US695085A

US695085A - Sluice-box.

Info

Publication number: US695085A
Application number: US68019398A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lewis B Tanner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1898-05-09
Filing date: 1898-05-09
Publication date: 1902-03-11
Anticipated expiration: 1919-03-11

Description

No. 695,085. Patented Mar. Il, |902.

L. B. TANNER.

SLUICE BOX.

(Application led May 9, 1899,) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

wila/naamw y W5/M y No. 695,085. Patented Mar. Il, |902..

L. B. TANNER.

SLUICE BOX.

(Application tiled Nfay 9, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 She'ets-Sheet A2'.

N I mml lllwrrno @maras afrenta* rrrcn.

LEWIS n. TANNER, or SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,085, dated March 11, 1902.

Application filed May 9,1898. Serial No. 680.193. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, LEWIS B. TANNER, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing in the city of Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Machines for Mining Gold, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to improvement-s in machines for separating gold from gravel, sand, or earth in which a running stream of water is maintained over and through the dirt containing the gold until the dirt is carried away, leaving the gold; and the object of my invention is to recover and save the line or iiour gold that has heretofore been washed away with the dirt; and it consists in the details of construction and operation of parts, as willbe hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which like letters indicate like parts, Figure l is a plan. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken upon the linel 2 of Fig. l. of the quicksilver-traps detached. Fig. i is an enlarged view of -the agitator. Fig. 5 is a cross-section upon line 3 4L of Fig. l looking toward the fiume. Fig. 6 is a cross-section on line 3 4:, Fig. l, looking from the flume. Fig. 7 shows detached parts.

A represents a flume of suitable size with an open end B, near which I remove the bottom of the flume and over the opening place a plate of metal C, usually termed a grizzly, perforated with any desired number of holes a of a suitable size to permit the passage of the water and the sand and small gravel containing gold thrown into the flume by the miner above the grizzly O and to exclude the larger stones that are carried on over thel water.

Fig. 3 shows one' end of the sluice-box and preferably covering the entire space beneath the perforated plate C is placed an amalgamating-plate E. This plate extends from side to side and may be located any suitable distance above the bottom of the sluice-box; but an elevation of about two inches from the bottom seems to be the most advantageous position for it.

The amalgamating-plate E is made, preferably, of sheet copper drawn or otherwise formed with contiguous depressions or circular cups h of any suitable diameter anddepth to contain quicksilver Afor attracting andl holding the gold falling with the dirtupon the plate and washed over it by the constant current of This copper amalgamating-plate E, with its cups l), is electroplated or otherwise covered with silver, Aand when in use the cups b are filled with Quicksilver, which by the action of the water and dirt falling from the perforated plate C upon it is distributed over the spaces intervening between the cups b and the remaining silvered surface of the plate for which the quicksilver has an afhnity. This quicksilvered surface attracts and retains all the gold coming in contact with it as the dirt drops upon and is washed over it. A partition F sustains the edge of the plate E and, extending from side to side of the sluice-box, forms one end of the chamber G, into which the water and dirt flow upon passing over the plate E. The opposite end of the chamber G is formed by the movable slide or gate H, that is made a trifle higher than the partition F, so as to check up and hold the dirt in the chamber G While the current of water and the agitator I work it over.

Vhen it is desired to cleanse the sluice by flushing,the gate I-I maybe lifted out. This gate may move in any suitable guide that the judgment of the mechanic may su ggestfor instance, as indicated in Fig.l of the drawings.

The agitator I has a steel frame of any suitable length extending from side to Side of the sluice-box and is composed of two steel side bars K and L, held together bya series of convexe-concave cross-bars M, that are flattened at their ends and riveted or otherwise fastened to the side bars K and L with their concave side downward. The convexo-concave form .concave reduces the frictional surface to the minimum, and forming the top convex sents a cutting edge to thedirt.

