IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF IRON AND COPPER PYRITES, AND IN. APPARATUS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Allen and William Allen, of Wallsend, in the
County of Northumberland, Manufacturing Chemists, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF IRON AND COPPER PYRITES, AND IN.
APPARATUS FOR THE SAME."
Sealed the 16th November 1858, and dated the 17th May 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Allen and William
Allen at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 17th May 1858.
We, JOHN ALLEN and WILLIAM ALLEN, of Wallsend, in the County of
Northumberland, Manufacturing Chemists, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF IRON AND COPPER
PYRITES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists, in the first place, in applying atmospheric air by
means of a downward draught (instead of an upward as is usual) to the niass
of iron or copper pyrites under treatment for the manufacture of sulphuric
acid. For this purpose the lower part of the ordinary pyrites burner or kiln
(instead of the top as is usual) is connected with the ordinary leaden chamber,
so as to cause the atmospheric air admitted at the top of the kiln (which is
open, or nearly so,) to go down through the burning mass on its passage to

page_text: the chamber, which is as usual connected at the further end with a chimney
to secure requisite draught, the doors at the lower part of the kiln being kept
closed except when withdrawing from time to time the burnt pyrites. The
sulphurous acid produced by the combustion of the pyrites at the top of
the kiln (which, with respect to charging the pyrites and withdrawing tho
residuum, is worked similar to ordinary kilns for the purpose) is thus caused
to pass along with atmospheric air down through the heated mass of burnt
pyrites or peroxide of iron lower down in the kiln, which has the effect of
converting a large proportion of the sulphurous acid into sulphuric acid.
Our Invention consists, in the second place, in applying a downward
draught of atmospheric air within a cupola or other similar vertical furnace
for the purpose of smelting the burned residuum of pyrites containing copper.
For this purpose we connect to the lower part of a cupola or other similar
vertical furnace with an open top a flue feading to a chimney with a powerful
draught. When the residuum is being smelted, the slag and regulus will pass
down through the fuel to the bottom of the cupola or vertical furnace, and
may be tapped off when convenient, or a horizontal furnace similar to a
reverberatory furnace without a fire may be placed between the bottom of the
vertical furnace and the chimney, in which case the slag and regulus will flow
together into the bed of the horizontal furnace, where they will separate, being
kept hot by the heat passing over their surface on its way to the chimney, and
may be tapped off when convenient. The heat in the horizontal furnace is
sufficient to smelt fresh portions of residuum if required.
And our Invention consists, in the last place, in the combination of a
reverberatory furnace with a kiln, so as to form a furnace for the decom-
position of iron or copper pyrites mixed with common salt when worked up
into balls, brick lumps, or other convenient shape, so arranged that the waste
heat from the reverberatory furnace shall pass up through the mass of balls,
&c. in the kiln, and that the mass of balls, &c., shall pass from the kiln to
the reverberatory furnace to be finished. Upon the end of a reverberatory
furnace furthest from the fire or source of heat we build a kiln with the eye
or lower part of it open to the furnace. The top of the kiln is covered, and
a draught flue made to lead therefrom to the chimney. The heat and products
of combustion after passing along the reverberatory furnace will pass up
through the kiln and thence to the chimney. The lumps, balls, bricks, or
other convenient shapes into which the pyrites & common salt are worked up
are introduced in successive charges through a door into the top of the kiln,
which is kept nearly full, and from the eye or lower part of which portions
are from time to time moved into the reverberatory furnace. The waste heat

page_text: of the reverberatory furnace passing up through the mass of materials in the
kiln will gradually decompose the same as it passes downward on its way to
the furnace, where it will be finished at a higher temperature. There are
dampers to regulate the quantity of heat admitted to the mass of material
under treatment in the kiln, and apertures for admitting atmospheric air into
the lower part of the kiln.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Allen and William Allen in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 17th November 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, JOHN
ALLEN and WILLIAM ALLEN, of Wallsend, in the County of Northumberland,
Manufacturing Chemists, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said John Allen and William Allen, Her special license that we, the said
John Allen and William Allen, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as we, the said John Allen and William Allen, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at 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 Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF IRON AND Copper
PYRITES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said John Allen and William Allen, by an instrument in writing
under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the 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 we, the said John Allen and William Allen, do
hereby declare the nature of our 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):-

