US2348479A - Ore separating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 9, 1944. J. F. KELLERMAN ORE SEPARATI'NG APPARATUS FiledJan. 4, 194i 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JoZ'nF/feZZer/na/z May 9, 1944. J. F. KELLERMAN I ORE SEPARATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 4. 1941 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JUAN/HM y 1944- J. -F. KELLERMAN QRE SEPARATING APPARATUS s Shets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 4, 1941 I I W Patented May 9, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlC 2,348,479 01m sarm'rmo .u-raaa'rus John F. Kellprman, Fort Lupton, Colo., assignor of one-fourth to Lee Combs and one-fourth to Ben Roberts, both of Fort Lupton, Colo.

Application Janu'ary 4, 1941, Serial No. 373,170

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an ore separating apparatus and has relation more particularly to an apparatus of this kind especially designed and adapted for use in separating gold or other heavy metals from dirt, sand, gravel, or crushed ore.

It is primarily an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of this kind for use in the recovery of very fine or flour gold or other heavy metals.

The invention also has for an object to provide a device of this kind which includes a plurality of pans superimposed one above the other and connected and mounted in a manner to be reciprocated as a unit, and wherein said pans successively discharge the concentrates one upon the other together with means whereby the inclination of each ,of the pans in the direction of flow therealong may be varied as desired.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus of this kind embodying a plurality of reciprocating pans supported one above the other, together with means carried by the uppermost pan into "which the ore is initially deposited whereby water is distributed in substantially an even stream thereacross.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved ore separating apparatus whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan. of a separating apparatus constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a detailed transverse sectional view taken through the upper pan on substantially theline22ofFigure1;

Figure 3 is a sectionalview taken through the upper portion of the apparatus and on substantially the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and particularly illustrating the pivotal mounting for the guide rods for the top pan and upon which a series -o f pans are supported for unitary reciprocation;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view in rear end elevation of the apparatus as herein disclosed;

Figure 6 is a view in front elevation of the device as herein embodied;

Figure 7 is a detail fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 4.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, F denotes the framework of the apparatus as herein embodied and which framework comprises the upstanding comer postsof desired height and which, as herein disclosed, constitute angle irons. These posts support a top frame T comprising the elongated side members 2 and the end cross members 3. Thesemembers 2 and 3 also preferably constitute angle irons and have their adjacent end portions welded or otherwise connected and this frame T is riveted, as at 4, or otherwise securely anchored to the upper ends of the posts I. It is to be stated at this time that the manner of forming the top frame T forms no particular part of the present invention.

The lower end portions of the posts I are connected and braced by the bottom side members 5 and the bottom transverse members 6.

The posts I at one end of the framework F and the adjacent cross member 3 of the top frame T have riveted, as at l, or otherwise securely fastened thereto the upstanding angle irons 8. The upper ends of these arms 8 have interposed therebetween and suitably secured thereto the transversely disposed angle member 9. Welded or otherwise securely fixed to the central portion of this member 9 is the inner marginal portion of an outwardly disposed table In, The outer marginal portion of this table III has secured as at H, the upper end portions of the supporting members l5. These members 15 are of a desired length and disposed downwardly and inwardly with their lower end portions anchored, as at It, to a cross member I] interposed between and secured to the lower portions of the adjacent posts I.

