US1221659A - Concentrator. - Google Patents

Description

C. E. BEYE R.

CONCENTRATOH- APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, 1915.

1 21,6590 Patnted Apr. 3,1917.

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C. E. BEYER.

CONCENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, 1915.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

Application filed April 16, 1915. Serial No. 21,701.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, CrrARLns EDWARD Berna, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Mazatlan, in Sinaloa, Mexico, have invented new and useful Improvements in Concentrators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to concentrators, and its primary object is to provide a concentrator which will operate with maximum efliciency in either dry or wet concentration, and which while especially useful in dry concentration, as for the abstraction of gold from low grade alluvial or placer deposits in arid or semi-arid sections, may be employed in wet concentration with the use of a small quantity of water and without the necessity of employing a constant flow of water, as with concentrators of ordinary construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a concentrator having a novel construction and arrangement of devices for securing a positive and eflicient separation of the components of the material according to their specific gravities, the agitation of and carrying 0E of the sand and other particles liable to remain dormant and in-' terfere with the free settlement of the gold or other metalliferous matter, and the discharge and collection of the concentrates at predetermined periods.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which 2 Figure 1 is a View in elevation looking toward one side of the concentrator.

Fig. 2 is a similar view looking toward the opposite side of the concentrator, with parts omitted.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the concentrator.

Fig. 4: is a similar view on an enlarged scale with the agitators and inclined deck plates removed showing clearly the combination of the riffles, screens and belt.

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through the machine.

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation looking toward the rear or discharge end of the machine.

7 is a vertical transverse section line 7 7 of Fig, .1

Figs. Sand 9 are detail views of the intermittent mechanism for operating the belt[ Fig. 10 is a'detail view showing a modification in the belt operating mechanism.

In carrying my invention into practice, I make the table of the concentrator in the form of an oblong rectangular box or casing 1, which may be constructed of .wood or metal. That shown in the present instance is made of wood, and is suitably supported in the ordinary way upon four springs 2, arranged at or near the corners thereof, said springs assisting in maintaining the table in a normal position, while permitting reciprocatory or vibratory motion thereof. The table is inclined downwardly to a determined d'egree between its receiving and discharge ends, to facilitate the flow of the material to be treated by gravity, and may be reciprocated or vibrated by any preferred type of means. In the present instance I have shown a head motion mechanism 3 of ordinary construction, which may be a common crank and lever or eccentric and lever motion, which mechanism operates to pcriodically move the table rearwardly against the resistance of the springs 2 and head springs l, said springs serving by their resiliency to move the table forwardly or return the same to normal position, a rapid reciprocatory or vibratory action of the table being thereby effected. Arranged within the box or casing, adjacent the oposite ends thereof are flanged pulleys or rollers 5 and 5 over which travels a longitudinally extending endless belt or apron 6, preferably of pure rubber. The rollers 5 {111C 5 are mounted on transverse shafts or axles 7 and 7 extending exteriorly at the sides of the casing, the shaft 7 being journaled in fixed bearings, while the shaft 7* is journaled in movable bearings 8 adjustable by means of set screws 9, whereby any slack in the belt may be taken up and the belt kept taut. The outer face ofthe belt is provided with one or more transverse channels 9' extending its full width, and which may be of suitable depth, the said channels serving to receive the concentrates for conveyance by the belt or apron to the disch arge point.

As shown, the upper stretch of the belt 10 moves in direct contact with the curved lower faces of a series of spaced, transversely disposed screens 11, and is held in close cont c he e by a ser es o t ans verselyarranged guide rollsor elements 11,

while the lower stretch 12 of the belt travels over the rounded upper surfaces of transverse supports l3, preferably.consisting f metallicplates secured to suitable supporti ing blocks l4, thesaid supporting members :13 serving toprevent the lower stretch of the belt from flapping or moving unduly during 1 the vibratory actionofthe concentrator, thus 7 10 A fscraper'or guard l5-composedof a transinsuring an easy working travel of the belt.

ve'rsely' disposed plate is arranged to bear against.the upper'surface of thesaid lower stretch12 ofth'e belt in proximity to theroll 5,'and"serves to remove from'the belt all V adhering particles of the concentratesw'hich mayfall thereon, for discharge through the concentrates outlet 16 disp0sed at the bottom i of the boX'or casing adjacent to theforward' V V end thereof. 7

The scraper blade or plate 15 is vertically movable in guide slots 17 in the sides of the 7 box so as to automatically adjust itself to compensate for irregularities of. surface in the belt, and said blade or plate is held'from endwise displacement by cotter pins 18 and I yieldingly forced down into working engagement with the belt by springs 19. The

concentrates are discharged from the belt at the forward end of the box or casing upon an inclined delivery shelf 20 leading to the outlet 16. The screens ll'preferably consist of perforated boards or plates secured to rear cross strips 21, in advance of each of which a front cross strip 22, the said screensand cross cleats being suitably fastened to brackets 23 upon the side walls of the boX or casing. Thefront cleats 22 terminate at their upper edgesat a somewhat lower level thanthe upper edges of the rear cross cleats 21, and, in addition to another cross cleat 24:, form supports for the upper rear ends of inclined plates 25, the lower forward ends of which fit'within recesses or I'abbets'26 formed in the rear edges of the screens 11, so as to terminate substantially ,flush with the upper surface of said screens.

