US528976A - Amalgamator - Google Patents

Description

'3 Sheets-Sheet 2. (L F. PIKE. AMALGAMATOR.

(No Model.)

PatentedNov. 13, 1894.

R O T N E V N I WITNESSES: A WWJMM x 26W m: upmus PETERS co, PnuTaumQ, WASHINGTON, n. c.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

O. F. PIKE. AMALGAMATOR.

No. 528,976. Patented Nov. 13,1894.

I111 um I II IHHHIMI WITNESSES K Mm/Z W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. PIKE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AMALGAMATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 528,976, dated November 13, 1894. Application filed June 10, 1893. Renewed April 17, 1894. Serial No. 507,941. (No model.)

To all whom it may concermx I Be it known that I, CHARLES F. PIKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amalgamators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

My invention has relation to amalgamators of the form wherein-suction force is used to propel the ore or gangue through the mercury or the amalgamator, and a series of separate ways or chutes is employed for dividing the ore or gangue into different streams or flows in its passage through the amalgamators.

Myinvention has for its object an improved form of such device for obtaining a rapid and thorough extraction or amalgamation of all the metal from the ore or gangue without waste of mercury.

My invention accordingly consists of th combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts as hereinafter more fully described in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is hadtothe accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is an elevation of aform of amalgamator embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 11 Fig. 4 with division plates removed. Fig. 3 is a section on line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is a vertical section of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section on line 33, Fig. 4.. Fig. 6 is a section on line 44., Fig. at. Fig. 7 is a broken section on line 5-5, Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is an end View of a modified form of division plate for the amalgamator. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section of modified form of division plate chamber for the amalgamator. Fig. 10 is an elevation, partly sectional of such chamber with means for simultaneously varying the inclination of all the division plates alike. Fig. 11 is an end elevation of the same, partly sectional, detached from the frame or casing of the amalgamator, and Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing separate adjusting means for each cluster or set of division plates.

A represents the inlet or initial chamber of the amalgamator, which may be of any suitable form, but which is shown composed of a lower receiving chamber B, having to one side thereof an inlet pipe 0, of a siphon or suction appliance, which propels the ore or gangue through the alnalgamator, and to the other side thereof an open flange top 6 upon which restsa perforated plate 6 and to which is bolted a tubular section 0.

The chamber B from its inlet a to the centerof the perforated plate formed between the corrugations on the under side of a plate cl forming a part of or secured to the topplate b of chamber B, and the surface of the mercury'in chamber B adjacent to said corrugation is provided with a sinuous or tortuous path (1 for the travel of the ore or gangue through the mercury in said chamber before arrival at plate I) which path may be provided for as shown or as desired and is employed to obtain greater degree of contact of metalin the orewith the mercury in chamber B, or in other words to repeatedly turn over or agitate the ore or gangue in its passage through said chamber in order that the maximum amount of amalgamation may take place therein as possible before passing to the remaining parts of the amalgamator.

The perforated plate b is blank in the center or middle so as to cause the ore or gangue to spread itself after leaving the path 61 on its way to plate b. Upon the flanged top of section 0 is a centrally perforated plate 0 above which is a succeeding section D with an imperforate plate d in alignment with the perforations in plate 0. The section D with plate 0 is bolted to the top of chamber B, as shown, and to section D is bolted the outlet section E which has a pipe connection ewith a mercury catch pocket f communicating with chamber F.

As many sections 0 and D and with interposed perforated plates c may be used as desired. In allcases the perforations inone plate are opposite the blank or imperforate sections of the succeeding plate; the last plate of the series being preferably an imperforate one.

Such arrangement provides for the repeated distribution or spreading of the ore or gangue in its passage through the mercury in the sections C D for obtaining greater contact with the metal in the ore or gangue and corresponding amalgamation in the initial device A.

The chamber F contains the division chutes or amalgamating plates f for separating the flow of gangue or ore into separate thin streams to obtain the maximum exposure of the same to the amalgamating division plates f. As shown they are composed of series or gangs arranged successively in opposite directions as shown or otherwise as desired. These plates have side and middle strengthening ribs f on their under surfaces and are superposed upon one another; the bottom one be ing supported upon ledges f formed on or secured to the sides of chamber F.

At the end of each gang of plates f are mercury catching pocketsf which are common to all the plates of the series or gangs leading thereto. These pockets f may be of any suitable form and secured to the chamber F in any desired manner and have drain cocks g. The provision of these pockets f at each end of the gangs of plates f provides for the commingling of all the streams of water coming from one gangbefore the same passinto a succeeding cluster. Hence the ore or gangue in the passage through chamber F is repeatedly successively divided into different streams or flows and then merged into a common stream or flow for successive division into separate streams. This successive division and merging of the flow more thoroughly agitates, divides or separates the bulky material of the ore or gangue for obtaining the greatest possible degree of exposure of metal to the amalgam plates and corresponding degree of amal gamation. The successively located pockets f also serve to catch all the mercury that may be carried with the gangue or ore so that none is wasted. The last pocket f of the series has a connection with the outlet pipe 0 of the suction device which is provided with difierently located outlet-cocks h for varying the degree of suction and hence the velocity of the flow through the amalgamator, and at its termination has a drain valve on with actuating mechanism m for removing any accumulations of metal or mercury or other material therein, said pipe 0 when valve m is closed forming a settling pocket or chamber. If desired the discharge of the flow maybe through valve m.

