Atlantic City Paper - Stamp-Mill Indicator-Diagrams.

The object of the present paper is to call attention briefly to a novel method of analyzing the action of the ordinary gravity stamp, which has not only thrown much light upon the exact motion of the stamp-head, but promises also to be of value in determining the efficiency of a new mill before setting it to its work of crushing, and in this respect should be of service to constructors of mining machinery as well as to mining engineers. The method was devised by Mr. D. B. Morison, and developed in connection with his experiments on the comparative crushing-effects of his patent high-speed stamp and the ordinary cam-stamp, which were carried out at the works of Messrs. L. Richardson & Sons, Engineers, Hartlepool, and on which he read a paper at Newcastle in 1897.* Mr. Morison's experiments were of a very exhaustive nature; and having been consulted by him during his investigations, I had frequent opportunities of examining the methods employed and the results obtained. Experiments were first made with an apparatus resembling the indicntor of a steam-engine, inasniuch as the drum revolved alternately backwards and forwards, thus producing a closed diagram. This form was not found satisfactory, and it was therefore altered so as to cause the drum to revolve continuously in one direction, thus giving a continuous or open diagram. The arrangement is shown in plan in Fig. 1; a collar, A, surrounds the stamp-stem loosely and works between the guides B, B, which constrain it to move in a vertical line only. Immediately above it and below it, a couple of collars are clamped to the stamp-stem, so that the latter, while free to revolve,