IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF ZINC
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Webster, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF ZINC."
Sealed the 26th July 1864, and dated the 18th May 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Webster at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th May 1864.
I, JAMES WEBSTER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF ZINC," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in the manufacture of zinc relates to a
novel mode of volatilizing metallic zinc or separating it from the ore.
My improved process consists in bringing the zine ore or oxide of zinc in a
finely divided state into the presence of molten iron or other substance which
melts at a temperature superior to the volatilizing point of zinc. A convenient
mode of carrying out my Invention is to adapt to a cupola or smelting
furnace for melting or smelting iron a vessel containing the pulverized zinc
ore or other compound of zinc which together with nitrate of soda, also
pulverized, is carried down a channel and supplied in a regular manner to a

page_text: close chamber into which the molten iron is run from the cupola or smelting
furnace. This regulated supply of the zinc ore may be effected by means of a
rotating screw which will force the pulverized ore forward into the molten
metal, where it will become volatilized by the high temperature to which it
will be subjected in the close vessel. From this close vessel the vapours of
zinc are conducted through a pipe to a vessel containing water, and on the
vapours being allowed to escape below the surface of the water the metallic
zinc will be deposited at the bottom of the vessel, the uncondensible gases,
such as the carbonic acid and carbonic oxide, will escape into the atmosphere.
The close vessel, where the zinc ore is brought into the presence of the molten
metal, will after a time become charged with slag which must from time to
time be tapped or drawn off as in cupola furnaces. The nitrate of soda is
used with the zinc ore for the purpose of keeping the slag thin so that it will
run easily, it is not however indispensable for the purposes of my Invention,
and other chemical agents such as caustic soda or carbonate of soda may be
employed for effecting the same object. As the action of the zinc on the
molten iron is exceedingly beneficial, and refines and purifies the metal, and
improves its quality, it may be found convenient and commercially advan
tageous and profitable to use for the purposes of my Invention the commonest
description of pig iron, which when it has been used in the manner above
described wil be greately improved in quality, and consequently more valuable
than before.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Webster in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th November 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WEBSTER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said James Webster, Her special license that I, the said James
Webster, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Webster, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at

page_text: any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ZINC," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Webster, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Webster, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of "Improvements in the Manufacture of Zinc," relates to a
novel mode of volatilizing metallic zine or separating it from the ore.
My improved process consists in bringing the zinc ore or oxide of zinc in a
finely divided state into the presence of molten iron or other substance which
melts at a temperature superior to the volatilizing point of zinc.
A convenient mode of carrying out my Invention is shewn in the accom-
panying Drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus; Fig. 2
is a side elevation; and Fig 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through
the centre of the apparatus.
A is a cupola or smelting furnace similar in principle of construction to
those ordinarily employed for melting or smelting iron. Above this furnace
is placed a vessel or chamber B containing pulverized zinc ore, or other com-
pound containing zinc, which together with nitrate of soda, also pulverized, is
carried down a pipe or channel C and supplied in a regular manner to a close
chamber D into which the molten iron is run from the cupola or smelting
furnace as seen in Fig. 3. A regulated quantity of the zine ore is supplied
from the pipe or channel C by means of a rotating screw E which is adapted
to the lower end of the pipe or channel C, and by its continued rotation will
force the pulverized ore forward into the molten metal in the vessel or
chamber D where it will become volatilized by the high temperature to which
it will be subjected when in contact with the molten metal in the vessel D.
The propelling screw E, with the gear for driving the same, is shewn detached

page_text: This nitrate of soda is not however
in section at Fig. 4 From the close vessel D the vapours of zinc are con-
ducted through a pipe F (Fig. 2) to a vessel G containing water, and on the
vapours being allowed to escape below the surface of the water the metallic
zinc will be deposited at the bottom of the vessel and the incondensible gases
such as the carbonic acid and carbonic oxide will escape into the atmosphere.
The vessel D into which the zinc ore is brought in order to be acted upon by
the molten metal will after a time become charged with slag which must from
time to time be tapped or drawn off as in cupola furnaces. The nitrate of
soda is used with the zinc ore for the purpose of keeping the slag in the
vessel D thin so that it will run easily.
indispensable for the purposes of my Invention, and other chemical agents
such as caustic soda or carbonate of soda may be employed for effecting the
same object. As the action of the zinc on the molten iron is exceedingly
beneficial, and refines and purifies the metal, and improves its quality, it may
be found convenient and commercially advantageous and profitable to use for
the purposes of my Invention the commonest description of pig iron, which
when it has been used in the manner above described will be greatly improved
in quality, and will consequently be more durable than before. As the iron
will be continually running from the cupola or melting furnace A down the
inclined channel A¹ into the vessel it will gradually accumulate in the vessel,
and as it will be purified during the operation of volatilizing the zinc it will
pass under the inverted bridge D2 and run over from the open space beyond
into any suitable receptacle. The vessel D is provided with a lid or cover D¹
which is suspended from a chain, whereby it may be lifted up when it may be
desired to obtain access to the interior of the vessel. This vessel is also
pro-
vided with another opening D³ situate opposite to the inclined channel leading
from the cupola or melting furnace A as seen in Fig. 3. The opening D³ is
closed by a suitable cover or plug which however may be easily removed when
access to the channel leading from the melting furnace is required as will
from time to time be the case in consequence of slag accumulating in and
obstructing the channel. The bottom of the vessel or chamber B above, con-
taining the zinc ore, being inclined, the pulverized ore and other ingredients
will descend of their own weight into the tube or channel C, and will be pushed
forward by the screw E which is rotated by means of the toothed gearing E
which is actuated by a band H passed round a pulley I.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in the
Manufacture of Zinc," and explained the manner of carrying the same into
effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters

page_text: Patent I claim, extracting zinc from its ores by causing the latter to be
brought into contact with molten iron or other metal in a close vessel.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Webster, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-eighth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
JAMES G. TALBOT,
Clerk,
Tividale,
Wonder Hotel,
Staffordshire.
JAMES WEBSTER. (L.S.)