of and Apparatus for Separating Metals and similar Substances.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Feb.; 1893
Complete Specification Left, 6th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 7th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Process of and Apparatus for Separating Metals and similar
Substances.
I JONATHAN ALDOUS MAYS of 1 Belsize Terrace, Hampstead in the County of
London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention consists of a process of and apparatus for separating and reducing
metals and similar substances the essential feature of which is the employment of
centrifugal force as the means of producing the separating effect either immediately
subsequent to or during the melting of such metals. In the former case the melting
is effected outside the centrifugal apparatus used while in the latter case the melting
or smelting device forms an essential or integral part of the apparatus or
machine proper.
The different metals or other substances in their molten condition are caused by
centrifugal force to arrange themselves in layers concentric to the axis of rotation
those of greatest specific gravity being farthest from and those of least specific
gravity nearest to such axis of rotation. Advantage is taken of the opportunity
thus presented by the position of such layers to collect the different substances into
receptacles and so secure permanent separation of the same.
The apparatus essential to the carrying out of my process consists of a revoluble
vessel or its equivalent having either an annular cavity or one or more cells into
which the molten metal or other substance is introduced and in which the separation
is effected. This annulus or these cells may be formed either of metal or of any
suitable material. In the cases in which the separation takes place during melting
suitable means are provided for effecting such melting or smelting.
In some cases traps siphons or passages are disposed in the walls of the annulus
or of the cells whereby each separate molten substance is led off into a suitable
collector and I sometimes add devices for cooling and granulating the molten.
substances or for cooling or condensing the gases produced.
Tn Nirth der of February 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Process of and Apparatus for Separating Metals and similar
Substances.
I, JONATHAN ALDOUS MAYS of 1, Belsize Terrace, Hampstead in the County of
London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention consists of a process of and apparatus for separating and reducing
metals and similar substances the essential feature of which is the employment of
centrifugal force as the means of producing the separating effect either immediately
subsequent to or during the melting of such metals. In the former case the melting
is effected outside the centrifugal apparatus used, while in the latter case the melting
or smelting device forms an essential or integral part of the apparatus or machine
proper. The different metals or other substances in their molten condition are
caused by centrifugal force to arrange themselves in layers concentric to the axis of

page_text: Catest spremne gravity being farthest from, and those of least
specific gravity nearest to such axis of rotation. Advantage is taken of the
opportunity thus presented by the position of such layers to collect the
different substances into receptacles and so secure permanent separation of
the same.
The apparatus essential to the carrying out of my process consists of a
revoluble vessel or its equivalent, having either an annular cavity, or one or more
cells into which the molten metal or other substance is introduced, and in which the
separation is effected. This annulus or these cells may be formed either of
metal or of any suitable material. In the cases in which the separation takes
place during melting suitable means are provided for effecting such melting or
smelting.
In some cases traps, siphons, or passages are disposed in the walls of the
annulus, or of the cells, whereby each separate molten substance is led off
into a suitable collector, and I sometimes add devices for cooling and granulating
the molten substances, or for cooling or condensing the gases produced.
In mixtures of molten metals where there are substantial differences in the
specific gravities of the metals forming the mixture, the various metals separate
from each other comparatively readily under the influence or action of gravity alone,
while in mixtures where there are but slight differences of specific gravity, the
separation is much more sluggish. I find that by subjecting such molten metals to
centrifugal force and thereby increasing for the time being the relative densities of
the concomitants of the molten body it is possible to multiply, almost at will, the
differences between the specific gravities of such concomitants, and thus facilitate
and accelerate their separation to an extent which may be described as proportionate
or relative to the centrifugal multiplication of the respective densities.
In the accompanying drawings in which like letters of reference indicate similar
parts or parts fulfilling the same functions:-
Fig. 1 is a plan, and
Fig. 2 an elevation of an apparatus for carrying my invention into effect.
Fig. 3 is a part plan, and
Fig. 4 is a part vertical section of an annular form of machine.
Fig. 5 is a part plan, and
Fig. 6 is a part vertical section of a machine in which the annulus is replaced by
radial pots.
Fig. 6 is a section of a radial pot, taken on line x, x of Fig. 6,
Fig. 7 is a part vertical section of a melting and separating machine.
Fig. 8 is a vertical section of apparatus for heating the collectors.
Fig. 9 is a vertical section of apparatus for heating the molten material in the
collectors.
Fig. 10 is a part vertical section of a device for heating the pots in which gaseous
fuel is used.
Fig. 11 is a modified form of heating device.
Fig. 11 is a transverse section of the radial pot taken on line y. y. of Fig. 11.