I These plates in conjunction with the screens I .11 form the deck of the concentraton along Which the material travels from end to end of the 'boX or casing during theconcentrating acti'on,rand it-will be observed that the respective plates '25, which constitute sec- I ti ons of'said deck are inclined'downwardly and forwardly, and'thereby provide inclined planes for the forward travel of the material by gravity in addition to the -motioniim concentrator, the relative arrangement of passes to the next forward inclined deck section, the concentrates gradually feeding downward within the pockets through the mass of material during the concentrating action'until they rest upon the perforated screens 11. The perforations of these screens are closed by the upper stretch 10 of the conveyor belt 6 except at predetermined intervals when the channels 9 pass beneath the screens, the concentrate then discharging through the perforations in the screens into the channels 9, and being conveyed forward by the belt and finally deposited upon the shelf 20 for discharge by gravity through the concentrates outlet 16. A suflicicnt interval is thereby allowed to elapse at all times during the agitation of the material within each pocket 26 between registration of channel 9 with the underlying screen to permit the concentrates to settle by specific gravity for collection and discharge, the closing of the perforations in the screens by the belt insuring at all times security against the discharge of any of the concentrates or material by the screen at other periods or the loss of any of the concentrates, as will be readily understood. It will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure that the material feeding through the machine will be subjected to a series of concentrating actions,

ever, the sand tends to pack .within the pockets 26 and lie dormant therein, thus preventing the proper stratification of the elements of the material and passage of the heavier, metalliferous particles to the screens, it being customary in the ordinary type of dry concentrators to displace this sand by blasts of air. For the purpose of keeping the material n the pockets thoroughly agltated. and insuring their propenstratification, I provide an agitator device above the lower portion of each sec 129 tion of the deck, each agitatordevice comprising a suitable head, plate or backing member 27 provided with a multitude of spring wire fingers or tines which extend down into the underlying pocket 26 and terminate just above the lower portion of the plate 25 and the associated screen 11. These agitators vibrate, in the reciprocation of the concentrator, in a direction longi tudinally of the machine, and the fingers or tines 28, add both to this vibratory action and to the inherent spring action thereof, loosen up and turn over the particles of material, thereby preventing the sand from packing or remaining dormant, and permitting the heavy particles of the precious material to feed downward to the screen, thus making provision for the collection, during the transit of the material along the length of the table of the i'i'ietalliii'erous particles capable of being separated and concentrated. The agitators are mounted upon transverse shafts 29 journaled in suitable bearings 30, the ends of the shaft extending beyond the sides of the box or casing and having mounted thereon welghted pendulum levers 31 movable in guards or casings 32. During the rapid reciprocatory motion of the machine these weighted pendulum levers are set into action, their action being-limited by contact with the sides of the guards or casings 32, by which, in connection with the spring action of the tines or fingers, an automatic operation of the agitators upon the material is secured without the necessity of employing auxiliary power for the purpose.

The belt 6 is periodically actuated by means of intermittent feed mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel, composed of a pair of ratchet disks 33 and 34 fixed to one end of the shaft 7 and suitably fixed to each other. The teeth of these ratchet disks, which are equally spaced, are arranged in staggered relation or so that the teeth of one disk lie on lines between the teeth of the other disk, thus enabling a wheel of fine pitch to be obtained without the necessity of employing a wheel having very closely related and delicate teeth. Arranged to engage the teeth of the respective ratchet disks are pivoted spring pressed dogs or pawls 35 and 36, carried by a pendulum lever 37 loosely mounted to swing upon the shaft 7 as an axis in a direction longitudinally of the machine. The lower end of this lever, carries a ball or weight 38 and the swing of said lever is restricted and its travel regulated by means of set screws or adjustable stop devices 39 supported by brackets 40 on the sides of the box or casing, the construction being such that during the reciprocatory motion of the concentrator and during its travel in one direction the lever will be operated, causing the pawls 35 and 36 to en gage the teeth of the ratchet wheel and turn said wheel a prescribed distance in a feeding direction, while upon the travel of the concentrator in the opposite direction the lever will return to normal position and its dogs will slide over the teeth of the ratchet wheel. It will thus be evident'that on each reciprocation of the concentrator a partial revolution will be communicated to the shaft 7 which motion will in turn be transmitted to the belt 6, by which the belt will be intermittently moved, the feed motion of the same being properly timed to allow the metalliferous particles in the material to feed to the screens during the concentrating action preparatory to collection and discharge. Suitably mounted upon the machine a check pawl or dog 41 operating to prevent reverse motion of the ratchet wheel, while permitting it to be fed up by the dogs or pawls 35 and 36. In some cases it is desirable to reduce the speed of the belt when working on very low grade material. This may be conveniently accomplished, as shown in Fig. 10, by the use of spur gearing 42 be tween the ratchet wheel and shaft 7, the gearing being properly proportioned to secure the desired eifect.

