IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES OR OVENS FOR ROASTING OBES
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th January 1868.-A communication from abroad by Riley Porter
Wilson, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES OR OVENS FOR ROASTING
OBES," a communication, to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to furnaces chiefly intended for desulphurizing
the ores of gold, silver, tin, and other metals for manufacturing sulphuric
acid, and for other like purposes, and the said Invention consists partly
in constructing and arranging the parts of a circular furnace or oven in
such a manner that the flames and currents of air instead of passing
into the oven containing the ores to be treated pass above and below
the said oven.
The said Invention also consists in the employment in combination
with such a furnace or oven of a revolving shaft and arms which carry

page_text: distributors or conveyors made of firc-clay or other like substance, so
formed and arranged as to distribute or convey the ores being treated
either away from or towards the centre of the furnace as desired. The
said shaft and arms may be made hollow and perforated to admit air
or oxygen into the furnace.
The said Invention also consists partly in the employment of fire-clay,
plumbago, or other suitable fire-resisting material as a covering for the
shaft arms and other parts of the apparatus to protect them from the
action of the heat and gases.
The said Invention also consists in constructing below the floor of the
oven a number of circular flues, which are connected with other flues
above the top of the oven communicating with a chimney or drying
floor.
The said Invention also consists partly in providing the furnace with
an outlet for conducting away gases or volatile substances, and also in
an arrangement of pipes communicating with a condenser, whereby a
jet of steam or air may be applied to force the gases through water
when precious metals are being treated, thus preventing any loss of
the same. The gases and steam are also utilized after passing through
the water to assist combustion in the furnace.
The furnace or oven is circular, and may be of any required size.
The top is constructed in the usual arched form, the said top, the floor
upon which the ore is placed, and other parts of the oven being con-
structed of fire-clay, fire-brick, or other refractory material. The upright
shaft which carries the arms is also covered and protected by the same
material, the arms being protected by the conveyors. The floor or
hearth is stationary, and the circular flues below the same which
are connected with the fire-place extend concentrically from the outer
portion to the centre, so that the heat is distributed uniformly below
the said floor before it passes to the flues above the top of the oven.
A hopper is arranged near the centre of the furnace in connection with
a tube of fire-clay or other refractory material to introduce the ore into
the oven near the centre of the same. An opening is provided near
the perimeter of. the oven to conduct the ore from the latter to a
receiver. Apertures or sight holes are provided through the walls and
arch of the furnace in the usual manner. The vertical shaft may be
driven by toothed wheels, or by other suitable means. When this
shaft is made hollow it not only affords a convenient passage for the

page_text: introduction of oxygen, chlorine, and other gas into the oven, but is
also rendered, more durable by the additional protection thus afforded
against the heat. The condenser is arranged in connection with pipes
or tubes communicating with the outlet aperture for conducting away
the volatile products of combustion. Chambers are also provided in
connection with the furnace for the treatment of such ores as Cinnabar
zinc and others, or for the manufacture of sulphuric or other acids.