The side bars K and Lrest and travel freely upon two steel slide-bars N and N, resting upon the bottom of and secured to either side of the sluice-box and extending from the partition F to the gate H. On top, at each corner ot' the frame of the agitator, is riveted one end of a right-angled fiat bar of steel, the opposite end extending upward far enough to form the guide-arms c c c c, that bear against the guide-bars O and O and hold the frame in place as it travels back and forth and prevents the cutting of the sides of the sluice-box.

The guide-bars O and O' are preferably made of steel and are secured to either side of the sluice-box any desired distance above the frame,according to the length ofthe guide'- ailnlS.

To the center of the end bar M of the frame the two ends of the arms of a yoke P are riveted, which has a small rod d passing through the arms of the yoke, that serves to hold one end of the pitman Q, through which the agitator receives its reciprocal movement. The pitman Q is a flat steel bar, and the attachment to the rod d is made by means of a notch or slot e in the pitman near the end that fits down upon the rod. The opposite end of the pitman is attached to the arm fof the rocking shaft R.

The rocking shaft R extends across the sluice-box and rests upon bearings g and g', that are secured to the top of each side of the sluice-box, bringing the arm f immediately over the center of the frame I inline with the yoke P. The end of the rocking shaftR terminates in a right-angled arm or crank h, to the end of whichf is attached the pitman S, which conveys motion from the crank t' of the axleT of the overshot water-wheel U.

The cranks h and c' must be of such proportionate length as to convert the rotary motion of the Water-wheel into a reciprocating motion for the agitator I. The water-wheel U may be of any well-known form of construction suitable for the purpose and should be -so located as to receive the current of water and earthy matter from the traps at the moment of its discharge.

Immediately in front of the gate H, upon the bottom of the sluice-box and extending to its open end and from side to side, is placed an amalgamating-plate V,similar in construction and operation to the plate E. This plate receives the dirt as it is washed over the gate H, and its cups 1c and surface being electropl'ated with silver and charged with quicksilver retain all the gold that comes in contact with its surface.

A series of traps W are attached to the end of the sluice-box to catch any quicksilver or preamalgam that may be carriedpast the end of the sluice-box by the current of water, gravel, and sand passing through the sluice-box.

The traps W are made of metal, preferably of sheet-copper, electroplated or otherwise covered with silver and formed upon an eccentric curve, the lower edge r'being turned in over the bottom of the trap in order that the descending current received from the sluice-box may be given a centripetal movement and turned inward so as to thoroughly shake up the material and give the heavy matter a chance towork its Way downward, thereby causing the Quicksilver and gold to settle to the bottom of the trap. The ends of the traps fit into a groove corresponding to their eccentric curve in the side pieces o@ which may be made of metal or wood. These side pieces are held in place snug up against the end of the traps by two or more headed rods k', passing through the sides and tightened up by nuts. The top edge of the upper trap is passed under the edge of the plate V, where it is secured together with the plate by any suitable means, preferably by a headed bolt and nut, to the bottom of the sluice-box. The top edge of each succeeding trap is bent snugly over the lower edge of the preceding trap and pressed close in against the inner surface of the trap. Any desired number of traps may be contained in a series for a sluicebox. In the center of each trap an opening Z is provided for drawing oft the quicksilver and amalgam When required. This opening is closed by a headed bolt m, with a threaded end and nut n. The series of vtraps are' made adjustable to enable the operator to change their pitch and adapt them to the quantity of water furnished by the fiume. For this purpose steel bars o o are secured to the top of the sluice-box on each side near the end and project backward and downward with a suitable curve to a point about half-way of the length of the trap sides X X. A hole near the end of each of these bars receives the end of a screw-threaded eyebolt p from the under side, which is held in place by a nut q en top of the bar. By tightening or loosening this nut the desired pitch of the traps may be secured to enable the miner to adj ust the traps to the flow of the water. The lower end of the eyebolt isinterlocked with an eyebolt r', that is attached to one of the sides as.