Anchored, as at l8, to the table It] is a block l9 provided with the upstanding bearing members 20 suitably spaced apart in a direction transversely of the framework F. Rotatably supported, by these bearing members 20 is a shaft 2| having a crank 22 interposed between the members 20. This shaft 2| has fixed thereto a pulley 23 adapted to be coupled to a suitable source upstanding bracket arms 25 is acrossmember 21. This member 21 is of a length to have its end portions overlie. the bracket arms 25. Disposed through these overlying portions of the member '21 and through the slots 26 are the headed members or bolts 29-.on which thread the holding nuts 29. These bolts 28 and nuts 29 coact in a well known manner with the end portions of the member 21 and bracket arms 25 to hold the member 21 in a desired or selected position along the slots 26. The member 21 at a point between the side members 2 of the frame T have clamped thereto, as at 30, end portions of the elongated parallel guide rods 3|. These guide rods'are spaced apart as desired and the opposite or forward end portions thereof are suitably secured or clamped to the end portions of a cross member 32.- The extremities of this member 32 are provided with the outstanding trunnions 33 which rotatably engage through the bearing members 34 mounted upon the side members 2 of the top frame T. The trunnions 33 and coacting bearing members 34 allow for the desired swing-ing of the guide rods 3| as the position of the cross member 21 is varied along the slots 26.

Slidably mounted upon the rods 3| are the guid members 35 depending from the opposite end portions of a top'pan X and at opposite sides thereof. This mounting of the pan X permits the same'to reciprocate on the rods 3| under the action of the pitman or connecting rod 36 operatively connected with the crank 22 of the shaft 2| and also operatively connected, as at 31, with an end of the pan X.

The pan X, as herein disclosed, is disposed on a forward and downward incline determined by the adjustment of the rods 3| along the arms 25. The lower or forward bottom portion 38 of the pan X is slightly raised above the main bottom member 39 of the pan whereby is provided a slight space or slot 40 extending entirely across the pan X. The bottom portion 36 is of a length to extend beyond the forward end of the framework F and the outer or forward part of this portion 38 is downwardly disposed to provide a discharge chute 4| discharging within a waste hopper 42 suitably secured to the front end of the framework F. This hopper 42 has leading therefrom a depending discharge spout 43 deliv- "ering onto a transversely disposed and down-' wardly inclined waste chute 44 discharging to one side of the framework F. The pan X at its rear or upper end portion is provided thereacross with the vertically disposed partition or plate 45 which, as herein disclosed, extends from the top of the pan X to a point spaced slightly above the bottom 39 of the pan Xto provide a discharge slot 46 extending across the bottom of the pan X and immediately adjacent to said bottom 39.

This partition or plate 45 coacts with the adjacent end wall 41 of the pan X to provide a water box 48. Extending up within this box 48 through the bottom wall 39 and terminating at a desired distance above said bottom wal1 39 is a supply pipe 49. The lower end portion of this pipe 49 has coupled thereto in a conventional manner an end portion of a flexible hose or conduit 59 which isalso suitably coupled to a pipe line 5| leading from a suitable source of water supply with such supply under a. pressure suflicient to be delivered through the pipe 49 into the water box 48. The water within the box 48 passes outwardly out through the slot 46 and downwardly over the main bottom 39 of the pan X, said slot 46 assuring such stream of water being evenly distributed across the bottom 39.

The value bearing material, such as dirt, sand, gravel, or crushed ore, is deposited in any manner preferred within the pan X at the upper or rear end portion thereof and the water stream flowing down the pan X carries such value bearing material downwardly and as a result of the reciprocation of the pan X the heavy metal, such as gold, will drop to the bottom of the pan and will pass out through the slot 40 while the lighter material will pass over the bottom portion 36 and be discharged within the waste hopper 42.

Depending from adjacent portions of the main bottom 39 and the bottom portion 38 is a transversely disposed hopper 52 with which the space or slot 49 communicates. This hopper 52 serves to deliver the value bearing material received therein through the space or slot 40 upon the upper or forward end portion of a downwardly and rearwardly inclined pan Y. The upper or forward end portion of this pan Y is closed by an end wall 53 and this end wall 53 is hingedly connected, as at 54, from below with the bottom portion 36 of the pan X. This hinge connection 54 permits the inclination of the pan Y to be slightly varied. The pan X is maintained in its desired inclined adjustment by the arms 55 depending from opposite sides of the pan Y at the rear or upper portion thereof. The lower portion of each of these arms 55 extends across a side of the pan Y and the adjacent side wall of the pan Y carries a shank 56 which is disposed through an elongated slot 51 provided lengthwise of the arm 55. This shank 56 has threaded thereon a holding or clamping nut 58.

The lower bottom portion 59 of the pan Y is also slightly raised above the main bottom 60 of the pan whereby is provided immediately adjacent to the bottom 69 a discharge slot 6| extending entirely across the pan Y. This slot 6| discharges within a hopper 62 depending from the adjacent portion of the bottom 60 and bottom portion 59 of the pan Y. The outer or discharges within a transversely disposed and downwardly inclined chute 63 disposed trans-' versely of the framework F and herein disclosed as supported in desired position upon a member 64 interposed between and suitably secured, as at 65, to the rear posts The lower end of the chute 63 discharges upon a forwardly and downwardly inclined chute 66 which discharges within the waste chute 44 hereinbefore referred to.

The hopper 62 of the pan Y discharges upon the upper rear portion of a bottom pan Z. This pan Z is disposed on a downward and forward incline and its rear or upper end is closed by an end wall 61 which is hingedly connected, as at 68, from below with the bottom portion 59 of the pan Y. Depending from the upper portion of the pan Y at each side thereof is an elongated arm 69 which extends across a side of the pan Z and the adjacent side wall 10 of the pan Z carries an outstanding shank 1| which is directed through an elongated slot 12 in the arm 69. Coacting with this shank 1| in a well known manner is a holding nut '12. By this means a selected inclined adjustment of the pan Z may be'eifectively maintained. It is also to be pointed out that the connections between the pans X and Y as afforded by the arms I! and between the pans Y and Z as afforded by the arms 69 are such as to normally maintain such pans in a rigid assembly and in desired vertically spaced relation and in a manner whereby all of the pans will be caused to reciprocate as a unit with the top pan x.

The lower bottom portion 13 of the pan Z is slightly raised with respect to the main bottom l4 of the pan Z whereby a discharge slot 15- is provided immediately adjacent to the bottom 14. This slot 15 extends transversely across the pan Z and delivers within a hopper 18 depending from the bottom 14 and bottom portion 13. This hopper 16 may deliver upon a suitably positioned receptacle placed therebelow or otherwise as preferred.

The value bearing material delivered by the hopper 52 upon the upper forward end portion of the pan Y will travel downwardly of the pan Y and the heavier material, such asgold, will fall to the bottom and pass out through the slot GI and be delivered upon the rear upper portion of the pan Z through the hopper 62. The lighter or waste material will pass over the raised bottom portion 59 of the pan Y and be carried by the chutes 63 and 66 to the waste hopper 44. The value bearing material delivered upon the upper end portion of the bottom pan Z will flow downwardly with the heavier material, such as gold, again dropping to the bottom and passing out through the slot 15 into the hopper 16. The waste material will pass over the lower raised bottom portion 18 and discharge upon the waste chute TI. This waste chute I1 is carried by a rear wall of the spout 43 and discharges within said spout 43 through a suitably positioned opening 18.

All of the various parts of my improved apparatus are to be made of metal and the construction of such parts is such as to enable the same to be readily and effectively assembled. It is believed to be readily apparent from the foregoing description that the apparatus as herein disclosed is particularly adapted for use in the recovery of fine or flour gold or other metals. This separation is efficiently accomplished by providing the three concentrating pans X, Y and Z assembled and arranged asherein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and it is to be further pointed out that the efficiency of the apparatus is facilitated by having each of the slots 41), GI and 15 three thirtyseconds of .an inch in height.

It is also to be pointed out that the apparatus as herein disclosed is one which is relatively small in size yet without in any way minimizing its effectiveness.

