US323959A - Process of preparing the charge for spelter-furnaces - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

B. PHILLIPS & T. JONES, PROGESS OF PREPARING THE CHARGES FOR SPELTER FURNACES.

No. 323,959. Patented Aug. 11, 1885.

) 1.7V VEJVTOR firm-a ffgoh/es.

NITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ENOOH PHILLIPSAND THOMAS JONES, OF PULASKI, VIRGINIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,959, dated August 11, 1885.

Application filed March 28, 1885. (No model.)

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ENOGH PHILLIPS and THOMAS J ONES, citizens of the United States, residing at Pulaski, in the county of Pulaski and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Processes of Preparing the Charge for Spelter-Furnaces, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention is an improvement in the preparation of the charge for zinc-furnaces; and it consists in compressing said charge into a solid mass or cartridge, fitted to enter the retorts, and in the formation of such cartridge with a longitudinal flue or passage, all of which will be described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the furnace, drawn longitudinally through the retorts. Fig. 2is a front elevation of the furnace, and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the char-ging-cartridges.

The furnaceis provided with the retorts A.

In the usual treatmentof the ore the chargeconsisting of ore, flux, skimmings, and dross is mixed on the floor in front of the furnace, and is shoveled into the retorts. This shovelin g of the ore into the retorts requires skilled labor to properly charge the retorts, and large quantities of the ore are wasted by being spilled upon the floor, tramped on, sweptinto the ash-pit, &c.

It has been proposed to make up fine zinc ore into masses or forms with lime, &c.-, and subsequently distilling the zinc from these charges in retorts. It has also been proposed to make fine ore into forms or masses having a central flue.

In our improvement we take the chargeconsisting of ore, flux, skimmings, and dr0ss and mix it with lime or flour or a similar binding agent. It is then compressed into a solid mass, or, as we commonly term it, a cartridge, B, forming a cylindrical retort-charge, having a central longitudinal opening or flue. These cylinders are made slightly smaller than the retorts, so as to be readily introduced into the same, and-in which they are subjected to the action of external heat. The longitudinal flue-opening 1) permits the circulation of the heat through the parts, resulting quent to such compression, as desired, though we prefer to form it at the time of compression.

We do not desire to be limited to the manner of compressing the cartridge. Such result may be effected by ramming with suitable hand implements; or hydraulic, steam, horse,

or other power may be employed.

The cartridges may be prepared in a separate building from the furnace, and be conveyed thereto in cars or in other suitable manner.

WVhile the cartridges may be formed of a sufficient length to singly serve as a charge, it is preferred to make each charge in two or more sections, for convenience in the preparation and handling of such cartridges.

In compressing the charge it is frequently found desirable to mix therewith lime, flour, or other binding agents, to cause the parts to adhere.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The method of distilling zinc from fine ores, which consists in mixing the zinc ore with lime or flour and flux, forming the same into a cylindrical retort-charge having a central longitudinal flue, and subjecting these cylinders in suitable zinc-retorts to the action of external heat, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto afiixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

- ENOOH PHILLIPS.

THOMAS JONESP \Vitnesses L; S. CALFER,

J. GEMMELL.

Images