US707971A - Method of amalgamating metals. - Google Patents

Description

' No. 707,97l. Y Patented Aug. 26, |902.

P. A. KNAPPE. y f METHOD 0F AMALGAMATING METALS.

(Application led Mar. 8, 1902)' (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL A. KNAPPE, OF GRAN'IVILLE GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AMERICAN AMALGAMATING COMPANY, A OOR- PORATION OF GEORGIA.

M ETHOD OF AMALGAMATING v METALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,971, dated. August 26, 1902.

' Application filed March 8, 1902. Serial No. 97,231. (No specimens.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, PAUL A. KNAPPE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grantville, in the county of Coweta and-State of Georgia, have invented an Improvement in Methods of Amalgamating Metals, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specication, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to the amalgamation of metals by methods wherein separation of the metal is effected by intermingling a mixture of comminuted ore and water with a quantity of free mercury, and has particular reference to ores carrying large proportions of sulfids and where the precious metal is combined with refractory materials. A very thorough intermingling of the mercury and ore is obviously requisite to obtain satisfactory results by this method. A thorough mixing, however, is usually accompanied by a loss of a considerable percentage of the'mercu ry and amalgam, which passes off in small particles with the tailings or gangue. It is also very difficult to prevent the loss of many iine particles of met-al with the gangue,lparticu` larly when the-ore has been ground to a high degree of fmeness', without subjecting the same to repeated intermixtu re with mercury.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple process of amalgamation which shall permit the attainment of a high commercial efficiency. A

My improved method will be best understood by reference to a specific means for carrying it into effect, while its scope will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus adapted to carry out my improved method, showing the general relation of theY parts. Fig. 2 is a broken central sectional view of 'the amalgamating-chamber with its att-ached parts, and Fig. 3 is a crosssectional view of the amalgamator-chamber on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

A is an amalgamator-tube suitably supported in a horizontal position and preferably formed, as shown, with anged ends. The tube is closed at its ends by heads B B', bolted to anges, and providing glands C C for the stuffing-boxes D D', forming therewith bearings for the shaft E. An inlet-pipe a enters the initial end of the cylinder, preferably at the top, and an outlet or discharge pipe b is provided at the outlet end thereof, likewise located, preferably, near the top. A shield or baffle-plate c,which may be formed of metal or other suitable material, is removably fitted into grooves in the wall of the cylinder A, immediately beneath the said inlet-pipe. A series of radial mixing-arms d is carried by the shaft E throughout the length of the tube A, except where they would conflict with the shield c. These are screwed or otherwise suitably attached to the shaft E and are adapted to be revolved wit-hin the chamber A with but slight clearance. These are shown in staggered sets of two and are suitably dimensioned and disposed with relation to the space in the chamber A to cause thorough interminglingof the mercury and the pulp.

As a convenient means for draining the amalgamator, but forming no essential feature-thereof, I have shown a trough-like depression c formed in the under wall of the tube and increasing in depth toward the latter end thereof. This is best shown by Fig. 2 and the cross-section in Fig. 4. At the outlet end of the tube and near the deepest part of the depression is cast a boss, into which isV screwed the plug f, carrying the drain-pipe g, controlled by a valve, through which the mercury Vmay be removed at suitable` intervals.

A source hof electric current is shown suitably connected with the interior of the chamber A, preferably through insulating-plugs, to cause the passage of a current through the contents thereof.

O is an initial ore-receptacle adapted to feed the ore to the first of a series of sizers F F F,

having successively lower levels. kThese sizes are shown suitably locatedto drain into the inlet of the amalgamator throughpipes i c' 't' at a point elevated above the outlet thereof to cause a steady progress of the pulp therethrough under the pressure of the superimposed pulp in the inlet-pipe. The amount of flow through these pipes may be regulated by valves j j j. Overflow-pipes 71: 7c 7c are provided for the sizers to carry the waste from one .to the other and thus throughout the series, the overflow-pipe from the last sizerleading to a blanket-sluice, typified at Z in the drawings. The discharge-pipe of the amalgamator leads to a second series of similar sizers F' F F, provided with similar overflow-pipes It 7d 7a and drain-pipes t" t" t", the latter being provided with valves j j' j and draw-od cocks p p p and leading to the return-pipe m. The overflow from the last sizer leads to another similar blanket-sluice l', the end only of which is shown in the drawings. An elevated water-tank G or other suitable source distributes water to the sizers through the main feed-pipe H, Which is shown with depending valve-controlled branches n n n, extending downward into the individual sizertanks of both sets. The ends of these branch pipes are preferably provided with perforated tips o o o. An inclined return-pipe m leads from the last sizer F to the bucket elevator or conveying means I, by which the returned materials lnay be elevated to the initial orereceptacle C. This elevator is conveniently driven through the shaft K, the belt L, and driving-pulley N on the shaft E, power being supplied to the latter from any suitable source through the pulley N.

