IMPROVEMENTS IN UTILIZING OR TREATING RESIDUARY IRON ORES OR OTHER OXIDES OF IRON
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry William Allan, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Ironfounder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
UTILIZING OR TREATING RESIDUARY IRON ORES OR OTHER OXIDES OF
IRON."
Sealed the 27th November 1877, and dated the 1st June 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Willian Allan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st June 1877.
HENRY WILLIAM ALLAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Ironfounder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN UTILISING OR TREATING RESIDUARY IRON ORES
OR OTHER OXIDES OF IRON."
This Invention has for its object the utilisation or advantageous treatment of
residuary iron ores or other oxides of iron.
"
The ores referred to consist principally of oxides of iron, and are the residues of
complex ores from which other substances, such as copper and sulphur, have been
extracted, and they have presented difficulties in their treatment in consequence of
their powdery or granular condition.
The Invention is applicable to any iron oxides which from their powdery, or
granular condition and comparative infusibility have hitherto been difficultly
reducible, and consists principally in employing improved fluxes in the process of
reducing the oxides, such process being in other respects performed in the ordinary
manner in any suitable furnace with the aid of coke, coal, or other suitable car-
bonaceous substance.
One modification of the improved flux consists principally of the compound known
as soap makers' waste, and having lime and soda as its chief ingredients. The
proportion to be used will depend on the precise constituents of the waste, but in
general 50 to 70 parts by weight in the dry state should be used with every 100
parts of the iron ore or oxide. From 10 to 25 parts sand or slag or other ordinary
Auxing materials may be added to the waste to increase the fusibility of the entire
compound.. When the waste does not contain much soda it will be desirable to mix
soda with it.

page_text: A second modification of the improved flux consists of a mixture of caustic soda
and lime, the latter being either caustic or carbonate, and with this modification
also a proportion of ordinary fluxing materials may be used with advantage.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent_filed-by-
the said Henry William Allan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
November 1877.
HENRY WILLIAMALLAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Ironfounder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN UTILISING OR TREATING RESIDUARY IRON ORES
OR OTHER OXIDES OF IRON."
My said Invention has for its object the utilisation or advantageous treatment of
residuary iron ores or other oxides of iron.
The ores referred to consist principally of oxides of iron, and are the residues of
complex ores from which other substances, such as copper and sulphur, have been
extracted; and they have presented difficulties in their treatment in consequence of
their powdery or granular condition.
My Invention is applicable to any iron oxides which from their powdery or
granular condition and comparative infusibility have hitherto been difficultly
reducible, and consists principally in employing improved fluxes in the process of
reducing the oxides, such process being in other respects performed in the ordinary
manner in any suitable furnace, with the aid of coke, coal, or other suitable carbo-
naceous substance.
One modification of my improved flux consists principally of the compound known
as soap makers' waste, and having lime and soda as its chief ingredients.. The pro-
portion to be used will depend on the precise constituents of the waste and other
circumstances, but in general 50 to 100 parts by weight in the dry state should be
used with every 100 parts of the iron ore or oxide.
In practically carrying out my Invention, according to the first modification
partly above described, I find it best to proceed in the following manner:-I
nix 30 to 50 parts common clay with. 100 parts soap makers' waste, and
put the mixture through a pug mill. I form the mixture into bricks, and dry
them in a stove, a suitable size of brick being 7 inches by 4 inches by
3 inches. The clay is proportioned so as to make the bricks sufficiently coherent
for handling and retaining their form under some pressure. I also form similar
bricks of the iron ore or oxide, using a similar proportion of clay, and also passing
the mixture through a pug mill, and drying the bricks; or the iron oro or oxide
may be formed into bricks with any suitable carbonaceous substance, the bricks
-being subjected to a coking process. An ordinary cupola furnace, such as is used
for melting cast-iron, may be used, and the ore bricks and," waste" bricks are
charged into it in the proportions herein-before stated. When the "waste? does
not contain-much-soda-a-little-caustic-or carbonated soda should be added to it.
With each charge there should be added for every 100 parts iron ore or oxide about
5 parts of sandstone or slag or other ordinary fluxing materials to increase the
fusibility.
I find it advantageous to melt cast-iron scrap along with the iron ore or oxide,
and to keep a quantity lying in the bottom of the furnace in order to maintain a
high temperature throughout successive charges. The coke or coal used may be in

page_text: about the proportions ordinarily used for smelting iron ore, and I prefer to use a
mixture of coke and coal.
A second modification of my improved flux consists of a mixture of caustic or
carbonated soda and caustic or carbonated lime, from 10 to 20 parts of the former,
and from 30 to 50 parts of the latter being taken for every 100 parts of the iron
ore or oxide, and with this modification also a proportion of ordinary fluxing materials
may be used with advantage.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein-before described; but that what I believe to be novel and original,
and claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, the utilising of residuary iron ores or other oxides of iron of a
powdery or granular character with fluxes comprising soap makers' waste or a
mixture of lime and soda, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry William Allan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness;
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
HENRY W. ALLAN. (Ls.)