US989396A - Concentrator and amalgamator. - Google Patents

Description

W. M. NESBIT & E. PIKE. GONGENTR-ATOR AND AMALGAMATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1909.

Patented Apr. 11

W. M. NESBIT & E. PIKE. GONCENTRATOR AND AMALGAMATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1.909.

Patented Apr. 11,1911.

2 SHEETS*SHEET 2.

Wl TNE SSE S ATTORNEYS THE Nomzrs Pza-rens co., wAsHlNcrnu, a c.

WATSON MARSHALL NESBT AND EDWARD PIKE, OF EUREKA, UTAH.

CONCENTRATOR AND AMALG-AIVIATOR.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 131, 1911.

Application filed August 24, 1909. Serial No. 514,361.

and EDWARD PIKE, citizens of the United States, and both residents of Eureka, in the county of J uab and State of Utah, have invented a new and Improved Concentrator and Amalgamator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to concentrators and amalgamators, and relates more particularly to a device of this class comprising a sluice box having transverse rililes arranged upon and above the bot-tom of the box so that the pulp and other material flowing through the box is forced to pass over and under these respective riilles, the box being provided with quicksilver pockets under the last-mentioned ritlles, and being preferably provided With longitudinal ritlles or amalgamat-ing plates, as Well as with suitable electrical, connections for eleotrolytic reduction.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive concentrator and amalgamator, by means of which the small particles of precious metals, of the kind known, for example, as flour gold and flour quicksilver can be easily and expeditiously recovered from the pulp, tailings, sand, or other material, as Well as metal such as coarse or float gold; Which can be used as a concentrator for materials of different kinds, and which is adapted for the use of electricity as an aid in the recovery of Jthe metals.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter, and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this speciiication, in Which similar characters of reference indicate coresponding parts in all the views, and in Which-` Figure l is a longitudinal section of an embodiment of our invention; Fig. 2 is a pla-n View of the device; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the device showing certain of the parts removed and replaced by other parts; and Fig. is a transverse section on the line 5 5 of Fig. si.

Before proceeding to a more detailed explanation of our invention, it should be clearly understood that While the device is peculiarly adapted for the recovery of line gold from pulp or tailings, in certain mining operations, it can also be used for concenv trating operations and for the recovery of certain other metals. Ve prefer to employ transverse riflies. so arranged that the pulp or other material passing through the sluice box is forced to flow under and over the adjacent rilfles, alternately. In this Way the material is forced into contact With the quicksilver or mercury arranged in pockets vprovided therefor, so that the precious metals are amalgamated with the quicksilver and thereby Withdrawn from the Waste material. At the same time, the riflles preferably constitute amalgamating plates, that is, copper plates coated With a suitable amalgamating material. lf so desired, the sides of the sluice box can also be provided with amalgamating plates, to assistin the recovery of the material. The longitudinal rifies consist of the usual amalgamating plates.

It is Well-known that when amalgamating plates are used for collecting gold, silver and the like, from their crude ores, the surfaces of these plates are liable to become tarnished or sickened by certain substances contained in the ores or in the current of Water which is employed to carry the pulp over the pla-tes, and that in this condition they are untted for amalgamating the particles of gold, silver, etc. To prevent this, and to keep the surfaces of the amalgamating plates dry and in suitable condition for collecting and amalgamating the particles of the precious metals, electric currents are employed. the Water of the pulp constituting part of the conducting circuit and suitable electrical connect-ions being provided for the purpose.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, We provide a sluice box or casing l0, fashioned from any suitable material and preferably lined at the sides and bottom with amalgamat-ing sheets or plates ll. The sluice box has a head 12 at which the pulp or other material is introduced, and is provided at the bottom With recesses or pockets 13 suitably spaced apart and adapted for the receptionof Quicksilver. The tail end of the sluice box has an outlet opening la through which the pulp finally escapes.

le provide transverse riiiles 15 preferably constituting amalgamating plates and extending across the sluice box at suitable intervals, being positioned against supporting or bracing cleats 1G secured at the sides of the box. The ritlies 15 are adjustable vertically, and for this purpose are each provided with a plurality of recesses 17 adapted to receive supporting pins or studs 1S in the sides of the box. These ritiles 1.5 are arranged above and adjacent to the recesses or pockets 13, so that the material is forced to flow under the ri'lies and directly over the pockets and into contact with the mercury therein.

Below the ends of the pocketsl toward which the material flows through the sluice box, is arrang-ed a stop ril'le 19 preferably constituting an amalgamating plate, and extending only part way to the top of the sluice, so that the material is forced to flow over the stop. Cleats 20 are secured at the inside of the pockets and serve to hold the stop riifle in place. Further pivoted cleats 21 coperate with the cleats 20 for a like purpose, as is shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 4. The pivoted cleats can be swung aside to permit the insertion and removal of the stop riifle.

lVhenemployed in connection with our device, longitudinal ri'lTles or concentrating' plates Q2, which are preferably of the usual form, are arranged in sets between each pair of adjacent riflies 15. Supports 23 consisting` for example, of metal rods, each having one end bent to form an eye 24, are arranged in openings 25 of the side walls of the sluice box and extend across the same. These supports serve to carry the riftle plates 22 which are provided with openings for the purpose. The plates 22 are spaced from one another and from the sides of the sluice box, by means of suitable formed spacing members 26 mounted upon the supports. The plates 22 of course assist in the usual manner in collecting the precious metals from the pulp, being provided with amalgamating surfaces. We also provide concentrating riff-les 27 mounted at suitable points of the sluice box by means of lugs 28 which fit removably in eyes or brackets 29 arranged to rest upon the bottom of the sluice box, as is shown most clearly in Fig. 5. The concentrating rifiies are so proportioned that the side edges thereof are spaced from the sides of the box, so that the pulp is forced to pass at the sides of the concentrating ri'liles. The action of these riffles is to cause the heavier particles in the pulp to accumulate in front of them, while the lighter particles or waste pass off at the sides.

When it is desired to remove the concentrates, the riflies can be easily unhooked from the bottom of the box and a stream of water can then be employed to wash the concentrates out of the box and into the collecting receptacle or the like. If so desired the riies 15, as well as the rifiles 19, can be dispensed with when the device is being used box and one of the quicksilver baths in its pocket 13, a suitable conductor 32 being introduced into the bath to lead the current to this point. One of the conductors 31 and 32 preferably, also passes through the eyes 2i of the supports 23.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a sluice box having transverse riflies arranged upon the bottom of said box, and transverse riiiles arranged above the bottom of said box, whereby material passing through said box is forced to fiow over and under said riffles, respectively, and amalgamat-ing plates positioned above said firstmentioned riifles and between said last-mentioned riftles.

2. A device of the class described, coinprising a sluice box having transverse riflies arranged upon the bottom of said box, and transverse riffles arranged above the bottom of said box, whereby material passing through said box is forced to flow over and under said riiiies, respectively, and amalgamating plates positioned above said .first mentioned riflies and between said last-mentioned riffles, said sluice box having in 4the bottom thereof, quicksilver pockets arranged adjacent to said first-mentioned riflies and under said amalgamating plates.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a sluice box having the sides and bottom lined with concentrating plates, the bottom of said box being provided with recesses constituting pockets for quicksilver, transverse riffles spaced above said pockets, stop riffles upon the bottom of said box and extending` partly to the top thereof, longitudinal riflies, said rii'ies constituting amalgamating plates, and a concentrating rifHe spaced from the sides of said box.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WATSON MARSHALL Nilsen'. EDWARD PIKE. ,l

Vitnesses D. B. CRONIN, DAN MARTIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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