page_text: Our Invention of "Improvements in the Treatment of Iron and Copper
Pyrites, and in Apparatus for the same," consists, in the first place, in applying
atmospheric air by means of a downward draught (instead of an upward as is
usual) to the mass of iron or copper pyrites under treatment for the manufacture
of sulphuric acid. For this purpose the lower part of the ordinary pyrites
burner or kiln (instead of the top as is usual) is connected with the ordinary
leaden chamber, so as to cause the atmospheric air admitted at the top of the
kiln, which is open (or nearly so) to go down through the burning mass on its
passage to the chamber, which is as usual connected at the further end with a
chimney to secure requisite draught, the doors at the lower part of the kiln being
kept closed except when withdrawing from time to time the burnt pyrites. Tho
sulphurous acid produced by the combustion of the pyrites at the top of the
kiln (which, with respect to charging the pyrites and withdrawing the residuum,
is worked similar to ordinary kilns for the purpose) is thus caused to pass
along with atmospheric air down through the heated mass of burnt pyrites or
peroxide of iron lower down in the kiln, which has the effect of converting a
large proportion of the sulphurous acid into sulphuric acid.
Our Invention consists in the second place in applying a downward draught
of atmospheric air within a cupola or other similar vertical furnace, for the
purpose of smelting the burned residuum of pyrites containing copper.
For this purpose we connect to the lower part of a cupola or other similar
vertical furnace with an open top, a flue leading to a chimney with a powerful
draught. When the residuum is being smelted the slag and regulus will pass
down through the fuel to the bottom of the cupola or vertical furnace, and
may be tapped off when convenient, or a horizontal furnace similar to a
reverberatory furnace without a fire may be placed between the bottom of the
vertical furnace and the chimney, in which case the slag and regulus will flow
together into the bed of the horizontal furnace, where they will separate, being
kept hot by the heat passing over their surface on its way to the chimney,
and may be tapped off when convenient. The heat in the horizontal furnaco
is sufficient to smelt fresh portions of residuum if required.
And our Invention consists, in the last place, in the combination of a
reverberatory furnace with a kiln, so as to form a furnace for the decomposition
of iron or copper pyrites mixed with common salt when worked up into balls,
bricks, lumps, or other convenient shape, so arranged that the waste heat
from the reverberatory furnace shall pass up through the mass of balls, &c.,
in the kiln, and that the mass of balls, &c., shall pass from the kiln to the
reverberatory furnace to be finished. Upon the end of a reverberatory
furnace furthest from the fire or source of heat we build a kiln with the eye

page_text: or lower part of it open to the furnace; the top of the kiln is covered and a
draught flue made to lead therefrom to the chimney. The heat and products
of combustion after passing along the reverberatory furnace will pass up
through the kiln and thence to the chimney. The lumps, balls, bricks, or
other convenient shapes into which the pyrites and common salt are worked
up, are introduced in successive charges through a door into the top of the
kiln, which is kept nearly full, and from the eye or lower part of which
portions are from time to time moved into the reverberatory furnace. The
waste heat of the reverberatory furnace passing up through the mass of
materials in the kiln will gradually decompose the same as it passes downward
on its way to the furnace, where it will be finished at a higher temperature.
There are dampers to regulate the quantity of heat admitted to the mass of
material under treatment in the kiln, and apertures for admitting atmospheric
air into the lower part of the kiln.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, we will proceed to describe
more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by reference to
the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1 relates to the first part of our
Invention, Figs. 2 and 3 to the second part, and Figs. 4 and 5 to the third
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of our pyrites burner or kiln. A is the mass of
pyrites in the kiln; B, the open charging door; C, the grate bars on which
the mass of pyrites rests; E, the ash-pit; F, a door for taking out the burnt
residuum from the ash-pit; D is a flue leading from the part below the bars
or ash-pit to the ordinary leaden chamber.
When first set in operation the kiln is disconnected from the said chamber
and then lighted and filled in the ordinary way, being open to the natural
upward draught of air; but when properly filled with burning pyrites the
flue D is connected with the chamber, and the draught is reversed by closing
the door and opening the door B; the current of atmospheric air now
enters the upper part of the kiln through the open charging door B, and with
the sulphurous acid formed at the top of the kiln passes down through the
mass of burning pyrites and red-hot burnt pyrites or peroxide of iron, by
which the sulphurous acid is formed into sulphuric acid, and passes through
the grate bars C, and away to the leaden chamber by the flue D; the door F
is kept shut except when withdrawing the residuum. The grate bars C may
be dispensed with by allowing the mass to rest on the floor of the ash-pit, but
we prefer using grate bars, as they secure a more equally diffused draught..

