IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ZINC AND ZINC WHITE
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Titterton, of Roehampton, in the County of
Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
ZINC AND ZINC WHITE."
Sealed the 21st April 1857, and dated the 5th November 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Titterton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th November 1856.
I, CHARLES TITTERTON, of Roehampton, in the County of Surry, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
ZINC AND ZINC WHITE," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of zinc
and zinc white, and the improvements consist, firstly, of employing the refuse
skimmings and dross obtained from various branches of manufactures where
zinc is employed, and in using such matters they are introduced into a muffle
or retort mixed with broken coke or carbon; the muffle or retort used is
provided with a tube or passage at the upper part leading to the white zinc
chamber, and a tube or outlet at the lower part for the passage of the melted
zinc.
Secondly, when using ores of zinc in the manufacture of zinc whito in order
to obtain cadmium for the most part separate from the zinc white, the appa-
ratus is arranged with two chambers, one to receive the first products which

page_text: contain the cadmium, and the other chamber to receive the zinc white. The
passages leading to the separate chambers are provided with valves or slides
to close one passage when the other is open, by which arrangement the first
vapours passing off, which are for the most part cadmium, will pass into the
cadmium chamber and are there condensed, the air or gas passing through a
suitable screen; such passago being then shut and the other opened, the
vapours of zinc will be oxidized and received into the proper chamber.
Thirdly, in constructing the screen in the chambers; it is important that
the surfaces thereof should be kept free of oxides, for which purpose the
screens are each suspended on leather or other suitable flexible material around
the frame of the screen, and there is in each caso a rod or wire passing through
the frame with stops thereon; hence by pulling or moving the frame at intervals
against the stop the whole frame is so completely shaken as to detach the
oxides from the surface of the screens.
Fourthly, the Invention consists in subjecting white zinc to great pressure
when contained in a strong holder, the requisite pressure being obtained by
hydraulic, screw, or other powerful press acting on a suitable ram or forcer
fitting or passing into the holder.
Fifthly, in rendering white zinc more dense, at the same time improving its
color by beating it to a moderate red heat.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Titterton in the Great Seal Patent Office on tho
5th May 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
TITTERTON, of Rochampton, in the County of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Iler
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Charles Titterton, Her special licence that I, the said "Charles
Titterton, my exccutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Charles Titterton, my 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

page_text: "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ZINC AND ZINC WHITE," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Titterton my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, 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 I, the said Charles Titterton, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and' ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention relates, firstly, to an improved method of employing the
refuse skimmings and dross obtained from various branches of manufacture
where zinc is employed, and in using such matters, and whose masses conglo-
merate, being metal mixed with and coated over with oxide. I place them in'
muffles as follows, and obtain the products during the progress of manu-
facturing the white exide of zinc :-The muffles or retorts marked B in
Figures 1, 3, and 4 are made of fire clay, as shewn in Drawing, and provided
with outlets, one near the bottom to allow the zinc to run out into the niche C,
and one near the top, in which is placed a short pipe of the same material as
the muffle, to allow the escape of the metallic vapours into the oxydising
chamber, and one end of the muffle is also open for a door and the convenience
of charging, discharging, and cleaning out. At starting, when the muffles are
brought up to a state fit to receive the charge, I mix the same with one-third'
its weight of coke or carbon, and introduce the same into the muffle by a
shovel or other suitable tool, first placing clay stoppers in the exit pipes to
prevent any of the charge escaping into the niche C and stop the current of
air through the muffle, which would tend to their detriment; as soon as
charged I withdraw the clay stoppers, and placing the door in its place, it is
to be made air-tight by a luting of clay, the operation then proceeds, and
when completed I remove the door from the end of the muffle, first placing
the clay stoppers in the exit pipes; rake out the ashes and recharge as before
described.
Secondly, when using oxides of zinc in the manufacture of white oxide of
zinc, I use two chambers or one separated as shewn in Figure 3, the one
chamber to receive the first products containing for the most part the oxide
of cadmium, afterwards to be treated in the well-known way to obtain pure
cadmium, the other chamber to contain the white oxide of zinc.

page_text: Thirdly, the sieve or screen is to be constructed of wire gauze fixed in a
frame of suitable size, such frame being hung in a sloping or horizontal position
with leather or other suitable flexible material, and to be elevated by means
of a pulley or wire the required height, and then to drop or strike against a
stop whereby effectually to shake the screen or sieve and detach the oxide
therefrom, allowing the free escape of the vapours into the flues.
Fourthly, the Invention consists in subjecting white zinc to great pressure
when contained in a strong holder, the requisite pressure being obtained by
hydraulic, screw, or other powerful presses acting on a suitable ram or forcer
fitting or passing into the holder.
Fifthly, in rendering white oxide more dense and at same time to improve
the colour by heating it in a clay retort or muffle to a moderate red heat, and
afterwards quickly cooling it.
Firstly, I claim the method of obtaining zinc and oxide of zinc from the
refuse skimmings and dross, in cases where such contain metallic zinc, shelled
or coated by oxide in the process of manufacturing oxide zinc from such refuse.
Secondly, I claim the method of obtaining cadmium from zinc ores in the
process of manufacturing white oxide of zinc.
Thirdly, I claim the suspending the siove or screen (for the escape of the
vapours) in leather or other suitable flexible material around the frame allow-
ing the requisite play, by which means it is effectually shaken.
Fourthly, I claim subjecting the oxide zinc to great pressure by hydraulic,
screw, or other powerful presses as described, whereby the density is greatly
increased and its covering powers brought to nearly equal white lead, over-
coming a great objection hitherto existing to the use of white oxide zino.
Lastly, I claim rendering the oxido zinc more dense, and at the same
time improving its colour by heating it to a moderate red heat and then rapidly
cooling it.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Titterton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of May in the year of our Lord Ono
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
S. CARPMAEL.
C. TITTERTON. (L.B.)