The plates f may be straight in cross-section as shown in Fig. 7 or curved or corrugated as illustrated in Fig. 8.

If desired the ways or paths between superposed plates may be equal in Width or unevenly divided by the introduction of corrugated or otherwise formed metal strips p as illustrated in Fig. 9.

If desired any suitable actuating devices may be used for exhausting the air from the chamber F or the bend of the siphon formed by chambers A and F and the inlet and outlet pipes. In the drawings, see more plainly Fig. 10, such devices are shown composed of a suction pump or fan 5 driven by a water motor's' actuated by the flow from pipe 0 The gang of division amalgam plates F may be located to be non-adjustable as to their inclination as shown in Fig. 4, or their inclination may be all varied alike and at once or separately and differently as desired.

In Figs. 10 and 11 the gangs areshown located in boxes or troughs f which are connected to and supported upon a suitable arrangement of links f f f having a suitable actuating barf for simultaneously adjusting all the gangs for varying their inclination alike for all if all have the same inclination.

If not such inclination will be varied accordingl y.

In Fig. 12 each gang is provided with its own adjusting device f so that each may be separately adjusted and its inclination varied as desired without interfering with that of any of the others.

The pockets f maycommunicate with chamber F as shown in Fig. 4:,0r such communication may be cut 0E by means of flexible or yielding coupling 75 between the ends of the gangs and the walls of chamber F as shown in Fig. 12. The chamber '13 has a suitably located mercury supply pipe I) and a drain outlet cock Z9 As the construction and arrangement of the novel features of my invention may be variously changed without departing from the spirit of the same I do not confine myself to them as shown and described.

What I claim is-- 1. An amalgamator having an initial chamber containing mercury, a sinuous or tortuous path therein for the flowof ore or gangue therethrough, and a chamber containing gangs of division amalgam plates communicating with separate common pockets for alternately and repeatedly dividing the flow into separate streams and reuniting them into a single flow, substantially as set forth.

2. In an amalgamatin gdevice having a flow for passing the ore or gangue through the amalgamator, gangs. of chutes in the path of said flow for dividing the flow into a number of thin streams, and pockets at the ends of said gangs for reuniting said streams in a single flow, substantially as set forth.

3. In an amalgamator, the chamber B containing a column of mercury, a series of superposed casing sections with plates between said sections, to one side of and above chamber B, said plates each having perforated and imperforated sections, and the perforations in one plate being opposite to the blank or imperforate section in the other plate, and a tortuous path between the inlet of chamber B and inlet to said casing sections, substantially as set forth.

4:. In an ore washer or concentrator, a receiving and treating chamber having a siphon discharge pipe, an air exhaust device, a pipe connection from the highest point or bend of said siphon discharge to the exhaust device 5 and actuating mechanism in gear with the exhaust device operated by the flow from the discharge pipe, substantially as set forth.

5. In an amalgamator, the combination of gangs or sets of chute amalgam plates, with pockets at each end of successive gangs common to all the chutes of said gangs, substantially as set forth. 1

6. In an amalgamator, the combination of gangs of alternately directed or inclined amalgam platesf, and pockets fjoining the adjacent ends of the gangs, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with chamber F, the gangs of alternatelydireoted amalgam plates f and actuating devices for varying the degree of their inclination, substantially as set forth.

8. In an amalgamator, the combination with chamber F, the gangs of alternately directed or inclined amalgam plates f and separate means for each gang for independently adjusting the inclination of said gangs, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with an amalgamator,

gangs of alternately inclined amalgam plates, the suction outlet pipe 0 having difierently located valved outlets for varying the degree of suction from said amalgamator, substan tially as set forth.

10. In an amalgamator, the combination with the suction discharge pipe therefor, differently located side valved outlets on said pipe for regulating the degree of flow through the amalgamator, and a bottom discharge outlet with valve m, substantially as set forth. 4o 11. The combination of chamber F, the gangs of alternately directed chutes or plates f, and flexible couplings between the ends of said gangs, and the walls of chamber F, substantially as set forth.

12. In an amalgamating device having a suction flow for passing theore or gangue through the amalgamator, a number of alternately directed gangs of chutes in the path of said flow, and pockets at the ends of and joining said gangs, substantially as set forth.

In testimonywhereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. PIKE.

Witnesses:

THos. S. RODGERS, JAMES '1. DAILY.

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