Apparatus for extracting gold and other metals from ores.

Application filed June 20.1901. Serial No. 65,324. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Edmund L. Vander Naillen, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city and county of 5 San Francisco, in the State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Separating Gold or other Metals from Ores, of which the following is a specification.

io My invention relates to that class of apparatus in which crushed ores, particularly tailings or slickens sand containing metal, are treated by means of solutions or gases; and the invention consists in the construction and 15 arrangement of the device or combination of devices, as will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of my invention is to produce an apparatus in which the ores are constantly 20 agitated for facilitating the chemical action upon the metallic substances which may be contained therein, and thus obtaining a greater percentage of extraction than with, any known apparatus heretofore .employed, 25 and to construct an apparatus which is convenient and expeditious in its operation and cheap to manufacture.

Figurel of the accompanying drawings represents a vertical section of this improved ap30 paratus, showingits arrangement and method of operation. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of the apparatus, taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section of an 35 enlarged detail, showing an in jector-nozzlearranged therein. Fig. 1 represents an enlarged detail view of the means for connecting the two tanks.

The same reference characters indicate cor40 responding parts in all the figures.

In the drawings a concentrating-tank A is shown, preferably composed of two metallic cones joined together at their bases and supported perpendicularly from the floor B by 45 means of a central block C, properly bolted thereto and provided with an inlet in the apex of one cone at the bottom of the tank and with an outlet at the top, which constitutes one of the principal features of the invention.

A valve D is centrally supported within the concentrating-tank at a point adjacent to the inlet above mentioned. This valve. D is preferably con vexo-concave.in shape, which shape, however, maybe changed, if desired, for any other suitable or desired shape and answer as 55 well the object in view. The purpose for which said valve is designed is to form a chamber E at the lower part of the tank connected with the inlet, said valve serving as a closure for said chamber and also as a 60 spreader for the material entering the chamber E through the inlet in the apex of the inverted cone forming the lower half of the concentrating-tank. This valvb D is provided with a hollow stem or shank a, preferably 65 formed of gas-pipe, which passes centrally through the cap F, bolted or otherwise secured to a circular flange a', formed around the top of the tank and which serves as a top guide for the stem a. The lower portion of the stem 70 a is secured to a bracket b, integrally formed with the valve D upon its concave upper face, and has a guide V extending across the tank and secured to the Avails thereof at a suitable place above the valve D to hold said valve in 75 a central position. The upper portion of the stem a is screAA’-threaded and engages a correspondingly-threaded hole in the cap F for the purpose of raising and loAvering the valve for closing or opening the chamber E when 80 desired. The stem a is provided at its upper end outside of the tank with a hand-Avheel G or other suitable means for operating the stem a to regulate the position of the valve D. The stem a being hollow is also adapted to convey 85 liquid or other matter into the tank Avhcn desired, the purpose of Avhich will be hereinafter more fully described. The concentratingtank is also provided Avith an outwardly-open- ing manhole c, formed in the side of the tank 9c beloAv the valve D and communicating Avith the chamber E. Another manhole, c', is formed above the valve for giving access to the interior of the tank, either belowthe valve or above it, for the purpose of cleaning or repairing· the 95 tank. These manholes must be properly secured to render the tank Avater-tight, and they are preferably formed of heavy thick glass, so that the operation in the tank may be seen from the exterior. At the bottom of the tank, 100 betAveen the valve D and the inlet, a circular groove d is formed, Avhich serves as a reeep

737,533 taele in Avhich a sufficient quantity of mercury cl' is placed for amalgamating purposes, if desired.

The inlet to the concentrating-tank above5 mentioned consists of a pipe H of suitable diameter, which extends through the block C and enters the tank through the apex of the cone forming the lower half of said tank and projects centrallyAvithin the chamber E above io the mercury-groove just mentioned. This pipe has a connecting-pipe disposed at right angles thereto and provided with a stop-cock <7,which serves as an auxiliary outlet for convenient purposes, which will be hereinafter 15 described.

The outlet for the tank consists of four pipes I,all of Avhich are identical in construction and operation and similarly secured to the cap F around the upper part of the stem, a, forming 20 four outlets, which number may, however, be varied as desired, as one pipe if made of sufficient size and swiveled may ansAver as well my object; but a series of outlet-pipes is preferred.

Mounted upon the framework J and surrounding the concentrating-tank A is a settling-tank K, which may be made of Avood or other suitable material. This tank K has its bottom e secured water-tight to the coneen30 trating-tank A above the manhole c' of the latter by means of an angular bracket e', properly bolted or otherAvise secured to the bottom e and the concentrating-tank A, thus providing a firm water-tight fastening.

A perforated diaphragm L, composed of any suitable material, is preferably supported upon a circular metallic strip e, placed and bolted between the flanges//, formed at the mitering edges of the cones and upon a 40 bracket /, secured directly opposite to the wall of the settling-tank above the bottom e. This perforated diaphragm L (particularly shown in Fig. 4) practically divides the settling-tank K into two horizontal sections— 45 tlie loAver section M and the upper section N.

