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US 4,397,503 AGranted
Auriferous gravel interceptor
OwnerHarry K. Williamsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A continuous belt traverses a river through channels on the river bed and carries intercepted material to the river banks for separation of precious metals and gemstones therefrom. Method and apparatus claimed.
Claims6
An apparatus for collecting precious metal and gemstones from a river, comprising:
- (a) a base with two upward-facing longitudinal channels, placed on the river bed lateral to the direction of flow;
- (b) rollers mounted in each of said channels and on both banks, longitudinally in line with said channels;
- (c) a continuous belt, passing over rollers in one of said channels, over and around the rollers on one of said banks, over rollers in the other of said channels, and over and around the rollers on the other of said banks;
- (d) collection means under the endmost of said rollers on both banks;
- (e) power means to move said belt;
- (f) gratings affixed to said base across the top of said channels;
- (g) flushing means for said channels below said rollers.
4 more elements
A method of collecting precious metal and gemstones from a river, comprising the steps of:
- (a) screening from said river, material moving along the bed of said river and containing said precious metal and gemstones, by positioning a channel member having a screened upper surface laterally across the bed of said river;
- (b) collecting said screened material on a belt means moving longitudinally through said channel member, the belt means transporting the screened material to at least one bank of the river;
- (c) removing said screened material from said belt means on said at least one bank of the river;
- and
- (d) separating said precious metal and gemstones from said screened material after removal of said screened material from said belt.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.