The tailings or waste material passing over the last rifiie of the deck and upon the final plate or inclined surface of the table discharges through a chute or outlet 43 into any suitable receptacle, and it will be understood that in the use of discharge slots in the belt in place of the channels 9 the coneentrates will pass directly through a screen and the slot in the top stretch of the belt and discharge upon the upper surface of the lower stretch of the belt, the scraper 15 operating to force the concentrates off said lower stretch of the belt for discharge through the outlet 16 and to prevent the same from passing between the belt and pulley or roll 5*. If desired, the concentrates may discharge through the outlet 16 into a collection chamber or casing 4A: having an outlet door 45 adapted to be locked to pre vent surreptitious removal of the concentrates. This collection chamber may be provided with a windoworobservation panel 1-6 to enable the operator to determine when the chamber is full.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and mode of operation of my improved concentrator will be readily understood, This concentrator is especially useful and eflicient for abstracting the gold from low grade alluvial or placer deposits in arid or semi-arid sections, as it will efficiently concentrate the material dry and without the use of any water. It will also work as eiiiciently when using water, the water being-fed in the ordinary way with the material to be treated. With this concentrator, however, but a small amount of water. is required compared with others,

M the, continual supply. of water being unnecessary to carry the material through the machine, since each sectlon of the deck has a separate actioni similar to the ordinary miners gold pan, the advantages of which 7 will be evident. Furthermore, it will be j ,ough 'agitatlon in such a way as to secure seent'hat the invention provides a means whereby the material is subjected to thorthe positive concentration of all particles of lets, an endless belt having its upper stretch arrangedto travel below said outlets and normally closing the same against the escape of the material, said belt being provided at intervals with portions constructed topermit discharge of the material from the out to hold thesame from depression, and a re- 7 lets, means acting upon the upper stretch of the belt for supporting and guiding said stretch with relation to the outlets, means acting upon thelower stretch of the belt .siliently mounted scraper acting upon the upper surface of the lower stretch of the,

belt. I

'2. A concentrator having its deck'or plat- I form divided by rifles into a plurality of I working sections, the surface of the bottom of each section being inclined downward toward theoutlet end of the machine, a discharge screen at the bottom of each outlet section, and an endless conveyer. or apron moving in contact with the underside of and controlling the discharge of the material through the screens.

formed by a series of downwardly and forwarclly inclined surfaces, rifles adj acent'the ;lower forward ends of said surfaces and forming therewith pockets, screens at the base portions of the pockets, and anendless apron'moved in rubbing contact with the undersides of the screens for controlling the discharge of the material through said 4. A concentrator having a series of rifles, inclined conductingplates between the riffies and spaced therefrom to form pockets, screensat the base portions of the pockets *formed by the plates and rifles, and a movable element traveling in rubbing contact. with the unde'rside's of said screens for con 'tr'olling' the discharge f of the material I through said screens.

151 A concentratorhaving a table formed of a plurality of inclinedsurfaces,rifles 3. A concentrator. having a deck or table 7 for the discharge of the material therefrom,

an endless apron arranged to travel in rubbing contact with the undersides of the screens and controlling the discharge of the material through said screens, said apron being formed of a material having a friction surface and having portions cut away for the passage of the material, and means for imparting intermittent motion to the apron.

7 A concentrator having a deck provided with a series of working surfaces, each including a discharge screen, an endless belt controlling the discharge of material through said screen, said belt having its upper stretch arranged to travel beneath the screens and normally close the same, means for holding the upper stretch of the belt against the screens, means for holding the lower stretch of the machine from flapping motion, and means for intermittently moving the belt.

8. A concentrator having its deck provided with a series of working surfaces, each including a discharge screen, an endless belt controlling said screen, said belt having its upper stretch moving in contact with the screens, means for supporting the lower stretch of the belt, and a scraper operating upon the lower stretch of the belt.

9. A concentrator including a reciprocatory orvibratory table having a plurality of working sections provided with discharge screens, an endless conveyer movable in rubbing contactwith and controlling the discharge of the concentrates through said screens, pawl and ratchet mechanism for intermittently actuating said conveyor, and a gravity controlled device influenced by the reciprocatory or vibratory action of the table to operate said pawl and ratchet mechanism.

10. A concentrator including a reciprocatory or vibratory table provided with a series of working sections, each including a pocket provided with a discharge screen, an

endless apron controlling said screen, means for intermittently actuating said apron, and a gravity controlled vibratory agitator having spring tines depending into the pocket to agitate the materialtherein.

11. A concentrator including a vibratory table having a plurality of working sections,each provided with a discharge screen,

an endless apron controlling the discharge trolled means influenced by the vibrations of of the concentrates through said screens, the table to vibrate said agitators. 1:; means for vibrating the table, gravity con- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature trolled means afi'ected by the vibrations of in presence of two Witnesses.

the table to intermittently move the apron, CHARLES EDWARD BEYER.

and agitators provided with spring tines to l/Vitnesses:

agitate the material on the table above the CHARLES ARMSTRONG MoINTosH, Working portions thereof, and gravity con- JOHN A. WADLIN.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G.

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