# US 4,379,526 A · Ore mill and metal separating device

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- Number: US 4,379,526 A
- Document ID: US4379526A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/232,916
- Filed: 1981-02-09
- Granted: 1983-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 1980-04-21
- Inventors: William E. Dodds
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4379526A

## CPC

- C22B 11/10: by amalgamating
- B03B 7/00: Combinations of wet processes or apparatus with other processes or apparatus, e.g. for dressing ores or garbage
- C22B: PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS (electrolytic C25); PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- B03B: SEPARATING SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS

## Abstract

A drum is supported for rotation between two shafts having gears thereon engaging a ring gear around the outer periphery of the drum. A crushing and milling cylinder is journalled for rotation upon a vertically adjustable shaft extending freely through the entrance and exit apertures in the side plates of the drum and this shaft is supported within stationary bearings one upon each side of the drum. The sludge comprising finely crushed rock and water is discharged through the exit in one side wall and into a hopper where it is conveyed by a conveyor system over and through a bed of mercury which extracts the gold in the form of an amalgam. The sludge is then discharged from the other side of the mercury bed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ore mill and metal separating device, said separating device comprising in combination means to receive the mill sludge from the ore mill, conveyor means conveying said sludge from said means to receive same, a mercury bed, said conveyor moving said sludge to one side of said bed and through said bed and discharging means at the other end of said bed, said separating device including a first solid blade type screw conveyor portion inclining downwardly at an angle from said means to receive the mill sludge, a substantially horizontal container for said mercury bed, a central, solid blade type screw conveyor spanning said container and being partially submerged in the mercury within said mercury bed and being operatively connected by one end thereof to one end of said first conveyor portion, and a third solid blade type screw conveyor portion inclining upwardly at an angle from the other end of said bed and being operatively connected by one end thereof to the other end of said central screw conveyor thereby forming a continuous articulated conveyor assembly.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The invention according to claim 1 which includes conveyor casings surrounding said first and third screw conveyors.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The invention according to claim 1 in which said mill includes supporting structure, a drum, means to support said drum for rotation within said supporting structure, a source of power for said drum, said drum having a pair of side walls and a circular surrounding wall, an ore intake in one of said side walls, a crushed ore outlet in the other of said side walls and a crushing roller in said drum, shaft means extending through said inlet and outlet in the side walls of said drum, said roller being secured to said shaft means and means on said supporting structure mounting said shaft means for rotation within said drum, said means including means to adjust said roller vertically whereby the distance between the periphery of said roller and the lower side of said drum, is adjustable.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The invention according to claim 3 in which said last mentioned means is spring loaded normally urging said roller towards said lower side.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The invention according to claim 4 in which said means to support and drive said drum for rotation includes a pair of spaced and parallel shafts in said supporting structure, a spur gear on each of said shafts, a ring gear around the outside of said supporting wall of said drum, said ring gear engaging said spur gears, said spur gears cradling said drum for rotation therebetween and a source of power operatively connected to one of said shafts.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The invention according to claim 3 in which said means to support and drive said drum for rotation includes a pair of spaced and parallel shafts in said supporting structure, a spur gear on each of said shafts, a ring gear around the outside of said supporting wall of said drum, said ring gear engaging said spur gears, said spur gears cradling said drum for rotation therebetween and a source of power operatively connected to one of said shafts.