US404521A - Slime-separator - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)v 1 P. H. DUNAGAN.

SLIME SEPARATOR. v

' No. 404,521. Patented June 4, 1889.

WITNESSES: IIVVEIVTOR,

AITOHIVEY,

N PETERS. Pholn-Lilhognlphur. WfllhiuglOn. o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIG PATRICK H. DUN AGAN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SLlME-SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,521, dated June 4, 1889.

Application filed November '7, 1887. Serial No. 254,617. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PATRICK H. DUNAGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoo and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Slime-Separator, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus for separating and saving the valuable slimes and floats found in almost all ores bearing the precious metals, and which, from their small specific gravity, are carried off and lost in the tailings; and its objects are to furnish such an apparatus reliable in operation, adapted when properly used to effect the thorough separation and saving of such valuebearing slimes or floats from the ores or the tailings thereof, economical in construction,

and durable in use; to which ends it consists in the features and combinations more particularly hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings is illustrated an improved separator embodying my invention for such ends, in which drawings- Figure 1 is a side view of my improved apparatus; Fig. 2, a top plan view thereof; Fig. 3, a cross-section of the tank and valve apparatus on line :29 as, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4, a front view of a detail of construction.

In the figures the reference-numeral 1 indicates any suitable framing, upon which the parts are mounted and by which they are supported. At one end of the frame is atank 2, whose shape is that of an inverted pyramid, and which has a discharge-orifice 3 at its bottom, terminating in a discharge-pipe 4, to which suitable pipes or troughs may be attached for carrying the discharge from the tank to any desired point. The pulverized ore or mingled ore and water is fed into this tank by any ordinary means-say a trough whose end rests on the top of the outer end of thetank.

In order to maintain the water in the tank at a uniform height, an automatic valve apparatus is combined therewith, as follows:

5 is an additional tank or chamber of any desired shape in cross-section, secured alongside or near the tank 2, and within which is a float 6, of corresponding shape, and adapted.

to move easily and readily as a pistonwithin chamber 5. By a rod 7 this float is suspended from a bar 8 at one end thereof, this bar extending and lying across the tank 2, and being pivoted or hinged at its other end to the opposite side of the frame, as shown at28. Immediately over the discharge-orifice 3 of the tank a rod 9 depends from bar 8, a valve 10 being secured to the lower. end thereof. A pipe 29 connects the tank 2 and chamber 5, so as to maintain the same level of waterboth in 2 and 5. The rods 7 and 9 are adj ust-ably secured to the bar 8 by any common and convenient means of adj ustmentsuch as plain or winged nuts taking on screw-threaded por tions of the rod+so that the relation of float and valve and height of water may be regulated as desired or needed. The operation of these combined parts in maintaininga practically constant water-level is too obvious to need further description.

13 is the main driving-shaft, journaled in suitable bearings, motion being communicated thereto through the bevel-gears 12, one of which is secured to theshaft 13 and one to a short shaft at right angles thereto, and carrying the main driving-pulley 11, to which power is conveyed from any suitable motor.

As seen in Fig. 2, the main shaft 13 is slightly cranked at each end, so as to give a slight reciprocating motion in their bearings to the shafts 19 and 24, for a purpose hereinafter noted, these cranked ends taking in boxes 22 and 23, constructed as shown in Fig. 4, and attached to the ends of 19 and 24,1'espectively. By means ofarms-30 an agitator 25 depends from the shaft 24 to such distance within the tank 2 as to reach just to or just beneath the surface of the water in the tanks, to secure which end the arms 30 are secured to the shaft 24: by adjustable nuts or clamps 26. The face of this agitator or rippler is serrated or corrugated, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, so as when reciprocated by the movement of 24 it shall gently agitate the surface of the water and throw it in ripples to its front.

