A NOVEL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING AND PURIFYING METALS DIRECTLY FROM THEIR ORES BY GASEOUS FUEL
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Roswell Sabine Ripley of the Westminster Palace Hotel
in the County of Middlesex for an invention of "A NOVEL METHOD OF
AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING AND PURIFYING METALS DIRECTLY FROM
THEIR ORES BY GASEOUS FUEL
23
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Roswell Sabine Ripley at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1882.
ROSWELL SABINE RIPLEY of the Westminster Palace Hotel in the County of
Middlesex "A NOVEL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING AND PURIFYING
METALS DIRECTLY FROM THEIR ORES BY GASEOUS FUEL
"
This Invention relates to a novel method of and apparatus for reducing and
purifying metals directly from their ores by gaseous fuel.
In carrying out the process the ores to be reduced are pulverised and a proper
admixture is made of the requisite material for fluxes and purification—also
pulverised. The powder is made to fall through an orifice calculated to deliver a
given quantity per second and passes by gravitation through an intense flame along
the axis of a cylindrical tube along which are concentrated the flames of a number
of blow pipes.
The cylindrical tube may be of any required length or diameter and is lined with
refractory material. The burners are inserted in orifices arranged so that the
flame from each burner shall be inclined towards the axis of the cylinder and so
that the flame from each burner shall be met by a similar flamme of equal dimensions
and strength and under equal pressure similarly inclined so that the resultant
flames shall be forced downwards along the axis of the cylinder.
It is evident that by these means a line of intense flame formed by the concen-
tration of the flames of a number of burners will be formed along the axis of the
cylinder and that the pulverised ore will be kept in this intense flame by the
currents. Being in limited quantity and in a state of minute division the powder
will be speedily melted and the product fall into a reservoir or reservoirs at the
bottom of the cylinder kept heated by the prolongation of the flames from the

page_text: cylinder and the introduction of more gaseous fuel in combustion with the reservoir.
Should it be found necessary to limit the length of the cylinder and to detain the
material to be reduced under the influence of the intense flame in the cylinder, a
certain section or sections of the cylinder can be arranged so that in that section or
those sections the burners shall be inclined upwards.
The falling particles will be arrested and kept longer under the influence of
intense heat. When this is adopted at the points where the ascending and
descending flames meet the cylinder may be enlarged to form a globular or
ellipsoidal reverberating reservoir or space in which the metal will be detained.
The molten metal in tho reservoir can be treated according to the product
required. In the case of iron it may be treated directly for the manufacture of
steel or made into a ball to be drawn out in bars or other forms or run into pigs or
ingots in the ordinary manner.
The gaseous fuel may be any gas affording sufficient heat in combustion It is
however preferable to use a gas produced by the decomposition of water by
incandescent carbon which is free from nitrogen or incombustible constituents.
Such a gus being composed of carbonic oxide and hydrogen affords the elements
of intense heat and its constituents are powerful reducing and purifying agents.
The blow pipes will be so arranged that the gas and the requisite quantity of air
can be delivered at the point of combustion in each burner and the relative pro-
portions so regulated that the flaines can be made oxidising reducing or neutral,
and this whether continuously throughout the length of the apparatus or inter-
mittently sometimes one and summetimes the other as may bo required.
The process can be materially assisted by delivering the pulverised ores and
material into the line of intense heat in the cylinder in a heated state, tho
tomperature being as high as convenience of manufacture will porinit.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Roswell Sabine Ripley in the Great Seal Patent. Office on the 17th
October 1882.
ROSWELL SABINE RIPLEY of the Westminster Palace Hotel in the County of 3
Middlesex "A NOVEL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING AND PURIFYING
METALS DIRECTLY FROM THEIR ORES BY GASEOUS FUEL
"
This Invention relates to a novel method of and apparatus for reducing inetals
directly from their pres by gaseous fuel.
In carrying out the process the ores to bo reduced are pulverized and a proper 3
admixture is made with the materials also pulverized requisito for fluxing and
purification. The powder is made to fall through an orifico calculated to deliver a
given quantity per second and it passes by gravitation through an intense flame
along the axis of a tube by preference cylindrical along which are concentrated the
flames of a number of blow pipos.

