US703694A - Amalgamator. - Google Patents

Description

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No. 7.035594. 'Patented my l, |902.

J. V. COLEMAN.

AIALGAMATUR.

l (Lpplicnion Bled Aug. 22, 1900.! (llo Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 www UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES v. COLEMAN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

y AMALGAMATOR."

SPECIFICATIoN forming part of `Leraars Patent No. 703,694; dared July 1, i902. Application inea Augils'i 22,1900. 'simi No. 27,656. or@ moda.)

State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Amalgamators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class. or description of ore-amalgamators in which the material is brought in contact with and caused to travel over the amalgamating-surfaces by gravitation and centrifugal motion; and the invention consists in certain novel parts and combination of parts, producing an improved machine or apparatus, as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

The following description explains at length the nature of these improvements and the manner in which the same are constructed, applied, and operated, reference being had to the drawings that accompany and form part thereof.

Figure l of the drawings is an elevation of an ore-amalgamating machine or apparatus embodying my said improvements. a plan or top view with the casing removed.

, Fig. 3 is a slight modification in which the surface of the helical plate stands substantially at right angles to the shaft. Fig. 4 is a1 cross-section at a: an, Fig. 3.

A indicates a stationary casing of conical shape standing on its larger end upon a panlike base or bottom plate.

B is a helical plate surrounding au upright shaft C, to which it is fixed. Bearings E F at the top and the bottom of the casing support the shaft in the center in'npright position, and means for applying power tothe shaft, such as a hand-crank or a belt-pulley, fast on the shaft, are provided for rotating it within the' casing.

The heliXB is made with a continuous surf ace descending at substantially a uniform grade from the top to the bottom and valso with a regular increase of surfacefro'm top tov bottom of the helix. ,The turns of` the helix increasing in width one over another in descending order bring the edges in close relation to the walls of the surrounding casing, so that the helical plate conforms to the conical shape of the casing. The dimensions of Fig. 2 isthe two parts are so proportioned that the circumferential edges of the turns have a close fit with the surrounding walls without being in actual contact, and the surface of each vturn of the heli-x is carried in the same ,planeifrom the central shaft out to the circumference.

Y In addition to the inclination which is due to the pitch of the helix the surface of the plate is sometimes given an upward slant from the central shaft out to the circumference, irl-which case the surface has' a greater degree of elevation at the outer edge 'than at the center, while at the same timethe surface .is a continuous descending plane from top to bottom. A section taken in a vertical plane on a radial line through the helix will resemble a segment of an inverted cone. Afe'ed trough or hopper Gis mounted above an inlet in the top of the casing for introducing the material to the highest part of the helical plate, and the floor or bottom of the pan beneath the casing slants from the cenvter. to the rim to direct the material to the outlet.

The casingis made. in separable parts or sections, provided with locking devices for 'securing them together, as shown in the drawings; but such construction is simply a matter of convenience in placing and removing the casing and is not a necessary or essential feature to be incorporated in the machine. The surfaces of the helical plate and the inner surface of the surrounding casing are silver-plated to produce and present amalgamating-surfaces with which the material is brought in `contact by the combined centrifugal action and the force of gravitation. By constructing the parts of the amalgamator in this manner the pulp or material being operated upon is constantly subjected to agitation andis retarded in its vertical passage by the upward movement of the spiral and in its Outward or radial movement by the upwardcurve of the Spiral, thus vsecuring very beneficial' results, and by locating all points ofthe periphery` of the spiral interiorly of a vertical plane through the corresponding portions of the spiral below it and also eX- teriorly to a vertical plane through the portions of the casing above it any material that passes or is thrown over the edge of the IOO spiral without coming in contact with the casing falls upon the next turn of the spiral below it, and any of the material from any portion of the interior of the casing falls upon the portion of the spiral directly below it, thus causing the material to be upon or near the amalgamating-surface at all points of its passage through the amalgamator.

As thus constructed, the operation of my improved machine is as follows: Power being applied to the driving-pulley, a regular and relatively' slow motion is given to the shaft in the direction that will cause the helix to travel upward or against the descending stream of the material that is introduced at the top through the chute or hopper, and by virtue of such motion the centrifugal force set up causes the material to spread and distribute itself upon the ever-increasing surface of the helix from the center out to the circumference at the same time that the pitch of the surface producesa regular descending` movement of the material-under the force of gravitation from the top to the bottom of the helix. Under the action of these forces the mass of descending material is spread in an open manner and brought in intimate contact with the amalgamating-surfaces of the helical plate. As the material descends by gravity, it meets the upwardlymoving surface of the spiral, which is constantly increasing in area as the mateterial in its descent becomes more and more thinly spread and distributed by the centrifugal force, so that those particles of minerals whichmay escape from the upper turns of thehelix are brought in contact with fresh or uncovered amalgamating surfaces of the lower turns of the helix having greater area. Those particles of the mineral which may be carried with the material toward the edge of the helix are projected or brought against the inner wall of the casing with greater or less force, according to the speed with which the helix is revolved in the casing, and the latter surface being silver-plated the same as the surface of the helix the mineral particles are retained, while the tailings pass down and are discharged upon the pan at the bottom. Then the surface of the helical plate and the casing have become coated, the amalgam is removed by subjecting lthe surfaces to the usual treatment.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an arnalgamator, a casing, a spiral journaled vertically therein, the upper surface of which is formed into an amalgamatingsurface, each portion of the periphery of the spiral being located interiorly of a vertical plane through the corresponding portion of the spiral below it said spiral having an unobstructed outer edge, and means for rotating the spiral.

2. In an amalgamator, a conical casing, a conical spiral journaled vertically therein, the inner surface of the casing and the upper surface of the spiral being formed with amalgamating-surfaces, each portion of the periphery of the spiral being located interiorly of a vertical plane through the corresponding portion of the spiral below it and exteriorly of a vertical plane through the portion of the casing aboveit, said spiral having an unobstructed outer edge, and means for rotating the spiral upward toward the smaller end of the casing.

3. In an amalgamator, a conical casing, a conical spiral journaled vertically therein with its periphery in close proximity to the casing, the inner surface of the casing and the upper surface of the spiral being formed into amalgamating-surfaces, the upper surface of each portion of the spiral being inclined or substantially dish-shaped from its axis to its periphery, said spiral having an unobstructed outer edge and means for rotating the spiral upward,or,toward the smaller end of the casing.

4. In an amalgamator, a base provided with a standing rim, a conical casing therein, the lower edge of which is within the rim, ashaft journaled in the baseand concentrically Within the casing, a conical spiral around the shaft, having an unobstructed outer edge adjacent to the casing the upper surface of the spiral and the interior surface of the casing being formed into amalgamating-surfaces, and means for rotating the spiral toward the top of the casing.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

JAMES V. COLEMAN. [L. s] Vitnesses:

T. J. SCHUYLER, EDWARD E. OsBoRN.

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