US699822A - Quicksilver-furnace. - Google Patents

Description

No. 699,822. Patented May l3,- I902.

n. sco'r'r.

HUICKSILVER FURNACE.

(Application filed my 23, 1901.)

(lo Model.)

WITNESSES: INVENTQI? /50/97 19% 7 9? W m 76: mrroflufm UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT SCOTT, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

QUlCKSlLVER-FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters IEatent No. 699,822, dated May13, 1902.

Application filed May 23, 1901.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT SCOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Quicksilver-Furnaces; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Generally speaking, this invention is an improvement in furnaces employed in the reduction of the red sulfid of mercury (HgS) to the metallic state. Specifically, it is an improvement on the furnace shown in my Patent No. 183,954, the general arrangement of tile and manner of setting same being the subject of a separate application for a patent filed on even date herewith under Serial No. 61,650.

As is well known by those familiar with the treatment of quicksilver ores, metallic mercury is easily volatilized and separated from the gangue at temperatures considerably below redness, and cinnabar, otherwise called red sulfid, at a red heat is readily reduced to the metallic state by the action of atmospheric oxygen. In such a process the sulfur is eliminated as sulfurous acid gas. I have learned from years of experience with the f urnace shown in my former patent, above referred to, that as the large amount of metalliferous vapor produced,which passes upward through the slowly-descending body of ore, finally comes in contact with the upper or cold strata of fresh ore, suddenly condenses and forms a viscous mass, which very often clogs the furnace and prevents the automatic descent of the ore. Now to provide means for quickly clearing this upper part of the furnace as it becomes obstructed is the prime object of my present invention, in addition to which I have so formed the upper channels of the furnace that much of the vapor generally lost is saved, and at the same time the temperature of the upper strata of ore is considerably tempered, which materially lessens the liability of clogging, above referred to.

I do not deem it necessary to represent the complete furnace, as my presentinvention has to deal with only a portion thereof. Besides, I direct this explanation to those only who are familiar with the furnaces now generally used,

Serial No. 61,651. (No model.)

and especially the one shown in my former patent.

I have clearly shown my invention in the accompanying drawings, and in the several views haveemployed like characters of reference to represent like parts.

Figure l is a vertical section of the upper portion of a quicksilver-fiu'nace having the zigzag course for the ore, as shown in my former patent and in the application above referred to. Fig. 2 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view, reduced in size, taken in the direction of the dotted line at in Fig. 1.

The main walls 1 1 of this furnace, as well as the pigeon-walls 2 2, are arranged, as in my former patent, with oppositely-disposed Vertical flues 3 3, while the tile 4 are built into these pigeon-walls 2 2 in such a manner one above the other as to form a zigzag course for the descending ore. This path I have indicated by the series of dotted arrows shown in Fig. 1. The lower portion of the furnace is identical in construction to that shown in my former patent, while the arches 5 5', which interrupt the direct vertical ascent of the gases and compel their movement first in one direction and then in the opposite direction through the pigeonholes 6 6' and over the descending body of ore, are fully understood by those familiar with the furnaces now generally employed.

Having thus briefly set forth the usual construction of the furnace, I will now devote myself to explaining the novel features of my invention.

The tile 7, above the upper arch 5, are arranged, as are thelower tile 4:, to preserve the zigzag course for the ore; but in addition they are formed with a hollow flue 8 and are built into the pigeonwalls. 2 2 in such a manner as to form a series of communicating crossflues between flues 3 and 3'. Now assuming that the pigeonholes 6", leading to flue 3, are closed, as shown, it willbe seen that as the gases are finally diverted by the arch 5 and reach the fiue 3 they are prevented from again directly reaching the ore body between tile 7, but are conducted through the crossfiues 8 into flue 3, Where they mingle with vapors from the upper strata of ore and are led ultimately through passage A to a suitable condensation-chamber. It will be noted that as one result from the passage of the gases through the hollow tile 7 the latter,

, which I preferably form of cast-iron, will bewall 1' and terminates in a cross-bar or handie 10; This rod 9 I support at suitable points by means of the hooks 11, which depend from the lower surface of tile 7, while between the pigeon-walls 2 2 and projecting from the rod 9 at equidistances apart are the arms or tines 12. Now it will be readily seen that by grasping the bar 10 and drawing the rod 9 backward and forward until the tines 12 have traveled over the entire space between the pigeon-walls 2 2 any interruption to the free passage of the ore will be readily removed. A further twisting of the rod 9 will cause the tines 12 to more readily loosen the ore. In Fig. 1 I have shown one of the tines 12, near the top of the furnace, turned upward, as just described.

The tile 7, which project from the side walls of the furnace, are formed with suitable wcbs a to facilitate their being built into the wall, while the tile adapted for setting on .the partition-wall are double-faced, as shown;

tion and location of parts herein shown and described.

What I claim is- 4 1. A quicksilver-furnace provided with a series of tiles over which the ore is adapted to pass, a flue formed in one or more of said tiles and through which gases from said ore are adapted to pass, and means for directing said gases from said ore to said flue for the purpose set forth.

2. A quicksilver-furnace provided with a series of tiles over which the ore is adapted to pass, one or more rods between said tiles and provided with projecting tines, said rods being arranged for movement to agitate said ore for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT scor'r.

Vitnesses:

M. F. BIRD, GEORGE PATTISON.

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