The standing parts of the machine are sectioned from the top left to the bottom
right corner of the drawings; while those parts which rotate are sectioned from the
top right to the bottom left corners.
I use the words top and bottom or upward and downward in this Specification
as meaning respectively the parts of the apparatus or of the molten material which
are situate nearer to or farther from the axis of rotation.
A is a base plate, a central boss or bracket a on which is so shaped as to form a
bearing for the spindle B which revolves with and is rigidly attached to the casing
or its equivalent pots or vessels D. Rigidly attached to the base plate A are
columns a' which support the outer casing C. This outer casing has formed integral
with, or attached to, or supported by it the collectors, and their deflectors c², c³,
and c; and outflow pipes c and c8, as well as the cover c, c', and the cover cin
its turu supports the feed funnel and tube c. The vertical spindle B has fixed

page_text: to it in any convenient position the pulley 6 upon which runs the belt b', by
means of which rotatory motion is given to the spindle B and the vessel or
vessels D.
The interior of the vessel D in the cases where only a low temperature is
required may form also the pot for containing the molten material, but in cases in
which high temperatures are necessary, an inner vessel or pot E is used either of
metal or of any suitable refractory material as may be required in each particular
case; and between this pot and the outer vessel is interposed a layer G of material
of some kind which is a non-conductor of heat, or which conducts it very imperfectly,
such as fire-clay, asbestos, magnesia, or lime. It will be understood that in cases
where both an outer and inner vessel are used, the outer is kept cool by the non-
conductor G preventing the heat produced in the inside vessel E passing to the
vessel D. This enables the whole strength of the material composing the outer
vessel D being utilized to resist the centrifugal strain.
In Figs. 3 and 4 the vessel E is annular and it is filled with molten material
from the funnel c and pipe, up to the radial distances or levels, represented by
the chain dotted lines 1, 1'; 2, 2; and 3, 3. These "levels" are fixed by the radial
distance from the axis of rotation of the traps e, e² through which the separated
materials are emitted from the vessel or vessels, or by the radius of the inner lip e
of the containing vessel. Three chain dotted lines are here shewn, but this is
necessary only in the cases in which the subject material to be operated upon is
required to be divided into at least three classes to be delivered separately into the
collectors e², c³, and c, but in general it is necessary to separate into two classes or
grades only when an equal number of emission tubes, or lips, and collectors are
required.
Throughout these drawings the radial levels are shewn as governed by syphon
shaped traps, but it will be understood that the levels may be maintained by a
proper proportion between the sizes of the feed and emission tubes, or by other
devices.
In Fig. 4 the lower end of the feed tube c is shewn of the length required for
the level of the line 1, 1; but in cases where the lines 2, 2, or 3, 3 would represent
the radial level, the end of the feed tube c would be proportionately shortened.
In Figs. 5, 6, and 6 the annular arrangement is abandoned and pots D (in this
case two) take the place of the outside vessel D. These are supported, and the
centrifugal force resisted by the straps H which are rigidly attached to the central
block which is itself fixed to and revolves with the spindle B. The straps H
are made sufficiently strong to resist the radial pull of the pots when under centri-
fugal force. The annulus being abandoned it is obvious that the feed funnel cand
pipe must be placed nearly central and supplemented by the distributor I which
is fixed to and rotates with the block and straps H. This distributor is in the
form of a truncated cone and annular, but at two opposite points where meeting the
pots, the cone is extended into delivery tubes i.
The molten metal being poured into the standing funnel and tube falls
into the rotating distributor and upon touching either its sides or bottom acquires
sufficient centrifugal force to cause it to pass through one or other of the delivery
tubes i into the pot E where it is subjected to centrifugal force as before and upon
separation taking place the heavier material passes off through the trap tube e¹
into the collector while the lighter portion coming to the top or inner surface of
the pot, as soon as it reaches the radial level indicated by the chain dotted line 2, 2,
passes off through the emission tube e² the mouth of which is at this radial level.
In these figures the collectors are differently arranged and the trap emission tubes
are formed in the walls of the inner vessel E but the principle remains the same
as before, and in fact the annular arrangement as shewn in Figs. 3 and 4 may be
converted into the radial pot arrangement simply by dividing the annular chamber
by means of vertical partitions.
In the preceding figures the molten material is shewn as delivered at the surface
and flowing off from the bottom of the vessel or remaining therein until the

page_text: rotation ceases, in which cases separation occurs in a downwardly or outwardly
flowing stream, but it is obvious that the molten material may be delivered at or
near the bottom of the vessel and flow off from the top or inner end, in which
case the separation is effected in an inwardly or upwardly flowing stream.