page_text: The tube may be of any required length or diameter and it is lined with
refractory material. The blow pipes or burners are inserted in orifices arranged so
that the flame from each burner is inclined towards the axis of the tube and is met
by a similar flame on the opposite side of equal dimensions and strength and under
equal pressure similarly inclined so that the resultant flames are forced downwards
along the axis of the tube.
It is evident that by these means a line of intense flame formed by the con-
centration of the flames of a number of burners, will be formed along the axis of
the tube and that the pulverized ore will be kept in this intense flame by the
currents. Being in limited quantity and in a state of minute division the powder
will be speedily melted and the product fall into a reservoir or reservoirs at
the bottom of the tube which is kept heated by the prolongation of the flames and
by the introduction of more gaseous fuel in combustion into the reservoir. The
reservoir is provided with necessary upcast flues for the removal of the gaseous
products of combustion and the waste heat can be conducted to any place where it
may be utilized.
Should it be found necessary to limit the length of the tube a certain section or
sections of the tube can be so arranged that in that section or those sections the
burnors shall be inclined upwards. Or with a like object of retarding the descent,
the sections may be arranged in steps connected by inclined conduits. When the
first method of detaining the metal is adopted the tube may be enlarged at the
point of meeting of the ascending and descending flames to form a reverberatory
reservoir or space in which the metal will be detained by the upward currents.
The upper portion of the enlargement may be provided with tubes lined with
refractory material and furnished with valves or dampers to permit and regulato
the escape of the gaseous products.
When the second method of detaining the metal is adopted each conduit may be
provided with an upcast flue with dampers or valves for the removal of gaseous
products of combustion. The waste heat in either method can be utilized for any
of the purposes of the process. In order to secure the continuance of heat while
the metal is flowing along the conduits blow pipes can be inserted at the angles
where the conduits are joined to the tubes so that flaines may flow through the
conduit, and this may be in either direction.
The inolten metal collected in the reservoirs can be treated according to the
product required. In the case of iron it may be treated directly for the manu-
facture of steel, or made into a ball to be drawn out in bars or other forms or run
into pigs or ingots in the ordinary manner.
The gaseous fuel may be any gas affording sufficient heat in combustion. It is
however preferable to use a gas produced by the decomposition of water by
incandescent carbon which is free from nitrogen or incombustible constituents.
Such a gas being composed of carbonic oxide and hydrogen affords the clements
of intense heat and its constituents are powerful reducing and purifying agents. Its
use is moreover desirable on account of its small cost.
The blow pipes are so arranged that the gas and requisite quantity of air can be
delivered at the point of combustion in each burner and the relative proportions so
regulated that the flames can be made either oxidizing, reducing or neutral
and this whether continuously throughout the length of the apparatus or
intermittently, sometimes one and sometimes the other at different sections as may
be required.
The process can be materially assisted by delivering the pulverized ores and
material into the line of intense heat in the tube in a heated state the temperature
being as high as convenience of manipulation will permit-and for this purpose
the waste heat from the upcast Bues referred to can be used to advantage.
In the Drawings Figure 1 shews an arrangement of a cylindrical tube for the
process. The interior tube A is surrounded by an annular cylinder of fire clay,
asbestos, fixed carbon or other refractory material, and this is perforated by the
inclined air tubes a, a, a, a leading from the annular cylindrical air chambers B.

page_text: The gas burners b. b. b. b. leading through the annular cylindrical air chamber B.
into the air tubes a. a. a. a. form the blow pipes which furnish the concentrated
flames. c. c. c. c. are circular gas pipes, they are supplied with gas from the gas
boxes C and the pipes connecting the circular gas pipes c. c. c. c. with the gas
boxes Caro each furnished with a stop cock d. d. d. d. so that the set of burners
leading from ench circular gas pipe can be separately ignited or extinguished.
The supply of air to the individual burners may be regulated by like means.
The supply pipes to the gas and air chambers C and B are furnished with
valvos F. F. F. by which the pressure can be regulated.
The enlargement E and the section of the apparatus immediately below it show
the arrangement when it is wished to detain the metals by means of upward
Bames, the gas and air being regulated as in the upper part of the apparatus.
The tubes for the escape of gaseous products of combustion are inserted as shewn
at G. G.
The upper end of the tube is closed by the covering tile H through which is
inserted the delivery funnel D.
Ench
Figure 2 shews an arrangement of sections in steps, the cylindrical tubes being
prepared and furnished as in Figure 1. At the junction of the tube A with the
conduit E a set of burners is provided to throw flames along the conduit.
conduit is furnished with an upenst flue K and these are to be provided with
dampers. The insertion of blow pipes in the top and side of the reservoir is
indicated at L and M. The size and position of the reservoir and the number and
position of the blow pipes will vary with the quantity and quality of material to
be operated upon.
It is evident that when the metal is detained by upeast flames as shewn in
Figure 1 or by steps as shown in Figure 2 the lining of the enlargement in tho
first method described, and of the conduits in the second will be subjected to more
intense heat and become useless sooner than that of other portion of the apparatus.
Those portions of the apparatus should therefore be so constructed that they can be
readily removed and their linings renewed.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same 1 would have it understood that I claim :-
First. The novel method of treating metallic ores, by causing them in suitable
admixture, and in a pulverized state, to be propelled along a tube into which
inclined blow pipes project their flames all around, substantially as herein described.
Second. My improved apparatus for reducing and purifying metals directly from
their ores substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof I the said Roswell Sabine Ripley havo hereunto set my
hand and seal this twelfth day of October in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two: