US439962A - Ore concentrator - Google Patents

Description

'(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. LOOK. ORE O'ONGBNTRAI'OR, SEPARATOR, AND WASHER. 7 No. 439,962. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

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L. LOOK. I 0R5 GONGENTRATOR, SBPARATOE, AND WASHER.

N0. 439,962. Patented Nov. 4', 1890.

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No. 439,962 Patented N0v.4, 1890.

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LUTHER LOOK, OF KETOHUM, IDAHO, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, JOSEPH MONTGOMERY, AND GEORGE M. SNOW, OF SAME PLACE.

ORE CONCENTRATOR, SEPARATOR, AND WASHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,962,'dated November 4, 1890.

Application filed January 29, 1890. Serial No. 338,455. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER LOOK, of Ketchum, in the county of Alturas and Territory of Idaho, have invented a new and Improved Ore Concentrator, Separator, and Washer, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the annexed drawings, forming a part thereof, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved ore concentrator, separator, and washer. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the chute. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an ore-receptacle. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the rifde-table, taken on line 5 5 in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the discharge-valves at the side of the riffle. Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on line 7 7 in Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on line 8 8 in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail front elevation of the distributer. Fig. 10 is a transverse section taken on line 10 10 in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is an inverted perspective view of the distributer. Fig. 12 is an en larged longitudinal section of a portion of the riftle-table. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the forked bar which supports the riflie-table. Fig. 14 is a plan view of a riffle-table with curved ribs.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

My invention relates to that class of devices wherein the separation of precious metals and materials from the gangue and other waste is solely produced by the action of water running over riffles.

I provide a riftie-table having two peculiarities of construction, namely: First, it is provided with ribs which have a general diagonal direction, but are curved in the direction of their length; second, the upper and lower sides of the diagonally-curved ribs are at a right angle to each other, the lower one being shorter than the other.

The invention also includes other features of construction, as hereinafter described.

The sluice and riftle-tables A A A in the present case are combined in a set of three and arranged to act together for the more complete and thorough concentration and separation of the ores; but each rifiie-table is complete in itself. For convenience in operating them they are supported in a frame one above the other; but they may be placed in line with equally good results. The riffie-tables may be constructed in one piece; but for convenience in construction and transportation they are made in sect-ions with projecting flanges or lugs a at the ends on the outside and bottom of each section, so that whenthe sections are placed end to end, as shown in the drawings, with a packing of soft material between them, and fastened by bolts at the sides and bottom, they form a complete rifiie-table with rigid water-tight joints. The tables are provided with struts band with truss-rods B, which are attached to the ends of the tables, passing over the struts which serve to stiffen and strengthen the table.

The riiiie-tables' can be made of iron, wood, orother material suitable for the purpose, and the riflies can be cast either in the solid metal or planed in metal or wood, or rolled in sheet metal with suitable rolls and then fastened in the bottom of the tables, or they may be made of slats of wood overlapping each other.

In the sills O of the riftle-frame are inserted screw-threaded standards Dtwo upon either side of the riiile-tables, making four in all. Wheel-nuts E are placed upon the threaded standards D, and upon these wheel-nuts rest the forked bars 0. (Shown in detail in Fig. 13.) Upon these bars are supported the tables A A A By turning the wheel-nuts E the riffie-tables may be inclined at any de' sired angle. The standards D are strengthened by the brace-rods F.

The upper end of the riffie-table A is provided with a distributer G, which is shown in detail in Figs. 9, 10, and 11. The distributer consists of two notched bars 61 cl, the notches of one bar alternating in position with the notches of the other bar, so that the material passing underneath the distributer will be made to spread out and distribute itself evenly over the riffie-table. In the space 6 between the distributer G and the upper end of the table is placed a sliding partition f, attached to a slotted bottom piece g, and held in place by set-screws h 72..

A screw-threaded shaft I-I, journaled in the upwardly-projecting side pieces of the riffie-- table A, passes through a nut in the partition f, and is provided with a crank t' at one end, by which it may be turned. The pulverized ore and water are delivered to the space 6 upon one side of the partition f, and pure water is allowed to enter in the same space upon the opposite side of the partition, and the delivery of the mixture and the pure water is regulated by the partition f. The bottom of the table A is provided with a series of beveled ribs j, which extend diagonally across the table, their inclined sides lying toward the head of the table. In the ledges at the sides of the table are formed dischargeapertures k, to which are fitted the swinging covers Z, and to the side of the table is attached a conveyor J, for receiving the concentrated ore from the table and conveying -it away. The foot of the table is provided with an adjustable tail-gate or trough K, which is designed to separate the part of the water carrying the mud and slum and the lighter waste material, which discharges at the tail of the sluice or table from that part of the water carrying the heavier material and partly or completely concentrated ores and metals. This trough is shown in detail in perspective in Fig. 3. The water and lighter particles are received by the trough, while the heavy portion of the material falls from the end of the table into the head of the next table below, where the same operation is repeated, and more thorough concentration, separation, and washing are obtained.

