US566607A

US566607A - Concentrator

Info

Publication number: US566607A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1896-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 1913-08-25

Description

1N0 flodelj 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. k P. H. MGGOWAN.

GONGENTRATOR Patented Aug. 25, 1896.

e INVENTOI? WITNESSES:

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P. H.1VI0GOWAN.

GONGENTRATOR. No. 566,607. Patented Aug. 25, 1896.

A TTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OEEioE.

PATRICK H. MCGO /VAN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

CONCENTRATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,607, dated August 25, 1896.

Application filed July 8, 1895. derial No. 555,276. (No model.)

gold, ores from stamp-mills, auriferous gravel or sand placer dirt, to save all the precious metal contained in the material.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the same. Fig. 4 is a broken sectional plan view of the same on the line el 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the same on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the agitator-teeth in an upside-down position, and Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of part of the pan.

The improved concentrator is provided with a suitably constructed frame A, supporting a tank 13, inwhich is arranged a pan O, providcd with a series of steps O C O 0" made circular, as is plainly illustrated in Figs. 2, 5, and 7. Each of the steps 0 C O O is covered by amalgamating plates, as indicated in Fig. 7, and the said steps are inclined from their inner to their outer peripheries in a downward direction, with the inner edge of each formed with a standing flange or dam O, for retaining the material on the step as long as possible to separate the tailings from the precious metals.

The lowermost annular step 0 is supported on a cross or spider C, held between two nuts I) and D screwing on a shaft D, mounted to turn loosely on a stud E, projecting into the bored lower end of the said. shaft D. The

tank 13.

aperture into a hopper F, provided with an outlet F, passing through the bottom of the tank B to connect at its lower end with a flexible dischargepipe G for carrying off the material from time to time, as hereinafter more fully described.

Each of the steps O O C C is provided with a number of receptacles 0 containing quicksilver, the said receptacles being removably connected with the steps. Over each of the steps O O O C operate agitators or stirring-teeth II, secured at their upper ends to a step-like disk H, provided with a spider H held between two nuts I and I screwing on a shaft I, made hollow at its lower end to receive the upper end of the shaft D, which thus supports the said shaft I, the latter being mounted to turn at its upper end in suitable bearings formed in a bracket A of the frame A.

Each of the agitators or stirring-teeth H is made in the form shown in Fig. 6that is, is made of angle-ir0n with a shank H having the sides of its lower end 11* bent in opposite directions, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 6. A tooth made in this form more effectually stirs the material in the corresponding pan-steps O O C 0 and passes easily through the material, and, with the upper portion of atooth bent and placed as it is, has a tendency to force the top material toward the center of the pan, while the lower portion of the tooth has a tendency to withdraw toward the circumference such materials as have settled nearly to the bottom of the step, thus making it impossible for the concentrates intended to be saved to get away. A distributing-cone J is secured to the top of the disk II carrying the agitators II, and upon this distributor J opens the lower end of a hopper K, supported in a frame A held adjustable on the frame A, to permit of raising and lowering the hopper K relative to the distributer J, to permit more or less material to pass from the hopper K upon the distributer J. The hopper K is provided with a sleeve K", held loosely on the shaft I, and resting with its lower end on the apex of the distributer J.

In order to impart a forward and backward rotary motion to the shaft I, I provide the upper end thereof with an arm I, adapted to be taken hold of by the operator to move the arm forward and backward, so as to cause the shaft I, distributer J, and disk 11, carrying the agitators H to move forward and backward over the steps. The movement of the agitators H through the material on the steps causes the pan 0 to turn, this move ment, however, being limited by stop-pins L, projecting from the .side of the upper step 0" between the stops L, attached to the tank B, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The circular motion of the pan 0, being thus suddenly arrested, gives a shockto its contents which effectively advances the heavier materials toward the circumference. An annular flange N extends upwardly from the uppermost step G above the base of the distributer J, so that the material passing down the distributer J is guided by the said flange LT upon the uppermost step 0 The material agitated by the agitators H causes the precious metals to settle in the lowermost part of the step C, while the lighter material passes over the flange C to the next step 0 to be there agitated by the agitators H, and so on, the material bein treated on the several steps so that finally but verylight particles or tailings pass over the lowermost flange G into the chute F and to the discharge-pipe G. \Vhen a full supply of water or no water at all is used, this discharge-pipe G is held constantly open; but when the Work is done with a small quantity of water, then it is held closed and is only opened from time to time. For this purpose I provide a fixed clamp G, operating in connection with a movable clamp G to press the flexible discharge-pipe G to hold the latter closed. The clamp G is pivotally connected at G to the fixed clamp G and is pressed on by a spring G. The free end of the clamp G is pivotally connected by a link G with a lever G6, fulcrumed on the frame A and extending upwardly to be engaged by the arm I whenever the latter is moved to the end of its stroke, so that at this time the discharge-pipe G is opened to discharge the tailings.

