US1230274A - Subaqueous gold-saving apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

I Patented June 19, 1917.

S. CALDWELL.

SUBAQUEOUS GOLD SAVING APPARATUS.

WITNESS s. CALDWELL.

SUBAQUEOUS GOLD SAVING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JU'NE I0, 1916.

1 ,230,274:. Patented June 19, 1917.

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m: nnums Faun: m. Innru-urna, WASNINOWIL a 0' SAMUEL CALDWELL, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

SUBAQUEOUS GOLD-SAVING- APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 19, 1917.

Application filed June 10, 1916. Serial No. 102,895.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL CALDWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Subaqueous Gold- Saving Apparatus, of which the following .is a specification. 1

The present invention relates to an improved subaqueous gold saving apparatus adapted for permanent positioning on the beds of rivers or streams, the sediment in which contains free gold or other precious metals, and it has for its principal objects to provide a structure over which the sediment passes due to the stream flow and which will trap or retain to its capacity the smaller particles thereof of the greater specific gravity, the larger and lighter particles being carried thereover by thestream flow; one wherein the material trapped or retained by the apparatus is capable of being removed therefrom and from the stream, and one provided with means for controlling the withdrawal. of the trapped .orretained material fromthe apparatus.

The invention consists broadly in a chamber provided with a grizzly top and for permanent positioning in the stream bed, there being provided at one end of the chamber an apron for directing the sediment carried by the stream flow onto the grizzly, and at a point communicating with thechamber a means for removing the sediment from within the chamber to a point above the level of the surface of the stream.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claim hereto appended; it being understood that variouschanges in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claim may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

To more fully comprehend the invention reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in plan of the preferred embodiment of my improved apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the injector casing taken on line 33 of Fig. 5.

Fig. tie a longitudinal sectional view of the injector casing illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a View in elevation of the injectorcasing partly broken away, illustrating more particularly the cut-01f slide and the guide therefor. I

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a stream or river with my invention in position on the bed thereof.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts-1 indicates the bottom, 2 the opposite side and 3 one end walls which together form a suitable open topped receptacle, trap or chamber 4: for pcsitioning on the river or stream bottom or bed. The side walls are recessed or cut as at 5 approximately midway of their length and beyond said out portions are inclined orsloped downwardly toward the end of the bottom wall at the forward or receiving end of the receptacle. A fan shaped or flaring metallic or other suitable apron 6 is positioned at the forward or receiving end of the receptacle, and the same is provided with an elongated recess, the side walls 7 of which rest on and are secured to suitable angle irons 8 carried by the opposite sides of the inclined or sloped portions of the receptacle side walls 2. The converging edges of the apron which connect through the plates 8 with the side walls 2 at a point adjacent the cuts 5 therein are curved or bent upwardly as at 9 fortheir full length to provide a guide for directing the sediment received on the apron toward the open top of the re ceptacle. A suitable sealing or contour strip 10, preferably of flexible material extends longitudinally of the forward edge of the apron and overhangs the same, it being secured at one edge to the apron in any suitable manner as by the bolts 11. The overhanging edge of the strip 10 lies directly on the river or stream bed and conforms to the contour thereof, thus preventing the passing of material beneath the apron and directing the same onto the upper surface thereof. Suitable converging guides 10 are carried on the upper surface of the apron 6 in spaced relation to the upturned edges 9 thereof, and said guides direct the material into the open topped receptacle in advance of the edges 9 and also serve to protect the edges from large boulders which may pass upon the apron.

A suitable grizzly A formed of'the parallel spaced bars 12 which rest on the transversely extending brace or supporting rods 13 connecting the side walls 2 adjacent their upper edges is positioned over the open top of the receptacle trap or chamber; 41, and is adapted to control the passage of the material into the chamber. The material carried by the stream flow and received on the apron is directed onto the grizzly, and in its movement longitudinally of the same is sepa ated, the larger particles being carried'by the stream flow over the unobstructed discharge end thereof and the smaller particles passing through the same and into the chamber 4.

A suitable casing 141 communicates at one side with the interior of the chamber through an opening 15 in the end wall 3 thereof, the casing providing on its interior a discharge chamber 16 which communicates at one end through a discharge pipe 17 with a suction device 18 which is. located above the stream level and preferably on the bank or edge thereof, as in Fig. 6. Communicating with the opposite end of the chamber 16 is a concentrically disposed fluid injector nozzle 17., the discharge end of which terminates at a point adjacent the gate when operated to and from the wall of the casingto prevent material from clogging in rear thereof. The gate is operated by a suitable rod 19 extending longitudinally of the pipe 17 to a point preferably in proximity to the suction device 18 and Where it connects with a handle 21. A transversely extending baffle 21 is positioned in the chamber immediately above the opening 15 therein and prevents the overflowing of the material trapped therein on the opening of the slide gate.

I have provided an apparatus for permanent positioning in the bed of streams which will collect and retain the metal bearing sands or material and which admits of the passing thereover of the large particles, such as stones and boulders, and one provided with means for removing the trapped material to a point above the level of the stream.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect byLetters Patent is:-

A subaqueous gold saving apparatus for permanently positioning in the body of a stream, comprising an open-topped chamber, a grizzly over the opentop thereof, and unobstructed at its opposite ends to permit of the free flow of material thereover, a portion of said grizzly being inclined upwardly from one end of. said chamber, an apron extending laterally from the opposite sides of the inclined portion of said grizzly and provided with converging walls for directing material.

carried by the stream flow and received on said apron on to said grizzly, a flexible sealing strip secured at one end to said apron and contacting at its free edge Wltll the stream bed, asuction pipe communicating with the rear of said chamber and through.

which the material trapped in said chamber is removed and conveyed to a point distant fromthe stream, means for creating a suction in said pipe, fluid injector connecting with the interior of said pipe adjacent its connection with said chamber and directed toward said suction means, and a gate valve for controlling the passage of material from said chamber into said suction pipe;

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL CALDWELL.

lVitnesses HARRY A. To'r'rEN, D. B. RICHARDS.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained f0r five. cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,-.D. G.

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