US711738A

US711738A - Process of reducing metals from their ores.

Info

Publication number: US711738A
Application number: US2312900A
Authority: US
Inventors: Marcus Ruthenburg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1900-07-10
Filing date: 1900-07-10
Publication date: 1902-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 1919-10-21

Description

, No. 7u,73a. Patented Oct. 2|, |902. m. numsuauns.

PROCESS OF REDUCING METALS FROM THEIR OBES.

(Application filed July 10, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE."

MARCUS RUTHENBUR G, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS OF REDUCING METALS FROM THEIR ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 71 1,738, dated October 21, 1902.

Application filed July 10, 1900. Serial No. 23,129. Specimens.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARCUS RUTHENBURG, of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Reducing Metals from their Ores, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

The object of my invention is to provide a process whereby malleable iron or steel may be directly manufactured from comminuted ore, particularly magnetite.

My process consists in providing each particle of a mass of comminuted ore with a distinct individual coating of carbonaceous material, subjecting said mass to such preheating that said coating is coked upon and thereby rendered adherent to each particle of the ore, elevating the temperature of the mass to such a degree that the oxygen of each particle combines with its carbonaceous coating and emanates from the mass in gaseous form, and finally melting the metallic residue.

As an example of the operation of my in vention I will describe the treatment of a mass of magnetite, as follows: Amass of the iron oxid specified in a comminuted condition is placed in any convenient receptacle, together with carbonaceous materialsuch as coal-tar, lampblack, molasses, or oil-and by heat or agitation each particle of the mass is coated with the carbonaceous matter. The subsequent treatment of the mass may be conveniently effected by an electric furnace, such as is shown in the accompanying drawing.

In said drawing, A is the furnace, comprising the crucible B, in which are opposed the electrodes C O of the heating-circuit c 0. Above said crucible B and in communication therewith is a hearth D, inclosed by the flue E, leading from the crucible B to the stack F. The hopper Gis arranged to deliver material upon said hearth D, and the screwshaft H is so constructed as to deliver the material from said hearth D to the crucible B when rotated in the direction of the arrow marked upon the driving-wheel h.

The mass of comminuted ore, whose individual particles are each provided with a distinct coating of carbonaceous material, as above described, being delivered upon the hearth D of the furnace A through the hopper G is preheated by the waste gases from said crucible B until said coating is coked,

and thereby rendered adherent upon each particle of the ore. Thereupon the shaft H being rotated the coked mass is fed into the upper part of the crucible B, wherein the temperature is such that the oxygen of each particle of ore combines with its carbonaceous coating and escapes from the mass in gaseous form through the flue E, the mass of ore particles being completely reduced to the metallic state in the zone of the crucible indicated at b and without being fused. Below the zone I) the heat causes fusion of the reduced particles into the molten metallic residue X, which during the conduct of the process is limited to about the height indicated by the line b by discharge through the tap-hole 13.

It is to be understood that the principal source of heat in the furnace above described is the electric current which passes between the electrodes 0 O and fuses the interposed mass,which forms a conductor for it, and that the heat to effectthe reduction of the particles in the zone I) is derived from said current and from the combustion of the gases which are liberated during the reduction, the heat required for coking being derived from the waste gases, which pass through the flue E over the mass X upon the hearth D.

I prefer to use an electric current as the source of heat in the conduct of my process, as above described, for the reason that it may be precisely varied at the will of the operator, with consequent variance inthe product. For instance, the oxid may be reduced at a temperature less than that at which the carbon will combine therewith in the production of carbid, and thus malleable iron may be directly produced, or by elevating the temperature various grades of steel may be directly produced, the percentage of carbid of iron introduced being of course predetermined by the temperature at which reduction is effected.

Although for the reasons stated I prefer to employ apparatus of the form hereinbefore described, I do not desire to limit myself thereto, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made in the apparatus employed without departing from the essential features of my process.

I claim 1. The herein-described process of reducing iron ores to the metallic state, which is continuous and which consists in coating each particle of a mass of comminuted ore with reducing material sufficient to reduce that particle; fixing said coating separately upon the respective particles, by detaining them for a definite time in a region heated to a determined degree less than reducing temperature; retaining said preheated material in granular form and progressing it at a determined rate into a region heated to reducing temperature; reducing the ore to the metallic state, without fusing it; progressing the reduced metal in granular form,at reducing temperature, into a region of fusing temperature; and, fusing the reduced metal, substantially as set forth.

2. The herein-described continuous process -of reducing magnetic iron oxid to the metallie state, which consists in coating each particle of a mass of comminuted ore with reducing material sufficient to reduce that particle; fixing said coating separately upon the respective particles, by detaining them for a definite time in a region heated to a determined degree less than reducing temperature; retaining said preheated material in granular form and progressing it at a determined rate into a region heated to reducing temperature; reducing the ore to the metallic state, without fusing it; progressing the reduced metal, in granular form, at reducing temperature, into a region of fusing temperature; and, fusing the reduced metal, substantially as set forth.

3. Theherein-describedcontinuousprocess of reducing to the metallic state ores which are conductors of electricity, which consists in coating each particle of a mass of comminuted ore with reducing material sufficient to reduce that particle; fixing said coating separately upon the respective particles by detaining them for a definite time in a region heated to a determined degree, less than reducing temperature; retaining said preheated material in granular form, and, progressing it at a determined rate into a region heated to reducing temperature; reducing the ore to the metallic state, without fusing it; assembling the reduced metal in granular form at reducing temperature, to form a path for electric current; and, fusing the reduced metal by an electric current, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of April, A. D. 1900.

MARCUS RUTHENBURG. Witnesses:

LILIAN V. MERK, W. G. HAVENS.