The lower section M is intercepted within its central portion by the concentrating-tank, as mentioned above and illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and is provided with an outlet50 pipe/', secured, preferably, to the bottom e, which may be slightly inclined toward its outlet, if desired. _ The upper section N is divided into four vertical compartments, as shoAvn in Fig. 2, all of which are made water-tight in 55 relation to each other and which are connected, respectively, to the outlets I of the concentrating-tank by means of pipes q and connecting-pipes g', the latter being also adapted to be connected to other means for various 60 purposes, if desired. The pipes g and g' are — identical in construction and operate in like manner and are provided with suitable fittings and stop-cocks k, k', and k for the purpose of facilitating and controlling their oper65 ation. The outlet-pipe/ of section M of the settling-tank is provided with stop-cock/', and it may be connected to a precipitatingbox. (Not shown.)

It Avill be noted that the settling-tank K, constructed and secured to the concentrating- 70 tank A in the manner above described, will form substantial braces for the concentratingtank. However, aside from this purpose the same could be made in one or more independent settling-tanks placed at a suitable dis- 75 tance from the concentrating-tank, if desired, and connect the same alternately to the outlet of the concentrating-tank, as intimated in the preceding description.

Within each compartment of the settling- 8c tank and immediately upon the perforated diaphragm L is placed a filter i, made of suitable fabric and held in position so that it can be easily removed when desired. The compartments are provided with suitable man- 85 holes i', secured hermetically in the Avail of the settling-tank immediately above the filter for cleaning purposes when necessary.

Sufficiently elevated above the concentrating-tank A and conveniently mounted upon 9c the framework O is a reservoir P, made, preferably, of Avood and which has its bottom slightly inclined, preferably toAvard the center, and connected to a vertical outlet-pipe/ This pipe J is connected to the vertical inlet- 95 pipe H of the concentrating-tank by means of a horizontal connecting-pipe/ and the usual fittings, thus forming a direct conduit from the reservoir just mentioned to the concentrating-tank. The vertical outlet-pipe j is ieo provided Avith suitable stop-cocks k and k', placed along the pipe formore convenient purposes, Avhile the horizontal connecting pipe j' has only the stop-cock k.

Mounted upon the floor B and placed par- 105 allel within convenient reach are two auxiliary metallic cylinders Q and R. The cylinder Q contains a specified solution which is used for extracting metallic substances from ores, Avhile the cylinder R contains com- no pressed air. Their object will be more fully described hereinafter. The cylinder Q is provided at its top with an inlet-pipe Z, having a stop-cock T, while the outlet-pipe I is secured at its bottom and connected to the hori- 11 ς zontal connecting-pipe / of the reservoir P, previously mentioned, by means of a horizontal connecting-pipe m, provided with suitable fittings and a stop-cock m'. The cylinder R is provided also at its top with an inlet-pipe 120 n, having a stop-cock n', while the outlet-pipe n, provided with a stop-cock o, is secured at its bottom and connected to the vertical inletpipe H of the concentrating-tank by means of horizontalconnectiug-pipe o', Avhichis pro- 125 vided Avith suitable fittings and a stop-cock o. Both the inlet-pipes I and n of the two metallic cylinders Q and R are connected together by means of a horizontal connectingpipe^, provided Avith suitable fittings and a 130 stop-cock p', and are adapted to be attached to a pump or other mechanical appliance for

73/583 the purpose of charging the same when necessary. Both metallic cylinders are provided with proper gages q and q' for the purpose of registering the pressure within, and cylinder Q has in addition a liquid-gage r, all of which are suitably secured and placed upon each cylinder, respectively.

Upon the inlet-pipe H and the horizontal pipe m are suitably placed two injector10 nozzles s and s', which are identical and operate in the same manner. These nozzles may be constructed as shown, Fig. 3, which illustrates the horizontal one in connection with the pipes j and j'. An ordinary socket15 coupling S' is provided with a nozzle composed of a cylindrical body having a tapering cone-shaped projection. The cylindrical body of the nozzle is provided with an exterior screw-thread fitting the interior screw20 thread of the coupling. This nozzle has a central cone-shaped hole extending throughout the structure and forming a contracted mouth at the top of the nozzle. The tapering exterior portion of the nozzle allows suffi25 cient room within the coupling for the connection of the screw-threaded ends t' and t of the sections of the pipes j' and m. This construction is very simple and inexpensive and answers very well my purpose. How30 ever, any other kind of injector-nozzle may be used, if desired.