In like manner by the use of a vessel having the form of an annular channel
round which the molten material flows circumferentially, separation is effected in
a direction nearly at right angles to the flow of the stream, instead of in a line
therewith, or the vessel may be a channel of a helical, a spiral, or a volute form
without departing from the principle or scope of my invention.
In some cases I find it necessary or advisable to keep the distributor, or the pot.
or both heated and this may be effected in various ways. Properly disposed
electrical resistances surrounding the vessels or distributor, and supplied with
sufficient current from outside sources may be employed for this purpose, or gas
heating may be used with flues or passages passing through the body of molten
material, or running round or enclosing the inner vessel or pot, or by gas playing
upon the inner face of the molten material.
In the preceding figures the material has been shewn as supplied to the vessels
in a molten condition but in Fig. 7 it is shewn as being supplied in a raw or solid
state from a shoot e to the distributor I and passing through delivery pipes i to
the pot or vessel E. A reducing flame from the annular gas-burner T which is
supplied with gas from an outside source through the passage t and pipe t' plays
upon the surface of the material in the pot. The heat generated is sufficient to
effect the melting of the ore when deposited upon the surface of the already molten
material, and separation is effected as soon as the melting is complete, as before.
In this figure the collector and deflector c² have water jackets c* through which a
stream of water circulates for keeping either or both cool. This gas burner T is
also sometimes used where molten material is supplied to the machine for the purpose
of reducing, burning off, or oxidising as the case may be, the impurities which come
to the surface of the molten body..
In Fig. 8 is shewn a method of keeping the coll ctors, into which the molten
metal or other materials are discharged, heated so to enable them to flow off in a
fluid condition. In this case a flue or combustion chamber U surrounds both
collectors 2 and 3 maintaining therein such a temperature as to ensure the contents
remaining molten. These flues may be heated either by the combustion of solid or
of gaseous fuel.
In some cases the flues are occupied by a ring of gas-burners u
for effecting the same purpose.
In Fig. 9 the liquid contents of the collectors c² and c³ are kept molten by means
of rings of inverted gas-burners the flames from which impinge upon and heat the
liquid contents. Two such rings u are shewn and they may be supplied with gas
from the same outside source.
In Fig. 10 is shewn a method of heating the pot by means of the combustion
of gas, the supply of which is derived from an outside source and led by the pipe p
to the annular gas chamber P surrounding the metal feed pipe c from which gas
chamber it issues through jets pl burning with the air in the combustion chambers R,
the heated products of combustion passing through the fluer out into the atmo-
sphere. The flue is here shewn as passing through the inside of the pot or
vessel E, but in Figs. 11 and 11 a form of pot or vessel is shewn in which a
Dumber of flues pass along the outside instead of through the inside of the pot;
the interior arrangement of the pots is in other respects similar to that in
Fig. 6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The process herein before described of reducing metals from ores or metallic
compounds by heating the same while under the influence or action of centrifugal
force.

page_text: 2. The process hereinbefore described of applying heat to metals or metallic
compounds, while under the influence or action of centrifugal force, for the purpose.
of melting or keeping molten such metals or metallic compounds.
3. The process hereinbefore described of refining or separating metals from
metals by means of and while under centrifugal force.
4. In a centrifugal machine for use in the hereinbefore described process the pot
or annular vessel for containing the molten substance combined with a non-
conducting material interposed between it and the outside or sustaining vessel.
5. In a centrifugal machine for use in the hereinbefore described process the
trap or syphon apparatus for governing the radial level of the molten material
substantially as described and shewn.
6. The machine shewn in Figs. 10, 11, and 11A for heating the molten material
while under the influence or action of centrifugal force.
7. The machine shewn and described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 the essential
features of which are the annular construction and the trap or traps for the discharge
of the separated metals or materials.
8. The machine shewn and described with reference to Figs. 5, 6, and 6*
consisting essentially of two or more radially disposed pots or vessels wherein the
centrifugal force is resisted by the supporting straps which are subject to tensile
strain.
9. In a centrifugal machine for use in the hereinbefore described process the
apparatus for cooling the deflectors or collectors substantially as shewn and described
with reference to Fig. 7.
10. In a centrifugal machine for use in the hereinbefore described process the
apparatus for heating the collectors or their contents substantially as shewn and
described with reference to Figs. 8, and 9.
11. In a centrifugal machine for treating molten materials the combination of a
vessel or equivalent pots having one or more emission tubes with the distributor
for supplying the molten material to such pots, and the fixed annular collectors for
receiving the separated materials, as they are discharged from the separating
apparatus.
D