When clay abounds or other similar matter causes thedirt to adhere and form lumps, a frame Z is placed upon the bottom of the sluice-box immediately under the agitatorframe. This frame is made similar to the agitator-frame of convexo-concave bars, but is placed in the sluice-box with the concave side upward, so that the lumps may be cut between the sharp edges of the bars of the agitator and lower frame. This frame is removed when the dirt is not lumpy.-

The several parts of this device must be supported in their relation to each other by IOO IIO

suitable framework; but this framework may be of any Well-known form ot' construction suitable to the position in which the device is to be placed, and that from the nature of the case must be more or less arbitrarily controlled by the source of water-supply. Where for any reason it is advisable, other means than a Water-wheel may be used to op` erate the agitator.

The operation of this device is as follows: The fiume, sluice-box, traps, and water-Wheel having been properly located and placed in position ready for use, Quicksilver is placed in the cups of the amalgamating-plates E and -on into the traps.

V and in the chamber G. Water is now turned on, and the miner shovels the pay-dirt into the fiume just above the perforated plate. The current of Water carries the coarse matter over the plate, the iner dropping through the holes. This precipitation will accelerate the action of separation, and much of the heavier matter (gold) will find its way through to the quicksiiver and be held in the cups or attached to the surface of the amalgamatingplate. From the plate E the current passes over the chamber G, filling it with sand to the top ofthe gate II, covering the agitator I, and passing over the plate V and traps XV, filling the buckets of theovershot wheel U, thereby setting the wheel in motion and oscillating the agitator. This keeps the dirt stirred and in motion as it passes over the agitator, which enables the heavy particles to settle to the bottom of the chamber,where the quicksilver holds all the iine particles of gold that reach it. The current passing on over the gate and onto the amalgamating-plate V again submits the dirt to the action of the cups and Quicksilver of this plate and carries the dirt The action of the traps is here twofold-they catch the Quicksilver as well as the gold that may have been carried over the forward part of the sluice-box.

In cleaning up 7 the sluice-box I take out the agitator and, drawing out the plate E, clean it oft with a rubber brush, cleaningl the cups of all quicksilver and amalgam, remove the gate H, and brush the contents of the chamber G and cupped plate V into the traps, and as soon as the gravel and sand are Washed out ofthe traps shut off the water and :remove bolts m from the` openings Z and drain the traps of the there accumulated.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and as of my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent-n 1. In an amalgamator, the sluicebox proquicksilver and amalgam vided at one end with the raised amalgamating-plate E formed with circular cups in its surface, a transverse partition F forming a support for one end of the plate and constituting one end of a chamber G which receives water and dirt from said plate, a gate H constituting the opposite end of said chamber and being higher than the partition F, and a fiume A having a perforated Vbottom above the plate E and extending transversely across the sluice-box, substantially as described.

2. In a sluice-box, the combination with an amalgamating-plate located at one end of the box beneath a iiume, and an amalgamatingplate at the opposite end of` the box, of the cross-partitions located at the adjacent ends of the two amalgamatingplates to form an intermediate chamber to receive the water and dirt from one amalgamating-plate and deliver it to the other, a reciprocating agitator in said intermediate chamber composed of the side bars and a series of transverse bars having a convex top surface and concave bottom surface and connecting the side bars together, and means for reciprocating the agitator-frame, substantially as described.

3. The combination with the sluice-box, of the sliding agitator-frame provided with convexo concave transverse bars, the convex faces of the bars being uppermost, the bars located at opposite sides of the sluice-box for the agitator-frame to slide on, guide-arms extending upward from the agitator frame, guide-bars located parallel with the sides of the sluice-box for said guide-arms tobear against, and means for reciprocating the agitator-frame, substantially as described.

4. The combination With the sluice-box, of the sliding agitator-frame provided with. convexo concave transversebars, the convex faces of the bars being uppermost, the rockshaft connected with said agitator-frame, the water-wheel at the end of the siuice-box, the pitman connecting the Water-wheel with the rock-shaft of the agitator-frame, and a trap between the end of the sluice-box and the water-wheel for delivering water from the box to the Wheel, said trap containing a number of metal plates each formed upon an eccentric curve with their curved ends extending in the direction of the sluice-box, substantially as described.

LE WIS B. TANNER.

Witnesses:

H. S. ABBOT, RosWELL SooTT.

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