To increase the efllciency of the apparatus, the upper or high end portion of each of the pans Y and Z is also provided with a water box 19 into which discharges a pipe line 80 leading from a suitable source of water supply. The forward or lower wallBl of each of the boxes 19 is slightly spaced above the bottom 60 or 14 of the pan Y or Z to provide a discharge slot 82 extending across the pan, said slot being for the same purpose as the slot 48 associated with the pan 48 hereinbefore referred to.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that an ore separating apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinaiter claimed.

I claim:

1. An apparatus of the class described comprising a supporting structure, a pan, means for mounting the pan upon the structure for reciprocating movement, means for reciprocating the pan, a second pan underlying the first named pan, means hingedly connecting the second pan at one end directly to the discharge end portion of the first pan, means connecting the opposite end of the second pan to the first pan, said last named means being so constructed and arranged as to hold the second pan in selective vertical swinging adjustment with respect to the first pan,

'the connections between the two pans holdin both of the pans for unitary reciprocation, the first pan in its delivery end being formed to provide a slot extending thereacross through which the concentrates of said first pan are discharged upon the. second pan, awater box forming a part of the opposite end portion of the first pan, said box having a forward wall extending across the pan and having a discharge slot immediately adjacent to the bottom of said first pan to provide means for even distribution over the bottom of the pan of the water discharging from the box out through said slot, and means carried by the first pan for delivering water within the Water box.

2'. An apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of pans in superposed relation, said pans being alternately inclined in opposite directions, means pivotally connecting the receiving end portion of a lower pan to the discharge end portion of the pan immediately thereabove, arms depending from the opposite sides of the upper pan and overlying sides of the pan therebelow, said arms having longitudinally disposed slots, outstanding shanks carried by the lower pan and extending through the slots of the arms, clamping members on the shanks and contacting with the arms for holding the lower pan in selected swinging adjustment with respect to the upper pan, means coacting with the uppermost pan for supporting all of the pans for reciprocating movement and means for reciprocating the pans, each of the pans having means inwardly of its discharge end for discharging a portion of the concentrates of a predetermined size, an upper pan discharging said concentrates of predetermined size lnto the pan immediately therebelow.

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of pans in superposed relation, said pans being alternately inclined in opposite directions, means pivotally connecting the receiving end portion of a lower pan to the discharge end portion of the pan immediately thereabove, arms depending from the opposite sides of the upper pan and overlying the sides of the pan therebelow, said arms having longitudinally disposed slots, outstanding shanks carried by the lower pan and extending through the slots of the arms, clamping members on the shanks and contacting with the arms for holding the-lower pan ment.

4- asses-re in selected swinging adjustment with respect to the upper pan, means coacting with the uppermost pan for supporting all of the pans, each of the pans having means inwardly of its discharge end for discharging a portion of the concentrates of a predetermined size, an upper pan discharging said concentrates of predetermined size into the pan immediately therebelow,-and means carried by the receiving end portion of each of the pane for delivering a supply 01' water to the pans.

4. An ore separator comprising a supporting structure, an elongated ore pan having a floor and having an ore receiving box-at and across one end and open for discharge of ore at its other end, said box having a narrow slit extending across the pan at the level of the top surface of the floor thereof for discharge of ore and water, means for introducing water upwardly through and into said box, said pan floor having a portion extending from its other end inwardly separated transversely of the pan and raised slightly above the remainder of the floor to form a narrow slit for the escape of ore particles of a predetermined size, means supporting the pan for reciprocal movement, and means connected with the pan for effecting such move- 10 the first pan, the box end of the second pan being elevated to a close proximity with the bottom of the first pan and disposed directly beneath the said slit in the floor of the first pan to receive the ore particles therefrom, a hinge 15 connecting the elevated end of the second pan with the bottom of the first pan for vertical swinging of the discharge end of the second pan, an adjustable coupling between the discharge and of the second pan and the first pan, and a go hopper carried upon the under side of the floor of the first pan to receive ore particles from the said slit thereof and direct the same into the box of the second pan.

JOHN F. KELLERMAN.

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