The trough K is adapted to slide longitudinally in the brackets or arms which support it, so that it may be adjusted, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 2, as desired, orconditions require, to carry off more or less of the material discharged over the end of the table .or allow more or less to fall through upon the table below.

The operation of my improved ore concentrator, separator, and washer is as follows: Finely-pulverized ore or mineral is fed to the head of the rifile-table A to the space 6, together with asuitable amount of water. Clear water is fed' onto the table on the opposite side of the movable partition f. The pulp and clear water move out of the space e under the distributer G with equal velocity and depth and flow side by side down the table. As the finely-pulverized ores move down over the riflles on the side of the table to which they are fed the heavy mineral deposits into the riffle and is subjected tothe action of the progressive spiral under-current and is moved downward and sidewise under the stream of clear water flowing on the opposite side. It is thus thoroughly washed and cleansed from slum and hand by the clear water. The clear water continues to act on the mineral and moves it down the diagonal or slanting riffie to discharge at the side, where it is taken 0% through the apertures and delivered to the conveyer J. This operation is continuous, and the concentrates are carried away by the conveyer as fast as they are separated. If

the mineral which is carried over at the lower end of the rifiie-table should not be sufficiently clear, it drops through the open space in the trough-K to the next table below, while the sand and muddy water are separated from it and carried away by the trough. The partiallyconcentrated or second-class mineral drops onto one side of the partition f of the next table below, and is further concentrated upon that table. Clear water is supplied to take the place of that discharged with the tailings on the preceding table. Should there be minerals of difierent specific gravities associated together in the same ores-such as the ores of lead, iron, and zincthe heaviest mineral, which is lead, will be the first to settle in the rifiies, forcing the lighter minerals out of the rifiles and farther down the table before it gets over to the mineral discharge. Then the second-class ore drops onto the second table. The heavy lead ores yet remaining in it will be the first to be deposited and carried 0K to the discharge. The ores of iron, which are next in weight, will be carried farther down and discharged, while the ores of aim, being the lightest of the three, will be the last to be discharged either at the side or lower end of the last table, so that the ore is not only concentrated, but ores of different specific gravities are thoroughly washed and separated from each other. The upper side and lower side of the riflles (or ribs) are at a right angle to each other, the lower one or rise being shorter-i. e., about one-fourth the width of the other, as shown in Fig. 12this form of rib and abovestated proportion of its sides having been found by practical test to give the'best result. The ribs are also preferably curved in the directionof their length, as shown in Fig. 14, which is practically equivalent to forming rifiies of different angles on the same rifi'letable. I

The riflies are more slanting on that side of the table on which the ore is fed, while on the discharge side the downward slant of the riffle is not so great. WVhen the mineral drops into the curved riffie at the upper end, it starts down rapidly, but coming under the clear water, where the slant of the riffle is less, its progressive motion is retarded, while the rotatin g action of the under-current is increased, thus thoroughly settling the mineral and washing the sand away from it. Decreasing the width and depth of the riffles at their lower end produces a similar action.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In an ore concentrator, separator, and washer, a riffle-table provided with a series of ribs extending in a general diagonal direction across the same and curved in the direction of their length, as shown and'described.

2. In an ore concentrator, separator, and washer, a riffle-table provided with a series of diagonally-curved ribs whose upper and IIO lower sides are at a right angle to each other, 4. In an ore concentrator, separator, and the lower side or rise being the shorter, as washer, the combination, with a riflie-table 16 shown and described. provided with diagonal ribs, of the adjust- 3. In an ore concentrator, separator, and able tail-trough, substantially as specified. 5 washer, the combination, with the riflile-table LUTHER LOOK.

provided with diagonal riffles, of a supply- Witnesses; space, and an adjustable partition placed in W. H. GREENHOW, the said space, substantially as specified. ROBT. MOLEARY.

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