US654662A

US654662A - Ore-separating machine.

Info

Publication number: US654662A
Application number: US73522299A
Authority: US
Inventors: John F Mitchell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1899-10-30
Filing date: 1899-10-30
Publication date: 1900-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 1917-07-31

Description

No. 654,662. Patented luly 3|, |900.

- J. F. MITCHELL,

uns sEPAnATNa'mAcHmE.

'Application filed Oct. 80, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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Nrrnin STATES JOHNF. MITCHELL, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS.

ORE-SEPARATLNG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATIN formingpart of Letters Patent No. 654,662, dated .Tu1y31r, 1900.

Appiianon nea cette 3o, i399.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. MITCHELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at 1130 Western avenue,city of Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and Stateof Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gre- Separating Machines, of which the following is a specification. A f

My invention relates to apparatus for separating precious metals and other ores from earth, pulverized rock, sand, ctc., whereby a complete separation takes place, with an 'economical use of water. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the acceui-v panying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of the entire machine; Fig. 2, a top view of fthe machine on the line gh, with part of itbroken away; Fig. 3, a vertical section of that portion of the machine above the line g h, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an elevation of a fragment of the side 1 of the tank, showing one of the gates G, which are operated as vertically-adj ustable closures for discharge-openings 2.

Similar numerals and letters referto similar parts throughout the several views.

The sides 1 ofthe tank are provided with discharge-openings 2,which are open when the operation begins, but are gradually closed by gates G, which operate as vertically-ad-- justable closures by being pushed upward as the tank fills with ore.

The central cylinder 4, crowning the vertex of the tanks bottom 3, is provided with a cone-shaped top 5, which is surrounded on its outer edge with spreaders 7 or diamondshaped cleats, the purpose of which is to insure the equal distribution ofthe mingled water, ore, rock, and earth to all parts of the tank. The ore, rock, and earth after being crushed and screened in the usual manner, being mixed with water enough to carry them, are introduced into the tank through lthe feed-pipe a, and are discharged on the vertex 6 of the cone-shapedtop 5 of the central cylinder 4, flowing thence downward over its sides to the bottom 3 of the tank. The ore being heavier than the rock and earth settles around and near the base of the cylinder 4 in the stronger current, while the rock and earth being lighter than the ore continue to respond to the force of the current, which semi No. 735,222. (Numan.)

deposited, a -large proportion of the rock and earth being carried out of the tank through the discharge-openings-2. The water as it radiates fromthe central cy1inder4 and flows outward over the inclined bottom 3 of the tank gradually diminishes in depth and force and if undisturbed will break up into small streams or rivulets before reaching the sides l of the tank, the result being the cutting of channels inthe surface of the ore-bed,

which is formed on and parallel to the bottom 3 of the tank, and carrying the ore out Vthrough the discharge-openings 2 in the sides- 1 of the tank. To prevent the water from breaking upinto rivulets and carrying the ore out of the tank through the dischargeopenings 2, and to preserve the sheet-like formation of the water for the greatest possible distance from the cylinder 4, fans 12., attached to., and near the outer extremity of arms 11, (radiating from the elongated cogged hub 4l0 and revolving on the axle 9, supported by braces 8, attached to and restingon the top 5 of the cylinder 4,) sweep near and parallel to the bottom 3 of the tank with a rotary motion.

VThe air being compressed in front of the rotating fans 12 escapes underneath their lower edges, exerting an influence on the surface of the water which dedects it, and by thus impeding its progress causes it to preserve its sheet-like formation as it flows outward from the central cylinder 4.

The elongated cogged hub 10 is connected at its upper` end by a swivel 13 to a screw 14, passing through an overhead timber 15, having at its upper end a pulley-wheel 16, which is connected by an endless chain 17 or belt witha similar wheel 18, outside the circumference of the tank, having a screw 19 attached to its under side which passes downward through the timber 15 andterminates at `its lower extremity in a crank 20 gr handle that when turned raises orlowers the fans 12, as required, preventing them from coming in contact with the ore and water in the tank. The elongated cogs on the hub l0 permit it to be raised or lowered without stopping its ICO revolving'y motion, and it is connected with a cog-wheel b, suspended at the lower end ol a perpendicular shaft c, extending upward through and supported by the overhead timber 15, and terminating at its upper end in a cog connection d with the horizontal shaft' The size of the machine will be governed by the volume of material it is desired to treat.

The fans, which are one of the most important features of the structure, can be made of any suitable material, such as light wood or sheet metal, andthe velocity with which they are rotated and their distance above the surface of the water will be governed by the force ofthe current to be deflected.

Having thus fully-described' myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. An ore-separating machine comprising a circular tank with inclined bottom 3, a central cylinder 4, having a cone-shaped top 5 an axle 9 resting on braces 8 attached to it, a feed-pipe a, an elongated cogged hub 10, turning on the axle 9, and having arms 11 attached to and radiating from near its base, fans 12 attached near the outer extremity of the arms 1l, a screw 14. attached to the top of the hub 1 by a swivel connection 13,'a pulley-wheel 16 attached to the upper end of the screw 14, connected by an endless chai-n 17 or belt, to a pulley-wheel 18 supported by an upright screw 19, terminating, at its lower end, in the handle 20, or crank, substantially as shown, and for the purposes specified.

' 2. An` ore-separating machine comprising a circular tank with vertical discharge-openings 2 in the sides 1, gates G which operate as vertically Jadjustable closures' for discharge-openings 2, an inclined bottom 3 to tank, 'a central cylinder 4, having a conesliaped top 5, an axle 9 resting on braces 8 attached to it, a feed -pipe'a, an elongated, cogged hub 10 turning on the axle 9, and having arms 11 attached to and radiating from near its base, fans 12 attached to the arms 11 near their outer extremities, a screw 14; attached to thetop of the hub lO by a swivel connection 18, a pulley-wheel 16 attached to the upper end of the screw 14, connected by an endless chain 17 or belt, to a pulley-wheel 18, supported by an upright screw 19, terminating, at its lower end, in the handle 2O or crank, a cog-wheel b connected with the hub 10 and attached to the lower end of the perpendicular shaft c which has a cog connection d with a horizontal shaft f supplying the power, all substantially as set forth.

J Ol-IN F. MITCHELL. Witnesses:

WM. W. BOLLARD, R. S. VAN SANT.