page_text: Instead of being conveyed to a leaden chamber, the sulphuric acid may be
pumped or drawn by a chimney from the flue D to any suitable condensing
apparatus. We do not confine ourselves to the above details, as the kiln may
be modified according to circumstances.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a cupola, as referred to under the second head
of our Invention. A is the mass of materials under treatment and the fucl;
B, tho flue leading from the lower part of the cupola to tho chimney; C is
the tap hole for the regulus; and D, the tap hole for the slag. When first set
in operation, the cupola is filled with coke or coal, and lighted at the top,
when the downward draught soon causes the whole mass to ignite, and tho
material intended to be smelted may then be added with fresh fuel.
The atmospheric air passes down through the mass A, and on to the chimney
by tho fluc B, causing intense combustion in the body of the cupola. The
slag and regulus flow together to the bottom of the cupola, and may be tapped
off at convenience at their respective tap holes. Or, a horizontal furnace,
as A in the vertical section Fig. 3, may be placed between the cupola B and
the chimney, in which case the bottom of the cupola will incline into the
furnace, and the slag and regulus will flow into the same, whence the regulus
may be tapped off at the tap holo E, and the slag raked out at the furnace
door D; the heat and flame passing down through the hole F at the lower
part of the cupola over the bed of the furnace to the fluc C, leading to the
chimney. A saving of fuel in this operation may be effected by covering
the top of the cupola, except when putting in materials and heating the
atmospheric air supplied to the upper part of the cupola, by causing it to pass
through iron pipes heated by the waste heat passing away to the chimney by s
the flue C.
We do not confine ourselves to the above details, as the cupola may bo
modified according to circumstances.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a furnace, being a combination of a rever-
beratory furnace with a kiln, as referred to under the third head of our Invention.
Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the reverberatory furnace with a ground plan
of the kiln, shewing its position thereon. A is the reverberatory furnace with
two beds B and C; D is the fire; and E, E, E, are outlets or eye-holes from
the hinder end of the furnace to the flue L, which leads to the chimney. The
front bed B nearest the fire is level, and the hinder bed C rises in an inclined a
position to the hinder end of the furnace. Above or over the bed C is the
kiln F, with its lower end open to the furnace, so that the contents of the
kiln rest on the bed C. The kiln is closed at the top by means of the iron
door G, which is opened for the admission of fresh charges; II is a flue leading

page_text: from near the upper end of the kiln to the chimney. There are dampers in,
the flues L and H; I, I, (Fig. 4) are holes on each side of the kiln, for the
purpose of inserting the iron bars J from side to side, in order that they may
bear up the contents of the kiln, and also to prevent their falling down on to
the hinder bed C of the furnace, while the charge upon it is being moved
forward to the front bed B; K, K, K, K, (Fig. 5.) are the doors or mouths
of the reverberatory furnace. When the hinder bed C is emptied, the contents
of the kiln are allowed to settle down by moving the bars J, and a fresh charge
is put into the kiln.
The holes I, I, are also useful for the admission of atmospheric air into the
kiln for the oxydation of the pyrites. The heat from the fire D passes over
the beds B and C of the furnace, and up through the mass of materials in the
kiln, thereby decomposing the pyrites, and forming peroxide of iron and sulphate
of soda; the gaseous materials which are evolved therefrom passing away
by the flue II. When it is found that the whole of the heat from the fire is
more than is required for the contents of the kiln, then it is reduced by drawing
open the damper in the flue L leading from the back of the furnace to the
chimney, the required distribution of the heat being regulated by the dampers,
with which the flues L and I are provided.
In some cases it will be found advantageous to have more than two beds
to the reverberatory furnace, and in others it will be unnecessary to have more
than one, in which latter case the charge when finished is drawn out of the
furnace from off the bed underneath the kiln.
Wo do not confine ourselves to the details mentioned above, as both they
and the shape and dimensions of the furnace and kiln may be modified
according to circumstances.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, we would have it understood that we do
not claim as of our Invention the particular forms and constructions of the
furnaces and kilns above described; but we do claim,-
First, the application of atmospheric air by means of a downward draught
(instead of an upward as is usual) to the mass of iron or copper pyrites under
treatment for the manufacture of sulphuric acid.
Secondly, the application of a downward draught of atmospheric air withiu
and through a cupola or other similar vertical furnace, for the purpose of
sinelting the burned residuum of pyrites containing copper.
And, lastly, the combination of a reverberatory furnace with a kiln, so as to
form or constitute a furnace adapted for the decomposition of iron or copper
pyrites mixed with common salt, when worked up into balls, bricks, lumps, or

page_text: other convenient shapes; such decomposing furnace being so arranged that the
waste heat from the reverberatory furnace shall pass up through the mass of
balls, &c. in the kiln, and that the mass of balls, &c., shall pass from the kiln
to the reverberatory furnace to be finished.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Allen and William Allen, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, the Fifteenth day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
JOHN SILL,
Wallsend, Agent.
JOHN ALLEN.
(L.S.)
WILLIAM ALLEN. (L.S.)