Upon axes or shafts 16, 18, 19, and 20 are secured rollers, over which passes a belt 17, to which motion is communicated by means of a worm=gear 15 on shaft 16 meshing with a screw or worm 14 on the'main shaft 13, this form of gearing being preferable in that a very slow rate of movement of the belt relatively to that of the agitator maybe secured. This belt and the rollers over which it passes are so arranged that in its travel the belt shall dip just beneath the surface of the water in 2, whence it rises over roller on 18 and then dips down again, passing over reciprocating roller and shaft 19. At this latter point is placed a receptacle or tank 21 for the reception of the matter brought over by the belt. In order to relieve the belt of strain in communicating motion from the first roller-the one on shaft 1(ito the other rollers, the shafts are extended and provided with pulleys on such extensions, over which passes a belt or cord 27, and in order that the belt may be kept at the proper degree of tension thebearings of the shaft 18 are made adjustable, so that they may be raised or lowered.

It should be noted that the belt 17 should be of some fibrous material or of roughened surface, in order that the particles of slime may adhere thereto and so be lifted thereby, and also so porous that water may percolate therethrough and be drained in part at least from the solid material thereon. As possessing these features, I have found a woven. woolen or mixed woolen fabric the preferable material for such belt, though other materials possessing the same characteristics may be used.

The transverse reciprocating movement given the belt 17 by the shaft 19 at the point where the belt passes over the roller on such shaft and within the receptacle 21 is intended to aid in the removal of the slimes or floats caught on the belt by shaking or jarring. As

the receptacle 21 is kept supplied with water, beneath which belt 17 dips, this removal of slimes is assisted by the washing action of the water. To morecertainly attain such removal, brushes or scrapers may be placed in receptacle 21 beneath the belt and arranged to take against such belt. As this means of cleaning a beltis well known, it is notherein illustrated.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Iowerbein g applied to the main dri vin g-pulley 11, pulverized ore and water are fed into the tank 2. The mineral, of greater or high specific gravity, immediately sinks, the slimes floatin g on top or near the surface of the water. The agitator 25, being reciprocated during this time, causes ripples in the water, sending it gently toward the belt, with the slimes floating 011 top. As the latter reach the belt they adhere thereto and are lifted thereby from the water and carried up and over to the receptacle 21, where they are removed from thebelt either by the jigging motion, given the latter alone, or by it and the brushes referred to combined, and such operation is continuous solongas there is a supply of ore and water to be fed into the tank 2. As the water and ore accumulatein such tank and the level of the water rises, the float (5 rises, opening the discharge 3, and permittin the escape of suftieientmingled ore and water to restore the -water to the predetermined height in the tank, it being thus maintain ed at the proper height for the effective working of the apparatus.

The method of saving such slimes, necessarily herein disclosed in describing the principle and operation of this improved apparatus, I do not herein claim, as for such method separate and independent application will be made. I

In practice this apparatus may be placed at any convenient point between the pulverizing-milhand the concentrators, or where it may be caused to act on any form of pulverized ore, or upon the failings which have been through concentrators, but from which the slimes were not separated.

Ilaving thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1S-

1. In a slime-separator, the combination of a tank for receiving the pulverized material and water, asecond and independent tank for receiving the floats or slimes, a porous roughsurfaeed belt dipping just below the waterline in the first tank to lift the slimes from the surface of the water, thence inclining upwardly and then downwardly to the slime-r'eceptaele, rollers over which the belt passes at either end, central rollers in a higher position than the end rollers, and the means for communicating motion thereto, substantially as described.

2. In a slime-separator, the combination. of a tank for receiving the pulverized material an d water, a second and independent tank for receiving the slimes, aporous rough-surfaced belt dipping just below the water-line in the first tank to lift the slimes from the surface of the water, thence inclining upwardly and then downwardly to the slime receptacle, rollers over which the belt passes at either end, central rollers in a higher position than the end rollers, and means for imparting to the end rollers both a rotary and a longitudinally-reciprocatin g motion, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of November, A. l). 1887.

PATRICK II. DUNAGAN.

IV i tnesses:

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