The operation is as follows: The material, such as screen placer dirt or stamp-mill pulp and the like, is placed in the hopper K, and then the arm 13 is moved back and forth to impart a rotary motion forward and backward to the shaft 1, the said distributer J, and the agitator ll, carrying the agitators H. In moving the distributer J the material in the lower part of the hopper K passes from the latter upon the distributer and down the same to the gu'ideflange N, to be finally delivered into the uppermost step 0* of the concentrating-pan C. If the stroke given to the arm I is long, the feed of the material is greater and the work done in the concentrator is in proportion to the length of the stroke. The material passes down and over the several steps 0* C of the pan 0 with its valuable precious metals, which are retained on the plates or in the receptacles 0 In case water is used, the tailings are carried off by the stream of water passing out at the discharge-pipe G. If the work is done dry, the tailings are left at one side of the machine, the. machine being moved closer to the bank to be worked to make room for more waste.

It will be seen that by the arrangement described the light material in passing from one step to the other operates inwardly against the action of the centrifugal force when the pan O is in motion, while the heavier material near the outer and lowerparts of the steps is assisted outward and away from danger of escape by the centrifugal force.

Having thus fully described my invention. I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A concentrator comprising a pan having its bottom composed of a series of annular steps descending toward the center and terminating in a discharge-opening at the center, each step having a standing flange or dam at its inner edge, and a rotary disk provided with depending agitators or teeth operating over the steps of the said pan, a conical distributer forming the top for the said disk and extended to the outer edges thereof, and a feed-hopper opening upon the said conical distributer substantially as shown and described.

2. A concentrator, provided with swinging or agitating teeth, each formed with a shank made of angle-iron and with the sides of the lower end bent in opposite directions, sub stantially as shown and described.

3. A concentrator provided with a flexible discharge-pipe, a spring-clamp closing the same, and an oscillating disk with agitators, and mechanism connecting the same with the clamp for intermittent automatic discharge substantially as shown and described.

4:. A concentrator provided with a flexible discharge-pipe, and a clamping device consisting of a horizontal fixed bar G, a horizontal hinged bar G a connecting-rod G attached thereto, a vertical lever G and spring G, for pressing the said flexible pipe to close the latter and to release the pipe to open the same substantially as shown and described.

5. A concentrator comprising a tank, a concentrating-pan mounted to oscillate loosely in the said tank about a vertical axis, means for limiting the oscillating motion of the said pan, and an agitating-disk corresponding in shape to the concentrating-pan and provided with agitators or teeth arranged to act upon the material in the pan and through said material to turn the pan to a jarring contact with its stops substantially as shown and described.

6. A concentrator comprising a tank, a coneentrating-pan mounted to oscillate loosely in the said tank and provided with a series of annular steps descending and decreasing in size toward the center and terminating in a central discharge, means for limiting the oscillating motion of the said pan, and for communicating shocks to the materials therein contained, and an agitating-disk adapted to be oscillated, and provided with agitators or teeth arranged in step form over the steps of the pen, the said agitators being formed to agitate the material on the steps and to turn the pan, and a conical distributer 0n the top of said disk extending to the outer edge 0f the latter for guiding the material to the uppermost step of the concentrating-pan sub- 10 stantially as shown and described.

PATRICK H. MCGOXVAN.

WVitnesses GEORGE W. YOUNT, HARRY D. MCGOWAN.