Transportable, self-contained, recirculation, wash plant

• US 20050183992A1
• Filed: 01/28/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Virgil Leland Roper
• Original Assignee: Virgil Leland Roper
• Inventors: Roper, Virgil Leland
• Granted Patent: US 7,093,719 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/44
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 5/26 in sluices
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 7/00 Combinations of wet processes or apparatus with other processes or apparatus, e.g. for dressing ores or garbage
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/005 Transportable screening plants
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 2230/01 Wet separation

Abstract

A combination of prospecting equipment and apparatus, for the purpose of collecting precious minerals from mineral bearing sand and gravel, located in regions that are arid in nature, have little water or limited water usage, due to environmental concerns. The Wash Plant Unit comprising; A feed hopper for receiving and washing materials. A sluice box and apparatus for collecting precious minerals. A sluice box extension with a filter screen for separating gravel from sand and water. A filtration box with a sediment pan and screening devices for separating sand from water. A receptacle and implement holder for holding miscellaneous prospecting supplies. A water pump with a suction and discharge for drawing and dispensing water. All built upon and attached to its own water reservoir, which is attached to a frame with a hitch, built upon a set of axles with tires, suitable for being transported by an All Terrain Vehicle.

Claims

1. A transportable, self-contained wash plant, comprising;

(a) a frame, said frame having a tongue and hitch, said frame being attached to a set of axles with tires, an adjustable jack stand being welded to said frame, said frame having a front extension;

(b) a water pump, having a suction hose and a discharge hose, said discharge hose being attached to a manifold, said manifold being connected to a control valve, said water pump being mounted on said extension of said frame;

(c) a water reservoir, said reservoir being of a predetermined size, said reservoir having a bottom, four sides and a lid, said sides being flanged, said reservoir having a water drain on the backside of said reservoir, a water port on the front side of said reservoir and a water fill hole on the top of said lid, said water fill hole having a plurality of bolts, surrounding said water fill hole, said reservoir being mounted on and attached to said frame, said water port being connected to said suction hose on said pump;

(d) a filtration box, being of a predetermined size, having two parallel sides, a back side, an extended front side and a bottom, said filtration box having a rear vertical mounting bracket, said bottom having a water fill hole, said water fill hole being equal in dimensions to said water fill hole on said lid of said reservoir, said water fill hole of said filtration box having a guard, said guard having a rim, said rim having a plurality of bolt holes, said filtration box being mounted on said lid of said reservoir, said bolt holes on said rim passing through said bolts, surrounding said water fill hole, on said reservoir lid, said water fill holes becoming aligned;

(e) a water fill hole cover plate, said cover plate being placed over said water fill hole being attached with a plurality of fastening devices;

(f) a sluice box, having a bottom, an enclosed head, an open back and two parallel sides, said sides being flanged at the top, said bottom containing a combination of ribbed rubber matting, miners moss, a piece of punch plate and a riffle tray, said sluice box being placed at a predetermined angle and mounted on said extended front and said vertical mounting bracket of said filtration box;

(g) a feed hopper, said feed hopper having two laterally sloping sides, a bottom, an open front and a back, said back being partially enclosed by a support bracket, a nozzle being attached to one side of said feed hopper, a second nozzle being attached to said support of said feed hopper, said nozzles being connected by a plurality of pipe fittings, said pipe fittings being connected to a control valve, said control valve being connected to said discharge of said water pump, said feed feed hopper having a grizzly screen, said grizzly screen being attached, to said sides of said feed hopper, at a predetermined distance above said bottom, said bottom having a slit of a pre-determined size, said front of said feed hopper being attached, by a hinge, to said front of said sluice box, said support bracket of said feed hopper being rested upon said sides of said sluice box.

2. As a means of separating fine sands from water;

a filtration box as defined in claim 1 further including,

a removable sediment pan, said sediment pan being of a predetermined size, having a bottom and four sides, said filtration box further including a plurality of slots, and a predetermined amount of filtering devices, said sediment pan being placed inside of, and to one end of said filtration box, said slots being located at a predetermined distance, between said sediment pan and said water fill hole, as defined in claim 1, said filtering devices being placed at a predetermined angle into said slots.

3. As a means of separating gravel from sand and water;

a sluice box as claimed in claim 1 further including,

a detachable extension, said extension having two sides and a bottom, said sides being flanged at the top, said bottom having a filter screen, of a predetermined size, said extension being attached to said sluice box by a plurality of fastening devices, said extension sloping at a predetermined angle, being rested upon said filtration box, as defined in claims 1 and 2, allowing said filter screen to be located directly above said sediment pan, as defined in claim 2.