardly to, ward the vertical surface of preceding teeth. As the heavy material enters the notches between the teeth, and the box reciprocates longitudinally, the concentrate is raised by the inclined surfaces 33 and is then pushed toward the outlet 34 by the vertical surfaces 32. Thus, a gradual delivery of concentrate is provided for, and it is unnecessary to make frequent clean-ups. The rate of delivery of the concentrate is determined by the size and angle of the surfaces of the toothed strips 3|, the size of the opening in the spout 34, the motion and the distance the material has to be lifted.

Immediately above the sluice box, I arrange a screen 35 preferably of wire netting, and this screen has a wall 36 at three sides thereof, so that particles placed on the screen and too large to pass therethrough may be discharged by means of the outlet 31 at one side of the box. Material passing through the screen falls on to an impere forate sheet metal plate 38 which is preferably connected to the frame 35' of the screen and inclines toward one side of the box so that material dep s ted n th plate can b d t ou h an ill iii

opening 39 from the plate into the sluice box. Material which travels across the sluice box from the opening 39 to the opposite side of the box is delivered through an outlet 40.

By making the plate 38, the screen 35 and its frame removable from the sluice box, the whole top of the box may be uncovered to permit access to the interior of the latter.

In operation, the substantially liquid mixture of materials containing the metal to be concentrated is deposited on the screen, and due to vibrations caused by the rotation of the shaft l4,

some of this material will pass through the screen and land on the plate 38 which will direct it toward the Opening 39. Large particles incapable of passing through the screen will be discharged at one side of the machine through the outlet 31. The material flowing through the outlet 39 will first be acted upon by the rifile at one side of the box, and then lighter materials will flow successively over the riffles until discharged through the outlet 40. Between the riffies, the lighter materials will be loosened and raised by the undulated strips 28, while the heavier metal will pass into the spaces or notches between the teeth of the strips 3|, and will be fed lengthwise of the sluice boxuntil it reaches the outlet spout 34. It will be fed up and out of this spout by continuations'of the toothed strips 3! which extend upwardly along the spout as illustrated in Fig. 4.

While I have disclosed what I now consider to be a preferred embodiment of my invention in such manner that the same may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, I am aware that changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, as expressed in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A placer mining machine comprising a sluice box provided with a series of substantially par allel rifiles which divide the bottom portion of the box into channels arranged side by side, means for introducing a liquid mixture of light materials and heavy materials into one of said channels, means extending lengthwise of the channels and having undulated top surfaces for raising the loose material and preventing it from packing in the channels, means for moving heavier materials lengthwise of the channels, and means for vibrating the box.

. 2. A placer mining machine comprising a sluice box provided with a series of substantially parallel riilles which divide the bottom portion of the box into channels arranged side by side, means for introducing a liquid mixture of light materials and heavy materials into one of said channels, strips extending lengthwise of the channels and having undulated top surfaces for raising the loose material and preventing it from packing in the channels, means including toothed strips arranged in the channels between the riflies and strips for moving heavier materials lengthwise of the channels, and means for vibrating the box.

3. A placer mining machine comprising a sluice box, means for vibrating the sluice box, substantially parallel rifiles arranged in the bottom portion of the box and dividing said portion into a series of channels arranged side by side, means for depositing a liquid mixture containing light materials and heavy materials into an outermost one of said channels, means for discharging light material from the opposite outermost one of said channels, strips extending lengthwise of the channels and having undulated top surfaces adapted to loosen and raise said light material to prevent the same from packing in the channels, and toothed strips positioned in the bottom portion of the channels for feeding heavier material lengthwise of the channels, each tooth of the toothed strips having a substantially vertical surface and an inclined surface sloping downwardly from said vertical surface toward the vertical surface of a preceding tooth.

4. A placer mining machine comprising a sluice box, means for vibrating the sluice box, substantially parallel riflles arranged in the bottom portion of the box and dividing said portion into a series of channels arranged side by side, means for depositing a liquid mixture containing light materials and heavy materials into an outermost one of said channels, means for discharging light material from the opposite outermost one of said channels, strips extending lengthwise of the channels and having undulated top surfaces adapted to loosen and raise said light material to prevent the same from packing in the channels, and toothed strips positioned in the bottom portion of the channels for feeding heavier material lengthwise of the channels, each tooth of the toothed strips having a substantially vertical surface and an inclined surface sloping downwardly from said vertical surface toward the vertical surface of a preceding tooth, said strips having alternately arranged ridges 5. A placer mining machine comprising a sluice box having an inlet at one side and an outlet at the opposite side, substantially vertical rifiles in the bottom portion of the box "between the inlet and the outlet, said rifiles dividing the bottom portion of the box into substantially parallel channels extending lengthwise of the box, an outlet spout at one end of the box for discharging concentrated material from the channels, strips projecting upwardly from the bottom of the box and arranged in said channels, said strips having undulated top surfaces and means in said channels between the rifiies and strips for feeding heavy material through said outlet spout.

6. A placer mining machine comprising a sluice box having an inlet at one side and an outlet at the opposite side, substantially vertical riflles in the bottom portion of the box between the inlet and the outlet, said rifiles dividing the bottom portion of the box into substantially parallel channels extending lengthwise of the box, an outlet spout at one end of the box for discharging concentrated material from the channels, strips projecting upwardly from the bottom of the box and arranged in'said channels, said strips having undulated top surfaces and means in said channels between the rifiles and strips for feeding heavy material through said outlet spout, the strips being arranged in pairs in each channel.

7. A placer mining machine comprising a sluice box having an inlet at one side and an outlet at the opposite side, substantially vertical riflies in the bottom portion of the box between the inlet and the outlet, said riflles dividing the bottom portion of the box into substantially parallel channels extending lengthwise of the box, an outlet spout at one end of the box for discharging concentrated material from the channels, strips projecting upwardly from the bottom of the box and arranged in said channels, said strips having undulated top surfaces and means in said channels between the riffies and strips for feeding heavy material through said outlet spout, the strips being arranged in pairs in each channel,

and the strips of each pair having alternately arranged ridges.

8. A placer mining machine comprising a sluice box, means for vibrating the box, means for introducing material to be treated into one side of the box, means for discharging light material from the opposite side of the box, substantially parallel rifiies arranged in the bottom portion of the box between the inlet and the outlet, each riffie consisting of an angle iron having a horizontal wing spaced from adjacent rifiles, and an upstanding wing, the upstanding wings forming a series of channels extending lengthwise of the box, an outlet spout at one end of the box for discharging heavier material from the channels, strips mounted on the horizontal wings of the rifiles and extending lengthwise of said channels, said strips having undulated top surfaces and toothed strips on the bottom of the box positioned between the riffles for feeding heavier material lengthwise of the channels and through said outlet spout.

9. A placer mining machine comprising a sluice box, means for vibrating the box, means for introducing material to be treated into one side of the box, means for discharging light material from the opposite side of the box, substantially parallel riiiies arranged in the bottom portion of the box between the inlet and the outlet, each riffle consisting of an angle iron having a horizontal wing spaced from adjacent riffies, and an upstanding wing, the upstanding wings forming a series of channels extending lengthwise of the box, an outlet spout at one end of the box for discharging heavier material from the channels, strips mounted on the horizontal wings of the riflies and extending lengthwise of said channels, said strips having undulated top surfaces, toothed strips on the bottom of the box positioned between the riflles for feeding heavier material lengthwise of the channels and through said outlet spout, a foraminous screen positioned above the sluice box, and means for guiding material passing through the screen into the inlet of the sluice box.

JAMES F. NOEL.