Having thus set forth the construction and arrangement of the various parts forming my invention, I shall now proceed to describe its 35 operation. When the reservoir P is full of tailings or other matters containing metallic substances to be separated, which may have been brought in by any convenient method and mixed with a sufficient quantity of liquid 10 or solution prepared for that purpose, I then turn on the stop-cocks ~k and It' and Id', thus allowing the contents of the reservoir to pass out freely, according, however, to its specific gravity, through the vertical outlet - pipe j, 4.5 horizontal connecting-pipe./', and vertical inlet-pipe H, into the chamber E .of the concentrating-tank. 'While the tailings run through the pipes just mentioned and reach the chamber E the stop-cocks 0 and 0 of the horizon50 tai pipe 0' and vertical pipe n'' are turned on, thus allowing the compressed air within the metallic cylinder R to force its way through the jet-nozzle s, secured to the vertical inletpipe II below the connecting-pipe/, and pass 55 out into chamber E with sufficient energy to create ebullition therein, which proceeds in the same manner throughout the tank. Its velocity may be controlled by the movements of the various connecting stop-cocks, which 60 serve in this case as a regulator. Instead of compressed air placed in the metallic cylinder R, as mentioned, I mayuse steam or gases, if found preferable. This,however, can be determined by the nature of the tailings or the 65 metal contained therein to be extracted. As soon as the tailings reach the chamber E their course is temporarily intercepted by the valve

D,which stands centrally above and opposite the inlet, as mentioned heretofore, and causes the current entering the tank to spread out 70 and curl outwardly therein and finally to force its way through the narrow space left open for that purpose between the inner wall of the concentrating-tank and the outer circumference of the valve to the upper part of 75 the concentrating-tank. While the tailings thus pass out through the chamber the mercury which lies at its bottom amalgamates all the free metal which may drop upon it, and the remainder passes out in the manner above So described. The concentrating-tank being outwardly bulged midway its length and the top face of the valve D being concave causes the currents passing through the narrow space to curl upwardly and outwardly, creat- 85 ing thereby constant agitation throughout the tank without the use of blades or other mechanical devices, which agitation,however, decreases in velocity as the area enlarges and the tailings rise toward the outlet. It 90 will be observed that by this operation the tailings are constantly agitated, thus bringing the solution always in contact with all metallic substances which may be contained therein and causing the smallest particles to 95 dissolve, while the heaviest particles centralize around the valve-stem a upon the concave face of the valve D and form gradually a pyramid and as the accumulation goes on drop around the valve into the chamber below, 10c where they concentrate. Following this operation the solution passes out as it rises within the tank through one of the outletpipes I and its connections into the connected compartment of the settling-tank, carrying 105 at the same time all the lightest metallic particles which have been dissolved and also the refuse, and drop upon the filtering-cloth, where the solution passes out clarified through the perforated diaphragm into the lower sec- 110 tion M and finally out through the outletpipe f into the precipitating-box, as previously mentioned, while the refuse settles upon the filtering-cloth, where they are washed out through the respective manholes of tlie 115 compartments. All of the compartments may be connected to the outlet and operated at the same time; but it is preferable that they should be alternately connected in order to allow the refuse to settle and clean up each 120 compartment while the operation goes on.

While operating my invention, if it should be found that an additional or stronger solution than the one mixed with the tailings in the first instance is necessary in this case 125 the stop-cock m' of the connecting-pipe m, secured to the outlet of the metallic cylinder Q, may be turned on, thus allowing a sufficient quantity of the solution contained therein to pass out. If desired, the velocity of the 13c solution can be increased by turning on the stop-cock p' of the connecting-pipe^, secured the inlets of the cylinders, thus allowing the compressed air within the cylinder R to force

737, δ <5 3 out the solution through the injector s', secured to the connecting-pipe m.

From the above description it is clearly apparent that all the connections made with the ; inlet II of the concentrating-tank could be similarly added to the stem a of the valve D at its extreme upper end, as intimated while describing this part of my invention, and operated in the same manner. This arrangeic ment will be found very desirable, particularly for cleaning or removing the concentrated metals in chamber E, which can be easily accomplished by turning off the stopcock Zc and o and turning on the proper 15 stop-cocks provided for that purpose at the , upper end of the stem a and closing chamber E by lowering the valve D, thus allowing the operation within the concentratingtank to go on above the valve while the con20 tents of the chamber belowis being removed. As soon as the inlet is shut off and the chamber E closed I turn on the stop-cock d, secured to the pipe connected with the inletpipe H, as previously described, thus allow25 ing the fluid matter to run out from the chamber E, while the metallic substances may be removed through the manhole c. The upperpart of the concentrating - tank above the valve may be cleaned or its contents removed 30 in the same manner and through the same channel, the valve D being open for this purpose, or, if desired, the fluid matters may be siphoned out through the outlet I or by removing the cap F and the concentrates may 35 be taken from the concave face of the valve D through the manhole o'. By this arrangement the entire concentrating-tank may be cleaned alternately either below or above the valve and all the concentrated metallic sub40 stances removed without interfering with the operation.

With an apparatus constructed and arranged as above described it will be readily seen that tailings containing only free metals 45 can be treated in the manner described with substantially the same results, except in this case clear water may be substituted for the solution, as heretofore mentioned, and the settling-tank D may form a reservoir for the 50 refuse, or the pipes g' may be connected to a more convenient outlet, if desired.

I am aware that numerous changes could be made in the construction of minor details without altering or departing from the scope 55 of my invention.