US241833A - Retort for reducing ores containing volatile metals - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

' D. D. TENNYSON.

Retort for Reducing Ores Containing Volatile Metals.

No. 241,833. Patented May 24,1881.

lfilt I W WLITNEEEEE INYENTUR @Ww 4917mm N. PETERS Phnwlilhugrwhlr. Wauhi nnnnnn C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL D. TENNYSON, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

RETLOR'I' FOR REDUCING ORES CONTAINING VOLATILE METALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,833, dated May 24, 1881. Application filed August 9, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL D. TENNYsoN, of San J os, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Retorts for Beducing Ores Containing Volatile Metals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in furnaces or retorts for extracting volatile metals from their ores; and it consists of a vertical retort placed within afurnace, through which the ore is fed.

It also consists of a discharging-pipe, through which the resultant metal is conveyed to a reservoir without the use of condensin g-chambers, and of a means for feeding and discharging the ore.

In order to more fully illustrate and explain my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section, and Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A represents the furnace provided with grate-bars B and doors B. In the interior of this masonry or furnace I place a cast-iron retort or flask, O, which is constructed in two parts, each half being provided with a flange, D, and when the two parts are united a packing of iron filings or chips is placed between and the two flanges bolted securely together in such a manner as to prevent the fumes of quicksilver from escaping into the body of the furnace. Near the upper end of the retort, at

the front side of it, a hole or opening is made, through which the ore is fed through the medium of an inclined pipe or tube, E. In the feeding tube or chute is placed a stopper or disk, I, which is made to fit closely the lower end of the tube, so that when the retort or flask has been charged a body of cold ore will be suspended in the tube and prevent the volatile metal from issuing or escaping from it, and also to provide a ready means for charging the retort again with fresh ore when the contents or charge of reduced ore has been withdrawn from the lower end of the flask, hereinafter described.

To accomplish the object of withdrawing or discharging the spent ore, I make a hole or opening in the base of the retort, in which is placed a pipe or tube, F. This tube is surrounded by the fire and heat of the furnace when in operation, as well as the flask, and connects with an inclined chute, G, opening at one side of the furnace. It is also provided with a sliding plate, H, connected to a handlever, I, which lever is pivoted to the outside of the furnace, as shown and by moving this lever forward the reduced ore or dbris of the retort is discharged into the chute and out through the side of the furnace. Then, upon the damper P being thrust forward, a fresh charge of ore in the chute E is permitted to fall .down into the retort.

At the upper end of the flask or retort, alittle above the line of the feed-opening, on the opposite side thereof, and so as to form achamher for the upwardly-ascending fumes, volatile metals, or products of the heated ore, I place an exit-pipe, J, for conducting away and condensing such volatile metals resultingfrom the ore which is being reduced. This pipemay be made of common gas-pipe and be put together in sections, so as to be easily taken apart should it become choked. I place this pipe in a zigzag position at one side of the furnace or surrounding masonry, passing it through eyebolts, as shown, the lower end of which is caused to enter an iron tank or kettle, (not shown,) from which the quicksilver is drawn in the usual manner.

It should here be observed that the retort or flask may be cast in one piece or mold together with the various openings and the tube or pipe F, for delivering the spent ore.

In operation the fuelis placed upon the gratebars B, and the resultant heat therefrom completely envelops the retort or flask, while the smoke passes out through the stack or funnel K.

By this construction of retorts and furnaces an easy means for a constant charging of the fresh and discharging of the debris or spent ore is had, and it is confidently believed that ores containing a small per cent. of quicksilver can be successfully and profitably worked in localities where it would be impracticable and unprofitable to erect larger and more costly means for reducing a low grade of ore.

Flasks or retorts for reducing ores of the volatile metals have been heretofore made in sections, bolted together, and provided with diaphragms, by which they are divided into chambers. They have also been provided with pipes, that convey the vapors to a condensing apparatus. This construction, however, I do not claim; but

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In an apparatus for reduciugoresot' the volatile metals, the combination, with the furnace A, having grate B, central smoke-stack, K, and chute G. provided with a sliding plate, H, of the retort 0, having feed-pipe E, provided with a stopper or feeding-disk, P, vertical (lischarge-pipe F, and a condensing-coil, J, passing through the furnace and bolted to the outer side thereof, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 15th day ot'Jnly, 1880.

DANIEL D. TENNYSON.

Witnesses:

U. W. \I. SMITH, lsAAo T. MILLIKEN.

Images