My improved method is carried out by the described apparatus in the following manner: The ore is conveyed by any suitable means to the initial receptacle C. I'Iere it is joined, as will afterward appear, by the discharge from the bucket elevator, and the mixture passes into the first sizer F. The water-jets from the pipes n serve to agitate and dilute the mass, so that the heavier particles gravitate to the bottom of the sizer and are conveyed by the pipe i to the inlet-hopper of the amalgamator. The lighter particles pass off at the overflow and are subject to a second settling or concentrating process in the second sizer. From here the overflow may be carried to a third sizer, and so on, as many sizers being employed as may be found desirable to extract all the concentrated portions of the ore. As a means for securing such concentrates as escape from the last sizer I preferably cause the overflow therefrom to pass over the blanket-sluice Z. This blanket may be taken up and washed to remove the mineral held by it as often as circumstances may demand. It is evident that any means which will afford a suitable concentration of the mixture and a separation of the lighter particles therefrom may be employed in place of the specific means I have shown. To any device equivalent or similar to the series of sizers shown I have applied the generic term of concentratoin The concentrated ore or pulp is passed to the amalgamator through the inlet-pipe a and on entering the chamber is prevented from coming into immediate contact with the mercury and flouring the latter by the shield c. While conveyed through the amalgamator under the pressure of the superimposed pulp it is subject to the steady action of the miXing-arms,which enforce a thorough intermingling of the mercury and the pulp and an amalgamation of the met-al carried thereby. The lighter gangue or tailings which escapes from the amalgamating-chambers through the pipe h carries with it numerous small globules of mercury and amalgam as well as particles of unamalgamated precious metal. For the separation of these substances I pass the tailings through a second concentrator, (represented by the series of sizers F F F.) In construction and function this concentrator is similar to that already described. The heavier particles of mercury and amalgam and the finer particles of precious metal, as well as the concentrates or bits of refractory metal unsusceptible to amalgamation, gravitate to the bottoms of the several sizers. These tend to pass through the pipes i' 1l t" to the return-pipe m, by which they are delivered to the bucket elevator, the latter conveying them to the initial ore-receptacle C. By adjusting the valves jjj this flow may be regulated, if desired, to include only the comparatively fine particles of mercury, amalgam, and metal, leaving the coarser concentrates to be withdrawn from the sizers through the draw-off cocks p p p at suitable intervals. The bucket elevator or conveyer may be constantlyoperated and with the sizers and circulating-pipes described affords a continually-repeated circulation of the unamalgamated metals through the amalgamator until they undergo the desired amalgamation. It also permits the recovery and restoration to the amalgamator-chamber of all free particles of mercury and amalgam carried off in the gangue. As a means to sustain the activity of the mercury and prevent its sickening .I have found it advantageous to employ a source of electricity suit-ably connected with the interior of the amalgamating-chamber to cause a passage ot` the electric current through the contents thereof. This may be accomplished as indicated; butIam not limited to any particular arrangement in this respect. In practice I have found an alternating current or one subject to repeated reversals highly efficacious, and in the drawings I have conventionally shown an alterhating-current source, although I am not limited to any particular kind of current for this purpose.

The form of amalgamator-tube described I have found particularly efficient in practice for causing a thorough intermingling of the pulp and the mercury without danger of flouring the latter. Any known means may be substituted therefor. I have also found it advantageous to cause the pulp to pass through the amalgamator under pres- IIO sure, and the elevated position of the metal ore-receptacle, sizers, and feed-hopper is merely selected as a simple and practical means of aording the requisite pressure in the amalgamatorlfor this purpose. It is not necessary that this construction should be followed or that any particular 'means for obtaining pressure should be employed, nor is my invention to be restricted to the ein ployment of any pressure in this connection. The bucket elevator is merely shown as illustrative of any practical means for conveying the concentrates to a point Where they may be returned to the amalgama'tor-chamber.

The structure shown and described is submitted for illustrative purposes onlyand as well adapted in practice to carry out my method. My invention is not limited, however, to the specific means shown for carrying out any or all of the steps, which may be performed in any known Way.

IY claim- 1. The method of amalgamating metals which consists in causing pulp to traverse an amalgamating-space containing mercury, forcibly intermingling the mercury and the pulp during its passage therethrough, removing the gangue from said space, separating the heavier particles from said gangue, and causing them to retraverse the amalgamatingspace.

2. The method of amalgamating metals which consists in forming a pulp, forcibly intermingling the same lWith mercury, removing the gangue therefrom, separating the heavier particles from said gangue, and conducting` the heavier particles thus separated to the ingoing pulp.

- 3. The method of amalgamating metals which consists in forming a pulp, forcibly intermingling the same with mercury, removing the gan gue therefrom, separating the heavier particles from said gangue, conducting the particles thus separated to the ingoing pulp and concentrating the pulp and heavier particles before entrance into the amalgamator.

4. The method of amalgamating metals which consists in causing a pulp to traverse a restricted amalgamating-space containing mercury, forcibly intermingling the mercury and the pulp duringits passage therethrough, removing the gangue from said space, separating the heavier particles from said gan gue and causing them to retraverse the amalgamating-space.

5. The method of amalgamating metals which consists in separating the heavier metallic particles from the gangue and causing their repeated passage again through the amalgamating-space and their repeated enforced intermingling With the mercury therein until amalgamation is effected.

6. The method of conducting 'the amalgamation of metals which consists in separating the heavier particles from the gangue, causing arepeated circulation of the same through the amalgamating-space and an enforced intermingling with the mercuryuntil amalgamation is effected,and withdrawing from such circulation those particles unsusceptible to amalgamation.

7. The method of conducting a continuous amalgamation of metals which consists in causing the passage of pulp through a coniined mercury-containing space, forcibly intermingling the mercury and pulp by agitation of the same, removing the gangue from said space, extracting the lheavier particles from said gangue, causing said heavier particles to be returned again into the mercurycontaining space, and subjecting them to reintermingling With the mercury therein.

8. The method of amalgamating metals which consists in causing apulp to traverse underpressure an amalgamating-space containing mercury, forcibly intermingling the mercury and the pulp during its passage therethrough, removing the gangue from said space, separating the heavier particles from said gangue and causing them to retraverse the amalgamating-space.

9. The method of amalgamating metals which consists in forming a pulp, causing a passage of said pulp under pressure through a mercury-receptacle, forcibly intermingling 'the mercury and pulp during such passage,

removing the gangue from said receptacle, separating the heavier particles from said gangue, and conducting the heavier particlesv thus separated tothe ingoing pulp.

10. The method of amalgamating metals which consists in forming a pulp, causing the passage of said pulp through amercury-receptacle, forcibly intermingling the mercury and pulp during such passage, removing the gangue from said receptacle, separating the heavier particles from said gangue, conducting the particles thus separated to the ingoing pulp, and concentrating the pulp and heavier particles before entrance into the amalgamator.

11. The method of amalgamating metals which consists in causing a pulp to traverse an amalgamating-space containing mercury, forcibly intermingling the mercury and pulp during its passage therethrough, removing the gangue from saidspace, separating the heavier particles from said gangue, causing them to retraverse the amalgamating-space and maintaining the activity of the mercury by an alternating current.

12. The method of amalgamating metals which consists in forming a pulp, causing the passage of the same through a mercury-receptacle, forcibly intermingling the mercury and the pulp, removing the gangue therefrom, extracting the hea-vier particles from said gangue, returning said heavier particles to the mercury-receptacle, and maintaining the activity of the mercury by an electric current.

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13. The method of amalgamating metals which consists in forming a pulp, conducting the same into a mercury-receptacle from a position elevated thereabove, causing the circulation of said pulp through said receptacle by the pressure of the superimposed pulp, interminglingr the mercury and pulp, removing the gangue from said receptacle, extracting the heavier particles from said gangue, conveying said heavier particles to the ingoing pulp.

In testimony Whereo:` I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of xo two subscribing witnesses.

PAUL A.y KNAPPE.

Witnesses:

THOMAS B. BOOTH, EVERETT S. EMERY.

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